Positive Outcome........So Far

[Thinkingthinner1109 485]

I'm so sorry for your experience but I do not agree that some people may need to be scared "straight " in order to experience what surgery is like. I have not had your type of surgeries (mastectomy) but I clearly stated that recovery is based on age , health, and weight. I feel that there are people pissed that I enjoyed my experience. Wow what's the deal with that!!!!?! I'm not saying after surgery I did a 5 k but I am saying that I Enjoyed My Experience and I didn't have excessive Pain. Im not a victim not fat or skinny nor will I follow the woe is me trend sorry about Your experience but thank God for mine.

Again glad you had a good experience, I don't believe it is based on health or weight. I did not have any co morbitities and I had 80 pounds to lose and I just turned fifty so I am not really that old. I didn't say anything about someone being scared straight just informed. It's good to read all views. Not everyone has the perfect experience and not everyone has a hard time. But the people that do have problems post questions or their experiences are legit. I am not pissed at all about your experience. I hope you continue to do really well and succeed.

[ranece 62]

Thank you and I wish you strength , resilience and continued success.

[Thinkingthinner1109 485]

Thank you and I wish you strength , resilience and continued success.

You too!

[estrob85 23]

I had an amazing experience as well!! I was expecting the absolute worst because of reading into it to much! I'm glad I did because now I'm appreciative of MY experience. I had the sleeve with duodenal switch on 9/24 and the only little pain I had was gas pain but once I got up to walk it started to go away , I did so well I was discharged from the hospital exactly 24 hours after surgery! And as of today I've lost 22 lbs!! It's nice to hear u had an amazing experience

[Lisa_vsg 24]

I myself had an amazing outcome. I was sleeved on 9/30 and the worst pain that I had was gas pain in which walking helped relieve such pain. I slept on my stomach day 3 post op with no problem. I would do it all over again in a heart beat. I feel great. Good luck on your journey.

[HaddocksEyes 205]

I read so many posts and blogs about Weightloss surgery before I had my own(09/30/14). Reading these post scared the HELL out of me. First the dreaded pain, sagging skin,hair loss,&this or that made me run for the hills. I'm here to tell those who will come after me, after my surgery I asked my dr why didn't he do my surgery? He laughed and said you had the surgery. The next day I had a pain level of 6 and that was my worst. I walked the same day if my surgery. I was able to eat my broths on the third day and now it's my fourth day I ate almost a whole can of cream of chicken broth. I have no pain and although I haven't lost weight (I don't think) I am one to say that every experience is different but my experience has been painless and I'm ready to workout. Maybe ill be cleared by my surgeon by next Friday. God bless and overlook those who may dramatize their surgery stories and surgery outcomes. We all had great surgeons and depending on age, weight,& health overall is how your story will turnout.

Congratulations on getting through the process!

My recovery was very similar to yours - yes, there was pain but it was manageable. Once the swelling subsided, I was able to drink and eat more and more.

I don't even feel like I had surgery until I eat and feel the restriction - that's how normal life is for me now. My energy has almost completely returned and I am almost as active as I was pre-sleeve.

I do think that the doctor you choose is one of the most important success indicators. The sleeve in many aspects takes more finesse than the Roux.N.Y, at least according to my doctor. Each patient is an individual, with individual inside anatomies and stomach curvature. The number of surgeries he or she has performed is important, as well as their skill in suturing and attention to detail. My surgeon uses the typical titanium staples but then goes and hand sutures as well just to make sure that no stone has been left unturned.

However, no matter how talented a surgeon we have, we are the other part of the success equasion, both before and after the surgery. Your general health before and after the procedure, as well as diet and exercise compliance is important.

[HaddocksEyes 205]

It's great that you let everyone know that the post-op experience is not horrible for everyone. In fact, I'll bet you are right and most people will say it wasn't that bad.

For the people who might have been turned off by the negative posts by people like me, I hope they stuck around long enough to read the "walking on sunshine" posts that I, and many others posted after a few weeks.

So glad to hear that you are feeling better!!!

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Excellent point!

I certainly cannot prove it, but I agree that surgical skill / technique / post-op care and processes are huge causative factors in WLS patients' post-op recovery experiences.

I credit my surgeon and his surgical team (and the thousands of VSGs they've done together) for the greatest part of my easy recovery.

When you have a patient operated on by a surgeon who's done 150 VSGs vs. a patient who's operated on by a surgeon who's done 3,500 VSGs, you've got two very different situations happening.

The surgeon with 3,500 VSGs in the bag has observed and refined and improved their techniques over the years. The one who's done only 150 VSGs thus far is basically still learning how not to screw it up.

[*Lexie* 1,486]

So glad to hear you had such a positive experience. Honestly, I really thought I was going to have the same type of recovery, I'm usually pretty lucky like that. I definitely knew I had surgery. I slept most of the day after my surgery, I don't even remember some of the conversations I had (must have had the good drugs). The following few days I mostly felt a little hung over, tired and foggy and moved a little slow. My stomach was sore but I also had to have a hiatal hernia repaired and they said that would cause a bit more soreness.

But I was lucky enough to not have any gas pain and very little nausea. And now less than 2 weeks post op, I feel amazing.

Overall though, not horrible or unbearable or anything. Anyone still anticipating surgery should just keep in mind that even if it does suck a little, it's finite and before you know it, you'll feel like yourself again. I think the fear of the unknown is worse than anything.

[just4myra 18]

Now this was surely great to hear. Thanks for sharing and Congrats!!!

[WL WARRIOR 690]

My surgery seemed very rushed. They could not get an IV in me, and after three nurses and an anesthesiaologist poking me in seven numerous places, they ended up getting one to work good enough. I was lucky they didn't put it in my foot because that is what the majority wanted to do. By that time, it was three hours past my scheduled surgery time and I was moved to the last bariatric surgery on the list. They only do bariatric surgery every Tuesday and I wasn't about to wait another week. I overheard a nurse on the phone with the surgeon and it sounded like the surgeon was criticizing the nurses for not getting the ball rolling. After the phone call, they quickly rolled me down to surgery and put me out on the way. It was quite sneaky of them and I didn't even get a chance to be nervous. When I woke up, the surgeon was talking so fast that I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then, in a flash, he was gone.

I was actually in shock with how painful it was coming right out of surgery. I read many posts on this forum (weeks before my surgery) from people who did rather well after surgery and didn't even need pain medicine. I wish someone would have told me, "it's going to be extremely painful right when you wake up, so brace yourself!"

However, the pain did get better day by day. I wasn't able to walk until the second day due to dizziness. My stomach was one large purple bruise (even darker purple on the right side) the second day. Even now at 2 weeks post op, the bruise is still there but yellow now. I believe my surgeon may have used more force during the surgery and that may have contributed to the higher amount of pain. I'm only speculating and overall I'm satisfied with the job he did. I feel so much better know and things are looking up.

[just4myra 18]

@@WL WARRIOR Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I will definitely be on my P's and Q's in the process. I'm happy things are getting better for you. Congrats and continued blessings on your journey. Stay tuned in for my story.

[Fireweed56 8]

Thank you. I hope I wake and experience little to no pain.