FlawlessVictory13

I'm concerned about the scar tissue causing the surgery to be longer as well!
Sent from my SCH-R530U using VST

Yes, I agree I had three c/s. My 1st and last were with staples. Hurt like hell, so I hope and pray this surgery goes well.

Regardless of any other advice, the primary message here should be "follow your surgeon's instructions."

You're not lost anymore! You found us! Welcome home! We'll be here for you whenever you need us.

Hello fellow sleevers! Its my 3rd day out of surgery ( Aug 22 sleever) and I am feeling better. Some background info on me because I am not sure where to even start!
I am 30 years old from NJ/NYC. Around Feb I weighed a staggering 517lbs. I was walking around disney world in FL thinking, hey, where are all the people my size? I'd like to think Im the type of person who doesnt even know hes fat, until its too late. ( what do u mean this bar on the haunted mansion ride doesnt go down???). Around that time when I came home from FL I realized that while on my vacation I slept noticably better. I blamed me no longer drinking coffee and sugar as the reason I felt so great on vacation, and quickly lost 10lbs from this alone when I came home. One day while staying late at work ( an accident , as I am a bus driver ) a co worker walked by me. I couldn't recognize him at all! He explained to me all the details of his sleeve, and a few other of my co workers had gone with him. Not wanting to be rude, I said I would atleast check out the info. A few weeks pass, and I promise to atleast check out the seminar my dr was having. It was kind of funny looking back because it was at a local gym, the last place i wanted to be seen, let alone walking up to the info counter and asking hey "wheres the meeting for fat people ?" ( sorry to offend just at my weight i throw the term around). I remember thinking to myself, I hope i just have to ask where, and i get pointed to a room. As luck would have it, the lady was so busy she couldn't hear me and I had to ask 3 times. She wasnt really sure and had to call around to find out where it was, getting atleast 3 other people involved, at which point I wanted to run and hide in my car! Fast foward a bit, I found the place, met the surgeon and told him i would make an appointment if i thought I was serious. A week later I made the apointment which is kind of strange, I guess i went in thinking I was going to be bamboozled or tricked into, and left thinking man I WANT THIS!
My surgeon, Dr. R Sadek of Somerset NJ was fantastic. He told me I had to lose atleast 30lbs before the surgery to slim down the stomach area. At first I thought this was impossible. But I quickly lost 10lbs again. I purchased a treadmill and began chugging away 30-40 minutes a day, eating better and BOOM 30lbs! The worst part of the surgery for me , was the dreaded pre op diet. OMG. The crazy part is as you progress from full liquids, to clear only, you wish you were able to have some of the stuff you had on full liquid! About halfway into the 2 week liquid, I met my co worker again who confessed to me he had mcdonalds two days before his surgery. This was awful I thought! How could he? And it got to me. I wish I could sit here and say no I didnt cheat on my 2 week pre op. But I did. Honest here ? You bet. I had two slices of pizza. I didn't feel bad either about it too, but I knew I had to get back on track, and finished the last 6 days strong. My insurance, blue cross blue shield sent in the letter of approval literally days before the surgery but picked it up 100%. Infact the only thing they wouldn't pay for is for me to see a nutritionist. But they will be for my surgery? Go figure!
My surgery on Aug 22 was at Robert Wood Johnson in NJ. I have to admit everyone was so nice and friendly at the hospital. I guess its me being from NY always thinking people will rush or be angry with me? They couldn't find my vien in my arm using a sonagram, so they had to put a "central IV" in my neck. This was painful and had I known this I would have said NO! It was very messy without TMI or grossing anyone out but an IV in your neck is not very pleasant.
After waking up from my surgery, I felt terrible. I had to wait a bit to get pain killers because I was feeling nauseous and apparently you have to wait a bit if you feel this way. After I had my morphine I spent the rest of the day snoozing, off and on. ( and realizing I had a cathoder which kind of liked, kind of hated?). I was not allowed to drink anything till the Xray the next day. The next morning I had my x ray , no leaks, and was given an amazing amount of clear foods I could never eat . Bowl of chicke broth, Jello, ice tea, waterbottle, italian icee. I think I had about two sips of the tea and felt full. I could not believe it!
So, around 1pm, roughly 24 hours later I was given the OK to go home. I was pretty good, I mean I walked to the car myself and felt like someone punched me in the stomach, but I thought it would have been much worse. Pain killers for the win?
Yesterday ( first full day out of the hospital) I spent mostly sleeping on the couch watching cartoons and semi talking to people who called to check on me, until they realised I really couldnt pay attention. Day 3, I feel great. Im amazed how long it takes me to drink a cup of Water. I have no hunger at all, which I always thought was just plain BS when people say on this on boards, but I have no desire to eat at all. I don't mean this in a bad way of course, but looking around I can't wait to try some of the recipes you guys have posted, IE a pumpkin latte or bean cup cake recipe I saw posted!
So here I am, day 3 post op, feeling good. Started at 517 , 461 at surgery, and 456 right this second. I am Phillip. And I'm a sleever. =)

Had surgery yesterday, and doing pretty well today. Just got released from hospital. If anyone has any questions, feel free to write.... It's all fresh in my mind! Overall very smooth.

The sleeve was NOTHING compared to my c/s. I remember the agony of walking the first time after the c/s, but it was pretty simple after the sleeve. I also felt like it took several weeks after the c/s to feel somewhat normal (physically), and i felt pretty darn good after a week with the sleeve. When I first talked to someone in my surgeon's office, she told me how much easier her bypass was than her c/s and I was sold. No regrets.

I had my VSG on Friday 8/17...currently on 7-10 day liquid diet. I can tolerate all that I am intaking I.e slim fast, Water, crystal lights, pudding, Jello. Has anyone else experienced this? I haven't thrown up..no nausea I feel great. Lord I hope my tool is working. I don't want to have to get anything readjusted (if that's even possible with the sleeve) talk to me. Yes I know we are all different. I need this weight to drop. Oh & I am not complaining at all!! I'm glad I'm not sick, but just would like to hear if this is common.
xo

Thank you all for your input. I'm just at a point where I'm literally stuck about which surgery to have. This site is a God send, really. On here, everyone can relate to each other and help one another!

The diagram they have shows a sleeve gastrectomy with a DS. Yes, a Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause mental confusion, but basically, I believe that if you have a mental condition going in, the stress and change could acerbate the symptoms.
Also, not everybody mourns the loss of food in quantity and then goes into depression and develops replacement addictions because weight loss was not all they thought it would be.
In Jackson's case he very well could be blaming his criminal behavior on everything else but his own decisions. He'd probably be doing just peachy had he not been caught.
I guess that I really believe in the sleeve and I don't like it being lumped in with the band or gastric bypass. I also hate misinformation.

Hello - I had a duodenal switch in November 2010. Day of surgery I weighed 325 pounds. As of today, 21 months later, I weight 147 pounds with zero complications. As long as you take your vitamins, get regular blood work and eat a healthy diet (I also run every day), I don't think you'll experience issues. Although everyone is different. I swear by this surgery; best decision I ever made.

Surgeons say this surgery is the best one for morbidly obese ppl do you all agree?????

If you are afraid, that is good. It means that you are wisely weighing the pros and cons with an appropriate amount of seriousness. Too many people are looking at wls as an "easy" way to lose weight. Those of us that have been through it, know that it is not easy. It is a life changing decision.
It will mean sacrifice and some discomfort and changes changes changes.
But isn't that what you rally want? Changes. The surgery means that you have to completely change how you eat and take care of yourself. It also means that your body is going to go through changes - wonderful wonderful changes.
And with the body shape and weight canges come so many positive life changes. Read on this site and you will read about getting to play with children again, picking up grandbabies, riding a bike with a son or daughter, going on a cruise, swimming at a waterpark, wearing a bathing suit in public. Things that never would have happened but for the sleeve. So many of the fun things in life are off limits to the larger folks. That can change.
And go to the "Powder Room" section and just listen to all the naughty girls talking about how great sex is again and the increased labido.... They are so naughty, talking about positions they have not tried since high school, and husbands that can't keep their hands off them.
How can you possibly put a value on that?
So consider it with all seriousness. It is a very serious decision. But temper your fears with a bit of what the future can hold for you - and those you love and that love you...

I had 2 surgeries prior to being sleeved and I was scared out of my mind. I'd never had a major surgery like this one. I found this site and asked some questions and read through some things and realized that everyone has fears and everyone was fine. My BMI was close to 60 when I had the surgery. I don't know if that helps but we are all here to lend you some support and to help ease your fears.

It is understandable to be scared but look at the other side of this, you must have some co-morbidities, wouldnt it be great to get rid of most, if not all of those? You have to weight the pros and cons, I can guarantee there are more pros! Best of luck to you!