New guy here, you've GOT to read this!

[txtech01 7]

Great post Frank! I'm only 4 days out (surgery 1/29) and am so ready to be back at work and the gym. But I'm being patient. Lol! Thanks for posting your story...with all the negative stories on here I had a total meltdown the night before my surgery. It's nice to hear the positives! Keep up the good work!

PS--Chicago is my favorite city to travel to! It's amazing. I had a friend that lived on State and Superior for several years and it was a blast!

[BigFrank 354]

BkMama, ok, it's not exactly downtown, but pretty darn close! (It's only about 15 minutes from my house!)

Lessisme, they didn't really have a good answer, they told me that they tried it and "it didn't work to well." I know they do a TON of surgeries because my surgeon did four surgeries before mine the day I was operated on! It's really sad that they don't have a better program.

My buddy's cousin that I talked to, he said that he sees the NUT, excercise cord., and goes to a group meeting all in the same day, once every three months even though he is a year and a half out! (He even BS's with his surgeon when he's there and catches up!)

[MelissaGG 9]

Frank, I am looking for the best of the best surgeons and hospitals in Chicago or the burbs. I am dealing with a 10 year old lap band inside, I have a 3 year old that I need to be here for in the future. Would love your thoughts and recommendations on surgeons.

[No game 14,436]

Frank' date=' I am looking for the best of the best surgeons and hospitals in Chicago or the burbs. I am dealing with a 10 year old lap band inside, I have a 3 year old that I need to be here for in the future. Would love your thoughts and recommendations on surgeons.[/quote']

Frank help her out she got the **** scared out of her. By someone...

[No game 14,436]

Thanks for the Encouraging words! Keep them coming:-)

I agree!!

[johnlatte 1,232]

Thanks Frank! After your post I reconsidered and went to the surgeon today. My knees were knocking from anxiety. He spent almost 2 hours with me. I scheduled surgery for Feb even though he was willing to do me ASAP to quell my anxiety. I couldn't have done it without your post!

Outrigger if you are considering the surgery, i think you should keep doing the research. I don't necessarily think that this board is a good bell-weather one way or another. There are tons of success stories that probably never get posted here. It is really easy to post the negative stuff. The reality of it, is that it is major surgery and there obviously can be complications. But in my research (outside of this forum), is that the risks are fairly small. You certainly need to do a lot of research for Drs. hospitals etc. I didn't go with the first Dr I talked to about it. Just didn't seem to be the right fit for me. I really didn't even start reading boards and forums until I was ready to go. I never let the negative things posted here (or any board) sway me one way or another. I have found this board to be a good spot to research things, and I have tried to share my experiences, but I wouldn't let is sway me one way or another from the surgery. Just for the record, my surgery, like Franks, has been a breeze. I do follow exactly what my nutritionist says, I get my Protein, take my Vitamins etc. Never have I felt nauseous, or thrown up. Have lost 40lb since 11/20 surgery date. Would have liked to have lost a bit more, but have always been a slow loser so I just keep on working. I know that there are certain factions on this board that post pretty negative stuff. I rarely read that and try not to get pulled in. Almost every board has these types of people that don't seem to have enough going on in their world so they spend time posting a load of BS to bring people down to their miserable level. So, If you need real advice, there are lots of good people here that are extremely helpful but sometimes you have wade through the cow pies to get there. Hang in there, do you home work and I know that you are going to do just fine!

[BigFrank 354]

MelissaGG, if you want to go downtown Chicago to a big hospital I have heard wonderful things about Northwestern.

The guy that that lost 200 lbs that I described above, he went to:

Life Weigh Bariatrics

2801 Finley Rd.

Downers Grove, IL

630-261-9393

He had the actual surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

[Patienlywtng on my Curves 73]

When I joined this site just a smidge over a year ago, I was excited. I spent days on end researching the site reading posts to become familiar with what I could expect. There were a few 'real life' posts and I took heed.

I became pretty much obsessed and finally had to take a break. When I returned I found that most of those who were posting regularly were no longer here. (I'm certain there are several reasons) Yet, I do recall 1 or 2 who stated that the mood, feel of the site changed. And so it did.

I rarely check now and I rarely post. It may help that mods, IMO, create a category with specifically for venting or surgery struggles that is not mainstream. Is it important to know pros and cons, absolutely. But just because I have had a struggle doesn't mean that the next person will, or vice versa. I would weigh my options and voice my concerns with the Medical Staff and allow them to respond. Everything has risks and Nothing is guaranteed!

[BrendaCF41 2]

I sailed through surgery and recovery. Lost the diabetes' date=' high blood pressure and sleep apnea after two months. I have posted this before plenty of times for those looking for stories. Heck, I was horseback riding after my 2 week follow-up.

I also read extensively about the complications before I had my surgery. I vowed to stick to my pre-op and post-op diets and to eat Protein first to 70-90 mg, cut the carbs, drink my Water and take my Vitamins so I would succeed.

There was one lady who had a horrible time of things just about when I was to go in. It didn't bother me a bit. It just wised me up.

I find that this forum is more positive than negative actually. There are so many success stories that I found myself more hopeful and happy. I just knew that I would succeed too!

I thank God that I wasn't subjected to nothing but flowery posts. Sure, YAY for you, but tell me about the Constipation and slimes and gas pain so I know what the heck to do about it.

There has to be room here for the people who have troubles too or it turns into some kind of never-ending group hug. Nice, but silly in light of what's at stake here.[/quote']

I am just starting this journey... Like as in I have the all clear from my primary care doc to start trying to get into a doc that does this kind of thing. I want to have it done at Ohio State where a friend of mine had it done. I also need to know all the GOOD AND BAD things that can happen. I need to prepare for the bad but pray and hope for the good.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest, but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far.

First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.

Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!

On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.

Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.

So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein Shake, a bowl of Tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.

I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

good for you!!! congrats!! Like you, I never had any problems coming through surgery and recovery. It's been great!!! You'll love your sleeve!! NOT being hungry is wonderful, one suggestion, if you are not hungry, eat less. 4 oz at this point is more than you need. Do you have really good restriction? Someone told me to 'eat under my sleeve' and if you're not hungry, that is easy!!!! At going on three years, I normally cannot eat a cup of food....and they told me they never wanted me to eat more than a cup, ever! I still weigh or measure everything at home, and when out, it's easy to be visiting, overeat before you realize it and then be miserable. Literally look at the plate and divide, what you are going to eat and what you will take home or leave. I know you are thrilled, it's a wild ride and I've loved every minute of it!!!!!! Enjoy, and find a support group, and GO!!!!!!

[wheeling 18]

Thanks frank for the info. I am having the sleeve sometime in May or June. I am worried but excited, I weight 289, but been alot bigger other times in my life. The pre op diet is rough as i havent really started It yet. But any help would be appreciated.

[bunchlane1 14]

thats good your doing great keep up the good work......

[mark! 449]

Thanks for the post bro, I, like many others, read a lot on the forums. I have an "addiction" to information and forums too it appears, that's both good, and bad. There are so many stories on here of bad tales, etc, and we usually take those to heart the most. I know I certainly do. But after reading this, and some others that reference no problems, I really am starting to feel tons better, which is a good thing considering I'm 8 days out from the big day.

[simonetwentynine 16]

I have really been going back and forth as whether to post here or not. I guess I am sort of a "forum person" in my hobbies and areas of interest' date=' but I have to be honest, I have avoided posting on this site or even looking at it for a couple of reasons. I found this site only a few days before my surgery but when I found it I found more negativity and frightened people then I found inspiration. Actually, I have gone here and gotten the (bleep) scared out of me by a few posters, every time I see their posts I get knots in my stomach. The main poster that does that to me has a screen name that starts with the letter "i". Everybody is terrified of leaks and all the negatives of this surgery and I just haven't been able to relate to many of the topics. Below I will share some of the basics of my journey so far. [/background']

First off, I am a 35 year old male who is 6 feet 3 inches tall. I wasn't fat my whole life, I actually weighed 218 when I was 19 years old. That was pretty close to a "perfect" weight for me. I got into a business where the guys I worked with partied, ate, and drank to excess. Over the years I ballooned to 445 lbs which is where I have been for the past 2-3 years. In 2010 I was considering the lap band but chickened out. I was back on in 2011 but chickened out again. In 2012 I HAD to make a decision because I was put on Metformin for borderline diabetes and Lisinopril for borderline blood pressure as well. That was it. I started again with the nutritionist appointments and made an appt. to see my surgeon who is located downtown Chicago a few miles from my house. My first appt. with him was in early October 2012 and he suggested a VSG instead of the lap band because of the large amount of weight I wanted to lose. I left thinking about it and did the rest of my pre op requirements such as upper GI, psyche, EKG, etc. I saw my surgeon again on November 14th, 2012 and we decided on the VSG (which I really didn't know a lot about). We set surgery for December 21st, 2012.

Because I am a big fella, my surgeon put me on a 28 day pre op liquid only diet (to shrink my liver and loosen my skin) which I started on November 23rd, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving). The first few days were tough but I have very strong will power and stuck to it, following the requirements to the letter. I didn't cheat even once. Again, not even once. After about 12 days it was smooth sailing and I just plugged away and kept up the exercise plan that I had been doing for over a year which was just walking 1.5 miles, three times per week at my local YMCA. I didn't weigh myself even once the entire plan and weighed myself the morning of surgery. To my astonishment I lost a staggering 49 lbs!!!!I I couldn't even believe it, to be honest with you I began to sob like a little girl! I went from 445 to 396. I was just so shocked. My surgeon told me that I broke his practice record which was previously 45 lbs for a pre op diet. Again, I LOST 49 LBS IN 28 DAYS!!!

On the morning of December 21st, 2012 I was ready for surgery at a major hospital downtown Chicago. I arrived, valet parked, checked in, and was laying on the table prepped for surgery within 1 hour just waiting for the anesthesiologist. I was in surgery about an hour and a half later and the surgery took 2 1/2 hours. I am going to cut the details of my hospital stay down so readers aren't sitting here all day reading. Any questions just ask me. I wanted to leave the hospital the next evening but my surgeon said that he wouldn't allow me to break two records and that I should stay another night. Quick recap, I was checked into my room after surgery at 6pm Friday night and was discharged from the hospital at 11am Sunday morning, less then 48 hours after entering my room.

Upon arriving home I checked my weight, expecting to have lost a few lbs, and actually gained back 2 lbs due to all the fluids that were pumped into me. I was back up to 398. My recovery went ok I think, I was in a lot of pain along my largest incision which is about 3+ inches wide. I was on Tramadol which sucks. It took me 9 days to finish the 25 pills that I was prescribed since I was skipping doses. I was home on Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning I was off to the YMCA where I walked only one lap around the track. I limped around and talked to my friends there before going home. I was back at the YMCA on Friday and actually walked 5 laps (a half mile). I finally weighed myself on Friday, one week after surgery, and I was down from 398 to 391. I weighed myself again on Sunday afternoon and I lost another 4 lbs from Friday to Sunday, 9 lbs in 9 days, ending up at 387 lbs, 58 lbs down in 38 days.

So that's basically that. It's been over 10 days now since surgery and I am feeling like a million bucks. Here are the "scary" parts. I am using the term scary because after reading this site I would have thought I was going to die from this surgery. I HAVE NOT been nauseous even for one second since surgery. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT thrown up, or even gagged for that matter, not even once. I AM ABLE to drink 60ozs of Fluid per day. I just started puree on Saturday, 8 days out, and it's been perfect. I had 4 ozs of low fat cottage cheese (which I LOVE) today as well as only one Protein Shake, a bowl of Tomato Soup, and plenty of Water. I AM NOT hungry, EVER. I just eat to live, that's it. Today I feel the best that I have felt since surgery. Every day gets better. My goal is to lose 220 lbs, 100 in three months from the start of my pre op diet on November 23rd. I WILL do it.

I know I left out a bunch so fire away (or ask any questions that you want).

What a pleasure to read some positive feedback!

I'm a bit like you frank, in that I'm booked for surgery on 6th march & have been checking in here for some reassurance only to find I log off the site as it's full of scary experiences!

I'm so glad I stubbled accros your post. congratulations on doing so well, keep us posted on your experiences over the coming months

Can't wait till I can post that I've had my surgery & all went smoothly too!

BTW anyone know of any other sites , that can be useful to a pre sleever?

[MelissaGG 9]

Frank help her out she got the **** scared out of her. By someone...

Thank you Laura, but I am still scared of everything to do with this operation..I don't want to be the girl shouting "LEAK!!" because some surgeon put his ego before my health. What if they get inside and this band tore me to shreds and they decide oh, another 4 hours of cutting oh, and she wants a sleeve too, ok another 2 hours and we will be done and then they go on vacation the day after or some crap like that? Just being a big baby right now but it will get better, I am not such a crank.