Revconguy

Hello All, I'm about 13 months post op (sleeve). I generally have no problems eating and following my prescribed diet. I'm staying at about 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day, getting 65mg of protein in, drinking my water, and staying away from bread, pasta, etc. The only vice I have right now is drinking caffeinated coffee. While I have lost 100lbs since surgery (with 50 more to go), I've been stalled at my current weight for the last 3 months. To be honest, I'm dumbfounded about why I can't seem to lose any more weight. I really think it would be difficult to reduce my caloric intake much more while continuing to get in my daily protein allotment. I tried additional exercise on my recumbent bicycle but that resulted in a weight gain of 5lbs. Can anyone advise on what the secret is to restarting my weight loss? Thanks...Rev

I'm at 8 months and I can't say that I really ever get "hungry" like I did pre-surgery. I certainly have head-hunger cravings but I can fight it off without any problems if I keep busy. If I sit around watching TV or something, I have a hard time wanting to nibble on something. Frozen sugar-free popsicles are my go-to snack. ...Rev

This table is spot on for me. I don't know if I'm happy or disappointed. I'm 8 months out and 90lbs down. Very frustrated, it seems like I have been at a virtual stand-still for a couple of months now. Seeing that I'm withing the bounds of the chart gives me a little hope. ...Rev

Well it looks like I lucked out! I went through the 6-month pre-surgery routine and exhaustive testing and had my sleeve surgery on November 28, 2016. They billed the insurance company for $65,000 for the surgery (sleeve + abdominal hernia) and I ended paying about $2,500 +/- for my part. I just received word that my employer is going to another health insurance company effective May 1st. The only real difference in coverage is that the new company DOES NOT cover bariatric surgery. Couldn't have planned and timed it better if I had to..... Unfortunately, I don't think the new plan will cover skin removal either... (sigh...) Now if I can just get over this blasted stall.....

I have a desk job. I went back after 1.5 weeks with no problems at all.

Huntsville, Alabama

Me too. Sleeved 11/28. Lost about 15 pounds the first week and then stopped. No loss over the past week. Discouraging...

Not complaining But, I was sleeved on Monday 11/28/16 with a abdominal hernia repair. I had absolutely zero shoulder pain from gas. I've also had absolutely no problems with incision pain. The only pain that threw me for a loop is the abdominal hernia repair muscle pain. I felt like I had done 1000 sit ups in one sitting. I told the nurse at the hospital that I wanted to start walking a couple hours after waking up and haven't held back much at all. Counting surgery day, I'm on day 5 and I have no doubt I can return to my desk job immediately. It took a day or so for the anesthesia groggyness to pass and for for my bladder to wake up so I could pee. They ended up giving me a catheter for a few minutes to drain my bladder. I was able to go well on my own after that experience. Otherwise, I made it through the sleeve part of the surgery without any of the issues I frequently hear about. I've had dental procedures that were much worse than having the sleeve. Thus, while my experience may not be the norm, it is possible to get through a sleeve procedure with minimal pain problems. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. (Day 5, down 11lbs). ...Rev

Greetings! I finally had my sleeve done on Monday (11/28). My surgeon also did a hernia repair near my navel. I suspected something wasn't quite right as my navel looked a little asymmetric. I've had no shoulder gas pain to nausea to speak of. However, my abdomen feels like I did 1000 sit-up in one sitting. The pain is pretty bad. I'm thinking the surgeon may have had to cut some muscle when he repaired the hernia. Any others have hernia repair done at the same time? I "think" the pain is getting a little better but I may just be trying to talk myself into thinking there is less pain. The thing I'm missing the most is soda crackers. Pre-sugery, I was addicted to eating soda crackers with fruit juice. While I'm enjoying my sugar-free popsicles, I hate this Clear liquids phase. Tomorrow, I get to start my Protein drinks and I can't wait!

Thanks for the confirmation that the hernia repair is likely the source of my pain. I didn't have a drain tube so no worries there. Right now, I can hardly tell the incisions are there. No pain or itching (yet).

OMG! Now what! I'm really getting nervous now! My paperwork went into the insurance company on Friday afternoon and I checked my account on my insurance provider's web site before 8:00am this morning (Monday) and it shows I'm approved!!! How's that for a fast approval! Approval is for November 16 through 30. That's like right now! After researching weight loss options since March '16, I've been on a path toward getting sleeved. Not for cosmetic reasons, but so I can be around for my Grandchildren. I had earlier posted my story (below) when I joined this board. Just last week, I learned that my sole paternal male cousin (5 years older than me and eldest male on that side of the family) is following in the family pattern with with heart problems. Although my recent extensive heart testing came out relatively clean, I am still pursuing my Quest to fix my health before it's too late. Looks like I'm on the way to the losers bench real soon. My story: ...I got a phone call late one evening in early March of 2016 that my older brother and patriarch of the family had suddenly died from obesity-related heart failure. His wife found him in bed too weak to get up. He died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Other than being obese like me, he appeared to be in great shape 6 months ago. He must have known something was wrong as he called me just the week before and begged me to try to improve my health and not go down the road he did. He was just a few years older than me and our lives and health tracked each other precisely. He was slightly chubby teen who got skinny in his 20's and then at 30 gained tremendous amounts of weight. I did the exact same thing. At 25, I weighted 130lbs at 6'0" tall. The pattern was the same for my father and grandfather also. I was diagnosed with diabetes at the exact same age as my brother. Everything was the same, it just happened to me a very few years after him. Heck, we even looked almost like twins. Many people thought we were twins although he was a few years older than me. I lost my obese grandfather, father, obese mother, and obese brother all due to heart-related disease. Biologically family-wise, it's just my sister and I left. After losing my brother, I made a appointment with my doctor right away. I demanded extensive heart tests, a referral to a bariatric surgeon, a referral to a gastroenterologist, the works... I'm just starting my journey to changing the pattern. (May, 2016). I'm not ready to die yet. I have too much to do...

Thanks Genn. I've seen the writing on the wall and want to be around for my Grandkids. ...Rev

Good luck Butch. Keep us up to date on how it goes. I have similar stats as you and I'm hoping for a November surgery date.

I'm afraid I'm a high BMI (43.1). Insurance is a company called Harvard Pilgrim (out of New England) and administered in Alabama by United Healthcare.

I'm pre-surgery with Dr. Foreman's office. How did your experience with their office go?

Keep us posted. As a pre-sleeve 55yo male, I'm curious how your journey continues so I might get an idea about what I might expect from my future experience.

Yep, I'm on month 4 of 6. Keeping occupied by getting all of the pre-op tests required by my surgeon. Can't wait for the day!

Wow. I'm a pre-op male on the 5th month of my diet. I certainly hope my post-op experience is as successful as yours. I'm amazed. Was it hard to do?

Getting the phone call a couple of months ago that my older brother had dropped dead from obesity-related heart failure. He was just a few years older than me and our lives and health tracked each other precisely. He was chubby teen who got skinny in his 20's and then at 30 gained tremendous amounts of weight. I did the exact same thing. My father and grandfather did also. I was diagnosed with diabetes at the exact same age as my brother. Everything was the same, it just happened to me a very few years after him. Heck, we even looked almost like twins. Many people thought we were twins although he was 9 years older than me. I lost my obese grandfather, father, obese mother, and obese brother all due to hear failure. After losing my brother, I made a appointment with my doctor right away. I demanded heart tests, a referral to a bariatric surgeon, a referral to a gastroenterologist, the works... I'm just starting my journey to changing the pattern. I'm not ready to die yet.