Gastric Sleeve - Your thoughts and opinions or your very own experience?

No_turning_back · February 2020

Hello Everyone!

I've been reading a lot on gastric sleeve surgery. I know there's so much that goes into daily life post surgery as well as some who have gained the weight back unfortunately.

A little about myself. I am 5'2" and cw is 219. I've been overweight my entire adult life. Growing up I was always very slender. I met my husband and weighed 115lbs. After our first child I stayed around 155 but after our last child I've never gone below 165. Its been a yo-yo roller-coaster for the last 19 years.

I started a new job 9/2018 and had weighed 179 when I started here. In a little over a year I went from 179 to 225. I wont lie, its been depressing.

The well known place I work has many, many large people. Recently several associates have opted for sleeve surgery. I look at them and their results are just amazing.

I can't help feel this is something I should pursue. I'm curious about your own personal experience or perhaps someone you know?

gemiller87 · February 2020

I have multiple extended family members that have had it and what I will say and leave it at this is simply: Surgery is no solution for bad habits. The habits come back because they were never gone in the first place and it's all in vain.

For the vast majority of people healthy and natural is the ticket to paradise in my humble opinion.

janejellyroll · February 2020

I have a family member who had this surgery. It initially provided good results, but it didn't address the root cause of her eating (which was stress management/emotional). She has gained the weight back, plus some additional.

I think if genuine hunger is the cause of your over-eating, these surgeries have the potential to be successful. But if there are other factors at play, I'm not sure they will work to keep weight off long term unless there is also work to address the issues behind the over-eating. My family member still wanted to eat when she was upset or sad and her surgery didn't do anything to help with that (my understanding is that some places provide better overall care to address stuff like this).

csplatt · February 2020

My father had this, twice kind of (an adjustment after). He never kept the weight off and ended up lager than before because it stretches out... if you can’t learn how to eat and track a specific amount of calories in / calories out, you won’t have a solution.

SezxyStef · February 2020

you couldn't pay me enough to do it.

After I have seen the aftermath of it...nope.

There is a woman I know that admits she knows what to do just isn't consistent with it...and was told by her doctor if she lost any more weight she would no longer be eligible for the surgery...so she started eating a lot...

You know how to lose the weight (eat less)...are you willing to do that after the surgery...??? if they answer is yes why not just eat less to lose the weight instead of it being forced?

tulips_and_tea · February 2020

Don't draw conclusions simply by how your co-workers look who've had it. You have no idea what their dealing with or if they're struggling to adapt. (NOT suggesting to ask them, either; that's a private matter that doesn't belong in the work place.)

If you're truly interested have a consult with a surgeon and see if their former patients are willing to share their honest experiences.

Bottom line though: if you don't identify WHY you over eat and take steps to cope and resolve the issue then no surgery will help.

sdavis484 · February 2020

Maybe surgery and therapy would help the most.

missysippy930 · February 2020

You have to develop the same eating habits with the surgery, it’s no miracle cure. There’s always a risk with any surgery. It’s never easy, no matter your choice. Is the expense and risk worth the surgery?

garber6th · February 2020

sdavis484 wrote: »

Maybe surgery and therapy would help the most.

This. I was just shy of 400 lbs and I woke up one day and thought, this isn't normal, and I found myself a good therapist to really work on what got me to where I was. Once I felt like I had made progress with the mental part of my weight issues, I made the decision to have gastric sleeve surgery, with the help of my therapist and physician. I felt that for me, it would help get me to a safer weight more quickly, and give me a tool to help down the line as well. That's really important to understand, it's a tool, a really great one if you use it properly, but it still takes commitment. It was the best choice I ever made, but I will tell you, there is still work involved, and it isn't necessarily for everyone. Do your research, think it through, and get advice from professionals. People on the general message boards here are helpful, but I'd like to suggest you check out the group at this link, there is everyone from people who are thinking about surgery, had surgery, good experiences, bad experiences, etc, and they will give you honest feedback https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/637-gastric-bypass-vsg-lapband

Whatever path you choose, good luck to you!

Sand_TIger · February 2020

I'm echoing what garber6th said... I think she's really right. I've known three people who had this type of surgery. One gained most of her weight back and two had good success. Those who use it as a tool to learn new eating patterns and as a reminder not to eat too much usually have a chance of doing well. Those who think it will solve all their problems usually don't succeed. I like the idea of therapy - the right kind of therapy, the kind that teaches you coping mechanisms so you can feel more secure in your ability to cope with adversity/stress/etc.

Personally, I wouldn't do this surgery, because it changes the way my stomach functions, and what if sometime in the future I couldn't get the special vitamins and supplements? Instead I've had luck with the DIY option. I eat several little meals a day and never a lot of bulk, and I find that after a while my stomach shrinks. So then if I over-indulge, I get that helpful reminder, and don't eat too much. (Obviously this reverses itself pretty soon, but it can be a helpful tool and doesn't cost nearly as much.)

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

cwolfman13 · February 2020

I would think this surgery would only be as a last resort and/or if it was necessary to get down to a healthy weight quickly due to other medical issues...but I can't really say I know a lot about it. Just from what I know of surgery in general, it's typically a last resort when other less drastic measures have failed or there is no other option at all.

seltzermint555 · February 2020

Just for reference here: I have lost weight without surgery (about 130 lb) and so far have kept it off for 7 years. I was previously over 200 lb since my teens and now I am 43.

I don't think WLS is "bad", of course. But I have seen a lot of people with botched WLS of various types. I am not talking about people who simply gained back the weight, or had some minor issues. I'm referring to people who actually became disabled due to complications of their weight loss surgery...and this includes some individuals who were otherwise healthy obese people beforehand.

From what I understand, these surgeries have come a long way in the past 10-20 years and there are many different types now, including safer and less invasive procedures. But I honestly never considered it for myself even when I was at 300 lb because I was far too concerned about complications. And I have never thought, "hmmm maybe that would have been a better option", as I look back.

JMHO.

As for the less serious stories...a friend of mine works with a half-dozen women who have had gastric sleeve surgery and they are such a mixed bag. None of them had horrible complications or issues. Most of them have gained back some or all of the weight they initially lost. Some of them have very thin hair now and are severely limited in what they can and cannot eat. One of them looks fantastic and appears very happy. So who knows...like anything, I suppose your mileage may vary.

If you want my honest opinion as a stranger...I feel like even at 5'2, 219 going back down to 179 and well beyond sounds pretty doable with calorie counting and exercise. Therapy/counseling is ALWAYS another excellent thing to try in my opinion, for weight loss and overall wellness. I think there's probably an underlying cause for weight to go drastically up and down and you may be surprised how much of it is rooted in your emotions.

Luke_rabbit · February 2020

I'm not against WLS. I've had to have 5 different surgeries in my life and every one was a pain to recover from, so I personally wouldn't choose surgery unless there are no other options.

I am 5'3" and used to weigh 200 pounds. I now weigh 123. I lost my weight just by being a bit more active and eating a bit less food. Nothing special, nothing drastic. And, now, since finding MFP, it's actually easier than ever before.

thenewkayla · February 2020

My mom has and no she hasn't gained any weight back and looks great but she can no longer ever drink soda.. Noodles.. Bread.. A lot of other things I can't think of .
She also eats like a bird which in sense can be could but if she eats more then shr can handle shes in bad pain.
Also can't have any pain meds because it tears up her stomach.
Worth it? Not to me but everyone's different.

reddwarf63 · February 2020

Having a gastric sleeve done is just a lazy way of saying that you cant do it by proper exercise and portion control. Losing weight is easy, just comes down to free will

jeslz · February 2020

Some people just have no idea (see above).

Honestly, go speak with a surgeon. And speak with people who have had the surgery (as you have tried to do here). A lot of people are against it without ever having looked into it or think they know better.

I had a gastric band and plication in October 2019. It’s working for me. The only downside I have noticed is I get indigestion now. It hurts, but it passes. I have lost almost 25kg so far and I still eat my favourite foods. Just smaller portions. Sometimes that is a struggle, like if the food is really tasty and I really just want more but I physically cannot eat it or else I feel ill. I have changed my diet in some small ways, such as not snacking as much and cutting down bad foods because I have limited space in my stomach so I want to fill it with better foods.

Personally, I went with the band and plication because it is not permanent and it is adjustable. I can have it tightened if it is not effective or loosened if I want to eat more. Or if it’s not working, it can be removed. I was hesitant to go with a sleeve because of the permanency. Also, I thought *not* having pieces removed would be less painful, but it was still a big op! I have never been in such pain and it took a good few weeks to recover but I don’t regret it at all.

WynterDreaming · February 2020

I can only speak from second hand experience of watching my mother go through the sleeve process and several of her friends going through the other procedures. So please, take what I say with a grain of salt.

The weight comes off easy at first. You're going to see a huge drop in the beginning just from the fact that for the first week or thereabouts, you're on a liquid diet. A lot of water weight is going to come sluicing off basically. Then you're going to see a huge reduction just from the severe appetite cut you just took. But like anything else, it has it's hurdles. It takes work. After those first big losses, I noticed that many of the people who had surgery feel almost invincible. And then a good portion of them end up gaining a nice chunk of their weight back.

A lot of them didn't change their diet, many had issues with hair loss and various vitamin deficiencies. My mother personally was on a very strict regimen of vitamin supplements to try and combat the thinning and even loss of hair and it took almost two years to even out. She's still taking a variety of supplements every day. Several are still struggling with their hair and I know one has gotten so thin that they prefer to wear a wig.

Carbonation, bread, pasta and other things like it are going to be hit or miss. As someone above said it's not that you're going to be missing most of your favorite foods, but you have to eat less of them. A lot less. And you will have to pick and choose just because your smaller stomach size means you can't have that piece of bread with that soup if you know the soup is going to fill you up, or you can have the piece of bread but you won't be anywhere near finishing the soup. It's a balancing act I find ties in with the vitamin deficiencies I mentioned above, which is really my big sticking point about the whole thing. I also find that with this, a lot of people just don't enjoy any food anymore.

You also have to take into account the surgery itself. Yes, a lot of people are having the surgery. And while you're seeing various amounts of success, you have to consider if it would be the best for you. While the surgeries have been refined since they began, any surgery has the risk of side effects.

I personally would try implementing the changes you would have to take anyways such as smaller portion sizes and healthier choices as you start talking to doctors about it and see what happens. You might find that making those changes, the weight will start moving bit by bit. I think it's also worth noting however that at your current weight, you're barely above the required BMI for your height (which is 40). This might disqualify you almost immediately depending on your doctors.

There is a lot of thought and consideration that has to go into something as major as a surgery like this and in the end, it's your decision. We can only offer our personal and biased views. But please, give it the due thought it deserves before jumping on the surgery bandwagon.

JodehFoster · February 2020

Try following the recommended post-surgery diet for a month and see how that goes. Plenty of published info out there if you google it.

I lost more than you have to lose in less than a year w/o a thought of surgery, and I'm also shorter than you. Just have to get your head in the game. I was barely 110# in my mid-twenties & ballooned to 230# by my mid-thirties. Surgery is invasive and not something I'd voluntarily put myself through unless it was life/death.

Good luck.

janejellyroll · February 2020

reddwarf63 wrote: »

Having a gastric sleeve done is just a lazy way of saying that you cant do it by proper exercise and portion control. Losing weight is easy, just comes down to free will

People who have weight loss surgery are exercising portion control - there's a lot of work involved in eating post surgery. Exercise is also something they can incorporate into their lives.

The truth is that the principles of weight loss are easy, but actually incorporating them consistently can be challenging. Individuals have different challenges, the parts that are easy for me may be hard for someone else and vice versa.

amusedmonkey · February 2020

It's the right solution for some people. If your overeating is mainly driven by stomach hunger and you're willing to live with an altered stomach (and all the challenges that come with that) for the rest of your life, then it's a choice to consider. Gastric sleeve alters hunger levels but does not change habits. If your overeating is mainly driven by habits then you will have to put in just as much work as you would without.

I personally chose not to go that route despite being a good candidate (started super morbidly obese at 50 ish BMI and feel more hunger than the average person). It's a major surgery I could do without (all surgeries carry risks), it's a financial investment both for the surgery itself and the added lifelong expenses of constant checkups, daily vitamin pills, and possibly lifelong anti-acid medications. Medication intake for some other issues can also be tricky, you might need to grind some pills which changes how they work. It's possible to develop certain food intolerances or have certain gastric symptoms and pains for the rest of your life. I'm just not willing to make such a big change to my health care routine for weight loss. But most of all, I did not want the permanent change in how I choose to enjoy my food. I love food and it's important for me to enjoy it in any way I want with the fewest limitations possible. I refuse to give up my food autonomy.

garber6th · February 2020

janejellyroll wrote: »

reddwarf63 wrote: »

Having a gastric sleeve done is just a lazy way of saying that you cant do it by proper exercise and portion control. Losing weight is easy, just comes down to free will

People who have weight loss surgery are exercising portion control - there's a lot of work involved in eating post surgery. Exercise is also something they can incorporate into their lives.

The truth is that the principles of weight loss are easy, but actually incorporating them consistently can be challenging. Individuals have different challenges, the parts that are easy for me may be hard for someone else and vice versa.

This. That's why I said in my previous post, WLS is a tool. I have been fortunate that I recovered well, I didn't suffer the hair loss, and I don't have too many food issues. The food issues I have are likely more related to the fact that I don't have a gall bladder. It still takes a lot of work, but being 400 lbs wasn't exactly easy either.

I have way more energy now, my checkups are always great, and my quality of life has improved tenfold. Honestly though, if I had to lose 50 lbs, I might not have had surgery. The fact that I had over 200 lbs to lose was a big factor in my decision to take a more aggressive approach to getting my health back. Really, really think about it.

No_turning_back · February 2020

reddwarf63 wrote: »

Having a gastric sleeve done is just a lazy way of saying that you cant do it by proper exercise and portion control. Losing weight is easy, just comes down to free will

I'm sorry I have to disagree. Not one ounce of me believes WLS is they easy/lazy way out. There are so many things you have to stay consistent on post op.

I wanted a safe place to ask this question without harsh judgement and I thank you all for being open and non-judgmental.

I was previous taking phentermine and was successful at losing 30lbs but I started to have tons of hair fall out and still today my hair is not long and thick. Its been the same length and is very very thin. I feel if I already had that issue with just taking the phentermine it may be worse after WLS.

My problem isn't emotional eating its that I'm hungry allllll the time even right after eating a meal packed with protein.

I'll definitely research further and again, I truly appreciate all of your comments.

Allgaun · February 2020

My brother has one.

He needed a kick start to losing he was well over 300 lbs, he had tried WW and personal trainer but he just wasn't sticking to a plan. Before getting the band he had to go to a nutritionist and follow a very strict diet.

It's been about 8 years and he has managed to keep the weight off, but it takes a lot of effort. He still follows a strict meal plan, doesn't drink and he exercises regularly. It's not an easy solution, it takes work

psychod787 · February 2020

reddwarf63 wrote: »

Having a gastric sleeve done is just a lazy way of saying that you cant do it by proper exercise and portion control. Losing weight is easy, just comes down to free will

If you think it is the "easy" way, you are just plain nuts. Having your digestive system completely changed is not lazy or easy.....

gothchiq · February 2020

I had a friend who did this. She was fat again 18 months later. If you do it, you must be as committed to eating right and working out as if you did not have the surgery and were doing it without the intervention. If you are unsure about being able to do this, try seeing a nutritionist or a therapist to prevent you from backsliding.

missysippy930 · February 2020

The statistics are that over 80% of people that lose weight, gain it back within 5 years, no matter how the weight is lost. Whether through WLS, or conventional weight loss methods, not involving surgery. Some gain even more. There is no easy way. In order to be successful, there needs to be long term commitment to maintain the loss. Something a very high percentage of us clearly struggle with. Whatever tools you choose to lose weight, it’s only part of the battle. Good on all who reach maintenance, no matter how, and best wishes for long term maintaining the loss.

cheryldumais · February 2020

Weight Loss Surgery is a very big step so I applaud you for taking time to research it thoroughly. I had a lapband installed when that was the most popular method outside of gastric bypass. I had heaps of problems lost less than 20 lbs. I finally had it removed when I could no longer eat any food that had substance. I was living on candy and things that were easy to chew up. In a few years after removal I went on to lose naturally by counting calories and walking.

I don't throw stones at anyone who has Bariatric surgery as I know it's not easy. Someone who has 15 or 20 pounds to lose has a struggle just like anyone else but they are not in the same boat as those of us who had 100 lbs or more to take off. The surgery I believe can give someone the start to getting their lifestyle changed but it is not a magic fix. Everyone told me that before my surgery and I said I knew that but truthfully, I didn't. I was sure it would somehow change me. It didn't.

This is a very personal decision and you need to talk to others who have had surgery perhaps a few years ago to see what the long term success rate is. Anyone right after the surgery will tell you how wonderful it is and how they aren't hungry anymore but that is usually temporary. Had I not managed to lose on my own and if I were trying to decide now I would talk to folks a few years in. You've heard from someone here at MFP who was successful and is maintaining. I would search out others and see if you can do what they are doing. I believe we have a few groups here at MFP for people who have had or are preparing for bariatric surgery.

Good luck.

runnermom419 · February 2020

You couldn't pay me to have WLS.

I know it's extremely anecdotal, but the people in my life that have gone through surgery have all suffered major health issues (related to malnutrition despite doing everything they were told). We're talking iron levels so low to require transfusions.

All have regained a good portion of the weight back. Nope, no way.

fitoverfortymom · February 2020

I was convinced at 5'6" and 256lbs that I would need a surgical solution for weight loss. I was so convinced that I begrudgingly joined MFP to "prove" that I couldn't lose weight.

Welp, I was totally wrong.

I lost 100lbs in a little more than a year and have kept it off for almost 2, simply by tracking (with a food scale) my food and logging in MFP according to my calorie goal.

aliciasmoreno · February 2020

I am now going through the process of medical clearances, counseling, test and what have you needed to have Gastric Sleeve Surgery. Ten year ago I had the Lap Band Surgery, it did not work for me, I can't blame the lap Band, I blame me. I did not follow advice and learned to get around it's restrictions.
I find myself at age 72 , 5' 7", and 295 pounds. My weight gain started perimenopause and bloomed post menopausal. I have tried WW with great success with weight losses os 79, 108, 65, 50 pounds at different times. I also lost 65 recently under a nutritionist care to gain it back.
I can follow a portion control plan with proper nutrition for a period of time until a crisis knocks me off the wagon.
From this you may gather the strong emotional factor in my eating habits.
What is different this time? The awareness of needing emotional support, the fact that I have started to eat very similar to post surgery diet, everything is measured, logged in MFP, very small spoon and fork, small bites, long time chewing, 35 to 40 minutes per meal the most difficult so far is no water during meals. I have read everything that I could get my hand on. I AM AWARE OF THE POSSIBLE FAILURE if I don't keep up with the advise of the professionals. One thing I can't any longer do is to continue to carry this weight on a frame riddle with arthritis, on a body worn down by age and weight. I need to lighten the load on my body. Th surgery will be the cane I use to walk, I know that the walking depends on my two legs, the cane alone does not walk.

leejoyce31 · February 2020

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I would think this surgery would only be as a last resort and/or if it was necessary to get down to a healthy weight quickly due to other medical issues...but I can't really say I know a lot about it. Just from what I know of surgery in general, it's typically a last resort when other less drastic measures have failed or there is no other option at all.

I agree!

Gastric Sleeve - Your thoughts and opinions or your very own experience?

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