Hi Everyone,

Very new at this computer thing....so please be patient...It is SO hard to find any info about the sleeve, no one I talk to has ever heard of it, so it's frustrating. I researched everything I could get...I was all set to get the gastric bypass but never felt 100% good about it, I was so stressed out about the malabsorption thing. When I started hearing more about the Sleeve I knew this was the surgery for me and luckily my doctor does the procedure so I just switched my procedure from the bypass to the sleeve. NOW I feel 100% sure and my mind is at ease. I have been going thru trying to get bariatric surgery for nearly 3 years now. Problems with my medical group switching contracting hospitals (4 times), having to start all over again...a very grueling process. I finally ended up at South Bay Surgeons in Torrance. All the Dr's there do the VGS. I would love to hear from those who have had it already....when did you go back to work? What were the BAD side effects? Any? Did you lose hair??I would love any feedback...thank you!!

okay, I will chime in here since I am very worried about my hair as well. I lost half my hair when I had lap band surgery. I can't afford to lose anymore.

I have been using all the nioxsin products and it seems like it has slowed down. Plus Dr. Aceves told me to increase my zinc and I am doing that. He said hair loss has to do with low zinc levels.

As for recovery from surgery, I have had dental work done that was way more painful than this.

I went back to work right away. I was totally bored in the hospital for 3 days. The sleeve surgery itself is the easiest part of all of this. The liquid diet was not fun. It's not that hard, it just gets boring.

Edited July 25, 200917 yr by Oregondaisy

I can second that! I'm nearly 2 weeks out and sick of liquids! BUT it is worth it all and if laparoscopic sleeve surgery is anything like band surgery (I had open but that's because I had had previous abdominal surgery and required further surgery at same time as my sleeve revison) then I can also second that the pain will be minimal and you will be back on your feet within days.

Can't comment on the hair issue though as it hasn't been a problem for me.

Good luck

Helen xxx

Hi Everyone,

Very new at this computer thing....so please be patient...It is SO hard to find any info about the sleeve, no one I talk to has ever heard of it, so it's frustrating. I researched everything I could get...I was all set to get the gastric bypass but never felt 100% good about it, I was so stressed out about the malabsorption thing. When I started hearing more about the Sleeve I knew this was the surgery for me and luckily my doctor does the procedure so I just switched my procedure from the bypass to the sleeve. NOW I feel 100% sure and my mind is at ease. I have been going thru trying to get bariatric surgery for nearly 3 years now. Problems with my medical group switching contracting hospitals (4 times), having to start all over again...a very grueling process. I finally ended up at South Bay Surgeons in Torrance. All the Dr's there do the VGS. I would love to hear from those who have had it already....when did you go back to work? What were the BAD side effects? Any? Did you lose hair??I would love any feedback...thank you!!:ohmy:

Congrats on your decision and kudos for doing the research to figure out the procedure that would work best for you. Bummer about all the changes you had to go through to get here but you are here and at the starting line for your transformation.

I had my sleeve done just over a year ago in MX.

I did not lose hair per se but it did thin considerably, which for me is not a problem since I had really thick hair to start with. I know the hair thing is a major concern for most folks and my experience in reading posts is that most do lose hair but it does grow back and for many the hair loss was much less traumatic than they anticipated.

I had an incredibly easy surgery and recovery process. It varies but for most folks that have a desk type job going back to work in a week was not a huge deal.

I had very little pain after surgery and could drink liquids pretty much from day one without issue. It really does vary from person to person. I had surgery on Friday, left the hospital on Sunday and went to hotel across the street to finish recovery (not uncommon in MX to spend 1-3 days in hospital and then off to hotel). Since I was having no pain and could drink with no issues and even take meds with no problems I was allowed to come home on Monday. For me, this worked well.

The most common post op side effects/issues I see on these boards is problems with reflux/GERD and taking something like Nexium appears to take care of that easily. Gas can be an issue early on and things like Gas X and "passing gas aka farting" will be a great relief.

The best advice for the first few days after surgery is sip liquids, walk, rest and repeat.

Good luck with your surgery and recovery process.