I've been on here for a little while now and really wish the man room would take off with guys posting... I've tried to search by male posters to really see what goes on with the procedures but this site doesnt allow a search like that. I see a few guys here and there on different posts but for some reason the man room is viewed by more women than men.

anyway... I've decided to go ahead with the procedure here in SC and reluctantly have to finance part of the cost due to an unforseen work comp injury. Looking at Care Credit... I'm 5'11" 350 lbs...

alright my brothers chime in...

Do it! I'm 5'10" and about your weight. Currently jumping through all the insurance hoops, surgery probably late December or early January.

Good luck, it'll change your whole life!

thanks for chiming in.... any suggestions so far?

I was sleeved on Tuesday (10/19/10). Will have my first Dr. appt tomorrow. Don't remember anything about the surgery beyond being wheeled in the surgical center.

Started at 391 lbs in June. Was at 368 prior to surgery and am now down to 347. Need to get down to goal of ~210 lbs.

Still not getting in all the Water (64 oz+ in addition to the 64 oz of protein) that the dietician recommends, but working on it. Dietician and my Dr.s can't seem to agree on dietary needs.

Dietician recommends no less than 1200 cal/day, 100-140 gr Protein, >130 gr Carbs, >20 gr Fat.

Dr.'s say 800-1000 cal/day, 80 gr Protein, with limited Carbs and Fats.

Still on full liquids, but hopefully get cleared for pureed tomorrow.

Had a difficult time following surgery, due to sleep apnea. Hospital finally provided a CPAP on the 2nd night and I got some sleep. Spent two days in hospital and could not eat/drink any substantial amounts when I finally left. Doing better now.

Walking and getting light weight/resistance exercise now. Need to do more.

Donn Fergerson

Bakersfield, CA

Had the Dr appt today.

Removed drain with slight pain.

Surgeon said the operation was one of the best they had done.

In talking to the PA about the issues at the hospital, I mentioned the issue of the CPAP.

She was surprised that they allowed me to use one, since their protocol for sleeve patients call for NO CPAP for the first five days after surgery. Nobody mentioened this fact to the hospital staff or me. I have been using mine every night since I got home

I guess my staple line has been pressure tested at this point :-)

Had some refried Beans with cheees for dinner (4 oz). Very good after a week of Protein shakes and Water.

Howdy All!

I just had my sleeve done last week as well (10/19) and will be getting the drain removed tomorrow morning (I will be glad to be rid of that danged thing!)

Thought I would throw in my $.02 for what has seemed to work well for me, but your mileage may vary. Also different doctors have different recommendations, so make sure you discuss any questions. For example, I will be on fluids for at least another week before going to fluids and yogurt-like mushies.

Recommendation for before the surgery:

1) Get any heavy lifting stuff done now (adding salt to the Water softener, fixing the fence, moving boxes, etc). My doc has me limited to lifting no more than 10 lbs for at least 4 weeks post-op. Beside, your abdominals will hurt liek the devil after surgery. Best to avoid any unnecesssary tightening of the abs immediately after surgery.

2) Pick out your Protein drink during your presurgical wieght loss diet. After surgery you will be on clear liquid for a bit and broth will just not cut it for protein. Besides, it will be difficult to hunt down a preferred Protein Drink after surgery while recuperating. I discovered grape Isopure from GNC works best for me.

3) Lose as much as you can prior to surgery to defat the liver. The fattier the liver, the harder the surgery can be.

After surgery:

1) You will have gas pains like you won't believe. When I woke up I felt like my left shoulder had been knocked out of place and in severe need of chiropractic adjustment. Turns out that some of the gas they pump in to "inflate you" for surgery will stick around. My lovely bride was kind enough to rub my shoulder from top down which seemed to releive the pain. I also found that getting up and walking laps of the hospital floor helped as well (for the shoulder pain, as well as intestinal gas too).

2) So mentioning intestinal gas... yep they inflated your sleeve as well. Although you may feel like burping, that is not going to get rid of much if any of the gas. Walking loosens the back end too; besides, they seemed to truly encourage post-op farting! Did I mention to get up and walk as early as possible? It REALLY helped!

3) You will likely not be allowed to drink fluids until after getting a swallow study done the morning after surgery. Be sure to ask your nurse if they have swabs you can use to swab water on the inside of your mouth. I felt like i had cotton inside my mouth until I was able to swab down. It was REALLY a relief!

4) Stay ahead of your pain meds. No reason to be a hero; if pain meds are recommended every 4 hours, do it. They also gave me Gas-X at the same time I got pain meds to help with the gas pains as well. Also, be sure to ask about a stomach acid reducer.

5) Schedule your Fluid intake, exercise (walks), meds, etc and stick to it as close as possible (at least until your drain is removed). If you get behind schedule early, you will not be able to get your 64 ounces of water in without drinking too much later in the day or evening. It is important to stay hydrated and get 70 grams or more of protein in per day.

I hope this helps. Please keep in mind your mileage may vary. And discuss this with your doctor prior to your procedure.

Good luck!

Geek

glad to see u guys getting this man's room going again.... got my tentative date today for 12/17!!!! I'm self pay so no hoops to jump thru!!

You will have gas pains like you won't believe.

Several people have recommended a heating pad too, which helps.

Thanks for the great recommendations! I had not heard about the mouth swabs.

I'm still trying to figure out a surgeon to get my process started which I wouild like to do around Feb or March next year due to financial stuff. I'm 5'11 365 and 31 years old. I'm hoping to hit a goal weight of 200-205 even though that is still pretty high on the BMI chart for a dude who is 5'11, but looking at a picture of me my sophomore year of high school I was 5'7 190 and pretty skinny (for a fat kid). Thanks for getting the man room rolling, and good luck with your surgery.

I'm still trying to figure out a surgeon to get my process started which I wouild like to do around Feb or March next year due to financial stuff. I'm 5'11 365 and 31 years old. I'm hoping to hit a goal weight of 200-205 even though that is still pretty high on the BMI chart for a dude who is 5'11, but looking at a picture of me my sophomore year of high school I was 5'7 190 and pretty skinny (for a fat kid). Thanks for getting the man room rolling, and good luck with your surgery.

since your on the west coast already I would have to suggest Aceves in Mexicali.. there are alot of his patients on here and all seem to be very happy... I was considering him and I'm on the East Coast.... but I found a local surgeon and a great price...

I was sleeved on 9/22/10 and this Wednesday will be my 6 weeks annerversry. I started out looking at doing the Lapband back in April, but in early Sept. I changed my mind. Never experinced allot of pain, but yes the Gas pain is not fun but only last a few days after surgery. Used allot of Gas X Strips, they helped.

Starting Weight 272

Surgery Weight 259

Current Wieght 221

Goal Weight 200

I'm a cyclist and love doing charity rides, this weekend did a 46 miler and let me tell you what a difference from cycling at 270 lbs to cycling at 221 lbs. Feeling great, have to remind myself to eat sometimes, taking in 70 grams of protien and taking my Vitamins.

So far so good for me..

Yo 'dawg, just signed on the boards today. Surgery is Thursday the 4th and looking forward to it! Gas sounds like it will be a major pain, but around my house, we're used to it!!! Used to blame it on the dog, but he died. Looking forward to hearing from y'all!

Go Rangers!

Dennis

Yo 'dawg, just signed on the boards today. Surgery is Thursday the 4th and looking forward to it! Gas sounds like it will be a major pain, but around my house, we're used to it!!! Used to blame it on the dog, but he died. Looking forward to hearing from y'all!

Go Rangers!

Dennis

welcome... glad to have ya

What an awesome surgery for us big guys. For me, being a big guy is part of my persona, you know, being perceived as physically intimidating. I have to be honest, a year from now, I'll be a shade of my former self. How's that work for the ego? I don't foresee an issue, I just know that it will be completely different as a much smaller dude.

Hey there fellas, I'm relatively new here. I'm jumping through the hoops too, currently in the process of losing weight so that they will give me a surgery date. I'm currently 6'1'' about 390lbs, they want me to get close to 360lbs. I'm still considering gastric bypass, but heavily leaning towards the sleeve. What was it that convinced you to go for the sleeve (over gastric bypass)?

~Eric

Hey guys Im 9 months out and have lost just over 120pounds, best thing I have ever done for myself, go through good and bad times, but the good out weighs (pardon the pun) the bad completely, you do go through a grieving process for food, and what you were like before at times, frustration, like breaking all bad habits, and now I wonder how food held me hostage for so long, as it has completely become a case of eat to live, not live to eat. I havent told alot of people about my surgery only close family and friends, that can be the hardest part at times, Im not sure what it is like where you guys are, but here so much social interaction is revolved around food, for example this week I recently started a new job, and as a getting to know each other exercise they had a bbq, and being a male people expect you to eat alot, so you figure out ways of distraction to get out of eating which is really foreign concept.

Just remember during the hard times, in the long wrong it will be the best thing you have done, I now have that much energy, living life the way it was ment to be lived.... also save some $$$ you need to replace clothes quite regularly