Sleeve stopped working

[dasdat]

Has anyone gotten resleeved? My sleeve will be two years old in December. I've lost about 60lbs but cannot get below 200 consistently!!! I'm super frustrated and disappointed. I can eat everything nothing but volume makes me uncomfortable, bread, rice, cereal, pasta, etc no problem. I burn about 700 calories per day working out 5 days a week but I'm certain I'm still able to eat about 1500-2000/day and I haven't lost in about 10 months. Just wondering if anyone has been or considering getting sleeve procedure redone? I'm still obese by BMI standards although I know that's not the only standard but it is for sleeving purposes... Help!

[Kindle]

Of course you can eat rice, cereal, pasta, etc. There is absolutely nothing about the sleeve that would prevent you from doing that, no matter how small it is. I can definitely eat all those things, too. In fact, I can eat a lot of those things if I chose to. The point is not that we CANT eat those things, the point is you SHOULDN'T eat those things, at least not in large quantities. And probably not at all if you are still trying to lose. Are you not following the basic guidelines of protein first, then veggies, then carbs (if you have room).

Sounds like your sleeve is still "working"....you said it yourself, volume makes you uncomfortable. That's exactly what the sleeve does. Nothing more, nothing less. The only way you will lose weight is to eat fewer calories in the form of more protein and less carbs. I havent heard of any WLS patient being able to lose on 1500-2000 calories. Most seem to be 1200 calories or less when trying to lose. A lot have to stay under 1000. We were sleeved about the same time and I hit my low weight (100 pounds down) at 8 months postop. I did that with eating 800-1200 calories/day. Always protein first and very few carbs. I have maintained for a year with 1400-1600 calories. This is with logging 12,000-20,000 Fitbit steps/day and lifting 20-60 pounds at work every day. I would most certainly gain if I let myself eat more calories. Your sleeve isn't responsible for your calorie intake, that's your job.

The biggest thing is to change whatever you've been doing since it's obviously not working for you. Getting resleeved is probably not the answer. BUt just in case I'm wrong, how much can you eat in a single meal? If it's 6-8 oz your sleeve is perfect. If it's more like 12-16 oz then yes, you may not have the restriction you should.

[amt5298]

my NUT told me 1000 calories max no more until i lose all my weight them move up to 1200 to maintain so i would cut some calories

[Brandonf150]

Sounds to me your diet has screwed up the tool. Get off the carbs. It is possible though you may have stretched out the sleeve because of your diet.

[JanPit]

Too many carbs. I do eat rice and pasta, but I eat protein first. You have to respect the sleeve and never forget all the discomfort you went through those first few weeks. I eat whatever I want, but I still stick to the basics. I enjoy ice cream, but I eat two teaspoons and I'm done. You are farther out than me, and I do realize that it gets easier to eat more. People in my support group continuously preach to work the program. Some of these folks are three to four years and still avoiding carbs. I hope you have a good support group. It helps.

[sraebaer]

It's not your sleeve that stopped working, it's you that stopped working. (Sorry to be blunt.) Go back to the rules you learned, protein first, then veggies, carbs last only if there's room (which there probably won't be.) Count your protein. Count your liquids. No drinking with meals. Exercise. (From the person sitting here waiting for the sun to come up so I can run.) It's not easy, but if you want to be a normal sized person, just do it.

[Mrsdez]

On other support groups I've heard of a few revisions but when people seem to have failed to reach goal for what ever reason they have gone to a bypass. That's what the sleeve was first made for, as a first step for those who may not need or did not qualify for the by pass right away. I would make another appt with the surgeon who did your sleeve and talk about options.

[Carak]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the sleeve reset. I'm sure you can Google it but people do it all the time. I would go back to your post op diet for a week or two. Go back to liquids only with your 80g of protein or whatever and drink lots and lots of water. Stay away from the carbs for that time also. See if you can reset your sleeve with a short goal. I haven't had to do it but I have considered it when stalled. Good luck.

[Grace]

Okay. You've said you are certain you "can eat about 1500/2000 a day" but you didn't say how much you ARE eating.
If you are eating in that area, I agree, the majority of folks will never lose weight on that. If you were just using it as a way of expressing how much you can eat and you are eating the more typical 1000-1200 cal a day for 2 yrs out going forward then I'd say perhaps there is an issue with the types of foods you are eating, or you are insulin resistant, or you have glucose intolerance.... or thyroid, or etc, etc. See, there is so much more than just abc123 with this.
Genetics as well play a role. Is there anyone in your family who weighs less than 200? Sometimes no matter what you do, you're just gonna hit a set point and be done. Unless you are under 5'4" or so, there is nothing wrong with 200 lbs. It is far healthier than 260 and I don't think it is good for you emotionally to feel like you have failed. There are so many variables.
My best suggestions -
Get a work up for b vitamin deficiencies as well as D, deficiencies in those will keep the fat on metabolically.
Have your thyroid and blood sugar response checked.
Watch for food intolerances and yes, those slider foods.
When I had horrific gastritis 9 mo out, I was ordered to eat rice, pudding, ice cream, anything to coat and soothe. I could not eat more than 1/2 cup at a time but still, eating 900 cal a day of all carbs put 45 lbs back on me in 8 mo. Macros matter...
Your tool is still working. A mature sleeve can hold 10-12 oz max. There are ways to get it down as small as possible, like going back to protein shakes for a few days, but it will fill right back out again if you fill it up often. There are also ways to work with a mature sleeve that are almost opposite of a new sleeve, like water loading 15 min before you eat to fill you up more. Also, the more dense protein you eat, the better. Steak, chops, hard boiled eggs, ground beef/turkey burgers (no bun). Its harder for you to digest, takes longer and really fills you up. At 4 yrs out if I eat 4 oz of steak and a tiny salad with maybe 3/4 cup of butter lettuce I feel way too full..but if I were to eat 1/2 a bag of chips they would go down really easily.
I know working the sleeve really gets tiring years out. But this is one of those permanent decisions we made that we just have to live with....

[incredibleshrnkngshirly]

Dasdat, you reached that moment like so many of us have but we kept quiet. You at least had the courage to yell HELP! I applaud you for that. I was sleeved in 2011 and I've put about half of the weight I lost, back on. I thought I was doomed and I've met a handful of folks in the same boat. You did the best thing anybody could do, you reached out. This journey is not just about food. Our mind plays a huge role in how we succeed. My eyes have always been bigger than my belly. The restriction is the only thing that saved me. You say you still feel restriction, that's good. I've gone back to no sugar, tiny bit, if any, carbs. Folks on here know what they are talking about. I cut my portions way back and I'm movng more. Everybody on here has heard me say I hate exersice...I loathe it! But I'm moving more, eating less, and the pounds are starting to melt again. You can do this....you also helped a bunch of folks just by saying..."Hey....what's up with this?!" Thank you for that! :-)

[RaginCajun]

Sleeve stopped working? Perhaps you need to re-assess the situation. You did great and can do great again. Its YOU who is in control, the sleeve is just a tool.

-RC-