BubblesCT

You are the best hope4momof4, you are so supportive. It's great having such an intelligent, informed and supportive friend like you in our forum. I will take my time and join the groups like you suggested. The decision is a big and scary one for me so I want to feel comfortable. Thanks for the information.

Thanks again Tex. My surgeon has the same mentality about the meds. He wants me to continue to take them a week after. He does not want me to feel discomfort and sees no need for it so he requires a nausea patch also. As for the procedure being a blessing, I’m praying that it will be a blessing just as much as your support has been. 💝 You’re the best Tex!!

Most definitely Bubbles. We can do this together regardless of what procedure you choose. Support for me would be critical as I’m a very private person and no one will know about this besides my husband, not even my 4 boys! I’ll need you more than you know. I’m sure you’ve read how invaluable the support has been from the other members— in particular Melesg, Tex Slim, and AmyAlexis. I wouldn’t have ventured forward without them.

I’m sorry to hear that Bubbles. 😔 This is exactly why I am afraid to come off phentermine. You decide what is best for you. You have some time to make this decision so don’t rush and make sure you are absolutely ready to move forward. This is no harm in postponing even more if necessary. If you want more real life accounts of both ESG and LSG you should join the Facebook groups for each. There are two Facebook groups for ESG that I am a member of, one is a USA group and the other is out of Australia. Both have hundreds of members who will give you honest accounts of their experience. As Melesg has mentioned ,the Australian one is sometimes brutally honest about their successes or lack of. This is what you need. You need truth and honesty and not a fantasy idea of the success rate. But the stories there are touching and there are several who are successful on both groups. There is also a group called low BMI sleevers who are people who have had the gastric sleeve done with a BMI of less than 35. This may interest you as they post several times a day. Try both types of groups out and gain whatever knowledge you can to make an informed decision.
One common theme throughout every and any weight loss surgery or procedure is that it will only work if you do your part. Even those who’ve had a gastric bypass considered the gold standard can eat out their surgery. There are no guarantees. However, you can choose the best procedure that will give you the best chances of success. As always best of luck on your decision. Keep posting my dear.

Progress: Still no carbs/sugar. I scheduled an appointment with gastric sleeve doctor for January 10th and I meet with his nutritionist on December 18th. I'm still going through the process for ESG procedure, I meet with their nutritionist this Friday.
Challenges: I'm struggling with the amount of food I'm eating. I'm always hungry, coming off the phen has increased my appetite.
Setbacks: I'm up 5 pounds since stopping the Phen and I feel defeated and depressed. I'm not sure if the ESG will be most beneficial for me long term. Feeling stuck.

Congratulations on your progress toward your procedure. I understand the behavior you describe as I have done that many of times. Maybe look at it this way...the weight you loose before your surgery will contribute to your goal weight post surgery. You have 8 weeks before your procedure, even the smallest weight loss would be a head start. If you want a weight loss pal I'm here for ya. I know you are not required to have a nutritionist but maybe the support of one would't be such a bad thing.

Well guys it’s Monday and I want to continue to post my progress, challenges, and setbacks for the sake of accountability.
Progress: This week I had my ESG consultation on 12/7 and was scheduled for the procedure on 2/7. I don’t need any blood tests or clearances so I’m all ready to go physically but mentally I’ll have to work on it.
Challenges: understanding that I have to change my habits and quickly because the procedure will fail if I revert back to old habits.
Setbacks: I have noticed that since I began this journey and decided I would get this procedure I have done what I always did before starting a radical or extreme diet. That is, eating what I want and making unhealthy choices because I’m thinking that I will start losing weight and I might as well enjoy overeating while I can. This is the reason why I’m obese right now. I’m sure many of you can relate. I’ve done this all throughout these years of yo yo dieting. I’d constantly say to myself that I’m starting a very restrictive diet tomorrow so I’m going to eat whatever I want to know to sort of get that out of my system. The next day I would start the extreme diet and last for a short time (sometimes not even one day 😣😣) because it was obviously not sustainable and I’d cheat and start that ridiculous cycle again. In the meantime I would pack on pounds throughout the process making my goal harder and harder to reach. I have to stop this! With my esg procedure coming up I’m finding myself doing worse and I am making a promise to correct this now before I set myself up for failure again. Wish me luck. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Thanks Bubbles. I’m nervous and excited at the same time. I’m trying to use the time I have from now until my procedure to change my habits. In a few weeks I will take the bold step that you’ve taken and wean myself off of phentermine. That will be the hardest part of this journey. That blasted medication has been my crutch to lean on and I need to get rid of it completely. Thanks for the support and let us know which procedure you decide on.

Great first step on your way to your procedure. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable, it sounds like your Doc took the time to address all of your concerns. Great news that you have a surgery date and no hoops to jump through. The countdown has officially begun!

That's the best news!! I'm so glad that the consult went so well, you sound very at peace with your decision. You are going into this with your eyes wide open and will do amazingly well. You know exactly what to expect and that preparation will enable you to reach your goals. I'm so proud of you and so, so excited to be joining you on this journey.

WOO HOO!! So cool you had a great consult and got your date!! Sounded like a really good dialogue, I received similar info on scar tissue supporting keeping the sutures in place. Also heard from my doc the gas pains just after surgery don't "damage" the new stitches, the one activity to avoid to protect the stitches is not to get your stomach so upset that you vomit. I was never close to this after my procedure.
Stay calm and get the ESG done! you will do great! Happy for you!!

Thank you for asking Melesg. You and everyone on this forum have been amazingly supportive. Well here is how my consultation today went—- I got there about 15 minutes before my appointment time and filled out some forms, very few because most I had filled out online which were more specific and asked about my medical conditions and medications etc.
I was called back shortly after to consult with Dr. Sadek. I had a list prepared of questions to ask and here they are with his responses:
1- How many esg procedures have you performed? (I added that I knew it was a very new procedure so I wanted to know his experience) He told me about 40 and that he and Dr. Sharaiha were the only doctors in the northeast that do this.
2- Has any of your patients needed a revision and why? His answer was extremely interesting to me. He told me that only one patient needed a revision and the reason was that he, Dr. Sadek, needed to change his technique. He told me that initially he would suture the fundus of the stomach (I think that is what he called it) in a straight stitch but he found that doing that allowed for a greater possibility for the stomach to stretch because the sutures were not holding well this way. He now sews it up on a diagnol to ensure the best hold of the stomach. He believes this is the reason that some may need revisions to this procedure or why some sutures come undone. He also said scar tissue is good to form around the suture because it holds it well in place and increases the strength. 🤷‍♀️
3- What happens to the actual stitches or sutures in your stomach? Do they dissolve or stay? He said the sutures are permanent and are not meant to dissolve or be removed. They are supposed to hold your stomach indefinitely.
4- So why then is it possible to gain back some weight? The sutures hold the lower part of the stomach so the upper part can stretch over time if one eats the wrong foods.
5- Any long term data further than 2 years? He said even though it has been performed in other countries for longer than 2 years ago, there is not a big enough group study to give us accurate info for more than 2 years.
6- is this procedure reversible? He explained that the sutures should stay in place but if the procedure does not yield enough weight loss or there is regain you can then go in laparoscopicly and cut the sutures and remove them and then proceed to a laparoscopic gastric sleeve. You can also after years if needed convert it to a laparoscopic gastric plication which is the same as the esg but done with incisions.
I was told that the procedure would probably take one hour- one hour and a half to perform and he believes that if he starts at around 7:30 that by 10:30-11 I would be going home.
He told me I didn’t need any clearances or blood work because I had no comorbidities. The only medicine I am taking is phentermine which he agreed because I was taking it for so long is no longer effective at all.
He gave me a pamphlet with my preop diet of liquid only for one week prior or at the very least 3-4 days prior. Nothing after midnight the night before and nothing the day of. Post op diet is clear liquid for 3-4 days then liquid for two weeks. Then another two weeks of purée. Then one month post op is smaller portions but I will be into see him one week post op to go over that in more detail.
He believes I should lose between 25-40% of my excess weight which he estimated should be 30-40 pounds. (I can only hope🙏)
Finally, I booked a procedure date for FEBRUARY 6, 2018
I’m on my way guys!!😬😬

I absolutely agree with Melesg. It is very smart that you are looking into all of your options. Choose the one that you feel will give you the optimal results you desire. In the end I have learned that any procedure or surgery is just a tool and it is how much work you are willing to do that will make it more or less successful. The difference I think is the strength or magnitude of the tool. The laparoscopic sleeve has proven to yield more weight loss than the endoscopic one but it does mean more down time, an overnight stay, etc. Only you my dear can decide which is best for you and absolutely look into all the possibilities out there. Of course we’ll be here for you whichever you choose. We’ll support and encourage any decision you make. Please let us know.

Absolutely BubblesCT. You definitely want whatever procedure you choose to be the right one for you and your goals. I hope you find the answers you need. None of us go into this with a back up plan in case the wls does not work so I think it's very smart to seek these answers before deciding which way to go.

Good luck, we are all here for you.

Thanks Hope4momof4. It will be interesting to see if I'm able to loose off the phen. If the weight does not come off then I will resume taking it. My fear is that the amount of weight loss achieved from the ESG procedure will not meet my expectations. I've been reading many post from the laparoscopic sleeve section and the amount of weight loss the majority achieve align more to what I desire. I have another consultation with a different surgeon who preforms the sleeve to find out some more information. I would like to loose 70 pounds and not sure if this procedure will help me achieve that. Lots of thoughts floating about in my head.

Hey Bubbles that sounds like a great plan. I will do the same and wean myself off of phentermine but when I am closer to my procedure date. 😬😬 You have the right plan and attitude. Just stick to it and I’m sure you will be successful, pre and post op.

Building muscle will definitely help rev up your metabolism and the support of a personal trainer is a big motivator! Great plan.
What I have noticed most off the phen is a lack of energy. I'm dragging my butt around, but the positive is that I'm sleeping well and not getting up in the middle of the night for a 1,000 Calorie snack. I think my metabolism is sluggish, but I will hopefully balance that out with workouts starting next week. I had an increase in appetite for the first few days off phen, but it has since leveled off. Staying off the sugar and carbs stave off my cravings, and if I have the willpower to get into Ketosis, it will accelerate my pre-op weight loss. Taking it one day at a time...

Coming off the carbs and sugar is huge, well done. What changes are you noticing without the phen?
My wt loss has slowed and I think it's time to build up some muscle mass to rev up my metabolism. I have been snacking more of late and a chat with the dietician was great to discuss how to move forward. She said that my choices of food was fine and the nutrients are worth the calories but that snacking can really slow weight loss, so the pay off is more activity. I want to start to tone up too so I am a little excited to attend my first session at the gym in many years

Hey, hope4momof4, great idea with this thread, really cool way to keep us all getting positive messages each week. I'm now just over 2 weeks after procedure and down 14 pounds. I'm still primarily doing a liquid diet with Protein Drinks and Soups. Have added yogurt and tried some small portions of chicken and fish (both ±2 ounces). Lots of chewing, so far so good, no reactions from my new stomach. Average 600-800 calories a day. Lots of Water.
I'm down one size in pants and that feels so much better, moved all my "larger" pants out to the garage and will be donating them to charity. I'm not going back.
I just don't get hungry like I used to, sounds difficult to believe, but I have zero urge to munch at the end of the day before/after "dinner". This used to be the worst hours of the day for me, mentally I look back and think it was more like grazing (emotional not physical eating).
I'm going to try going back to the gym next week and building up my cardio and strength, will let you know how that goes. Have a great weekend!

Hi all!
Been a few since I updated - for some reason was not getting posting alerts like I normally did, and when I logged on it said there was site maintenance - anyway...
As a reminder I had my ESG on Nov 8, and was losing every day- last I posted I was down 16 lbs- and as of last weigh in two days ago, I hadn't broken past that. I've been up and down 1.5lbs for the last week or so - part of it may be that I've def had some Constipation issues- and despite taking Miralax nightly- i'm still backed up. Also after such a quick loss, my body prob is trying to catch up- so we'll see where I am in another day or two.
Today starts week 5 which is the same as week 4 when it comes to the food- started to add soft vegetables, and i'm told soft fruit is ok too but I have not ventured.
If this helps anyone in the pre phase, the nutritionist and doc say to eat Protein at each meal, not to eat fruit or veg alone - must be combined with protein.
Biggest challenge is being out and about and being able to eat outside the house, I've been lucky that I'm between jobs at the moment - which is why this was the best time for me to do this, but last night I went out with friends and bopping around NYC- all I could do was carry a couple of shakes with me. Need better planning- will reach out to nutritionist for ideas.
Hope everyone is doing great -
AmyA

Wow, great week! good job BubblesCT you're working some important challenges and making progress! well done!

Hi Mel,
I find meal prep to be HUGE in keeping me on track as well. I'm sorry to hear about your sick relative. Glad to hear you are back at home and can resume your routine. You just endured a really stressful event and did not use food to comfort you. That's a huge accomplishment and shift in how your relate to food. Well done!

Hi Mel,
I find meal prep to be HUGE in keeping me on track as well. I'm sorry to hear about your sick relative. Glad to hear you are back at home and can resume your routine. You just endured a really stressful event and did not use food to comfort you. That's a huge accomplishment and shift in how your relate to food. Well done!

Well then. You have accomplished so much more than I have and I am so happy for you. Getting off phentermine— wow! You could possibly be my new hero!🤩

Congratulations on making your ESG consultation appointment and replacing a sweet snack with fruit. I use fruit to satisfy my sweet craving, I have found that I never overeat bananas, apples or oranges. I keep a cut up apple or banana next to my bed, just in case I wake up in the middle of the night looking for sugar. I have not needed it, but I like to have something there just in case while detoxing from sugar.
The first week off phentermine is a b***h, this is what works for me...I set up a rigid eating routine so my mind does not wonder. I see it as a bootcamp. I eat at 9am 1 fruit and 4 oz of Protein, 12pm 8oz cooked veggies 4 oz of protein, 6pm 8 oz of cooked veggies and 4 oz protein, if my hunger is too great I eat more of what I have already prepared or a piece of fruit. It's better then reaching for the crack(sugar) and the rigidity helps my mind stay focused. Try and keep your schedule lax with little physical activity as to let your body rest, sleep and detox.