bewell

I haven't posted for a while but I am happy to give you my lapband to sleeve experience. In January 2018 it will be 3 years since I did the revision. I lost 90 pounds and I have maintained the loss within 7 pounds. I do go up and down within the 7 pound range. I am very happy with my maintenance. I wish I had lost about 20 more pounds but it appears I can maintain my current weight without a lot of struggle and my Doc has been very happy that I've maintained the loss. I'm 67 yrs old.
My lapband to sleeve was done in one surgery. I asked my surgeon to get THAT THING out of me and do the sleeve all at once. Lapband was terrible experience in so many ways. Pain every day.
The sleeve isn't perfect but for me SO MUCH better than lapband. I have no regrets at all.

I haven't posted for a while but I am happy to give you my lapband to sleeve experience. In January 2018 it will be 3 years since I did the revision. I lost 90 pounds and I have maintained the loss within 7 pounds. I do go up and down within the 7 pound range. I am very happy with my maintenance. I wish I had lost about 20 more pounds but it appears I can maintain my current weight without a lot of struggle and my Doc has been very happy that I've maintained the loss. I'm 67 yrs old.
My lapband to sleeve was done in one surgery. I asked my surgeon to get THAT THING out of me and do the sleeve all at once. Lapband was terrible experience in so many ways. Pain every day.
The sleeve isn't perfect but for me SO MUCH better than lapband. I have no regrets at all.

The most important thing I learned was not to compare myself to others, what they eat and how much and how fast they lose. Everyone is different. I stayed on the mushy diet much longer than others. Solids were a very slow start. I couldn't eat salad until about 8 months. I couldn't eat broccoli until about 10 months and I still struggle with it. Some days a dense Protein (beef) is OK and other days I have to stick to chicken. Sometimes one egg is all I can eat and other days I can eat 2. If you eat a few bites of something and it makes you feel sick or nauseous just stop and try in again in a few days or weeks. Volume varies a lot too.
I'm 20 months out. Haven't lost all the weight I want to but I've not gained. Very happy about that.

The most important thing I learned was not to compare myself to others, what they eat and how much and how fast they lose. Everyone is different. I stayed on the mushy diet much longer than others. Solids were a very slow start. I couldn't eat salad until about 8 months. I couldn't eat broccoli until about 10 months and I still struggle with it. Some days a dense Protein (beef) is OK and other days I have to stick to chicken. Sometimes one egg is all I can eat and other days I can eat 2. If you eat a few bites of something and it makes you feel sick or nauseous just stop and try in again in a few days or weeks. Volume varies a lot too.
I'm 20 months out. Haven't lost all the weight I want to but I've not gained. Very happy about that.

Hi I am wondering- how you are doing now? I had the same rational as you, but now I am thinking I made a HUGE mistake. I have constant burning in my esophagus that will not go away. I'm scared to death at this point. Nothing is working, and it seems like pills are stuck in my throat and chest.
When he asked me why I was fearful of roux en y, I told him, malasorbtion, and he said it was a valid point. Now I am thinking that maybe malasorbtion is better than esophageal carcinoma or horrific side effects from the PPIs
I just made the wrong call

It's a 5 day diet that is supposed to give you your restriction back and get rid of the cravings. First 2 days are liquid, then soft Proteins, and so on.
Sent from my Android using the BariatricPal App

@@sleevedmanda
Whats a pouch test?

@@Dub
I like your saying ".......only control is what we put in our mouths...." and I'll add for me "what comes out of my mouth" I'm always wishing I thought about what I said. Both ways are my choices
You are doing fabulous and an inspiration.
As for this topic....my Doc said sleeve can stretch some.

@@sleevedmanda
I do not have the exact experience but I sure do feel for you and get it. The pain and shame is overwhelmging. All I can say is that for me, even tho I haven't gained much weight back, I feel as down as I did before surgery SO....I'm guessing I still have some serious problems not related to weight. I just blamed all my issues on being obese. So here I am, a smaller person but still the "same me" with the same underlying issues.
I do see other posts from longtime sleevers is that you can recover. It is harder than postop weight loss but possible. They say to start on the liquid diet again, and clean up eating habits, the sleeve still works but we have to follow the eating plan. I've been toying with doing that but just not ready to do that.
I will make a commitment to you today (cuz I have to tell someone) I am going to eat well this day. No sugar, no crap, follow the food plan just today. One day at a time.
Thanks for listening.

I've fallen off the wagon... too hard to get back up on my own so I'm back on here. 8 months after surgery I was at my lowest, down 64.4 pounds at 185.6 on 9/15/16.
Now a year later, today, I've regained 27.4 pounds so that puts me at post op 1 year and 8 months down 37 pounds.
I know where I went wrong, I've got excuses but I won't bore you with them here. Have any of you done this and successfully gotten back on the wagon and are on your way toward your goal again? I need some, "me too, but it's possible to turn it back around"
TIA
Sent from my Android using the BariatricPal App

@@Veronica Page
Hang in there, we all have struggled and if someone says they haven't, well I don't buy it. We are all here for each other. This is a place we can be honest with how we are doing. (There are some that aren't on here that are suffering cuz they've started to gain.) You are here, checking in, being honest. Good for you!
I've been told by those who have traveled this road before us that the last 25% of our weight loss can be very hard. We are past the honeymoon phase, the hunger is back, we can eat more. Now we have to be even more diligent like we were in the beginning. And there is always the terror of gaining some of it back!
I see a therapist to keep me on track and he gave me a kick in the butt. When I was whining about having to watch what I eat every day, he gently said .....get over it!! Yea, its hard and it's also hard for millions (WLS or not) to maintain a healthy weight. Holidays, TV ads, food at work..... I have now joined the millions who have to watch what they eat. If I'm honest with myself, my healthy weight friends (and those who are overweight too) have to watch what they eat, everyday! They keep portions small, eat healthy food and exercise. Yes, occasionally they eat too much and then they get right back to eating healthy. So what did I think it was going to be a cake walk!? I tell myself the hard truth, GET OVER IT. This is how it's going to be. I will always have to be careful. I will always have to limit my portions, I will take 2 steps forward and occasionally one back. But I'll keep moving forward.
We can do this!!

@@notime
I'm 65 this year and it's one years since WLS for sleeve 1/15. (Also lapband 9 yrs ago. (Failed!))
My experience is that over 60 yrs we heal a bit slower. It may take more time to get around so patience is important.
My suggestion to anyone doing WLS is that each person is different. Days to recoup, days to eat mushy food, or move to solid etc if very individual. I started the solid food weeks after many others. It was just the way my tiny tummy preferred.
The weight loss pace is also individual.
Be kind to ourselves and accept we have had major surgery and if it's going to work, we have to do as the Doc says and not play around with food which is what got us where we are pre-surgery.
That and take advantage of the initial "no hunger" phase as the hunger does return at some point.
Best of WLS to your Mom!

@@bassmel
Congratulations on your surgery date. Yea, the pre-op is hard but in just a few days you will wonder where all that ravishing hunger went to......cuz it will be gone and you will have to make yourself remember to eat something. Keep sipping that water!
Normal to be a little hesitant, it's a major surgery but you'll do fine.
Best to you and keep us old geezers updated!

Congrats on your loss and taking the big leap to WLS. We will never look back!

@@Veronica Page
You have done amazing! And you've lost over 100 pounds. Incredible! Congrats on your planned reduced tummy. I'm way too chicken-Xhit for that. And my apron is pretty gross but I've come to like it, much smaller and so jiggly. Now my girls....yikes they are nearly down to my belly-button. Still big cuz there is so much excess skin. I might do the girls.
And I totally get it! When I feel so good now and look so much better (still a big girl tho) it's harder to find the same life and death motivation I had pre-WLS. But like I said early.....I had to get over it! It's hard for everyone.
With you too on the toning. It was weird when I was not losing weight I did lose inches and it gave my body, skin and my head a chance to catch up to the change.
I've done better the past few days and feel pretty good.
Best to you and so happy you keep posting. You've really kept this Jan 2015 alive. Thank you.

@@Veronica Page
You have done amazing! And you've lost over 100 pounds. Incredible! Congrats on your planned reduced tummy. I'm way too chicken-Xhit for that. And my apron is pretty gross but I've come to like it, much smaller and so jiggly. Now my girls....yikes they are nearly down to my belly-button. Still big cuz there is so much excess skin. I might do the girls.
And I totally get it! When I feel so good now and look so much better (still a big girl tho) it's harder to find the same life and death motivation I had pre-WLS. But like I said early.....I had to get over it! It's hard for everyone.
With you too on the toning. It was weird when I was not losing weight I did lose inches and it gave my body, skin and my head a chance to catch up to the change.
I've done better the past few days and feel pretty good.
Best to you and so happy you keep posting. You've really kept this Jan 2015 alive. Thank you.

After reading this I would say it's an awkward compliment from some guys not knowing what to say to an awesome lady.

Well sometimes people say things without realizing they can mean 2 things. They may be hinting that you are really going to be a hottie and thinking they are being complimentary or cute and may not even realize they are really making you appear to be fickle.
I would just say, he doesn't need to watch out for me with another man BUT he better watch those credit cards because I am going to buy me some clothes!!!!

Hi my friends ,
I will be 64 in February. I'm being sleeved on Monday January 11th. It's been tough on the pre op diet . But I know the hard work it will be worth it. I will have my gall bladder removed in the same surgery. I'm praying for all to go well.

I'm 61, was sleeved on 11/3/15, and have lost 66 lbs. so far... Nothing to complain about yet, and delighted wth my progress.

@ Veronica Page 200squats!! You are a bad ass! Just reading that my legs shriveled way to go!! I still can't do 3 without giving up! New goals! I just felt the need to pat you on the back that's amazing! Keep up the great work xoxo

thanks @bewell. I'm getting over it. I was whining and wishing I could cool breeze it til goal but I was heavier than most who started when I did so I can't really beat myself up. Where I haven't lost weight recently I have gain muscle and look a lot leaner then I did. 2016 is my year to get to my personal goal and make my life what I want it to be. 25 more pounds and I'm having my stomach done, I never wanted to really be thin as I want to be healthy and I think that is where I stand. I feel like I have 5-8lbs of excess skin on my tummy and some on my inner thighs. I gained 2 inches in my booty due to the 200 squats I do a day and I feel pretty good. I need to have my kitchen on lock down after 7 cause thats when I start roaming it like a rodent eating things for no reason. So weird how I never wanted to eat to now I really want to eat again. Stinks and wish those desires were cut out with my stomach. On the best side my skin and hair looks amazing and I feel pretty for once!

@@Veronica Page
Hang in there, we all have struggled and if someone says they haven't, well I don't buy it. We are all here for each other. This is a place we can be honest with how we are doing. (There are some that aren't on here that are suffering cuz they've started to gain.) You are here, checking in, being honest. Good for you!
I've been told by those who have traveled this road before us that the last 25% of our weight loss can be very hard. We are past the honeymoon phase, the hunger is back, we can eat more. Now we have to be even more diligent like we were in the beginning. And there is always the terror of gaining some of it back!
I see a therapist to keep me on track and he gave me a kick in the butt. When I was whining about having to watch what I eat every day, he gently said .....get over it!! Yea, its hard and it's also hard for millions (WLS or not) to maintain a healthy weight. Holidays, TV ads, food at work..... I have now joined the millions who have to watch what they eat. If I'm honest with myself, my healthy weight friends (and those who are overweight too) have to watch what they eat, everyday! They keep portions small, eat healthy food and exercise. Yes, occasionally they eat too much and then they get right back to eating healthy. So what did I think it was going to be a cake walk!? I tell myself the hard truth, GET OVER IT. This is how it's going to be. I will always have to be careful. I will always have to limit my portions, I will take 2 steps forward and occasionally one back. But I'll keep moving forward.
We can do this!!

At 7 months, I still can only eat 1/2 cup of food. About 2oz meat at a sitting. I have to eat 4-5 small meals a day. I just can't eat that much food. At 1 month it was even less.

Everyone is different. There is no way I could eat 4 oz of meat even if it took me an hour to chew it up. A few bites and I'm full. Too much more and I vomit. It's just they way it is for me.
Watch out for the carbs, they catch up around 5 months and did slow my weight loss. I have more hunger now too.
Lose it while you can. Keep in simple.

@@Veronica Page
Hang in there, we all have struggled and if someone says they haven't, well I don't buy it. We are all here for each other. This is a place we can be honest with how we are doing. (There are some that aren't on here that are suffering cuz they've started to gain.) You are here, checking in, being honest. Good for you!
I've been told by those who have traveled this road before us that the last 25% of our weight loss can be very hard. We are past the honeymoon phase, the hunger is back, we can eat more. Now we have to be even more diligent like we were in the beginning. And there is always the terror of gaining some of it back!
I see a therapist to keep me on track and he gave me a kick in the butt. When I was whining about having to watch what I eat every day, he gently said .....get over it!! Yea, its hard and it's also hard for millions (WLS or not) to maintain a healthy weight. Holidays, TV ads, food at work..... I have now joined the millions who have to watch what they eat. If I'm honest with myself, my healthy weight friends (and those who are overweight too) have to watch what they eat, everyday! They keep portions small, eat healthy food and exercise. Yes, occasionally they eat too much and then they get right back to eating healthy. So what did I think it was going to be a cake walk!? I tell myself the hard truth, GET OVER IT. This is how it's going to be. I will always have to be careful. I will always have to limit my portions, I will take 2 steps forward and occasionally one back. But I'll keep moving forward.
We can do this!!