Went to the info seminar today. Thanks to my endless research (and all the good info on this and other sites), I learned exactly NOTHING at the seminar except, of course, how to get to the hospital. Which is a good thing to know, right?? I should get a call in a week or two to schedule an appointment with the surgeon. I'm pretty excited to see what happens next! This whole process has helped me stress less about knowing what would happen next. Whatever happens, happens. And I'm okay with that.

I did also get my starting weight while I was there. It was a number I was not looking forward to seeing... but at least now I know!

Today's weight: 459. Eek. And I've actually been exercising for a few months, I wonder what it was to start off with! Stepping on that scale wasn't as awful as I thought it would be, I'm really just glad to have an actual starting number. Yay! (?)

My worry now is that my high weight will cause the surgeon to say I should have RNY and not the sleeve. I really don't want to do that! Can any higher BMI patients tell me what their experience was re: what surgery to have?

I'm tall, so I guess that helps (not much). I'm 5'10.5", my BMI is 64.9. (Oy vey! I think it was better not knowing my weight) I would like to be around 170 just so I can be in the "normal BMI" range - but that would mean I need to lose 289lbs. There are people who weigh 289lbs that need surgery!! There's like two extra average weight people inside of me! Whaaaaaat???

Ok, mini freak out over. Bring on the motivation, if you have any to spare. I just need reassurance that this battle is winable!

It is completely doable and you WILL do it! I say stay persistent with your surgeon and stress how much you want a sleeve versus RNY. There are plenty of people on this forum that have higher BMI's and have had successful VSG procedures.

I know that you may feel that 289 lbs. is a daunting task, but I recommend just taking it day by day, week by week, month by month, etc. Any loss is better than a gain, I always say. Even if I am only down 1 pound a week I think to myself...that is one pound less than last week and look to find the good in everyday. There are positives everyday and they don't always have to be wins on the scale.

Good Luck to you! Keep us posted on your decision and discussion with the surgeon.

Take care!

You can do anything but.................why don't you want the RNY? Would it not be a better option for you? I would hate to see you have to go back in for a revision surgery to reach your goal. Discuss it with your surgeon, loved ones and do some more research. You want to be successful first time 'round.

You are only restricted by you and the effort you are willing to put into the process. Just put one foot in front of the other and get 'er done. Take it one pound at a time and if need be, break it down to one ounce at a time. It will happen!! Good luck and hugs to you!

I'm 5'0" and 428 lbs. My BMI was 85 when I saw the surgeon and he doesn't feel comfortable doing the RNY on me. He feels that the VSG would be safer. I still have to get under 400 lbs. before he'll do the surgery, though. Good luck!

I'm going to chime in here although I was a lower BMI patient at 39.5. My surgeon prided himself on sleeving higher BMI patients that other surgeons rejected. I don't know if they lost 100% of their excess weight, but even if not, whatever they lost has to be a vast improvement in their health. He talked about those cases with great pride and pleasure as if they were successful.

Please realize too that it might be difficult to get to the "prescribed" BMI where you're coming from, simply due to the weight of excess skin.

Wishing you the best, and my, what a beautiful face! I know you're sick of hearing that, but it is true!

I don't know her username on this site, but yall should check out 300poundsdown.com

She is such a motivation and I love to be able to read about her emotions and thoughts throughout her journey of losing weight.

You can do anything but.................why don't you want the RNY? Would it not be a better option for you? I would hate to see you have to go back in for a revision surgery to reach your goal. Discuss it with your surgeon' date=' loved ones and do some more research. You want to be successful first time 'round.[/quote']

I don't like the concept of rny and don't want to deal with dumping for the rest of my life. Plus, controlling your nutrient and Vitamin levels is much more complicated with rny than with the sleeve. I would get the sleeve in a heartbeat, but I just don't think I would go through with rny.

I don't know her username on this site' date=' but yall should check out 300poundsdown.com

She is such a motivation and I love to be able to read about her emotions and thoughts throughout her journey of losing weight.[/quote']

Thank you Lez. I actually have read her blog and she is such an inspiration! I think any surgery like this is what you make of it.. I plan to stay vigilant so I can be a success! But it's just so daunting to look at those numbers.....

I totally understand! We all have our concerns and I question my ability to get to my goal - and to stay under it! My biggest fear is gaining it all back.

Plus, I am a snacker and sweets eater. I know the bypass is a better surgery to deal with those issues, but I feel safer with my decision to have the sleeve.

The one thing we need to stop doing is doubting ourselves. Our goals can and will be met! Hugs!

Wow, I love this site! This was my fear too. In researching the sleeve (I learned about it in my seminar) I found it used to be the first part of a Dudonal (?sp) Switch surgery. It started off with the sleeve and then later you went in for a bypass. That's what they give many people who have lots of weight to lose...at least until they found out the sleeve was successful on its own.

I am also 5'10.5" in my 30s and am opting for the sleeve. My friend (not quite my height) had RnY and the amount of Vitamins she takes scares me to death. Plus at any given time I worry she is going to throw up or choke. Dumping is not a joke! That's part of the reason I put this off for over 2 years from when I first considered WLS.

300poundsdown.com is the BEST! She is a real motivation and her courage is amazing...all while being a single Mom. I love her site!

I started at 375 lbs. So although I'm not exactly at the same starting point, I have over 200 lbs to drop. I was shooting for 150-160 lbs (last weight I felt my best). I'm in this for the long haul and I'm sure you'll be successful Andrea!

What makes you so sure you will have dumping?

3 friends who have ZERO dumping whatsoever.

I'm going to chime in here although I was a lower BMI patient at 39.5. My surgeon prided himself on sleeving higher BMI patients that other surgeons rejected. I don't know if they lost 100% of their excess weight, but even if not, whatever they lost has to be a vast improvement in their health. He talked about those cases with great pride and pleasure as if they were successful.

Please realize too that it might be difficult to get to the "prescribed" BMI where you're coming from, simply due to the weight of excess skin.

Wishing you the best, and my, what a beautiful face! I know you're sick of hearing that, but it is true!

I already started a savings account to get plastics! I realize that to get to goal, I'll probably require some skin removal, and I'll just deal with it when I get to that final stretch. (no pun intended)

and I never, ever get tired of hearing how cute I am. Thanks!!

Wow, I love this site! This was my fear too. In researching the sleeve (I learned about it in my seminar) I found it used to be the first part of a Dudonal (?sp) Switch surgery. It started off with the sleeve and then later you went in for a bypass. That's what they give many people who have lots of weight to lose...at least until they found out the sleeve was successful on its own.

I am also 5'10.5" in my 30s and am opting for the sleeve. My friend (not quite my height) had RnY and the amount of Vitamins she takes scares me to death. Plus at any given time I worry she is going to throw up or choke. Dumping is not a joke! That's part of the reason I put this off for over 2 years from when I first considered WLS.

300poundsdown.com is the BEST! She is a real motivation and her courage is amazing...all while being a single Mom. I love her site!

I started at 375 lbs. So although I'm not exactly at the same starting point, I have over 200 lbs to drop. I was shooting for 150-160 lbs (last weight I felt my best). I'm in this for the long haul and I'm sure you'll be successful Andrea!

I wish you success as well! In the past 24 hours, I've adjusted to the actual starting weight, and realistically, I was in the ballpark on what I thought I weighed anyway, so I just had to let the shock of actually KNOWING sink in. Just want to make sure I weigh less than that when I see the surgeon again.

I'm in this for the long haul, too, I look forward to seeing us both progress! Good luck to you!!

What makes you so sure you will have dumping?

3 friends who have ZERO dumping whatsoever.

I'm glad you're friends aren't experiencing that side effect. But it's a pretty significant number of patients who do, and it's a chance I don't want to take. And also, the nutritional deficiencies I had mentioned. The sleeve is more of a normal life once you're in maintenance.

I know the difference between the surgeries. I just don't want RNY. or the band.

@makemyownluck...don't feel bad, when I started my BMI WAS 67.1 at weight 477 now I am 405 as if today and BMI down to 64. I am also 5'10 and I would say my surgery was a success. I had no complications and no problems other than the usual side effects.

Right now I am 5'11" and approx 352-360lbs. When talking with my doctor she said don't worry about the number as much as your goal feeling and size, for us taller women with larger bones 150 might look icky. I'm shooting for 199... So I can be in onederland... And see how I feel there!