m&m4ever

Have made it to onederland! I am soooo happy! Can't remember the last time I weighed under 200!

Thank you so much! I love having this site to help and support each other!

I'm from Tinley Park. I had my surgery July 29, 2013 at Little Company of Mary hospital with Dr Cahill. He is awesome and so is his team. They have nutrition classes you attend after the surgery and the nutritionist is there for you whenever you need her for life. They have support meetings every 1st Tuesday of the month. The nurse practitioner that works with the surgeon is also the bariatric coordinator and runs the support group. He is the best. I cannot say enough great things about him. He cares about each and every patient like they are family. The support group is open to the public, so I'm sure anyone can attend.

The pictures show up on the ipad ap but not the full website.....don't know why. That's weird! I'll try again:

Great job! You look great!

Awesome job! Congrats! Feels great doesn't it??!

Does she have a primary care doctor? Maybe he or she can help her. Did they do any tests on her? Cat scan, swallow test or blood work? I'm sorry she's going through this. My prayers are with you both!

I also gained weight, but it comes off quickly. You are NOT a failure.......this is just a bump in the road to victory! Hang in there.

When I had the leak, I was on IV feedings for a month then had to start my food progression from the beginning. I would ask your dr before you go home to be sure. Good luck! So glad you're doing better!

Yes, I've heard that too. Good luck with the surgery. Keep us posted! I had my gallbladder removed years ago. Stones run in my family. It's a piece of cake surgery compared to the sleeve!

I hope you're feeling better! I feel your pain. I had a leak and infection 2 weeks after surgery. Be sure they checked you for those too. My surgery was July 29th and I'm doing much better now!

I feel your pain! My sleeve was inflamed after surgery, so drinking fluids was torture! By 2 weeks after surgery it got so much easier. It will get better soon! Hang in there.

Awesome job! It's amazing how we don't see the transformation in ourselves unless it's pounded into our heads! A couple people didn't recognize me and I asked my husband if I really looked that different. He said, "honey, sometimes I don't recognize you in a crowd of people"!!! Keep up the great work!

I was sleeved July 29th. My start weight was 295. I lost 45 before surgery and 44 since the surgery for a total of 89 pounds. I did have a complication (leak and infection), which stalled my weight loss for a month, but since then I have had pretty steady weight loss. Some days I don't lose though. Best thing I ever did for myself and my family!

LOL! #10 is soooo true!

Thanks everyone for all your support! I love this site! It's awesome to be able to share with people going through the same things!

Yes, and I passed it.

Yes, it did for me. When I was re admitted to the hospital for the leak, they were pumping fluids in me along with the antibiotics. When I came home, I gained 6 pounds. I was furious! I complained to the nurse practitioner, how can a person gain 6 pounds when they can only eat ice chips!!! He told me not to worry, and it would come off. During the 4 weeks I was on the IV feedings, the 6 pounds came off. Once they stopped the IV, the weight started falling off and hasn't stopped yet!

Ok. I had my surgery on July 29th and had the leak exactly 2 weeks later. I was on Clear liquids for 2 weeks after surgery and was going to start Protein shakes the next day if I didn't have the leak. I woke up Sunday morning and felt fine until about 11am. I got this uncomfortable feeling and stood up to walk around and got a strong pain at the top of my stomach. At first I thought it was gas, but the pain spread from top to bottom and left to right of my abdomen. The only way to describe it is the strongest labor pain you can imagine that doesn't go away! My whole body broke out in sweat, but I didn't have a fever. I knew something was very wrong, so I called the surgeon. He said it might be gas, but when I described how I felt, he said to come to the ER right away. They did a cat scan and said I had an infection and admitted me. The next am they did a swallow test to see if there was a leak. I was lucky, because the leak started healing on its own and did not require a second surgery. They knew I did have a leak because there were air bubbles and the infection. I was put on some serious IV antibiotics and IV nourishment in the hospital. I was there for 4 days. When I came home they had me on a pic line for 4 weeks getting antibiotics and IV nourishment. The only thing I was allowed was minimal ice chips for the 4 weeks! It was torture! Not to mention the constant diarrhea from all the antibiotics (sorry). I also had to see an infectious disease specialist in addition to the surgeon. Anyway, it's now 2 months since my surgery and I'm doing much better! I had to start my food stages from the beginning. My surgeon is very cautious with sleeve patients on food progression. He requires 2 weeks clear liquids, 4 weeks Protein Shakes, then moves on to puréed foods and soft foods. I'm on my second week of shakes now. I asked everyone in the hospital if I did anything to cause the leak and they all said no and that it just happens sometimes. The only thing was that I was throwing up a lot in the beginning. They don't think that would cause it, but I'm not convinced. To end on a positive note, I don't regret the surgery and consider it the best thing I have done for my health! I am already off my blood pressure meds and my cpap machine! Those were the main reasons for having the surgery for me. Also, I've lost a total of 85 pounds! (45 before surgery and 40 since). My advice would be if something doesn't feel right, get it checked out! They said I was lucky because I came right to the hospital and if I had waited the infection could have spread and gone septic. God bless and good luck to everyone out there!

Good to know.......thanks. Since I already had one, I'm being very cautious now!

I had a leak 2 weeks after the surgery. I'm not sure how long after the surgery it's a risk for though.

I was shopping in kohls today and decided to buy 2 shirts for myself. I bought a large from the misses dept thinking it would be small, but fit in a month or two. Well, when i got home, I tried them on and they actually FIT!!! I was soooo excited! I can't remember the last time I bought something from the misses dept and not the plus size dept. anyway, I just felt the need to share my victory!

Awesome! I can't wait to celebrate that too! 13 pounds to go!

How awesome for you!