NEED HELP

Yes, I have been seeing a specialist for quite a while. Thanks

If your therapist is not helping you, you should look for a new one.

You aren't a failure!  First, seek therapy if you aren't currently seeing someone.  You are an awesome person and have already had great success!  You need to be able to internalize that fact.  Then, you can see if you just need to reboot or seek further medical assistance. 

I want to clarify, I'm not even a month out.  I think what you have already done is inspiring!  Please keep us updated!

I don't think you're a failure. You were almost 500lbs, lost a lot of weight & gained a chunk back. Regain is common & can happen to anyone. It looks like your regain is mostly due to emotional issues that still bother you today & I think getting that under control is the first thing you need to look into. Revisit the revision later, but unless there was something physically wrong with your sleeve you might be able to lose the weight again.

Mind you I'm a newbie but I figured that unless there's some other physical problem as to why you can't lose the weight again, why go under the knife? If you did need another surgery, I'd go with the DS. You already have the sleeve, so now all they'd have to do is the rearranging of the intestines, but you'd need to check your ins since it'd be another wls. Some will only pay for 1 per lifetime.

Hello Cheryl, you are not a failure, a failure would be your falling down and not wanting to get back up again, you have fallen, but by your post, you have gotten back up and dusted yourself off so to speak, that's called trying and not failing. No one succeeds at everything all the time, I don't know if you are going to find a surgeon to do a revision, unless it's to an RNY, which I would hesitate to do and even if you did, it they would have you losing weight prior to doing it anyways. The balloon portion of your stomach is already removed, what was left is the muscle part which will stretch somewhat, but I don't know if a surgeon will remove the muscle part, you would have to check, I would suggest seeking some therapy from a professional that deals in WLS, perhaps the same person you saw prior to your surgery if you had that requirement. You need to identify your source of the depression. I would suggest for now though is get yourself a couple pair of sweats or baggie style pants, something with a draw string as opposed to a belt, and walk walk walk, I would also suggest as to the shakes, grab the Premier Protein shakes from Costco, that's what I did on my pre-op diet and still am actually, I am almost 4 weeks out from surgery, just drink those 4-5 times a day, 5 a day is 800 calories and 150 grams pf protein, keep up your vitamins and calcium, treat it like the day you went home from surgery. I know you are back on carbs and the first 4-5 days of doing what I suggest are going to suck, but power through it and stay on the liquid diet for 3-4 months, track your progress and then go back to the puree stage, soft food stages in the proper order. I think once you start seeing the weight drop you will focus on the prize just like you did the first time. As to hunger, have your doc call in a prilosec prescription or you can pick that up over the counter as well. Your hunger may be excess stomach acid which will mimic hunger pains. I wish you the best of luck, I am sure you can do it!

Your best bet to achieve and maintain a significant weight loss is to add the intestinal portion to your Sleeve for a complete Duodenal Switch. Given your starting weight, it's criminal that you were refused a complete DS in the first place.

It's highly doubtful that, even if they COULD remove more of your stomach, it would give you lasting weight loss. Your issues are greater than portion control. Also, the smaller your Sleeve, the higher the odds of your developing terrible GERD.

Thank you so much for the encouraging words, they actually made me cry. Do you happen to know who or where I should start. I can't believe you mentioned about the DS switch. Especially when that was what I wanted all along. I had to fight to get the sleeve bease I thought if by chance in the future I don't lose the amount of weight I need to then I could still have the DS if things were easier going by then. I did really well I was so proud of myself I was so close to the 100'states which to me was a miracle. I knew my husband wasn't happy me moving around easier being able to wear normal store clothes was  bugging him. He never said it but I knew. He is not overweight himself at all. Then I was and am going through a severe depression with anxiety and panic attack issues. My husband has brought me down so low I won't leave the house or my room plus he is constantly arguing with me blames me for everything. I know I am being mentally & verbally abused but there are other issues involving money that would affect my Father and I refuse do do that he is not a well man. My husband uses that as leverage. Plus me gaining back 100lbs has brought me lower. At this point I am a mess. And hate my weight gain. I apologize for going on like this I am just so frustrated with nowhere to turn ??

I know you said you are seeing a psychiatrist which hopefully is managing your symptoms of depression and anxiety via medication. You might need your meds adjusted if you find your symptoms worsening.   But it sounds like you are not getting much support at home.  Are you attending any support groups at this time?  If you are unable to leave home, online support is a good first step, which you have taken here today.

I think that sitting in a room sharing and listening to others who are in similar cir****tances is helpful.  You are not alone in this weight loss struggle you know.  It's life long, there is no such thing as a cure for obesity.  There is only remission, and maintaining that state is hard work every day.  You had a relapse with your weight... many of us do.  I know it is so hard to find the motivation to start focusing on your food intake again, especially when you are struggling to even get out of bed.  But please try... you are worth it.

 So many of us have the mindset that once we loose the weight all our problems will be solved instantly.  We fix our bodies but it's our minds that need to be healed as well.

I struggle too with issues of depression, low self esteem and feelings of unworthiness, and I know I am not alone.  A lifetime of being marginalized as an obese person takes it's toll.  

Find it in yourself again.  That person that took the steps to have WLS in the first place.  She was inspired to make a change.  She did the pre op diet and jumped through all the hoops and got the surgery... she was strong.  She was motivated.  

You are that girl...

Remember her, she is awesome. 

I have major depressive disorder and binge eating disorder, and far more important than the psychiatrist is a counselor.  I also did not leave the house for over a year at one point.  All the drugs in the world didn't help.  Counseling is absolutely fabulous for depression and anxiety, and there are occasionally social workers and counselors who do make house calls.  There are also crisis lines that do supportive counseling.

The hardest thing is what has to be done: force yourself to go to counseling.  It's difficult I know, believe me, but it will make a huge difference and give you hope once more.  I had to do this and it was awful, I won't lie, but I went from that to almost finishing grad school. If I can do it, anyone can!

No matter what happens, I will hope things work out for you.