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My doctor said it is not so much the boogie size but it is how close the doctors staple to the boogie. He says he uses a 34 but staples out from the boogie.

body flucuates therefore only weight in the AM and in your undies!

The thing to remember is that if they were too many complications they would stop doing them. Also, many of the successful sleevers are never on forums. people are more likely to report the bad than they are the good. Or so it seems. Pray about it, research it more and try to do what your lead to do.

The thing to remember is that if they were too many complications they would stop doing them. Also, many of the successful sleevers are never on forums. people are more likely to report the bad than they are the good. Or so it seems. Pray about it, research it more and try to do what your lead to do.

also people go through major trauma and surgery all the time and live to everyones amazement. Then some healthy person goes into routine procedure and has major problems or even dies to everyones amazement. I think dying is not the worst of things, but living can be. Put your faith in Jesus and do the best you can and you will be fine. Follow your instincts and you'll do fine.
i also flip flop on the surgery but not b/c off the surgery but the major changes that come with it. mental prep ithink will be important as well as the faith you are making the right choices.I guess for all the PC'Rs out there, you can put your faith where and with whom you want and what you think helps and guides you, mines with the father, son, and holy ghost. have a great night!

congrats on your safe induction, surgery, and wake, and soon recovery!

My new surgery date! Had to cancel my July one as the bank wouldn't give me a loan boo to the bank! Bank manager said come back in 4 months and he'd be able to help me! Until then I'm saving like a mad women and have taken on a second job!! So want this surgery!!!
Jessica
Scotland

Ok I finally saw the dr and he agreed the band needeed to come out. Ok however he said if when he went in and removed th band if the foil didn't peel off then I wouldn't be able to get the sleeve. That at a later time I could get bypass. Told him I didn't want bypass. So now everything is set I was given a date of aug. 23 to remove band and get sleeve provideing all is good inside.
So now I feel how can I be happy and there's a chance I might wake up and have no sleeve. He said if the film doesn't peel. Off easy and it has to be forced he can bet id get a leak and he doesn't want that nor do I. I just feel unhappy. So all I can do is pray. Every1 say a prayer for me.

I want to be able to have just a bite of stuff. I don't want anything to be off limits. I truly enjoy food and want that to continue. I love to cook fresh, healthy stuff for my family. I'm not a baker and have never gone tooooo much for the sweet stuff. Unless it's ice cream. My problem is volume. I've always been a volume eater. I won't miss that at all!!!

you sound similar to many on the forum and give me doubts. But I bet in a week or 2 you will be happy you made the choice you did and I wishh you good luck.

you sound similar to many on the forum and give me doubts. But I bet in a week or 2 you will be happy you made the choice you did and I wishh you good luck.

I just want to re-iterate one point made above. When we're talking about gas pain being normal, we're not talking about intestinal gas (but there is some), but surgical gas.
When they are in there working, some air does go into the body cavity. They do try to 'squeeze' it out, but there is no way they are going to get it all. This air is trapped inside your body. The only way to get rid of it is for the body to absorb it. To aid in this effort, they recommend moving. Walking or whatever. It is painful and it will absorb eventually. How long will it take? It depends on the amount of air that was left. If the surgeon didn't do a good job of squeezing it out, then you may have more, hence, more pain longer.
Try to get walking and get your liquids in to help transport the air out of your system.
Let us know how it goes and good luck.
I know you've heard it, but it will get better.

I just got home and overall I am feeling ok. I could do without the gas in my chest but it was far better than what I expected. I am excited to start this journey.

Hello VSG family, today is the first time I have been on here since my surgery back in February. The first six weeks was horrid for me. I was in so much pain I literally broke down crying at least twice wishing I had never done this to myself. I was so frustrated with the amount of pain that I was in that I did not even feel like posting any updates on the forum or going out. I did all my walking in the house or backyard. I had not been to church either and I was not happy about that at all. So, on this particular Sunday pain and all I made myself get up and go to church. After church was over my Pastor prayed for me and when I woke up the next morning all my pain was gone!!!! I know that was nothing but the Lord. I have not had any pain since or vomit not even once. I am still not sure why I have not been on here before now but I just had a urge to post my testimony that maybe this will help someone else.
As of 06/27/2012, (I only weigh in on Wed which is the day of my surgery) I am 17 wks post op and is feeling good and doing great. The first time I visited my surgeon about having the surgery I weighed 224.8 lbs which was on 12/06/11. On the day of surgery I weighed 204.8 lbs (I had to loose 10% of my excess body weight before surgery). My current weight now is 165 lbs. Since Dec I have lost 58.8 lbs and 39.6 lbs since surgery. I can honestly say that having the surgery was the best thing I could have done for myself. I no longer have to use my CPAP and I am now up and enjoying life, like I should be.
Thank you God for healing me and to my VSG family for reading.

I am considering Dr kelly also and this is a great post and very motivating! Thanks!

This is my exact dilemma.

Back home safe and sound. Love dr.Garcia and other doctors but that is all good I have to say. Hotel was nice. Healing nice.

Sorry for your loss. The surgeons in Mexico are very experienced and fatalities are few and far between. Best wishes with whatever and whoever you chose. I'll be sleeved in 10 days. Mexico here I come, God place your protective spirit over me and all of your children stepping out on faith. Amen.

Hi there, sorry that it has taken me a while to reply- was out of town on business and consequently offline for most of the past few days. I honestly don't know who the surgeon was. Mostly because my sister's friend did the whole I'm doing this and not really telling anyone- so the details are a little sketchy. Havind said that, I am not sure if I did know that I would feel comfortable saying because I know less than nothing about the girls medical history and given the fact that ALL surgery has risk, I feel really strongly that I could be unfairly maligning a surgeon. I know this isn't a great answer and I'm sorry if I've caused any alarm for others on the site- it wasn't my intent. Thanks to all who offered information on surgeons in the US. It is very appreciated.

Hello VSGers. I have about 65-70 lbs to lose. I am tall, so my BMI is 35, and people would probably look at me and think I am overweight, but maybe not morbidly obese. I barely qualify, but insurance is approving. From my reading of posts, this is less than the average amount of excess weight for VSGers. I am 90% sure I'll be having the surgery, but now I am having thoughts that this is too "drastic" for me. I don't really feel that way, but I am concerned. I know I can't lose the weight myself (been there done that through a lifetime). I also see myself getting bigger and bigger if I don't take action now.
If you were a low BMI'er like me, could you share your experinence with me? Has it been worth it? Have you gotten too skinny? Has the drastic change with your relationship with food been worth the medical side of this surgery? Thanks for sharing!
Shan

Self pay in the US for VSG in Sept 2010. Only you can choose - what base criteria are you using? I live in SoCal, so Mexico would have been an easy decision. I choose a US surgeon so I could have immediate contact with in person. I have seen my surgeon for follow ups. My incisions were less than with Dr. A. How VSG surgery was done was different than Dr A. Additionally my one year appointment with my surgeon was almost a full hour - one on one with him. Dr Q was truly interested in my ongoing success. I was not just another person done and out the door. At that year out, my doc chewed me out for eating too much sugar. Procedure (outpatient, no morphine ((I had pain meds but never needed since no pain)), no catheder, no staples, etc), technique (less incisions, no drain, sleeve internal sutures), follow up, less scars and aftercare was critical factors in my decision. Plus my PPO pays for all of my follow up visits and blood work.
All doctors have dirt. Not implying that Dr A does sub par work or that a lot of VST people aren't happy with him, but Dr. A is not a god. But on the flip side...VSG results of many of my friends on here are the same as with a US surgeon. In the back of my mind I kept thinking...what if something had gone wrong, what then?

Dr lavin in louisiana told me the carbonated drink stretching the sleeve was BS and an old wives tale. But who knows?

Dr lavin in louisiana told me the carbonated drink stretching the sleeve was BS and an old wives tale. But who knows?

Dr. James Davidson in Dallas, TX was $11,000 for two night stay and 1 year follow up! He is awesome and prayed with me and my husband before going onto surgery... A bonus in my books!

Dr borland does them for 9800 in louisiana, gaschassin and eschete do them for 11500 in louisiana, dr lavin is 13600 also in louisana.