Was VSG a Mistake?

This may be long... I am so very frustrated this morning, I am where I have been since week 3 and I'm in week 6 now! (same pound range of about 3 lbs. to bounce in and same inches lost) I actually found tears streaming down my face this morning. Have I gone through all of this for nothing?

I was not able to go for walks, barely to even go shopping for about 2-years, just couldn't breathe and after all the specialists missed it my VSG surgeon found a big tear in my diaphragm and sewed it up (his words) I am super grateful for that, I can walk very well now and breathe clearly. He also cleaned up a mess of scar tissue (again his words) so I'm thinking that was super good also. BUT he found something seriously wrong with my liver caused by obesity, the good news whatever stage/level it is at can be stopped with weight loss and a few diet adjustments, it cannot be fixed or reversed but it can be stopped.

BUT I cannot lose weight - like I said I'm at the same place I was at 3 weeks ago! THIS is where I was BEFORE on a restricted diet much the same as the VSG (although protein was not the key food source and no vitamin supplements) I did that diet WITHOUT SURGERY and got to this exact same place and nothing, no matter how hard I tried I could not get below it and now here I am stuck again.

I am following all the instructions my team gave me, except this past Monday I have not messed up. I drink plenty of water and eat every couple hours my 2oz. of a protein product. I do as much walking as I'm allowed to do and here I am stuck! I take two stool softeners a day, and MiraLAX every other day as directed by my team, I do not think I am constipated although I do not go daily I eat very little so that is to be expected I think?

I am still recovering from surgery, going through tons of invasive procedures because of the liver issue and living with the fact that at this weight I am still obese and I CANNOT stop more damage to my liver, so one more thing. I feel beat, hopeless and I wonder why did I have this surgery if it cannot help me get to a safe weight?

do an OH search for "three week stall". You will find hundreds of posts about it . It is normal at three weeks out to have a stall, the body is readjusting.

The stall can last three weeks, as yours has done.

It is normal and as long as you stay well on your plan, you will begin losing again.

There may be more stalls down the road, so be prepared to stay on your plan and ride them out.

Thank you! Today it just hit me pretty hard, not sure why today but...

I am so sorry you're having such a rough day; good advice already for you.

I have NASH (liver disease) and at 10 months out my liver is back to normal for the first time since 1989. It does make a difference, and its a slow healing process, but the liver is a "forgiving organ", so to speak.

I avoid tylenol - its a liver toxic drug that builds up and not good if you have issues. Have you been tested for NASH? Are your enyzmes high? Mine normalized at 3 months out.

Do not feel hopeless. I know it's hard. My best advice I have for you is to stop weighing. Easier said than done, I know, but STOP. I did not weigh for months after surgery. I didn't weigh until I went back to see my surgeon and let him weigh me for the first time since surgery. Eat what you are supposed to eat, what he has on your plan and only eat that. You will lose weight. The surgery didn't fail, our bodies are just very fickle creatures when we put it through so much. Like stubborn children unwilling to let go of their toys!

Good idea to hide the scale... I only post on my wt. thingy here what I learn at the Dr. I should put my darn scale somewhere... like on the moon!

MissCheri, I?m sorry you?re having a low moment.

First off: In your own words, the VSG process saved you ? the tear in your diaphragm, the scar tissue repair, the identification of the liver issue. So, even on those results alone, it was NOT a mistake. You couldn?t walk or breath well?good lord, fixing that alone is amazing.

that all said: Our bodies are programmed by evolution to freak out when we start to lose a lot of weight. Stalls, even long stalls are normal. I had my 2 month post op visit and the surgeon said that pretty much all her patients experience them at one stage or another?and all of them got through it by sticking to the program.

Are you exercising? Muscles are built by a tearing and rebuilding process. Your body will retain water to during this process. And once muscles are built, they are heavier. I experienced a stall when I started swimming. It was frustrating to work so hard and then not lose weight. I just added weights to my regimen and imagine that I?ll probably stall again.

finally, even if you weight the same, your body composition could be changing. Are clothes fitting differently? Is your shape different?

Net net, you?re allowed to feel frustration. I feel it too, when I see people who lose weight from WLS so much faster than me. But I?m telling you, you did NOT make a mistake. Your quality of life sounds like it?s already better. And it will keep getting better.

Yep I've read about the stalls and seen youtubes on it too but I sure didn't expect to be right smack where I have been before on these calories. I know abou****er - well fluid retention, it goes to muscles you have hurt a bit to protect them while they heal from excessive or new exercises but I have added nothing I do what I have done since day 1, I walk at a reasonable pace, my cardiologist only agreed to that at this point. I lost pounds and inches but that has stopped also... just going to have to hang in here and hope it will move down again soon.

I understand.

I once lost 60lbs on my own, using the Zone diet--losing one or two pounds per week (minus stalls--they happen with regular diets, too). When I have a week where I lose 2lbs or less, I catch myself thinking "WTH? I could lose at this rate without surgery!". Then I remember how, the more I lost, the more hungry I felt--and how hard it was to ever feel full. And I remember how mental energy that I spent just thinking about food. I wouldn't want to be trying this at this stage without the help of the surgery.

What, exactly, are you eating? Can you give us a sample menu and we can try to trouble shoot for you if there's anything to troubleshoot? Exactly how much liquid are you getting in each day?

I know you're feeling worried right now, and that sucks. Many, many people experience stalls early on, though. It's totally normal. I think it's your body's way of saying, "OMG WTF DID YOU DO TO ME!!!!" But if you stick to your plan, you will lose weight. Have faith, have patience.

Are you seeing a therapist? I highly recommend adding one to your team because this is a very mentally challenging process!