iegal

HA HA - if I could have lost the weight without surgery for long term results, I certainly would have. Have you failed at diets often only to regain the weight, repeatedly? This is not about lack of will power or the lack of strength to avoid food. Without my sleeve, my health would have gone downhill rapidly. Sure, I was lower BMI than you but every year that BMI ticked up just a little more, putting me at higher risk for serious health issues. Your wife sounds like she adores you and is worried. Have her read the success stories, look at before/after pictures and NSV (non scale victories). Reassure her you are not doing this to change for the sake of physical appearance alone but are choosing to take a small calculated risk to get healthy for the family and yourself. She is a major partner for your success. Find her true concern(s) and address it with her.

If you haven't ever had surgery before then you might not understand. Nothing like a c-section, heck I would do VSG over a c-section anyday. I did this surgery as an outpatient procedure so I did not have a nurse standing over me 24 hours a day like many report. Every person is different and feels different after surgery. So what can you know will be true? You need to prepare yourself that you will not be back to "normal" practices that first week. Life will be different emotionally and physically. Hormones change, your appitite changes and your energy level will change. For several days you won't be jumping up thinking "okay - off to Target for kids to purchase a bday present that your son needs today by 11AM. Next while out I will grab a combo meal at McDonalds before I must grocery shop for dinner party tonight." What you will be thinking is possibly - "Yikes, why did I do this? Why am I so tired? Ugh, no I don't want to drink anything. Walk around again? Was that my stomach making that noise?" Any minor discomfort, disruption in nomal routines, emotional meltdown was 100% worth it. I have no regrets on being sleeved.

Good advice so far and I lived in a recliner for about the first week. Heating pad, oh yes that was really good too. How about adding in G2 gatorade or Power Zero drinks to sip often at room tempature from a small glass. Cold made my stomach ache. These will help you keep hydrated well. Used a kitchen timer to make sure I was sipping every 15 minutes. Really important to your health to stay hydrated. Wear really loose clothing with a draw string pants to go home in. Slip on non skid shoes. A shirt you do not have to pull on over your head. Hook in front bra. Do you have sleeve post op instructions printed out from your surgeon? I read a lot about my sleeve that first week. Google VSG diet plan. Cornell has a good one along with many others. I do not recommend having a lot of protien on hand since your tastes change after surgery. I threw away hundreds of dollars of Protein that I could not gag down. So maybe something for a week and then you can explore. Personally did not worry about protein intake for the first week and then slowly worked up to goal of 70 grams. Isopure clear 40gram protein from GNC, apple melon only was my final choice. Did you know there is a thread on here of what other people recommend. Check it out at http://www.verticals...surgery-thread/ Nikki, good luck to you. I should have filled up my DVR first like you.

Hi Tough Texan; You are tough, because you can admit you are scared. Totally normal response. This is elective surgery with minimal risks. You have done your homework, researched your surgeon, VSG surgery with pro's and con's. This surgery will change your life. Not always an easy road walk as you will be relearning how to eat, drink and reevaluate your lifelong relationship with food. Good news - you need to turn that fear into excitement. Since you played sports, you know you can use that adrenaline for good. Think of this as the weeks before a start of a new season. You will go through hell week...aka your pre-op diet. Then you will practice often to learn new skills over and over until you know them by heart without consciously thinking about making a move. You will slow down when you eat, you will chew 20 times before swallowing. You will diligently watch to make sure you are hydrated well. You will take supplements’ to ensure you are healthy. Be thrilled that you can win by a big (weight) loss with the sleeve.

Looking for an update. Are you feeling any better at over a week out? Still have nausea?

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Hello; I was a VSG outpatient with the NEW program for surgery. Are you staying overnight? Dr. Quebbemann, Dr. Chin or Dr. Braverman? To all you newbies, there is a great thread of what to take to hospital on this site under General Sleeve Surgery Discussions. Here is link. http://www.verticals...surgery-thread/ Tips: Wear loose clothing. I wore a zip up jacket so I did not need to pull anything over my head. A bra that snapped in front so I did not need extra help to dress. Pants with a draw string, no elastic around waist or waitband since you might be bloated from gas. Slip on shoes are a must and no high heels. HA HA At home: I love the idea of a heating pad post op as this tip helped me out a lot. Also, try sipping drinks at room tempature. I drank refrigerated G2 gatorade (zero calorie/surgarless) and that was not easy, but room tempature really made a difference. Prefill your perscriptions, if any. chicken noodle broth...diluted and strained. Any taste besides those nasty sweet Protein shakes were welcome. A spouse who is willing to sleep in another bed for a few days since he tosses often. Don't recommend stocking up on a whole bunch of protien items. Many report a change in taste, so what you like now you might not be able to tolerate or gag down post op. I threw away so many prepurchased protien drinks. Save yourself some $ if you have someone who is willing to run to the store for you. Check out stores that have things you can drink for the first couple of phases. Good luck to you all! I have no regrets besides knowing I should have done this sooner.

Me too - but back in Sept 2010. Would choose same surgeon again, and again. Happily living at goal.

Go to members and send a message to twoboysandagirl I believe she had her surgery done there. Oh - and she is at goal too!

Good advice from above. Your therapist needs therapy or to retake some courses. On here you receive a wide breadth of information, relating with newbies, just been sleeved or experienced sleevers. We have different surgeons, different genders, different affiliations, different frame of references but what we do share in common is our desire to be healthy and also be in normal BMI range. We can empathize and share with each other. You are a grown adult who can self filter out obvious bad information or advice. Think you reading these posts will not do damage to you.

I think you need to read your two favorite quotes...over and over. Yes, reaction is completely normal as you are having an optional surgery. Suggest you write down why you want this surgery and why you need this surgery. Be honest, putting down shopping in junior section is okay. Next, since you are new to site, read some of the NSV (non scale victory) posts by scrolling down. These are my sleeve brother and sisters getting excited over more than just a pound weight loss on the scale. Be excited, a new you is close at hand - insert your two favorite quotes please here. I love my sleeve and have no regrets. Best wishes and keep us posted.

Agree you are making a wise choice by sticking to your diet plan and not adding the fruit. Point of diet is to shrink liver so your surgeon has better access to your stomach with out any complications like a laceration. Sorry to tell you that IMO the preop diet does not get any better. I suffered horribly but never cheated. Worth every second of gut wrenching hunger during those long days and nights. Little did my stomach know that its days were numbered. Countdown to a new you. Good luck!

Thanks for the giggles.

Thanks for reminding us how important it is to stay hydrated. We need to get around 64oz of non caffinated liquids a day. Did you know low blood pressure is a side effect of not drinking Water? Think is why you can be lethargic. Glad to hear you didn't have major complications...like surgery. Hope you are feeling better and drinking often.

Hmmm. I believe the stomach is swollen from surgery. I too had a problem getting in my liquids. Was lucky to get in 30oz a day for that first week.. I used a shot glass 2nd week to keep track of intake and still had to force myself to sip from it during every 15 minutes. Not doing research as well as you beforehand, I also tried to drink cold Water. Room tempature watter or tepid decaf tea was much easier. Adaption is what you need to get through those first couple of weeks. You learn what works and what doesn't. Now I am able to get in 64oz without an issue although I still do not chug down liquids as I used to prior to surgery. Keep up the great questions - the more you ask, the better prepared you will be.

Although I was never banded, there are many on this site who were banded and now are sleeved. You may want to scroll down a little and find that forum for additional support. Almost all of us have second thoughts, questioning "what am I doing?" Optional surgery is a choice. Many write a list of why they want surgery and what are the benefits. I have a new life without complications. Now I can do so many things that I would never have even thought of before. I hike without getting a rash on my inner thighs. No longer have to wear shorts under my skirts for the same reason. I buy clothes off the rack. I share meals when dining out and save a boat load of money. I feel better about myself. People treat me differently. I am healthy. I go to the gym more often. I stand in front when getting my picture taken, not behind someone. I am not always behind the camera. My children hug me in public more often. My mom thinks I am too thin, since I am her size now. My dad is proud of my ability to keep the weight off. I have a chin...not three. What else can you add? The new you is just around the corner. I have no regrets - except maybe not getting this done earlier.

Even though you will be making adjustments after sugery your choice to have VSG is best for your health and the changes ahead. Am glad you are going through the emotions of what is happening to you. I cried real tears in front of a cheap all you can eat buffet about 1 month after surgery. Why? It wasn't really good food to begin with so why was I so upset? VSG forces to face your relationship with food. At almost nine months out, I am still a foodie, can eat almost all types of food (ethnic, spicy, dairy, sweet) without problems like bypass/banders - but now, I just eat less and am fully satisfied. The sleeve is a miracle for my life. Surgery is tomorrow right? Thrilled for you.

I am a totaly baby and avoid pain at all costs. My DH laughs at me when I tell him I am a "tough" woman. Ha So - I have had both a c-section and been sleeved. No comparision. Would have a sleeve surgery over rather than that c-section. I felt no pain from the surgery, really none. Some minor discomfort and could not sleep on my side for about a week. Only took my pain meds once and that was so I would sleep at night since my sleep patterns were switched. My surgery was outpatient procedure and I was home that night. Never had a drain, catheder, pain pump or morphine. I believe your pain depends upon your surgeon. What is his normal procedure to minimize your discomfort? Tell surgeon up front you are concerned and what can he preauthorize to help aleviate your concern. Good luck - I love my sleeve!

Thank you for the post and giggles. Guess we all need to think about our "new" style seriously.

Good luck EJ; You are in our prayers. Be sure to keep us posted on your recovery.

Dear Undecided; You have a great list of "what you do know" and "what you don't know" but I am confused. Your firrst is "I don't want to have surgery" Question = if you do not want surgery then why are you seeing a surgeon? What do you want? Stop - really think about this. What I read from your statements: You want to lose a significant amount of weight You want to be healthy You don't want to rush into anything You mention you can do this without surgery, so take the next year and really give it a good shot. If you can do it, you will lose the weight and keep it off. But tell youself if you do not lose the weight in that year and fail yet again, that you are going to schedule surgery to save yourself from you. Get of the rollercoaster and take charge. Surgery or not, you can have all three items above. Your choice on how you accompllsh the tast ahead. I have no regrets, except I wish I would have done had VSG surgery earlier. Good luck!

You look wonderful and must be thrilled with your weight loss. I could see the difference easily but most impressive is how your smile in post pic shows the smile in your eyes.

Now why didn't I think of that? Thanks for sharing!

Well, I am almost 9 months out and life is very different than from where you newly sleeved people are living today. I love food. I love the smell, texture, presentation of food and well as the taste. Ethnic food, YUM. Down home southern goodness food - YUM. Being sleeved does not mean I have given up food. I still love food and subscribe to several food magazines. I still cook. Now I am satisfied with a smaller portion. The smell does not tempt me because I eat more slowly and slow down to enjoy the taste. While others are shoveling in as fast as they can, I am smelling, chewing slowly and savoring. Don't worry, being sleeved does not mean you give up anything, except the large dining out bill. I now share a meal with my DH and we are both happy. Half the cost, same pleasure. Only all you can eat buffets (food was never great there anyway) are a waste. Things only get better. Congrats on your sleeve, don't fret, life as a VSG is good.

Sounds like you have had a rough start. Re: gallbladder - over 33% of all WLS patients need to have their gallbladder removed. This is one of the side effects of rapid weight loss. My surgeon perscribed pills to help prevent gallbladder attacks for the first three months. Think the generic name is Urisol? Happy to report, event though I prescheduled gallbladder removal surgery in Jan 11 (VSG in Sept 2010) I cancelled it since I had no ill effects. Hope you have a smoother recovery from here on out.