NotSoLittleMermaid

Thank you both for sharing those points. Alot of good stuff to think about.

Wish you all the best! My surgery/experience was great and I continue to loose steadily.

No complications whatsoever. Very happy and recieved top notch care from Dr, Staff & Hospital. Feel great!

Hi Everyone, hope you are well and are loosing. For those researching, you've come to the right place. The Vertical Sleeve Talk forum has awesome info. Keep reading experiences, threads and searching by words, Drs. etc. and you'll find your info in a new or old post. So here is my experience in a nut shell: This surgery was super easy for me (see My Great Experiance w/Dr. Watkins). Many times I've forgotten that I have had it. At first, I was freaked out by how much I can eat.. It varies from day to day. (It is interesting to note that the stomach can be as short as 7 in to as along as 12 inches so that can affect the amount of food that one can eat - even though sleeved- due to natural lenghth) Some days, I can eat 1 cup of blueberries or 6 chicken mcnuggets from Mc Donalds. Other days, I am not hungry at all for Breakfast and get filled up from a poached egg. In the beginning, it scared me how much I could eat. Also I found it frustrating when I only ate a little, I kept getting hungry soon afterward and didn't feel satisfied. I hope that I am fine, (maybe I am still eating too quickly?) but I find that I am much happier eatting till I am full-even though sometimes it seems like a lot. I do find that I don't get hungry as quickly. My DUH moment came when I actually forgot that I should be eatting more veggies and fruit. This sounds really stupid, but sometimes you keep focusing on protien, soft foods, and foods you've missed out (bread) on in the past few weeks and forget the basics. Veggies fill up and are low calorie. The less calories = more weightloss over time. So even though I can eat more that I thought I would be able to, "pigging out" is like 1400 cal vs. pre-surgery probably 3000+ day. My weightloss is slow, but I can see that eventually I'll get there. I've never vomited or slimed, so for those that want surgery that is easy to hide from others in a social situation, this is a breeze. Suprisingly, I did get stuck last week. It was my own fault for trying to choke down a salad with pecans too quickly and not chewing enough. The pain passed and I was fine in a couple of minutes. I find it pretty easy to stay below 1200 calories day. Now that I've remembered and can eat veggies, I plan on having days where the number goes down. For me, fat is probably the most filling. I don't know why, maybe its because my brain registers meat, eggs or veggies with dip/FAT in them, but Dr. Watkins recommended having some veggies dipped in olive oil and that seems to be helping. Any other advice out there from sleevers of any sort?

Thanks Dr Watkins

I will usually have carrots, pretzels or limit it 1 or 2 cookies. I think it helps that one can reconize it, have a little and move on. I think you'll just fine.

Thank you so much for sharing. I am sorry that it happened but hopefully you'll recover completely. Our thoughts are with you.

AWESOME INFO!

I had my surgery back in Dec and had a stall (maybe I wasn't eating enough at around 700 cal?) Even my pre-diet didn't get me much weight loss (only 4 lbs on a week of 800 cal liquid protein diet.) But now I average 700-1200 a day, started moderate walking about 1/2 a day, and the scale is moving.

Congrats Mellifrits ! That is SO AWESOME to hear! I would love to read if you have a blog. I had my surgery back in Dec and had a stall (maybe I wasn't eating enough at around 700 cal?) Even my pre-diet didn't get me much weight loss (only 4 lbs on a week of 800 cal liquid Protein diet.) But now I average 700-1200 a day, started moderate walking about 1/2 a day, and the scale is moving. Please continue the great posts on your success & tips as one who has had Plication for awhile! I will search the forum to see if you have posted your story or have a blog to follow, and to see what your typical calories/portions are that can fit into your tummy. Take care and congratulations on your hard work!

I just have to gripe a minute.. bear with me. Just had WLS surgery on 12.17 My nosey friends/aquantances/workmates all wanted to know where were going and why. I try as hard as I can to be an honest person-not to lie and told them what state up North we were went to. They all wanted to know why we were going, and we told most of them we were going to see friends and/or have hetial hernia surgery for bad acid reflux. (True) Fast forward to yesterday. I made the mistake of going out with my best friend and her husband. Trying to cut down, I ordered a cup of cheesey bacon potato Soup (under 200 cal) and rolls (vs. my usual HUGE plate of 1500 calorie Pasta.) I ate all that I could, but still couldn't finish it. I felt like I was eating it constantly and since it was something heavy that could have possibly filled up a normal person, it would have not been obvious that I had WLS. (For those of you questioning fatting cheesey potato soup- I stayed within my calories for the day.) She brought up the idea of going on a certain diet together. I told her I was doing a calorie restricted diet, where I exercised and ate more often to rev up my metabolism and in smaller amounts (true). She is also overweight and we walk together. Then she flat out asked me if I had my stomach stapled and I should have said NO, (because truthfully I didn't-mine was folded and sewn) but I ended up telling her everything and making her promise not to tell anyone. She told me how all of our friends were speculating on why we were going out of state and what were were doing.. One thought I was getting a boob job. I believe that my friend can be trusted (I hope) but I still feel violated. I am SO mad at myself for answering so quickly and telling her everything. She said she that she suspected it when I only ordered a cup of soup and couldn't finish it. When I asked her if it would have been better if I ordered a whole meal, picked at it and took the rest home, she Yes, that would be less obvious. It makes me not want to go out with people for meals (one of my FAVORITE pastimes). I am currently still in the mushie stages and can't do salads yet. I feel like there is a double standard. It is fine for someone who has always been skinny or displined, doesn't have an appetite-to order/eat tiny amounts and no one will question it. I went out with a couple to Long Horns and the wife is a ballet teacher and ordered...drum roll please! A SIDE salad & water! No one said a word or even noticed. Take the overweight person, and all the sudden everyone is looking at what your eating and sizing you up. Why is the fat girl only getting soup? I know this is only going to get worse when I do start losing serious weight. I am trying to spread the word that I am on a calorie restricted diet, with exercise and eating more often to rev up my metabolism and in smaller amounts (which is ALL true) to help answer the question on why I am loosing weight. But people are still trying to size me up why I went out of state and what I did there. When I was on Phentermine, my friends overheard a business assocate tell someone I didn't even know that I had WLS (a year before I ever had even thought about it.) I don't feel like it is anyones' business or they have the right to know anymore then if someone had errectile disfunction or had surgery on their woman parts. My dad asked when I am going to "come out of the closet." The way I feel right now, never. I already feel voliated even telling my best friend-I am SO mad at myself I couldn't sleep last night and really wonder if my parents will slip. I told my parents because I wanted their help (first time ever having serious surgery and felt like I owed it to them.) If I had to do it over, I would have only told my hubby. For me it went so smoothly it was no different then being put down for an endoscope or colonscopy and people have those all them time without saying goodbye to their family. I've explained to my parents and friend that I don't want people to know and I don't want to be judged like: "oh, she wasn't fat enough for surgery, or oh, she didn't have enough self control to loose it on her own, or wow! where did they get the money? or she took the easy route, no wonder she is skinny." I want to help people who are overweight to know about great WLS options, but I don't feel like I have to tell them I had one -I can tell them about an article I read or something I heard someone else mention or a really good website (like this). How do you handle the questions and pressure? I don't want to bite peoples heads off, but I really want privacy. I am sure that if I told them I had hemroid surgery of something embarassing that would shut them up and is none of their business. But why do people have to feel that everything is their business? I don't want to lie and I am trying to find ways around telling everyone my business or resorting to lying. Has anyone experienced this and found it challanging?

Sorry my phone posts these messages twice.

I was very afraid of puking or sliming that is why I avoided the band. None off that here. For me, it was easier than a coloscopy..and the worse part of that was drinking the gross stuff. Recovery was simple for GPS surgery and easy for me, and incessions are healing fabulously- very tiny. I am disappointed that weight isnt flying off me. But I believe my own body is against me. I stuck religously to pre-op at only 800 or less calories a day of liquid protien and while others lost 10 lbs I only 4. So I think my body wants me to stay fat. I am now tracking everything I consume..hopefully the weight will go down. One thing is for sure, atleast I have a prayer of a chance with surgery - I'd do it again a heartbeat.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/9758-my-great-gps-experience-with-dr-watkins/

Congrats! I think you'll find it a breeze! I was VERY nervous and it was SO easy. I am SO happy I had surgery. I think you do will awsomely.

Great posts everyone. Need2toLooseW, I am sure that if you address it with whatever Dr. you are using, they can work something out.. It is really important to address the hernia. Please forgive me, my post wasn't saying that ALL VSG are restricted to certain kinds of food, I just read about a COUPLE of people that it looked like they only felt good when eating healthy protein-those few people were forced to eat healthy. In general, the whole point of ANY SLEEVE whether regular VSG or GPS (Gastric Sleeve Plication) is to be able EAT ANYTHING eventually-that is why I think ANY SLEEVE is GREAT! The point of my post was that I was personally reminded that the greatest part of the weightloss depends on eating good food and making good choices. I was nervous for a little bit that I didn't have the restriction like I thought it was going to be, but I think I am going to be just fine. I strayed a little bit the other day from the Protein wagon-went to eat spaghetti (made with lean turkey meat) for the first time since surgery, one of my FAVORITE things. As I prepared it, I picked at a couple of canned mushrooms, and tasted a couple of noodles to make sure that they were cooked right. Pasta was one of my favorite things before surgery. Once it was all done, I put about a cup in bowl, thinking since I loved it so much, I would make a serious dent in it. It made me laugh, because I could only eat about 3 bites before I was stuffed! Before surgery, I could have eating 2 HUGE bowls full. This time, I actually seemed to enjoy the meat more than the pasta part! That is huge for me! And a few bites are DEFINATELY an improvement over a couple of bowls full! : ) Surgery was a HUGE difference in my life and cannot imagine life without it- I would do it again in a heartbeat! I am going to work my tool and loose the weight! I wish all of us great weightloss and maintenance.

Thanks so much for your responses!

Good point, TjiunaPlication, about putting work in. Reading this forum, the ones who focus on the protein first and rarely eat white carbs loose the most weight. Of course we would all figure that..but some who have VSG seem to have trouble eating any junk food..they must eat only good stuff or they feel sick. Sometimes it can be scary if it is too easy to cheat. But anyone can make the most of their powerfull tool or consume around their power tool. Sarah, I hope you can have a barium test and resolve your most disappointing problem. We send our support and regards.

Sorry my reply was meant for Sarah, regarding her plication surgery not being restrictive enough. I was worried about mine because recovery has been so easy and I feel so great no nausea or vomiting. I read who people who eat one more bite and vomit _ so I was kind worried that doesnt happen to me. But so far so good. I can get pretty filled up on 1 to 1.5 pieces of string cheese. I guess that is a fairly small portion..I am still counting calories though. Thanks for your post, Dr. Watkins.

Maybe your doctor will let you have the regular verticle sleeve for a discounted price? Who was your doctor?

I hit a stall, so I am keeping track of my daily intake as shown below on Protein, etc.) info to my doctor. The coolest thing is it can scan in the nutrition count of many of the foods with a barcode scanner in the phone or do a search, or restaurant search and has many restaurants/fast food on there. I really would have a hard time keeping a dairy without this fabulous application/bar-code scanner so I highly recommend it if you aren't using one. I am sure there are even more for the IPhone. Another tip, usually Publix off brands will scan but if you just like to scan in the food, most name brands are already in there so you don't have to manually add the nutrional value. When you are shopping, you can scan to see which brands work. But you can add anything custom you want, so it will be there. I just really like the scanning. My phone is a Droid phone through Verizion (most companies offer this Samsung Galaxy phone) What apps do you like and why?

Where at? I just had some tonight. Worked out with weights today and walked for an hr yesterday. mine are like flashing pains about 3 in above my belly button and 2 in.to.the right. Doesn't feel like pain from overeating. Almost like a spasm but pain instead. Seems to be better when I lay down.

See http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/9758-my-great-gps-experience-with-dr-watkins/page__pid__102803#entry102803 and also search for Dr. Watkins he so talented and has great followup. Also has done a lot of revision surgeries for people with previous problem surgeries.