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I so wish I could have had this surgery at 18! I just turned 30 a couple of weeks ago and I bet my 20's would have been a whole lot better if I had the sleeve done at your age! Go for it!

Ok, so I have a question.....or more so a scenario that I am going to encounter in a few weeks and wondering how to handle it.... I have an all day business meeting, during which the higher ups will be evaluating me for my next promotion. They Always serve a huge lunch spread during these meetings as they tend to last 7-9 hours. I am going to be on Day 3 of my pre-op Clear liquids. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone have any ideas for how to skirt the questions of why am I not eating anything? Keep in mind they are truly judging your every move. Do I say I'm having a surgerical procedure and need to be on clear liquids? Or do I just suck it up, serve myself some salad (I can at least be good if I'm going to eat) and then right back on the clear liquids? Dr. Alvarez wants me to do a 14 clear liquid diet prior to my 10/8 surgery....technically my BMI calls for 7 or 14 days...(I'm a 41.4, so 41 calls for 7 day, 42 calls for 14)....should I just start it the day after the meeting, so I don't run the risk of being low on energy and hunger crazy when I am trying my hardest to impress these people for my promotion? That would still give me 10 days on clear liquids pre-op. Truly appreciate any/all suggestions.....

I am a little over 2 weeks out. I had pain when breathing deep until the 4th day out. I personally have never been a very good burper. I still have a terrible time burping. It gets better. The only pain I have now is at my port site when I bend over.

Hi bets I'm about nine weeks out. And stalled for seven weeks now. I was panicking, then feeling that I had failed (doing something, or all of it wrong) but then caught sight of myself in the mirror, well I was shocked.... I saw a person, who looked like a slimmer version of me. Strange isn't it. Then I noticed that my clothes were getting too big on me. Then other people started noticing too. But the scales stayed the same.... Started researching then, and have found lots of info about fat being replaced with muscle, so your body changes, but the scales don't!!!!! I guess what I'm saying is keep to the plan, keep calm, don't worry, let it happen, because it will, we're all very different, don't be put off by success stories, thinking that your failing. I got up this morning, jumped on the scales, moved them around a couple of times to make sure they were right, coz I lost two pounds, yopppppeeeee. Success will come to us all x

Wow!!! Approved in 5 days and I am ready to go!! Pre op next week on the 11th wow!! Here I gooo!!! Thanks all for your words of encouragement!

Hi, I usually just read and learn from other people's experiences; but when I read yours I felt compelled to respond. I've been banded for 11months and have managed to loose 50lbs. I've been stuck here for over four months now. I lost three more then gain seven and just started loosing again. There are different reasons why we keep gaining or stuck, mostly for me I found it’s because I rarely exercise and have not been eating right; (and I have one reason for the other for this behavior). Although in my mind I always feel am eating right, until I religiously started to note what I was eating. I started logging my food on sparkpeople.com. I feel this site to be a great motivator. It tells me my caloric intake and gives me easy exercises I can do. The other thing that’s been helping me is walking now that the weather's nice. I sent out an email looking for walking buddies and got some responses. Am however thinking of walking alone sometimes because it gives me time to think of stuff. Try to leave the house and walk somewhere because staying at home for me makes me eat more, am constantly hovering around my fridge. Life's not easy but you're doing the right thing by asking for help. You can never get lost when you ask for directions. Good luck to you and I wish you all the best.:crying:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

:redface:Hi everyone Im new here and was looking online for support groups. I had my band removed last friday after 3 yrs of dealing with persistent port site pain and also recently finding out the band had slipped. About 6 months after my band was placed, we found out that i had an incisional hernia at port area and it had to be fixed and the port had to be moved b/c it was rubbing against my ribs and causing damage. My immune system started weakening also after I got the band. I didnt realize it then, but looking back thru charts and info...even my lap-band doctor agreed it could be the cause of increased issues w/my immune system disease. (3 yrs ago there was no conflict w/having immune system problems and the band...now its a contraindication). Initially I lost about 40 lbs w/the band....i later gained it all back plus more with the medications i had to be on to help out my rheumatism and its increased progession. Im still very sore right now, but im pretty thankful this was able to be removed b/c my life has been hell the last 2 years. I guess the band slippage and port pain were just the nail in the coffin (so to speak). Im looking forward to discovering whether or not the band had anything to do w/my immune system or if mere coincidence. We shall see.... Thanks for listening....

I am currently waiting for an upper GI scope on 6/22. This will determine if I have ulcers. If I do have ulcers, I will not be able to have the procedure. If I don't then I will hopefully move on the fast track to getting everything done. I would really like to have the procedure before school starts in the fall because I don't want to miss any work. My husband goes in for his first meeting with the weight loss center in a couple weeks. We are really hoping to have the surgeries done at the same time. :thumbup:

Today marks three weeks since my sleeve surgery. I have been on "Full Liquids" for two weeks and move to mushies on Sunday. I have to say I have not been getting my Protein in and the past two days I've missed my Water mark as well. I've felt horrible especially at night for some reason. I catch the chills, and am just dead beat tired. I've really focused on my Fluids today and I think I'm close to 64 oz's. I haven't been hungry at all either which kind of worries me.....I hope moving to mushies is a smooth transition. Otherwise, the weight is still coming off. My Stats are: Starting Weight Pre-op Diet - 267 Surgery Date - 249 Today - 221 Stay strong and positive fellow sleevers!!!

I have run the Vitamin gamut the past four weeks. I started out on Opurity and by Day 4, was throwing it up. Got switched to Flintstones chewables, only to find out I was allergic because I kept breaking out in hives randomly throughout the day. Was told by the doctor not to switch to a new vitamin until this one worked its way out of my system. Then I started the Celebrate chewables and those just never sat right with me either and I hated the taste of the Centrum ones. My doctor allowed me to start back on my birth control again for my PCOS this week and I have heard from numerous people on here that they were taking regular pills again by Week 2. I've started taking the Alive multivitamin for women that was recommended to me prior to surgery. The pill isn't too big. I've also found Iron and B12 that are the size of a tic tac, so I've been taking those as well without an issue. The chewables just aren't okay for me and I suspect, you're the same. I totally get it and sympathize with you!

I don't know when you had surgery but seems by your post that it was after me. I am 6 1/2 weeks out and finished my first egg today. I barely did it and was full for a very long time. So you are doing great. At this stage you should still supplement with a protein shake to reach your goals. Balancing eating real foods, not drinking for an hour after eating and still meeting my fluid and protein goals have been a little challenging for me. It is getting better every day though. Best wishes!

Hi! I'm super excited to use this app, and kind of wish I'd downloaded it sooner . I am currently four and a half months post rny gastric bypass surgery. I always feel awkward writing about myself so apologize in advance if this is a rambling introduction that is difficult to follow. Since I'm not sure where to start, I think I will begin before surgery (kind of makes sense for a timeline) Before I had surgery, I heard so many mixed views about the results of weight loss surgery, some really amazing and some absolutely horrible, so I was very unsure what kind of results I would see. I live in a smaller town, which of course means gossip travels fast, and since everyone knows everyone in some manner advice (whether asked for or not) is freely given. Nobody was mean or rude about my decision to have weight loss surgery, but there seemed more negative stories told than positive (or maybe they stuck out more in my memory). I thankfully have what i think is a very great Weight Loss Program. I started that program (after talking myself out of it a dozen times) in August of last year with no set decision on surgery. I signed up for a medical option, and switched to a surgical program after approx 7 months. My highest weight (the day I went to my first of many appointments) was 312 pounds. Having spent the majority of my life overweight, I still was surprised how awful i felt about myself as i looked at that first comprehensive analysis of my body (I remember focusing on the segment that broke down each limb/body part because the numbers were smaller). scales had disappeared from my house long before that day, so I wasn't prepared for the results. I'm sure the bazillion appointments with the dr, nutritionist, fitness specialist, psychologist, surgeon, support groups, etc are about the same so I'm going to skip over them other than to say I made some very slow but steady progress presurgery, and was very pleasantly surprised at the level of support and encouragement that I received. Fast Forward to May, after what seemed like both years and just days at the same time, and I was weighed (280.4) and prepped for surgery! I felt a strange combination of excitement, fear, doubt, and expectation while I waited. After I woke up of course all I felt was Pain and worry (was I going through all of this pain for nothing? ) The words "no guarantee" echoed through my head the first night constantly, along with regret (as painful as it was MUST mean it was a bad decision). It seemed like the ****** mean nurses were trying to torture me by insisting I walk around the hallways and poking/prodding checking my aching body!! (couldnt they see i hurt so bad just laying there trying not to breathe too deep and remain perfectly still??). My last clear thought, before I finally fell into an exhausted sleep, was that i was going to tell the next person who walked in my room EXACTLY where to go! Despite my less than positive attitude that first night, I did everything (without noticing since i was grouchy and focused only on the "new pain") i was supposed to do very well. It's hard to notice that you are walking, talking, breathing, swallowing etc well when you are busy wallowing in self pity . Thankfully, morning came with a new and improved attitude, and the decision to NOT allow the surgery to be worthless, I remembered (now that i wasnt focused on pushing the pain med pump every two seconds) that the amount of effort I put into recovering would have a huge impact on outcome. With that determination helping (sometimes being the only thing making me walk an extra lap around the unit or drink something i felt no thirst for) I was home and healing in a couple of days. Now, it is Almost October, about four and a half months since I left the hospital, and so far, things are going pretty good for me. I weighed in at 204 last week during my check up, and I feel a bit more energetic than I have in at least a decade. Dumping Syndrome quickly became my good friend and helped me really learn that eating certain things is bad for you. (It definitely was a better teacher than the words don't eat it...It forced me to actually accept the lesson). I am glad that I chose this new lifestyle, and on a side note, I still do not have a scale in my house, but for different reasons. This Journey, with all of the ups and downs, and twists in the road, could change from an improvement in health and fitness, to a number game, and for me, it has never been about reaching a number goal on the scale, but about improving my life. So here I am, kind of dewey eyed like a newborn looking at my changing life without knowing what the future holds, but amazed at where I am now.

I waited over two and a half weeks and felt the same way as you. We took it slow and I was waiting for it to hurt, but it never did so all systems are a go!! Lol

Hiya Hope everyone is all good. I'm so happy!!! I met my surgeon today. He is absolutley lovely! When i went into my consultation today i was sooooooooooo nervous. But it wasnt as bad as i thought. Im really excited and ready for a new me!!!! I have too loose 10lbs before the 14th August, but that will be easy as im so detrmined to do it. Only thing im worried about is the pre op diet. How will i ever survive on milk and youghurt for a week . Im sure ill manage!!! Cya later xxxxxxxxxxxx

I am a realistic person, really I am. Pragmatic even....but these stalls every few weeks are just the most aggravating thing. 3 week stall, then five lbs off I am at another stall (sleeved 11.28)....where I sit at 216 (down from 246 initial weight, then 236 one week preop). I am eating enough, not too much, not too little. I have to admit I am lucky to get in 40 ounces of fluid each day, not the requisite 60 ounces then recommend. I just need reassurance that this is completely normal, and this follows similar paths to a lot of post op patients. I guess if I know by the summer, I should have at least another 40 lbs off, I would breathe a huge sigh of relief. But there are no guarantees, are there?

I am experiencing the same as you!! Big drop in first couple of weeks. Then 3-4 week stall, drop of 5, then 3 week stall, drop of 5. Talked to my doc and he said I was doing fine! Ok! The weight didn't pile on overnight, and it's not coming off that way, either. Everyone is different, and progresses at their own speed. Don't be too hard on yourself-- I am impatient too!!! Just keep doing what you are doing!

@@VanessaVSGforme - Hey there. I'm taking the same Vitamin (Celebrate Multi with iron), and so far I've been about 50/50 with it. I had tried it Pre-Op and liked it fine, but since I've had it post op.... The first morning I took it, it was less than 5 minutes before I was throwing it right back up. I thought maybe it was because I took it on an empty stomach. Day two, I tried it shortly after eating a scrambled egg and it stayed down. Day three I tried the exact same thing, but it didn't stay down. Since it was the only thing coming up, I thought maybe I waited too long after the egg. So lately I've tried taking it with a 1 cup glass of Fairlife fat free milk. I'll have my scrambled egg, wait half an hour for liquids, then take the vitamin with the milk and so far it's staying down. The milk also helps cut the vitamin flavor that seems to be much stronger now. At my 2 week post appointment, my doctor said I may have to try the capsules if I can't consistently handle the chewable.

Frustrating update. I love the staff at the weight loss clinic at my hospital. They have been part of my life now for 2 plus years. I like my surgeon but his scheduler is driving me crazy. I called insurance on a Friday and was told I was approved. The next Wednesday I received a letter in the mail. Friday called the office and asked about scheduling. She says she has no idea as she hasn't checked her mail. She will check and call me back. Nothing.....called her the next Wednesday (and she says the 15th is already booked (?they are the ones that set that date?), it would have to be the May 8th or in June. I can't do the 8th (I have to travel that week but I also don't want to wait until June! She says she will talk to the doctor about the 19th since he is on call that weekend anyway. Call this morning and she hasn't talked to him! I need to make some plans here. I will be out of commission for 3 weeks! I have a job that I need to plan around. This is serious stuff! OK. Feel better now.

Lucky you, ladies! I am on 2 weeks of liquid diet i tried it out already and I do 7 am, 11, 4pm, 7pm... Sort of baby feeding routine I go officially on July 29 th.

Anyone of you Newbies want to partner up to lose 10 lbs in 30 days? Let me no I'm starting Thursday.Philadelphia girl hoping to be sleeved early September or end of August. 2 more test next week one more Nutritionists visit and the support meeting the 20th.

HI, i was very big you can have a look my pictures, my weight was nearly 15.10 stone i have done my surgery 3rd Sept 2008 2 years back ,i think i have best ever decision made,i spent £5.000.i lost not that much i am now 13,8 but its worth it.the main thing you can,t eat much food,i must say its tool might be my choices was not enough good,last 6 week i lost 5 kg.hopefully i will be on track.its up to you but you worth it.best wishes for you.

Note to Admins -- I took a look at the food & Nutrition section and did not see a thread like the one i am writing here. This section has more views & replies, so I am hoping to keep this thread here despite .. Hi Folks, Coming into VSG surgery, my doctor told me that my relationship with food will change. Via the pre-op psycho analysis visit to his colleague psychiatristpizza place that has pizza by the slice, and we used to get a slice of cheese pizza each and sit down and eat them before driving back home .. nowadays, even if I cut the slice in 1/2 or 1/3 -- the taste isn't there anymore. I can't describe why .. I simply do not enjoy eating this food, though my memory of enjoying this food is still there. You can apply that to EVERY single kind of food and dishes that I used to eat -- the TASTE relationship is not the same. And I've come to the conclusion that what I need to do, is to expand the horizon on foods and get into eating different dishes, ones that I don't used to eat, very often, or never tried before .. Now, to be fair -- I'll go first to offer up a recipe I discovered on the internet that is a "new" dish for me, in the fact that at least -- I never used to eat it as a meal at home. This recipe came about about the first week of going from a semi-liquid diet into solid foods, and all the foods I was eating was very boring or didn't taste good . On this day -- I felt like eating salmon, but not raw as Japanese food but cooked. I knew I needed a nice and tasty sauce, so I found this recipe: *** Pan fried salmon with cream dill sauce *** - Fresh raw salmon fillet (180 grams or less, if too large -- VSG'ers can't finish this) - 1 small lemon/lime - Fresh dill - 1/2 cup cream - 1 table spoon Philadelphia Chive & Chive Cream Cheese - 2 table spoon virgin olive oil - 1/2 table spoon salt - Ground black pepper Pan fry salmon fillet with olive oil for 5~10 minutes pending your fire and temperature until cooked. Separate sauce pan, pour in cream and mix in the cream cheese and stir until the cream cheese has melted and blended into the sauce body. Chop the dill and add it to the sauce, let the dill cook a bit to get the flavor into the cream sauce. When the sauce is done, pour it over the cooked salmon fillet in a serving plate. Slice a piece of lemon or lime and put it on top of the salmon. Done .. quick and dirty. I ate this dish for a while, until I burnt out on it .. now, I'm looking for more recipes to re-vitalize my daily meal agenda .. anybody have any good recipes which you are currently enjoying, which you have tested out yourself and know that it will work for VSG'ers ?? Feel free to jump in and make your contribution. I'm waiting to try out some new dishes.

What about if you are working out all the time? Then how many calories should I stick to? The NP that filled me said no more than 1000 calories but I am working out 5 days a week and most days 1000 is not enough. I am eating closer to 1300-1500 on days that I work out. Is that too much? I am burning about 2500-3000 calories a week in exercise. Please help. i too am stressing over how much is too much when it comes to calories. :frown:

I am over six weeks out and somewhat active (Zumba, working with a trainer, 1-2 hours of walking) is 1050 calories too much?

I had my first fill 2 weeks ago and i feel like i"m still eating more than i"m supposed to. I don't feel the weight coming off has this happened to anyone? I'm going for a 2nd fill in a week do you think it will be right then? worried...:thumbup: