deb_fox

When I went to the free seminar to learn about the different options, I learned how safe the sleeve is. Dr. Brathwaite said I was at a higher risk of dying from a complication due to being obese than from the surgery. He is right. I was borderline diabetic before my surgery on June 11, 2012. Now, 54 pounds lighter, all of my blood work came back perfect!! I don't think there is a single person who would consider having wls that hasn't tried every diet out there already. Bottom line, you need to do what is best for you and not let other people make you feel bad for your decision. Good luck!

My Surgeon required a 14 day pre-op liquid diet that consisted of Glucerna shakes and any clear liquids. The Glucerna's didn't agree with my digestive system because of how sweet they were. Stick with it, don't cheat. It is so worth it! Just try to distract yourself. I promise it gets easier. You still need that same will power for the rest of your life to stay on track, so you may as well start now! Good luck! I am routing for you.

Karen, I thought the sleeve was only approved by the FDA here in the US about two years ago, so I don't think you will find anyone that has done it as far back as you are looking for. My support group disussed this and said there are just unknowns for now. I was given an option when I signed into surgery to have my progress followed to help with studies. I think I would be nervous if I didn't have my children already because of the unknowns.

Way to go Susan! That is such an awesome start to your new weight loss journey. Keep it up!

Mindy, I am 5'2 and signed the papers for surgery at 252 pounds. I reached the decision after years of yo-yo dieting and beating myself up when I failed. The motivating factor for me is that I am turning 45 in October. Both of my parent's died at the age of 52. My Dad was 135 pounds and 5'7. My Mom was 5'1 and 120 pounds. My Dad had all kinds of heart problems...high blood pressure...high cholesterol...history of heart attacks. My Mom died of lung cancer. I was scared. I am approaching the time in my life where I start to feel like I am running out of time to make things right. I have been on cholesterol medication for close to 15 years. I have hypothyroidism and hashimotos disease. My Doctor told me last year that I was borderline diabetic and if I was smart, I would lose weight to reduce the risk of being a diabetic. That scared me. I tried and tried and tried to lose the weight. That is when I heard that an acquaintance of mine had the sleeve. I never heard of it. My Doctors have suggested the band to me several times over the years. I was not going to give in and do it. I was determined I would lose this weight on my own. Finally, I asked this woman about the sleeve. She gave me information and I attended a seminar that the Surgeon had. I was sold. I had more of a chance of dying from a stroke or heart attack than I did from the surgery. It was a chance to get the life I wanted for so long. I was thin until I had my kids and I know the difference between living life as an obese person and a thin person. That was it for me. I started the process. I dieted and lost 20 pounds. I did everything I was supposed to do until the day of surgery. Once you start the liquid diet pre-op, more weight will fall off. The reason for them wanting you to be on a liquid diet is it shrinks your liver, making for a safer surgery. My Surgeon insisted on 2 weeks liquid. I know many Doctors call for less. It was well worth it. Everything has been. I had my surgery June 11, 2012 and am down 53 pounds and hear all day long from people how incredible I look. It has been years since I have been told that. I feel great, I look great and I am eating well.

My advice to you is that you need to listen to what your own heart is telling you. This is such a personal decision and it shouldn't be influenced by other people. When you ask yourself if this is right for you, go with your own answer. The sleeve is not an easy way out, it is a tool. It is a journey that still requires lifestyle changes and commitment. Nobody is doing this for you which is why you need to be the one to decide. Good luck!

My Surgeon tells me 4 months post-op for salad or any raw vegetables. It's always what you can't have that you crave! I want a salad and I am only 2.5 months post-op. I watched my co-workers eat a greek salad and I wanted it so bad.

My insurance company (Multi-plan) requires me to pay a personal deductable of $350 per year. I met that prior to surgery, so I was then responsible for 15% of my surgery. I paid $180 out of pocket to see a Nutritionist (2 visits) and to get my Psychological eval. I could have gone anywhere I wanted, but it was just easier for me to do everything with them. My surgery included a hernia repair (which I didn't know about until I was in recovery) cost me $460. Not too bad! Then I got annoying bills. When I was allowed to be released, my Surgeon was going to be in Surgery for the rest of the day. They had a PA come in and ask me a couple of questions. The PA signed me out. I got a bill of $100 for their service. They spent 5 minutes with me. I got the Anesthesiology bill, the hospital bill and the radiology bill. I think all together, I had to pay close to $2,000. I wasn't asked to pay any Doctor fees upfront. My Surgeon has support group 3x a week that I can go to for life at no charge. In fact, they encourage me to go. They do the clothes swap as a free service.

I wouldn't take it. I would try tylenol. I know it's not the same, but you don't want to risk anything. I know all Doctors tell us different things, but I was told to stay clear of Acetaminophen and caffeine.

This is freaky that you are asking about the vision. I told my husband that all of a sudden, I feel like I can't see the television or street signs anymore with my current eye glasses. It has only been for a short while. I had my surgery on June 11th. Now I am wondering if the nutrition could be playing a role in this. I keep saying I have to get my eyes checked again. Things that make you go hmmm.

I thought it was just me! I am 2.5 months post op and mine are reddish-pink. I had my gallbladder out 15 years ago and one of my scars is visible if I wear a light shirt or a tight shirt because it is raised. I just assumed that I don't heal as well as others. I guess that since I have 10 incision scars between the sleeve and the gallbladder along with the stretch marks from 3 pregnancies that bikinis were never in the cards for me anyway!

I was prescribed Prilosec to take every day for 6 months after surgery. I never in my life had indigestion, heartburn or reflux. I hate taking pills that I don't need, but maybe taking this has made it so I never had to experience the nausea and vomiting. I do worry that my food intake is not enough to sustain a healthy body. My bloodwork came back excellent, so I guess what I am consuming is enough. I eat only a few fork fulls per meal and drink a few protein shakes daily. Good luck. Hopefully this is only a very temporary problem.

It certainly helps that we can share the humor in something that could be embarassing.

It was easy for me because my Parent's didn't allow us to have a drink until after we have finished our meal. This came about because we would fill up on the beverage and not have room for the nutritional stuff. I guess it's kind of the same reasoning here. We would fill our sleeves with a drink and have less room for the important protein. Keep trying. Like someone else said, don't even bring a drink near the table.

The paperwork my Surgeon sent me home with said to wait one month.

The paperwork my Surgeon sent me home with said to wait one month.

I have a "shelf" above my butt that is nothing but fat. It makes it difficult to buy clothes. I have to wear shirts that are long enough to cover it and that makes me look even bigger. With that said...when I delivered my 3rd child (about 180 pounds), I went to walk to the restroom and apparently my butt was hanging out of the hospital gown. The nurse said, "oh my goodness! Then she say's "Oh, never mind, that is just fat above your butt". I have had this ridiculous thing for years and it actually hurts me when I lay on the floor to do any kind of exercises. I am looking forward to the day it goes away! The worst thing that happened to me was when I went to my Doctors office and they said they needed to get my weight. Their scale for some reason is in the same room they use to take people's blood pressure and other things. I had to step on the scale in front of other patients and several staff members. My gyno's office is the same way! I love my Doctors, but this is a bit insensitive to place it in a multi-purpose room where more than one patient is in at a time. So many people say weight isn't the most important thing. Then why is it that everywhere you go they ask your height and weight?

It is complicated because you do need to walk a lot to get all of the gas out of your body. I was told it could be there for weeks. If you don't get it out, you will be very uncomfortable. I felt so tired for several weeks after surgery and asked about it on this site. So many people told me that it was expected and completely normal. To help ward that feeling of exhaustion, be certain to drink the protein, it really makes a difference. I was also instructed by my surgeon to walk one block my first day home and to add more distance each day. By the end of my first week, I was walking a mile and a half. It is a good thing!

I was on clear liquids for a week, then I graduated to full liquids. The Glucerna my Surgeon had me drinking the 2 weeks prior to surgery gave me the runs bad. It is a similar thing to Ensure. I was actually nervous about losing my bowels during surgery it was so bad. Fortunately, they had me cleanse my bowels first. Now, 8 weeks post-op, sometimes my muscle milk light makes me make a mad dash for the bathroom. I think all of these drinks are super sweet and that is what causes the problem for me.

My Paternal Grandpa was born and raised in Ilocus Norte, Phillipines. My Dad was 1/2 Filipino. My Aunts were all short and chunky until they neared their 50's. That is when they all lost weight. I have the same body shape as them, but am heavier than they were. They all have said things about my weight over the years and it gets me so upset. They and some of my cousins talk about my weight as if I am the only one in the family with a weight issue. I will never criticize anyone's weight once I reach my goal. It is hurtful and we often don't know what led to the person's weight gains. In my case, it was depression after losing both of my folks while still in my 20's.

When I was doing the pre-op liquid diet I had dropped a lot of weight. My boss begged me to reconsider the surgery because after all, I looked like I lost a bunch of weight and it is evidence that I can lose weight if I try. I had to remind him that I hadn't had a morsel of food in 2 weeks and that nobody can live like that! About a month after I had my 3rd child, my neighbor asked me how much longer until I had the baby. I had my baby in my arms when the jerk asked me! He apologized and thought it may have been my sisters baby. About 20 years ago, my neighbors 3 year old son asked me why I was so fat? I was mortified when his Mother didn't say anything to him for saying it. I was about 180 at the time. I didn't fault the child for saying it, but the Mother should have told him that wasn't very polite.

I used Dr. Collin Brathwaite for my surgery. His office is located in Patchogue and the surgery was done at Winthrop Hospital in Mineola. I could be wrong, but I thought one of his patients in my support group said that she was 16. I will give you their office number. It is 631-475-1900. All of my Doctors said they would recommend Dr. Brathwaite for the surgery. Every time I spoke of wanting the surgery to one of my Doctors, they said Dr. Brathwaite is the one. I know many people that have used him too. My surgery went great! Good luck sweetie.

I had my sleeve on June 11th. Are you taking 1/2 hour to eat your meals? I haven't had any issues at all with food. I was warned to eat very slow.

lol...oh my gosh! You are funny. I had my sleeve on June 11th and am down 45 pounds since my post-op weigh in on June 1st. My main concern was the excess skin. I know my insurance doesn't cover the cost of removing it. I am turning 45 in a few months and have young looking skin with no wrinkles. I am just praying this means my skin is elastic and will hold up well. When I went to a support group meeting, I brought this topic up. A woman in her 60's stood up and said I want to show you something. She took off her blazer, having just a tank top on. She swung those bat wings all over the place and said that she is keeping them and has grown to accept them. She had gone to a plastic surgeon to discuss having the excess skin removed. They told her that it would be about $8,000 and leave a thick scar from her wrists to her armpits. She decided that paying that much money to have an ugly scar left on her arms wasn't worth it. She told us that she now buys tops with Lycra in them because they hold it all in. If the choice was to have the bat wings or the weight, I am sure we would all embrace the bat wings.

I too get frustrated with the rate of my weight loss. I read other people stating that they lost as much as I have within the first month and I am two months post-op. I know in my heart of hearts that everyone is different. I also know that my thyroid problem is going to make my loss slower. My husband tells me to look at the whole picture. I am down 45 pounds since my pre-op weigh in at the Doctor. This is since June 1st. When is the lst time I have been able to say I lost 45 pounds in 2 months...NEVER! I need him to remind me of these things from time to time. FYI...I sometimes go a week or more without dropping a single ounce. As long as we follow the required diet, this has to work!