Hey guys!

So I've been considering lapband surgery and actually scheduled my surgery for January 22nd, 2015!

However, after a couple of conversations with many, many people, I am now starting to consider the Gastric Sleeve surgery. In addition to my three brothers, I know about a dozen or so of people who have personally had the gastric sleeve. The only banded person I know recommended the sleeve too.

I was worried about malnutrition but after seeing many real life success stories, I started considering it.

Today is my doctors appointment, my last consultaion to finally decide whether its the band or sleeve.

In terms of living, in the long run, the gastric sleeve is much easier. No food getting stuck. You can within a year eat anything but in much much smaller portions. There is no hassle of maintenace (like with the band). Fills cost money. And in my part of the word the gastric sleeve is the most popular procedure.

Feeling emotional. Scared, excited and nervous all at the same time. I have a major emotional attachment to food and I know Post Op things are probably going to change. Scared and nervous about that. It's finally becoming real and I know my life is going to change, to the better I hope.

Unlike in the States, the pre-op procedure is different in our side of the world. It is self-pay, no pre-op diet and I was instructed to stop eating by 10 PM the night before and admit myself at 7 AM the day of surgery, spend the night and check out the next day.

So considering I go with the gastric sleeve procedure...

What tips would you have for me? Any medications that could help with the gas and/or bloating? Acid reflux meds? The works! I plan on stocking up on everything I need! What about walking, when was it possible for you to go out and walk normally?

I also plan on taking professional BEFORE photos, so that I could share professional AFTER photos too!

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for all your support and encouragement as well as for inspiring me to put myself first and take this bold step (in my book)

I'm going to consider January 22nd my second birthday or as I put in the topic, my rebirth!

Just to say, my mother had the lap-band put in 7 years ago and she struggles everyday with it and she has to pay a fee every time she needs a "fill" she now wants the sleeve. My doctor told me he does 3 revisions a week. So that is pretty telling if you ask me, I originally wanted the band also but then did my homework and The Sleeve It Is! So good luck and be well!

"What tips would you have for me? Any medications that could help with the gas and/or bloating? Acid reflux meds? The works! I plan on stocking up on everything I need! What about walking, when was it possible for you to go out and walk normally?"

I never took any meds for gas, so I don't have any recommendations in that area. Some people say to get Gas-X strips.

I can advise you on stocking up on food. Don't buy a lot of anything. Maybe just 2 or 3 of things like chicken broth, Protein shakes, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jell-O. In the 1st week or 2, I was eating so little that I didn't need all the things I stocked up on. Plus my taste buds changed and some of my favorite things tasted bad.

I was up and walking comfortably while I was still in the hospital. Once I got home, I was back to walking my normal pace. My doc wanted me walking 30 minutes a day - starting the 1st day home.

Hope this helps.

@@Nikkidoodlebug @@joatsaint Thanks for your replies!