Sherry S

I'm right with you Miss Mac. I have noticed that I get stuck at a weight and it might fluctuate a pound for several months. My Dr said it takes 18 mo's to loose the weight for a lot of people. I feel so much better for loosing what I have and I'm not going to obsess on this stall. My BP is normal now w/o meds and the muscle/joint pain has lessened also. At this age I'm so happy to have gotten rid of those 30+ lbs. Go out and enjoy life and hopefully this stall will leave after the holidays. Sherry

Congrag on the start of a new you. Live in the now, relax and heal, drink as much as you can, follow the Dr's instructions and most of all take it one day at a time. The weight will come off but your body has to heal, this was MAJOR surgery and it will take time to heal, emotionally, physically and mentally. You will be feeling good in no time but until then relax and keep repeating positive affirmations which really help. Good luck you'll be fine. Sherry

I never had problems before surgery but after I got the acid and have to take generic Prevacid but it is nowhere near as bad as yours. My Dr suggested a scope but it seems to be under control now and I only need to take Prevacid 2 wks out of the month. Has your Dr suggested getting the gastric bypass since from what I'm told will stop GERD? I hope your able to find a solution to this.

Congrag to all who have reached goal. It amazes me to see how much each of you have lost. Way to go!!!! I use 250 mg of stool softener by Equate(Walmart) every evening. Smooth Move tea works well to get you going also. I'm past the half way mark now. I was eating what I wanted and stalled for 2 mo's but now I'm back to no sugar or starch (basically Atkins and or Dukan plan). I guess I needed the time psychologically to eat carbs which put me at a plateau that was hard to break but I've done it. I want to be at goal by my 68th bday in March. I can remember so many many years past saying I would be at a healthy weight by my b-day but this time it is happening. I'm so glad I got my sleeve 7 mo's ago. Only issue I've had is indigestion which Prilosec takes care of. I never had it before the sleeve but I'm hoping it will get better in time. If not it's a small price to pay for getting to a healthy weight. My BP is normal and only meds I take are Synthroid which the Dr is decreasing as I loose weight. My arthritis pain has decreased greatly and I have more energy with a brighter outlook on life now. Best thing I could of done for myself.

I thought the bypass got rid of any GERD etc. Protonix is about the same price as Prilosec. If Prilosec doesn't work this time I'll see if the Dr will put me back on Protonix.

Holy cow $300 a mo is way out of my price range. I'm gong to see if this 2nd time on Prilosec doesn't help. I will get the scope just to rule out any problems. I hope all of us get this out of our system by the end of the 1st year. Keep us posted on how your doing.

Eating doesn't seem to cause the acid that I've noticed. I also am loosing slow. I'm stuck at 30 lbs and soon as our indoor pool opens the 10th I'll get back to exercising 4-5x a wk to see if that won't bust the stall. I feel really good except for the occasional acid thing. I hope all this gets resolved after the 1st year.

I remember before surgery my surgeon mentioning something about 1/3 of people get it. I was on Protonix I think for 3 mo's after surgery then she put me on Prilosec. I tried going off it for 3 wks and taking Zantac but went back to Prilosec today. This is not something I want to keep happening.

That had to be scary. I never had it before surgery but from research on this site I found it's quite common and one lady said it should improve or resolve about a yr out. I'm taking Zantac but will go back to Prilosec as Dr suggested.

I've stopped loosing at 30 lbs 6 mo's out. I'd like to loose another 30 lbs and Dr thinks 15 more would be good. I feel great, very little arthritis pain if any, PB is normal, down to a size 14. I'm not following any diet except to stop eating when I start to feel full and always Protein first and Vitamins. When I try to take one more bite (psychological wanting) I will start to slime in a little while so I've learned when to say when. All in all I figure I'm so lucky to be where I am. I hope to keep loosing but if not I'm so much better off than I was before surgery and I feel great which to me is what it's all about. One problem I've had and wonder if anyone has had anything like it.........acid/ indigestion/gas or something like it. I never had a problem before surgery. Its hard to explain. I was on protonix for 3 mo's after surgery. Dr said to take Prilosec if I need it which I have for 3 mo's and all was fine. Now it seems as if my stomach felt worse above my navel with some acid/ gas. Dr wants to do a scope which I will do. For some reason I felt like not taking the Prilosec might help. So far so good but it's only been a couple of days. Just curious if anyone took anti-acids after surgery and then didn't need them or had any symptons like I've had.

Thanks. I think most of us on this list being brought up in the era we were have to protect our feelings from being easily hurt. I'm still working on it. I've gotten to the point that I don't care what other people think as long as I know that I'm a good person, I try to be kind to others and try not to hurt others. I've finally learned I can't control what others think or act, that's their problem and It's what I think and know that is important in my life at this age. Good luck to all of us on this journey.

Sandstress we're all moving on the same road to a goal. Some hit pot holes, some speed bumps, others run and still others crawl but we do it our way. None the same. We're all different but want a similar outcome to be healthier and at a good weight for us though this surgery. I'm sure you didn't mean to say anything to criticize any person and it takes a lot of courage to apologize to a group. You'll do fine and good luck with your surgery. One of my favorite sayings is: I don't take anything personal unless it's a compliment.

Good Luck you'll do great.

Ditto to much of what you guys said except I don' have diabetes. Weight gain after 40. I had 2 hip resurfacings and wouldn't know they were not my hips but I didn't want to outlive them so decided on WLS. Wanted the lap band but my Dr's explained why there wasn't a high success rate on them. Also when I went through the pre classes there were quite a few band revisions to sleeve. My loss is slow but sure. 30 lbs down and I feel so much better. Arthritis pain is way down, BP normal, people compliment me on looking good and psychologically and emotionally I feel great. I did this for ME and it's the best decision I could of made for my health. I'm 1/2 way to my goal of size 10. I'm down to a 14 and loving it. The saying I'm not getting older I'm getting better is so true for me now. Good luck you'll do fine as long as you put your mind to it.

Looking forward to hearing from all the Feb/March gang. Hope your all doing great!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't get labs till next month. Can't take iron due to bad constipation. I take stool softeners now and gummy chewable fiber. I'm in a size 14. Frist time in more years than I can count. Goal is a 10.

Doing good. Finally broke a plateau this a.m. and the scale moved down. Almost a month. Thought I was at the end of loosing but thankfully loss has started again. Whew!!!! hair has always been thin but now it's thinner. Gets any worse I'll be getting a wig. Flying Wed 1st time since surgery. I have to take Dramaine because I get air sick. Don't for see any problems except the shuttle has to pick me up at 3:30 a.m. Ugh. Hope all are doing well.

Great weight loss. I have thin hair since I was 23 as a result of the high powered birth control pill that screwed up my whole system when I went off of it. It's gotten worse since menopause on top and sides. I use Toppik and Courve which masks the scalp. Since you live in FL isn't the wig hot to wear? What about when you go to the pool? I lived in FL for 25 yrs and now in AZ. What tips do you have for wearing a wig in a hot climate? Thanks Started Biotin in November, had sleeve November 18, 2013. Hair loss started April 2014. I cannot tell if there is new growth. I slowed down on washing/coloring, blowdrying my hair so as not to add more stress on it. I finally had to buy a wig as I am very fair and blonde and the loss is around my face. I bought a Gabor wig and get lots of compliments. I am very vain about my hair. I would say make sure you play around in a wig salon somewhere so you do not end up in a bind at some point. I could rant on and on, but I love my new self so I am making do. I hear now that Biotin only helps re-growth but I was not told this by anyone at surgery. I bought Toppik powder (read about it online). It does not work for me whatsoever. Thank God for my wig!

I totally agree w/Living Free to stay away from the complications forum and to research and have faith in your Dr and yourself. That forum is there if there are problems. I'm 67, surgery Feb 17 and doing great. I have had 2 hip resurfacings in (06 &08) due to osteoarthritis and don't know that they're not my own hips. I did not want to outlive my hips so got the sleeve and what a difference almost 30 lbs lost make. My quality of life has improved so much. It's a slow weight loss for me the last month but that's ok slow wins the race. The only problem I had is I have to take a Prilosec 1x a day for acid indigestion. My Dr said this could happen but it's no biggie. The other is constipation. I have to take a higher dose stool softener before bed. Small price to pay IMHO for health. I can tie my shoes w/o cutting my breath off from the fat. I'm bowling and walking/exercise in the pool and just enjoying life. Trust in yourself and your Dr. BELIEVE you are going to have a good surgery, post op and life. Say "when" I loose this weight instead of "if". When I wear a size... (10 that's my mantra, I'm in a 14). Put a positive spin on all your thoughts with I can, I will, when I. You can do this. Good luck

The weight didn't come on in a couple weeks nor will it come off that quick. Slower weight loss is easier on your body and skin. If your addicted to weighing yourself go take a short walk, dance to a song but do something instead of getting on the scale. Stalls are common. I'm in one now but I know it will end. In the mean time I'm grateful for the weight I've lost and how much better I feel. Good luck and think positive.

I'm 67, surgery was Feb and I'm so glad I had it. I feel really good. We might be getting older but with that we're getting better. What a difference the weight I've lost so far makes. Amazing.

The fatigue can last 3 mo's so listen to your body and rest if you need to. This is MAJOR surgery and it takes time to heal and your body to get used to the new sleeve. . I'm 4 mo's out and the fatigue is gone. If I get tired I take a short nap. Take one day at a time, follow Dr's directions and know you will be feeling great in a short time. Read a lot of the past posts and you will get a lot of information on how others handled problems. Don't worry about the weight not coming off fast enough for you. Even 4 lbs a mo is 48 lbs in a yr. Stalls happen so just keep on keeping on and they too will pass.

Welcome to a great group. There was a lot of who to tell on I think the Feb/March sleevers. It's individual. I live alone and I only told a few close friends. 2 of whom had the surgery. Didn't tell my sons/wives. When people ask me about the weight loss I just tell them I cut my portion size way back and doing high Protein. True and all they need to know. It's an individual thing on who to tell. I'm 3.5 mo's out and I have lost 26 lbs. Very slow loss but that is ok. I have no problems eating certain foods and just stop when I know I feel full. I've learned if I take 1 extra bite I start to slime. Took a few times of that happening for it to register when to say when. I make sure I take my Vitamins and I walk in the pool at least 5x a wk for an hr. I go to Curves but have been lax on it lately. My blood pressure is normal now, my Synthroid has been decreased and my arthritis doesn't hurt like it did. I've been able to not take pain meds except a Tylenol if I need it. One negative is I have to take Prilosec due to acid indigestion which I never had prior to surgery. My surgeon told me this might happen. I had surgery in Feb and turned 67 in March. It was my bday present to myself for a healthier life. Good luck

Welcome to AZ. I'm in the NW Valley by Surprise. I would recommend calling Robin Blackstone at Scottsdale Healthcare. I'm sure her office could recommend someone if your situation doesn't fit in their scope of practice. I have found Scottsdale Healthcare to be excellent and would highly recommend them. I know others who live in all areas of the valley and drive to Scottsdale Healthcare to see the Dr's because of their excellence. Good luck and I hope you love living in AZ as much as I do. I moved here 2 yrs ago from FL.

I'm from Chicago and miss the spring in the Midwest. Lived in FL for 25 ys. The humidity was no good for my arthritis and FMS. Love AZ w/the dryness. Where in FL do you winter? Lived in all areas of the state. Your doing great for 2 wks out of surgery. Everyday is better and by 3 mo's you'll feel like a new person. I couldn't wait to get back into the Water to exercise either. Walking was harder for me on land. Loosing the weight will help the FMS and arthritis greatly. I can't believe how much of a difference 26 lbs makes. Take 1 day at a time and before you know it you'll be on your way to being thin. My Dr said it takes 18 mo's to get to my final weight. I have plenty of time.

Our health is our wealth and SSue we'll be very rich w/the weight loss. The bat wings will give us extra momentum in the Water. LOL Feeling good is so important at this age. So much of my arthritis pain has subsided since loosing the pounds. I'm so glad I had the surgery. Hope your enjoying your warmer weather in MI. It's hot here in the valley but going to the outdoor pool at 6 pm for a hour of walking and exercise is the best part of the summer. I even feel good in a swim suit now.