Gastric Sleeve Patients?????

racingsuze

Hi, I had my gastric sleeve surgery done on July 17th and have found you have to try several protein drinks to find one you like. Good luck with your surgery in September. It was one of the best decisions I ever made...

embersfallen

Getting the Sleeve done this Thursday the 29th.... just finished my breakfast protein shake...day 5 of pre-op liquids... trully can't wait until the pureed and soft foods! LOL....

I lost quite a bit on my own...and then have been stuck in neutral for about 25 months... it took a lot to get me to this point...a big step into God giving me peace about this was finally letting go of my pride. I've used every other * tool* out there that was non-surgical, super clean eating, vegatarian, ridding allergans from the diet, intermittent fasting etc. etc. etttttttccccccccc.... the bottom line is i want to be healthy and at peace with my body. I've been at war with it my whole life..... I am going to miss my Les Mills Combat this month for sure, but once I am cleared I am going to use this TOOL in conjunction with my newfound love of working out I've gained the past few years to it's greatest ability!!! Congrats to all who have done so well .

As to grazing, I would say find a snack that satisfies the need to chew, with low cals. My favorite snack the past year has been cauliflower and sugar snap peas... no need for any salad dressing, though somtimes i will dip in hummus. That's actually going to be one of the hardest things to NOT have for a few months for me until i am cleared to consume the fibrous veggies... LOL. If sweet is your thing, have some grapes, or if your tummy can handle small bits of sugar, get the darkest chocolate you can stand but still enjoy and have a PORTION of a serving broken up through the day. I have found a nibble of something usually satisfies the craving just as much as a regular portion might. It's about savoring the taste... Also, I like dry roasted edamame ( soy beans) walmart has them... mix with unsalted pepitas and a few almonds ( more of the edamame then anything else or fat gets too high) and then there is a crunchy snack! Will miss that too for awhile. LOL

kellyjo72

Hi my name is Kelly. I had the gastric sleeve on March 20,2013. I've lost 91 pounds. I feel great and would do it again in a heart beat. I exercise 3-4 times a week. Cardio and weights. Weights are very good to tighten skin and burn fat. My life has totally changed. My personality is so much better. I'm more outgoing and make eye contact with everyone now. It's nice to see there are others making great strides with their surgery too.

kgmillerrn

Thank you so much for responding to my post! I didn't even realize that people had been posting until literally today!!! I guess it would have been wise for me to really figure out MFP works LOL! I am going to send you a friend request because I can definitately use all the support and love to be support for others! How are you doing now? I am doing MUCH better! I am down 51lbs and am feeling a million bucks! I am getting much better about 'grazing' and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that i have started going to the gym, for over a month now. I figure, I am working hard burning calories at the gym why would I want to eat crap and just make my time at the gym worthless! I don't! I eat @ 6 times a day now and love the fact that I eat whatever I want for the most part, just much much smaller portions! Hope to hear from you soon!

spooky228

Are there any Gastric Sleeve patients that are 55+? I am 60 and will have the sleeve on Sept. 17th.
I have degenerative disc disease, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I am on so
many meds and want so badly to get off of many of them. Like many others I have lost 100's of pounds
in my life on so many diets. This is my last ditch effort. I am so tired of people trying to talk me out
of it. I am tired of people telling me you will just gain it all back.
I too am looking for high protein ideas. I have been going to the gym 3 days a week for the past 2
months and plan to continue when I am allowed to return.

54debs

Hello, I am 58 all most 59 and was sleeved on May 7. I am very happy I did and have no problems ei vomiting, pain eating. In fact I haven't thrown up once which seems to be a common problem

As a tool, it has helped me reduce the volume of food I consume and stick with it. I have only lost 49 pounds which is much less than some in my younger May Sleevers peers but I AM LOSING! and that is what is important.

I have used a few brands and keep going back to Premier Protein ( Sams and Costco) low carbs , 160 cal 30 g protein. Premixed easily carried with you. Sugar free syrups can be used to change flavor if you like.

the first month was hard, I was tired and was not able to get in the required water and protein, but you have to do the best you can.

spooky228

Thanks for the Premier Protein idea. I have a Sam's membership I will look for it. What part of Sam's would it be in
the pharmacy area?
My daughter in law had the sleeve done. She had problems with vomiting that required a second surgery. She now
looks like a model ;o) I know getting all the required protein was a problem for her.

Have you had any problem with hair loss? Or has anyone else? Stacy

ersopher

Hello Kelly.....I was sleeved on August 21st. Starting weight 278 January 31st. Pre surgery weight 245.Current weight 232, a lossof 13 pounds. Tomorrow is my 2wk mark. So far I have had no problems....vomiting ect. And boy am I thankful for that. Wasnt looking foward to any of that. I feel for those who have issues after surgery. I am however having horrible heartburn. I can control it with gaviscon, small sips. No grazen issues so far but I also am still on full liquids. Ugh Premier Protein is also the shakes I drink.

I to am having a hard time getting all my fluids in. And am getting within 5 grams of protein to my required amount. Anyone have an ache in there left side still? I also now have a massive cough and cold my 2 1/2 year old gifited me with. . Coughing is a sharp pain on the side.

I worked up to walking 1.7 miles a day. Hoping to get the ok to add some other workout options to this big body!!!

Congrats to everyone here for the life changing choices made.

RAEQ127

Get yourself in check NOW. Grazing is exactly how people gain every pound back. It is good you recognize it now.

dward59

I'll join the chorus of successful fairly recent sleevers. There are two groups available on MFP. Look for Sleevers and VSG'ers. They are not heavily active at least right now, but if enough of us start using them, that will change.

I was sleeved, along with my wife on May 1st of this year. I had gained back 110+ of the 152 lbs I had lost in 2006-2007 on WW. I was on 24 hour a day oxygen, biPap machine for sleep apnea, borderline type II diabetic, had blood clots in my legs and a range of other problems, at least some of which I will deal with for the rest of my life, all caused by extreme morbid obesity. When I started with this process last Thanksgiving, I was 430 lbs. I have lost just over 100 at this point. At my three month exam, I was off daytime Oxygen, had joined and am religiously using the membership to a gym, have had my pressures reduced on the BiPap machine for apnea, and in recent blood tests my blood readings have all gone to NORMAL levels.

I still have 155 lbs to lose, so will be at this for quite some time. But OP, as many have said, you HAVE to get your head in this game. I've started seeing a therapist to deal with my food issues. I started gaining weight when I was six years old and have been out of control most of the last 50 years. Maybe I can find those emotional triggers and really come up with good ways to deal with them.

Part of my "training" before the surgery included required meetings with a nutritionist and a "social worker" who worked with us on developing plans before the surgery for things to do when we started getting mentally hungry. Many take a walk, that as another poster stated, works for me when I have a break at work. If I really need distraction, my daughter got me playing Plants vs. Zombies. I can completely waste two hours playing a level of that and it pulls my mind away from even wanting to eat. There has to be something you enjoy doing that you can really sink into mentally that keeps you busy. That is what you need to find to get away from the grazing issue.

Best wishes to all my fellow VSGers who have posted. I think we have a tool to finally help us win this battle. For the small percentage of people who had problems, I'm sorry and I hope the doctors got everything straightened out for you.

spooky228

I was told by the surgical assistant that I met with that you could have soreness on your left side.
Has something to do with the way they have to position you to raise your liver up to get to the
stomach. Don't know if this is the side you have pain on or not.
Best bet is to call and ask the nurse or leave a message for the doctor. Better safe than sorry.
Have you been running a fever?
Hope the cold is better soon!:flowerforyou:

kgirlly

Hi, I had my surgery August 20th, i was 286lb since the surgery, i'm down to 269. I am too getting tired of broth and protein shakes, everything else i've tried, i feel nausea. I'm afraid to eat anything. I feel safe on just the shakes. Does anyone have any solution out there.

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

ersopher

Thank you. I am feeling some what better now. Cold ezz is a wonderful thing. I assumed it was where they did the removal.. my drs nurse called me for a phone check up a week out. And said itll pass in time. Just wondering if anyone else had the pain 2 wks out or if theres is gone and im a wuss.

Strangly im still ok with broth and shakes. I do also have cream of chicken, mushroom,broc soup thined with enriched milk. Nice to break it up some. Sf pudding thined with enriched milk is also good. With these meals i add a Tablespoon of unflavored protein powder, adds 9.3 grams of protein to my meals.

ersopher

I forgot.....no fever. Im feeling very lucky that iv been able to have an easy go of it.

sassy_sleever

Hi there, i have lost my 103lb with a gastric sleeve, i am now approaching a normal BMI. I went to the czech republic, where the health care is great, they have hardly any hospital infections, and i cant fault my experience.I wish i had done it years ago, it really has saved my life!

It isnt an easy journey, as some think, it needs a lot or research and time to come to terms with the post op way of eating, but for me, it has been the best decision i ever made. The best thing is that i have very little hunger nowadays.

clt052902

I had the gastric sleeve august 12, 2013. for a while there I was seriously regretting having the surgery but now I am feeling much better about it. I am currently down 30 pounds but I find that I am all of a sudden having hunger pains a lot and getting headaches. i'm at a loss of what to really eat.

I know it will get better as the days and weeks pass and am thankful that my husband stands behind me 100% and I have a friend who also had the surgery but her post op was much easier for her than mine.

good luck to all on your future weight loss and congrats on your current weight loss

gonnabeHOT_Heidi

Hi everyone! I was sleeved Aug. 22, 2013... I'm 3 weeks out. I have done great with no complications (thank god) I have lost 32 pounds since I started my pre-op diet on aug. 8th. This week though I have been stuck n even gained a cpl pounds but I started puréed foods last week. I only get about 500-700 calories in a day but hit my goal of 60 grams of protein. I don't like drinking protein shakes so my meals are mostly, egg beaters with laughing cow cheese wedge, Greek yogurt and cottage cheese, I have done chicken salad and tuna salad too.... Did any of u that have been sleeved for awhile experience a stall on week 3? Feel free to add me as your friend, the more sleeve support the better

ratkins811

Bump. For later getting sleeve need this info

shonrecio

I had the surgery on August 12 and have lost preop to now 43lbs. At first I regreted it because as some of you have stated this is a tool and not a fix.I was not hungry but as my family or coworkers were enjoying a juicy burger I could not. In the past four weeks I haved learnied new things about myself and my abilities. Like most of you the shakes, no matter which brand I have tried, are starting to make me sick but I push through. My fear is that I will do well for a while but will return to my old habits which caused me to have to have the surgery in the first place. I was always overweight even as a child and at my heaviest was 358. I was 345 when I had surgery and am now 311. I no longer regret having the surgery at this time because just losing the 43 lbs has stopped my back pain, knee pain and has lowered my BP. I feel great. I walk mon-friday during both my 15min breaks for exercise. I hope to be able to get back to doing aerobics but am trying to balance work, school, family ect. It's nice to know that there are others who have similar experiences.

ratkins811

I have my first office visit on the 25th to start the process to get the sleeve and I am very anxious. I have done my research and know this is not a quick fix but a tool. I just want to feel better. Any advice will be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

1yolandia

Hi, I'm new to the group and will be having my surgery on the 1st of October. It has really been a journey for me dealing with various types of illnesses and having to take so many medicines. I'm a mood eater so I know this will be a challenge but I'm ready. Nervous but ready.

pepsimomswk

I had the Gastric Sleeve surgery on August 12th 2013. At preop appt I was at 355.2 (June 17th). This is the best thing I have ever done in My life. I have struggled with weight loss for the last 15 years. The surgery is not a quick fix and by no means easy. Some think it is easy and it is only a tool to help us along our journey. I struggle everyday mentally but with my family and friends backing me I will lose the the 215 lbs. I have lost 44 so far. I started this blog as a support group for all of us gastric surgery peeps. We need each others support. I too took diabetes mere and am now off them. I have started to decrease my others meds too. Good luck.

clt052902

I had my sleeve August 12, 2013 and I am currently at a stand still. I had a friend who also had the sleeve and she said every few weeks she has a stand still then all of a sudden the weight starts dropping off again. Glad you have done so well. I am currently at 32 pounds 6 weeks post op.

ersopher

Hi, I'm new to the group and will be having my surgery on the 1st of October. It has really been a journey for me dealing with various types of illnesses and having to take so many medicines. I'm a mood eater so I know this will be a challenge but I'm ready. Nervous but ready.

Congrats on your date only a few days now!!! You'll do great remember walk as much as you can handle. It helps with the gas, bm movements and weight loss jump start.

Skaboy215

Hi I am having the Gastric Sleeve surgery on Dec 4th and I was wondering if anyone can give me any pointers to get ready for it or any for after the surgery?

Shannie312

Hello, I have my consultation with Bariatric surgeon tomorrow, anxious to get the ball rolling! I have researched extensively, am an OR nurse, so I think I have I good understanding of what's involved pre and postoperatively. My insurance lists a 3 month and 6 mo. Prep program ( of course 3 months sounds good to me I guess I am just worried there will be some hitch or hold up of some kind. I keep thinking of the movie quote that goes something like, "when you meet the the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible". That's how I feel about this surgery...let's do this!

Skaboy215

I cant wait for the surgery but at times I get nervous because I just start thinking to much into it. I went and got a recliner yesterday because my friends wife said she had some difficulty sleeping on a bed and she said it was better sleeping in a recliner any one else find that to be true?

_megpie89_

Hey there everyone!
Totally new to this site so trying to make my way around! I go for my gastric sleeve surgery on November 6th. I am so so so excited and so so so nervous! any helpful tips? haha

way to go to everyone who has had the surgery!!

and congrats to those who are getting it!!!

zihuagirl

Congratulations to everyone for taking a major step in reclaiming their lives. I had the lap band which was a year of hell. Constant vomiting, pain, inability to eat anything. I was dying. We got the insurance company to approve the removal and the sleeve. January 30,2013 I had my procedures. Today I am down 90 lbs. it us not a miracle but a lot of hard work. I plan all my meals and carry around a little cooler with me all day to make sure I get everything in I am suppose to. People have stopped "freaking" out over my loss and now the head games start. I sm so afraid of gaining any weight back, even though I know I am not. Its hard to see the size 12 and know it fits while not SQUEEZING into a 20. And you truly get used to the attention that a dramatic weight loss brings. Its a dual edged sword -- one second you are thinking "its still me!" But then you are flattered. Its messed up. So much of this is what is in our head and our stomach. I try to stay focused on how great i feel. So much energy i have. One day I got into my car and looked like a child dangling from the steering wheel. My heart problem is GONE! I dont have to see the cardiologist for a year... And he didnt recognize me when he came into the exam room. I do have a serious thyroid problem and take 224mcg if synthroid. I am having issues with hair loss that is freaking me out. But overall, I feel blessed to have the rest of my life ahead of me and not be trapped in 287lbs. I really appreciate everyone and their journey. Good luck to all. :flowerforyou:

clt052902

congratulations on your scheduled surgery. I had mine, sleeve, august 12,2013. I have lost 37 pounds since and feel much healthier. this does not go without saying though that It has been rough. I have had numerous days of vomiting and wondering what in the hell was I thinking and other days I feel great. it really just depends on the food I am trying. If I stay on my puree foods I am fine but as I am now at the step of trying to incorporate soft foods some don't agree and you don't know it until you try. there is lots of trial and error. now I have a friend who had the same surgery and recovered like a textbook case. I unfortunately was not that lucky. I just keep thinking about the final result and it will be worth it.