My biggest fear with VSG

[AllisonK1986 68]

My dr said the surgery will prob help me lose 40% of my excess weight and the rest is up to me. I guess I'm worried by not having the gastric, it's like I'll lose 40lbs and stall out and I'll have done this for nothing

????????

[zonetracy 53]

I'm pretty sure the statistics i read were that sleeve patients on average lose 60-70% of their excess weight, then the rest is up to you. I think i googled weight loss surgery long term weight loss. You should get all kinds of statistics. Also, i see a lot of people on here who actually make it to goal weight. There is a lot of support here to help you along the way

[AllisonK1986 68]

Thanks Tracey!

Pray that I can get a

Damn pyschiatrist ???? my dr was all like oh u have anxiety, yep u need psych ugh.

[zonetracy 53]

If you work at a place that has employee assistance program (EAP) you can often times get 4 free counseling sessions. My psychologist tried to go that route with me but she did not work with the particular mental health company that my work uses. My insurance covered it though. Good Luck

[AllisonK1986 68]

Yea my insurance is thru my husband and we don't have anything like that. I'm just praying after all this psych or my insurance comp doesn't prevent me from this! ????

[tiredmama 138]

For me what your doc said was about right - I started at 238, lost 10 pre-surgery and was sleeved June 30, 2014. Next 40 pounds came off pretty easily in the first 4 months after surgery. Since then I have to work hard for every pound- I have lost 60 pounds total and am trying to lose another 15 but I only lose now if I am very careful about my eating and exercise ALOT.

[AllisonK1986 68]

So is it worth it to have the surgery of your only losing a little bit of weight? Bc why have the surgery if u still have to act as hard or more as if u never had the surgery.

[Kindle 8,667]

It's actually 100% up to you. Sure, you will lose some in the beginning no matter what you do because of your restriction, Protein requirements, etc. but it would be very easy to not reach goal and easier yet to gain it ALL back if you don't make healthy choices and lifestyle changes forever.

That being said, I lost over 100% of my excess weight and have so far kept it all off for 10 months and counting. I could NEVER had done this without surgery. (Believe me I tried). But yes, it is all about my choices at this point and very little about the sleeve.

Edited July 4, 2015 by Kindle

[lfry925 38]

Let me ask you this... can you lose 40 on your own and keep it off? I could lose 40 pounds no problem. But I'd gain back 60 within 6 months. I'm 12 weeks out from surgery and down 55 pounds. I was taken off blood pressure meds a month ago and I feel AMAZING. I'm never ever going back. I was given thus gift and I plan on taking full advantage of it. Even if I never lost another pound I'd still be thrilled. This was by far the best decision I've ever made for myself.

[AllisonK1986 68]

I'm sorry if I seemed negative about VSG in my original post. I'm really not a negative person. I'm just worried about the whole process and am financially stressed. I guess I'm worried about spending all this money and only getting minimum results. But luckily my dr is kicking my ass before he will even get me a surgery date. Plus, I cheated this morning ???? I ate a croissant and a small mocha frappe from Starbucks. My lame excuse is I have no groceries in my house and I have a bad tooth ache and I'm having to work today until 4. ((I work in hospice))

Thanks for all of your advice and stories xoxo

[katcycler 95]

I think it depends on you and your starting weight. I weighed 311 and in 7 months post op, I have lost 126 lbs. I now weigh 185 and although the weight comes off a lot slower now, I have yet had any stalls. Everyone is unique, so understand when your doctor tells you 40% of your excess weight, that it is not set in stone. You may lose more.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Perhaps he meant something else, like: "The sleeve will help you lose 40% of your excess weight quite easily. But to lose more than that and to maintain your weight loss long-term, you'll have to exercise the new tools and behaviors that are critical that all WLS patients should learn.

None of the WLS procedures produce a patient who never again has to calculate their food and exercise choices.

Surgery alone will NOT fix your weight problem.

Those who succeed the most the best the longest are those who understand this and accept this.

If you can't do this, I agree that WLS would not be a good choice for you.

And if you do suffer from anxiety / depression / other emotional challenges, you would be very well served by receiving psychological support. Untreated, those challenges would make WLS pretty difficult, I imagine.

Very best to you.

[AllisonK1986 68]

I'm already getting therapy and my anxiety is under control and has nothing to do actually with my weight. I'm very positive and trying my damnedest to stick on my diet and get this surgery. I can lose 20 to 30 lbs and stall out and I have a lot of co morbities and that is why my specialist and pcp are recommending me for the surgery.

I never in a million years thought it was a quick way or solution. I hope yall didn't take it that way. It requires hard work and determination and that's why I'm going through my Drs program specifically with him to get myself mentally and physically prepared bc I do need this surgery to save my life. God knows I'm on day 2 of no smoking and doing my best to eat no sugar, bread, Pasta, rice or starches!

[lfry925 38]

It's normal to worry. I did to the point of almost canceling that morning. I was literally in a hospital bed crying to my mom and husband that I was making a bad decision. I'm glad they gave me the drugs when they did or I might be sitting here still 55 pounds heavier. It's cold feet and you'll be fine. It's hard work but worth it. Nothing is an easy or quick fix. If it were easy this site wouldn't exist. We're here for support. Get your head in the game! You're going to be thrilled. I promise. I haven't smiled this much in 5 years.

[AllisonK1986 68]

Thank u so much! I'm glad I'm not the only one xoxo