Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

Hi folks-, did any of your docs use any special techniques, tools or devices to minimize leaks? Since I had a previous band erosion, I am at higher risk and want to explore all methods to minimize those nasty statistics. Thanks in advance!

Hi Everyone, I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon today. I had written on the forums a little while ago asking advice for this horrible 4 week stall I have been on. For those of you who dont know me a little bit of background for you: I was sleeved January 25th, 2011. At my highest weight I weighed 304. I am only 5 ft 4. Today at almost 18 months post-op I weighed 173.5! 130 lbs gone forever! I have struggled throughout my journey but can honestly say that I have not one single regret! My blood work all came back perfect. Pre-op I had high cholesterol, I was on medicine for type II diabetes, I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 15 and hardly ever had a period. I…

So I'm 7 weeks post op tomorrow. Down 32 pounds since surgery after a 3 week stall. I was talking to him about how I would love some chocolate... You know how our minds go. He jumps out with "I'll go get you a cookie, love". WTF? We just spent all this money on surgery and... Really? Hell yeah I want a cookie. But not gonna eat it. And he even brought it over... P.S. my husband is a tall, thin man that has always eaten whatever he wanted and never gain weight. He and my one year old are the reasons for the Cookies in the house.

Today makes 2 week since I was sleeved. I was very lucky with my surgery. I recovered so quick, faster than most. I started eating soft foods in my 1st week. I cheated a couple of times I'm not even going to lie . But Today I weighted myself cause tomorrow is my 2 week appointment. Highest weight this year 310 Surgery weight :293 current weight (6/13/12)277.6 15 pounds down =] This is the happiest I have ever been this year Im so glad I made this choice to get sleeved it was the best thing I have ever did. No complications at all. I was blessed ! :wub: well gunna do my wii workout =] good luck to everybody

Hello. Everything is moving very fast for me. I attended an informational seminar on May 31st, had a consultation on June 7th and have my surgery date already! I don't know if this is typical, but it seems fast to me. But I'm glad. Now that I've made up my mind to have the surgery, I'd rather have it soon and get on with it. My surgery date is July 11th...I start the pre-op diet on June 27th. I am so glad I found this site. There is so much useful information and it will be nice to share my experience with people who know what I'm going through.

Hi all, I'm only just beginning the process of getting my band out and getting a sleeve. Can anyone say on average how long they waited before going back to work? I'm in a situation where I don't have many vacation days left (going on my honeymoon this week!). My supervisor and job overall are really great and understanding and will probably let me just go on disability for a week at most. I have a desk job where I don't do much labor but I do get up a lot to walk around and carry books/send mail (I work for a publisher). Any thoughts would be great...just doing research here I know everyone's recovery is different and I'm expecting at least a 3 day hospital stay..…

So I am going June 12 for my sleeve surgery is there anyone one else feeling overwhelmed with the upcoming surgery I just wanted that day to come to get it over with

1HR 45MIN TO GO.............................

I'm about 6 weeks post op. the past month I've been able to eat a little more than I thought i'd be able to and just the other day all of a sudden I'm getting full off a single bite. Is this common or should I worry?

Hi there! I'm a long way out from having anything done, but I'm a big fan of being as informed as I can be. One thing that really interests me is reading about other people's journeys. So, basically what I'm looking for is the blogroll! Who here has a blog? Who here is blogging, or has blogged, through their journey? TIA! Chantel

I'm just trying to get a general idea of how long it will take me to lose (not "loose" ) 200 lbs. I know everyone is different, but just generally speaking....

Hello everyone, I was sleeved on June 7th, 2012, through a single incision.... I was so nervous but everything went by so fast. I stayed in the hospital for 2 days extra due to high blood pressure and problems tolerating my meds. ( I'm allergic to codeine so that cuts out all the good meds.). In the hospital they kept feeding me broth, Jello, Popsicles, Italian ice and Protein shakes. I couldn't eat too much of anything for the first two days. Now that I'm home I'm tempted to eat everything. However, the pain I have during and after eating keeps me from doing too much. I keep getting a very sharp, rolling and uncomfortable feeling in my stomach when I eat at tim…

I am not going to weigh myself "officially" until tomorrow morning but it looks like I most likely lost only 6 lbs for the entire month. I was sleeved on 3/9. On the positive side, I am finally in onederland (and I ain't leavin'). My total weight loss is 28 lbs. Very happy for the fast losers....but....green with envy!lol

WHEN CAN I RIDE AGAIN, I'M JUST A WEEK OUT OF SURGERY! SMITTY

So I have been lurking on this site since November 2011 when my surgeon first suggested the sleeve. I thought I would make it official and "put myself in the books." My story- I had the lap band placed in June of 2007. I did great for a bout a year. I lost about 70 pounds. I started experiencing reflux issues an eventually got to the point that I was having difficulty swallowing. All of the fluid was removed and stayed that way for a long time. Once my surgeon tried to add fluid but the reflux was terrible. So in Novemer of 2011 he told me it was time to remove my band. And he also suggested converting to a sleeve. He actually suggested bypass but due to some experienc…

Hi, This is my first time to join a sleeve forum and I think I should have done this long time ago. I had my sleeve surgery since 2 years. I was 308 pounds and now I'm 183 pounds. I didn't reach my goal yet and I struggled a lot in loosing my weight. I feel very upset, depressed because all who had sleeve (the ones I know and read about) reached their goal from the first year! and I didn't even reached it! I need at least another 40 pounds to lose. I've been struggling in loosing the weight for almost a year! loosing and gaining back .. loosing and gaining back. I'm sick of this loop. I know its my mistake! because I went back to my old habits and whenever I want to e…

OMG I am a crying mess! My insurance has approved the procedure. It was so sweet, the customer service rep said "Brandi, I'm very happy to inform you that you've been approved. I wish you much success!!" I almost dropped the phone. It's happening. It's really happening. I can't stop crying. LOL

O i am in the proces of getting approval for lap band removal due to esophageal dysmotility and minimal wt loss. I want to convert to a vsg and doctor recommends it however thinks that it would be better to wait 3 months after removal to have vsg. I have cigna insurance and was wondering if anyone has done the same thing and wether it was still considered reoperation bariatric surgery or if once the band is out they will treat it like a new surgery.

Can a vegan get the sleeve?

I have to be at the hospital at 6:00am. I am really excited. It has been a year in the making. I am not nervous yet. It is kind of surreal right now.

Hope your having a blessed Sunday. I had an extra bonus. My hubby was off and able to go to church too. It was so nice having extra hands to get the kids ready. I was able to get my make up on too and not in the rear view mirror on the way to church!!! I'm starting to see the fruit of my weight loss now. I wore a size smaller pants and shirt plus..... HIGH HEELS!!! I didn't have pain! That's a biggie for me. If you know me, you know I love my shoes!!! The question I ask my self... "What did I do this for?", plays over and over in my mind. I did this not only to feel good, be healthy, wear high heels, lol... I did this so I could be the woman, wife, mother …

Well I have had my band since 9/24/11 - not even a year and it's coming out!! Last week I went into office to see about band removal. The thought of a sleeve had crossed my mind. I was told insurance denied just the band removal but has approved the band removal to sleeve revision. I don't quite understand that. They want to do surgery next Thursday!! I need to wait until mid July for a few reasons. I am excited but also very nervous. I knew when I got the band if I had problems it could just come out (so I thought), not so much with the sleeve . I'm 34 yrs old and need to get off about 100lbs. I have two kids and a great supportive hubby. I know he is worried about …

I have been fat or thought of my self as fat my whole life. Consequently, I generally chose my clothes to fil loosely. so they wouldn't show every bump and bulge. Since I hit goal, I have been buying some new clothes, but businesswear first so that I don't look frumpy when I go to work. I have been making do with some old summer clothes I found in a box for casual summer wear. Today I had lunch with a friend, wearing a pair of the "box" pants (size 12) and I asked her if my pants looked okay. She stared at my butt and said, "They are too big. Pants that fit are supposed to touch your butt!" Am I the only one who doesn't know this? How do you find out about stuff …

OK, I CAN ALMOST SMELL THE ANESTHESIA....................... JUNE 13TH, 2012. 0700 HRS... NEW JERSEY

Does this sound familiar to you? Emotions through a typical pre-op day: Happy. Happy. Excited. Totally distracted at work. Happy. HOLY SH*T AM I REALLY DOING THIS? AAAA! Scared. Read more blogs. Feeling better. Happy again. Repeat.

So my Dr office call me today and said I am all set for tomorrow morning I have to be at the hackensack hospital at 7 am my procedure is done at 9am I am actually not feeling too nervous.I'm more excited to see the results feeling healthier and having a better lifestyle change.I will keep you all posted.also good luck to everybody else who is having surgery in the next couple days and the future upcoming surgery

Was sleeved on the 5th May at St. Anthony's hospital in Cheam in London. I was originally to have a bypass but given my history of a stroke in the last year and coming off the blood thinners they decided to do the less risky option. I have no complaints. My starting weight was 147 kg and is now 123.8 kg. I need to exercise more and am still on soft foods but I feel great, the pain in my knees and back is almost gone and I haven't had to go back on insulin or meteor in.

I had my band for 5 years and did great...lost 120lbs. It did slip and I had to have it removed in Oct of 2011. I have new insurance and they will only cover another band since that is what I had the first time but I desperatly want the sleeve! Does anyone know if insurance will pay for the band and I pay the difference to get the sleeve?? probably a silly question and I should be happy insurance will pay for another band...I was self pay the first time. I have BCBS of TX. Please let me know if anyone had done this before!! Thanks!

It looks like the chat room is working again! Anyone want to talk? I've got the chat window open and I'll hear the doorbell ring if anyone comes in, while I read some posts. Hope to find someone who feels like talking! click on chat above!

My mother went to a WLS seminar and told me she doesn't want me to get sleeved. She was saying the band is better and they fixed all the problems with it. I want the sleeve still but she was talking about leaks and how there aren't any long term results that can guarantee my safety down the road. Leaks and my stomache expanding scares me. I'm 20 and have been trying to lose weight since I was very young. I feel like it would be best if I could lose the weight by myself but feel like I'm not very good at that and need the assistance of a sleeve. I did hypnosis at 11, weight watchers at 13, and diet pills 15-17! Also I want to have children in the future and worry the …

Any June Sleevers finding they're getting it all in before the ax falls? I find I'm having everything I know I won't be able to eat again. Not a binge, like stuffing. But enjoying my eating. Is anyone else doing that? It's probably not a good idea. They told me not to gain weight before the surgery.

What a difference a year can make. I've lost 164 pounds. I think it is fair to say I've lost a full adult. Almost 40% of my total body weight. When I started the journey I was frustrated and hopeless. The very idea of surgery was unnatural and I was sure I couldn't live with the restrictions. I've thought about WLS over the years and all of them seemed so drastic and some just seemed flawed. I became interested in the DS surgery but after attending a seminar and doing research, I decided the sleeve addressed the vast majority of the issues I had with WLS. I just couldn't keep up the diet cycle any longer and I decided to take the leap. It was well worth it. Here…

Hi! My name is Erika. I am 26/f, 5'3", 250lbs. Married four years, no kids. I have a Lap-Band (hate it). Having my revision done 8/17/12 in Tijuana with Dr. Jose Rodriguez-Villareal. I have decided I'm going to do this, but I need a mentor. I'd love to have anyone with advice or suggestions who is comfortable talking with me! I am very friendly, outgoing, and pretty positive. I will List my email, feel free to write me! Thank you, and have a great weekend!! erikaj@aol.com

I had my psych eval on 5/31. It was the last step I needed before submitting everything to insurance for approval. The past 10 days of waiting for these results has gone by sooooo slow. I keep worrying about the results. So far in the process I've been pretty easy going and everything has turned out great as far as results. Now that I'm waiting on this one last thing, I feel like my life is hanging in the balance. I don't have even a clue around when my surgery will be, so that's another thing I'm getting impatient about because I'm so ready!

So here goes my rant! I've been wanting to post this for a while but thought I might be attacked by others, well screw it! I have noticed in quite a bit post here and on other forums, how some people eat and exercise and get to goal in 6 or so months and just seem so perfect. No sweet, no carbs, only salad, protein and water. Well my question to you is WHY did you have surgery????? you seem not to have any issues losing weight, seems to me you could have surely done this on your own. I'm starting to feel like weight lose surgery is becoming the next diet fad. I am not perfect, nowhere it. I could never follow a diet for more than a month. It may sound like I'm envious, w…

Just read this story. It really struck home for me. I regained the weight I lost for my 6 mo Md supervised diet. I'm trying to get back on the wagon. A lot of thinpeople ask me why i want this operation even tho im so "good" at dieting or why bigger people cant just eat healthy & exercise. Healthy eating habits, exercise, & portion control, even vanity about one's own appearance, are not instilled in everyone. For a lot of us, healthy behaviors are hard to learn. I wish that people would recognize food addiction more. Its not like quitting smoking or drinking,I cant quit eating, i have to eat to live. Part of the reason for having the vsg is that it can aid …

I know alot of people write about slow weight loss and stalls and people reassure them to keep up the hard work, but I really think I'm doing something wrong and I need some veteran advice to help me. here are my stats preop weight 230lbs height 5'3" Surgery day weight 220lbs Surgery date: 1/23/12 Current weight 180lbs I've been 180lbs for the last 7 weeks. My problem is I never lost my hunger, I am hungry all the time and want to eat all the time. I don't think it's acid because treatment didn't help. I graze through out the day and have no restriction when it comes to carbs. I crave sweets just like before my surgery and the cravings are overwhelming…

What are your goals? I started at 299.8 and I'm currently 226.2 :-D I'm so close to wonderland currently I'm a size 16. When I can taste the sweetness of wonderland I will treat myself for a full body massage and a ride at six flag magic mountain

I have my preop appointment today. I've had some sort of anxiety all day yesterday and all night. I know that I want this but my mind is racing and I'm SO nervous. I am a revision from Realize band to VSG ... and I was no where near as nervous the first time around. I was so cool, calm and collected. For some reason, I'm scared. My surgery is April 3...less than 2 weeks. Anyone else feel like this?

I'm 7 weeks out and my dietitian told me I should only be eating 600-800 calories per day? Plus the 60-80 grams of protein. How many calories are you eating per day? I logged about 900 today and I'm eating healthy and getting 70 grams or protein.

I would like to find a buddy in SA that has had their sleeve done as well, I think having someone to talk to will help me make better choices and maybe even exercise with! Anyone out there?

I would love to meet up with current and future sleeved people to chat and swap secrets...are there any?

Hello. I actually have about 190 but I figure that was closer to the 200 range than the 100. I feel more like it is the effort of the 200s than the 100s if that makes sense. I am pre-op but just thought I'd introduce myself in this section specifically. I am trying to prepare myself for it all, I've yet to even have a consultation because I need to move to the area I will be in before I can do that. *wave*

Hi, I had my gastric sleeve done in August of 2010 and i weighed my heaviest at 324 on June 28 of 2010. I had a complication in my surgery that left an open wound for a month...I also started having severe stomach spasms in November of 2010 that kept escalating to where by May of 2011 I had every X-ray and test known to man and surgeon did exploratory surgery..said he found nothing but after surgery I never saw him or his NP to tell me what might have been causing it except scar tissue. Okay but despite that I managed by May of 2011 to get to my lowest wt of 216..slowly through summer after drama of surgeon vs me & not hearing from him at all after exploratory surge…

I've just talked to my GP and she has agreed that surgery would be the right choice for me. I'm scheduled for the initial info class on Tuesday ( June 12) and am loaded with questions. I would kindly appreciate a support buddy, and if possible, any info from anyone who has gone through the process at the Kaiser in Santa Clara, CA. I've just turned 64, and really feel this will work for me after a lifetime go yo yo dieting. I'm positive at this point and would like any input you'd care to share. Kate

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK to one and all scheduled today and the rest of this week! We have 22 October sleevers scheduled between now and Thursday! Wow! Hope everyone is doing okay nerve-wise and that today's sleevers are all on the other side and resting peacefully!! Let's please all check in as soon as we can so everyone knows that our little family is all okay!

I am having my sleeve done in 3 days

Hello, well i'm down 29lbs and i hope to have another 10 off by surgery time. that will put me close to 10% loss.

So i started training at the gym finally and i'm almost 3 months post op but i feel so fatigued right after i'm done. I have no energy to do a thing. Had anyone else experienced this? I literally have to sit for 10 mins to get a tiny amount of energy to shower and then after that my day just dragssss. I even fell asleep at my work desk the other day. Is this normal?

Hello!!! So I have been reading this forum for about 3wks now. My name is Jess, I am from Upstate NY --well kinda upstate, like 1hr south of technical Upstate lol.. I am 28yrs old (soon to be 29), I have 2 children; boys, age 11 and 4. I am in a commited relationship with my fiance Nicole -of 2yrs. I have been overweight pretty much my whole life. When I was in high school I bounced between 160-190 (I am 5ft 4in) --when I got pregnant with my oldest son, I was 17 and during that pregnancy I gained nearly 120lbs and the day I delivered him I weighed 300lbs. The next year of his life I went between 290-333lbs. This weight pattern continued until he was 4yrs old, and …