sabrina4you

Also do not think we should be saying "fat wildebeast" some people here work very hard after surgery to GET to 5'2" and 200 lbs.....

Yes, please share more details. And no offense, but I'd say that rather than nearly dying from VSG surgery, it sounds more like you nearly died from horrible medical treatment. If they couldn't manage to send people to your room you could have died from any complication from any surgery. You should most definitely be warning people away from that hospital and surgeon!
I hope that you're healing now and in better shape.
~Cheri

I know we were told not to, but I still drink soda. I don't find that I can eat more, it doesn't bother my stomach anymore, and I'm still losing weight (13.5 months out). Personally, I did this surgery so that I wouldn't have to give things up, and I find things in moderation work for me.

I can't help but feel compelled to comment on this. Truth is an interesting concept, because each and every one of us will have our own truth. I think that the truth most members of this forum live is that this surgery has changed their lives for the better and they would do it again in an instant.
Ja's truth is scary to read about for sure, but the risk of these things happening are SO LOW. You are more likely to suffer severe complications from obesity than you are from this surgery. I certainly don't want to minimize what Ja is going through, because it's seriously awful stuff- but please keep in mind that she's not telling the 'truth about how awful this surgery is".... she's just telling her story of complications that are quite rare.
I hope that you spend more time reading this forum and see how many wonderful success stories are here of people who are so happy with their results in order to make a more balanced decision.

I have to say that things like this just piss me off and scare me at the same time. I know every insurance company is different, but you have 2 co-morbities and your BMI is over 35 - how dare they deny you. I would certainly try appealing - it seems like you should qualify - but I don't know what the requirements are for your insurance.
I hope it works out for you - I haven't gotten that far yet. I am hoping that they will be sending in my paperwork on Monday as by then they should have everything they need. My BMI is 39.9 and I have sleep apnea so we will see if I get approved.
Good luck to you!

Hi Everyone! Hope all is well:) Its been 6 months since Ive had my sleeve and Im down 85 lbs! Im loving my sleeve:) I hope everyone else is having great success with theirs as well and best of luck to those who have upcoming surgeries!! Please excuse my dirty mirror! LOL

Such a simple post. I want you to know that this, to me, comes accross as so basal, and so true. Beautiful.
A gift of haiku, for you Alli ALii:
I am sleeved, yay me.
now I am perfect.
happy is all I am now.

i'm sleeved!

yay me!
i had nausea after recovery for a lil while
but they put med in my iv and know i'm perfect!
i changed into my yoga pants and shirt and i'm so confy
i walked trhu the hospital and went to see the new borns so cute!
Happy is all i am now!

During my pre-surgery class, one of the presenters stressed the importance of our breathing exercises, coughing up what is in our lungs, and how having a pillow to hold can assist. One of my friends had heart surgery last year and had a heart-shaped pillow for such things. I decided that I wanted a stomach-shaped pillow to have with me, so I made one. I am a bit offbeat and combined the stomach pillow idea with Frankenstein, as I lightheartedly joke about how my new stomach will be a "Frankenstomach."

The pillow as a little bit of a rush job because I ended up putting the project off until a couple of nights ago. I'm still debating whether or not to add a stitch line on its forehead. I did make it two-sided, though. As you can see, one side is smiling. The other side now has a frowny face with black eyes for when I'm not feeling that great. (I haven't taken a picture of the frowny side yet.)
Given the pillow's size, it's more of a pre-surgery look rather than a post-surgery look. This pillow is nice and big and firm.

I had two protien shakes a day and one decent low carb meal for lunch or dinner. I bought a jacklalane juicer from Walmart to start (eating more raw foods). I made fresh juices healthy ones like carrot, apple and ginger or cucumbers and apples. I then started using my blender more and made fresh smoothies out of fresh strawberries, my vanilla protien and non-fat milk for Breakfast. I also added one cup of spinich to my smoothies. I now love eating my vegges. I had so much fun and feel that I will continue this way because I had more energy. Good Luck

I just received my approval letter from the insurance company. Have not heard anything from my surgeon's office at this time, but hope to here from them soon. The letter was actually sent out on the 24th and I received it in the mail this morning. I am so excited and ready to move forward with the next phase.

Let me tell you! I had my first drink 3 mos after surgery. . .it was so yum and I'm not a wine person, I'm a good old rum and coke girl. . . and i don't mean a small 1 oz shot either. . . i'm out now going into my 3rd year and have my drinks every Friday and Saturday. Hasn't hurt me a bit. . . good luck!

Kimmr,
Heck, yes, I can feel your pain. I felt shame for years after my Band failure. People would look at me and sneer. "YOU have a Band?" I had gained all my weight back plus some, and couldn't eat anything but what kept my weight up - greasy, fatty, slippery.
My surgeon told me that no matter how disciplined the patient, whenever the Band was removed, the patient gained weight. Every. Patient.
A Lap-band failure doesn't mean that we are failures. The Band is not what it was touted to be. It causes slips, and scarring, and esophageal dilation, and erosion, and GERD, and hernias. The blasted thing should be pulled from the market. My surgeon lost someone who came in with a black, gangrenous stomach pouch. Those of us lucky enough to survive the thing to have a revision to a sleeve are the lucky ones.
Obesity is one of the most complicated health issues on the planet. It's NOT just pushing away from the table. It is NOT a character flaw or weakness. It is a genetic, hormonal, and behavioral problem. Can you imagine a diabetic hating himself because he has to take insulin? Or a cancer patient despising herself because she's in chemo? But we chunkies love to hate ourselves. It ain't all us.
Something, somewhere, at the cellular level, something went wrong. It doesn't mean that we are terrible people. It means that we need medical intervention. The Band was a flawed solution. The by-pass was out because the malabsorptive issue. The sleeve was my choice and my surgeon's recommendation. So far, I'm very pleased.
I just don't want to see you blame yourself for a Band failure. Sounds like you did as well as anyone could. You deserve a better solution, my friend.
Pat