Hello Everyone,

I am hoping to have VSG in the coming months. I am in the process of my pre-op assessments and these all take time! They also follow very strict International Guidelines and are not willing to recommend surgery with a BMI under 40 unless there you have significant co-morbidities. I am just about borderline! I will be self-pay.

I am interested in hearing from others who had starting BMI's in or around mine, and to hear how you are doing.

In particular, I would like to know what results you are getting and whether or not you have any regrets?

Look forward to hearing your stories,

Thanks,

Bookleen

Thanks Bookleen!

Hi Bookleen

I'm about to decide which surgeon to use, and have a BMI of 34.9. We live in Spain and it will be a self pay here, having priced it in the UK and also a couple of others in Europe.

Like you I can't handle any more failed diets, and am really looking forward to getting this sorted once and for all!

Good luck with your decision

Kathy

My current/starting BMI is 35.5 and I'm healthy as a horse...so even though our

insurance covers WLS, it will not even consider me. I'm self pay and to me, this

is preventive maintenance. =)

I'm late to this but yes, my BMI was 36 when I had surgery. I have been at BMI 46 at my heaviest, four years earlier, and I had gone down to BMI 32 at my lowest weight in 2006 - then yo-yoed for a few years. For me it was a realisation that dieting (and when I did that, I did it very well, lots of lean Protein and salad) would be neverending and I just would always be yo-yoing and struggling and would never reach a normal BMI. Didn't want my life to be like that. I did some research on the different operations, and after making my decision I had the surgery (self pay, I was completely healthy, even blood pressure and cholesterol levels fine, never an ache anywhere) two months later.

I had pretty significant (over 2 liters of blood loss) bleeding post op and they went in again to remove the blood clot the day after the operation, which left me a little weaker than is usual the first week. But even so, now at BMI 26.8, I don't have a single regret. Not one. It was the best decision of my life to have this operation.

You get used to eating little - now I eat about 1100 calories a day so my weight loss has been slower the past couple of months but I feel a little more mentally alert than when I was doing the 800 kcal a day diet for long. I have normal energy levels but am not as strong as I used to be: I do get tired when doing heavy lifting or some such more quickly than I did before. I should do more exercise, right now it's merely Pilates twice a week and walking the dogs. That said, I can walk 10 k without getting tired, I love moving, and it's SO much easier with less excess weight.

Thanks to all who posted. It is good to hear how others are doing.

Bookleen

Hello Bookleen

I am 25 yrs old, BMI 37.1. I have hypothyroidism, but no other co-morbidities. I am also self-pay. My surgery is scheduled for May 19th. When is yours or have you not received a date yet? Good luck to you. I am trying to become more active on the board now that my date is soon approaching.

My BMI was 35.5 when I had surgery and after 6 months it is down to 22.75. I have lost nearly 37kgs (nearly 6 stone) and I am thin! Can't believe I am saying that! I have 1kg to go to my magic number and will be very happy when I get there (should only be another week).

I have had the odd struggle and as I have a very sweet tooth and am a grazer I will have to work hard to keep it off. The big difference now though is that it is very easy to stay on track and being able to fill yourself up on very little food makes it pretty simple really.

The old saying ... nothing tastes as good as being thin feels is SSSOOOOO true - it is life changing and SOOOOO liberating. I feel like I am now living my life how I always wanted to.

Go for it I say!!

Hello, im a 37 y/o male> my bmi was 35 i just made it> having co morbities also my insurance did cover it> thats really the only way I could have had it done. I feel so blessed that i did. my life has changed, its been three months now. i started at 267 and im down to 190. sometimes i cant beleive it. people walk past me and dont recognize me. the hardest part ive had to deal with is realizing how food was a way for me to deal with emotions in the past. i also find myself addicted to sugar free ice pops now...lol sometimes i cant eat.. or keep food down. i eat alot of cottage cheese, yougurt and protein shakes. i cant handle much food.. and honestly dont care to rush it. i recommend this surgery for anyone that needs it.. even borderline.. its changed my life.. most of all to me the most important co morbity.... my depression.. im not sad any more.. i look and feel great.. like they say.. they operate on your stomach, not your mind.. thats where im at now.. seeing myself as a different person.. i wish you all the best, God bless you! jfbuono@aol.com i had my surgery at the cleveland clinic in westin florida!

Edited May 2, 201016 yr by jfbuono

Hi...my name is Susan (Luvandros on here) and my BMI is 35 and I am getting the VSG here in Atlanta on May 14 with Dr Hart....so I am similar to you....want to lose around 75 - 80 lbs. I am also self pay due to not having the comorbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc....I would love to keep in touch...will tell more of my story when I get a chance! Keep in touch!

Hello Everyone,

It's me, back again. I am now 1 week post surgery!

I had the sleeve done on 26th April. I also had stones and the gallbladder removed at the same time.

I am doing well and very pleased to have started on this new way of life.

Bookleen

Hi...my name is Susan (Luvandros on here) and my BMI is 35 and I am getting the VSG here in Atlanta on May 14 with Dr Hart....so I am similar to you....want to lose around 75 - 80 lbs. I am also self pay due to not having the comorbidities like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc....I would love to keep in touch...will tell more of my story when I get a chance! Keep in touch!

Good morning Lu!!! My starting BMI was 35.5 - then I went on vacation, gained 7 lbs, and it went up a little! =) I'm down 12, so it's dropped, but never-the-less, I'm right there with you!!! Congrats on just about being there with your surgery date, I'll be right behind you!! I can't wait, I'm counting down the days. I'm from Texas, and even though I'm living 'up north', I'm going 'home' to have it done. I went to Dallas last month for the seminar and they worked in the 'two week pre-op' while I was there, early of course, but there was no way I could make another trip back two weeks before surgery, so I got my 'diet' and all the instructions. I've lost the 7 lbs I gained on the trip, plus an additional 7! Yay!! He wants me to lose between 15 and 20 before surgery, so I'm well on the way. How are you doing? Are you nervous, anxious, excited? Good luck and keep in touch!!