catwoman7

just so you know, I had no pain. My abs were sore so it was a bit challenging to go from lying down to sitting or sitting to standing, etc, the first week or so, but if I just laid there (or sat there), I had no pain at all. I was very surprised!

I would call. It could potentially be a stricture - but like the above poster said, it could be gall bladder, too (I wouldn't know since I've never had gall bladder issues - but I had a stricture!). Whatever it is, it's not normal, so call....

just stick to your program and let it do its magic! I had occasional stalls and slow periods all along - include a two-week long stall that first month. But I've lost over 200 lbs since I began my journey...

P.S. I had no pain, either. Just sore abs that made it challenging to go from lying to sitting - or sitting to standing. But if I was just lying (or sitting), I had no pain at all.

*only* lost 7 lbs? A 7 lbs loss the first week is fantastic! Many people are actually *up* a few lbs the first week because of all the IV fluids that were pumped into them at the hospital (it's just Water and is gone within a few days) I know we all hear the stories about people dropping 30 lbs the first month, but that's on the extreme end of the range. I've been on WLS boards for 2 or 3 years, and it seems most people lose in the 15-25 lb range that first month (some more, some less). So your 7 lbs in one week is actually very good!

17 lbs in three weeks is good. I lost 16 lbs the entire first month. Everyone loses at different rates due to a variety of factors (gender, age, metabolism, whether or not you lost a lot of weight pre-op, etc). I considered myself a "slow loser", but I've lost over 200 lbs over the course of my journey. If you stick to your plan, you'll get there one way or another.

I never thought about having my PCP write a script for Vitamins - although i've had her do it for stuff like ibuprofen (pre-surgery), so might be worth a shot... I've always taken OTC vitamins. I take Centrum chewable or the generic equivalent. And I take two instead of one.

I just get the generic Centrums at CVS ("SpectraVite"). I get the one for seniors (because I am one), but I suppose it doesn't matter. The senior ones don't have iron in them, but since I take separate iron supplements, it doesn't really matter

I have an arthritic hip as well and was really worried about the no-NSAID issue, but with my 200 lb weight loss it is *much* better. I get regular cortisone shots, and that seems to do the trick. Pre-surgery, even the cortisone shots often weren't enough - I was taking ibuprofen and Aleve *a lot*.

you should feel it when you start eating solid food.

it seems like a lot of DS'ers on another board I'm on had a lot of positive things to say about him

Like Daisee, I also had a stricture - two, in fact. One at about six weeks out, the second about 10 weeks out. I'd let your surgeon's office know if you haven't already. If it doesn't improve, they may want to scope you. If it's a stricture, it's a really easy fix.

yes - I'm often asked by my surgeon's office to speak to the pre-op groups. I've lost over 200 lbs and am almost at a normal BMI, so there are always a couple of them who come up to me after class to tell me I've inspired them :-)

I ate Jello in the hospital as well.

I was told never to drink them again, and I haven't. Like one of the other posters, I went cold turkey about two years ago.

just so you know, you'll have a lot of excess skin no matter what (unfortunately!!) I of course don't do all of these every day (usually only one per day, 5-6 times a week): swimming, Water aerobics, stationary bike, walking, weight machines, TRX, yoga

Weight loss surgery is one of the safest surgeries there is. That may not have been the case 30 years ago, but it is now. As djmohr said, it's safer than hip replacement surgery. Yes - of course people can die - people can die from *any* surgery (remember that little girl who died while having her tonsils out a couple of years ago?). Like having your tonsils out, though, the risk from dying while having gastric bypass is ridiculously low - 0.3%. For gastric sleeve, it's even lower. That means you have 99.7% chance of NOT dying. I'd say those are pretty good odds!!! Dying on the table is REALLY rare. I'm sorry it happened to your friend, but it's just something that almost never happens. My surgeon has been doing these for 15 years and has never lost a patient - and i'm sure he's far from alone.

it's a common side effect of all the weight loss surgeries, not just DS. Most people experience "shedding" for a few months (doesn't necessarily last all the way to the maintenance stage - I've read a lot of posts from people experiencing it for 2-4 months, too). They notice it - but no one else does. A minority of people lose no hair at all (that was me - I didn't lose any), and another minority lose noticeable chunks. But again, most people are somewhere in the middle. If so, you'll likely be the only one who notices. It usually starts somewhere around month 3 to month 6 post-op. If it's going to happen it's going to happen - not much you can do to prevent it. But keeping on top of your Protein and supplements will probably help it from getting any worse than it is... P.S. Like James said, it does grow back.

I was told sleeve wouldn't be a good choice for my GERD? I have a lot to research still . Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App the sleeve will *often* make GERD worse, but not *always*. You won't know until after the surgery which way you'll go on this.

if this keeps up, call your surgeon's office. It could be a stricture. I had two of them in the first 2-3 months.

I think revisions in general tend to be complicated surgeries - that's why a lot of surgeons won't do them. And some are more complicated than others, so...

Yes - the Cleveland Clinic is another one of the top hospitals in the world.

I think that happens to a lot of people. It's probably due to the ultra-low carb and low calorie intake. Just hang in there - it'll soon be over!!

might want to find someone who specializes in revisions and see what they say. Someone on another board I'm on found someone at the Mayo Clinic who was willing to do it. So she may have to travel....

as another poster said, building muscle will improve that percentage as well. We lose muscle mass as well as fat when we're losing weight...