RichardVST

HelloSweetie, Thanks for the reply. Interesting idea about the fan. I was thinking along those lines - maybe just running the cpap to see if the white noise helped. I suppose I could direct the airflow toward my face as well. I'll let you know. Appreciate the help. Take care. Richard

Question - I've lost 150lbs and according to my sleep doctor, I am cleared to go off CPAP. Problem is I cannot sleep without my CPAP anymore. I am using the lowest pressure setting, but for whatever reason I am so programmed to use the CPAP, I cannot sleep without it - even though technically I don't need it anymore. I hate the CPAP. Nothing would make me happier than to get rid of my CPAP - especially when I travel. Any recommendations on how I can train myself to sleep without my CPAP? I am a lousy sleeper anyway and rely on sleep meds - another issue... But how can I wean off the CPAP? Any help or similar experiences and solutions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the article. Question - I've lost 150lbs and according to my sleep doctor, I am cleared to go off CPAP. Problem is I cannot sleep without my CPAP anymore. I am using the lowest pressure setting, but for whatever reason I am so programmed to use the CPAP, I cannot sleep without it - even though technically I don't need it anymore. I hate the CPAP. Nothing would make me happier than to get rid of my CPAP - especially when I travel. Any recommendations on how I can train myself to sleep without my CPAP? I am a lousy sleeper anyway and rely on sleep meds - another issue... But how can I wean off the CPAP? Any help or similar experiences and solutions are greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thanks for all the comments, except for maybe (slightly) sarcastic but probably well-intentioned "FocusOnMeNow". I'm fine going bald eventually. When it occurred to me that it was a relatively quick onset, thinning all over, and not classic male pattern - I thought maybe worth exploring, especially since if sleeve related, it could be a sign of nutritional deficiency. Just wondered if this was normal old man stuff or something related to my sleeve. As I mentioned, my heartburn problem is a big bummer and limitation. Vitamins and most food really aggravate my discomfort. My last physical and blood draw was about 9 months ago and everything was fine then. I plan on working on my Protein, and will check with my Primary. Thanks again for the good advice and support.

I am 3 years post surgery, lost around 150lbs. I have settled on a meal plan that is not overly neurotic about all the stuff they said we must do at the beginning. I eat 2 - 3 meals a day. I try to eat mostly Protein - meat, fish, chicken. I don't eat much vegetables and I eat no fruit - it upsets my stomach too much. I will eat carbs when I feel like it, including sweets, and when my weight moves I adjust accordingly. I gave up all alcohol completely. My weight has gone up a max of 10 lbs, but I easily got it back in line. The whole attraction to the sleeve was that it simply gave me a smaller stomach, hence smaller ability or need to overeat. Supposedly us sleevers don't have to worry about all the mal-absorption issues of bypass surgery. Supposedly we can eat like normal people and as long as we eat a balanced diet, we should get all the nutrition we need. Which is why all the obsession over tons of protein, tons of Water, doesn't make total sense to me. I am not sure how much protein I get every day. If I had to guess my protein intake, I would probably say 40 to 60 g/day. I just eat my 2 to 3 balanced meals and I watch my weight, which has been relatively stable - certainly more stable than any other period of my life. By the way, I do aerobic exercise (elliptical) 45 min x 5 days/week. I do drink the required daily water. All seems good, except for uncontrollable heartburn, but that is another issue - maybe related, but all my doctors have given up on the heartburn. Anyway, my hair all of the sudden (last 2 months) is seriously thinning. I figured that this was probably just my time to lose my hair - I am a 58 year old male. But I have always had very full hair and never had any signs of receding or thinning. I didn't have any hair loss after surgery. In just two months, my hair is falling out rapidly and my hair thickness is visibly different. I'd hate to say I was wrong about my laid back approach to my eating - because, I really found it tedious to obsess so much about every little thing I ate, but I do like having hair! I guess what I am saying is that I would go back to the obsessive diet route prescribed by all the Sleever experts if it would get me back and keep my hair, but if there is no way that 3 years post surgery my new hair loss is from my diet, I'd rather stick with a diet that seems to be working for me. Could this be about too little protein? Or is it wrong to say that us sleevers don't need to think about mal-absorption and not sufficient for us to eat like normal people is smaller portions. Thoughts? Thanks

Thanks Cielle92 - I too thought that removing a big hunk of my stomach was supposed to remove a big part of the area that produces hunger hormone. I was/am gravely disappointed in that I too am as hungry as I was before surgery. The problem for us overeaters is that we are missing some gene that properly regulates the amount of food we actually need and tells us constantly that we are hungry. My surgeon said that would be fixed with this surgery. Instead, I am still always hungry and while it is good news I CAN'T eat as much as my body craves - the bad news I still feel all those cravings and feelings of being hungry. I get a "FULL" feeling, but full is a physical sensation and is different than feeling like I have satisfied my hunger. A BIG DIFFERENCE. Good luck.

I'm 2 1/2 years out and haven't had a drink since surgery. I really, really miss alcohol. I quickly lost 150lbs, but at about the 2 year mark, the weight loss stopped and I have gained back 10 lbs and I now feel like I did before surgery where everyday is a struggle to watch my diet. Now eating at levels where 1 year ago I would lose 4 lbs a week, I now gain weight! It is very unsatisfying and scary. It feels like I now gain weight at calorie levels where before I would lose. That all said, I just don't see how I or anyone can fit in the extra calories of alcohol and have any hope of losing or maintaining weight. Of course you can have a sip or a drink or two, but if you are like me, a sip or a drink will soon turn into a few, and then you'll have to cut back somewhere else, and then the whole struggle starts all over...? Maybe that is too pessimistic, but for me that is what I had to do, and I am learning even that is not enough. Good luck.

2 1/2 years post gastric sleeve. Been having heartburn-like pain since and before surgery. Its not the normal reflux, acid coming up my throat. More like intense hunger pains. Gets worse on an empty stomach, eating makes it feel better. Not sensitive to spicy foods or any particular food in general. Bothers me all day and even wakes me up at night. GI doc has me on very high dose prevacid - 30mg 2x/day. Tried prilosec and nexium. Doesn't seem to help, although it gets much worse if I stop. Had an endoscope which came back negative for anything, ie no ulcer or irritation. Doctor's diagnosis is that I have "Functional Dyspepsia." Which I believe is sort of a catch all for they don't know what is wrong and possibly it is psychosomatic, ie stress or in my head...! He even went so far as to suggest that I try antidepressants.... Anyone have experience with my symptoms or diagnosis? Thanks

Thanks CowgirlJane. I did watch and found it helpful... I have made major changes in my life style - I exercise religiously 5x/week for an hour each. I have given up all alcohol - not that I was an alcoholic, but I know that I can never afford those empty calories. I eat a very healthy diet, good foods etc. And now I occasionally eat bad things. My portions are in fact larger than they were and obviously I am getting, and sadder am able to eat, too many calories - which unfortunately brings me back to where I was before surgery - namely in a hopeless struggle every day to simply eat less. What has changed?

I am 2 1/2 year out. Unfortunately I think that gaining it back could be very easy. For the first 24 months, while it was tough eating what my stomach would allow, I didn't have the super crazy cravings that plagued me my whole life. Post surgery I never felt satisfied after eating, but my stomach would get full and I had to stop eating or else! And the weight would just keep coming off. Then at somewhere around the 2 year mark, something changed. MY cravings came back with a vengeance. I would feel so hungry after each mini-meal, yet my stomach would have the "full" uncomfortable sensation. IT was only natural that at least for me, this was a set up to cheat - for a few months I would cheat with Snacks here and there. My weight didn't suffer at the beginning. But I have found that the snacks were giving me satiation that I was so missing with my prescribed meals and the snacks were not coming with the terrible "full" feeling that I always got when eating my shitty 3 oz piece of Protein. Eating right was unsatisfying and left me feeling shitty and hungry, and snacking was wildly satisfying and didn't leave me feeling overly full/sick. That is how this miracle surgery unwinds...! I am obviously in a bad place, discouraged and desperately trying to figure this out. I lost 150 lbs and have now gained back 20lbs.

Thanks all for the very helpful words, support and advice. I am discouraged, but appreciate everyone's help and concern. Take care.

Interesting question. I am 2.5 years post surgery and am having a tough time with what I think you are describing. I dont know if my brain and stomach have ever matched up...and that has been a big problem/struggle ever since surgery. Early after surgery when I was "good" and would eat religiously per WLS guidelines, my stomach would give me that full feeling, but I was always super unsatisfied, super hungry, not satiated. I would eat the 4 oz Protein and my stomach would feel bloated and uncomfortable, but I never felt satisfied like I would pre surgery after a giant meal. As time has gone by, I have had to stray from the plan to just get some satisfaction and that is not good. That wasn't a problem (as my weight went down month after month - 150 lbs) for all but up until a few months ago, but lately it is becoming a problem (gaining 20 lbs). I am back to craving food, craving Snacks, hating myself for not following the plan, for gaining weight, for eating sweets etc. I feel like I am back to my bad relationship with food that I had all my life. I am discouraged with myself and with the surgery. No one ever told me that while smaller stomach meant full feeling, that isn't the same as feeling satisfied.

Hi BBtravel - That is what I thought. I cant figure out any other alternative! I had gone to GI specialist 2 years ago and they did a zillion expensive tests and ruled out everything from their perspective and gave me no help other than just telling me to continue with acid blockers - even though they only helped a little. Out of desperation I asked my Primary MD to just treat the H Pylori and she refused. I went back to another GI and he said that H Pylori is impossible for adult to catch. 2 years ago GI performed endoscopy and I tested negative for H Pylori. MY primary ran a lab test for H Pylori and that was negative as well. I have read that False Negatives are not impossible, but it is at best a very long shot. But I have been on very high doses of acid blockers for a long time, which cant be good? Frustrating.

Hi VSGAnn2014 - Insomnia is a real bummer. My sleep pattern sucks. I fall asleep ok, but stay asleep only about 45 minutes, then wake for 10, back and forth all night. I have taken Ambien for years and gave it up for 3 months. My sleep wasnt that much worse without it, but since it was marginally better with it, I have gone back to using it every night. I feel very sleepy during the day. The Ambien helps, but its not the miracle solution. Thanks

Hi TexasLady - thanks for the post. Yes I have had depression issues, but I think they are under control...? I am actually off all medications except acid blocker Lansopralol, and ambien. I gave up the ambien for 3 months but that didn't work. Could you clarify your comment - you think that Wellbutrin was keeping you awake? Which it is known to do...but you are saying that depression issues can cause insomnia as well...Not sure what point you are making get drugs for depression or be careful of depression drugs? I read about the Pouch test - but sounds like it was made for Lapband people? I can give it a try it it helps Sleeve patients? Thanks again.