I was sleeved April 3 this year & keep having these feelings what did I do 2 myself ,y didn't I try harder & needing a nap everyday with low energy makes it worst plus count this do that my doc & nut made it seem so easy its not its very hard & a lot of work please keep me & my FAM in our prayers I know I did this 4 a good reason it just don't feel like it I'm tired of taking all these vitamins giving myself b12 shots &feeling lonely everything change after this my friends,sex drive ,my attitude & most of all my body I keep having break outs & no 1 knows y

I'd like to know more about that, too, luckysmomma. Can you tell me where I can read about how the sleeve takes 18 years off people's lifespans? I did a quick browse of Google but couldn't find anything. The only thing I did find related to VSG was data on how obesity raises your chances of dying early by 50% or more.

MI Journey - I was told that by 3 different doctors for wls that I met with prior to surgery at 3 different places - at each place, the '18 years' was the number given quoted to me. Each dr said '5 to 10 years', but each said the possibility of '18' - which I distinctly remember when I asked them directly about wls taking time off my life. Each dr, of course, said life expectancy with factors should as diabetes, heart disease, etc etc could & should increase, but when I directly asked them if wls itself could knock time off my life - none of the 3 denied that fact was a possibility & stated what I just said above. I have also read it.

I hope it is wrong, but it doesn't surprise me. It didn't surprise me when I heard it or read it. Wls is not a natural way to lose weight. I am not kidding myself into ever thinking that it is.

I really question the logic behind the "18 years" thing. Why would medical science and the FDA (and other countries health care counterparts) approve a WLS procedure whose goal it is is to reduce obesity related diseases thereby also reducing obesity related illnesses and deaths if that same WLS procedure also decreases the patients life expectancy by 18 years? That just doesn't make sense. I am not doubting you....just really questioning what you've been told.

I can relate. I am nearly 13 weeks out...woke up regretting it & still do. I had trouble with sleep at first' date=' but then, as I began exercising more I am back to sleeping like always. So, you may want to exercise more. I do have more energy now, so I don't sleep as hard or as long as I did before surgery. I don't mind the vitamins; I've taken Vitamins & supplements for years now since I first saw Dr. Oz on Oprah years ago. It may help to get one of those days of the week tray things & do them as soon as you get up in the morning. I haven't had the hair loss yet, but I know (and dread) it coming. I don't have a boyfriend, but I think my sex drive would be fine if I had a man! lol I haven't experienced in change in breakouts - maybe check with your nut or even a dermatologist to see what it is your body is needing to clear it up.

I don't get in the fluids or Protein, either. Eating and drinking are still uncomfortable for me. It has gotten better, but it is still a struggle. I worry about the getting older, too. It freaks me out that I willingly cut 18 years off my life with this surgery, but I did it. I have to be accountable. And maybe the 18 yrs I have read about & been told about is wrong! At least, that is my hope!

I truly get it. Don't let the sleeve cheerleaders who love their sleeve get you down with their comments or questions - because they don't get you & your situation....just take it day by day. It is getting easier for me to deal with this decision, maybe it will get easier for you, too.

Best of luck to you.[/quote']

Wow I didn't know the sleeve cut 18years off ur life omg something else 2 worry bout how did u find that out

What?!? I've never heard or read this before. I've only read positive things about lifespan after the surgery because of the drop in obesity related diseases. Where did you get that information from?

That's what I'm wondering 2 I never heard that either

Butterfly, Vix, and Proud - I just know what 3 dr's looked me in the eye and told me at 3 different locations - when I asked them directly if wls would shorten my life expectancy. I was trying to pick a wls doctor at that point. I liked & respected the fact that none of them held back on that. Don't get me wrong - their focus was pointing out the increase of life expectancy because of heart disease, diabetes, etc..and my family background on both sides - all the benefits the surgery would be to me, etc etc... But when I pinned them all three down with the same question if it could or would take time off my life - none denied that fact. All admitted there wasn't alot of data, either, but all had the 5 to 10 phrase and each went no higher than 18 years, which I distinctly remembered.

I am not really techno to know where to tell you to find the articles I read, but I am pretty sure one was written by a Parker, a Whitmore, and something called Harvard School of Health from what I have scribbled here in my wls binder from my dr.

Butterfly' date=' Vix, and Proud - I just know what 3 dr's looked me in the eye and told me at 3 different locations - when I asked them directly if wls would shorten my life expectancy. I was trying to pick a wls doctor at that point. I liked & respected the fact that none of them held back on that. Don't get me wrong - their focus was pointing out the increase of life expectancy because of heart disease, diabetes, etc..and my family background on both sides - all the benefits the surgery would be to me, etc etc... But when I pinned them all three down with the same question if it could or would take time off my life - none denied that fact. All admitted there wasn't alot of data, either, but all had the 5 to 10 phrase and each went no higher than 18 years, which I distinctly remembered.

I am not really techno to know where to tell you to find the articles I read, but I am pretty sure one was written by a Parker, a Whitmore, and something called Harvard School of Health from what I have scribbled here in my wls binder from my dr.[/quote']

You forgot about me

I will take it as an innocent oversight...

But I must say I find this reckless and disturbing.

It is not backed up by any statistics, studies, or even a poorly written article and should not be taken seriously.

Do you remember what the reasons they gave you were? Was is an increase in stomach cancer risk or maybe lack of nutrition in the elder years? I am asking for any details you remember because I am still pre-op and in my research phase.

Butterfly, Vix, and Proud - I just know what 3 dr's looked me in the eye and told me at 3 different locations - when I asked them directly if wls would shorten my life expectancy. I was trying to pick a wls doctor at that point. I liked & respected the fact that none of them held back on that. Don't get me wrong - their focus was pointing out the increase of life expectancy because of heart disease, diabetes, etc..and my family background on both sides - all the benefits the surgery would be to me, etc etc... But when I pinned them all three down with the same question if it could or would take time off my life - none denied that fact. All admitted there wasn't alot of data, either, but all had the 5 to 10 phrase and each went no higher than 18 years, which I distinctly remembered.

I am not really techno to know where to tell you to find the articles I read, but I am pretty sure one was written by a Parker, a Whitmore, and something called Harvard School of Health from what I have scribbled here in my wls binder from my dr.

I can relate. I am nearly 13 weeks out...woke up regretting it & still do. I had trouble with sleep at first, but then, as I began exercising more I am back to sleeping like always. So, you may want to exercise more. I do have more energy now, so I don't sleep as hard or as long as I did before surgery. I don't mind the vitamins; I've taken Vitamins & supplements for years now since I first saw Dr. Oz on Oprah years ago. It may help to get one of those days of the week tray things & do them as soon as you get up in the morning. I haven't had the hair loss yet, but I know (and dread) it coming. I don't have a boyfriend, but I think my sex drive would be fine if I had a man! lol I haven't experienced in change in breakouts - maybe check with your nut or even a dermatologist to see what it is your body is needing to clear it up.

I don't get in the fluids or Protein, either. Eating and drinking are still uncomfortable for me. It has gotten better, but it is still a struggle. I worry about the getting older, too. It freaks me out that I willingly cut 18 years off my life with this surgery, but I did it. I have to be accountable. And maybe the 18 yrs I have read about & been told about is wrong! At least, that is my hope!

I truly get it. Don't let the sleeve cheerleaders who love their sleeve get you down with their comments or questions - because they don't get you & your situation....just take it day by day. It is getting easier for me to deal with this decision, maybe it will get easier for you, too.

Best of luck to you.

WTH...you want us yo play Debbie Downer and try to keep her down? No way! Sure some go through some tougher times than others, but the majority get past it. The key is dwelling on it makes it worse. That's a fact with anything that gets someone down. Just like you... Who obviously is getting past those awful days you complained about and things are looking better, she will too.

And my goodness.. Please share with us where you read about cutting our lives by 18 years if we're sleeved. If that's true I should be close to death since I'm old(er)

OP.. You're going to do great. Don't let this stage getcha. Don't spend time on the things that are getting you down.. Grab onto the positive and run with it. There's ALWAYS something positive in your life that you can concentrate on. This is just a stage that some are cursed with and it's difficult, but DOABLE!

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/health-effects/

Since I'm seeing my nutritionist tomorrow and my surgeon later this month, I'll definitely be asking some clarifying questions about whether WLS shortens anyone's life by a measurable amount.

Since the sleeve is so new (comparative to the other two usual options), how do researchers really know? Curiouser and curiouser, Alice...I'll see if I can follow this trail down the rabbit hole!

I'm guessing the 60+ sleevers on the forum should be getting their wills in order cause they'll probably be croakin' soon?

*sigh*

Where did this 18 years come from??

Out of everything I've read and learned over the million years I've been trying to lose weight I still think that losing weight and exercising will only add years to my life.

But will check this out with my Dr next time I talk to him.

Granted there are plenty of "healthy"people who have maintained a normal weight and exercised for their whole life who drop dead but there is usually an underlying issue that they were not aware of or not public about.