2 1/2 years out, 189 pounds gone. Not feeling good.

[shecab 5]

I'm new to this so bare with me. I had my Sleeve done December 17th 2010. After reading most of this forums sections I see a lot of new bees and post ops or pre ops. Congrats to everyone who has decided this path. I'm sure my experiences are and can be different from everyone else's. Bodies and minds work differently.

For me presently, I am miserable. My starting weight was 320, yes a big girl, size 24-26' no health problems, just tired of being a fat chick. I'm 47 now with 2 grandchildren and was hoping the surgery would control my "foodie" mentality. Boy did it and then some. The first 6 months I had to own why I ate, then had to realize I was to blame for my poor choice of eating habits. But in a world of fast food, all you can eat and portions in restaraunts that are completely ridiculous. My wake call came easy. I didn't have the space to indulge without the immediate side effect of pain once I overeat my 5 oz capacity. Yep, 2 1/2 years later and only 5 oz is max I can hold.

I'm sharing this not to be discouraging to anyone, but more watch what you wish for. I have done Everthing I was and am suppose to do, but the weight keeps coming off. My labs yearly show no signs of deffencicy but rather perfect. It's preplexing. I can't exercise for fear of more weight lost. I'm in a size 2 now, yes a 2. I look anterexic. Based on the outsiders who have not seen me in months. I've had Jevederm implanted in my face to take up the suken holes and Botox on forehead and neck to help with sagging skin. This is only done in the areas the general public can see. It's scary to see me naked. Bones and skin. I know and work deligently to where clothing to hide the skeltal reminds of me. My veins are on the surface of my arms and hands, necbones protrude unflattering and I've lost my butt, completely. And if things could not get worse, my brain last year shut off the "I'm hungry" signal. So I have to graze every 2 hours to try and get in at least 900 calories a day. Yep 900. most days I'm pushing the 900 and getting about 700.

I'm at a crossroads, I eat whatever I want, no calorie counting or fat content questions get in the way, no I'm just trying to maintain and every month another pound keeps dropping. I've discussed all this with my dr, patient advocate and nutrisnist. I've been told I'm one of the few who actually listened to the post instructions and I'd not taken the pain killers to overeat and stretch my stomach,

I found those comments confusing. Why would anyone go through this type of surgery just to take pain meds to overeat and go backwards and be fat again. I then realized when I hear folks say "it didn't work for me" this is what they're referring too.

Sorry if I've burst anyone's bubble of excitement. This was not my intent. Just feeling lousy. I have great energy, but afraid to use it for fear of losing more weight. I'm doing nothing strenuous to make it happen. Feel like I'm back in a different fishbowl looking out again, now just the super skinny girl.

Needed to vent, and thank you all if you read this post.

[ladylaura 77]

Wow...thank you for sharing your story with us. It is good to hear from someone who has had it a few years back and to see how they are now. I can't imagine becoming someone who can't gain weight (as I'm sure at one point in your life, you probably thought the same way). I have friends with that problem too. I've spoken with some people who have had it around the time you did who are doing okay and maintaining...I wonder what else is going on to make this so difficult for you

Is there a specialist of some sort you can see? And endocrinologist or anything? I don't know. There has to be something, right?

I am so sorry to hear this and hear you're struggling. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and know you are in my thoughts *hugs*

[Rox 200]

I guess I don't understand why the pain pills have anything to do with whether you lose weight or not. I was always told that if you're in pain after surgery, take the pain meds.

[shecab 5]

Thank you, I'm checking on seeing if they can expand the opening a little more. It seems to be my only option at this point.

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[karenb4729 309]

Well, I can tell you one way to gain weight. Start drinking Ensure. Most of the weight I gained as an adult came after my diagnosis with cancer. Up until that diagnosis I always weight in the 120's but I had to go through a year of chemo, couldn't keep much in the way of food down so I was told to drink Ensure. Its a very high calorie Protein Drink and it helped me put on 60 lbs. From there I kept climbing up but that's another story and the reason I ended up here with the sleeve.

[Amanda626 153]

I hope that works

[jenlen 58]

I guess I don't understand why the pain pills have anything to do with whether you lose weight or not. I was always told that if you're in pain after surgery' date=' take the pain meds.[/quote']

I assume she meant that afterwards when some people over eat they then take pain medicine to alleviate the discomfort. Doing this repeatedly could stretch out the stomach again.

At least that is how I read it.

[shecab 5]

Rox

Pain meds are designed for after the surgery to keep you comfortable but once the healing is complete, there is no need for them if your eating the right amount and not overeating. The statement I made was when you hear the procedure did not work for someone it's due to them keeping their poor eating choices and have maxed their pouch. I can assure you, it only takes 1 time to overeat. The pain is unbearable. Think of a balloon that has hit its Max and wants to pop. This is how yor smaller stomas feels, like it's gonna pop. Painful.

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[shecab 5]

I assume she meant that afterwards when some people over eat they then take pain medicine to alleviate the discomfort. Doing this repeatedly could stretch out the stomach again.

At least that is how I read it. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

You are correct!

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[moonlitestarbrite 902]

have you considered weight training? it doesnt burn calories. but it does build muscle. which could be very beneficial for you.