I've decided to put my two cents in since I read that there are not many postings from older VSG patients. Although I didn't have as much as weight as most to lose I had a family history of diabetes, stroke, cancer, etc. I had my surgery in May of 2007. It was the best thing I ever did. I went from roughly 220 pounds to 146. I am 5'7" and went from a size 16 to a size 4-6. Two and 1/2 years later I have to use a little more discipline when it comes to eating but it has truly been a breeze. I can eat anything I want in moderation and when I misbehave, I gain a couple of pounds but it is fairly easy to lose. I had been overweight for about 20 or so years.

Thanks for the info! I have been looking into this procedure and the long term info is what I have had trouble finding. Any advice from long term-ers is greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry I must have come across as self centered. I do appreciate you sharing your 2.5 year status with us. I am also very happy and encouraged to learn of your success and satisfaction. I am in such a bad place right now however that I'm desperate to know that the troubles I am having (which are very real), will pass. If you had ups and downs within the early stages out from surgery I'd would be so grateful to know as I seem to awake each day to the same struggles and am desperate to know if, even in my case, there will be light at the end of the tunnel. In any event thank you so much for sharing and best of wishes to you.

You are not self centered silly. You sound alot like me and I know your symptoms are very real but I also know that sometimes I can focus too much about something and work myself into a tizzy. Stress can do some crazy things and they are all "real". Try more hot liquids. Also, although you are not supposed to drink AND eat at the same time, I would still take tiny sips of water, etc. while I ate because it felt that things would get stuck in my throat. NOBODY should follow my lead on this but I still drink coffee and some coke, etc. It has not stretched out my stomach or anything like that. Of course, moderation... I promise it will get easier! Do not say you are in a bad place...keep telling yourself you are in a good place because you are so lucky to be where you are right now.

Thank you Oregondaisy. I am frustrated but worse than that I'm riddled with anxiety nearly to the point of panic. I'm taking xanax (generic form) as needed, and I'm freaked out because I don't want to become dependent on an antianxiety drug, but I'm trapped. I can't go back and undo this surgery. I just want to be able to manage things. Since yesterday I've no desire for any food at all! Nothing appeals to me and when I tried to eat even a yogurt it made me feel ugh. Last night I tried some shredded chicken in broth and had to throw it out. I just don't know what is going on. I'd be interested in any additional message boards. I read the OH's message board for the vertical sleeve sometimes. Are there any others?

A little Xanax is not going to hurt you on an as needed basis. I would try grinding my chicken (like chicken salad). Strings (shredded) chicken would be difficult to swallow. The world is not going to end if you put a little light mayo and mix it in there to help it go down. Chicken salad is my favorite thing to eat. I buy it locally and it is kind of like putty and has very little mayo in it but tons of protein. Take heart in knowing that very soon you can have anything in moderation. Try to focus on something else because your anxiety will get away from you if not. Positive thoughts!

Great post and so helpful.

What about the "hunger"? Are you normal hungry or do you get HUNGRY?

Thanks for your help!

ReadytoMaintain

I do get hungry very often but just a little something makes it go away. I snack ALL the time, so much that people make fun of me. I still love to eat! I also have much better luck eating dry foods, like crackers, crunchy things, etc. My weakness is chicken salad with Old London bagel crisps. I still have to work on drinking enough because I am not a big fan of Water, etc.

That's interesting because I snack and have been berating myself for it. Some days I don't feel all that hungry at all and others I just want to graze constantly, especially in the evenings. Thanks for your post LUCK - it's good to see from someone two years out. Do you still ever eat too much? Sometimes if I let myself get really hungry I do stuff myself with too much and too quickly. I still don't seem to get any 'fullness' signs and often have to judge by sight. If I don't measure and have too much on my plate I will keep picking at it until I make myself ill. It sounds a like a ridiculous case of self-control but I don't have any and never have. However, I do try to be very strong and will throw leftovers away now so that I don't get tempted carry on eating. I found it a lot easier to control with my band to be honest because as soon as I felt full I would stop. I don't feel full with the sleeve until it's too late and I am feeling really rough with palpitations etc.

Helenxxx

LUCK - first and foremost, WELCOME to VST we are SO GLAD to have a "VETERAN" amongst us and will be, possibly, overloading you with questions - be prepared! LOL

I am glad to hear you say that dry crunchy things seem to go down easy - I find that too - I love to eat cheese and crackers, or crackers with tuna or chicken salad. When other things won't go down, or don't sound good, cheese and crackers always seem to work. I am having a difficult time getting in all my fluids since surgery - which is frustrating to me, because before surgery, I could easily drink 80 oz. of Water in a day. Now, I try to focus on staying hydrated and I think I am doing okay with that.

Thank you for sharing your story and I look forward to reading more from you! Congrats on your weight loss and your maintenance!

Joon - Welcome to VST as well, we are happy to have you our family as well and will look forward to following your progress.

You are not self centered silly. You sound alot like me and I know your symptoms are very real but I also know that sometimes I can focus too much about something and work myself into a tizzy. Stress can do some crazy things and they are all "real". Try more hot liquids. Also, although you are not supposed to drink AND eat at the same time, I would still take tiny sips of Water, etc. while I ate because it felt that things would get stuck in my throat. NOBODY should follow my lead on this but I still drink coffee and some coke, etc. It has not stretched out my stomach or anything like that. Of course, moderation... I promise it will get easier! Do not say you are in a bad place...keep telling yourself you are in a good place because you are so lucky to be where you are right now.

Thank you again Luck. New development! Since yesterday, all day, and now again today I've no desire to eat anything, not chicken in any form, not fish, nor cheese, nor yogurt...etc...nothing appeals but it repels nearly nauseates. I started a new thread this morning about this so I won't belabor the point here just would like to know if this ever happened to you...a complete loss of appetite...or could this be a side effect of the anti anxiety drug I am taking? I just want things to regulate so I can move ahead with living. I do want to believe that I am in a good place and lucky to be where I am right now, I really do. Thanks again Luck.

That's interesting because I snack and have been berating myself for it. Some days I don't feel all that hungry at all and others I just want to graze constantly, especially in the evenings. Thanks for your post LUCK - it's good to see from someone two years out. Do you still ever eat too much? Sometimes if I let myself get really hungry I do stuff myself with too much and too quickly. I still don't seem to get any 'fullness' signs and often have to judge by sight. If I don't measure and have too much on my plate I will keep picking at it until I make myself ill. It sounds a like a ridiculous case of self-control but I don't have any and never have. However, I do try to be very strong and will throw leftovers away now so that I don't get tempted carry on eating. I found it a lot easier to control with my band to be honest because as soon as I felt full I would stop. I don't feel full with the sleeve until it's too late and I am feeling really rough with palpitations etc.

Helenxxx

Seriously, same with me. Some days don't think much about it and other days I graze ALL day long. My fullness does come very suddenly so I eat what I know i can eat (which is a whole sandwich) but I will still only eat half and then eat the other half 30-60 minutes later or whenever I feel a little hungry again. I NEVER drink much which is terrible, I know. I drink Gladiator smoothie Kings almost every day. Don't know if you have one over that way or not. You are eating WAY too fast....pace yourself!

Thank you again Luck. New development! Since yesterday, all day, and now again today I've no desire to eat anything, not chicken in any form, not fish, nor cheese, nor yogurt...etc...nothing appeals but it repels nearly nauseates. I started a new thread this morning about this so I won't belabor the point here just would like to know if this ever happened to you...a complete loss of appetite...or could this be a side effect of the anti anxiety drug I am taking? I just want things to regulate so I can move ahead with living. I do want to believe that I am in a good place and lucky to be where I am right now, I really do. Thanks again Luck.

The first several weeks I didn't really feel like eating anything at all but I made myself because I was getting weak. The more I forced myself the more I got used to eating and the better my throat felt. I always drink Smoothies (don't know if you have a Smoothie King). The Gladiator drink has 40+ grams of whey protein in it and I you can get them to put fruit in there and vitamins even. Heck, try something other than protein. I ate pudding, whatever because some calories even though they are bad ones are better than none at all. I couldn't really tolerate cheese at first BUT cheese with saltines went down easier...strange. Hang in there...I told my co-workers today that I was walking to the post office a different route because less men would be whistling at me on the new route..ha ha.

Thank you again Luck. New development! Since yesterday, all day, and now again today I've no desire to eat anything, not chicken in any form, not fish, nor cheese, nor yogurt...etc...nothing appeals but it repels nearly nauseates. I started a new thread this morning about this so I won't belabor the point here just would like to know if this ever happened to you...a complete loss of appetite...or could this be a side effect of the anti anxiety drug I am taking? I just want things to regulate so I can move ahead with living. I do want to believe that I am in a good place and lucky to be where I am right now, I really do. Thanks again Luck.

If you are only on .25 of Xanax it shouldn't affect your appetite but everyone has different issues with meds.

Luck,

based on what you are saying - you eat pretty much anything and everything you want.

How many calories do you think you are eating on average and how are your bowel movements now?

Thanks for the information.

ReadytoMaintain

Luck,

based on what you are saying - you eat pretty much anything and everything you want.

How many calories do you think you are eating on average and how are your bowel movements now?

Thanks for the information.

ReadytoMaintain

BM's are normal, thanks for asking :lol0:. I do eat pretty much anything and everything I want just less of it. Life is too short to not have what you want. Moderation is the key. I can eat ice cream, but just a scoop because it is all relative and one scoop feels like 2 cups (which is probably what I used to eat). I also eat alot of edamame. I snack on it at night. Very good for you and even if you don't like it much at first you grow to love it for some reason. I probably eat 1500 calories a day on average without weight gain. I don't exercise unfortunately but I am going to start one day soon!

Where do you get the edamame? I have heard a lot of people say they snack on it. I have found it frozen, and in salad bars. I have not been able to find it dried, like a snack you are talking about.

I've heard people mention getting them at Trader Joes and Costco.

Seriously, same with me. Some days don't think much about it and other days I graze ALL day long. My fullness does come very suddenly so I eat what I know i can eat (which is a whole sandwich) but I will still only eat half and then eat the other half 30-60 minutes later or whenever I feel a little hungry again. I NEVER drink much which is terrible, I know. I drink Gladiator smoothie Kings almost every day. Don't know if you have one over that way or not. You are eating WAY too fast....pace yourself!

Thanks Luck, you have confirmed what I suspected and I think the answer is to try to eat smaller portions, at regular intervals, rather than letting myself get hungry. I think I do drink plenty but evenings are a killer as I sit and just think about food all the time. Then I will get a biscuit, let it go down and then ten mins later get another one.....Think the answer is to not buy in unhealthy Snacks on a regular basis and just allow them as a treat. Thanks for your advice. Will slow down now xxx