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thesuse2000

Gastric Sleeve Patients
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Posts posted by thesuse2000

  3. Posted · Edited by thesuse2000

    You're not alone - the vast majority of people who lose weight with diets end up gaining it all back. Our bodies have ways of making us fail - we get hungrier after dieting for a while, and our metabolisms slow down.

    Statistically, your chances of long-term success are much better with bariatric surgery. It's true that not everyone succeeds, but I think the fact that you've been so successful with dieting in the past will work in your favor. You've proven that you can make changes to your diet and stick with them for a good while. The surgery will help curb your hunger, at least for a while, and you'll make the changes to your diet that you'll stick with long-term. As long as you make good choices and stay on track you and the benefits of the surgery should help you find success.

    I wish you the best!

  6. Posted

    Hi Cori,

    Wow - you're in quite a situation! My feeling is that it doesn't feel right for you to jump into either surgery tomorrow without having time to really think it through with a level head and consider the pros and cons and what's best for you. Surgery is such a big deal and you need to be well-prepared in every way.

    With that big caveat, I'll share some thoughts. The lap band is a safer surgery - significantly lower deaths in the first month after surgery vs the sleeve - about 1 in 2000 for the band vs 1 in 500 for sleeve (these are just sample stats; every study is a little different). Weight loss with the sleeve is a little higher on average, not sure this is exactly right, but I think average weight loss for sleeve is about 60% of excess weight vs about 50% for the band. I'm not sure what the exact stats are, but I think close to 50% of people with bands eventually require another surgery to either fix something with the band or revise to another surgery. I've also seen many reports from people (like me) who converted from band to sleeve that the eating experience is much better with the sleeve.

    These are just a few pros and cons I can think of in terms of averages experiences. For me, I loved my band for the first 6 months or so. I lost 70 pounds and felt a huge change in my hunger making it very comfortable for me to stick to a plan. But then my band slipped and all went downhill fast. I had a revision surgery which for some reason didn't fix my night reflux issues. I went back and forth with fills and unfills, but ended up with it unfilled. My hunger came back with a vengeance. I struggled and had ups and downs, but in the end over 5 years I gained the 70 back - plus a few more. I revised to sleeve last summer and now I'm slimmer than I've ever been as an adult! 91 down from my highest.

    My sister got the band the same day as me. She's shorter than me and wasn't as heavy, but she lost about 40 pounds and pretty much kept it off for the last 6 years. But she started having issues recently and had to have the band loosened and has gained a little back, and is contemplating revising to sleeve as well.

    Gowalking has been tremendously successful with her band! And so has Alex Brecher.

    This thread may be helpful:

    http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/329363-why-did-you-choose-your-specific-type-of-weight-loss-surgery/page-6?hl=%2Bband+%2Bsleeve#entry3729353

    Wishing you the best! And I agree wih Gowalking that you should post in the main discussion rooms - start a new thread.

  8. Posted

    I've heard talk of rolls of quarters in pockets, ankle weights, heavy clothes/boots, and drinking lots of Water before weigh in. Good luck!

    Thanks everyone! I appreciate your replies.

    I saw my doc yesterday and he was very supportive of the idea of switching to sleeve.

    I'm on a fast track to get it done before March 14, when the new Blue Cross requirements go in to effect (6 mo diet).

    Unfortunately, my BMI is too low now and doctor thinks I will be rejected by insurance. BMI is 30. I would have to gain 13 pounds in 1 month in order to qualify. I'm thinking I will give it a try.

    Any thoughts? I'm starting a new post with this issue so feel free to comment there or here. I would love to hear your thoughts.

    Thank you so much!

  9. Posted

    Hi Pac-woman - I can eat a rotisserie chicken thigh plus about 1/4 cup of veggies and sometimes about 1/3 cup of brown rice. Sometimes I have to pause for 10 mins or so before I finish, but I can easily in that in about a half hour.

    I will caveat though, that I was a band to sleeve revision, and so my sleeve is just a tiny big bigger than most. My surgeon used a 40 bougie vs I think 36 that she uses usually for virgin sleevers. Other surgeons use even smaller ones than that. I didn't have trouble getting in liquids my first week, so you may be different from me still when you're 7 months out, like I am now. But I'm quite sure you'll be able to eat much more easily! And in the end you may have an easier time than I will maintaining your weight loss, so it should all work out and be worth it in the end.

    @@thesuse2000 out of curiousity, how much can you eat after your workout? I am still knew at this and I can barely put down 1/4 of chicken broth. I would like to think I will be somewhat normal one day.

  10. Posted

    My experience is much like cowgirljane's. I haven't ever gotten stuck or thrown up with the sleeve. I can eat anything - no issues with sweets or dense foods (a bummer in a way but overall good). It does just feel like I have a smaller stomach/appetite and fullness just feels natural - like I've had enough rather than I cant eat more even though I want to (like band can feel like).

    As Jane also mentioned it's not as restrictive as a tight band, so if I don't watch my eating I can easily eat more calories than I should to even just maintain. Perhaps it's because my surgeon used a slightly larger bougie on me (40) due to band history and potential scar tissue. But if I focus on Proteins and veggies it's easy for me to keep overall calories down while feeling satisfied.

    I'm nervous about the long term, but optimistic that I'll be able to maintain a much lower weight than I would have if I didn't have this surgery - even if I don't get "skinny".

  11. Posted

    No regrets here, but I couldn't tolerate fill in my band for years, so I was essentially unbanded when I had my revision. I've heard that for some people it's a struggle to get away from eating the slider foods they got into the habit of eating with a finicky band - and these same foods can prevent success with the sleeve. So it's important to make a fresh start with the sleeve and get into the habit of eating dense Proteins and veggies.

  12. Posted

    Good for you for getting yourself back in the game before you've strayed too far! I find that when I make Protein and veggies the main (or only) component of a meal I get full sooner than when I eat more carbs. Just doing that may help you feel that restriction again. Not everyone likes to track, but I find it so useful. I have to be conscious about every bite and choice, and I can also notice trends - for example when I eat a higher carb meal I get hungry sooner and end up eating more calories overall that day. It's important to find foods that you enjoy and also work with your plan. For me salmon and rotisserie chicken are fixtures that I love. You can find things that work for you that don't feel like a diet.

  13. Posted

    Love this thread! I'm with you all. I don't eat diet food either. I eat foods that are yummy and enjoyable. I think that's critical to my long-term success. I do track my foods and make sure to meet Protein goals, keep carbs low, and avoid too many sweets. But yes to healthy fats! Veggies sautéed with olive oil and garlic, fatty delicious salmon, etc. One of my faves, especially after a workout is rotisserie chicken - and yes I eat the skin!

    Also - while I track my eating, I don't deny myself a little extra if I'm hungry. I want to maintain a healthy relationship with food, and for me that means not depriving myself.

  14. Posted · Edited by thesuse2000

    I assume this is directed at me... As you've written your response - yes of course that's not true. And you certainly don't have to be "sorry" for saying so. Just for the record what I said had many more caveats than what you've said below (the tests to rule out safety concerns and malpractice concerns represent many ways in which docs will rule out surgery for any individual).

    My point was that it's more about insurance and established practices than the doctor's personal feeling is about the individual patient. EDIT - and that surgeons are financially motivated to help patients get approved for surgery.

    Sorry, docs won't operate on anyone. Just not true.

  15. Posted

    Hi - I did great with the band at first, but then had a slip, and a revision surgery (just readjusted the band) and still had major issues after the revision and couldn't tolerate a fill. Gained all the weight back. Revised to sleeve in June and am down almost 90 pounds! About 10 less than the lowest I reached with band so far. Hoping to lose some more. My recovery from sleeve surgery wasn't much different from my two prior surgeries. Good luck

  16. Posted

    I agree with above. Perhaps I'm cynical, but I generally assume that the surgeons will be glad to operate on any willing patient as long as insurance (or the patient) will pay for it. Of course with all tests and precautions to avoid any malpractice claims etc. as well. I think it's all about what insurance requires, but your surgeon should be able to partner with you on that and advise you on the best way to approach.

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