Ok so I am meeting with the surgeon tomorrow and read on this site about Bougie sizes. Do we have to decide with the surgeon what size we want? Any suggestions as to what size is better, Ive read about this, not exactly clear on it though. Anybody else?

I asked my Dr about it. He uses a 32. I asked him why and he said the smaller the better... and that there would be some stretching anyway.

I asked my Dr about it. He uses a 32. I asked him why and he said the smaller the better... and that there would be some stretching anyway.

I agree, had mine not used a 32, 34 MAX - I would have left Davidson and used one of the other 'Center of Excellence' physicians here in Dallas. It does 'stretch', or relax, as you heal. By 18 months it should be what it is going to be. At least that is my experience. The first month I could sip my soup, eat SF jello or whatever, and only consume about an eighth of a cup at a time. Of course we are swollen and it takes quite a while to totally heal. Now, going on three years, depending on what I am eating, I can eat about 1 cup of food at a time. I am always asking my husband, "Did I eat a lot?" To me, it seems like a LOT of food....of course, if I try and picture what I could/did eat pre-op.....it is not much food. I still have great restriction and if I eat to much, it is NOT comfortable. I still don't get hungry, I will feel empty, but not true hunger.

NtvTxn... I'm still pre-op (waiting on insurance approval then date).

I see from your sig that you're almost 3 yrs post-op. How hard has it been for you to maintain your goal weight? How many lbs did you lose? What were your struggles before surgery?

Congrats!

Good morning and good luck with the insurance stuff!!

As far as maintenence, it's been really easy. The hardest part was stopping the weight loss. MY goal was 5 lbs less than my doctor's goal. I got EIGHTEEN lbs lower than HIS goal and was freaking out. I was looking bad and my size 4 jeans were getting too big. Size 2's are not easy to find really....so I knew it was time to take action! (all about shopping/priorities!!!) I talked to Dr. Davidson's dietitian and she had me add calories (snacks or additional small meals) to my diet. She said once I got to where I was comfortable, I'd have to play with the calories to see what I needed to maintain. Snacking, what a novel Idea, didn't that get me to where I'd been???!!! Oh well, I could not eat much at a sitting, so I added snacks and it worked. I got back to where I wanted to be, anywhere from 3 - 7 lbs below Dr. Davidson's goal and then figured out I NEED 1200 - 1350 calories a day to maintain. I still measure and/or weigh my food when we eat at home, and I do keep a food log. I also weigh every single morning. Dr. D recommends it, always has. He says it is easier to take off three or four lbs than it is ten or twelve. Oh so true!!! Anyway, I've lost 81 lbs, give or take 2 or 3, depending on the day. It seriously is EASY. I still don't get hungry, my 'new hunger' is an empty feeling, NEVER a "OMG, I'm starving" feeling. NEVER! I can eat something, or I can ignore it. My issues before was snacking, which is bizarre, now I must snack to get all my calories in.....and portion control. When we get sleeve surgery, we are signing up for FORCED portion control. That is what I needed!!! I was never a 'coke' girl, so soft drinks weren't a problem, but if I wanted something, I ate it and would eat more than I should. Two donuts rather than a donut hole. An entire Mexican food platter rather than an ala carte enchilada. I will get rice and beans off my husband's plate, about 1 T of each. At this point, THAT seems like a lot of food.....logically I KNOW it isn't!!! It IS a lot more than I could eat 18 months ago, but I still have GREAT restriction, if I eat too much, it is uncomfortable. I gained five lbs during the Christmas holidays and all I had to do is cut back a tiny bit here and there and lost it. I love, love, love my sleeve. I promise, you will too. It is life changing!!! Good luck and you can ask me anything!

NtvTxn... I'm still pre-op (waiting on insurance approval then date).

I see from your sig that you're almost 3 yrs post-op. How hard has it been for you to maintain your goal weight? How many lbs did you lose? What were your struggles before surgery?

Congrats!

I am only 2 months post-op. Ive lost 43.5 pounds so far (including pre-op diet). I asked my surgeon and he uses a 32 French all the time. He said his patients get the best results from that size.

I love my sleeve and my restriction. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I still have a ways to go but Im well on my way and so grateful for this surgery.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm really interested more and more to hear from people who are 3+ years out. For me, I could lose lots of weight on Diets... but it always had an end and the weight started to creep up again... then above where I started. I'm really hoping the sleeve will be a tool to help me long term with keeping my weight down.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm really interested more and more to hear from people who are 3+ years out. For me, I could lose lots of weight on Diets... but it always had an end and the weight started to creep up again... then above where I started. I'm really hoping the sleeve will be a tool to help me long term with keeping my weight down.

I totally understand. I've lost and re-gained 50 lbs three different times in my life. 20 or 30 lbs, more times than I can remember. Of course, an additional 5 or 10 lbs would creep up on me too. This is a GREAT tool, I've never had buyers remorse. I wish we could shout about it from the roof tops!!!

A too small a bougie MAY increase complications (leaks, strictures) . The optimal bougie size is said to be 32-40 F but this is best discussed with your own surgeon.

My surgeon's office all use a 32. Bougie. It's what they feel comfortable with.

I got this picture off of another forum, www.Obesityhelp.com. It gives you an idea of how big.

Good luck!

I got this picture off of another forum' date=' www.Obesityhelp.com. It gives you an idea of how big.

Good luck!

Did my pic not show? I am curious?

Thanks

Did my pic not show? I am curious?

Thanks

Nope.

I would just ask my surgeon what size he uses. I don't think it matters a whole lot. I would think that there is more of a difference between the smallest(32F) and the largest I think(40F).

I had a 56!

Did my pic not show? I am curious?

Thanks <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Did not see a picture

Thank you it is the same picture that the other girl just posted so at least it's there now!