I was really hoping that this was something I would not have to deal with once I had the surgery but unfortunately over the past few weeks I have been binge eating and could really use some advice.

I am 3.5 months post-op and have lost around 70 pounds (including the weight I lost with the 2 week pre-op diet). I have always been an anxious eater and was diagnosed with binge eating disorder many years ago, which for the past few years mainly involved overeating as opposed to the violent binging episodes I used to have.

This was very encouraging so after therapy for BED I decided to have the surgery. Now, I notice that although I keep to my eating plan most of the time, I often cheat. Today though, I was very anxious and got an urge to binge, just like the old ones. I stopped the first one but the one that came a few hours later I gave in to and ate 2 donuts.

Is this something that other sleevers experience? How often does it happen to you and how do you control it? Are there any 'success stories' out there that have experienced binging (as in eating bad food in an uncontrolled manner, not necessarily large portions) yet still managed to lose the weight.

I don't often see this being written about and it feels quite scary.

Many thanks for reading!

So you think the stomach regrows?

Regrow? More like re-stretch

Tootsietoes, I think you're wrong about the sleeve stretching.

The research I've seen says the sleeve does not stretch, at least not very much. Yes, it gets larger after surgery as the swelling goes down and complete healing occurs. My surgical team says no, it doesn't stretch. Dr. Weiner (whose videos are posted here often) also says no, it doesn't stretch. At 13 months post-op, I can eat MAX only a cup of food -- just as I could about 8 months post-op. So far, my sleeve certainly isn't stretching.

However, for those whose surgery leaves a larger than 'normal' post-op sleeve, e.g., those who have sleeves after a lapband that created a lot of scar tissue that the surgeon can't put a stitch / staple line in, I don't know how that all works. I certainly do see some people (not all) who've had a sleeve post-lapband complain that they don't have the restriction even early on that those with "virgin sleeves" have. But that's only my wondering / theorizing. I don't really know personally about those situations.

@@VSGAnn2014

Im sure it does unless something else is happening, than by all means correct me. I will be referring to my Aunt who failed her gastric Bypass. They went in and did a revision and she quoted the surgeon who told her her stomach stretched to a "flabby grape fruit". So maybe its different case by case. She had a Gastric Bypass but was able to Finish a LumberJacks Morning special which is easily 3-4 cups of food compared to the 1-2 ounces shes SUPPOSE to eat. How is that possible if it cannot stretch?

Thanks, but the "pouch" built for a gastric bypass and the "sleeve" built during VSG surgery are two very different kinds of things.

When doing a gastric bypass, the "pouch" that the surgeon constructs from the stomach is created by slicing off the bottom of the stomach, including the pyloric valve that slows down the passage of food from the stomach to the intestine. This leaves a pouch constructed of both some unstretchable stomach and some stretchable (fundus) portion of the stomach:

In contrast, the "sleeve" created by VSG surgery removes ALL the stretchable (fundus) portion of the stomach and constructs the sleeve from only the unstretchable portion of the stomach. It also leaves the pyloric valve intact (which slows down the passage of food into the intestine). And because the entire fundus portion of the stomach is removed, the ghrelin hunger hormone (produced in the stomach fundus) is thereafter quite limited -- an advantage that gastric bypass patients don't have:

@@VSGAnn2014 @@sleevenv Points well taken, and certainly it will not grow back to prior levels. However, I wasn't actually suggesting that the sleeve can stretch out again, although to a certain extent it definitely can and will. The declining effectiveness of the sleeve refers to the fact that the existing tissue is simply sturdier and better able to handle larger quantities, even with a permanently decreased volume, at a year or two out as opposed to in the first couple of months. The threat is real...and I can already tolerate things I couldn't tolerate even earlier this month.

@ ... not to drag this out forever, but you're very newly sleeved (just last month, if I read your profile correctly).

And what you're experiencing when you feel like you "... can already tolerate things I couldn't tolerate even earlier this month" isn't the sleeve stretching -- it's the sleeve healing as the swelling goes down after the trauma of being mangled during surgery.

I think that the restriction you will feel by month six post-op is not very different from the restriction you will feel by month twelve.

I'm only 13 months post-op, so I can't speak from personal experience about the restriction beyond that, but perhaps others here can.

I cannot stress enough how important I think I is is to treat the underlying food issues while on this "sleeve journey." Ultimately there is a deeper reason you are filling a void with over eating. You have to figure out what that is and find healthier ways to cope or you will sabotage your success. I would highly recommend two things: (1) Read "When Food is Love" by Geneen Roth. Don't wait. Run to the bookstore right now. (2) Seek out therapy with an eating disorder therapist.

Around 7-8 months post op it was like a switch flipped for me and my desire to binge eat came back. I was scared to death in that moment and immediately sought out therapy with an eating disorder therapist. I have been meeting with her every single week now for over a year and a half and it has made ALL the difference in my long term success. I know for myself for a fact that had I not taken that step I would not be nearly as successful as I've been. It's a work in progress and I still learn something about myself every single week.

Good luck!

@@livvsmum Well said! Good for you identifying and conquering your demons!

@@livvsmum Well said! Good for you identifying and conquering your demons!

Thank you! :-) One of the hardest things I've done in my life.....

Hey there Gabito, I've been seeing a Psychologist for a little while now with regard to binge eating, compulsive over eating etc. I have to do this pre surgery. Anyways I just wanted to tell you that you're not alone. Don't feel guilty after it happens. Learn from your mistakes and move on, this will make you stronger. During my times in therapy a lot of what I'm learning is about being compassionate with yourself, being mindful, recognising weak times and initially taking yourself out of the position for bingeing and rewarding yourself in a more beneficial way ie, reading a book, digging up weeds, taking the dog for a walk. You're doing so well. Continue to watch what you eat and monitor your weak times. You're more than welcome if you want to chat further.

@livvsmum@stacymc_23

Thank you for your advice. I have already had therapy for BED in the past so I don't think that any more would really help that much. I'd rather try to sort this out by myself.

I cannot stress enough how important I think I is is to treat the underlying food issues while on this "sleeve journey." Ultimately there is a deeper reason you are filling a void with over eating. You have to figure out what that is and find healthier ways to cope or you will sabotage your success. I would highly recommend two things: (1) Read "When Food is Love" by Geneen Roth. Don't wait. Run to the bookstore right now. (2) Seek out therapy with an eating disorder therapist.

Around 7-8 months post op it was like a switch flipped for me and my desire to binge eat came back. I was scared to death in that moment and immediately sought out therapy with an eating disorder therapist. I have been meeting with her every single week now for over a year and a half and it has made ALL the difference in my long term success. I know for myself for a fact that had I not taken that step I would not be nearly as successful as I've been. It's a work in progress and I still learn something about myself every single week.

Good luck!

Hi. After reading your post I bought the book "when Food is Love". I had loving supportive parents, but this book really brings up my feelings and relationship I have with food. I too started to want or craved foods after about 7 months and it scared me to death! The feeling I still have regarding eating food is so much deeper then nutritional value and I continue to realize that this is a life long journey. I love love the book. Thank you!

I cannot stress enough how important I think I is is to treat the underlying food issues while on this "sleeve journey." Ultimately there is a deeper reason you are filling a void with over eating. You have to figure out what that is and find healthier ways to cope or you will sabotage your success. I would highly recommend two things: (1) Read "When Food is Love" by Geneen Roth. Don't wait. Run to the bookstore right now. (2) Seek out therapy with an eating disorder therapist.

Around 7-8 months post op it was like a switch flipped for me and my desire to binge eat came back. I was scared to death in that moment and immediately sought out therapy with an eating disorder therapist. I have been meeting with her every single week now for over a year and a half and it has made ALL the difference in my long term success. I know for myself for a fact that had I not taken that step I would not be nearly as successful as I've been. It's a work in progress and I still learn something about myself every single week.

Good luck!

Hi. After reading your post I bought the book "when Food is Love". I had loving supportive parents, but this book really brings up my feelings and relationship I have with food. I too started to want or craved foods after about 7 months and it scared me to death! The feeling I still have regarding eating food is so much deeper then nutritional value and I continue to realize that this is a life long journey. I love love the book. Thank you!

Wonderful! I"m so glad to hear that it helped you! I too don't really have "parent" issues like the author, but what she says can apply to sooo many other situations. Part of the struggle for me was figuring out what events led me to treat myself the way I do/did because I didn't have something obvious like the author. In any case, I'm so glad you like it!