I'm sorry if you've been asked this already but has anyone regretted their surgery, with no complications? I have a bit of a love affair with food, it's such a part of my social life with my family and friends, we eat out a lot, we gather round the table for family meals every day, we celebrate with food, we comfort with food, we make up with food... jeez it's all about food. How do you deal with this and did any of you regret it or miss that side of things?

Am I the only one that sometimes wonders if this forum should be renamed Peyton Place?

Who did your surgery? Where? I read about someone else on here who also felt no restriction and was always hungry - and when another surgeon checked them out, nearly their entire original stomach had been left intact. They had it revised and are having great success with it now.

Wow! Chris! Not to get off subject with this thread but a big WOW to you on you success thus far! I noticed your ticker and looked at your profile.

Way to go girl! Way to go!

Iam 3 weeks out and love the results so far the only thing that is in the back of my head is beer. I am not a bigg drinker but I do like to have a occasional beer now and than especially in the summer. It sounds dumb but for some reason it is the only thing I think that bothers me. Iam down 40 lbs so far and I am pretty sure that are grocery bill is less than before. Woooohoooo.

I I think that the people that regret it the most are the ones that were not ready to do it yet either mentally or physically .

I was waking up with severe pain depressed no energy . A lot of my pain is still there but everything else seems to be good.

Make sure you doit for the rite reason . If your not mentally ready please wait because you will regret it.

I think there is a growing trend of people who regret this surgery, why? I don't know, I have a few theories but won't bother you all with them right now, but I do realize we need to let them speak their peace.. So others know exactly what they are signing up for.

Edit;

Oh I forgot to say, it is hard. It is a major surgery and a radical step to take, but I am very happy I did it!

It really was my last chance at a healthy life.

^5 on the beer swampdonkey! I don't want a beer but a margarita or some other delicious adult beverage would be awesome. Oh yeah - and some nachos to go with it.

I had this struggle before my surgery and I came to a realization that I really did not need all the food I was eating. This changed everything. I cut my portions in half and stuck with it. This was my new beginnings. I don't miss it and I still go out to eat all the time. I love my new sleeve and I have actually saved a lot of money by eating way less and I buy organic. I love this life style.

^5 on the beer swampdonkey! I don't want a beer but a margarita or some other delicious adult beverage would be awesome. Oh yeah - and some nachos to go with it.

If I am being honest, I love my sleeve at a month out and am not missing the food but I would KILL for a frozen Margarita! Can do without the chips but that sweet, tangy, freeze brain of a concoction is something I miss!

I am saying this because I care... we are all in charge of our own "journey". The patient has a huge amount of influence in how this works out. Wildly successful, so-so, or whatever.

This is a good place to "vent" and I recognize much of this is just venting but i worry about nervous pre-ops getting the wrong idea - it is hard to let go of old ways. I was very ready to let go and yet i do recall those early months... feeling a little like the world wasn't as brightly colored. Feeling a little... I won't say blue... but certainly not technicolor bright like it is now! I accepted responsibility for making the choice to have the surgery AND because I listened to people who came before me, i knew it was temporary. The surgery did EXACTLY what was promised. I can eat less, and I am no longer hungry 24/7. Absolutely everything else - following guidelines, working out, working on my emotional challenges - that was all me. Here is the newsflash - really really soon after you heal from the surgery, you are pretty much on your own sisters and brothers. The surgeon has done his/her job, you better have a plan for the rest. Doesn't mean you need to write the plan, it means you need to find the resources, support, education etc.

If you seriously can't afford chicken, cottage cheese and greek yogurt and veggies to eat - i can't fathom why you are getting this surgery.

So, here I am in maintenance living a life I could only dream about before. I do sometimes struggle, but crap, that is real life - isn't it? I mean, I don't know ANYBODY - fat or thin who doesn't have some rough days. Get over it.

I am not as mean as I sound... I am just suggesting to anyone that wants to learn from this conversation thread that sleeve life is still life with all it's struggles. You still drive the bus - where are you heading?

If I am being honest, I love my sleeve at a month out and am not missing the food but I would KILL for a frozen Margarita! Can do without the chips but that sweet, tangy, freeze brain of a concoction is something I miss!

When I go on vacation in June, I am definitely going to indulge in a SkinnyGirl margarita. Probably about the same calories as a lite Starbucks drink.

You still drive the bus - where are you heading?

Amen.

Oh, and more then a year out I do enjoy the occasional cocktail -especially "skinny" ones. I don't drink beer because it is heavy and carby and carbonated, but i am guessing that every once in awhile it will be just fine. IT would be better if you all waited till you get to goal though because those kind of "treats" add empty calories.

Do watch alcohol in the early months though. I had a few sips of wine about 4 months out at a big celebration and that sucker burned. I can have a little red now with no problem... but it was not pleasant early on and i don't recommend it.

The big risk with alcohol, even once you are at maintenance is that your body handles it differently. Be very very careful with it. I made a mistake of having a drink on an empty stomach (big mistake - I hadn't eaten in like 7 hours). I had to go to bed and sleep it off - luckily i was home - and i learned my lesson. I was shocked - I have never had that kind of thing happen to me before.

When I go on vacation in June, I am definitely going to indulge in a SkinnyGirl margarita. Probably about the same calories as a lite Starbucks drink.

Umm....where are you going and are we invited?

haha Newat...the Eastern Shore (Maryland/Delaware).

It takes time for things to get on track. Early weeks you feel all sorts of weird sensations - acid can feel like hunger, your stomach muscles aren't totally healed yet, their may be some nerve damage that is still healying and your body is still full of that hunger hormone. You can ACCIDENTLY overeat in those early weeks, my NUT had me eating by the scale, measuring cup and clock probably the first 8 weeks. It wasn't until I was fully recovered and on solid foods that the sleeve fully did it's job.

Just follow a sensible plan and give it time - i promise it does get better.

I was sleeved on 3/26 and its very hard it seems like they really did not take That much stomach just me because some times I still feel hungry. And it does not seem like I am losing I onow its been almost 3 weeks but I don't see it and the pain on my side is crazy hard to bend or do anything hurt so bad hate to put a bra on

I was a revision from lap band, my surgery was Dec 10th 2012 so I'm about 4months out. Recovery had its ups and downs, I hated every creamy Protein drink, only found one I could stomach (no pun intended lol) but after 2months on them I can't drink any Protein drinks with out wanna to punch someone haha. I am still sore around my incision near my navel, makes it very hard to work out and run. But I do when I can. I'm a slow loser but started out with a lower weight since I was a revision from evil band complications. Dec weight 198.5, current 169. I have more I need to lose since I'm only 5'3" but am healthier now and with out all the sickness I had for 5 years with the band.

I tolerate food better now and still can't eat certain things but its bad stuff I have no business eating (ie fried foods, sugary ect) I can finally handle my coffee again and can eat meat, though certain ones I handle better than others. You'll have your moments of regret that is VERY fleeting when your eating a delicious meal and its that moment that 3bites makes you full and sick to your stomach. Then I get mad because I want to be able to eat lol, then their are days that I can eat a nice plate of crawfish lol. It's hit and miss. But over all best decision I ever made, I really wish I would have gotten this originally but having the demon band hell has helped me know how to eat proper size portions, chew chew chew and appreciate how this is a true tool and gift to have had done.