Go Kart Mozart

Bouncing off of what Tiffykins said, I wish I could have had the sleeve before going to college. I started at NYU in August of 2006 weighing 203 lbs., and by May of 2010 I was 332 lbs., a lot of which was the freshman 75 haha (mostly from food, not much of a drinker then).

I was also on the young side (22 years 10 months at surgery last July), but all of the older people I talked to who have had weight loss surgery told me they wish they could have done it at my age to avoid the diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, etc. That was all I needed to hear - I decided to just go for it while I was still young and healthy (aside from weighing 332 lbs.). Best of luck.

I'm getting this in every section, and with every computer and browser I use. I don't know if it's some sort of coding issue or what. Screen cap attached.

I drink fairly regularly without issue.

I drink (diet) soda daily without issue and without loss of restriction. A sip won't harm you.

The only foods I've had trouble with are anything in a soft tortilla (made me throw up) and any Pasta that isn't drowning in sauce - it ends up sitting like a ball in my sleeve. NOT a fun feeling. Today, actually, I had some chocolate milk for the first time since surgery seven months ago - didn't go well. I got all flushed and hot, and my pulse rate was 140 bpm for a few minutes. No more chocolate milk for me!

I'm a fan of South Beach protein bars, myself.

I rarely had reflux pre-op, but I had bad reflux the first three weeks or so post-op, and only then did my surgeon offer a PPI. It says to take daily, but I only take it as needed - probably 5-6 times a month now (and it knocks it down quickly). Compared to being 332 lbs., I'll deal with this instead. Of course, I'm not trying to minimize the plight of anyone who has had severe heartburn after the sleeve - I truly sympathize with them.

Simple - lap band has a company ($$$$$$$) behind it, while RNY and the sleeve don't.

The thing that gives me encouragement is that I don't really enjoy the foods I used to. I tried chips once, they didn't taste right and didn't sit well. I avoid bread at all costs, because it causes discomfort, even at seven months. I enjoy the high protein meals more than anything now. The only non-high protein meal I sometimes let slip in is salads - which, at times, I absolutely crave. That said, it's a good precautionary tale, but also she still has the sleeve to use as a tool - she could probably still lose weight if she tries.

A couple of points on this post. First, the sleeve isn't a malabsorptive surgery, so the plication offers no tangible benefits for that. Also, the "traditional" (so to speak) sleeve removes the fundus of the stomach. The fundus is the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin, the hunger causing hormone. Since my sleeve in July, I've never once experienced the slightest bit of hunger. With the plication, you'll still feel hunger. I think not being hungry has been a huge part of my weight loss thus far. Best of luck making your decision, though.

Late to the party on this thread, but yes, we're here!

Oh I know, I just found it amusing how paranoid and micromangagerial my mother is about my health these days.

It used to be that I'd be sweating all the time, even when it's cold outside, so in one sense it's nice not to be doing that anymore. But I've noticed recently that I'm always cold - I've taken to wearing long pants, a sweatshirt, socks, and gloves, all while staying undercovers, and that only make me moderately comfortable. My mom felt my hands yesterday, and of course now she's convinced that I'm going to die of malnutrition any moment now haha. Anyone else experience this post-surgery? This is my first winter since I had the VSG on July 21. -Ryan

My surgeon didn't want me to drive for thirty days, but there was absolutely no chance of that happening. I had surgery on a Wednesday and drove myself to work a week later.

I had a leak test, and the dye they made me drink led to 12 hours of vomiting. I kind of wish they didn't haha.

At a fast food restaurant I generally get a grilled chicken sandwich and just ditch the bread. At a sit down restaurant, I look for something off the appetizer menu. Going out to eat used to be one of my favorite activities, and now it's turned into a chore. That said, I don't regret what I did.

Lots and lots of support pillows.

Six - five from surgery itself, and one from the drain. Between those and my (now faded) stretch marks, I'm quite ok with (and even proud of) my "battle scars."

At three + months out, I still have numbness in my stomach. Totally normal. In fact, I haven't regained full sensation following a surgery I had in July 1999. I wouldn't stress.

I spent the first two-three days after surgery vomiting. After that, I'd get an isolated dry heave 3-4 times a week for the first month or so. All I can tell you is to hang in there, and it will go away.

I'll probably still be wearing beer/sports t-shirts and plaid shorts when I get to goal, haha. Oh well.

It very well could be. This surgery was originally the first stage of a duodenal switch for highly obese people, but they began to see that it was oftentimes effective on its own in those patients, thus why it is now also a standalone procedure. I personally started at a BMI of 50 and couldn't be more thrilled with the results thus far.

I've cut back drastically on it. I drink about one Coke Zero a day (as opposed to about six cans daily pre-op) and it gives me no issues, as long as I don't gulp it - but gulping any liquid gives me trouble now. I've lost at a good clip even while drinking it, and feel no loss of restriction as a result, so I see no reason to stop.

Three months out, and anything in a tortilla wrap has made me ill, but that's just about it.