samomom

So here I am 4 weeks post-op from band to sleeve revision. The lapband sucked. I lost 32 pounds in 5 months and gained back 12 for a whopping total of 20 pound lost in 22 months. I had the sleeve done on July 9th. At my two week post-op I was down 14 pounds. This morning I tagged along with my husband to the surgeons office because he unfortunately needed a hernia re-do just 3 weeks after I had my sleeve and my surgeon took care of him. I honestly wasn't feeling very hopeful to begin with, but I was told that I could stop by to use the scale so I did. Ah, yes, I love walking out in tears. I haven't lost another ounce in 2 weeks despite my disgustingly healthy diet. Seriously, I can't do this again. I thought the ridiculously slow loss and plateau with the band was bad, but to stop losing after only 2 fricking weeks? I see an Endocrinologist for blood sugar issues which are totally under control, in fact, I'm probably off meds in the next few months for good, and I have a horrible family history of thyroid problems that allegedly haven't hit me, but I'm not convinced. Is my body that completely retarded that I can have two weight loss surgeries and not lose any real weight? I don't consider my 14 pounds a huge success because a good amount of that is Water weight. I am eating chicken, turkey, tuna and some beef. I just started with some veggies. I do not eat fruit, drink any juice, sodas, nothing with sugar or calories. I don't eat starches with the exception of a bite or two here and there if I am cooking. I almost had an anxiety attack over 6 pieces of whole wheat penne the other night. A normal person would be on the fast track to skinnytown. Me- just hungry and fat. When I left the doctor's office, I was so upset that I cancelled my 6 week follow up. I walked all the way home in tears. I couldn't wait in that office for my husband to drive me home. I'm sunburned and haven't had a single bite to eat today and it's nearly 1pm. I feel like I'm going to throw up when I try to look at food. I'm so stupid that I even forgot that it's my 14th wedding anniversary today. That's how consumed I am with trying to be healthy and depressed I am right now. Could I possibly be a bigger idiot?

So I need to ask those who have been in my position what you have done. I'm assuming there aren't too many of you who can relate(hopefully). Here is the background story: I had the crapband in Sept of 2010. I was 238 at the time. I was ok for a few months until the sliming and puking took over my life for the next nearly 2 years. I lost about 32 pound in 5 months and then it came to a grinding halt. Nothing I did lost me a pound. Then the weight just came back on until I was back around 222-225. I couldn't stand the f'ing sliming and throwing up game so I did what I thought was the be all and end all for me and had the sleeve done in July 2012. My sister had hers done in march of 2012 and is now a tiny little thing again. She rocked it like nobody's business. I lost weight the first 3 weeks after the sleeve and then it just tapered off pretty fast. 7 weeks later I had a horrible episode of starvation and I was so hungry one day that I ate a lot of food for someone with such a small stomach. I actually cried because I was so hungry and upset that I could eat 'so much' food. I was having reflux issues too so I had a barium study. Little did I know that in just 8 weeks, the top portion of my stomach, the fundus, had already started to stretch. I found out from my GI doctor that it was nothing I did or ate and it was just due to my anatomy. He said stomachs are creatures with their own minds and mine did it's own thing. The lower portion was unaffected. I eventually lost about 25 pounds in about 4-5 months and then once again, the weight just came back on. Two Endocrinolgists have told me that years of dieting and the two surgeries have permanently damaged my metablolism. My body can't switch to fat buring like a normal body. It goes straight into panic starvation mode. I have had extensive thyroid and blood sugar work ups and have resolved any issues there. In fact, my labs are pretty damn good. So in April I go back to my surgeon and tell him that I'm seriously fed up with the lack of missing pounds and that we need to figure this out now. He said that he can redo the sleeve to fix the top and make it really tight. I was game for almost anything so I scheduled my 3rd surgery in 4 years. Good thing my insurance covers everything! I had the sleeve redone July 15th, 1 year and 1 week since the first sleeve. I went in with zero exepectations so I wouldn't get my hoped crushed again. Well, good thing because I'm back at square one again. I lost about 13-14 pounds in the first 3 weeks and now 8 weeks out I haven't lost anymore. In fact, most of it was in the first two weeks. The third week was 2 pounds and for the past 5 weeks I haven't lost a freaking ounce. Now I have total proof that it's not what or how much I am eating. Three surgeries, all the BS about Protein, no carbs, ect just doesn't apply to someone like me. I can eat protein all day long and I still don't lose weight. I have been hiking, kayaking, etc and nothing happens. I wake up hungry, go to bed hungry. Nothing. What do you do in my situation? I'm not expecting crazy results like some people do. I am very realistic about what your body can and can't do. I know that 3500 calories is equal to one pound gained or lost. I know that my intake is significantly less that it was a few months ago and I know my body have this amazing ability to fully function on so much less food without buring fat and I wish I knew how or why! One of my doctors said that I truly could never, ever be Anorexic even if I tried, because my body is like some Neanderthal survivor! Have any of you had such a reaction like mine where your metablolism has legitimately been trashed to the point where you can't burn fat? What have to done to overcome this? I know there has to be a solution to boost my body into fat burning mode and move it out of starvation mode. I would really apprecaiate any input that you have in regards to my situation. I don't consider this a stall like everyone seems to have. This is yet another full stop just like the last two times. Even my surgeon said to me that he was just going to have to suck the fat out. I agree. That is in the very near future. Thanks!

Don't beat yourself up for eating at In and Out! I go maybe once every 4 months and get a cheeseburger Protein style which is the meat, cheese, tomato wrapped in lettuce. You aren't eating the carbs that way or filling your stomach with usless food. Secondly, I have had the band and two sleeve surgeries. I think I got this hungry thing figured out now. Your stomach is so small, but your body still needs the same level and quantity of good quality calories to maintain itself. The 3 meals a day doesn't work for some of us. I find that 5-6 times a day works best for me. Eat your 3 meals, but snack on protein like turkey, cheese, yogurt, etc. You could also do a Protein shake and split it up in two portions. Not everyone in this world follows the sma e3 meal a day needs. You do what is best for your body. Melissa

You know, I don't track calories daily for a few reasons. I know that makes some people cringe, roll there eyes and think that I'm nuts for not doing it, but I have reason. Each day is totally different for me in what I can and can't eat. I don't always eat foods that are easily tracked. I cook a lot and honestly, I don't sit there and break down how much each ingredient add to the calorie count and them divide that by my portion, etc. It's not that I can't, or that I am lazy, but honestly, it would be crazy to try to figure it all out. I know what is in everything I eat. I control the fat and carbs very well. My nutritionist last year totally understood my madness about that and she agreed that it wasn't always necessary or easy for someone who doesn't eat packaged foods like the Lean Cusines or eat breads, etc. We worked on a portion system and most importantly, what exactly was the best options for me and what was satifying. Some people really need to have the nutritional breakdown that a label can give you and that is just fine if that is what works best. I'm so setteled into the foods that I rotate through, that I know how I'm doing. I have been getting hungy the past few weeks which is signal to me that I need to eat a bit more because I'm past the post surgery shock to the system days. I bounced back super fast. Just a week and a half after surgery I took off on vacation and went kayaking, walking all over San Francisco, and doing my normal thing. I don't believe in starving my body into weight loss because it just doesn't work. I was told to not go under 1200 calories once I was back to my normal self. For some that is too many calories and some not enough. It seems to be a decent target for me. I think I am going to start a weigh training routine and that will mean I need more Protein and some extra calories. I'll have to see how that goes, but I am hopeful and excited. Ski season is coming up in just 2 1/2 months and I have a pair of new ski pants that I bought too small a few summers ago that now fit my butt quite nicely. Add some extra muscle to the legs and shed a few more pounds and I'll be looking good!

Right now I am at 186.I started at 238 4 years ago with the Lapband, down to 205 and then back up to about 222-225 right before sleeve #1. then I went down to 187 with the sleeve and back up to 198-200 right before sleeve #2 just this past July. It's not like I haven't lost anything. I am grateful for the 50 pounds lost, but it's the path that I have had to take and the unexpected road blocks to true loss that has been such a downer. BTW- Is that a photo of you? Beautiful!!!!

It's not ridiculous at all! You are so right that the typical American diet is void of so much nutrition. We are actually very good about what type of foods we buy at home. I live in Los Angeles where there are a million organic farmers markets, Whole Foods grocery stores and small independent health food stores. I am a label reader and I am very well versed in what is truly worth eating and what is total junk. I buy as much organic food as I can, especially meats and fruits. I won't buy anything with MSG, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.My kids hate me because they have never had a box of 'real' Cereal such as Lucky Charms or Trix. My 10 year old goes to school with chicken caesar salads and fruit! Thank you for the book suggestion. I will look for it at the library or Amazon. Melissa

Have you personally seen Dr. Cirangle? Did you consult with any other doctors in SF? My sister went with Dr. John Rabkin, She is a nurse and did some extensive research on all the Bay Area doctors and went with him. I almost went with him, but didn't want to hassle with the flying backand forth from Los Angeles, although I would have.

I'm pretty sure than 99% of WLS patients have high cholesterol! You'l be fine. The iron issue can be resolved pretty easily with a good suppliment.

Are you sure we aren't somehow related?!!! I started a thread like this awhile back. I am beyond frustrated and pissed off that I have managed to lose only 27 pounds or so in 6 months. I was a revision surgery too! Ugh! I know that there are so many well meaning people on this board who truly have great tips and suggestions, but in my head I want to scream "yes, I know how to drink enough Water,eat Protein and exercise, thank you very much!" I have seen a nutritonist who was incredibly well meaning, but there were no breakthroughs or revelations that did me an ounce of good. I switched Endocrinologists and hoped some new meds might do something, but they don't. I even had to stop taking cholesterol meds because my levels are way too low!! Yes, low. I've pretty much given up. I can eat a plate of veggies or junk food(which is super rare) and I just stay the same. I wish someone in the medical field could do some research on people like us who have gone to the extremes to lose weight with little success. There is something going on with people like us that no doctor seem to be able to figure out. I offered myself up to my doctor to be his guinea pig. I said he could lock me in a room, feed me whatever he chose and make me exercise all he wants and then we'll see how I don't change one damn bit. The reason I even agreed to do this damn band to sleeve revision was because my sister did it last March and has lost 75 pounds in 6 months. I had hope back then. Now I just don't give a s#!t anymore. Try as I might, nothing happens anymore. What a waste of my time. Glad I didn't have to pay a penny for my surgery or I would be livid!

No, actually not everyone is doing well at all unfortunately. I am so f'ing disappointed with my SECOND surgery. I went from band to sleeve on July 9th. Wanna know what amazing results I had since then??? Drumroll please......... 25 pounds(20 depending on who's scale I go by) How ridiculous is that? I lost more with the band in 5 months than with the sleeve. None of my doctors can figure out what the hell is wrong with me. Before any of you get the idea in your head that I must be some lazy a$$ milkshake drinking cow, let me tell you how hard I have tried to make this work. I drink the stupid Protein shakes until I want to gag on them. I work out and have built noticable muscle back in my legs and arms, I don't eat high calorie or empty caloire foods, nor do I drink my calories. I have not lost more than 1 pound in 2 whole months. The first 14 pounds came off in the first two weeks. After that, nothing more than 2 pounds a week and if you do the math, that is so incredibly pathetic. My cholesterol levels had dropped too low! Yes, I said too low! It's actually not healthy to have levels like mine. My blood sugar is low as well. I've been told by a doctor who does integrative medicine(whole body vs. fix one issue) that I need to stop all meds because I need to boost my cholesterol levels back up 40-50 points. If you look at my labs they would be comparable to a marathon runner. Anyone here have a BP of 94/71? Envable, isn't it. So why the feck won't the fat come off? Anyone? I don't want to be stuck at 190 for the rest of my life. I'm only 5'5. I'm here to tell everyone that having WLS, two in my case, isn't always the answer. It's not what I am eating and I've been trying to tell doctors, nutritionists, therapists, etc, this for years, but no one wanted to listen. My body isn't functioning properly and no one can figure out what to do with me. I had two medical professionals tell in in one week that if there was a famine, I'd be the last one standing! Thankfully I have a sense of humor and the people who told me that know me well so we all had a laugh, but it's true. I guess I would have been a great Caveman(woman). In a weird way I feel like I've been vindicated. It's not the food like it is for most people. When I eat the right things and exercise, I don't get results. Cutting back calories works very short term for me and then my body goes into some weird metabolic spasm and freaks out .It can adjust to the limited calories and I can function just fine and not lose a single pound. I regret allowing my body to be sliced open not once, but twice to try to lose weight. It's not the magic fix that we all hope for.

So I am sure there are other women who have Mirena too. I was happy for the past year period free, until my surgery in July that is. Now I have a very light one it seems every 3-3 1/2 weeks with a pissed off ovary. And now today I realized why I have been a ravenous pig the past two days and have had 2-3 days every 3-3 1/2 weeks where there is not enough food in the world to satisfy me. It all makes since now. At 38, I have spend many month of my life getting off very easy with virtually no PMS, bloating, never once had cramps, or was a raving mad overeater for a few days. Now I am pissed off! I chose Mirena because I'm done with periods. The factory is shut down folks. I have two kids. No need for that monthy irritation. Anyways.... Just like to get some feedback from anyone who has had similar issues. Honestly, it's the crazy hunger for a few days that bugs me the most. I want to cry at the amount of food it take to fill me up during these little spurts. It's not even like I can walk away and talk myself out of being hungry either. It's full on growing, lightheaded hunger for 2-3 days. UGH!

True. So maybe I'm going through something like a newborn growth spurt! Lets just hope this means in the next few days I lose like 5 pounds!

Yes, I have lost inches for sure, so I am somewhat pleased with that, but it's not nearly as much as the rest of you. I started at 217 and I'm 192. I never measured myself before or after. I just didn't care that much about it. for me its clothing size and weight. I don't track my food on any site because I really can't most days. I don't eat every meal at home, nor to I cook with a lot of packaged ingredients so it's hard to accurately add up the total nutritional content in things I cook. My breakfasts are pretty consistant so I know what the values are ther, but for example, yesterday I went to a Vietnamese place for lunch. I ordered the chicken salad. It was shreaded carrot, lettuce and chicken breast. It had a soy and lime dressing with no oil. The waiter even said it was the healthiest dish on the menu. I don't know how much I ate, but I didn't finish it. I also had 3 small pork potstickers. I ate the salad so I could treat myself to the potstickers. I would estimate I ate 400 calories, but I couldn't be positive. I know some people can't understand how anyone could not be strict about tracking foods, but I never have been good at it since I actually cook a lot. I don't often buy things like Lean Cusine, packaged meats, sauces, mixes, etc. When I did WW, I bought everything I could find with a nurtitional label on it, but those things are always full of preservatives and crap. For exercise, I go to a physical therapy for my knee three days a week. It's a gym and my therapist is helping me train for the ski season. She skis as well so she knows what to work. I am building up some nice quads again and can do some serious leg presses. I'm sure I have gained 2-3 pounds of muscle recently. I've also started walking at night against my ortho doc's wishes. I'm trying to burn any extra calories as I can.

My mornings typically are a Premier Protein shake with has 180 cal and 30g protein. I'll have an Orowheat whole wheat double Fiber English muffin(120 cal, 5 protein 26 carbs, 8 g fiber) with a Morningstar Farms veggie patty(80 cal and 10g protein) with a slice of cheese melted on the muffin(80 cal 5g protein) which gives me 50 grams of protein by noon. I'll usually eat around 8 and have the shake around 11. lunch can be a bunch of different things. Salads, chicken, veggie Proteins, etc. Then if I have had a small or even no lunch, I'll have another shake in the afternoon just to boost the protein. dinner is the same as lunch. I'm not very consistent with dinner if I've had a shake later in the afternoon. I my just nibble a bit on whatever protein and veggie I made for dinner. I eat next to no fruit. I'll have almonds if I need crunchy and salty and sometime I allow myself a few crackers. Lately I have been eating Tofu Shiratake noodles with whaever sauce is around. I love those things. 40 calories for the entire package and 6 grams of carbs. What's a former carb ***** not to love about that! Nothing but Water for me. I don't drink juice or milk. I may have literally one bite of someone's treat if we even have anything round like that. Sugar doesn't do it for me at all anymore thankfully.

July 9th and 25 piddly pounds later... I'm meeting with an RD who deals with WLS patients because no matter what I do, I can't lose any more weight. My surgeon doesn't seem to care, my Endocrinologist just blows me off, so this woman is my last hope or I'm heading to Tijuana to get some RX meds to boost the weight loss.

Absolutely not!!! I would have died....

Ok, I've been good. I've tried to give myself some time, but now I'm just pissed and about to lose my **** with this sleeve revision. I had the band Sept of 2010. Piece of crap it was. I lost a grand total of 20 when all was said and done. Sliming, weight gain, misery- many of you know the deal. Fast forward to July 9th. The Crapband was evicted from my torso. Gone, never to be seen again. Along with it, a good chunk of my stomach. All was fine and dandy the first two weeks. I went from 217 to 203. Whoo Hoo! Yeah, I know a lot of that was Water, but who cares. But from that point on it's been completely disappointing. The past 9 weeks I have only lost 8-9 pounds. Yes, that is 1 f'ing pound a week on average. Are you kidding me?!!! No, I am not eating sugar, junk, etc. Yes, I am eating loads of Protein. I am not dehydrated. I'm not sitting on my butt all day. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week at a gym for a killer workout to get me back in shape for ski season. My muscles are showing the results of the hard work. I'm active beyond that. I walk. My blood sugar is perfect and my thyroid is allegedly fine(although my family history with it is horrible). What the hell am I supposed to do? This isn't at stall, this is a full stop. I have lost more weight on my own doing Weight Watchers or Atkins! I can not for the life of me figure out how I can be eating 1/4 of the calories that I used to and exercising more and lose a measly 1 pound a week. Am I really that pathetic? My surgeon has basically written me off after two surgeries. I get the same questions each time I go in. I think he is waiting for me to fess up to something so he can bust me, but I have nothing to confess! I don't even feel the need to go back to his office anymore. His solution was to prescribe me Phentramine. I seem to get no where with him, nor my Endocrinologist who should have some better insight into my obviously messed up metabolism. I keep reading the July Sleevers thread and I seem to be literally 50% behind (or more) everyone else in weight loss. Next Monday will be 12 weeks and I will be at maybe 23-24 pounds down. I can't imagine that many others have had this poor of a result, not once, but twice, band included. I would love to hear from anyone who is/has been in my situation. I need some guidance here. This is beyond me wanting to whine. I am past whining. I am pissed off. I have something wrong with me that is preventing me from really losing weight. The past few days I have been starving and eating a lot more than usual. It's not 'head hunger', but growling stomach, light headed, give me food now hunger.

To give you some perspective, I was sleeved on July 9th and have only lost 23 pounds. You haven't stalled at all. Your body is now going to start losing fat.

Where are you located?

I've had to order mine from Amazon. They don't seem to be in stores that I've been into.

My surgeon is one of the first in the US to be allowed to do the Lapband over 10 years ago.He is very well respected in my area. He's good, no doubt about that. Yes, I had the band out and sleeve done all in one go. There was no way I was having two surgeries. At first he was not so sure about doing that, but it was one surgery the way I wanted it or nothing. I honestly don't think it made any difference in the outcome. According to the surgery report, the Bougie size was 34, which I am understanding is the smallest size. My Endocrinologist mentioned to me that she thinks that my metabolism may be permanently damaged due to dieting too many years.

Thanks! I'm even more furstrated with the process because my sister had her sleeve done at the beginning of March. At her 6 month check up she was down 75 pounds. I'm heading towads 3 months and I am not even at 25. We both started out just 5 pounds apart. Can I just liposuck the rest off me??

Yes, I am definitely down from 16/18 to a 14 or L/XL, but that happened pretty quick and I've not budged an inch in many weeks. I wish you could add sounds to a post. You should all hear my stomach growling and making bizarre sounds right now. I'm hungry yet again....Ugh! This is just crazy!

I say its gas as well. It can be a real b***h! The pain can bring you to your knees, literally. Get some GasEx and try to walk around as much as you can. It will go away.

Ack!!! I was done on the same day and have lost only 24 pounds. What's wrong with me? Congrats on your success. That is awesome. You must feel great. I think I am just going to have to accept my fate and that no matter what I try, I am never going to lose the weight.