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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?

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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    • 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.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • 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
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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