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Okay, first let me say, please don't lecture me because I am already SCARED TO DEATH and have learned my lesson. Here's what I did: I made a crustless pumpkin pie with just pumpkin pie mix/puree and nonfat evaporated milk. All of the sudden, my pre-surgery monster came out. I ate at least a 1.5 cups of the pumpkin mix (15 oz?) all at one time. I feel HORRIBLE right now - not just mentally, but physically. Unfortunately, I don't feel like throwing up. I just feel really full and I am sweaty. Does anyone have experience with this. Am I at risk for a leak right now? Did I screw something up permanently? I am SO scared. Do I need to make an emergency call - I HATE the thought of doing that.... (I should have said.... I am 3.5 weeks out and so far haven't had any trouble with eating and drinking - more of an OPPOSITE problem - like I can eat a 5.5 oz yogurt with no problem whatsoever and still be hungry an hour or so later. Again, I am so afraid right now. And just all together miserable and scared.

I just cannot tell you people how grateful I feel right now for all of you. Someday I will be able to help someone else through this miserable-ness (if that's a word...)

I'm 5'8" and I look pretty good at 285. I look great at 270. That said, I'm shooting for 160 which is what the BMI chart says is "normal" (whatever normal is). Good luck!

OMG thank you for these quick replies. I am literally freaking out right now. I'm doing that whole, "Please God, if you help me through this, I will never, ever, ever eat too much food at one time ever again." I'm sure it was 1.5 cups. And i did it over about 30 minutes. I'M CRAZY STUPID. And still no thought of vomit.

I can't imagine being able to sleep without my CPAP. If that happens, that ALONE would make surgery worth it! So great to hear that getting rid of the CPAP happened for some of you!

How are you guys eating the crab meat. I just bought some because I'm tired of canned tuna. Are you eating it right out of the can? With cocktail sauce? Thoughts appreciated!

CajunLady, it took me a few days for my body to get rolling. I wouldn't worry yet. Get some milk of magnesia or colace. Or, I used prune juice which worked like a charm!

That's fabulous!! I crossed my legs while sitting the other day and got SO happy! Congratulations to you!!!

Hi! I was sleeved on Aug. 22. I have bipolar. I haven't been sleeved for long and, if anything, I'm still really tired all the time. You raise an interesting question though - I am anxious to see what the future holds w/r/t weight loss and my bipolar. I know you didn't ask for this advice, but one more thing I will add, FWIW, the only medication that EVER worked for me in terms of stopping the cycles of up and down is Lamictal, which is a mood stabilizer. It is generic. And it doesn't cause weight gain. I'm throwing that out there to the extent you end up finding that you're "too high." Good luck - nice to know there are others on this journey!

For dinner, I'm planning to have some imitation crab with cocktail sauce. I'll probably eat about 3 oz. which is another 6g Protein and 70 calories. I'll be hungry again around bedtime, but then I'll go to bed...! And as far as being satisfied... yes and no. Like I said, I'm truly hungry every 2 hours. I guess I \ have just changed the way I look at food. Unfortunately, I'm NOT one of those people who lost my cravings for carbs. I'd LOVE to have something sweet and I have to consciously keep myself away from that stuff (it's like crack to me...) Trust me, I still think like a fat girl and, as before sleeve, I spend a lot of time thinking about what I will eat and planning on what I will eat. I just don't spend as much time actually eating... HAHAHA!

I'm same as gamergirl. I'm hungry, but I'm not RAVENOUS like I used to be. For me, I get hungry and eat about 5 times a day. Just a little bit at each setting. For example, today: Morning - 9am: Protein drink Snack: 11am. 1/2 c. cottage cheese Lunch: 1pm. 1/2 c. refried Beans with 1/8 cup light cheese; Dannon light greek yogurt Snack: 5pm. GNC pudding Right now, I've already had 85g protein and 730 cal. I'll have something light for dinner. Now.... that said, every two hours, I'm hungry!

Your post made me laugh. Glad you asked the question - I'm in the same boat - I often exceed my protein goal. I was at 110g yesterday! Anxious to see what the veterans say...!

What a great question! I am having the same issue. I've lost a bunch of weight SO many times, gotten rid of my "fat clothes" and then had to buy new ones when I regained the weight. I can't seem to shake those memories so I'm having a really hard time letting go of clothes. I think I'm going to do some research on percentage of people who gain their weight back. I think the chances are low. But I always feel like I'm going to be the one person for whom this doesn't work.... Bottom line: You aren't crazy!~

Hello! My misery loves your company! I was sleeved on 8/22 and I've only lost 10 lbs. I'm trying to take it in stride. I figure I just need to trust my sleeve and my body. My bigger concern is the fact that I still have a good deal of pain at my "big" incision site. Feels like someone kicked me there. Sore when I move and even a little sore when I'm just sitting still. Anyone else? Thanks for the thread - it's nice to know none of us is alone! -Angela

Surgery date 9/22. I'm only down 10 lbs. Trying to not be discouraged by comparing myself...

FWIW, here is what I would do. I would make a list of all the reasons you think this surgery is necessary. This would be especially important if he doesn't know much about VSG and/or he is only familiar with gastric bypass or the band. Here is what my list would have looked like (I've been sleeved): -I am 40 yrs old and already borderline Type 2 diabetic. I have two grandparents who were both amputees caused by diabetes. -PCOS -Severe orthopedic issues (knees and feet) -I have tried every diet imaginable (list out). I have succeeded in losing 20-50 lbs at times, but never kept it off. Even if I were capable of losing ___ amount of pounds at this point, without some additional tool, I think the chances of me keeping it off are slim. -This is a relatively safe surgery. Mortality rate is less than with hip replacement surgery or gallbladder surgery. Good luck! -Angela

Such a great question! I have no idea what "the answer" is, but I know that I'm 13 days post-op and I can eat almost 8oz. of yogurt at once with no discomfort whatsoever. Which scares me... I assume (and hope!!!) that when I get to solids, I will be able to tolerate (much) less.

You go girl! I'm 13 days post-op and still can't imagine exercising...! Let us know how it goes!

Just chiming in to say that I was sleeved on Aug. 22 and I have had hunger every single day UNTIL today. Today is the first day that I have felt any difference in my pre-op hunger. Also, my doc says that once we get to solids, it will get much better. (I know some of you are on solids and still hungry, which sucks, but I'm holding out hope that my hunger-gone feeling today will hold). Otherwise, like you guys, I feel totally gypped. From what I can tell, this sleeve thing is just like being on an 800 calorie diet where I have to track everything that goes into my mouth and I'm hungry all the time. What's the difference from pre-op? Again, I'm hoping that it changes for all of us who still experience hunger...

Smart kid. How about some middle ground? Weigh once a week? Or every two weeks? And, lest I remind you... You've lost 25 lbs in about a month. That is damn near a pound a day (unless I'm mis-remembering your stats). You're doing GREAT. You're back at work, you're tracking, it will work. Don't let an apparent "stall" take away anything from your victories. All that said, I totally understand the "associating self-worth with the scale." I feel like I have been successful in every area of my life and I have completely failed when it comes to the scale. My only comfort has been Oprah. I look at her and say, "She's obviously smart, talented, and hard working, yet she struggles with her weight." That helped a lot when I was at my fattest. Now that I'm on the way down (like you), I am anxious to see how I feel about myself. I think my biggest fear is that when I get thin(ner), I will find something else to obsess about (i.e., then it will be about the sagging skin, etc. etc). Hang in there sister. You're doing awesome (and I was so glad to read your update!) -Angela

Congratulations on getting back to work so soon! I am 12 days post op and my "big" incision is still really sore, so I think that's prob normal.

Not a dumb question at all! My surgeon is like yours - told me not to worry about calories. Just focus on protein first, then vegetables, then carbs. As with the others, I find that I stay comfortable around 1,000 calories. I am 12 days post-op, 5'8" and 220 lbs. Good luck!

Hey NYorker! I can drink (i.e., gulp) just like before surgery. I try not to do it just as a matter of principle (seems like something I just "shouldn't" do). But there is nothing about this surgery that changed drinking fluids for me...

Sister, I think it's ALL normal. Whatever pain there is takes different forms for all of us, but if you're not leaking from one of your sutures, running a fever, or unable to keep anything down, the rest of it is normal. That's my take on it anyway. I'm 12 days post-op and today's pain is in my "big" incision site. Soooo sore (whereas I haven't noticed it too bad until today). I don't regret my decision so far - It prompted me to quick smoking and quit drinking which were NOT the purpose(s) of the surgery. Any weight loss is just gravy to this new healthy lifestyle! Good luck! It gets better every day - or at least that's my experience!

I was sleeved on Aug. 22 and have only lost 8 lbs since then. It's weird, but I'm not worried. I am confident that my body knows what to do. I just put it through a heck of a trauma (and have been putting it through a bunch of weight trauma for a long time). Over the long haul, it will all work out. At my one week appt, my doc said that the 2 month mark will tell the tale re: how the sleeve is working and how I am doing. (Now....all of that said.... I just happen to be a good place today...I'm sure I'll get frustrated going forward too...). Let's hang in there!!