Darkplaces

I was over 400lbs. Had the sleeve. Lowest weight was 218lbs. I am around 250lb now. The 220lb range I was just really weak. I tried playing basketball and could barley shoot the ball past the free throw line. Since I have put on 30lbs feel a ton better. I am a big fitbit user. I usually get 15000 steps a day. My doctor estimated I had about 22lbs of excess skin which my nutricianist did not take into consideration when calculating my body mass. As excited as I was to be that low on the scale I felt like shit Now the challenge is to stay at 250lbs!!!!

I had my sleeve done in Nov of 2014. Everything has been fantastic...no throwing up...no nausea etc. In February I got this stupid pain on my left side of my back/shoulder blade. It is hard to describe where but if I had nipples on my back like I do on my front that is where it would be. I did a swallow study...was fine. I have lived with this stupid pain since then. 10 days ago Doc put me on carafate liquid 4 times a day. As an addition I have taken Protonix 40mgs since my surgery date. I almost think the doc thinks I am crazy because he said it is near impossible for me to have an ulcer. I did not have my gallbladder removed and have lost something like 190lbs in 7 1/2 months. I ask the doc about my pancreas or gallstones and he shoots me down everytime. He did say in 7 more weeks if it does not go away with this medication they will do an upper GI. I just wonder if I should get the upper GI done sooner rather then later. The pain has slowly increased since February. It is an annoyance more than anything. I really feel it on an empty stomach or when I took chewable Vitamins (switched to bariatric advantages 3 times a day capsule and has been a huge help.) On a pain level it is probably a 3 on the scale but I have it most everyday with it sometimes radiating into my front just below my nipple. Just curious what some of you think. My labs don't show anything according to the doc but it can't be normal to have this nagging pain..can it?

Thanks..I am scheduled for an upper GI on July 27th. I will bring that up. The new doc (3rd opinion) said she doesn't think she will see anything but will do it anyway. She said the place I am describing pain is almost impossible to be gi tract related. So frustrating. I know it has something to do with my GI tract. It hurts when my stomach is empty and/or when I take my carafate. Also hurts when I take Vitamins. They did a mri of my spine this morning to rule that out. I have had a nuclear stress test, swallow study, kidney ultra sound. Upper left back pain and 3 different doctors say it is not related to my surgery. Sucks...

I am scheduled for an upper GI in the end of July. The Gastro doc (my 3rd opinion) concurred with my reg doc and my sleeve surgeon. She said she will do the GI but doesn't think she will see anything. The area of pain I am having cannot be related to my surgery is her opinion. How? When I have an empty stomach my upper back hurts. When I eat a chewable Vitamin my upper back burns. So frustrating...

My big thing is the pain is on my left side not my right. My general Doctor and my Sleeve surgeon keep telling me this. "Your gallbladder is on the other side." The pain is mainly toward my back. It is annoying. I bring up my Pancreas and how gallstones can block ducts and they look at me like I am crazy. I just worry I have gone untreated for whatever the heck this is for 4 months and by the time they finally figure it out I am going to have something really screwed up. I appreciate the input from everyone. I made an appointment with my general Doctor for Monday and I am not going to let her off the hook. I have had my heart and lung ruled out two weeks ago after doing nuclear stress tests and ct scans by a cardiologist. I had to prove it wasn't that before my Sleeve Doctor relented 10 days ago and put me on Carafate to drink 4 times a day.

After a while I just stopped noticing the food commercials. The old me would have probably wanted to try that hot dog pizza thing but today it doesn't even look good.

My sleep doc lowered my cpap to a range of 5 to 12. Has been working great. I don't get it up past 7...this coming from a person who used to run 12 to 20. I am so used to my cpap I am not sure about going off of it 100% but I am getting closer.

I gave up sodas a couple years ago. I mean, I have one occasionally but I choose tea or Water over soda. It think it'll be interesting to see what it takes to get me buzzed post op. Scotch and Bourbon would normally think 2 - 3 finger drinks. I'll save a small fortune in booze. I totally hear you. When I was at my highest weight drinking beer didn't do anything to me unless I got into the 7 or 8 range. I had a beer twice and I felt it (very light buzz.) Best of luck to you on your weight loss

I am 6 months out...almost 170 lbs down. I have had pizza and beer twice since the surgery. Was not a big deal. Nutritionally there is not much there so I would prefer my high Protein foods. It is nice to have a cold brew once in a while. I have avoided soft drinks and will continue to do so.

I had my surgery mid Nov and around Feb I started having pain under my left shoulder blade. I had a ct scan done and they couldn't see anything. Two months later it is still here. I really feel it when I take my Vitamins (flintstones chewables.) My doc has no idea why I am feeling this. I could get an upper gi done but the pain isn't unbearable. Feels like burning...like a hive on my stomach. My primary doc said that pain in your shoulder blade area is too high to be the stomach. All I know is when I eat it burns there

I am down about 135 pounds. Around the 80 mark I blew the seal off of the mask it was so powerful. I just read how to lower my pressure and I am fine. I see my sleep doc in a few weeks so I am wondering what he will say.

I am doing fantastic. I just had my 3 month post op appointment. However the day after my appointment I now have this stupid pain on the left side of my body. My shoulder hurts. Sucks. I never had any pain until the last 4 days. Gonna wait until Monday to call the doctor. It is just so weird. All of a sudden this stupid pain!!! Anyone else have anything like this 3 months or later out?

I am a food addict. The longer I have gone post op the better it gets. I can't say it is gone but I stick 100% to plan and have not eaten anything I know I shouldn't. My saving grace has been the sugar free popsicle. 15 Calories a piece. My worst time in the past was the evening sitting in front of the computer. Now when I do it I have a popsicle...and another...and another. I usually eat 4 to 6 a day. It satisfies my cravings at night (this coming from a 410 pound guy who would eat at least a large bag of chips every night...who would order two extra value meals large size at McDonalds by myself because I was embarrassed the cashier knowing the extra nuggets and fries were all for me so I would buy two meals so they would think it was for two people.) It got better is my point. So much so I feel fantastic and fully satisfied on 750 calories a day

43 years old Start 410 Surgery 404 11/18/14 Today 330 Down 80lbs

How is everyone doing two months in? I feel like I can be more daring with food but I am just sticking to liquid and chicken or pork. Weight loss has been pretty steady. It is amazing what it feels like dropping 80lbs. It is so much easier getting around and I do not sweat anymore. I used to sweat at just thinking about walking. Now I actually get cold. I still have a long way to go...I hope all of you are feeling as good about the surgery as I am

For me I was thin for 1/2 of my life and fat for the other half. I was an athlete all through high school. I ran. I was 190 on my wedding day and in 20 years weighed 410. I got sleeved in Nov and I am down 70ish so far. My problem is that I want to lift. I am dying to hit the gym. My doctor has a rule for all of his patients that you can't for 3 months. Sucks. I am listening to him because the guy was excellent. I have had zero.zero complications. None. No pain. No nausea. Nothing. He knows his business. But damn 3 months sucks.

I have been sticking to a 500/700 calorie diet right now. I do a Unjury Choc protein added to fat free & Lactose free milk (8oz) for breakfast. Lunch I have V8 (8oz) with Unjury non flavored protein for lunch. Dinner I eat chicken or pork. Example: I love the grilled chicken nuggets at Chick Fil A so I can eat 8 nuggets for dinner. Supplements I get in 2 flintstone chewables, Bariatric advantage caramel calcium chews and B12 I got in liquid form. My cheat is sugar free popcycles. I eat about 5 a day. I love them. I am trying to be better about my water. I enjoy water that is not ice cold (which stinks because before I loved Ice cold water.) I might drink 28/32oz of G2 every few days to make sure I am getting enough hydration. My skin is really dry. I itch like crazy. Not sure if there is something in the unjury that causes it or just a change in diet. I do not have to poop a whole lot (every 3 to 4 days.) I am not doing any real exercise. I need to start walking. I am losing about a 1lb a day eating this way. I log everything into my fit bit. I am only getting in around 5000 steps a day.

Surgery date 11/18 Preop diet weight: 410 Day of Surgery): 404 Today's weight: 356 Total weight loss: 54 Pounds

I did have a NUT tell me that is why I am supposed to avoid carbonated drinks for 2 years. That it will stretch your stomach. Not sure how accurate that is.

Hello all- Here are my stats: Surgery date: 11/18/2014 Pre op: 410 lbs Day of surgery: 404 lbs Current: 375 lbs (11/30) Down 35 lbs I have been logging my food via fitbit. I am coming in around 600 calories a day. I am having: unjury chocolate protien shake for Breakfast (mixed with lactose and fat free milk 8oz) 8oz of old school V8 around lunchtime (I start to feel better when I get this in) I also chew 2 flintstone chewables at lunch 4oz of low fat cottage cheese around 2:30 I also do my caramel chew (Bariatric Advantage) for Calcium and b12 5000 liquid under the tongue. dinner (5:00) last two nights I had 1 egg scrambled and one piece of bacon (microwavable) I do not seem to be able to finish all of the egg and piece of bacon and feel really full for quite a while. Between 6 and 8 I usually have 2 sugar free popsicles. Try to wind down for bed by 9:30. My Water intake is bad. I am coming in around 32oz of water a day. I need that to improve.

I was self pay. Once I selected a Doctor I was able to shop around. If I picked a hospital that was older and more urban I could save about $4000 over the nice new one by my house. The anesthesiologist knocked $430 off the bill if I paid in advance. If I paid the hospital up front ($9000) they would cover the surgery, pre and post op and 72 hours of care. My Doctor also had a pay up front discount. I did the whole thing for $14,055.00.

Sleeved on the 18th. Home now. In the hospital I forced myself to do a ton of walking and it really helped. I noticed the jello bothered me in the hospital but the broth was fine. I also was able to tolerate sonic ice which was a plus. Last night at home I had room temp water and original V8 which my doc recommends...went down fine. I did have to take the liquid codine for bed last night but I chalk that up to my wife's driving home from the hospital more than anything Over all I am surprised I am doing this well.

Matt I can relate 100%. I am just sitting here thinking about all the ways food was the dominant force driving my life. Like a big bus heading toward me ready to run me over...I can either cower and close my eyes or lean into it. I am choosing to lean into it. No more excuses...no more I will start a diet tomorrow...no more last meals at McD's. I am ready for a change. Missing family and friends because I don't want them to see me has to be the worst. I can't do that anymore. I have an 11 year old daughter I need to be around for. Two high school sons to make miserable until they move out. I am prob 20 years older than you (judging by the picture)...don't waste the next 20 years doing what I did. Change.

No idea. I have a food class tomorrow and my Doc's nurse is gonna be there. I will ask her.

I am excited. Wish I could just fast forward the next two days I am supprised I am doing so well actually. It hit home yesterday (after the final pre op appointment) that I am really getting this done. I sat down last night and wrote a bucket list of things being overweight has kept me from doing. Things like riding a roller coaster... I am looking forward to knocking everyone of those things of my list.