YeaMe

I am 3 1/2 months out from surgery and just got back from a 10 day, tropical Caribbean vacation. The vacation was planned before I even decided to have surgery and have been stressed about going due to eating restrictions. I am back, and actually down 2 lbs. I average 2 lbs every 7-9 days now, so I was right on track. I had a cocktail each day (usually only got through about 1/2 of it) and stuck to the plan to the best of my ability. Due to flight issues coming and going, going to restaurants who didn't have what I needed, I was sometimes stuck with bad food choices but did my best to eat right (scraping off and eating only the pizza toppings, getting a chicken salad and only eating the chicken, getting fried food and scraping off the outside, etc.). I will say it was not as difficult as I thought it would be but am relieved that I can get back on track. Being on vacation with 10 people, none of who knew I had the surgery, made it a bit tougher. I will say watching them eat and drink in "vacation mode" made me a little nauseous - not envious at all. Most of them gained 7-10 lbs! Then I remembered, oh yeah, that was me not too long ago. So those dreading going on vacation, you can do it!

Congratulations! I was a low BMI when I had my surgery too. Now, in 3 months, I'm only 29 lbs from goal! Best thing I have every done for myself!!!

Thanks all for the information. Hitting goal right now for me is a scary thing. I keep telling myself over and over that when I hit goal, it doesn't mean I can start eating Mexican, Italian, sweets, etc. again like all my friends think I can. Maybe I will just keep it to myself when I reach it. It just means that I eat my 3 oz of protein and then some veggies, which I have been missing. I'm not sure what is harder, training my brain or my friends, a few of which I'm thinking about trading in! I know it will be a lifelong process and one I hope to master.

I am 3 months out and have found so much conflicting data on basic questions. I am hoping the oldtimers will be able to answer them since they have actually lived through the phases. 1. Most of the hormone ghrelin is removed during surgery and appetite decrease is presented from the first postoperative day and lasts for more than 24 months. Why does the appetite start increasing after the 24 months? Why does the hormone ghrelin manage to find its way back? 2. Ability to eat more increases - start out 2-3 oz, then 6 oz, then 1/2 plate of food, then a full plate of food. I understand initially the stomach is healing which can take 6 months, but why do we develop the ability to eat a whole plate of food? Some say the stomach can stretch out, some say it can't. Why can we eat so much more? 3. Regain. I understand people tend to post more about negative results than positive, but it seems the regain is real. I can only assume that people are again making wrong food choices? I'm under the impression that I can never go back to eating processed food, simple carbs, sweets, sodas. I basically will be eating forever how I am now, though probably more veggies when I start having room. Are there other reasons? Thanks in advance for your responses.

In a company of over 500 employees, I get 5-10 comments a day. I have to say, I have days like that too. I just want to go about life in a "normal" manner. Without someone making a comment about my weight loss. Yes, I am thrilled, and I know people are excited for me and feel they have to acknowledge it and find out the "secret", but I just want to blend in. I just have my answers down now - How did you lose your weight? Exercise and eating right. How do you feel? Great, thanks. I hope you don't lose too much weight? I'm sure you'll let me know if I do.

Do you use low fat cream cheese? Though my dr. said I wasn't getting enough fat.

I eat 1/2 of a low carb tortilla and it satisfies me - though only once a week.

I too like MyFitnessPal because it connects to my Apple Watch/Health. Also like that it has most foods when doing a search and it is easy to copy/paste a recipe and it locates all the ingredients.

Do they have Captain Crunch?!?!?! If so, I might take up vaping!

It's so liberating - congratulations and keep up the good work!

I had to jump through all those hoops too - $250 for psych consult, $125 for nutrition consult, insurance paid for endoscopy due to history of Barrett's.

I have no idea how the insurance company decided what they would pay and what I would pay. The hospital bill alone was around $35,000, then of course they discounted it to about $9,000 and then paid $6,500 and I paid $2,500. I also paid a portion of the anesthesiologist and the surgeon. All together I paid $6,200. My surgeon said it depended on what tools he needed to do each procedure and how long each procedure took.

I am trying to come at this as, this is my new "normal." All my friends ask - when can you start eating pizza, mexican food, etc., when can you start drinking again. It drives me crazy!!! I continually tell them, I can have anything I want right NOW. I'm making the choice NOT to have them because those foods/alcohol are what got me here in the first place. Might have to find new friends - those skinny b*&^es!

Congratulations! My favorite protein shake is Premier Protein (chocolate) and Quest Protein Bars.

Perfectly said. Someone came up to me the other day and said, "don't you wish you would have lost the weight before your daughter's wedding." Meaning, don't you wish you looked skinny in her wedding photos. I thought about it a long while and realized, I have no regrets. That was me a year ago, this is me now. I don't cringe looking at the pictures, I think, girl, you had some issues. Slowly, I am figuring them out and letting them go, one by one.

Yes, it is totally normal. Your stomach is probably still swollen and it just takes time to heal. It's hard for us to comprehend because the outside is healed so therefore the inside must be. It takes months for the stomach to heal. I literally sipped the entire day to get down 2 protein shakes and about 1 litre of water. Also, don't hesitate to contact your surgeon if you are seriously worried about something.

I am in my 50s and was diagnosed with Barrett's about 5 years ago. You are really young. You need to find a specialist in Barrett's - that is very important so you can go over a treatment plan. Also it makes a big difference if you have low or high grade dysplasia. You just can't do nothing. I chose to get the ablation done, which we did 3 times. It is totally painless. My last two scopes were clean of any abnormal cells. My surgeon made the recommendation not to have the VSG, only because if I develop esophageal cancer, the best operation is to remove that portion of the esophagus and pull the stomach up which will become part of the esophagus. If you have had a VSG, there is no stomach to spare. My gastrologist discussed the surgery with my surgeon, and gave me the go ahead. You have to get the Barretts treated first and then make a decision on a weight loss procedure. I wish you the best of luck and if you have any questions, I will be more than happy to answer them, from my knowledge and research.

Congratulations! You look fantastic and what an amazing trip.

I initially too had the same problems. I stuck to liquids, primarily protein shakes, and soup, almost until week 4 . I didn't have ANY energy until after 6 weeks. Now, I have a ton of energy and eating 2.5 oz at a time. It takes months to heal, so don't force anything down. Just concentrate on your protein, liquid if it needs to be, and water. Sugar free popsicles really helped me get my water in.

I go within a second from not hungry at all to I'm going to throw up now if I don't get something in my mouth ASAP. I have learned to always keep a protein bar in my purse, and most of the time a bite or two satisfies the tummy.

Haha @sgc - we women don't even know what we want half the time either - so don't feel bad! I know even with my girlfriends it has been hard to go out because all we used to do was go out and eat and drink. Now, they don't like my new suggestions - TopGolf, bowling, movies, hiking, beach, bike riding. So for now, I just do my thing and so far, so good! Good luck in finding a sidekick everyone!

My schedule was: 2 weeks after surgery with dr., then 3 mos, 6 mos and 1 year with nutritionist.

@Megall9 - that is gorgeous!

Congratulations! So far, the best decision I have ever made!

Honestly, any weight loss is good. Yours is very good. Congratulations!