TijuanaPlication

I wore flight socks for 2 weeks post op (I hated the surgical stockings) and my doc was OK with me doing a 45 min flight 4 days out. I did a 10+ hour flight 10 days after my op and he was fine with that too - but he wouldn't have been happy with me taking such a long flight any sooner. As pumpkin07 says, it's good to check with the doc, which is what I did.

Bummer - I thought most sleevers were OK with this. I feel the same!

It's been 8 weeks and I'm trying to do WW, but am really struggling as I just get too hungry. It really doesn't feel much different to doing WW before I had the op.

I had 6 incisions. 5 are the norm but I had adhesions, so they had to do an extra one. The adhesions weren't related to anything in particular, some people just have them I'm told. Another guy who had surgery at the same time as me had 7, as he had a hernia.

Dr Lopez Corvala did mine. Maybe the pouch wasn't made small enough, maybe he did that coz my BMI pre surgery was 'only' 30. It sucks when you 'fail' at WLS, but I'm trying my best to stay positive, as that's gotta be how the bandsters felt pre-conversion.

I got needles filled with anti-coagulant through OK. They did cut off the lock on my case (probably due to the needles). Just have a spare lock in case the same happens to you. I flew (45 min flight) 4 days after my op but only had the plication, so hopefully you'll be fine a week afterwards.

So sorry to hear this. You sound in pretty good spirits though and I'm glad you're well enough to at least be on line. Hopefully this will all be over very soon and will be nothing more than a memory. Wishing you all the very best for a speedy recovery and keep us posted.

You're really early out so having gas pains is normal. Mine manifested themselves as pain in my shoulder mostly and I still had the occasional twinge of pain up to 4 weeks out. You shouldn't really be experiencing much hunger 2 days out though. It could be acid as that could feel like hunger - are you taking an antacid? If not speak to your doc about it and give it a try and that may well do the trick for you. Good luck!

Congrats. Don't go for the band, read some of Tiffykins or Lilmissdiva's posts as they converted FROM the band to the sleeve. The band has too many issues like erosion, slippage and overfills with people not able to even swallow their own saliva. Just do lots of research and all the best!

I used to swallow a lot of air in the first week or two when drinking. I think that was due to everything being swollen, but it subsided eventually. Hang in there - you'll be right as rain soon and you'll half forget about the early days!

BTW this person here http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?showtopic=12850 did suffer a complication. Whilst VSG complications are probably a lot more prevalent than GPS complications, I think the hospital looks for them more as they're a bit more expected. Tiffykins suffered a leak (although the band had eroded her stomach as conversions are more risky), but she came through and she totally advocates the sleeve.

Hi amw, what you're feeling is totally normal as I also thought why don't I try harder, but as you rightly say only ~5% dieters succeed. Sadly GPS hasn't really helped me apart from the first 4 weeks. Now that I'm fully recovered I get just as hungry as before and it really doesn't restrict me volume-wise. I'm 2 months out and feel saddened at this as this is obviously a self-pay procedure. There's another girl on here who's 6 months out who also had GPS who is the same. I have heard the same of one VSGer so it's not to say that it doesn't happen with that too, but I think it's a lower percentage, as there are A LOT more VSGers out there than GPSers. With VSG I think you have better revision possibilities too (DS conversion, or ROSE technique which has limited success but some success nevertheless). I wouldn't rule VSG out. Just keep reading and keep posting both here and on other forums and find out as much as you can, so you can make the most informed choice you possibly can. Sorry if I've thrown you a curve ball, but I wanted to be honest - as most people that struggle probably keep it to themselves due to shame. FYI I started at a BMI of 30 and have dropped to 28 and now I don't feel any different to before re appetite. Anyway, I wish you every success with whatever you go for and hope you'll keep posting.

No complications, but the surgery didn't help with my hunger and it's not really restricting the amount I can eat. I really don't feel much different to before the surgery I'm afraid (apart from the first 4 weeks really when I did lose 16lbs).

I've read of one VSGer on this forum that didn't really lose. I can't remember her name I'm afraid, the surgery didn't help her with restriction or her hunger, but I've not read too many VSGers with this issue. I guess most are likely to keep it to themselves if they're not doing well, as nobody wants to advertise lack of success.

I literally had maybe a couple of onions that I didn't strain out well and was OK with them, but I'd really try and hold until you're officially allowed them.

Any surgery carries risk and VSG may carry a little more initial risk than the band, but in general the outcomes seem to be a lot better. Check out the revision boards on OH and you'll get to read about a lot of unhappy bandsters. Have a look at some of Tiffykins posts on here too as she has no love for the band. Most people seem to say (including the ones that had complications) say they'd do it again (check out Curtis Vlog on youtube). Your husband is just concerned about you and you just need to do your best to re-assure him. Remaining obese carries risk too after all. Good luck with everything!

I used to chew everything until it was puree! To be honest I still do that even though I'm through the mushies stage.

Congrats on your success. BTW has anyone else been told no raw vegetables? It's a new one on me!

Stay the max they'll let you stay. I found it difficult putting socks and shoes on until day 4 or 5 as bending over that far hurt, although slippers and slip on footwear that you can get on easily may do the trick for you. Have lots of broth, etc, ready beforehand or get something that mixes up easily. My hubby did my anti-coagulant injections, so you might want help with that if you're anything like me (I am pretty squeamish about needles). Maybe just get someone on standby in case. A lot of people really sail through this, so you don't know if you'll be like that or more like me! All the best for you op!

All the best for the finance, surgery date and recovery. We look forward to hearing how you get on.

Thanks for such an inspiring post. I started at pretty much the same weight as you and am turning out to be a slow loser (am 2 months out), so your story and weight chart give me hope. The weight seems to just drop off most people on here, so thanks for sharing.

Sorry I didn't realise the subject was the name - duh! It says "as of January 1st, 2011, Made to Crave is no longer in operation" so does that mean it's no go? Not much seems to be working on there, due that I'm guessing.

Are you referring to WeighDown?

Yikes, that's scary!!

Only fizzy ones as far as I know. I think you'd have to be drinking really fast to stretch it with regular liquids. Eating to the point of vomiting will also increase the chances of your pouch being stretched.