docpaddle

Dear TRM, the unfortunate truth following sleeve surgery is that we all get our appetites back, and while we can't eat nearly as much, there are ways to beat the sleeve and put weight back on, ie, grazing, bad food choices, etc. My brother is finally getting sleeved on Friday, and I have repeatedly told him that the sleeve is only the jump start, you must diet the rest of your life! That being said, everybody is going to fluctuate, I put 5 lbs on over thanksgiving! Sunday morning, back on the plan, with a few extra shake meals for the first couple of days. I also weigh myself every other day, and try to never go too much over my goal weight, which helps to never get you to far off. The one killer is snacking, a bite here a bite there, not enough to fill you up, and before you know it, you've eaten another meal. Go back to basics, like others have said, weigh yourself frequently, and stay active, and you will lose it. You can never give up the fight!!!!

Jultrim, not to worry. I LOVED food, could not stop eating, used to eat until I was sick. But now almost three years out, I’m ideal weight, no bp meds, no pre-diabetes, and I love clothes again. I still love to eat, but just not as much. Takes time to know when to stop, and sometimes I overdo it and don’t feel so good, but when I look at myself in the mirror, or I go to the doctor, I know it was the right thing to do. I never could have lost the weight on my own, and I don’t regret it one bit. I’m not going to kid you, it takes time to learn how to eat again, but I still love food, just differently. And now a lot of the time, I eat only because I need too, not because I want to. My only lingering problem is nagging reflux, which I had before, but is worse now, and when I make the mistake to snack to late, we’ll, that’s never good. But let me assure you, you made the right decision to get healthy and live longer, it’s just an adjustment which you will figure out. Good luck!!

I had my sleeve april 13th, and am down 65lbs. Hit my goal about 3 weeks ago and have lost 2 more lbs since then. My wife doesn't want me to lose any more but I am eating as much as I can, plus 2 protien shakes a day, and it still keeps coming off. I bought a bunch of new clothes, had too, and now they are getting big! Seeing my doc tomorrow for the 10 week post op.hope he can direct me on how to maintain with out eating junk. As far as hair loss, I was already losing it for the last 10 years, so can't give you any advice there, but its still coming out..HaHa Good luck to all!!!!

I am able to drink right up until I eat, really can't during, although sometimes I just sip to wet my mouth to help swallowing, But it usually takes me an hour after I eat before I can drink again. I just can't get any fluids down. This is a good thing since I have seriously cut back on my alcohol consumption, and I don't miss it!

Ok, let's dispel some myths. Yes, carbonated drinks are tough, I loved diet coke and seltzers, and they are impossible to drink, but diet coke is poison, and actually makes you fatter, it's a fact! I do miss seltzer though. As far as beer, I still drink it, my doc said it's not as difficult, and he was right. I just can't drink a six pack any more, and I miss drinking it with my meal, ( can't drink with meals at all), but I still enjoy it, just drink it much slower and much less, which makes my wife happy. I do miss eating, but I ate too much, which is why we are here now anyway. It's a life changing experience. I am still learning how to eat, and I am getting better at it. One great tip someone said in one of their posts was, eat the best things first. From what I gather from people that are a few years out, you are able toneat a little more as time goes on, and more variety. I'm only 3 months out and I'm finding that to be true, but only slightly right now. The only negative is that what we did is clearly not reversible, but the lap band is problematic, and the bypass too radical. Dieting doesn't work long term, we all know that, so here we are! wrap your head around the positives, and there are many, and work around the negatives, there are a few, and enjoy your new body with the knowledge that you are going to be a healthier, better looking person, with more energy, and less health risks. I'm eating things like fish, and yogurt, that I never ate before, but I'm learning to love it. It really helps to have support, almost a necessity, my wife is amazing finding new ways to make me healthy small, tasty meals. She is a trainer and in amazing shape and tried for years to get me to listen to her, but I wouldn't. Now she's is my mentor. Good luck to all, don't be sad, you made the right decision, it just may take a little time to embrace it.

Im 12 weeks out and down 55 lbs. I have not had all the complications everyone has talked about, and think I had it pretty easy. regret is I miss eating! I loved food. I didn't eat because of any emotional or physical issue, I ate cause I loved food. I still do but the pleasure of eating is gone. Now I eat to live, not live to eat. I find small pleasures in making incredibly small tasty meals, lots of protein shakes,(thank god I like them). I still over eat, and occaisionally have to throw up, cause I can't stand the really full feeling. I am still trying to learn when to take the last bite and stop, not easy. Do I regret the surgery? HELL NO!!! I was on a slow road to killing myself, and I tried all the diets. Nothing was going to work forever. NOW I look and feel grear, my wife just laughs when she looks at me, in a good way, and I am never going back. I figure out the eating part, its a small price to pay! I want to grow old and see my grandkids, which wasn't going to happen before the sleeve. It's not easy, but for some of us, it was worth it!!! Good luck, it does get better, and you just need to relish in the results.

Well, that is not right. Sleeve surgery is hardly the easy way out. The surgery for me was a piece of cake, but the aftermath has been anything but! Missing all my favorite foods, longing for a couple of pieces of pizza and a few beers, and knowing that its all in the past. I loved food, and now I exist on protein shakes, broth , eggbeaters, and small meals for dinner that cause me discomfort because I always eat one bite too much!! Yeah, this was the easy wy out. That's why I told NO one except for my wife, not even my two daughters. I don't feel like being judged! Unlike you my friend, My wife has been extremely supportive and unbelievable in helping me get through this. I could not have done it without her. I hope your wife comes around and understands the sacrifice you have made, and not just a temporary one but for ever!!!! Good luck

I told no one but my wife, cardiologist, my primary, and my best friend. My 17 yr old did not even realize I was gone for two days, (teenagers)! Im 5 weeks out, have lost 38 lbs, people are starting to look at me funny, but I say nothing! when they ask, I say I have been dieting, and have lost a few. Its my business! I have been avoiding going out to dinner with friends, cause eating is still rather rough and not enjoyable, but I've been to a few parties and just kind of fake it. i told every one that i had quit drinking for awhile to help the diet, but i am drinking a little, but really have not really wanted too, ( I was a real big drinker before ). Good luck everyone! Its really up to you how you handle this, its no one's business to tell you how to deal with this.

I have BCBS of NJ, ppo. Mine was covered. I had to have a BMI of 35+, plus I had other factors, HBP, slightly elevated sugar risk, bad back ( many epidurals ),two neck surgery's ( not sure they factored in ), and have had 5 knee surgerys and am having knee replacements next spring. I was 5'10, 253, and most people thought I would never qualify, but I did. three mon waiting period with a nutritional counseling session once a month, a phsycological exam, endo scope, and multiple blood tests, but 4 months later I was sleeved. Its been tough, I really love to eat!!!, but I've lost 38lbs in 1 mo and and I'm hoping to lose another 35. Word of caution, think about who you want to know. People are very judgemental, " Why can't you just diet and excercise?", " your not trying to lose weight", " you don't eat healthy enough". Frankly, I tried everything, excersise almost everyday, and my wife is a gourmet cook right out of the eating well magazine. We eat organic as much as possible, and I never eat junk. I just loved food, and ate too much of it! So yeah it sucks now, because I really don't enjoy eating, kind of do it cause I have to, but I want to live to see my girls get married and have kids, and this was my last chance, and most of us will say that although its rough and a hugh change, I don't for one second regret my choice, and for me it was the only one that was going to make a real impact. Only my wife, my cardiologist, my primary, and two close people know, and thats the way its going to be. sorry to ramble on! Good luck!

I was sleeved almost 3 weeks ago. I guess I was real lucky, I had zero pain other than some slight gas issues. I have been tolerateing very small portions of fish and eggs, along with my protein shakes and broth. But unfortunately I constantly lament not being able to eat like I used too, and I wonder if I made a big mistake. My wife is a fantastic cook, and I really miss coming home to her wonderful meals. Tonight they made homemade organic pizza, one of my favs, and I had a 3oz egg white omlette, with a little salsa. The only thing cheering me up is the 28lbs I have lost, so I keep dwelling on that. My Doc says it gets better, but I worry it will not. I really miss eating!!!!

Wow, everyone needs to take a chill pill. I don't know about most of you, but I became fat because I ate like a pig! Probably 4000 cal per day, not form the drink or two I had. It was the chicken wings, the burgers, the extremely large portions, etc, that caused me to gain weight. I had WSL because I could not control my eatiing! Now my portions are tiny, i concentrate on protein, and I have a drink every so often, but not nearly as much as before, ( just don't like it as much). I keep it below 12-1400 cal per day and the weight is just coming off. My doc said everything in moderation, including alcohol, although beer doesn't work. Everybody has their own path to follow, and for those of you who choose not to drink, I applaud you, but for those of us that choose to drink, enjoy and celebrate your new life style. I didn't have WSL to drink proein shakes the rest of my life!!

I had my surgery 4/13 and am already eating a little finely minced tuna, and was able to eat 3 ozs of broiled flounder last night. I was told that I would not feel hungry but I do, I was making my self 2 oz egg white omletts 7 days after surgery with no problem, I have lost 25 lbs in 10 days so I'm not too worried now, but I thought I would feel way more restricted. I still do two protein shakes a day and at first I had to drink it over 2 hours. Now I can finish it in less than 1/2 hr. Some people are still on liquids three weeks after surgery, and I'm justd that I'm not going to see the full benefit of this life altering procedure. Comments???

I am 5 days out, have lost 22 lbs, and have only told my wife, and my two assistants, who would take it to the grave, I too started laying the ground work with my friends a month age, saying the time had come to get healthy. I went to florida for the weekend before the surgery, but told everybody I was there a whole week. I also returned from vacation with a terrible case of food poisoning,( not really ) and had to miss my bf 60th two days after surgery, where my wife made it a point to tell everyone how sick I was. I always joke that a stomach virus is the best way to kick off a diet. I plan on keeping this up as long as I can, and no one needs to know! My 17yr old daughter did not even realize I was at the hospital for two days, haha!

I mentioned to my surgeon that I was going to prague 5 1/2 weeks sfter surgery and plan on having some drinks. He was just there and said that It is the beer capital of Europe, which is a shame, since I should avoid carbonation, and probably stick with white wine and Vodka, with zero cal mixers. said I could taste the beer, but not really drink it, a little bummed. Probably should have waited til after the trip!!!!

Seems people are all over the place on alcohol, some within two weeks and others waiting months. Does anyone actually know when it is safe to drink?

I had no pre op diet, but my surgeon warned me of the "last big meal", so I ate a good breakfast two days before, and then went all liquid. I am 4 1/2 days post op and have lost 19lbs all ready. Pretty much living on broth right now. Tried a soft boiled egg this am, was a bit uncomfortable. Going to stick to fluids for a few more days. Taking all my vits and meds, and I must confess, look forward to my chocolate calcium chewables!!

I was very close to backing out. I kept thinking to myself that this was crazy, I was permanently altering my body, for ever!!! But after years of "trying" to lose weight, and discussing cholesterol meds and pre diabetes, It was time to get healthy. I am crazy scared that down the road I might regret this, ( I really love food )!!!!

I had surgery on 4/13, and was home the next day. The first two days I was uncomfortable , but only needed Tylenol. I feel pretty good today and plan on going back to work tomorrow. I plan on taking it easy, and my two assistants are on board to baby me. I am a very high energy and was having a hard time just laying around, and getting back to work will help take my mind off the situation. Fortunately, If it gets hard, I can always pull the plug as I work for my self. My biggest fear is not working, but not eating! I really loved food, and frankly can't stop thinking about eating real food! Had a soft boiled egg this morning, and although I was ok, I should have waited, as it was a bit uncomfortable. It will be liquids for a few more days, and hopefully, work will be fine...