New guy here, you've GOT to read this!

[petra1124 33]

Thanks for sharing!! I to was very scared when I read the "complications" tread...almost changed my mind....but I'd rather risk the <1% chance of complications than the very great chance that I will end up with diabetes and/or heart disease as I am currently pre diabetic and have high blood pressure.

I cant wait for the day that I can share my success story with everyone!

[canuckpaisa 61]

Hey Frank great story!

I hear you re plateau. I am only 2 weeks post op, and have lost over 20 pounds in those 2 weeks. However the horror when the scale went up yesterday.

Many reasons:

1) Water - systems need to recalibrate - as a large guy I know how Water can swing wildly

2) Eating too little actually can continue to slow metabolism - funny how eating a bit more can stoke the furnace

keep up the fantastic work

[BigFrank 354]

Just a quick update:

So if you read above, last Sunday I thought I had hit a stall having lost only one pound in an entire week. Well, I had decided NOT to weigh myself everyday anymore and only do it on Sundays. Well, after 6 days I couldn't wait anymore and to my amazement I got on the scale this morning and lost 6 pound in the six days that have passed since last Sunday!!! I DID however turn it up this week with more activity (I ate the exact same) and am now at 362, or 83 total lbs lost!!! I have also officially lost over 10 points in my BMI, having gone from 55 to 45, all of this in 2 months and 9 days!

Life is GREAT!

[No game 14,437]

Show off!!

That's great frank I love hearing about your success !!

[BigFrank 354]

Thanks Laura!

Actually I met a REAL show off this week. I was telling a friend of mine (finally, I have been quiet about the surgery) that I had weight loss surgery. He asks me "did you have the band or the sleeve?" I'm like, how do you know about the exact surgeries? He tells me that his cousin got the sleeve. So long story short, he connects me with his cousin and we talked for over two hours. He was the first actual person (not one online) that I have ever met who had the sleeve. He got sleeved in June 2011 and has lost an astonishing 200 lbs in a year and a half, having gone from 365 to 165, and he's only 5' 5" tall. We became Facebook friends and when I saw his photos I was absolutely amazed. The transformation was shocking. Because of his smashing success, he even spoke at his doctors confrence about VSG surgery.

One thing that I DID learn from him that amazed me is the level of involvement and follow up by his surgeons. They did an AMAZING job getting him ready for surgery, including making him stop smoking 6 months before the operation, and the aftercare has been wonderful. My surgeons did absolutely NOTHING before and after. Thank God I am doing amazing on my own, and don't need any help. What if I had problems? It just amazes me that I had my surgery done at a world class university hospital downtown Chicago, and they basically have NO real program for VSG patients. I even told my surgeon that and he didn't seem to happy with the criticisim..

[No game 14,437]

So glad you found someone to talk to! It helps a lot.. I met two other girls at the hospital the day of my surgery and its nice to have someone to check in with!! My surgeon also has monthly support groups. I've yet to go to one, but lately I've been thinking it might be a good idea to go

[BKMama 179]

Hi there, you are having great success, that's awesome.

I'm curious, you keep mentioning your hospital, but not by name, and I'm almost positive we had our procedure at the same hospital. (To my knowledge there is only one world class university hospital located in downtown Chicago.).

Anyway, the follow up care by the surgical team (nurse practitioners, dieticians) has been awesome for me. After surgery, I got 2 visits from not only the surgeon and his residents but also the anesthesiologist came by as well. Since surgery, I've done the recommended visits with the NP and the NUT...but I never expected to see the surgeon unless a problem came up. But I asked about the visits after surgery and they were clearly outlined. The program before surgery was pretty extensive as well, so I'm surprised to see you say you didn't do any pre-work.

I just wanted to put that out there in case anyone else comes across your story and may have doubts about the hospital, surgeons, the learning process beforehand, or the after care. I have been extremely happy with the program from start to now (almost 5 months post op).

[BigFrank 354]

BKMama, you have a private message.

[BigFrank 354]

I actually wanted to keep my experience private, but I think people should know. However, I am NOT going to mention the hospital. I still want to talk to BKMama privately though.

My surgeon was a VERY nice guy and obviously knows what he is doing since I am alive and well, but the programs before and after sucked. He basically had me visit the NUT 6 times before the surgery strictly to get an insurance approval. He even said so. I had to do the usual tests including psyche, EKG, upper GI, physical by my PCP, etc, but all of those were to make sure I was healthy and for insurance approval. There was NO support groups before or after and there was NO mandatory or even reccomended visit to the NUT after surgery. I was told it was optional when I called a month after surgery. There were no excercise consultants, NOTHING. It was surgery and have a nice day. I didn't even see my surgeon after the surgery until one month later. He said my next follow up visit would be in three months just to weigh me and see if I was ok!!!!

Again, I have had NO problems and I am amazingly positive and doing mentally great, but what if i wasn't? It would really suck if this was all I had to work with.

[lessofmeismore 1,405]

Usually if your are doing well such as yourself then you are doing what you need without additional support. If by chance you weren't then you would contact the physicians office and they do have resources and groups to offer. Everyone is different and some do exceptionally well just like you have been sharing with us... Some need the guidance and support after and they are given the resources to be or hope to be a success story like you

[BigFrank 354]

NO lessisme, they DO NOT have any groups because I asked if they did. NOTHING. I wanted to join a support group just so I could talk with other sleevers and they couldn't even recommend one! What I explained above is ALL they have. Period.

***They DO have shrinks if you need them though....I have not.

[BKMama 179]

Thanks for the message, Frank. We did two different hospitals so we are all good. :-) Yours isn't technically downtown

Keep up the fabulous work!!

BTW, I totally get keeping specifics private. Doesn't bother me at all...

[lessofmeismore 1,405]

NO lessisme' date=' they DO NOT have any groups because I asked if they did. NOTHING. I wanted to join a support group just so I could talk with other sleevers and they couldn't even recommend one! What I explained above is ALL they have. Period.

***They DO have shrinks if you need them though....I have not.[/quote']

Well that isn't good.

That's why I said USUALLY cause you said you got NADA

[lessofmeismore 1,405]

What was their reasoning behind no support from the bariatric office or the hospital???

[shakur154 55]

Thanks for the Encouraging words! Keep them coming:-)