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Thread: 5 yrs out

  1. #1
    Gastric Sleeve Member Grace's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Grace
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    08/22/2011
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    Portsmouth Regional Hosp
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    Lightbulb 5 yrs out

    It was 5 yrs ago this month I started the process of pre-surgical weight loss. I weighed in at 335 at the hospital that first day. 10 weeks later I was ready for surgery, having dropped 35 lbs and done all my psych and other work. I dropped 15 lbs the first month, and it kept going well for 9 months. At that point I was down 117 lbs total in a year, taking me to 218. Then my body began to rebel. I developed severe gastritis, post bariatric hypoglycemia and a tremor. It took 9 more months to complete all the testing and to finally get my gallbladder removed. By then the gastritis had become chronic and I will have it the rest of my life. The hypoglycemia is manageable now as well, it took about 18 months of work with my endocrinologist and dietician but I have a new way of eating, with very specific protein/fat/carb ratios. In other words I'm always having to think about food. The tremor is most likely due to my vagus nerve being damaged in surgery. I was one of the unlucky 5% who have had at least one major side effect from this surgery. It happens. Now, 5 yrs out I don't rail and rage about it any longer. I accept that the weight I gained back (35%-42lbs) is probably here to stay or at least that I'm going to have to work on getting it off VERY slowly, because each time I try too hard my metabolism gets even worse. When we lose quickly our metabolism drops and stays down forever. There are of course always exceptions to everything but most of us will end up with about 2/3 of our former metabolism. Mine, at my age, size, energy level...should be 1650 a day, now it's 1000 to maintain.
    The good stuff. I did drop and keep off 75 lbs successfully. I do find it far easier to keep it off than I would have without the sleeve. Essentially at some point my body found it's setpoint and now I can maintain without much work at it. I wish it had chosen a lower set point but cie la vie.
    My plan at this point is to try to not focus on my body so much. I'm going to try to eat more paleo style and hope that means I can drop 2 lbs a month and keep it off. If not, I'm done hating myself. If so, great. When I get down to 250 next spring I'll see a doc about all this skin and then be done, done, done. There comes a point where you expend so much energy worrying about what you look like on the outside that your inside suffers terribly.
    some thoughts, although I suppose most might not see me as "successful", there are some things that work and some that do not.

    First off - do your research about your surgeon!!! If they have not done at least several hundred of these surgeries, find someone else. I am sure my surgeon is better now than before, but my program was fairly new and my disability due to this surgery is because of it. Go for the most experienced surgeon you can afford, and read reviews, etc. This is your gastrointestinal system you are talking about here. It's worth taking the time to get the right, experienced, doctor. If you have things like a hiatal hernia or gallbladder issues, see if they will fix them during surgery because chances are excellent you will need additional surgery otherwise. Oh and if you do not have your gallbladder removed, ask for the med to help keep it clear while you are losing weight!!!

    Bullet points...re food
    1. Do Not Rush getting to solids, heal well and then move on to the next step. Take. Your. Time.
    2. Do not eat salad for a long time, as in perhaps 9 months. Seriously, it stretches out your stomach and irritates it. I stopped gaining weight again when I stopped eating salads.
    3. If you have ever had a sugar addiction... if at all possible, never drink alcohol again and stay away from sweet food -even fruit- as much as possible. People with sugar addiction very often become alcoholics after this surgery, it's addiction transference (not me, I still sadly go straight for the plain old sugar, it's a battle)
    4. Just because you CAN eat it, doesn't mean you should... (slider foods)
    5. If you do have a trigger food, get it out of the house and keep it out, period. If you have family that just has to have ice cream, make them go out to get it.
    6. There is nothing wrong with having a good protein smoothie or protein coffee every morning for the rest of your life. It will seriously help you keep the weight off.
    7. Avoid, if at all possible, artificial sweeteners. Even more evidence has come up recently stating that using them for only ONE week makes you pre-diabetic. They are evil. If you have to have sweets, go for plain old sugar or better maple sugar (lower GI).
    8. 95% of you WILL gain weight back. Do not be afraid of this. It is normal. So, if you end up a bit smaller than you wanted you will most likely bounce back up again, and if you hit your goal you may end up slightly over it. Average is about 15% regain. That 5% who don't? They probably run miles a day or never dieted a day in their lives prior to this and didn't damage their metabolisms, or they are just the lucky ones and their metabolisms are still good. So, yes, you will gain back. If that's happening to you stop hating yourself! Now. This minute. Remember how much weight you had before and when you are all done be happy with having dropped as much as you did...and move on.
    9. If you can afford it, or can get your insurance to pay for it, get skin surgery within about 6 months after you are done losing weight. I truly believe that if I had, I would be much happier and healthier now. Your body is most likely not going to be what you hope if you are dropping more than about 50 lbs (and chances are you are or you would not be here)

    The whole point of this process, this huge life change, is to be happy (right?). So accept what happens and do that, be happy.
    I ultimately dropped 75 lbs and I had a faulty surgery with life long complications... If you don't have either of those things, you can and will do even better. Just remember to please love yourself along the way!
    Sending along hope that you all find what you want within yourself during this process, which is far more emotional than physical as it turns out.
    Best NSV - fitting on a kid's amusement park ride with my 4 yr old grandson!
    CFIDS =Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) Also dx with post-bariatric reactive hypoglycemia; and chronic gastritis (both sleeve complications). Permanently disabled.
    Start weight 335, down to 218, up during gastritis. Have accepted there is no way to lose it with my hypoglycemia. Current weight 260. Currently doing 10 day sleeve reset and determined to get back down to my post surgical weight or close to it.


  2. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  3. #2
    Gastric Sleeve Member thenewmetoday's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    joanne
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Grace, thank you for that very insightful post, I am sure it will be very helpful to many readers. A reminder that this is a tool not magic.

    Hugs to you.


  4. Said thanks:


  5. #3
    Gastric Sleeve Member MargeB's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Marge
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thanks for sharing - and for being a pioneer.



    Highest Weight 273
    Day of Surgery 252 (-21)
    Month 1 - 236 (-16)
    Month 2 - 230 (-6)
    Month 3 - 222 (-8)
    Month 4 - 210 (-12)
    Month 5 - 202 (-8)
    Month 6 - 196 (-6)
    Month 7 - 187 (-9)
    Month 8 - 182 (-5)

  6. #4
    Gastric Sleeve Member Pam G's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Pam
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    05/27/2016
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    Dr Ponce de Leon
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    thanks for this....it helps a lot.

    I already have reactive hypoglycemia and chronic gastritis, so there's not much left except gallstones for me!! lol




    HW: 275
    PreOp: 268 5/12/16

    SW: 258. 5/27/2016
    10 w: 225. Goal 1
    12 w: 222.
    14 w: 216.
    4 m: 215
    5 m: 205
    22: 199.4 10/30 Goal 2
    24: 196
    6 mo: 191
    7 m: 193
    8 m: 184
    9 m: 180 2/3/17. Goal 3
    10 m: 179
    11 m: 171
    48: 170
    1 yr: 166.6. 5/27/17
    13 m: 165.8
    5 y,10 m: 215
    7 yrs: 230


    Revised Goal : 200
    "Bonus" Goal: 180

  7. #5
    Gastric Sleeve Member Pam G's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Pam
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    05/27/2016
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    Dr Ponce de Leon
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Quote Originally Posted by thenewmetoday View Post
    grace, thank you for that very insightful post, i am sure it will be very helpful to many readers. A reminder that this is a tool not magic.

    Hugs to you.
    it's not magic? Noooooo!! Lol




    HW: 275
    PreOp: 268 5/12/16

    SW: 258. 5/27/2016
    10 w: 225. Goal 1
    12 w: 222.
    14 w: 216.
    4 m: 215
    5 m: 205
    22: 199.4 10/30 Goal 2
    24: 196
    6 mo: 191
    7 m: 193
    8 m: 184
    9 m: 180 2/3/17. Goal 3
    10 m: 179
    11 m: 171
    48: 170
    1 yr: 166.6. 5/27/17
    13 m: 165.8
    5 y,10 m: 215
    7 yrs: 230


    Revised Goal : 200
    "Bonus" Goal: 180

  8. Gastric Sleeve Surgery With Weight Loss Agents
  9. #6
    Gastric Sleeve Member Donna Rudewick's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Donna Rudewick
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    07/20/2016
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    Asahel Lee Gridley, MD
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thank you for this post. Im glad to see you are in a place in your life where you can love yourself. I am sorry for the complications you are now having to deal with. You are a pioneer and your advice is very welcome.


    Post op lost 16 lbs.
    Month 1-20
    Month 2-8
    Month 3-10

  10. #7
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ms.lovely65's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thank you!



  11. #8
    Gastric Sleeve Member Tomesha's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thank you for sharing.



  12. #9
    Gastric Sleeve Member foreversmiling21's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Mama T
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thanks for sharing...lots of great info.
    “I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art.”


  13. #10
    Gastric Sleeve Member Ann2's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Ann2
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    08/18/2014
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    n.a.
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Awesome, awesome, awesome post! Thank you, Grace. I've followed you since joining this forum in late 2013.

    There are so many variations re what constitutes WLS success. I think you're a great success, Grace.

    Ann



    Consult: 235 lbs
    My and doc's preop diet: 216 -19 lbs
    M1 postop 205 -30
    M2 193 -42
    M3 184 -51
    M4 174 -61
    M5 167 -68
    M6 162 -73
    M7 156 -79
    M8 151 -84
    M9 148 -87
    M10 146 -89
    M11 144 -91
    M12 143 -92
    M13 142 -93
    M14 140 -95
    M15 139 -96
    M16 137 -98
    M17 135 -100

    First Surgiversary post

    Second Surgiversary post

    Third Surgiversary post

  14. #11
    Gastric Sleeve Member Dyson's Avatar
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Nice post, I am just over two years out. I agree with everything except the protein shake...my surgeon demands that we are done with shakes forever at about the third month. This should be pinned though.



  15. #12
    Gastric Sleeve Member jrzygmom's Avatar
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thanks for sharing!


  16. #13
    Gastric Sleeve Member tina833's Avatar
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thanks Grace for this post. You wear your name well.

    I did not know that about salads. I just started eating them and thought they were a Godsend since they helped my constitution so well. That's scary.

    Starting pre-op diet weight: 357
    Surgery date weight: 337
    Goal weight: 150


  17. #14
    Gastric Sleeve Member readytochangemylife's Avatar
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    OK, I haven't been on here for a long, long, time, but I have to reply to your # 7, I think it is. I weighed 291 lbs when I had surgery. I now weigh 139 lbs when weighing this morning. I have stayed between 137.6 and 140 for over a year now. I use artificial sweeteners ALL day long. I am not pre diabetic nor have I ever been. I have used sweeteners for years and have never been diabetic. I have not had any desserts with full sugar since October 2013. I do have sugar free jello, no sugar added fudge pops and suger free pudding every day for a while now. I don't crave sweets any more. Those cravings went away when I gave up simple carbs, but sweeteners are not evil. I am healthy. Now I will jump down from my high horse. Just couldn't take another post about stay away from sweeteners. Oh yea, I have not had any cookies, candy or cake or ice cream since 2013 and I have no desire for them.



  18. Said thanks:


  19. #15
    Gastric Sleeve Member WANAGL's Avatar
    I have had a gastric sleeve.
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    Default Re: 5 yrs out

    Thanks for sharing your insights, Grace.
    Congratulations!!!



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