Ok so I am just a few weeks shy of 31 and always knew I needed to lose weight. After years of debating WLS and trying JC,WW and what not I have finally decided to go for a sleeve. I don't need a referral and found a great surgeon in my area. I have my first appt with him on Tuesday. He will do a one on one in person information session joined with a consult. I have to have 3 months of supervised weight loss with him. I can't have the surgery until at least Nov 1st due to my insurance but cannot wait. I just have a few questions.

1. Does everyone have a catheter? So not looking forward to this if it's a must.

2. How long did you have to stay in the hospital?

3. Would you do it again? (I'm sure I know the answer to this)

4. I know everyone is different but how long were you off work? How long until you could drive? I am in and out of my car a gazillion times a day for work.

TIA

No, I didnt need a catheter. The nurse had me pee just before surgery, and I was able to get up after surgery and go to the bathroom. I was in the hospital two days. I'm only 6 weeks in, but since I have not had any complications, I'd say yes, I would do it again. I took 2 weeks off work...and then took two more days because I caught a terrible cold right after surgey. That was not fun, my incisions hurt when I coughed. I would say that this surgery is more discomforting than it is painful. I didn't even need my pain meds once I came home. Good luck to you and welcome to the site!

Yes, I had a Foley catheter - but really I never realized it until I started walking around. When the nurse took it out, there was absolutely no pain.

I got to the hospital at 7:45am on Tuesday for my 9:15 surgery. I was released at 3:00pm on Wednesday, so it was just a 1 night stay.

I was just sleeved this week, so I won't answer the other 2 questions.

Your answers are going to vary depending upon surgeon and level of experience and techniques used.

I had VSG as outpatient surgery. Went in the AM home by afternoon. No catheder, no hospital stay (too high a risk of infection and you off all people know this), I would do this again tomorrow, I was driving by the next week. I think I drove on Tuesday (surgery on Friday) but was weak and could not sit up without leaning on another chair. By the following week I was driving by myself without any issues.

Like last post, I did not need pain meds except to sleep one or two nights since my sleep patterns were disrupted. I slept a lot those first couple of weeks when ever I could. Walk, sip, rest. Do not assume you will be "normal" after one week.