Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Recommended Posts

My standard answer....

The bougie sizes are used as a guide for the doctor when removing your stomach. As far as getting a "bigger" or "smaller" sleeve the difference between the ALL bougies sizes are really very small..

Your doctor will know what is right for you!

Everyone's stomachs are different some are small, some are long so even two people using the same size bougie can have different capacities after..

And as far as "getting one as small as you can"

If your stomach is made to small there is a greater chance of long term problems.

post-224357-13813138912854_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Bougie size totally depends on age' date=' gender, health issues, etc. My surgeon did not give me a choice on bougie size the first time in late 2008 (he said he used the "standard size" 36 he uses on most of his otherwise healthy patients) and I always thought it was too big because ALL weight loss was VERY slow and difficult, so I went back to him this last December and had him re-sleeve me for a 32 bougie, which is pretty much the norm for a small bougie...some people like larger bougies for more comfortable eating, but I don't really care about food (it interrupts my day), so this was not an issue to me. I think being a still young man, you will do just fine with the size bougie you have.[/quote']

You were sleeved 2x? Could you please share more about your experience?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

See below: post-224357-13813138912915_thumb.jpg

LOL. please explain the correlation with Bic pens because I am not getting it

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

See below:

Can anyone tell me who made this and how accurate it is??

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry if the pics of the pens was confusing. Google Bougie images, and it comes up. The pens are roughly the circumference of the various bougie sizes. I am a registered nurse with surgery experience, and I can tell you we used bougies to stretch the esophagus. While a real bougie is made of dense rubber (or at least they used to be made of rubber), is longer in size, and tapered at one end, the circumference of those pens is a pretty good approximation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

yea, but the time you were posting the pen thing, I had gone to Google and found www.airwaycam.com and clicked on "Bougie"

thank you for explaining the correlation

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My sleeve date is April 25th ... I asked my Dr. @ pre-op just because I was curious ... 34fr for me.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No bougie my doctor used the scope I have a smallish sleeve. I can put down about 4 oz of steak if I work at it. Normally I only allow about 15 to 20 minutes per meal time and so I only get about 3 in..

What is a boogie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't know the exact size of my bought. I'll have to ask next time. But my surgeon did say they started using a larger one because there's less of a chance if developing acid reflux with the larger.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Forgot to say I don't know what size bougie they used on me, but that pen visualization is pretty revealing....I think I could be successful even with the highlighter (54 fr.) size, lol! Because I'm pretty sure I had football size before ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in Mexico and have a 32F bougie and have had absolutely no complications. Over 7 months out I can eat 4 ounces of dense Protein. I have yet to try steak.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have a 36. That's plenty small IMO. Plus, the smaller the bougie the greater potential for leaks and whatnot.

post-39617-13813664754065_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon Never said anything to me about bougies and it's never come upon my support groups so in totally in the dark about that one. 6 months out, 101 down and almost at goal so it really doesn't matter at this point.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×