Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

So i recieved a call to schedule my surgery date.... I was definately excited about getting sleeved, but now im starting to feel like i am going to fail. I have HORIBBLE eating habits i LOVE sweets & midnight snacking my fiancee isnt helping me out so much. I need help i dont want to start off feeling like im going to fail. I guess I need some advice etc...

Only 2 weeks to go and we will be sleeved. Yay Us!!! We are well on our way to being the best US we can be, that is so cool. So what are some of the feelings you are experiencing as the day draws closer? For me I am anxious, excited, nervous for the after surgery part. My hubby told me this morning that he is starting to imagine what I will look like thin as he has never seen me thinner than I am right now. That is pretty sad. I told him I was doing the same thing. So come and lets talk about what we are doing to prepare, how we are feelings as the day gets closer, we have to support each other during this time to help us all get through. Sheila

Hello Sleeve Sistas I am 3 weeks post-op and had a question regarding facial hair. Maybe its due to vitamins, but I havnt had facial hair grow this fast or noticeable this much? Im 36. Anyway what do you ladies do about it? Wax? I have done threading but it seems like I have to do it everymonth. Anything will help thanks

Starting Sunday, I have accepted Diva's 30 day challenge and I will be using this thread to hold myself accountable every day. For those of you who haven't seen the challenge criteria, here they are: Eating: No Potatoes No Rice No Breads No Cereals No Candy No Pastries Maximum 5 Servings of Fruit per day Unlimited Servings of Veggies per day Minimum 60g of Protein per day Minimum 64oz Water per day Exercise: Minimum 30 Minutes, 5x per week

I am just starting my VSG journey and waiting for a surgery date. Would love to talk to other people from BC, or from Canada who are getting it done, or have already gotten it done.

Ok I started out at 417. Today I am 388. I had my surgery 6/28. I started out walking 2 houses and back every day. Each day I add another 2 houses. So I finally made it all the way around the block and it is a major victory for me!! Prior to surgery, I could barely make it up out of the chair and walk across the room. So for me this is a big deal. I posted it on my FB and next thing I know I have like 3 different FB friends telling me to slow down b/c I'm doing too much. I'm overdoing it. I need to let my body recover. I need to just take it easy etc. Really irked me.

For most of my life I felt invisible. Well now, I'm visible - hooray! So last weekend I went to Artscape, a arts festival, in Baltimore. I worked for the organization that produces the festival for 7 years. I haven't seen then in about a year, so I went down one day to see them. People that I've known for years walked right past me and didn't recognize me. It took a double take for them to remember who I was. I thought it was a fluke. Last night, we had a block party for the neighborhood where I grew up. I've known these people for 25+ years. I show up, and NO ONE knew who I was. I had to tell people who I was, then it was all hugs and smiles. I look somew…

My new surgeon's office sent me an email on Tuesday that they would need my old surgeon's records for my appointment on Monday. I'm now living two time zones away from my old surgeon's office, so I couldn't call them about it until first thing Wednesday morning. I call, the lady says that she'll pass on the request and that they might need a faxed release form. I give them my fax number and my new surgeon's fax number, and all is well (or so I think). I check my faxes throughout the day, nothing, so I call around 4:30 that afternoon. The person responsible for faxing them says she'd gotten the message and would do it first thing in the morning. I assume (yes, I know…

So we all know about ghrelin... but according to my surgeon, once the brain detects ghrelin it starts to prepare for a fast. The body slows down the metabolism thinking we won't get to eat for a few days or something. In addition, there's something called the omentum (I had NEVER heard of that before.) that serves as a fat depository, amongst a few other things. One of the problems with the omentum is that once your BMI starts getting over 30, it starts to act as a blocker between the nutrition you're eating, and your cells. And the more weight you put on, the more nutrition it blocks. So what happens when you're not getting enough nutrition? Your body signals tha…

As I have said b4 I was relying on my mom and my sis-in-law to watch my boys while I went to mexico. I have been waiting to hear from my sis-in-law. I never doubted she would do it, never thought she would say no. She did. She had very valid reasons and I don't hold it against her but without her help we will have to take the boys with us. My mother can't handle them for a week straight. She was just gonna watch him for a couple days and a few hours during a few other days that week to give my sis-in-law a break. Taking the boys with us tacks another (roughly) $1500 (maybe more) to the trip cost, when we were barely gonna be able to afford it w/o taking them. Also, I don'…

So, when I started this whole process I was 247 pounds and 5'2". When I talked to my doctor he told me not to pay attention to the BMI chart because with my bone structure, if I was between 98-110 pounds I would look horribly sick. I have thick bones - I'm short but not a thin body structure. I was fine with that. We settled on 135-140. Well, at 170, I'm pretty happy with the way I look now.If I change my goal, I'm only 20 pounds away from it. I want to see what my surgeon thinks. At our last visit he said he wasn't going to hold me too strictly to the goal we set way back when because it's about what I'm comfortable with and my body will start to slow down wh…

I am 25 days post op and I'm just not that hungry. When I do eat, I get horrible indigestion in my throat. I haven't lost hardly any weight in the past 10 days either. Someone told me that it's b/c I am just not getting in my protein, calories etc. I do fine if I just drink the shakes. I thought that for awhile I might just do shakes. But someone told me that it's bad b/c your stomach needs to get used to having real food in it eventually. I understand that but for now if shakes work for me then why not? Is it that big of a deal? other people go on liquid diets. Any ideas?

Weridest, wildest thing happened at work today! First let me start off by saying that all my co workers know about my surgery and have been super supportive, my cheerleaders, so they know me at my heaviest and me now. Today at work I was training a new assoicate. During her orientation she made a comment about one of our customer's size/weight. Of course she doesn't know me from Adam, so she didn't know I was a big girl at one time. It just blew me away! I instintly got very defensive and told her that she doesn't know her situation and not to judge. She looked at me with a confused look on her face. I bluntly and politely told her that I was that ladie's size if not bigg…

I am scheduled for surgery tomorrow and I am soo ready. My Dr is Wade Barker and surgery will be at Forest Park Medical Center. Anxious to find that skinny girl inside me:)

I was sleeved on May 24,2011. I have been having a very hard time getting my protein in daily I was only able to get in about 30 grams of Protein a day and my Doctor wanted me to have between 60-70 grams of protein a day it just wasn't happen. Then I found Sunkist Protein it has 42 grams of protein for 3.2fl.oz no sugar and no fat, you can get them in Grape,Orange and Fruit Prunch. You can order online at http://smoothieds.my...roducts/5740004 Hope this helps others out there that are having problems getting in there protein Tammy

It's been a while since I was here... needed a break... I was on the dreadful stall mine lasted about 29 days.. i was freaking out big time! I went in crying to my awesome and incredible doctor and he told me "You're tracking too much STOP"... I use FatSecret.com and have it on my iphone cause I can barcode scan whatever I eat and not have to search... so I'm worried about Fat and Carbs and he said this and maybe it'll help others... Stop worrying about the Fat and the Carbs.. your main concern right now is staying between 800-900 calories and over 80g of Protein a day. If one day a week you go over 900 that is ok its a shock value to your metabolism but stop …

I had a band put in in June of 2008. I did well. I lost 115 pounds in one year. I had port revision in 2009 my port was loose. AND then stalled for a year, no weight loss at all! So last August-2010- I had a band to sleeve conversion. I lost a few pounds on the liquid post and pre op diet and then NOTHING>>>> not one dag on pound. I try and eat a higher Protein diet, but I do eat a little bread now and fruit, Apples, veggies and meat. I haven't had sugar in 3 years. It's poison! Don't touch it. I workout 3 to 4 times a week 60 minutes of cardio on the elliptical. I only lift weights occassionally. ALL my blood work is NORMAL! Yes Vitamins et…

Let me preface this by saying that most of the time I am happy with my decision and I'm pleased with my progress. I try really hard to be a supportive and positive voice to everyone I speak to on VST and I mean the things that I say. I wouldn't be concerned about making this post, but I saw another user get read the riot act for being negative a few weeks ago and now I'm not sure if posts like this are acceptable. Anyway, here goes. Since the surgery, I worry so much about what I've done to myself. I eat so little and I'm losing weight so quickly, it makes me afraid that I've done serious harm to myself. I wonder if for the sake of health and vanity, I've gone too far an…

Are heparin injections standard? I didn't know I'd be doing this after surgery. It's the one thing that surprised me, that I didn't know in advance. Anyway, I do them 3 times a day. They are easy to do and don't hurt. The most difficult thing was finding a pharmacy that carried them. I had to get my script filled in TX before flying back. I called over a dozen pharmacies. Finally I found ONE place who could fill it, but they could only fill 15 vials. I needed a total of 42 because I was prescribed 3 shots a day for two weeks. So I filled what I could and now that I'm home I'll have to call around and find another pharmacy who can give me the rest of my supply. …

http://doctorsofweightloss.com/2011/07/obesity-linked-with-early-death-in-women/ Those of us sleeved may have saved ourselves from ourselves.

Hi Guys! I was sleeved on Monday 7/18 in TX and flew home to PA yesterday (Thursday). I'm feeling pretty good. Sore & tired, but otherwise good. If I didn't have a 1 yr old & 3 yr old to take care of, it would be much easier. My biggest challenge right now is getting in all my liquids. My surgeon said the goal is 64 oz of Water and 2 Protein drinks (80g protein total). That's the minimum actually, and I haven't met the goal once so far. Tuesday: (after passing my "leak test") I managed 20 oz of water throughout the day. Wednesday: 8 oz of a Protein Drink plus 12 oz of water. 1 oz of French Onion Soup from Panera (just broth). Thursday: 16 oz bottl…

I went for my (a little bit early) 6 month post op visit today. My surgeon said he's proud of me! I'm down 30 pounds since my 3 month post op visit - that's 10 pounds a month. Plus, I've lost 57% of my body weight in under 6 months. He said, typically at 1 year post op, his patients have just lost 60% so I'm well ahead of the curve. He agreed that 145 is a good weight for me, if I want to lose more he'll support that but he doesn't recommend that I try for much more than that. He also told me to get these last 20 pounds off that I want to lose to switch up my exercise regimine, keep my portions to 1/2 cup, and cut out the carbs. I know this, but damn. I'm going to …

hello out there! i'm really excited and nervous- surgery is next month! looking for a buddy or buddies! would love someone in the seattle area, but not necessary...

I currently take 150 mg of Effexor XR and 2 Trazadone 100 mg. Will it be a problem taking all of these pills after I have the surgery? And if not, can I take them starting the day of surgery? I so do not want to get the withdrawal effects on top of dealing with surger... Plus, I think I've read somewhere that you shouldn't take extended- release or time- release pills, so I am wondering if I am going to have to get on regular Effexor instead. Anyone on Antidepressants have any advice on this? Of course I'm going to ask the surgeon when I see him, but just trying to get a game plan ahead of time. Thanks!

I was sleeved on Tues. Everything went really well, except that they ended up bringing my husband up to recovery because they couldn't wake me up. This is typical for me, but I did wake up briefly and I was so nauseous and they gave me something and then couldn't wake me up again. I was really pretty much out of it until Wed. morning, when I forced myself to stay awake for a 1/2 hour show on t.v. They left me take a little sponge bath and gave me a toothbrush and toothpaste yesterday morning and that really helped. I think I walked the halls 3 times yesterday. I really have no pain except in the one incision that she took the stomach out of and she said she had to c…

I had a follow up appointment with my PCP yesterday and was telling her that I have been lightheaded and nauseous constantly for about a week and a half. She decided to do some blood work to rule things out. Well I got a phone call today from her nurse and apparently I have a rather large potassium deficiency. The nurse gave me a list of stuff to eat (90% of which aren't on my list of approved foods yet) and said that I must get my blood drawn next week again to make sure it has improved. If it's not better then I may end up in the hospital! I'm happy that I know what is causing the exhaustion, nausea, and dizziness, but am very concerned that I won't be able to fix…

HI all, I take Metformin for PCOS, I am not diabetic. So you all have diarrah as a side effect from the drug? And if so, were you able to stop the drug after getting sleeved? Thanks a lot, Tracy

Hi all I'm about to be sleeved in 2 days time and I also have polycystic ovary syndrome. I have heard that after the sleeve pcso greatly improves and was wondering if this has been the case for anyone? My main reason for being sleeved is to help me become a mummy. I tried for nearly 3 years to get pregnant and in January of this year my dream was finally realised but I miscarried and the doc thinks this has all been due to my pcos. I am hoping that losing the pounds with help with my fatility. So if anyone has any info I would really live to hear your story! X x

Can someone please tell me if this has happened to them? I am 7 weeks out from my surgery, and have lost 30 lbs. Problem is, this last week, I am really swelling up in my feet, ankles ad legs. Has this happened to anyone else? I keep my sodium low, and take potassium once a day. I can not find anything on this. Please help. I feel like a balloon again! I am at a stand still opn the weight loss too. I bet if I could lose some water, I could be doing better. I drink 64 oz. a day. It is not helping. I feel like I am losing my mind!

I am getting sleeved August 1st. Looking for a sleeve buddy to help me thru the process.... I will be 50 on the 8th...married with 2 kids (15&13)

My husband had gastric sleeve on Feb. 16th, at first he was fine when he ate and did not get sick at all. Six weeks after surgery he began to get sick everytime he ate.He still does, even if it is just a small protien shake, or a sip of Water he gets sick. The Dr says it is inflammation, put him on several medications, and that has not helped. One other patient has had this same thing, and spoke to my dh after the Dr asked if she would talk to him, and said if she eats Doritos a small amount they settle her stomach, so dh has tried this and it works, but to me this is terribly wrong and he will never loose all his weight. He has lost 90 lbs so far and has another about…

Hey everyone, I had my pre-op nut consultation yesterday. I spent 5 hours with my doctors wife and then at the hospital for testing. It was a nice quiet change from being with the kids and also met a man there who was going to have surgery on the same day. It was so nice to have sort of a camaraderie with him and someone to talk to. We both had previously signed up for lap band and changed our minds. Hopefully all my test will turn out OK. I know the EKG was good...but no word on the chest x-ray or blood work yet. Just going to assume that no news is good news. I'm so very excited. I've lost about 5 lbs pre op diet...but had gained 10 from pigging out the weeks…

being newly diagnosed with a seizure and having surgery coming up is a scary thing.....specially since when on topomax i feel so bad......

All has gone as expected and I am about to be discharged from the hospital. Thankfully I have had little nausea. I am very sore and weak. The gas pain hasn't been too bad. I have only had ice chips, water and jello; they went down easily. I have the most trouble with the liquid lortab. It burns as it goes down, but I do need it. The gas meds help too. I will have to travel home, a four hour drive, tomorrow. Ive got to stop and walk every hour. My doctor told me to sip water on the trip and start Isopure at home since it may make me nauseated. A funny thing happened on the way to surgery. They asked my consent for several other doctors from around the country t…

Good luck to our July 21 sleevers: Bemabound CaliforniaJenn I hope everything goes well for both of you. Please check in when you are able to.

I had my band removed in '09' due to slip. I am about to be sleeved but need to make a decision of which surgeon. I had some tests done with Dr. Curry in Cincinnati and a scope and really liked him. He approved me for the sleeve. Also had to have some tests done at the Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Schauer. He approved me for the sleeve as well. As you know we (revision) are more at risk for leaks and I cannot decide which surgeon to pick. I feel the same about each one and am pulling my hair out trying to pick. Any suggestions? Please help! Any advice will help me greatly. In advance, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The Cleveland Clinic of course is a big…

7 days post op and in the last 2 days I have become super hungry, even after I've just eaten... Is this normal? Do I just sit it out? Its really worrying, I have managed not to given as am still on fluids, but if this keeps up I'm going to have some issues soon.

my surgery is scheduled for 7/20/11!!! i'm excited but nervous- will the med be strong enough to kill the pain?

So, my husband has asked me at least 10 times "What are you having for your big, last meal?" I tell him that I am having elective surgery...not going to the electric chair. I do not even get this mentality. He acts as if I will never be able to eat food again. I figure that at some point in the future I will be able to eat things I want...just not in the quantities I am used to. I used to have that "last meal" mentality for years before going on a "diet". I really no longer think of food in those terms. I hope this is a sign that I have changed my outlook regarding food (I've worked hard at doing so the last several months in preparing for surgery).

People really make me laugh when you try to explain what you are doing. I don't know if I should even mention it at all to anyone. I said to my friend today when she pulled a face, "well if diet and exercise were easy - we would all look fantastic", she said "your right", but maybe still didn't quite get the picture. Since having the band in 2003, I have still been on tons of diets, counting calories, counting carbs, the gym, dvd's, tv show ideas, weight watchers - you name it - and none of it was great - most of it was boring - I have had nothing but a life of 'CAUTION" since I was 13 (I am now 50), so if I added all the pounds I've lost together since being a kid - …

Today is my one year anniversary of having surgery. Not just one year ago today, but at this very moment I was in surgery in San Francisco. My last meal as a person with all of my original parts was homemade bruschetta. I have lost 114 pounds since that morning and there are times, often, when I am unable to grasp what that means. I am also more intimidated by my own decision to have surgery now then I was at the time of surgery. I had researched bariatrics for years before making the decision but sometimes now when I think about it I am alarmed that I actually did something so monumental. I have zero regrets, does any of this make sense? I am not to goal yet. The…

hi all, i'm in arlington and still gong to endless seminars. i'd love to know which programs people have used. hated arlington/va hospital ctr seminar, and they've only done 12 anyway, loved sibley in dc, but they've only done 7, didn't want rny from gw, though great program, and now going to seminar at fairfax next week. i'm exhausted!!!!!!! would love to get in touch with some local folks! :thumbup1:

Hello everyone. New to this site. My name is Lynn. I had this journey before with my daughter who had VS for heallth reasons. Well, it's moms time. Just checked on it yesterday and wow, go in Monday for orientation, my GP visit, and surgeon visit. Scheduled surgery for August 2, 2011. Daughters surgery was about two years ago so can't remember a lot of what we used for clear liquids, etc. but am busy reading. I know this site was a God's send for a mom a couple of years ago. So glad I have a shoulder and a few ears to help me through this. Don't really want to discuss this with those who do not know about this journey and will only make my jitters more. Let's ge…

I am listening to a radio show and there is a Dr Freedman (in Alabama I believe) on the show who says he doesn't do the sleeve because he has a problem with it - says there is a study by a Dr in California who recently did a CT study of his 5 year sleeve patients and it show their stomach was completely stretched out. This Dr Freedman said he doesn't do the sleeve because of the risk of regain and sites this study. Does anyone know about this study or can you find any info on it??

Below is a repost about me!! I'm glad this group is available for us!!! Hey Guys! I am a 36 year old teacher and doctoral student from Chicago.. I have been researching WLS for a few years now. Until recently, I never took the next step to meet w/ a WL specialist and surgeon... I'm in my 2nd month of a 6 month pre-approval process.. I was dead set on the band, even w/ the failure percentage and probability of revision and port problems.. Yesterday, I met w/ my surgeon Dr. Gerald Cahill and he gave a thorough explanation of why I am a prime candidate for the sleeve.... I'm still apprehensive, but upon perusing the board, I'm encouraged by the success stories an…

I am three weeks out today and I notice that I am still tired several times a day. Did any one else experience this?

Hi everyone, Just switched over to this board. I had my lap band 3 years ago (almost to the day). After 2 years of initial success, I experienced 2 complications, a slip and espophogal dialation. At that point, I wasnt happy with the band anyways. So last October I started exploring revision surgery going from the Band to the Sleeve. I want to hear from people who have done this revision in the last couple of years because already there are noticeable differences. For starters, I am not happy about the pre-op diet even though I know it has to happen. Just don't feel as positive mentally about it as much as I did the first one. Maybe because I have had compl…

It's finally here! I found out that my date the 3rd week of June, and the time has been DRAGGGGGGING by! Here it is, tomorrow morning I check into the hospital at 5:15. Surgery is at 7:15. I'm a big ol' bundle of nerves right now. I've packed my essentials and am ready to go! Here's to everything going perfectly!!!

Hi, I am taking the plunge and having my VSG surgery on 18th of July with Dr. Kelly. I am hoping anyone else going on this date will respond. I would love to have a sleeve sister or brother!!!

I had struggled with my weight. Been on every diet. I have a BMI of 32. I am honestly frightened to death to have this surgery. After reading all the complications. Although it seems that people are fairly happy with weight loss and would do it again. My goodness some of the stories. Hair loss, depression, acid problems, vomiting. And the list goes on and then includes research about grenlin related to sleep, internal furnace and memory and who knows what else grenlin effects. No long term studies. I have had my blood work done and scheduled my nut and Phyc appts. But I am thinking that I should just try one last attempt at loosing this 60lbs by eating 120 gram…