goodlife

I don't really understand dumping but I don't think I've ever experienced anything like that.

Thankfully I haven't noticed any substantial hair loss....I am losing a little more than normal but nothing too bad....I hope it continues this way!

No drain here! My doc doesn't use them.

kalew...that's me too. It's directly related to my cycle. It drives me absolutely batty. I also have a lot of constipation and usually end up taking a laxative once a week just to be able to go. For example...the last few days were ovulation time. The scale went UP 4 lbs over that time...I could see the fluids in my ankles. I took a laxative night before last and also took some diurex to help with that fluid build up and this morning that 4 lbs was gone and I had lost another lb. I expect maybe I'll lose a lb or so over the next week and then nothing again as I get closer to my period. I tell you one thing though...I'm really learning alot about my body through all of this. lol

Garv...just keep telling yourself this stage is TEMPORARY. Take it one day at a time...or hell even one hour at a time if you need to. Drink a lot of water or water with sugar free flavoring added to it. That helps fight the hunger. My fav is koolaid sugar free grape and fruit punch.

Hey everybody....I'm so glad someone started this thread up again! I'm down 55 lbs since surgery on April 28 and 79 lbs total since I started this journey in the middle of March. I feel GREAT. I seem to only lose two weeks out of the month which is frustrating....VERY frustrating. From the time I ovulate until a few days into my period, the scale DOES NOT MOVE. In fact, when I ovulate the scale usually goes up a few lbs for a few days. I think I must just retain a lot of Fluid.....I can usually tell in my ankles. I wish I knew if that might be indicative of some type of hormone imbalance or something. Thinking of doing a full hormone workup on myself out of curiosity. I went from a tight 24 pants and a 2x or 3x shirt to a 16 regular pants not 16W and a regular XL shirt. I've also lost over 55 total inches! It does seem like all of us are losing at about the same rate which makes me feel so much better because I was really feeling like I was way behind everyone else. I've slacked off on tracking my food...and I really need to get back to that...but I have a good idea about what I'm getting in since my diet doesn't vary all that much. I do find my sleeve is a finicky little thing. My husband has named my sleeved tummy Veronica. Somedays I feel like I can fit in a good bit and then others I can barely fit in anything. Very strange still that. LOL

Congratulations! You are doing fabulously.

I honestly can't think of anything....I had researched very thoroughly including reading a million different threads from VSG'ers both here and on OH so I was pretty well prepared. I can't say there have been any surprises. A few suggestions though....take before pics AND measurements. It's fun watching the inches melt away. My hubby took a bunch of before pics of me the night before my surgery and we lost them! Can't figure out or remember if we uploaded them to one of our computers or if they are on a memory card somewhere...I'm pretty upset about that. Hopefully they will turn up one of these days!

Are you tracking your food? How many calories are you eating each day? What does a typical day of eating look like for you?

Congratulations and I love your username! :w00t:

Hi Garv and welcome to VST! Congrats on making the decision to do this....you're going to love it! Your daughter is going to love the "new" you as well! I hope the time between now and your surgery goes by quickly for you! I hated that wait! I was impatient and wanted it done NOW! lol

Congrats diva!

Carrie...let's break it down here. What about your sleeve are you unhappy with? Your surgery went well...you've recovered perhaps a bit slowly but you are recovered/recovering. You should be on to soft foods by now..mushies, and whatnot. Maybe even more than that. That's more than you've been able to do for how long now while you were on a mostly liquid diet? You wanted the band out and you didn't want to regain all the weight you had lost plus some. You now have a tool to keep that from happening and you will lose more weight and become more healthy. What about any of that makes you unhappy? Try to separate the issues...because they are totally different. The how's and why's you ended up having the surgery when you did has nothing to do with the reason why you initially decided on having the revision. I read in another thread where you said if you had been given the option you would have had the plication done instead. Do you think THAT would have given you a different outcome or a different attitude? The post op stuff is all still the same. There are no benefits of having that procedure over the VSG except you're left with a lot of useless (probably dying) stomach tissue in there. Sorry...that just creeps me out. Many of us have suggested to you that you need to see someone professionally to deal with all these different issues you have. You've not responded in any way (that I've seen) to that advice. Why is that? You're mad at your husband, you're mad at the anasthesiologist, you're mad at your body, and that is just not healthy. You HAVE to deal with those issues... I also read how you're on several different medications...some prescribed by a pain management doctor. So basically you're taking narcotics to deal with a pain issue..you didn't say how much you're taking or how that affects you, but perhaps that could be a contributor to your mental state as well...especially coupled with likely out of whack hormones following surgery. How are you spending your days? Are you staying in bed all day feeling angry and sorry for yourself? Are you spending time with your children...taking care of them...taking them outside to play...taking them on outings, whatnot? If you want to leave the boards and take a break...then do it. But support isn't about just saying poor poor Carrie...she's a total victim here. Support and friendship is about saying the tough things that maybe you don't want to hear but NEED to hear. You say you did this for your kids, because you want to be healthy for them and be there for them. Well....what are you waiting for? Deal with your issues so you can move on and BE healthy for your kids. Because you know what? They deserve to have a WHOLE mom. All of us here truly want the best for you....I hope you believe that.

So this past weekend all of our kids had plans so my hubby and I decided at the last minute to go away for the long weekend. We hopped on a plane Friday morning and went to Belize. We went snorkeling twice for a couple of hours at a time. We took the resort's sailboat out one morning. We had massages at the spa. But the big NSV comes from our cave tubing trip. We had to take a boat back to the mainlands and then an hour van ride to the tubing place. Once there we had to HIKE for 45 minutes through the jungle to get there while carrying our tubes. Six months ago I never would have been able to make that hike. My back would have been killing me, I would have been completely out of breath and downright miserable. The anxiety of just THINKING about having to make that trek would have stressed me out. Guess what? It was EASY! It was FUN! I never got winded and while I could certainly feel it in my back it wasn't intolerable...my back issues aren't going to disappear with weight loss but the loss sure relieves alot of the pressure! My husband even said how proud of me he was when we finished the hike...and he commented on how I wasn't even breathing hard. I think he was amazed! Also with snorkeling...in the past I was usually the first one to peter out and head back to the boat. Not this time...I had energy to spare! It was so very nice to take a spontaneous trip like that and not have to deal with all the usual anxieties...the seats in the plane...whether I would be physically able to participate in whatever activities were planned. I LOVE my sleeve!

Pamela...lol NSV stands for Non Scale Victory. And hell yes you want some!

That is FABULOUS loss! WOW! You're way ahead of me! Congratulations...your pictures are great!

My sleeve buddy! You are doing GREAT! I'm so happy for you.

YAY!! I love NSV's! You're still trucking right along.....keep up the good work!

Congratulations!! You're doing GREAT!

Carrie....I urge you to do some soul searching and try to find the real root of your problem. I just can't help but have the feeling it's not really the surgery you're having a problem with. I think that's a scapegoat. I sense a resentment towards your husband and I'm wondering if that might be the real issue here. I think maybe you should see a therapist...someone who can help you work through these feelings. Please though, for the sake of your children who need their mommy...don't be afraid to eat. Please make sure you're staying nourished and healthy. I wish you all the best.

Look at you go girl!! Awesome! I'm glad you're loving your sleeve now...:001_rolleyes:

And what a 4 months it has been! There have been so many changes...all good. I really have nothing negative to say....with the exception of the fact that I only lose weight two weeks out of the month. That annoys the crap out of me! Let's see...some of the positive changes. 1. I fit into my seat at the superdome comfortably with room to spare. I don't feel like I'm taking up TOO much space anymore. 2. I can walk about a mile to a mile and a half at a time now without my back screaming at me that payback is a bitch. 3. I fit in booths at restaurants with room to spare and don't have to say...Can you seat us at a table instead? 4. I can shop in regular stores now...no more Lane Byrant or plus size departments. 6. All my blood work came back perfect....normal levels in everything. 7. Blood Pressure is PERFECT. 8. Sex is way more fun..and while I've always loved sex, it had really gotten to be uncomfortable in a few ways in certain positions. No more of that....we're having the best sex of our lives. Oh, the other half of that "we" is my hubby, btw...hehe 9. I FEEL GOOD! Now for some stats. When I decided to have surgery back in the middle of March I weighed 292 lbs. I still cringe when I write that....that's quite embarrassing to admit. I lost 24 lbs pre-op. I was 268 the day of surgery. Today I am at 215. I am ONE stinking lb away from being halfway to goal. I started out wearing a tight 24W pants and a 2x or 3x shirt. Today I wear a size 18 pants and a regular XL shirt. I've had to go shopping....all my clothes are too big! :thumbup: Inches lost: Starting Now Loss: Waist: 49" 40" 9" Neck: 15" 13" 2" Bicep: 18.5" 14.5" 4"x2 =8" Forearm: 12.5" 11" 1.5"x2=3" Chest: 52" 45" 7" Hips: 60" 49.5" 10.5" Thigh: 34.5" 28" 6.5"x2=13" Calves: 18.5" 17" 1.5"x2=3" Total Inches Lost: 55.5!! Weight Loss By Month: High Weight 292 Surgery Weight 268 1st Month 248 2nd Month 234 3rd Month 223 4th Month 215 That's pretty close anyway...did that from memory. Anyway, I know this is kind of long...but I like stats. I'm very happy with my surgery choice and I would do it all over again 10 times over. My loss might be slower than some...and I have experienced some discouragement this past month with the scale not moving...but that's emotional rather than practical. I do TRY to keep it in perspective and remain practical...not always possible! I love my sleeve!

Hi Carrie...just checking in on you. How are you feeling today? Are you drinking your fluids?

You will be there before you know it! Onederland is my next goal...first was to lose half of my excess weight. Did that a few days ago. 13 lbs to go to onederland! I'm packing up all my stuff and taking it with me cause I don't ever plan to come back to THIS place!

That's wonderful news...how many calories are you having to eat now to maintain?