CowgirlJane

Maintenance isn't always easy (I am over 3 years post sleeve) but THANK YOU sleeve for helping me not gain during a 2 week vacation with lots of overeating opportunities!

I had zero liposuction. I heard that is more painful than the rather extensive skin removal I had - is that true? I feel younger - but i could use some face injections to bolster up those hollowing eyes. Those photos were from last summer and i feel like i look older since then due to the bags under the eyes.

I lost about 160# post sleeve (more like 170-180 from lifetime high) so had skin! I had a lower body lift, arm lift, breast lift/small implants and a "small" thigh lift. My thighs would be alot better had i gone with the "long" thigh lift but it is wonderful not having the scars there. My lower body lift and arms frankly made the most difference but i love all my results! I was so scared of the scars on my arms, but that skin reduction changed my "whole look" and I proudly go sleeveless all the time. Love it

The sleeve doesnt' stop you from eating certain foods... it is designed to help you acheive "satiety" - ie no longer hunger - sooner. It takes about 6 weeks for the tummy nerves to heal so you may not be feeling everything yet. It is very important to follow your surgeon's instructions in these early weeks/months and eat by the measuring spoon/cup and the clock. It is later that you can "trust" your bodies signals.

I think you are right to be "concerned" I failed with the lapband before being sleeved and one of the issues of me not really understanding the full impact of the lifestyle change needed. I have been very successful with the sleeve and two reasons for that are I got excellent education and support AND I was so "over" food as anything more than food. food was for me like the bad boyfriend who had let me down just way too many times.... there is something about being in that "I am so over being obese and over eating" that gets you through rough times. flipside, your health is clearly an issue and losing weight will help. Remember, it is your body, your decision. Put on the brakes if you aren't ready - you get to decide IF and WHEN. I tossed and turned over this for over a year before deciding to remove the failed band and be sleeved. I was scared witless - but realized I was slowly dying and couldn't lose weight without it. I am so glad I did, but WLS is life changing and you need to really be aware and ready for the "long term"

I was sleeved Dec 2011; goal Feb 2013; plastics Oct 2013... so a much more mature sleeve by then. I really didn't need pain meds after I left the surgical clinic (they were in my IV). I advise taking it with a tiny bit of food or at least a thick Protein drink to protect your tummy. I was one of those who go the real "boost" in hunger during the healing phase. I didn't gain weight because I stayed with protein protein and veggies but i felt like i wanted to eat constantly. Others lose their appetitie and I think they need to work to eat because your body really needs nutrients to heal. Plastics are a big deal - I had NO complications but recovery was still a bear! Good luck!

No. For.me sleeve was what I always hoped the band would be but wasn't.

Pain wise...port area was worst due to band removal. Hardest thing with sleeve is getting enough Water the first month

@@KateP your post resonates with me very loudly! I had the lapband for 10 years and was an EPIC FAIL. I want to be completely honest - I contributed to that fail. Well, my lack of understanding of my disease process (obesity) combined with very limited support from my surgeon (told me I would just eat petite portions and be satisfied) was all part of me failing.one.more.time. I vomited alot. I was socially embarrassed by that more then I can describe. It was awful. My experience with the band was that I was constantly hungry and vomited at the least "transgression". Even after 10 years and a completely stretched pouch, a single bite of rice and I would vomit! You would think that at some point that would stop, but it didn't for me even as huge as I became. I am 5'5" female Band: Started at 272, got down to 204; regained to mid 300s....highest recorded was 332 post band Sleeve: Started at 308; got down to 140; regained to about mid 150s...and hanging out there. I think I am hawt At three years post revision to sleeve I have a "new" wisdom. They (WLS choices) are all hard. You need a huge education on how to behave differently. I personally think the band has way more day to day "difficulties" and I was much relieve to be rid of it. I say this because of the fills and that damn port. Hated it. Really, it ruined my life for awhile. I also see failed sleeve patients. I can never recommend the band, but I deeply respect the many success stories including @@Alex Brecher founder of this site. Whatever you decide - it take a pretty serious commitment to stay in the realm of normal. I am 3 years 4 months post sleeve and maintaining. I am positivily thrilled, but will never claim that the gastric sleeve is some kind of magical solution either! I was never transformed by the lapband, but, post sleeve - I live a whole different life. Sleeve has issues too, but I thank God, my lucky stars and whoeve else is listening, every single day... to just be normal.

And all the rest of us can say is... too bad you are all the way across the country.

I swear I typed Eyeore! @@Packerfan61964 - great post!

I have had excellent bloodwork including a very detailed analysis I had last year. I continue to monitor though....3 years 4 months post sleeve.

There is no need to do the pouch test if things are going well. Google it for details but it isn't necessary.

I had lots done at once. I went to Dr Sauceda in mexico. They use a different sedation protocol to make the 9 hour surgery time acceptable. I love my results.

My belly button has a scar but it is white and faded. All my scars look pretty good. The breasts are the only invisible ones..I had the lollipop incision and they cannot be seen.

I am currently on vacation in the tropics...a small group tour. Sunday I woke up with a broken blood vessel in my eye for no apparent reason. We were traveling to a very remote destination that day and since I had been feeling a bit dizzy and other minor "not well" symptoms I decided to be seen at urgent care before heading to this remote ranch resort. Holy smokes..my blood pressure was 171 over 103! My normal is 120 over about 70!!! Doc said the symptoms were a result of very high blood pressure probably caused by heat, but who knows. When i was obese I had high blood pressure and took meds but nothing like that! Anyway I am on temporary meds and hotel medic reports me 100 percent normal now but I am to be monitored. .especially to have it checked before the long flight home. I find it odd that as one of the fittest of our little group that I should have this happen. Makes me wonder if my obesity history makes me prone?

For many years I was a low carbohydrate denier...Haha...thought it was a gimmick. My experience post sleeve has changed my mind. I DID eat way too much presleeve so calories WERE definitely a factor but I have learned a few weird things. I lost 100 percent of my excess weight something my surgeon claims few do given my profile. BMI over 50, lifetime of obesity, post menopausal woman etc. I believe it was because I was a low carb hardass during about the last 60# of my weightless. I am no longer strict but I am still much lower carb than most. I know this isn't for everyone but dammit I wanted a chance to sample life as a normal size woman. We went ziplining and I didn't have to wear the fat person's extra harness piece. It was a small thing but I just love being a woman sizedhuman not a big person....I deserve at least a little time with that! Now that I am normal weight I have to work to maintain but I eat pretty similar to my skinny minnie gfriend. I have a solid 30# on her (she is actually underweight and bony by her own admission but also small framed whereas I am of a robust build). We are on a trip together so I know how our eating compares. I am more physically active too. However I am still more prone to stress eatin. The day I had the medical thing going on, I had a snack when neither of us normally would. I bet I do that unconsciously at to.we. she stops eating when stressed. My point, I admit to remaining dillusional at times about my real food consumption. It is easy for me to hide my bariatric history since truth of the matter is that thinmiddle aged women eat this way! (I am talking about three years post op food consumption)

I heard it over and over...my bmi still in the overweight range and people freaked about it. Now that I have been at a normal BMI over 2 years people think i look fine.

As you have said only you can change this. I remember a point in my life when I fantasized about driving my car off the road into a deep ditch. Every day on my way to work I had this fantasy...not that I wanted to die but I dreamed of resting, being cared for and attended to and spending a few weeks or.months in a hospital bed seemed like the only way to get that. I shocked myself with that realization and knew I had to make some major life changes. That was a long time ago and since then I have come to realize that when I abuse myself either with food or destructive thoughts it is a sign that SOMETHING has to change. Oh I fixed my career and divorced my ex husband instead of running my car into a ditch.

So sorry this is still going on. I can't even imagine. I guess I didn't realize how good I had it - it was alot to recover from with no complications. It has been 18 months since my plastics and the lower belly is still a bit numb.. I am thinking it is permanent. It is the area between the belly button and incision about the size of palm of my hand. I mostly don't notice it and it doesn't cause any problems. . One of the risks of plastics. @ Oregondaisy has reported fabulous results from her facelift but has permanent numbness too. It is one of many reasons to take plastics seriously...

I am 3 yeArs out too. I started at 308 and have been maintaining in the upper 150s. I was pretty strict to get to goal in 14 months because I was told it gets way harderr later. I get hungry too...the hunger reduction for most of us was more during the first year. Currently I find that the way I eat impacts my hunger. So if I habitually eat small portions eating dense Proteins first, I stay satiated longer. As soon as I start eating snacky food, my hung e r is really ttriggered again. I think others have given you good advice,but I have a "larger" sleeve and I can eat bjgger portions these days too, I think that is somewhat typical whien you are a few years out. A bariatric center of excellence is a great place to start. I picked one with long aftercare program because I had not done well with lapband and one reason was I needed the follow up.

I know how you feel. However the best favor you can do for yourself is to learn some self acceptance and love regardless of size. Many years a beautiful young woman...truly a "10" who loathed herself taught me that lesson. If you don't change the inner dialog you will never find that happiness with your appearance regardless of size, age, skin etc.

Sorry...posted too soon... I heard a study once about "willpower" and weight management. Thin people don't have more willpower they just habitually don't set themselves up for failure. Example...resist once (at the grocery store ) rather than finding the willpower to resist a million times a day once the junky food is right there in front of you. When you know a relationship is "toxic " for you it's better to change it or end it. You have often lamented in the past that all socializing is around food. That would torture me and I spend more time with people who are active and away from food now to help me. It's still hard because others seem to be able to stay slim on alot of food...but such is my fate.

@ Oregondaisy have you considered changing your relationship with your friend? Example, have her come to your house or meet somewhere food neutral? I know you are still recovering from surgery so are limited what you can do so my suggestions are just brainstorming ideas . Meet for a short walk, or an activity lile bunco or cards or craft hobbied - something keeps hands busy that you aren't tempted. Changing lifestyle and relationship with food also means changing things with some people.

Dude #3 should be ditched immediately. I wasted 3 months dating a guy who was negative about a couple of things from the get go and I ignored it. Turned out I was dating eyesore. ..haha...it got much much worse. He was ok with my weight loss and plastics, it was other topics of negativity. Over time it became oppressive.