My Life At 2 Years Out

[disp4so 3]

surgery June 2010

starting weight 298, current weight 150

Have been up to 165 but had surgery 6 weeks ago and back to 150

Diagnosed with breast cancer april 2011, early stage so great outlook, think the weight loss surgery saved me. I don't think I would have felt the lump had I still been overweight.

double masectomy June 2011

diagnosed Mutated BCR1 gene (greater chance of cancer) because of this decided to have hysterectomy and ovaries removed 6 weeks ago.

due to surgery forced into instant menopause (yikes!)

What I can and can't eat

I am not one of the lucky ones who can eat anything but in small portions, a lot of food makes me sick and causes me to vomit

foods I can't eat

most bread

rice

Pasta (except mac and cheese for some reason)

noodles

hotdogs

hamburgers

sandwiches

anything acidic

Tomato sauce

pizza (sometimes can eat thin crust with white sauce)

red meat

Mushrooms (used to love them now they make me throw up)

I am sure there are more but this is what I can think of at the moment

foods I can eat a lot of but should not

Cookies

candy bars

cheetos

potato chips

cake

popcorn

ice cream

diet soda (does not stretch the stomach at least not mine)

french fries

chocolate

mashed potatoes

I throw up at least 2-3 times a week, sometimes I throw up all day long

some is my fault because I eat too much, but mostly is because I get nauseous and can't keep something down

My stomach might be ok with a food one day and not ok the next

would I have the surgery again... yes.. but I do wish I could have done it on my own I do miss being able to eat like normal

this post is not meant to discurage... just wanted to share my experience and help others to make a well thought out decision.

best of luck to everyone.. and if anyone has a personal question please feel free to contact me..

Sherri

[mylifeinpink 349]

Thank you for sharing your story. You're very courageous to have been through all of this.

<3

[patkaye 2]

Hi: I am sorry about your diagnosis of breast cancer. I am a surviovor myself. I had a mastectomy 10 years ago and am doing great. And so will you!!

I was sleeved on April 2012 and I like to read what people write. I find myself these days wondering if he really did sleeve me - I have never thrown up I can eat everything I have tried and that scares me. I have lost 40 lbs including the pre-op. I thought I would have lost more weight by now. I am afraid that I am starting to go back to my old habits and no matter how many times I self talk myself I find myself reaching for that candy or looking for something to eat. I have never really experienced no hunger. I am so confused by what people say on here, some say eat no more the 600-800 calories and my doctor says 1200 - I know I am still new, but I read your post and thing she is normal. - sounds like you tested your sleeve but still lost. Did you lost most of your weight in the first 6 months? and kept it off?

Do you feel that after two years it would be hard to gain the weight back? - that confuses me too, if I can't eat what I normally ate how could I gain the weight back.

I am sorry to bombard you with questions, I just feel I am not doing this right. Any suggesstions would be so appreciated. Thanks

[disp4so 3]

Congratulations on being a fellow survior...!

At six months I was at 185lbs, so about half my weight down

I try to stay around 1200-1500 calories.. but sometimes I go over

at your stage I would try for 800-1000

I don't get hungry I just feel that my body needs food.. I get lightheaded and nauseous

I do eat sometimes just because I want to.. not because I need to

I did gain 20lbs back.. it is easy to do.. like I posted I can eat a lot of cake, Cookies candy chocolate popcorn ect

do I think I could gain it all back.... no way.. I just can't eat enough

I don't think your doing it wrong.. everyone is different.. and like everyone says.. the sleeve is just a tool... you still have to battle your old habits..

good luck and if you have more questions feel free to ask

[disp4so 3]

Thank you for sharing your story. You're very courageous to have been through all of this.

<3

Thank you !

[chitowngirl 884]

Wow what a journey. I am glad to see that you seem to be pretty upbeat. Congrats on the weight loss. Stay strong and keep up the good work.

[former_vbg 198]

Hi: I am sorry about your diagnosis of breast cancer. I am a surviovor myself. I had a mastectomy 10 years ago and am doing great. And so will you!!

I was sleeved on April 2012 and I like to read what people write. I find myself these days wondering if he really did sleeve me - I have never thrown up I can eat everything I have tried and that scares me. I have lost 40 lbs including the pre-op. I thought I would have lost more weight by now. I am afraid that I am starting to go back to my old habits and no matter how many times I self talk myself I find myself reaching for that candy or looking for something to eat. I have never really experienced no hunger. I am so confused by what people say on here, some say eat no more the 600-800 calories and my doctor says 1200 - I know I am still new, but I read your post and thing she is normal. - sounds like you tested your sleeve but still lost. Did you lost most of your weight in the first 6 months? and kept it off?

Do you feel that after two years it would be hard to gain the weight back? - that confuses me too, if I can't eat what I normally ate how could I gain the weight back.

I am sorry to bombard you with questions, I just feel I am not doing this right. Any suggesstions would be so appreciated. Thanks

Please know that it is MOST DEFINITELY possible to gain any weight back that is lost at any point. The sleeve is a tool and it is up to us to use the tool to the best of our ability. Yes, it does restrict us, but depending on the choices we make that restriction can vary. Watch the processed foods, stick to lean Protein, veggies, etc. Get your exercise program in place and stick to it.

For me, I became lactose intolerant almost instantly after surgery. I honestly didn't mind it because that meant chocolate (my favorite "food group") would make me ill and have me in the bathroom with exploding diarrhea within 10 minutes. I am still moderately lactose intolerant, but I now can have small amounts of chocolate and other milk products, but very small amounts. Too much makes my stomach cramp badly for hours, sometimes an entire day depending on what it is I ate. I have about the same amount of restriction as I did after surgery.

You are doing the right thing by reading other posts and asking questions. The first few months are probably the most difficult while you move through the liquid stage to the mushy stage and then figuring out what your body can tolerate and how much. Just remember to try and make the best of the honeymoon stage of your surgery.

[SleeveDreamer 383]

Thank god you caught the cancer when you did, and you are still alive and able to eat! My prayers are with you. You have been through alot!

[tjloser 62]

former_vbg, what's the honeymoon phase? I haven't had surgery yet, I'm scheduled for July 10.

[former_vbg 198]

former_vbg, what's the honeymoon phase? I haven't had surgery yet, I'm scheduled for July 10.

The honeymoon phase is the first 3 to 6 months after surgery where people by and large experience the fastest part of their weight loss. The first month tends to be fairly good weight loss and then there is the transition from liquids to mushies (most have the 3 week stall when they transition to food because your body is adjusting to the change), but the it usually picks back up because at that point you should be able to incorporate some form of exercise into your routine to help facilitate your weight loss. But basically, its' the first 3 to 6 months after surgery. I hope that helps.

[tjloser 62]

Thank you, I'm trying to absorbed as much information as possible in order for this to work to my benefit. It helps with putting things in prospective and what I can expect.

Thank you,

[iegal 460]

So nice for everyone to hear ups and downs of surgery.

I'm over 20 months out and have gained back about 7 lbs from my bottom weight. How? I eat what ever I want, sadly. I know mentally not to do this but unlike dip40so I have the ability to eat anything without restrictions. Rice, bread, Pasta...all of it without any issues. After surgery I have also obtained quite a sweet tooth which I did not possess before. Bad habits have crept back in like eating quickly which allows more food and then an unpleasant full feeling. Yikes. Bad me.

So, do not follow me and just continue to say no to bad food items. After that 6 months a newbie sleever keeps trying to see what you can and can not have. Better just to continue to say no to food items you should just steer clear as you should on any healthy eating plan.

While I do not feel I will regain all my weight, yes it is possible to pack back on the pounds. My girlfriends think I look better with these few pounds that my lowest weight. Still under surgeons goal weight by quite a bit but above my personal goal weight.

Advice? So stick with a healthy diet always after VSG and do not go looking for trouble, because you will find it..

[former_vbg 198]

So nice for everyone to hear ups and downs of surgery.

I'm over 20 months out and have gained back about 7 lbs from my bottom weight. How? I eat what ever I want, sadly. I know mentally not to do this but unlike dip40so I have the ability to eat anything without restrictions. Rice, bread, Pasta...all of it without any issues. After surgery I have also obtained quite a sweet tooth which I did not possess before. Bad habits have crept back in like eating quickly which allows more food and then an unpleasant full feeling. Yikes. Bad me.

So, do not follow me and just continue to say no to bad food items. After that 6 months a newbie sleever keeps trying to see what you can and can not have. Better just to continue to say no to food items you should just steer clear as you should on any healthy eating plan.

While I do not feel I will regain all my weight, yes it is possible to pack back on the pounds. My girlfriends think I look better with these few pounds that my lowest weight. Still under surgeons goal weight by quite a bit but above my personal goal weight.

Advice? So stick with a healthy diet always after VSG and do not go looking for trouble, because you will find it..

I concur 200% with everything you wrote. I do have one question though, if you were to eat strictly lean Protein, like say baked/ broiled chicken or some other form of meat (not in sauces), do you think you would have more restriction? Just curious since you said you have little or no restriction- if this would still apply.

[CrazyCatLady 130]

I'm always so glad to see people that are several months, years, etc, out from surgery come back and talk to the rest of us...helps us get a realistic picture of what to expect. Thank you!

Best of luck as you recover from surgery and move forward with your life

[Amyl219 8]

You said diet pop doesn't stretch your pouch? I thought with VSG no carbonation is allowed?

Amy