1959JimmyJames

I am 3 years and 4 months post op so not quite 4 years yet. My situation is probably different from most people. I had a severe spine injury before the revision surgery. I can't exercise very much to help burn calories. So now I have leveled off. I haven't lost any weight in over a year but I haven't gained any either. I eat everyday until I'm full. I don't deprive myself of any food that I want. Breakfast is usually a small amount of Cereal with fruit in it, or a bowl of watermelon or some other tasty fruit, or sometimes I skip the food, and drink something with Protein. Or I'll have bacon and eggs and toast. Or French toast with butter and Syrup. During the day I'll snack on vegetables or cheese or fruit or almonds. Maybe half a sandwich. I can eat a small portion of steak and about a quarter of a baked potato with butter and sour cream and a couple spears of asparagus. I love seafood. Any food that I want. The good thing is that I can't eat very much of it. I don't feel any discomfort unless I eat too much then there is a nausea kind of sick feeling and some pain from my abdomen for about a half hour until some of the food digests then I feel normal again, so I don't overeat anymore. I don't like that feeling. I still eat the same portion size but sometimes I still feel hungry after the meal so I will drink some Water and that stops the hunger immediately.
So far I haven't had any issues with the surgery. I had a very painful post-op recovery for about a week but now my stomach feels good. I haven't been to the weight loss surgeon for 2 years, but I do see my other gastroenterologist regularly for other problems, and he has checked me out through an upper GI endoscopy twice since the revision, and says everything looks fine. I think differently about food. Socializing with family and friends used to be a whole lot of eating. Now it's more talking and sipping on a beverage. Wine or Tea and even a margarita or a Jack and Coke. This surgery is dangerous. You need to really think about it and make sure it's right for you. I'm glad that I had it but I really wish that I could have solved the problem on my own. I know that there are quite a few people that have had a nightmare experience with this and I feel bad for them, but for me it has turned out very positive so far. I will need to have upper endoscopy's every 3 years for the rest of my life. Not because of this revision but for something else. My stomach acid has an effect on my other problem so this surgery has helped with that also. I also have to take a nexium pill everyday for the rest of my life. These are issues that I already had prior to the sleeve surgery, and were considered co-morbidity problems that were the main reasons for my insurance company approving the revision. Good luck to you.

I am 3 years and 4 months post op so not quite 4 years yet. My situation is probably different from most people. I had a severe spine injury before the revision surgery. I can't exercise very much to help burn calories. So now I have leveled off. I haven't lost any weight in over a year but I haven't gained any either. I eat everyday until I'm full. I don't deprive myself of any food that I want. Breakfast is usually a small amount of Cereal with fruit in it, or a bowl of watermelon or some other tasty fruit, or sometimes I skip the food, and drink something with Protein. Or I'll have bacon and eggs and toast. Or French toast with butter and Syrup. During the day I'll snack on vegetables or cheese or fruit or almonds. Maybe half a sandwich. I can eat a small portion of steak and about a quarter of a baked potato with butter and sour cream and a couple spears of asparagus. I love seafood. Any food that I want. The good thing is that I can't eat very much of it. I don't feel any discomfort unless I eat too much then there is a nausea kind of sick feeling and some pain from my abdomen for about a half hour until some of the food digests then I feel normal again, so I don't overeat anymore. I don't like that feeling. I still eat the same portion size but sometimes I still feel hungry after the meal so I will drink some Water and that stops the hunger immediately.
So far I haven't had any issues with the surgery. I had a very painful post-op recovery for about a week but now my stomach feels good. I haven't been to the weight loss surgeon for 2 years, but I do see my other gastroenterologist regularly for other problems, and he has checked me out through an upper GI endoscopy twice since the revision, and says everything looks fine. I think differently about food. Socializing with family and friends used to be a whole lot of eating. Now it's more talking and sipping on a beverage. Wine or Tea and even a margarita or a Jack and Coke. This surgery is dangerous. You need to really think about it and make sure it's right for you. I'm glad that I had it but I really wish that I could have solved the problem on my own. I know that there are quite a few people that have had a nightmare experience with this and I feel bad for them, but for me it has turned out very positive so far. I will need to have upper endoscopy's every 3 years for the rest of my life. Not because of this revision but for something else. My stomach acid has an effect on my other problem so this surgery has helped with that also. I also have to take a nexium pill everyday for the rest of my life. These are issues that I already had prior to the sleeve surgery, and were considered co-morbidity problems that were the main reasons for my insurance company approving the revision. Good luck to you.

Everything that you just listed. This is a common story with the band. It is a mechanical device that breaks. Some last a long time but it seems that most only last a few years. The sleeve is still a tool, but it is permanent. You can develop serious problems with the sleeve that are far worse than the band so I wouldn't say that it is too good to be true. If you use it properly, and your doctor is good at his craft then you should succeed with the sleeve. Good luck to you.

We aren't denying that. We were giving you the tools to make it easier for you. Not scolding you about the choice.
Crackers are made up of simple carbohydrates, which are processed in the body differently. They basically turn into glucose, or sugar in the body. That, in turn causes cravings for more, because sugar reacts in the brain the way heroine does. The easiest way I found to combat the cravings for more sugar or carbs is to keep myself full on Protein and fluids. It really helps. You need lots of both this early out anyway for healing, muscle building, and weight loss. You will eat less, too, because Protein is more dense and fills you up.

That's a difficult decision. Having the band removed and the fill port gone was a wonderful feeling of relief. I had a band for 10 years and used it successfully until it failed. I gained weight back. Got very disgusted with myself. My options were to replace the band or convert to sleeve. I chose the sleeve but I wasn't at goal weight. Personally, I think that if you are strong enough to get to goal with the band then you are strong enough to stay at goal. I think that your band will fail someday. That would be a better time to decide. The sleeve surgery is a tough decision. There is no going back.

One other thing that I should mention is if they are removing liquid for a medical reason and not for regular adjustments to assist with appetite control then that would make me choose the sleeve. I think that overtime all of the bands will fail and need replacing and having it removed is a relief. No more port in your stomach area and no feeling of restriction when you swallow food. You won't feel that plugged feeling when you eat. With the sleeve your stomach is soo small that you can't eat very much. The restriction comes from a full stomach feeling that can be very painful. But, after a few months of heeling post surgery, you will be able to eat whatever you want, just a small amount of it.

That's a difficult decision. Having the band removed and the fill port gone was a wonderful feeling of relief. I had a band for 10 years and used it successfully until it failed. I gained weight back. Got very disgusted with myself. My options were to replace the band or convert to sleeve. I chose the sleeve but I wasn't at goal weight. Personally, I think that if you are strong enough to get to goal with the band then you are strong enough to stay at goal. I think that your band will fail someday. That would be a better time to decide. The sleeve surgery is a tough decision. There is no going back.

One other thing that I should mention is if they are removing liquid for a medical reason and not for regular adjustments to assist with appetite control then that would make me choose the sleeve. I think that overtime all of the bands will fail and need replacing and having it removed is a relief. No more port in your stomach area and no feeling of restriction when you swallow food. You won't feel that plugged feeling when you eat. With the sleeve your stomach is soo small that you can't eat very much. The restriction comes from a full stomach feeling that can be very painful. But, after a few months of heeling post surgery, you will be able to eat whatever you want, just a small amount of it.

I was banded for 8 years also and then it failed. I had a good experience with the band until it failed. I have other medical issues with Barretts esophagus and too much stomach acid so insurance approval was pretty easy for me. I was sleeved 2 years ago. My weight is wonderful again. I'm 6 ft 2 in and weigh 210 lbs. I feel great. I love not having that port in my side anymore. The only thing that I don't like is food. I can only eat a very small amount and nothing really tastes good. I can taste it but I guess what I'm saying is that nothing really appeals to me. I used to love sitting with friends and eating and drinking alot. They are used to me not eating much at all and have stopped trying to get me to eat something. I think you will like the sleeve much more. I can tell you that with my complications , the surgery took 4 hours and the pain for me afterwards was incredible. For about a week I drank liquid morphine and stayed as drugged as possible. The pain eventually left and I survived it. Most people had a much easier time with the pain than I did. Once you get to the 6 month post op date you will be used to it and pretty happy. Take care.

Good luck to both of you. Before you know it you'll be 2 years post-op and thinking, that wasn't so bad.

I was banded for 8 years also and then it failed. I had a good experience with the band until it failed. I have other medical issues with Barretts esophagus and too much stomach acid so insurance approval was pretty easy for me. I was sleeved 2 years ago. My weight is wonderful again. I'm 6 ft 2 in and weigh 210 lbs. I feel great. I love not having that port in my side anymore. The only thing that I don't like is food. I can only eat a very small amount and nothing really tastes good. I can taste it but I guess what I'm saying is that nothing really appeals to me. I used to love sitting with friends and eating and drinking alot. They are used to me not eating much at all and have stopped trying to get me to eat something. I think you will like the sleeve much more. I can tell you that with my complications , the surgery took 4 hours and the pain for me afterwards was incredible. For about a week I drank liquid morphine and stayed as drugged as possible. The pain eventually left and I survived it. Most people had a much easier time with the pain than I did. Once you get to the 6 month post op date you will be used to it and pretty happy. Take care.

I was banded for 8 years also and then it failed. I had a good experience with the band until it failed. I have other medical issues with Barretts esophagus and too much stomach acid so insurance approval was pretty easy for me. I was sleeved 2 years ago. My weight is wonderful again. I'm 6 ft 2 in and weigh 210 lbs. I feel great. I love not having that port in my side anymore. The only thing that I don't like is food. I can only eat a very small amount and nothing really tastes good. I can taste it but I guess what I'm saying is that nothing really appeals to me. I used to love sitting with friends and eating and drinking alot. They are used to me not eating much at all and have stopped trying to get me to eat something. I think you will like the sleeve much more. I can tell you that with my complications , the surgery took 4 hours and the pain for me afterwards was incredible. For about a week I drank liquid morphine and stayed as drugged as possible. The pain eventually left and I survived it. Most people had a much easier time with the pain than I did. Once you get to the 6 month post op date you will be used to it and pretty happy. Take care.

I had a band to sleeve revision and a hiatal hernia repair all at the same time. Surgery took 4 hours and I had no complications during or after surgery. I was really sore and in a lot of pain for about a week afterwards but I got through it. I am over 2 years post op now. I feel really good and all my lab work is excellent. When you start eating solid food again make sure you measure everything. After a while of doing this you will be able to eyeball it. Don't overeat. Protein first. No liquids an hour before during or after meals. You will get used to this routine and eventually you can eat whatever you want and even sip wine with your meal or some other beverage during your meal. No carbonated drinks though. Can't have the bubbles expanding in your stomach. I really miss drinking cold beer. When I say that you can eat anything that you want that means a portion only. You will not be able to eat very much but it can be anything that you want. That's the beauty of it. I don't feel deprived like when you are on a diet. I can go to the fridge and make myself whatever I am in the mood for. My wife can cook anything that she wants because I can eat it. I end up throwing most of it away but I feel satisfied. Good luck.

There was one time in the past 2 years that I started eating and I was so completely hungry and it tasted so freaking good and I was starting to lose myself, and in an instant my stomach gave me a huge wake up call, like a slap to the face. This sleeve is a real miracle worker.

@@Joyce 258 Fear not!! Baked buffalo wings and blue cheese dressing is a staple for me. You will get there and that is a perfect sleever meal. High fat, high Protein, low carbs. I don't do fried wings most of the time because they make me horrible gassy, but baked crispy? YUM!! 3-4 times a week!

Awesome comment crazygoose and some very good replies too. I think you will find as you get farther along with this is, is that the food will not appeal to you like before. I loved home made burgers on the grill with all the fixings and mayo and ketchup and fries and cold beer also, but not really. It doesn't taste the same and I could never even eat like that now, the pain would kill me. When we barbeque now, I still make me a big deluxe cheese burger but I cut a small section from it and eat it and throw the rest away. It's just not the same. I don't have any favorite food anymore. I don't even care for pizza now but I will still eat a small slice with the family because the kids love it. I'm over 2 years post op now. I still love food but in a different way. I think a healthy way.

Awesome comment crazygoose and some very good replies too. I think you will find as you get farther along with this is, is that the food will not appeal to you like before. I loved home made burgers on the grill with all the fixings and mayo and ketchup and fries and cold beer also, but not really. It doesn't taste the same and I could never even eat like that now, the pain would kill me. When we barbeque now, I still make me a big deluxe cheese burger but I cut a small section from it and eat it and throw the rest away. It's just not the same. I don't have any favorite food anymore. I don't even care for pizza now but I will still eat a small slice with the family because the kids love it. I'm over 2 years post op now. I still love food but in a different way. I think a healthy way.

Awesome comment crazygoose and some very good replies too. I think you will find as you get farther along with this is, is that the food will not appeal to you like before. I loved home made burgers on the grill with all the fixings and mayo and ketchup and fries and cold beer also, but not really. It doesn't taste the same and I could never even eat like that now, the pain would kill me. When we barbeque now, I still make me a big deluxe cheese burger but I cut a small section from it and eat it and throw the rest away. It's just not the same. I don't have any favorite food anymore. I don't even care for pizza now but I will still eat a small slice with the family because the kids love it. I'm over 2 years post op now. I still love food but in a different way. I think a healthy way.

I hear ya on the rant.
Was on a cruise last week and it became evident........grossly evident....at how poorly folks eat.
I hit my six month mark during the cruise.
I've made the transition to the ne way of doing things and feel that it's a lifelong change for me. The food commercials don't bother me any more. Especially after last week and people watching on the ship.
Virtually all the staff onboard were height-weight chart compliant. Almost all. The cruisers we mostly overweight.....and a high percentage were obese. No mystery as to why when you observe them in restaurants. I'm an early riser and tended to take my book and sit and sip coffee in the buffet restaurant each morning. Unreal what I observed people chowng down on. Massive quantities. I often saw the same people in line again when I'd go back a couple hours later to eat Breakfast with my wife.
I saw my old self in those people. My old habits. I'm glad I saw this.

I will warn you that this post is a shallow rant probably because I have a lot of time on my hands today. I've decided to stay home and rest since I've been so busy since getting out of the hospital from my surgery Friday and I'm seriously thinking of staying away from television for a while because all I keep seeing is these Carl's Jr. and Checkers commercials. Anyone that knows me knows that burgers are my favorite food and aside from soda probably is the main reason why I am obese. But what pisses me off is they keep showing these supermodels in these fast food commercials eating burgers the size of their pretty little heads (the burgers are not even that big in real life) and I'm not sure why but I find it ridiculous and absurd. Why can't they be truthful and show the real people who really love their burgers? People who love their burgers so much they gained over 100 pounds and have heart disease from eating them? I feel like people are being sold lies. Anyways end of rant.

I think the hunger feeling is pretty normal with everyone. It could be head hunger but I felt starved also at times early on. I don't know why. It sounds like you have the perfect routine going so just keep at it. Its early on for you so don't stress. This works. I am over 2 years post op now. I eat whatever I feel like eating. Its weird because I think that I am eating too much for a while and then I get on the scale, after not weighing for over a month, and I am down a few more pounds. Its really incredible. What I have noticed is that I don't have any favorite food anymore. Nothing really appeals to me and I miss that. You have to realize that you can't give in to the starving sensation because if you overeat it really hurts until it digests. You probably will do this at least once but you won't do it again. Measure everything until you can eyeball the correct portion size. You will get used to it. Good luck.

Please let us know what your doctor says. I think most of us would like to know. This is or should be a nonjudgmental website. You can ask any question that you wish. I wasn't trying to be condescending. I have been on this site for a long time and all of the information that I have read so far concerns, weight loss, and surgery, and follow-up information and exercising, so when I read your question, I responded before I really thought about it and I apologize for that. I live in Washington, state and I did vote yes on the initiative to legalize marijuana for recreational use. I tend to agree with the liberal views on this subject. However, I don't not smoke pot or anything else. I do think that smoking pot and cigarettes are extremely bad for your health because of the tar that you inhale deeply into your lungs, and this is a website that asks questions about," How to better ones health", and smoking anything has proven to be counterproductive with that goal. I hope that this is a better answer than my last response, and please let us know your doctor's advice. Good luck and keep posting.

Hello. I was sleeved on Aug 11. I can only speak about my experience, so this is strictly my opinion.
I have struggled my whole life with food and weight. I turn to food when I'm bored, stressed, worried, happy and sad. Food was the center of my life for years. I am clearly addicted to it and the comfort it provides to me. I imagine most people who are significantly over weight have been so for many years. I developed horrible habits and a co-dependent relationship with food for decades. Again, I imagine most people in this boat are the same as me. Saying that....I truly believe that people gain weight after this surgery because breaking those habits, breaking that addiction never really goes away. Its going to be a life long battle even with surgery, period. Right now....8 weeks out from surgery.....I can eat a little more. I can eat sweets and carbs pretty easily. I think that if I don't get my habits under control and if I don't stay totally vigilant concerning my triggers and go-to, feel-good foods, then, yes, I can see myself gaining in the future. The surgery is a tool to use to control portions....it doesn't control what food you put in your body....you do. Yes, you will always have a smaller stomach to control the amount of food. But, if you are reaching for chocolate, chips and fried food....even in small amounts.....over time the weight can and will return.

When I see posts online about weight regain -- and when posters describe what has happened -- they use language that describes some of these behaviors and emotions:
* snacking
* grazing
* no longer tracking their intake
* "falling into old habits"
* their exercise programs got sidetracked
* "not paying attention"
* feeling much less restriction from their sleeve after, typically, a year post-op
* experiencing life stress and soothing themselves with food * feeling disappointed that weight loss didn't make them sufficiently happy or resolve their problems * being angry with themselves
* depression * lack of support from family members
* overt antagonism from family members about their weight loss
* deaths of close family members
* social isolation
* inability to manage successfully psychiatric drugs * WLS complications they've not fully recovered from or resolved * medical problems unrelated to WLS, e.g., cancer * alcoholism or drinking too much
It's a jungle out there. That's why I'm now in therapy (for the first time in my life) and will remain in therapy throughout my first year post-op and probably for the two years thereafter.
I think the easy part of WLS is losing the weight. I've done that at least 40 times. This time, I hope / plan to keep it off.

Just a quick update...surgery went well. Everything went smoothly. My surgeon did a great job, the facility was wonderful, and my recovery is crawling along. Still pretty weak and gassy, but I've come to expect I'm right about where I should be on day 5.