So I'm in the process of getting my tests and evaluations done before I have surgery. I will not be able to talk to a surgeon until I've had a psych evaluation and a nutrition consult. At first, I seemed to be okay. I accepted the fact that I would not be able to eat as much food and I am slowly coming around to the concept of not being able to drink with meals.

But this evening I could not stop myself from binging. I'm scared about not having half my stomach. I'm scared about the long term effects of the surgery (including leakage, hunger pains, cravings, Vitamin deficiancies) and possible weight gain. I'm 29 years old and i'm 5'7 and fluctuate between 285lbs and 293lbs.

Has anyone else had this problem of binge eating?

Yes, I have. Some call it Last Supper Syndrome. I'm still struggling with it. I think when I get an actual date I'll be able to get more focused. Right now my brain keeps telling me that I can eat whatever I want and as much of it as I want because I'm having surgery. This isn't smart thinking on my part, I'm just being honest. .I think it's true. This is one big reason I go to therapy. The best thing we can do is get our head around the idea of the life change this surgery will make. I'm aware but I still have my eating rituals. I'm not an official binge eater but I am a mix of that and a night eater. That's making it really difficult to get any weight off. I'm keeping my weight between 278 and 288, up and down. I'm not sure if I'm going to mourn food so much, it's ruined my life. I really want to be able to end the vicious cycle. As for the statistics you've mentioned, the risks are very low, like 1 in almost 1000 and from what I was told, the sleeve is one procedure that allows you to absorb vitamins. I have hunger pangs now, so I don't think that will matter for me. Once I have the surgery, I know my mind will snap out of it because I won't have a choice. You just can't eat the same. Whether I diet or have surgery, I need the weight off but I know I will always have my struggle with food. I hate loving it so much.

Good Morning

I had my sleeve April 7th and I know what you are going through. But the closer you get to surgery you will realize that binging is the worst you can do. You want your liver not to be enlarge and not being on a weight reduction program will not help this. Once i had my surgery I have not been hungary, I eat by seeing what time it is. I used to love sweets and the other day took a crumb of a chocolate chip cookie which I loved before surgery and I thought ohhh how gross. I had to spit it out. I don't care if I ever eat junk again. Now they do not do surgery on our minds so mentally you think you want these things but after you start loosing which happens quick you get into shopping for new clothes and the complements seem to replace the food. You will be fine but what your going through is normal.

Denise

I am happy to keep reading posts like Denise's that mention a change in taste for sweets, etc. I am really hoping that the surgery will give my stomach a clean slate to eat correctly.

I tend to stress eat myself which feels similar to a binge. I feel horrible afterwards and want to stop that destructive behavior.

Yes, I'm going through that right now. Tomorrow begins the 2 week countdown to my arrival in Mexico for surgery, so I plan to buckle down starting tomorrow (I know it's bad to not start today). I'm not required to go on a pre-op diet, but I still want to wind down my eating and also lose weight prior to surgery, if possible.

I have been trying for the 6 month supervised diet to eat as i will have to after surgery and it is a daily struggle without the sleeve. I am sure when I have surgery on Oct 19th the "I have to or hurt" will be a great inspiration. The sleeve is a tool and not a cure all. We still have to work at eating slow, chewing lots and drinking 30 mins after eating and filling up on protein first. This is a whole new mind set for me and even after 6 months, it is not a habit yet even though you would think it would be. We can do this and we are worth the effort and all the hard work. Food will not longer rule me, I will rule the food. I say this to me...'SHUT UP BRAIN, YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY AND YOU DO NOT NEED CARBS...EAT THE PROTEIN AND LOSE THE WEIGHT'. YEAH FOR US!!!!! :cheer2: :clap2: :dance: :party4: :success1:

I have been trying for the 6 month supervised diet to eat as i will have to after surgery and it is a daily struggle without the sleeve. I am sure when I have surgery on Oct 19th the "I have to or hurt" will be a great inspiration. The sleeve is a tool and not a cure all. We still have to work at eating slow, chewing lots and drinking 30 mins after eating and filling up on Protein first. This is a whole new mind set for me and even after 6 months, it is not a habit yet even though you would think it would be. We can do this and we are worth the effort and all the hard work. food will not longer rule me, I will rule the food. I say this to me...'SHUT UP BRAIN, YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY AND YOU DO NOT NEED CARBS...EAT THE PROTEIN AND LOSE THE WEIGHT'. YEAH FOR US!!!!! :cheer2: :clap2: :dance: :party4: :success1:

Great attitude!

So I'm in the process of getting my tests and evaluations done before I have surgery. I will not be able to talk to a surgeon until I've had a psych evaluation and a nutrition consult. At first, I seemed to be okay. I accepted the fact that I would not be able to eat as much food and I am slowly coming around to the concept of not being able to drink with meals.

But this evening I could not stop myself from binging. I'm scared about not having half my stomach. I'm scared about the long term effects of the surgery (including leakage, hunger pains, cravings, Vitamin deficiancies) and possible weight gain. I'm 29 years old and i'm 5'7 and fluctuate between 285lbs and 293lbs.

Has anyone else had this problem of binge eating?

Most go through this. Binge eating is never a good idea, but we (probably) have all done it. I had a good last meal the night before my surgery after a week long low carb diet. My surgeon suggested it, so I knew it was ok. It is hard, but before after your surgery, you will no longer even think about it. I know I don't. I never think about food anymore and I used to wake up thinking about what I would eat for lunch that day, and so on. The chance for leakage goes way down after the stomach fully heals. There are usually no hunger pangs or cravings thanks to getting the source of the ghrelin hormone removed for the most part, and you won't become vitamin deficient if you take the ones your doctor suggests. Also, you can have labs drawn and keep on top of it if any certain ones become low.

Oh, and you won't have half your stomach left, it will be only about 15% depending on your surgeon

Good luck to you!

Thanks for all the input everyone. Last night, I felt like I wasn't ready to give up the one thing that has comforted me for so long. I have a tendency to eat way after my stomach has told me it's full and I'm scared I will not be able to break the habit once I was sleeved.

I'm having second thoughts about whether this surgey will be a tool or a hinderance. Do you really not have hunger pains post-op? What about 5 or more years out?

My last supper/binge eating went on for several months. A coworker went on maternity leave, which meant my delaying my surgery by 3 months. I gained almost 15 pound due to a combo of binge eating & quitting smoking. When I next saw the doctor, he told me if I didn't lose the weight I gained, I wouldn't be having surgery. I did manage to lose it & have surgery. Since the surgery, I really haven't missed the binge eating. I was really concerned that there were all these foods I loved that I wouldn't ever be able to eat again. Not true- so far, there has been nothing that I can't eat. That being said, I really don't have the urge to eat those foods that I used to binge eat (carbs & fast food). I decided that once I broke the carb addiction, there was no way I was going back, so I really try to limit the carbs I eat. food no longer has such a hold over my life.

Krista

Thanks for all the input everyone. Last night, I felt like I wasn't ready to give up the one thing that has comforted me for so long. I have a tendency to eat way after my stomach has told me it's full and I'm scared I will not be able to break the habit once I was sleeved.

I'm having second thoughts about whether this surgey will be a tool or a hinderance. Do you really not have hunger pains post-op? What about 5 or more years out?

Hello Sweetpea,

In order for my insurance to pay for my procedure, I had to take a 12 week course to learn about nutrition and to help us figure out why we over eat. For me, my trigger is night time and the TV. I rarely over eat during the day. I don't eat when I am stressed or down. You have to figure out WHY you eat till your past full. If you don't, then you will gain the weight back.

The sleeve is only a tool. If we use the tool wisely, we'll lose and keep the weight off. But the fact is, 5% of us will gain the weight back.

I wish you the best of luck!!

Gained 22+ lbs on binge eating since I got approved ... ...don't do it!! :0/.

I think starting my preop diet next week will b even harder now.

Hey, putasleeveonit.....if you'd like, we'd love to have you come and join our October 2011 sleevers family! http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/108-october-2011-sleevers/

Yes, I'm going through that right now. Tomorrow begins the 2 week countdown to my arrival in Mexico for surgery, so I plan to buckle down starting tomorrow (I know it's bad to not start today). I'm not required to go on a pre-op diet, but I still want to wind down my eating and also lose weight prior to surgery, if possible.

I was doing the binge thing until my doc told me that once he got inside and my liver was too fatty and heavy he would abort surgery. No way im going under and waking up with no sleeve!

The doctors that I go to, will not perform surgery if you've even gained one pound. If they have to, on the day of surgery and you've even gained a pound, they will cancel your surgery.

I had a bit of a "last supper" complex pre-op. I didn't binge, but I did have some of the things that I knew would not be allowed for some time after surgery (steak, really spicy food, etc.). Post-op, my cravings are primarily in my head. I have had some days where I didn't make the best choices (for example, snacking on pretzel crisps instead of protein), but nothing that would equate to my pre-op poor eating habits.

My carb intake has increased slightly in the last week or so, and I think it's being reflected in my weight loss - so I've had to consciously get back on track. To me, it doesn't feel any different than all the pre-op dieting I did - I know when I've made a mistake or a bad choice, and I have to rectify it. The only difference is that I'm not able to eat inappropriate portions of the foods I did before . . . so the battle seems much easier.