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If you've accepted the risk then you wouldn't be prepared to beat yourself up for making a decision that resulted, completely out of your control, in a less than positive outcome. Accepting the risk means making the best of any result. I don't think you realize it but you are loaded with conflict, the result of which is you can't win: "I have been blessed with good health, despite obesity" except: "I want to get healthier, " and "I want to be able to exercise without getting so winded," and " I had to run to catch a plane a few weeks ago and I just couldn't keep up with my family," and " I want to be able to roll over in bed without it causing earthquake motion", and " I would love to get off of my CPAP." Are you "healthy" or not? pick one. Then there is your selfish desire to "My husband and I go to Disney all the time and I would like to take them [the Grandkids]" You've talked yourself into a fine no-win scenario: You talk about surgical horror stories you've read that lead to death, stroke, being sick forever. Not unsurprisingly these are also major complications of morbid obesity. You can kick yourself for getting surgery and not getting surgery! Which path will you regret more? Trying and failing or not trying at all. My philosophy is that the path I choose will work out for the best. It's this philosophy or living in regret. Good luck, Tek

Hello my new friends, I have wanted to get the sleeve surgery for many years. I've just completed my 6 month supervised diet. I am scheduled for my labs and EGD very soon. Then I can get on the surgical schedule. 98% of me is jumping for joy and so eager to get started on this new journey! I am 52 years old, 5ft tall and 252#. My reasons are that I want to get healthier. I want to be able to exercise without getting so winded. I had to run to catch a plane a few weeks ago and I just couldn't keep up with my family. I want to be able to roll over in bed without it causing earthquake motion. I would love to get off of my CPAP. I have grandbabies who are 2 and 1. My husband and I go to Disney all the time and I would like to take them. I know the tool of this surgery would help me! I am ready for the hard work and lifestyle change! Now, the 2% ....I have been blessed with good health, despite obesity. Am I being selfish to risk something horrible happening during surgery or a complication after? I can't stand the thought of voluntarily going in for an elective procedure and coming out worse than going in? I hear all of the horror stories about people dying, having strokes, being sick forever. I would appreciate any logical and rational thinking to read when that 2% sneaks in.

My surgery is coming fast, it was moved up via a cancellation to next week, eek! I’m a combo of fear of the unknown, and calmness of giving it up to the professionals to care for me. I’m over 60 and really never considered I could stop the diet cycle by having WLS. A family member had it, and was happy they did it, this and knowing a few WLS veterans happy with their surgery, spurred me on to do gastric bypass. They had a good recovery with no issues. I’m hoping for a great outcome and that it resolves my Gerd and sleep apnea in time as well. I fear pain, hair loss, complications, how I’ll feel about all that skin, regrets. I look forward to many positive body changes, more energy, onederland, not being obese, cuter clothes 😀 I appreciate everyone sharing here! I’ve learned a lot.

When I started my wls journey years ago, I went with the Lap Band, for a few reasons, but I feared Bypass because I thought it was too invasive and too permanent. Fast forward 7 years and I developed GERD and had my Band removed. Now I'm revising to Bypass due to GERD complications. After recently doing research on the Bypass for revision, I watched a YouTube video, and realized that my fear of Bypass was due to Lap Band marketing. So what I will say is, if you start out with Sleeve and have to be revised due to complications or other reasons, you might be "forced" into Bypass the same way I was. Now, no one knows what path their weight loss surgery journey takes us, but it's a theoretical "what if." I never thought I would end up with Bypass. But now I have no other options as far as weight loss and fixing GERD goes. And I've realized I probably could've made a better choice than Lap Band 9 years ago. When you actually research Bypass thoroughly, you'll find that although your disgestive tract is rerouted, it's reversible just like the Lap Band. Sleeve is revisable but not reversible. This video is quite informative and at around the 15 minute mark it discusses the marketing tactic that Lap Band used against Bypass. Best wishes on your journey!

Hi! I had my heart set on the sleeve as well. However, my gerd started getting worse and worse, and I thought...I can't logically get the sleeve and have my Gerd worse. I was afraid that getting my intestines all re-routed....and I was super afraid of the malabsorption. I'm really happy with my Bypass. I have had no complications, and I am still losing...and I am a bit over a year. I did some research on the malabsorption aspect of the bypass, and it sounds like it's not really a malabsorption in the truest medical sense. There are tons of great scholarly articles on the internet that can help with some of the myths of WLS. Have you met with a surgeon yet? They would also be able to help with some of your questions and fears on the medical side of it. Is there something is particular that makes you feel uneasy with Bypass?

So sorry you experienced those complications with your surgery which hindered your recovery. You’re experiencing body dysmorphia. Your brain hasn’t caught up to the physical realities of your weight loss. It’s still picturing you as you were & can’t see you as you are now. A lot, if not all, of us experience this is some form. As an example, I remember seeing a slim woman’s reflection in a mirror in a store & turning around to look at her because she was wearing the same clothes as me. Time literally ticked by before I realised it was my reflection & I was the slim woman. Comparing old & new photos helps as does putting on something you used to wear & seeing how much too big they are. Take some body measurements as well & record them so you can track those changes too. There are some foods that just don’t sit well with us. Chicken is often a challenging one because it can be too dry. Steak can be too heavy. Pork can be too fatty. And often our taste buds &/or sense of smell changes. It’s usually temporary as is the fussy tummy/food intolerances but your recovery was protracted which may be why you’re still experiencing some of these issues. Give yourself time. Don’t give up on those foods or drinks yet. Just have a break & try them again in a couple of weeks & repeat as needed.

Hi I have been reading through some of these to see if anyone has any of the same issues as me. This is the first time I'm writing anything. I had gastric bypass surgery on 12/2/21. I have had a lot of downs and some ups. I haven't seen anywhere if someone had the same complications as I had. They said that they scratch my liver but there was no bleeding so it was fine. But what actually happened was they punctured it in two places and my abdomen filled with bile and collapsed part of my lung so much pain. Then the bile came through one of the incisions. So gross. Had to go back in to surgery to see what happened that's when they found the punctures and put in a drainage tube also gross but made the pain less. I was down about a month and a half. Went through going through the motions of throwing up with nothing coming up for a month or so. Gas pains for about 2 months now I'm just super burpy which at times can be super embarrassing at times. I'm 5'6" started my journey at 290 and was 286 just before surgery and now I'm at 205 so I'm down 85 lb total and 81 since surgery December so I'm happy about that went from a size 19/20 pants and 3x shirt to a 10 in pants and medium shirt. So I know I'm doing good but there are days I look in the mirror and just can't see the weight loss. Does anyone else have this issue? I also can't stand chicken it makes me physically sick even the smell makes nauseated. Pork chops are also gross. And the crystal light I always liked can't stand. Also the only water I can drink without getting sick is smart water. So has anyone else had any of these things? Did anyone have their liver punctured? I know I asked a lot of questions but if anyone has any info on any or all would love to hear.

This doesn't make any sense. If it's BMI based, then those who have higher BMIs would have liquid diets but you contradicted that statement. My surgeon stated it's based on preference and also where you are having the surgery. My surgeon is performing my surgery in a Circle of Excellence (COE) hospital that requires the two week liquid diet because it has shown better outcomes, reduced surgery time, and less complications. Another hospital system that has their own bariatric program in my state does a one week liquid diet after a week of low calorie, low carb meals with lean protein. Like any other medical procedure, the pre-op isn't always a one size fits all.

As soon as I could walk in the hospital, I did. It was baby steps while using my IV stand as a cane, but I did. And the nurses were very complimentary because they usually had to prod patients to do it. And I did my blood thinner injections. If you do what you outlined -- keep losing weight, walk as soon and as much as you can, take the blood thinning injections -- you will have given yourself a great chance to avoid any complications. And as a guy who knows what it feels like to be that big... post-surgery life is pretty amazing. I've never had this level of energy. It's great to go on a 3 mile walk and not have my knees throb and ache after. I've posted this before: weight loss surgery is a bet on yourself. It's a bet that you have more willpower and discipline than your physique currently reflects and that if you were truly given a second chance, you would succeed. Like any bet, it carries risks. But are you willing to take that bet.

I might get a second opinion. Other people might not see you as such a high risk, and you might be more comfortable with one of those surgeons. But, the more weight you lose before surgery, the lower risk you'll be - with any surgeon. But I agree with what everyone else here says. If you go forward, follow the instructions both pre- and post-op closely. And being at the weight you are now makes everything more risky - for example, say you were in a car accident, you'd be much more at risk of serious complications due to your weight (and fat bias in health care just makes that worse!). And, the other sorts of conditions that make you high risk for surgery might be just around the corner if you keep at your current weight. It's not really feasible to lose all of the weight you need without surgery, but you could see if you could get to like 350 before surgery, and get your BP controlled.

If I were you I would continually remind myself that WLS is a relatively very safe procedure that you get to go into as a planned procedure. Think of all the possible risks and complications that will come with all the procedures and surgeries you will most likely need and have no choice but to do if you do nothing about your weight.

My stats aren't quite the same as yours, but when I had surgery, I was 375. I think my BMI was 60 at surgery. I had hypertension (well controlled with meds), insulin resistance, dilated cardiomyopathy (with reduced ejection fraction), and who knows what else. They all assumed I had sleep apnea too, even though I didn't have indicators for it. I'm not sure how high risk I would be considered, but I have no illusions that I was low risk in any way. I was terrified of complications, and made sure to have a will and advanced directive in place just in case. As self pay, I was even more terrified that complications would bankrupt us. I needed a super low dose of Xanax the night before surgery I was so scared. But, I knew that staying at my weight, with my issues, was absolutely a death sentence, so for me, the risks were worth taking. Even at elevated risk, the risks of staying this heavy were much higher. I agree with @Splenda - follow the surgeon's recommendations to the letter. Those blood thinner injections suck (not gonna lie, I had to do them for 14 days post surgery) but they are literal life savers, and us heavier folk are at greater risk. Between now and surgery, keep doing what you can to ensure you are as healthy as possible. Eat well, if you are on any meds, take them religiously, whatever it takes to get you in a good place physically and mentally. So far, this surgery has been amazing. I feel fabulous and for once, I have hope of meeting my goals, or at least getting damned close. Good luck!

When I had the surgery, I was 41, 6'1", HW of 505, CW 490, surgery day weight of 460. I had sleep apnea, prehypertension and a BMI of ~60. I also had to take blood thinning injections post-surgery. I also had bypass surgery (which has a higher risk of complications). So you and I are/were in roughly the same ballpark. I came through the surgery fine. Definitely sore. But it drastically improved my life and I would make the same decision in a heartbeat. Heck, I was able to look down today and see my toes, instead of them being covered by stomach. I've gotten to experience stepping on a scale and having the first number be a 2. I am approaching the nine-month mark and I weigh 295 and wear 2xl/3xl shirts (I'm like a 2.5xl at this point, I was a solid 6xl pre-surgery). Do you have risk factors? Yeah. But here is what I noticed from that list: you don't have a major condition that will obviously cause complications (like some disease that makes it difficult for your blood to clot or something like that). Do you have a higher potential for complications than someone who only weighed 400 pounds? Yeah. But its a generalized risk, not a specific risk. My recommendation, if you are still interested in the surgery, is to determine right now that you are going to follow your surgeon's post-surgery advice to the letter. If you need 28 days of injections, decide right now that you will do all 28 days. Whatever meds or vitamins he tells you take, take them. Commit right now, "I am not going to disobey my surgeon in a way that increases my risks." You cannot eliminate the risks entirely and if I am being honest, those risks will come to mind when you are being wheeled around on the gurney. You have no guarantees about what the other side of the surgery will look like and feel like. And you will wake up from the surgery in pain. But if you decide that you will do everything you can control to minimize the risks, I think you will be happy with a decision to have the surgery.

Hi everyone. Need some serious reassurance. I’ve gone through my full program. I have been approved for surgery (the sleeve). I met with my surgeon yesterday and he was very blunt. I’m one of the highest risk people he’s willing to operate on. I hit 4 out of 5 factors that put me into a high risk. BMI, prehypertension, sleep apnea, and one other I don’t remember. The only one I’m not hitting is age. I will also need to take injections for 28 days of a blood thinner because my clotting risk is so high. He seriously freaked me out. He said while he was still comfortable operating, he was not confident there would be no issues and needed me to be aware that there are incredibly serious risks for someone like me. I’m 35, 6’3”, CW is 497. I’ve lost nearly 50 pounds in the past few months and am continuing to lose on my current diet. I’m having serious second thoughts. I need someone, anyone, who can help talk me through this. Maybe someone who also was considered high risk and went through with it? Please and thank you!

let me look again-I just googled gastric sleeve mental health and quite a few popped-up. I think mental health risks need to be added to possible complications from doctors. my surgeon really blew it off which is disappointing. I wish we could have had a more enlightening conversation about it-but I get it, he’s busy. it’s like a stomach amputation factory nowadays!

The mini will have one anastomosis (connection) vs 2 for RNY bypass which gives you less risk for complications of leaks and dumping syndrome. It’s also simpler and quicker procedure for the surgeons. The cost was the same for both where I’m at. I’d go with the mini if the price is the same, otherwise go with the cheaper one!

My recovery is great! I had bad acid reflux the first week but it’s all but cleared up now. I’ve received several emails on nutrition since then and reminders, etc. In your case, it won’t matter which of the MGB or RNY bypass you do since you already had the sleeve. The mini can cause more reflux with the remnant stomach backing up into the pouch, but since yours was removed with the sleeve you shouldn’t have that issue. Statistically there’s less risk of complications with the mini outside of that but for either procedure it is very low. My Dr. didn’t tell me he was doing the mini until afterwards. There’s a lot of communication breakdown there but it’s not like they screwed up the surgery or anything. Be very careful with that. The coordinators don’t know anything about the procedures more than we do via google. The renew staff does speak English but they’re a parent co so you won’t necessarily see them 24/7 like you do the nurses. My stomach was partially removed (which makes it a SASI) to decrease ghrelin levels and reduce reflux risk since I already had GERD. They use CER hospital, which is only 7 years old and pretty nice. My bathroom there is nicer than the one back home! One family member/friend is allowed to come with you and stay the night at no charge and if you choose so you get a “suite” which gives an extra space and bed for said friend. The doctors there all speak English well but the nurses speak only a little so google translate helped a lot, lol. Some of the nursing practices are a little dated but I fixed anything that seemed off (I’m an RN). They were very attentive with wound care though I will say. As far as cleanliness goes, it’s the cleanest hospital I’ve ever seen! Sheets, towels, trash, etc are changed daily. I didn’t even use all of my towels bc I didn’t need that many. One week of meds for after surgery is given to you at no charge which is nice. Getting to know the other people in your cohort was the coolest part bc you all go through it together and support each other! I didn’t receive a video/Skype call from the Dr. beforehand but if you request it I’m sure they could do it. All bariatric procedures are done in the afternoons so he’s free in the mornings (cosmetic procedures are done in the AM). 1 night stay at The real inn hotel is part of your charge and it’s really nice and modern. I actually got mine for free bc one of the coordinators wrote down that I was waiving the hotel for the optional $100 reduction when I wasn’t, so they charged me $100 less but ended up comping the room anyway for me (I told you the coordinators don’t know what they’re doing.) I do wish there was better communication before the procedure so if you can get a Skype call with the doctor beforehand that would be great as communication is the main problem there. If you can get Dr. Green (you better book wayy ahead) then go for it bc everyone loves him. He even takes pics of the sleeve patients’ stomachs and gives them a copy, lol. Sometimes I wish I had him! I’m a lower bmi patient like you-my bmi was 31 when I signed up. I was the smallest one there but no one cared. Overall, it’s a good experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat 💗

If you don't mind me asking, why did you have the revision from MGB to full GB? Did you have complications? Also how has your recovery been going? Any side effects or complications? Are you happy with Dr. Illians work? I hope your doing fantastic and already seeing fantastic results. [emoji847] Sent from my SM-G991U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

June 30th here for the RNY. I am extremely nervous! Especially since my appt with the surgeon about possible complications. Trying to be positive but I’m terrified!

That’s pretty much the consensus I’ve gotten as well. I’m praying that I’m the type to quickly bounce back and have no complications. I hope both our surgeries and aftermath go well♥️🙏🏼

I’m a bit nervous too. With the surgery and the immediate aftermath. It seems some have no issues or complications and others have a harder time with nausea, acid, etc. Hopefully all will go smoothly for us both tomorrow!

This is what I found about the SADI: SADI-S stands for Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy. It is a new surgical treatment option for morbid obesity that is basically a variant of duodenal switch surgery, in which a single intestinal bypass is made as opposed to two. Patients spend less time in surgery and are exposed to a reduced risk of complications. DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery has got you covered if you are considering undergoing the SADI Procedure in Dallas and surrounding areas. How Does SADI Work? There are two steps involved in the SADI-S Procedure: Firstly, the surgeon performs a sleeve gastrectomy to remove approximately 80 percent of the stomach. Secondly, they detach the intestine just below the stomach after which they reattach it to an intestine loop roughly 2 meters down. The effect of the SADI-S Procedure is to bypass food from the part of the intestine that is metabolically active. This results in the lessening of the length of the intestinal loop in which nutrients are absorbed. Patients experience a smaller appetite, consume less meal portions, and have hormonal changes that positively affect their metabolism. Benefits of the SADI-S Procedure Reduces the risk of diarrhea and nutritional deficiencies often associated with the duodenal switch Gives patients greater weight loss when compared with standard gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, which is great for those with a BMI above 50. The SADI-S Procedure can be performed on patients who have undergone sleeve gastrectomy but experienced insufficient weight loss or a relapse. Reduces the long-term risk of intestinal obstruction when compared with duodenal switch and gastric bypass. It is great for people with poorly controlled Type-2 Diabetes as it offers a more powerful metabolic effect when compared with a standard gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, patients experience a reduced likelihood of issues such as unstable blood sugar fluctuations, dumping syndrome, marginal ulcers, food restrictions and intolerance. Potential Disadvantages of SADI-S Procedure Potential risks associated with the SADI-S Procedure are similar to those of any other bariatric procedure. These include: Anastomotic leaks Infection Bile reflux Intestinal perforation Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism Bowel obstruction in the long-term Abscess

I had 6 months of sick time accrued, so I took 6 weeks. I really wanted to spend that time working on changing habits, forming new ones and walking. I really wanted to make sure I was cementing my 'new life' before I introduced another element into the change. I didn't have any post op complications or issues. I know not everyone has the ability to take so much time off, but I found it really helpful for my emotional well being as well. I didn't know if I'd be super hormonal, in pain, or whatever and I thought healing mentally and physically and only focusing on ME would be beneficial, and it was.

My surgeon encouraged me to choose the sleeve over bypass because the previous hernia surgery is less likely to cause complications with the sleeve. And I'd like to eventually be able to take anti-inflammatory meds again. My mom had bypass 14 years ago and she can't take anything much for her arthritis because anti-inflammatory meds burn her stomach. I don't want to be in the same boat when I'm her age.

My sleeve surgery was two days ago, April 25. My surgeon now does it as outpatient, unless there are particular health concerns prior to surgery or complications following. I don’t recall being given the option to stay overnight. Surgeon said since I have good mobility and care at home it would be the best option. I’m not totally sure how I feel about it now. I didn’t quite feel ready to leave as they were discharging me only like 5 hours after surgery. And I ended up having severe vomiting for 24 hours, every 30-60 minutes. It was really scary and I would have probably liked having nurses/doctors nearby. It’s passed now.