hope4momof4

Good morning all and Happy Thanksgiving 🦃! I am seriously considering having my esg procedure done with Dr. Sadek in NJ. I have only spoken to one other person who has done this particular procedure with him. His office has told me that he has performed over 200 esg procedures. So I would greatly appreciate if someone in this forum would tell me what he is like as a surgeon. The one thing I have discovered for sure while researching this is that the quality of your surgeon is extremely important to your success. If his office is telling the truth, then there should be a decent number of you out there who can please chime in. I thank you in advance.

Good evening all! I was thinking that we should start a thread on this forum where we post an update on our progress, challenges, frustrations, or just a place for us to unload about anything we want to while on this unique journey. There aren’t many esg people out there compared to the other WLS so I thought that this particular thread could help us bond together. To be honest I feel so close to so many of you that I really want to keep that relationship for as long as possible. So even if you are preop I want us each to post an update on how their week has progressed. Please write whatever you felt was important about your week pre or post esg. It could be a that you’ve moved on to solids or you’ve lost a nice amount of weight for that week or you really struggled or perhaps you are starting to revert back to the old habits that got us here in the first place. Let’s try and update every Monday starting on December 4, 2017. My hope is we will become more accountable for our food choices and possibly stop any member from falling off track. Let us all make a commitment to one another and post our week’s successes and failures. If we had a successful week then we can guide others to do the same. If we’ve had a bad week then perhaps posting it will get us back on track. I know by now most of you are hating my long posts, lol, 🤣🤣 but I think if we stick to posting our progress or lack of at least once a week we can minimize failure and encourage one another. Come on gang I hope you are all with me 😬😬🤞🏻🤞🏻 I’ll post Monday although I’m in the preop stage. I’ll post about whatever things I’m worried about leading to my esg or something I discovered about it for the week. Looking forward to reading all of the updates every Monday on this thread. We can do this!!!!

Wow! You are basically telling my story. I thought I was the only one!! I was just like you so hopeful and motivated that this would be the answer to my weight problem. I , like you, lost only 11-12 pounds, (maybe less not completely sure of my exact starting weight) in the first week or two and then nothing. I’ve been the same weight for over 6 weeks. I had my ESG on 2/6 so I’m even further post op than you. I’m having the same feelings. I’m frustrated because at this point I’m disappointed in myself and feel like I wasted $10,000. I didn’t feel this way in the beginning or preop. I was so excited and hopeful, heck I started this topic!!😔😔. I’d love to give you advice on what we should do but I’m sorry I don’t have any. It may console you a little to know that you are not the only one. I’d love to keep in touch with you for perhaps some support. Should we look into revision? Do you go to a nutritionist every month? I go to my nutritionist every month and she seems to think that I’m fine losing very, very slowly. All she recommends is that I log everything I eat and up my exercise. I’m with you dear very frustrated! I’m hoping others further postop can chime in and give us real advice or comfort.

Of course dear, this is what we are here for. Every one of us started out asking questions and inquiring. That is the smart way to go through this process. Best of luck and please keep us updated.

Hi there. I can only answer you on this drawing from my own experience, although my thoughts are that if you take all the meds your doctor prescribes and follow his/her instructions you should have the same experience. The procedure itself is reasonably short. I was in at 7AM and was home before noon. I did not experience any nausea and as for pain, I did feel some right after I woke up in the hospital which taking one Percocet resolved right away. Keep in mind I took all the meds prescribed to me the morning of before the procedure including a very powerful anti nausea med they give to cancer patients. So even the day of the procedure and right after I was fine considering. I felt a bit tired of course and slept a lot the rest of the day. The next day I felt ok but still tired. I still took the meds for nausea and pain the 2nd day as a precaution so I wouldn’t have any issues. By the 3rd day I was fine. I didn’t take any meds and was almost 100%. So, in my opinion 6 days later you should be fine to chair an event. As for travel and the nursing services I think you’ll be fine as well. The day of and next day were not so bad for me and I didn’t have any real help except for my children, all quite young ranging from 19 to 11 and my husband asking if I were ok. Everyone is different but I’m sharing with you my experience and I hope you have a smooth one as well. Good luck!

Great job Amy. Excellent results. Things are moving slowly for me now as well but I try to keep in mind that I would be a much higher weight without this procedure right now. I’m keeping positive and fighting for every pound that is coming off. I can’t wait to reach goal and just be in maintenance. It took you five months so I’m not discouraged only being 7 weeks out. I still do feel restriction but you’re right not as much as the first few weeks. At this point it’s a mental game and trying to stick to what my nutritionist has told me. Congratulations on your weight loss!!

Congrats for the impressive loss. Wonderful. How exciting for you. Keep up the good work!!

Glad you’re feeling better! Hang in there. Keep us updated. Everyday will get easier. 💝💝

I’m sorry to hear that Patricia but it won’t last. I promise by day 3 you will feel much better. When you feel gassy or pain in your stomach get up and walk around, this will relieve some of the pain. Also, something that TexSlim told me and it really helped a lot is to try to sleep with your head elevated a bit. Put a few extra pillows under your head so that you are sitting up a bit at least for the first few days. I know you’ll be better by tomorrow. Please post to let us know you’re ok. The worst is over and you’re on your way to a more beautiful you!!!

You did it Patricia!!🎉🎉🎊🎊Now rest and recover. But please keep us updated. Congratulations!!

Good morning. I had my esg on Feb. 6. That would make me more than six weeks out and I have only lost 13 pounds which is 6 kgs. total. I’m a little frustrated but I look at it this way: 1- I was headed down a road to slowly gaining and this procedure stopped that. I can’t imagine what my weight would be now if I didn’t do this. 2- I don’t know what BMI you started with but I started at a “lower BMI” so I knew the weight wouldn’t come off as quickly. 3- I think losing the weight slower helps us adopt better eating habits which will help us keep the weight off in the long run. 4- For me even a small loss is good because it means that I’m doing something right. I’m not worried about this, a little disappointed yes, frustrated yes, but we all lose at a different rate and I’m not feeling deprived and still slowly losing. Keep the faith and keep working at it. It will be worth it in the long run.

I wish you a speedy recovery. You are going to do great. I’ll be saying a prayer for you tonight. Rest after your procedure. Listen to your doctors and take all the meds they prescribe to ensure a painless and comfortable postop. We’ll see you on the other side!!

Thanks Mel for the encouragement. I know that I will not lose this weight quickly but you are right that along the way I am learning better eating habits that will stick with me. I have already changed a habit that was unhealthy pre Esg. I never ate fish before thinking that I wouldn’t like it. How childish was that? I now eat a serving of salmon, flounder, or tilapia everyday. It is delicious and so easy and quick to bake. I also exercise regularly which pre esg was not a priority. I feel stronger and I feel like my muscles are looking more toned. My only challenge I have yet to conquer is the snacking. Americans are famous for snacking, unhealthy endless snacking. I have cleared out my cupboards of almost all the really bad junk food like potato chips but somehow there is always something in there not necessarily unhealthy but too much of it can be damaging. Huh! It’s never easy but I’m still working on it. I’m fighting and having little victories here and there keep me motivated. Lets keep this forum going. Hope to hear more of your posts soon.

Best of luck Ashleigh! The actual procedure ,at least for me, was not difficult or very painful at all. My biggest challenge was working through the head hunger after my procedure. You feel the restriction and I still can’t overeat (I’m over 6 week’s post op) but it takes discipline not to go back to old habits. I read a post the other day that summed this up nicely, can they also do a procedure on my brain as well, lol. However, you sound like you are in the right place mentally which is what will help you succeed. This procedure will open doors for you but you have to make the choice to go in. Best of luck and please keep us posted. We are all here for you and are rooting for you!!

Hello again old friend. Very inspirational as usual. Did you ever think that after losing a very impressive 20 kgs. you’d be trying to decide how much more you want to lose? Your hard work and persistence is what got you there and I congratulate you on your success. Your words couldn’t be more true. I’ve spent the better part of the decade hating my obese body or just accepting that I won’t ever look the way I want to. Why should we settle? We can have the body we always wanted, it just takes patience and determination. This procedure is certainly not a magic solution but it does make it easier to stay the course. You were right about the restriction being less than what I had hoped but it does stop me from overeating the way I used to after going on one of my ridiculous extreme diets. So proud of you Mel! 20 kgs. is amazing. You are averaging about 7 lbs. a month which my doctor thinks is excellent. I’m six weeks post op today and my total weight loss is about 13 pounds. It’s not an enormous amount but I know I couldn’t have done it without this procedure. I’m going to keep exercising and eating the right foods as I still have a little over 30 pounds to go. It’s so great to have this forum. Your support and experiences are what keep me motivated!!

Wow Patricia! If you’ve already lost 3.5 kgs. then you are definitely ready for this! Just as Melesg has posted, a lot of your success will depend on your state of mind. If you have the discipline pre ESG then once you’ve had the procedure it should only be easier to continue. I’m very excited for you. I will have you in my prayers. I just know you will do fine and I’m anxious to hear about your success soon. All my best and I wish you a speedy recovery!

You should be. Keep that excitement and motivation. God willing you will have a speedy recovery, just as the majority of us did after our esg, and great weight loss success.

Sorry love I did not have Sharaiha but I’ve read several posts about how great of a doctor and a surgeon she is. I do believe that there are a few in our group here that have done the esg with her and I hope they respond. However, if you have a Facebook then join the esg group USA and you’ll find several accounts of her there. You just have to search her name while in the group and you’ll get an abundance of information about her and several experiences as well. Good luck on 3/28. We’re all rooting for you!!

Hey there Patricia! Wow you must be excited about your esg in one week! I wouldn’t be scared or nervous. The procedure itself is not very difficult at all. Your will recover very quickly and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and thinner you. Just do as the doctor instructs. Take all the meds he or she tells you to take and it will be a piece of cake. You’ve got this! I know you’ll do great and you’ve properly prepared so just don’t let your nervousness take over. We’re all here for you and are rooting for you. Good luck!!

It’s great to hear from you Mel!! Outstanding results and your commitment and resolve are what are even more impressive. 20 kgs is my goal as well and I’m hoping to reach it by my 6 month mark. The weight is coming off slowly but I’m satisfied with that because it’s teaching me healthier eating habits that I can follow in the long term. I’m also going to the gym now at a steady 5 times a week. I’m seeing more of a difference in how my clothes fit. I’ve gone done a size and just overall feel more confident and happier now. I’m hoping to just continue to lose even if it’s ounces rather than pounds. As long as my scale moves down I’m happy with the results and still feel motivated. As always the best to you my dear!!

Hi there ASHLEIGH77. I had my ESG on February 6. The procedure was virtually painless, absolutely no complications. It is definitely a procedure that does help you feel full sooner but you will not see the same results as the traditional gastric sleeve. It depends on how much you want to lose. I had about 40-50 pounds to lose so to me it made sense not to do anything too invasive. I've lost about 12-13 pounds since my ESG and it comes off slowly but you do learn better eating behaviors that you can sustain. I hope I helped shed some light but you can ask whatever you want and I'll do my best to answer more specific questions. Good luck with whatever you decide!

Hey Mountaingal. You are truly an inspiration. Here you are three years out and still very active on this forum. I believe that you have an inner strength and determination. What keeps you so motivated? This is my issue—I get initial results from any diet and once I stop seeing results I begin to lose that excitement and motivation. I start sabotaging my efforts with the idea of —what’s the point? Why try so hard when it’s not working? How do I get through this mentally? How do you do it everyday now for 3 years? Thanks for the motivation. I know I have to be patient and get through this. You’re right we paid out of pocket and I’m not sure about you, but that was $ I could have used for many, many other things that my family needed. I need to develop some way to steer clear of those sabotaging behaviors. If I’m not being too annoying, it’s ok anyone else in the ESG forum can tell you that I can be quite a nuisance🤣🤣, please give me some strategies you’ve used throughout the years to stay on track. BTW, I have read about your journey on this forum. You are pretty amazing to say the least. I’m hoping some of your abdundant determination rubs off on me. Thank you for all of your kind words and advice.

Thanks again Tex. I think that you are right. My calories may be over 1000 for the day but I’m not sure if it’s because of the smoothie. I have been logging my food on the lose it app and it looks like my snacks are doing me in!😣😖 I was meticulous for two days in logging in all my food and snacks were taking up 300-400 calories 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I kept thinking, these are healthy snacks like nonfat Greek yogurt and sugar free popsicles and fudgsicles but too many of them add up. Yikes!! Plus I was drinking 2-3 protein waters a day. I may be getting more than enough protein but the calories were too much. I have also paid more attention to drinking water. That is the only thing I’ll drink from now on. No more crystal lite either. Your weight loss numbers are great Tex and I agree that as long as I continue to lose even if incremental I’ll get there. This is only my first month— I lost 12 pounds and you’ve lost 16 not much of a difference. Thanks for making me feel better yet again. I’m going to look at my weight lose by the month and possibly it will put things in perspective. Hope to post better news next time.

Aww Tex you always know how to make me feel better. I thought I was just whining. Yes you are right Spring is coming and the days will get longer and I’ll feel more like getting out and walking and just being outdoors. I hope you break your stall 🤞🏻Please post when you do and I’ll do the same. I know we can get through this stall. Patience and staying the course.

Thanks for the advice Tex. I think you’re right about the protein drinks. They do carry a reasonable amount of calories that I could now do without since I’m out of the liquid stage and almost done the purée stage. My stall has lasted for about a week now and I think I need to focus on my water again. It doesn’t help that our area got slammed with snow and my younger two have had two snow days back to back. The weather and being stuck indoors has made me feel hopeless but I’m hoping as the weather improves so will my mood and determination. Winter weather always gives me the blues. I hope my next post will be more positive. I will keep fighting, you do the same Tex—you’ve come so far!!