CowgirlJane

I feel true, physical hunger from my stomach. I think this is the normal progression of things, I really do, it is just that it was so nice to not really feel much hunger (as long as I stayed low carb). I do think that I have been allowing myself more carbs as part of maintainance so that is probably contributing to it. I am gearing up for a surgery in a month and they are pushing "eating enough" and building up. My weight maintenance is spot on, so far so good... but... i wish i wasn't hungry.

Dang it - the last week or two I have been HUNGRY. I am really working on accepting it and not overeating... but DANG. I do like that I enjoy food again. Long gone are the days of just forgetting to eat or feeling like it is a chore. I can eat at restaurants etc, fairly petite portions but more like a chick that is watching her weight then a post WLS patient. i am careful, I don't eat junky fast food and I treat myself to food that is both yummy and healthy and high Protein... but... it is getting harder.

What a quandry. I fear you might get too thin if you go to the sleeve, but I would also fear regain if the band is removed with nothing done. I am curious if there are any others with this experience. I lost 150# after my revision and in the early months you can almost not help but lose weight... so i cold really see you getting too thin...

Read through this forum and there are literally hundreds of posts on this topic. I had the band 10 years but the sleeve just 15 months. My hunger is definately returning now, but I have obvioiusly been very successful with the sleeve and I never got under 200# with the band plus immediately had issues whenever I was filled - constant reflux etc. I had to have all the Fluid removed about 2-3 years after band implant and so regained what little I lost and then some.

I would be totally game for a little get together of the Seattle area sleevers. We are all at different stages so i am not really sure what to suggest - but my favorite thing to do as far as "meals" is a place with good appetizers or salads. For preops (liver shrinking diet) or people newly out from surgery, a restaurant is probably an insensitive suggestion so I am completely open to other ideas. It just needs to be warm (ie, if i am outdoors, I need to be moving). as I don't have the layer of fat keeping me warm anymore. Anybody interested in a walk along the Samamish trail near Woodinville, or Redmond? Centennial trail near Snohomish? They are both flat easy walks. I would also be game for a more serious hike, but again, want to do something that is as inclusive as possible. I don't care what you weigh or what stage you are at - we were all "there" and one point and I am guessing I was heavier then most of you ever were... so never feel self conscious about that!!! I would very much enjoy meeting some of my fellow sleevers - so toss out some suggestions people!

I think most of us can relate to the sheer terror of anticipating this surgery. I was afraid of the procedure itselt, but mostly, I was afraid of failing... again. You are in good hands with Dr Landerholm and I believe if you really take their advice, follow the NUT unstructions (keep portions small - really, that is key!!!) you too can have great success. I lam forever greatful to the good people at PSSC. They helped me find my new and much happier life - half my former size!

Be careful in researching...people tend to sell their own surgeon pretty hard. Naysayers are dismissed etc. that doesn't mean i think Dr S is bad...just realize how biased internet reviews are.

I too have been checking out the much loved Dr S. I have talked on the phone to his patients and I think I have a good picture of that situation. Great prices and I think good value. All in all, he does great work. I have also discussed the out of country option with local surgeons, both during plastics consults and with other surgeons who have no financial interest. I think I have a fair assessment of the increased risks too. Bottom line, the out of country surgeons do jumbo procedures - a whole bunch at once that USA surgeons will not even consider doing. Each of us has to decide our risk tolerance because for most people that will be just fine... but when it is not, it isn't. Anyway, it is tough because the local surgeon option is so incredibly costly - figure 2-3X as much as a doc like Dr S.

My biggest scar is where the lapband port was inserted and removed (used same scar line). It is faded quite white and barely noticable, especially compared to the stretch marks from childbirth and a liftetime of weight gain and loss and regain even more.... Scars from lap surgery are NOTHING compared to the stretch marks and wrinkly skin. One of these days I will have to post a photo of that hot mess...LOL

I have answer for you because I went to a gyn. Back when I was obese, even post menopause I had lots of moisture down there. That is because all that fat generates estrogen - which is probably why obese women have higher breast cancer rates. Once I got close to my goal weight, it became dry and no amount of drinking Water helped.... The only solution is to use lubricant, or to root cause fix it is to take hormone suppositories. My problem became bad enough i noticed it when riding bike, horseback riding etc... just more delicate when it gets dried out. If you are having this problem and are not menopausal, I wonder if you are moving toward perimenoupausal (ie pre menopause). If that isn't the case, well, then I don't know the answer, but bottom line is... fat girls make more wet then skinny girls.

First doc I saw poo-poo'd the sleeve and I was headed down the RNY path. His reason was that I had already failed at a "restriction" procedure. I was an emotional wreck over it and just couldn't do the gastric bypass. I decided to try nonsurgical program and the program director told me that I wasn't likely to be successful at that either, given my long sordid history of failed diets... and she directed me to a different surgeon. The good docs at Puget Sound surgical removed my band and sleeved me - I chose in separate surgeries. And the rest is history... I think that if 3 surgeons told me i wasn't a good candidate for the sleeve, I might start taking that input seriously though...

My advice is to avoid alcohol 100% for at least the first 6 months and frankly until you get to goal. After that, proceed with caution. Addiction transference is the real deal. You are all saying "that couldn't happen to me" - well - I know someone that basically DIED 4 years after her gastric bypass as a result of becoming an alcoholic. Something changes ... alcohol CAN be different post sleeve. I do socially drink but notice that i like booze more then I used to. I hardly used to have a sip of alcohol at all, like maybe a few times a year, but on a recent business trip, i shared in the bottle of wine at the dinner table every single night - sure just one glass of red but I wouldn't have done that before - and I can't explain why it is now more appealing to me. So, I still allow myself to drink socially as long as is after food, but i am quite diligent. I had an experience that shocked the crap out of me. I poured myself a drink on a "friday" about 730 or so something I never would have done before. My hubs came home at 9 and said I was sound asleep (and i am normally a light sleeper). I had forgotten to eat so consumed that drink after having gone without food for 6-7 hours and I theorize I basically crawled into bed and passed out. So there you go, that is how people start substituting alcohol for food. I will NEVER do that again, and I am sharing my story as a word of caution - there is something different about alcohol post WLS Oh, and now I am a month from plastic surgery and so am drinking zero alcohol just to be safe. I am going to be ramping down my main addiction - coffee - just like I did before the sleeve. I am really dreading giving up my beloved caffiene.

Well, this is basically like all the other forums, very loosely moderated and I don't expect that it will change. That is how it is. feedyoureye - I think your post was wonderful. I am not sure that people really get it sometimes... this isn't a fairy tale where you hit a magical number on a scale and ride off into the sunset in the arms of prince charming or something...lol. LOTS of morbidly obese people never get to a "goal" set by their surgeon (mine refused to set one for that reason) or based on a BMI chart or whatever. Hopefully, we recognize how much freaking better off we are though having lost XXX amount of weight! That is what my surgeon told me - he said he never wanted me to feel disappointed if I only lost say....100 pounds. Can you imagine the insanity of feeling like a failure for "only losing 100 pounds"!?! I just noticed your surgery was done by Mohammed Ali - I love it. I wish I had a celeb doc. So, another thought is I like to use the "who looks at me" meter. I got more appreciating looks when I was 10-15# heavier then i am now. My theory is two fold 1. I was radiating excitement at being so trim and 2. I still had boobs and a butt...lol Both of those reasons have faded away - and I am hardly stick thin...lol Anyway, so glad to see you here; great to have your insights and experiences!

I chose to have the empty band removed in a separate surgery... sleeve was 10 weeks later. the best thing about my decision was that I was unbelievably hungry starting a few days after my band was removed. Any illusion I had that i didn't need the sleeve was cured. All doubts obliterated. It put me in the right frame of mind...that dang extra hungry tummy needed to be cut down to size..lol

your screen name says it all I don't know your overall situation, but i have written my story out about a hundred times. Failing at that damn lapband was devastating. I never really believed the sleeve would work, but i had to try.. i couldn't give up. I was banded at 272 in 2001, never got below 200. I started having problems within the first year, had to have Fluid removed and of course regained. My highest weight was 332 back in 2005. I was 308 when I started my sleeve journey in Dec 2011. I had that worthless band for 10 years - the vomiting, the pain from eating dense Proteins, the shame - all that. No wonder I was so discouraged and scared. No wonder you are too. Click on my nam e to see my profile. Look at my before and after photos. Look at my face, how sad, how guarded I was before. Others see the enormous body changes, but when I look at those photos I remember how much I hurt - physically, emotionally. I am so happy now - life isn't perfect, but damn, it is oh so much better. The sleeve doesn't do all the work for you, but it gives you the tool, the ability - to save yourself. It took me 14 months to lose 150#. I could have lost it faster, but i had a little ... well.. I needed a break after I lost about 110-120 before being ready for the final push to get to goal. I have been successful beyond my wildest dreams. My family, work colleagues and friends - are all still in shock and share in my joy. New friends cannot even believe I was ever obese. I am physically a different woman now. That physical change has led to other changes - for the better - too. Hang in there, you can do this. Keep your eye on the prize.

Hmm... i had the normal lap surgery and incision pain was not a problem. My ab muscles were a bit tender.

Lol.. ok I have never heard of this trunk corset deal and I am quite immersed in the plastics world right now.

Giving up bars was one of the keys to losing the last 25 to goal for me. I loved the darn things and ate too many....

This isn't easy to answer but you might spend time reading old threads, go to in person support groups, meet other revionistas. Take your time to think this thru. I was banded for 10 years... Every bandster I knew was still fat. It was an eye opener to meet sleeve people and wonder....were they ever obese? Look at my profile...my before photo was with band....

What id your fitness level? I do Julian ripped in 30....wow...it works but is hard!

I don't trust the HRM on those machines. in spinning classes we go by perceived exertion and I sure feel exerted. . Those cycling people are a little nuts but they definitely drive us to higher heartrate. Of course everyone is fairly fit in that class. Don't overdo it early on....build up carefully to avoid injury. This whole fitness thing is more of a marathon then a sprint.

The thing about the people at overlake is that you could call ahead to check, but my gut feeling is they would be welcoming. If they didn't want you there, they would handle it discretely - they are pros. It was a big group, but very well run, very supportive. I felt very welcome - but didn't wind up having my surgery there because the surgeon at the time wanted me to do the RNY so i found someone who believed in me and the sleeve!

It takes time for things to get on track. Early weeks you feel all sorts of weird sensations - acid can feel like hunger, your stomach muscles aren't totally healed yet, their may be some nerve damage that is still healying and your body is still full of that hunger hormone. You can ACCIDENTLY overeat in those early weeks, my NUT had me eating by the scale, measuring cup and clock probably the first 8 weeks. It wasn't until I was fully recovered and on solid foods that the sleeve fully did it's job. Just follow a sensible plan and give it time - i promise it does get better.

Oh, and more then a year out I do enjoy the occasional cocktail -especially "skinny" ones. I don't drink beer because it is heavy and carby and carbonated, but i am guessing that every once in awhile it will be just fine. IT would be better if you all waited till you get to goal though because those kind of "treats" add empty calories. Do watch alcohol in the early months though. I had a few sips of wine about 4 months out at a big celebration and that sucker burned. I can have a little red now with no problem... but it was not pleasant early on and i don't recommend it. The big risk with alcohol, even once you are at maintenance is that your body handles it differently. Be very very careful with it. I made a mistake of having a drink on an empty stomach (big mistake - I hadn't eaten in like 7 hours). I had to go to bed and sleep it off - luckily i was home - and i learned my lesson. I was shocked - I have never had that kind of thing happen to me before.

I am saying this because I care... we are all in charge of our own "journey". The patient has a huge amount of influence in how this works out. Wildly successful, so-so, or whatever. This is a good place to "vent" and I recognize much of this is just venting but i worry about nervous pre-ops getting the wrong idea - it is hard to let go of old ways. I was very ready to let go and yet i do recall those early months... feeling a little like the world wasn't as brightly colored. Feeling a little... I won't say blue... but certainly not technicolor bright like it is now! I accepted responsibility for making the choice to have the surgery AND because I listened to people who came before me, i knew it was temporary. The surgery did EXACTLY what was promised. I can eat less, and I am no longer hungry 24/7. Absolutely everything else - following guidelines, working out, working on my emotional challenges - that was all me. Here is the newsflash - really really soon after you heal from the surgery, you are pretty much on your own sisters and brothers. The surgeon has done his/her job, you better have a plan for the rest. Doesn't mean you need to write the plan, it means you need to find the resources, support, education etc. If you seriously can't afford chicken, cottage cheese and greek yogurt and veggies to eat - i can't fathom why you are getting this surgery. So, here I am in maintenance living a life I could only dream about before. I do sometimes struggle, but crap, that is real life - isn't it? I mean, I don't know ANYBODY - fat or thin who doesn't have some rough days. Get over it. I am not as mean as I sound... I am just suggesting to anyone that wants to learn from this conversation thread that sleeve life is still life with all it's struggles. You still drive the bus - where are you heading?