Krista2653

I’m converting from VSG to DS on 7/18!!

I am going back to Mexicali Bariatric. Dr. Aceves did my sleeve and I wish he were around to do my conversion, but Dr. Ungston will be my surgeon. And yes...the no calorie counting thing is a huge bonus for me. I know that I still need to “count” protein but not having to focus on the balancing act of protein within no certain caloric goal will be nice....no more balancing act! Yay!

I actually have pretty good restriction with my sleeve for dense foods....my vice is popcorn and that, I can eat a lot more of. I am definitely not disciplined enough for the sleeve alone. I just want to LIVE and not have to worry (within reason, of course) about counting every single calorie and every single carb. I really think that going all that time of not being able to eat but about 6-800 calories with the sleeve kinda “messed up” my system because now, if I want to lose, I have to stay way lower than “normal folks”, like between 800-1000. The DS is my last resort. I’m more mentally prepared now for the vitamins and the stomach/poop issues. Nine years ago, I wasn’t ready and chose the sleeve. Of course I’m nervous about the stomach issues, but luckily, I work from home 3-4 days a week and I have a husband that won’t be going anywhere and deserves the “payback” after 18 years of putting up with his poop/gas....so I’m at a point in my life where I am definitely ready and now 7/18 just cannot come fast enough!

Awesome! I had similar results (VSG 8/2010)....started at 325 and was down 125lbs 7 months later and then got pregnant so I had to adjust some but evidently I was still loosing because I weighed in at my lowest 1 week after giving birth at 180 and wanted to go further but being a new mom put the focus elsewhere or else I likely would have made it to my dream goal of 160.

I know it has been a while since this thread was updated, but I have been looking for revision posts and just have to say I appreciate this thread! I had the sleeve in 2010, lost 145lbs and after 2 kids and 9 years, I’ve put 80 back on. I’m revising to the traditional DS next month and am worried about the progress that I will see considering they will not be touching my sleeve so I will be able to eat the same amount, which, in my mind, is why I lost the 145lbs to begin with so it is hard to imagine having to just depend on the “switch” part, but I have more confidence now in the “power” of that added effect after reading this. HAPPY LOSING!!

Wow, Tiffy! That is the first time I've seen before and afters! You have such a beautiful family! I do have to say that you look amazing now, but you were still very beautiful before. You have such a warm smile!

I am 7 weeks out and still have that problem! I always make myself do a Protein shake in the morning and then I find myself at the end of the day and I haven't had ANYTHING (Fluid or otherwise) since that morning and haven't even missed a thing...not one ounce of hunger or thirst. I emailed my physician and asked if I should be FORCING myself to eat. My thought was - overeating and eating when I was not hungry is what got me here!! My surgeon's office told me that I just need to do the best I can....not to force myself to eat, but not to consume less than 40g of protein to stay healthy. For me, this was a catch 22 because in order to even get 40g of protein, I had to force myself to eat.....but 40g is much easier to do then 70 when you have absolutely no desire to eat. Like another poster said, little protein + few calories = no energy. I have felt better about eating this past week (I think my monthly visitor is coming) and although my weight loss dropped this week compared to what it was for the weeks I was not eating, I do feel much better and have much more energy. Last weekend I went grocery shopping after a whole week of battling with eating enough and by the time I was done, I was standing in the check-out line, feeling so sick....cold sweats, nausea, jello-legs....I didn't think I was going to make it to pay and get to my car....and grocery shopping is not that serious! That was a scary feeling that I don't want to experience again, so I try to be more diligent! It is certainly hard to balance this delicate "dance" of calories, protein, carbs and calories!

I'm only a month out and am now advanced to "regular" foods and will say that I still crave some foods, but it is much more do-able. For me, when I went on a diet, it would be so frustrating to do all I could and work so hard to lose a pound every 2 weeks and would eventually give up. Now, the results keep coming and it is a motivator to help me to stay on track. My brother is on the other side of the country serving a mission and I put together a package for him with mac-n-cheese, pringles and rice crispy treats. I have some left over that are still sitting in my pantry and I still look at them everytime I go in for my Protein shake, but it is much easier to resist! The hardest thing I have found now is that cooking doesn't make sense...it is a lot of effort for 2 bites and those "quick and convenient" things to snack on/make a meal of are mostly a no-no....but I have dealt with it much better then I have in the past. Surgery was a last-resort for me and now that I finally have this tool, it makes me WANT to do better and helps me be better. It's funny when I think about it, but I don't feel alone - like I'm not doing this by myself - that I have something helping me along and in the first month, I've lost over 23lbs. I could have never done this without my sleeve and I haven't put in NEAR the effort as I have in the past to only lose 1/4 of that in a month! I have had one moment of "what did I do?", but it was only because I got a little sick over a Soup that had a bit too much sugar in it and another moment of concern when I stalled at 2 weeks....but those were brief moments and I would do it all over again and wouldn't change a thing. You can do this!!

Here is my 2 cents and the reason I chose the VSG: The RNY pouch stretches significantly, the VSG doesn't. No malabsorption = no need for multiple Vitamins and supplements (plus, the malabsorption aspect only lasts for a few years before your body figures out how to absorb all of the calories, but you still miss the vites and other good stuff). Everything functions normally, just smaller (I am fond of my pyloric value - it prevents "dumping syndrome"). The odd "blind stomach" VSG = The removal of the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone. The ability to take NSAIDs (I'm young now, but not naive to the fact that I may have to depend on these when I get older!) How did you do with the band? Did you have it removed because you had problems with it, or are you revising because you have lost all that you can? You were luckly enough to already have a "restrictive - only" procedure and have lost 100lbs (congrats by-the-way!). This should help you decide whether restriction-only is good for you or not. How was it working for you? If you were doing fine with the band and restriction, but started having problems with the band itself, then I say go for the sleeve. If you have had good restriction with the band with no problems and just can't lose anymore of the weight, then maybe you need the malabsorption; however if this is the case, I think it is worth a look at the DS, I would do the DS over the RNY anyday...but that's just my opinion. Good luck!!

Patti, I'm glad you finally settled on Dr. Aceves! You will be just fine - there is nothing to be nervous about! Make sure you update us! Krista

I don't know anything about Dr. Rodriguez (I have only seen good things about him so far, but did not thoroughly research him), but I did find this: Mexico Hope it helps! Good luck to you!

I had my surgery with Dr. Aceves on 08-27-10 and have absolutely nothing but wonderful things to say about my experience! I wouldn't have done anything differently and would refer people to Dr. Aceves without hesitation.

I'm glad your clothes are feeling more loose! I wore a pair of jeans on Friday that were super tight pre-op and now they were just snug, so I'm sure I'm losing inches as well... It really is discouraging, though isn't it? Yes, clothing size is important, but you really want to see that scale move. I'm only measuring once a month, so I have another 2 weeks, but I'm hoping I have more results there than with this darn scale!

Okay. So I know "stalls" happen and that I'll get over this hump....but REALLY? 2 weeks out? :crying: This miserable diet of liquids only is the pits. I never want to see any chicken broth again a day in my life and now that I'm on "full" liquids, I'm already sick of Soups in general. The only reason this liquid diet and I get along is because I lost about 2lbs a day the first week. I was being a little obsessive with weighing and knew I needed to tone it down, so I decided to stick with once a week on Saturdays. The last 2 days I could barely contain myself with excitement and anticipation waiting for "weigh day". I wake up this morning...glad it's finally weigh day and get on the scale and guess what the stupid scale said? It said I lost 0.6lbs since last Saturday. :w00t: BOOOOO!!!!! What kind of miserable torture is this? This cruel diet...my head is spinning trying to consume enough calories so that I feel healthy and have energy to get me through the day, getting 70g of Protein and 64oz of fluids everyday....all this for 0.6lbs? :sneaky2: I know it will get better....I just had to vent. Thanks for listening!