SParkle

Well done Barbannn - great weight loss....I think if it is slower for me it might be a little easier to explain to people, as only 2 people will know about it so I'll have to think of something for the others.

Thats a great result Sabrina! Congrats!! Can't wait until I will be able to post that too!!!

I've been talking things thru with my hubby, who is behind this 100% - we have made the decision to proceed, and now need to decide which surgeon to go with. One query I have for you all..... for those with lower BMI - did you shift your weight approx at the same rate as those with higher BMI or do you think it was slower as you are a lower weight to start with? I'd like to shift say 70lbs.... possibly a little more....and presently have a BMI of 35.5.

Good luck to you all...... I'm so jealous!!! Can't wait, not got date yet as still trying to decide which surgeon to go with.

When I had my consult I was told they would do this.... to test your system before the op to make sure all is ok. I think its a good thing to check.

Thats a great weightloss... keep it up! You must be so pleased.

Chancie you look fabulous!!

It's a concern I have too, as I know when I set my mind to it I can loose... but every time I do it I never get to goal, and always put it back on.... this time is the only time I have managed to reign in and not gain it all back and more. As radical as it may seem I know this surgery is really the only answer for me. My comment to you (as I'm also pre op) would be about your payment method.... your trust fund. Your Grandfather left you the money for your future - your life. This surgery will give you a much better life as a result, if you did falter with the diet and gain it all back and more its puts you in high risk bracket, so I am sure given your situation he would understand. I wish you luck with your decision... but I would say go for it. Kathy

Wow - thats a fab weightloss Gary!! And its great to keep track of inches lost too! Looking forward to seeing 'less' of you in the future! Kathy

Thanks deedee - it'll be interesting to see what others say, I think he worked thru with a mathematician taking all of his case historys into play....so as a rule of thumb it could be this......but with no guarantees..... I'm ever hopeful tho!!

You look fabulous.... congrats!!

Thinking of you! Good luck. Kathy

I know this is somnething many have asked.... but when I had my first consult the surgeon said I would loose about 73% of excess weight..... The 2nd surgeon said he works on a formula which blows all the % out of the scale, as it takes everything into consideration, height, weight and BMI..... he is one of the leading surgeons inthe world on sleeves and is actively teaching/lecturing worldwide as well as operating. He reckoned, after researching all his prior patients (including DS as well) that you take the pre op BMI divide by 3 and add 14. That would then give you your new BMI after weightloss..... Sounds a bit weird I know, but with me that would make my BMI 25.7. I wondered for those of you who are post op and maybe at goal..... how does this theory work for you? Kathy

Well, I have now had my 2nd consult and we need to sit down and talk thru both surgeons and decide which to go for. The choices are: Dr Ferrer,Valencia. Done about 160 sleeves, very low complication rate - virtually zero. Uses size 32 bougie, does 3 line staples and sutures. Does 3 leak tests before you leave the hospital. Dr Baltasar, Alcoy. Done over 700 - as used them before the DS years ago, and is one of the leading in the field,talks all over the world about it and has done loads of ops on people in the US and Norway, as well as Spain and Europe. Again very low stats with problems. Uses size 34 bougie, 2 line staples and suture, does leak test no table, and next day and then you have to test at home as well while the drain is still in. I think he actually taught the other surgeon! I am leaning towards Dr B, although felt comfortable with either of them. Pricewise, as we are self pay, theres not much in it at all....Dr F does an aftercare package or I can pay via appts, Dr B does pay by appt - but as most ofhis patients are out of the country he has a very good web based service where he tracks them like that. So the 'better, more experienced surgeon' might actually work out cheaper. Well.... thats my news, exciting times ahead I think..... I did see a patient in the waiting room who had a DS a year ago, and has lost 90kg! Looking fantastic!! Kathy :thumbup:

Smelly Melly, Congrats on your date!! And Thanks for posting this, as its one of my concerns and worries. And Tiff - thanks for the response! I certainly feel much more positive about this side of it all. Kathy

Aww.. thanks Tiff....can't wait til the next one now.... at least going away for the weekend took my mind of it all for a bit, although I can't admit to being that good foodwise!! Kathy

Thanks so much to you all for your replies - sorry for the delay in response but we went away for a long weekend and have only just got back. Kathy

Thanks Carrie. Kathy

Hi there Carrie Good luck for tomorrow.... my consult went well... chatted first to the dietitian, then Psych, then the surgeon... My next one is next Monday, so I can then at least compare and contrast the two. Kathy

Thanks for the reassurance Mini me.....I so want this to work!!

Can I ask were you all worried before your surgery? I've read countless posts where the hunger has almost all gone...but I can't help but worry about will it work for me... all that money (self paying) and I really don't want to disappoint myself or DH...I was in tears today at my consult at having to admit to being a dieting failure after 21 yrs of trying.... this for me will be the last chance saloon, I really can't fail this one.

Well..... just got back from my first consult. It went very well. I was SO nervous, as my weight issues are such an emotional thing for me, but it was ok. I saw a dietitian first, then a Physcologist, then the surgeon. They were all nice and asked questions about previous dieting and my eating habits. The surgeon then went thru everything, answering all my questions, and it illustrated to me that all my research had stood me in good stead - there was nothing he told me that was new. He uses a 32 bougie, and has done 160 VSG. No deaths, and only 3 incidents where further hospitalisation was required. He triple staples with sutures, does a leak test on the table and then 2 more, at 24 and 48 hrs post op. They do what seems like all the standard pre op tests, bloods, thyroid, ECG, xray, upper digestive tract etc etc..... I would need to do a 7 day pre op diet if i went with him, and that would depend on further questioning from the dietician to determine exactly what it would entail. Its a 2 night hospitalisation (I am only one hour from the hospital) if there are no complications. He reckoned with a current BMI of 35.3 and weighing 93.5kg/206lbs that I would loose 73% of excess weight. Which would take me to about the 68kg/150lb zone. So.... I now sit tight and wait for consult no 2 with another surgeon for a second opinion and see what he has to say. And also to talk everything thru with DH, as he went with me... and as it involves him too. Thanks to you all for your posts on this board, as without this I would have gone in knowing less - I felt prepared having researched it all.

Well..... just got back from my first consult. It went very well. I was SO nervous, as my weight issues are such an emotional thing for me, but it was ok. I saw a dietitian first, then a Physcologist, then the surgeon. They were all nice and asked questions about previous dieting and my eating habits. The surgeon then went thru everything, answering all my questions, and it illustrated to me that all my research had stood me in good stead - there was nothing he told me that was new. He uses a 32 bougie, and has done 160 VSG. No deaths, and only 3 incidents where further hospitalisation was required. He triple staples with sutures, does a leak test on the table and then 2 more, at 24 and 48 hrs post op. They do what seems like all the standard pre op tests, bloods, thyroid, ECG, xray, upper digestive tract etc etc..... I would need to do a 7 day pre op diet if i went with him, and that would depend on further questioning from the dietician to determine exactly what it would entail. Its a 2 night hospitalisation (I am only one hour from the hospital) if there are no complications. He reckoned with a current BMI of 35.3 and weighing 93.5kg/206lbs that I would loose 73% of excess weight. Which would take me to about the 68kg/150lb zone. So.... I now sit tight and wait for consult no 2 with another surgeon for a second opinion and see what he has to say. And also to talk everything thru with DH, as he went with me... and as it involves him too. Thanks to you all for your posts on this board, as without this I would have gone in knowing less - I felt prepared having researched it all.

Thanks for the replies..... see my new thread about the consult I have just had.

Lynda - good luck, I'm seeing a surgeon today for my first consult so its exciting times. I am also worried about the pre op liquid diet as our life is sometimes hectic on the social front so timing for me will be something to fit in as well, but if I could I'd have it done tomorrow!! Kabranda - good luck for your op....I'm feeling apprehensive for you already!!