AchieveGoals

Quick question, did you have GERD prior to your 1998 surgery? Or was it acquired after you had the procedure? If you acquired it after the procedure, was it not well maintained with medications? Hope to hear from you! And hope you are doing better...

Do any of you wear a shoe size smaller than what you did before surgery or at the start of your weight loss journey? I'm a size 10 right now, I'm hoping that after surgery, and I lose all my weight (130-150lbs - which is a strict goal of mine) that I will drop a shoe size to 9 or 8.5. Was wondering if this is possible, I am 5'7, and feel like size 10 W is not feminine for a woman Hoping to get down to a more normal size feet wise. Would like to hear your stories.. thanks

What foods make you experience dumping syndrome? And if you can name the type of food, with quanity/amount etc.

And did the reaction to dumping change with more time that you've had the sleeve? For example, eating half a small bowl of ice-cream make you dump 8 months out vs not anymore at 2 or 3 years out?

Hope this makes sense, I would like to know as foods to avoid or some that are prone to cause someone to dump

How doable is it to get to that goal weight?

Current weight: 280

Goal weight: 150

DREAM weight : 120-130

My psychiatrist out of all people said that you should aim to see 60-70% weight loss of excess weight. But all the stories that I see, and experiences that I read, the majority of people are able to hit even 80-100% of losing excess weight. What can I do to be one of those? If you are one of those people who has lost all of their excess weight, please do share details on what you did. I plan to be a copy cat and do the same thing, my surgery is next month.

On 5/23/2019 at 11:37 AM, FancyChristine15 said:

Of course there is the risk of side effects with either procedure. From what I've read and what I know though, dumping, which is having to run to the bathroom after you eat, is more common with the bypass. I had the sleeve, and it's happened to me once or twice in 14 months. You will eventually be able to physically eat whatever you want; now, the issue is: will those foods help you reach your weight loss goals? I usually eat really well; for instance, an egg and a couple of bacon for Breakfast, fruit for a snack, grilled chicken for lunch, etc.... but every now and then I allow myself to have something I really want...maybe a donut even, but it's not all the time and it's not regularly. You can have the foods you love, but you may not be able to have them everyday if you want to lose weight.

This post was really informative. As you mentioned that you had experienced dumping, can you please elaborate on the things that you ate that caused you to have dumping? Like what it was, and how much of it? Thanks a lot!

15 hours ago, Mikeyy said:

I don't get the post?

are you promoting breaking the rules or justifying cheating?

Please be positive. The rules are important because your honeymoon period will fly by very quickly!

Please be smart, and read my post again. Nobody is doing what you are accusing. I am not promoting not being positive. Life gets in the way, and sometimes either by accident or by forgetting or any other excuse, one of the following things that I have mentioned might occur, and I wanted to know if it won't cause major damage/hazard to our lives. Of course getting on track after falling and maintaining the healthy habits is crucial to life after surgery.

How many of you have done one or more of the following? Not that I want to share or promote any bad habits, I just want to know that it will be okay if we don't live our lives like a schedule making sure we do everything to the dot each and every single day for the rest of our lives. Sometimes things come up, or we fall off track for short periods of time, but that it will be okay if it occurs sometimes accidentally....any thoughts?

For example

Skipped taking Vitamins everyday because they forgot etc...

Drank while eating a meal

Took an NSAID here or there for a particular reason

Didn't get in their daily Protein intake

Ate out for most of their meals

On 7/26/2019 at 5:08 PM, johnedwin said:

i suffered from gastric reflux disease for years.i had to take nexium..i would cough all the time... following surgery i have lost a lot of weight and my reflex has gone away.. but i have started to drink diet soda again and my reflex issues are coming back so i have to take nexium again

doesn't the soda cause discomfort or pain? how often do you drink it if you dont mind me asking, and how many years out are you? thanks

RIP grammar, but I hope it all works out for you!

Alright so, I'm a 29 year old female, I suffer from High Blood Pressure at this age (so upsetting), Diabetes. I have gone through the 6 month program at my clinic and I'm approved for surgery. My A1c is above 8 right now, so I'm just working on getting that lowered to ~8 at my next blood test, and I'm good to go to get sleeved. Now call me an idiot or a coward, but I am scared to get GERD after the surgery. I know, it sounds so stupid, for Christ's sake I have high blood pressure and Diabetes already, but I feel like if I go through something so drastic as to cut out 70% of my stomach, I just don't want to accumulate other diseases like GERD and still be bound to take medications everyday for other diseases acquired - does that make sense to anyone? I want to get this procedure done (And let me tell you, I am soo scared still to do it, but I know it is the best option for me considering my health status), I just feel like let's say I do get GERD, there is all this talk about sleevers down the line getting revisions, I don't wanna be a non-normal person getting surgeries and other procedures done all the time to feel normal. What advice can anyone give me to relieve my nerves? As of right now, I do sometimes get heart burn if I eat something spicy - i don't take any medications for it. I would say it happens 2-3 times a month. Is there a possibility I will get chronic GERD after surgery and I will need a revision done later on in life?

Any advice would help me out!!! I'm a confused mess right now....

22 minutes ago, Diana_in_Philly said:

I'm 3 years out next month. I feel so much better than normal. I pretty much eat what I want (within limits) and give myself the option of the occasional slice of pizza or small plate of Pasta. I still take a PPI for reflux and my Vitamins. But what I can do now that I couldn't do before when I was 300 pounds:

I'm ranked 22 among women in my age group in foil fencing (as in en garde) NATIONALLY

I'm ranked 37 among women in my age group in saber fencing NATIONALLY

I can deadlift and back squat 240 pounds. I can clean and jerk 75 pounds.

If I had the plastics done, you'd see the six pack.

I'm in the best shape I've ever been in during my adult life.

Do I have a cocktail once or twice a week? Sure

Do I eat popcorn occasionally? Sure

But my weight is stable around 152 with about 25% body fat which is pretty darn good for a post menopausal woman who has lost 150 pounds.

Do I know I have a sleeve - sure - if I try to eat too much or eat too fast I'm reminded. But that doesn't happen very often.

That is amazing!! Good for you, I am sure you are proud of urself....Since you take a PPI now, did you suffer from GERD before sleeve or is this a new onset that you've acquired after the sleeve? Thanks

3 minutes ago, Healthy_life2 said:

Everyone handles maintenance differently. We each have our own weight gain risk factors. Its important to know yourself. Will you need to remind yourself you had surgery? Is it healthy habits? Precautions? Simply eating less? Do whatever works for you to maintain and not go back to obesity.

I never want to feel like my normal “obese” self before surgery. I feel better than normal after weight loss and maintaining in the 130's. Five years out, I have no issues. I bounced back with minimal pain and I have no complications (Gerd, dumping or vomiting etc.)

Personally, I don’t need to remind myself. I have a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining has become habit/mundane. I don’t put much thought into it. I eat mainly healthy and indulge within reason. I give myself a ten-pound bounce range. If I gain, I go back to weight loss mode and work it off.

That is so amazing to hear! I bet you are happy with yourself. Have you ever had issues with GERD? Do you remember having them at the beginning and then they went away?

4 minutes ago, JessLess said:

I'm 9 months out. I have never had GERD and I *may* have had dumping once, not sure? I haven't thrown up in months. Tonight, I ate a little too much, got a tummy ache, reminded myself not to eat that much, and went and lay down for a bit. I feel fine now.

Mostly, I feel much better! Less lower back pain, much more energy, wearing smaller clothes, fitting in sports and airplane seats, etc.

Where can I see more comments like this? That is such great news, thanks for being real..

1) Has anyone still tried to take NSAIDs after surgery for a brief period of time for any reason?

2) Experience on taking birth control pills AFTER surgery?

3) How was your pregnancy experience after sleeve?

Thank you!

This question may sound a bit weird but, it's more targeted towards people who have had sleeve for around 5+ years now: Do you guys feel like you have a "physically" normal life, day, feeling? I mean a day like it was before you had the sleeve. My main concern is that I will feel like I will need to remind myself that I have the sleeve every single day for the rest of my life. Not that I want to forget about it, or it's precautions/healthy habits, but just that I feel normal and fine, but just eat less than I used to. Does anyone feel like their normal self like they did before surgery? Or is everyday another little issue that goes on with GERD, Dumping, vomiting etc.

Any answers would help.

Hey everyone! I’ve been on Metoprolol for 7 years now, I take 50mg twice a day. Has anyone been on Metoprolol before and stopped taking it after surgery due to the weightloss? I’ve heard its kinda hard to come off it because you can have side effects like heart palpitations etc. Have any of you ever felt that? Would love to hear any answers...thanks

I would appreciate it if any of you can answer the following:

1) How many oz of Water can you drink in 1 setting

2) How much were you able to drink before the sleeve?

3) How far out are you since surgery?

I ask these things because I genuinely love to drink water and just want to have an estimate on the amount I will be able to drink after surgery.

THank You!

Hi everyone! So I just visited my psychologist today, and she is the obligatory psych visit that some insurances require in order to get approved for surgery. She was telling me to realistically expect to lose only 60-65% of EXCESS weight after the gastric sleeve. THIS IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MY SURGEON AND ASSISTING DOCTOR HAVE TOLD ME! I am currently a female, 280lbs right now, 5'7. And if someone would ask what my goal weight would be, I would say around 140-150lbs. Also I use to be a lap band patient, and my lowest that I had gotten down was at 218, and started at 297. The psych today was telling me to realistically expect me to be a shy under 200 pounds with the sleeve. I'm sorry but please tell me that this beyotch is WRONG. That really discouraged me. How much is the most weight that some of you have lost? Have you guys hit your goal weight, or are close to it? Any answers would help.

Even though it is prohibited, some doctors do let patients use them. What was your reason? For menstrual cramps, arthritis, general pain? And how long was it for?

Any answers appreciated, thanks

What surgery did you have done?

This all starting to confuse me now, can't sleevers have anything they want but just in moderation? What is the worst thing that can happen if you had just one tiny slice of pizza and a coke 30 minutes later? Wouldn't that be possible? I didn't have surgery, still in the research phase, so please explain anyone!

Aww man, such great news! Def relieved some nerves

I loved this post! It was great information, definitely going to save it. I love how you were so true and candid about the experience. But this made me wonder as well, did you suffer any major complications from the surgery? For example do you have GERD issues now that you didn't prior? Hair loss? Has it stopped or still going strong. Would love to hear from you!

Any women out there gotten pregnant after the Gastric Sleeve? I have some questions for you.

1.) Was it your first baby after the sleeve or 2nd, 3rd etc.

2) Did you have a natural birth or delivered via C-section.

3.) Any complications after or during the pregnancy with either you or the baby?

Would really appreciate honest answers. Thank you so much!

I'm sorry this is off topic but, was this your first pregnancy after getting the sleeve? And if it's not too much info, a lot of things out there say that most women have to have a C-section after sleeve procedure. Was yours a natural or C-section. Sorry if this is too much info.