CowgirlJane

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think it is completely accurate. You CAN fail with the sleeve. My doctor (not surgeon) has several band to sleeve revision patients and so I asked her about this before my surgeryy. She said that 3 of them have done AWESOME but the fourth one has not lost well at all. She thinks it is because she Snacks too often but for whatever reason the sleeve tool isn't working for her. I was warned by the surgeon that revision patients might lose less, might lose slower. There is apparently data to support that, but I haven't seen it. The theory I heard is because you have gotten used to that "full feeling" and so are desensitized to it. To the OP - My losses have been good, progressing like a virgin sleever not a revision. I personally find living with the sleeve so much better then the band, I feel like I don't have as many adjustment problems as some new sleevers have. i suspect nearly 100% of revision patients ask the question of "why is it different this time". I don't know about you, but i was told I failed with the band as I wasn't compliant. You will hear that you must follow the rules to be successful with the sleeve too - absolutely true. My own personal experience is that the sleeve is a much much better tool so you have a better chance of remaining compliant. It is easier to be compliant when you aren't hungry and when you aren't vomiting healthy food, There is no comparison, you don't have a pouch, you just have a tiny tummy. Someone who used to post here alot always said "the sleeve is what the band promised, but never delivered"

I have been fighting excess weight since i was 5 years old - and I am 48 now. You would think I would have learned by now, but I have still had short phases of "scale denial". It isn't the right thing for me, I need to weigh daily , or at least several times a week on the same scale/same time of day. At least since the sleeve, I have not let it go longer then 2 weeks. In my past, I would ignore the scale for MONTHS be shocked that i had gained 20+ pounds and then of course somehow manage to keep gaining. I just refuse to do that again. If I struggle with losing, or maintenance, I am committed to keep weighing anyway. One of the things I remember about the sleeve, is it is here to help me catch myself when i am falling (failing, however you want to see it) but, I still need to catch myself. I learned that in a support group I went to pre-op and it made a big impression on me. I felt so helpless when I failed with the band, I just didn't know how to keep from regaining but I am prepared this time to make maintenance a success. Even if I never get under 199 pounds (which I will!) I am never ever ever going to let myself regain a bunch of weight and be that morbidly, hugely obese woman I don't even recognize. Google the 5 day pouch test. The point is to go back to liquids, progress to soft food etc, but to do it in 5 days. It helps restore that feeling of restriction. I would have done it, except my own version of just drinking Water, eating Protein first and taking Vitamins worked to get me restarted. I will do the 5day pouch test in the future I am sure. So red, it is my opinion that you can make your goals - but do remember that after X number of months post op it gets harder to lose. Those first 12-18 months is really the best window, with the first 6 months being the most weight loss (as we have both already seen). I want to lose another 40 pounds - even if that is done just a few pounds a month, I am pushing hard to get there even though I took a little summer vacation and didn't lose too much in August.

Women's sizes are SO inconsistent. I hit 199 this morning, I am 5'5" and pretty much wear regular size 16. Yesterday I bought a Calvin Klein pencil skirt (affordable at Ross Dress for Less!) that was a size 14!!! The tops I bought were either XL or Large. One of the large shirts is bigger then the XLs! I went to order something online and the size chart for that item said i should wear an 18/20 or 1X. All the 18s I own are falling off me so i skipped that - worried about fit. I feel like it is a bad "measure" because it just depends on how snug you like your clothes, different clothes makers size differently AND depending on the cut of the item, you may need a bigger size if one part of you is bigger. 10 years ago, I got down to 205 and never wore smaller then an 18 or 1x - clearly clothes have gotten bigger over the last 10 years too.

I had the crapband for 10 years. I had your same fears, but the sleeve has been terrific for me and I feel gettng the revision has been the best decision I have made in quite awhile. I have lost weight. Not saying it is easy, but the tool works like it should so you stand a chance at success. I don't vomit, slime, PB or whatever Bandsters are calling it these days I can eat normal foods - including veggies - and have been since about 2-3 months out, just small quantities. I am not hungry all the time. I spend a year working up the nerve to do the revision, wish i had done it sooner, but that year of thinking about it benefited me in other ways. I was informed, had researched it thoroughly and was READY.

Today is not my official weigh in day, but I did get to 199.4 today! I am so incredibly excited. I haven't see the 1XX on the scale since sometime in the 1980s. Red, So, we are all individuals, and I am not saying my path is the right one for everyone. There are lots of reasons that people's weight loss varies and I agree that you have done amazing - have you tried lifting 70+ pounds lately? It amazes me that I used to lug around more weight then I can lift! Since you ask, I will share some background and approaches I have taken - some of it may apply to you some may not. I assume that we started with smiliar BMI or excess weight to lose based on your comments. Obviously, even if we started at the same weight - the situation is really different if you are 5'0" or 6'0". I am 5'5", and my "target" according to the charts is 144 (not sure, heard different things). The nutritionalist used that target to compute that I should lose 164 to get to a perfect weight.. My surgeon's practice uses 80% excess weight loss as the "goal" so in my case they would target me for weighing 177. Bottom line, no matter how you look at it, I had a crapload of weight to lose. The reality of it is, when you have been mordibly obese for decades, it is pretty hard to get down to the low 20s BMI. I picked 158 as my target because it is a nice round lose 150# goal. In the 1980s, I looked awesome at 140-145# range so I felt that 160 is an agressive goal, but great weight for me. So, they gave me guidelines of the "range" of excess weight that their patients typically lose - so basically at 3 months, 6 months etc you can tell if you are "on track" for making that 80% weight loss. I don't get hung up on what I read on the boards, I keep my eye on my own "plan" that I worked out with the nutritionalist and it has been great. I was advised that as a revision from the band, it is very common to not do as well as "virgin sleevers" but I have been at the upper end of their "expected results" so far. I share all this background so you know that I have had pretty a pretty detailed plan around what I want to accomplish. I was banded in 2001 - lost 30# in a month and then lost another 40# over the next 11 months. Then, I just stopped losing - I never got under 200#. I regained plus more after I had to have the Fluid removed from my band in 2004. I did not want to repeat my poor results so have that extra "lesson learned" - that first 1-2 years is really the time to get the weight off. So, another thing I did is that I read this and another sleeve forum quite awhile before I was sleeved. I paid attention to people who had results I wanted to emulate, and who were close to me in excess weight, female etc. I listened to their advice as I figured they were "on to something". At first, I had the idea that a tiny bougie size is what made people most successful weight loss, but over time I realized that isn't true at all - it is the behavior post op that was the most important factor. My surgeon uses 38 bougie size - one of the bigger ones. Another thing I do is that I follow a plan for awhile and then when results aren't what I want, I change it up. This is something the nutritonalist helped me figure out. I started out tracking everything on myfitnesspal.com and it really helped me build my confidence. I watched Protein, carbs and calories very carefully. Over time, the nutritionalist told me to take the leap of faith and start listening to my body instead of "eating by the numbers". That was hard for me to do because I didn't trust my body's signals or my ability to use them wisely. So, I stopped tracking several months post op and my weight loss accelerated! She was right, it was time to do something different. I have also incorporated pretty heavy duty activity and exercise. I "move" everyday and make sure I do something intense 4 days a week - it might be a tough workout at the gym or now in the summer, working hard on my mini farm. Exercise makes me feel better and it is a time when I can't snack! As far as food, these days all I keep track of (in my head only, not written down) is: -daily Water consumption - 8-12 glasses; -protein consumption 60-100g, -Vitamin consumption (as per recommendations). I don't worry about calories -portion size which I am keeping small to keep that tight feeling as long as possible I use small dishes - a 4 oz cup for a "bowl" and a tiny plate for my dinner. If by chance I am using a normal size plate, I create a mental ring around the outside where no food should sit and food should not "touch" each other. This is how I keep portions in line, even without measuring. I also have other rules - like I eat protein first, veggies second and everything else is way down the list. I also eat if I am really hungry, I don't worry about the clock so much. I don't go through drive throughs. If for some crazy reason I have "fast food" we go inside and eat - it is a rare event because it isn't very good! I don't get high calorie drinks, but do treat myself to a skinny latte or mocha once a week. I cannot seem to break my habit of snacking in the evening. If I am dying for something sweet, I eat a chocolate flavored Protein Bar. I give myself permission, that if I am still hungry after that, I can have a real dessert, but I never am. I do allow myself fruit now because I am no longer restricting carbs. I do limit bread, crackers, rice, noodles etc - but that is because I won't make the protein goals if I don't. Another rule I have is that I weigh myself frequently. Some people are driven nuts by the ups and downs, I am not. I know myself, and avoiding the scale is one of the ways that I "deny" that I am overeating or off program. The scale is like a mirror, it tells me if my behavior is what I had planned. So, what do I eat? Alot of protein. I often have an egg for Breakfast with perhaps a bit of cheese and a small slice of ham. Sometimes I make a veggie, ham (or sausage) and egg omelette, eating half at breakfast and the other half for a snack or for lunch. Also, cottage cheese with pineapple is a current favorite and sometimes what i have for lunch. Another lunch choice might be a bit of salad with tuna or chicken breast strips. Dinner might be a hunk of protein (chicken, fish, beef) plus veggies. For Snacks I have Protein Bars, cottage cheese, greek yogurt, beef Jerky that sort of thing. Now, I am not perfect and I do sometimes eat junky food that the family brings home - a few chips or eating a side of potato salad or something like that. I just work to keep the portions small. I guess a final comment, and maybe this one is of use to people - if your portion sizes have gotten too big or you are eating the wrong things - do a back to basics kind of thing for a few days. Some people use the 5 day pouch test, I haven't tried that yet. What has worked is to refocus on water, protein and avoiding snacky food - and then my desire for food automatically drops and I feel good restriction. It is amazing to me that just a few days of being "back on track" helps me get back that good sleeve feeling of not desiring food so much. I attached a "before" photo.

I had my band removed 11 months ago. Was sleeved Dec 12th 2011, just over 8 months ago. I started at 308, and this morning I weighed in at 200.2 pounds! I am so close to leaving the 200s behind me forever!!! It is just so exciting!!! I am still overweight, but i now longer look or move like the huge person I used to be. This photo is from yesterday - life is good!

At 4 months post op, I had zero appetite, zero interest in food. I ate greek yogurt, cottage cheese with pineapple, Protein drinks or bars. I also had chicken on a small salad, or a tuna salad or something like that. I could eat chicken breast or beef or whatever, but i just had a very low food drive at that time. My focus was just to be sure I got enough water/fluids and protein and just didn't worry about the rest. Like you, crackers were easy and I sometimes had them, but generally just kept them out of the house since they really don't add a lot of nutrition. Now 8 months out, I eat pretty normal healthy type food, in small quantities, still protein first, and no longer feel like food is too much of a bother type thing.

Hi, Welcome! I lost 105 pounds in about 7 months. I have stayed the same about the last 3-4 weeks, but all in all, have lost great! I started with 150 to lose so still want to lose more, but really am feeling great. The first doc I saw wanted me to get the rny gastric bypass also. I had "failed" with the lapband and with the 51 BMI - well - he was skeptical I could be successful with the sleeve. I thought alot about it, and when I considered the pros and cons, just decided I wasn't comortable with it. Plenty of people do GREAT with the RNY so I am not dissin' it, just not for me. I found a doc who has a pretty good track records with his sleeve patients and believed I was a good candidate. I have been right on track and very very happy with results so far. I am confused about the "bile" comment. I had horrid reflux (ie I woke up choking more then once) with the lapband. I never had it before. After being sleeved, I had some acidy feeling tummy, controlled by PPI. I stopped the PPI awhile ago, but definately will take it if needed. What i experience with the sleeve is mild compared to the band - I have never had acid / food come up with the sleeve, just sometimes an acidy feeling.

I sure hope this works out okay. I find it.... annoying.. that you have this kind of requirement. I had to do a 2 week liver shrinking diet - for my own safety. I had no weight loss requirement, although i did lose 8#. I found it very very difficult but I was very motivated to get that liver shrunk. It makes me kind of mad that some programs want you to prove that you are surgery worthy by losing certain amounts of weight. I don't think there is ANY evidence to show that it improves your long term success. Most of us are professional dieters, so what the heck does losing 10 pounds prove? Rant over. Good luck on your surgery - looking forward to welcoming you as a new sleever!

I know that WLS patients have a high percent of depression etc. I personally think it may have to do with nutrients, but is more likely due to unrealistic expectations. WLS won't make you happy, won't solve marriage, financial or other problems. Heck, it won't even guarantee weight loss and maintenance. It is a tool to help you achieve many things, but the price you pay is giving up food as an emotional crutch. For some people, some points in their lives, that is a rugged change to deal with. I think I would have a hard time too, but the weight loss came for me at a time in my life when I am so loving and getting more and more into my horse riding hobby. I am doing all sorts of stuff with my horses that were just not possible before. If I ever feel like I miss food, I give my horse a big hug and am reminded why it is just so worth it.

First of all, I am inspired by your positive attitude in spite of this ongoing challenge. I think you have an outstanding mindset and determination - you will get through this! I am sorry you are having these challenges. I have never heard of the "kink stomach" this must be a pretty uncommon complication. I have heard of strictures though and it is really a puzzle to me why some people are prone to them. Keep us posted on your progress, i am very hopeful that soon this will be behind you and you find eating more comfortable. I eat pretty normally now, but I would say that in the first 5 months post op, I much preferred cottage cheese, yogurt etc. I am not sure why, but part of it was that food just didn't interest me much and that was easy. I found easy/softer foods more appealing even though i could tolerate chicken and beef etc too - i just didn't prefer it.

I read the link on the fitness standards - I think this could be doable! If it is your dream, let it inspire and motivate you. The reality of whether you can make it depends mostly on your determination, but also perhaps if you have early onset arthritis or any other obesity related issues that might make you partially impaired. I have two bad knees (bone on bone arthritis) a bad hip and back/shoulder/neck issues but I am very physically active and just loving it. I keep up with other women my age range who have been thin their whole lives. I don't think I will be running a marathon soon (those knees!) but I sure do alot. I think that often our desire to suck up life and just do all sorts of stuff is so strong that the physical "limits" become an obstacle that is readily overcome. Don't count yourself out yet!

I don't know about 50% infection rate, i don't believe that is accurate. Erosion is actually quite uncommon, but is one of the more serious band complications. Truth of the matter is that most people eventually have to have it removed - reflux, slippage, just didn' work - those seem like the most common ones.

Lisa We have similiar stats. I was sleeved a month after you, have lost over 100# but still want to lose another 40-45 or so. I only lost 8# preop and that is included in my stats. I am in a stall, but optimistic that I will get there - may take me 18 months, but i can do it! Just wondering how you are doing since we have similiar amounts to lose. I have been in a stall for about 3 weeks! I know I need to change something up, but on some level am kind of enjoying the short break and just being at a stable size for a little while. Weird maybe.

I lost 70# with the band in about a year. I felt like a failure, that is for sure. I got down to about 200# through dieting and alot of exercise. I lost about 100# with the sleeve in 6 months. I started out heavier this time, so still, am around 200#, but still losing. They are completely different experiences - night and day. The band was a nightmare, living with the sleeve feels pretty normal, pretty good. I don't think being sleeved is a guarantee of success, and I read on forums about people who seem to have poor results. I am not there with them, I don't know why, but I am guessing that they either didn't get good instructions or don't follow the "rules." I met some ladies in a face to face support group who had lost about 50# in 6 months, still had a lot to lose and I guess i felt that was not great results, but they talked about all the crap they eat... and well.... WLS is no guarantee of excellent results. You still have to work it! You could say the same thing of the band I guess, but, it is much easier to "comply" when you are NOT starving and in pain - which was pretty much my experiences with the band anyway.

I am prone to nasuea from the anesthesia. When I woke up, I felt horrid even though they had given me the anti-nasuea cocktail. As bad as it felt, I never threw up. I went home the next morning, only stayed one night. The pain wasn't that bad, it felt like I had done about a million situps. I did sleep in a recliner because I found getting in and out of bed uncomfortable - the ab muscles were very sore. I didn't have a big problem with the gas pain either. Actually, I felt worse after my band removal surgery maybe because I was so blue about the band failing or maybe because that port area was so sore. My main issue was feeling really tired. I got better over time- but I wasn't "normal" until about 6-8 weeks post op.

Many of us exercise. I started strength training about 2 months post op or so.

The best compliment I got was a friend who sees me every 2-3 months does a huge DOUBLE take. She also told me she cant imagine me losing another 45 pounds or so - well, I still have plenty of fat, but it was a nice compliment. Another friend didn't recognize me - I hadn't seen her in about 3 months. My sister from out of state saw me and told me I was just radiant - happy! I haven't heard the sick comment, but i have to tell you I committed a huge Faux pas about 15 years ago. My son's teacher was a very very large woman and she was losing weight. Since I was very obese too, I complimented her on the weight loss, only to find out she was dying of stage 4 cancer. No wonder people are so paranoid about giving compliments on weight loss - I felt absolutely horrible.

What I will comment about hunger is that there is still also a relationship to how you manage your food and exercise. If I eat a high Protein, small portion diet, my hunger remains very low to practically zero. If I eat junky snacky food, my desire to eat increases. I don't know if it is fair to call it hunger, but it is some sort of physical response to crappy food. Thirst and acidy stomach can also "mimic" hunger, especially those first few months post sleeve. I have been told that if you exercise long durations you can trigger hunger. I don't know about that, when I go out and do horse stuff I am out for 4-6 hours and I feel that my hunger is reduced when I am physically busy. I have to remind myself to eat something especially if I am exerting alot. I am still most likely to eat "wrong" late in the evening watching TV - old habits can be hard to break. I try to have a Protein Bar or a bit of fruit with cottage cheese for dessert - so at least some sort of nutritional value So, my advice - focus on small quantities of foods like lean meats, cottage cheese, greek yogurt etc etc with veggies to balance it out. Go light on the fruit, high carbs like pastas or bread, alcohol or any of that. You just feel more satisfied on the high protein with veggies diet and your blood sugar stays more even if you eat moderate to low glycemic indicator foods. I do NOT eat super low carb because it makes me feel bad physically and I am still losing weight okay. When I have a slice of bread, it is a wholesome whole grain, I try to avoid a lot of crackers and cookie type carbs. Ice cream literally makes me ill and I get diarrea so that source of fat and carbs is pretty much gone too. When I was first banded - say the first few months - my hunger was seriously reduced, but my drive to eat really wasn't. After the first few months, I was constantly hungry and wanted to eat. It was not good. Then, when the band was removed I realized it was helping some because I went from being hungry alot to being just RAVENOUS practically all the time. It was terrible but convinced me that I really needed the sleeve because something just isn't right - my stomach sends too much hunger signals to the brain. What a miserable way to live - always focused on food. I tried behavioral therapy, but I am convinced that MOST of the issue for me is physical hunger (not to say that old habits and head hunger aren't a factor too, but it is smaller then the drive to eat due to hunger in my case anyway).

Sorry if this sounds harsh - but your kids are old enough to pick up after themselves, cook food, do laundry etc etc. In fact, you are doing them a disservice to continue to provide complete maid and chef services - how else will they learn if not under your wing? I can't help but wonder if they aren't all (kids and hubby) really saying that : "I have a good deal going here and I don't want you going in and messing it up by changing!" Really, it isn't about the short time of surgical recovery, it is about the whole rest of your life. Heck, if you start feeling better about yourself you might no longer be the willing servant to the family. Many many kids at age 16 and 19 have jobs and are fairly independent. Even 13 year olds often babysit and take on other responsibilities. It is really really hard for others to accept this kind of change, but I guess the question is - what is your health worth? What is your happiness worth? What is your ability to go out and do fun stuff without dragging around a bunch of extra weight worth? Yes, it is great to have support, but I will tell you that the most important "support" comes from deep inside you. It is your own willingness, eagerness to change your life that will make you successful no matter what resistance you meet from others. My final thought is this. My boys are 20 and 23. It is a bit sad and lonely when they fly the nest and start living their own lives - even though I raised them with the expectation to find their way int he world, it is still painful as the mom to be left behind. My youngest son went off to college and I had to hide my tears everytime he headed back to school after a long weekend or holiday home. It was heartbreaking as we have always been so close, but dang it, he deserves his own life - he doesn't owe it to me to stay around and keep me company! How are you going to feel over the next 5 years or so as they each take flight and leave you home - still fat, still not living the life you want, but you don't have their companionship. I am so busy having fun these days I hardly have time to miss the kids. I am not even at goal yet, but let me tell you, losing that 100+ pounds was like a HUGE weight coming off my shoulders and now I am the one flying!

For me, I would never consider a lapband again, even if it were possible with the sleeve. I hate that demonic device. Good luck on the approvals - sleeve is oh so much better!!!!

I was ravenous much of the time pre sleeve. I felt "hunger" post sleeve at times, but overall it is reduced considerably. I would say 90% reduction and I am nearly 8 months out.

I think that the first 2 months... there is a lot of change going on. Maybe the body is still producing alot of hunger hormone? I don't know. what I observed is that my hunger decreased even more around 2-3 months post op. I don't know if that is because I finally figured out how to make things work for me or what the deal was. A couple of ideas - make absolutely sure you are well hydrated. I swear I need more Water now then I ever did! Also, make absolutely sure you don't have heartburn/acidy stomache/reflux. Even if you feel "ok" sometimes that feels like hunger but it is really mild heartburn. In hindsight, this is one of the problems I had with the band - I was so dang hungry all the time - at least some of it was stomach acid. You know what made it feel better? ice cream. that was not good at all. Since being sleeved I have stayed on top of the hydration and acid and the hunger has been well managed and I no longer crave ice cream or anything like that to comfort or soothe my stomach. I thought it was all in my head - emotional soothing - but I am now so convinced that it was at least 80% physical since a PPI made it go away.

I think that it is very hard to assess how "ready" you are. I was banded in 2001 and I really really thought I was ready. In hindsight, I didn't know what it even meant to be ready.... really, i just had no idea. It sucks that I had a miserable 10 years with the lapband, regained all the lost weight etc, but I tell you what, it really makes me appreciate the tool that the sleeve is. Also, since I was in such a different state of mind with the sleeve, I didn't regret that I don't get to eat much anymore. Like i said before, the rough Patches were just in perspective. I felt very worried about the risk of a revision, but in the end, decided I was dying slowly from the obesity and so might as well throw the dice and go through with it. Overeating was ruining my health and interferring with my life - I was just done with it. I went through a lot of turmoil in the year leading up to this surgery, maybe i got alot of it out of my system... not sure. Now, what is more bothersome is that everyone else cares so much about food...lol. Damn these people who all want to take time for meals an stuff.

Looking at the stats, reflux post sleeve is a common "complication". People often get it even years later. I never had reflux until the band - and then it was horrid. I have a mild amount now, probably wouldn't have any if I gave up coffee. It doesn't give me alot of problems, keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't get worse..