CANOEINNH

There are post op meetings once a month at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. I just go. I'm also part of a group in Boston. It's a long way, but I really need it. We are switching to online meetings in two weeks. I like the live meetings, but will probably do ok. Communication with like minded people is most important to me. Hope everyone is hanging in there. Each day is a new beginning. I remind myself.

I was sleeved at Tufts in Oct 2014. Wish I had done it sooner, but maybe I wasn't ready. Delighted with the results. Approaching 100 pounds gone. The stalls or plateaus are the hardest part for me. Newly retired and living the energy. Also since surgery have had both knees replaced and one shoulder. Excellent results.

Hi. I was sleeved in Oct 2014. Excellent choice. Wish I had done it sooner. Approaching the 100 pound mark. Ups and downs for sure, long road, for sure, worth it, definitely.

Loopy lulu....hi. Gout is AWFUL you poor thing. I am only a year out and half way to goal. I too need all of you for encouragement. I am about to have a total shoulder replacement on Columbus Day. I expect the first part of recovery will be sleeping and not much appetite, but no exercise. Is there a way we can talk(text) when that weak moment hits or the depression seems overwhelming?? It looks like there are four of us. Hopefully all four won't be down at the same time. Sometimes it helps me to feel better if I am focusing on someone else. Anyone have a comment ?

Hi. Oregondaisy. I'm 65 and one year out. Not to goal yet, about half way. I am under 200 and scared to death I will fall into old habits and go over instead of down. I hear your frustration, back surgery, being told not to eat high protein, weight stuck. That's tough. Can you put those aside one time a day and look at the successes: you HAVE lost weight, you HAVE hung in there, you ARE able to reach out to us. Those around you may not "get it", but I bet there is someone cheering for you- hey look! It's me!!!! Try to find the part of this you Really like and think about that. Fix ONE thing for a month. Then another. Look for menu options- there are a ton of them. And keep talking.

Hi carol Moving can be taxing at best. Good for you making the effort to sit down to a real meal. I was going to suggest a bike if standing is hard, but you beat me to it. Since my knee rlacements I have been using a statinary recumbent bike and I like it more than I expected. Nothing fancy , just the Target special, but it is quiet enough to watch TV and I never go so far that I have trouble getting home. ???? Keep focused on getting back on track. It's hard but worth it. And when you think about quiting, remember why you started in the first place. You can do it. We are cheering for your success. Good luck. Keep posting. Dianne

Sorry. One more question. Has anyone considered any of the "packaged" programs? Jenny Craig?? Is that counter intuitive??

Hi Carol, I'm really encouraged to find someone to talk to. I think it can be helpful to all of us. I've thought about this for a while and having the common thread of the sleeve and positive encouragement can only lead to good results for all. Right now I'm in a slump, not gaining, but not losing either. I need to be accountable, more for my exercise than food. My exercise is dictated by my physical therapist and limited, but I am ready to push the limits. Tomorrow I shall start again. I will post here, both food, supplements, and exercise. Now I have committed please ask me if I carried through with it!! Thanks in advance. Let me know if I can help anyone else. Dianne

I am so pleased that people are posting. I had my sleeve on sept 29,2014 at Tufts in Boston. Great experience, no complications. I do ok with my fluids and Protein. Made it to the one-derfuls about 2 weeks ago and it feels great. While I attend the online support with Tufts once a month, it doesn't always meet when I need some encouragement. Since my sleeve I have had both knees replaced and am still in recovery for that. I'm a stress eater and old habits are hard to squash. I retire this year after 21 years of teaching middle school and I'm worried about finding another source of income. It will probably mean selling our home. If anyone has sure fire crave breakers, I'd love to hear about them. Good news: all signs of diabetes are GONE and I'm off insulin and other meds. Thanks for listening. Dianne

Hi I live near Concord, NH. Was sleeved 9/29/14. It has been a journey and continues to be. I participate in an online community once a month through Tufts inBoston. It is good but not frequent enough. I would love to be in a supportive arrangement. Ask me anything, I will share what I know. I think having a mentor/ buddy will be helpful to both of us. Dianne

So close. So anxious to get there. Good for you. How long did it take.

I am there too. Great losses then stall. I am sooo close breaking the 200 pound mark and just feel like I m stuck. Will I look at it and never make it. ? Some days my confidence totally wanes. Other days I tell myself I have come so far I must celebrate the success. I need a local group. Anyone out there from NH. ???

Looking forward to an upbeat post. I'm thinking that's where you are going. I'm 6 weeks post op, and just started feeling like I had energy again to start each day. Then last night I was cut down with pseudo-gout. Cripples me to the nth degree. Lots if pain. Kills my exercise. Also do you have pointers about foods to choose after the shake phase. ???

Finally back in the pool to do laps last night. Not my usual mile swim, but it felt GREAT. Helps my depression too.

I was sleeved sept 29. My advice is stay away from the scale. Have a weekly or biweekly weigh in. My reason to sleeve was to get healthier for my arthritis AND diabetes. Since surgery I am off insulin and ALL diabetes meds. Yeah me. Arthritis is still awful but I have hope. Let your body heal. You weren't born over weight. It will take time and adjustments to lose it. Be kind to yourself. Stick with your program. It will work.

Hi I'm from NH but had my sleeve at TUFTS on September 29. They have an excellent program. I started in May with a team of four. Psychologist, nutritionist, PA, and surgeon. The care was fantastic and they have done many many procedures. Everyone is readily available by phone and email. Important to me because I'm two hours away. They have an online support group as well as several Boston area support groups. I've also hooked up with the wellness support group fir weight loss surgery in Manchester at catholic medical Center. Once a week meetings for six weeks then monthly meetings after that. Good luck. I'm only two months out and only check my weight on what I call Weigh in Wednesdays. My clothes are very loose and the pounds are going down. My current concern is what if I stretch out my new stomach when I start eating again.? Right now my nutritionist has me on the shakes and soft protein like cottage cheese and well cooked meat. I can't eat much in either case. I do set my phone to remind me to eat every three hours. It gets annoying but keeps me on track. Good to hear from New Englanders.

Just do one day or even one more hour for now. Take it slow and be easy on yourself. Stay away from the scale. Just sayin. I was sleeved sept 29

This looks like the place for me. It's good to read all your posts and parts of most of them apply to me. I was sleeved on Sept 29 for health reasons. Already meds have been cut and weight is coming off. Keep posting please, it helps to read them even if I don't comment.

I'd like to be part of this group. I had my surgery on Sept 29 and was ok at first. Thought I would cruise thru with no issues. No vomiting or nausea. Emotions tripped me up. Doc says I need to slow down. Trying. Shifted my work schedule to half days.

MDB thanks. Just having some sympathetic ears (or eyes) help Process it.

Thanks for the positive words. Doc appt today was great. On soft protein now. Will do super shakes am and lunch and have a fish or chicken protein for supper with a protein snack before bed. Super shakes are a packet base with added Greek yogurt and a little flavor. Made with almond milk or lactaid. Discovered protein clear flavor drinks at a meeting last night. Mmmmm nice change. Talked to doc about feeling like a failure since I couldn't do this with will power and WHAT IF this doesn't work. I try to think about the good but the nasty little gremlin on my shoulder keeps whispering negative thoughts.

This is good for me. Sleeved 9/29/14 on my way to check up. Weight loss good. I'm not crazed over the scale. I'm off all diabetes meds. HUGE SUCCESS. now working on b/p meds. Clothes are loose. Very nice feeling. My focus is health. Anyone else?? I'm in New Hampshire and would like one or two buddies. Anyone out there.

I'm new here and trying to learn what I need to learn while skipping over the other. At 64 and gramma to 14, employed full time and run a wilderness canoe company, I'm looking for a solution to my weight issues. All the usual. APNEA, high B/P, diabetes, 5 kinds of arthritis, etc. I retire in 8 months and do not plan to sit around counting out my pills. Tonight I am 2 weeks post op and feeling overwhelmed. Down 30 pounds? Is that even possible? Feeling ok love the loose clothes. Back to work next week. Not telling anyone but husband. Embarrassed that I couldn't do this alone. Anyone else with those feelings?

Get rid of the meds. My first priority!!! My goal in all this is to be off the high b/p and the diabetes meds first. Then the pain meds. If weight lose happens then it's a bonus. I want to play hard when I retire in June 2015.

Hi I am 2 weeks post op. Woke up fine, used the pain pump in the hospital, but it was for my arthritis pain not surgery pain. Slept the first week home. Drank walked a little and slept. No problems with fluids or elimination, just slept. Second week now feeling great and attended a support meeting tonight where I was reminded that 60g a day of protein (liquid now) is very important. Don't want my hair falling out in month two. Back to work next week. I'm a middle school teacher with my classroom on the fourth floor. (No elevators) arthritis is a bigger problem than surgery. SW 264 CW 223.5. Haven't been this low since can't remember when. Clothes are loose. Looking forward to knee replacements. No nausea, no acid reflux, quit eating / drinking when I "feel" it. Works for me. Nervous about the days ahead. Not telling anyone what is going on except hubby. It's very embarrassing for me. Anyone else feel that way? I could use a friend in this.