I was sleeved on 9/20. Iv lost 15 lbs and that was all the first month. I was very successful with my band for 6 years and only revised after being sick of that stuck feeling and all of the inconsistency with the band. Now don't get me wrong I can't eat as much as someone who has never had surgery but I honestly feel very little fullness or restrictions with the sleeve. I can eat a 6" sub from subway and a bag of baked ruffles just to give you an idea. I don't know yet if I regret it or not but I do know I'm making the decision to make it all about me. As far as I'm concerned I'm living life and taking care of myself as if Iv never been on the operating table. I will trust in myself for maybe the first time ever. I'm training for a half marathon this year and making good food choices because I want to. I'm still about 12-15 lbs from my goal, but when I get there I will know that it's because I worked hard for it and I'm okay with that. I wanted that feeling that Iv read so much about, I wanted to be full after 6 or 8 bites but I didn't get anything close to that. I just want others to know there are no guarantees with revision and prepare for the "what ifs " . It's funny to me now I was actually worried about losing too much weight being a low BMI patient to begin with. Now I just worry about getting to goal. I can tell you if I left it to the sleeve I never would but then again maybe that's how it should be...

Oh wow, that sounds terrible but hopefully it will lead to some answers for you ! Iv officially gained back 5 lbs and I'm working out 5x per week. I went to see a bariatrician last week and she calculated the different aspects of my weight. Normal body fat percentage for me is 28-33% and I'm at 34% which made me feel a little better. She also thinks I'm holding a lot of water due to not drinking enough so I'm going to focus on that for awhile and go back and see her in a few weeks. I'm so disparaged With the surgery I don't even know if I should explore having my sleeve tested. Good luck to you and please keep us posted.

You "pouch" sounds like a hiatal hernia and should have been fixed during the your sleeve procedure. Also, I'm assumming your surgeon meant it happens SOMETIMES in lapband patients. Certainly not ALL. Personally, in my small humble opinion... This pouch, regardless of why it's there should have been fixed and is very fixable still. I'd get a second opinion and work the sleeve to its fullest ability.

It's not a hiatal hernia, I had one that was repaired during surgery.

I have read your posts and am sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine how frustrating it can be. I've also been reading the others posts and suggestions to your issue and solutions. My only question is why a sub and chips? That's a ton of carbs. I saw where you said it was the best option compared to other fast food. We all get stuck in these situations, that's life. But why not order one of their sub salads and eat the meat first? Or if you really want the sub, why the chips? Chips don't fill you up, they tase good but that's about it. Not trying to sound critical, just giving you my thoughts.

I have continued to be worked up, and not sure if my situation is similar to yours but I will offer what I have been told. Because of the severe calorie restriction with the band for 9 years, on top of that I had a merina IUD placed two years ago...it has basically put me in a chemical hormone metabolic failure. My sleeve was evaluated, and I am rapidly dumping into my small bowel and my esophagus is stretched and large. SO...not sure if any of this is what could be happening to you...but I eat 1200 cal a day, work out 4 days a week...and have lost nothing in 2 months because my body will not release it. I now am on 150 protein a day, low fat, high fiber diet...Merina out, and on phentamine to try and get things moving.

Please check your bp frequently if you are taking Phen.

I understand the tendency to focus on food choices, however this was not a normal choice for me, the point of sharing this was so that others could relate to and understand the quantity as opposed to me trying to explain portion size of something I made at home.

Regardless of the choices however, the sleeve is meant to provide portion control which mine obviously is not doing.

I am still pre op and so have no helpful advise for you. However...I have read and saved the information about the Cottage cheese Test which allows you to measure the volume of your sleeve yourself.

http://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/proddetail.php?prod=A4

Maybe that can help you determine how large your sleeve is.

I have never heard of this !! Thank you so much !! I'm definitely trying it !!

Dr Alvarez has a radio program every week on ifm.mx radio and he talked about the cottage cheese test a few weeks ago and he said it doesn't work. He also is on Facebook and he will answer questions for people even if you are not his patient. His email is galvarez@endobariatrics.com. He has a passion for helping people who are having problems.

Aww, nuts. If that's true (that the cottage cheese doesn't work) then I'm bummed. For some reason I was really looking forward to doing that a month or so after surgery.

Why doesn't it work ??

I think a chicken test works better. I can eat 3 ounces and anything beyond that hurts. Squishy foods don't work for me.

Why doesn't it work ??

Dr. Alvarez explained it this way: The bottom of the stomach has a hole where food goes through to the intestine. The cottage cheese test isn't accurate because some of it can leak through that hole.

It's like trying to measure something by putting it into a funnel.

I also went from band to sleeve. I'm so disappointed. I can literally eat as much as I could un-banded. I complained to my surgeon, but he seemed offended that I said I had so little restriction. I am trying to just convince myself to be on a diet. I really could cry. This was my last hope.