I just read my post operative report today and the doctor used a 40 in bougie! I am thinking...now that must be too large...Lord, please let me have significant weight loss (which hasnt happened yet) I am 9 days out and only 3 pounds lighter than the day of surgery! This doesn't sound good to me and I read on a post somewhere else that a larger bougie makes it harder to maintain weight loss down the line...HELP!!! Somebody please have statistics that are better than what I have seen...otherwise, I just spent thousands and had pain for nothing!

According to my surgeon, the typical size "bougie" used ranges between 32 and 40 fr. He typicallys uses a 36 fr bougie....that's what he used on me. (As to height...I'm 5'11"...for whatever that's worth.)

Well thanks for the update...I am glad to know what happened. I almost got worried. Thanks again!

Lissa cracked me up! And I'm 5'5" and have a 36fr bougie.

I was picking up vitamins today at the Dr's office and the nurse coordinator told me that a 40 fb was used for me - I am 5'3. She told me that they feel that there are far fewer complications with the larger sizes - but for us short folks it makes total sense that since we might need a different size from taller folks.

A 40 bougie is the size of a sharpie pen and is a fairly commonly used size. I believe that is the only size Kaiser uses. You and I were pretty much at the same place when we had surgery I was 208 BMI 38.9 on the day of surgery. I too got a 40 fr and today almost two year later I bounce between 138-145.

A 40 bougie is the size of a sharpie pen and is a fairly commonly used size. I believe that is the only size Kaiser uses. You and I were pretty much at the same place when we had surgery I was 208 BMI 38.9 on the day of surgery. I too got a 40 fr and today almost two year later I bounce between 138-145.

Thanks for the update. I would love to be that range. I was shooting for 130 just to be on the safe side but I will gladly take 138-145...

I averaged 10 lbs a month for the first 7 months then it slowed down to where if I want to lose more I have to work at it. Mind working at it now is nothing like working at it before the sleeve. I am 5'2" and it is weird when I was younger early 20s 130 was *fat* to me and yet today I fell skinny at 140!

I think a 40 FR bougie is going to be okay for keeping the weight off :-). I think the studies where I saw the bougie affected long term weight loss was like a 48FR. It was one of Dr. Cirangle's studies. Since you are short, I agree with Lissa that your natural tummy is going to be smaller than someone who is 5'10". I am only 5'4" so I guess my tummy was a little smaller too but who knows? I got a 32FR but that is the standard for my doc. I really don't think a 40 is big enough to make a difference in all honesty. And some of the surgeons do an "oversew" technique that makes your tummy even smaller so you may have an even smaller tummy than you think :-)

No matter what the case, I think you can do it! Mind over matter! Fill your tummy up with Protein and you should be all good! I wish you the best in your sleeve journey! We are all in this together and want it to work!