So I need to ask those who have been in my position what you have done. I'm assuming there aren't too many of you who can relate(hopefully).

Here is the background story: I had the crapband in Sept of 2010. I was 238 at the time. I was ok for a few months until the sliming and puking took over my life for the next nearly 2 years. I lost about 32 pound in 5 months and then it came to a grinding halt. Nothing I did lost me a pound. Then the weight just came back on until I was back around 222-225. I couldn't stand the f'ing sliming and throwing up game so I did what I thought was the be all and end all for me and had the sleeve done in July 2012. My sister had hers done in march of 2012 and is now a tiny little thing again. She rocked it like nobody's business.

I lost weight the first 3 weeks after the sleeve and then it just tapered off pretty fast. 7 weeks later I had a horrible episode of starvation and I was so hungry one day that I ate a lot of food for someone with such a small stomach. I actually cried because I was so hungry and upset that I could eat 'so much' food. I was having reflux issues too so I had a barium study. Little did I know that in just 8 weeks, the top portion of my stomach, the fundus, had already started to stretch. I found out from my GI doctor that it was nothing I did or ate and it was just due to my anatomy. He said stomachs are creatures with their own minds and mine did it's own thing. The lower portion was unaffected. I eventually lost about 25 pounds in about 4-5 months and then once again, the weight just came back on.

Two Endocrinolgists have told me that years of dieting and the two surgeries have permanently damaged my metablolism. My body can't switch to fat buring like a normal body. It goes straight into panic starvation mode. I have had extensive thyroid and blood sugar work ups and have resolved any issues there. In fact, my labs are pretty damn good.

So in April I go back to my surgeon and tell him that I'm seriously fed up with the lack of missing pounds and that we need to figure this out now. He said that he can redo the sleeve to fix the top and make it really tight. I was game for almost anything so I scheduled my 3rd surgery in 4 years. Good thing my insurance covers everything! I had the sleeve redone July 15th, 1 year and 1 week since the first sleeve. I went in with zero exepectations so I wouldn't get my hoped crushed again. Well, good thing because I'm back at square one again. I lost about 13-14 pounds in the first 3 weeks and now 8 weeks out I haven't lost anymore. In fact, most of it was in the first two weeks. The third week was 2 pounds and for the past 5 weeks I haven't lost a freaking ounce.

Now I have total proof that it's not what or how much I am eating. Three surgeries, all the BS about Protein, no carbs, ect just doesn't apply to someone like me. I can eat protein all day long and I still don't lose weight. I have been hiking, kayaking, etc and nothing happens. I wake up hungry, go to bed hungry. Nothing.

What do you do in my situation? I'm not expecting crazy results like some people do. I am very realistic about what your body can and can't do. I know that 3500 calories is equal to one pound gained or lost. I know that my intake is significantly less that it was a few months ago and I know my body have this amazing ability to fully function on so much less food without buring fat and I wish I knew how or why! One of my doctors said that I truly could never, ever be Anorexic even if I tried, because my body is like some Neanderthal survivor!

Have any of you had such a reaction like mine where your metablolism has legitimately been trashed to the point where you can't burn fat? What have to done to overcome this? I know there has to be a solution to boost my body into fat burning mode and move it out of starvation mode. I would really apprecaiate any input that you have in regards to my situation. I don't consider this a stall like everyone seems to have. This is yet another full stop just like the last two times. Even my surgeon said to me that he was just going to have to suck the fat out. I agree. That is in the very near future.

Thanks!

So sorry to hear this.....I am only 13 days surgery one so this very frightening to me. I wish you the best.

I've only had the sleeve but have yo-yo dieted for approx 30 years. Losing and regaining 50-70 lbs several times. ugh

So I can't compare to what you're going through.

Do you track your food? What does the NUT say about your numbers and percents of carb/protein etc...?

So sorry this is happening to you. How many calories do you eat a day? Maybe try adding 300 calories extra for 3-4 days then go back down to 800 a day. Have you tried any specific things to increase your metabolism?

honestly it sounds like you need an expert. Dr Cirangle with San Francisco Laproscopic Surgeons out in San Francisco is the top whiz on this surgery. He has done more than about 7000 of these surgeries at this point. I think you should pursue getting an evaluation with him using your medical records and an extensive food log. You will have to write down every single thing you put in your mouth to track the way you should. Good luck to you! I hope you find an answer!

Have you personally seen Dr. Cirangle? Did you consult with any other doctors in SF? My sister went with Dr. John Rabkin, She is a nurse and did some extensive research on all the Bay Area doctors and went with him. I almost went with him, but didn't want to hassle with the flying backand forth from Los Angeles, although I would have.

When I was researching, I was going to pay for Cirangle out of pocket. Or his former partner in Novato. Insurance ended up covering it otherwise I would have picked him. Good luck.

well then do something about it cause if you keep complaining then nothing will get done. talk to another surgeon maybe you can get the bypass or something to get the weight loss back to steady.

I have not seen him personally because I have an equally qualified surgeon in NYC. However, I have done extensive research on surgeons in the United States, and since you're on the west coast, Cirangle makes a more logical choice. Can you give an idea of your current weight and how much you have either gained or lost? Mostly I'm just curious to know.

well then do something about it cause if you keep complaining then nothing will get done. talk to another surgeon maybe you can get the bypass or something to get the weight loss back to steady.

This has to be the rudest thing I have ever seen on a forum!!

Obviously she is doing everything she can including seeing doctors, specialists, and asking complete strangers for help.

well then do something about it cause if you keep complaining then nothing will get done. talk to another surgeon maybe you can get the bypass or something to get the weight loss back to steady.

I truly hope you didn't mean this the way it sounded.

I truly hope you didn't mean this the way it sounded.

no i didnt she asked for help and i was trying to help thats all no harm

This has to be the rudest thing I have ever seen on a forum!!

Obviously she is doing everything she can including seeing doctors, specialists, and asking complete strangers for help.

i was offering my advice not trying to be rude. i did not intend it to be that way sorry if i offended anyone

This may be a totally ridiculous suggestion and I may get blasted for this, but I wonder if really examining the types of calories you're taking in would help and choosing super nourishing ones. There's a book called Nourishing Traditions that really opened my eyes to the lack of true nourishment in the standard American diet and makes solid arguments about good quality, nourishing food. I wonder if choosing some healing, nourishing foods (like true bone broth, coconut oil, and raw milk, for example) might help your body heal and recognize that it is not indeed starving, and if then it will start letting go of the fat it wants to hang on to.

This may be a totally ridiculous suggestion and I may get blasted for this, but I wonder if really examining the types of calories you're taking in would help and choosing super nourishing ones. There's a book called Nourishing Traditions that really opened my eyes to the lack of true nourishment in the standard American diet and makes solid arguments about good quality, nourishing food. I wonder if choosing some healing, nourishing foods (like true bone broth, coconut oil, and raw milk, for example) might help your body heal and recognize that it is not indeed starving, and if then it will start letting go of the fat it wants to hang on to.

It's not ridiculous at all! You are so right that the typical American diet is void of so much nutrition. We are actually very good about what type of foods we buy at home. I live in Los Angeles where there are a million organic farmers markets, Whole Foods grocery stores and small independent health food stores. I am a label reader and I am very well versed in what is truly worth eating and what is total junk. I buy as much organic food as I can, especially meats and fruits. I won't buy anything with MSG, preservatives or artificial sweeteners.My kids hate me because they have never had a box of 'real' Cereal such as Lucky Charms or Trix. My 10 year old goes to school with chicken caesar salads and fruit!

Thank you for the book suggestion. I will look for it at the library or Amazon.

Melissa

I have not seen him personally because I have an equally qualified surgeon in NYC. However, I have done extensive research on surgeons in the United States, and since you're on the west coast, Cirangle makes a more logical choice. Can you give an idea of your current weight and how much you have either gained or lost? Mostly I'm just curious to know.

Right now I am at 186.I started at 238 4 years ago with the Lapband, down to 205 and then back up to about 222-225 right before sleeve #1. then I went down to 187 with the sleeve and back up to 198-200 right before sleeve #2 just this past July. It's not like I haven't lost anything. I am grateful for the 50 pounds lost, but it's the path that I have had to take and the unexpected road blocks to true loss that has been such a downer.

BTW- Is that a photo of you? Beautiful!!!!