I'm reading everything about the surgery experience and wondering how different it is from having other laparoscopic surgeries. I"m talking about the in hospital experience. Obviously, there are different issues in the healing process. I had gallbladder surgery years ago (laparoscopically). I didn't wake up with a tube, etc. and didn't have gas and so on. I left the same day.

So, what's the difference (if anyone has had another similar surgery and VSG)?

I'm reading everything about the surgery experience and wondering how different it is from having other laparoscopic surgeries. I"m talking about the in hospital experience. Obviously, there are different issues in the healing process. I had gallbladder surgery years ago (laparoscopically). I didn't wake up with a tube, etc. and didn't have gas and so on. I left the same day.

So, what's the difference (if anyone has had another similar surgery and VSG)?

Interesting you posted this, because I had my consult today and my surgeon said the sleeve will be similar to the gallbladder just an extra day. He said the major complaint he gets is nausea. Which they will treat. So, I was happy to hear it was like the gallbladder. I had mine out in 2000 and don't miss it.

Interesting. I had my gall bladder removed in 2004. I left the same day and stayed with family while I recuperated. I had a tube sticking out of my belly that sucked the Fluid that had built up. I was up and moving around, but kinda drugged and wacky/sleepy for a few days. The tube is what hurt the most, not the surgery. I think it was pushed up against an organ, so when I stripped it (pinched and sucked fluid out), it hurt like a son of a biyatch.

My surgery is coming up on Monday. There is still the chance that I might not be getting the sleeve and will instead be doing the band (don't post about why one is better than the other...I don't want to hear it and that's not the reason). Anyway, from what I have read, it sounds like the day of surgery you're pretty groggy and unhappy. But it starts to get better after that. Funny, it never crossed my mind that this experience would be similar to the gall bladder. With the exception of that damn tube, the removal was pretty easy and pain free.

I never had the tube with gallbladder

I had my gallbladder out 8 years ago. With that surgery I had three incisions and all were very small. I did not have a drain and was able to go home the same day.

With my sleeve, I had five incisions, all but one were quite small and the other (the one they actually remove the stomach from) was only about 1.5". I had a drain, which I consider the 5th incision, but not everyone gets a drain. The recovery period for this surgery is a bit longer than with gallbladder but then again, everyone tolerates pain differently. I had shoulder pain with both surgeries but this one was a bit more intense than my last four surgeries. I had a difficult time with my drain but once it was removed I felt GREAT.

I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago also and the sleeve is nothing compared to that.

Thanks you two! I didn't have a tube either and really had a fairly good experience. I'm wondering why everyone talks about having gas afterward. I thought that was only with the more invasive surgery that that happens. Wish I could go home the same day. Ugh.

Just saw your post. Thanks for sharing! I figured it was a bit more involved than the gallbladder surgery...just hoping it wasn't too much so. Gallbladder surgery wasn't that bad (besides my nerves), so I was trying to gage what wls was like.

I haven't had either surgery yet - so take what I say with a grain of salt. My wife has had her gallbladder out and I was with her every step of that.

I think the VSG is a more complex surgery than the gall bladder mainly because the gall bladder is NOT a necessary organ. It can be removed and it doesn't impact your digestion the same as having a majority of your stomach removed. The second MAJOR thing is that there is no possibility of a gastric leak from a gall bladder surgery. Leaks are the #1 cause of complications after this surgery and I personally think that is the main reason why we stay longer than a gall bladder surgery. They want to give your stomach some time to heal a bit and then check for a leak before they send you home. A leak is a very bad thing and your health/status can go down very quickly if you do have one.

Just my two cents.