Aimstergal

Thanks everyone. It's very true, it's a hugely emotional problem for me. I got so angry at the grocery store the other day because everything I wanted had too much sugar or fat or calories that I knew would cause dumping so I was angry I couldn't have it. Crazy, I know.

I've just bought the book you mentioned Trevor. Thanks for the suggestion. I think what I'm going thru is relatively normal but double because of the struggles I've had first with the sleeve and then now the bypass. Ultimately, between the 2, I've lost close to 70lbs in 15 months and I should be really happy about that but all I see is what I've had to do to get there...how long it took compared to others...stupid but true...I should be at goal but am not.

It occurred to me that it took 38 years of feeling horrible about myself and that just doesn't go away overnight. 38 years of struggling with my self-esteem and self-image. 15 months doesn't change that.

I have a WONDERFUL surgeon. He isn't the kind where you attend everything and get lots of attention PRE SURGERY but then you don't see much of POST SURGERY. He sees me to monitor not just my health but help with my sanity, and it's been almost every 3 weeks for almost a year. Most patients see him 1 week out then 1 month out then 3 months out, then 6 months then yearly. Not me. Every 3 weeks. Not to mention, he insisted on doing my endoscopy himself when we were trying to figure out what was wrong. He didn't leave me alone out there to deal with the frustrations. Truly, a wonderful guy. Best bedside manner ever. When I wrote him an email thanking him for the amazing support and attention and care that I never thought I'd encounter, he wrote back "you deserve it". Wow

Anyway, thank you for the support. I'm trying get myself to think about what I HAVE accomplished and not what I HAVEN'T accomplished.

Hi everyone. I to am having such strong sweets and chips cravings. It doesn't help that there is so much mini chocolate bars on people's desks at work! And even worse, I've been in a stall for two of my four months. My surgery was September 15. I'm going insane about it, and beyond frustrated. I just want to give up. Backing up my story for you all, I had the sleeve done October 15 of 2012. There were complications. And after a ton of tests, new Endoscopy's CAT scans etc., it was determined I needed to have a revision to bypass. So in one year, or less than one year, I've had two weight-loss surgeries. Although I have lost some weight, too have only lost 15 pounds since the surgery, it ridiculous with weight-loss surgery. It's been four months! So you can see why I just want to throw my hands up in the air and give up. My anxiety is out-of-control, I have given up on exercising. I'm kind of at a loss, I changed my diet up for the dietitian and the surgeon, and increased calories, decreased calories, I can't stop crying these days, this whole thing is been a nightmare, and I just don't know what to do anymore.

Hi. I'm 3 1/2 months out (had a revision from sleeve to bypass due to sleeve complications). I CAN'T STOP SNACKING! Did anyone else have this problem? I've been stuck at the same weight for 2 months...*sigh*

Hi all, I was revised on September 16. Any other revised people out there?

Ny one in he greater Los Angeles area? San Fernando Valley?

Did you guys get this email too? VerticalSleeveTalk.com! In a few days, VerticalSleeveTalk.com and the other Weight Loss Surgery Boards (WLSBoards) will join together and transition to BariatricPal.com! We’re excited to be leading the movement to support weight loss and health for all members of the weight loss surgery community! I'm kind of bummed. Every other website has combined wls boards... I loved that vertical sleeve talk was just for sleevers.... I hope it doesn't change the boards too much. Do you think we will lose the boards and forums already posted? Or will they carry over?

I , for one, am grateful. I had complications and had to revise to bypass and have felt like I "didn't belong" anymore. Different issues, etc.

Hi, I just came across this thread. I too may be facing revision sleeve to bypass because of GERD and esophageal spasms. I've lost 120 pounds with the sleeve and still have 20 to go but these spasm are so terrible. I've never had so much pain in my life. Not even having my daughter. I'm so scared to go to bypass. I was wondering how you have been doing?? I hope things are going well for you. If you wouldn't mind can you tell me how you experience is going and how it differs from the sleeve? Thank you so much and wishing you the best.

Hi Lisa. I'm sorry you're facing this. Especially after practically meeting your goal. I'm happy to tell you a few of the things that are different from when I had the sleeve to now that I have to bypass. I wasn't very successful on the sleeve, it wasn't really giving me the restrictions that I needed. I never got sick from anything, I never was dehydrated, I had no problem getting in the Protein, etc.

The bypass on the other hand, was a lot more hard-core than I could possibly imagine. I told my doctor that I literally felt like even though I knew everything about the bypass I really didn't "know" everything about the bypass. Does that make sense?

Now, keep in mind, some of what has occurred for me with the bypass is what most people had occur with the sleeve. With the bypass, i have a lot of trouble eating anything. The feeling of no hunger absolutely is nothing like what the sleeve was supposed to feel like. I literally never feel hunger. Which is something I never thought I would say. So never feeling real hunger, means eating or forcing yourself to get something down when you're not hungry isn't the best feeling in the world. Also, I had a lot of swelling so I barely could get anything down without throwing it back up. I can overflow my stomach very quickly. I wasn't getting enough Water down to the point where my doctor sent me in to have IV fluids to rehydrate me. Once he did that, everything started to fall into place. I'm now able to get more food down, not a ton which is fine but I'm getting some down and it's not coming up. I'm able to drink more Water. However, the speed in which I'm able to get things down is very frustrating. Everything gets stuck pretty quickly, no matter how much I chew it. But with patience and a learning curve, I'm really starting to adjust all of this. Like I said, a lot of these problems happened for people who had the sleeve, I never had them.

Sugar really affects me now. It didn't get that bad before. But now, 4 tablespoons of frozen yogurt and my heart starts to race I start to sweat it's not the best feeling in the world. But again, I shouldn't be eating all that sugary stuff. They told me though in time, as long as I coat my stomach with some Protein, I'll be able to have that.

But, bottom line, even with these new situations, I have finally been losing weight. And I'm so happy about that. Finally after a year the actual surgeries are helping.

I'm happy to tell you more. But I don't want to overwhelm you with too much right now. But ultimately, in my opinion, if this is going to help the pain you're having, this is a piece a cake for you.

Hi! I have anthem bc of Ca. I have the ***. Do you? The *** covered 100% of it all barring a few 20 copayment office visits. And I had complications so I had to have 2 surgeries. BOTH were 100%

Don't know why it blocked the letter H. M. O.

Hey everyone! I'm still pre-surgery at the moment and am getting down to the wire on sending in the request to my insurance. I wondered what everyone's surgery looked like finance wise for BC/BS California? No one will give me a straight answer. I know it's different for everyone' date=' but a ball park estimate would be nice. All I have left of my requirements are to have an endoscopy and they say then I'll have my paperwork submitted and my date set. The major problem with blue cross, however, is that their deductibles reset twice a year, once in January and once in September, and they're crazy high. I'm trying and wishing and praying to have my surgery in December because of that.[/quote']

Hi! I have anthem bc of Ca. I have the ***. Do you? The *** covered 100% of it all barring a few $20 copayment office visits. And I had complications so I had to have 2 surgeries. BOTH were 100%

I am so glad you are home. Just think of this as the beginning of your "New Year" with no complications.

Thanks. Hopefully you're right!!

I hope you have a speedy recovering.

Glad the surgery went well. Wishing you a speedy recovery' date=' and do keep us posted on your progress.[/quote'] thanks.

I'm very glad the surgery went well and I hope that recovery goes very well for you. Wishing you the best!

I know your revision was today. When you feel up to it' date=' update us. We r praying for you and success.[/quote']thank you. I'm actually still in the hospital. They found other problems...scar tissue that twisted upon itself at the top of my stomach and that my stomach dilated almost to its original size! My potassium levels are really low so I have to stay here until they level it...hopefully tomorrow. My surgeon said the bypass went well and that this time it's going to be successful. I have a drain this time, I didn't last time.

Fingers crossed all will turn out well.

Well I had lost 70 pounds after my sleeve in December' date=' but I had many complications which resulted in 7 procedures/surgeries in 7 months ranging from a hematoma to strictures to hernias to balloon dilations before my surgeon decided to go to the drastic bypass in August. I also had extreme GERD/reflux the entire time I had the sleeve which I had never experienced before the sleeve which caused me to throw up at least 3-4 times a week so it was causing some malnutrition . I never experienced any dumping and so far with the bypass I haven't either. And I've only thrown up once since I've had the bypass and it didn't feel good at all! I think I ate too fast or had one bite too many...not sure. Since the bypass I've lost another 15 pounds, which is 8 pounds past my goal weight so I don't want to lose any more.

I'll be glad to be here for ya throughout your surgery and after so let me know what you need and what questions you have or whenever you just need to talk![/quote']

What a nightmare you've been through. I feel foolish for my whining!! I appreciate your support and will definitely be in touch.

I'm sorry to hear about your complications. I'm praying for you to have a smooth revision on the 16th. Please keep us up to date. I look forward to hearing about how successful you are.

Thank you for the support

If you have any questions or need a buddy thru your ordeal' date=' let me know...I'm way past my goal weight where I'm afraid to lose any more weight but I can help you answer any other questions you might have...how much weight total did you lose the first surgery? I'm sorry you're going thru all of this, I really know how it all feels. I had a stricture too but it was much sooner than yours and I had 4 other operations before we finally resorted to the bypass. Anyway let me know if you need a buddy![/quote']

I would LOVE a buddy. How drastic was the difference for u? Did foods make you sick at all? Did you experience dumping? My sleeve was pretty easy.,.no dumping and nothing made sick.

Bless your heart! Keeping you in my prayers.

Thank you.

If you have any questions or need a buddy thru your ordeal' date=' let me know...I'm way past my goal weight where I'm afraid to lose any more weight but I can help you answer any other questions you might have...how much weight total did you lose the first surgery? I'm sorry you're going thru all of this, I really know how it all feels. I had a stricture too but it was much sooner than yours and I had 4 other operations before we finally resorted to the bypass. Anyway let me know if you need a buddy![/quote']

Thank you. Only lost 24 lbs since surgery which was October 15. 15 pounds before it. I just want it all over with already!!! I'm so sorry you had to go through all you did. Hopefully just this one more surgery will be it for me. But knowing my luck, who knows?

Hi all. Looks like I'm one of the very few with complications. I stopped losing weight at 6 months and even the first 6 months added up to LESS than what I lost during prior prep! . I was up 4 days a week at the gym at 5am, eating healthy and still, nothing happened. My surgeon and nut were stumped and we did an intensive 6 week study. I saw him weekly, as well as my nut and we tried everything...raising calorie amt, lowering them, etc. nothing. Finally we did a ct scan and discovered a stricture. Top of my stomach healed too tightly and my stomach created a type of side pouch it seems so basically I could get down much more than I should. And that's the main reason I had the surgery!! I couldn't get full and now even with the surgery, same thing was happening. We did an endoscopy this week and not only saw the stricture up close but also discovered after filling up my sleeve with air, that my stomach is extremely thick and elastic and it was heavily dilated. So, I'm facing a revision to gastric bypass on the 16th. 11 months to the day that I had the sleeve surgery. I'm devastated.

Hi all. Looks like I'm one of the very few with complications. I stopped losing weight at 6 months. I was up 4 days a week at the gym at 5am, eating healthy and still, nothing happened. My surgeon and nut were stumped and we did an intensive 6 week study. I saw him weekly, as well as my nut and we tried everything...raising calorie amt, lowering them, etc. nothing. Finally we did a ct scan and discovered a stricture. Top of my stomach healed too tightly and my stomach created a type of side pouch it seems so basically I could get down much more than I should. And that's the main reason I had the surgery!! I couldn't get full and now even with the surgery, same thing was happening. We did an endoscopy this week and not only saw the stricture up close but also discovered after filling up my sleeve with air, that my stomach is extremely thick and elastic and it was heavily dilated. So, I'm facing a revision to gastric bypass on the 16th. 11 months to the day that I had the sleeve surgery. I'm devastated.

Hi all. Looks like I'm one of the very few with complications. I stopped losing weight at 6 months. I was up 4 days a week at the gym at 5am, eating healthy and still, nothing happened. My surgeon and nut were stumped and we did an intensive 6 week study. I saw him weekly, as well as my nut and we tried everything...raising calorie amt, lowering them, etc. nothing.

Finally we did a ct scan and discovered a stricture. Top of my stomach healed too tightly and my stomach created a type of side pouch it seems so basically I could get down much more than I should. And that's the main reason I had the surgery!! I couldn't get full and now even with the surgery, same thing was happening.

We did an endoscopy this week and not only saw the stricture up close but also discovered after filling up my sleeve with air, that my stomach is extremely thick and elastic and it was heavily dilated.

So, I'm facing a revision to gastric bypass on the 16th. 11 months to the day that I had the sleeve surgery. I'm devastated.

ME TOO!

Me three dde2b. Another fail for me.

oh cool! It looks like you have some experience with the sleeve at this point too Can I ask questions along the way? hehe

Ask away!!

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I know this is probably a long shot, but is there anyone around the Ventura County area? I would love to have someone else to talk to out here and possibly go on walks with and such

Hi. Not Ventura but I do live in Tarzana!