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I cant believe how fast this whole process has happened for me. It seems like just yesterday I attended my WLS seminar. My seminar was actually 01-22-19 and here I am preparing for surgery 05-22-19 in the morning. Thank to everyone who’s responded to my post with encouragement and advice. See ya on the looser bench ....,,,

I am 7 months post-sleeve and for the past 2 weeks, I've had issues with my vision. I've always had fantastic vision and only used light Rx glasses for when my eyes get tired from working on the computer. I'm talking 20/10 vision. Suddenly every day my vision is getting worse. Up close and far away. Everything is blurry, I'm having to squint as I drive and as I type. So... I went to an optometrist over the weekend, thinking, maybe I'm just getting older and these years of working on the computer are catching up with me. The doctor did his tests and said my vision had definitely gotten "worse" since my last visit (about 2 years ago). My left eye is 20/20 with a little help and my right is 20/40. He decided to dilate my eyes and noticed a "freckle" on my retina on my right eye that wasn't there before. That was the one and only thing he could find that was off, he told me that I need to see an Ophthalmologist for further testing because he "has no idea what's going on" VERY REASSURING lol. He also informed me that my new glasses won't fix whatever underlying cause is making my vision so bad so quickly. I have an appointment next Tuesday to see the Ophthalmologist...so we'll see what is really going on. Just wondering if anyone had anything similar happen with their eyes and what the cause was. It could be completely unrelated to the surgery...so I'm just curious Hope you're all doing fabulous!!!!

Has anyone here have had their RYN surgery over 19 years? If so, what have you been experiencing? Has anyone gone vegan 🌱?

Had VSG 4/15/19. HW 378 SW 319.8 CW 296.9. Down about 23 lbs in 5 weeks. Down 81 lbs since highest weight. Haven’t been in the 200’s in years so I’m super happy.

The 1st is a face comparison and the 2nd is last year and the 3rd is a current as of March 2019 Sent from my SM-G930VL using BariatricPal mobile app

@lolo2020, I am not sure that the benefits wear off entirely, but it depends on what benefits are really working best for you. If this is just about restriction, your capacity to eat will increase over time. Call it stretching for the sleeve or something else, but it happens to everyone. Your stomach will never go back to the size it was before the operation. I suppose it could if you abuse it, but it's unlikely that will happen. It will get larger though over time. Even if you can eat 1.5 plates of food--you probably could eat 2 or 3 before the operation. That's still a big reduction in quantity--not as much as right after the operation though. However, if your filling your plate with pasta and fried chicken, 1.5 plates will send you back into obesity quickly. On the other, the sleeve (even at a larger size) will still be an effective tool if you're fill it with healthy foods. The other benefit of the sleeve (and probably the most important benefit) is the metabolic effects of the surgery. I am not really sure how long the metabolic changes caused by the surgery last. Maybe they are permanent, but my guess is that these benefits also slow up over time. The studies just aren't conclusive on this. I don't think that you're capacity to eat or your metabolic changes ever go back to what they were before surgery, but the effects may still lessen over time. In the end, maintaining this weight loss comes down to how we use our time during this honeymoon period. If we use this time to change our lifestyles and get healthy new habits, I think the benefits will be sustainable in the long run. That said, it's not easy to predict the future and the long turn outcomes for VSG patients 5-15 years out is still yet to be determined. One thing is certain, if we don't make major changes to our diet and exercise programs, we will not be have successful journeys. I know that no matter how the world sees me (and I am thin now--not just thin for me, but really in good shape thin), I will always be an obese person that struggles with weight. I am doing very well right now and I am 100% committed to this program. I want this to be a lifelong success. I also know that if I am not careful and let things slip, I will end up back where I was eventually--even with the sleeve. Here's the deal--and I am going to tell it like it is. I didn't get fat by accident. I did it to myself over time--making excuses for why it was ok to eat badly and not exercise. I lied to myself and anyone that asked. I had a great excuse for everything---but it was all BS. I am not going back to being that person. There is nothing cute or beautiful about being fat. I used to joke about it all the time when I was heavy--but it's not funny at all. Being fat sucks!!! Feeling ill and sweating through my shirt just walking up stairs sucked!!! Being too tired to play with my kids sucked!!! Having constant back and knee pain sucked!!! Having to take injections for Type II diabetes sucks!!! I having to take 12 pills every night before bed for all my medications sucked!!! Having high blood pressure sucked!! Everything about being obese sucked!!!! Not being able to buy clothes off the rack in a normal store sucked!!! Being told that if I don't change my eating and exercise habits I may not be alive in 10 years sucked!!!! I am finally where I need to be in terms of weight and health and I pledge to God I am not going to squander this second change!!! No f**king way!!!!! I worth more than that and I have too much to live for!!!! Here's what I have to live for: Here's a recent picture of me (I think it's from May 1?)

LOL All the bathing suits I have are 18/22 so I went on smile.amazon and found this one. Because of my extra skin bat arms.. Now I'm not that tall so there is no big gap between the top and bottom, so it is almost looking like a one piece. I LOVE IT I does run small I'm a size 10 now I ordered a XL. I can't wait to wear it next week.

My surgery date was April 9, 2019 and I am going through the same thing. I became fearful that if I am not losing and I am on mushy food what happen when I eat regular food. However, I am staying positive. I really wish I could find a support group in Southern Maryland. Also, I am losing about 1lb. every 1 1/2 weeks and that cool with me.

i have anthem bcbs . Hey , Before i started this process i didnt have a PCP. I went to anthem website found a PCP threw them called and scheduled. I told my dr what im doing and he agreed surgery is whats best. With in 2 days my NEW pcp sent my medial necessity form to my bariatric center . Let me know if you have questions i just had my surgery 5/6/2019

May Day #19 (Sunday) Take a relaxing bath or shower: That's easy...I take a relaxing shower everyday. To the point that I think our water bill suffers. 15 pushups: Done. + 15 squats + 15 situps. Also, Mr. & I went for a 15km bike ride that morning/afternoon, he wanted to do 20km, but I was all, "No, it has to be 15 to match the 15 theme" LOL. Later, we had a cooking dinner date with some friends, which was really cool. We went to a cooking studio set up with a HUGE professional kitchen, and the instructors led us all through preparing/cooking a 4-course meal that we got to eat afterwards and served drinks. I didn't eat much of the finished products, but I really enjoyed the cooking/plating aspect of it, and of course the company. After we all went to a bar across the street for more drinks and watch the end of Game 3 between the Raptors and Bucks (that was a crazy game!) Finally, to top this day/night off, we went to our friends' home to watch the series finale of Game of Thrones that they recorded (I have mixed feelings about the episode, but that is for another forum, lol) May Day #20 (Monday) Finish my to-do list: Made a conscious decision to do nothing today (see below) No pushups/Rest: It was a stat holiday for us Canadians on Monday so a rest day seems fitting. Other than to the in-laws for lunch then chillax-ed at home for the rest of the day. B-side: Is there a point in the day/week/month when you are truly hungrier? If I had to say, I'm hungriest before my first meal of the day, and once I get that in, then it's all good. May Day #21 (Today) Take up journaling: Um, no. 16 pushups: Was late getting up this morning so didn't do my pushups for the day yet. Today is the inaugural afternoon yoga class at my client office so I'll get them done then. It's gonna be weird seeing my clients in athletic wear busting poses...

#21. Visited my PCP yesterday, partly check-up, partly to discuss my I felt rotten treatment by those NP at OSU last Wednesday. He agrees I have not gone "wacky woo" so don't have To go out beating bushes to find a psychologist with Bariatric experience, thought it sounded dumb to be told to go bother my County Mental Health organization, shoot I'm not any risk to anyone else, and myself if I cakeep from starving to death because I'm not much interested in eating, hard to build up desire when you know 7 out of 10 times Precious Pouch is going to Reflux Puke it right back up! I've made a listofthings she WILL accept, if I don't stray too far from That, we get along fine. Just had a cup of decaf Tetley tea, a little stevia in it, life is bitter enough to go without some sort of sweetening to it! He says my latest ❤ scan turned out wonderful well, except for my murmer which must be functional because nothing abnormal showed up. Pointed out I have lost 37 pound since LateFebruary/ Early March. Surprised but pleased with that amount, going to give me a consult with local gastroenterologist, got some minor blips I think should be checked out, if I can't get past those obstructionist 2 N.P. to get to Dr Needleman, my surgeon, or Dr Noria, his Junior Partner, who does ALL my endoscopies, I will ask Bennie Upchurch MD here in town, should be callling today with an appointment time, if they don't within the next couple hours I will call them myself. Squeaky Wheels get greased sooner than ones that stay in one place. So in a way I am making lists, one of questions to ask him, one to use when I report in to Roy, my dietician, and another to ask Valerie, the senior NP at Needleman's office, rather his right- hand woman, mucho smarter than Thing#1,and Thing#2 that I encountered last week! Drat their little warped minds! Will it do any good? IDK but what do I have to lose by doing it?

And my feet have not Shortened as much as I can tell, but they sure have narrowed, going to have to get some to wear with my panty hose. And I have enough panty hose to last me for awhile, see I used to buy Just My Size in 4X than have to put another pair of panties on to keep them from sliding down, now all of my 3X and the 4X pull right up smoothly. I also have some still in packages, a lady was practically giving them away, her obese Mummy had gone bouncing off to Heaven, she was maybe a size 8 or 10, said if I didn't TAKE THEM ALL she was going to stuff Teddy Bears with them, well I DO ❤ME A BARGAIN so I took them. They're from a Portly Princess store I have never shopped, pink, forest green as well as the normal shades from sustain through top and all the way to sheer and not-sheer black. Marked 6 through 8X, maybe they will run smaller like the Goofy Bra Fixings. IPS, I pray So!

I am glad you guys have updated. My weight loss at this point has been so so slow and I have been so worried that I have done something wrong? From what I am reading it seems to be the norm? I do need to get better on track though as my bariatric doctor wants me to be at 180 in July or they will give me some medication to help me lose more as the goal is to do a incisional hernia repair at my belly button without mesh and that's the weight they would like me at. With the weight loss and having this fist size hernia it doesn't look like I have lost as my belly lump looks so gross. So guys thanks for updating and normalizing things for the rest of us! I am not able to do weight training per I can't pick up more then 25 lbs per hernia and then I am still recovering from a a shoulder surgery and not allowed to pick up anything over 10 lbs with that arm and so all these limitations on exercise is not helping. I am walking almost everyday. My biggest problem is my saboteurs and the carbs they keep trying to temp me with as I have learned carbs go down real easy on the sleeve.

Surgery was February 4th, 2019 and I’ve lost 62 lbs in all. I had to do the liver shrinking diet and lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks prior... starting weight before liver shrinking diet was 240 at 5 , 4” had RNY because of hernia and awful acid reflux.. been to counseling and following plan like a trooper , just worried that I am able to fill up that little pouch.. doesn’t mean I will, I just feel no discomfort and was expecting more..nice to feel so good though, and I am determined to make this work.. reminding myself the surgery was a TOOL.. a tool I must use... no miracle , well, maybe I can make my own miracle... NO!!! I WILL make my own miracle... this is an excellent place for support .

• I had my VSG on April 16, 2019. I weighed in at 198lbs the morning of my surgery day. 3 days liquid diet pre-op. Until April 26/27, I went down to 187lbs. Which made me very happy. Then after that, I had a weight loss stall until about 2 days ago when I decided to step back up onto the scale and I was 185lbs. I’m still happy because the way I see it, it’s better to lose 1 lb a week rather than gain. I’m also eating very healthy. No carbs, no sugar, a lot of protein. The only sugar intake I have is natural from fruits and vegetables. • Did you go through a weight loss stall? How long did it last? What did you do to stay positive? Is there anything we can do to prevent it?

the first few weeks were a little touch and go for me, but I can tolerate anything now except super fatty meals (fish and chips? No way - I'd be in the bathroom all night). I've never had dumping syndrome, food stuck, or any of that. the struggle never stops. I'm in maintenance now and have been for 2.5 years. I have to watch my intake and my weight like a hawk, because the few times I've loosened up, I've gained weight. And at a normal BMI, it takes FOREVER to lose even 10 lbs!

Thanks for worrying about me AZRider. I never had a band. I only had a sleeve about 10 years ago. I did speak to my doctor yesterday and he told me he thinks it is OK and to keep monitoring and let him know if it gets worse. It hasn’t yet. And only just over a week post op at the moment - it was late Monday last week.

My dr and I are doing welbutrin since I did that over 10 yrs ago. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I took Chantix about 10 years ago. It made me nauseated as hell but I kept on taking it. Now, if I even think about cigs I remember that nauseated feeling and all cravings disappear! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wow! Well done Steve ! Sounds like u r using discipline with a little craftiness to keep your weight in check . I am about 5 lbs from goal although most people say it’s enough . I am in size 10 clothes which at 5’9 is pretty thin . Still can’t believe it and I haven’t gotten used to shopping in this size ! Surprisingly I have done well using the inspire cookies and protein snacks to help a lot with any sweets cravings . Also use protein shakes a lot to substitute for the ice cream craving . It seems to be a plan I can live with and I am losing about 3-4 lbs a month which is more than fine!

Day 19 - baths aren't my thing... never really have been. And showering right now is a workout. Someday down the road I'll enjoy them again. Day 20 - to do list: drink water, rest, walk a bit, cuddle my babies when they get home this afternoon from their grandparents (haven't seen them since Wednesday). Totally doable. Sent from my SM-G960W using BariatricPal mobile app

19) I would love to take a nice luxurious bath!! That will need to go on my 20) to do list , take luxurious bath 😍

This absolutely happened to me! I was stalled for 3 weeks - then lost 10 lbs in one week. Don’t stress - your weight loss will start again! I know it’s easy for me to say but at the time I was freaked out too!

Hey guys. Just checking in on my fellow December 2018 sleavers. I am chugging along on my weight loss journey. I am down. I was a low BMI patient so I lost most of my excess weight in the first 2.5 months post-op. Since the end of March, it's been slow going with the scale. I have only lost about 7 pounds since March 7, but I did lose about 1.5% off my body fat 1.5" off my waist since. I am pretty happy with where things are at the moment. I would like to lose another 5-10 pounds--but that would only be to give me a little cushion against regain (maybe?). I still have a healthy appetite, but nothing like I did before surgery. That said, I probably eat more than most bariatric patients at this point--but I am very careful about what I eat. I don't cheat at all--not even a little bit. Yesterday was a tough challenge. My daughter had her 8th birthday party yesterday and we served pizza and an ice cream cake from cold stone creamery (dark chocolate fudge and salted caramel ice cream with angel food cake. I realize that it's very easy to fall off the wagon--it's how ended up starting to regain after every diet I was on before in my life. I can't have "just a little bite of this" or "a taste of that". Sure, I could a few times, but one little bite can become just a little piece and escalates from there. Even though I am thin and in really good shape right now, I am never going to be a "thin person" like someone that is naturally thin his/her whole life. The potential for me to become heavy again is always going to be there. So, I am going to always have to be that much stricter with my diet and exercise. So, I came up with a plan to deal with my daughter's party. First, I made sure to eat before her party something healthy (salad with grilled chicken and bolthouse low carb/low cal dressing) and I promised myself a yummy snack after the party (pumpkin seeds, pecans and a piece of ChocZero dark chocolate (very yummy)). It may not be as exciting as ice cream cake, but it's still yummy to me. I was able to get through the party without taking even the tiniest bite of anything. You have to have a plan and stick with it to make this process successful. As an added bonus, I felt no guilt today.