hope4momof4

Hello everyone. I’m scheduled for my ESG on February 6 which is only 6 short days away. I’m scared and I need some pep talks from our veteran ESGers. So many of you have been an inspiration to me, in particular Melesg, TexSlim, and AmyAlexis but I now find myself so terrified of this procedure. I’m afraid of the actual procedure, what if I don’t wake up? I have 4 children who are older 19, 18, 15, and 11 but they still need me. What if I have a horrible reaction and I have to hospitalized? What if I need several days to recover instead of just 3?
My biggest fear is what if I go through with it after months of wanting this procedure done and it doesn’t work?
Please help me get over this. Keep posting your experiences to reassure me that I’m doing the right thing. Don’t sugarcoat it either. Be honest and let me know what the heck I got myself into. I’m not backing out. I’ve waiting too long and saved up my own $ for this. I’m just scared of the unknown. Please help guys!😩😟

Hi there. Welcome to our forum. We are always excited to have a member join our group. ESG is still a very new procedure here as well but we do have at least a forum where we can post our experiences. I’m scheduled for February 6 and yes I’m nervous and scared but I totally agree with you that I have to do this for me. Right now my biggest challenge is sticking to the liquid diet my doctor wants me to be on. I should only be drinking Protein Shakes at this point and the day before (Monday) I have to be on Clear Liquids. This is difficult but I hope today and the next few days I can find the strength and motivation to keep to it. This is exactly why I need this procedure. Being on this liquid diet proved to me that I really do need this to help me stick to a healthy eating plan. I will continue to post my experiences and hope that when your time comes on March 23 you will have a better understanding of what to expect. Good luck.

already red alot of youre storys hoe are you doing now with eading en weight loss sorrie my englisch isnt very good

hi im from holland there is no forum about esg here so im so happy i found this ons my esg is on 23march so exsidit and feel youre consurn to i have 3 kids 2 .8. and 11 but i neef to do this for me i will keep on reading

Thank you. I think I just need to hear that reassurance. Cold feet are making me second guess😬. I’m going to do this and I’m hoping that the post op is at least manageable. The doc certainly sent me enough meds and I plan to take every single one.

Thank you. I think I just need to hear that reassurance. Cold feet are making me second guess😬. I’m going to do this and I’m hoping that the post op is at least manageable. The doc certainly sent me enough meds and I plan to take every single one.

It's totally normal to worry about your kids at this time. Remember that this is giving them back a fit and healthy mama. And nothing terrible has happened to date with esg. It's safe, routine for doctors who have experience with it and you are in a health facility that deal with unwell patients often. I was nervous before I got to the clinic and then saw how professional and fantastic the staff were and I couldn't stop smiling before I went it. They also give you some sedation before the general anaesthetic. I was out of it half way through my introductory conversation with the anaesthetist. We laughed afterwards that I must be a cheap drunk as I have no tolerance for drugs lol. My procedure was honestly a breeze - just the nausea afterwards that made it unpleasant. But that passes.
Mel x

So excited for you hope4momof4, it's so close now. My advice would be to take EVERYTHING for nausea control, emend included if it is offered.
Long term, no ppi (such as somac) for me, just had them for 2 weeks post op. Vitamins include a Multivitamin, vit d and Calcium and Biotin to help minimise Hair loss which is common after weight loss.
quick update on me. I haven't lost anything on the scales for a few weeks but can see lots of toning and slimming from the gym. My goal is to lose another 6kg and then decide how much more I want to lose after that. I may be happy or decide I want to lose some more. So I am about 30lb down and feel that my current eating and exercise allows me to maintain my weight. I am trying to cut down on snacking but find that exercise gives me an appetite increase so I need to be careful. Still feeling great and enjoying a much healthier lifestyle.
Mel x

I had gastric sleeve with the incisions. I was not covered for the endoscopic and wish I was! Lucky you! I am doing well. Take Chapstick! Sip, sip, sip and walk and rest. [emoji120][emoji173]️

By the way, livinglife100, did you have the ESG done yesterday? There are not too many people who have had it. I would appreciate you sharing your experiences since I will be a week after you. Thanks again.

It’s all good my dear. I enjoyed your post anyway. I guess if your son can do this awake I can do this being under general anesthesia. Thanks for making me laugh as well.

I like your analogy. You really put things in perspective. Thanks a million. 💝💝

I'm postop 1 day and Ibwas very nervous before but all these lovely bariatricpals helped me through! I have kids too. My dr said would you expect someone with a bad knee to not get knee surgery and just hobble around the rest of their life? No! They get the surgery. We are hobbling around in life and need help. My dr had the GS on himself! We can do this! No more hobbling in life!

Oops I was telling you guys about my EGD instead.

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I've had 2, one in 2015 by a general surgeon and my latest December 20, 2017 by my gastroenterologist. With my first I had a sore throat and was goofy as heck waking up from it. My son took pictures on his cell phone when I first woke up. I looked like a cross between drunk and stoned. My one in December I woke relaxed no sore throat and could have whipped my weight in Wildcats, quite an undertaking as I have a BMI of 45. He provided me with a printout with pictures of my esophagus and stomach. Turns out I have gastritis, a small ulcer and a moderate hiatus hernia. Darling it's nothing to worry about, in the US and Canada you're asleep for a little while, I understand in some areas of Europe they leave you awake, Although usually I'm a brave little Elk I don't think I'd enjoy that. When I had my colonoscopy in 2012 I elected to remain awake, many people don't. My son was asleep for his (same g.I. doctor) but I wanted to watch. It was totally fascinating and hope to do the same when I'm due again in 2022. Does this relax you a little?

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Sheila, hi I had the ESG procedure November of last year, just before Thanksgiving. I'm early 50's and yo-yo dieted for the last 15 years, gradually gaining 10-20 pounds per year since my mid 40's. I chose ESG because I wanted a permanent change (not the balloons) and felt more comfortable with the endoscope procedure (no incisions) than a vertical gastric sleeve. ESG procedure went very smoothly, I was not in pain, did not get nausea and was up and about within a day or two following procedure. After the long weekend I went back to work on Monday and there were no complications.
I'm looking to lose about 80 pounds. As of late January I'm down 34 pounds and since the ESG it has totally changed my appetite and desire for food. I eat much less, don't have cravings and have eliminated most sugar from my diet (no processed foods, sweets, alcohol, etc.). Check some of my earlier posts for more details on diet, etc.
Let me know if you have more questions, on this forum we're always glad to help and share our experiences!
Tex

Sheila, no problem, glad to help. I was in the same place last year and this forum was really helpful for me to hear the experience that ESGers had with their procedure and following weight loss. Same problem for me last 6 years after I turned 45, just couldn't keep from gaining weight no matter what diet/exercise I did.
I get the sweet tooth thing, it sounds strange now I'm sure, but I just don't have those feelings in my stomach or head to desire to eat the really killer sweets/deserts. A lot of talk about the reduction in stomach size and change in hormone production related to hunger, I'm not an expert as to why I feel this way. I'm totally different now, pre ESG, chocolates, ice cream, way to rich cakes, bread pudding, bring it on!! Now not at all. This lack of "hunger/desire" for food has made it so much easier to cut my intake of calories and not be Portion Control challenged.
Keep asking questions we're glad to help, you will make a huge difference in your quality of life with the ESG procedure.

Great to hear Tex. I’m hoping my doctor sent me all of these meds as a precaution, just in case. So right now are you still taking any meds? What Vitamins are you taking if any? Thanks again Tex for the great advice you always give me. I’ve already prepared myself to sleep reclined the day of the procedure remembering that was a piece of advice you offered shortly after your procedure.
The countdown is on! (For my procedure lol not the super bowl!)

Thanks again Tex. Maybe I’ll just prop myself up at night in bed using a few extra pillows. I hope I also only need Vitamins postop. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

hope4momof4, thanks great to hear from you. no meds since about 2 days following the procedure. I take Gummy Multi Vitamins and a separate gummy Calcium supplement each day.
On the sleeping thing, I did the first two nights on the couch, almost upright. My Dr. explained that if we lay down fully horizontally to sleep there's a greater chance of Fluid progressing back up from the stomach towards the esophagus. His recommendation was to be more vertical (doesn't have to be fully upright) as a way to reduce the chance of reflux or getting that feeling of reflux, etc. Particularly in the first couple of days following the procedure when the sutures are still new this is a big deal. Good luck with the countdown!!
Tex

hope4momof4, good question, I had very similar meds to Creekimp13. Main drugs were for anti-nausea, I did use Emend, also had a patch behind my ear for anti-nausea the day of the procedure and Zofran for 2 days post procedure all together they worked awesome. I did not have any nauseous symptoms.
Tex

I took Emend for nausea. $200 for one pill the morning of surgery, but it was more worth it than I can say. I had zero nausea. Absolutely none. No nausea, no vomiting.
My surgeon is weird.
We had to take a big dose of Tylenol the night before, and drink a huge amount of white grape juice the night before.
Before surgery, we got another medication patch for nausea behind our ear...and a shot to prevent clots. I think we got the anti-clot shots every 12 hours until we went home. And another medication for motion sickness that helps with abdominal surgery nausea.
We went home with Zofran (for nausea...I stopped taking it when I learned it was optional and I had no nausea) Omeprazole (antacid for healing...to be taken for 3 months after surgery) and Tylenol with Codeine in suspension for pain (took only one dose...the night I got home for a good night's sleep) I did take regular Tylenol for a couple of days.
I was taken off my Lisinopril and diuretic after surgery, and my bupropion.
I was told to monitor my blood pressure daily...and to call if it went over 160 on top or 90 on the bottom...it did neither. I haven't had either of these meds since and my BP today was 124/84. (and falling)
I was allowed to restart my bupropion at 6 weeks (it's time released)...but I opted against it for now. Have not missed it.
The only maintenance med I still take...is thyroid. I will take Omeprazole for a couple more months. And of course, vitamins:)

Hello my ESG family. First of all I would like to sincerely thank Tex, Mel, and Amy for the sweetest condolences on my mother’s death. Your words, prayers, and thoughts truly meant the world to me.
It has been two weeks now since my mom passed and I’m trying to cope with this devastating loss. So as you may have guessed— healthy eating was not a priority. However, I’ve managed to keep my weight under reasonable control considering the circumstances. It is something that I must know put as a priority in my life. My mother was very ill and unfortunately her weight ,bad eating habits, and lack of exercise contributed to the worsening of her condition as the years went by. I don’t want to go through what she did. Her quality of life in the last few years was horrible. She had no energy to go out and enjoy life. She needed constant help and care. I do miss her tremendously but I know that she in now in a better place. She didn’t want to live the way that she did. Her last hospitalization was painful to watch. She was basically kept alive by the machines attached to her. If she had survived that last hospital stay I am positive she would have needed a 24 hour nurse or something to get by. I know she didn’t want to live that way.
I’m still grieving her loss but it has in a strange way made me more determined to get my weight issue taken care of. I am going forward with my scheduled esg on February 6. I think now more than ever I have to take care of my health. I’m sure my mother would have wanted it that way.

Amy Alexis, thanks for the great advice on pre-op prep and not over buying. Awesome progress! So cool you are getting close to your goal !! Very exciting!
I also agree better to ty some different shakes ahead of time. My fav was Premier Protein, 2nd best was muscle milk IMO.
Hope4momof4, thanks for kind words, glad you are feeling more positive now. Re: pre procedure I liked Premier Protein chocolate shakes (Sam's club) did those for 3 days and then the last 2 days before procedure was clear liquid diet. For Clear Liquids I liked chicken broth (bouillon) and not a big Water fan so drank Crystal Light flavored iced tea (Red Raspberry is my fav). This only last a couple of days after procedure as well and then moved to yogurt, chicken Soup and back to Protein Shakes. I was up and about as well within a day or so, clear liquids phase is so short you will be surprised. Also definitely feel I have more energy now in addition to not being hungry, a great combination. Good luck!
Tex

Wow Tex I am now feeling more excited than ever to get this done. It is really starting to feel real now. It sounds like for you the procedure put that darn hunger hormone, gherlin, at bay. That is fabulous. For some who have had this procedure and posted their experience it seems that the actual physical restriction was the result but you got in my opinion a better result in the decrease in hunger hormonally.
Actually, I would like both please if that’s possible! In any case I guess it boils down to so many factors that I’ll just have to do this and find out what result I’ll get.
I’d love it if any of you all could list for me important things to remember to do preop in case my doc doesn’t cover them. Also, could you please give me an idea of what you drank the day of and one week after the procedure? What did you like and what did you absolutely hate? I’ll probably ask about your diet after one week but I want to do this one step at a time. So I will start with only the first week.
Thanks to all again. Any good pointers would be much appreciated.