Kaze

I feel that way, too. I'm very underwhelmed with my sleeve's restriction at two years out. While heavy, dense foods are definitely restricted, calorie dense, slider like foods aren't. Only lost about 50 lbs of the 150 lbs or so I needed to lose to be at goal weight so I'm considering revision. I agree with your sentiment...if we could have been this conscientious about our diet before, surgery would be unnecessary if it weren't for the metabolic changes it has which greatly improves diabetes for those of us that had it.

Will do. I'm still definitely considering it. I've made a few dietary adjustments and my weight has at least trended back down to where I WAS prior to a few months ago which is still ~25 lbs more than my lowest weight. I read some information about revision that confirmed AtlantaRed's comment about the general WLS diet being 800-1000 calories, and knowing I can eat almost double that (though it's probably less since that food diaryhad a lot of less than ideal choices such as fast food, shame on me) which is definitely fueling me to ask about it. I also heard reflux that doesn't go away is another thing to consider getting a revision to bypass for...I definitely still have GERD! Ugh!

Hey Bryn! I was following up to see if you got your revision to bypass! I see you now belong to Gastric Bypass Patients so I assume you did. How are you doing and feeling? Edit: I see, May 9th! Good luck, one week!

It's low (1800 was actually the average) for normal eating circumstances, and I feel 800-1000 is still low even for surgery. Perhaps they meant the first year after? Either way I know I can eat more of "slider foods" than I'm comfortable with but I definitely get restriction with heavy and dense foods.

Yes on the perfect storm! Ugh! Like I said in a reply above my relationship with food is better than before surgery, but somewhere along the track I grew apathetic (probably because of depression!) and I've hit a brick wall since, so I will absolutely be working on that from here on out. Revision would be something I really seek out hard sometime next year if dietary and activity adjustments just don't work. I don't exercise as much as I want to but I'm hoping with next semester I'll have a more structured schedule and I WILL be putting ~3 hours of treadmill every week minimum. Even if it's just walking, it's something! Thank you all for your kind and thoughtful responses! I will definitely be working on the "things I can change" stuff first and foremost and only really go for revision in due time if my weight doesn't see tremendous benefit down the line.

My relationship with food, I'd say, is infinitely better than it was pre-surgery, but I won't kid myself and claim it's where I should be. I definitely will pursue a therapist for that after I find a doctor to address anxiety and depression. I also will consult with my nephro docs because malabsorption did worry me as far as medication, so I'll see what their input is. My WL surgeon did affirm that medication absorption is rarely effected by bypass or the duodenal switch, but when I pursued my sleeve I just was too worried about it. If I pursue and go forward with revision, I will be in the highest plane of vigilance this time around because I'll go into it with side factors (like stress, anxiety, etc) dealt with or under control so I don't slip. I'm only in the preliminary stages of considering it. I might seek a second opinion from another weight loss surgeon at the hospital I work. On a positive note, I did an assignment for one of my classes where I had to keep an extremely detailed food diary and I did make several adjustments because of it...whole grains as much as possible, more vegetables around, I'm going to invest in some fish (though I don't like it blech) and other things to boost healthy categories. I get a considerable amount of my daily calories from fat which I'm sure isn't helping even though my sum total calorie intake isn't terrible.

I'll skip the formalities. I had the sleeve in June of 2016. I initially lost a considerable heft getting down to 225 lbs (heaviest was 300). After some time, I gained back about 20 pounds and have been consistent ever since (this past month I've gained a little more still which is severely depressing). I don't feel I eat ridiculously and I did a food diary and my calorie intake isn't excessive, averaging around 1900ish calories which is closer to the goals of a young woman versus a young man such as myself. When is it appropriate to start considering revision? Based on my surgeon's comments, he may not be inclined to do it OR he meant that it'd be nearly impossible to do laparoscopic again because I have previous abdominal surgeries with tons of scar tissue. I am considering a Bypass revision (though I read a source that suggests a sleeve to duodenal switch might be more effective, yet brings more concern for nutrient deficiency) because it should have considerably better results and also I read that bypass can minimize reflux. I still have take Omeprazole and I've only been able to ween myself off to minimum three days a week for it, so that would be a minor plus. I know for a fact I would need to completely rehsape my relationship with food as some personal stressors caused me to significantly lose conscientiousness towards my diet. I know I need depression and anxiety control beforehand so I go in with a better mentality, but I strongly believe I should at least consider revision. I'm still morbidly obese (BMI ~39.2 as of today!) and I'm almost bad enough to bypass the "must have comorbitity" component of most insurance coverage (BMI of 40 or BMI of 35 w/ considerable problems.) Secondary question, does anybody have experience with revision surgery coverage through Medicaid? I had Medicare and Medicaid (though down to the wire of Medicare coverage post kidney transplant) for my sleeve, but I just have Medicaid now.

Quest bars are good and have decent protein content. I tried the new Beyond cereal bars (part of Quest's stuff) and it was really good and decently dense and well restrictive. Certainly a good choice for grab and go over any other junk food. I just wish they weren't so expensive.

I sympathize entirely with your experience. I, too, have stalled on weight loss because I've been eating like crap (while I can attempt to justify it because I've relapsed on my depression and my work schedule isn't helping me much, I won't tackle that here). Note that I'm sure you'll notice that if you eat very dense, good proteins (or dense foods in general) your restriction is still in tact. Your stomach at 6 months and beyond is usually just free from all of the surgical inflammation. You'll never, ever revert to anywhere near your normal stomach size. You can however revert back to an emotional tendency to food. The reality is, unfortunately, our brain is separate from our stomach. Slider foods are called that for a reason...they literally do not hold in our stomach very well so with a brief break and a sip of water, we can go back to gorging on said foods. I won't tell you how many times in a while I've eaten entire bags of chips since surgery. Hint: it's sad and more than I'm proud of. But as others have pointed out, your restriction is here to stay, and while it's never going to be like it was post surgery and for the first about six months, it's just knowing what foods will be restricted. The honeymoon period right after surgery and the following months is known as such for a reason...restriction is painfully strict, weight loss is rapid and cravings are basically nonexistent. Once we start getting out there, it gets a little easier to binge again and I think it's best if we can acknowledge that, not beat ourselves up over it. Just start being stricter with yourself, as I'm trying to do for myself. I'm looking hot and heavy for a gym to join and I'm trying to find replacements snack items that would be more protein rich (there's protein chips now! weird, right?) and satisfy my cravings. Do not beat yourself up and don't think you've done irreparable damage! That'll just hurt your attitude and not feed into productive use of this assessment of your habits!

I had to adapt to swallowing uncomfortably large pills the next day since I'm on an immunosuppressant regimen for transplant. At first it was extremely painful and nerve-racking, but I think by day 2 it was just tedious having to do one at a time. Now, 7 months out (and I could probably do this at about 2-3 months out) I can swallow all of my horse pills and gulp some water down no problem.

They say nay, but I'm a daredevil and I love gum. Do at your own risk. The complications are just that it can be really hard on your new stomach to digest (since gum is already hard to digest) in the off chance that you swallow it, and since you have a staple line, it can get stuck and it's probably not a pretty picture, but I don't routinely swallow gum and I'm not sure of anyone who does.

Thanks! I'm glad I could help with relevant information! It was difficult to find information specifically regarding a transplant patient do maybe we can talk amongst ourselves? Anyway, I am down to 256-258 pounds making my total loss about 40 pounds thus far. My doctor was certainly impressed. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App