many questions Newbee :)

[Kennedy 100]

Hi, i just signed up and this is my first post. I have a ton of questions, but trying to figure out what to ask first. Guess I would love to hear from folks who have had this surgery who started out at 400 pounds. Had my first dr. appt. 19 days ago. I am 5' 4" and I have lost 10.2 pounds since then on the diet they gave me. I feel so much better, but really thought it was a lot more than 10.2 pounds. Trying not to be disappointed. I originally wanted to have the gastric bypass surgery, but my doctor decided the sleeve would be better for me with the meds I take for RA and will probably always have to take. I was very disappointed. It seems to me that even if I lose the weight they say (around 65% of my excess weight, I will still be very large. Anybody been through this? I am open for all comments and suggestions. Oh, I guess I should tell you, I have had all the pre op testing done and waiting for ok from my insurance. Supposedly this Friday is the deadline for them to respond. Thanks

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

Hi, i just signed up and this is my first post. I have a ton of questions, but trying to figure out what to ask first. Guess I would love to hear from folks who have had this surgery who started out at 400 pounds. Had my first dr. appt. 19 days ago. I am 5' 4" and I have lost 10.2 pounds since then on the diet they gave me. I feel so much better, but really thought it was a lot more than 10.2 pounds. Trying not to be disappointed. I originally wanted to have the gastric bypass surgery, but my doctor decided the sleeve would be better for me with the meds I take for RA and will probably always have to take. I was very disappointed. It seems to me that even if I lose the weight they say (around 65% of my excess weight, I will still be very large. Anybody been through this? I am open for all comments and suggestions. Oh, I guess I should tell you, I have had all the pre op testing done and waiting for ok from my insurance. Supposedly this Friday is the deadline for them to respond. Thanks

I started at 416. 10.2 lbs in 19 days is nothing to dismiss, you did good!

At one of my first visits with my doctor I told him I wanted to weight 175lbs. He kinda blew me off and explained that 50% of my excess weight was more realistic - to me, that still left me large. If I'm going to weigh 296 I might as well weigh 396.

I lost 50lbs in the months before surgery. He was more enthusiastic about my goal when he saw i was willing to put in effort to make it happen.

Ask your questions.

[Kennedy 100]

How much weight did you lose prior to the surgery? I see you're down to 323 from 416. That's really impressive. Surgery was in May? How was recovery? A lot of pain? I have RA and fibro and I take a lot of meds. My dr. felt I would do better with the sleeve vs. Reux N Y because they were concerned that long term I might develop an ulcer in my pouch. Kind of disappointed because I know you lose more weight with the Reux N Y. I am only 5' 4" tall.

[Cinco 16]

Good luck on your journey . You can lose as much as you decide...I am 10 months post op and have lost 188lbs. I started at 368, and am 5'3.

[sknyinside 99]

I haven't had the sleeve yet. But, I have a very plentiful supply of friends and co-workers who have had it done. All have had varying amounts of success. It really depends on "getting your head right" and once you get to that 50-60% mark realizing you may have to count calories or do a more traditional weight loss plan. The sleeve is one tool. It is not the end all, be all for many people. This is coming from my observations and what has been relayed to me by the people in my life who are a very valued support system with many different views. This seems to be the general consensus. The ones who are really getting to their goal are working hard. But they report feeling really good and having more energy to put towards working for it. Also, the emotional aspect helps as they are not so demoralized and ashamed to go to a gym.

And more than one of these people were in excess of 400 pounds. It's very achievable, but may take hard work.

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

How much weight did you lose prior to the surgery? I see you're down to 323 from 416. That's really impressive. Surgery was in May? How was recovery? A lot of pain? I have RA and fibro and I take a lot of meds. My dr. felt I would do better with the sleeve vs. Reux N Y because they were concerned that long term I might develop an ulcer in my pouch. Kind of disappointed because I know you lose more weight with the Reux N Y. I am only 5' 4" tall.

50lbs lost prior to surgery. My recovery was less eventful than some here. The worst part of the journey was the two-week liquid-only preop diet. The first 4 days I was angry, bitter, and wanted to sue people. On the 5th day i work up feeling better that before I had started the diet.

The worst part of surgery for me was the first hour. I had a gas pain that would no go away. They saw i was in discomfort, offered me pain meds, I took them, and i later was cracking jokes with people as they wheeled me down the hallway to my room. The gas pain lasted off and on for a few days replaced by the feeling like I had done too many situps the day before. Pain was off and on, easily relieved with liquid hydrocodone that was prescribed to me. All in all, more discomfort than pain - i was off of work for 3 weeks. I consider the first week recovery followed by two weeks of vacation.

I was in the hospital a little more than 24 hours. I left with instructions to no longer take my metformin, diovan, and lansoprazole.