Hi all,

Just had my orientation and nutricion class and am feeling overwhelmed. :sad0: I know the next few weeks will go in a blur and I was soooo set on having a Sleeve, but when I saw the pre and post op diet I am beginning to doubt I will be able to do this. The dietician seemed more like a person taunting us about all the changes then showing any real concern. Maybe because she does these classes so often. The class was made up more of Lap banders and she seemed to play up the fact they would be healed much sooner than the gastric sleeve person. (me) I will be meeting with the doctor on Friday to discuss the procedure and prepare for the pre-op stuff. I still have my Psych eval and I am fearful of sharing my concerns with the surgery with her. My husband even suggested I get the lap band instead, but the cost of both procedures will be the same with my insurance. I will be changing insurances at the end of the year and I am not sure what the new insurance will cover. I know that no one can make this descision for me. I am just curious of these feelings are normal. Any help would be appreciated.

I'll just say a few things, because I know other folks will chime in.

1. Yep, the preop diet is tough. No lies. But you can do it, because almost everyone here that had a surgery did it, too. Turn here for support if you need it.

2. Post op the diet is NOT hard. It wasn't for me, anyway. I got to the point where I was tired of drinking my meals, but I did it with zero hunger and zero cravings. You'll be sore, a little weak and a little tired. Trust me, a cup of warm Soup (with some Protein added!) is going to be all you can handle. Unlike the band, once you're healed you can eat and expect to be able to eat, with restriction, every day.

3. Don't let any news about the band healing faster make you believe it's a better idea. It's not. It may heal faster, but 25% of those people that get one will need a follow up surgery. I recommend you do a search on this board for revisions, because there are a number of people here that had a hell-on-earth experience with their band before revising (some of them at their own expense) to a sleeve. You're making the right choice to get the sleeve.

My insurance didn't cover the sleeve. They cover bands and RNY. I did my research and I'm very glad I didn't buckle and get the band just because it was covered. I paid for my own sleeve, but I'm going to lose this weight without the complications and aggravation of a band.

I'm just over a month out, but I can tell you the surgery was worth every single penny.

Take care. Do your research until you feel more comfortable and prepared.

~Cheri

I completely agree with Cheri. I was after the band when I started my journey a couple of years ago. I did a lot of research and changed my mind. My husband forbid me from having the band because of the potential complications, and the constant fills and unfills. I am so glad I opted for the sleeve. Don't let that nutritionist discourage you from what you want. You can do this, we all did, even though most of us thought we couldn't. Good luck!

My nut was very similiar. She kept saying, "this is a permanent change". And, I kept telling her that I understood that. I think they want to scare you a bit to make you think. But, I also think many nuts do not truly understand the sleeve. There isn't anything I've found that I cannot eat. I may choose not to eat it, but I can if I wanted too. Band patients have trouble with lots of foods and RYN have special nutritional needs due to malabsorption. Sleevers get kinda mixed up in all that & somehow get lost a bit.

I too did my research and felt this was the right avenue for me. So far, no regrets at all. And, I really don't expect to have any in the future.

:001_tt2: Ladies thanks for the responses. I am feeling a bit better. I will keep an open mind and work towards my goal. A healthier me. Its so nice to find others who have had success with the surgery. I will read some of the other posts to see what I am getting myself into. Thanks again. I am feeling better. :tongue2:

I had the band and just converted to the sleeve. The recovery was about the same for me. I was in the hospital 2 nights but after I went home only had pain medication one time. It was a fairly easy recovery. I had surgery on Tuesday and was back to work on Monday. Actually probably could have gone on Friday. So don't let the recovery time turn you off. It has to be your decision but the sleeve is awesome for me so far. There were so many things I had to be careful with eating with the band. The first year I lost 100 lbs then my band slipped and after they fixed it It was never the same. After gaining 80 of the 100 lbs back I just had the sleeve done 3 1/2 weeks ago. With the band I ended up with 4 surgeries if you count taking it out. My insurance does not cover any of this so it got very expensive. 1st my port came off and they had to go reattach it, then my band slipped and they had to fix it and then I had it taken out when they did my sleeve. I should mention too that when I did my sleeve it was actually two surgeries (taking out the band and doing the sleeve). They said the part that made me the sorest was removing the band and port. So far from the way I felt with the band to the sleeve is totally different for the better.