onmyway14

I had very poor results with lapband, but have been maintaining a huge weight loss post sleeve (over 160# lost). I think there is a real difference between the two procedures, but I also think there were real differences in ME too.
I was better educated, less defensive, considerably more desparate for success by the time I was sleeved. I mean, I felt like it was life or death to get some weight off. That level of motivation and unrelenting effort for about 14 months got me to goal. It is pretty easy to slack off once you have had initial success, but if you have alot of weight to lose like I did, you just can't slack off or you won't make your goal.

I was in a stall for about a month.. I am 41/2 months out... And was stuck at 200. I weighed myself again today, after a few days of staying away, and I am finally under that 200 mark!!! Don't stress.. It happens to everyone. But you will get past it!!

My BMI was 38 when I was approved for the surgery. As little as six months ago it was 33. I, like many of you was tired of the continual weight yo-yo over the course of 30 years. I want to be healthy and not be ruled by my food. My decision to have the sleeve was me wanting to "eat to live", rather than "live to eat". I was frustrated after dieting and exercising and losing weight and gaining it all back plus more my entire adult life. I recently developed some comorbidities, blood pressure medication this year, severe sleep apnea, and my blood sugar was slowly creeping through the pre-diabetic stages. The heavier I got, the less I wanted to exercise, and the heavier I got... A vicious circle! it also seemed like I was always hungry and didn't have a full mark.I started to consider my own mortality, with my 50th birthday quickly approaching (it is November 29). I was approved on November 3 and my surgery date was November 18, 2014. I am now today one week post surgery and I feel that this is the best decision that I have ever made! my doctor takes the removed stomach during surgery, stitches it up and filled it with air and measures it. I talked him out of a photograph of mine. It is the most incredible thing I have ever seen, my huge stomach laying on a table. He told me that he was surprised if I ever felt full because my stomach was one of the largest that he has seen, and he is operated on people 500 pounds and up. Whenever I feel frustrated about this liquid diet that I am halfway through, I take a look at that picture and I always feel better! After seven days I have lost almost 20 pounds, I am walking between 2 1/2 and 3 miles per day and I feel fantastic. I am getting at least 60 g of Protein per day and getting down at least 80 ounces of Water per day, even though that KL drinking water at least every 30 minutes all day long. The weight is falling off and I feel like I am no longer ruled by what I eat. I am even looking forward to having some cream of chicken Soup during Thanksgiving while my family is stuffing themselves on turkey and dressing. Maybe I'll have some chocolate pudding (sugar-free of course) for my 50th birthday Saturday!I I am 6 foot two, was 307 pounds on the Thursday before surgery at my preop appointment, 301 pounds last Tuesday when I checked in, and today I was 286. I am not hungry, 4 ounces of water makes me feel full, and I I am getting sufficient nutrition on the liquid diet, but I really can't wait until next week when I get to go to puréed food and actually chew something again. I know that I am at the beginning stages of my journey, but I feel as if I have turned the corner on my path to a healthier life!

November 21st....(Atlanta GA) officially sleeved! Good luck and good health to all - what a way to bring in 2015!

Im on day 5 post op , and i am feeling way better . I had my drainage removed yesterday And I'm really happy about that . I've lost 15 lbs total . I hope everyone has a great day !

I was sleeved on 11/19/14. I feel great. After the surgery regardless what the hospital staff tells you, walking gets rid of the gas! I have never experienced excruciating pain in my life. If I knew just walking would propel the gas, I would have walked earlier. Gas x just consolidates the gas in one area. This is what I've experienced. Congrats! This is a life changing experience and I'm excited for everyone who takes the step to a new you.

@@Betts69 have you tried B-Complex and B12 for energy? I'm using both that's liquid. Also, I'm not pooping either. But I was thing that nothing's really going in so nothing's coming out. The nurses have checked my bowel sounds and everything's good just waiting.
That's good to know about the yogurt and cottage cheese. I've tried some putter chocolate Protein that tastes like Reese's cups that I thought was awesome prior to my surgery so I'll try this again. I go thru bodybuilding.com vises GNC because the prices are cheaper and I find that they have a bigger variety.
I hope you find some Protein that will agree with you. I will now start mine as well. I will be discharged today due to my swallowing issues.
Please keep me posted. Stay encouraged!

Hang in there. The same thing has happened to me. My doctors assured me this is common. They gave me pain meds, steroids, nausea meds and Pepcid intravenously along with IV fluids. I feel great! I feel so much better. Please hang in there. We are here to encourage and support you thru this time.

Why I chose VSG:
1. Decreased risk of dumping syndrome. Three years from now, if I want a bite of donut, I can have a bite of donut - enjoy a bite of donut, and odds are, not feel like I'm going to fall out.
2. Increased ability to eat 'healthy' food.. Lean and green are the mainstays of this lifestyle.
3. I read a study that indicated that families where the mom has had VSG lose weight and the children are less likely to be obese. I think that has to do with #2.. I want that; I want my kids to see me eating healthy, not to see me able to eat 'whatever' and still lose weight.
4. I work with ALOT of people who have had both surgeries. It has been my observation that post bypass, while the weightloss is faster, the skin is MUCH looser, the overall appearance is less healthy (dry, ashen, etc..), and to quote my husband they look like 'a pillowcase with the s*t slung out of it'.
5. I'm not the best at taking supplements long term. I stuck with prenatals for a year of planning + pregnancy and then another year of nursing.. and then Vitamins became hit or miss for me. I don't want to lose bone mass, blood cells, etc because of massive supplement needs secondary to malabsorption.
6. Research indicates that the part of the stomach left after gb can restretch; not so much with vsg due to the fact that the fundus is removed.
7. The intestines increase their ability to absorb, it's a survival thing. What if I get used to being able to eat crap and lose weight, stretch my stomach out, and my intestines start absorbing enough calories that I put it back on?
8. I want a normal colonoscopy, where all my insides can be visualized without having to have a special procedure.
For me - bypass was a very brief fleeting thought. I believe the VSG will be effective. If it's not, I can always have a revision to the DS. If it is, I've avoided all the stuff that steered me away from gastric bypass for the last decade.

I chose the sleeve over bypass because I wanted my life to be as close to "normal" as possible.

While the chance of dumping is still there, it's decreased vs. bypass. I wanted to be able to have a piece of b-day cake or ice cream occasionally without getting sick. As luck would have it, I can't eat ice cream -- I dump. HA! I've also noticed if I eat candy/cookies/brownies one day, the next morning I will have the poops and it's not pretty. So...

I am horrible at taking pills. HORRIBLE. With bypass, supplements are a must. With sleeve they are a must, too, but my surgeon said as long as I keep my blood work looking good, he's OK with my propensity to "forget". Aside from Vitamin D, my levels are awesome and even my D is better now than it was pre-op.

It's my OPINION that the bypass is easier to "eat around" than the sleeve. I may be totally incorrect, I am an expert on no one but myself, but with my sleeve, once I'm full, I'm full. Sleeves don't stretch, pouches can according to my doctor.

Most importantly, I didn't have any co-morbidities that would make bypass a better option. My doctor was on the same page as me when I told him I was more interested in the sleeve. He said he would have felt differently if I was diabetic or had other health issues.
Good luck with your decision. Trust your gut and the people you are paying to help you along with this decision!

Re:colonoscopy
In looking at the diagram of the intestines, where there used to ne a straight line with a finger sized branch for the appendix, there is now a fork in the road. For a straight colonoscopy.. Shouldn't affect anatomy there. An upper and lower gi, diverticulosis, crohns, anything involving bypassed tissue... I don't know what if anything would be different. I just know I would want a gi doc with a lot of post wls experience.
My logic says the sleeve is still a straight shot, therefore IMO less likely to have blind spots.
Also.. I take a lot of NSAIDs and steroids, and long term meds that have been studied in people with intact absorption. Not enough studies done for dosing after malabsorptive procedures for me to make that my first choice

November 19th for me!

Weightless Beauty-
I was sleeved 11/19/14. What advice can you provide in working out and not getting saggy skin? You look great ????

Hi there. On yesterday I called my dr due nausea and couldn't keep any liquids down. My surgery was 11/19/14. My chest was tight and lots of pressure. The tests revealed my esophagus was swollen and I needed steroids and pain meds. After these meds were administered and instantly I felt like a million bucks. My nausea came from not being able to get liquids down as well as
the gases in my stomach. I hope you feel better.

starting weight
3 months out
5 months out
last week @ 5'6 154 lbs. size 6
Me loving my sleeve
!! leaving the gym feeling good!!