MustangAli

All you really can do is wait it out. My head hunger and craving were killing me in the begining. I told my Family to go on like normal, and trust me, smelling bacon cooking in the morning was almost as painful to me as being punched in the face. Smelling my Mom's dinner made me wish I could have just one bite. I wanted meat SO bad. I think I was 4 weeks out or so and I couldnt take it anymore. I took a piece of steak, chewed it up, enjoye all the flavor, and spit it out. It helped. I was able to last if I allowed myself a "taste" here and there. It gets easier, it gets better. I promise. Hang in there <3

I was told no soda, but I tried it anyway. I have no issues with it as far as pain, unless I chug it. But...I am now trying to give it up again. It's added calories, and it did stretch my tummy. Of course, not by much - I still cant eat the way I did Pre-Op, but I know the carbonation doesnt help. So...my answer : Yes, you will be able to have soda again, as long as you can really limit yourself and not let it get the best of you!

Im a year and a half out. At first, the only way I knew I was full, was hiccups. Now, I still get the hicups, but I also have pain when I over-over eat. I say it will go away - for the most part. It may come and go from time time you may still feel it, but I think you'll be good once your body adjusts to the new tumtum and the way it triggers that "full" feeling. Good luck =)

I was sleeved 2/22/11, got into a serious relationship 2/7/2012, and barely told him last month the truth about my extreme weight loss. We have been friends forever so he knew I lost fast but didnt know how. I didnt want to tell him, but I did, and Im glad. I no longer have to make up excuses why I cant finish a plate of food. He understands and supports me. If you are serious with someone, and evern better IF THEY LOVE YOU, it will all be ok. Promise =)

I hated wine UNTIL I had surgery. I love red wine and sangria now. My first drink was a vodka infused stawberry lemonade. Pretty sure it was all sugar. Then I did vodka-cran for the rest of the night. I drank beer at about 5 months out. No huge issues. If I chug, sometimes I'll feel a slight tightness but nothing too too bad. and sometimes just to avoid it, I pour my beer into a glasss before I drink it so that it flatens out a little. Now, here's the fun part; Get drunk WAAAYYY faster. No hangovers, Im assuming cause it filters through so fast? the down side to that is, I only stay buzzed for a little while. Example - 3 beers will get me buzzed, but if stop, in 30 mins Im sober. Have fun, be careful, and just play around a lil until you find what works for you.

Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure when standing up), for sure. Just try to take it slow. Stand up, take your time, deep breaths, it'll get better, promise!

I had surgery on 2/22/10. I lost 60lbs. 40lbs before hand so a total of 100. But, I started slipping up, and drinking and eating anything I want. I am now passed the 18 month window of losing the most weight. I am trying all these crash diets hoping to get back on track. Nothing seems to work. I am on day 3 now of no drinking. Trying to vut out carbs again. Feeling sad mostly cause I feel little restriction. I know I have stretched my sleeve. I still cant eat like I could Pre-op, but I definitely do not eat like someone who has had 80% of her stomach removed. I feel I am going into these diets a huge failure. I had surgery just to still have the same issues I did before? I try to look on the bright side...little regain...I am 100lbs lighter...with the love of my life...did some great things that I would have never done at 300 lbs (becoming an EMT, Cutting my hair, going after the man I wanted) but still....have I failed? I just need some words of encouragement for those who have time. Not looking for sympathy cause I know whose fault it is that I am here, and she doesnt deserve sympathy. Anyone in my boat? If not - STAY AWAY FROM THIS BOAT. IT F**KING SUCKS.

Sorry I am being so negative, I am usually not like this. But, that number on the scale this morning blew me away. I feel lost and desperate

Pookeyism, I am sure you're right. And there is no doubt in my mind that it may actually be a problem. Before surgery I was addicted to food, and alcohol. After the surgery when I physically couldnt eat as much as I wanted to, I replaced that addiction with something I could control, which was sex. And now, its back to food and alcohol. My BF doesnt even know that I had this surgery, and Im too ashamed to tell him that I have failed miserably. I used to drink for special occasions, now I drink just cause I want to. It's horrible, I know, but I am too ashamed to "get help".

Thank you for having faith in me, I think if I had some, I would be better off. Right now, I really have no way to talk to anyone, I just cant afford it. I'm going to check out that YouTube page though and see if I can be inspired. Sometimes, I dont feel the restriction of my sleeve at all anymore. And other times, I take 3 bites of food and am so full that I can't move. Im sure its mostly in my head.

Less than a year ago, my Sister threw me a "Fruit and Veggie Platter Party" to Celebrate me getting under 200 pounds. I got down to about 184? Today...I went over 200 again. I have no one to blame but myself. I am between jobs, I am in love, we eat out a lot together, I HAAAAAAATE working out, I drink alcohol as often as I possibly can, and I eat carbs all day, Not sure why I am doing this to myself, but I dont know how to stop. Usually I just go back to the way I felt when I was first sleeved, how I was so busy and never hungry that sometimes 2 or more days would pass before I realized that I hadnt eaten. I usually lose at least 6 pounds by not eating at all for a day or 2. But I dont want to do that. I am actually HUNGRY all the time. My stomach growls. I feel weak and tired. Has anyone here gained weight, got your Sh*t together and been able to lose again? Or am I screwed? I wasted my chance.

I just cant seem to fight my addiction to food. I eat CONSTANTLY. Sure, I cant eat very much at one time, but as soon as I have some breathing room, I go at it again. It's ridiculous. I knew this would be a problem, but I thought I would be able to over-come it. So far....thats not the case. I get so down and depressed and full of self hate for putting myself through so much to only EFFF it up by eating like a cow again. I still have 40lbs to lose, and I am just over 1 year out, I dont see this happening for me anytime soon if at all. I dont know what to do except vent on here.

Again, thank you all so much. its nice to hear such great things. and i know you're all right. i can do this. i need to break the cycle.

Thank you all so much. Your responses made me laugh, made me cry, and made me feel good inside to know that I am not alone. I have been sitting here evaluating myself. My life. My goals, dreams, hopes...I have so many. I have always tried to rush things in my life. I rush. Thats me. Right now Im about to take a huge leap into paramedic school without having real experience as an EMT. I have realized that I live my life mostly for others. I want so badly for my Parents to be proud of me. I want my Brother and my Sister's to be proud to have me as their Sister. I thought this going into surgery too. I wanted my parents to be proud to introduce me to people...I wanted to be pretty. My Parents called me beautiful every single day of my life. They still do. My Dad introduced me to his friends and after the hand shake he put his arm around me and said "Isnt she beautiful?" His friends agreed but I was like...yeah, right. I'm 300 pounds of shame and hideousness! Now, it's nothing different. I want to succeed. I want them to all be amazed at my change... The person I can never please though...is ME. I'll never be proud of me at this rate. I am seriously looking into therapy. I have no insurance anymore so I'm looking into low cost centers that have students looking to get experience. I did this before when my one and only relationship ended and honestly I loved the therapist I saw. She was amazing. Sorry for another rant but I think Im slowly starting to see that IIIII am by biggest obsticle. I am my biggest critic. If I continue to hate myself - I'll continue to sabotage myself. God help me

Thank you all so much for the replies. Danielle, you have the right attitude and Im sure you'll do fine! Go get em! SK, I sent you a PM kind of venting some more. Shae....WOW Can you come live in my back pocket and talk to me everyday?? Thank you so much.