teachkdz0507

Hi Kara- I do understand what you mean. I have shrugged it off to eating things that were "gassy" which gave me the full feeling. No science behind my response just wondering about why it seems that way as well. I think my new tummy (9 years old now) is one big chemistry experiment. Foods change how they react with me. I have also noticed that slider foods tend to go down easier and I can tolerate more. Sound reasonable. Maybe someone will have a science based reply.

Hi Friends- I am so grateful for this community and the friends I made along the way when this journey first started. I should have reached out when all the trouble became serious but I hunkered down and surrounded myself with blame and embarrassment. I am glad I reached out because I have found out WE ARE NOT ALONE! People that I knew from my initial surgery support group (7 years ago) are having the same issues! It is a relief to know it isn't just me on the struggle bus. The reflux and malabsorption are huge for way more than I ever thought. The regain of 50% or more is quite a common story. We all admit that we fell off the ride but we also maintain that our tool wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. My personal opinion is that we all were on the early end of the adoption of using the sleeve as a stand-alone procedure. It used to be a step before RNY for the heaviest of patients. I think they are finding out that many of us need to do the RNY, after all, to meet our weight goal and get rid of those pesky side effects. Honestly, making goal does sound good but fixing the way I feel daily is a much bigger incentive. If I get some weight off along the way then that is a nice benefit. My one "down" side is that my new surgeon is part of a practice that I am getting the feeling likes to do a lot of suggestive selling. I think they make you do things before they will get the insurance done. I am an avid tennis player. Seeing their exercise person is not what I need but they are going to make me lift weights. I would much rather spend my money to buy tennis clinics to help me shape up at something I enjoy doing. They do have monthly nights with local chefs to learn how to cook healthy and bariatric friendly meals. I can get behind that 100%. Teach me how and I can do it. I will try my best to get on board with their plan. The old plan obviously didn't work for me. Finally on the calendar for my first visit on June 6. Wish me luck at the appointment. I did want to ask them about what a functional doc said to me. Tell me if any of you have heard this before. The functional doc believes my issue (and other gastric patients) is LOW acid not too much acid. He said it will mimic the same feeling as heartburn because my food isn't digesting properly due to a lack of acid and breaking down naturally as it should. Thus the malabsorption. He believes that in turn causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines which makes eating even that much harder. Enter the gas, belching, feeling full too soon, diarrhea issues... IF he is right, he wants me to add a supplement that will increase the acid in my stomach. I am so afraid to do that because I feel so awful now. Has anyone else heard this explanation? Did you try this? He said any brand of Betaine HCL Pepsin will work. I might try it this weekend to see if it works. Heads up...we can turn our ships around and be victorious. I am so glad I am not the sole person on this journey. Happy Memorial Day! Teachkdz0507

Hello All- Any NC patients have surgery with Dr. Ellen Carraro with Novant Bariatric in CLT? I am trying to get in to see her for a surgical opinion about my 2011 VSG. I have horrible GERD and major malabsorption issues even though the sleeve isn't supposed to come with that. I am thinking a RNY revision may be necessary to get rid of the GERD. Looking for both the positives and negatives about your experience with Dr. Carraro. Everything I have read has been super positive so I hope she can help me. Thanks in advance! Teachkdz0507

Interesting...I wonder if this is a long-term outcome that was unanticipated. I had a Lap-Band that slipped within 2 months and I waited almost 1 year until insurance would pay to fix it. It was ridiculous-I had to lie down to eat without throwing up. I had the sleeve revision on 12/27/11. It was actually pretty good for the first 2-3 years although I am now 100% reliant on Prevacid daily. It is AWFUL if I am even a few hours later with the dosage. Some days the 1 Prevacid won't cut it and I need to chew on Tums or something because it feels like a heart attack. Fast forward 7 years out. The GERD is over the top ridiculous and I find myself eating things to just keep my tummy from throwing up the food I eat. Last year I started having huge problems with malabsorption. My surgeon told me I was crazy because the sleeve doesn't cause that. My typical "blame it on myself" alongside my "I am embarrassed I have gained weight back" self just went quietly on while watching my blood chemistry get all jacked up. When I had to get IV transfusions of iron I knew I had to get answers. I have bounced from specialist to specialist. I do not have a disease based issue. It has to be anatomical. I am seeking an opinion from a new surgeon to get a new point of view. Hope she is worth her salt because I am truly sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am starving nutritionally even though the sleeve isn't supposed to do that. I can only pray that answers are found and insurance will pay for a revision. I have been reading quite a few peer-reviewed journal articles about this phenomena. They correlate what I am finding and say what I am claiming is indeed real and a duodenal switch or RNY is my answer. I avoided bypass due to malabsorption but I think I need to stop crying over spilled milk because I am indeed here and the issues need to be addressed. I am currently 33.8 BMI so "obese" but nowhere near where I started. I have read that RNY is a better bet than the switch for my situation. The duodenal switch promises permanent weight loss but GERD is still prevalent in those revisions. All I can say is: NOOOOO! Bad road! Long post to ask if anyone has had similar issues and found success with RNY revision from their sleeve? Is anyone in the same place I am and just trying to find answers? I feel so dumb that all of my initial research was worthless because here I am with basically a self-inflicted life long problem. Add in the "I failed" thoughts and psychologically I have regressed to the blame game stage. Ugh! Would love to hear from you if you can relate to this posting. Please tell me if you are RNY patient and love it. I really fear it for the exact reason I am seeking help-the malabsorption and GERD. Teachkdz0507

You are doing awesome!! I can see a difference in your pictures. I agree with other members on this forum. Many of us (myself included) have not been kind to ourselves. We have allowed our psyche to believe we aren't worthy of the kind comments and positive feedback. Try to embrace the success. You look awesome! I predict that you will all of the sudden find a point when you have one extra ounce of energy and you will start exercising. It is addictive once you get started. Keep looking for the right exercise. It took me 50 years but I found tennis and I am loving it! You will find the right fit when you least expect it. Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

Jeaniered- I agree...check with your bariatric surgeon to find out his or her thoughts. You will hurt like crazy (Charlie Horse spasms) if you don't have a potassium supplement. Your doc might see another reason for the ankles swelling. Best to be overcautious! Good luck! Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi YeaMe- Select your plastic surgeon with care. A fellow sleeve friend lost in excess of 175 pounds and her skin was hanging on her. She went with the best price and only did her upper arms to get rid of the bat wings. The extra skin is gone. It was extremely painful. I know she can also tell that it looks odd. She didn't do the whole arm and you can tell. She looks off balance. Then she did the tummy tuck but didn't pay for the full circumferential and now her tight front looks strange next to her droopy back. If you are going to do it find a reputable surgeon and do it right. Don't skimp because it will look off. You have done too much hard work to not be pleased with the results. Sent from my Pixel using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Everyone- I am trying to find myself once again after completely losing myself post goal. I had the surgery in December 2011 and honestly it was too easy. The weight just came off and I had to remind myself to eat. I actually got "too" ambitious and made myself gain weight to a place that felt healthier to me. I did really well for the first 3 years. I had some weight creep on but these past 3 years I became full on menopause and it has not been pretty. The hot flashes and the metabolism changes were rough. I was so religious about the food intake and I think that is when my small caloric intake had a huge collision with menopause. My metabolism was non-existent. I played tennis 4 times a week for 90 minute sessions and the weight started creeping up. Long story short, between not making myself a priority (zero self care) and no metabolism and allowing sugar back into my life (never again! I was like a druggie when I detoxed this time) I was a wreck and 45 pounds over goal. I tried to find support groups but the 30-somethings didn't have the same problems that I did in the face to face meetings. I was too far away from my original surgeon to talk to him and my new surgeon just said to stop eating and move more. That was so unhelpful. It actually gave me a sense of shame that I just felt was failure and it caused me to curl up in a ball and I didn't try to do anything else. Still not sure if I have done the right thing but I have a new ob/gyn that is marvelous. He didn't say "just deal with it" when I talked about what seemed like never ending hot flashes. He actually took a look at me as a whole person-not just a pair of ovaries. We did gallons of blood work but he was able to get me on a hormone regimen where I don't live in a perpetual sweat. Then I asked him about the weight gain and metabolism issue post menopause AND the fact that I was post-WLS. He stuck with me and is helping me find the answer. I am his first WLS patient on this serotonin weight program that a colleague came up with and it appears to be doing the trick. While others on this program have a hard time with the protein and veggies ONLY diet, it was easy because it was like remembering what it was like post-surgery all those years ago. It is easy to follow. It does have a phentermine component but he explained the chemistry between the serotonin and phentermine and how it helps boost my metabolism. I did have to face the sugar and wheat demon...I am winning the fight so far but it is a big demon so I am on high alert. 10 pounds down after 2 weeks and 35 to go until goal. The number is so much smaller than before surgery but I imagine it will be just as hard to reach. Those last 10 are nasty boogers. So my question is...I needed a RX to wake up my metabolism. Is this going to a chronic issue because we can only eat small amounts of food? My doc has composed a suggestion of food pairings that I alternate every 2 weeks to keep the metabolism going now that is has woke up. I play tennis at least 4 times per week for 90 minutes at a time. I am not a sedentary person and yet my whole body turned on itself at menopause. Anyone else have issues with weight regain after full onset of menopause? Did you struggle with your body thinking it was in starvation mode all the time? What did you do? I might be crazy for going to this extent, but the weight gain was bringing previously extinguished co-morbidities back. I had to do something to get my health back. This was my answer. Would love to hear if you are in the same boat. I like the scale going down again but i have to admit that I was more than a little sad that I had to find a way to give my Gastric Sleeve a boost to start the train rolling down the track again. I thought it would be a lifetime tool and it needed a boost for sure. Thanks! Teachkdz0507

Hi Sarah- My first suggestion is to be kind to yourself and relax. The more intense and upset you get, the harder it will be to swallow anything. I am wondering if your surgeon used a very small bougie when he performed your surgery. Some docs, mine included, go down a size from the standard because they know it will eventually stretch and this gives your surgery a chance at longer restriction. If he did choose this approach then embrace his conservative technique. I can almost promise that you are going to be just fine. Strictures do happen but they are few and far between. If the restriction is causing you lots of anxiety they can usually stretch the opening a few millimeters through endoscopy and you will be happy as a clam. Only the doc can read your imaging and make the decision about the need to do the endoscopy. I studied the long term complication rates of sleeve gastrectomy for my MHA thesis and I can't recall anyone having life altering issues from restriction that was too aggressive. The endoscopy is literally a 15 minute procedure. Usually they put you out but they might use a strong RX so you won't remember it happening. Outpatient procedure and the fix is immediate. Hope that helps you relax a bit. I am not a doctor but I spent months is bariatric journals and patient charts and that would be my best guess. Definitely follow up but you will be fine until Tuesday if the doc is out of town. Not eating for a day or two can be tolerated. If you can't get liquids down, that is a whole different story and you need to get medical attention immediately! Perhaps you should resort to protein shakes and clear liquids to help with the nausea until you can see the doc. Good luck! Teachkdz0507

Hi NolzGirl- I did my revision back in 2012 so it has been awhile. I remember thinking that the recovery took slightly longer than the LapBand. I did not experience pain as much as I was simply tired and I wanted to jump right back into life. I should have been kind to myself and taken the suggested time off to recover fully. You are doing this for yourself so be kind to yourself. REST AND RELAX. It feels self-indulgent but ENJOY! What was bizarre is how eerie it felt not to want to eat. I never imagined that I would have to force myself to eat- but I did. Setting an alarm to remind yourself to eat was such a foreign concept and yet it was necessary in the beginning. Drinking liquids was hard to do, too! Crazy to think but its true. It took almost a year before I truly felt bariatric "normal" meaning I was able to eat small portions and I experienced the feeling of hunger. That part of normalcy made me feel right again. I did AMAZING with the sleeve. The weight just fell off me because I didn't have to fight hunger or the need to eat. I wish I could return to that point again. It was kind of like a forced fasting. Unfortunately, over the past 6 years I have let sugar back into my life (I SO regret this!) as well as diet coke. My head hunger is a savage again and emotional eating is back as well-with a vengeance. Add in full menopause PLUS life stress and I am not in a good place. Enter guilt and ugly self-loathing feelings inside about how I squandered a gift. My advice is to continue to tell yourself you have a gift. Embrace the absent feeling of hunger while you have it. Embrace being able to eat small amounts. Ignore people that make comments about your small portions and insist you are going to be sick. Leave the sugar and diet soda out as well. If you have de-toxed from them then stay that way. I finally found an ob/gyn that has helped me get my hormones under control and that in itself has been a lifesaver. I had no idea menopause could make you feel as awful as it did. My body was not meant to run on a level of .0001 of estrogen and a lack of progesterone. Despite extreme exercise (I play tennis at least 3 times each week) I was packing the weight back on. Next week I am starting on a physician supervised weight loss program to the tune of $1300. Not cheap after all I paid for bariatric surgery (band and revision). I am going to have to face detox of sugar and carbonated sodas ALL OVER AGAIN. I know it is coming and it isn't going to be pretty. No one wants to be near me on DAY 1-Sept 13. LOL! Please just trust me that once it is gone-keep it out of your life. Here is to your success with the revision surgery. I hope that I can also log on again and say that we got my body out of starvation mode and back on the road to true health. I was at goal once upon a time and it feels great! Be vigilant and don't let the good habits slip. Your tool will be there for life if you treat it properly. Best, Teachkdz0507

It is so nice to hear how everyone is doing! It really sounds like we are all quite happy with our decision to get this tool and make life changes! We'll have to keep checking in from time to time to motivate all of us to MAINTAIN this wonderful momentum we have begun! Good luck to all!

Hi Ravyn, Hold off on that pizza! You've come too far to give up! How many cc's do you have? I have had 3 fills and now have 6 cc's and it is super tight! It actually is working for me being so tight because I'm really not hungry at all and if I force myself to follow a schedule then I get sick. It has taught me to listen to my hunger. Tell your doc about your frustration and perhaps ask them to be a bit more aggressive with your fill schedule. My doc agreed to an aggressive fill schedule (every 3-4 weeks) because I did join a gym and I work out every other day. Maybe your doc will also agree to that so you can see results faster and keep your motivation up?!? I'll be sending you some positive thoughts for a good conversation with your doc and some results to pump you up!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! I was banded on April 23, 2010 and I am very pleased with my progress to date. I have lost 35 pounds and have gone from a size 20 to a snug size 12. :-) I haven't worn a 12 for over 20 years! That's something to celebrate! I have a 10cc band and had fill #3 in early August and now have 6 cc in it. Up until this last fill (5.5 until August) I had only felt a slight resistance but this last fill put me over the top. I considered an unfill because I have slimmed so much since the fill and been nauseous so much. My doc talked me out of it and told me to work with the band NOT against it. I wasn't hungry in the morning anymore BUT I tried to eat to get my protein in and promptly got sick because it was so tight. Now I have a hot drink in the a.m. and have a Special K Fruit Crisp at 9:45-ish and that holds me over until lunch. I can then eat lunch and dinner without issue because I am hungry at that point. Thank goodness-the nausea was getting really old! So, now that I'm working with my tool and listening to my true hunger life is good again-and yes, it broke my month long plateau of a 2 pound loss in July! ;-( I have also joined a gym and actually like it! I try to go every other day. The elliptical and treadmill are my favorite because I can jam to my I-pod and work through any frustrating moments! I use to think I wanted to lose 70 pounds but I am thinking 50 pounds will be a better fit for me- especially if I keep toning myself. I have noticed a bit more shedding on my brush than normal but am trying not to stress about it. I just do my best to eat as much protein as possible. I really feel like I found my "green zone" or "sweet spot" because I am truly not hungry except at lunch and dinner. I hope this will continue! I see that some have lost more since April (congratulations!) but most of us are in the 30's so I think we are all doing just fine! Can't wait to check in with everyone in a few months! Good luck on increasing exercise and decreasing your weight! You can do it!

Hi Joey Lynn, I was banded on April 23, 2010. I have lost 35 pounds to date so it sounds like we are on track with one another. I have noticed some hair loss as well and I was told to watch my protein intake carefully. So, I religiously eat my protein first to help with the hair issue. I have a friend who didn't listen to her doc and she lost so much hair that it looks like she is a chemo patient. She refuses to believe her protein starvation can be the problem. Anyway, be careful about being too aggressive with fills. I am going to get an "unfill" because 2 weeks ago my doc added .5 cc and I have been throwing up multiple times every day for the past 2 weeks. Enough of that foolishness! That is NOT a healthy way to lose weight. Keep up the good eating habits and exercise and the band will do the work for you! Good luck!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! YEAH! I just had my first fill an hour ago! It was a piece of cake! It's hard to believe I was so very nervous about that! I was able to easily tolerate the Water they asked me to drink but can tell that something has definitely changed because the tummy isn't quite "right". Not sick but definitely not as free as before. I feel just like the rest of you. I lost 20 with the pre and post-op diet but it dwindled down to NOTHING the past 2 weeks. No gain but no loss! :-( As my doc said, its time to put the band to work! I hope he is right and we scheduled fill #2 in 4 weeks. I started with 3 cc as a prime at surgery and he added 1.5 cc today. Best wishes to all of us for SUCCESS this month! Keep us posted! Smiles, Tammy :tongue2: Banded: 04/23/10 Starting Weight: 209 Current Weight: 189

Go MountainMama! You are doing fantastic! The changes and comments at work are great, aren't they? I feel better about myself and my friends/coworkers said they can feel a happiness about me and my new self-image. I think this was a great choice, don't you?

Thanks for talking about the fill. I am nervous about it and the size of the needle they use. I will be sitting at my docs on Monday afternoon waiting for the much anticipated fill. I now have a boost of confidence that it will go smoothly!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters! I'm so glad we have this forum. You can read posts and find that what you are experiencing is totally normal! I was banded April 23rd and I am scheduled for my first fill on Monday, May 24th. YEAH! I only had the luxury of not feeling hungry for a few days post-surgery. I have been fighting the hunger pretty much since before surgery. I have lost a total of 22 pounds since starting the liquid diet. The past two weeks the loss has been SO SLOW-1/2 pound to a pound per week. My surgeon told me to expect the slow down but it hasn't made it any easier to accept after the drastic loss the first four weeks. He claims the hunger and urge to graze combined with the slowed loss simply means I am in need of a fill. He sounded confident this will jump start things again. I have found that transitioning to regular food has been a breeze. Too easy in fact. I'm worried that if I get depressed about the SLOW loss that I'll revert to my old ways and make bad food choices. So, I'm hoping for some restriction and the feeling fuller longer. BTW-hasn't it been nice to have people notice the "new" you emerging! That part has been great for the self-esteem for sure. The new clothes in smaller sizes has been nice, too. It is amazing what a difference 20 pounds makes-even on a bigger person. Hope everyone is well and that we will all post successful fill stories soon! Have a great weekend! Tammy (teachkdz0507) banded 04/23/2010 (Huntersville, NC)

Hi Gigi, Boy did I ever have that as well! I was banded on April 23rd and was in a fog and very tired the first and second day. I made myself eat by the clock to be sure I was getting enough nutrition. Day 3 hit and WOW did I have a powerful hunger. After talking with the dr. clinic and some patients in our support group I decided to up my caloric intake. It has made a world of difference. Day 3-5 when I was still trying to stay at 800 calories I was waking up in the middle of the night truly hungry. Now that I've stepped it up and I am eating pureed cream based soups it has been better. I still want to graze after 2.5 hours but they say that is what indicates a fill is needed. My surgeon won't do one until 6 weeks SO I guess I'll live in what is known as "Bandster Hell" and just deal with the quick return of hunger until he can help me with a fill. All that to say, YES, I feel your pain and YES we can get through it. Good luck! Tammy PS I've still lost 6 pounds in 1.75 weeks despite upping the caloric intake so it didn't mean the end to the world!

Greetings Fellow April Bandsters! I hope everyone is doing well as they recover from their surgery and start on this new phase of their life. I was banded on April 23rd and I have to say that a week and a half out, I am back at work full time and I feel great! I have my post-op on Friday so maybe we can schedule a fill SOON! It is amazing how we are all on this journey and yet we all have different experiences. I am envious at the amount of weight some people have lost since starting their pre-op diet. I am down 17.5 pounds and pretty happy with that, however I know it is strictly because of my food choices. I am not lucky enough to have that full sensation some of you talk about right now and I find that I want to graze for a snack after about 2 hours post-meal. I've been beating down the urge and I just hope it goes away when I finally have my first fill. Hope all is well with all of us April Bandsters and that we continue to win this battle with food! We CAN do it! Smiles, ~Tammy:thumbup:

My story isn't quite as rosy as everyone else's and I squarely blame the staff at the hospital I went to. My surgeon did his part of the procedure but the support staff, well, they stunk! I got to the hospital at 6:30 as instructed. My first instinct that things were not going to go well was I heard the front desk staff complaining about how overbooked they were and how they were going to be short on beds. BIG RED FLAG! The nurse who checked me in was cold as a fish and a complainer who constantly checked her cell phone for text messages. This same nurse clearly complained to nurse #2 right outside my curtain about being yelled at by a doctor earlier that morning. BIG RED FLAG 2! The CNA, Mindy, was FABULOUS! I wish she was my assigned RN. She was personable and made me feel at ease. Mean nurse #1 comes to stick me with an IV. I had a HUGE bruise that was tender from the IV the week before at my endoscopy procedure on my right arm and she refused to consider the left arm. She showed me a teeny bruise on her arm and said we all have bruises and deal with it. BIG RED FLAG #3. The anesthesiologist seemed nice enough and I explained my issue with slow waking up and nausea. I told him the patch had worked before. No, he knew best so I trusted him. His assistant came in to give me the "cocktail" before going to surgery. He starts bellyaching about the hack job the mean nurse did on my IV. He calls her in and they literally argued about it in front of me. My Mom was there to see it all and she was beside herself! The surgery went as planned BUT in recovery they tried to get me to drink a diet coke from a straw. In my delerium I had to argue that carbonation and straws were not permitted with the lapband. The best is when I woke up. They told me it was time to go home. My breathing wasn't deep and my cough was weak so they threw a plastic breather my way and said to practice at home. I was SOOO out of it and tired but they said time to leave! When I reported I was nauseated they gave me 2 puke bags to go. I did throw up on the way home, BTW! Saturday I couldn't keep my eyes open for more than 2 hours at a time. I think they over did it with the anesthesia. By Sunday when it was out of my system I started feeling tons better and now I am almost back to normal. If this happens to you, SPEAK UP! I just went along with it expecting it to get better and it didn't! Fortunately it was my care that was messed up and not my surgeon so I can still say it was successful. You can bet I'm not returning to this "crown jewel" of Presbyterian's Healthcare System. NEVER again!

Woo hoo! The final hurdle was cleared yesterday. I had my endoscopy and my surgeon said the golden words: "See you next Friday at 8 am for the surgery." Anyone who is on this journey with me will agree those are the best words ever! So, does anyone else share my surgery date? Or within a day or two? Would love to keep up with you to share ups and downs.:thumbup: