emilygrace

I had hiatal hernia repaired with the sleeve and didn't get any bad pain beyond postop day 1 when they gave me injectable morphine. Thereafter I just took tylenol. Hope you guys feel better soon!

I believe with the plication, they fold over the excess stomach but do not remove it.

Honestly, once I heard about the sleeve, it was the only op I could consider. I didn't want the malabsorption issues or intestine rerouting, I didn't want the band complications. The fact that the sleeve keeps everything the same except the stomach capacity sold it for me.

My surgeon didn't allow me to drive for a week postop. There's no way I would have wanted to be home the same day - I was still getting IV morphine and needed it for the first day. Day 2 I was miserable. I think I could have gone after 2 nights happily. Just make sure you do have help and don't try to do too much - even though you only see small scars, it's still a big abdominal surgery internally! I definitely think it's moving towards outpatient therapy though - makes the surgery so much more financially attractive to the insurance company if they are only paying out $10K and saving tens of thousands on obesity-related illness.

Just so you know, per your OP, you can't selectively burn fat and not burn calories.

I had to throw up several times postop, starting from a couple weeks out once I started on mushies etc. Some things just wouldn't stay down, like oatmeal - I think it must expand in your stomach because it felt fine going down, but half an hour later I felt it coming back up my throat and I would go and throw it up. There was no retching or "vomiting" exactly, just that it popped back up my throat. This happened multiple times in the 2-6 week postop period. I don't think I was eating too much or too fast. Now I am 3 months out and it never happens anymore.

They have it on drugstore.com too.

Sounds like the sleeve is a smart idea to start with. Of course you can end up with nutritional issues when you get a malabsorptive procedure, but that's kind of the point. If you're a big eater of chocolate, sweets, icecream, candy you can still do a lot of damage after sleeving, because you can consume large amounts of calories in a small quantity of food. Just something to be aware of.

If I were 400lbs, I would probably go right to DS. If I couldn't find someone willing to do that in one op, I'd get the sleeve, lose some weight, then reassess getting the DS part done. Really at 400lbs though you need the heavy duty op. Also, only you know how much you need malabsorption - are you a big sweets eater?

Shannon, what are you punishing yourself for? Eating and drinking things that make you feel awful.. it's just abusing yourself. Do you know why you do that? I am lucky in that I feel like I realized that and stopped doing it after the sleeve. I struggle with self esteem and feeling good enough, but I finally do believe I deserve to be a normal weight and to feel good. I hope you get there too. Are you depressed? Do you need medication as well as therapy?

I think it's crazy to not tell your boyfriend. I mean of all people, he should be the first one to tell for support, right? If I were him, I would be much angrier that you lied to me than that you were getting an operation. I didn't tell anyone (and still haven't) except my immediate family (parents, sisters, brother) and my best friend who has known me since school and seen all my struggles with weight. I don't feel it's anyone else's business. A lot of people now are asking me how I am doing it and I am saying "hard work", which is true - even though the sleeve makes it possible, I am the one planning, measuring and tracking my food and going to the gym. I think preop sometimes it's hard to tell people because part of you feels ashamed that you failed weight loss, and are resorting to surgery, and also part of you (a big part, in my case) doesn't truly believe that this will work either. Once you're postop and it's worked, and working, it's a lot easier to think "oh well, who cares who knows, it worked!?".

I'm not sure what you want us to say - clearly you're going to do whatever you want to do, if you won't even follow your doctor's directions.

I was very depressed preop (and have been for almost 10 years, can only tolerate small periods off celexa). Dr switched me to Wellbutrin last year, mostly I believe because the Celexa stopped working and Wellbutrin has the least effects on weight (and I had gotten very fat!). I felt better on Wellbutrin, but I had to take it 3 times a day which was a total pain - and always forgot the midday dose while at work!! Long story short, I stopped taking them when I had my op and wasn't eating pills, but then I just never started again because I feel good. My mom even died 2 weeks before my op and I have been coping without the meds. I understand your frustration - it's awful feeling like you're not in control of your thoughts and feelings. Hope you get to the right mix soon.

They can add an H2 blocker as well (like ranitidine) or switch to a higher dose of another PPI.

Only with vodka, or a fountain drink occasionally. Otherwise add lots of ice and let it dilute and go flat a little.

I did the underarms tonight, and OMG. I have *NEVER* had smoother underarms - I always had the dark shadow with shaving no matter how close I tried to get it. I wondered how the heck other girls had smooth pits... this is one way!! Totally feels like it's as smooth as a baby's bum!

The gastric sleeve shouldn't have anything to do with kidney stones. People are more susceptible to gallstone formation after rapid sudden weight loss, but not kidney stones.

I haven't had a band, but am now 9 weeks post sleeve and have lost a total of 23.5kg including preop diet. It has been a big decision, but one I am glad I made. It really changes everything about how I eat, and deal with food, which I underestimated preop. But that's what I needed. It has been a godsend. Finally, I know that I will make it to a normal weight and normal BMI.

You may not be eating enough, if you're exercising already and burning off calories. I would do an online food diary for a few days to a week so you can see how much protein, calories etc you are taking in. Then you can work out what to juggle around. Are you drinking enough water?

You should talk to your potential doctor so you have a good understanding of both the procedure and the post-op life... sounds like you're not clear on either.

I don't really understand your post - how did you get 125 lbs overweight if you eat well and exercise? If that's correct, don't get the sleeve - all it can do is reduce the amount you eat and is intended for high volume eaters who need physical restriction. But check if you're deceiving yourself because if there's any time to get real and get honest with at least yourself, this is it. I used to tell myself I didn't eat "that badly" but I did. And a binge or two would push you way up there. And gradually I did less and less elective exercise. I'm not trying to be rude. I just really think you should examine HOW you got where you are, because that's the only way to get back.

Data doesn't go much past 5 yrs as it hasn't been done in large numbers for long enough.

I am 8 weeks postop tomorrow. Today I ate: Breakfast (I can't eat much that early before work): - coffee - string cheese Lunch: - fruit juice box - small cobb salad (mostly ate the chicken, bacon, egg, a little lettuce) Afternoon: - sugar free popsicles Dinner: - cheese/chicken omelette I just got some new Protein powders to try as I know I don't eat enough protein currently. I need to drink more Water too - today I was in class all day so didn't drink much apart from some juice at lunch.

If you lose weight after WLS, why would you want it to be reversible? Maybe you CAN get the band reversed, but if it worked well, who would want to? I WANTED a permanent solution to my obesity.

No problem - I tried it tonight! I had to re-read the MSP thread I posted, and laughed all over again. I bought the cream formulation online as I couldn't be bothered mixing up my own. So I ended up leaving it about 9 minutes, no burning or irritation, and got 90% of the hair off.. funnily, the longer bits came off more easily than the stubble. Worked out amazingly smooth, I am SO impressed!! Going to try the underpits next. Legs I don't mind shaving but the pits get the bumps.