Hi All!

I wanted to start a thread for African-American sleevers (no worries I HEART all sleevers from the rainbow). I just thought, no scientific proof, that African-American sleevers may respond to the surgery different than our lovely non-African American sleeved sisters and brothers. I wanted to know if we had the same skin issue, hair problems, and other surgery related issues. Also, how to deal with the culture shock. African-American "soul food" may be something of the past... or not. So I was just looking for a space to voice culture related issues and concens.

PS- I TRULY :heart: ALL SLEEVERS.

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)

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!!!

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

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

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

Hey Myezzence,

Glad to hear you are feeling better. I wish you much success on your journey.

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

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?

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?

Eat and drink your protein!!!

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!

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

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.

I'm stilling trying to lose my required 20lbs, so that I can get a surgery date!

Hope everyone is doing good!

wow great thread idea I will be sleeved on Monday nervousness settling in now!

hello sistas,

my surgery date is Nov. 3, 2011. I am really nervous. Also not sure I can survive the pre-op diet! Any suggestions?

You will do this!!!! God is your keeper!!!

hello sistas,

my surgery date is Nov. 3, 2011. I am really nervous. Also not sure I can survive the pre-op diet! Any suggestions?