OK ya'll...my surgery is on Tuesday and I am having a MAJOR freakout!!!! Please tell me FOR REAL the Good, the Bad and the UGLY!!! I'm soooo tired of protein shakes and I'm scared of food intolerances and my tasted buds changing and what if I can never eat salad again and oh I don't know...EVERYTHING!! For those of you who truly do not regret getting the surgery, aside from the weight loss, please tell me why you are glad that you did it. I know you all have answered this question countless times before but I'm on the edge ya'll...HELP!!!!!

Had my surgery June 5th. I had a Chicken Salad Friday evening. So no fears. You can have salad again! Especially if it's something you really like prior to surgery. I've found my sleeve doesn't agree with some things they way my stomach used to. Breads for instance feel like concrete in my stomach now, so I avoid them. But all my favorites I still want and enjoy. Just in moderation.

You will, occasionally, regret this surgery. The recovery is pretty miserable, until at least a month out. I'm almost 6 weeks out and finally feel completely normal again. I don't regret it as much as I did at first - I've lost 20.5 lbs, which I never could have done without the surgery.

I eat pretty much normally now. Certain things don't go down well, no matter how much I chew. Green leafy salad is tough - tried a little bit a week ago and it hurt. Broccoli - even well done - was difficult (and caused my first and only vomiting episode). I drink a little soda and have a little coffee - I need the caffeine to get going. I've tolerated fried foods, though with a bit of discomfort. I try to stay away from most carbs. I go out to eat often, and finding stuff to eat isn't as difficult as I expected.

Again, the early weeks are miserable, but once you get through that, it's not too bad and life goes back to normal, but with a healthier lifestyle.

Nate I think I sent you a message that was meant for red597, sorry.

Prior to surgery I was always hungry or at least rarely full. This was my big fear that I would still be hungry but have no place for the food to go. I have no hunger pains, some head hunger that I am still working through, but it feels great not to revolve the day around food and eating. This is what makes me most happy, hopefully you get the comfort you need and succeed!!

Red, I'm a year out and 112 pounds lighter. I feel completely normal now, except for only being able to eat smaller amounts of food. VSG saved my life. That is my story and I'm thrilled with the results now!

Everyone is different. I hope you have the kind of experience that I have had thus far. No problems, no complaints. I was sore the first week and still have one spot that is tender. I am still on puree but I puree anything I want exept for breads, Pasta, corn and patatoes. I absolutely do not drink any soda or caffinated beverages. I was told strictly to stay away from that. The one thing I will tell you is that I have not felt hungry! I eat to live instead of live to eat. People tell me " Oh you're never gonna be able to sit down and have a normal plate of food" and I respond with I don't care cause I'm not hungry and I don't need that big "normal plate of food". Again I'm only 2 weeks and 3 days out but I feel good and hope that things keep going as smoothly as they have up til now.

My advise is to follow your surgeons directions, don't cheat because your only cheating yourself and make sure you get your Water in!

Thank you all for helping to talk me off the ledge! I do feel so much better!! I think it was one of those things where I needed to get the fear out of my head and then I felt better. I do know unquestionably that this is the right decision for me, but I think it's the fear of the unknown that got to me.

Tryan, I still eat from saucers at a year out. I should truly donate my big plates to Goodwill or something because they never get used now. A "normal" plate of food for me is 4 ounces of dense Protein and a very small serving of cooked veggies. I cannot imagine myself sitting down to what I considered normal pre-op! One of those plates would probably make 5-6 meals for me now!

I decided I wanted spaghetti a few days ago. When I went to the store to buy spaghetti noodles, ALL of the boxes seemed hugely big to me. I'd be eating spaghetti forever and a day. So, I bought a tiny can of spaghetti and called it good. When I heated it up, it turned out that spaghetti is disgusting to me now. At least I only wasted 68 cents instead of having a box of spaghetti hanging around until I could find someone to give it to.

Lissa,

Funny you mention spaghetti. Prior to surgery, my thin boss told me that she makes her spaghetti sauce and meatballs, makes wheat Pasta for her family but she has the sauce and meatballs over green Beans. Sounded gross but I tried it and loved it. I've been eating spaghetti that way for about 2 months now and once I go to soft foods I will pick it back up again. I found a really good recipe for pizza crust wich I will also use as a bread subitute for when I want a sandwich. It's cauliflower, egg and cheese. Have you heard of it? I made it pre surgery and loved it also.

I'm right there with you, my surgery is Friday *holds hand*

Red597, I am getting sleeved the same day. I guess because I am a nurse & worked for 18 years in the O.R., I really have no fear about the procedure or the fact that my relationship with food will be changed forever.

As a matter of fact, it was fear of what I was facing that drove me to this point! I have seen countless amputees, blind & heart disease patients over the years. It was never "real" that it could be me until now. I am more focused on living to see grandchildren & not living to eat. We will BOTH do well!

Good stuff: 95%! You've read all the testimonials here......what you give up? 5%! And at least for me, I don't really miss it and the control over my life far exceeds the fact that I don't eat Pasta or rice any more. If you have a chance, take a look at my blog;(link below). Even if you just skim it I think you will find that although I'm honest, there are very few negative things in there.

I'm starting Week 45 and have been writing about my journey every Sunday for the last year....that should give you some idea of what to expect. The first few months? You'll feel weird and exhilarated at the same time, because for the first time, something actually works and the progress is fun! You are all in for a very fun year with changes to your body and your mind and your relationship to food. Go embrace it! Many people would love to have this surgery to improve their life and they have no insurance or cannot afford it. You are among the lucky ones! HAVE FUN AND KEEP US POSTED.

OK ya'll...my surgery is on Tuesday and I am having a MAJOR freakout!!!! Please tell me FOR REAL the Good, the Bad and the UGLY!!! I'm soooo tired of Protein shakes and I'm scared of food intolerances and my tasted buds changing and what if I can never eat salad again and oh I don't know...EVERYTHING!! For those of you who truly do not regret getting the surgery, aside from the weight loss, please tell me why you are glad that you did it. I know you all have answered this question countless times before but I'm on the edge ya'll...HELP!!!!!

These my friend are my very same fears that I have. I don't fear the procedure at all it's the aftermath that freaks me out. I'm having surgery on Sept. 13th.

Everyone's answers seem to have put on ease on everything I was feeling. THanks for the post.

Susan...thank for "holding my hand"! I can use all of the support I can get! Need-a -Sleeve...we can be sleeve buddies and walk on this journey together! Queen...thanks for the45-week out insight! I will read your blog ASAP...I'm sure I will find many nuggets that I need to get me through. I love this site and all of the great peeps on here!!!

So, how'd it go, Red?