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Hi there, and welcome. Immediately post-op, I was groggy. I felt the gas pain from the CO2 gas, but minimal discomfort from the actual surgery. I had the most discomfort/pain from the port incision from my band surgery. My abdomen was full of scar tissue and adhesions the surgeons had to take down all of it to remove my port. I was given IV pain drugs of morphine. It managed the pain well, but walking, moving, and stretching helped with the gas pain more than the drugs. I slept a lot the first night, but walked when I could. Day 2 post-op, I developed a leak, and a second surgery was needed to repair it. My recovery, and complications were not typical. Therefore, it's really difficult to compare my experience to other patients. I was in the hospital for 10 days. Then sent home with a TPN bag, and pic line for nutrient/calories. I had a home healthcare nurse come in every other day to change dressing, check vitals, and ensure I was recovering. I had nothing to eat or drink for 22 days. Literally, nothing crossed my lips for those days. Once I was off TPN, I started on Clear liquids for 17 days, then onto full liquids for a week, then mushies/soft solids as tolerated. It took me over 6 weeks to get to regular food and even then I relied on soft solids for most of my meals. I was hospitalized mid-July for a week due to abscesses in my abdominal and pelvic cavity. During that time, I was on heavy antibiotics, and pain meds. I was able to eat, and the nausea was kept at bay with IV drugs. I had quite a bit of nausea as well during this time after coming home probably from the heavy antibiotic regimen I was on. Phenegran, and Reglan helped, but fatigued me severely. My surgeon switched my nausea meds to Zofran, and it was a lifesaver during that time. I was finally fully released for full activity, and regular diet around 3 months post-op. My activity was very limited initially because of the pic line/TPN bag that I had to lug around plus the 2 drains that I had in my abdomen for those weeks really kept me sedentary. I didn't do more than walking for 3.5 months. I also had drains placed during the July hospitalization. Those were extremely painful. One of the abscesses was very low in pelvic cavity, and could not be accessed even with an interventionalist radiologist placing the drains. Luckily, it resolved with the antibiotic therapy. But, the pain from the abscesses was far worse than the surgery. As you can see, my experience is not typical. But, it's what I went through and just to give you an idea of what I consider to be worse case scenario. I know several of the members here will share their experience, and you'll get a wide range of experiences. Best wishes on your surgery. Even with all of my complications, and struggles, I would do it all over again. Life with the sleeve is truly fabulous, and I have zero regrets. Keep us posted on your progress ! ! !

Thanks for your replies. I know the bariatric place where I'm going will handle insurance stuff, but maybe I'll do a little more digging before I go to the seminar. i'm just now learning that some companies make you see a dietician for 6 months and/or have other stipulations. Now I'm afraid this could get complicated. The research is overwhelming. Especially when I have next to no downtime (stay at home mom to 3 under 3). This forum looks very informative!

The band is awful. I'm revising to VSG for all the reasons everyone stated. I sure hope it's as amazing as it sounds. Not hungry, full after a few bites, low risk of complications.. that plus my 2 hr workouts and I'm gonna be healthy in no time! can't wait. SIGN ME UP :thumbup:

I preferred not to alter my intestines if I didn't have to, because THAT is what leads to 99% of RNY complications.

I am glad to hear you are doing well,complications is something we all fear,just be careful and pay attention to what your body is saying to you.This is a 3 year plan so don't worry what others are losing just take your time and go slow and easy.

Yes, relax! Everyone having this surgery goes through the same exact concerns you have. It is very normal, but don't let fear and doubt cloud your judgement. I had incision complications after my surgery, but it doesn't even come close to making me regret having a vsg.

I was against TPA for obvious reasons along with the Thrombectomy. We are going to try this first then of course as a life saving measure il explore the other options. I'm sorry you've had so many complications but I'm also Glad to know I'm not alone and have this forum for support! Thanks to all.

i feel the same as lipsticklady. i had 3 friends who had bypass... a 50 something year old friend, a 29 year old friend with 4 kids and an old boyfriend who is in his late 40s (like me). they all have had excellence results and are very glad they had the surgery. so i asked myself... what risk was i willing to take? after working with my doc for 3 years, all i managed to do was gain 15 pounds and my blood pressure was dangerously high. my father died young from a heart attack (he was fat with high blood pressure). 3 years ago my 48 year old cousin dropped dead in front of me from a heart attack. i needed to do something. when i read about the vsg, i knew it was the choice for me. (2 of my friends have issues with anemia). bottom line, what did i have to look forward to with being fat and sick? was it a bigger or smaller risk than this surgery? i would not discuss this with family members or friends. i would talk with your doctor about it. my doctors were both very supportive and my surgeon was very upfront about possible complications, side effects and how my life would need to change after surgery. i felt fairly well prepared.

Hey sftballpalyer, I too was very athletic all my life(played softball) and did not really put on the "bad weight" till after kiddos. I was recently banded on Friday the 18th. It is definately worth doing especially if your insurance covers it. I have had no complications, and have even starting walking long walks 5 days after surgery. I am just educated my body on how to handlle exercise now. No gulping of water after a workout, proper hydration and just getting in the grove. I too had fallen severly off the exercise routine as life progressed, and this has given me a new drive to get it going again. This does not do the work for you, but allows you to be successful if you just put some time into it. The weight does come off easier and I think that mentally that helps to keep you going. My sister did this 2 yrs ago and just last yr ran a half marathon. I truly feel this procedure gets you back where you need to be especially if you have the desire. My advice do your research talk to many on here and make a educated decision. I dont know where you are, but I am in houston and had a awesome surgery team. Pick your surgeon wisely. Best of Luck! Hope to see you on the "banded" side! Oh and PS i have lost 5 lbs in 5 days! YEA!!!

As others have said ..... yes you will have breathing tube. You will be completely dependent on the anthesoligist for your life. My advice with regard to the insurance question it to call your company and ask the same question. My insurance company didnt pay for it to be put in... (even with a BMI of 55...sorry sorry..sore subject) But if I have complications and it needs to be removed they will pay... go figure.

To make it even more complicated, it depends on the approach a nutritionist or RD follows if a certain food is considered healthy or not.

June 6th 2013 made one year since i was banded. I initially started at 451 lost 50 pounds before the surgery and lost another 30 pounds a few months after being banded. I had some complications not with the band itself but with the port a few weeks after surgery. I ended up with MRSA in the port area and i went on antibiotics and the surgery scar opened up then i had to stuff the hole with iodiform for months and the infection never quite went away. They decided to leave the band but removed the port after determining finally that it was the source of the infection. Then a few more months of stuffing the hole with iodiform to soak up any residual infection until the hole closed and healed. I finally had a new port put back in just a few days ago and my scars are still in the process of healing. Now that ive given a bit of my backstory heres my question. How do i get back on track when i seem to have lost my way and cant get things right. Its like ive forgotten what im supposed to do and not supposed to do. I got aggravated dealing with the infection and got off track. I started getting pretty down hearted. Eating things i shouldnt eat, drinking when i eat because it seems to just sit there in my throat if i dont, drinking soda and now im able to eat way more than i should but still not as much as i used to. Is it too late for me to get things moving in the right direction? Any advice on similar situations or applicable info and how you overcame it would be welcome. Ty.

Hello everyone I am new here. I am 27 years old and I will be having Gastric Sleeve Surgery January 23, 2020 and I am so scared. I have a great support system but I want to hear advise from those who will be or have been through this journey. I am scared about not waking up, pain, and or complications. My kids birthday is a couple days afterwards so I guess this is weighing on me. No negative comments, like I said I am new to this. Thanks!

Cterika1 sorry so slow to respond...just noticed this! Yes my surgeon places the ports on the left chest wall it's just slightly above the breast like a life-port or portacath would be placed. His theory behind it is it is easier to access and can be anchored better so there is less of a chance of chance for complication with port movement or flipping. I can feel my port easily if I look for it but so far with the weight loss it isn't visible at all and it's a low profile port.

Can someone clarity for me complications that might arise out of pbing too often. Thanks in advance.

I'll tell you what my Doctor sister told me when i was scared of the pain before my band. She said the pain is going to be a whole lot less than the pain of your first heart attack if you don't do something about your weight. For me that all brought it into perspective. I hurt, but that's what the pain meds are for. Tried to cut back on the second day, that was a mistake. Finally just took them for about a week, and then started cutting back. Remember though I had complications with my lapband removal, so I had more pain than most. Just don't be a hero and take the meds if you need them.

Oh gosh! I'm so sorry to hear about all of the complications! I can somewhat related. I developed a blood clot after knee surgery a few years ago. But definitely not to the extent you are experiencing. I'm wishing you an uncomplicated and speedy recovery. Stay strong. You got this! :-)

Oye! There are people with very definite opinions, and let them. Who the hell cares. I'm getting so fed up with the constant debate of which wls is better. You know which one is best, the one that works. ALL of these procedures have failure rates- period. Noncompliance yields status quo. Surgical and apparatus complications can and will occur- why argue over which ones are worse or more predictable. None of it is predictable! WE make choices as to which wls option seems most suitable to us based on mutliple factors ranging from what we feel we can comply with (diet wise) to the inherit nature of the surgery itself. What you choose is great, what I choose is better. PERIOD

This is something I have also wondered about....and I plan on talking to my Dr. about it before I'm 65.... Has nothing to do with loosing weight, the band did that just fine in that department...I'm just wondering about the long term...life time... Possible long term complications with the band? Versus the sleeve? I have no idea.....uncharted territory.... I have been banded for 3 years now, and I don't think about it anymore...I wonder that now that I am at that point, and I have formed new habits and the rules (some of them) have become practicable common sense....can I get something that is not adjustable with little or no maintenance? And still sustain me in the Green Zone? ie; no hunger, auto portions, etc? or will I have to go back to dieting, counting calories, etc, which I am absolutely terrible at.... Was the band a temporary quick fix to get me there...and the sleeve a permanent fixture? Don't know, just things I ponder and want to investigate..... Dr. did casually say something once but I did not pay attention....

Jade, There is no easy solution. It's a misperception to believe wls does the job for you. No matter what surgery you get, you will have to abide by the rules 100% to reap the benefits. Revisions are great when you are suffering true complications and one surgery is not working out for you. But I know my doc wouldn't qualify someone who just doesn't want to put the work in. They'll predict it'll be the same scenario under another procedure which requires just as much diligence and compliance. Getting wls and getting results takes dedication and work. The difference between pre and post op is that these procedures can help you with things like hunger management, portion control which in the long run will be critical for maintenance. Also, counting calories and understanding how much you are putting into your body allows you to get an understanding of what it means to be on target or to overindulge. It took me years of counting to finally get to a place that I can estimate with accuracy and no longer count. But the reality is, if I consume more than my allotment, I will stall or gain. Weight loss has a very simple formula that cannot by bypassed- weight loss= calories consumed - calories burned. You either workout or you limit intake. No wls changes that.

Well, loosing your hair will NOT: Give you diabetes Give you heart disease Give you sleep apnea Possibly contribute to COPD Keep you from fitting into your clothes Keep you from doing many activities because you can't physically do them And a host of other things. But being 150 pounds overweight likely WILL. You will NOT lose all your hair because of this surgery unless you develop some weird complication that no one else has. SOME hair thinning may be POSSIBLE but not necessarily an absolute probability.

I agree it seemed less invasive and more straightforward my doctor also said the risk for complications is higher in bypass then with sleeve also my aunt had gastric bypass about 10 years ago and has been really sick also I didn't like the malabsorption Factor the dumping syndrome and the fact that it seemed like I would have to watch what I ate even more closely with gastric bypass like what if I'm at a new restaurant and it has something my new couch wouldn't agree with dumping syndrome byterrified me and the thought of my intestines being rearranged I didn't like that I am higher BMI patient BMI 52 but I love to workout so I don't see this being an issue but that is what led me to my decision.

I had that ultrasound on my legs done about a month after surgery due to pain and swelling in one leg. They thought possible deep vein thrombosis which is a complication after any major surgery. (which is why we get blood thinner injections in the hospital and some get it for weeks after surgery) and that scan was so uncomfortable lol. They put a lot of pressure on that probe lol. But everything came back good. Tho i did not have that scan pre surgery

My name is BinkieGirl, but you can call me Bink. I was banded on July 10 2003 by Dr. Bradley Needleman in Columbus Ohio. So far I've lost somewhere around 20 pounds thanks to several complications including having my stomach swell shut for several days. All in all, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I look forward to meeting all of you and getting to know you!

Welcome Bink! Sorry to hear about your complications Sounds like you are in good spirits though! Congrats on the super weight loss, of course it sounds like it was not a nice ride though. Hang in there, your doing great!