love to be at goal

I am scheduled for my sleeve surgery one week from today! Tell me, would you do it again? What do you wish you'd know when you were pre op? Thanks for replying! Joan

Hello, I am scheduled for my sleeve on December 16, 2013. I am excited, nervous and thankful all in one. I am following a 1200 cal diet this week, starting the 4th of December I'll be on Optifast 800 calories per day until surgery. How are you doing? Are you required to follow a pre op diet? It would be fun to share our experiences since we'll have the same surgery date. Joan

John~ To prepare for surgery I am being faithful with my daily Vitamins and will start the 800 calorie Optifast diet tomorrow. What pre op diet will they have you do once you're scheduled? You can start it now in hopes you're scheduled in less than 2 weeks. This diet helps shrink the liver to make the surgery less of a risk, since the surgeon has to move the liver while doing the sleeve procedure and a big liver is at a greater risk of bleeding/damage. Joan

I am scheduled for December 16th, too! Less than 3 weeks away, here we go! I am on a 1200 calorie diet now and will start 2 weeks of Optifast on December 4th. Joan

Tink~ I haven't been to a meeting but I'll let you know when I am going and we can meet if you're there, too. How long ago was your sleeve surgery? I didn't know Dr. Sanchez had done them with Lovelace. I see she is with ABQ Health Partners now. Have you felt good with the sleeve? Any complicatons? I am hoping to have surgery before the end of the year because my portion will go up about $1,250 in 2014. Joan

Hello fellow New Mexicans! I am in the pre op phase through Lovelace with Dr. Vuong. I had an endoscopy yesterday and everything looked normal. I had a lap band from Dec 2010-Dec 2011. I had lost 60# and then regained it all after the band was removed. Has anyone had the sleeve procedure done by Dr Vuong? Joan

I feel the same way as you. I had a band for a year, it slipped, I was super sick with reflux and vomiting. When the surgeon went in to reposition the band my stomach was compromised by lack of blood flow so he removed the band. With in 1 year I regained all that I had lost despite continuing to diet and exercising. I am seriously considering the sleeve. I wish you well in your pursuit!!!

What foods and quantities do you eat on an average day? How many meals/snacks do you usually have each day? Is it difficult to drink all of the Water you should have each day? Thanks for sharing! I am in the pre op phase and trying to learn as much as I can before surgery. Joan

Hi, I have attended the seminar, had a surgeon and dietician visit. I had my blood drawn and will have an endoscopy on 10-25-13. They will submit my papers to the insurance co. after the endoscopy. My surgeon requires 20# lost before he'll do the surgery. Considering how slowly I lose weight it might be a LONG time before surgery. Congrats to you both on receiving approval!! :-)

Knowing what you now know post op, would you get your sleeve done again? Tell the good, the bad and the ugly!

Wow, all these positive replys have really put my mind at ease! I am pursuing surgery in a few months. Anyone else wish to share???

Thanks for sharing! I appreciate everyones honesty.

I am glad you are doing well. No reflux issues? I had a lap band from 2010-2011. I was terribly sick from it with reflux, vomiting, crazy seasonal allergies, it slipped, surgeon went in to reposition it and it had to be removed because my stomachs blood flow was insufficent from the band. I had lost 60# with the band and then gained back 60# after the band was removed. I am researching the sleeve extensively. I really want to do it but am a bit hesitant because things were so awful with the band. I will see the surgeon on Thursday, I attended the seminar last week. Keep up the good work! Joan

I don't have a sleeve but I did have a band which was removed due to complications. I would suggest you chew 2 TUMS and drink hot water or tea until you feel better. I would definetly not eat. Walking around might help, too. Joan

I am wondering the same thing. I had a lap band placed in Dec 2010, suffered many complications, went in to have it repositioned in Dec 2011 and it had to be removed. I had lost 60# in the banded year and have regained it all. I will attend a seminar on the 10th and meet with the surgeon on the 17th. If I decide to proceed with this procedure and if it is deemed safe for me I hope I do not have to wait 6 months again like I did for the band. If anything it should prove that I can be successful following WLS and that withoutit I am right back where I started. Keep us updated on what you each find out. Joan