Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

I found this website and feel it has a lot of great information. The traveling seminars sound like fun. Thought I'd pass it on. http://www.makeitalifestyle.com/joomla/

Hi Everyone. I don't post very much here which may explain my long stall. I am coming up towards my first year surgery anniversary which is a time of reckoning and stocktaking. I started out at a weight of 213 lbs and lost 50 lbs in the first 6 months and then I hit a stall. Lately I have been just living life and not really thinking about my sleeve at all and maintained my weight without any effort or without any further weight loss .My body or my lifestyle seems to like this weight. I am now at 164 lbs with a BMI of 27. I still have a lot of weight around my middle which I would like to lose I was initially hoping to get to 140 lbs. I am getting motivated again t…

Hi, I had weight loss surgery when I was 63 and I am now 65 . I have been sleeved of 2 1/2 years. I lost 105 pounds on my journey. So I do know a little about what I am going to say. I have done what you want to do or have already done. So I have been thinking about this. WHY do so many of our friends not say Yay! or I am happy for you? :angry: 1. They know NOTHING about weight loss surgery let alone when we say we are have the "sleeve" done? 2. They have not heard of any positive things about WLS. 3. They are scared for us because we are having some kind of surgery they no nothing about. 4. They think we are having gastric bypass (we kn…

Hi All! I started my Pre-Op Diet today...a few days late as I was out of the country...but none the less, I'm prepping for my May 3rd surgery as we speak! After an unsuccessful outcome with the band...not blaming the band or me...we'll just call it "unsuccessful", I would love to get some tips from you all on what is making the difference this time. Maybe send me over your top 2 or 3 tips (more if you like) to help me and others like me, to make the successful transition from band to sleeve. Looking forward to your replies! Barb

Who got a goal outfit after (or just before) their surgery? I was told it was a good idea to get a goal outfit. Something to look forward to I guess. I can't seem to let go of the fear of not making it to the goal and not fitting the clothing. I keep putting off the purchase. Any ideas how to get over myself? What did you do?

So I have told very few people about my surgery. So far I have been very good about the few that I have told as they have been extremely supportive. My best friend of 10 years has been a size 0 since I've known her. She is all about eating veggies, exercising, all that jazz. I was debating about whether or not I was going to tell her. I decided to kind of introduce the topic of weight loss surgery to her and see how she reacted. So I said "Oh, hey. It is the 6-year anniversary for my mom's weight loss surgery. She lost over 150 pounds and has kept it off for 6 years." My friend just kind of nodded like she didn't care. I said "No opinions on weight loss surgery?…

Yesterday I found out that I’m Pregnant and to be honest I am scared to death! Scared that I will gain back all the weight I’ve worked so hard to get off and I’m scared I won’t be able to eat enough food to be healthy for the baby and I’m scared I'll make my stomach big again trying! There are so many worries going through my head. What do I need to try to eat more of? What Vitamins do I need to take since I already take some for my stomach? What should I tell my dr? Do I need to see a special dr? I’m so confused!!! I was not planning for this baby in anyway nor am I ready for it but he or she is coming so I better get ready fast!! Any Advice would be such a blessing! …

Hi--I am brand new here and I apologize for being ignorant about the sleeve. I have been banded since 2008 with not much success. I saw my internist today and he said most people only lose on the average of 50lbs on the lapband, whereas the sleeve the average weight loss is 120lbs. He said it is also done laprscopically, like the lapband. So he highly recommends that I do it, because I am going no where on my band and my dieting is not working, and I need to lose over 100lbs, then I will be at my ideal body weight. He says that all the recent medical journals are now recommending the sleeve. My questions: 1. Is all this true? 2. Are there more than 1 type of sleeve ope…

I am seriously thinking of having the VSG and am looking for the good, the bad and the ugly. I would like to find the patients that have had this surgery the longest, what the drawbacks are and how have they held their weight off.

Hi Everyone, I know that you may not experience some of these things, but I thought I would share what I did experienced. I hope they will be helpful to anyone who needs them. Sometimes there are things that you may think you are the only one that this is happening to. So I thought I would write about a few things that happened to me along my journey of losing 105 pounds. My first shock was that about 2 months after having sleeve surgery I notice that when I got out of the shower I would find quite a bit of my hair in the drain screen. I thought to myself I already have thin hair what am I going to do if I keep losing more hair? Well, I did and it was difficult …

Here is an article my husband found that deals with essential oils that help sagging skin. It also discusses hydration and it's effects on your skin. Thought there may be some out there who would be interested in this natural approach. http://www.naturalnews.com/032131_aromatherapy_skin_health.html

I don't know what to do....... You see, I've had my wedding dress for 6 years even tho I'm not married yet. My fiancé and I have been engaged for 7 years. Our wedding was all planned ( we were having a destination wedding in Hawaii) and ready to go, when my sonn-to-be mom in law got very sick and landed in hospital. We postponed the wedding. Then she passed away. Then I got pregnant and life went on. Fast forward 3 years. We started talking again about a wedding. Little did I know I was pregnant again!! Then my soon to be father in law is diagnosed with cancer and passes away less than 6 monthes later. Size wise, I can get into a 16 ( barely) and would love to see if my …

You know for so many years I was always in search of that miracle weight loss cure--you know the magic pill, to just melt the fat off of me. And of course I wanted to be able to eat anything I loved and as much as I want and have the fat just melt off of me-I sure wasn't thinking straight . I wonder how many of you have had those same thoughts, I bet a whole lot of you . Well, in Oct 2008 I found part of what I was looking for. An excellent Doctor names Dr. Aceves from Mexicali Mexico--I know what you are thinking Mexico. He is a very skilled surgeon, who was honest and treated me with such great respect. He said he could help me with WLS by giving me a sl…

Just wondering if anyone has or has had regrets getting VSG? I'm scheduled to have VSG in 2 weeks and I am so excited but also want to hear if anyone wished they hadn't done it and why? Thanks!

There's always room for more... come on in.

I just had to pop on and tell you!! I weighed this morning, my offical weigh day, and the scale has actually moved in the right direction... I have managed to lose a pound... from having a stall that has lasted 2 1/2 mths... please let this be the start of some more weight lose! It is my birthday tomorrow, and I am turning the big 40... this is the best present that I could have given myself... under 13 stone... 12stone 13 pounds...lol... I know it is 'just' a pound but it has really given me a boost!!!

SO CAL SLEEVE support group meeting, January 8th at 11am-P.F. Chang's China Bistro (951) 689-4020 3475 Tyler Street, Riverside Please send me a pm if you are coming so I can make reservations Hope to see you there!

Anyone else have a March date set? March 21rst for me!

Hi - I am new here and have been considering having the sleeve done. But I was so worried about going through all the trouble, cost, travel, pain, and childcare issues (my son has special needs) while I'm away, and then having it turn out like my experience with the band. I was banded in June 2009 and have lost only a few pounds, regained them, etc. several times. I hate this band. Now, after reading all of your stories, I am so much more at peace and have decided to go ahead with the sleeve. I have been wondering all this time if it was just me, why can't I make this thing work, I'm a failure, etc., just like all of you have shared. Some of your stories made me cr…

Ok, so I have been reading lots of posts over the last several weeks on here. I’ve even made a few posts, but for the first time I would like to talk about my WLS journey. I started on my journey in April 2009 at 241 lbs. I was banded with the Realize Band in November 2009. I lost nearly 50 lbs in the first six months. From the time I was banded, as I know many of you are aware, my quality of life has decreased significantly. I will not discredit the fact that I lost nearly 50 lbs with it before gaining back 10 lbs. I would have just preferred to not have been a forced bulimic in the process. Through this whole process, I have experienced the typical compli…

Ok, so after a lot of brainstorming I decided to change my goal. My weight hasn't been moving for the last 2 months, I changed quite a few things dietwise and exercise wise and still nothing. I feel under a lot of pressure and stressed because the weight isn't coming off. I am fine with my body now, (except my tummy but I'm getting that fixed in december) So I had a chat with my husband and my best friend and they both said something that makes a lot of sense :MAybe this is the weight my body feels comfortable. My nutritionist had said that I would stop losing weight when my body felt comfortable, but I completely forgot about that. So I'm 9 lbs away from my new target (…

I have skinny legs, no hips and no rear. All my pants and undies fall because my belly is bigger than my hips/legs and once they slide past the waist, they have nothing to stop them. Were any of you ladies built that way before weight loss and did it change? I'd like to think that if I can get my stomach much smaller, that my hips/butt/legs will look feminine (ie bigger) by proportion. If any of you have any pics to share of before/after, I'd love to see them, or PM me, if too personal. Thanks!!

not able to handle full liquid, Protein and feeling like crap still when did everyone feel normal of at least better???? did not think it would be like this, (had 2 c-sec, lap gallbladder and hysterectomy) thought i knew what i was in for. yeah not really!!!! thanx

Hi y'all. I don't know all of the ins and outs of this website but I was wondering if any of you know how to keep track of each other (all us April Sleevers that is)! Do we add each other as a friend? Not sure but I'd like to do it somehow. I think we can offer particular support since we are all going through the same things within days or weeks of each other. Anyone have any idea if that is possible or if anyone is interested? My surgical date is set for April 12 in Austin, Texas.

Question: Istarted having problems with my jaw about one month ago – just went to mydentist and said it seems like a TMJ problem suggested a specialist. We talked about my weight loss and that it most likewas/is caused by that. Anyone else have similar problems? Lou

Ok this is the first time I have had to deal with outside fast food since surgery!! My hubby and daughter brought back Cheeseburgers and Fries for dinner. The smell alone is about to knock me out! It smells so good! I know this is the kind of thing that I am going to have to get used to, but it doesnt make it easy!! Yum!

Hello its been a while since I have been on here just checking on my Sept 2010 sleevers to see where everyone is. My weight loss has slowed down a whole lot, I have only lost 51 pounds since then, I was hoping for a little bit more. I am eating and drinking more so I have to watch myself. Any tips on jump starting my loss back? What are you doing to maintain and not regain at this point? Thanks for any help and tips. Best wishes.

I have 7 pounds left to lose. Just seems like I am eating too many calories to continue losing. I am concerned that I am going to gain. I still am eating under 1800 calories most days. Does anyone know if us VSGers can eat the number of calories that are recommended by experts to maintain weight for normal people. Like my recommendation is for 2100 calories. I really don't want to gain anything and I'm just beginning to worry. My husband is getting VSG on July 9 and I feel like I'll lose more helping him eat the right things.:001_tt2:

Apparently, for years I have carried my own chair cushion on my butt. Mass transit, seats at the ballpark, concerts on horrible folding chairs--all were tolerable. Well, today I went to a training and there were these awful molded plastic seats and within an hour I was squirming and shifting from cheek to cheek. How do skinny people stand this? It hurts! Don't the makers of these chairs know that they are uncomfortable? Will my butt bones get callused eventually, or should I go buy a for-real cushion to bring with me to these sorts of events?

I am almost 5 months out. On Thanksgiving I calculated all my foods online so that I could partake but not go overboard. Yes, my carbs were high that day, but my overall calorie count was only 20 or so higher than normal. I am up two pounds. I'm so depressed about this. How is this possible? In 5 months I have had stalls and maybe a 1/4 lb wavering before a drop, but never a gain. Two pounds. I work out 5 days a week; 20 minutes elliptical, a complete weights circuit. Don't tell me to up the exercise, my circumstances and time capacity barely allow for this much. At 5 months out I should have lost 100 pounds. I have been so faithful, a model patient, and thi…

I just came back from my check-up and I have lost little weight, so the “program” isn’t working for me. I left the doctor’s office crying after trying to explain about my IBS issues and why I cannot eat in the mornings. Right away the doctor wanted to blame me and he picked me apart in his office until I broke down and laughed at me. I asked him to help work the program around me rather than me for the program since not everyone is the same. I was humiliated and now I just don’t care anymore. I cannot get a physician to help with my nerve pain from a previous surgery that a doctor messed up on so I can exercise and I am tired of buying the expensive food, Vitamins, emotio…

I am 5 days post op. I'm doing the liquid thing. But now I'm starting to grow white fur on my tongue. Does this sound familiar to any of you? Please help!!!!

I was sleeved on March 28 and i still get pain when i drink or eat (pureed) anything..This normal??? xoxo

OK I FINALLY made it to this section YAYYYYY... 13.2 lbs. to a normal BMI and NO LONGER OVERWEIGHT???, say whaaaat????? 23.2 lbs. to my ultimate GOAL

So hereI am again ... bothering the hell out of you amazing supportive people but please bare with me again! so the decision have been made!! I am going to have a sleeve!! in 3 weeks may be 4 MAX as soon as the money is all there. Talked to my doctor and he just asked me to do some lab tests and other chest and cardio ones too. Also he told me I should go on a diet!! one week before my surgery!! I was like Doctor I have been on a diet forever! LOL he laughed back and he was like I dont wanna put u on a liquid diet for so long so you either go on a strict diet one week before the surgery or just have a liquid diet 4 days before the surgery! he knows liquid diet sucks w…

That's a scary thought after years of studiously avoiding them! I want to find a pretty one, seeing as she'll be my friend now!

For those of yall who have flown post-sleeve, how do you manage to take your protein with you? Is there a particular brand of RTD you're carrying or....? We're booked for WDW in November and I hope by then I won't need to worry about supplementing protein but just in case I'm trying to plan for it. Any suggestions or experience?

I was desperate last fall and having all kinds of health issues. I quite suddenly decided to not even try to get insurance approved surgery but go ahead and move forward with the self pay option. Consequently I did not include my family doctor in my decision. I decided that it was finally time to go back to him - I was due for some blood tests anyway. I was nervous as I had never discussed WLS with him before. To put it bluntly he said that I "made his day!" He was so impressed and happy for me that I had finally done something serious about my weight. He said that had I asked him he would of suggested it and even go as far as suggest the VSG over a bypass type su…

I am having my VSG surgery next week and have told very few people, husband, daughter, couple of friends and my boss. I see now that a lot of folks here have Facebook pages to keep track of their journey, post pictures and I love that idea. My problem is that 99% of my Facebook friends don't know and won't likely be told that I have had WLS. So...my question is...do any of you have second or separate Facebook accounts that are dedicated just to your weight loss journey? I am thinking about setting up a new email address and a new Facebook page that only my weight loss support system would be invited to (mostly you guys!). I'd feel comfortable posting my before and…

So I was curious what exactly the procedure will be like and I ran across this video on Youtube with great video and sound with the whole procedure explained in detail. I would not watch it is you are on the fence or are squeamish. I just happened to find it very interesting and wanted to share for those that would like to see as well.

Hi All! I was scheduled for a Band to Sleeve Revision on March 1 and postponed the surgery because my eldest child pitched a fit. I was not prepared for her reaction and just cancelled knowing full well that I would reschedule. I am not scheduled for May 3 and have told her about it. I need some support from you guys and some suggested replies to her. My new mantra is that I am not asking for permission but, I AM asking for support! Any other words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Even my 81 year old mom is behind me in this! Thanks in advance! Happy Weekend! Barb

Before I start the post, be advised that I am fully aware that I could be worried over nothing. I need your help judging that! I have been ghosting this site forever and started fully participating after my surgery March 1st. What I am noticing is that I have almost none of the difficulties others describe. More than that, I can often eat much more than what others post without discomfort. For example, this morning I had two eggs soft scrambled and that was perfect. I read about so many people who can barely eat one at this point in the recovery. I haven't had problems with any of the foods I have tried either. I mean NONE. I must have a teflon sleeve. Anyway, this…

When's your April sleeve surgery? Mine is April 18th with Dr. Tanaka in San Diego, CA

Hi All! My surgery is scheduled for November 11 and I'm starting the pre-op liquid diet on October 28th. I'm going into this very determined, but with very little support. I'm looking for someone to share ideas and thoughts with, via email, phone and text. I live in the midwest (Central time zone) and have Verizon for my phone carrier. If you're willing to help me out I'd be grateful. Thanks!

Ever since I got my VSG on 03/18/2011, I have received so many compliments on my skin and complexion (especially my face).. My cheeks have been rosy and my face just acquired a radiant healthy glow ever since about 2 days post op! Has anyone else experience healthier clearer looking skin and complexion since having VSG done? I wonder why this is???? Whatever the reason, I'm not complaining. I don't need as much make up anymore and with summer approaching that is a plus!

My Surgery is scheduled Dec 28th, which is Tuesday. I have been horrible with the pre op diet. Now I am nervous that I will have complications because of it. I guess I should have thought of this before now. I start my liquid diet tomorrow (48 hrs before surgery). I have 150+ pounds to lose to be at my ideal weight. Very long journey ahead of me. I know it is possible because I have followed some vsg's that had this kind of success, but I feel like I will be the person that stays fat. I am excited and nervous and I keep telling myself that after my surgery eating is something I will have control over. Is anyone else feeling like this?

Well he did it, but he talked only about lap band I went to his web site and left a comment about he the fact he really owes it to the public to review the pros and cons off ALL WL surgeries! I feel his show today did a dis service to public.

Ah I'm so tired of everyone at work telling me not to get the vsg surgery! No I'm not too young,I'm not making a mistakke and no its not your life to decide if I should get this surgery or not no matter how stupid they think it is. No one understands here that diet and exercise alone doesn't work for me wls is not just my first option I've tried everything sooo if I wanted everyone at work to have a input in what I should do then I would have asked =) just had to vent a little bit. Anyone else going through this?

Don't get me wrong, I love my sleeve, but I haven't had an entire hot meal since January 12. I cook my Protein, put it on the plate, sit down, take a little bite, chew, chew, chew, put down the fork, wait a minute, take another bite, and repeat the process. By about bite 3 the food is cooling and by bite 6 it's cold. If I eat too fast I get the foamies so I eat slowly. I have tried warming in the microwave but that just seems to dry the food out and overcook it. I have tried to get used to cold meals like shrimp and chicken salad, but sometimes I want to eat something piping hot. I think that's why I enjoy my morning coffee so much, it's HOT. Anyone else feel th…

I was in the chat room last night and the girls I talked to seemed happy to talk to someone who has been sleeved almost 2 years. I will leave the chat room window open while I read posts. I'll hear the door bell if you come in. come in and chat . The chat room is one of the best things at VST!