Karcares

I was very weak at 2 weeks out. Just climbing the stairs or taking a shower would exhaust me. It’s the sudden lack of calories your body has to get used too. And dehydration as well. By the 4th week I was feeling better and my dietician recommended a few more calories and even eating half a banana made a difference.

John Goodman denies surgery as does Tom Arnold. Find it hard to believe. I tell anyone who asks and some who don’t! I figure if my story helps someone else who is unhealthy and unhappy to come to the decision I did it’s all for the better. I wouldn’t have had the guts or even the knowledge to do it without a couple coworkers who shared their experiences with me. 6 months out and so happy I did it! Still have more to lose but feeling so much healthier and and I’m a hell of a lot happier!

You look incredible! I too am a week or so shy of 6 months. I have lost 49 pounds. Starting weight was 225. I had a 5 week stall after losing about 15 pounds but since then it’s been coming off about 2-3 pounds per week. I can’t believe how fast you lost your weight! And how great your tummy looks! I believe I’ve entered another stall. Haven’t lost for 2 weeks now. I would like to lose another 30 pounds. I’m now at 173 and I’m 5’4”. People are telling me how great I look and I’m so happy with how I look with clothes on but naked? Not so much. All my fat is in my middle and tummy and I know that’ll be the last place I’ll lose it.

I was 57 and it’s the best decision I ever have made for my health and well-being. I had the sleeve last May 22 and I’m down 50 pounds in 5 months. I feel great, I’m happy with my looks again, and I still want to lose another 30 pounds. You can do it! Only sorry I didn’t do it sooner!

I am constantly cleaning out my closet. I have a bag always in the closet to put stuff in for goodwill. In the past 4 months I bet I’ve given away 10-12 bags of clothes!

I’ve lost most of my weight on my thigh and hip area, bust as well. But Lordy are my thighs jiggly and cellulite now! Look great in pants or especially leggings but naked? not so much!🤦🏻‍♀️ Upper arms are terrible as well. Not sure what to do to best help those 2 areas. Plus my stomach is gonna be the last place I lose, I can tell already.

Hi I’m 4 1/2 months post op and down 45 pounds. I too have osteoarthritis in both knees but right knee is worse. Right after surgery pain went away which I thought was wonderful but it came back with a vengeance at about 6 weeks out. Before surgery I was on Mobic daily for the pain but had to give it up due to the surgery. I think the 6 week mark was my body completely free of anti-inflammatory- ouch. I did see my ortho when I was down 30 pounds because of the pain in the knee - I was limping. He told me 50 pounds was the magic number that seemed to make a difference. I got a cortisone shot that day, hadn’t tried that in about 8 years. It did seem to help and now I’m 5 pounds from that magic 50 number. We’ll see. He wants to do a knee replacement as well, I’m just not ready for that. I also tried the Orthovisc injections prior to surgery but it didn’t work for me. I am happy I don’t need to take anti-inflammatories anymore, at least.

If that's true, how do you explain all these people that lose 30 pounds in the first month? I know my starting bmi was 36 so I had less to lose but it still is coming off so slowly. Maybe a pound a week now.

When I was in my 20's I went to a tanning salon, loved being tan and loved laying out in the sun. Now, in my 50's, still love being tan but care more about age spots, wrinkles and skin cancer. Since surgery I've been using Jergens self tanner. Love it, everyone at work says I'm glowing and it isnt aging my skin. Think about it, just saying.

I've enjoyed this thread - just like losing weight, surgery and pain levels are different for everyone. 9 weeks out and I had no complications and one night in the hospital. No swallow test after surgery, must have been done while under. Minimal pain first night, nothing the pain meds didn't take care of. Had trouble sleeping in the hospital which is why I went home on day 2. Slept like a baby at home, no pain meds after day 3, needed Zofran for a week for nausea - that's a lifesaver folks - and was off work for 6 weeks and was glad to have every day of them. My only problem was weakness up until about week 4 when I could eat a little more. Way easier than my gallbladder surgery 15 years ago. I'm 57 and I read everything I could read up the sleeve, asked tons of questions and was amazed how easy it was. Now if the weight would come off a little faster - down 18 pounds in 9 weeks. Had a 5 week stall at the 3 week mark. Frustrating. I'm a slow loser.

I'm 9 weeks out and have only lost 18 pounds. I'm frustrated and getting bored with eating protein and the same things all the time. I don't mind getting full fast because I know that's the only thing helping me right now. I'm just crawling along. Disappointed it's not coming off faster. How many calories are you eating at 9 weeks?

I've only lost 18 pounds but I've gone from a 1-2XL to an XL in tops. But in pants I'm still wearing size 18. Some are a little big in the thighs, and some pants like leggings I have had to buy a 1X. A 16 is just too tight right now. It's been 9 weeks since surgery. I can tell I will lose from my stomach/waist area last. Everyone is different- we all carry weight in different places.

I have bad arthritis in my knee, I walked for just a few minutes in the beginning and then after I got my strength back I got on our recumbent bike at home. Definitely easier for me than walking. But I do find that walking is better for me cardiovascular wise. I say do whatever you can do - it's better than nothing.

This gives me so much hope. I'm a very slow loser - 9 weeks out and down 15 pounds. Thanks for the post, Hellya!

Try taking the supplement Lysine. It's an amino acid available at all drugstores. It helps tremendously with canker sores I take one pill twice a day when I get a canker sore until it heals

I was told by a doctors m. a. that I "wasn't that big" and "have you tried dieting?" Are you kidding me??

8 weeks out and I've tried white wine and can't do it. Kind of burns and tummy just doesn't like it. Tried a sip of my very favorite cocktail and then threw it out. Just didn't taste good. 😩 I just figure my pouch says it's too soon.

Good grief, that's a pound a day! I was 213 day of surgery, lost 9.5 pounds at my post op appt and then stalled for 5 weeks. Finally lost 3 pounds to break the stall. At 9 weeks out I've lost 18 pounds. id say compared to me you're doing fantastic!

My 3 week stall lasted 5 weeks, and finally broke with a loss of 3 pounds. Following week lost 1 pound. Very frustrating. I did lose 4 inches during the stall however. I just never expected to be losing this slowly. 9 weeks out and only down 18 pounds.

I take one colace every morning and I'm regular like I was before surgery. A BM every morning and sometimes again in the afternoon. However, even with colace, I find my hemorrhoids are acting up for the first time in my life. Thinking of adding Benefiber to my daily routine. My brother and husband swear by it. Anyone using it after surgery?

I'm 2 months out and I've lost 17 pounds. When I weighed myself today, my 5 week stall - yes, 5 weeks! - had finally broken and I lost 3 pounds. Obviously I'm an extremely slow loser. I don't exercise a lot but wow, I didn't think it would be this slow.

Has anyone tried zinc supplements for hair loss prevention or to help with regrowth? If so, what dose are you taking and has it helped?

I take 6 small pills every morning. Before surgery it was all at once with a gulp of water. Done. After surgery, I have to take half of them and then the rest. Sometimes I gag taking them with water but with the shake, no problem. Never did cut them in half or crush them even day after surgery.

IF you are not ready to return to work, don't go back. There was no way I could have gone to work 2 weeks after. I could hardly shower and blow dry without resting at that point. Have your doctor write a note extending your leave. Insist on it. Everyone is different but I needed 5 weeks before I felt semi- normal and I was off 6 weeks.

I took 6 weeks off and used CA state disability, except for the first week which I used my companies extended sick leave for. I work for a large hospital so no, you do not need to tell anyone why you are having surgery and they cannot ask. But three other people in my department had the sleeve in the last 2 years so I didn't bother trying to hide it. More power to people who could go back to work right away, but I felt extremely weak until week 4 and I was thrilled to have 6 weeks to recover. And get used to the new way of eating.