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57lbs down just thought I'd share that ) btw I'm still losing an average 3 to 5 lbs a week! How about you?!?!

I put on 10 lbs before surgery-and then had to loose 18 lbs before they would perform the surgery My Dr counted the weight I had on the day I first saw him, the weight I had to loose was initially 8 lbs but because it takes a while to do all the testing and getting approval I gained 10 more lbs. In April I had to start dieting I had 5 weeks to loose the weight by my pre op check in-or surgery would be cancelled. I did manage to loose it thank goodness

Banded 3/5/12 down 25 doesn't seem like enough but I'm not complaining... Skin is loose so I know that exercise works for me but I've been a little down the last few Months and figured my head isn't really into what I should be doing had a few slip ups a few stuck moments but I'm back in the game now. Starting insanity today looking for some results , has anybody done this or p90x?

It varies from doctor to doctor. Mine is on the conservative side. I take a multi 2 x's a day, Calcium Citrate 2x's a day, D3 1 x a day and B12 sublingual once a week. Pretty sure if there's a zombie attack vitamins are the least of your worries.

I would like to know your Vitamin schedule and how to take these bitterly crushed pills. I was informed by my NUT that I will be taking pillls crushed for the first 6 weeks. Suffering through the bitterness of it all. She has me taking Prilosec OTC, 5 Calcium citrate w/vit D, B-50 complex, Ursodiol (for prevention of Gallstones empty the capsule), plus 5 other prescription tablets. (These are the things I have to take crushed each day). I also take 2 chewable Centrums a day and a sublingual B-12 once a week. This is my ideal day of taking Vitamins Take chewable Centrum upon waking About 2 hours later, I try to take 1 calcium citrate, B-50, and Ursodiol. After another few hours, I try to remember to take another 2 calcium citrate About 5:30 or 6:00 I take the last 2 calcium citrate and my prescription meds. About 8:00 or 9:00 take the last chewable Centrum. I have not yet figured out a way to take these without having to suffer through the bitterness. I just crush them all, make a little paste with Water in a small dose cup and try to get it down as quick as possible. I can't believe they haven't yet come back up on me after taking them because the taste is horrible. What ways did you use to get through crushing your meds and taking them?

you're down to your original surgery weight because, like most of us, you probably "gained" weight while in the hospital because of all the IV fluids. It can take up to a week for them to work their way out of your system. I've heard of people "gaining" as much as 10 lbs while in the hospital! fluids go through our stomachs really fast since our pyloric valves were bypassed, so I'd be very surprised if you could stretch your stomach from fluids. Maybe you could if you REALLY slammed them, but 40-50 oz over the course of the day isn't "really slamming" them. I've never heard of anyone doing that from drinking fluids, and we were never warned we could stretch our stomachs from that. So...I'm not sure what to say...

Hey all, I am getting close to 4 months post op and I am only taking in 400-600 calories a day. I don't feel hungry, even when I do, since I don't crave anything I don't want to eat. I know I've not been taking in enough protein and when I remember to try and 'catch up' its later in the day. I can't eat at my desk at work and my work never gave me any accommodations to help with meeting liquid and food intake which makes it a lot harder. I feel like I've gone off the rails but also having a bad mental night so focusing heavy on the negative which I was doing well at combating the last couple weeks.

Wednesday will mark 3 weeks for me. My start weight was 283 surgery date weight 270 and for the past week I have been between 250 and 253. I have gone up and down between those weights. My doctor cleared me for soft foods last Wednesday so I thought that would help get things moving. I'm frustrated because I hit a "stall" a few days before 2 weeks and now I'm hearing about a normal 3 week stall. I'm not noticing anymore NSV witch is frustrating to. Actually felt bloated the last couple of days. I'm also having an on and off again horrible pain on my left side closer to rib cage. Doctor said he has no idea what it could be but possible kidney stone. Also worried because I have NO problems with any fluids. I can drink a lot just have to remind myself to. And haven't gotten sick from any food I've tried. Yesterday and today I have felt hungry really for the first time also. ????. I have anxiety pretty bad and I think I'm over thinking all this so much! Any advise would be great. Thanks so much!

Stalls are part of it all. I was sleeved on 12/15 and hit a stall 2 1/2 weeks later. It lasted a week then I started to lose again. Stick to your program and you will get through it. Can't help with the pain...sorry.

Hi all, haven't posted in ages, but I'm back now. My band is giving me issues. Every month when I get my period my band gets so tight, and after waiting for an entire week only sipping loosing 12 pounds I go to dr for unfil. I never get a chance to tighten cuz I get my period the same thing happens.but when I unfill I gain all the lost weight back. Anyways I switched Dr's, and decided I'll tighten slow and steady. Really be on top of the game. So the Rn decides to see how much Fluid I have in my band I thought I have 8 cc she says 6.6. So I told her to tighten me .4. I go out of the room drink Water but no it won't go down so it go back she loosens .2 and I didn't drink I thought all is well. I get home and I can't eat or drink. I figured they did a lot of tampering so there's probably lots of swelling. It's ok I'll handle it. But at night I was extremely nauseous and kept on throwing up saliva. I decided I'm going back to dr. As long as I don't throw up I don't care. but I was miserable all night and from all the throwing up it hurts between my breast. I went back to dr today she unfilled .2. I wasn't happy I couldn't drink water so she took out another .2. She asked what the Rn did yesterday. She said Rn was wrong cuz if she pulls out all fluid to see how much you have then there's no adjustment done that day. Anyways I am able to drink now but the pain between my breast is really hurting, and if a hiccup ouch! If I stay on liquids will it get better or does that mean something is wrong? Plse help! Thanx! Sent from my SM-G920P using the BariatricPal App

Had my surgery June 26 and lost 40lbs in the first 5 weeks. I have not really lost any weight within the last 2 weeks...is this normal?

I had the gastric sleeve on 01/24/2018, and I was wondering if any of you all hit a stage after surgery where you didn't lose weight for a couple of days. I have weighed the same amount for 1 week now and I have been exercising and doing what I was supposed to, has anyone else had this happen to them?

I don't know any other way to say it, so I'm going to say like it is...has anyone experienced constipation after surgery? It's been 8 weeks, and I have not been regular once. Can we take something, or can it hurt us? Any feedback would be appreciated. :rolleyes2:

That is so awesome! That is one of my goals, to get off all diabetes meds. I am 4 months out today an still on Metformin. Had my labs drawn last week and waiting to hear back on my a1c. I know it won't be perfect yet but it will get there!

Do you mean lose 10 by the end of August? Trust me if you have been following a strict diet of liquids only you will have lost the 10 by the end of August. 2 weeks post op, I was down 7lbs from my surgery date weigh- in and I hadn't done any exercise.

I’ve never heard of 6 months of weight watchers, but most of us have had to do 3-6 months of weight management classes. How do they want you to document your WW participation?

You are doing great by the way. First off my port area stayed sore for almost 2 months. Even at almost 5 months banded if I bend the wrong way it hurts. Second thing I would stick to doctors orders. I even thought the same thing, everything is going down good should I try something solid. You are still healing so please do not try anything besides what the doctor has ordered. I think I started adding salad in about week 5-6. Last thing I will pray for you. Good luck and keep up the good work.

I'm doing my 6 months thru my surgeons office I'm on month 3 of 7 I have a weight check in a week. Then onto month 4 yay it's moving by so fast. Omg like I feel like I just met with the doctor and now it's almost may I'm having surgery in September. It's happening so quickly you guys Sent from my SM-T380 using BariatricPal mobile app

I stopped losing at about 2 1/2 weeks, (sleeved 10/09/15) but I started back. Stay off of the scale and watch how your clothes fit. You may not be losing pounds at the moment, but you can be losing the inches. I have lost 50 pounds so far

I peeled mine off about 2 - 3 weeks in and I did get some scab with it, it didn't hurt though. I put normal bandages on and they were fine. My pants took 3 weeks I think. They are shipped from Britain so that is why they take so long. I read somewhere it is actually boat shipping.

I am 11 mos post op @my goal weight and just tested positive on a hpt. I have been on bc for 4yrs changing it once because of all the hormonal issues from loosing the excess weight. I had insulin resistance that has since been reversed along with pcos I was being treated for...the bc was for #1 prevent pregnancy for first yr and yrs to come. (I already have 4) #2 regulate crazy cycles post op. #3 help control cyst. Anyone else get surprised with a positive pregnancy while on BC? (Especially having a hard time conceiving before vgs)

Hoping for a better Thursday…Here’s the plan! Breakfast: Peanut butter and banana on toast. Lunch: Going to brown bag it. Hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, an apple, and a protein bar. Dinner: Probably pick up something quick on the way home, maybe steamed chicken and veggies with the sauce on the side plus brown rice from a Chinese place. How is your Thursday shaping up? What did it look like? Share your Thursday menu and remember – if you post your menu each day this week (Monday through Sunday), you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card to The BariatricPal Store! Don’t worry, you can still be entered into the drawing if you go back and post your earlier menus on the appropriate threads if you missed them already!

Right before I made my final decision to go through with the RNY, I had a fear that I might lose too much weight. I thought, what if I lose the 110 lbs I need to lose but I can't stop after that? What if I keep losing and i look like a walking skeleton? No no no this is too risky. It's not for me! It's really silly now that I think about it. I'm only 7 weeks post-op, but I'm confident of how much I will lose and where I WILL stop. ????

GPS is a very hot topic in the bariatric surgery community and growing every day. I am now starting to train other surgeons on the procedure and the demand for this is increasing as patients request GPS and surgeons want to learn how to do it. I have visited several U.S. surgeons that also do GPS for the benefit of sharing information and maximizing our collective knowledge about a new procedure. We share information on a regular basis for the benefit of our patients. Last week I visited a prestigious academic center that has started offering plication as well. When we first started, our patients were having a hard time pronouncing and remembering terms like imbrication and plication so I asked my wife what we should call it and she suggested GPS for Gastric Plication Surgery because it was easy to remember. This term seems to have caught on and now I see even international surgeons use the term. There does not seem to be agreement about the bougie size (bougie being a soft rubber tube used to size the new stomach sleeve). I have a strong opinion that the sutures (stitches) should be interrupted (individual stitches with a knot tied at each location) as opposed to a running stitch (knot tied at each end of a long stitch taking many "bites" along the way much like sewing. With interrupted stitches, the tension is controlled at each knot. With a running stitch, the tension is not controlled and can get too tight and lead to stomach tissue necrosis and/or perforation which we have all read about on this board. Another part of this is not to place the suture too deeply. In surgeonspeak, the suture should be seromuscular, not full-thickness. I also have a strong opinion that the ideal stitch is 2-O Ethibond. This is a third generation silk that actually causes a bit of scar tissue (favorable) which makes the bond stronger than just the stitch itself. Ethibond has been around for many years plicating the stomach for other reasons and it holds really well. I have seen Prolene used which is a monofilament suture and causes no reaction and actually doesn't hold its knots as well (poor suture memory as we call it) which means the knots can come undone. I think Prolene is at too high of a risk for prolapse where the whole thing resorts back to the normal stomach size or even worse where only one section is herniated out and could cause problems. I also feel strongly that the sutures should be no more than 2-3 centimeters apart from one another. I've seen surgeons place their stitches much further apart and I think this again increases the risk for prolapse or the stomach herniated back out between the stitches. We've learned from doing thousands of band surgeries for the last 9 years the importance of a two week liquid Protein diet prior to surgery to reduce the size of the liver and improve the ease of the operation. The first weight you lose comes out of the liver. I also think it is important to eradicate the known stomach bacteria, Helicobacter pylori because it is ubiquitous, most of us have it in our stomach lining and it can cause ulceration, inflammation or swelling when surgery is done on the stomach. This is easily eradicated with a two week antibiotic regimen pre-op. I think it's important to stay on a liquid diet (pureed Soups, applesauce, Jello, pudding, yogurt) for the first week and soft mushy foods for weeks two and three. Carbonation is a bad idea in any stomach surgery for weight loss because it dilates our work. (Have you ever opened a dropped can of Coke?) The best weight loss is acheived when you avoid drinking liquids for an hour after a meal. This allows you to be fuller sooner and longer and really makes the tool of GPS more effective. We have found that Levsin (hycosamine) 0.125mg SL (sublingual - under the tongue) given pre-op and continued three times daily post-op dramatically reduces the crampy abdominal pain after GPS. This has really improved the patient experience with this surgery. I also use lots of numbing medicine (local anesthetic) during the surgery which dramatically decreases pain after surgery. I always scope the stomach during the operation to make sure we're not missing an ulcer or polyp or any other important pathology. I do this in the operating room because it saves doing it as a separate procedure and also the scope is the ideal bougie size so I leave it in for the sizing catheter and this allows me to look at the perfect sleeve I just created when we're done with the procedure. Many surgeons don't do a stomach scope and I worry about doing this with no knowledge of the stomach lining. There is a lot of debate about stapled sleeve gastrectomy vs GPS. One item of consideration I think is important is that stapled sleeve patients have a 9% incidence of Vitamin B12 deficiency. The stomach makes something called intrinsic factor that aids in the absorption of Vitamin B12. A distinct advantage to GPS is that no stomach is removed and the intrinsic factor levels are not disturbed so you would expect that GPS patients would not have such a high incidence of vitamin deficiency. Stapled sleeve patients are also deficient in several other Vitamins such as Iron, folate and Vitamin D. (Ref: Obesity Surgery 2011, Feb 21(2):207-11.) I think there are many advantages to leaving the stomach in the body - just making it smaller as a powerful weight loss tool. Ghrelin gets a lot of press but it is important to realize that you reduce ghrelin with pressure (food in a smaller stomach). Ghrelin is a feedback hormone so physically removing stomach doesn't eliminate ghrelin. You guys have seen me rant about hiatal hernias on this board and I continue to feel strongly about repairing this during the surgery. What I've learned is that if you are overweight, there is nearly a 100% chance that you have a hiatal hernia and even if this is small it should be repaired at the time of surgery. Otherwise, you will have terrible heartburn when your stomach is made smaller. I get calls from patients that had GPS elsewhere and they have terrible heartburn and their hiatal hernia was not addressed at the time of surgery and they are pretty miserable. This is avoidable. Hiatal hernias are really easy to fix at the time of surgery so my opinion is that there is little excuse for ignoring this principle. The latter part of this month, I have a major annual surgical conference and plication is now on the agenda of this meeting. All this to say, I think that GPS is here to stay and gaining in popularity. One of my GPS patients came in the office last week having lost over 70 pounds in less than six months and he is quite thrilled as am I. That is all the good stuff. To me, the main downside is that the procedure is still new and we don't have long-term data. Two year data out of Europe looks good but we don't have two year U.S. data yet. There is some interesting data from Germany showing dilations ten years after stapled sleeve gastrectomy and I think the GPS can do this as well. We know from other operations that the key to preventing dilation is to avoid carbonation and avoid eating to the point of regurgitation after the stomach is smaller. Whenever something new comes up with GPS I will post it on this board. I also thank you for teaching me. Your experiences that you post here educate all of us. Keep up the great work. I wish you all the very best of success in your weight loss journey. Don't forget to buy yourself a substantial present when you reach your goal. Brad Watkins MD