Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

HELLO EVERYONE ! I am brand new to this site although Ihaving been reading for a while as a nonmember I am set for 2/21/2011 with Dr. Ramos Kelly I must say I am scared ,happy,and excited about the whole thing . I am glad to have found a site where people are so open and supportive.

Surgery date February 18th, 2011. Who else?

I've herd people going down to Mexico have trouble drinking there water. Is it a good idea to bring my own when I go down to get my sleeve? Or em I just paranoid.

Let's see: Ten days post-op, the surgeon is very pleased with my progress, and put me on mushies. In fact, he told me that I looked so healthy that I didn't look like a patient. Blew me away. Thanks to my Best Half, spent one night at a famous, historical hotel, and took the walking tour, hours up and down stairs, including the window-shopping. I did tire out, but did just fine. Yesterday was the Queen Mary's walking tour, hours of up and down stairs. Again, fine. I can tell that my body has burned a lot of muscle with the fat, but my surgeon told me that, eventually, the body will get more discriminating about what it burns. For now, I just want to get strong enough to s…

Sleeved Dec 5th, had a rough first week and a half and feel pretty damn good now. No pain except for minor discomfort where I was cut and some heartburn in the evening. All good so far except my craving for food. I realize why I got fat. I would steal for a deep fried chicken or Grilled steak right now. LOL I miss all the food that I dumped in my mouth. Good days and bad days. Christmas is coming and I'm on puree food. But I realize that I had to change for the better. My diabeties is gone, no insulin! Hooray!!!!! healing faster than ever. Just miss the food. This part of the journey really got me thinking about why I did the sleeve. I was a food addict for sure. Just ven…

This morning at around 8 am I was laying on the operating table with IV lines attached, a nice breathing mask waiting for my "remove the band perform the sleeve surgery" when I was vaguely aware of the anesthesiologists talking in the background. I was then vaguely aware of them doing an EKG and then I was aware of several doctors leaning over me saying that the surgery had been canceled. Apparently they were concerned that as my heart rate increased that the heart seemed less able to get oxygen which is an indicator of heart disease. I am being sent to a cardiologist. One of the anesthesiologists came in to say that they wanted to be extra sure about my health since…

Saw the surgeon yesterday for my first post-op appointment. He's very pleased with my progress, and put me up to stage 3 - mushies. I will not be eating the cream of wheat Cereal, the applesauce, or the mashed potatoes, since I'm a low-carber by choice. But I am going to see how I do on the cottage cheese, poached egg, and pureed meat. Slowly, with a baby spoon, putting my spoon down after each tiny bite, and getting each bite to the right consistency. This is similar to the Band, so the reduced food volume hasn't come as a shock. But I can't tell when I've had enough. Does that sound crazy? How do you know?

I got my lap band in 2002 and the doctor installed the smaller band. (Dr. Beinevidas, TX) They had two sizes then and used the smaller size if you were under 40 BMI. I was just at 39 and after surgery I ended up in the hospital for a week because of swelling that did not allow me to get Water down. I am hoping that the smaller band has not done extensive scaring or overlapping. I am having revision done on Dec. 30th and the Dr. Kim said that if there was a lot of scar tissue that I might have a two part surgery. Their office said that this was not common but I should be aware of it. Has anyone gone into surgery for revision and told that it had to be done in a t…

I'm a month post op and I'm still having signicant pain in the upper left side of my stomach when I lay on my side or bend over. The pain seems to come from my stomach touching or rubbing up against anything inside of my body. Can you guys share at what point you remeber being pain free and sleeping in any position? I feel fine 90% of my day other than bending and sleeping. Thanks All..... just a round about time frame would help a lot.

Hey there are some of us in the chat room if anyone wants to talk!! come on in!!

So here I am, lost 150+ lbs and thought for sure all my problems were gone. . . WRONG. . . started getting these painful chestpains, hardball thingy in the throat, back pain and a really irratating pain in the left elbow. . . oooohhhhh "heart attack symptoms" ya'll say. . . me too. . . off i ran to the cardiologist. . he did tons of not so pleasant testing (stress tests, echos, angiograms, etc) and guess what? All normal, except for some wall thickening. . .nothing to worry about. . . ummmmmmm ok then. . . I asked him what he thinks it may be? he is baffled. . .he mentioned "stomach problems" ummmmm I don't have one of those? hehehehe. . . has anyone else had this h…

Mind me , but I need to vent. I'm young, part of VSG in your 20s; I took my final exams on this damn Clear liquids diet, took them all earlier than my classmates, so I had less time to study so I can come home early and have my surgery. It took a lot of mental preparation, and I was so excited as I walked in the hospital doors this morning...as I hand in my papers sitting in the surgery office...my doctor calls and reschedules my surgery...to the 20th. Merry Xmas to me DISCLAIMER I know its only 5 more days, and I'm still excited, and I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason, so I'm taking advantage of this time to truly prepare for the surgery mentally…

I am having my sleeve surgery on November 7th in Tijuana with Dr. Garcia. My sister and her frienda are also having surgery on November 7th. We are all going together. I am from Vancouver, B.C. and they live in Saskatoon. We are so excited...

To lose weight, while I am technically still about 15 pounds overweight it's a far, far cry from the nearly 200 pounds I WAS overweight prior to 2011. Geez, I love the sleeve.

I was just wondering how long it generally took people to decide to do the surgery from the time they started reading up about it and doing their research. It's only been a few weeks for me, I'm just pouring over message boards and blogs and trying to educate myself and choose a doctor. I'm in a funk right now because I'm thinking about how permanent this is. I'm afraid of complications (leaks, clots, infections & stents and being tube fed etc). I don't know if this is a phase. When I first heard of it I met some people who had gone through the surgery and they were so excited and I was excited and 100% sure I was going to do this. I'm not sure if the bad thing…

So I have just started my journey! I went this past Thursday to an information session on the surgery. I made the desicion then that I wanted the sleeve. I didn't want the band because I was not comfortable with having a forgien object left in my body and the bypass was out for me because I did not like the idea of rerouteing of the intestines. I have already called my insurance company now I'm waiting to hear back from the baratric program to see why insurance told them. I am not telling anyone about my surgery other the. My husband, my mother and a friend of mine who is going to have surgery as well!

Well, it's been almost 4 months since my surgery. I didn't have to do much in the way of pre-op so the weight I have lost is all from surgery. I am down 32 pounds. My start weight was just below 200 and now I am clearly Jennifer Lopez..lol I actually look rather 'normal,' I have no complaints and if I suddenly stopped losing weight and was stuck here forever I would be OK. At least I feel better about my self image. I am hoping that the hairs in my head stay put and that my skin finds it in it's heart to have a spring in it's step. At the ripe old age of 40 it still may have some elasticity although I get the strange feeling that the skin on my neck is not going t…

My family had Christmas pics made Sunday and I got them back today. After looking through them alone I quickly realized that NONE of the ones that I am in will be posted for anyone to see UNTIL I lose some of this stupid weight! From day one of wanting to have this surgery I have wanted it for my health...but after seeing those pics and busting out in tears when I was trying to explain to my husband that they look horrible with me in them, (he was at work) I have decided that I want to be healthy AND in better shape! I have always been thick but now Im just a huge blob......*sigh* my surgery date can't get here soon enough! :'( On a different note...I have a few good 'b…

Hi, I was wondering what phone apps people with smart phones are using to track their food, Protein, and carbs? Thanks

Let me start by saying I'm not a doctor, psychologist, or anything like that. But being now 7+ weeks post op, I'm starting to develop a theory regarding hunger. Before surgery, my hunger was a mix of "head hunger" and actual "physical hunger". And after years of not paying close enough attention to the different signals, I'm fairly certain I wasn't able to distinguish between the two. But now that the "physical hunger" is all but eliminated by the VSG, I'm able to see much more clearly how much "head hunger" I actually have. My theory is, since there's no longer any other type of hunger to confuse it with, I know that pretty much any hunger I have now IS "head hunge…

I had my sleeve surgery on 12/12 and am still on liquid diet. I recently freaked myself out by sorta forgetting... and drinking a protien drink too fast. i don't mean like a huge swallow, more like mindlessly drinking and i noticed an 8 oz drink was pretty much gone - in maybe 15-20 minutes? I have been soo careful to take small sips and not overdo it, i don't know what happened to my brain - it is like I just FORGOT. But here is the weird part, no pain, no naseua, no vomiting. i did feel pressure but mostly I felt emotional upset. Worry that i put too much stress on my staple line. And then, worry like "how come that didn't hurt?". I am feeling pretty good ove…

Hi everyone! I am scheduled to have my non-adjustable band removed on 1/6/12 and was wondering how long some of you were told to wait before being sleeved after band removal? I am scheduled for MX on 2/21/12 for my sleeve with Dr. Kelly. I dont have an eroded band or anything, just the "normal" 16 years of puking that everyone else had (or has) and am sick of!! I am ready to begin this new journey and actually feel like a success instead of a failure like I feel with the band! thanks to all of you who share!!! You really do make a difference for those of us that are walking down our path to freedom of the band!

So, I'm still new to Sleeve eating and I took a big stumble last night........... I should preface this by saying that I have been 99% compliant since day 1 (a cup of coffee and a few sips of wine account for the 1% !) Yesterday, I had my usual Protein drink for Breakfast and some cottage cheese and cucumber for lunch. I wasn't very interested in dinner, but I was very interested in the box of See's Candy that's been in our house since last week. I figured "No dinner, one piece of candy - what's the big deal?" .........Okay, one piece turned into three and I felt guilty, but it was just one (little) slip. About 20 minutes later, my body went into full-on "sugar-sh…

Huhhhhh....(big sigh). I'm writing this in total frustration with myself. I think I've totally stretched my sleeve, because nothing...and I mean NOTHING is being restricted and I'm SO scared that I am going to gain my weight back. I was sleeved about a year and a half ago...June 29th, 2010. I weighed 330 pounds at my highest (which was right before surgery). This time last year (6 months later) I weighed 215 pounds!!! Yes! I lost a total of 115 pounds in less than 6 months. How great is that! I should have been totally proud of myself...I looked and felt wonderful! But....there was always the evil food lurking over me...snacks, chips, Cookies...and soda. Time…

My check-in at the hospital is at 12:45 pm today. 12 days of 500 - 700 low-carb calories daily, 2 days of Clear liquids only, and I'm down 20 pounds just from that. I must have been carrying around a truckload of Fluid, is all I can say. Everyone around me has asked me how I could function on that. I would laugh, and tell them that with the maxed-out Lap-band that I've had for four to five years, I'm used to not eating very much, and what a blessing it has been, with the deflated Band, to be able to drink water! To swallow! To belch! The only thing that I'm dreading about this process is how long I have to go without Water after the procedure. Like a Johnny Depp in …

Hi All, I am just 6 days post op and my side where the port was and drain really is tight! I feel like I can't stand straight. Normal? I don't remember this with my lapband. All this said I look forward to a new start after having such a horrible time with the band. Banded Dec. 2008 lost 70 lbs. Slipped and surgery revision June 2010. Now another surgery to revise to sleeve. All three I had a hiatal hernia. I hope this fixes all and I can open a new page on the book. Loose the weight I regained (30lbs) and get to goal. Any words of encouragement....... Thanks

The family of Lisa Ehrenholz, a 37-year-old mother who died in 2009 days after gastric bypass surgery at The Ottawa Hospital, has filed a $4-million negligence and malpractice lawsuit against the surgeons and the hospital. Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/Ottawa+Hospital+faces+lawsuit/5849743/story.html#ixzz1gTow7ARy

my surgery is scheduled for tomorrow & i just saw that my pcp put on my medical clearance that im having the lap gastric banding! IM PRAYING THIS DOESNT MESS UP MY SURGERY TOMORROW!!!! HE LEFT TO INDIA TODAY AND WILL BE GONE FOR A MONTH!!! im starting to freak out!

Last night my friends and I went to Chili's, my first time going to a restaurant since my sleeve was done. I was feeling sooo nervous that there was not going to be anything I wanted to eat. I hadn't seen some of my friends in so long that I had to make myself go! All my friends are big eaters so it was difficult being around them at the table while they ate awesome looking food. I nervously asked the waitress to give me pureed chicken enchilada Soup and it turned out pretty good but gave me gas. I noticed several new things now that I was sleeved. First of all, I could actually carry on a conversation with those around me because I could focus on what was said. Before…

Hi, Just wondering if anyone has an end of Nov. surgery date?

I am really rethinking my relationship with food. The post-op liquid diet has forced me to acknowledge when I am "emotionally hungry" (e.g. when I want to eat but do not need to eat) versus real hunger. Since I'm only a couple of weeks post-op, I'm wondering how everyone else has dealt with this, especially once you are on "real" food after week 8. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I've been a lurker for quite a long time but this is my first posting. I had my sleeve surgery done last Wednesday (12/13). I'm feeling so, so, NOT normal yet and I'm scared I've made a mistake. Hmmm, where to begin about how I feel? I know this is strange, but I'm going to make a short list to keep it succinct: 1. I feel scared because I'm thinking about food so much. I know this surgery wasn't supposed to lobotomize the overeating part of my brain (lol) but I really thought food would be the farthest thing from my mind right now. I thought that food thoughts would only come into play once I began eating solid food (stage 3, according to my surgeon). A…

Hi all. It's been a great and hectic week getting ready for Christmas. Of course this is my favorite time of year I weighed in at 205 this morning for a loss of 1.5 pounds. How is everyone else doing?

Hi Everyone, My surgery is scheduled for November 29th. I'm looking forward to changing my life even though I'm a little scared about the "permanent" part of the surgery. My story is so much like everyone else. It's been about 10 years of being obese and having low self esteem. My marriage is in the tubes, my husband hates me being so fat and I think it has ruined things between us for good but this is something I have to do for myself. I currently have a band which has been leaking and not working for me for quite a while. I have some questions about the conversion surgery and eating habits afterward. One thing I hated about the band was that I had to…

I lost 50 lbs in the last 18 months on the band. I switched to the sleeve because of my poor weight loss(I presently weigh 290). Now I fear my sleeve experience will be as bad as my band experience. Has anyone stArted out this slow and still been successful?

I was am 285 pounds and have tried every healthy way to lose weight. My husband is a fitness nut and always tries to encourage me. I have been overweight all my life, and was diagnosed with PCOS a year and a half ago. Since then I've taken my weightless more seriously but with NO results (as usual with pcos) so I'm getting the sleeve as a last resort. I'm 26 and ready to put my weight issues to rest and enjoy life. My husband however argues with me endlessly that I should just keep going to the gym and eat right... Ive been doing that for years and dont want to kill myself anymore over it. Can anyone offer advice on what to say to make it click for him that this is a hood…

Hi:) My name is Mandy and Ive been looking around on this thing since surgery but never posted and thought ooohhh why not!!? Anyways last night I went to this special bariatric cooking class with a special chef that teaches and two nutritionist ladies to answer questions throughout. Last night we had a little taste test for summer grilling and cooking. Had tequilla lime chicken and mango citrus salmon! WAS AMAZING!!! Got the recipes so will for sure need to try them at some point soon! Question is --- Is there anyone in the Austin area that would like to go with? It happens twice a month and the next one is SUSHI! YUM! Would be nice to form a group and enjoy com…

I am one year out and just had my first stomach bug since being sleeved. It totally kicked my butt. I almost passed out at one point, sure from lack of fluids. Two of my kids had the bug too but they didn't get as sick as I did... SO I am wondering, did it hit me so hard because I am sporting a tiny stomach? Anyone?

Sooo anybody out there from WV? I would love to swap notes with someone semi-local.

Hey guys, I was sleeved on 11/14 & was curious what other people sleeved around the same time are eating? Just looking for some variety LOL G

Anyone pay out-of-pocket for the lapband and later get insurance to pay for revision? I paid for lapband out of pocket now, gained weight back. I'm considering sleeve but can't afford to pay out of pocket again. I paid out of pocket for the lap band because I didn't want to jump through all the hoops for insurance. Anyone else with a similar situation? ( I posted this under insurance too)

I've only lost 45 pounds:(. Looking for help for speeding things up. Any suggestions?

Hi can anyone tell my why I have been able to tolerate all water juices and anything pureed until today. If I take a littl bite of anything or drink anything I am experiencing these terrible pains in my chest, side and back that take forever to go away and I took some gas-x and started to walk but it feels like there is a bit of food stuck at the top of my esophagus and feels like it wants to come up but doesnt. WHAT IS THIS??!!!!

Any other sleevers headed to TJ this week? I leave on Friday morning (From Seattle) and will be sleeved THAT evening!! I was originally scheduled for a Saturday surgery but got the call that a spot opened up on Friday. I thought an extra day of healing prior to flying might be a good idea.... now I am nervous about that decision. Well.... I am nervous PERIOD. I am not overly worried about the surgery, more worried about flying home so soon afterward. I would love to hear from others who have already done all of this..... Maybe put my mind at ease. I have an amzaing husband who is going with me, THANK GOD. He has been so over the top wonderful.... I am so bless…

For those of you who have had leaks and even those who have not, do you know if your surgeon reinforced the staple line with sutures or some other kind of bonding? I am preop and I am nervous as hell about my surgery.

Im almost three months out. I don't know anyone who has had the gastric sleeve surgery. Everyone that I know either has the band or has gastric bypass. So my question is, what is the weight loss for three months? I asked my Dr. but he said I'm fine but didn't really give me a number. I'm down 39lbs. But what is the average?

I just thought this would be a fun way to vent! Today I saw someone I haven't seen in awhile. When I told her how I was losing weight (after she commented on it and asked), she said she knew someone who had "that" surgery and gained all the weight back after a year. Then she said she didn't know how anyone could really be happy not being able to eat normally. My response was that I was happy and I love my sleeve. Some people!

Ah hell!!! Ok so finally got to just 3lb from goal at the weekend - I want to be at goal by Christmas, and 3lb in 2 weeks is totally do-able, right??? Well yesterday morning I weighed, and I was 6lb from goal - SIX!!! that is twice as far from goal in just two days. More than a little bit miffed I weighed in this morning, and am still 6lb from goal - gutted! This evening I did the most stupid thing of all, I weighed at the end of the day (I don't normally do this), and now I am 9, yes NINE POUNDS from goal, just so upset, this is a massive fluctuation, and not something which normally happens to me. I seriously doubt my ability to shed 9lb in the next 11 days. …

This morning I am getting my last procedure performed. The results from my previous one has already provided results beyond my wildest dreams! I still have so much swelling to go down, I just can't believe how amazed I am! So... I had these jeans I bought. They are Levi's Size 4 / 27 Skinny Jeans I bought from their website. Now these are REAL size 4's. They are more like Size ZERO in stores or vanity sizing. I had them sitting around wondering if I could or even should ever try to really get into them. Well, with my results so far I finally believe that goal is really achievable. I announce here and now, this is MY NEW GOAL!! I virtual size 0. ZERO!!! I am…

When my weight was increasing, one of the most depressing events was when I realized that I had to raise the tilt of the steering wheel because it was brushing against my ever expanding thighs. When I lost some weight pre-op, I lowered the tilt some, but thought there was at least one more adjustment. Well, on my way home from work yesterday, I noticed there was quite a bit of space between my legs and the wheel. When I got home, I went to adjust the wheel and ...thunk...thunk...it couldn't get any lower! I was happy and in shock! I know I have a long way to go still, but for me, this was one small reminder that things are getting better.