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Hi there folks. I was sleeved back in September of 2023, so it's been 8 months. In 3 months, I have lost 3 pounds. This has had me in tears. I haven't been absolutely perfect, but I'm exercising 5 times a week and maintaining a significant calorie deficit (average 1400 cal at 330 pounds). For the last 6 weeks, my hands and feet have started getting cold, and I have been sweating excessively. I went to see my GP and we considered thyroid, which was a relief as it might explain the stalls AND the circulation. BUT the TSH test just came back within normal range. She's stressing that extreme weight loss can cause you to feel cold more often due to the loss of insulation, but my hands and feet are objectively cold (other people can feel it) so it doesn't seem this simple. Any ideas? If I'm back to steering my own healthcare on this, it is not a new thing for me, I'm just not sure where to start.

I think you hit a big nail on the head-- going back to first principles- the why? is not just a reminder of what brings you into this process, but a good question we should all ask ourselves periodically. I'm no expert on weight loss, but have a fair amount of experience with various "rehab" and group support programs--as time goes on (I'm only 11 months out from my surgery), my experience has been that you change (emotionally) and your perspective changes. It's been a constant for me to periodically reevaluate my commitment to all sorts of things and ask the very questions you posed. Healthy thinking!

I use NetDiary (track every day!) and I love it! I wear my apple watch everyday and I stay in competition with myself to see if how many times a week I close all 3 rings on the fitness. At work I walk every single work day for 30ish min on my lunch break. I do go to the gym as well to weight lift and a little more cardio. Not every day but about 3-4times a week. Take pictures! That is what encourages me, I have been documenting my journey and its amazing to look back at and see how far I have come. I weigh myself at least once a week, I am trying to stay away from the scale because I tend to beat myself up if I am up a lb in a day (WHICH CAN BE ANYTHING! late dinner, salt and not enough water) but I get flustered so I can't do that. Most importantly, What is your "why?" Why did you choose WLS? What or who is/are motivation?

If that medication is the one I am thinking of that includes Wellbutrin and one other drug it may be your culprit. I don’t have experience with the weight loss drug but I do know Wellbutrin by itself can be a very bad one to go off of too fast. I realize you weren’t prescribed it for depression but you say you have always been depressed so if it was actually treating your depression and your no longer taking it or your body is not absorbing it now it’s possible that your depression has worsened due to the dose of an antidepressant decreasing too quickly. I am not a doctor and not certain that’s how it works with the other drug involved but i do know I have been cautioned about needing to wean off of Wellbutrin slowly and not to ever stop it cold Turkey. Like others have mentioned it could also be post surgery blues plus you are going through a lot of changes between having to cope with things without food and the situations you are dealing with in life but if you don’t feel better I would reach out to the doctor who prescribed you the weight loss drug and/or your surgeon and see if that makes sense to them. Keep posting here and try journaling to get your feelings out. Perhaps consider talking to a therapist as well if you continue to feel this way. They will instantly expand your support network and they can help you work on some new coping strategies that don’t involve food.

Yes, and it was pancreatitis, diagnosed the day after the op (as it was due to surgical error I believe) before I even knew there was a problem. I had to stay in hospital after my op and ended up having to get my nutrients via IV (and then eventually a feeding tube but that was for a different reason). I also know of someone else who suffered pancreatitis following surgery recently, medical team are blaming her prior use of weight loss injection in the run up to the surgery but who knows! If your symptoms continue would you consider going to the ER to get readmitted and ask for tests again like contrast (liquid) CT to check for leak etc.?

I dont know what it is exactly. I work a lot and I study. I’m a nurse. I got into a fight with my mom and the guy I like isn’t interested in getting into a serious relationship. It’s a lot to deal with. I feel just lonely because I go through all of these new moments by myself, no one truly understands what this surgery has changed in my life. My body and the relationship I have with food is constantly transforming with time. I was using a weight loss drug that included an antidepressant, so I think it could be related. But I’ve always been depressed in my life, it’s just that I feel lonely going through all of these new changes. Losing weight isn’t easy, but people never really understand how much effort you have to put in, even if you have a tool like the surgery. I try to follow my diet as much as I can, but sometime let myself have some meals/snacks that I like. I’m stressed because I don’t know if I’m eating too much. My mind never shuts up, and it’s so exhausting. im just writing my thoughts, thank you for you answer

Yes it’s a lot of lost weight! I really liked the movie, and it helped me. Thank you for the answer !

If all you're eating is protein, the weight will come off. Don't worry about a quick stall! Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk

I had surgery May 1st, 2024, I lost 14 lbs the first week, but as soon as I started drinking and eating protein, I’ve stopped losing weight. I’m assuming it’s because I’m assuming it’s the protein intake, and not being able to eat veggies. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Anyone experience this?

For apps, I didn't like myfitnesspal (free version) myself, but I use Cronometer to track food/nutrition and Medisafe as a reminder for my supplements. Both are pretty basic but that works for me. (Plus they're free with no ads and no fluff) I've only newly started on this journey, but I've been there in the past with non-WLS weight regain. You can do this -- you've done it before and you can definitely do it again. It's like any other habit addiction (smoking, biting nails, whatever) -- routine and muscle memory make it easy to get into bad habits, but are just as important when getting back into gear for the good ones. Rooting for you!

Yeah I've been on almost every antipsychotic under the sun. It took doctors a long time to find one that worked for all of my symptoms since I'm both schizophrenic and Bipolar. Vraylar had the worst side effects out of all the ones doctors have tried over the years. I was actually going to give up hope because I had been on so many different meds. So I'm under as much control as possible now. It's enough to keep me out of the hospital anyway. Good luck with your weight loss journey too I hope you reach your weight loss goals. I know for women it's extra hard to lose weight.

They reduced both my pouch size and the size of the opening during the revision. That's why I'm very puzzled by his comment that you wouldn't lose significant weight after the revision. It just makes no sense to me.

I'm not sure...surgeon just said that tightening that opening alone would not cause major weight loss. Unsure if during a full blown revision if they also reduce the size of the 'pouch' and tighten that opening. I would think 'pouch size' is a possible element as well but this doctor did not elaborate, I'm assuming since the goal of my revision if not to lose more weight maybe? If I ever get time with him outside of the investigation in the OR, I will ask.

@ChunkCatDANG GIRL! You look great! I'm so sorry you're struggling with POTS. That stinks, but it sounds like you've got a plan in place to help you manage until - 2025 (so ridiculous). I can't believe it's been almost 6 months already! I sometimes forget that I had it done (until I try to eat fast - LOL!). I'm down 77 pounds since my highest - 69 since the surgery. I still struggle with not being able to see the change (because I see my self every day), but occasionally I'll see a picture of me or see a reflection at a certain angle that makes me go... wait... a... minute! :) I'm down 2 jeans sizes (probably actually down 3 sizes because let's be honest, those 24s were STRETCHED to capacity! LOL!). I could get my 20s on a few weeks ago but I couldn't breathe, so there's that. I did go on a cruise week before last. That was interesting. I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted and I found that I'm now starting to naturally lean toward healthier/smarter choices. I only gained 2.2 pounds that week and it came off very quickly. The big news is that I've scheduled my knee surgeries!!! Getting one done in June, the other in October! I'm nervous because of the unknowns (pain after the surgery, rehab, not being able to drive, etc), but I'm more excited because I'm ready to have my life back! New body, new knees... I'm going to be unstoppable! Can't wait to hear how everyone else is doing!

Funny you should mention Vraylar. I learned the hard way before I was put on Latuda that I couldn't take that. Why? It caused a 7 month long manic episode that was just terrible. It was one of the worst episodes I had ever had I nearly died from the experience and had I actually passed away from it my wife would have been able to sue the pants off of my psychiatrist for malpractice because she definitely was in the wrong. I was on Saphris beforehand and she took me off of Saphris cold turkey and then immediately stuck me on Vraylar. She later said she shouldn't have done that. Anyway, we're supposed to be talking about bariatric surgery not Psychiatric meds. I just figured I'd share my own personal story since we seem to have similar med history. The only reason I'm concerned about Latuda and getting bariatric surgery is you're right, it needs 350 calories to be absorbed properly and if im on a 1k calorie diet that's going to be problematic because thats almost half of my daily calories. But I do so well on Latuda (it really, really helps stabilize my moods and my psychotic symptoms) that it's really stupid to take me off of it and stick me on something else. So my surgeon and nurse practitioner/psychiatrist have to all work together and figure out how it's going to work. I'm not discouraged by your weight in fact, I wish I was your weight I weight almost 440 pounds lol. But I get what you mean you gained 4 pounds. But that's what happens when you don't follow the diet. I've heard lf many people regaining the weight because they got discouraged. I really hope that once I lose the 200-250 pounds I want to lose I'm able to keep it off!

I took Latuda for bipolar when I had my sleeve three years ago and my prescribing doctor was concerned about me not getting enough calories in the beginning for it to absorb properly as well. (For those who don’t know about this particular medication it’s not about it not absorbing due to the surgery itself like many controlled release meds. This med needs the 350 calories in order to absorb fully for anyone, not just people who had surgery). Anyways, My doctor switched me to vraylar for a couple of months prior to surgery just to make sure I was stable on it and then a short time after until I was back to being able to consume 350 calories at one time. The vraylar is quite expensive but luckily they were able to get enough samples for me. The plan was to switch me back once I was eating enough. What was weird and unexpected was post surgery when he tried to switch me back to the Latuda all of a sudden it caused me a great deal of anxiety and I couldn’t tolerate it anymore (even though I was on it for three years before surgery) so he kept me on the vraylar a little longer until things got back more normal for me and then made another change. I am now on a completely different medication. Neither the surgeon or prescribing dr could explain that anxiety except that when you alter the anatomy things just happen sometimes but I just worked with my prescribing dr and he sorted it out. The most important thing is that your prescribing dr and your loved ones are very aware that you may encounter some issues and that everyone is on top of it. If you feel the slightest bit off, you may need to be the one to contact your Dr. You mentioned “the switch” as an option. Not sure if you are speaking if the SADI switch or the Duodenal switch but both of those are restrictive and malabsorbing surgeries. The reason they suggested the sleeve for me was because they were concerned about my other meds not absorbing fully just because of the malabsorbing component of the other surgery. Fast forward three years and I gained my weight back and we are now considering conversion to the SADI or bypass because I gained my weight back. I gained it back because I ate the wrong things though so don’t let that scare you. I only mention it because I’m guessing you can see my current weight and may wonder why I didn’t lose. I did lose quite a bit and maintained it for a while but I was discouraged I didn’t lose it all and I let that get to me. Which is something you should be aware of, you may not lose as much as someone who is not on all these meds. Just don’t get too caught up in comparing your journey to others. I am 5’8” and I got down to 168. I would be so much happier and healthy now if I had just accepted that win instead of getting it in my head that I failed by not making it to where others did.

i used MyFitnessPal (the paid version). I've read of others who really like the Baristatic App aswell. i am a big proponent of tracking and I credit the practice as having a huge positive influence to my weight loss and subsequent maintenance. i have tracked my food basically everyday since since my pre-op diet, and i have almost six years worth of MFP data to prove it! more (anecdotal) proof: i have weighed below my goal weight this entire time since reaching it at 7 months post op. FOR ME, at first, i found that it held me accountable as i could see everything i ate, and then it turned into more of a data gathering exercise that i could use and examine to determine what changes i needed to make, if any. (note i also weighed myself everyday, and still do...) plus i actually really enjoyed/enjoy doing it! ha! ...am not as militant about it now, as i eyeball and guesstimate more, but i still do track..old habits are hard to break! its not for everyone though, and i get it, it takes a particular kind of person to keep doing it while keeping the angst at bay, let alone enjoy it. but anyway, try it out...you may find u are that kind of person, or, at the very least help you manage ur food intake! good luck! ❤️

Today marks five years since my sleeve surgery. Yay! I look in the mirror & think yep, best decision. I easily snuggle with my 6yr old nephew in a lounge chair & I think yep, best decision. I can jump, dance, walk, skip, scoot up stairs, … and I think, yep, best decision. The potential for health problems are further away & less likely to occur & I think yep, best decision….You get the idea. I’m thankful it’s all gone pretty smoothly. Sure I have some fun & games with the foamies but I had a sensitive, quirky tummy before surgery & I still do so nothing all that different just how it manifests 😉. Sure I have some loose skin. It doesn’t affect what I want to do or wear so unimportant. I’m thankful I have a supportive GP who when I asked about surgery said yes without judgement & wrote the referral right away & continues to be interested in my progress. I’m thankful the doctor who does my follow ups is equally supportive. I have my 6 month check up with her next Monday which hopefully will go well again. It’s become more of a chat & catch up the last couple of years. Apart from the medication issue which caused a small weight gain (a good 2+kg/5lb) a couple of years ago which when sorted saw that gain disappear. I sit at the same fluctuation I did when my weight first stabilised: 48.5 - 49..5kg (though usually a high of 49.3 these days). I often think of the AA mantra of it works if you work it & you’re worth it. It really resonates. It works because I work it every day & I’m worth it.

Today I graduated with my Bachelors Degree! I have worked my arse off with working full time and raising 3 kids along with my supportive boyfriend. It was a great Mother’s Day present to myself. I decided to do a side by side and I noticed that even my guy lost weight. Not only that I feel like this year is a year for me to take control of my life. This is just the beginning!

I second seeing a weight loss surgeon. I would ask ahead of time for them to send you the release to sign so the dr will have the images during your appt

You're probably right about the need to search for patterns when there aren't any! The only scientific explanation I can think of is the amount I've lost this time, and the amount I lost 7 years ago to get to this same weight, is basically the same, and about 20% of my total body weight. I know I've read that 20% tends to be where the body starts really fighting weight loss, and even if the surgery makes it possible to overcome those mechanisms and lose more, it may be that the short term effect is a brief stall while it all gets sorted out internally. So it's probably just coincidence, maybe based on having lost about the same number of pounds as last time.

I haven't ever noticed this and I can't think of a scientific reason for it! What I will say is as humans we are hard-wired to look for patterns and then read into those something significant. I suspect you've just hit a stall. We all do, many times, on our weight loss journeys. If you can just relax into it and wait for it to break and then resume losing I think you'll be good. My experience with WLS is that my body chose a new set weight and I just got there with a bit of effort and sticking to the rules. Totally agree that with previous diets my set weight might have been very different but those haven't intruded *at all* into my life post sleeve.

Ask to see their medical degree, after all your medical doctor says you are right where you should be and since he/she's medically trained their diagnosis has more weight - perhaps if they disagree they should debate them about (my - you) your healthy weight...and ask them if they'd like the doctors number!?

So I'm considering getting the gastric sleeve surgery. I'm almost 40 years old and weight almost 440 pounds and have a BMI of 67 and ive tried literally everything to lose weight and nothing has worked. I've never lost more than 20-30 pounds at a time.Bariatric surgery is really the last option for me. So I'm in a bariatric program right now and we've decided that the gastric sleeve would be the safest operation for me. The problem my team including my surgeon is trying to address? I'm schizophrenic and Bipolar and take Antipsychotics. I've maybe gained 100 lbs over the course of trying meds since 2011 to find the right medicine combination. Right now I'm taking Latuda and Seroquel for antipsychotics. My GP has stated over and over again that Latuda might not be the greatest medicine for me to be on because it requires me to consume 350 calories in order for it to work properly. But reallym the medication does wonders with me. When/if I get bariatric surgery that's going to be a challenge for my bariatric team finding a meal or snack that I can fit those calories in. Not to mention my surgeon has mentioned that it will be an extra challenge for him to try to work around my anti psychotics. He didn't say it was impossible but he did call it a great challenge. I guess why I'm posting here is to ask is, is the gastric sleeve an option for me? Or should I consider the switch instead? My bariatric team pretty much flat out said that the bypass would be too risky of a surgery to do with me and they don't do the lap band anymore and my bmi is too risky for the lap band anyway. But before I go and permanently change my stomach I'd like to know what my options are. My team hasn't really been forthcoming and just seem to want to do the surgery as soon as possible. But, I'd like it to be a success as well. Especially when the sleeve is a permanent change to my body.

Day 1 post op. Im home. Had cream of wheat. Coffee. So far so good. Whomever recommended the weighted heat-pad, biggest thank you! No narcotics- gabapentin, tylenol, flexeril work well to control pain. I recommend buying liquid adult tylenol. They gave me pills and it hurt alot…i asked for liquid tylenol after that. You can find adult liquid tylenol at amazon if you cannot find in store