Alajane

I think you're right about the support group being very helpful. My surgeon is a 3-hour (one way) drive for me and the support group meetings are in the afternoon. There's no way I can take off from work a day every month to go to a support group meeting--particularly after all the full days I took off last year for every pre-op and post-op appointment! I haven't found any support groups any closer and I do think it would be very helpful.

Sorry so long away--computer issues!! No, I haven't been tested for celiac; I had no idea those were some of the symptoms. It's been a week and a half since that bad day and no more issues. Thank for your response. Jane

I've scrupulously avoided my beloved Diet Cokes since my surgery in July 2013 for fear of stretching my pouch. But now I wonder if it's been stretched to the size of a football !!! I had a stomach virus yesterday with the most horrible pain I can ever remember experiencing (MUCH worse than any surgical pain I had--even worse than I remember childbirth being--but that was 33 years ago so those memories have probably faded!). I was doubled over in agony most of the time for about 4 hours. Yesterday morning the waistband of my pants was loose--when I left work sick, I unfastened them and they spread open about 6-8 inches! My stomach was SO distended. I was really afraid my pouch was stretched that far, until I remembered it's called "intestinal gas," so hopefully that's where the gas expansion was occurring. Does anyone really know the answer?

I really think it was just a virus because stomach viruses always hit me with gas pains more than anything else--this was just worse that any previously. The pain went away after about 4 hours and the distention was much better at about the same time and totally gone this morning.

My surgeon has done labs almost every visit--he said he wouldn't have done as many as he did if my levels had been normal, but he's trying to get my Protein up. My sister-in-law was sleeved 6 weeks before I was, and her lab work always shows low D also, but she said it always did before her surgery, too, so she's not surprised by that. My levels have been good in everything except protein.

I agree--it does seem like a waste of time going back and forth for those checkups, especially when it's 3 hours each way like my doctor is! But every time I've gone my Protein levels have been too low, so I keep going for checkups. I'm eating between 80 and 120 grams of protein, but evidently my body doesn't absorb it well, so I keep trying to get it up to the right levels, hoping to eventually get some hair growing!

Twinzrule, that's exactly where I'm stuck--and according to my doctor I should be at 199 by next Monday. I'm so disappointed because it's the first time I've not been ahead of his schedule! And, of course, that magic onederland was a huge goal for me, too!

I agree--it must be 7-month itch! I've really gone through it for over a month! I had surgery on December 12 (2 weeks before the 6-month mark), and got off my normal routine. Then came Christmas with a beautiful cake I was stupid enough to bake! I ended up gaining 4 pounds between then and last Monday, when I crawled back on the wagon and am back to my lowest weight this morning. I have a checkup coming up next Monday and am so sad I won't be at the point I had hoped to be when I saw my surgeon again, but don't think there's any way I can lose 6 pounds in the next week!

I was just feeling bad all the time--nothing major, just really tired, out of breath when walking up inclines (sometimes having to stop and catch my breath before walking into my office), couldn't bend over to do anything without losing my breath. My PCP had recommended surgery for me a few years before and I just didn't want to do it at my age (over 55). But a year ago I decided I had to do something. Got through my 6-month-long approval process and had the surgery in July 2013, had lost around 80 pounds by November (still need to lose another 40), and still most of the problems no better. I kept telling my surgeon I was disappointed that I didn't have the energy rush so many people experience and he gave me B-12 shots (believe I started those in August) with no improvement. Turned out I had to get a Pacemaker!! Since I got that in mid-December I'm beginning to get my energy back! I told my heart surgeon I probably wouldn't have had the gastric surgery if I knew what I really needed was a Pacemaker, but he said I had a much better outcome with my heart surgery because of having the weight loss. I'm 6 weeks out from the Pacemaker and finally beginning to not feel so tired, so I guess between the two surgeries I've found my answer!

My instructions were exactly the same, which really shocked me because one of my meds is Pradaxa, which is a very large capsule. I kept thinking "they said nothing bigger than an M&M and this is MUCH bigger" but I had specifically shown my doctor the pill and asked and he okayed it. I guess the M&M reference is nothing bigger around and that the length of the pill doesn't matter. Anyway, I've had no problems at all with swallowing the pills (except being very nervous about it at first)!

I also had no drain tube, a 1-night stay, and absolutely no problems.

Thanks so much for posting this! I used this coupon Saturday and, along with my GNC Gold Card membership, got 12 bars for $15 and change! (I think that included tax, but not sure.) Best buy I've ever found--I've been eating one of these bars for Breakfast almost every day since I got to the point in my plan that I could eat bars. I wondered if I could print another coupon and go back and use it, but think probably not--at least not in conjunction with the Gold Card. Anyway, it's a great deal and I appreciate you posting it.

I count every ounce! The pre-op was the hardest part for me (so far!) and I want to claim credit for those pounds!

Thanks for your good wishes! A few months ago, 16 seemed like an impossible dream, so I'm very happy to get these on. Sadly, when I look in the mirror I don't see much difference--tummy is still twice the size of everything else (except arms, which are also huge!). Sadly, lots of clothes would fit except the sleeves.--but I'm definitely not here to complain!

I started this journey in size 26 and got my tummy stuffed into size 16 jeans this weekend!! I know that's really 5 sizes but 10 just sounds so much better!! My surgery was June 28 and it seemed to take forever to go from 3X to 2X but, like everybody says, the sizes go down faster as they get a little smaller. I know I can't wear 16s in everything but was thrilled to fit into these jeans (I had gotten a great deal on them from ebay, just figuring if they didn't fit now they should later). Happy, happy dance!!

I'm so frustrated and almost mad! I had no idea I had any heart problems until I started my approval process last November. In those monthly PCP visits, my doctor diagnosed atrial fibrillation and sent me to a cardiologist, who recommended a procedure which would involve stopping the heart and shocking it back into normal rhythm. I asked if there were alternatives and he put me on medication which had me doing well. Now here I am, almost 3 months out from my surgery and 60 pounds lighter, and now my PCP is talking about a pacemaker. I have to go back to him this afternoon to get the results of wearing a Holter monitor last week and since he wouldn't tell me the results on the phone but is making me go into the office to discuss it, I'm sure it's not good!! Anyone have any experience with a Pacemaker? The thought of it scares me to death--I was so sure losing weight would resolve the issue, but it looks like that's not the case.

Oh, that's very encouraging! I had understood I'd probably have to stay on the blood thinner since the Pacemaker only addresses the slow heart rates. I've been a little discouraged that I didn't have the energy most sleevers report, but realize it may be because of the AFIB and hopefully you're right and I will feel much better once my heart rate is regulated. Thanks. Jane

Wow--I can see that you're happy to have your Pacemaker after that experience--how scary!! It was just such a surprise because I don't feel the changes in rhythm. Occasionally I feel that my heart is racing a bit, so I wasn't surprised by that, but I had no idea about the slow times. And I've been unhappy about being on a blood thinner, so I thought maybe the pacemaker would take care of that, but the doc told me yesterday that the pacemaker will not affect when it's too fast--just speed it up when it's too slow. So he can give me stronger meds to slow it down! I'll get used to the idea, just having a hard time with it right now. Since I didn't think I had any health problems other than my weight, I just thought the VSG would have me feeling great and super healthy!

I agree that it would be better to not confide in her. I did tell my immediate supervisor, who is a close friend, because I would be missing a lot of work for all the pre-op appointments. I asked her not to tell anyone else, with full confidence that she wouldn't because she's always been very trustworthy with confidences. She asked me what to tell her boss and I said just tell him I'm having surgery and I don't think he'll ask anything else. Well, he asked if it was serious and that led her to tell him what type of surgery it was, at which he joked "maybe I should do that, too." That really annoyed me because all she had to do was tell him no, it wasn't serious and he would have assumed it was a "female" issue and never asked anything else!

I'm another one who evidently loses from the top down! I'm 7 weeks out and have noticed my neck getting wrinkly and saggy already! And when I went for my 6-week visit with the physical fitness person, she took measurements. I was very pleased to have lost 5 inches each from my waist and tummy area--until she told me I had lost 10 inches from the bust!! I sure hope that doesn't continue to be my pattern!

I'm not on either of those but am on a blood thinner--my doctor prescribed Pradaxa so I wouldn't have to have the monthly blood work. When I had oral surgery in the spring, they took me off the Pradaxa for 2 days before and I had to give myself 2 Lovonox shots per day for those days. When I had my sleeve in June, the surgeon said I needed to be off Pradaxa for 10 days! And he didn't think the Lovonox was necessary. That scared me, but my cardiologist had said the surgeon was the one who made the decision about that, so I did what he said and everything turned out fine. I did have a Lovonox injection before my surgery and restarted my Pradaxa the day I got home from the hospital. Hope this helps.

My office is having a working lunch today at a Chinese restaurant. I’m almost 5 weeks out from my VSG and trying desperately to figure out what I can eat there. (My doctor's plan allows me to try everything except raw veggies at this point.) All my Chinese favorites (except the luscious green beans) are fried, so I haven’t paid a lot of attention to what else is on the menu. By the way, I’ve eaten beef, chicken, and pork with no problems—in fact, nothing I’ve tried has bothered me at all. I know I can look over the buffet and see what looks like plain chicken, etc., and get that and steamed veggies. But I'd prefer to order from the menu so I can take the leftovers home instead of paying full buffet price for the 2 oz of chicken I would eat (you can't take home leftovers from the buffet). Anyone know the names of Chinese meals that are more VSG-friendly so I can order from the menu? This would be easier if I wasn't a cheapskate! Thanks, Jane

Thanks, guys--I'm back from lunch now. I ordered cashew chicken and it was very good. Sadly, they used fried chicken to make it!! But, although it had the carbs and calories from being fried, it wasn't crunchy since it was in a sauce. There was probably a pound of veggies in it, most of which were very crunchy so I was afraid to eat them since I can't have raw veggies for another week. So I just picked out chicken, cashews, and a few bites of rice. My take-out container looks like it would feed me for another week if it was stuff I could actually eat! Thanks again.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. At least now I feel more confident that there will be something I can eat!! Jane

Oh, cashew chicken sounds good--I'll see if this restaurant has it!