AGreenEyedWolf

14 months post-VSG and landed myself in the ER for part of the day of yesterday. Still not quite sure WHY... woke up to severe abdominal cramps and waited 6 hours before dropping my son with his dad and heading to the hospital. A Bentyl injection, a liter of fluids and some blood & urine testing later the cramps had ceased, my lactic acid was fine and I was sent home. No sense keeping me overnight for observation they said as long as I agreed to return if the cramps came back and would not go away if I took the Bentyl prescription they sent me home with. Felt super wiped out when I got home but I was relieved my tests came back just fine even though there was no obvious cause for the cramping. Last time this happened (1 month pre-VSG) I also couldn't keep food down (that wasn't the case this time) and I was admitted and suffered through an NG tube for 2 days due to a blockage. This time they considered a blockage or a blood clot in my intestines but with my lactic acid remaining normal neither seemed to be the case. Today I have had just 3 more cramps across the whole day but my entire lower abdomen is very tender and feels a little on the bloated side. I have been careful;l about what I am eating today, making sure like yesterday it is bland and in smaller than usual quantities and that I am staying hydrated. Still not feeling myself yet, but I think I am on the mend. Prayers & good thoughts appreciated!

...to share a before and after photo. I still have 10-20 pounds to lose to get to my goal weight - but at 1 year post-op from my VSG it seemed like time to be brave and share it with everyone... so here is pre-surgery vs. now. Despite needing to lose another 10 to 20 I am still pretty proud of my results so far!

Constipation is a real issue. Sometimes I go 2-4 days without going then go a small amount every day for awhile. And when I do go, it's large marble to small golf ball sized balls that sometimes get stuck or are painful to pass. I don't think I've had a soft BM since before surgery. I had constipation issues before surgery but things are definitely different/worse now. I also HAVE to eat 6 ounces of blackberries every day and take a stool softened every night before bed in order to go daily. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

I try to space my food to 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm if I can... 7 am is always hot tea... 1 pm and 4 pm are meals... 10 am and 7 pm are snacks... and no matter WHAT happens I ALWAYS follow 3 rules: NO food after 8 pm... a bottle of water between 7:30 and when I go to bed (usually i go to bed at 9 pm)... and a minimum of 3 more bottles of water spaced throughout the day Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm a year post op from VSG and already have very little restriction... I have to say though... I don't get much actual hunger... but I get a LOT of head hunger... I think a lot of that is because my medication makes you crave carbs [emoji14] Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgeons office gave me a binder filled with great info on every step of my journey... even has places for me to record my successes and by photos and everything. Maybe you can find something g like that pre made online? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

For me my pre op diet was all about timing... I'd have a cup of hot tea with splenda and a splash of milk at 7 am (I dont usually do breakfast... but you can have 2 scrambled eggs and a slice of whole grain toast instead) and then wait until 10 am to have a protein shake. Then I'd wait till 1 pm for another protein shake and at 4 pm I'd have a high protein meal like a Tyson grilled chicken breast and half a cup of vegetables... and at 7 pm I'd have half a cup of blackberries or a small apple or something like that. And in between every meal I'd drink a 16.9 ounce bottle of water. Once in awhile I'd replace the noon protein shake with soup, but not more than once a week. Once I was used to the timing I did great! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

This link now goes to a zydeco association. :-( Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Mine was at North Florida Regional... sorry I can't comment about Shands but I did have my daughter there and had a great experience with L&D Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

I love Premier Protein chocolate. Can't stand any other flavors or brands. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

For salty, I make parmesan crisps in my microwave... 1 to 3 minutes depending on how many I want and they are crunchy like chips and so delicious! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

I told no one but my spouse and two friends until afterward... and then I told very few people for months. My husband was there but he wasn't super supportive... I also still cook for him and my son which is hard when I don't eat what they do. I'm a year post op, so I COULD eat some of the stuff they do and CHOOSE not to... to this day my husband makes comments like "then you shouldn't have had surgery" when I say I'm not eating the same thing he is because I avoid carbs like bread, rice, pasta, etc. And when I posted my before/after photo on Facebook... which took me forever to be brave enough to do... he got irritated and said I wasn't telling everyone about my "cheating" by having surgery and was "lying" by making it seem like I worked hard when I "did no work at all"... he has NO idea what I've struggled through apparently, despite having been right here as I struggled for the last 12 years. I'm sure that's part of why we are getting a divorce. You can't please everyone and you have to do what's right for you whether everyone agrees with your decision or not. You get healthy and let that crap go in one ear and out the other. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Great job! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Sorry that should say my cousin lost 100 pounds not 10p Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

I started at 220 at VSG surgery... and 12 months later I've lost 60 pounds and been through 2 stalls... I'm still 10-20 pounds from my goal weight... on the opposite end of the spectrum my cousin had RNY and 7 months later has lost 10p pounds and is at her goal weight... everyone is different and every surgery is different... your results will depend on many factors... expect less and hope for more and you won't be disappointed Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Chantix... I used it to quit in less than 10 days in 2010 and stayed off the smokes until 2014... then I smoked again thanks to stress until November 2016... that time I stopped thanks to an ecig... which I stepped down the nicotine over a couple of months... I snuck my ecig into the hospital with me when I had my VSG in January 2017... but never felt the need to use it and haven't touched either one since. It's tough... but you CAN do it! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using BariatricPal mobile app

Today is my 1 year VSG surgery anniversary. My SW was 220 and my CW is 160. I'd be happy at 150 and my surgeon supports that even though 140 is probably where I "should be" for my BMI. I stalled at 170-174 from July to October 2017 and then at 163-165 from Late November to now (finally hit 160 today). I last saw my NUT and surgeon on 11/21/2017 and at that time my surgeon told me I had about "8 more months of prime time" to get rid of more of this weight. My intake is 4 to 5 16.9 oz bottles of water a day... 6 oz of blackberries a day (I cannot move my bowels if I don't eat them for even 1 day so no choice there at the moment) and then 500-700 calories a day. I do track my calories and everything using the Samsung Health app. On slow days (maybe once a week when I am so busy I just can't get out and do it) I only get about 7000 steps in but usually I jog a mile and then walk 10000 steps daily. I struggle to get my protein in - I admit that - but it is because of financial reasons, not ability to consume protein or anything. I broke the bank to do it but got 8 protein shakes - and plan to have one for lunch every other day starting on Saturday to see how that goes and if it helps me get back on track. I do have snacking issues, I admit it - but I try to make healthy snack choices and to stay away from home if I can (I don't get hungry when I am out of the house and busy but at home I snack - it's mainly emotional eating - I think that will get better when my divorce is finalized and I can afford to move out). Just looking for some encouragement and support as I do my best to lose this last 10-20 pounds.

Well, the divorce is in a stall because we could not agree at mediation - my husband is asking for me to do something I find reprehensible (give up my parental rights - just because he wants to "be in control" and "have the right to come into my house anytime he wants and take our son away if he doesn't like my behavior." SO my depression and anxiety are still quite bad... but I am now down a total of 59 pounds and am 11 pounds from my goal weight (21 from the weight a BMI chart claims I should be at... but I seriously cannot imagine myself that skinny and just want to get to another 11 pounds lost so I can weight what I did as a senior in high school - I remember being very happy then even with a few extra pounds). Anyway I am still struggling to move the scale - but not as much as I was. I still have some issues with snacking when I am really down or anxious but I am trying to stay out of the house more to help combat that - it isn't easy when there isn't much money, but I am trying. I keep reminding myself that the closer I get to my goal weight the slower my weight loss will be - but my 1 year surgery anniversary is in 2 weeks and I REALLY want to be down this last 11 by then so I am really trying! I even run a mile a day now in addition to my walking so that helps too. :-)

I had VSG WLS January 25th, 2017. I dropped 45 pounds and then got stuck at the same weight for a couple of months over the summer. I realized I was sabotaging myself by eating things I shouldn't. I recommitted to my cause and dropped another 7 pounds (52 total) by the end of September/beginning of October. Now I'm getting a divorce and I'm emotionally eating. I know I'm doing it & don't want to be doing it, but I am still having trouble stopping. I keep going to bed each night swearing to myself I'll do better the next day... but the next day comes and I'm eating crackers... fruit... chocolate... nowhere near enough protein & too many carbs. I'm still avoiding bread, pasta & rice but that's not enough when a candy bar overrides a protein shake. I'm drinking water but not enough of JUST water... avoiding soda still but sweet tea is suddenly my "drug of choice." I go to counseling and I see my NUT and my surgeon regularly but I'm so ashamed of my behavior and want them all to keep being proud of me (especially important to me I think because I feel no one else in my life is) so I lie and claim I'm eating and drinking right and have no idea why this is happening. Please don't bash me... I'm really struggling and had no one else to talk to about it.

Yes I make parm crisps from time to time when I can afford to buy the parmesan cheese they are quite good and do make a better snack than chips for sure luckily I'm not a big chip eater crackers yes chips no Either way I know they are bad for me. I am doing better since my last post. I saw my surgeon and my NUT yesterday & I told them both honestly what's been going on ... both were very encouraging And understanding which was a relief to me. My surgeon is most concerned about me not having a lawyer and the stress that this is causing me because he knows I can handle my weight-loss Journey if I set my mind to it. I think I just got discouraged when the scale stopped moving so quickly... I know that our surgeries were not the same but my cousin had rn.y in June and is already 8 pounds from her goal weight having lost 90-plus pounds so seeing her succeed quicker than me while going through such stressful stuff in my life kind of got me down. I'm determined not to let it keep me down though. Thanks for all the encouragement you guys I really appreciate it I'll keep you updated on how I'm doing I'm down 54 pounds total now and hoping to continue watching the scale slide lower over the next 8 months which is when my surgeon says most Primetime for my weight loss to happen since surgery.

I use Splenda, not sugar in my morning hot tea - but the "household" has sugary iced tea and other items I am having trouble resisting - I cannot throw out what doesn't belong to me, what I did not bring into the house myself, or what doesn't belong to only me... trust me, I would if I could - but honestly, if I threw out the things my husband and son like to eat just to keep myself from eating it, that would only make my situation worse be causing fights. If I say anything about the temptation or how I can't have all the things they can have and I need some support, all I get for feedback is "then you shouldn't have had the surgery." I have done better the last couple of days... I am doing my best to stay busy and to stay out of the house so the temptation is less and to make better food choices. It's not easy when I am this depressed and so surrounded by temptation but I am really trying.

Rainbow_Warrior no, I can't - my insurance is Medicare and I do not think it covers those things. I can barely go to counseling because I have to pay 20% every time I walk in the door and since I am going through a divorce I just lost half my household's income but the bills stayed the same and I am struggling financially. Tammy T Patton I know I am doing myself a disservice by lying - I hope that when I go to counseling this week and to see my NUT and surgeon next week I can be honest with them about what is happening. This was not my intention and I was so proud of myself for doing well - my life has been turned upside down by this divorce and I feel so depressed and angry - I promise you, I do not want to eat these things - I am literally screaming at myself in my head to stop as I am chewing - it's awful! I want very badly to get back on track - I am trying really hard to end these eating habits - I was doing fine at first but the more time that goes by the harder it seems to get. He still lives int he house with me and our son doesn't know yet and my in-laws have paid for him to hire a fancy men's rights lawyer to try and take everything from me but because our son doesn't know yet I keep having to be polite to them when they come over here (they never used to but suddenly its almost every weekend). I feel like I am in Hell :-(

gotime0810 I also like to get crafty so I like that idea for a distraction... and I do try - but sometimes it's not enough :-P I also like your timer idea - maybe I will give that a try :-) Berry78 it is hard not to have things I want to avoid int he house when my husband and son want to eat them and don't seem to appreciate the lifestyle changes I am trying to make - my husband and I actually had an argument recently because we planned to go out to eat - and I wanted a sit-down restaurant - but he let our 9 year old choose the location and of course he wanted McDonald's - where my choices are very limited because I don't eat bread or ground beef. He actually said that I shouldn't have had surgery because now I want to eat healthier and it limits THEIR choices - he has no idea... if we go out, 9 times out of 10 they get what they want and I have to watch them eat and then eat something myself when we get back home - so keeping temptations out of the house isn't going to happen for me :-( volumionousdoofus I love sugar free tropical popsicles - I am trying to steer myself back to them instead of other things when I need to tame my sweet tooth outsidematchinside yes that is correct for my BMI so I know these last 20-some pounds will be harder to lose - maybe that is why it's so easy to fall into bad habits :-P

I am 8 months post -op from VSG surgery. I have been struggling to continue losing weight for the last 2+ months. My Binge Eating Disorder is flaring up (I have issues with night eating as well) and to top it off, I have Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder and take Seroquel to manage my symptoms. I cannot function without my meds - but the meds make me crave carbs... which is one Hell of a sucky side effect for someone with Binge Eating Disorder and manic phases, let em tell you! I have lost 48 pounds and 27 inches - but I have been at a standstill (neither gaining nor losing) for over 2 months and I know now it is because of my eating habits. I still avoid pasta, rice, sodas, juices, etc and even most breads - and I do not eat cakes or pies or things like that - but I do find myself sneaking in a cookie or a biscuit or a piece of toast once in awhile when I know I shouldn't - drinking sweet tea made with sugar instead of splenda from time to time - or sneaking ice cream straight from the carton at 3 am or when I am feeling emotional or stressed out. I am also really struggling to eat slowly be mindful when I eat and to eat at regular intervals like I was before - sometimes I feel I am constantly snacking instead. Does anyone else have the same illnesses? Are you facing similar issues? And if so what are you doing to get back on track?