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I had my VSG back on 3/3/23, with a heavy weight of 195. (Im 5’2”). Surgery day, I weighed in at 184 after a two week liver shrinking diet- two shakes a day/one meal. Yesterday I had my 6 month check up, an things are going really well. Weighed in at 129- and BMI in healthy range. Hair loss has been significant, but hoping that turns around soon… fingers crossed. Since I had my surgery in Mexico, this was my first meeting with Bariatrician and he says that im having really nice success- and that 8-10 months is about how long someone would expect to see results from VSG. (I’d heard longer). He also took labs, and all seems to be in good range- saw the results this morning. First two pics from today, last pic is before (I hated having picture made and can’t find one really near that time except this one. My goal this next few months is to take up a more structured exercise routine to build some muscle— so much of the pain I was having pre-surgery is gone. So glad to have taken this step for my health!
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I've reached the time of shedding hair. But it's OK. I have plenty of it. Everything I've read says it's inevitable regardless of how many supplements you take. So I'm just rolling with it....
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Waking up from surgery
catwoman7 replied to Megan5619's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I never really had any pain at all. In fact, I wondered if they'd actually done the surgery! I was groggy that first day, but that's about it. if you do have pain, let them know (some people do, but most of us do not). I had a lot of pain after two of my skin removal surgeries, but they took care of that right away (put something in my IV line). most people experience little to no pain with weight loss surgeries, though. -
How did you lose the weight to get the surgery?
New To This23 replied to Theia103121's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
TL;DR - more cardio, no snacking, eat on schedule 3 times a day. I had to do this, I have not had my surgery, I am just waiting to be scheduled. The surgeon has gone over all my labs and tests and approved me for surgery. I had to lose 5% of my body weight and keep it off while I wait for everything. I struggled like no other to do this, which was wild because in the past, and as recently as the last fall I had dropped at least 30lbs super quick. Basically, I changed my eating, but this time I wanted to learn how to eat food without being on some kind of restriction, like no carbs, or low fat, no sweets ever, cabbage only, two shakes a day, and a sandwich for dinner, type thing. I knew I did not want to live the rest of my life after surgery struggling with continued "diets". I started seeing a nutritionist, who was not much help, but she did get me on scheduled eating, having a meal within one hour of waking and then eating every 4 hours for a total of 3 times a day. I was already drinking 96 oz of water a day, but I bumped it up to 150oz a day. I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks doing that. Then it stopped losing and I still had not met the 5% goal. So I added exercise, I started weightlifting and swimming, 1 hour of weights, 1-hour swim and my weight did not change. However, my clothes started getting loose, but I needed to meet that weight goal. So I stopped swimming and just focused on weights for 45 min and 20 minutes of walking. still my weight stalled, but my clothes got looser. I had a week before my final weigh-in and I stopped exercising, drank less water, took laxatives and water pills, and basically ate air. I made the weight goal. After that I was like okay what is going on? I started back with weights and eating my weight went up 5 lbs. Finally, I learned that I was more than likely gaining muscle ( I was getting stronger) The muscle gain weight-wise was canceling out the fat loss, so my weight remained the same but my clothing was loose. This is great, but not so much when you need to be at a certain number in a certain time frame. I switched things up to 30 minutes of elliptical x mode and 30 minutes of stationary bike, put 30 min. dumbells for arms and my weight started dropping again. I am currently 10lbs below the approval goal I needed to be at and I have kept it off during the 2 months the incompetent office lady lost my paperwork, I would have already had surgery two months ago if it wasn't for her. So I have lost 9% of my starting weight. After surgery, I plan on resuming weightlifting since muscle creates a metabolism change. -
Congrats that's a solid loss in 4 weeks. Too bad about the nausea, but that should continue to dissipate with time. What stage are you currently on? I am still losing, though the numbers fluctuate from week to week, it's still in a downward trend. The restriction also varies on what I can eat or not eat. Today so far all I've managed are liquids and I'm feeling full. I'll try for something solid for dinner when I'm home if I'm up for it. All we can do is take it day by day, sometimes just meal by meal.
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I've had a few days of 4-5 BMs a day but on the average 2-3. Thankfully I've never had problems with constipation post-op except during week one. That usually comes with weight stalls. I was told pale stools was caused from the fat loss especially if it floats so.... I'm happy to go often. I figure I'm flushing fat and pounds down the toilet. 😌 Downside, I sometimes worry about being out somewhere and too far away from a bathroom. So I plan carefully. But I know at some point it will slow down. GL
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This is so true about starvation mode. I too was afraid to up my calories and in effect put myself into starvation mode and my weight loss stalled. As soon as i upped the calories, the weight started coming off again!!!
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Keto rash is a new one to me so I did google it. Does your rash look like the keto rash (prurigo pigmentosa)? Certainly the surgery, change of diet, weight loss, etc. are very stressful & it does seem logical that it might unfortunately set off a flare of your eczema especially if that is a known trigger for you. Have they taken you off the Prilosec & offered you an alternative to see if that is the cause? Good luck with the biopsy. Hope they find an answer soon.
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Slow Weight Loss
SleeveToBypass2023 replied to Pat B's topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
Revision weight loss is definitely slower than the original weight loss. I'm almost 11 weeks out from my revision and I've only lost 23 pounds. But at this time when I had my original surgery, I had lost 70 pounds. It's just the nature of things. I had my revision because of complications, not for additional weight loss. -
3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak
Possum220 replied to Deep6's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
You have lost a massive amount of weight. Congrats. Given that you are 6ft you may need to be eating more to sustain such a weight loss and have good energy levels. Are you currently under the care of a bariatric dietician? If not please check in with one so that your tiredness can be investigated. Have you been having regular blood tests done to see where everything is? Having a bypass may result in malabsorsion of nutrients and lead to deficiencies that can show up in blood tests. Being back in the gym will also require more fuel for energy. You may want to throw yourself back into the thick of it but dont. Slowly increase the rate and weights that you exercise with. Dont pop another hernia by rushing things. Does the gym have an exercise physiologist that can give you guidance? Please seek one out. Walking is a great place to start. Your wife IS right. You just had major surgery and that by itself will take time. Dont try to run before you can walk. -
Kaiser SoCal Referral
AmberFL replied to TheUsualSuspect's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have Kaiser as well, but in NorCal. I went to my regular doctor and told him straight up. I need weight loss surgery, he asked if I have dieted at all. I told him yes, I have dieted since I was 12yrs old and now after 2 children being a little older I cannot lose for nothing. I am also on ADHD meds and cannot lose weight so even the stimulants are not working. He took my weight and my BMI is 43, I am only 34 and I am on track to have diabetes, heart disease ect. He told me I was a good candidate, I don't smoke, I don't often drink and my BMI meets the requirements. I had to get a bunch of bloodwork all came back normal except my HDL. Then he sent my referral in to the bariatric surgery center in South San Francisco. I had to do an orientation and take a test, Takes an hour and 10min total. Then 5days later I got a schedule for nutrition class and then meet my surgeon. those are scheduled for next week so I am anxious on how that goes. My "Why" are my children. I have a 12yr, 6yr and 1yr old. I am currently in school finishing my bachelors. My partner doesn't have weight issues and I absolutely refuse to get to the point where I cannot play with my kids. I want to be able to be their coaches in sports as I was very much into athletics till I was in college. I want to run around with them and live a very long life with them. As well as teaching them to have a healthier life style. I am scared doing this, but I know in the long run this is what I HAVE TO DO! -
Today marks 4 weeks from my surgery date. My incisions are largely healed, and the surgical glue/scabs have fallen off. There is clearly more healing happening inside, where I can't see. My surgeon calls this 'surgical stuff'. The spot just under my left ribs is particularly tender. Is it my stomach? My hiatal hernia repair? It doesn't pain me too much.
My weight loss slowed down a bit the last 2 weeks, with the addition of purees. I've enjoyed things I never thought I would ever eat, such a dish I'm fondly calling 'tuna pudding'. Buffalo chicken dip with canned chicken is amazing. Surprisingly, ricotta bake was meh. Yogurt is still a staple. I've started experimenting with decaf tea. I would LOVE a cup of coffee, but no word yet on when I can have it. Soft foods are just around the corner, and all I can think of is tender, flaky white fish. And some soft asparagus.
I haven't had a ton of energy. I have to sit a lot and my walks are short and slow. I'm hopeful that when I can eat a little more I'll feel more athletically inclined. Next week, I'll try the commute to my office two days a week, which involves a lot of walking, stairs, and carrying my laptop. We'll see how that goes.
I had an overnight trip this past week, and packed a small cooler with my pureed foods. It was hard to be around others eating delicious things while I slowly spooned down curry chicken salad puree. Fun fact, not drinking while you eat curry chicken salad puree is a fun game. Play with your friends. I resorted to serving it with a bit of greek yogurt on the side to cool my mouth down. Driving multiple hours without caffeine or road snacks is also a new thing.
I've tried on some old shorts and work pants, to see if they fit yet. Some do, and some very nearly do, which is exciting. At least I won't need to source smaller clothes for a while. I'd saved all my favorite things down to about a size 14. Hopefully they are all still in style.
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"Tuna pudding." 😂 But I have to say that the buffalo chicken dip does sound good!
On my program, caffeinated beverages are allowed, so I've been slowly reintroducing caffeine. I've started with unsweetened tea, just 6-8 ounces, and that has not upset my stomach. The first time I tried straight up coffee, my stomach said, "Nope!"
Wishing you good luck with work. I'm back to work, and move kinda slow. Colleagues there have begun noticing my weight loss; I've only told them about the hernia surgery, and that I am going through a physician-directed weight loss program. I'm not ashamed of having surgery, I've just always tried to keep my professional and personal lives separate. We had a luncheon yesterday and I pointed out how many carbs were in all of the items, and how I'm not allowed to have them in my program. Then broke out my 2 ounces of hummus and some miso soup with soft tofu and pretended like that was what I really wanted.
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Sometimes complications can be blessings in disguise
SuziDavis replied to SleeveToBypass2023's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I love this, I love that you are looking at the light at the end rather than all the bad parts. I'm sure your body is handling it all so much better with the weight loss too. -
Struggling with Post-Surgery Challenges
catwoman7 replied to taylrmarie's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
as usual, I agree with everything Arabesque said. And I know this sounds weird to say, but enjoy your loss of hunger and appetite while it lasts, because it will come back - and things will become a lot more challenging then. Even though it was weird at first, I honestly wish my hunger and appetite had never come back. It was SO much easier to lose weight when I was never hungry and couldn't give a flip about food! My hunger came roaring back at about five months out. It lasts longer for some, less for others. But use it to your full advantage. -
I had my surgery January 18 this year and everything went great up until about the end of March where I just stopped losing. Like anything at all! My heaviest weight was 240 lbs before surgery, 229 lbs day of surgery. My weight at the end of March-beginning of April was 189lbs. Sounds great right? That was 51 lbs down total, 40 since surgery! The inches that I lost were even more impressive and both my surgeon and dietitian were happy about my progress. But here we are in September already, I’m almost 8 months post-op and guess what? My weight is 190 lbs average since then! It varies between 185-193 lbs and hasn’t shown any sign of changing. I’ve had several ‘extra’ appointments with both surgeon and dietitian and have followed ALL recommendations given with no changes. I’m SO frustrated and not sure what else to do. I mean…this can’t be it, can it? I didn’t have major surgery to just be where I’m at right now. My surgeon has mentioned that if my stall continues I may be a candidate for medical weight loss options like medications etc. and I’ve also had some recent testing to check things out. I’m now waiting on results from an upper GI series where at that time, the doctor doing the testing said he thinks he saw a hiatal hernia but wanted to look at everything slowed down on his other screens to be sure before doing his report. The thing that doesn’t make sense about that is my surgeon repaired a hiatal hernia I had for YEARS when he did my bypass surgery so I am really not sure what could be happening there! Does anyone have a similar situation and any success knocking your body the heck out of a very long stall? Please, PLEASE tell me all of your secrets! Quote Edit Reply to this topic...
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4 - 5 months stall this is more than the norm
JustMeTracey replied to Ginnnnie's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I had my surgery January 18 this year and everything went great up until about the end of March where I just stopped losing. Like anything at all! My heaviest weight was 240 lbs before surgery, 229 lbs day of surgery. My weight at the end of March-beginning of April was 189lbs. Sounds great right? That was 51 lbs down total, 40 since surgery! The inches that I lost were even more impressive and both my surgeon and dietitian were happy about my progress. But here we are in September already, I’m almost 8 months post-op and guess what? My weight is 190 lbs average since then! It varies between 185-193 lbs and hasn’t shown any sign of changing. I’ve had several ‘extra’ appointments with both surgeon and dietitian and have followed ALL recommendations given with no changes. I’m SO frustrated and not sure what else to do. I mean…this can’t be it, can it? I didn’t have major surgery to just be where I’m at right now. My surgeon has mentioned that if my stall continues I may be a candidate for medical weight loss options like medications etc. and I’ve also had some recent testing to check things out. I’m now waiting on results from an upper GI series where at that time, the doctor doing the testing said he thinks he saw a hiatal hernia but wanted to look at everything slowed down on his other screens to be sure before doing his report. The thing that doesn’t make sense about that is my surgeon repaired a hiatal hernia I had for YEARS when he did my bypass surgery so I am really not sure what could be happening there! Does anyone have a similar situation and any success knocking your body the heck out of a very long stall? Please, PLEASE tell me all of your secrets! -
Everyone’s rate of weight loss slows but when that begins to occur is another of those individual things. Certainly the closer you are to goal the slower the loss & you’re about 3/4 of the way to your goal now (how fabulous is that). But 2lbs a week isn’t slow just slower than what you first experienced. That rate is generally considered a healthy rate at which to lose in the wider weight loss & health community.
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3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak
Arabesque replied to Deep6's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
You may not be eating enough given you are male & going to the gym. Have a chat with your dietician & review what & how much you’re eating & your current activity. Are you hitting your protein & fluid goals? I wasn’t eating much at three months & get only being able to eat what you can physically eat. But I’m female, way shorter & certainly wasn’t very active when losing so it wasn’t as much of an issue for me. I agree with adding an electrolyte drink to your fluid routine. The extra boost of energy was a blessing on busy/active days. PS. Give lamb a try & see how you go. It’s more tender than pork which can be dry & then difficult to eat. Also chicken thigh, which is more moist, tender & flavourful than chicken breast, maybe easier to tolerate. I ate a lot of minced meat dishes (meatballs, savoury mince, bolognese with zucchini noodles, etc.) in the first months so give that a try too. And congrats on your weight loss! -
4 - 5 months stall this is more than the norm
NCL04321 replied to Ginnnnie's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I have crazy hormones but did not experience a stall for that long. I dont think it is just hormones. Your thyroid could be a culprit. I would look more into that. My longest stall was 2 weeks. I would talk to a different nutritionist who is also specializing in post weight loss eating. I am almost 5 months post op and only eat about 700 calories a day. I'm not a Dr so i cant give you medical advice, but i can give you support and say what i believe is true, stick with the program, get your thyroid right and im sure you will start losing again. Good luck, i know it is super frustrating but the surgery was not for nothing. Do you log what you eat? I use the Baritastic app and i love it. Are you eating a variety of veggies, fruits etc? Believe it or not but my dietician said i was not eating enough carbs. When i stalled, i cheated eating in a bad way (only for about a week) at the suggestion of someone else on this forum and I think it broke the stall! I also started taking a pre/probiotic by Celebrate brand. It is called Celebrate Balance. It is specially formulated for weight loss. I hope you can figure this out but until then keep your head up and keep fighting. You are bound to start losing weight again. -
ok that makes sense! I meet with the surgeon on the 19th and I will ask these questions. I think there is a 10% weight loss. thats 28lbs for me. So that is going to take time LOL
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3 Months Post-Op: 50 lbs dropped! But, I am Weak
NCL04321 replied to Deep6's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Make sure you are getting enough fluids in as well. Your wife is right, it will take time for you to build up your endurance. Congrats on the weight loss so far!!! -
Thanks to the LPN at the office, who lost my testing/lab results and took over 6 weeks to let me know, even though I called to verify they got the paperwork, every week for six weeks to no avail. I am finally getting ready to be scheduled for surgery. Annoyingly, I have to get one more weigh-in due to her mistake and I can't get in to get weighed until Monday, plus my period started 10 days early and my weight is up by 2 lbs. I have struggled with weight loss that is why I am here, but never in my life, have I struggled so much to lose 5% of my original weight, until I started the bariatric program. Maybe it's the stress affecting me more than I realize. These 2 period pounds are putting me above the goal weight, even though last week I was 10 lbs below the goal weight. Honestly, I am pissed at this nurse screwing my stuff up and not informing me when I called over and over again. She has single-handedly affected my finances, my school scheduling, and my struggle to stay positive with her incompetence, not to mention she is cutting it really close to my surgery being at a time when it will be a struggle to get to the clinic that is 3 hours away up a mountain (not a hill), and the roads get super icy and snow covered. That is what is on my mind!
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Hey everyone, I just wanted to take a moment to share my experience and vent a bit about the difficulties I've been facing after my gastric bypass surgery. It's been tough, and I could really use some support and understanding right now. Firstly, one of the biggest challenges I've encountered is the loss of taste. It's incredibly disheartening to try different food and drink options, only to find that nothing tastes good anymore. I've experimented with various yogurts, protein powders, shakes, and even crystal light flavors, but unfortunately, the enjoyment I used to get from eating has vanished. Even something as simple as finishing a bottle of water has become a struggle for me. To add to this frustrating situation, I've been dealing with a persistent metallic taste in my mouth. This unpleasant sensation affects how everything tastes, making it even more difficult to find pleasure in eating or drinking. Despite my efforts to maintain good oral hygiene by brushing my teeth four times a day, the taste persists, and it's incredibly discouraging. On top of these physical challenges, my energy levels have plummeted, leaving me feeling depleted and drained. It's hard to stay positive and motivated when you're constantly battling fatigue. Unfortunately, this has taken a toll on my mental health as well, and I find myself struggling with depression. It's a heavy emotional burden to carry, and I often find myself crying myself to sleep at night. I apologize if this post sounds like a downer, but I really needed to vent and share my experience with people who might understand. If any of you have gone through a similar situation, I would greatly appreciate any advice or encouragement you can offer. And to those who are willing, please keep me in your prayers. The support means the world to me during this challenging time. Thank you for taking the time to read my post and for being there for me when I needed to let it all out. Together, we can get through the tough times and find strength in each other.
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Hello! I'm New here!
Theia103121 replied to AmberFL's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi and welcome! I don't know about Disneyland, but I do know you can take FMLA leave. Because you have to stay overnight for a bariatric surgery, it counts as inpatient care. https://jjkellercompliancenetwork.com/news/does-time-off-for-weight-loss-surgery-fall-under-the-fmla,https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/28f-fmla-qualifying-reasons. I also think a very strong argument could be made that bariatric surgery is not elective surgery, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. I'm at the beginning of my journey too! -
Hi All! I am starting my journey after finally making the decision to do weight loss surgery. I'm scared, excited, and everything in between! I have done research for months before making this decision and I have a few questions if you lovely folks could help! 1) I am taking vacay Dec 4th to Disneyland and I wasn't sure if I should wait to schedule surgery till after? It will require a lot of walking and I fear that I wont be able to keep up. I am not too worried about the holidays and having the surgery done around that time. 2) Can I take FMLA and apply for Short Term Disability during recovery? **These are the ones I couldn't find direct answers on** TIA for your input!
