Gastric Sleeve Patients?????

Hi Kelly
I had my sleeve done on March 15th and have a total weight loss of 60lbs (20lbs on the 2 week pre op diet and 40lbs since surgery) and I completely understand where you are coming from, because I find it really hard to stop grazing also. And grazing on the wrong foods. I think if I didnt graze I probably would have lost a lot more than 40lbs since surgery. The sleeve really is only a tool, and not a miracle cure!

I am scheduled for my sleeve on 6/6/13. Just started my preop liquid diet today! So excited

I had my sleeve on 4/26. I don't find that I want to graze cause it takes all I have to eat 3 meals and possibly 2 snacks. My biggest problem is that I spend 90% of my time thinking about what to eat, when to eat it and eating it. I hope that this obsession lessens when I'm further out. I don't want to spend the rest of my life fixated on food. Seems like trading one addiction for another.

Hey Kelly i am Jacquelyn and i was sleeved 2/26 of this year and i'm down 78lbs since my day surgery!! I still struggle but i'm doing much better and starting to feel like ME again except with better habits! Even better i don't regret the surgery anymore!!! )

Hello Kelly and Ladies,

I had the gastric sleeve 18 months ago and I am down 74 lbs since I began with the pre-op. I was so afraid of any type of gastric procedure as I had heard all the horror stories. Nonetheless, I wanted to be off insulin so I proceeded. My insulin dosage has been reduced to half the dosage, but I am looking to get rid of it all together.

Enough about my story; what I wanted to share was that is the reason I am here, to try and get these next 25 lbs off. the first weeks after my surgery, I thought I was going crazy, I couldn't even eat one egg!! Our brains have been trained to eat a full plate of food. Yes the sleeve has definitely helped with the eating, but not the brain function. I find myself eating six times a day rather than the normal three to try and keep from eating the junk. I have found that NOT to work. As one poster stated, you have to find something else to do. You can't sit around the house all day doing nothing or at all for that matter. Find a hobby, read a book, knit, walk, exercise -- something has to occupy our minds to keep us from thinking about food. Water is also a key. I add crystal light to curb my sweet craving.

Bottom line is this is only a TOOL and we have to completely change our lifestyle. I exercise 3 to 4 times a week but in order to reach this goal, I have increased it to 6 times a week. On this plan, I am removing BREAD all together. I get my grains from cereal or oatmeal but no sliced bread, cornbread, cakes, pies, biscuits, etc. My rule is if I ABSOLUTELY have to have it, take one piece and leave it alone.

The other key is we can't let our family and friends keep us from our goal. Send a meeting invite to yourself for times to exercise and stay active so that when that invite comes for a dinner party, you're already booked at that time, but can possible do that later. YOU ARE YOUR PRIORITY!!

Sending you all friend requests!! Looking forward to the support.

Hi Kelly! Congratulations on your VSG. I had mine on 4/4/12. Grazing is definitely a problem. I usually combat the urge by having hot tea or Swiss Miss Diet Hot Chocolate. For me, the hot liquid satisfies that urge to put something in my mouth--almost like having food & I'm also making progress on my liquids for the day. I would get rid of anything in the house that is tempting--especially since you are still getting used to your new eating habits. If you are going to snack, make it something high in protein--turkey pepperoni, babybel light cheese, shaved turkey, a boiled egg. Make sure you track everything. I often pre-plan everything I eat so that I can fit my snacks into my calorie goals & then I don't feel tempted by boredom snacking because I know that I can eat my snacks when I want them.

I'm not going to share my story...it's very long and involves lap-band, erosion, an 8-day stay in the hospital, removal, and sleeve. Let's just say this - I'm currently seeing a therapist for eating disorders after realizing the sleeve, the band, DS, RnY are merely tools. My brain wasn't "fixed" when my body was. Nice to see successful sleevers! :flowerforyou:

Candi5903 - We'll be thinking about you tomorrow! Best of luck!

Hello, I am getting the sleeve on July 8 and would really love some mfp buddies that have gone through or about to go through the procedure to talk to. Please feel free to add me as a friend so we can support each other. Thanks!

Hello,

I hope you can avoid going through weight loss surgery. Nearly everyone I know that went through it wishes they hadn't due to the long term digestive and other health complications.

You might want to check out this forum:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=gastric+sleeve+complications&ei=UTF-8&fr=chrf-comodo

This is a bunch of b^llsh!t, to put it bluntly. I know many, many people who are happy and successful post-WLS.

No it ISN'T!!!! I know several people that had gastric sleeves, and will probably be dealing with numerous health complications for the rest of their lives on account of having that surgery.

You are one of the lucky ones. Not everyone had good results like you apparently did.

You can read some experiences with complications people had after gastric sleeve surgery on this forum:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/48-gastric-sleeve-surgery-vsg-complications-support-group

People remember, until you actually have the surgery, there's still time to change your mind!

I had a duodenal switch done December 7, 2009 so I have a sleeve as well as rerouting of the intestines.

Did I have complications? Yes, very serious ones.

I got through it and even saying that I have no regrets. I've lost nearly 125 pounds. The surgery saved my life.

Not everyone has complications and I don't know where you get that a lot of people have ongoing problems. Maybe a few but not the majority.

I had a gastric sleeve in December. My only regret is that I waited so long in my life to do it.
I have always been fat. Those of you who have suffered with the same thing know how difficult life is for those of us who are really heavy.
I've lost 75 pounds. I love shopping for normal size clothes. I love the way people treat me. I love the way I can move around, up and down stairs without huffing and puffing.
This surgery was the best thing I've ever done.

Bumping to see stories since this is something my mom is really considering.

When one is dying due to multiple medical issues like Type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, thyroid issues and other things that keep them from being able to lose weight no matter how hard they work...then one will opt for surgery. While I'm sorry for those who have experienced complications, they are the exception, not the rule, as with ANY other surgery.

I had VSG in July, 2009. Can't believe it's been four years. My only regret is that I waited until I was 43 to realize this was NOT the "easy way out" and was a necessary step in my life to get BACK some of my life. I weighed 320 lbs. I now weigh 220 - I lost 120, but over two years have regained 20. New relationship, stressful job, NO exercise...you know the score. So I'm here, looking for support and comeraderie, to get back on the downward track.

Meanwhile, do I regret it now? Not for one minute - I've lost 100 lbs - slowly, due to the metabolic stuff. And even with the regain...I've still lost 100 lbs! Holy cow! Now, I need to get back on track.

Original poster, if you despise protein shakes and they make you gag, either try different shakes or stop using them and get to the basics - three bites lean protein (eggs, lean meat like fish, chicken, even lean steak, and eggs - eggs are awesome - broccoli, mushrooms), to any one bite of other stuff. If you graze, graze on that and leafy green stuff not covered in crap. I'm getting back to that - lean protein, green veggies should be at least 75% of your diet.

Hang in - that's what I'm doing