My Unsuccessful Sleeve

[k95 3]

Hi everyone

Just thought I'd share my VSG story with you all. Though my story is not as positive as most other posts are, I will say right now that I don't want anyone to use this as a reason to not get the surgery done. If anything, use my story to better your story.

I've STRUGGLED with my weight all. my. life. On top of that dealing with asthma, allergies, PCOS, Metabolic Syndrome, fluctuating thyroid levels, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (which took them a shocking while to determine whether I was type 1 or 2) by the age of 14. I've been seeing doctors regarding weight issues and trying to avoid it since I was around 7/8 years old. So literally this has all been my life, trying to avoid it and working so hard at the tender ages. By the age of 18, I absolutely could not take it any longer. I was tired in every way and form. Discouraged was an understatement at that point, I literally gave it my ALL and NOTHING worked. I dealt with more than you could possibly imagine in 18 years than some do in a lifetime.

Cutting to the chase a bit - a close friend of my parents was also dealing with weight issues and so was her daughter. They both had the lap band done and they looked PHENOMENAL.Then more individuals related to them had the surgery with the same amazing results. As extremely happy as I was for them knowing the struggle, it also made me so jealous wishing something great like that could happen for me. She then helped me out and talked to my mom about it and then had her surgeon meet with my mom and I to talk to us. After meeting with a LARGE sum of doctors within my 18 years, this was the first time I met with a doctor and I didn't feel like everything was my fault, like I just have to keep trying and just hope for the best, like I didn't care about myself and was probably just a lazy kid. First time I felt like a doctor truly felt my struggle. The doctors main concern was living with the diabetes, they wanted that to be resolved more than anything - and so did I, because living with diabetes was a nightmare for me (that's a whole other story by itself). We later came to the conclusion that the Gastric Sleeve surgery was the best option for me and I totally agreed. My excitement was out of this world!

I met with the doctor in May, had my surgery on July, 12, 2013. So, now looking back, you can say it was a fairly rushed process. But I guess at the time I didn't see it as that because I just wanted to have the surgery done! Had the blood work done that the doctor needed, did the pre op diet (which I barely lost much weight with), had my surgery done. Supposedly everything went well during it. Had A LOT of stomach aches and pains but everything was fine, did experience hunger pains which was strange. Cutting the to the point again, by the 2nd or 3rd day post op, my sugars were normal! I could neverrrr describe that unreal feeling! By the fifth day I believe I had dropped 10 lbs!! By a week 15 lbs - but, that was it....

Yes, you read that correctly. This coming July will mark 3 years post op, and I am still fluctuating around that. 3 years...
I've been told about plateaus but it is clearly something much more than that.
Almost 3 years and I am now a diabetic, again.. Nothing seems to help me lose weight, and the weird feeling now is that I feel hungry almost all the time. To be honest, I was and am not one of the sleevers who tried to force themselves to eat more than they could or got sad that they couldn't eat as much as before - those things made me soo happy. But that feeling of satiety was something I rarely ever experienced throughout these 2 almost 3 years. For sure I would take 2/3 bites and feel full but that only lasted half an hour to an hour. I can't ever remember eating what is a normal amount to a sleever and having the full feeling remain for a few hours until another meal time, and I was dying the experience that feeling and I still am.
I went into the surgery as everyone should know "this is not going to work by it is just a tool to help you", and yes I did understand that and yes as I'm sure every person would had/ will have a WLS feels deep down somewhere is that euphoria feeling of this will be your fix.
Could there have been times where I could've/should've put more work in - for sure as I'm sure that's the same with everyone.
I was tired and done by the age of 18, almost 21 now I don't even know what to call the state I'm in.

If ANYONE has any type or form of advice, or experiences like this, please do share it with me if you are comfortable to do so. I've been doing a lot of new research recently and came across some people with the same issue and it appears as though not enough of the stomach was removed which results in losing some weight at first then no more at all afterwards. This then lead to a Revision Sleeve surgery (basically re-sleeving the sleeve)...is anyone familiar with this/has anyone experienced this?
Super proud of everyone who is losing weight and have successful stories, keep going you got this! To anyone who has lost a fair amount of weight but is maybe feeling annoyed or anger because their weight loss has slowed down or anything that that, remind yourself that you've still lost and at least you are not in my boat Be grateful!

Best regards <3

P.S. sorry that this is kinda of scattered and trust me when I say this story in MUCH more in depth in many areas, but I shall leave it at this, for now.

[Daisee68 2,493]

Ok I had bypass not sleeve and I am only 8 months out, so not sure I have great advice. I would probably start by asking have you called your NUT and your surgeon and seen them again? If they have no suggestions, have you seen an endocrinologist to check your thyroid and possibly other metabolic issues? And/or a gastroenterologist who could do an endoscopy and see if he finds anything? The "hunger" may actually be acid reflux so you need to have that checked and addressed.

Don't give up hope. There is some reason you didn't lose more. Seek out those medical professionals to get their help and advice. Be sure to keep a food log and weight log for a couple of weeks before your appointments so you can show that to them and have some relative history to share.

[Kathy812 794]

I, too have a thyroid condition and struggled w/weight loss for 17 years, nothing helped. I have lost a lot, not nearly as much as others-can't help but think my thyroid condition plays a factor.

I am so sorry you are going through this. But, I've read and heard of a few people who had to have a revision.

Please go on youtube. I remember following a young ladies journey who only lost probably 20lbs her 1st year. A year later, she saw a new surgeon and had a revision & eventually got to goal. It is possible, so don't give up hope.

On this site there is a subforum, I think it's called complications or something like that. You may be able to connect w/others who are experiencing the same thing.

Wishing you success this go around.