sooo scared! please help!

[vicki s 146]

So some of you have seen me on here, I'm the one being resleeved on aug 1st...well im coming clean, Im terrified!! so i've been really scared, and browsing the forums, everyone is so excited about their up coming surgery as i was 3 ys ago...but now, not so much...I'm obsessed with this surg. and not looking forward to it at all...so i called my surgeons office today and talked to the head nurse up there and she scared me even more..she is honest and upfront and to the point, (the reason I asked for her)...but now I wish I hadnt...she told me that this sleeve revision carries a larger mortality rate that the initial sleeve and I should be aware of that...she said that the initial sleeve is .5 to 3% and the revision is higher...now im really scared...to be honest, I wanted her to tell me Oh dont worry, everything will be fine...LOL...Im losing sleep, cant think, feel paralized from fear and depression...I've only seen one other revision on here and one upcoming...Im not so young anymore, Im 56 almost 57 yrs old...any thoughts on this...I feel I need to go get it fixed cuz of the pain and reflux, but im so scared...my surg is in 3 weeks...help...!!!!!!!!!

[stephanie1678 80]

I feel the same way and mine is not a revision.

Who is your surgeon? That mortality rate seems high. What is his personal mortality rate? Do you have to go to that surgeon?

[vicki s 146]

well he did my initial surg and he did my band,I knew going in that he was new at the sleeve, but my band had prolapsed and i needed to do something...he has done many sleeves since mine and they are all losing wt..he left part of my fundus so now I have horrific reflux, he offed to revise or have bypass...I dont know what to do..i told him to revised the sleeve...Im not sure where she got her numbers from, I imagine from across the board..US statistics..when is your surgery?

[cherip 33]

I thought I was so smart, I read everything I could get my hands on the subject of Vertical sleeve!! Went online to forums, bought books, talked to people, watched youtube, went to all the sights I could google, aol, yahoo search. Bottom line, after having had knee replacement in November 2011 and my Achilles tendon cut to relieve the pull on my heel from bone spurs I thought I was " in the know" Once I was wheeled into the O.R. and the various team members told me what they did in the procedure and I started looking around the room I was terrified. Mask was on and in my head I argued with myself. Put your hand up and scream WAIT!!! Next thing I knew I was in post op and then into my own room. The first 2 days were tough only because I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. that was the worst of my pain. I had a bolas with my I.V. that allowed me to give myself doses of pain meds ( morphine ) I barely used it. My surgery was 3 weeks ago today. I am so very glad I didn't stop it from happening. I'm still a bit sore in the tummy ( largest incision is where they pull out the excess stomach they have cut ) They have to go thru muscle so that is the pain. Getting in and out of bed or even just moving around the first 10 days or so. For me nothing horrible. I did it because I knew I could not diet, take it off and Keep it off on my own. at 57 my knees were shot, my feet hurt when I walked, my back ached. This surgery for me was life saving. Good luck and don't feel like you're not allowed to be scared. It is surgery, you will be asleep. Waking up for me was a rebirth of sorts. I hope it all works out for you.

[stephanie1678 80]

My surgery is in 15 days.

well he did my initial surg and he did my band,I knew going in that he was new at the sleeve, but my band had prolapsed and i needed to do something...he has done many sleeves since mine and they are all losing wt..he left part of my fundus so now I have horrific reflux, he offed to revise or have bypass...I dont know what to do..i told him to revised the sleeve...Im not sure where she got her numbers from, I imagine from across the board..US statistics..when is your surgery?

My surgery is in 15 days. All the research I have read says that "procedure volume has been shown to be an important predictor of adverse outcomes in bariatric surgery". As such I looked for the most experienced surgeon I could find and afford. I think in your case it is important to know your surgeons experience as well. The more revisions he has done, the less likely you will experience complications.

For a virgin sleeve I would not go with a doctor who has done less than 500 sleeves. For a revision I would want someone who has extensive experience in that.

[vicki s 146]

Thanks cherip...if it was my first sleeve well ok...but #2...OH!! so scared...but I love your feedback...my knees are shot too. Need replacement..hope this sleeve works so I can take some wt off..\

[vicki s 146]

well i asked and they said all 3 docs have done about the same..not a ton cuz there is not been a reason to....

[vicki s 146]

stephanie, good luck on your upcoming surgery, I wish you tons of luck...im sure you will do fine..I see alot of good things about your surgeon..I will be watching for your updates!!

[vicki s 146]

I thought I was so smart, I read everything I could get my hands on the subject of Vertical sleeve!! Went online to forums, bought books, talked to people, watched youtube, went to all the sights I could google, aol, yahoo search. Bottom line, after having had knee replacement in November 2011 and my Achilles tendon cut to relieve the pull on my heel from bone spurs I thought I was " in the know" Once I was wheeled into the O.R. and the various team members told me what they did in the procedure and I started looking around the room I was terrified. Mask was on and in my head I argued with myself. Put your hand up and scream WAIT!!! Next thing I knew I was in post op and then into my own room. The first 2 days were tough only because I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. that was the worst of my pain. I had a bolas with my I.V. that allowed me to give myself doses of pain meds ( morphine ) I barely used it. My surgery was 3 weeks ago today. I am so very glad I didn't stop it from happening. I'm still a bit sore in the tummy ( largest incision is where they pull out the excess stomach they have cut ) They have to go thru muscle so that is the pain. Getting in and out of bed or even just moving around the first 10 days or so. For me nothing horrible. I did it because I knew I could not diet, take it off and Keep it off on my own. at 57 my knees were shot, my feet hurt when I walked, my back ached. This surgery for me was life saving. Good luck and don't feel like you're not allowed to be scared. It is surgery, you will be asleep. Waking up for me was a rebirth of sorts. I hope it all works out for you.

Im also glad to find someone my age and ailments, makes me not feel so alone..LOL

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

What's the reason for the higher mortality rate?

[vicki s 146]

she didnt say....I am going to a support group meeting on the 17th..will ask her more then...

[marfar7 1,528]

So some of you have seen me on here, I'm the one being resleeved on aug 1st...well im coming clean, Im terrified!! so i've been really scared, and browsing the forums, everyone is so excited about their up coming surgery as i was 3 ys ago...but now, not so much...I'm obsessed with this surg. and not looking forward to it at all...so i called my surgeons office today and talked to the head nurse up there and she scared me even more..she is honest and upfront and to the point, (the reason I asked for her)...but now I wish I hadnt...she told me that this sleeve revision carries a larger mortality rate that the initial sleeve and I should be aware of that...she said that the initial sleeve is .5 to 3% and the revision is higher...now im really scared...to be honest, I wanted her to tell me Oh dont worry, everything will be fine...LOL...Im losing sleep, cant think, feel paralized from fear and depression...I've only seen one other revision on here and one upcoming...Im not so young anymore, Im 56 almost 57 yrs old...any thoughts on this...I feel I need to go get it fixed cuz of the pain and reflux, but im so scared...my surg is in 3 weeks...help...!!!!!!!!!

So you're getting a revision because of pain and reflux? How exactly does cutting out MORE of your stomach help with pain and reflux? You'd think it'd make it worse. I'm going into a band to sleeve revision in 6 days because my slip causes extreme reflux. I'm praying that the sleeve will help it but I'm getting scared that it'll make it worse. And there's nothing I can do about it afterwards....

So, just out curiosity, why are you having the revision? Did they make your stomach too big the first time?

[notime 340]

My surgery is in 15 days.

My surgery is in 15 days. All the research I have read says that "procedure volume has been shown to be an important predictor of adverse outcomes in bariatric surgery". As such I looked for the most experienced surgeon I could find and afford. I think in your case it is important to know your surgeons experience as well. The more revisions he has done, the less likely you will experience complications.

For a virgin sleeve I would not go with a doctor who has done less than 500 sleeves. For a revision I would want someone who has extensive experience in that.

I can't find the study that recommends 500 sleeves. Did I miss it?

[vicki s 146]

I didnt see it either?...but thats about how many my surgeon has done, so that makes me feel better...however, now im getting revised and he hasnt done all that much..so hmmmmm....sh**

[vicki s 146]

So you're getting a revision because of pain and reflux? How exactly does cutting out MORE of your stomach help with pain and reflux? You'd think it'd make it worse. I'm going into a band to sleeve revision in 6 days because my slip causes extreme reflux. I'm praying that the sleeve will help it but I'm getting scared that it'll make it worse. And there's nothing I can do about it afterwards....

So, just out curiosity, why are you having the revision? Did they make your stomach too big the first time?

because he left a large amt of fundus and the food is sitting in it like a bowl right beneath my esophogus..the pain is from an insicional hernia and scar tissue..I was a band to sleeve too and I have had issues from the beginning he said only bypass will take it away for good...too scared for that! he left it because he was new and i had a lot of scar tissue and he wasnt confident to take more of the fundus..now hhe is 3 yrs out and says he can fix it...