Hi,

I am wondering if any of you have regrets about having your sleeve surgery? I am researching the gastric sleeve. I have had a gastric band - which has now been removed and was a disaster from start to finish! I wish I would have researched the gastric band before getting it fitted so I am being very thorough now.

Please be as honest as possible

X x

The first couple of weeks I regretted it - I was SO tired, couldn't eat, threw up a lot. Turns out my sleeve was too tight. Once that was fixed, I bounced back quickly!

How did they fix your sleeve? I thought once it was done that it is not reversible.

To a lot of people the surgery itself seems unconventional. In Egypt, this is unheard of... even diets are not as popular as one would think. Do your research and choose something that is right for you and your situation; which may not be what is popular in the UK.

How did they fix your sleeve? I thought once it was done that it is not reversible.

It wasn't reversed. The sleeve was too tight. I had difficulty swallowing anything with a consistency thicker than Water and thinner than fish. So things like oatmeal, shakes, mashed potatoes, etc. were out. I threw up a LOT the first 3 weeks. The surgeon went in and stretched the passage from my esophagus to the sleeve through a procedure similar to an endoscopy. Since then I am much better. It's still tight with excellent restriction, but it's not TOO tight. I am happy and love being successful with my sleeve!

The first couple of weeks I regretted it - I was SO tired, couldn't eat, threw up a lot. Turns out my sleeve was too tight. Once that was fixed, I bounced back quickly! I am 6 months out and am almost 100 lbs lighter. I'm training for a 5k this August. I have confidence and am loving every inch of myself.

It's not easy, but it is SO worth it! Literally, this is the best thing I have ever done for myself.

This sounds like a stricture issue not the sleeve being too tight. I think there's a difference.

This sounds like a stricture issue not the sleeve being too tight. I think there's a difference.

Call it what you like. My surgeon said the sleeve was too tight. He used a balloon to stretch it.

Stricture.....

Only regret is not doing this sooner.....I love my sleeve!!!!

True that!

I need some enlightenment to what a stricture is? Is this a common complication? X

STRICTURES (VSG gastroduodenal anastomosis)

Symptoms: persistent nausea /vomiting, inabilty or gradual inability to keep anything down including liquids. Post-VSGrs w/ strictures also report: liquids backing up in their esophagus, foamies, heaving, fatigue.

Causes: When a surgeon inadvertantly narrows the entrance from stomach to pyloric canal because of misalignment of bougie, "misfiring" of stapler, staples your stomach to small intestine (duodenum) Scar tissue begins to adhere to staples within 72 hours post op. Scar tissue/adhesions tighten the opening to the pyloric canal/sphincter further. Akin to a clogged drain..over time forcing food/drink to 'back up'.

Occurrence: usually from 3-6 weeks post-op, but have read of cases 2-6 months out due to scar tissue build up gradually narrowing the already narrowed opening to the pyloric canal (**see below).

Diagnosis: upper GI, abdominal CT scan , and/or Xray.

Treatment: hospitalization, cleared with endoscopic balloon dilation providing mild stretching at site, dilation treatments may need to be repeated before resolution.

I need some enlightenment to what a stricture is? Is this a common complication? X

They do happen a lot more often than more serious complications like leaks..

But for the most part they are very easily fixed.

Oh.. So a stricture is different from a sleeve that is too tight?

Oh.. So a stricture is different from a sleeve that is too tight?

Girl where's that lighting bolt now

Hey buffbride I am in the uk. I was sleeved last week. If you want you can pm me for a chat. I love my sleeve so far. Between my preop diet and now (5 days post op) I have lost 24lbs. It was a costly decision but the best one I have made in a long time.

Thank you! Sounds like that could be difficult. X

Nope this surgery was a blessing was sleeve on jan 24,65 down,and 40 more to go,was wearing a size 22 and now a size 12