DianeJarrett

Perhaps if she would have started with a less accusatory tone, maybe sharing her story in a way that was helpful and advisory, a constructive cautionary tale for those who have not yet had the surgery, that would have been more well received. No one goes through this process without understanding the risks, because our doctors insist upon it, at least mine did. There will always be that one person that has complications, or overeats post surgery and creates their own complications, etc. Without knowing WHAT happened and dealing with the dire warnings without context, we all instantly buck up and fight back, because we also know, from our perspective, this is a safe process, for the most part (there is risk in any surgery). My two cents.

Good idea, Nikki! Yep, my doctor is Dr. George Fielding, NYU Langone and amazing, one of the best in the country.

Agreed. Wholeheartedly.

This isn't a complications forum either, just a general surgery thread. And you're not a patient or pre-op either, despite your status. You haven't asked for help, or advice, you're just stirring up doubt in a group of people who are either pre or post op. I don't understand your game, but honestly, you appear to just be trolling.

Why don't you do just that? Go sue your doctor or whatever and leave the rest of us who are happy about their safe and solid surgery alone.

Actually, I can prove it. I have a detailed diary of every person I spoke with, a blog site in my name of people I spoke to with their comments and all the documentation the doctor gave me of former patients to contact. Plus, and not for nothing, I have the 100k plus users of this website who agree that the gastric sleeve surgery, as well as all the other surgeries, while not without dangers, is basically safe. Where is your proof? Who are the people you have spoken with?

Sorry, this is a load of ****. An absolute load of ****. I spent two years researching this surgery before doing it and went to support groups, talked to so many people who had it, researched online, etc. I don't know 5 people who had severe complications and I probably talked to 500 people in total. I hate trolling. If you had evidence, if you had something other than your word, which, quite frankly, doesn't mean anything to me because you seem to be here just to start trouble and stir up doubt, yeah, maybe I would believe it. But I don't think you've done what you set out to do. No one here is swayed. Perhaps you can find another place to stir up trouble. But no one here is buying it. Go sell your story to people who haven't done their homework. We ALL have.

Yesterday, on the way home from a weekend trip, I was out of water and asked my BF for a small sip of his Dr. Pepper. I did take a small sip, swished it in my mouth and swallowed. 2 minutes later, the gas was terrible. Not horrible, not post-surgical gas horrible, but it made my tummy full and I was desperate to relieve it. I realized, it is not worth it at all. I remembered that pre-surgery, soda gave me terrible stomach gas and made me feel like crap before I finally stopped it. Now my stomach is so much tinier and again, it's an unpleasant sensation. Why bother? Carbonation, soda = gone. Now, if they outlawed coffee for the long run, we would have to revolt. Signs, torches, pitchforks.... full on revolt.

I'm 5 weeks out of surgery, I'm down 38 lbs and happy (I'm a slow loser who stalls). But I'm wondering, how do people overeat? I see some people even vomit. How is that possible? Honestly, I have no appetite and I can't hold much food. A 4 oz cup of Greek yogurt has to be eaten in 2 sittings, because about halfway through, I am incredibly full, to the point I feel sick. It springs up from nowhere! My proteins fill me up quickly, I can only eat 2 oz portions of everything if that much. Even a taste of rice, while I'm cooking for my BF, makes me feel like I've had a full meal. Even trying to stay hydrated is such a chore, because I feel incredibly full after a certain amount of liquid, sipped slowly. I can't imagine overeating. Am I supposed to feel more hungry? And that's another thing - I'm supposedly not eating enough? Because I don't feel hungry, sometimes during the day, I will get a pain in my stomach and realize, it is completely empty. And I didn't feel hungry, it just occurred to me that my stomach aches because it is empty and it's been hours since I have eaten. Does anyone else feel this? My nutritionist suggested small meals and maybe even a timer for eating (I do one for drinking water and Crystal light now, so I won't forget). It's the primary reason for my stall - my body is hanging on to everything I'm eating because I'm not eating enough. How did you handle this? I'd love some advice.

Caramel Premier Protein shakes.

I I love the caramel Premier Protein shake, I am going to mix with my coffee tomorrow!! I LOVE THE IDEA!! Thank you!!

True, but I can't imagine having surgery to lose 40 lbs. Or even 60 lbs. I really can't. Sorry.

I can't believe any doctor would allow you to have surgery. Your BMI is far too low for it. Even at 200 lbs, I can't believe you had a BMI of 40+. Really? In the US, I don't know that a doctor would give you the surgery. What are the requirements in Ireland?

I'm back on 2 a day of the shakes, the caramel, I have to hold my nose so I don't smell them but after a couple of days, I got used to them again. Between that, coffee in the morning, a Propel water when I work out, and a Swell bottle full of water with Crystal light, I'm doing much better. Going to the bathroom a lot, which is good, because, for a while, I didn't go at all. (And I know, you have to pee to lose weight...) That is probably the bulk of my stall. Plus I get the 60g of protein and I have some chicken breast too, and a yogurt. I'm not weighing myself, going to give it a break, but I'm thinking I've kicked the stall's ass.

Is that your weight on your profile? I wouldn't have GS surgery either if I only had 20 lbs to lose!!!

Actually, pretty good. Not hard on my stomach, helps with constipation (sorry) and to lose water weight (I've been stalled). And I have so much more energy!

I miss it. I've had coffee three days in a row. It is amazing what a difference it makes. And it fills my liquid quota too!!

Wow, that's so good to hear. I'm 3 weeks into a stall, and I haven't lost AN OUNCE. But everyone says it will happen. I stopped weighing myself and sticking to the program. I hope this happens for me!!! THANK YOU!!

For years, I was a HUGE Coke drinker, and then in 2003, gave up all high fructose corn syrup products. It was the worst addiction breakup EVER. The entire family did it and I thought we would all kill each other. I moved to Coke Zero and Cherry Coke Zero and loved it for years. I broke up with it a year before surgery, although I would drink it from time to time, the shine was off the apple. I love soda, and would love to be the person that sits down and drinks a Cherry Dr. Pepper and doesn't crave another, but I'm not. I recognized that and it's the reason I had the surgery in the first place. Eating is an addiction and we've taken steps to break that cycle. But we can't do that without realistically facing up to the addiction and the "gateway food and drink" that start us back on the cycle. Soda is definitely one of them. Not all carbonated drinks are bad (seltzer is an example) but diet soda, regular soda, we have to face facts - they start a cycle. Carbs start a sugar cycle, sweets start a cycle. Let's be realistic and just follow the advice of the doctors. They truly know better. Perhaps the "it will cause your stomach to crack open" was a scare tactic, but the reality is that carbonated sodas are part of the problem, and we are all heading down this path to a healthy weight and life to SOLVE that problem. Listen, I'm a psychologist, but I didn't need education or another therapist to tell me that I am addicted to food and I need to stop allowing myself to believe I could solve that problem on my own or that I can stop eating and diet at any time. I couldn't. I needed this surgery for the forced portion control that it truly is and I'm so happy I did it for that reason. I won't, for any reason, allow myself to do anything that will jeopardize the progress I've made and that includes going back to the "gateway foods" that will send me spiraling back into a food frenzy. No one should. If you do that, why did you bother with the surgery at all?? I borrowed Sosewsue61's soapbox and now I am returning it. LOL

The same weight... the EXACT same weight. The scales have not moved a single ounce. NOT ONE SINGLE OUNCE. Workouts, cardio, dieting... NOTHING. It is the most frustrating thing ever. Since halfway through week 3, NOT ONE SINGLE OUNCE. I want to take my scales and throw them out the window. If I didn't have to weigh myself daily for my nutritionist, I would! It is so disheartening, especially when you hear people say they lose a pound a day, 4 pounds a week, 40 pounds since surgery, and I have lost 20 since surgery, and nothing in almost 3 weeks. I've heard everything about the stalls, how to jumpstart, what to do, and after trying everything... NOTHING. Not even going back on my liquid diet helped. I actually gained a pound, lol, before it dropped back to that exact SAME WEIGHT. I know it happens, I've heard every platitude. "It's a marathon, not a sprint." "Don't worry, it will come off." "Stalls happen, it will pass." Heard it all. At the end of the day, they help. But during the day, when you know you are doing everything, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING to lose weight, and you barely crack 600 calories, none of those wonderful words of wisdom help. I'm just venting, a little blue and trying desperately to hang on to some kind of confidence and good thoughts. All that keeps going through my head is, "It would really suck if I did all this for 20 lbs." LOL I know many go through this, and get past it, but no one preps you for it, for the depression that goes along with it.

I'm on the two shakes a day, plus I do have chicken breast. I try to eat an egg every once in a while, and Greek yogurt gives me 11g of protein too. I think I'm finally hitting the 60-80g of protein daily, now that I can stomach the shakes again, and the Premier Protein shakes have 30g each, I may even top the protein requirements if I have yogurt and chicken in one day. I think the calories are my biggest issue. The two shakes, the chicken, the yogurt, that's only about 614 calories. My doctor wants me to stay in the 600-800 calorie limit, but even if he didn't, I'm not sure I could top it. The only way would be to go back to my regular coffee intake, which is a latte with whole milk and caramel, but those are empty calories and I hate to do that. I will think of something. I have a tuna fish and whole wheat cracker fetish, maybe I can try 1-2 whole wheat crackers or something that will boost my calorie intake. This is so funny, me on the other end of this conundrum, trying to UP my calorie intake. How ironic is that? Again, thanks for all your help!!

I guess I will try to eat more. 1000 calories seems hard to attain, but I will definitely give it a shot. Drinking my Premier Protein shake now, first of 2 today. As always, thanks for the advice!!

I had mine removed one year before surgery. I had attacks for years but not bad enough to have it removed. Then one day I woke up and couldn't digest anything, not even water and the pain was terrible. Went to the ER and had an ultrasound, and it showed complete blockage from a stone. Emergency surgery the next day (overnight stay in the hospital) and 2 days post-op, and I went home. I had diarrhea for about a week and it took me some time to get adjusted to new dietary restrictions, like easing up on dairy. I did lose about 15 pounds, which I gained back about 4 months later. FYI, the surgery is NOTHING. Once you've been through GS, it's nothing. I had a hysterectomy right before my GB surgery, and that was terrible. The GB surgery came 4 months after and comparatively, it was a breeze. That's what made my GS so easy, because I was an old hat at laparoscopic surgery by then. BTW, they will probably use some of your GS incisions for the GB surgery, which is great. They used GB incisions for my GS surgery and that helped. My tummy already looks like a treasure map. LOL

I'm going through a stall too, and it is disappointing. So many give you some great advice, and you should read back on the posts to see it. My surgery was 6/14, and I'm suffering through a 2.5 week stall. I know it won't be long before I start to lose again, but it is depressing. Good luck and hang in there! I'm right with you!!!

That's some great advice, thank you! I know that your body is going through a starvation mode and hanging on to every pound...I hear that from my trainer and nutritionist. I'm going to stop weighing myself daily, I was only doing it for a chart for my nutritionist and she let me off the hook. I'm continuing to work on my protein intake and definitely trying to hit 60 every day! Question for you: Do you drink your protein mostly or eat it? Without a shake, there's no way I can hit 60. My Premier Protein shakes have 30g each and that's the only way I will be able to do it, although I try to have yogurt and chicken breast (rotisserie from Whole Foods) every day so I won't be pure liquid every day. I have heard that there is a difference between drinking it and eating it. Can you share your experience? Thank you for your words of encouragement. It is depressing, but I have to focus on what I am doing and stop lamenting on what I don't have. It's a struggle, but I'm getting past it.