VSG Maintenance Group
Friday, May 24, 2024
Down 2.2 from last week (when I went up 1.4). So I am really down .8, which is okay considering the going out every night. I've lost 8% of my body weight since starting tirzepatide, but 14% since December. Last time I was this weight was August 2021 (a year after I met DH). Prior to that I weighed this much in January 2020 and August 2016 (after VSG). What's different this time from every other time I lost weight over my life is that I am not tracking and counting calories or WW points. I am just eating in a healthy way and stopping when I am full. I am not craving the sweet stuff and my body is telling me when to stop. So essentially no cravings or binging. I haven't felt the need for a sweet snack in the evening which I have previously always allowed myself. The only time I feel a need for extra outside of meals is in the late afternoon when I usually have a small number of nut thins with hummus. Really quite amazing. The only side effect is a small red circle on my abdomen around the injection site each time which lasts until the next injection. From what I've seen on FB groups that is pretty normal. Good thing I'm not doing it in my arm.
The surgeon was quite pleased with my shoulder during my visit yesterday. Everything looks well healed and I am cleared for PT this afternoon. First is getting range of motion. It is so stiff and I can't get my hand/arm up higher than my shoulder (and even that with a lot of effort). The highest my hand can go is to touch the top of my head. So I can use it to hold my hair in the back while I put a claw clip in the back, but I can't manage a ponytail. And certainly no French braiding is happening for a long time! But the stiffness and limited range is normal after 9 weeks of no use. Some surgeons have people moving much sooner but mine is very conservative. The good thing is that it is just stiff but there isn't any pain. The surgeon even said I could try snorkeling in Aruba!
The weather for Memorial Day weekend is going to be fairly decent, especially today when it may reach 80 here on Cape Cod. DH and I are spending tonight and tomorrow night at his house with his daughter and son-in-law as my DS has his cousin and her family staying here. Dinner out tonight and likely a cookout tomorrow night. Justice is coming with us and can sort of hang out with their very happy but boisterous bernadoodle. Justice just growls at her when she gets to be too much for him.
Have a free-spirited Friday!
I just did a search for GLP, semaglutide, tirzepatide, and the brand names on OH and was surprised to find that the only robust discussion about them is in our little group (aside from a couple of articles). It's not like people with other surgeries don't have regain. I used to participate in a group in the RNY section with lots of people about as far out from surgery as we are but couldn't find a mention there. Seems a bit weird, but maybe there is peer pressure not to talk about it? Or maybe we are Trail Blazers?!
Hello, group!
I'm Lizanne, had my VSG in August of 2007. I've been kind of lurking on this site for a few weeks and hope it's okay for me to join in-- it's nice to see a couple of you whom I've met in real life. I live in the Bay Area in CA with my DH, 2 dogs, and a cat. We're retired and are currently suffering thru getting our house painted, lol.
Like many of you, I've struggled to maintain my 100-110 lb weight loss so it's very nice to find a support group. My surgeon (Dr. Jossart, then of LapSF) recommended these new GL1 meds to me back in late 2020 when I went to see him about my 50 lb. regain (hello, Covid weight gain!) But they were wildly expensive, not covered by Medicare, etc. I did lose the weight using Qsymia, prescribed to me by an endocrinologist he sent me to, but I didn't like the side effects. Since then I have been up and down. When I was up about 25 lbs, a friend told me about the compound semaglutide. After looking into it, I started using it (from Henry Meds) in late June of last year, so I'm coming up on almost a year. I successfully lost the 25 lbs plus another 10 ish, so I'm back down to where I was after surgery. Which is rather shocking to me. I'm now in maintenance mode, trying to find the right dose to keep me where I am. For me, it's been amazing, like having my new sleeve back. I do feel like it's something my body needs to keep the food noise and constant desire to snack (especially on sweet things) at bay.
Looking forward to getting to know you all!
Hi, Lizanne,
I'm Bonnie and hail from the "interior"-Southeast Kansas and sending a big welcome and smiles your way!
goal!!! August 20, 2013 age: 59 High weight: 345 (June, 2011) Consult weight: 293 (June, 2012) Pre-Op: 253 (Nov., 2012) Surgery weight: 235 (Dec. 12, 2012) Current weight: 145
TOTAL POUNDS LOST- 200 (110 pounds lost before surgery, 90 pounds lost Post Op.diabetes in remission-blood pressure normal-cholesterol and triglyceride levels normal! BMI from 55.6 supermorbidly obese to 23.6 normal!!!!
Yes, Diane, I remember when we met! Unfortunately, both of those pups are now gone. Now we have a 10 yo Aussie and a 4 yr old covid puppy, a poodle mix. And a giant Ragdoll cat who is convinced he is a dog with special powers. He rings the bell with the "other" dogs to go into the back yard. I'm glad to be here!
Lizanne
