jackie09

Hello everyone. I am on here for the second time. I am really considering the sleeve surgery. If you have had this done, can you tell me if it was worth it? I have done research and it seems less invasive then GB. The complications also seem less. Any support and suggestions would be great!

Josephine

I had the sleeve surgery a month ago. I keep thinking I'm gonna fail at this and be miserable and unhealthy forever, but my sleeve won't let me. Today I ate a whole egg for the first time and felt uncomfortable. That made me feel frustrated but at the same time so happy that my sleeve won't let me screw this up. I also love that I don't have to worry about nutritional deficiences or take a ton of pills. My prenatal, calcium, and acid reducer is enough. I love my sleeve, and I feel so blessed. I feel that this surgery is going to become the #1 weightloss surgery and stay in that position for a long time.

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Hychap2009

Hi there Jackie

Welcome to TT. I'm pre-op. and waiting to have my Sleeve, hopefully it will be this month. What you say about the sleeve is correct and is suitable for you particularly if you tend to eat large portion sizes. Remember any type of WLS is only a tool, the hard work is still there to be done by you.

Complications are less likely,
Less time spent in surgery,
No need for re-routing
Not reversible
It is possible to have a bybass at a later date if needed.
Has a good rate of success
Altermately, more likely to tolarate the same foods as you eat now - just smaller portions.
No dumping.

Well I guess you can see I'm all for the VSG.

Good luck on your journey.

__________________
Height 5ft 2"
2004 Highest weight: 22 stones/308 lb
[COLOR="Purple"]2009 Current weight: 19 stones/266 lb/121k[/COLOR
BMI: 53.2
BMI Member No. 7

Weight Loss Surgery: Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Added to waiting list: 23 January 2009
Pre-Assessment date: 3rd July 2009 (accomplished)
Assessment call back: 10 July 2009
Transvaginal Ultrasound: 7th August 2009
Surgery date: 30th November 2009
GYM RAT ♯145
The race is not for the swift but for he who can endure to the end.

jackie09

Thank you both. Hychap, best of luck to you. I hope everything goes smooth on operation day.

Josephine,
Did they say when you are in your 70's if you will be able to get the intake you need? That is what I worry about. I don't want to not be able to get everything I need when I am much older. I am excited at the thought of being healthy again. I have a son and a husband who need me around. How bad was the pain? How long was your down time (I know everyone is different)?

Thank you both again so much.

Josephine

Oh hon, the sleeve allows you to get proper nutrition in after just a couple months. You don't have to worry about that part. I'm 4 weeks out and got 700 calories today. Shooting for around 1300 a day by 6 months out.

The pain was different for me because I had a lapband for 5 years and part of it was stuck to my stomach tissue and they did a bunch of work there so in the hospital I had a lot of pain not related to the post op pain if that makes any sense. I can tell you that I healed fast tho. I felt pretty good after a week.. felt great after 2 weeks. (I feel like crap now cause I'm detoxing from the long time pain pill use but that's a different story).

Really when you're in the hospital, the pain isn't so bad .. it's the gas that makes you feel miserable.. they put gas in your abdomen to make it bigger so they can move around. Then they suck it out but not all of it comes out so the first 3 days after surgery you're miserable because of all that gas.. if you just keep in your mind that it's just the gas and it'll be over soon, it's no problem. Burp, cough, fart, walk around, raise your hands above your head (the gas comes up to your shoulders).. whatever you gotta do to get it all out.

The hospital is a piece of cake as long as you remember to:
- take the pain medicine!
- drink as much as you can!
- get up and walk around!
- stay out of your bed as long as you can!

Follow those rules and you'll heal faster and feel better sooner

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jackie09

Thank you for the tips. I go to my seminar on the 20th. I am excited and nervous. How long did the process take? I don't mean just the surgery, but getting approved for it, doing a seminar (if you had to do one), scheduling the surgery, etc.

I am so sorry that you had to go through the crud with the lap band. I bet you are glad not to have to deal with that any more. How are you feeling now?

Aviator

Works great. Simple procedure. Quick recovery. Zero complications for me.

What is your BMI? That could make a difference.

Hope to see you back soon!!

Av

__________________

Aviator aka AeroBear
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Surgery date: Dec 31, 2008
Post Op wt: 310
Current wt: 229.7
Goal wt: 210
Check out:
http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/per...-log-book.html

jackie09

My BMI is 41.

How long have you had yours done for?

Melfi

Thanks everyone so much for your valuable feedback. I am also caught in a tug of war of whether orn not to have the sleeve done vs Lapband vs to stick with Weight Watchers. I went to my PCP today for his opinion. Surprisingly, he said that my dangers with being 85 pounds overweight was far greater than the surgery risks and he supported me 100%. It also helped that his wife was over 300 pounds and will be going for her band next month. I think I am more and more leaning to the sleeve but am really afraid of the possible "leaking" issues and pan afterward. I guess I just need to take a really big deep breath and go for it. Next step is meeting with the surgeon and from there attending a few of the local support groups and see what current "sleevers" have to say. Once again, thanks all!

Aviator

almost 11 months. if you look in my signature you will see my "vital statistics".

Check out Aviator's Log Book by clicking the link below. May give you some insight as to what you are in for.

__________________

Aviator aka AeroBear
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy
Surgery date: Dec 31, 2008
Post Op wt: 310
Current wt: 229.7
Goal wt: 210
Check out:
http://www.thinnertimesforum.com/per...-log-book.html