chrissythemoo

Thanks guys. My problem, bad as it is, is not the worst I've heard. One woman on here was in a coma for 19 days and was in hospital for 5 1/2 months. They had to convert her sleeve to a bypass as the bottom of her stomach was seriously infected. She came through it and so will we. :-) xx

Oh Lisa's Hope, I really feel for you. I am 3 months out and have spent 5 out of the past 8 weeks in hospital due to a mystery collection of Fluid which became infected. I had a drain put in but after it was removed 3 weeks later the fluid re-collected and again became infected. The pus travelled down the path of least resistance which was where the drain had been and collected under skin as it had healed at this point. Had to go back to theatre to have it aspirated plus they did an endoscopy. They determined the sleeve had healed and there was no sign of a leak. They then put in another CT guided drain, which, 2 weeks later, is still producing pus. So, the question is, where the hell is this fluid coming from??? I have to be honest, I feel quite jealous of all those on here that haven't had any complications and am a little bitter. Still, hopefully I'll get better eventually.

<span style="color:#0000cd;"><span style="font-size:24px;"><em><strong>Hi! I know this may sound strange but DID anyone have to gain a few pounds to qualify for the VSG? I've searched all over and can't seem to find my answer! I'm 5' 6" and weigh 216.2 My current BMI: is 34.9 I have been eating like crazy and the 1-2 pounds I need just will not stick. I currently have hypertension and high cholesteral. I have an appointment for Nov 20 so I'm really kinda anxious. Have you or someone you've known been through this? Thanks, Kim</strong></em></span></span>

Yup. I had to gain 14lbs to meet the criteria. I just ate nothing but take-aways and it piled on. It seemed a really bizarre thing to have to do but I am now, 3 months out, 178lbs as opposed to 238lbs. So worth it. :-)

Great topic for me as right now I am a bit over 2 months out and couldn't overeat even if I wanted to! I find if I eat even one bite more than a tiny portion, I vomit. I have a friend who just visited from Australia, and she was sleeved in 2009, lost almost 40 kilos and gained it all back! This is really scary to me, as she said every meal she just ate a bit more than she should have, and managed to stretch her sleeve. I am determined to lose it all and keep it off, and am already seriously exercising, eating very few carbs and mainly Protein and vegetables. Any tips on how to make sure the weight never comes back?

I think you've given yourself the answer in what you said. Stop when you're full. I have gotten into the habit of having my dinner in 2 sittings. I plate up a small meal, and when I'm full I put the rest in the fridge. When I get peckish later on I reheat my leftovers. Works for me. :-) and follow the golden rule. Protein first. I think some people have this surgery thinking it's a miracle cure and don't put the effort in.

I know you asked for 1+ year out! but would It help you to know that even at only 3 months out, I feel like I can eat normally? I have chosen not to eat sliders and junk food, but I can eat meat, fruit and veggies just fine.

My point is, normalcy may come faster than you think. Hang in there.

I'm just over 3 months out and despite the complications am able to eat normally. I found this out when in hospital, as I had a limited menu and had no choice.

Thanks for the wishes, Amazon. You're right... I will have to find the "new" normal me. Funny thing about carbs, though.... They've never been my downfall. I've always been a savory kind of gal.....give me a big hunk of steak any day. I even take the top half of the bun off most sandwiches because I prefer the "guts" inside. Unfortunately, steaks come with potatoes, and burgers come with fries, etc. and I'm not one to leave any food on a plate... I'm looking forward to filling up on the good stuff (protein) and hold the fries. Now I just have to figure out the chocolate thing....

You need to buy yourself one of those diet plates so you can't fit as many fries on it. :-)

I had my surgery Sept 16. After the surgery my husband noticed my heart rate was too high and had to yell at the nursing staff to get them to pay attention (my husband does NOT yell). I was bleeding internally, and best guess is the dr nicked my spleen. I ended up in SICU for 4 days and was given 5 units of blood. At one point my blood pressure was 50/0 and my heart rate was 34. I am doing well now. No other problems.

Wow. Where did you have your surgery done? They have no idea what's caused this with me. I was fine for almost six weeks and then got these awful pains.

Wow girl....keeping you in my prayers. That is a tough start. I hope the new pain isn't what you think. Stay strong

Thanks Mookster. Much appreciated. X

Dobeigh and 7bites, you are exactly where I wanna be at a year out. Portion Control was my issue and I have no intention of being a lifelong dieter/tracker. I just wanna eat less which is where the sleeve comes in.

Hi guys, since last post I was re-admitted to hospital on 25th October and was just discharged on Friday. Sadly the accumulation of Fluid came back. I had an endoscopy which apparently determined that my sleeve had completely healed. However, I had to have another drain inserted which I still have. I have an appointment this coming Fri. I now have a niggly, intermittent pain in my right flank and am terrified that I have a collection forming there. I am so low right now. I am beginning to wish I'd never had this done. Xx

Hi guys, since last post I was re-admitted to hospital on 25th October and was just discharged on Friday. Sadly the accumulation of Fluid came back. I had an endoscopy which apparently determined that my sleeve had completely healed. However, I had to have another drain inserted which I still have. I have an appointment this coming Fri. I now have a niggly, intermittent pain in my right flank and am terrified that I have a collection forming there. I am so low right now. I am beginning to wish I'd never had this done. Xx

Rj when did you start having complications?

That's a very good question!

11 months out I still throw up...Not as often but if I eat something my sleeve does not like...i throw it up....the throwing up will get less and less....but I read on here of others still having that after a fight with a food that does not suit them...At your stage though I was throwing up constantly...It does get better I promise!!!!

Onememory2 sounds like she is bringing everything back up. That can't be normal, can it?

11 months out I still throw up...Not as often but if I eat something my sleeve does not like...i throw it up....the throwing up will get less and less....but I read on here of others still having that after a fight with a food that does not suit them...At your stage though I was throwing up constantly...It does get better I promise!!!!

Blimey. Ive not actually thrown up once after eating. I've reached a lot while in hospital but as I was eating nothing, nothing came up.

Chrissy- my sleeve was July 25 - I'm not sure WHY but I CANNOT anything without throwing it up!! I CAN keep Protein shakes down- but not solid foods. Just tried a bit of hubby's omelet. And within ten minutes threw it up! Did you have any nausea befor your problem. ??

Hiya, I had a bit of nausea in the first few days after surgery but then it passed. You shouldn't be throwing up almost 3 months out from your surgery. I would suggest you go back to your surgeon as you may have a stricture. (Narrowing of your sleeve). After a few days of nausea in hospital I had to have a special scan to check for this. However, I think my nausea was psychosomatic as 2 days after discharge it went away but on the day I had to go back for an appointment it came back with a vengeance.

Well...Some Doctors are able to do the sleeve with as little as 3-5 small scars....I ended up with 12..I had 12 drains in my stomach to try to keep the leak clean..they tried everything they could to keep my sleeve...In the end I had a mix of by-pass and sleeve..I am a high bred!

I kept getting abscesses and then they would have to drain that which added another scar to my already many scars...I look like someone took a Gatling gun and shot me... They are in a perfect circle!

Oh scars! Thought you said scares! Lol! I wonder how many others have had complications. I had the single incision procedure but now have a hole in my side which will no doubt leave a lovely scar.

Sweetheart! Where do I begin......I was 5 months in the hospital due to complications with the sleeve. A leak I went septic and the hell began....coma-19 days' date=' 11 surgeries, addicted to meds...twice, did not eat for 51/2 months, had to learn to walk again, talk again (trachea), write again, eat again. I lost my singing voice. My voice is deeper then it used to be...Have 12 scares instead of 3-5 like others....Had a bed sore castigator 5. Worst place possible....for 5 months after I had a nurse looking after me daily....

This is an overview...Short story.....

The thing is that it past..And what you are going through will pass to...I am so happy I had the sleeve not the complications.. It gave me my life back..A slow start true...but I am so happy to be here and finally living instead of existing!!!!!!!!!!

Chin up..stay strong....this to will pass!!! Talk to me anytime you feel discouraged...K[/quote']

Oh my god! That sounds awful! What you went through was terrible. Makes my complication sound totally insignificant. How did you remain sane through all of that? What are the 3-5 scares you mentioned? I have decided that if this does come back I'm going to ask them to surgically remove it rather than have a drain again.

I go c a nut tomro for the first time bcuz I really hv no idea wut the hell I'm doin..wut am I suppose to b doin. .I hv ben bumping thru this n I'm doin ok..I hv not fell bk into to old habits..if I want a dang gon french fri I eat it..I can't gt more than 5 or 6 dwn any way..I c now for me.. I'm still adding stuff but slowly

I'll be honest. It is not my long-term intention to diet. I despise diet foods. But my problem was portion size and this op has certainly changed that! I was a typical binge eater. Well, no more.

Has anyone out there suffered complications after their sleeve. I developed really sharp pains in my left flank 6 weeks after surgery and tests discovered I had a collection of Fluid between my pancreas and stomach. They still don't know if it was a leak or a bleed. but inserted a drain which was removed 3 weeks later. Am terrified now as docs said there's a chance it could re-accumulate. Ha anyone out there been through anything similar?

Hi guys, since having my sleeve on 8/11 I no longer feel thirsty andsound like an old drain whenever I drink or eat. Can any long-term sleevers let me know if this passes?

2 months today an feeling great starting 280 vsg day 247 an today 207 first month lost 32lbs 2nd month only 8 lbs. 8 don't sound like much but i am happy.

Slow and steady wins the race and also reduces the risk of baggy skin.

I have a question. Has anyone noticed that their sense of smell and taste is different? I feel like I am hypersensitive and smells make me nauseous Also some foods do not taste the same to me at all.

I am still having some trouble eating solids and they can come back up on me so it is really trial and error.

My preop weight was 217 the day of my surgery 8/30 I was 207 and today I am 180. I really like the lack of hunger but I do not enjoy food at all and also still have bad reflux despite the hiatal hernia repair? Any help or comments would be appreciated.

Well, after the first few days my nausea subsided but about two days after being re-admitted to hospital it came back with a vengeance and I hardly ate anything for the 3 weeks I was there. I also couldn't even face fluids half the time and ended up on a drip. After coming home it eventually subsided but does come back intermittently. This morning, I had scrambled egg and really struggled to eat it as just looking at it made me feel sick. I really hope this eventually passes.

I'm the same way. I struggle to get all my fluids down. I'm just not thirsty and have no desire for Water or crystal light or anything

I do hope this eventually passes. Having to force myself to drink for the rest of my life is not a nice prospect.

I used to be able to drink 2 or 3 of the large bottles of Water a day before surgery. Now I'm barely thirsty and HATE water. It is so weird. I tried every bottled water brand out there' date=' and can't stand any of them. The only thing I drink now are Protein Shakes and Vitamin Water Zero. And even then it is barely 1 of each a day. I miss my water.

- Jen, Sleeved 8/29[/quote']

I've never been keen on water but used to drink gallons of cherry diet coke. Now I can literally go hours without even thinking of drinking. Maybe it's because I can't drink fizzy drinks now. Having said that, while in hospital I was really nauseous and was becoming dehydrated until I bought myself some coke. I shook the bottles to reduce the fizz and was able to keep them down. Oh and ice lollies.

I used to be able to drink 2 or 3 of the large bottles of Water a day before surgery. Now I'm barely thirsty and HATE water. It is so weird. I tried every bottled water brand out there' date=' and can't stand any of them. The only thing I drink now are Protein Shakes and Vitamin Water Zero. And even then it is barely 1 of each a day. I miss my water.

- Jen, Sleeved 8/29[/quote']

I've never been keen on water but used to drink gallons of cherry diet coke. Now I can literally go hours without even thinking of drinking. Maybe it's because I can't drink fizzy drinks now. Having said that, while in hospital I was really nauseous and was becoming dehydrated until I bought myself some coke. I shook the bottles to reduce the fizz and was able to keep them down. Oh and ice lollies.