hope4momof4

Good luck tomorrow Tex! Please let us know as soon as you are able to post how you made out. I’m sure you will do great. Still saying a prayer for you. Just think after tomorrow you can finally start living in a much healthier and slimmer body. 💐💐💝💝

Best of luck. I think you are going to do great. You’ve done the research and asked the right questions. I really think you’ve got this. I’ll be thinking of you on Tuesday. I’ll say an extra prayer!🙏

Hey there smith.99, I hope the procedure works out for you and your sister. The one advantage you’ll have is having it done with your sister so you can both support each other as well as motivate one another. It sounds like your sister had a more difficult time with this than you did. After reading so many peoples’ posts about their procedure your post is proof that each individual will react differently. You didn’t have any major discomfort while it looks like your poor sister had a rough postop. I guess I’ll just have to try my luck. To be honest this is not what worries me the most about this procedure, what I’m concerned with is whether or not it will work (meaning if I’ll lose weight) and how it will affect my stomach long term. Some say you can revise if restriction starts to get less while others say you can always revise to a sleeve and still others say you can not have a sleeve done afterwards b/c of scar tissue. I’m very confused about that part of this procedure. Either way, if I do get an esg done it will be an only procedure for me as I need this to be successful. I must go in with the mindset that this is it and I have to make it work no matter what. I also believe that every bariatric surgery or procedure can fail if you don’t do your part to change your eating habits and adapt a healthier lifestyle. Please keep us updated on you and your sister’s progress. Your BMI is very close to mine and it would certainly give me great encouragement to move forward. Thank you so much for your post. 😊

Hey Mel, I really do appreciate your posts. I read them sometimes over and over as they offer valuable information. My next question is this: keeping it a secret has been beneficial to you because your weight loss has now slowed down and you don’t have to deal with questions about how much you’ve lost etc. etc. However I was curious to know if the weight is still coming off regardless of how slow? My concern is that the weight will stop coming off and the numbers will slowly increase which will bring us right back where we started. So can you tell me now that you are a few months out if the weight is still coming off even if incremental and what you are eating that makes it so. Also, are you exercising yet? Thanks again Mel!😊

Hey Belle, How are you doing? It’s been more than six weeks since your procedure and was wondering if you’re still losing or have you stalled? Please give us an update on how you’re doing and what you are eating now? Do you still feel restriction? Are you feeling hungry? Do you think this procedure has not only helped you lose those initial pounds but has also given you the will power to make better food choices? Thanks in advance for any info you can share.

Great to hear. I wish you continued success. Please keep us updated.

Hi AmyAlexis, How did your procedure go? I hope you have recovered by now and can give us some good news about your experience and weight loss. Please update us. Thanks.

Thanks. I don’t qualify for a sleeve because my BMI is not high enough but this procedure is supposed to be similar to the sleeve. It doesn’t produce the same amount of weight loss but it is ideal for people like me looking to lose 30-50 or so pounds. It’s not covered by insurance but I wasn’t going to get coverage anyway and it is a lot cheaper from $10,000 to like $12,000. Still looking to have this procedure done in the next few months when I have a good portion of that saved up. 😬 It looks like you have lost a nice amount of weight. When were you sleeved?

Hey Sherry, ESG is a new bariatric procedure that is considered noninvasive. It stands for endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty which basically means sewing or stitching up your stomach like a gastric sleeve but without any incisions. They go through your mouth with the suturing device. You are put under anesthesia and it is outpatient so you go home same day. There are only a few doctors performing this. However, this procedure looks promising so I think more and more doctors will be offering it soon. I am looking to get it done but I have not had it yet. Hopefully more people who have actually had this procedure done will chime in from this forum. My BMI is 32 and I’m 43 years old. This procedure is only for patients with a BMI from 30-40. Hope that helps you. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Hey Melesg, Great to heat that you’re doing well. 12 kgs, that’s more than 26 pounds! Amazing! Congrats to you! I have heard from several who post about this procedure that a stall is very common so I’m glad you were able to get through that little bump in the road. I’ve also heard that people who have this procedure have increased energy levels as well. Is this something you noticed? About my conversation with my Hubbie, well, it hasn’t happened yet but I am starting to get him on board with the idea of doing something to help me lose weight. He sees me struggle and has said if I really want to I should go to a weight loss doctor, although he kindly adds that I don’t need to, lol. So I’m getting there....baby steps. I’m planning to have mine in February. I’m not sure about Australia but it is still cold here in February which I think gives me time to recover and be ready for spring. Keep your fingers crossed for me. My best to you always.

Good for you!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I’m happy to hear you not just doing well but outstanding! I think you really did use this procedure as just a tool to get healthy. I’m very hopeful that I can achieve similar results. It looks like you are feeling full with very little food and either the procedure has worked perfectly for you in that sense or possibly you started off not feeling hungry due to the procedure and then you trained your body to not want food as much afterwards. Either way you are doing great and I hope you continue your success. Please continue to update on your progress at least weekly. You do give us inspiration especially those like myself in the process of scheduling this procedure. Thanks a million and continued success and health!

The forum has been awfully quiet for a while. How is belle3endosleeve doing? I hope you are still losing? How much have you lost so far? How are you Melesg? I haven’t heard from either of you in a while. I hope that you haven’t had any issues. Please update us on your progress. Still wishing all my best.

Hi there. I’m glad you’re recovery is going well after a rocky start. I hope your weight loss is going well also. I think perhaps that you may have posted in the wrong forum. It looks to me like you had a laparoscopic gastric sleeve not the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. With the endoscopic one there are no incisions and the stomach is not cut it is stitched up from what I understand. The procedure is done using an endoscope through the mouth and it usually outpatient so there is rarely need for a hospital stay. I just wanted to direct you to the right forum. The gastric sleeve forum people can give you much better advice and support although the procedures are similar I guess ( I’m still trying to decide if I should do this procedure or not). In any case, I wish you continued health and success!

Good for you! I’m sure you don’t need recognition on your accomplishment to feel successful but I’m sure that felt good! 😎 It’s nice to see that people are finally taking notice. How much weight have you lost?

So glad to hear that your surgery went well. Now you can begin your new life. I suppose our moms are so overbearing because it’s the only way they know how to show they love us. I think your mom being there in the hospital is proof of how much she cares. And yes she will ease up on you the more you prove to her how you can get your weight and your life under control. I guess our moms mean well but they have a really strange and annoying way of showing it. Anyway, keep us posted on your progress. I’m rooting for you babe!

Isn’t it strange that we are grown adults, you’re 45 and I’m just about the same age 43, but we still feel like children when it comes to our parents? I have the same issue with my mom and like you I don’t want to hear the negativity. I think it’s wonderful that you have your surgery date. Which surgery or procedure are you having? You are a lot braver than me. I’ve only made a few phone calls but I haven’t even gone in for a consultation. My mom would never support me in this although she’d never hesitate to tell me that I look fat or very big. Mind you she is very obese herself and suffers from numerous health issues because of her weight. She doesn’t realize that I want to do this so I don’t end up like her, negative and bitter all the time. Congratulations on having a date set. I admire and applaud you. 👏🏻👏🏻

I wish you success and a speedy recovery. Although I’m very new to this forum and probably don’t have the seniority, I hope we can continue to provide support and inspiration in your lifelong journey. Congratulations and get excited about your new healthier life! It won’t hurt that you’ll really look “bad ass” soon and you can leave out the “big gurl” part😜😜

That is so great to hear and very heart warming 😍😢! I’m so happy for you and congratulate you on taking on this difficult journey. I wish you success and now that you have the support I have no doubt that you will do great! Please continue to update us on your progress. By the way, I’m sorry if you have already posted but which bariatric surgery did you have? All my best.

Mel, are you a counselor or a motivational speaker? Really you have an extraordinary gift of really setting things in perspective and making our outlook on life so much more positive. You have been a gift. I have taken the first step and called the office for a consult. I am planning to tell my husband this weekend. I think he is the only one I’m going to tell about this for now. Wish me luck my dear. 💝💝

Well thanks so much 1badassbiggurl as I thought I was the only one out there who was trying to keep this from my family. There are so many in this forum who have a lot of support and although I am very happy for them, I can’t help but feel like their experiences are going to differ so much from mine if I go forward with this. I’m not saying they’ll have it easy at all but it helps to have someone in your corner. Yes just like you I also have very strongewilled and opinionated people in my family who would never understand how much of a struggle it is everyday. Their solution would be: work harder to lose the weight or live like that for the rest of your life. Sadly, if I could do either then I wouldn’t be on this forum, right? I do agree I need to tell someone to help me through this time but I can’t bring myself to do it. I’m leaning towards perhaps a close friend but I’m still in the process of thinking about having it done. I haven’t scheduled anything yet. I like your idea of the letters which another member on the forum, eden30, suggested would be the best way to tell my husband. She suggests that writing out your feelings is better because when you write you usually write from a place of love not anger. I also think it is easier to express how you really feel on paper. I find it intimidating when you are face to face. Either way I must find a way to do this and I am so lucky that I found this forum because your kindness and encouragement keep me believing that I can do this. Thanks for the support and great suggestions. I hope eden30 is also reading this because she is another source of encouragement for me. Please let us know how your procedure goes in two weeks 1badassbiggurl. Keep us posted on how your family reacts also. Eden30, how is your progress? I hope you are continuing to lose and keeping up your energy. Thanks again all!

Oh one more thing Mel, sorry I meant to ask you. Was your procedure endoscopic or was it a traditional gastric plication where there were incisions? I’m just wondering because you said you were gone for a week and ESG is supposed to be a same day procedure.

Oh wow Mel your post almost put me in tears. You are so right about spending $ on our children in a heartbeat even if it will only slightly improve their quality of life. I do want to do this not only for myself but for my family to be honest with you. I really think that if I am able to achieve a decent amount of weight loss, I mean 30 or 35 pounds, then my entire outlook on life would improve. I know it is not the answer to all my problems but it would definitely help. Do you know how many times I’ve felt bad about my weight and let those emotions spill out into my general mood for the day? How many times have I heard my husband ask me what’s wrong and why am I upset or cranky! I can’t even give him a decent answer. I can’t even verbalize my day to day struggle with my self image. It’s really “weighing” down heavily on my life. You’re right I need to do this. I just hope it works well for me as a tool. I do exercise and try to eat healthy but my weight has crept up on me and I’m tired of the constant struggle. I will keep you posted and please continue to post about your progress. You have inspired me to go forward. I want to know that you are there as a senior or pro at this procedure. My continued blessings to you.

Dear Esgnewbie, That sounds horrible! I’m so sorry that you had a bad experience. Who was your doctor? Have you tried to contact the doctor about your discomfort? The doctor should have put you on some pain medication for the cramping. This is very unprofessional and if I were you I’d call the office and raise hell. $20,000 is also a lot to pay for this procedure. Every piece of info on the ESG procedure places the price tag at a maximum of $15,000 with some as low as $10,000. The very least your doctor should do is bring you in for a follow up and help ease your discomfort with medication. I’d try reaching out to the doctor’s office first. Once again I’m so sorry about your discomfort and hope you feel better very soon.

Thank you Mel. I have been looking into this procedure for months and was excited that it was being offered in certain locations in the country. I was initially interested in a gastric balloon but changed my mind after reading reviews from people who have had it. I was even thinking of traveling to Canada or Mexico to have the balloon done before the FDA approved it in the USA. It was reviews from real people like you that have had the balloon that made me change my mind and wait for something more effective that would be worth the money spent and the discomfort of going through a procedure. I really believe that having an ESG may be the exact thing I need to help me finally take control of my eating habits and give me the result I’m looking for which is an initial decent weight loss and then a possible gradual weight loss over time. So far everyone who has had the ESG and posted about it has recommended it. I’m so glad I waited. I’m also so glad I joined this forum because people like you are kind enough to take the time to answer all my questions and concerns. I have already started saving up on the side for this and probably will go forward once I figure out how to tell my husband. Thankfully you just gave me some peace of mind about my teenage boys who probably won’t even notice. I don’t think they’ll get their eyes off their phones or iPads long enough to pay attention lol. Thanks Mel. Please keep me posted on your progress. Sounds like you still struggle at times but at least you’ve seen results will hopefully continue your success. All my best.