Dr-Patient

I like 'Pure Protein shake,' the Frosty chocolate ready to drink at Walmart/ elsewhere. I also love Unjury"s Chocolate Splendor...BUT I am currently avoiding all of them because I do not lose weight with Splenda/sucralose...which, alas, is in almost all of these things. The unjury chicken Soup is good, but do NOT make the Water too hot, it curdles big time.

Ditto! Walgreens-bound in the morning! I hope it doesn't have Splenda/sucralose, because I have discovered it slows my weight loss.

My treat was being able to eat applesauce. O.M.G. You'd have thought it was creme brulee. I was so grateful.

My VSG was done outpatient. I had the J-P drain for one week. [J-P is for Jackson-Pratt drain.] it does not hurt when removed. Not all doctors place it, though it does serve as a conduit for any excess intraabdominal Fluid collections that may occur post-op (for any surgical procedure, not only WLS). It helps decrease infection risk or blood collections that can get walled off inside. I was more than ready for it to come out by day 5, because after all the CO2 had dissolved, my organs were more in contact with the drain tubing inside me. The J-P is not obligatory; just surgeon preference. It's not a deal-breaker.

Congrats on your success! Those thumbnail pics in the first post are not you (someone else). Great gallery! Love that black dress from new year's eve--hot! Good for you.

I also live alone. God, where is my husband!!? About my VSG, I only told a few of my male friends, no female friends in my city, but some others out of town (women I met at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center). I shared contact info among the ones who know, in case of emergency. In fact, one male friend took me to the Wednesday surgery (I was done outpatient), and he delievered me to another friend's house--that guy works from home. He had me stay with him for three days and brought me home on Saturday. (I had originally planned to just have the transport guy take and bring me back home, and be there alone. It's good to have good friends...and to be willing to let them care for you.) I agree with too much stocking up. You will not be housebound after the first 2 days or so. You don't need to clear the shelves of all Protein products. You'll probably take much of it back due to excess, dislike, or moving into another phase. Try to sip as much as you can (which I found annoying, as I love to guzzle water/milk, but it is getting better). Rest when you feel tired, but don't be in bed or immobilized all day. Ambulate.

Maybe she was just saying that to make sure you are fully informed, but it sounds like she didn't have to be so negative. Maybe tell her boss/your doctor to help her with her bedside manner/communication style. But, hey; listen; maybe you're like me: Right now, I am so tired of being 'clinically obese.' I'm tired of being in the 200s. I'm tired of people (now) saying, "Well you still have a pretty face." Right now, I need to see the weight come off...now. I want to get back to 'me.' I want to be confortable/confident in my clothes, and be happy when I look in the mirror...now. I want to walk in a room and not look to see if I am the fattest woman in the room. I want to be in photos again; life is passing. I want a break from feeling bad about myself and how I look. I'm tired of hiding socially. I want to return to my body matching my 'pretty' face and my 'great' personaility that has been under a rock for far too many years. I want to finally embrace the woman people told me I was years ago, but I never saw it [long story]. But I'm ready to fully embrace it and losing this weight is a part of that process...and I'm doing it for me. My VSG was Dec. 4th; 32 pounds gone so far, despite annoying stalls, so I'm moving forward and trying to hang in here. I AM hanging in here. (Btw, this site is helpful.) So I said that to say this: I am not going to worry about what might happen 2-3 years from now. If I gain some weight back then, I'll deal with it then. Hopefully I won't gain it all back, which I shouldn't if I stay on (or periodically return to) the basics. But right now...I'm in the process of my change for the better and I'm enjoying that now. I'll deal with 2-3 years later...in 2-3 years. I'd say think about your needs...right now. Just my thoughts.

Wow. Is that the same person!!? Fantastic results! Great job!! Encouraging.

Remember, "Laparoscopic [VSG, LapBand, RNY] ..." is how most of these surgeries are done. They afford access to the abdoment via small incisions. "Robotic" surgery, using the DaVinci, is laparoscopic surgery done with the additional instrumentation of the robot.

The DaVinci is the surgical robotic assisting device. While it's "cool," "hip," and also can give surgeons great visualization, etc., it is VERY costly and many doctors are still in their learning curve, or teaching others how to use it (at the OR cost to the patient). Doctors need to get a number of completed robot cases to be hospital-approved to use it and/or teach it, so some docs will wish to use it (and recommend it to you) to advance their completed case load count. Any good surgeon can do these WLS procedures--especially something as simple at the VSG and LapBand--in less than an hour, most times, so all the time to set up the Robot is just extra, unnecessary time in the OR, and additional cost to the patient. It's cool; neat; fun, but not always worth the expense to the patient. But...up to you/your doctor.

Given your BMI, and the trend away from the band (due to complications, erosions and less weight loss), I'd really suggest you more consider the sleeve. I'll try to find the list of questions I'd prepared, and asked, my surgeon/friend. They may be a helpful start. If I still have them, I'll follow up.

So many of us are dealing with the stall. We have to hang on, we'll get through it. It's frustrating , though. And I just did something I should NOT have done. OMG. Help. Where's the thing to start a new topic?

I didn't do well with any pre-op diet regimen, still had my surgery on time and I'm doing fine. Do the best you can; but unless you've got some major health ailments, and an already huge liver, don't overly stress about it. Just sayin'. If you drop some weight preo-op, good. If you can do so well pre-op with a diet, you wouldn't need the surgery! None of us would have. :-) [They want you to lose some weight before surgery to decrease the size of the liver to avoid possible injury if its so big that it's near the surgical field.]

This Wednesday coming will make 8 weeks post-op and I'm in my 2nd stall. The first was at 23 pounds, now I'm stuck at 30 pounds. I really wanted 40 pounds by 8 weeks but it's not going to happen. For ME...I think I need to stop things that have Splenda/sucralose in them. I remember from my time at the DFC--Duke Diet & Fitness Center--when I switched to Splenda instead of Sweet & Low, I could NOT lose weight. It's 'made from sugar so it tastes like sugar'. I am positive that my body treats it like sugar and I do NOT lose weight when I use it regularly. I went back to S&L. In the past week or so, I've been doing more Isopure and other stuff, and not one pound. I need to back off. For me, in part, it's the Splenda. I know folks like it, but its pattern in MY body is clearly established. Might be something for others to consider.

I'd watch the fruit juices. Too much sugar, even natural sugar.

It is hard to get all the fluids and protein drinks, etc, in. I have other posts about wanting to guzzle water, but can't. Many people can't get all the liquids in, but keep at it. It will happen! Head up!

Your surgery was 2 days before mine. When you got the all clear for solids, what did you eat, cuz you said you had a hard time with the Protein. Did you do a lot of carbs? Carbs are the true enemy. Check with the doc or nutritionist, keep a food journal and avoid the carbs as much as possible. Don't be discouraged, and don't say this won't work for you. In less than eight weeks, you've lost 24 pounds. When was the last time you did that on your own? Celebrate that, but talk with your medical team for guidance.

I hate the. chalky tasting stuff, so I swallow two Perdiem tablets at bedtime and by morn, oh happy day! I'm seven wks out, so you should be fine. (Of course, just my opinion. Check with your docs office or their manual.

Congrats! Why not post some before/after pics? Those are really encouraging, for when we hit a stall.

Hello. I'm new to this site, and only seven weeks s/p my VSG. You've had great results. Anyway, just saying welcome!

I may be stalled, but I tried on some pants tonight (for a board meeting tomorrow), and I will wear some slacks I haven't worn in over four years! also a nice jacket that I can button! THAT lifted my spirits...as have your notes of encouragement.

Be patient. I'm saying this to you, as I am to me right now. I wrote earlier today about my two stalls (in 7 weeks) and today my head wants a big meal. See my post "My head wants me to eat..." I didn't stall til my 4th week, but everyone is different. Make sure you're getting in your Protein as best you can. I told myself that my body is probably saying, "Hey, wait a minute, now! What has happened to our food!!!? You think you're going to lose weight? Oh no; no no. You know we're used to being fat and holding onto every calorie." So, the battle is on. But we will have the victory over the pounds. SO to me and you I say...be patient. It will happen. Look at others' before/after pics for encouragement.

Thanks to all. I actually posted this twice, and more replies are with the duplicate post, as well. Great tips. Thanks. Ironically, today, I'm struggling. I posted that my head wants me to eat Big time!!

I'm 6 wks + a few days post-VSG; 30 pounds down (including a week of stall). Last night for the first time, I went to a restaurant for a sit-down dinner. I usually ordered an appetizer, entree, wine and maybe a dessert. So this was different: 1) holding off on my Water to save room for my food; 2) passing up on ordering any wine/martini; 3) do I just get an appetizer, knowing that that amount is all I'd likely be able to eat?; 4) do I get the entree only? 5) do I tell the waitress why 'no' to this/'no' to that? I ended up only ordering an entree (which, early-bird included a soup; I picked the black bean soup). The Soup came in a rather large bowl containing maybe ~8-10 ounces. I had 3 spoonfuls and stopped. My "crabmeat-stuffed tilapia" with veggies and rice dinner came. The 'stuff' part was perfect: soft, tasty, could've had more. The fish--broiled--went down well and I ate a few pieces of the squash and the zucchini, plus I allowed a few grains of rice, but NOT even a fork full of rice. BUT, bottom line...I brought ~85 % of everything home. (And I DID tell the waitress, but really didn't have to.) Advice: Just order an appetizer, or be prepared to bring everything else home for munching later. Plus, instead of an $50-80 tab, it was $16.00--an "NSV." Any others with advice on this? Thanks.

Did you exercise much, or at all? I've seen many lose great weight without any serious exercise at all! I haven't done any yet, but will begin with something by week's end. Congratulations. Kim. Gives me hope.