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The vacation was great and lovely and I stayed very active while still getting to sample foods I hadn't yet tried since surgery.  After getting back, I decided to stay off of social media for a little while, which also included these forums.  I had a lot of work in the office to catch up on and needed to focus on that.  Of course, the past week or so I have been struggling a lot mentally and emotionally.  I've desperately wanted comfort food and have done well not giving into that temptation.  This week doesn't feel like it'll go much better, but October always seems to be the worst month for me. 

Had an anxiety dream last night involving a substantial weight gain in the past week.  Absolutely no basis in reality since I've stayed on plan.  I think it stems from Saturday when I ate some extra calories due to a 2 hour hike earlier in the day that burned 900 calories.  The extra calories brought my total intake up for 1025, as opposed to 700-800.  And my extra calories were from curry egg salad, so it was a protein packed choice.  And yet, my brain some how decided that would lead me to gain 10 pounds in one week and threw that are me while I slept.  Brains can be jerks.

We're home again! Luckily I have another week of vacation left.

Turns out that I'm normal....how disappointing 😔 

Today is 3 weeks since my VSG and my scales showed a loss of 100g for last week. 

So I thanked my body for doing a great job of losing 10kg in the past 34 days and I understand it needs to make some internal adjustments to my physiology. 

However, I can now fit my first goal pants comfortably, so no real complaints from me. 

"Leisure time" is getting more and more scarce lately as it seems somehow. Too often too tired from being on-call and I definitely need to start studying for my second board certification and there will be some rough times ahead I guess.

Going to bed soon. The work day after a 24 h shift always feels awful (like jet lag) so I better get to sleep soon to get my zzZZZzz in because I'm being on-call again tomorrow evening/night. Who else hates vacation time when half the department seems to be on holiday?

I have a follow-up appointment on Friday so I took Friday off. Also not working on the weekend and being on late shift next Monday. That means three days in a row without an alarm clock, lol.

My last appointment in 2019 the dietitian basically told me if she had been the one to talk to me and give a yes or no as a candidate she would of said no to me. Why? Because I am fussy and I don't like fish. My blood work was good. I was around 170 pounds to which I was told I am losing too much and I should of tapered off by then and been in maintenance. When I left there I felt very frustrated as I was a slow loser and maybe that was the goal they had set for me, but mine was lower. Anyway, she put me on an emergency list to go back in January to talk to her again so they could check on me. It's an hour drive and $20 to park. When I left there I tried more suggestions of what else to add to my diet and found that I was eating when I wasn't hungry, I was pushing myself to eat more than I wanted and more often than not I suffered for hours after eating. I did this for about 2 weeks and then went back to how I was doing it before.

Now they've been calling since January trying to book an appointment and I keep giving excuses as to why I can't go. They called each month and now because of covid-19 they are willing to do phone appointments so I agreed. I told the dietitian about my previous experience and how it wasn't helpful. When I told her I was down to 145 on my scale she told me that once again I would be put on the emergency list as it more than a year later and I shouldn't be losing anymore weight and if I continued to do so I would likely be a failure and gain it all back. Hopefully the next one is over the phone also and I will just tell them what they want to hear. I will tell them I gained 10 pounds and I eat fish every other day and all the other stuff they say I need to eat.

And like the last time for a couple weeks I tried to incorporate more food and more calories, and once again I suffer, I am so full I feel sick. I need to spend sometimes hours after laying down. Sometimes I pace in the bathroom because I am so close to throwing up. I haven't had to take gravol much over the course of my journey but after those two appointments they were becoming vital in my survival. Plus I was gaining weight, quickly. So here I am again, back to the way I was doing that feels right for me.

I just don't understand why they are pushing for me to eat when I am not hungry... that's what got me to the weight I was once was, that's a bad habit. If I feel hungry I eat. I eat 3 meals a day and 2 to 3 snacks. I hit my protein goals. I drink more than enough water. I take my vitamins and supplements. My weight goes up and and down within 5 pounds. I don't understand their concern to keep me as an emergency patient that needs to be so closely monitored. I am not underweight, I am not malnourished, in fact I am still overweight. 

Am wondering if anyone else has had this issue with the dietitians afterward? It's very frustrating and I am close to saying good bye to them because they make me doubt myself and I think I am doing well. I want to go as low as I can go, not unhealthy low, but low enough that when I hit the stage where I ultimately gain some back, the lower I am the lower I will after that happens. If I end up at 140-150 I would be content with that. I will not be content with with 180.

I had my gastric sleeve done September 10, 2020... I started out 330# before surgery.... I'm down to 260# now... I've been stalled out for over two months now.... I exercise when I can (Bad back/knees)... I follow my diet , get my protein and drink my water... But still not losing any weight... I've done everything I can think of to break the stall.... Even went back to liquid diet....  Sometimes I think this was a mistake having the surgery...

hello! This is my first week researching gastric bypass/sleeve. Can y’all please tell me everything you wish you knew from the start? I have read a lot but I feel like there is going to be some surprising disadvantages and I would like to know now. I think right now I am more interested in the sleeve. Can you please tell me why you chose which one you did? With either procedure are you ever allowed to eat rice again like even after a year? Can you drink alcohol ever again? Thank you in advance

Did my weekly weigh in this morning and am a little disappointed that the scale has not budged since last week. However, I am focusing on the fact that I'm sticking to my plan and that I can see that I'm losing weight, not only in my face, but in how my clothes fit. Guess I'll be using the quarantine to do a big purge in my closet!

6 Weeks Post Op!

My world is drastically different! I now walk 3 to 4 miles a day and I’m constantly getting up to move my body! .

I close my Apple Watch rings daily and about 4 to 6 days a week I double or triple them!

I have been released to have all foods. When I reintroduce some I need to start at 1 ounce to see how “Tiny Tummy” likes it!

I am not reintroducing sugars, coffee or junk! I did not pay close to $13,000 to fail! .

I went to get follow up bloodwork done this week and my numbers are all in the perfect range! .

This is my new world and I am happy it!

I have a surgery date, I have my next doctor appointment on Wed and then Thursday I start my 2 week liquid pre-op diet. I am very nervous right now. I know it's going to be a tough mind game. 

Mr. at a client site, the Kid at school.  FINALLY!  After 2+ weeks I finally have the house to myself! #yay

A NSV today! I I can wear some 12's but there is one pair of 12's that I have tried on every few weeks for awhile now and they have always been about 2 inches from buttoning Today they buttoned, yay!

I have to say, even more than 2 years out, it is so much easier to be good when your busy and so easy to go wrong when your bored.  Crappy weather and the wife is sick so i feel trapped in this house and i have to really watch myself.  At least the holiday leftovers are gone.

Going to get out this week even if for only a few hours, maybe go see  Ford vs Ferrari that looks real good.

Ok, whining over, I hope everyone is doing well and had a good thanksgiving.

2 Weeks post op and I've had absolutely no pain nor problems!!

My Surgeon asked me a question the other day and i didn't give it a lot of thought at the time.

He asked "do you tell"

we were talking about peoples reaction to seeing me since i lost such a large amount of me.

I answered that i do tell if they ask but that it seems most everyone is afraid to mention it if they haven't seen me in a while or they decided they already know the answer so they don't need the truth from me (we all know those types)

I have had exactly one family friend come right out and ask me how i lost so much weight this year and i told her i had Gastric Sleeve.

I am sure family has passed it around to other family (you have that type family don't you? or is it just me)  

So that left me wondering "do you tell" and i dont mean right at surgery time. more like a year or so down the road do you say how or do you just say cut out the sugar and carbs and WAALAA

Its a real personal choice to open yourself up to that kind of criticism and we know all about how we took the "Easy" way and yada yada yada.

hope everyone is having a great week

This photo is morning of surgery and a photo I took a couple weeks back.

• So... I have a haital hernia and they're suspecting some stomach ulcers (explains the anemia/getting endoscopy soon to confirm)
  • According to my doctor, hernia can re-develop after 2-3 years if it is repaired but nothing is done to my sleeve.
• I have been going to Support Group and the CBT sessions and both have been very helpful.
  • Had the chance to share my story and that has been relieving and empowering...
  • According to the program leader (for more than 20 years), only 5% of WLS patients stay at goal 10 years after surgery.
    • One study showed the most contributing factor is a patient's support network.
    • Met a lady who is 12 years out and 7 lbs. away from her goal — She only missed 4 support group meetings in the 12 years!
• I really want to prove to myself before revision that I can change.
  • The surgery is just the building blocks, I have to do the hard work to build the beautiful house/temple...
    • On prenatal vitamins, protein shakes instead of meals and clean eating
      • No grazing, set meal schedule, no distractions (eating mindfully)
    • Trying to get into the Bio Oil regimen (thank you for the recommendation) so I can stay consistent after revision
• Iron infusions scheduled weekly for 8 weeks (7/11/19 - 8/29/19) so will probably be attending half those sessions after surgery?
  • Depends on where my iron is when I get labs and surgery date that will be set on August 1st

Whew what an up and down 24 hours it's been...

Yesterday I was pretty confident that I was finally through my first stall (after 3 full weeks!) and I was feeling good about getting 5km of walking in using my Nordic walking poles. 

I also have mastered some of my pills... ursodiol and calcium citrate have become my nemesis, because they are both large-ish pills and they get stuck on the way down and trigger vomiting... three times a day each! Turns out I can split my ursodiol in half, and take two smaller pills to get it down, and I can crush my calcium citrate and take it with a bit of apple sauce. Victory!

But then I did something pretty stupid and tried to eat half a smokie at dinner. I thought it would work because I have had kielbasa successfully, and I was using mustard as a bit of meat lube, as Fluffy calls it. Yeah... not smart. I spent more than three hours dealing with slimies, foamies, and general vomiting. Ugh! It was awful. The only highlight of the evening was that my Roughriders won their game. 

This morning, I was up and out for my walk by 6am, got in my 5km (although I'm feeling it a bit... sore legs), and managed my morning Rxs without issue. Even had a great poop! (who knew I could get so excited about that?) and I was down 1.2lb from yesterday! Woohoo! 

My plan for the day is to take it easy food-wise. Had some greek yoghurt with protein powder for breakfast and am planning on some egg salad for lunch. Giving my poor pouch a break from all the heaving yesterday. Here's hoping to have my first vomit free day in over 3 weeks. 

Well, long time no see. 

It's been a rough couple of weeks. I should have been expecting the other shoe to drop after having it so easy for the first three weeks post op. I was getting my water and protein easily, had no pain, nausea, or vomiting.

But as soon as the soft foods really started in earnest I started having problems. Pain, foamies, slimeys, vomiting galore. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it. Something that I ate easily yesterday causes pain and vomiting after the first bite today. Sometimes it's my pills, other times they go down easy. I just don't get it. 

I'm trying to stay positive. I know this is a season in my life, and things will eventually even out. I'm just so tired of being afraid to eat, not knowing what kind of response my body will have. I'm mostly hitting my protein target, thanks in large part to protein shakes (which I hate, but look at as medicine). I missed my water targets by a lot over the weekend, due mostly to feeling awful, which I know is a terrible cycle... throw up, don't feel like drinking anything, get dehydrated, get constipated, feel like crap, repeat. 

The three-week stall is also still here. I thought I had busted through it, but I've been bouncing between 216-219 for the last two and a half weeks, which is a contributing factor to my mood and frustration level. And add in wee-lings who are going crazy with end of the school year insanity, friends with busy schedules who I haven't been able to see in weeks, and I'm an unhappy girl. 

Things will turn around. I know they will. Just not feeling it at this moment. 

One week post-revision, down 5 lbs since surgery day.....which puts me back under 300. VICTORY!!! Still a ways to go but I'll take every little win I can get. Feeling great other than minor abdominal discomfort.

Went to my initial consult with the Bariatric surgeon/ program I chose. Came home with a folder full of information & helpful organization of all the testing that needs to be completed while I complete the required nutritional counseling. She also let me know my insurance typically takes 6 weeks to reply with authorization when submitted, so that puts my potential surgery date near the new year if all stays on track  I felt comfortable with her, in our discussions she agrees that I am a good candidate for the Gastric Bypass. I appreciated the 'introduction' class that was given after the consult with the surgeon where I was given this binder of every referral (from her, not my pcp referrals), & contact information for all the testing needed to make my contacts/calls tomorrow morning even easier I start my nutrition classes on June 5th, so that's when the clock will start toward insurance approval & getting the tool to help me reach my goals

POOP

Prior to surgery, I would go to the bathroom within 15 minutes of waking up.  However, since the sleeve my bowel movements has not been regular.  So, I bought some probiotic+prebiotic gummies from Sam's Club.  I take 2 a day and I love it, I up to about 3-5X a week.  So, I read some people maybe having trouble in that area.  Try it.  Members Mark Pre+ Pro biotic Gummies (made from real fruit).

3 Weeks out of Surgery and I have hit a plateau. Feeling Frustrated.

A week and a day since surgery. Last night was the first night I got actually sleep, clocking in 7 hours. Oddly enough it's left me tired all day, but I didn't nap.
2 days ago my gas pains subsided (woohoo!)
I have aches and pains and of course sharp little pains around all the incisions (6 + 1 where the drain was), and I can't take the tylenol with codeine because it makes me feel like I have vertigo.
I have started the countdown mentally to my soft food stage starting on Monday. Looking forward to that, can't wait to see if eggs and cheese will still be my friends.