Shellabella30

Very good. Pretty sure I was more nervous about my psych evaluation than the actual surgery. I still have no idea why I was not nervous...okay I sort of do, but it's ridiculous!

Other than eating less, I would have no idea I had surgery. I've not had any major issues issues after surgery and feel pretty great.

I have had my share of stalls. That would usually be very discouraging to me. However, I am taking it all in stride.

I don't have any new information about this, except that I am 6 weeks out, and I have not had any problems with it...thankfully.

Ok here we go. I'm going to be honest. I'd rather prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And just so you know, it really wasn't bad at all.
No they didn't give me a binder but ask for one and they will. I powered through without it and felt fine after two weeks.
I didn't use my gas ex in the hospital but did at home and still do. Not much though. Bring next to nothing. I didn't have energy to change my clothes or even brush my teeth. I didn't even wear a bra and undies home. Too worn out. I was at hospital Wednesday 8am and left Thursday 5pm. I don't know what I was on in hospital but they sent me home with Oxy Tylenol. I stopped taking it before Monday after surgery.
I am not on any meds - lucky me. Vitamins start at week four and they go down just fine with a sip of Water.
I had my own room.
A couple tips I can give you is to push yourself to walk. I don't think I did enough in hospital. Maybe a belly band would have helped. But I had no clue. Also asked for your spirometer. They didn't give me that until day two. Should have had it sooner. Also coughing....you'll have a lot of mucus built up. Hold a pillow to your belly and cough. Hurts like hell but I guess it isn't bad for you. Docs PA called me a whimp because mine was too weak. Lol. Once they finally clear you for liquids, sleep between sips. I sat in that chair for four hours sipping and sleeping. Be prepared for the death rattle when sipping. You'll know it when it happens. Lol
You'll wake up confused and full of regret after surgery. Make sure you have a good support system to visit you in the hospital and at home. I was feeling so much better by Sunday and even more so by Tuesday. I drove myself to my first week appointment if that's any indication.
Some people say they felt fine in the hospital. Not me. It was hard but not awful. You just had surgery. Take it easy but know it's ok to push a little too.
I'm six weeks out and have been cleared to run and lift weights. I'm not ready but I guess my body already is. Ha ha
I compare it to having kids. Hurts and painful but pain goes away so fast you forget what the pain was even like. I guess that prepares me for plastic surgery down the road.
I was too pumped and excited to be scared or nervous. It really wasn't until I got in the OR that it really sank in.
I'm so glad I did it. Some days it's a little tough but nothing like my tough days from the past.
Good luck. Let me know if you have other questions. And relax. You deserve it!
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I totally agree Shellabella!

I don’t even have a date yet and I’m starting to get nervous....I think there’s a fine line between reading up to get educated and then actually trying to read too much. I think it’s starting to overwhelm me.

I don’t even have a date yet and I’m starting to get nervous....I think there’s a fine line between reading up to get educated and then actually trying to read too much. I think it’s starting to overwhelm me.

Bought mine yesterday. Will let you know after it arrives

I'm a nurse and had the sleeve 6 months ago, and I have to tell u everyone at my job have been so excited and happy for me, I wearing 3x scrubs and am now down to size large, most people where curious, only one person made a negative comment and said i looked better fat I now look like a crackhead, always gotta have one hater in
the crowd. HW 290 SW 250 CW 180. I started the program in June 2016 290 had surgery in April 2017 ,that's a 110 lb loss, 70 since surgery. Good luck to you!!!

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Are you going to your surgeons support group? Many other VSG patients have gone through similar struggles and maybe their perspective would help. Also, private therapy is a good idea.

I think therapy would be a good option right now. Maybe explore the why behind the social anxiety, some of our long held beliefs can get in the way of what is really true about ourselves and about how others perceive us. I have had completely wrong reactions based on what I assumed people thought about me and often ignored when people really were treating me terrible or actually liked me but had their own issues.
Body image colors our interactions and how we project ourselves and this changed body needs time to become the new normal - our heads take longer to catch up. It's even unfair to bring a new relationship into that hot mess until you have it figured out.

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! The folks on this site have been so supportive since I found it.
Surgery went well I'm finally in my room and will be going on my second lap around the floor pretty soon
As of right now just dealing with soreness of course and lots of nausea
Thanks guys!

Absolutely! I can tell you that I could not find much on my surgeon but he was nice and helpful and approved by my insurance. I have heard wonderful things about Dr. July on this forum. I will put the links below so you can take a look.

About a year before surgery I'd occasionally have acid reflux and take chewy tums and that seemed to combat it. I've had acid three times since surgery and have taken a gas-x strip and that seems to make it go away immediately. I am still on the prescribed acid reducer so that could also be helpful.

Posts about Dr. July:


She has three reviews on this website: https://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1684-laura-july/?tab=feedback

Lastly, here are her patients that are on this website. You might find more information from them as well! https://www.bariatricpal.com/surgeons/1684-laura-july/?tab=patients

Hope this is helpful and things are going well!

Hi! I am in Minnesota as well. Just joined the forum. I am finishing up appointments as well hoping to have it scheduled either in early December or late November.

I'm bearing my soul and body here. I couldn't be more proud of how my body has changed.
I've lost exactly 70 pounds since my surgery. Today marks exactly 24 weeks ( 6 months ) since my VSG surgery.
There's good, bad and ugly about VSG. A lot of days, I cried and wondered why in the hell I had this surgery, and what in the hell ive done to myself. Throughout this process, I haven't been able to REALLY see the changes. In my mind, I always see a 268 pound fat girl. Granted, I have seen the changes, seen the smaller clothes sizes, but still struggled with my self image in my head. But today that all changed....
I realized today as I was getting dressed that I had on the same exact underwear as the day I took my pre-surgery pictures. Then I realized that today marked 6 months since surgery. So, i decided to take pictures.
I haven't taken pictures in this process because of the absolute shame and disgust I feel towards myself. Shame and disgust are understatement words for how I feel about myself. Until today...
Today, I feel proud. For the first time, I can honestly say that I don't see "that fat girl" in the mirror anymore. It may not be pretty, it will never be perfect, but it's mine, and today I'm owning it, and FINALLY for once in my LIFE, I'm feeling proud.
It's NOT an easy decision to post these photos of me in my underwear. I feel absolutely vulnerable and exposed. Please be kind. It took all the courage I could muster to do this. The current pictures are not the best quality but the best I could take of myself at the moment.
All you new VSG-ers, stay the course and have faith. If you have body image issues as I do, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and you are not alone in the dark!
Much love from me to you all! ️️️
 
DOS: 12/13/16
HW: 268
SW: 256.6
CW: 186.4

Hi ladies,
How is your weight loss going if you were diagnosed with PCOS? I'm 3 weeks out and wanted to hear about your journey while having it. HW: 242, SW:237, GW: 2 Be UNDER 200, CW:218, height 5'5
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I hope you’re doing great!

Have to be at the hospital in a few hours and I'm so excited! Please just send a wave of positivity my way that all goes well

They are gross, the only one i can handle is the chocolate Premiere Protein in has 30 grams of protein. After drinking it for a week it taste like chocolate milk. I’m currently 3.5 months post op and still drink it every morning. You can do this!

So I'm in pre op and I was looking for support from my family only to hear negative comments from some of them who are uneducated about it.
Has anyone told people they changed their mind about getting surgery but still gotten it, keeping only a few in the know?

I completely understand. I have spent months in therapy discussing my issues with food and the crap my mother said to me as a kid. To this day, we cannot get through a food situation without her talking about weight loss or weight watchers. If I make poached eggs she asks "are you back on weight watchers?" I am over discussing my weight with her. Therefore, I didn't tell my parents I had the revision. I lie. I won't commit to dinners until I can start eating again. I don't care if it's lying. It is my medical history and my choice. In future I will just say I am eating more Proteins, eating less, and making better choices.

I had GERD prior to surgery. Literally, heartburn all the time. When I did my endoscopy, they told me I had ulcers and a hiatal hernia. I had it repaired during surgery and even though I'm only 3 weeks post op....I have not had ANY heart burn or nausea (from the heartburn and stuff) like I did prior to surgery. So it may affect people differently...all I know is...I feel like i'm cured of GERD. lol

The way I think of it....there had been times where I've lost the weight on my own. But I could never keep it off. I would lose the weight and once I did, I thought "well I can eat whatever I want now since I lost some weight"...and not only did I gain the weight back, I gained MORE. It was a constant roller coaster of my weight fluctuating. I got to my highest weight I have ever been and felt like I couldn't do it on my own. That the weight was just too much to lose on my own this time. I was too lazy and lacked the motivation to want to lose the weight. This surgery has helped me tremendously and I have hope that it will help me keep the weight off in the future. Next week makes 2 months since my surgery and I've lost a little over 31 lbs.

Well the hernia isn't a big deal If it's not causing you problems. Many people have them and they don't cause issues. The bottom line is if reflux is a problem for you and how much if an issue surgery making it better/worse would be.
My journey hasn't started yet, hopefully will be having a bypass in November. But I've been working in bariatric surgery for years as a nurse, so I know a little

I drink two table spoons of apple cider vinegar in the morning and the two table spoons in evening and I haven't had any signs of acid reflux since starting the pre op diet.

My health partners timeline:
Psych Appt- May 26
Day of Long Appts. - June 1 (dietitian/ nutritionist/ Surgeon)
Health partners required coaching calls - 5 calls spaced two weeks apart.
Readiness Appt - August 18 (dietitian/ nutritionist/ Surgeon)
Everything submitted to insurance August 24. Authorization received Sept 5
Pre op Appt - Sept 13
Surgery - Sept 21
It seemed like it took forever, but it went pretty well actually. I hope this information is helpful for someone out there.