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I don't agree with their stance, either. The study they base this on was skewed; it was a very small group that was all from one area, and the devices are from so long ago that major improvements have been made in the materials used. On top of that, the surgeries they followed are from the very beginning of the lap-band approval time period, meaning that any doctor putting them in wouldn't have had a lot of experience. The need for removal can be from the surgeon placing the device improperly alone - so studying patients only from one area ups that chance. In the end, lap-band patients are safer overall from major complications than sleeve or bypass patients. And over a 5-year span, their loss of excess weight is about the same. Sleeve and bypass patients lose faster than lap-band patients, but I don't see that as a bad thing. Slow and steady is a good thing - especially for your skin and bouncing back. Also for lifestyle change. One of the things my doctor said to me was that if this doesn't work, then we look at other more drastic options later. If you go in with a splinter, they don't consider amputating the finger - they look at the smallest fix first. If the finger becomes infected beyond control, then you look at the larger, more drastic options. You don't jump ahead to something more dangerous and more permanent when you could do something safer and easier and get the same long-term results. That's my end game - permanent, long-term change. I'm willing to do it a bit at a time. I certainly didn't put all the weigh ton overnight. It seems foolish to try to take it off that way. I don't begrudge anyone taking a chance on the more serious sleeve or bypass - to each his own. I just felt like stomach amputation was a bit extreme as a first step. I wanted something that could be a great tool - not something that I couldn't make choices with. I'm happy so far with my decision.

Be careful - maybe stay another night? I was self-pay so complications in the USA were in my top fears. Still without health things change. We each entered this WLS life for health reasons. Grab your chart and read it - I would copy it Working in healthcare I tend to not be shy. Polite and persistent. Hugs!

Hey all. I was sleeved today 12/14 around 1230pm. In recovery I woke up with pain. I was there for what felt like forever and then I was woke, again, up by everyone say “stay with me, keep your eyes open, stay with me”. I had no Idea what was going on. I kept drifting in and out. I was (still am) so scared. Apparently I was given Narcan in order to “bring me back”. I still don’t fully know what happened. Now I am getting very little pain meds as a precaution so that sucks. But the pain is causing nausea and I keep throwing up dark blood. Not a little, but fountains of it. I’ve been given Zoltan, phen, and a blood thinner. Has anyone else gone through anything like this after surgery ? I can’t even sleep because I’m scared I won’t wake up. So I will drift off for 10 mins and then “jump” awake.

Had my gall bladder out and a hiatal hernia repaired Aug. 17; was sleeved Dec. 12. Gallbladder surgery was worse and doctor told me it would me (same surgeon for both). The gallbladder surgery was twice as long and more complicated. I felt pretty crappy the first night. But I went back to work in 2 weeks and had no issues. Also lost 22 lbs. eating a lighter diet. Now, have zero pain after the sleeve; biggest struggle is trying to get enough water and protein. I’m only two days out, though, not taking pain meds and I drove a short distance today to pick up a prescription.

I've had my lapband 12 years and about 5 years ago I was getting really bad heartburn, but I was already taking prescription Omeprazole. By accident I found out I have Barrett's Esophagus caused by the lapband. Apparently the tightness of it causes acids to change the lining of your esophagus. Well, I had all the Fluid removed from the band and the heartburn got somewhat better. I had a repeat EGD done this past summer and I still have the Barret's, but it hasnt gotten any worse. My gastro said the lapband has to come out. I havent seen my bariatric doctor in a while but I plan to see him soon. I was wondering if anyone had the band removed because of Barrett's, and if they had another type of weight loss surgery and how it is working. I've almost gained all my weight back after having all the fluid removed.

btw - check out realself.com for reviews - lots of plastic surgeons have been reviewed there. From everything I've read, you want a plastic surgeon who specializes in people who've had massive weight loss, or at minimum, they've done boatloads of them. It's supposedly one of the more complicated surgeries, so you want someone who's done a lot of them. Dr. Fisher specializes in them - I think that's pretty much all he does.

Complications of the sleeve are extremely low, less than 1%. My joints feel much better after the surgery and losing some weight. I used to take nsaids daily before surgery but haven't needed anything after the first week of surgery for pain anywhere. Everyone has fear before surgery, that's normal. I could lose weight but not keep it off.

I've had cold feet for about a month and I don't even get sleeved until January! It's so easy to be sure about getting it when we're in the process isn't it?! But as soon as you get accepted and get a date, bam it hits. Unfortunately we can't see into the future so nothing is certain. Complications can happen but that's the risk we're willing to take for a better life. I don't have diabetes or high blood pressure either, but will probably get it the way I'm going, so when you think about it, not having the surgery is a risk too! Losing weight is harder for me too with PCOS. Let's face it, the chances of us successfully losing weight and keeping it off without the surgery is slim. It's not like we haven't tried. Sorry I can't answer any of your questions as I'm not quite there yet! But I really related to some parts of your post so wanted to give you some encouragement [emoji3] xxx Surgery due January 10th 2018

You will have no regrets I had my sleeve on Oct 4th and it has been the best thing I have done...follow Dr’s orders and you will be fine...I had no complications what so ever and by the way I am 59 yrs young..God Bless[emoji106]

Hello gastric bypass surgery is scheduled for Monday December 18, will find out Friday what time to report, not nervous yet, just looking for the next chart to start, I have a beautiful support group couldn’t have done with their help and support. 10 days following the liver shrinking diet, next four days liquid diet with a softer treats that on my diet plan, will spend two nights in the hospital, if no complications arise, I’m Usely in ICU within 24 hours after any major surgery. We’re going for a gastric bypass surgery but sleeve if too much scaring is discover. 96hr to go started this year at 292 seen the surgeon May 27, 17 wt 282 4days out 257 goal 145. 5’2 great journey.

This is my first time ever posting anything on here. My name is Katrina and I live in MA. I'm getting sleeved on 12/14, and I've been experiencing major cold feet. I been really worried the past few days that I might be making a big mistake. I'm also being really hard on myself because I researched and planned on getting this surgery for years. Now that I'm finally getting it I'm having doubts, which then makes me feel even worse. I tried losing weight in many ways over the years, that didnt work. I have hypothyroidism, which made losing weight in the past 10 times harder. My reasons to get sleeved is to feel better about myself physically and mentally. I also want to prevent getting diabetes, and high blood pressure that's very prevalent in my family. My family also has bone and joint dysfunctions. I have a joint dysfunction in my jaw, called TMJ. At times I experience lots of discomfort and pain from it. My fears are that I'm afraid that there maybe complications during, or after surgery. I'm also worried that my TMJ will get worse, or other joints in my body will start to have issues. Im worried that I won't be able to take anything that will help it, or help with the pain that isn't a heavy narcotic. I don't want to be taking strong opiates for long periods of time, and after surgery anti-inflammatories are out of the question. Have any of you experienced something like this, where your scared but some what excited before getting sleeved? Have any of you have any joint problems before or after surgery? If you do and are post-op, what do you do about the pain? (Sorry for writing so much [emoji26][emoji28])

The Numbers Task Force of the American Society for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery (ASMBS) has released its most recent numbers on the most common types of weight loss surgery in the U.S. The “ASMBS Bariatric Surgery Numbers Estimation 2016” shows figures for total procedures, plus a breakdown of each type. You can compare the values annually going back to 2011. How many surgeries were done? The data show that there were 215,666 total bariatric procedures done in 2016. That is a lot if you compare to 2011 – it is an increase of 36.5% over the course of 5 years, but it is not much if you compare it to the over 20 million Americans who are eligible for bariatric surgery based on criteria of a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 plus a related condition. In fact, only 1% of eligible Americans get weight loss surgery. Why is the gastric sleeve taking over? The gastric sleeve is gaining momentum, and quickly. It has leaped from 28,124 procedures in 2011 to 125,318 in 2016. It has jumped from making up 17.8% in 2011 of the total to 58.1% in 2016. Why has the gastric sleeve become so popular, so quickly? There is a lower risk of nutrient deficiencies and dumping syndrome compared to gastric bypass. It helps fight hunger by lowering levels of the hormone ghrelin. It is relatively safe for higher-BMI patients. It has similar weight loss as gastric bypass, and lower reoperation and complication rates than gastric band. Why would anyone not choose the gastric sleeve? The gastric sleeve may appear to be the choice du jour according to the numbers, but even so, not everyone chooses it. These are some hesitations with the gastric sleeve. It is so new that there is no long-term research on it. We just do not know if it stays effective for years and decades. It is permanent. Done. There is no going back, even if the patient really, really begs. Some patients have trouble getting enough calories and protein and continue to depend on supplements for a long time post-op. What are the non-sleeve choices? While 58.1% of patients opt for the sleeve, the other 39.9% do not. In fact, nearly 1 out of 5 patients opt for gastric bypass, and biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch (BPD-DS) has held steady at 0.6%. These are some reasons to consider other types. The gastric bypass has a long history. It can be successful long-term with weight loss, and it is famous for its ability to resolve diabetes quickly. The lap-band is reversible. Even though the band has dropped 86.93% since 2011, there were still 7,310 new bands in 2016. The BPD-DS may still be the best for higher-BMI patients. What does the research say? Good news – weight loss surgery works! At least, that is what the majority of the research studies conclude, whether they are looking at the sleeve, bypass, band, or another method. All surgery types have a risk of complications, and all have a risk of mortality of under 1%. BMI can drop 7 to 14 or more kg/m2, and diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and other obesity-related conditions can get better. Is the gastric balloon going to be a factor? Time will tell whether the gastric balloon is going to be a factor in the overall bariatric surgery statistics. The FDA approved it only in 2015, and it jumped from 0 in 2011-2014 to 0.3% (700 procedures) in 2015 to 2.7% (5,744 procedures) in 2016. The balloon is not a true bariatric surgery; it is not permanent, it leads to less weight loss, and it is intended for lower-BMI patients. This means that it may not be in competition with the true bariatric surgery procedures, although it is likely to become more common as it becomes better known. What is the deal with so many revision surgeries? If weight loss surgery techniques are always advancing, why are revisions becoming so much more common? They comprised 6% (9,480) of the total in 2011, but 13.9% (30,077) in 2016. It could be because some of the previous (failed) surgeries were done using older techniques, and are now ready for serious help – a revised procedure. Why are 99 out of 100 eligible Americans not getting Weight Loss Surgery? There are a lot of reasons eligible Americans are not getting Weight Loss Surgery. They include: Cost. Fear of complications or death. Not knowing where to start. Lack of support from family, friends, and healthcare providers. Fear of failure. Lack of long-term commitment to lifestyle changes. What can health professionals and patients do to help eligible patients get the Weight Loss Surgery they need? Surgeons and other bariatric professionals can help by making sure they reach out to eligible patients. They can explain their options, and promise to provide the nutritional and psychological support patients need for success and to feel confident in their success. They can organize support groups and provide additional resources for patients to get advice and encouragement anytime. What can health professionals and patients do to help eligible patients get the Weight Loss Surgery they need? Patients can do their part by asking questions to learn about their best options. They can express their doubts and fears to surgeons to come up with strategies for success. They can reach out to friends, acquaintances, and online groups for support.

How many surgeries were done? The data show that there were 215,666 total bariatric procedures done in 2016. That is a lot if you compare to 2011 – it is an increase of 36.5% over the course of 5 years, but it is not much if you compare it to the over 20 million Americans who are eligible for bariatric surgery based on criteria of a BMI over 40 or a BMI over 35 plus a related condition. In fact, only 1% of eligible Americans get weight loss surgery. Why is the gastric sleeve taking over? The gastric sleeve is gaining momentum, and quickly. It has leaped from 28,124 procedures in 2011 to 125,318 in 2016. It has jumped from making up 17.8% in 2011 of the total to 58.1% in 2016. Why has the gastric sleeve become so popular, so quickly? There is a lower risk of nutrient deficiencies and dumping syndrome compared to gastric bypass. It helps fight hunger by lowering levels of the hormone ghrelin. It is relatively safe for higher-BMI patients. It has similar weight loss as gastric bypass, and lower reoperation and complication rates than gastric band. Why would anyone not choose the gastric sleeve? The gastric sleeve may appear to be the choice du jour according to the numbers, but even so, not everyone chooses it. These are some hesitations with the gastric sleeve. It is so new that there is no long-term research on it. We just do not know if it stays effective for years and decades. It is permanent. Done. There is no going back, even if the patient really, really begs. Some patients have trouble getting enough calories and protein and continue to depend on supplements for a long time post-op. What are the non-sleeve choices? While 58.1% of patients opt for the sleeve, the other 39.9% do not. In fact, nearly 1 out of 5 patients opt for gastric bypass, and biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch (BPD-DS) has held steady at 0.6%. These are some reasons to consider other types. The gastric bypass has a long history. It can be successful long-term with weight loss, and it is famous for its ability to resolve diabetes quickly. The lap-band is reversible. Even though the band has dropped 86.93% since 2011, there were still 7,310 new bands in 2016. The BPD-DS may still be the best for higher-BMI patients. What does the research say? Good news – weight loss surgery works! At least, that is what the majority of the research studies conclude, whether they are looking at the sleeve, bypass, band, or another method. All surgery types have a risk of complications, and all have a risk of mortality of under 1%. BMI can drop 7 to 14 or more kg/m2, and diabetes, sleep apnea, hypertension, and other obesity-related conditions can get better. Is the gastric balloon going to be a factor? Time will tell whether the gastric balloon is going to be a factor in the overall bariatric surgery statistics. The FDA approved it only in 2015, and it jumped from 0 in 2011-2014 to 0.3% (700 procedures) in 2015 to 2.7% (5,744 procedures) in 2016. The balloon is not a true bariatric surgery; it is not permanent, it leads to less weight loss, and it is intended for lower-BMI patients. This means that it may not be in competition with the true bariatric surgery procedures, although it is likely to become more common as it becomes better known. What is the deal with so many revision surgeries? If weight loss surgery techniques are always advancing, why are revisions becoming so much more common? They comprised 6% (9,480) of the total in 2011, but 13.9% (30,077) in 2016. It could be because some of the previous (failed) surgeries were done using older techniques, and are now ready for serious help – a revised procedure. Why are 99 out of 100 eligible Americans not getting Weight Loss Surgery? There are a lot of reasons eligible Americans are not getting Weight Loss Surgery. They include: Cost. Fear of complications or death. Not knowing where to start. Lack of support from family, friends, and healthcare providers. Fear of failure. Lack of long-term commitment to lifestyle changes. What can health professionals and patients do to help eligible patients get the Weight Loss Surgery they need? Surgeons and other bariatric professionals can help by making sure they reach out to eligible patients. They can explain their options, and promise to provide the nutritional and psychological support patients need for success and to feel confident in their success. They can organize support groups and provide additional resources for patients to get advice and encouragement anytime. What can health professionals and patients do to help eligible patients get the Weight Loss Surgery they need? Patients can do their part by asking questions to learn about their best options. They can express their doubts and fears to surgeons to come up with strategies for success. They can reach out to friends, acquaintances, and online groups for support.

Please keep in mind BOTH surgeries have low complication rates if you are thinking of leaks or surgery specific type complications. There are common risks to any procedure performed under anesthesia such as a blood clot, pneumonia, reactions to anesthesia, etc.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5406732/: "The number of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (LSGs) performed worldwide as a primary bariatric procedure has grown exponentially in recent years, given the simplicity of the technique, the low complication rate and the good short- and mid-term results regarding weight loss and the resolution of co-morbidities. However, there are a limited data from long-term studies. In this study, a standardized LSG proved to be safe (no mortality and a leakage rate of 1.2%) and highly effective in terms of weight loss after 5-year of follow-up, particularly in patients with a low preoperative body mass index. This manuscript provides additional evidence supporting the role of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as a stand-alone procedure for selected morbidly obese patients". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4879937/ "Perceptions of the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial metabolic effects of metabolic/bariatric operations have shifted from being mostly restrictive and malabsorption over the last 10 to 15 years to being more neuro-hormonal in origin".

According to the internet: Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present. Some individuals find out they have Helicobacter pylori infection after surgery, so it is a little common. If the first line of treatments are not effective, repeating the treatment with a triple set of antibiotics is recommended. http://gi.org/guideline/treatment-of-helicobacter-pylori-infection/

Yes, I had surgery the 4th and recovered well. Off pain meds day 3, no complications at all...... Except I'm hungry all time which I wasn't before. Nothing seems to satisfy it. I'm hoping that since I advance diet today it will be better. I licked a French fry the other night. I've dropped 20 lbs so far and I'm following my post op menu. Something's not right

It's tough to say for certain because everyone is going to heal differently. I had complications a few days after surgery so that slowed my recovery down. In total I was off of work for 2 1/2 weeks but 3 would have definitely helped. My doctor wanted me off 4 weeks but simply couldn't do it financially. I have a desk job as well so it wasn't so bad coming back. I wasn't in any pain at that time but still felt completely exhausted most days. For many that's going to be the struggle. You also want to keep in mind that a big part for taking time off is to stay focused on getting your fluids and protein in. It is easy to get distracted and not keep up. If you're like me where it was a struggle to get fluids down you can fall behind quickly, and trying to get "caught up" is not as easy as it sounds. Lot of people on here went back after a few days. Others took the entire month off. Sorry that there really is no right answer for this. If they have the flexibility I would ask for 2 weeks minimum and a max of 4. Hopefully they'd let you come back after 3 weeks if you feel up to it.

get the surgery! 1,000 times over. for 2 reasons: 1 - if you’re struggling this much with weight (and health and thyroid) when you’re this young, do you think things will get better/easier as you get older? i just turned 40 and let me tell you, it does not. all your issues will continue to worsen, including your weight after a few more yo-yo’s. get the surgery because it works and you’ll be able to go on with your life without struggling with your weight. you’ll never need synthroid or metformin again either. 2 - i know it might seem like a “nuclear option” (your words), but it’s really not. you have a problem (as do we all), and this is a fix. it’s as simple as that. but the main thing is how normal life is after surgery. YES, you will be able to eat and enjoy food still. NO, if your surgeon is good, you will not experience complications. again, i wish i could go back to when i was 25 or 30 to do this surgery. would have saved a lot of energy, heartache, and health damage. i’m happy to read you’ve decided to go ahead.

It's a shame there are no actual hardcore standards on this. We can all pontificate as to the reasons our particular surgeon requires all liquids, or a combo diet pre-op but I don't believe there is hard evidence on it. My friend could eat up to 3 days prior, then only clear liquids and she had no complications. And her post-op food stages advanced faster than mine as well. People with higher BMI's may have fattier livers and may benefit greatly from the liver reduction diet thus making surgery safer for them to follow it strictly. It does help with carb cravings to go low or no carb during the pre-op and make you less hungry for the next couple weeks. The reason it teally sucks the first few days is because of depleting glycogen stores in the liver and carb withdrawal. It still sucks no matter what. I had 8 days of shakes and 2 no cal clear liquids. But I cheated, I ate tuna 3 or 4 times during that 8 days because the shakes were not filling to me and I nearly passed out several times, and post-op, I had the same problem but did NOT risk compromising the sleeve sutures by cheating then, no way. And it sucked of course, but you will survive. What helps is that even liquids are difficult right after surgery and for me, I wasn't and still am not hungry. I need to eat and can tell my stomach is empty and I need food but the desire to eat is just gone. I can tolerate most foods on my plan - chocolate sf pudding or hot chocolate - NO...lol which might be a good thing, in fact sweet stuff seems unappealing pretty much right now. We are adults and need to decide what the risk is, how important is the goal. Good luck to those waiting for surgery.

I wondered the same thing.....because when you start that two week liquid diet it's a big ole slap upside the head of reality....THIS IS HARD! My personal theory? Eliminating meat is not physically necessary to shrink your liver pre-surg.....but it IS psychologically necessary to make sure you're gonna survive the restrictive diet after surgery and not do something stupid that could HURT you. Yep, that two week diet feels like torture. Guess what? So does the post-surgical diet. Except with the post surgical diet, you don't get to change your mind. If you cheat you can end up needing emergency surgery. My doc recently had a case of someone eating on Thanksgiving 5 days post op and getting their sleeve impacted. They tried to shift the clog with an endoscope and couldn't....needed to do surgery to unstick a wad of turkey. Maybe that is why we have to prove our metal with the liquid diet. Just to know what we're getting ourselves into and making sure we have the courage and tenacity to make it through. Doctors really don't like their surgical complication rate to tick up....and they have to trust you not to sabotage yourself. Do your pre-surgical diet as written. Don't cheat. They do it that way for a reason. It's hard. Yes. Yes, it is. Very hard. (says a woman who has eaten nothing but clear liquids and protien shakes for three miserable weeks...two pre-surg, and one post surg) But guess what? I had a terrifically easy time in surgery, no nausea, little pain. Tomorrow, I should be cleared to eat yogurt, oatmeal, soup and pudding. Looking very forward to that. Around Christmas, I'll get mashed potatoes and soft meats....which sounds like heaven. You're hitting the hard part. Buck up and do what you're told. DONT CHEAT! The success of your sleeve depends on it.

Im 4 weeks out as of today, and started softs about a week ago. I do find myself craving and looking forward to certain foods (notably beef and pistachio nuts) but Im also in the same boat as you where im not looking forward to or enjoying meals. I havent had any pain or complications from eating so far, but I also dont enjoy spending 25 minutes eating a meal, and taking ridiculously small bites with 1-2 minutes between bites. I dont have the patience for it, and such small bites of food makes it a bit less enjoyable. I can honestly say I prefer the protein shakes, its just easier and not stressful. I dont have to worry about pain getting stuck choking etc etc. I can just drink my shake and move on. I find myself eating real foods only when I need to address hunger pains. Otherwise im more than content with my shakes. I suspect in another month maybe 2 when I dont need to eat like an infant (and my options are expanded) I will find eating more enjoyable. Also I had a decent size hiatal hernia repair and dont have pain so i suspect its not that. It could be food intolerances or selection thats your problem. Especially if you are chewing and going slow appropriately.

I didn’t have a whole host of health problems after my sleeve- i had a host of health problems BECAUSE of my bariatric surgery and concurrent surgeries and stricture. So let’s gets that straight. Nothing that i went through was because i wasn’t a rule follower- My story is more complicated than simply saying - oh she didn’t take her Vitamins so she got sick. Not only could I not take vitamins- I could not EAT for a long time. And I mean- anything. For months. I had multiple surgeries and was in the hospital again and again for months. Taking Vitamins was basically impossible for me during the complications I went through. I would vomit profusely every time I tried because I had basically zero food in my stomach. I ended up with a pic line feeding me for months. I did end up using patch Vitamins but I only really Improved once I was able to start eating. This whole thread to me shows that people have to do things the way that works for them. Of course it’s always better to take care of your health and follow the rules. But let’s be real- most of us obese individuals aren’t too great at self care to begin with. And living by rules- that’s really tough long term. Even short term, it’s hard. I personally applaud those of you who are able to follow the doctors orders perfectly. Good for you. Do your best. But it’s realistic to also say- find what works for you and explore your options. Know that good self care isn’t easy and the surgery is a great time to get some therapy to help with that. I wish I had much earlier then I did. The surgery isn’t a magic solution that’s gonna make you be able to live on a diet for the rest of your life. Those that think that are bound to fail. But it will give you a chance to explore what works for you, break the diet cycle and get to a healthier place with some help. With the right attitude and support it can be done, even if the way you do it isn’t “perfect”. Throwing around a patronizing attitude of “well you didn’t follow the rules but I will” just shows a lack of knowledge of living with wls long term and an unrealistic idea of what to expect in terms of challenges down the line. Most of the vets get it, some are better than others at - of I don’t know, never eating carbs again or whatever. But the majority- and I’ve met many many people who have had wls know, the majority have to find something more flexible or they do regain.

I started my weight loss journey in Sept 2008. Had absolutely NO complications or problems and lost over half my weight in 3-4 months. I weighed 247 on the day of my surgery and quickly plummeted to a sexy 125!! Felt amazing and looked it too! However, 5 years later I had picked up a brand new habit!! I started going out...like to bars...which I had never done in my life ( I was married w/ kids so this wasn't acceptable) anyway, Now, I was divorced and had alot of free time on the weekends. Had a wonderful job, gaining new friends, hobbies etc. However, I also started drinking. Would never have more than 3-4 Captain and Cokes but my god they were delicious to me!! I had never drank before nor did I drink much soda. I quickly found myself drinking on the weekends while out with friends. Long story short, 2 years later I got a DUI !!! The first and ONLY person in my family that drank much less, get arrested. This killed my spirits, and I felt I had let my family down so I swore off alcohol. Fast forward 2 years...no job, new relationship that required a move 3 hrs away from everything I had ever known, only to find he was an alcoholic who was also physically abusive when drunk (strangled me on numerous occasions)...I started drinking again (along with him and only at home) just to get my mind off the fact that I was so far away from my family and other miseries. I am now on my own, doing very well, great job, my own place but have now started drinking wine (a whole bottle of Pink Moscato) a few nights a week. This didn't really start until this past April when I had a full hysterectomy....Thankfully, I have never had a hangover, never get sick and am actually really productive around the house..(which isn't a bad thing) I guess my question is, I have gained about 13 lbs since this time last year ( my job is sitting for 12 hrs 4 days a week) when I am home ( I live alone) I am just sedentary and don't really have any energy to do much of anything ( severely anemic and get iron infusions every week ) so do you think it is the Wine that is causing the weight gain, the Full hysterectomy, the desk job or just a combination.??? I would really like to stop any further weight gain and any answers would be appreciated.

I started my weight loss journey in Sept 2008. Had absolutely NO complications or problems and lost over half my weight in 3-4 months. I weighed 247 on the day of my surgery and quickly plummeted to a sexy 125!! Felt amazing and looked it too! However, 5 years later I had picked up a brand new habit!! I started going out...like to bars...which I had never done in my life ( I was married w/ kids so this wasn't acceptable) anyway, Now, I was divorced and had alot of free time on the weekends. Had a wonderful job, gaining new friends, hobbies etc. However, I also started drinking. Would never have more than 3-4 Captain and Cokes but my god they were delicious to me!! I had never drank before nor did I drink much soda. I quickly found myself drinking on the weekends while out with friends. Long story short, 2 years later I got a DUI !!! The first and ONLY person in my family that drank much less, get arrested. This killed my spirits, and I felt I had let my family down so I swore off alcohol. Fast forward 2 years...no job, new relationship that required a move 3 hrs away from everything I had ever known, only to find he was an alcoholic who was also physically abusive when drunk (strangled me on numerous occasions)...I started drinking again (along with him and only at home) just to get my mind off the fact that I was so far away from my family and other miseries. I am now on my own, doing very well, great job, my own place but have now started drinking wine (a whole bottle of Pink Moscato) a few nights a week. This didn't really start until this past April when I had a full hysterectomy....Thankfully, I have never had a hangover, never get sick and am actually really productive around the house..(which isn't a bad thing) I guess my question is, I have gained about 13 lbs since this time last year ( my job is sitting for 12 hrs 4 days a week) when I am home ( I live alone) I am just sedentary and don't really have any energy to do much of anything ( severely anemic and get Iron infusions every week ) so do you think it is the Wine that is causing the weight gain, the Full hysterectomy, the desk job or just a combination.??? I would really like to stop any further weight gain and any answers would be appreciated.