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I'm looking to hear from people who are long term DS patients. What is your experience 5-10 years down the line, how is your energy, your blood levels (especially B12). how is your digestion and did the surgery create health problems, etc. Thanks!

I'm looking for a sleeve revision to DS. I would like to hear from long term post DS patients (like 5-10 years+) What is your experience with your blood levels and health? How is your digestion? How is your energy? Do you regret having the procedure? How is the Vitamin regimen, especially B12 levels? Thanks.

I'm looking for a sleeve revision to DS. I would like to hear from long term post DS patients (like 5-10 years+) What is your experience with your blood levels and health? How is your digestion? How is your energy? Do you regret having the procedure? How is the Vitamin regimen, especially B12 levels? Thanks.

400-500 calories a day is not enough. The body does go into starvation mode. when I slowed, my doctor suggested to eat just small meals of protein-only several times a day rather than 3 meals a day to help keep the body from thinking it's starving. He said you can go for a while on protein-only if necessary. Just remember to take all your supplements. Also, I went back to just Protein shakes for a week (with supplements of course) to kick start my sleeve and get my mind back on track. I really like the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury brand. If you are logging your food so you know for sure that you are only taking 400-500 a day you can try this. However, when my weight slows and I think I'm hardly eating anything, then I honestly log every single bite I take in I am always astonished at how much I am actually eating. It is very easy to fool yourself so first step I'd say is to honestly log your food for a week (as a habit is good too). Just my thoughts.

I'm in the same boat as you, but I know I haven't been 100% with the program either. Those little sweets are usually more than you think. When I eat straight my weight drops again, but when I don't pay attention to what I eat (i.e., food log) I don't lose. Our brains trick ourselves into thinking we aren't eating as much as we do. I did this thing where I had one trash can where all I put in it was any junk type or processed food trash I ate for the week. I was shocked by the amount of wrong food I was eating, after thinking I was only having a little here and there. Our brains are broken which is why we needed this tool in the first place to help us. I believe the only way to stay on program is to write your food down so it is in black and white in front of you. But I too have to be better. Thank you for reminding me.

Just keep trying your best because it will improve, you will feel better, and you will be able to eat better as time goes on.

Since you are working out 5 times a week, you may not be taking in enough calories to sustain the weight loss. There are studies that show that if you don't eat enough calories, especially taking in enough Protein, your body will hold onto the fat reserves while you build muscle. I would suggest that you make sure you log your food and calculate how many calories you are actually taking in.

Thanks for this post. I am only 4 months out and already feel the difference in the amount I can eat. I've been in a stall that started with a 3 week vacation and I can see that I will have to work to make this tool successful. I haven't gained any weight back but I've only lost 25 lbs and am stuck. My head hunger battles continue but I started logging my food and that seems to be helping tremendously. Anyway, thanks for the post - it's a good reminder.

It could be a muscle or diaphram cramp. I've had those before my surgery, and a minor one after. Could be related to a lack of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, etc., so try to make sure you are taking your minerals, eating real food including greens, and not letting yourself get dehydrated.

Your body may be holding on to whatever it can because it is sensing starvation mode. 700-800 calories is not enough to stave that off. Try upping your calorie intake to 1000 by eating more healthy fats such as coconut oil or animal fats (yes, saturated fats are good for you if you are not eating processed carbs). You will probably see your system kickstart. Definitely up your walking though.

One thing about rigorous training is that if you aren't eating enough your body will hold on to the weight because it detects starvation if you aren't taking in enough and working out hard. Try upping your caloric intake with Protein and vegetables and see if this makes a difference. You may be surprised that you aren't eating enough calories.

You look great! Out of curiosity, did you have skin surgery?

I like your answer on the bs topic. But I don't think this board is competitive. I think it is more real and gritty. I like that. It isn't full of pat answers and people have real discussions. Bravo to this board.

The calling me on my bs is all done with great respect but through honesty with kindness. Not screaming, yelling, boot camp stuff. We do need to be called on our lies to ourselves. That's how we got to the point where we need surgical intervention. That's simply my opinion, take it or leave it.

Actually, I don't necessarily agree. If we were to be honest, us overeaters are the biggest liars there are. Often it takes someone to be blunt and say "what's your excuse" to get our heads out of the sand and stop making excuses, and help us see that that is exactly what we are doing. I have grown tremendously by having a coach that does just that for me. Helps me get through my bs and moving forward.

I think because this is a chance for change. Your question comes across like asking when can I gorge on candy and chips again.

This is a tough period post-surgery. I know because I am going through it too. Yeast infection makes sense because of the antibiotics. Try eating probiotic yogurt or kefir. I had a yeast infection post op too, got rid of it with otc remedies and eating Probiotics. Right now I am having problems with constipation/diarrhea (both) with pain in my lower quadrant. About to call the Dr just to make sure everything is up and up. I did not think it would take this long to feel good and I have had a few tears as well. But I am confident "this too will pass". It is always good to receive assurance during this difficult healing period. Support is essential to your wellbeing. If you don't have supportive family or friends around you don't be embarrassed to call your Dr. My kids are Dr's so I know they are just people, feeling people at that.

In reference to regretting the surgery. I had a couple of moments like that but then I remembered where I was when I decided to go for it. Do I want to be there again? No way! I spent years trying to do it on my own, and I had to force the hand, since I wasn't able to control food intake without help. Forcing the hand comes with sacrifices, not least of all is learning to derive pleasure without food, the temporary physical ones I am confident will resolve. Now to call my surgeon for reassurance.

Why should she shut up? She is being honest. I sometimes felt that way too and still needed a better tool that forced my hand on the food/pleasure connection. I like that she is honest about the journey. She still has a lot of head work to do. To some having surgical intervention does feel like a cheat, that if only you had more willpower, if only you had better discipline, yada, yada. We all go through thoughts like that, if we are honest. I respect her. I had a lapband 11 years ago, lost 53lbs, kept most of it off (had yo-yo relapses of about 20 lbs), and decided I needed a more forceful hand to complete the journey. So I was revised to a sleeve 11 days ago and am going through those awful "what did I do, will things ever get back to normal" days. I know these days will pass and I am looking forward to it helping me finally disconnecting food from providing all my pleasure. I know I will always be struggling with that, as Sharon Osbourne surely does. But I, for one, am glad she tells it like it really is. Even if she is working for Atkins now.

You sound like me. We understand that this is a tool and that we will always be working on our head hunger, our sugar addiction or emotional eating. We understand that the sleeve is a tool, not a cure. In my opinion, I think you need to find another healthcare provider and start from scratch.

Think about how many times you have gained and lost weight without successfully sustaining any kind of significant loss. This is a tool, not a cure, to help boost the work you are doing on yourself. It is simply an extra tool. That 's it, to give you a big advantage in your journey. I think of all the years of my life that nothing has worked long term, and i darn tootin' know that I needed an additional tool to work alongside the things I've learned along the way. It is not a cure or an excuse for a food free-for-all. . It is a boost, a tool to use with eating healthy and working on your head that will help you succeed as long as you keep up the work. I shake my head at some who ask when they will be able to eat potato chips post-op. Those who think it is a cure and not a tool will have a rough time being successful. But it is a valuable tool that gives you a big headstart and helps you maintain.

I don't know your age, but I am 5j8 and have been yo-yo most of my life. I was going back and forth on this too but I realized that all the things I love to do and how the weight holds me back, that even the times I have been moderately successful on my own I haven't been able to sustain . . . so if I don't take the opportunity with this tool it'll just be years of the same over and over again for the rest of my life. At least, with the sleeve, I'll know I tried everything and, knowing that I have to work on my brain anyway, I have a good chance of being able to work on it from the GOOD end of weight feeling good and being able to move vs always fighting my way down while feeling crappy and not being able to do anything. I will be fighting to stay feeling good! In a much better frame of mind while being able to buy cute clothes, run, play volleyball, do crossfit and actually progress in all those activities. That is what convinced me.

It seems all insurance companies and surgeon's requirement differ in their requirements. I would suggest asking your surgeon's office why the wait. I was given a list of items to complete for the pre-authorization which included a letter detailing a doctor supervised history of weight loss (but I didn't have to go through another period of time to repeat doctor supervised weight loss). Once the list was complete, authorization by the insurance company was given in 7 days. I had the surgery date scheduled basically at my convenience, was given a list of pre-op workups needed to be completed (some lab work unnecessary for surgery in my opinion, but oh well) . All in all whole process to scheduling a surgery date took about a month. This was through Anthem Blue Cross.

I am scheduled for a revision sleeve in June. Has anyone experienced gall bladder problems after being sleeved? I have heard it can be a problem.

I say look at it this way. The universe is sending you in a different direction - embrace it!

I am scheduled to be sleeved next month. I have previously crossfitted and eaten paleo for 3 years ending at the end of 2013 (at which point I fell of the wagon and started gradually relapsing on my eating and exercising). I really enjoyed crossfitting and paleo but it did not make me thin (here is a video of me:

). I was okay at it, not great but loved it and am anxious to get back to it. From the forum, I see that I will be waiting at least 6 weeks, perhaps longer to begin again with the weights. My question to anyone familiar with Crossfit post-sleeve is this - do you find that you can get enough calories in to sustain intense crossfit workouts? When I was doing it, I actually ate more paleo calories to sustain the energy. I did not really gain weight, albeit did not really lose weight either, and I suspect some of it was muscle. Anyone experienced with Crossfit post-sleeve and maintaining calories?