1maryreigel

Hello my name is Mary. In 2008 I had lap-band surgery. I lost about 40 pounds and that was it. I had a lapband to sleeve revision in 2012. What a nightmare it has been. I have gone from 235 pounds to 140. I was down to 120 and still losing. I was so sickly looking. I made my own protein shakes that were about 1200-1500 calories a piece to be able to gain the weight. My problem is from the moment i had this surgery I have always thrown up. I was not even able to swallow my own spit for a while. I was so dehydrated the first week I had to have IV fluids. The second week I ended up in the hospital for 8 days. Another exploratory surgery where they found a piece of scar tissue and removed it. This did not help the problem. They even tried putting me on nausea meds that they use for cancer patients with no help. I had to have a pic line in my arm for a week. I finally was able to come home. I was so weak and sick I seriously thought I was going to die. I have threw up everyday for the last 4 years. I have had barium swallows, endoscopy and my bariatric surgeon wants to convert it to a bypass. For almost 2 1/2 years I have just refused. I once again had another endoscopy this morning and the gastroenterologist and my bariatric surgeon both said that I have a curve in my sleeve and only a small amount of food is able to pass through and the rest is coming up. I am 54 years old I can not even go out to dinner with my husband to eat dinner due to the throwing up. I am looking for someone who has had the sleeve converted to the bypass. How bad was it?

Hello everyone, I really need some advice. I got my sleeve on May4,2012. I was at 235 I now weigh 124 and still losing. I am unable to eat protein and throw up all the time. I have had several upper GI's and a endoscopy done. They found out that the muscle at the bottom of my stomach is to loose and usually they would use the excessive stomach to wrap around it but beings I don't have that they are not able to do that. The gastro doctor told my husband that the body is going to get rid of the food the fastest route which for me is throwing up. He said that I have the option of going to a bypass which would bypass the first part of my intestines. NO WAY...I was in the hospital 3 different times in May 2012 and it has been a constant struggle and fight. I look like a walking skeleton. Anyone have an suggestion to help me or had the same kind of problems. I do drink Muscle Milk in the morning. I make it with whole milk add a banana, and also greek yogurt for extra calories. I try to eat m&m which usually stay down pretty easy. I keep them in the fridge and grab a handful several times a day. I can not go out to eat due to the fact I have to throw up all the time and I feel like people are staring at me like "look at that skinny woman running to the bathroom again" like I have bulimia or anorexia or something. I went to my nieces wedding 2 weeks ago and it was outside and I took my food to my car and ate out there. It is so horrible. Can anyone help me????? please

Hey everyone, Just wondering is there anyone out here who has gone from a sleeve to gastric bypass revision? I had lapband surgery in 2008 and was revised to a gastric sleeve in May 2012. I am 19 months out from surgery. I am still unable to eat much. I can not hold down any protein except for my shakes. I was at 235 and now I am at 122 and still losing. My doctor told me I had formed a pouch where my lapband use to be and food is getting stuck in there and also the gastroenterologist told my husband that my spinter muscle is not working properly and they normally fix that by wrapping excessive stomach tissue around it but beings I have had the sleeve there is no excessive tissue. He said that the only way to fix my problem was possible gastic bypass. So the gastroenterologist and my bariatric surgeon both have told me to have this done. I am horrified. I was soooooooo sick after the sleeve revision. I ended up in the hospital 3 times the month of May. I had a pic line to feed me for 8 days on one of those stays. They did a second surgery to remove a piece of scar tissue that at the time they thought was the problem beings I could not even swallow my own spit without barfing. It has been a very hard and long road for me. I am feeling better these days but at one point I really thought I was dying. If anyone has had the revision from sleeve to gastric bypass what were your problems before and why did you make the decision to have it done? How bad was the surgery? were you in a lot of pain? I am scared to death to have this surgery done. Someone please help me if you have been in this situation...

Went and saw my bariatric surgeon last week he said that he feels the gastric bypass is what I need. He was telling me also that I have a pouch that has formed I guess at the top of my sleeve. I don't know. I am still constantly throwing up. I do drink my protein drinks. I have gotten them up to about 1200 calories for a 16 oz drink. I have been using 1/2 and 1/2 with the banana and greek yogurt. I just am not ready to have another major surgery done on my body : ( I have to go in December to have another barium swallow. I asked the surgeon to please give me a couple of months to be able to drink these high calorie protein drink and see if I can put on a little weight. I just feel like my body is to fragile and not only that I am terrified to go through another surgery. I really thought I was going to die after the sleeve. I had surgery 18 months ago and not one day has gone by that I have not thrown up. Please keep me in prayers that we will be able to find a solution for my problems.....

I don't want a donor stomach though some days it sure would be nice...lol...any suggestions on the type of weight gainer shakes? I guess those are different than protein drinks? Getting ready to google it. Most everything I see is just plain protein drinks.

Ok haven't been on here in forever; A little about my story. I had lap-band in 2008. In May 2012 I had a lap-band to sleeve revision. I have lost 100 pounds since May. In the beginning I was extremely sick. I ended up in the hospital 3 times in May. Once for 8 days with a pic line to help feed me. It was horrible. I ended up having a 2ed surgery in which they found a small piece of scar tissue and removed it and I did improve. I was actually able to drink fluid and eat a little. My problem now is I think I should be able to eat most stuff which I still cant. For breakfast I eat a pack of oatmeal which I am able to hold down. I eat a 1/2 sandwich for lunch usually a couple of pieces of thin sliced turkey lunchmeat on very toasted bread I usually can keep that down. My problem is dinner. OH MY GOSH WHAT A NIGHTMARE.... I just cant seem to figure it out. I have tried weighing my food 2 oz at most. Eating slow....chewing and I always manage to throw up. I can not eat any beef at all. Chicken does not work to well either. I can eat some steam shrimp. I am just at a lost. I feel like I have tried everything I know to try. My doctor just did another barium swallow and says all is well and working like it should. If anyone can give me any suggestions I am open to it. Doesn't matter how crazy it may sound i willing to try. Don't drink 30 minutes before or 30 minutes afterwards..just crazy..I have no problems drinking fluids and can hold them down. My problem is regular food at dinner. To be honest I am so tired of eating oatmeal, and my turkey sandwich. I even tried to eat a very juicy egg NOT HAPPENING...it is like my body just does not like the protein. I do still drink 2 protein drinks a day so I do get protein but very rarely from actual food....

So I have a really crazy question. When they remove 85% of your stomach what happens to the space that is left after they remove it? Do your other organs shift to accomodate the extra space? Just a thought that keeps running through my mind. My surgery is May 3 and the closer it gets the more crazy things I seem to worry about. I am really really nervous. I have a final appointment with my surgeon on April 17. I hate to go in there like a crazy women asking a bunch of crazy questions. LOL I am truely worried about this can anyone help me?

Thanks for everyones help. This sleeve thing is something else. LOL...I had a lapband and when I ate to much or to fast it would come right back up (not even like really throwing up, it just comes back up) and that is what the sleeve is doing to me. so I am thinking I am eating to fast and to much. I can eat and bend over to put clothes in the dryer and the food will just come back up. Not all the time but a lot of the time. I had a very very rough start on this journey. In the first 4 weeks of having the sleeve. I was sent for fluids one time, held in the hospital an extra day after my surgery and put in the hospital 2 more times and had another surgery where they found a piece of scar tissue and after removing that I have seem to be doing better but it has been a very slow process. I just want to be able to eat and keep things down so I dont end up in the hospital again : ( I am able to eat oatmeal and shrimp and they always stay down : ) I just got through eating lunch which I had 5 medium shrimp with cocktail sauce. I tried to eat a scrambled egg for breakfast and it made me sick. So I guess it is just a learning process that will take me time Thanks everyone for your support

Hello everyone I am 10 weeks out from surgery. Had a very rough start for the first couple of weeks. I am still having a lot of trouble with throwing up. I think I might be eating to much. At 10 weeks out about how much food should I be able to eat? 1/4 cup 1/2 cup. I know each person is different but just trying to get a general idea. Any help would be greatly appreciated : )

So I had surgery 8 weeks ago. Had a very rough first 5 weeks. In the hospital 3 times 2ed surgery found a piece of scar tissue fix that, thought things would get better...SIGH... I am having a problem like when I drink fluids, I can bend over to pick up something and the fluid will just come right back up into my mouth. I am still having so many problems with throwing up. It doesnt matter how slow I eat or drink or how little I eat I always seem to throw up. The only thing I can manage to hold down is oatmeal. Is this normal???? anyone else have these problems???? Someone please give me some advice. This sleeve is just kicking my butt. I have lost 45 pounds in 8 weeks which in itself kinda scares me because the weight is coming off so fast. Which would be great if I was able to hold down some food... Any advice would be greatly appreciated....

Congratulations.... : )

My second surgery was 3 weeks ago. They went in and removed the piece of scar tissue. I can even try to eat mashed potatoes with gravey and it will make me sick. I just feel like I am never going to figure it out. I have tried measuring out my food. Like 2 oz and it all comes back up. I can eat 1/2 pack of instant oatmeal with a splash of milk and it stays down fine.???? So I dont know if there is something wrong or if this is all normal???

Well hello everyone, As you read in my earlier post "worst decision I ever made" I have had a really rough time since I had my sleeve surgery on May 3,2012. I am happy to report that I was once again put in the hospital on Tuesday for dehydration. My doctor decided to go back in and do a scope on me to see if he could figure out what all my problems were coming from. When he went inside my tummy with a camera there was a piece of scar tissue that appeared to be causing a little obstruction. He also stretched my esphogas. He also went back into two of my incesions to check the outside of my tummy. The staple line and all else was perfect. He removed the piece of scar tissue and I have actually been able to eat a small amount of food today and was able to drink some fluids and hold them down. I feel better today than I have in the last month. I actually have been up all day moving around and doing stuff around my house. Before I was so weak and sick I slept most of the day. I just want to thank everyone who gave me so much support and sent me lots of prayers through this difficult time in my life. I feel like I am finally on the road to recovery : ) Still have a little ways to go but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... Everyone have a super blessed day : )

Hello, I had a lapband done in 2008. It ended up with a leak and I chose to have the sleeve done : ( beings I did not lose that much weight with the lapband. I had my my lapband removed a small hernia repair and the sleeve done on May 3, 2012. I had an upper GI done the morning after surgery and all looked well. They started me on fluids and the nightmare begins. I ended up staying in the hospital for 4 days because I could not hold down fluids. I came home and could not hold down anything. Went back to the doctor on May 14,2012 and was sent for another upper GI and sent down for several bags of fluids. The GI came back that I had severe swelling. I went back to the doctor on May17,2012 and was put in the hospital and stayed there until May 24,2012. I had a picc line put in my arm. I have been home for several days now and it is no better. I still have problems holding down fluids. I have even tried an eye dropper to make sure I am not taking in to much at one time. I was down to 1/2 TEASPOON every 30 minutes and still threw up. I am not able to eat. I do nothing but cry. My son will be graduating on June 15 and I am hoping I am still alive to see my baby graduate. I am serious I am so afraid that I am going to die from this sleeve. I wake up every morning with a positive attitude and I am like ok today will be a good day and it just gets worst as the day goes on. I would much rather be 100 pounds over weight than to live the rest of my life like this. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can at least keep down fluids I would appreciate it. I tried ice chips and just letting them trickle down my throat and I still throw up. I have another doctors appointment on Tuesday. Please keep me in your prayers. I am so scared.

Hello, I am about 7 weeks out from surgery. I am having horrible heartburn. I am allergic to ALL proton pump inhibitors. Prilosec ect... I have been taking pepcid but I either throw it back up or it just dont work. I found some tums extra in my cabinet can I take these? Does anyone out here in sleeve world have any suggestion that can help me. I am so miserable. The doctor gave me carafate. Which coats the stomach dont see where it is much good either. Any help would be appreciated : )

Sending prayers your way. Hang in there. I am six weeks post-op and the first 4 weeks were horrible for me. I was put in the hospital 2 times one in which I stayed for 8 days. I actually had to go back into surgery because I could not hold down even a sip of water without puking my guts up. I actually had a piece of scar tissue inside my stomach that was causing a small blockage. They removed it and I have improved everyday since then. Everyone kept telling me to hang in there it would get better and it does. I am actually able to eat some food now and hold down fluids. Go and get your fluids it will make you feel so much better. It will get better. I promise you it will get better. Please keep us posted on your progress.

back in the hospital again...will have surgery in the morning to see if they can figure out what the heck is going on with this sleeve...please keep me in prayer...

Was able to hold down some egg drop soup today fluids still not so good

Thanks for the prayers everyone. My doctor is great. He did my lapband so I have been going to him since 2008. He is very supportive. He assures me I will get better and I am not going to die. I am sure he will send me down for another GI on Tuesday and more fluids. I have tried hot, warm, cold, it doesnt seem to matter what the temp is. I still throw up. The doctor has put me on nausea meds which I am not nauseated. I am not in any pain at all. They also put me on some meds to help with spasms which makes me really tired. The doctor told me that with all the swelling and then I throw up which just makes the swelling worst so it is like a vicous cycle. I just wish I could hold down just a little fluids I think that would make me feel so much better. For being a fat girl I am not hungry LOL...for the first time ever in my life..so I know if I could ever get it all together it will be great... thanks for the support

Hello everyone, Had my band to sleeve revision on May 3. Went to the doctor on May16 was put back in the hospital and finally got to come home today. It has been a pretty rough ride for me so far. I had an upper GI done and sleeve not leaking or blockage just really bad swelling. They ended up having to put a picc line in me and gave me nutrition through the line to be able to let my sleeve rest. Been feeling pretty good since I got home today working really hard to be able to maintain my fluid intake. I hope that I will be able to keep the fluids down. So say that little extra prayer for me.

I had my surgery on May3. Had a hital hernia repaired, lapband removed, and my sleeve done. Surgery went well. Went in for my swallow test all was good a little bit swollen but no leaks. Unable to hold down fluids they ended up keeping me an extra day in the hospital. I came home still not able to hold dow much fluid no matter how little I sipped how long I left in between times I always managed to throw up. I went back to the doctor on Monday and he sent me for IV fluids, well no luck with that either. I had to go back to the doctor on Wednesday and he put me in the hopital and hooked me back up to IV fluids. Two days ago they put in a picc line and are feeding me through this picc line. Tomorrow they will be going down my throat with a camera to see if they can see any thing else wrong. I am getting so depressed. They did bring me some oatmeal this morning for breakfast ohhhhh yummy. gonna pray it goes down and stays down. Please keep me in your prayers that i will be out of here soon. : )

Well had my sleeve on May3. Ended up staying in the hostpital an extra day due to swelling and unable to hold down fluids. Went back to the doctor on Friday. Did not like how my fluid intake was coming along. Ended up back at the doctor on Monday so dehydrated. Dr. sent me for a couple bags of fluids. Went back to doctor the today and fluid levels no better. He put me back in the hospital for a few days so they can get the swelling to go down and my fluids up. Please keep me in your prayers that the swelling in my tummy will start to subside and I will actually be able to hold down some fluids. on a happy note I have lost 24 pounds : )

I am just so upset. I was sleeved on May 3. It does not seem to matter how slow I drink or how many minutes I put in between my 1 oz little cups I still end up getting sick. I am so tired of throwing up. I have these little 1 oz cups and I make sure it takes me at least 10 minutes to drink one I wait at least 30 minutes before trying another 1 oz. so in 1.5 hours I am getting 3 oz of fluid I usually end up throwing it up. Waiting for the doctors office to open so I can go in and see if I can get some fluids and some help. Did anyone else have this problem and what did you do????? I am so desperate. I just feel like my body is falling apart...please please please give me some advice..

went to the doctor and he sent me for an upper gi. no leaks or blockages just lots of swelling. it is like getting at my esophgus and it taking a very long time to actually go into the stomach due to the swelling right there. It is going through just taking time. I also received some IV fluids to help me get rehydrated. and some nausea meds and some meds to help my stomach stop spasming. I am feeling a little better was able to actually eat 4 oz yogurt this afternoon and I am trying to drink a little milk that is not going as well. did spit that back up. I have to return to the doctor on wednesday and I have already been told due to the excessive swelling I will probably have another round of IV fluids to help my body along and keep me well hydrated. keep me in thought and prayers...oh yeah have lost 24 pounds : )