Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

Was just wondering what would be a great way to tell ur Facebook friends and family after the fact of having the surgery ??? I have pretty much stopped posting statuses since my surgery cause I was afraid of what they might think if they knew. But since I have gotten home and started feeling great I am mentally ready to tell my "friends" on Fb and let the good news of the things happening in my life be known by all on Fb because if there is someone out the of my friends that could use this I am ready to share my story along with being judged by some as well. Any help will be great ??

I'm wanting view points on the gastric sleeve. If you have had the procedure would you do it again? What are the long term results? I would like to have the surgery in July.

I'm on 3 weeks post-op and they keep telling me I should buy vitamins for my hair. I haven't experienced any hair loss til now I was just wondering if anyone has. That way I could buy the vitamins they recommend me.

Hello everyone, Had my band to sleeve revision on May 3. Went to the doctor on May16 was put back in the hospital and finally got to come home today. It has been a pretty rough ride for me so far. I had an upper GI done and sleeve not leaking or blockage just really bad swelling. They ended up having to put a picc line in me and gave me nutrition through the line to be able to let my sleeve rest. Been feeling pretty good since I got home today working really hard to be able to maintain my fluid intake. I hope that I will be able to keep the fluids down. So say that little extra prayer for me.

Starting to really wonder what is going on. I am stuck at 288lbs for 2wks. I am beginning to feel like a failure. I was having a very difficult time with liquids and 60 grams of protein daily. Tried to get back on track over past week but the scale will not move. Not exercising everyday but try at least every other day. I have been off work for 5 wks and really feel embarrassed that I have not lost more weight. I feel I have lost some inches but not sure how many. Clothes are by no means falling off. I try to eat protein first and I eat out of a measuring cup. I am drinking out of measuring cup also.

Once I tried the straw ..I am getting way less air than when I sipped with a regular cup or bottle. This in turn has made for less pain for me. Thanks to all of you who advised me to try it. It has made a huge difference! Sent from my DROIDX using VST

Im being sleeved in 4 days... Im ready to eat the whole kitchen I want some pizza hut pizza!! WHY, OH WHY??

Wow...i am so impressed... surgery was Wed May 2 ... home on Thursday May 3...today Friday May 4and on Protein liquids... pain is tolerable! stomach is swollen and bruised but was expecting worse so happy about this stage... Protein shake went down easy today...sipped slowly (8 oz took 1 hour to finish) but no complications... Very tired, so resting lots....but i have to remember i have arthritis and it is very painful, so walking not easy but doing the best i can. I feel so much better each time i get out of bed, so excited about the progress in only 3 days.... thank you all for listening ! tjmom/Sandy

I had my Upper GI today! It was a breeze and everything was normal! I am one step closer to my new life. I went into details about my experience on my blog, listed in my signature. All I have left now is my psychological evaluation on May 31st and I can submit everything to insurance for approval!

Hey I am just wondering if anybody has had troubles sleeping since surgery ?? I am two weeks post op and literally I am worried that I can not sleep on my left side since surgery..... My problem is I am a huge side sleeper so I don't know if it is because I am not healed yet or is this is going to be for the rest of my life ?? Any advice would be great thanks

Hey Moderators- Can we add a pin to this post so everyone on MFP can come to one central location to add their username and find the username of other VSG'ers? Thanks! BTW, I'm BackToAmy on MFP

I had surgery in November 2010, and have been taking (1) generic lansoprazole daily since then. I had no complaints, felt great. Recently I found out that I have become allergic to it. I get this allergy through out my body. It is probably caused by the prolonged use of the PPI. I try not taking it but I cannot live with the acid reflux. After a couple of days of taking the acid reflux medicine I break out. I've tried taking tums, mylanta, etc. but they don't work well. I've also tried omeprazole, but again I get the allergy. I need to see my doctor obviously, but I was wondering if anyone had this issue...

My name is Piplula and I am a loser. *sits down on the bench*. LOL

Was supposed to be May 15th but there was a problem with my EKG, so I'm now 3 days post-op. Still feeling some pain and discomfort in my abdomen but that's to be expected. Only had one night in the hospital, I'm able to walk ok, starting weight was 472 when I started the pre-op diet. I weighed in at 449 the day of surgery. Looking forward to being out of pain. Its been tough drinking all the liquids I'm supposed to drink. Not really liking the protein drink the dr suggested. -- Cliff

I'm drinking water all day and when I use the bathroom my urine is really dark in color. It seems as if its showing signs of dehydration. Has anyone had problems with this.

I worked out 3 times this week, burning an average of 400-500 calories each workout session. Next week I hope to go to the gym at least 4 times, but I'm curious... should I be burning more than that each session??? This week I'm going to push for 700 calories each session. I'm worried that once the Fall semester starts in August that I won't have the time to even fit in 3 sessions a week because I have 6 classes (luckily they are electives; all but one- Statistics) and work! I am thinking about purchasing a Bowflex Treadclimber so I can at least get in 30 minutes a day (I'm going to go for exercising and studying at the same time lol). Any advice would be great! Thanks

http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/allergan-lap-band-subpoena-27019/ I had just about perfect teeth until I got the band, now I have had a root canal and crown, gum recession and fillings on the front of most of my teeth because of the recession. Basically the mouth of a long term bulimic...sigh. But no issues with the sleeve so far! Been a long time since I've gone this long without throwing up!

I'm still doing my research and everyone says "think twice, cut once.". So I'm considering the DS thinking that long term, it might be best for keeping the weight off. Did any of you sleevers consider the DS? Why did you choose the sleeve? It certainly is easier to find a surgeon that does the sleeve. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Finally received the date pending insurance approval. Fingers crossed that I hear something soon!

I'm looking for someone to talk to about this journey which I've started but not yet finished...

I was sleeved on 3/27. On 4/13 I weighed 296. On 4/30 I weighed 297. On 5/15 I weighed 296. On 5/22 I weighed 297. I can throw in a few more weigh dates (I only weigh at Dr's office), but you get the idea. 8 weeks sleeved, 5.5 weeks stalled. I dont' weigh at home, but I do take measurements, and those haven't changed either. I just made my 5th call to the nutritionist and was basically told she has no idea what to tell me - she's basically out of ideas and nothing makes sense. She suggested I call one of the other nutritionists, and said "You're doing everything right. There's no reason for that much of a stall this soon. I don't know what to tell you - you're…

Hi everyone: Im new to this site. I had lap band surgury 2/14/2011 and have had nothing but problems. First 6 months lost a good amount of weight, but I was also on phentermine as well. I throw up all the time, always hungry, and can't seem to find my green zone. Im thinking of having a revision to the sleeve, but not sure if the sleeve will be all that great either. I also think I'm 50% to blame since I dont exercise anymore nor do I eat all my Protein. I just can't stand the throwing up or hunger pain when I do eat right. I could really use some advice. Is the sleeve a better choice than the band?

okay so im a ex bandster. i had my band removed over 3 years ago. i saw a dr the other day for a consult for the sleeve. i liked him very much, but he told me he found out from reading my operative reports from my last surgery that i have a row of staples somewhere in my stomach. it seems the dr shot these staple to release the bottom part of the stomach that it stitched over the band. he said if he staples over staples when creating the sleeve it can cause a leak. he said he doesn't know where the staples are and won't be able to see them because the stomach tissue sometimes can grow over it and cover them up. he still seemed confident. what do you think? to…

DUPLICATE POST ... Correct thread located http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/39508-june-sleevers-compilation-good-luck-well-wishes/

I received my approval and now I'm on my way to see the surgeon for a date. Everybody asking are you scared, I'm not of the surgrey but the 2 week preop clear liquid diet I am! I ready!

Scheduled for surgery tomorrow with Dr. Ortiz and Tijuana what scares me is that my BMI is only 3029 or 30 and I'm 5 foot seven 170 pounds. I'm afraid that I will lose too much weight and die. Please anyone who's had a low BMI have the band removed or had the vertical sleeve let me know your story in your outcome thank you so much

My best friend is going through her journey to have gastric bypass. Her psychologist asked her to make a list of all the things that she has never done because she was overweight that she is looking forward to doing when she looses the excess pounds. I decided that I am going to make a list as well and am wondering what everyone else would put on their lists? I will update after I have my list completed

If I didn't have 6 children who need me day and night, I wouldn't be able to drag my big butt out of bed. I was fully ready to head on down to MX and self pay- and as most of you probably know, stuff happened and I wasn't able to pay for it anymore. Now I'm going the insurance route, and it's just going to take so long. I know, 6 months isn't the end of hte world, but it sure feels like it when I was going to have surgery june 4th and now I have to wait until around Cmas time. I'm really fighting with my depression. I'm supre cranky at the thought of having to be this big for 6 more months. I suppose I'll be losing a little bit, but I'm not trying super hard at this…

I love reading about other people's journeys. I think it is inspirational and can be helpful so I thought I'd start a post where those who have blogs/vlogs can share a link to it. Mine is in my signature link.

I an just starting my journey to the sleeve! I currently weight (& and this is big for me to actually announce it my husband doesn't even know how much) 393. I am 5'5. When I look up my ideal weight for my age and height it is apparently about 140lbs. Which means I need to lose 253 lbs! I know I have a larger frame and frankly I don't know that I would look good at that weight the goal weight I have set for myself though is between 150-175 ( pretty big range but that could change once I see how I look smaller, I can't even picture myself smaller) so even with meeting the 175 I still have 218 to lose! I am currently 27 years old. I have been reading a lot of other memb…

My BMI is right at 40. I do not have co morbidies. The Dr. put a checkmark in the box that says something along the lines of "patient frequently struggles with handling stress." I've been in a lot over the last 8 years, for anti-depressants. sigh. Will this count against me afa wether or not they think I can handle the stress after surgery or whatever? I am so scared I'll do 6 mos and they'll pick the tiniest little thing to count against me and I'll get a denial letter. also- the ins co sent me a list of criteria I have to meet. It says "bcbsm has a 6 month consecutive weight-loss program requirement." I asked my dr' what exactly they want from me. do i have…

This is all becoming real today. To the point, that it often causes "butterflies" in my tummy. I started my preop diet today.....1 day down, 13 days to go. It's hard to believe that in 13 days, I will officially be on the loser's bench with a lot of you here. This journey is very exciting as well as scary at the same time. I'm gonna be blogging and hanging out here a lot. I think it is my coping mechanism. While I have realtime support, those people are all skinny and can't begin to understand like y'all here can. Best of luck to everyone in your journey!

Hi all, I am 5 months out of my band to sleeve surgery and I seem to have bouts of diarrhea at least 2 to3 times a week. I mean run to the restroom type. I can't seem to connect it to a food or any certain foods. I have tried to eat slower and eat a much smaller amount. I go to see out nutritionist this morning and I hope she has answers. I also had my gallbaldder out because I did have stones. Any help is much appreciated!

Set my date yesterday. June 5th I will be sleeved excited and nervous all at the same time. I'm ready to meet the new or is it the old me either way it will still be me.

Today.I am starting the preop diet one week earlier. After what I have read the more you can loose and get your liver rid of fat the better it is. Is this right. Okay friends I have to come clean I am a smoker too. I know quit. Well I am starting champix too.

Hello, I'm considering having weight reduction surgery and want to get some feedback from folks about why they chose the sleeve over other types of surgeries, particularly bypass surgery. I went to my first informational seminar about the various types of weight reduction surgeries available, and left there feeling like much of the information the MD presented seemed to "push" the bypass surgery. it was evident that he wasn't thrilled with bands and he said he'd done many more sleeves recently than bypasses, but it seemed like he was promoting the bypass a little more, particularly for diabetics. he said the bypass surgery offers the highest rate of reducing diabete…

I just had my daughter take my "before" pics.... omg I can't believe I let it get this bad.... denial is a terrible thing. I can't wait until Monday to start my journey!!!

I'm just wondering if any of you might have thought or wondered if we are jumping into this sleeve surgery too soon? i mean, it hasn't been around that long so the long term stats are still unknown. i mean isn't this what we did when the band came out and now we say to ourselves if we only knew then what we know now we would have made different choices. i don't want to be in the same situation a few years down the road with the sleeve as i was with the band. does this make any sense to anyone?

So I completed all my prereq's required for insurance on April 4th and my case worker just submitted my paperwork this last Friday, the 13th to the insurance company. I just got off the ph with Cigna to check to see if they had recvd my paperwork and they told me they had recvd it and it's being reviewed. I asked how long it usually takes knowing the standard answer is 20 days but the representative told me they usually have a answer within 5 business days! Oh how I hope that is true, as patience isn't a virtue I have been blessed with! I'm trying my best to keep my hopes up but know I will be completely devastated if I get declined. I researched my policy pretty thouro…

I have already lost 32 pounds. I have so much nausea. especially when I take the acid reducer and use milk for my shakes. What to do?

Got sleeved yesterday. Feeling good just a bit sore.

So I got on my scale this morning and it said 396.8..I was a little confused because that would mean 10 pounds in a week...hard to believe..so I got off, let it reset and the got back on...then it said 398.0..still not trusting it I repeated the get off, reset, get back on...4 more times...never getting the same number twice. So I settled for the highest number that appeared of 400.8...but secretly I am hoping that the 396.8 is right! I so want to be below 400! I am scheduled for my 6 week followup tomorrow and his 6 week goal for me was 408 which I passed last week! My personal 6 week goal was 40-50 lbs lost which if my scale was right this morning means I met my goa…

Just schedule my surgery with Dr Kelly!!!!! I don't know how to feel...excited or nervous! Anyone else going the same time!

So I have a bit of a qundrey. Im needing to get more Protein in my diet, and the shakes are just not doing it (they make me ill). I haven't had the chance to ask my dietician, but I wanted to see if protein pills work for anyone. If anyone has tired then, any recommendations? Thanks for any thoughts or suggestions!!

My dr said she would not fill out the paper work need for my insur to pay for my surgery till my blood sugar is under controll. I can't lose any weight or I will not qualify for my surgery. Have done my 6 month nutrition and evaluation. ???? Help. Have an appointment tomorrow. Any advice.

Hello, Im new to this site and new to sleeving. I'm considering having VSG surgery and have a consult with MD this week. I am also a recovering alcoholic and I attend AA meetings regularly for 2 years (almost 2 years sober). I've recognized for a long time that I use food to "medicate" much like I did when drinking, so my question relates to not be able to use food to medicate after the surgery. While it's become easy for me not to take a drink a day at a time, I will still have to eat after the surgery. Are there others out there who are struggling with other addictions besides food (I dont mean to presume all here are addicts), and how have you been able to cop…

I am almost to my 100lb lost goal!! I had hoped for 5 months-but I guess I'll have to settle for 6! I want to reward myself with something special as a reminder. I want something more permanent and memorable than clothes, or makeup. Just got a new haircut. I have considered a nice bracelet-but my wrists are still too large to just buy one-maybe for my 200 goal! I don't wear earrings or rings. Not that fond of necklaces either (it's that size thing again-plus I'm more bohemian style) I got a makeover the Last time I lost 100 lbs (and then quickly proceeded to gain it back). Taking a cuise with my kids in December (hoping to lose another 50lbs before then!) So…

Looking for people that may be familiar with the facilities I may be using

Where to start... The Good: I called my insurance company today and found out that my surgery would be covered 100% as long as I jump through their hoops and at a local hospital! My best friend is having to travel over an hour away for hers because of her insurance. I have the name of my surgeon, 2 seminars set up (they are for 2 different hospitals, I want to see the differences of opinion) and a list of support groups. My insurance company is mailing me all the information about their requirments and I printed a booklet that has to be filled out and returned to my surgeon before the first appointment. The BAD: I am uninsured. They said that it looked like a pap…

This is reported in the online version of Bariatric Times dated April 16, 2012.