What if it doesn't work?

[luvzpitbullz 41]

My surgery is scheduled for 8 days from now. Im going through the range of emotions from being really excited, to dread to ...you name it! My latest thing is what if it doesn't work? I've been on a few conversion threads as I am lap band to sleeve and I see sleevers converting to other surgeries because they failed to yield good results with their sleeve. For instance, one lady didn't lose ANY weight and when they did some sort of sleeve test, they were amazed that her sleeve was able to stretch to almost normal size. I've heard of others not having success as well and it scares the heck out of me. This will be my 3rd surgery (band in, band out, sleeve) and I am not able to have a bypass. Anyone else's sleeve just not "work" ? Im already nervous that my banana-tummy will be larger than norm because I had the lap band and had a prolapse. But my surgeon uses a 34F Bougie and hopefully all the swelling and other crap caused by my band will be gone by surgery time. Thanks in advance.

[marfar7 1,533]

Think about what they're doing: Removing 85% of ur stomach. No matter the size of the bougie, ur bound to lose weight cuz u only have 15% of ur original stomach size.

I'm a band to sleeve revision (had my band out and sleeve done at the same time tho, thank God) also and have been losing much slower than those who had the sleeve only. 1 thing is becuz I started at a lower weight (174) and 2nd becuz I already had some restriction, I only lowered my intake a little, compared to those that only had the sleeve, that were' eating much more before their surgery (my opinion on this, no medical evidence).

I'm 3 mths out and have lost 22 lbs. I lost 14 lbs the 1st month and about 1 lbs a week since. I will accept this rate cuz I eat whatever I want, I don't count calories, carbs, anything - I just listen to my body and stop eating when it tells me to. I eat about as much (maybe a couple bites less) than when my lapband was at it's premium condition 3 yrs ago (had it done 4 yrs ago but it was "perfect" restriction at about 1 yr). I eat bread, rice, Pasta and potatoes. I can only eat 1 pc of bread, a few spoonfuls of rice, maybe 5 bites of Pasta, and maybe 1/4 of a potato. While I know I could speed up the loss by counting, stopping eating bread, rice, pasta, and exercising more than my 1 hr 4x a week - I enjoy eating normally and still seeing a 1 lb loss each week. I'm now in a size 8 and if I never lose another lb (my goal is 130 - I'm 22 lbs from it), I'm still happy with being able to eat whatever I want.

It's why I had wls in the first place - to avoid the constant dieting. And counting stuff is dieting. I've done enuf dieting in my lifetime. I've had enuf.

So, if u watch what u eat, count everything u put in ur mouth, and constantly think about food (cuz we all know when u count, ur obsessed with food), u will lose much faster. It's all what u want to make of it. If ur happy losing slower, I recommend not being obsessed with what u put in ur mouth. If u want to lose faster, then count.

And yes, I know how much Protein and Water I'm sposed to get in a day. I also know that broccoli is better than cake. I eat very healthy - just not obsessively.

And I know that there's some people who don't lose weight with the sleeve. U occasionally see them on this board. It's very rare tho. U can't convince me that by losing 85% of ur stomach and being forced to eat just 6 bites of a meal that u won't lose weight. Scientifically if u eat less calories, ull lose weight. If I eat only 6-8 bites of a meal, I'm regularly eating less than 1000 calories a day (yes, even I who doesn't count them can still average the amt I eat) I'm bound to lose, maybe not fast, but I will still lose.

So, if u work at it, u WILL lose weight. Even if u don't work at it, u'll probly still lose, just much slower. Good luck!

[NMJG 1,266]

From what I've seen on this board, the people who don't lose or gain back frequently eat slider foods and/or drink their calories in coffee drinks and such. They may also make poor food choices in general, but you can control these things.

[jdwstmn 7]

I am 9 Weeks out, down 32lbs. I still worry that I wont hit my goal weight. I can tell you that you can not eat the portions you ate before. It is painful to eat too fast or too much.

Every time I eat, I think about it. Not because it is a habit, but you feel it. I don't eat mindlessly. Because I eat so much less now, what I eat is a lot more important to me. Protein first, always. Yes, I've had Cookies. But not a bag full, 2 little cookies. And that's all I needed. I went a couple Weeks and gained a pound! But my body re adjusted and I am back to losing. Being scared or anxious is normal. The sleeve is what you make it, it will not cure you, it is a tool. I have to re program my brain and my relationship with food. It won't happen overnight, but neither did the weight gain. Trust your doctor and when the pounds start coming off, you'll be so happy, eating crap food doesn't sound so great. It motivates me.