ginnybark

Had sleeve surgery 12-18-18, started losing slowly, I am 65 years old. After a few weeks, started losing weight easily, at my 3-month appointment I had lost 44 pounds, total of 70 from my highest weight (I started trying on my own during the time that I was going through all the preop workup, which took about three months). But after the follow-up appointment (which was 3-20-18), I haven't lost any more! I don't think I have been eating any differently, well, maybe introduced a few no-no foods, like a packet of those short little Pringles cans (haven't eaten but a few and always eat only a few of the chips in the can. I kept thinking that my plateau would end. I haven't increased my number of calories, still average about 700-750. I do have a habit of eating a little quickly, but I have never stopped charting everything and making sure that I don't go over my caloric limit. So two weeks ago I decided to go back to kind of square one, with more fruits and vegetables, substituted about five meals a week with the 27-gram protein shakes, made sure I was drinking all my water (I always have drunk a lot of water), and the scale hasn't budged but a pound. I have always (and never stopped) doing strength training, swimming, and aerobics in the pool (need a knee replacement and have a bad back). And the past month has been warm enough to swim EVERY day. I have always swum as much as I could, but in January and February it ended up being about four days a week due to weather, but since in March it is EVERY DAY. And even since I have been being super careful for about a month and making my calories around 700, I am still not losing! Can't think of what else to do. I am experiencing being more hungry than I was at first. Several questions: 1) Could I have stretched my stomach by eating too rapidly even though I haven't increased the amount of food that I eat in a day? 2) Can anyone think of sure-fire methods of breaking a plateau? If I have unknowingly stretched out my stomach some, can I get it to shrink back down some and continue to lose well just by following all the parameters of the eating plan just like before? I feel like if it HAS stretched any, it hasn't been much, because I still can't eat much food at the time and my intake has been the same all along. My next appointment (6 months - June 20 with labs), is in about a month and two-thirds, and I plan to discuss this with him. But I simply CAN'T go in there without having lost at least 10 or 15 pounds! I will take any advice and really would like to know if anyone has had the same experience, how it worked out after that, and what you did to get the losing to start again. I was very large to start, and I really need to lose another 70 or 80 pounds at least, before I am small enough to have my knee replacement and have it be a success. I am feeling much better, and am now non-diabetic and on no Metformin, and my daily blood sugars are about 100, and A1C is 5.4. So I'm very pleased all in all, but want to find out what I can do to get the ball rolling again. Please give me your best advice, but even after making ABSOLUTELY SURE I am following everything to a tee, my loss is just not happening in spite of following the right diet and exercising even more than I did at first. HELP! Thanks for any answers you can give.

I had gastric sleeve surgery December 18th. I have lost 50 so far, but none the last two weeks. Have started really charting everything much more closely and using this to see where I may have gone off the path. Doing better now, but have been losing a lot of time charting my meals, weight, protein, carbs, calories, and exercise in a journal and looking up all the food info on my phone. Does anyone know of an app that makes keeping track of all of the above parameters faster that I can do on my phone? Would love suggestions! Maybe something designed for bariatric patients? Thanks for any info I can get.

Hi! I am 65 and had my sleeve surgery on December 18th. For me, all the stuff you have to do to get ready for it wore me down more than the actual surgery haha. I did stay one night in the hospital, but was released the next morning. And I did very well. It wasn’t hard or even very painful. And they took out my gallbladder during the surgery because it was full of stones. Don’t be worried. It was very easy, as surgeries go. I did take pain medicine afterward but mostly at night. You will do great.

Thanks so much for your response. It sounds like I should focus on the steps. Have a great holiday.

Took me until I have bone on bone arthritis, low back spondylolisthesis, and to be 65 years of age to talk myself into getting this done. Went into hospital and had sleeve on 12/18/17. Home late next day. Weighed 334 on day of surgery, 228.7 day before yesterday and actually gained to 229.2 today!!!! I am terrified. I am eating exactly what they say and trying to walk around several times a day (very hard due to bones and joints, but am forcing myself). Not constipated. Shouldn't I lose really fast at first? I have a recurring nightmare that I get the surgery and don't lose weight. Am I spazzing out unnecessarily? What is the usual amount to lose as I go through the first few weeks. I am scared to get on the scale now. Help!

Thanks so much for your reply. That has been the consensus so far. I need to unwind a bit! Happy Holidays.

Thank you so much! No one told me this! I should have figured it out. I’m a retired nurse. Makes me relax a bit! Happy Holidays.

Hi! Getting around pretty well considering my age and joints. How about you? I have only lost 6 pounds since surgery days, learning how to get fluids and protein in. Had a hiatal hernia fixed at same time apparently and a gallbladder full of stones sucked out too. But, hey, at least there is no more anxious trepidation, right? So it’s all good! I follow up Wed. Happy Holidays!

Had mine 12/18 and now 6 days postop I am worried not losing fast enough. Gained half a pound yesterday! Why??? Eating like they tell us. Could sleeve stomach be too big???

I weighed 334 when sleeve done. I knew I had asymptomatic GB stones but didn’t know for sure he was taking it out. When I awoke he had taken FB out, did sleeve, and fixed a hiatal hernia I didn’t know I had. I am post-op day 6 now. Getting around ok. Sore but no bad pain. Worst problem is figuring out why weight loss not faster. Even gained 0.5 lb yesterday. I seem to be able to hold more than everyone else mentions. Am starting to add protein powders. Keep forgetting when I drink and take a gulp or two instead of small sips. Hope I haven’t stretched it already!