Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

Hello, I'm Maria, I've moved to Bourbonnais, IL, an hour south of Chicago for a job in the new year. I don't know anyone here and I've already researched lapband. Thought it was decided til a friend mentioned she had a friend who got a sleeve. So, I decided to start looking into it! All stories, suggestions and advice welcome!! Having problems finding a doctor close by too, if anyone knows any it'd be much appreciated! Thanks & look forward to talking with all of you soon! ~Maria

Is anyone else getting the filter inserted before their surgery? I'm a little afraid. I have a friend who had the filter inserted and they could not remove it after her surgery. I don't want that thing staying inside my body. My doctor said since my BMI is high they are doing this as a precaution for blood clots. Also it's extremely important for me to walk after the surgery to not only remove gas but to make sure I don't get any blood clots.

Hello everyone, Well my surgery day has come and gone. I did get my sleeve yesterday. I was in a lot of pain yesterday which they controled with pain meds. Feeling pretty good today. Havent had any pain meds since 8 am. I am not able to drink and hold it down. It does not matter how small of sips I take it comes back up with a lot of foamy looking junk. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can keep water down. They are giving me anti-nausea medicine but that doesnt help either. So if anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

I had my sugery November 2010. I'm down 108 lbs now and my weight loss is slowing way down. I have 58-60 more lbs to go. I find that my hunger is starting to come back, (in my head) boo on that... What are some tips you can give me to jump start this weight loss again... I know some things I'm doing wrong are not getting enough fluids each day. Why is it so stinking hard to get all my Water in each day!!! anyone else struggle with this. Who else around a year out is having weight loss slowing down? What are you doing to speed it back up? Thanks in advance. Brandi

Any religious sleevers out there done the Beth Moore Esther study? I am on week 2 and in the lesson today she quoted a women that took a poll for her...she said for women "sometimes there is nothing that make you happier than seeing a close friend gain a couple pounds". Got me thinking...I dont ever want to think that way about other people....I wonder how many people feel that way about me? What do you think? Do we (especially women) feel that way about others? I want to be happy for others who work hard at taking good care of themelves in an effort to be healthy. But am I disgracefully feel a little good when I lose more than someone else or make a goal first. G…

If you don't know I've been dealing with vomiting, dry heaving, sliming everyday. I had my endoscopy yesterday( not with my sugern) and he said its a bezoar and they are very rare. He couldn't tell me why or what causes it besides chewing on your hair which I don't and he hopes it doesn't come back. He told me the best way to keep them broke up is soda. Pre op I would of loved a reason to drink soda for my health but that not really an option now. If any body knows a little more or has had one and got information about how to prevent it please let me know.

Hey Guys! New Pre-op Sleever here. Surgery date is 3/12/12. Started my 2 week Liquid diet today. Hunger pains are not fun to say the least. I am having my surgery done at Our Lady of The Lake by Dr. Hausmann. Just wanted to stop in and say hi. I can't wait for a new lease on life to begin. This has definitely been an eye opening journey to say the least.

I was sleeved on the 17th of April and now for my third week I have not lost a pound. I was loosing a pound a day and now I am just frustrataed as this was my biggest fear so soon into this. Any suggestions about what to expect?

Hey All-Stars! I am very excited this morning--I am down 80 lbs!!!!!! I weighed 186 this morning, down 1.1 lbs from last week. I will be 8 months out on April 24, and am very pleased with my progress so far. I am not the fastest loser, but I'm also not the slowest. My end goal is finally feeling possible, and that is a great feeling! How are my All Star friends doing?

My leaky band was unfilled as I wait for insurance approval for revisional surgery to sleeve. Now for some reason I can't get full and I stay hungery. Is it psychological because I know I was unfilled? Or is it just stress eating due to being anxious? I know the band still gives me some restriction without the Fluid, but it is like I felt before I got the band in 2008. I was unfilled on April 18. Insurance company received my doc's request for revision on May 1. I am not a patient person. Gigi

So, I have a sore throat, a small cough, phlegm with a lil blood, runny nose, and now I feel like I have a fever. What do I take to reduce my fever, since I'm not allowed to take tylenol. Or was that only for a little bit

Don't know if this is the proper forum or not, but just wanted to share something. If you haven't seen the movie "Supersize Me", I would highly recommend it. It's one man's journey eating nothing but McDonald's for 30 days. His health totally tanks! Not only that, there are conversations with Doctor's, Nutritionist's, etc., discussing the overall effect of fast food. What really struck me was the addictive nature of unhealthy food. It's amazing. Pretty much from the very beginning he became addicted. He would be feeling sick, tired, depressed, and then eat something from McDonald's and suddenly he was feeling great. Amazing. I never really thought about what all that junk…

6:30am on Tuesday I will be at the hospital waiting for surgery.... getting very very nervous now.... But I made my grocery list today for the first 2 weeks. 1 week of clear liquids. 1 week of full liquids. The grocery list was very short!

I am truly in agony over the wait. I am in limbo. I have been approved for surgery, but I can't do anything with that information until either I or my doc's office gets the official letter. They won't schedule me. They won't tell me what the next steps are... Nothing... Sigh... This part is for the birds...

Has anyone scheduled with dr Yu

I have only lost 1 lb in the last month. I need help. I eat okay but work is stressing me out. We only have 21 days till vacation and I am glad. I eat tuna a lot and let me say I have not been very strict on my diet. If I want something I eat it then I feel guilty. But then the guilt goes away. What can I do to keep the guilt? I am going on 9 months from surgery and lost about 85 lbs.

Dr. Laguna Fairview Hospital Excited, nervous- but determined!! But not going to back out!!

Ok...I am having issues with diarrhea. Yes I am now lactose intolerant but I have eliminated all dairy...some days are good..and some days...I can't be far from a bathroom. I thought constipation was a huge worry..but apparently I don't have to worry about. Where you told the same thing and is anyone having the same issue or had the same issue and does it get better with time? I am 1 month out today. Sent from my DROIDX using VST

Does anyone use a straw? I used to use a straw for every drink I have ingested for the past 15 years. I was told not to use one and I haven't seen my surgery date on 4/3. Sent from my DROIDX using VST

Ell I have finished all my pre surgery visits and paperwork, whew that was a lot of stuff to get done .. Now I am waiting for the psychological evaluation to be sent to the surgical center office and then insurance approval. I am getting nervous now that it's almost here ! Is that normal ? 1. I'm scared of something happening during a elective procedure and then feeling guilty about it or worse leaving my family behind. 2. I am scared they are gonna refuse to do surgery or my insurance won't cover it . OR I won't be able to afford all the up front fees lake Norman regional medical center is probably gonna require.... I wish i wasn't such a doggone worry wart

Hi everyone, Well tomorrow is my big day. Surgery is at 9:00 05/03/12. I am so nervous and excited. Fear of the unknown but also excited about a much healthier future If you read this please stop for a second and say a little prayer for me that all will go well with no complications. :wub:

Hey all, 24 hours and 15 minutes till I officially switch sides to the "loosers bench" I've already lost 16 lbs. on the pre-op diet and am ready to really start my new life over again. wish me luck and send up a prayer if you will. see you on the "other side".

for all that had sleep Apnea before suregery has it improved after the weight loss or is it still the same. Thanx for your responses

I was sleeved yesterday. I am now home. The worst problem i had was with the gas in my chest/shoulders/neck. Don't underestimate walking! As soon as i came out of recovery I started walking immediately and throughout the night. Was still feeling really bad thi smorning around 5am adn didn't know how they would possibly be able to release me. But starting around 9am I started feeling better and better. The surgeons also found a hernia and repaired it (wasn't that nice!)! I had a hard time sipping water last night. Even one small sip feels like you gulped a bunch of air. But I tried a popsicle and it didn't give me a problem. So, I've had 5 or 6 popsicles today a…

I'm sure this is a common problem, but clothing stores seem to have yet to catch on to it. I have a small waist and big thighs, and it's very hard to find jeans unless they are stretchy - and I don't like stretchy jeans. I tried on the Sweetheart jeans at Old Navy today - which are apparently cut specifically for "smaller waist, bigger thighs!" and there was still a giant gap in the back. Anyone here know of brands that might fit my body type?

hi, i read all these scary things about the risks of leaks after surgery, but I'm wondering how long is it a risk factor? i mean, is it something to just be concerned about the first week or so after surgery or would one always be worried for years to come?

Toward the end of each SleevePlicationTalk.com newsletter, we’ll be suggesting a Sleever Challenge for you to try before the next newsletter comes out. It’s a non-competitive challenge, and it’s a chance to do something new and healthy while putting yourself to the test. The Sleever challenge is just what it sounds like. We suggest a challenge for you to do over the next couple of weeks. Pretty much anything is fair play as long as it helps you or someone else get healthier. We may ask you to try a new food, change up your exercise routine or lend someone a helping hand. There’s no pass-fail on this, and we encourage you to try again and again until you are confident th…

i have been lookin into this alot i have always been heavy but i have gained alot since 2009 after i had my gallbladder taken out im not happy with myself or my weight i have tryed to loose its not easy i have 2 beautiful lil boys to live for i lost my father due to him being over 700 pounds he was 36 years old i dont want that to be me one day i refuse to go that far im 330 pounds now i wana be at least 150 is the surgery really worth doing

hi, i was banded in 2006, did well and lost around 70 lbs . in oct 2007, my band prolapsed(slip) and i needed revision surgery. the dr replaced the band. about a year later that band too slipped. i had m band removed in 2009. i since gained my weight back and I'm thinking of the sleeve. i did meet with 1 dr so far and he flat out told me he wouldn't do it. i was surprised because I've read of so many people having it done. he told me the risks would be too high because of the scar tissue from the band surgeries. he recommended the bypass, which is something i do not want to have. I'm wondering if anyone else had a dr tell them they wouldn't do this? I'm confus…

YAY!!!

Was sleeved on 4/23 and met with Doc today. Lot 12 lbs since sleeved 9 days ago for a total of 26 with my preoperative diet! Feeling good about that!!! Happy for everyone that it's going well. Willowsknott: the head hunger is killing me too! I was hoping I'd be one of those lucky few that lose their cravings. No such luck.

I am getting into San Diego on the 22nd, so sometime the 22nd or the 23rd will be my surgery. Anyone else out there at the same time. I would love to have a sleeve buddy.

Am so excited!! I just got an email from my insurance company that by revision to sleeve is approved!!! Yes!

I have a friend who just had her sleeve done (not a revision) and I know this is mean but all her whining and complaining on Facebook about how she feels so sh&*-y is freaking me out! If I recall correctly my band recovery 3 years ago wasn't sure too bad. If nothing else it was a piece of cake next to tummy tuck recovery a year ago! I have a pretty high threshold for pain (can tell ya about tattoos and piercings lol) but she's really getting to me!!! Is it really that bad???

What a roller coaster ride these last couple of weeks! I am still learning to "eat" with my new stomach. I am still trying to figure out how not to overeat. I have thrown up three times because it is true... dense Protein (chicken, tuna, fish...any type of meat for me) is so filling and after just a few bites, I am full. I usually don't know I am overfull until I feel like OMBAIP (one more bite and I will puke!) .... I am doing really well with no drinking before or after a meal. Anyway, enough with the rambling. I am down 24 pounds since my actual surgery.... happy about that but I am still VERY MUCH a work in progress.

Hi folks, I'm a week and a half post-op and am doing pretty well pain wise now, but going through surgery gave me one hell of a back pain. The muscles on the left side of my spine were totally knotted up, and the skin over them was numb. This was really the only "pain" I had from surgery. Someone has told me that there is a device they could have used during surgery that would have elevated my knees. Anyone else experience this?

Am 13 days post op. seem to be in a funk, can't explain it, is this normal?

I had my surgery on the 4 of January. One month ago my doctor told me I have a leak, abcess. Since then I'm on NPO and 3 weaks on TPN . I had some ups and downs but i took it and was taking it day by day. Now 2 days ago after a GI X-ray they informed me it healed by itself. I started one day of clear liquids and today full liquid I'm supposed to be released tomorrow. Now I have this pain in my stomach and I feel like throwing up...and I'm so scared its not over yet. Please those who had a leak did you experience any of this .. I say to myself maybe it's just bcoz I didn't eat for more than one month my stomach is adjusting but I m scared of the worse. I have a release f…

I spent a whole lot of time on discussion boards back in 2008 when I got my sleeve. I was surrounded by lap banders and bypassers. There weren't many VSG folks - but generally everyody had the same journey to discuss and many of us were in the thick of it. I have ot credit those folks for their help. They were critical in my initial success. I often wondered why I didn't see more people who were 3 - 5 and more years out from their surgeries on thos boards. Now I know why. I too left the boards when they were no longer relevant. I didn't want to read the posts that sounded exactly like my initial ones - I am scared, what do I eat? will my boobs droop? How come I can't po…

A little about myself: I am 28 years old and I have been struggling with my weight all of my life. I am tired of being the girl that has a pretty face. I hate how I feel about myself. I have been toying with the idea of doing some type of weight loss surgery for the last few years. For years I was encouraged to get the lap band, which I seriously thought about for a while. Now, after the long term effects of it have come out, I am so glad that I did not do that surgery. In May of 2011 I went to the bariatric orientation at my local Kaiser office. That is when I first learned about the gastric sleeve. My insurance requires everyone to go through a 12 week class before ge…

This is a letter that I wrote from my overweight self to my skinny self. I thought that since we're all on this crazy roller coaster together, you guys may get something from it so I decided to share. Dear Skinny Bedhead, I don't know what we look like, what we're up to, or how long the winding road was for us, but I do know this- there are a few things that I want to say to you. It seems like we've been fat since the Dawn of Time... or at least since the age when body images start to really matter. Through all of these years there have been so many excuses: Injuries. Surgeries. Pregnancies. Illnesses. No more excuses. Excuses are easy to make. Change…

I posted about the issues that I'm having here: Clear liquids right now and have had almost no problem getting them down. My doctor came in about an hour ago and said that he was not going to send me home until I have no problem with liquids. He said that "we have a couple days before we become concerned with my nutrition." So what does that mean? I should have asked, but was too scared. How would they get nutrition in me? Would it be IV meds or a feeding tube? I'm feeling really anxious, depressed and just plain scared.

Wondering if anyone else on the site is from Pittsbrurgh and recently had or is having surgery. I'm may 11th with dr Eid at Mcgees

I have seen countless people on may 10th but no one else on the 11th yet. if no one replies to this ill have to go chat with may 10th people lol. okay so my surgery is at McGees Woman's Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa with doctor Eid. getting pumped up for this!!!!! Who's with me??

Hey April Sleevers! How about each of us check-in on this thread and reply with your stats on your one month anniversary date? That way we can each find another with the same date of surgery as well as enjoy our common bond. I'd personally like to see everyone's progress as the month of May wears on. Congratulations in advance!

I currently have a failed band in and am converting to the sleeve soon. Hopefully. I've lost 55 pounds with the band. Now I'm holding steady at 185. My surgeon is ok with doing the sleeve. Anyone been sleeved at a low weight?

Before surgery when I would get sick, even when I was a kid, I would puke a waterfall and the sound effects could be heard from the other side of the house. The intensity was powerful. I haven't thrown up since surgery except for 2 times, both when I overate. My question is why doesn't. The puke come out like it used to (all at once?) It isn't like my throat shrunk. I just think it is weird!

Really anxious to get started with my journey, now that I have heard from a few "pumpers". Seems like some Sleevers with Diabetes have huge success, while others have marginal results as far as reducing or eliminating their Diabetes meds. I am newly hopeful that I may be able to stop taking Insulin altogether... Special thanks to Dawn for sharing her story with me 1 week post-op....Congratulations on your success so far!!!! Shelley

I'm in the process of ordering various things I'll need postop. I've seen several people comment about having pill organizers. I've been looking at them on Amazon and there is a variety out there to choose from. Some of them have compartments that divide the pills up by what time of day you take them which made me think of a couple of questions. How many times a day do you take medicine/vitamins? If you bought a pill organizer, did you get one that divides your pills up by when you need to take them or do you just throw all the ones you need to take each day in one pill compartment and pull out what you need when you need it? Thanks for your thoughts!

Am currently waiting on approval (or denial) for my revision to sleeve. I know it hasn't been long. I know that the insurance company has 30 days to make a decision, but I'm ready to know now! I want to start making my next plan (either starting the process over or planning my surgery). I should have realized that once I made up my mind to have revision, that I would not be willing to wait. I have to learn patience... Sigh... I just want this done now! lol. I'm ready to be back to losing. My weight is slowly (ok not as slow as I'd like) creeping back up. I am up almost 30 pounds from my lowest. That is so disheartening... I recognize that is my own fault, bu…