Looking For People Who Have At Least Two Years Out..regrets?

[SouthernSleever 236]

I am obsessed with it as well...I'm so afraid I don't have the right personality to be successful afterwards! I'm not even WORRIED about the actual surgery...all I think about is down the road stuff...I'm a picky eater, and no willpower...I would guess many people who are overweight have these traits too and probably had the surgery, but just wondering if they were the unsuccessful ones? Then I feel hopeful that many say their taste for different foods change! haha Oh geez...my brain hurts!

Willpower, pshaw, I never had any of that! When your body is fighting against you, telling you to eat more and more, there is no such thing as willpower.

[MrsM 31]

Southern Sleever, thank you for your post! I absolutely do feel my body is fighting against me constantly..I am ALWAYS hungry it seems...thank you for your positive post and def congrats on your almost 2 years out!!

[bakawaka 59]

I have a relative who had the lapband and that relative now drinks milkshakes every day and is regaining weight. I'm not yet sleeved. I have anxieties about regaining weight. I am inspired by CLK's post about the fact that our stomachs will never be able to hold the same amount of food again. Also, the sleeve (in theory at least) eliminates or reduces the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone. Yes, I'm scared of regaining weight. But I am going to go ahead and try the sleeve. And if I regain, I will go for gastric bypass. Even waiting on surgery has made me think differently about eating. I am much more aware of how I eat too much at every meal.

I wish you and everyone else with the VSG the greatest success. It's a journey.

[Rootman 1,101]

Not quite 2 years out, Dec 6 2010 so have a few months to go.

No regrets, best thing I've ever done for my health. I have stayed at 205 pounds down from 375+ and arrived there in about 10 months post-op. I am completely healthy now, BP, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate all are EXCELLANT now.

I am VERY active now, whereas I was nothing but a couch potato pre-op. I rode my bike over 40 miles today. I swim for an hour a few days a week too.

It has made the most profound effect on my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat and highly recomend it to anyone who is morbidly obese.

[Tbrendon 36]

I have 2 friends that are 4+ years out and both would NEVER turn back! They would do it all again in a heart beat! Both of them live healthy lives now and maybe gained 20lbs or so back after their goal. They both go out to restaurants, family functions, and parties and enjoy just like the rest of the people.

As for not seeing people years out on sites like these...I believe it's because they aren't looking for the support and guidance as much anymore.

But in the end you will make the decision for yourself and only yourself. When I got to the point where I doubted what I was doing, I realized that this is good to have doubt. It means that I have informed myself well and understand the commitment involved. If I went in with no concerns, I didn't educate myself enough.

Good luck with your decision.....I get sleeved on tuesday! September 25 is the day my life will change for the better!

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I was banded in 2001, my "research" was similiar to this, looking for people to give their testimonials. What i realized later is that was not the best way to research. AT that time, the people who stayed on longer term and posted their stories were typically quite successful What i found out later is that there were private boards and list serves for "graduates" - people 2 years out and even "complications". This wasn't some evil plot, it is just that people who are having issues a few years out really don't want advice from people still in the initial excitement of success. Things seem more open now, but I realized that reading testimonials is inspiring, but it isn't really research. You do not get a balanced feedback - you get feedback based on the individuals who are still hanging around sharing their stories. Again, it is wonderful and inspiring, but it isn't really a good way to understand "stats" across a larger population.

The way to find out the big picture, how do people do with this surgery you should read some of the published studies.

If you based your decision based on reading forums you might come to the conclusion that most people lose 50 pounds in a month, quickly all get to goal, and dance off into the sunset....lol because those are amazing and memorable stories! Truth of the matter is that the 3+ year outcome is more that loss of 60-80% of excess weight, depending on several factors. It is normal for people to have a small rebound/regain and then stabilize at a weight that is slightly about the "by the charts" ideal weight.

Now, we each control out own destiny and there are plenty of people (especially lower BMI) who do get down under 25 BMI - ie ideal weight post sleeve. My goal is set such that i want to lose 90% of my excess weight (as defined by the charts) which I feel is achievable and a great goal for me personally. I may adjust that as it gets closer, but right now i feel quite successful even though I am still "obese."

Anyway, in case you haven't seen it yet, according to the studies, the most troubling long term side effect is reflux that seems to get worse after 3+ years out. I don't recall ANY of the long term sleevers who post here ever mentioning reflux as a big issue long term - as it does not happen to most people, but does happen to some.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Cowgirljane: Do you have any links for the studies you read by any chance? It would be interesting to read. Thanks....

[MrsM 31]

Wow...so many responses on this...I thank each of you for your support, insights, opinions, and knowledge. Initially, I was bothered that my insurance is making me wait to have surgery until 7 months of seeing my doctor to discuss weight loss, however, now, I am so glad they did. Next month will be the 7th month finally. Honestly, each month, I have changed my mind about going through with it. Last month I was all for it, this month I was really against it. I think it's really because I'm afraid of giving up "my buddy"...food! I have really noticed how I use food for so much more than fuel since contemplating this surgery. As soon as I feel stressed...I eat. Tired? Eat...etc....so what happens after the surgery when you cant plop in front of the tv to watch a favorite show and eat?! I know it sounds so silly really...but wow, so much of my life involves food! Cooking shows, going out to restaurants, etc. I am guessing after the beginning months are over, you stop missing all those favorite Snacks because of the worry that you will throw up? I would guess that's certainly a deterrent! My other problem is my husband is overweight as well and all he talks about is food! Anyways, I am beginning to lean more towards having the surgery again (must be almost a new month! lol) because I really have tried every diet out there, my back hurts, my feet hurt, no energy, and several other health problems going on...seems these are all very good reasons to do it for sure...thanks everyone

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

The way i researched was searching medline.

I also went to the research and statistics forum and read various links that people posted - especially looking for clinical trial results.

I googled something like "the gastric sleeve long term results" just now and got this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/20622654

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21359900

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Thank you for sharing. After reading these studies, it is always going to be hard work to keep our weight off. It will take focus and conquering our food addictions. we will have to learn coping skills to address or head hunger. In short. We have a baby stomach right now and it will stretch and hold more foods as time goes on. It's good to know this.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

The links I posted was just what came up on an initial search. There is alot to read out there, it is worth spending some hours doing your own digging.

I probably won't make any friends saying this, but alot of things are said on these forums that sound pretty authoritative. Alot of times they are simply repeating what they heard from someone else. That doesn't mean they are wrong, but doesn't mean they are right either. Alot of people who are preop or early in their journey (heck, myself included!) share advice and info but all we REALLY know is our own story. Everything else is just second hand or third hand "facts" or perhaps even our own opinions.

Do your own true research, talk to surgeons and other professionals. Take what you read here as inspiration, advice etc - but take it with a grain of salt. You have no idea how much I wish I had done that before being banded.