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Beginning My Gastric Sleeve Surgery Journey



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Hi there! My name is Tiffany and I am a 26 yr old mom of 2 from Louisiana. I have started on my sleeve journey this week! :) I have gotten the go ahead from my psych visit, I have my 6 months of non medical, and I have a bmi of 40. I am 5'5 with a weight of 241. I also have some weight bearing joint issues, but with the bmi, I do not need to document the co-morbidities. It is a blessing that my insurance will cover the surgery...we pay enough per month for it. lol I am a little nervous about the surgery and complications. I got a sheet today from the seminar that the morbidity percentage is at .39 percent, which is a little scary to think that around 1 in a few hundred ops, someone doesn't make it through the surgery. I would love to get some feedback about anything and everything in regards to the sleeve. I have had a great time looking at the success stories!! Congrats to all those that have had such amazing results and good luck to those that are at the beginning of your journey! :) I look forward to getting to know y'all!

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Hi TIffany!

I have the VERY SAME WORRIES as you. I don't have kids (yet!!!), but I know my loved ones are worried for me. I am meeting with my surgeon next week and have a tentative surgery date of March 30.

I have only been a member on this site for a few days, but it is a wonderful community of people just like you and me, with the same hopes and fears. I'm scared and excited at the same time, but I just keep telling myself:

"Hasn't every experience in life that was the MOST MEANINGFUL, the MOST VALUABLE, also been the hardest and/or the scariest?" I think, yes!

i look forward to journeying along with you!

((HUGS))

Sarah

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Hi GonnB, welcome to VST!! Especially welcome to the rest of your life! You ARE taking the right steps so that you will be able to enjoy your children more. They deserve a Mom who will be healthy. Time will go on and more and more co morbidities will plague those who are obese. You've chosen not to have that be your future.

Regarding the morbidity rate for surgery, keep in mind those statistics do not break down all the individual reasons those certain persons didn't make it through surgery. The main factors for those persons could be they were far more overweight than you are, or are much more unhealthy, older or perhaps didn't follow the pre-op guidelines given to us before we have our surgeries. Who knows the reasons? Yes, it is a scary though and yes is a possibility - but could be possible with ANY surgery.

Hugs my dear, we are all here for you as you enter your new journey. We all had the same fears as you had - INCLUDING ME!! :) It's ok to feel this way just stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize.

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Welcome Tiffany! You will learn so much from this forum and have all your questions answered for sure! I was sleeved one week ago today and have my postop tomorrow to have my drain out and move on to full liquids. I had absolutely no pain or nausea. Just do what your doctor and dietician tell you and you will be fine! Merry Christmas!

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Thx ladies! It means a lot to get such a great welcome and the reasurrance is awesome!! I definitely needed that! I am enjoying browsing the site and reading the posts. I know by the time surgery comes around, I'll be plenty prepared! :) Have great holidays!!

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Hi Tiffany,

I am from Texas, a widow, and the mother of two beautiful girls. I am very scared as well. My luck has not been so well. Lost my husband in April 2002, had lap-band in Dec. 2002, By 2004 after several complications they told me that I was one in 5% who the band is not right for. Back surgery in 2010, Hardware was rejected so they had to remove it in 5 months, still have pain,- and here I am.

I know it sounds like I am crazy, but I just want you to know that If I am willing to take this risk, it must be a pretty sure bet that everything will be OK. I researched my doctor, the hospital is ready for anything, and all I can do is plan for a new life and a new journey that is full of positive things from Dec. 30th forward. Happy New Year to ME !

I do not know anyone who does not hear about complications and not get concerned.

Take care. I am here with you.

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Hey Kuntry! :) You are indeed a strong woman and I thank you for your support! Know that I am here for you as well! We will definitely have some great things to look forward to this New Year!!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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