I am just starting my journey to bariatric sleeve surgery. I have struggled with my weight all of my adult life. I am tired of getting up every morning and the first thing I think of is my weight. I am a successful dieter but have problems maintaining my weight loss. I had lost about 60 lbs and had problems with ruptured disks in my back, well guess what I was in pain so what did I do, Eat. I have gained all of the weight back in less then a year.

I choose the sleeve because in comparing all of the surgeries this seems to have all of the pluses that I want. My main concern was the loss of nutrients in the total bypass. I also thought about the band an the idea of a port and the possibility of slippage was a huge negative for me. I am confident that I have made the right decision.

I am self pay so my journey to surgery should be short. I started with a Dr. in Milwaukee but the trip is 5 hrs. each way and that is just too much. I found a Dr. near Minneapolis that provided the Blis post surgery insurance. That is very important to me in that my insurance will not cover any part of my surgery even any post oprative problems.

I am excited and love to read posts from others who have been through the procedure. I plan to try and post daily near my surgery date to help others like me understand just what happens.

Hi Janice,

Welcome to the boards. I'm pretty new myself. I haven't had my surgery yet, but expecting to schedule it on July 22.

I think you made a good decision. I originally was going to have the Lap Band done. I was a little weirded out by something being inside me and was put off by the idea of having a port and having to keep going in for fills etc. My best friend of 25 years had Lap Band about 9 months ago and she has had a lot of issues. She has lost quite a bit of weight, but she ended up in the hospital dehydrated and she is a PA (physicians assistant or Jr. Dr. as I like to say). She suggested I not do the Lap Band. I had already scheduled the surgery and everything and changed my mind and then she suggested I not to LB then I for sure knew I needed to change.

I'm very excited about my decision and can't wait to start anew with my new stomach and take control of my life. I've been very successful in everything else in my life, but just cannot get a hold on my life.

I can't wait to hear your story and hear when you surgery is scheduled! Good luck!

I think that everyone researches WLS inside and out before making the big decision. I actually didn't know much about VSG when I went to my surgeon. I'd heard of it, but didn't know anyone who had actually had it! I went in thinking I wanted the Lapband also! My sister had had it done in May of "09, but she hasn't had as much success as she would like. Her starting weight was 279 @ 5'4" and she is just NOW down to 202. It was my surgeon who advised me against it. In reality, I live almost an hour (2 during bad traffic) from Dallas where my doc is located, so the maintenance would have been VERY difficult for me since I work 2 jobs and have 3 kids. Yes, I said 2 jobs, but they are not laboring, and one I do from home, lol. Congratulations on your decision and good luck!! Please keep us posted!

Thanks for your encouragement, I am excited but waiting. Keep me posted on your progress, I would love to hear everything about your journey.

Hi,

I did start out with the lap band in 2007 and lost 50 lbs in 6 months but in the last 3.5 years put back on about 15. I HATED the port and the feeling associated with your upper stomach being choked off. I had the lap band removed and got sleeved this last Monday and I'm already thrilled beyond belief. This just makes sense to me....take out part of my stomach, duh!!! I'm happy and doing great except where I always had problems, the port! That incision is still killing me! If it's not a lot better by Tuesday I will call the doc. I think it's because it was sewen right to the muscle so everytime I use my stomach muscles it pulls....even now that it's gone, the stitches must pull or something. Can't wait for it to be healed up!

Good luck to all of you! You made the right decision in choosing the sleeve in my opinion!

Welcome! You are making a great choice with the sleeve. I had the band and it caused me all sort of physical pain and not much weight loss. A friend of mine has bypass and has all sorts of Vitamin absorbtion issues. I have been so successful with the sleeve. The only regret I have is not having it done sooner! Life really is better not being obese. I wish you the best on your journey! We are here if you need anything.

Welcome to the forums and congratulations on making your decision. I'm also a self-pay and thankfully the surgeon that I found does automatically 90 days of bliss coverage included in his package price.

Met my surgeon last night. Dr. Baker in Friedley Mn at Unity Hospital. I was very impressed with the facility. The hospital has a total wing dedicated to bariatric surgery. I finally got my first appointment. You are started with a nurse and only see the Dr. one time before surgery.

Am I normal, I have so Many What If's, What if.............

I have complications

I can't go back to work in a week

It hurts

I can't eat because of nausea

I am making a mistake

I am a burden to my family

I can't follow the plan...........great dieter, terrible retainer

I make my life worse

etc., etc., etc.,

Am I normal, I have so Many What If's, What if.............

I have complications

I can't go back to work in a week

It hurts

I can't eat because of nausea

I am making a mistake

I am a burden to my family

I can't follow the plan...........great dieter, terrible retainer

I make my life worse

etc., etc., etc.,

I think that everyone worries about those exact same things. My biggest thing is "will I be able to go back to work in the time frame I asked off for". Second is worrying about the diet and such, since I have failed at so many. The thing is, you don't have a choice about how much you eat at first. It won't be much, and as soon as you start loosing the weight, you will be SOOO glad for it all. I'm getting mine on the 14th, and I've gone back and forth from nervousness, to fear, to anticipation of what is to come. This is something that you just have to sit down and decide if the pro's are going to out weigh the con's.. Good luck!!