Gastric Sleeve Experts... Please Chime In!

[ttdish 315]

Hi All!

I am 4 weeks post -op tomorrow and 18 lbs lighter!

I have some questions and concerns I am wondering if someone you who have been on this journey awhile will help with. I am having some struggles with eating slower, not drinking while eating, dumping (yuck) finding a Protein Shake ( and other products ) that doesnt make me have so much gas.

There are times that I feel hunger what seems to be soon after I ate and was full. What is that? Is it just the body getting used to things or is it a mind game?

Sometimes after eating I feel so full and sick to my stomach , after what I feel like is a small amount of food.< /p>

I am using no butter, oils,or sugars in anything I consume but have had an issue with dumping. HAs anyone else had issues with sugar free products giving them gas or dumping ?

Thanks so much for your time and sharing your experiences with me!!

Hi Colleen! You may want to post your question as a new post, as it may be overlooked since this thread has so many responses already. But here are my thoughts:

For the first few weeks I had trouble slowing down to eat, and I actually used an app called "next bite" to help me. I'd set it for one minute, take a bite, chew the bejeezus out of it, and wait until the timer went off before taking my next bite. I also used a timer and set it for 30 minutes after I took my last bite to know when I could drink again. You don't realize how much it is second nature to want to drink while you eat until you can't. Don't keep any liquids nearby while you are eating, so you don't reach for it by mistake.

Are you sure you are dumping? While it can happen, dumping with the sleeve isn't overly common, and more often found on bypass patients. If you aren't eating much fat or sugar, I don't know what could even make you dump. Some people find they have trouble digesting dairy post op, and lactose intolerance could present as similar to dumping, and would also explain why your Protein Shakes (presumably whey) are making you gassy. I'd talk to your surgeon, but my suggestion would be to find a non-whey Protein shake, and cut out other dairy from your diet for at least a few days or a week to see if this solves the problem. If you didn't have a problem with artificial sweeteners before surgery, I doubt that is the culprit (but could be way off on this).

If you are feeling super full, you likely either ate too much (at 4 weeks out, portions are still pretty tiny) or you ate too fast. I suspect the latter, since you said you've been having trouble with slowing down while you eat. If you eat too fast, and then get full to fast, you may be hungry again too soon because you simply didn't eat enough. If you are drinking while eating, that may also cause you to feel too full after not eating enough food.

Are you on any PPI for acid, like Prilosec? It sounds strange, but reflux often feels like hunger post-op. Lots of people report being frustrated because they are always hungry, but after starting a PPI, they don't feel that same hunger any more.

I hope this helps!! But again, you may want to start your own post to get more responses from people much smarter than me.

~*~ Find me on YouTube: Trisha's Sleeve Story ~*~

[kels0403 0]

I am almost 9 months post op and I have lost 70 pounds which is about 77% of my excess weight. It had slowed down drastically and j really have to watch what I eat in order to still achieve weight loss.

[tugs 40]

It has been a while since I have logged on... and I just had my 4th month post op visit with my doctor/nutritionist. I have lost 43 pounds in total and am so EXCITED! I feel great!!

Now, I am a little bit concerned because the NUT said that I am about 50%. He said most gastric sleeve patients lose 65% of their excess weight. So, that would mean, if I weighed 100 pounds over my IDEAL weight then I am expected to lose about 65 pounds and they consider that to be the norm. NOW, I want to lose the 100 pounds that I am over weight by -- but the NUT made me feel like that was not typical and went one to say that when one is heavy it takes more energy and therefore you lose more weight but once you have lost about 65% of the excess weight it is more difficult... So, is he trying to discourage me or, well, I don't know?

So, those of you who have had the surgery and are at the 1 year mark -- did you lose ALL your excess weight or was it the 65% of the EXCESS weight that my NUT was talking about?

I am a new newbie I am hoping to have my surgery in December, so excited and still lots of little questions. Can you tell me about the day of surgery, what you experienced, did you have to have catheters, drain tubes etc. I have never had a surgery before other than childbirth, so that part is what freaks me out more that anything. I am having the laprascopic sleeve. Any other details you want to share would be great, pain levels etc.

if you go on you tube and search it will show you the actual prep and surgery pretty kool

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

This is an ancient thread -- started in 2011. I'd not seen it until this morning.

Boy, there sure is a lot of ignorance out there about what WLS will / can do for you. I blame this on some doctors, "obesity specialists" (whatever the hell those are), and especially on bariatric nutritionists who don't seem to know squat about what WLS involves. Seriously ... although all the other members of my bariatric surgeon's practice are wonderful, the two nutritionists I've dealt with are more than worthless.

If anyone's still reading this thread, here's my experience with WLS:

1. Yes, you can lose all your excess weight loss. I have, and hundreds of people who've posted here have.

2. Yes, you can maintain your excess weight loss. Many people here who are farther out than me (15+ months) have done so, and they are my role models.

3. IMHO, the most important factor that influences your weight loss and maintenance is your commitment to doing what you have to do to make that happen.

Yes, life's stresses happen to us all. They never stop -- there are more to come. Just listen to this: Two months after my WLS my beloved husband was diagnosed with cancer. Two months after that our dear dog died. A month later, my son's eldest son died. And just two weeks ago my husband's father died. And last weekend my own dear mother died.

I'm fortunate that I'm nearly 70 years old and have already learned a few things in life. One of the things I know is that, compared to the other things life throws at us, losing my excess weight and maintaining that weight in the last 15+ months was one of the very few things I actually could control.

I don't know if everyone can control their own resolve and resilience. But I encourage the newbies here to do what you can to ramp up those qualities in yourself as you travel this journey. That may include getting yourself into therapy / counseling to help you get to the finish line and beyond.

This is your life. And no one but you can create it.

[Kindle 8,667]

Excellent post @VSGAnn2014. I'm gonna steal it.

So sorry about your recent and past losses. I'm not a hugger, but hugs to you. Grief definitely puts life in perspective. All the little WLS details lose their significance and kind of become a blessing because they are one of the few things we can control.

[Author Andrea 16]

The way I see it, once we lose the weight be it 50, 60 or 65%, it is far less luggage to carry around and also should give us more energy. I believe the other weight loss after the 65% would be on us to achieve, meaning, what we eat, how much we eat, how often we eat & exercise, etc. I think basically the surgery will help with a head start. Either way, we'll be healthier. I've only lost 16 lbs in 8 days after surgery(16 prior) and I feel great.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. I don't believe we can't achieve weight loss after the 65%.

[cindi gant 101]

65% is just the statistical loss. Don't worry about it. If you keep doing your part (because the surgery only does so much) you can lose more. My doctor's WLS goal was about 120 and I have surpassed that. I want to lose another 38 pounds. For me, this is the most difficult part of this journey. The weight used to drop off like crazy. Now it is very slow.

Keep doing EVERYTHING you were told to do. Go to all of your follow ups. Your weight loss will slow down but then you just kick up what you are doing. If you are stalled after a couple of months call your doctor. He may have special tips or supplements for you to take. Every doctor had different guidelines.

Edited November 30, 2015 by cindi gant

[cindi gant 101]

Michelev97, I recommend a book called "Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies". It is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble for about $20.00 or so. It answers tons of questions regarding pre and post op. I had the sleeve 23 months ago. I was in the hospital 2 nights. A few doctors do this as an outpatient procedure. My doc does not. I had a catheter just for the first day.

I live alone so when I was released I went home to my house and no one stayed with me. My family lives close by and called daily to check on me.

I went home with a drain and I had a follow up with his RN 7 days after I was released and she removed the drain. I did not have any major complications. Be sure to buy the groceries on your doctors list. Follow the rules. Walk as much as possible every day. Have a heating pad handy just in case u need it. My pain was minor. Just a little discomfort. Remember everyone's journey is different. If u can attend support groups before surgery I highly recommend it! Those people will become your friends. You are on your way to joining the losers bench. Welcome to the club.

[JCP 619]

I went from 275 to 155 in a year. I did nothing special. I am still losing but slowly now. Don't worry about this. Just focus on getting stronger. Your body will find the best weight for you. Be happy.

[HELLCATT81 88]

I went from 275 to 155 in a year. I did nothing special. I am still losing but slowly now. Don't worry about this. Just focus on getting stronger. Your body will find the best weight for you. Be happy.

Wow and you had the sleeve. Were you strict on what you ate? Did you exercise a lot. I'm discouraged cause I lots 20 pounds on my pre op diet (2.5 weeks) and since surgery (4 weeks out) I've only lost 12 pounds

I don't work out

[Jorge A 13]

My weight goal was originally to be at 160 lbs. I lost that and more. I was weighing at 140 lbs after about 1 year out. Now at 3 years out i have gained about 25 lbs. so that puts me at 5 lbs over my intended goal. Not bad i think. I think if you follow an exercise program you will lose as much weight as you care to lose. Ive started to run, and I do yoga to help in my running. Happy weight loss. Oh and remember, this is Your life. You make it happen.

Edited December 21, 2015 by Jorge A

[BigDog Bryan 262]

I was told that the surgery alone would get me to about 75%-80% of my goal. The remainder would require an exercise plan and a fair amount of sweat, in addition to the new eating habits to cross the finish line.

Be prepared to do the work and you will receive your reward!!

[Foreverblessedx3 16]

I am 16 months out...lost 80 lbs within 10 months, about half what I needed to lose...now I seem to be going up and down the same 3-4 lbs... I seem to be stuck, but feel if I started eating nothing but Protein and vegis that I would lose again.

I have had no problems with my surgery, I have never thrown up, or been sick.. to be honest other than the fact I can't eat and drink at same time or at least very little, I don't feel any different now. I feel most restriction with meat, but eat about anything I want...and that is the bad thing. I wish there were things I couldn't tolerate. Like carbs...that would be great!

I am hoping with warmer weather I will be motivated to get active and start going down again.

[Cari Dickenson 148]

It has been a while since I have logged on... and I just had my 4th month post op visit with my doctor/nutritionist. I have lost 43 pounds in total and am so EXCITED! I feel great!!

Now, I am a little bit concerned because the NUT said that I am about 50%. He said most gastric sleeve patients lose 65% of their excess weight. So, that would mean, if I weighed 100 pounds over my IDEAL weight then I am expected to lose about 65 pounds and they consider that to be the norm. NOW, I want to lose the 100 pounds that I am over weight by -- but the NUT made me feel like that was not typical and went one to say that when one is heavy it takes more energy and therefore you lose more weight but once you have lost about 65% of the excess weight it is more difficult... So, is he trying to discourage me or, well, I don't know?

So, those of you who have had the surgery and are at the 1 year mark -- did you lose ALL your excess weight or was it the 65% of the EXCESS weight that my NUT was talking about?

Listen the nut doesn't know everything I lost a lot more then average but you know what if you are eating just meat. cheese Beans and taking your Vitamins..... I eat little to no carbs and non one who has had the surgery should be having carbs until you are ready to maintain weight...... unless it comes in the form of fruit... especially watermelon smoothies.... ( i freeze watermelon and ninja it and thats my smoothie) first you get a lil carb but you get the sweetness you might be craving/missing and you get the Water plus side to watermelon is the low cals in it... you use more to burn it and digest then it has in it so its a good fruit....

[Anna Nim 196]

Neither Link worked.

One could not be found, the other (on Firefox) took me to the Doctor's website, but not the PP.

Regarding the "Average", the Statistics have nothing to do with you. You may lose more, you may lose less..

I had knee surgery with a 85% success rate, here I am now needing it again-so clearly my stats were not average.

Like rain, 100% or 0% chance or rain on your house no matter the percent chance of rain your city..