Circlegirl

Hi all, I'm a newbie to this site, looking for some help and advice and hopefully some answers. I had a lap band put in 7 years ago, I then had several complications and three revision surgeries and multiple infections. I recovered from all my infections and surgeries, started eating better and exercising. The weight was coming over but very slowly, I managed to lose 45 kilos and was feeling better, but disappointed with the slow weight loss (45 kilos over 3 years is not what I was expecting) (I have a lot of weight to lose - more than 100kgs) So after my annual consultation with my surgeon, he suggested a gastric sleeve. I was so excited, a good friend of mine had recently been sleeved and her results were phenomenal! Bring it on!! Band was removed after 4 years. 2 months of very careful eating and I was sleeved. I did everything right. Fluids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks, then small meals, gradually building up to solids. Here is where my problems begin. After I started eating, I never felt the restriction I did when I had the band. Over time my portions increased, I have never felt any type of restriction, at my 3 month post op review a temporary surgeon. (My surgeon after performing 6 surgeries on my poor tummy is no longer practicing) I was told the sleeve had failed and I wasn't losing the weight they expected me too. Instant Soul crush! I soldiered on and saw dieticians and doctors and no one to this day can explain what has happened. Fast forward to now,7 years after my band and small loss and 2.5 years after my sleeve and I'm back to my pre. Band weight. I have absolutely nil restriction. I can eat a full size meal and have gained back every thing I ever lost. I have been back to see 2 separate surgeons who have both said the sleeve looks to be fine, and have no answers as to why I'm gaining weight. (Have done 2 barium swallows) Both of them have recommended a gastric bypass as the only way I will lose weight. My head is really messed up. I don't know what to do, over the past 7 years I have had 7 operations 5 of them weight loss related (band in, port removed, port replaced band out and sleeved) Ive spent well over $30k on surgeries, Appointments hospital visits etc. and I'm really not wanting more surgery (I was told due to the difficulty with scar tissue, infections etc I will need two bariatric surgeons to operate on me doubling the cost of further surgery) Herein lies my issue. Do I risk it all, spend a small fortune (that I don't really wish to spend) in the hope that this may be the surgery to help me lose weight. Do I dare to pretend I can lose weight on my own (I'm 42 and the past 42 years have proven I can't) Do I try to be happy and live my life as a super morbid obese adult? I'll admit I'm scared, scared ill do it and fail, scared I won't do it and will be unhappy for the rest of my life, scared if I don't do it, my co morbidites will finally get the better of me I wa so sure the band was the way to go. It took me a very long time to come to the realisation I needed surgery to help me lose weight. It worked but I never had the success others did. Then , I was convinced the sleeve would help, and now I'm back to where I began all those years ago. My head is a mess, my body is a mess and I don't know which way to go...... Sorry for the mega long post, wanted to get it all out in the hope someone has had similar experiences and come through the other side ???? Ps. If anyone is reading this that is considering surgery, please don't let my post put you off. I'm a one in a million type person and no one else I know has issues like this. Ive made several great friends who have had differing weightless surgeries and they have all had great sucess. You will never look back ????

Hi all, thanks for the support, it's nice to know I'm not the only one dealing with issues like these. @girliegirl. Be strong you will know what is right for you, please don't let anything stand in your way. If it helps, I have an awesome buddy who went from band to sleeve and has had awesome results. They are at their goal weight and never had one single issue (frustrating for me to watch them lose whilst I am gaining) but I am so mega proud of them. To see the difference in them makes me know it is all worthwhile. @1959JimmyJames. Duodenal switch has never been mentioned, both surgeons have gone straight to the bypass option. I guess I always assumed it was the second step after the sleeve. Will be looking into this. Thanks @Thesupportedhalf. Yours is the reply I most relate to, minus all my "extra" surgeries you and I are on very similar paths. I've never heard of an "Omega Loop Bypass" but will definitely be researching that one! I'm so glad you are excited. I have absolutely everything crossed for you. Please keep me updated as to your progress. @Sleevendown. It's the out of control eating that gets me the most. It's like I've never been sleeved at all. If it wasn't for the scars that cover my stomach ( and my seriously depleted bank account) I'd think it was all a bad dream The hardest part is eating and the attached mindset that goes with it. I look at a cup of food and know I should be satisfied after I eat it. But my brain thinks, no, you need more than that to feel full. So I keep on eating. It's that mindset I need to get away from These are the hardest first steps to take. All the way back to square one (again) the little meals , feeling hungry after I eat but knowing I'm only doing myself a disservice if I keep going, that gnawing feeling that makes you think of food all the time. I wish it were easier. But at the end off the day I have to remind myself. It took 42 years to get here, it's going to take some time to get to where I need to be. I'm working on my mindset first, food second, then getting my body moving and maybe then I'll look at further surgeries I've also read about plication surgery. Has anyone's doctor mentioned this one? It's just another thought I've got going on in the back of my mind.