emily_0192010

Thanks for letting us know I hope everything is going well!

That is awesome! I can tell you are super excited! It will be here before you know it!

You must be so excited! It will be here before you know it Congrats!

"The sleeve" they are referring to is the stomach itself. In this surgery you're stomach is cut and a large portion of it is removed. The stomach that is left roughly is the shape of a banana and looks like a sleeve. It works because it restricts the amount you can it. Many people chose this over the band because there is no foreign object in the body. You definitely came to the right place for information! Good luck on your journey Maybe you will be on the losers bench soon

In my instructions it said that we could have soda but that some people might not tolerate it. It was also suggested to pour it over ice to help break up some of the carbonation. So I would say that you are fine to have some soda, once in a while.. in small amounts!

I haven't heard it worded that harshly before. It makes sense though because before your body puts on weight the extra fat is stored first in your liver, and then once the liver is "full" it is transported and deposited around the body. So if you gained weight before surgery that is a big "red light" to your surgeon's that your liver isn't at it's healthiest and they aren't going to risk surgery. Nicking the liver would be very, very bad so that is why they are so strict about it. As for the diet, I have been on a low carb (under 30g/day) and high Protein "diet" for the last 4 months (part of my physician supervised) and I lost about 1-2 pounds a week. It wasn't a huge amount but it was consistent. Good luck!

It is so relieving to read that despite what you went through you would still do it all again! You look so happy in your after photo

I am going to repeat what someone else said "great positive attitude"!! I think a lot of people forget that doctors are people too! Things happen that they can't control. I am also impressed that your surgeon called you himself and didn't have his office staff do it. I know it must stink to have to wait, but at least your surgeon seems to be very caring and responsible!

My surgeon and his partner and both very pro-low carb. The thing with sugar is that it does not matter where it comes from. Whether it is from fruit or ice cream our body processes it the same. All of those extra carbs get converted into fat. I would stay away from anything that has that high of a carb count! You will get the nutrition you need from the foods you will be allowed to eat. In the meantime you will take a multivitamin just to make sure all of your bases are covered.

Hello! Well I was going to say that we have the same date but you switched on me I bet you are thrilled! I almost wish that would happen for me, but it wouldn't work out with my job and my mom's job. We are also very similar in STAT's... I am 5'2" and my numbers are almost dead on with yours! Good luck and keep us updated

I was not required to lose any weight. I lost 21 lbs on my 3 months of physician supervised diet. I think i've lost more since then, but I don't have an official number yet. The pre-op for my surgeon is very low carb for 2 weeks before and then clears the day before surgery. I start my pre-op on Wednesday (though I've been doing the low-carb thing for a few months now, so it isn't going to be any different, i'm just going to be more strict with it.) so I am hoping to have lost at least another 6 lbs. That would get me to 10% lost.

Hmmm, I haven't had my pre-op yet either, mine is on 9/7, but it is going to take about that length of time as well. From what I've heard my surgeon just talks about the surgery, asks/answers any questions, and talks about the pre-op diet and the post-op diet. They probably also tell you to expect to be there that long in case the surgeon is running late or something like that... If you find out more please share!

I *love* this thread!! It is so inspiring and it never fails to make me smile I can't wait to add some of my own!

I thought of another one to add I am going to ask about alcohol.... in the future of course (since my surgeon knows that I am not yet 21... but I will be soon and I want to know what is and is not allowed). The size of a straw seems to be more what the size of the bougie is. They put that inside the stomach and cut around it, so you will be a bit bigger than the straw. I know my surgeon uses a 42, cuts tight to it (some surgeons just use it as a guide) and then oversews the staple line... he said it was about the size of his pointer finger... which is about the size of my middle finger. I still don't know how we fit anything in there!! Especially at first when it is swollen :/ But apparently it is done!

Hello! No, I didn't go through Novus Centers. I went to a Seminar at Memorial (I live fairly close to it) and I was happy with the surgeon there. I have heard good things about Dr. Webb though! Congrats I can't wait to be sleeved!

Hey everyone! I am glad to read about so many Floridians doing so well I am super excited! I am being sleeved on 9/19! Pre-op I have lost 21 pounds officially. I am using Dr. Pinnar through Memorial in Jacksonville.

You totally rock!! You are doing amazing, I just hope I do half as well as you!

You are amazing!! You are going to do great!! You are about to be on the loser's bench! Can't wait to hear about how you did!

Yay! Isn't it exciting? Mine is on the 19th... every time I see someone else announce their date it is like receiving mine over and over again! It still doesn't feel real yet though. I am oddly very calm about the whole thing.

No problem!! I love getting back feedback from other people Hopefully more people will chime in eventually. I have already made quite the list just from browsing around on here. I posted this thread to see if there were any I missed! Some of the other questions I have are: - What do you use to form the sleeve (not all surgeons use bougies) - What do you do to prevent leaks - How long should I expect to be off of work? - When can I resume exercise? - When can I bathe/swim? When can I swim laps (versus just hanging out and taking it easy) - After the surgery will you go out to the waiting room and talk to my mom? - Is there anything after surgery, immediately after and long term, that I am not allowed to have (certain foods, drinks, meds, etc.) - My surgeon uses a drain so how long will it be in for and how do I take care of it? I'm sure there are more as well! Luckily I know a couple people who used the same surgeon so if I should forget something I have a backup

I have already asked this one My doctor hasn't actually done that many, but he was up front and honest with me and has been doing bariatric surgery for many, many years so I feel comfortable with him doing the surgery. Thanks for the suggestion though!

WOW! You look amazing Such an inspiration!

I am on the 19th!! Thank you for starting this list

So glad to hear that you are doing well!! Thanks for sharing

Before I chose to have the sleeve the permanency was one of the big factors that I had to consider. I knew that the sleeve was "new"... but I am a med junkie (pre-med student and obsessed since I was little...) and I also knew that people had gastrectomy's for many other reasons and have had them for a very long time. People with stomach cancer are a good example. They live normal lives. They have to adjust their eating of course, but no sudden complications have popped up for them over time. That set my nerves to rest. Yes it is new. Yes it is permanent. But guess what? The sleeve is ONLY new to BARIATRIC surgery. Look up " long term results gastrectomy's" on google or something. Good luck and stop being so scared! You made the right decision for you!