CowgirlJane

Here is what i observed from LBL - it took me awhile to get used to the numbness near the incision line. I had some swelling post op and it often felt way huger then it really was. It felt that way I think because of the numbness. I have no idea about the low back pain - that seems unrelated to the LBL to me. If it doesn't go away soon, you might want to check into it with your surgeon or doctor.

@@tamirn are you in maintenance? Your questions are good ones, but don't have short answers. The hunger hormones are tremendously impacted/reduced by the sleeve procedure. I went from 24/7 drive to eat/constant hunger to a more appropriate appetite. However, if you dont change habits, you will still feel hunger/desire to eat once you exit the honeymoon phase. You have to follow the rules pretty closely to get best results. I don't think size of sleeve has anything to do with hunger. People obsess about sleeve size and I think it is the wrong question...

Oh, fluid intake is rough for every one at first. I used a shotglass with a goal to down that much water every 15 minutes and it was a chore those early days...that will get better once swelling goes down.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I had sleeve and hernia repair and did not experience this. I suggest two things....call your surgon pronto...and try to restrict intake close to bedtime. I don't know if this is in the range of normal but it doesn't sound right to me.

My advice...give it one last try to lose and maintain. You will either be wildly successful and not need WLS, or your doubts will disappear. I firmly believe that one of my success factors was knowing that I had tried everything and I damn well was gonna make this sleeve thing work!

That is NOT dumping. Call your surgeon.

Day 2 of demolition is complete. I was much calmer today, had a productive workday in between the minor mishaps (demolition guys are not the A Team - I was concerned the second time they managed to shock themselves..haha). I feel like I need to be here to monitor them when the boss isn't around. I used to have a big house with big cathedral ceilings and huge windows and skylights so it has been weird to live in this darker, older style, rather cavelike dwelling. Well, it will still have short ceilings but it is already brighter with the light blocking useless wall removed - can't wait till all the recessed lights are installed - will be awesome! I am already inspired to have a post remodel party to share my newly opened floor plan and (will be soon) well lit home

I used to read all the ingredients etc but in my old age I figured something out that applies to MOST products. If it has alot of carbs it has alot of fillers (I am not applying this to obvious carb sources like bread and Pasta, I am talking about prepared food). So, if I am seeking something as my "protein" in a meal i look at having AT LEAST 10g of Protein per 100 calories and it should have very few carbs. So, costco has some high quality turkey and chicken based sausages that have minimal crappy filler and are moderate calorie, high protein, low carb. That was alot easier then trying to "decode" the ingredient list.

@@Carole61 if you are low BMI, your losses are right on track. Don't compare yourself to high BMI people, or to men as circumstances lead to different results.

Eat small.. meaning don't stuff yourself. Get in the habit of stopping eating when no longer hungry rather than seeking "full" and you won't stretch your sleeve. I am not really sure if sleeves stretch - I am nearly 4 years out and I sometimes can eat more than other times. I find that when I "follow the rules" and eat Protein first etc etc etc I magically have great restriction.

I have an "athletic" build which means skinny butt and legs but fairly broad shoulders, wide rib cage. When i was 140, i was wearing size 2 pants, but mostly med tops (some smalls). I outweigh a friend of mine - she is taller than me but i wear smaller clothes, especially pants, by ALOT. We are all shaped differently and i just wouldn't worry about it.

Neither you of you shared enough info for me to give you targeted advice/feedback. The obvious is are you logging/tracking, following your program, are you active/exercising, getting plenty of Water etc etc etc. Example, if you started low BMI, you won't lose as many pounds as someone who started very high BMI so it helps to know a bit more and you might get some tips that will help you.

@@Whitney1968 I think most of us found those early weeks somewhat hellish. I have said many times, it took nearly 12 weeks before I felt completely human again. It does get better and I have no regrets! Saved my life! Hang in there.

Nope - I picked a surgeon/surgical practice with great results and trusted his judgment. They try to do what the actual research supports and in 2011 there was not a clear benefit to a "smaller" sleeve and there were indications of higher risks. I was a band to sleeve revision which is already higher risk so it made sense to me. If you take a look at the info on "bougie" - search this site and google it - you will see there isn't that much difference in end stomach size. Thank you ellie, it has recently occured to me that alot of my info is quite dated as i am no longer researching. As new studies come out, even my practice changes recommendations. For example, in 2011 they said to get 60g of Protein, at my last check up they said minimum of 80g. They base it on research that shows people are more successful at that higher level. My disclaimer is that i am only an expert on myself and my experiences.

It is called "bougie" and it is a topic of much discussion on these forums. Do a search and you will find at least 100 threads on it. I am unconvinced of how relevant it is though - I had one of the "larger" ones at a 38 and I have been maintaining a 150# weight loss for a few years. what does appear to be a factor (although you should check with current research) that really tight/small sleeves are more prone to chronic reflux. I don't actually know if this is true - but that was what I was told in 2011.

The way I read it, the OP did not do the 5 day pouch test, but rather went back to basics. I personally can't hack doing the 5 day pouch test, but i can validate that going back to basics... really making sure you get enough Fluid, don't graze/snack, watch portions, eat Protein first, veggies second, avoid junky carby food - REALLY WORKS. I also think the 5 day pouch test can really help people get "reset" - I just can't handle it is all. Hunger hormones are permanently reduced (I believe) but be sure that after the honeymoon period, many of us get some hunger back. I am almost 4 years out and what I would say is my hunger is more like what normal people have. I get hungry when it is time to eat but i am no longer starving 24/7 with that high drive to eat. I find that avoiding those junky carbs are KEY to manage hunger - sweets and chips increase my appetite for example.

I think the question has been answered.... but here is some of my experience. I lost and maintained (for several years) an 85# weight loss via Weight Watchers. I never got to a normal or even "overweight" status. I could not get below 240, but 240 was way better than 332! Over the years... weight started coming back on. As I got older, even commercial programs like nutrisystems etc didn't really work anymore. I even did that horrible hormone drops combined with a starvation diet of 500 calories for a month. I lost some weight... but it came back on faster than I lost it! Obesity is a disease state, and it depends on how advanced your condition is but in my case - I simply lost the ability to even lose weight, much less get to "normal" and maintain it. So far, I have been able to do that with the sleeve. I don't really care if others think I should have done it another way -- I know I tried just about EVERYTHING (including lapband) and it wasn't until I was sleeved and experienced some of the metabolic and hunger hormone benefits that I found significant success.

I don't know why there is so much variation in pain. I had ALOT of plastics lower body lift, including muscle repair, arm lift, breast lift/implant. First 3 days in the clinic I was heavily medicated, after that I really didn't need anything stronger than tylonol. I hear some people talk about horrible pain, but many mirror my experience - pain wasn't the main issue. For me it was tiredness and length of time of low activity required for recovery from my very extensive surgery. I know it is easy to focus on the fear, but if you focus on the benefits, maybe it makes it easier. Pretty soon it will be a distant memory. Hang in there!

So, I have shared pretty openly on this site for years. I have done it because it helps me (accountability) but also because others before me did it and helped me alot too. It helped me believe that success was possible during a time when I really didn't have that belief inside...and i want to pay it forward. Even before the recent flurry of people deleting accounts and stuff over this I have been thinking about it. I know a number of you don't share pix and details for privacy reasons, but I have such mixed feelings about it. It is like, if we can't show what success looks like, how will that impact the people just starting out? Flip side, it could all be used against me somehow, right? I think about when i decided to get plastics, i must have looked at 1,000 photos on real self, on Dr Sauceda's patients private forum on OH, his Facebook group etc. Anyway, there is no real answer to this - I just think it is too dang bad.

I love seafood like shrimp, mild fish like tilapia. You can buy both frozen and really easy to prepare (I also love salmon etc) I eat alot of turkey, chicken and beef... less pork, but some. I even use high quality sandwich meats, rolled up with a bit of cheese and some lettuce and pickle.... little baby breadless sandwiches. I don't eat alot of nuts as it is easy for me to overeat on them (I am almost 4 years post sleeve so a mature post op stomach). My basic meals are Protein and veggies with other stuff thrown in as 3rd priority. I also have one Premier Protein daily as I have a hard time hitting 80g without it. I went for quite awhile thinking I was hitting 80g (in maintenance for a few years now) until I started tracking it...ooops.... back to the daily Protein Drink. I use it in my coffee etc.

While losing, I weighed daily but monday morning was my official weigh in day and the weight I recorded. I probably weigh 3-4 times a week now, but use same rule that it is first thing in morning, with just a nighty or no clothes. The key is to not be driven crazy by small blips up and down - that is normal and it is Water weight. Flip side, one of my "old habits" was to simply ignore my weight, never weigh and the pounds start back on. I find it very important for self accountability now that i am in maintenance.

I have gone target shooting just 3 times in my whole life. First time was a gun safety class, second time was with a "friend" and it wasnt very fun about a year ago. I went just recently and had a good time and was not a bad shot. We were at a quarry and bought cheap soda by the can. It was fun to see them explode - was shooting a revolver that had 38s and a couple of 357 bullets - happened to hit the root beer with the big bullet and it was quite spectacular. It was fun, and the people there cheered me on since i was a beginner but doing pretty well. I might want to explore that more as a hobby - it is nice to have a good variety of things to do...

I still have one premier Protein shake a day - I don't hit my protein target of 80+ without it. When a person is struggling with alot of hunger, they should look at the "makeup" of the diet but I don't agree that it is universal to ban Protein drinks once you are on solid foods, different surgeons have different recommendations. What I think is very detrimental (for me anyway) are the Protein Bars. They tend to be pretty high carb and calorie for the amount of protein and frankly are alot like candy...so they can trigger that snacky carby craving feeling in me. Anyway, hope you are able to get to the bottom of this!

Ok...demolition day #2 begins shortly. I am feeling good, talking to friends etc helped. I hardly ate yesterday and the scale showed a bounce up. Interesting isnt it.

I am almost 4 years out and don't experience this. I sound like a broken record, but have you tried proselec or other good ppi? Acidy tummy can feel like a weird hunger type sensation. Other than that, do you follow the rules of dense Protein first each meal? The dense protein buts pressure on receptors located at "bottom" of stomach that give that feeling of"satiated". If you don't discover the reason(ie behavior) I think you should discuss with surgeon and/or nutritionist because I don't think this is typical.