Lisa's Hope

Wow... so sorry you endured that!! I never had it done. I decided to take meds for it and still am till this day. I also decided NOT to do bypass. I'm so glad I didn't do it. I still have some issues. Some spasms but not as nearly as I was. I will be 4 years out in May. I'm losing again and am so proud I kept off the weight I have. I still suffer but realize that some of the acidic foods I was eating like tomatoes bring the spasms on. The spasms were and are the worse pain I've ever felt. I take Levsin and Dexilant and it really helps. I decided I didn't want to cause more issues for myself having the bypass. I see so many complications with that surgery 10 years out. I'm not saying everyone will have issues... but I couldn't take the chance since my husband died of cancer and I'm alone here with no family to help. Blessings and prayers for you! I hope you don't have to have the bypass.

Thank you so much. I needed to read this. I've not been on this site in a long time. I lost my husband and a brother to cancer in the last 16 months. I lost a total of 130 pounds and have put back on 35. I had sleeve surgery May of 2012. I remember those honeymoon glasses. Oh how I loved them. Then things started to fall down around me. My husband diagnosed with cancer and died 6 months later. Then my brother 13 months after that. Life is hard but I don't want to go back to 300 pounds. I never thought about things the way you are describing. You have given me hope and a new outlook. So thank you so much. I just have to figure out how to start eating again. I gained this weight by drinking "frappes". I don't eat much even to keep me nourished but the caffeine and sugar in the frappes keep me "up"... I use them for comfort and they are loaded with calories. I want to get back on track. I hope by reading this it can turn me around. Blessings,

Its ok. I know its hard for people to know what to say. <3 I found you on facebook! Ttys.

Hi Niki. Very nice to hear from you! I don't come on this site to often. I need to friend you on facebook so we can keep up with each other. I'm doing ok. I still have spasms but not as often as before. I still have acid reflux and bile reflux but the meds seem to be working. I take Dexilant, Zantac, and Levsin for the spasms. If not for all of the GERD problems, I would be ok. I am still maintaining my weight but can't seem to lose the 30 I gained back. Keeping off 90 is good though. I hope all is well with you. I'm so glad I didn't go through with the gastric bypass. I've just seen too many complications from that surgery. Since I have no one right now and am alone it would be catastrophic if I got sick. I miss my husband so much. It has been 16 months and it seems like yesterday. I also lost one of my brothers to cancer 4 months ago. Life is hard!! I'm surprised I've not gained back everything. It sure is harder when we are this far out. Take care of yourself and it was so good hearing from you!.

I'm 3 1/2 years post op. I have sever GERD, bile reflux, and esophageal spasms still! I am on Levsin for the spasms and it helps. I am on the strongest PPI they make which they have no generic for. It is called Dexilant. Great medication. I also drink carafate three times a day. This will never go away. The spasms are horrific. Most pain I've ever felt and feels much like a heart attack. Prayers for you to feel better. The GERD causes the spasms. Try sleeping elevated and don't eat anything 3 hours before bed. Prayers for you. Mine started 10 months after surgery. I also had my gall bladder removed as they thought that was the problem. It was bad but the spasms continue. Blessings.

I agree with everything you said. I was 296 when I started and my lowest was 169. I had surgery May 21, 2012. It has been three years. My husband passed away in June of 2014 with cancer at the age of 48 which most of you know. I started gaining back after diagnosis from drinking frappes and lattes which gave me a high from the sugar and caffeine. He was very ill and I was his sole caregiver. I hardly ate but drank ready made Protein shakes and coffee. I started gaining back and by the time he passed away, I had gained up to 189 from 169. Now since, I gained to 224 and was able to get back to 207 then gained back to 215 where I am now. It is so hard and we aren't like normal people. You are so right. It gets really hard after the first year and it takes more work than people realize. SO, newbies be very careful because you will be able to gain easily and you will be able to eat more as time goes by. The full feeling is there but not as in the honeymoon stage. liquid calories is the devil. So be careful. I'm so scared that I will continue to gain if I don't stop with the stupid sugar in coffee. I will say that I think if I hadn't had this surgery, I would have gained a lot more by now. SO it is worth it with all the complications I have with severe GERD, esophageal spasms, bile reflux, and almost drowning in my own bile while sleeping because I had yogurt too late at night. I'm doing my best to get back on track but it isn't easy.

I love you all so much! Thank you for being here for me!!! I miss you all. Nice to come back and be welcomed with open arms. My life for the past year and a half has been terribly hard. I pray every day and my faith is strong. I love my husband more than I could EVER express and his death was the hardest thing I've ever faced. I've lost my parents and siblings and I have another sibling that is dying right now with cancer. He is a year older than I am. Sometimes, I just don't know if I can take anymore but having God by my side, I know I will make it. I do need to think of me now. I need to love myself. My husband would want that for me as we discussed this before his death. So hard without him. The only way to describe it is like ocean waves. Some knock me under and I wonder if I will get back up. But I always do. Other times the waves aren't so big and I have hope. When I chose this name for myself on this site "Lisa's Hope", I had no idea the significance it would have in my life. I really do have hope. Thanks again my sleeve sisters. I appreciate you all so very much. I can't say that enough! God bless. I will continue to come in and update. I think I'm back for good!! <3

Thank you. I appreciate all the wonderful information you've given me and you taking the time to help me Everything you've wrote about is very true!

So nice to see some familiar faces! Thanks again for the encouragement! I knew I could count on the vets here to be here with kind words and understanding. I will keep y'all posted on how I'm doing. Starting today Back to Basics!

Yes, I can. I'm thankful everyday that I've been able to stop the regain. I did cut out the nightly fudgesicles as I stated in earlier posts. FINALLY! That was very hard for me to do. I know that I am the one that HAS to take care of myself. I appreciate the encouragement from you all very very much! Good to see you here too! I know if I can just get under 200 and maintain, I will be more than satisfied. This has been a lifetime struggle with me as I'm sure for most of us!

Thank you so much. I do drink Protein drinks. I actually love them. It is so much easier to just get one out of the fridge than to cook. I don't eat refined carbs at all really but the sugar that is again something else. I'm going to try this and get back to basics. I think I still have a bariatric diet someone in my computer files.

Hello all vets, I've not posted here in a long while. I'm still struggling with maintaining my weight. Next month on the 8th of June will be 1 year that I lost my husband to cancer. I posted several times about gaining weight after my husband's diagnosis from 178 my lowest to 216. I've still maintained at 216 give or take a few pounds. My starting weight was near 300. I'm happy that I've been able to keep off at least some of the weight. I feel like so many I've talk with about the sleeve that are further out... like I can eat almost as much as I did before. I know the sleeve is a tool and I know that ultimately it is up to me but the reason I had this surgery and was self pay is I thought it would help me for the rest of my life. I've had issues with GERD and esophageal spasms which have subsided a bit since I'm further out but I'm so mad at myself for gaining back 38 pounds. I've tried everything to get back on track and have been unsuccessful. I know it is my fault but dealing with all the trauma of my husband's cancer and watching him die I'm still an emotional wreck. I have okay days and really bad days but I have support and I'm trying to work through. I will never get over it but I will get through it. I pray for strength everyday to get back on track but I always fail as I did before the surgery. If I could just get back under 200 !!! I know I have to do it myself but I feel like such a failure. Just thought I'd check in since it is coming up on my three year and hopefully one day, it will click in my head and I will be strong again and get back to losing. I'm really glad I've not gained anymore but I'm so scared!!! Dear Lord I don't want to go back to 300 and I can't get control. I have a friend that is doing the "Shape Reclaim" diet. She has lost almost 50 pounds in 9 weeks and she hasn't had the sleeve. It is so strict, I couldn't stay on it. You buy drops to take which use to have HCG in them but no longer do at least that is what they say. I would love to lose my regain that fast but I don't have the willpower. Anyone heard of this diet here? I know you've given me suggestions but I've forgot most of them. My mind isn't as it use to be. I need to reset!! The "pouch test" is also hard for me to stick to. Maybe I will try the 5:2 again.

Sorry I took over the thread. Thanks everyone. I don't drink soda. I drink coffee, sugar, Water. Sometimes tea if I go out to eat which is very rare. The thought of food is appalling to me. I don't eat fast food at all. I drink Protein shakes. I need to fix my relationship with food but haven't tried hard enough I guess. I need to eat. Dr said I'm malnourished. Its been 7 months. I try not to post here much because I know that its frustrating for all of you who are trying to help. Yes.. I will make it or I won't Right now I don't have that fight. I fought for my husband so hard for 6 months... we lost. So now, I think what is the use? Well, thanks for the comments and advice. Much love to all my sleeve friends. <3

Well, I went to the Dr. last Wednesday and had a lot of blood work. My sugar is elevated, my cholesterol is elevated and as of right now I've gained back 44 pounds. Doesn't seem to be an end to my sugar addiction. I guess I either have to reside myself to the fact that I'm going to let myself get back to 300 again or I'm going to fight. Honestly, I don't have the fight in me. I really don't. So, I deserve what I am going to get in the coming months. I don't eat. I drink sugar. I'm addicted to sugar. That said... it isn't cakes, Cookies, etc.. I seem to not be able to get through the day without it, my fix, my frappes, lattes.... My doctor gave me this look like ... well.. you are doing this to yourself and he is right. I wonder if I really want to be here without my husband. Now don't take that the wrong way and start thinking I'm talking about suicide. I'm not! I just don't seem to have it in me to want to fight this any longer. All I care about is having something to make me feel better when I'm in so much pain from losing my husband, my life, my forever. I won't complain about gaining anymore. It is what it is. Caffeine and sugar helps me get through the day. Am I strong enough to give it up? No, I think not. I have size 8 to 16 jeans in my closet. I was a 26.

Hi Jane, Thank you so much for checking on me. The holidays were very hard. Lots of tears. Tomorrow will be 1 year my husband was diagnosed. Then 7 months on the 8th of Jan. I just got back from visiting his grave. Ugh.. so hard. I'm making progress.... just baby steps though. I still haven't lost any weight. I go back to the Dr. on the 7th so I'm having my blood work. I'm on meds for hypothyroidism because I was hyper and had my thyroid ablated (killed) with radiation in 2007. That is when I gained the last 50 pounds was 3 months after that. So that put me at my highest weight of 300 give or take a pound. I'm holding steady now between 211 and 214 but can't lose. I'm very scared I will gain it all back. I remember how I felt at 170. I felt so thin. Now I'm fat again. :/ I hope all had wonderful Christmas and New Year! I pray so hard that this year will be better. I can't bring myself to even take off my wedding rings. I hope to be moving back to my home state of Georgia only to North Georgia this time. My daughter won't come with me ... so the only child I have is not going to be in my life. Things can't be worse with our relationship.. Dear Lord.. I pray He leads me and I get some clarity of why things happen this way. God Bless!!

Sorry you are going through this too. I have very bad gerd and esophageal spasms. I don't drink alcohol but the sugary coffee is just as bad. It has been very easy to gain this back. I've kept off 85 pounds but still i'm so scared. I know I'm the only one that can turn it around. Just I've never had weight come back this fast before and I don't eat which people don't believe even the drs... but liquid calories are just as bad. Maybe both of us can get back on track in the new year. I never thought I would be back here.

I've read about this. I started actually today. I hope it works for me as well!! How was your eating plan during the 8 hours? Did you just eat what you wanted or follow a certain plan?

We all here had surgery to lose weight so all of us have the same problem. I surely understand what you are going through. If we could have figured it all out, we could have all lost weight and kept it off and never, in my case, paid cash for this surgery. Emotions and all sorts of other things get in our way. I'm in the same boat as you are and I do understand. Only thing is my reasons are different. Praying that both of us and all who are struggling, which it gets harder the farther out you are, are able to get back on track. I've lost 100's of pounds in my life on my own before this surgery and the thing that brought it back was "life" and trying to find comfort for what life was slapping in the face with at the time. Life happens. Some find comfort with drugs, alcohol, sex etc. We all here eat and use food or sugar or whatever makes us feel better at the time. In my case, we all know what it is so I won't say it again since I've said it so many times before as I've been told. We all have this in common on this site. Again, I understand and hopefully we can find the strength to get it together and get back on track.

You are so sweet. Thank you so much for your understanding. I'm so emotional, it made me cry. Now my brother in Georgia is suffering with liver cancer and also my cousin. Seems to never stop. It is so evil. You seem to understand exactly what I'm facing. I can't thank you enough for your kind heart and words. God bless.

Thank you all for the great advice. I appreciate it so much. I am a believer and if I didn't' have Jesus in my life, I would have already left this world. Things are just too hard but I do have Him and I wouldn't ever do anything like that to myself. I do use sugar to self medicate. I don't however eat carbs like bread, Pasta, cake, Cookies... etc. I drink frappes from McDonald's almost everyday. They have 540 calories for a medium. My coffee at home has between 200 and 250. I say that because I use my espresso Keurig and use skim milk and creamers. The creamer is 35 calories per tablespoon. That is a lot and it adds up. I was eating fudgesickles that are 80 calories each but when I start eating them.. I can't stop.... but haven't bought anymore. Other than that I eat 1 meal a day. That meal is Protein, cheese, and veggies. That's it. The weight that I've gained has come on in a years time. Well, my husband was diagnosed in Jan. I was 178 pounds. I gained to 190 when he died in June. Then the rest 22 pounds since June. All of your words and encouragement has helped me so much and all of you are right. The world goes on whether I do this to myself or not and my husband wouldn't want that. He told me before he died to please take care of myself and how sorry he was to leave me because he knows I'm mostly alone in this world. I have a 23 year old daughter who's life isn't going well and life is just so hard right now. As far as joining a gym, I'm disabled with my back. I worked for 33 years but as of the last year and half I've been receiving my benefits from disability. I like to say this because this is MY money I paid in all those years. I do walk and that is pretty much all I can do. I have had three car accidents... not my fault.. lol but still need surgery in my neck. My back I have introverted budging disc that are pressing on my spinal cord. For the last two days I've done better. No fudge sickles at all and sf creamers in my coffee. Ordered Click protein and I think this will suffice. I took out my jeans in my closet and I have from size 10 to 16. I was so sad looking at my size 10's. I would be happy in a 12. I don't want to go up anymore. I don't want to go back. I know I'm am ultimately in charge of my own happiness. Much love to all of you. Thanks again. I'm sure most of you have seen my husband but I wanted to add a picture just for y'all who haven't seen him. I love him so much and he was such a good man. I prayed for him for along time but only had him for 11 years. Better than none at all. He was 48. This is what happened to my husband in six months. Cancer is relentless and evil.

I'm ordering the Click today. I'm excited about this.. Thank you so much!!!

You're an inspiration! The metabolic profile was a blood analysis done by my PCP. My metabolism is low only because I'm not eating or exercising enough. Hopefully, I can turn it around. The encouragement helps! Y'all have given me a push and so for today things are better. Thanks <3

Thank you so much for your advice. I'm like that too with sugar. I'm an addict. I need not have it. I know you are right about getting a few weeks under my belt. It will be a lot easier.

I will try those. Where do you purchase the Click or Chike? Thanks for your encouragement.

I've started today with getting rid of the sugar creamers and am trying stevia and sugar free creamers (even though I know they aren't good for me health wise) and I finally ate Breakfast for the first time in months. I didn't have a shake but an organic egg, spinach, and 35 calorie sliced cheese. I'm going to try and detox from the sugar. I also made "fruit water" with apples, grapefruit, and tangerines. I would love some strawberries but didn't have any at the store so I will try that next time. The grapefruit is supposed to be good to help detox the liver. I do not have any more fudgesicles at all. That will be the test for me tonight. During the day is easy. I had to MAKE myself eat breakfast. I didn't like it and couldn't finish it but almost all of it. Now for lunch? I just really hate eating during the day. I did have blood work awhile back and my PCP said my metabolism was nill. I am walking now like I said in my first post. Not sure everyone read it all. I am disabled with back issues... won't go into all of that because most people don't believe it anyway but after working 33 years, the Dr's suggested disability and I have been receiving my benefits I paid in over that time for a year now. So walking is great. Although today we have sleet so I will do a walking tape. Jane, I can't thank you enough! You are so nice to help me out. All of your suggestions are great. I will keep you posted on how I'm doing. I did download an app from my surgery center called "My Newself" which is like my fitness pal. Started logging today. God bless you and thanks again for all the encouragement.... Oh.. I don't drink at all. So none of my calories are from alcohol.