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African American Sleevers



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I appreciate this thread being started as I also had questions related to the VSG and hair loss (on chemically relaxed hair). I also wondered about scarring since most of us that have a darker complexions tend to have darker scars (my poor belly is going to look like a battle ground) :blink:

Thank you, everyone, for sharing!

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I appreciate this thread being started as I also had questions related to the VSG and hair loss (on chemically relaxed hair). I also wondered about scarring since most of us that have a darker complexions tend to have darker scars (my poor belly is going to look like a battle ground) :blink:

Thank you, everyone, for sharing!

Marks are hardly noticeable, I am 5 months out and have had no Hair loss but I have locks. Its the bat wings on my arm that are ugly! LOL But i Love my sleeve!!!

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Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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Hi Sheri. I'm sorry that you had a rough time while in the hospital but it sounds like things are getting better for you. From what I've read on this forum, each day things get better. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Keep us posted on your progress.

Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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I also had problem with my veins in the hospital. The first week is the rough. And you will have rough weeks afterwards. I still have some bad days when I test my sleeve. But when you get to the 6 month mark, I think that's where it sinks in that it was all worth it.

Hello all,

I was sleeved on July 12,so this is my 4th day. I can honestly say I have no comments yet about my sleeve, because I had great amounts of nausea, gas and dehydration so severe they attempted to find a vein in my arms, hands, feet and lastly my neck. This took place during my hospital stay and after being sleeved. During my 1 week pre op diet, I lost 16 lbs, however I ended up gaining all back due to my IV..so it was nothing but Water weight. I started off desiring the lap band, but I heard about all of the complications, and switched to the gastric sleeve. My doctor informed me, that he made it very small..and I believe it. just drinking 1 oz of Water , feels like I went to a buffet and pigged out. I hope it gets better because I don't want to be dehydrated again. I know my weight loss will be a guarantee with this type of restriction, and I have noooo hunger nor desire for food since Tuesday ..4 days ago. Today I will attempt a Protein drink, and see what happens. I do notice a change with my stomach, crystal light pink lemonade gives me alot of gas pain, but it wasn't like that before and my drink can't be icy cold but luke warm. Cold drinks give me stomach spasms...but not painful. I'm still painfree yayyyyyy...so far since my sleeve date ...I have lost 10 lbs in 4 days.

So I am excited about my new beginnings once my healing process is over. Does anyone have the same problem or did before and what did you use for gas. My pepcid does ok, gas x ok..???

Sheri

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I got tree braids (simialr to micros) the week of my surgery. I am natural, but I didn't want to worry about maintaining anything while I recovered. This helped me with my self esteem too in the beginning. Even though I was feeling crappy, slugglish, and like a bolder, I know my hair looked fly...lol. Hope this helps.

I have been wearing a perm for many years and my hair is a nice length. Does anyone have any advice as how to keep my hair healthy during this process?

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I was sleeved June 27, 2011, I have lost 20lbs, but have went from a sixe 2x in tops to a large. It is crazy. I also had a black surgeon in Dallas. I have seen people with the lap band and it does not seem to work well. My hair is natural, so ihave not had any Hair loss as of yet. So I am doing pretty well. I went through a depression on July 4th and didn't come out the house(haha) I was thinking about all the bar b que I was missing, but i was on liquids then. So things are better now. I am at that 3 week stall, but hopefully things will pick up. My bllod pressure has been normal and i am getting weaned off of insulin. Only 77lbs to go!

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wear braids!!!!! WEAR BRAIDS!!!! I got my sleeve on dec 8th 2010 I have lost 200 pounds and I am still losing. My hair is also natural and I believe that is why I have not lost hair but I did experience some thinning in the front but nothing significant. I too have met other people who have had a lapband and they have had it for a significantly longer time and still have not lost over 50 pounds (and not gained it back). I did not have significant scarring or keloids so my scars are itty bitty. any other questions just ask

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I WAS SLEEVED FEBRUARY 2011 AND I BARELY HAVE ANY SCARS AT ALL...MY PROCEDURE WAS LAPAROSCOPIC SO I HAVE 4 SMALL INCISIONS THAT DID NOT EVEN REQUIRE EXTERNAL STITCHES. THEY WERE PRACTICALLY HEALED BEFORE I EVEN LEFT THE HOSPITAL..I WOULD SUPPOSE THE SCARRING DEPENDS ON THE TYPE SURGERY YOU HAVE.

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    • BypassTheBS

      2 weeks & 5 days post op and I'm doing great
      Gatorade w/protein makes me gag now. I think from having so much of it.
      I had the ricotta bake for a few days. I'm in the puree stage but rotisserie chicken, chicken meatballs, cold cuts, & plain tuna don't bother me.
      I had a plain old fashioned peppermint and it made me nauseous... 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • trinzic

      Hi there!  Just wanted to gain some perspective.  Out of anyone here who had the gastric bypass, can you give me info on your journey?  How much weight did you lose in the first month, 3 months, 6 months after surgery?  I'm working on getting my clearances so that I can have surgery in late summer.  My friend, who just had GB, told me "your new life doesn't start the day of your surgery, but right now, so take care of yourself!"  So, I'm trying.  But hearing what others have experienced will give me some perspective and I'm big on that kind of thing. 
      · 1 reply
      1. BabySpoons

        I lost 25 pounds in 3 months before surgery and your friend is right. Putting off losing weight till surgery date just reminded me of all the excuses I made before. I'll wait till Monday to start or after the holidays.

        I'm 8 weeks out from Gastric Bypass and lost another 25. So I'm averaging about 3 pounds a week post-surgery. That's the most I've ever lost consistently over time without regain so I'm happy. Good luck on your journey!

    • BabySpoons

      Lost 3 pounds this week. I'll take it!!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • JenniferLilly36549

      Waiting for surgery date…still undecided sleeve vs. RNY
      · 2 replies
      1. Jodi74

        I had the sleeve 9/13/21 and just had a the sleeve to bypass revision on 5/3/23. My HW:321 (I'm 5' 8" tall)and I went down to 254 while doing my 7 nutrition appts required by my insurance company. So just changing the way I ate, I was able to get those pounds off w/o surgery. I have many Co morbidities mixed hyperlipidemia, diabetes, htn, MI due to covid. I had read and done quite a bit of research so I could choose the best surgery for myself and learned previous to my sleeve that someone as heavy as I was and all the Co morbidities I have, it was better in my situation to have the bypass but, my DR. Kept saying I would have the same results with the sleeve. Every time I would see him and say to him that I felt it would be best to just get the bypass, he just shot me down and said the sleeve would produce the same results! Why he kept asking me which surgery I wanted at each visit just to tell me the sleeve was all I needed still a mystery to me????? Let's just say, my Dr. Was wrong you see, the surgeries are both about the same price, but the sleeve is easier for the surgeon to perform so I think my DR. Just wanted the easier since he would get the same pay no matter what. After sleeve surgery I did go from 254 to 226 BUT that's just because you are healing from surgery and can't eat anyway as soon as I recovered! I was starving non-stop. I went right back up and stayed at 248. Still had to take cholesterol meds, blood pressure meds, diabetes meds etc. I'm now almost 4 weeks post op the bypass and feel great. I'm not starving all the time, went from 248 to 220 and doing great! Not only what you just read about my story, you also hear about a lot of people needing revision after the sleeve due to acid reflex like severe acid reflex all the time. So the bypass surgery is the only way to stop This reflux if you acquire this condition after sleeve surgery. The regain possibility is higher with sleeve than bypass so just think about all these factors before you make your decision. I wish I would have just had the bypass and saved myself from having to have 2 surgeries in under 2 years. The bypass surgery was also less painful for me lol! I don't know if the new surgeon was better or what but, I was home the next day. After the sleeve I had to stay an extra night due to the nausea and vomiting all night and for pain control.

      2. BabySpoons

        After doing the research between the sleeve and bypass, I chose the Gastric bypass for quite a few different reasons. Thankfully my surgeon told me I was a perfect candidate for it after he examined my health history. Oddly enough, his nurse tried talking me into getting the sleeve too. Like your doc said, she thought it was easier and just as good. But I'm not looking for easy. I'm looking for more effective. Just the reflux alone was enough for me to say no thanks.

        Sorry you had to get 2 surgeries and wishing you all the best!

    • BabySpoons

      Who knew Filet Mignon would make me so sick. Leftovers from Mother's Day.  On the upside..next day I started walking outside a little over a mile without stopping or back pain. That's a bit deal for me considering how inactive I've been for years. Woot woot!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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