Question:
only 17 days post-op, haven't lost anything in 10 days1

Hello everyone, Just wanted to hear from someone who had a similar situation. Hopefully SOMEONE has and I am not the only one....need something to encourage me. Help!! Ok, I had my surgery April 21, 2003, had a complication and was back in the hospital for two days. I was released and on my way April 29th. So, it's been 17 days and I have only lost between 13 to 15 pounds depending on which starting weight I choose. Which would be fine - except I haven't lost anything in over 10 days!!! I have been doing everything that has been asked of me. Is this normal? What if I don't lose anymore? Did anyone else plateau right after surgery? This is nuts, I am so frustrated..... Thanks for your help. silverbirches post-op 4/21/2003 258/243/??    — Elizabeth L. (posted on May 8, 2003)

May 8, 2003
get off the scale, if you are doing the right things, believe me you will lose. Base your success on how you are doing and feeling not the numbers on the scale. It will come.
   — janice L.

May 8, 2003
I had my lap rny 04-04-03 lost 14 lbs in 11 days then nothing for 2 weeks.....14 WHOLE DAYS! Now the scale is moving again, not as quickly as I'd like ofcourse, but it is moving at my 1 month check I lost 19 lbs! I hear this is common though, so dont worry WE WILL LOSE!!!
   — Melissa S.

May 8, 2003
I've been reading this board for a year, and this question comes up regularly about every ten days or so (hey...the same length of time as your very unfunny plateau!). It happens all the time. Your body has been through a trauma with the surgery and you lost a LOT of weight right out of the gate. Currently, it's hanging on to every fluid you care to put into it, and it doesn't want to lose. It will. Give it time. Stay off the scale. Concentrate on taking care of you, and your pouch, and in moving forward to the various phases of your post-op diet as recommended by your doc, and on walking, carefully, for exercise (if you can). Welcome to the world of "I Hate The Scale," and recognize it doesn't always give us a smooth ride to the bottom, but it WILL get you there eventually.
   — Suzy C.

May 8, 2003
You're the one person for whom this surgery will not work. You're not going to lose anymore weight and should be happy with this 15 pounds. Ok...now that the ridiculous has been said, calm down. It'll come off (the weight). This is normal. Good luck and God bless!
   — Kimberly L.

May 8, 2003
I had my surgery 4/1/03 and went through te EXACT same thing. I had lost about 12-15# the 1st week and then sat at that same weiht for almost 2 weeks..then Bang, I started losing about a pound a day. Everyone is different. I was concerned to and calle my DR...this IS completely NORMAL. I know youwant it to fall off, but remember, this is just a tool...not a cure all. The weight will come off..believe me. I am now 38 days post op and am down 30#. Hang in there...this does WORK
   — mary ellen G.

May 8, 2003
Liz, my lap was 4/14/03. I immediately lost 18 lbs then haven't lost anything now for almost 2 weeks!! How hard it is NOT to get on the scale. Here, you have this drastic surgery, we want to see the lbs melt off--and they were for thefirst few weeks. I'm told everyone plateaus and this early too. Hang in there, I get freaked out about too--like that was it. But reading people's journaling helps me to see how quickly/slowly their weight came offtoo. Hang in there. Hope we pick up again soon!
   — CJ W.

May 8, 2003
Same type of thing happened to me. I had surgery 4/07/03 and lost about 20 lbs in the first two weeks. The third week I lost nothing! Then I started an excercise program and have lost another 9 lbs in the past 10 days. Yesterday was my one month anniversary and I am down 29 lbs. Barb 235/206/125
   — Barbara C.

May 9, 2003
Okay...so everyone has said the same thing...IT'S NORMAL. Does that make it any easier to deal with? It doesn't for me. At 23 days post, I'm down 25 lbs exactly. I think it should be much more, but then I realize that this is the time a lot of people say their body realizes what's really been done to it. I'm going to do what most people suggest...more water & protein. But how do you eat when you're not hungry? To me that sounds like reinforcing a bad behavior. Looks like we need to leave the scale alone. Isn't that a hard thing to do at this stage? Don't we all want it to just fall off? Yes, this is frustrating to say the least...but a peculiar sort of fun also. Sign me...crazy, not sadistic.
   — Diane S.

May 9, 2003
Hi Liz! Boy-oh-boy, can I relate! I had my Lap-RNY on 4/11. Starting weight was 295.5, and at 5 days post-op, I weighed in at 283. A week after that was 276. I managed to get down to 270 before the weight loss stopped COLD! Now, this isn't such a huge deal, except that the scale I have at home only goes UP to 270!!! It's a milestone that I've been trying to surpass, but nothing's moved since April 25th! AAARGH! But...this was also my first week back to work, and re-establishing my routines was a little challenging. I have recommitted to the gym, am PROMISING myself to get in all my proteins, and will check back with ya in a week with an update. Best of luck, and hang in there! We're gonna be STUNNING by Christmas!
   — momstah

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