bewell

Hi I- I understand completely. I had forgotten the desperation that kept me on track food wise. I got sloppy. So I had a protein drink this AM in an attempt to get back on track, and then promptly ate some nuts. I've gained 14 of 84 pounds, 10 of those in just the last 6 months. I stopped exercising and all that extra food crept back in. Physically and mentally I feel like I'm back at 286 again. It's a terrible feeling. A lot of self-hate. It's so much more than the food. I'm thinking of going back into therapy........I felt so good after the surgery and now that's long passed. Why are you considering a ?duendal switch Hang in there, best to you!

I’m almost 3 years out and occasionally I still vomit. It happens when I eat too fast, too much, or I don’t chew my food enough. (I didn’t vomit the first 4 weeks as I was very cautious not to strain those staples) Having said all of the above, today I can do everything right and I will still vomit. My deva tiny tummy just isn’t happy and I’m running for the nearest waste basket. Not often, once every few months. Doc said it might be I have a very small pouch. No regrets!!

I haven't posted for a while but I am happy to give you my lapband to sleeve experience. In January 2018 it will be 3 years since I did the revision. I lost 90 pounds and I have maintained the loss within 7 pounds. I do go up and down within the 7 pound range. I am very happy with my maintenance. I wish I had lost about 20 more pounds but it appears I can maintain my current weight without a lot of struggle and my Doc has been very happy that I've maintained the loss. I'm 67 yrs old. My lapband to sleeve was done in one surgery. I asked my surgeon to get THAT THING out of me and do the sleeve all at once. Lapband was terrible experience in so many ways. Pain every day. The sleeve isn't perfect but for me SO MUCH better than lapband. I have no regrets at all.

Need some help- I'm 2 years out and have started frequent vomiting. Shortly after eating a meal, correct amount, slow chewing etc, I feel the need to vomit. It can be protein, or vegetables, fruit, it doesn't seem to matter. It's getting pretty old. I do have acid reflux and switched meds a few weeks ago but my GP doc doesn't think it's the meds. Anyone with this problem?

Thanks- I called my Doc and have an appointment. I can eat soft food but getting real tired of vomiting. All I read was a stricture normally happens in the first 3-4 months. I'm 2 yrs out. So weird

The most important thing I learned was not to compare myself to others, what they eat and how much and how fast they lose. Everyone is different. I stayed on the mushy diet much longer than others. Solids were a very slow start. I couldn't eat salad until about 8 months. I couldn't eat broccoli until about 10 months and I still struggle with it. Some days a dense Protein (beef) is OK and other days I have to stick to chicken. Sometimes one egg is all I can eat and other days I can eat 2. If you eat a few bites of something and it makes you feel sick or nauseous just stop and try in again in a few days or weeks. Volume varies a lot too. I'm 20 months out. Haven't lost all the weight I want to but I've not gained. Very happy about that.

I'm a band to sleeve revision. I did not have acid reflux before the sleeve. Now I do have it with vengeance. I took omeprazole for 15 months which took care of the reflux but my regular doc took me off it becuz of the bad longterm side effect (dementia, and liver problems) . Then came the acid reflux. Now I take Famotidine 20mg Tablets twice a day. It helps but still take TUMS about 5 times a day. The upside is I don't eat as much because as soon as I eat sometihng the acid starts up and I'm lose all hunger.

@@sleevedmanda How did the sleeve test go? Hope it is going well for you. I've cleaned up my food a lot (not perfect) and am feeing better. I have no problem with restriction. I can barely eat 1/4 cup of anything. One might think that is a gift and it has helped me keep the weight off but I have to eat every few hours. Of course I can do the sliders pretty good. I now have sever acid reflux that I didn't have before. My doc took me off omeprzole cuz of the bad long term side effects (dementia) and now the acid reflux keeps me from eating many foods. I'll figure it out.

@@sleevedmanda Whats a pouch test?

@@sleevedmanda Congrats on the new baby and your weight loss! You are an inspiration. Thank you

@@sleevedmanda I do not have the exact experience but I sure do feel for you and get it. The pain and shame is overwhelmging. All I can say is that for me, even tho I haven't gained much weight back, I feel as down as I did before surgery SO....I'm guessing I still have some serious problems not related to weight. I just blamed all my issues on being obese. So here I am, a smaller person but still the "same me" with the same underlying issues. I do see other posts from longtime sleevers is that you can recover. It is harder than postop weight loss but possible. They say to start on the liquid diet again, and clean up eating habits, the sleeve still works but we have to follow the eating plan. I've been toying with doing that but just not ready to do that. I will make a commitment to you today (cuz I have to tell someone) I am going to eat well this day. No sugar, no crap, follow the food plan just today. One day at a time. Thanks for listening.

@@Dub I like your saying ".......only control is what we put in our mouths...." and I'll add for me "what comes out of my mouth" I'm always wishing I thought about what I said. Both ways are my choices You are doing fabulous and an inspiration. As for this topic....my Doc said sleeve can stretch some.

January 2015 Sleevers-please check in! i'm in a really serious blaaaaaaa. .....probably depressed.....I didn't reach goal but I am maintaining what i lost within a few pounds. But I don't have the energy I had before, I'm very tired of watching my food, just no motivation. Bad foods creeping in. I think the losing and feeling SO GOOD was invigorating and a huge high and now that's long gone. Would love and need to hear from others! Thank you

@@divajenATL Just so you know, this is the January 2015 thread. Look for your year 2016 and best to you!

@@notime I'm 65 this year and it's one years since WLS for sleeve 1/15. (Also lapband 9 yrs ago. (Failed!)) My experience is that over 60 yrs we heal a bit slower. It may take more time to get around so patience is important. My suggestion to anyone doing WLS is that each person is different. Days to recoup, days to eat mushy food, or move to solid etc if very individual. I started the solid food weeks after many others. It was just the way my tiny tummy preferred. The weight loss pace is also individual. Be kind to ourselves and accept we have had major surgery and if it's going to work, we have to do as the Doc says and not play around with food which is what got us where we are pre-surgery. That and take advantage of the initial "no hunger" phase as the hunger does return at some point. Best of WLS to your Mom!

@@bassmel Congratulations on your surgery date. Yea, the pre-op is hard but in just a few days you will wonder where all that ravishing hunger went to......cuz it will be gone and you will have to make yourself remember to eat something. Keep sipping that water! Normal to be a little hesitant, it's a major surgery but you'll do fine. Best to you and keep us old geezers updated!

Congrats on your loss and taking the big leap to WLS. We will never look back!

@@Melanie425 I did Dr Montgomery at NW weightloss. They are fantastic. And he was wonderful, still is. You made a good choice.

@@hayneselease I'm 65 this year. OMG-medicare, can't believe it! Hang in there hayneseleae. Sorry you had a blip during surgery but looks like it all worked out. So happy they continued the surgery. I think you'll be happy about it. I had serious reflux right after WLS sleeve jan 2015. It was hard to eat anything but I did keep the liquid Protein and Water in. Had a lot of vomiting. Still do vomit if I eat too fast or too much and too much is just a tablespoon or two too much. Also get the slims if I eat the wrong thing. I had to learn to stop eating before I was full.......now tell that to a life-long food addict. It also took me a while before I could eat solid food. I was WAY behind in everything. I had to do the liquid and mushy diet much longer than any one. I kept trying something and it just didn't stay down. I Didn't eat salads till about 6 months. Just recently have been able to eat an apple peel. My thoughts to you, everyone is different. Take it easy and you'll be fine. It is scary at first. It was months before I was very relaxed with the WLS. Now all is well I no looking back. It was all worth it. Best to you!

@@Veronica Page You have done amazing! And you've lost over 100 pounds. Incredible! Congrats on your planned reduced tummy. I'm way too chicken-Xhit for that. And my apron is pretty gross but I've come to like it, much smaller and so jiggly. Now my girls....yikes they are nearly down to my belly-button. Still big cuz there is so much excess skin. I might do the girls. And I totally get it! When I feel so good now and look so much better (still a big girl tho) it's harder to find the same life and death motivation I had pre-WLS. But like I said early.....I had to get over it! It's hard for everyone. With you too on the toning. It was weird when I was not losing weight I did lose inches and it gave my body, skin and my head a chance to catch up to the change. I've done better the past few days and feel pretty good. Best to you and so happy you keep posting. You've really kept this Jan 2015 alive. Thank you.

@@Zzzombrie I was of the understanding that the part of the stomach that is left after the sleeve is not very elastic. Does the 5 day pre-op work?

@@Veronica Page Hang in there, we all have struggled and if someone says they haven't, well I don't buy it. We are all here for each other. This is a place we can be honest with how we are doing. (There are some that aren't on here that are suffering cuz they've started to gain.) You are here, checking in, being honest. Good for you! I've been told by those who have traveled this road before us that the last 25% of our weight loss can be very hard. We are past the honeymoon phase, the hunger is back, we can eat more. Now we have to be even more diligent like we were in the beginning. And there is always the terror of gaining some of it back! I see a therapist to keep me on track and he gave me a kick in the butt. When I was whining about having to watch what I eat every day, he gently said .....get over it!! Yea, its hard and it's also hard for millions (WLS or not) to maintain a healthy weight. Holidays, TV ads, food at work..... I have now joined the millions who have to watch what they eat. If I'm honest with myself, my healthy weight friends (and those who are overweight too) have to watch what they eat, everyday! They keep portions small, eat healthy food and exercise. Yes, occasionally they eat too much and then they get right back to eating healthy. So what did I think it was going to be a cake walk!? I tell myself the hard truth, GET OVER IT. This is how it's going to be. I will always have to be careful. I will always have to limit my portions, I will take 2 steps forward and occasionally one back. But I'll keep moving forward. We can do this!!