Fallenangel2904

Interesting. I remember years ago when I was researching RNY there was mention of a procedure like this that was still experimental. I'm guessing this is the official procedure, I wonder how this would work on VSG patients, since the sleeve is a totally different shape from the RNY stomach. I also wonder if insurance would pay for this procedure. Very interesting!

Wondering if there is any update too...

A few other random things about fit that might be helpful to folks loosing weight. The shoulder seam of a shirt or jacket should always be at the top of the shoulder. If it's further down your arm the garment is too large. The cuff of your shirt or blazer should be where your wrist watch would be. If your jacket cuff covers the top of your hand it's too big, or if it shows your wrist watch when your arm is relaxed at your side (if you don't wear a watch just imagine where one would be lol) then the garment is too small. Pants- if we're talking dress pants... the hem of the bottom of your pants should never touch the ground- if it is it's too long. And the pants should never revel the top of your shoe. The pants should cover the top of the shoe and just come a smidge above the bottom of the back of the shoe. Just some random tips that may help someone out (or might not lol) but I think my professors would be proud to know I actually paid attention in my classes lol

I'm still pre op but it's a common misconception that loose clothes make you look smaller. It's actually the opposite, clothes that show the natural curve of your body (In a flattering way- obviosuly not a spandex bodysuit that's 2 sizes too small lol) but things that accentuate your waist actually make you look smaller. If you're wearing something that hangs on you, you will loose the shape of your body under the clothes and it makes you look larger. There are rules to fashion, I know they can be confusing lol. With pants (a dress slack especially) you don't want it loose in the butt. There are diferent cuts to different types of pants though (wide leg for instance) which will 'skim' the butt and continue straight down the leg, that is not tight in the butt area. That cut can be good for someone with a larger butt who wants to make it look smaller. Generally though, you want the pants to hug your tush (no baggy booty) but not so tight that they fit you like your skinny jeans. (fashion major, I can't help myself lol)

I did that program back when I was in high school actually. It didn't work too well for me because I was in school at the time and it was tough to eat like the program required. I often wonder how many people on these infomercials KEEP the weight off! It must be terrible to be reminded of it Its really easy to gain weight back after diet programs like this. I did weight watchers a few years ago, lost about 80lbs and gained it all back too. That's why with the sleeve it's a permenant tool that will help us not to slip back to over eating and making the choices that we did pre surgery.

That's a really crappy answer from the doctor! Did you call your PCP? Is the pain still present? If its still there and its bad you might want to think about going to the ER. Something ripping could be bad, its better safe then sorry!

I'm still pre op but that does not sound normal. You're very early post op and shouldn't be throwing up. What kind of diet are you on- liquids, pureeed etc? I'm worried it could be blood in your vomit or something along those lines. PLEASE call the surgeon's office or go to the ER if you have to!

I'm still pre op but this is worrying me bleh. I already do loose a bit of hair since I bleach the crap out of it and have been doing so for years on and off. It's currently very blonde and I'm thinking after surgery I might need to dye it a darker color because the hair loss from surgery PLUS the regular hair loss I experience as a blonde would probably leave me bald Ahh!

Actually VSG was originally designed for patients with a higher BMI. It was designed as a 'pre surgery' for high risk patients before having the RNY procedure so they could come down in weight first. From what I've heard from several surgeons RNY is actually tougher to perform on patients with a high BMI then VSG. VSG was designed as a way to effectivly get the patient to a 'safe weight' so they could have RNY. Doctors then began to see that VSG patients were loosing a lot of weight on their own and didn't even need the second surgery so they began introducing it as a stand along surgery. Just a little info Anyway, to the OP, I really hope you are able to get approved! I'm surprised that at a weight of 420 you would be told you're too big when there have been patients over 500+ who have had VSG with sucess. I think it probably does have more to do with the facility as mentioned. Fingers crossed for you!

That is a great tip! Thanks!! I'm still pre op so this is something I will def try!

I would think it would be okay as long as your not eating too much of it, more of a filler but still getting in your protein, keeping it low carb etc, Since the noodles really don't have any nutrional value in the way of protein or anything probably wouldn't want to eat them all the time either.

Thanks Carol! I'll definitly look there! I love Whole Foods, we have a bunch here in NYC (though their prices can be high on certian things) but they have great stuff. My ex was a health food nut so he got me into them. You might be able to find the noodles online too!

Thanks guys! I have to look for the tofu noodles! I remember seeing them on Hungry Girl before (Love her!) and I had never heard of them so I'll have to look around- maybe Whole Foods? Sleeve of steel- LOL love the name! I hope I'm able to still tolerate Pasta eventually. Just to be able to have it once in a while- being Italian I'm pretty much 75% made up of pasta LOL.

Verticle sleeve party haha I love it! Actually there are a lot of NYers in the NY group/threads- It would be awesome if we could have a meetup at some point!

Hey all! I'm still pre op, but after doing a ton of research I know carbs are a big no no post op. I've read things such as bread, Pasta, rice etc aren't well tolerated after surgery. I can give up bread and rice, but I'm freaking out about pasta. I'm Italian, I can't help it lol. I probably make pasta in some way shape or form at least 2-3 times a week. I could REALLY use some pasta-ish ideas for post op (down the line of course) that I could use that would make me feel less like I'm giving it up completly. I've thought of things like spagetti squash, I've seen the tofu noodles (not sure of the name?) and I saw on the Eggface blog about zuccini pasta. Anyone tried any of these things? Any specific recipies for them?

This was heart breaking. Left me in tears. I really feel for him, A few years ago I dropped a lot of weight via Weight Watchers and I felt amazing....putting it back on (and then some) was so tough emotionally and physically. You feel like a failure. I can't imagine dropping that amount of weight only to regain. I wish him a lot of luck! That is exactly why i need the VSG too- loosing the weight is doable, but regaining is so easy, I need the help of surgery to keep it off.

Yeah I think the va jay jay lift is a seperate procedure from the pubic lipo- the lift is done a lot of times with a tummy tuck. I've seen some neat before and after pics of it (Thanks Google for always fulfilling my curiosity!) The lipo is done I guess in cases where its less of a saggy va jay, and more just residual fat left over. God I love the openness of this convo!

Haha I love this question (I can't help it, I'm slightly inappropriate as it is) lol. Well I don't know about the inner workings changing...but I've been a fat girl forever, and I've noticed a common 'trait' if you will among big girls is a large 'mons pubis' - yes it's gonna get a little TMI- sorry boys! The mon pubis is that area where the pubic hair grows, and in a lot of big girls that part Is more fatty then regular size woman. I've always had an extra fatty bit down there. When I was younger I thought I was a freak of nature until I met other big girls and was able to compare notes lol. But that area will likely go down after weight loss from what I've heard (I'm pre op also so this is only hear say lol) I've heard that some ladies don't actually loose that fat pad much and wind up needing pubic liposuction (yes that's a thing lol) I'm hoping I loose some of it because in scared it will be noticeable and stick out and people may think I'm 'packing heat' or something LOL this whole ost was TMI, my appologies lol

Wow super speedy for you guys that's awesome! I have my fingers crossed for a similiar time frame, but I'll just be happy to have it at this point- I just get super antsy once I get my mind set on something I want it NOW lol.

Hey everyone! I'm new here. I went to a seminiar for my surgeon back in Appril and I have my initial consult with my surgeon on the 18th, very excited to get the ball rolling! I wanted to just get a general idea here- because I know every surgeon is different and It's all I'm sure taken us different lengths of time to go through things- but on average, how long did it take you from time of your initial consult to have surgery? I know if a 6 month diet is involved it will be longer, and waiting for insurance approval can be a long annoying process, but I'm interested in seeing how long it took for everyone and get an 'average' going. I've seen the amount of time vary greatly over a lot of what I've read and I'm just curious. Can't wait to get all my pre op stuff started!

Hey all! I see there are a lot of Bronxites here- how awesome! I'm from The Bronx as well, 23 years old. I'm going through Jacobi Hospital in The Bronx- still in the early pre op steps. It would be AWESOME to eventually get a group of NYC folks together for a meetup! I could really use some local 'sleeve friends' lol since most of my friends really don't understand wanting surgery. Having support here is really great!

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I do think 12 is too young. Though at 12 I admit I was morbidly obese, I can't remember a time I wasn't obese. I think WLS could be an option for younger people if it is extreme. I've looked into WLS since I was 14 which was far too young to qualify. I think 12 is a bit too young though, unless it is life threatening. I'm not sure most 12 year olds would fully grasp what it takes to make the life style changes to be sucessful with WLS and now hurt themselves. This might go against the crowd though, but I do think WLS- especially the sleeve could be helpful in helping extremly overweight teens or youngersters who have life threatening problems, as mentioned the 11 year old who suffered a heart attack. It's really scary to be so exteamly overweight and so young (I was probably around 300lbs by the age of 13) so I understand.

Hey Beba. I'm not sure about the 6 month approval letter. I've only been to the seminar at this point and when I asked them about my insurence they told me that the 6 month diet isn't required....so I guess I'll see when I go on the 18th and talk to the surgeon! Congrats on doing the endoscopy! I'm scared of that procedure lol. Your almost there! I hope you get your date soon!

Yay awesome that you got through the 6 month diet!! I know how you feel, I've been over weight my whole life, I've yo-yoed with my weight but still never got anything close to a 'normal' weight. Super excited for you too! Good luck at your appointment, hopefully you get a date soon! I have Health First. They told me at my seminar (I talked to the nurse practicioner) most private insurences require the 6 month diet. Either way though, the time will pass one way or another. I was reading your posts and see you have your seminar in a few days- good luck!! I'm really excited and anxious to get to my appointment so I can just start all of this already!

Nope no date yet, I see my surgeon on 18th to really start things. I went to a seminar back in April for his office but they had a super long wait so I'm just getting to see him now. So hopefully I can get things moving once I see him! I was told I wouldn't need to do a 6 month diet or anything, so hopefully the pre op stuff will go by fast! Are you post op Tracey?