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I had the sleeve a little over 2 and 1/2 years ago, Its been great except for the severe reflux. I had GERD before hand but thought my doctor would repair my hiatal hernia and all would be well but it just didn't happen. I am now scheduled to have a revision to the RNYs in October. I hate the thought of another surgery but am looking forward to getting rid of the reflux. If you have any reflux don't get the sleeve. Good luck.

I would invest in a few good books on weight loss surgery with sections on recipes and meal preparation for post surgery. Get a Nutri Bullet or good blender for your shakes and food. This is the most important part of the weight loss journey because you are having to change your eating and cooking habits. If you don't your weight loss will be limited and ultimately unsuccessful. Start walking or exercising... it will make the surgery much easier on you. Good luck, i hope you do well.

It is not unusual for weight loss patients to have trouble identifying with their new body size. It takes time, Many people find it helpful to speak to a counselor. Good luck with your journey and congratulations on your successful weight loss. Good job,

Wow, this was right on target for me. I was skeptical at first but it makes a lot of sense after reading it. ISFJ (Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging)As an ISFJ, your primary mode of living is focused internally, where you takes things in via your five senses. Your secondary mode is external, where you deal with things according to how you feel about them, or how they fit into your personal value system. ISFJs are truly warm and kind-hearted, and want to believe the best of people. They value harmony and cooperation, and are likely to be very sensitive to other people's feelings. People value ISFJs for their consideration and awareness, and their ability to bring out the best in others by their firm desire to believe the best. ISFJs have a rich inner world that is not usually obvious to observers. They constantly take in information about people and situations that is personally important to them, and store it away. This tremendous store of information is usually startlingly accurate, because the ISFJ has an exceptional memory about things that are important to their value systems. ISFJs have a very clear idea of the way things should be, which they strive to attain. They value security and kindness, and respect traditions and laws. They tend to believe that existing systems are there because they work. Therefore, they're not likely to buy into doing things in a new way, unless they're shown a concrete way why its better than the established method. ISFJ Strengths Supportive – ISFJs are the universal helpers, sharing their knowledge, experience, time and energy with anyone who needs it, and all the more so with friends and family. People with this personality type strive for win-win situations, choosing empathy over judgment whenever possible. Reliable and Patient – Rather than offering sporadic, excited efforts that leave things half finished, ISFJs are meticulous and careful, taking a steady approach and bending with the needs of the situation just enough to accomplish their end goals. ISFJs not only ensure that things are done to the highest standard, but often go well beyond what is required. Imaginative and Observant – ISFJs are very imaginative, and use this quality as an accessory to empathy, observing other's emotional states and seeing things from their perspective. With their feet firmly planted on the ground, ISFJs have a very practical imagination, though they do find things quite fascinating and inspiring. Enthusiastic – When the goal is right, ISFJs take all their support, reliability and imagination and apply it to something they believe will make a difference in people's lives – whether fighting poverty with a global initiative or simply making a customer's day. Loyal and Hard-Working – Given a little time, the ISFJ's enthusiasm grows into loyalty. ISFJ personalities often form an emotional attachment to the ideas and organizations they've dedicated themselves to. Anything short of meeting their obligations with good, hard work fails their own expectations. Good Practical Skills – The best part is, ISFJs have the practical sense to actually do something with all this altruism. If mundane, routine tasks are what need to be done, ISFJs can see the beauty and harmony that they create, because they know that it helps them to care for their friends, family, and anyone else who needs it. ISFJ Weaknesses Humble and Shy – The meek shall inherit the earth, but it's a long road if they receive no recognition at all. This is possibly the ISFJ's biggest challenge, as they are so concerned with other's feelings that they refuse to make their thoughts known, or to take any duly earned credit for their contributions. The ISFJ's standards for themselves are also so high that, knowing they could have done some minor aspect of a task better, they often downplay their successes entirely. Take Things Too Personally – ISFJs have trouble separating personal and impersonal situations – any situation is still an interaction between two people, after all – and any negativity from conflict or criticism can carry over from their professional to their personal lives, and back again. Repress Their Feelings – People with the ISFJ personality type are private and very sensitive, internalizing their feelings a great deal. In the same way that ISFJ's protect the feelings of others, they must also protect their own, and this lack of healthy emotional expression can lead to a lot of stress and frustration. Overload Themselves – The ISFJ's strong sense of duty and perfectionism combined with their aversion to emotional conflict creates overwhelming situations. ISFJs can easily become overloaded by their own expectations and other people's demands. Reluctant to Change – ISFJs find it hard to address their own problems because they value tradition and stabiliy. Certain situations sometimes needs to reach a breaking point before ISFJs are persuaded by circumstance, or the strong personality of a loved one, to alter course. Too Altruistic – Being such warm, good-natured people, ISFJs are willing to let things slide. They sincerely believe that things will get better soon so as to not burden others by accepting their offers of help, while their troubles mount unassisted. Famous ISFJ'sMother Teresa Rosa Parks Marcus Aurelius Augustus Prince Charles Anthony Hopkins Halle berry Kate Middleton

Every one is different. Try not to make comparisons. You are still recovering from surgery and you may still have a lot of inflamation and gas from the surgery. Keep following the plan and next week you'll probably drop 10 pounds in one week. It will all come off as long as you follow your plan. Be patient.

I chose the sleeve because I thought it would be easier and I would have less problems with dumping etc. I had GERD already but thought I would be one of the ones who got rid of the acid reflux. I loved my sleeve. I lost weight and never had any problems but I am now having such severe reflux and pain that I am in the process of getting approved for the RNY. Now i wish I had done the RNY from the very beginning. :-(

yep the premier shakes are the only ones I've ever found that I like. After my sleeve they tasted a bit sweet but they taste good. i have to put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes to insure that they are very cold. That makes them go down easier. Its what i'll be using with by RNY as well.

looks so delicious. I hate that bananas give me reflux.

@@stacyrg2, @@VolleyGirl, @ Starting Over After Cancer2....... I am happy to find that I am not alone in the reflux area. It is miserable and I've been to the ER twice this past month. I am still a long way from goal so was hoping this surgery would help get me the rest of the way to goal. So its disappointing to hear that y'all didn't lose a substantial amount of weight. Maybe its because you didn't have that much to lose, right? I had a rough time getting over the Sleeve surgery so was hoping the RNY would be a bit easier, Maybe it will be since I'm in better health. I just can't wait to get rid of the reflux. @@shrinkingnicola, please be sure you bring this up with your surgeon, the reflux can cause a lot of problems you don't want to deal with. Good luck everyone. My surgery is tentatively scheduled for Oct 10th. Hope it happens.

I am also having a revision to RNY and my tentative date is Oct 10th. I had the sleeve done in February of 2014 but have suffered with severe reflux ever since. I am so nervous about this. Do you know anyone else who has had this done already? I'm anxious about what to expect.

I don't have that much to lose so I might not be of much help. Just remember that you cant let the negativity of others get to you. Keep pushing on and do what you can. Its not easy, its hard work and your friends and family were probably thinking surgery would be like magic and lose the weight for you. They have no idea how difficult it is and how much support they need to provide rather than being critical.. Lift your self up and ask God for guidance and support. Good luck to you.

I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and returned to work a week after surgery. I am having a revision to Gastric Bypass in September or October and I was wondering how long I would be off from work. Was anybody able to go back to work after a week or did it take longer? I'm a bit OCD and like to plan things out in advance but I have no idea what to expect this time around.

I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and took a break from this forum because things just got old and tired. I do like the idea of a vets only forum but I think it should be open for reading by anyone and only open for posts by vets. I don't post that often because I have too many other things I need to be dong but I do find this site very helpful at times. I will be transitioning to the bypass in a couple of months so I want access to the newbie stuff as well as the more seasoned postings. I find benefit in both.

@Mersedes620, I hope everything went well and you are on your way to losing weight. The first 24 hours are the most difficult so by this time on Tuesday you should be doing better. Let us hear how you are doing.

I slice tomatoes, splash them with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with oregano and basil and top with feta cheese. Put under the broiler for just a minute. Then eat on a gluten free cracker. It's so good.

I agree with a lot of what's been said on this topic but this is a WLS support forum and everyone is entitled to rant and/or ask questions. A lot of the more recent surgery patients just want to make comparisons I think so that may be the reason for some of the questions that we may find silly or uninformed. Either way, we're here to support one another so I try to stay on a positive note because in the real world people are not so supportive. They dog you for your weight gain and then find WLS repulsive. You can't make some people happy so folks come here in hopes of finding understanding "friends and supporters" that will help them along this path of uncertainty. Weight loss is not easy, even with the surgery , and the diet gets old so I can understand the rants and questions about eating and drinking things they shouldn't. Just remember....... Just because we can doesn't mean we should. Follow the doctor's orders.

I actually like the show and all of the "characters" on the show. I do find it sad that Whitney is in such denial but I truly feel that one day she will make the decision to lose weight. She knows she is obese but she is rationalizing everything much as all of us have done in the past. We've all been there, we've all made the same excuses.... everyone has their epiphany eventually. I just hope Whitney wakes up soon and realizes what she is doing to herself. She gets a lot of exercise dancing so her eating and drinking has got to be the problem. If you will notice they never film her eating meals. Life style choices are everything and watching Whitney serves as a reminder to me that you are what you eat. I think eventually the show will transition to her getting healthy but that's just my guess.

My surgeon's office encourages Crystal Light for those of us who don't like plain Water. I also like the sugar free kool-aid drops. They are my favorite.

@Audacious Marie, I love my sleeve. It's an awesome WLS but I suffer from severe gastric reflux which is causing other problems to my esophagus. My surgeon wants to do the revision to the gastric bypass to fix this and it seems like the best option. I prefer the sleeve to the bypass but I'll do whatever will help clear up my problems. Good luck to you.

Lorena, it sounds to me like you already answered your own question because you know what to do. Regaining weight is one of the ugly realities of WLS and we are all subject to the behavior that causes the gain. Step back, re-focus and do the things that help you follow your diet plan. Reach out to your surgeon's office as they could possibly offer your some assistance. You might even consider transitioning to the bypass, as it could keep you on track. It is so easy to cheat with the sleeve. Good luck and hope you can conquer the mental portion of the battle so the physical part becomes easier and more successful.

I went from a 8 1/2 double wide to a 7 1/2 regular wide. The biggest changes are in my face and neck. My fingers are much smaller and my rings are all lose. Even my wrists are smaller. The bracelets that were once too tight are now fitting,

I found a really nice website called Sugerysquad.com that shows an interactive surgery that you can assist in. You can really learn a lot about the surgery and it should allieve some of your fears . I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years and Im having to do a revision to the bypass in the next couple of months. I was really scared but once I played the interactive surgery game, I felt a lot more comfortable. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Beans, legumes and cottage cheese are high in protein.... and that's where the vegetarians get their protein. You can also add powdered protein to all of this for high protein. It will get easier.

I ended up being in the hospital for 3 nights and 4 days due to some complications but I didn't care what I was wearing. I put my robe on over the hospital gown so I could walk the halls. I brought some lip balm because my lips got very dry. A notebook and pen for writing down notes and information given by medical staff. Due to the meds you may forget a lot of it so its better to write it all down. Your cell phone or Ipad will be great company, and maybe a magazine. Other than that you really don't need much more than your toothbrush and toothpaste, brush, and some lotion for your body. You will be dry from drinking so little. I brought too much stuff to the hospital last time but when I have my revision at the end of the summer I will travel a lot lighter. lol

Hi Mozza, yes it's inevitable. Weight loss leads to hair loss in most people, but not all. I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and at about 4 months out I started losing hair by the handfull. I was quite upset but knew it was coming. I just cut my hair shorter so it wasn't as noticeable. Once I started adding more fat to my diet the hair grew back and thickened up. It's just a temporary problem and you will soon be over it. I promise, the weight loss is worth the hair loss. I will be having a revision to bypass in a couple of months and I will go through this again and though I dread it, I know it is a temporary thing and well worth the problem.