I'm pre-op but wanted to post here to get advice from others that are post-op. I just recently told my family that I will be traveling to Mexico in March to get my gastric sleeve surgery. It seems like its a never ending argument with my Mother. She doesn't understand why I can't "just ride the exercise bike and diet." for like the hundredth time. She also wants to know, what if I so happen to need that portion of my stomach they are going to remove years down the road. She's just asking all kinds of random things that I don't know what to tell her really. Is there a lot of follow up care with the sleeve? I know that I have to get blood panels done to check protein levels and all that, but other than that what else is there?

This type of surgery has been performed for many years as cancer treatment, then as the first step in a Duodenal Switch (where intestines are also re-routed). They saw so much success with the sleeve alone that they started performing it as a stand alone. I believe ( I don't have any actual quotes though) that cancer patients that had a portion of their stomachs removed actually lived longer and healthier.

Your mother is probably more worried than anything. You could try to reassure her that you have done your research, that you feel that the sleeve is the best choice for you, and that you appreciate her concerns, but you are a grown woman and this is your decision. If we could have done it and kept it off with diet and exercise alone, none of us would have needed to get it done!

Hi Jesser, before my surgery, I asked my doctor if by doing the vertical sleeve and if I ever got cancer in my stomach, could i regret having done this surgery vs the gastric bypass surgery. He told me that if i ended up with esophagus cancer, that yes, then that part of the stomach could had been used to reconstruct the esophagus. He also told me that im at more risk of ending with more types of cancer and several other diseases if i kept my weigh or gained even more weight. He sugested i have the sleeve because your stomack wii be able to absorve more nutrients than the bypass. He also sugested the sleeve because i was not diabetic. All his reasons sold me. Ive had my sleeve done 3 weeks ago and Ive had no regrets. Its not easy, especially the first 2 weeks, but the weight is coming off easy and for the first time, i found hope.

Jesser, its your decision and i hope your mother can support you, it will just make it a lot easier for you. Good luck and all the best to you!

My mother had a million questions before I got it done (5 weeks ago) too. Most of the questions, I had answers for that satisfied her. If I didn't I would tell her, "That's a good question. I'm not sure - I'll look into it and get back to you." And then I would.

I knew what I wanted to do and wasn't going to change my mind but she wanted reassurance and I gave her that the best I could.

i'm 5 weeks out and I am thrilled with the results - And guess what - So is she! Be patient with her, as best you can - You're her baby. If my kid were having something like this done, I'd be freaked out too.

Be sure to point out all of the positive ways in which this will impact your health, too.

I think fear of the unknown is what propels some people to automatically react negatively to any Bariatric surgery. If they love you, they will become informed and enlightened that this is the best choice for you. My mom has been staying with me ( meanwhile I feel fine and have a husband and 2 teenage daughters to help out!) but I think she was still worried and wanted to be here (I live in NY, her and my dad live in FL) after my VSG last Thursday. Good luck!