Shannon226

I was sleeved on 12/18/17. After having the surgery I had pain for about 3 weeks but noticed that I had little to no trouble meeting my liquid and protein goals. I mentioned to my surgery center that I was really worried by how much I could eat and that maybe my sleeve was not restricting me the way it should. They were also concerned after listening to me and want me to come in for an upper GI x-ray on Friday. Has anyone had this experience? Did anyone have to have the procedure again because there was not enough removed the first time? I'm really freaked out about it. Thanks.

So I finally got the results of my x-ray. Honestly, the response makes me kind of frustrated. See below: Dr D and I reviewed your UGI Your pouch appears normal It empties "rapidly" which may be why you are feeling hunger more quickly. I would like to follow your weight loss to 6 months post op and repeat the study. In the meantime would you like something to help with appetite control? I think needing an appetite control med so soon after having this surgery is crazy (I'm now 8 weeks post-op sleeve). I also don’t want to depend on meds to control my eating. I don’t know if the rapid emptying is normal and that there are patients who have this problem. I feel like they told me to expect certain outcomes and that’s not what I’m getting. That said. I am definitely not eating as much as I used to, but I think I’m eating more than most new patients do post-op. I still don't have any calorie guidelines. They have told me just to have 2 oz. of protein and no more than a 1/2 cup of food at a sitting. Thoughts?

Appreciate it. And I will

It looks like I’ve missed out on a lot of good conversations on my original post. Thanks to everyone who gave advice. I had the procedure today but I won’t get feedback until Monday at the earliest. I doubt that the X-ray will show anything unusual. I’m working on trying to limit grazing and drinking water when I feel hungry. I still haven’t lost any weight in about a month now. It’s really discouraging especially since this is supposed to be the honeymoon period. But I’ll keep trying.

The nutritionist told me to not worry about calories but to just stay focused on 2 ounces of protein and veg. At my meeting yesterday we discussed how my issue might be grazing, so I've been trying to not graze but it's been really difficult. I want to eat all the time. My typical calorie intake is 900-1000 calories a day but that's me trying really hard to not eat more. I'm worried that my willpower will give out and that I'll return to my old habits. I might just be overthinking everything. I'll let you know what the x-ray shows on Friday.

I'm cool with being placated because I have none of the issues you mention. I don't feel any restriction eating steak, chicken, raw veggies, or beans. I haven't eaten bread so I can't really speak to that. I have had a couple of cheat moments with some Girl Scout cookies but felt no nausea. I'm pretty sure I could have eaten an entire box of cookies and felt nothing.

Okay. Thanks for the clarification. So what about my other questions? Do you not feel any restriction or negative physical effect from eating too much or from certain foods? So many other people on my clinic's group page complain that they can barely eat anything. I'm not saying that I need to feel that way but why such a huge disparity in outcomes? And also, why would my clinic order an x-ray if I was just being paranoid? Are they just trying to shut me up?

I'm so happy you've decided not to be snarky.

Do you mean 18% the first month? That's much more than 18 lbs in the first month. That would be more like 45 lbs.

Thanks for this. Nobody has said this to me. I asked this on several sites and everyone acted like I was crazy. I'm not trying to overeat but I hate that I feel like I can with no repercussions. I have not heard that most people lose 18% during their first month. The numbers out of the clinic I'm at are much higher. The people who had surgery with the same surgeon I did on the same day I did are describing very different experiences. They say they can only eat one or two bites of food and then they need to stop. They say they can barely get in 450-650 calories a day. If I'm normal than I'd love to hear that. So it's normal to not feel any different? To not feel full? To not throw up or have any issues eating anything? Thanks for your responses. I'm just frustrated and worried that I'm going to blow this opportunity.

I expected to have less hunger. I expected to have a negative feeling or restriction of some kind. I expected to have a negative physical reaction to overeating. I hoped to lose more than 20 something lbs. in 7 and 1/2 weeks. What should I have expected? That's what I was told. Otherwise, what was the point of the surgery? I could diet on my own. Are you telling me that you have no feelings of restrictions? Are you eating less just by willpower alone? Why did you have the surgery then?

Why do so many people online just act like I'm being delusional rather than maybe acknowledging the possibility that my surgery maybe didn't do what it was supposed to? I'm not saying that's for sure the answer, just that it's a possibility. But my docs office was really surprised when I told them I could finish an 11 oz. Premier protein shake in just a couple of minutes with no issues.

I don't think you understand what I'm asking. I get that I'm supposed to eat less, eat healthy, and exercise. I'm doing that. But what good did the surgery do me?

I guess I'll ask for more clarification from my surgeon but it does look like there's a lot of different thoughts on this stuff. But again, does this mean that I just need to power through and diet like I would have before the surgery? If that's the case what was the point of the surgery? The metabolic advantage?

I saw this in a Google search while I was looking for answers to my problem. This particular study was done on mice but there has been a lot of research citing this. It doesn't really solve my problem though. Does this mean that I need to just diet like a regular person but that I won't have the slowing metabolism to deal with? Thoughts?

Yes, but the bougie size can depend on a number of factors. I haven't asked yet what size they used but I hope the x-ray will be telling. I looked at the research and there are some discrepancies in effectiveness depending on the type of procedure they use (such as gastroscope as a bougie or esophageal dilator as a bougie).

Same. 64 oz. I'm only at 40oz. for today. But I could easily guzzle and have no issues.

Yep. That 36 lbs. includes preop weight loss.

Good points. Mine was a week after yours. I desperately want to be successful. I've upped my water intake to see if that helps. Are you meeting your water goals?

Your profile says you have lost 52 lbs. If I had lost that much I would feel great. But you could always tell your doc like I did.