TracyBar

Good luck to you! Just curious - the 6 month process: is this to determine if you're a candidate or more to see if you will change your mind in the 6 months leading up to surgery?

Hi everyone, Just wondering why this is the ideal amount of stomach removal? I've read quite a lot of posts now and trying to find a commonality. Would a proper level of nutrition be better achieved if more stomach is retained? Would hydration be easier/better achieved with more stomach left in?

Yes - very true!

I'm in Canada anniebanana - and I could have the surgery for free, however the wait time can be years. If I'm going to do this (and I'm 54 now) I can't wait for years obviously. This clinic was recommended by a doctor to somebody I know, as the one clinic they trusted. The standards are very high. Perhaps I shouldn't jump to conclusions based on this one facilitator but I haven't looked elsewhere either. The other reason this clinic was the choice was because it has a Canadian connection and our medical standards, like the U.S., are high. I think my own doctor could help and that's my next step. I wish it could be done here (surgery) that way all resources are close at hand.

Yes, very true. And wow! You have lost so much weight since your surgery in April - congratulations!

Tomorrow! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Best of luck Clarevoyant! Look forward to hearing from you after :-)

I'm researching the surgery to make sure it's the right thing for me - both physically and mentally. I'm not at the point yet where I'm comfortable with this option. Not sure what it will take to get me there, maybe just time and more research. I've been really facing up to my past - all the times that I've been so deeply saddened by the low points or rock bottom's that we all have stories of. I can trace them back quite a long way as I've battled weight issues for so long. Even in childhood it was a tough thing for me. My mom really disliked having a chubby child when her other 3 were so slender. She's the mom that would give her last dollar to her kids, but she couldn't come to terms with me being overweight. I had many years of being slender - but this took very low calories and 2-3 hours of working out per day 6 or 7 days a week. That's been the only way I've ever kept weight off. But who, after kids, can keep up that kind of lifestyle? Anyway, I have other issues that I need to consider (physically). I malabsorb certain foods - go straight through me - and haven't got a complete handle on that yet. So it does worry me that this surgery could result in me being unable to absorb much and have diarrhea all the time. I also don't do well at all on a diet without Protein (so the liquid stage). Protein shakes would be a good option except I can't have soy or dairy! lol So you see I need to do more research! Also concerning is the fact that the facilitator with the Mexican clinic I was dealing with let me know that she doesn't get paid for time spent answering questions and taking phone calls so I was left with a bad taste in my mouth about that place. It's supposed to be the best with a beautiful hospital, high-tech equipment and highly trained staff. If my experience going into this has been bad, what can I expect AFTER they have my money and the surgery is done? I can't imagine it would be very good. This particular clinic, WLF, has a Canadian connection but not sure how. Think a Canadian woman started it, and funded it but need to look further into it. Their diet seems to be far more strict than what I'm reading here, including yours. It's one month pre-op 800 calories a day - can't remember but believe liquid diet prior to surgery?? Then clear liquid for 2 weeks, and what they call full liquids 2 weeks, then pureed, etc. My reaction in the past to protein shakes alone (those shake diets) resulted in illness and shaking. Can't take so much time off work! So you see - lots of big question marks in my mind!

Well said - and what I would have said as well! Until the relationship is very serious, nobody's business but yours.

@@#9grammy - thanks. My mom is very thin too, very. But she never had gastric surgery, just always been slender. I don't live near her but my brother tells me she has good days and bad which is to be expected. Some days she enjoys her food, others she has no desire. I appreciate your answer - I'm making sure I've looked at every possible outcome now and in future in order to make a decision.

@@anniebanana - great to hear! I'm not sure what the stages are, but happy to hear you're getting through o.k. What emotions can be expected? (good and bad)

Hi anniebanana - I see you've just had surgery. How did it go? Are you managing well mentally and physically?

I'll have to see what my doc says - never know, maybe we have something here in Calgary. I haven't researched enough about Canada and wait times, but I understand a person could wait up to 7+ years. A lot can happen in 7 years -

Learning a ton from you I'll check out you links!

Hi - no, I'm in Calgary. Born and raised in Vancouver (Coquitlam). My family and friends are there. I'll talk to my GP to see if she knows more about it here in Calgary. What hospital are they running the pilot program out of?

Yikes. That sounds really bad! Lawsuit? wow - don't know what to say. I'm appalled by the lack of care in the hospital! I'm lucky enough to have limited experience in hospital - appendix out and c-section. Appendix the care was fantastic. C-section not so much. 2 different hospitals. I think when having a baby the nurses just feel like you are fine - sadly I had a terrible infection that got worse and was largely ignored until day4 when the surgeon came to release me and said "you have an infection!" Ya, no kidding. Anyway, I'd still rather have the surgery in Canada, but doubt that'll happen. Wait would be too long. But I'm not going to race off to Mexico without looking into everything that I can. The one thing that concerned me when I was speaking with the facilitator not far from me, that works for WLF in Mexico - she said she is booking for July and August. She KNEW I was completely new at looking into this. It made me pause and think - all about the money for them? Apparently the surgeon is extremely good and she's performed many, many surgeries. The hospital has a higher rating than Canadian hospitals (according to them). At any rate, a chat with my doctor is in order! I wish you luck and hope you find relief soon.

Fantastic input and I appreciate very much that although your surgery and journey thus far has been positive, you support the practice of researching all aspects to make sure (as much as possible) that the surgery will be safe and appropriate based on pre-op health, mental state, etc. I don't have any health issues (other than being fat! ). The only way I would consider the surgery is if, between my GP and I, we decided that it would beneficial physically (and really mentally too - daily focus has been on weight most of my adult life). I don't want diabetes and feel that in my state I'm a prime candidate for it. I am SO reluctant to diet once again, as every single time I gained it back plus more resulting in my weight now. A new set-point every time so that my body worked to reach my newest all time high and surpassed it. Repeat, repeat. We all know the drill.... I'm in Canada and it's unlikely free surgery would be available to me in the near future. Wait times are long. Mexico is the other option but that in itself causes me nerves. Just the flight itself on my own after surgery is something to worry about - travelling alone 4 days post-op and not knowing how I'll feel gives me pause. I never thought about surgery for myself before - ever. Then my massage therapist told me she is saving to go to WLF in Mexico for the surgery. I was shocked - she looks pretty normal to me! It was days before I even considered it as an option for myself. How would you gauge your own psychological and physical state prior to surgery? Did you make an effort to get as fit as possible prior to surgery? For you, how was the pre-op diet? Did you feel well during it? And after the surgery - what did you feel like - pain? Difficulty swallowing? Any issues at all? Mental state after? And how did you manage on the liquid diet (is it 2 months?). Thanks!

Hi KristenLe - have you had the surgery yet? I would love to find a group in my area. Great suggestion! I'll see if I can search one up!

thanks - finding this board is great. I needed the perspective of people that don't represent a specific clinic. Talking to the facilitator that works for a clinic isn't the best. She is telling me what she's suppose to tell prospective people. I know there has to be SOME thing that can go wrong - but she said she, her mom and abou17 of her friends and family all had the operation and not any issues at all. just seemed a bit too good to be true...:-)

Thanks everyone - all helps - I asked the question because my mom (dementia) was having a hard to time eating. She does seem better now she's in a home. Great answers all!

Hi GinaCampbell - thank you for responding. And yes, I'm doing my research. I won't go into this blind and in fact, I'm searching out information good and bad. Initially I did look at all the good stuff (and admittedly still do!) but then decided to focus my research on the bad in order to get the full story. It's easy to seek out good stories to support a decision to get the surgery when you really want to stop the weight battle. But it's permanent, and I knew that I would need to know it all before making a decision. Are you seeing a doctor to help you with the lack of fluids? Are you getting IV fluids? You may need this in order to start to feel better and get well. Perhaps once your fluids are up and you feel better you'll be able to tolerate food and then you'll be on the road to recovery. I really have no idea how it works after the surgery (there seems to be many differences) - but hoping you find some relief quickly. I don't think 200 calories a day is anywhere near safe for 6 weeks. Does it make you nauseous to have thicker liquids? I read somewhere that you should make your own broths so that you know you're getting good quality broth. It's easier to use the boxed or canned kind and maybe that's ok sometimes, but cooking down a chicken yourself would be better. Can the clear broth also have vegetables simmered in with the chicken? I assume you can have pureed foods by this point (if you could tolerate them)? I feel bad for you - but it's really helpful for me to hear the experiences of many. Are you working by the way? I have to work, no choice, so the idea that I could end up too sick to work would put my family in jeopardy financially and that most definitely worries me. Keep in touch - I'd like to hear how you're doing :-)

Thank you - I appreciate all the input. I wonder if I'll ever get to a place where I'm sure! I watched a couple of videos about the downsides of the surgery -brown smelly pee like the elderly, GERD, bad pains in muscles and joints, dehydration - and a lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in. There are definitely a lot of people that are happy about the surgery. But how many are aggravated or sad about the downside? Do you have any of these problems now?? I see you've had your surgery for a while now. I also just read that Rosie O'Donnell had the sleeve and she said there was 2 months of severe pain - Wow! This stage of researching is confusing and terrifying - lol "Brown smelly per like the elderly? " Huh? That sounds like a symptom of dehydration. Initially, as in the first few weeks after surgery, it is difficult to get in enough Fluid, but it can be done. Whether you have surgery or not staying hydrated is critical for health. Frankly, if you don't drink enough fluid anyone's pee will be brown. I just find it odd that this is what you are focusing on. "A lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in"? Again, in the first few weeks after surgery,it can be physically difficult to to get in enough Protein, but that is temporary. What in the world are you watching and reading? Hi - I think you may be right about the brown pee/dehydration. One of the posters on here linked two videos from two people that have had the surgery (I think a couple years out) about the negatives of surgery that they wished they'd known prior to going in. For me, I have to know it all - good and bad - before I'd make a decision like this. I also want to know as much as possible before I speak with my GP. Maybe, just maybe, I may come to realize that if I'm willing to undergo surgery to lose weight, then perhaps the idea that going to such lengths will urge me to finally lose the weight and keep it off. I need to figure it out. All input here is relevant and helpful. Thank you for your input....

Hello, I'm in the early stages of research and discovery regarding the sleeve. Many questions and much angst! I asked the facilitator for the clinic I may go to one day about what happens to a person that's had this surgery and they reach old age with little to no appetite? When we're older our appetite naturally diminishes. How will it affect us when we're old? She couldn't answer that so I will ask my doctor when I speak with her. Do you have any input? Is this a question that occurred to you and you sought an answer to? Thanks!

Thank you - I appreciate all the input. I wonder if I'll ever get to a place where I'm sure! I watched a couple of videos about the downsides of the surgery -brown smelly pee like the elderly, GERD, bad pains in muscles and joints, dehydration - and a lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in. There are definitely a lot of people that are happy about the surgery. But how many are aggravated or sad about the downside? Do you have any of these problems now?? I see you've had your surgery for a while now. I also just read that Rosie O'Donnell had the sleeve and she said there was 2 months of severe pain - Wow! This stage of researching is confusing and terrifying - lol

Thank you Christinamo7 and OutsideMatchinside. With your help I'm a little bit less worried and closer to my decision :-)

Congrats George! I really need to hear from more people and how they feel about the surgery. The place recommended to me seems a much higher price than others, but I would feel nervous if the price is too little and what that means. Anyway, my doctor will likely have a lot to say when i finally speak with her! She may want me to wait to have it done in Canada if I'm determined, but the wait list is long here, albeit free. Look forward to hearing how things go for you!