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I hit Onederland this morning for the first time in 4 years! Woohoo! I will be 4 weeks PO tomorrow. HW 235 SW 216 CW 199.6 5'3" 39y/o F I have had a fantastic 4 weeks, I've lost 16.2 lbs in this time. I've had a significant slowdown in rate of loss and even a few stalls during this time. I'm currently averaging about 2-2.5lbs of loss per week. This is fantastic to me, considering at my best pre-op I was luck to lose .5lb a week. My question is, during the 'honeymoon' period, is it reasonable to expect to maintain this average rate of loss for a while? I'm certainly not expecting a 16lb loss every month moving forward (and not sure I would even want that) but I'm just curious once I am out of the immediate 'post op healing phase' is 8-10lbs a month reasonable. Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

Did you have any issues with hair loss? If so at what point? Thanks

Based on what I've read on this forum, it seems like most people have a lot of trouble meeting their protein and fluid goals in the first week or two. I think a lot of surgeons are unrealistic about this. I was told to shoot for 60 grams of protein and 60 ounces of fluids per day, but my surgeon later told me that 40 ounces should be enough to prevent dehydration and anything over that is a bonus. Fluids are more important than protein because you could end up back in the hospital if you get dehydrated. I tried Protein2O and hated it. I'm not sure if I got a bad batch or something, but every time I drank it, I got egg white-like precipitates in my mouth. Yuck! Have you tried Syntrax Nectar? They have a lot of fruit flavors and they're more like juice than shakes. Also, sugar-free popsicles and Jello are life-savers in the liquid stage. Once you get to the pureed stage, I think protein gets a lot easier because you can mix protein powder into everything you're eating. Have you talked to your surgeon about the stomach cramps? I was prescribed hyoscyamine for stomach cramps. Mine weren't too bad, but I have heard it's worse for sleeve patients than gastric bypass. Also, the temperature of your liquids could affect this issue, so try drinking different temperatures (warm, cold, room temperature) to see what works best for you. It is totally normal to have feelings of regret in the beginning. When I woke up from my surgery, I had bad gas pain and I thought, "Why did I do this to myself?!" The first few weeks are really hard, and it's a big adjustment to make in your life, so it's natural to wonder if you did the right thing. But things should start looking up soon, and in a couple of months, you will be able to eat much more normally and you'll start seeing the benefits of weight loss. Almost everyone who has weight loss surgery says they're glad they did it, so keep the faith and know that right now is the worst part, but you'll be past it soon.

Pkump, How have your BM's been? I felt like I was stalling then had a very, very, rough BM. I started with more water and stool softener and had more BMs and weight loss was better. But I'm not a doctor. It was about the same time 1.5 wk after surgery. How are you doing otherwise? Are clothes loose, Do you feel more energy. It feels great to me to get up and walk away from a meal without thinking "why can't they just put me in a wheel barrow and take me out to my car" I feel more freedom and time to do stuff and less that my meals are determining my mood for me. I hope others have more helpful comments but the scale is not the only measure of progress.

Did they tell you to not sleep on your stomach? I know every Dr is diff but mine didn’t say I had to sleep a certain way at any point and I was fine. (I had the sleeve) so if that’s any help to you. If you are worried call your surgeon and ask if it’s ok that you slept on your stomach. I’m sure they can guide you and dos and donts Good luck to you and congrats to the start of your weight loss journey

I had my sleeve done Feb 10th so I'm 4 does po. But I am feeling so down. I have such bad shooting pains in my stomach that comes, and goes. Trying to get down protein drinks is the worst. My stomach cramps up so bad. I am feeling so discouraged and regretting getting this done. I have tried premier protein water thinking it would go down easier since it's clear,but the taste makes me sick. I'm trying to get my 64oz of water a day in but that's a far stretch. Has anyone had this issue? Does it get better because right not it's making me depressed. I just want to be able to drink something without hurting. I take sips so it's not like I'm gulping it fast. I just need some inspiration because right now I feel hopeless. I'm stressing over losing hair because I can't get my protein drinks down. I can only get 30 grams down maybe 40 and that's a push. Sent from my SM-G986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I had on 9th too i think its hell with me but we need the protein. if we dont want to lose are hair i been emotional Sent from my LM-Q730 using BariatricPal mobile app

I sent a list of everything I am taking to the surgery coordinator. All they told me to stop taking was Omega 3-6-9 and the 81mg aspirin. I will check gain Monday. Hopefully I can continue with the collagen, biotin,keratin B! for Hair loss at least. I m hoping I can at some point get back on this entire regiment.

I'm actually going to NOT recommend this. Insurance benefits and coverage are a potential minefield of complexities. To venture into this arena as a lay person is not for the faint of heart. If your PCP and (proposed) surgical facility are part of the same system, I would rely upon them and their insurance experts and resources to handle all if the minutiae. After all, that's part of the service you're paying for. Only if you start getting pushback, denials, or nonresponse from the medical team, would I recommend getting involved with the process. At the same time, be aware of you medical insurance coverage, its deductibles, copays, in-network vs. out-of-network coverage. Once you are approved, ask what your out-of-pocket costs will be and make sure they align with your understanding of your medical coverage obligations. In my case I was NEVER involved in the insurance approval or documentation process even once. I never had any direct contact with my insurance company. The bariatric medical team/department handled all of the paperwork, the application and approval process, everything. My only involvement was after the fact when I got the bill for my copayment ($375 surgical copay was the only cost I ever incurred outside of $30 physician visit copays). In my case it was when I was diagnosed with (early stage) type II diabetes in June of 2019, following having been on high blood pressure medication for several years. I figured that at age 53 I was living on borrowed time if I didn't make some rather drastic changes... I'd kinda like to live to see retirement. I had looked into weight loss surgery in 2000 or so, but it was still relatively new, the options were limited, and the complication rate was MUCH higher. So I told my PCP that I was potentially interested in weight loss surgery and would like to re-explore options. He referred me to the bariatric department. I had an initial exploratory meeting with an LPRN, and once we tentatively determined that sleeve gastrectomy was the best option, they set me up an introductory meeting with the surgeon. Only after that consultation and pre-surgery weight loss goals had been determined did they initiate insurance approval. As was explained to me, the biggest factors in the approval process are BMI and comorbidities (exacerbating medical conditions). In other words, if your BMI is above X you have the best chance of approval, or if your BMI is X-10 but you also have an additional medical condition(s) (diabetes, high blood pressure, , etc.). So it can be somewhat of a sliding scale and will likely vary by insurance company. What followed was a 6-month+ process of meetings with dieticians, the surgeon, a full psychological evaluation, and proven attempt to lose weight even before surgery is scheduled. My surgery was originally scheduled for April of 2020, but COVID intervened and it was canceled, ultimately occurring in July of 2020. Lemme tell ya, trying to maintain a weight-loss/healthy(ier) way of eating while the world and society is collapsing around you and being prone to "stress eating" ain't fun. Remember, in March/April of 2020 we didn't yet know what direction the pandemic would take... this was the time of panic buying, overreaction, and just general freaking out. Our department started working remotely on March 17, 2020 and we were still adapting to the world of Zoom meetings. Looking back on things, I'm surprised things worked out... now I'm a heck of a lot lighter... and STILL working from home.

I went about this in a much different way. My doctors office and the hospital are all one big organization. I had talked to my doctor about my weight before, but he never seemed too concerned because I’m “not that big.” (Well I’m big enough to be uncomfortable doing day to day activities.) Anyway, I was looking into the weight loss program the hospital I go through offers. I noticed they had a questionnaire that could be printed, filled out, and sent back. The questionnaire was used to determine if you qualified to be part of the program. I though, well what do I have to lose? So, I filled it out and sent it in. Now 8 months later I’ve been approved for surgery and have a date set. I’m not sure if other places have a system like this, but I’m really glad I began looking out of curiosity.

Awesome! I too have lost 60 lbs since my surgery 9/29. My weight loss has also slowed down but it’s about 10-12 every two months. I feel great. I’m down 2-3 sizes as well.

I started my journey to weight loss in 2019 at 389 pounds. Had my surgery January 23, 2020 at 321 pounds and today February 14, 2021 I finally hit ONEderland! I weighed myself this morning and after a 26 day stall I lost two pounds and weighed in today at 199.6! Never thought I'd get here to be honest, but I'm incredibly happy! For anyone starting their journey at over 300 pounds, it's possible to reach ONEderland, no matter how impossible it may seem! I just wanted to share that.

Hello! I'm 4 weeks post op and thought I would come back here to share what I have learned over the last 4 weeks. [emoji3590] My experience since surgery has been nothing short of incredible. I'm not speaking in terms of massive weight loss, but my energy, focus, well-being, mental clarity, and state of mind. The weight loss is a bonus. Looking back on my 8 month journey to the OR, I realized that the most crucial piece of advice I received came from the most unlikely of individuals on my path, the psychologist who did my psyche evaluation. She told me that the single best thing I could do for my recovery in the time before my surgery was to practice hitting my program Protein and fluid goals before surgery and to practice liquid Meal Replacement. I had more time than expected between this appointment and surgery (5 months versus 8 weeks due to multiple delays and reschedules), but I kept on doing this. I started by replacing Breakfast with my Protein Shake and monitoring my Water intake. I eventually worked up to hitting 70-90 grams of protein daily and my minimum 90 ounces of water. I still ate, but only after I was at my minimum protein goal. It wasn't an doctors order, it wasn't required, but I took her advice to heart and it has paid off in droves. Within days of my VSG, I was well on my way to hitting my goals again, with little head hunger or emotional discomfort with a liquid diet. I wasn't stressed or had any 'buyers remorse'. This is one small thing you can do for yourself on the way to make the lifestyle change a smooth transition. Best of luck! Sent from my Pixel 3a using BariatricPal mobile app

LOL! I didn't realize that this was me! It was three months ago and I have lost 16 pounds in the last three months. So a total of 66. I'm feeling great and although the weight loss has slowed down CONSIDERABLY, 16 pounds in three months is still good for me. Over the last three months I have stalled more than I have consistently lost...but I have gone down 2 pant sizes and feel amazing! Good luck everyone!!

I have my delayed surgery finally coming up on 2/23. I take a lot of supplements and vitamins & have since Covid began. I take: Biotin Keratin Zinc-Gummy Vitamin C- Gummy Iron Super B Complex B1- Thiamin B12- Gummy B12 Sublingual D3- Soft gel Vitamin E- Soft gel Multivitamin -Gummy 81 mg aspirin- Stopped a few weeks ago until after surgery Omega 3-6-9- Soft Gel- Stopped for now Pro Biotic Losartan for blood pressure Some sort of prescribed water pill Potasium Clonazapam for anxiety Cialis occasionally Propecia I drink the Premier 30 gram protein shakes. I really don't want to quit taking any of these because I feel great and my hair,skin and nails are all good. I know a lot of people will see this and think it is over kill or OMG but this works for me and I like it. It has kept my immune system strong. All of my blood test are great. I am concerned about getting some of these down after surgery. I was wondering if anyone is taking gummy vitamins? I get them in what ever supplement I can because of the amount of supplements I take it is easier to mix it up. My Doctor told me to stop taking Fish oil and aspirin for now because of blood thinner. Any advice on this is appreciated, a multi vitamin does not do the same for me as this regiment so that is not an option for me. Thanks

Hi Y'all. I'm at a loss & don't know where to go. I'm hoping someone here will be able to give me some advice? Here's my story. I had a weight loss surgery clear back in 1982, and it was called, Gastric Exclusion, or more commonly, Stomach Stapling Surgery. I am nearly 40 years post op!! My results were fair, but for sure not worth what I went through & continue going through! Approx. 12 years ago, I had been fighting a stomach ache for weeks. It wasn't horrible, just nagging. Then I went to visit my daughter in southern California, and something about getting on that flight, turned my "nagging stomach ache", into projectile vomiting, & it did not let up until I ended up in a San Diego ER, & they gave me some Protonix, & sent me on my way. Well, that lasted less than an hour, & I was trying to get to my daughters, 80 miles north... well, this projectile vomiting was so bad, and nothing would stop it! Well, the 4 day trip I had planned to go get to know my new grandson, was extended to 10 days, 9 of which were spent in a lovely hospital bed with palm trees outside my window view. They had me with a Naso-gastric tube, the one that goes from your nose into stomach to drain all contents of stomach continuously. On the 8th day, they finally scheduled me with a gastro enterologist, (really?? duh!!) and he did a scope on day 9, and found that one of my staples, had dislodged, and was floating around in my abdominal cavity, and had began boring a hole in my stomach wall!! The doctor who performed the scope dislodged the "staple", and took it out with the scope itself, at which time, my nausea, projectile vomiting and all pain magically went away along with that staple! Well, I was just so happy to have the issues resolved & be on my way back to Colorado, that I didn't bother getting much information about what was the cause & effects, or what to do in the event that I started having similar symptoms again! (finally bringing this to today!) Yeah, you guessed it. I've been having the same type of pain for the past week or so, & I fear it's going to be the same problem rearing it's ugly head again! I actually ended up in the ER a couple days ago, because of horrific abdominal pain, WAY worse than the pain I had 12 years ago, & they admitted me for a night & day for observations & kept me NPO while I was there. They did a CAT scan, & said they "THINK" I have an obstruction that will resolve on it's own. I attempted to tell these ER docs & nurses about my surgery in 1982, but they looked at me like I was from another planet, & just excused the topic. So, my question is, has anyone ever heard anything about this type of complication or ANYTHING 40 years post op, and if not, does anyone know where I could get information on this subject?

Not a sleever and not on 3 meals a day, but just wanted to say congrats on your wonderful loss! Why change a winning team - it sounds like you're doing so well

I actually buy Provel cheese from the deli (it's a local thing, not sure they sell it outside of my city) and add it to the slice before baking for more protein. If not provel, mozzarella would be my pick. My surgeon doesn't restrict foods and I agree that it just won't work to cut out things long term. Since I'm not eating half a pizza like I was pre-surgery and I'm meeting my protein goal, I don't sweat the occasional pizza craving. I use Baritastic to track calories and protein daily and it hasn't hindered my weight loss so... Sometimes reduced fat or low calorie doesn't quite hit the spot like the real thing!

How much do you pay every 3 months for a multi-vitamin and calcium supplements? I get mine from my surgeon's office and pay $85 with tax for a 90 day supply. I like only having one pill and a chew (I take Nature Made gummy hair and nails too) but wondering if there's a cheaper option! Thanks in advance.

Congratulations on your success! We are pretty similar — I had my surgery just a week before yours, and I have also lost 100 pounds since my surgery (I lost about 70 pounds before surgery). My initial goal weight was 180 pounds based on average weight loss (this was before I lost the first 70 pounds), but now I’m shooting for 150, although I honestly don’t care all that much about the number on the scale; for me, it’s all about the NSVs. When I stop and think about it, I’m in disbelief that I have lost such a massive amount of weight. I used to see people who have lost 100+ pounds and think it was impossible, and now I’m one of them. i also have the same sense that it doesn’t feel like I’ve lost as much as I have. I am literally half the size I used to be, and of course I can tell that I’m smaller, but I definitely don’t feel like I’m half my old size. I actually like to cook, and I spend a lot of time on Pinterest looking at bariatric-friendly recipes (I find a lot of recipe on keto web sites, even though I don’t exactly follow the keto diet, but a lot of keto recipes are good because they’re low-carb). One of the cool things about being a bariatric patient is that my portion sizes are so small that I get a ton of servings out of a single recipe. I made a batch of turkey meat sauce that came out to 27 portions! I have a freezer full of single-serving meals from just a few cooking sessions. I’ve really enjoyed finding new, healthy recipes that I love, and I hardly even miss the old unhealthy foods I used to eat. I recently discovered that I like spaghetti squash! And I eat cauliflower rice all the time. I hardly recognize myself anymore. Anyway, it’s great to see someone else enjoying great results from WLS. It is truly life-changing!

I went clothes shopping today at a store (with the pandemic haven't done much of that). Not sure if it is the pandemic or my weight loss, but my experience today was SO different then in the past. I had a number of sales people approach me right off the bat. Friendly, offering to help. In the past, I would wander the same store on my own without anyone offering to help. I've seen others post about being treated differently after losing weight and while i'm not positive that's what this was, it's certainly something I'll watch for. The NSV --- I took one of the sales people up on their offer to help and mentioned after losing weight I'm not really sure what size I am. She knew immediately what options to pull and I am in a size 28 jeans! That's a size 8, as in single digits!!! I am also wearing a Small in a number of tops. Holy $(@*. 🤯

if you have GERD, go with bypass. If you don't, it comes down to personal preference. Statistically people lose more weight with bypass, but it's not by a significant amount. IIRC, the average weight loss is 70% of excess weight (RNY) vs. 65% of excess weight (VSG). I don't know that cutting out 80% of your stomach and throwing it in the garbage is any less invasive than putting a staple line across your stomach and moving your small intestine up, but that's just me. They both seem pretty drastic to me... anyway, you'll find people who are wildly successful with both surgeries - and others who have failed both surgeries - and others who are kind of in the middle. Success is really more a matter of your level of commitment rather than which surgery you go with. They're both good surgeries and if you're committed, you'll succeed with either one.

Good evening! was curious if anyone feels little fat lumps that accompany the weight loss. I press on them pretty hard and can feel the fluid inside the lump give way to the pressure that is applied. I really only press in the ones on the side of my thighs and my buttocks. Some on the stomach but they seem to bruise. I have plans to talk to my doctor about it but in the mean time wanted to check on the forum if anyone has similar experiences. is it lymph fluid? fat sack? just curious what others have learned or do about them. It’s weird ...I know. lol. I’m down 71 pounds and they are becoming more prominent now.

I was diagnosed with hypo at 10 years old. Weight has been a struggle all my life. I've been on Synthyroid (levo), Cytomel (lio), Armour and a combo of Synthyroid and Cytomel (best imo). In 2019, I had been on only Cytomel for 3 years and had heart, liver and kidney failure caused by Cytomel (lio) toxicity. It had been eating away muscle including my heart. When I was taken to the ER, my heart rate was 20 and they couldn't get a temperature because I had hypothermia. I was in my 30's, btw with no prior health concerns other than hypothyroidism. I believe it was made worse because I thought I had a virus for 3 days but my heart was failing. I went into a myxadema coma. After 11 days in ICU and 3 weeks in the hospital, I couldn't lose weight to save my life. After trying to lose for 8 months, my Endocrinologist recommend sleeve surgery. My loss has not been as fast as many on this board. I had surgery in July and my pre-surgery weight was 208 at 5'5". Pre-surgery diet was only a week long and I may have lost a few pounds. Since surgery I have lost about 56 pounds. My surgeon is fine with my loss. He says to hit protein and water goals but don't go below 1200 calories and eat whatever you want (after post-surgery diet, of course). I suppose I feel that surgery is pointless if I have to starve and restrict. I've done that most my life. I know many don't agree with that and I understand why. I found my tastebuds changed and sweets aren't as important as they were pre-surgery. I hope to meet my goal by 1 year. My periods have been lasting 2+ weeks and are super heavy so now I'm anemic and I'm sure it hasn't helped my weight loss. I am having a DNC soon to see if there is an underlying reason for all the blood. I can't be on normal birth control due to my heart. I went for an echocardiogram this past week and it came back normal! Considering I had cardiomyopathy, a temporary pacemaker, kidney dialysis, and liver failure less than 2 years ago (in my 30s lol), I am happy with my progress. I think having surgery with hypothyroidism is worth it.