New to the forum…. About a month ago, I woke up said to myself “Today It Ends!”

For over 25 years I have been the typical yo-yo Dieter. I have done pretty much every diet out there and initially lose some weight, then hit a plateau…. Try everything to get over the hump… get frustrated and go right back to my old eating habits and the weight returns & then some. When I think back in my lifetime (43 years old) the amount of weight I have lost and regained over and over it is utterly ridiculous and embarrassing.

I have been considering weight loss surgery for over 15 years but never pursued it since I have a huge fear of hospitals. So I decided it was time to get over that and make this huge life altering decision for most importantly myself and my family. Before my first contact with a surgeon, I was 100% wanting a RYGB. I went to the initial weight loss surgery seminar and afterwards felt like I was 110% wanting a da Vinci RYGB. However, the more research I did online (specifically this amazing site) almost instantly I changed my mind and felt that VSG would be the better choice for me. My surgeon performs every WLS but in my opinion he seems to prefer RYGB rather than VSG since there seems to be better long-term results with RYGB.

So having said all that, unless something comes up with all the pre-op tests…. I am having VSG in mid January! I have some questions for the members here.

What was the biggest single reason you choose VSG over any other WLS?

Any regrets with your decisions?

What was the hardest thing to adjust to post-op?

Thanks in advance for any input, I hope to be an active member of this forum and looking for a January Sleeve buddy as well. This journey is exciting/terrifying and it would be great to have somebody to communicate with along the way, going through the same stages.

@@TodayItEnds - welcome to the family.

I am post-op and don't regret my choice at all. Like most, wished I had done it sooner!

I didn't like the thought of bypass and I haven't had any real issues post-op. The reality of not eating a lot to feel satiated is kind of surreal.

Whatever you decide make sure you can live with it.

Its YOUR life and its a TOOL, not a magical wand

good luck!

@@TodayItEnds - welcome to the family.

I am post-op and don't regret my choice at all. Like most, wished I had done it sooner!

I didn't like the thought of bypass and I haven't had any real issues post-op. The reality of not eating a lot to feel satiated is kind of surreal.

Whatever you decide make sure you can live with it.

Its YOUR life and its a TOOL, not a magical wand

good luck!

Thanks @@jane13 for the welcome.

The reason I would never consider RnY is due to malabsorption. I am on several medications and cannot afford for them not to be absorbed. My sister had it and the malabsorption of medications was a real problem. I was dead set on lap band until I went to Dr Gs seminar and changed my mind to sleeve. I have also read too many revisions and lots of docs not doing sleeve any more.

fear of hospitals. VSG in mid January!

welcome welcome and welcome

always room for one more

hey dude love your "handle"@@TodayItEnds

i heard that gastric bypass "re-routes" your intestines

possible malbsorption problems

don't want to go there

lapband works for many

i have heard of too many problems -ie erosion, band slippage that might occur over the years

that's why i said no thanx to lapband

many docs don't perform the lapband anymore because of possible issues

LAPPERS pllllease don't shoot me!!! i love you all

i'm just saying what i've heard and my thoughts

covering my new and improved"little" assss to say the lapband can work great for many

our "fearless" leader who started this board ( @@Alex Brecher ) has had the lap band for "about" 10 years

very successful

my biased thought - you have made a great choice with the VSG

happy you have been researching

Knowledge is Power!!

many people on the board will give great advice

info, suggestions, experiences

glad you have finally committed to having WLS

one thing about complicating surgery for 15 years

is still thinking for 15 year and 1 day!!

sleeve hopefully will give you no problems

normal side effects of possible gas, tiredness etc

most of us have been there done that

i can't imagine the fear of hospitals

maybe you've never had to go to hospital??

i am pretty sure many others are in the same boat as you

try to mentally prepare yourself for surgery

MAYBE you could even visit hospital, check things out

doc could even explain that hospital should/will be safe

no second guessing yourself if you are scared of hospitals

i have confidence that you can do this

the end result of having successful surgery

out "weighs" LOL being a little uncomfortable/scared

good luck

kathy

im pre-op but i am choosing vsg over bypass because i take several medications to manage psychatric issues and need them to be absorbed

Welcome and good luck on your journey!

I also started out thinking for sure that I wanted the bypass. However, about 4 months into the pre-op process I realized that all of my reservations were related to the re-routing of the intestines that goes on with the bypass and not any other part of it. So, I talked to my surgeon and we agreed that I would do the sleeve instead. I felt a huge relief because I knew it was the right decision. It just somehow felt less invasive if that makes sense. I have not one single time regretted my choice. I was thinking the bypass originally because I read that you could lose more weight with it. But, I just realized that at a certain point, I had to just work hard to make up that final 10 pounds that maybe I would have lost easier with the bypass. In the end I've lost 140+ pounds so far and have been maintaining for about a year and a half. So, no regrets~!

The one thing I wish I would have done pre-op that I didn't was start working on the emotional side of things. I didn't get to be 280 pounds and in need of WLS by just liking the taste of food. I had underlying emotional eating issues that had to be dealt with. I didn't really start dealing with this until about 9 months post op, and I so wish I would have started sooner. If you have some free time I highly recommend "When Food is Love" by Geneen Roth. I would have loved for someone to have shared that resource with me pre-op because it's made such a difference in my life.

i'm in Pre Op stage. No surgery date yet. I am in the 6 month pre op phase. On month 5 going to Dr. Jan 28th to get referred to surgeon. I am going sleeve 100%. My husbands daughter had the sleeve in Oct 2014 and has successfully lost 110.lbs. I have been heavy for 15 years. i'm dreading this Christmas season because i'm going in it feeling dumpy. I just keep looking at my 2016 year as a begining of my life. I need this as a tool to help me. i have a machine for my apnea and know this would help me rid of this machince perhaps. I have dreams people that I will be comfortably be able to walk distances, do things like swim with out shame. I am tired of standing behind my family in pictures. I have tried every diet in the book. I studied this whole sleeve thing and yes i'd be lying to say i'm not nervous because i am. Why? i'm afraid of losing my comfort zone, who I am. But my fear is going to be put aside because i want for myself is much stronger I am 47 now I have adult children and 3 grandbabies that I need to be around for. God gave me this body that I abused for years and I want to take control of it and get it back again. Just looking forward to this journey.....

The reason I would never consider RnY is due to malabsorption. I am on several medications and cannot afford for them not to be absorbed. My sister had it and the malabsorption of medications was a real problem. I was dead set on lap band until I went to Dr Gs seminar and changed my mind to sleeve. I have also read too many revisions and lots of docs not doing sleeve any more.

Exactly the same reason why I switched to VSG, thanks for the reply!

fear of hospitals. VSG in mid January!

welcome welcome and welcome

always room for one more

hey dude love your "handle"@@TodayItEnds

i heard that gastric bypass "re-routes" your intestines

possible malbsorption problems

don't want to go there

lapband works for many

i have heard of too many problems -ie erosion, band slippage that might occur over the years

that's why i said no thanx to lapband

many docs don't perform the lapband anymore because of possible issues

LAPPERS pllllease don't shoot me!!! i love you all

i'm just saying what i've heard and my thoughts

covering my new and improved"little" assss to say the lapband can work great for many

our "fearless" leader who started this board ( @@Alex Brecher ) has had the lap band for "about" 10 years

very successful

my biased thought - you have made a great choice with the VSG

happy you have been researching

Knowledge is Power!!

many people on the board will give great advice

info, suggestions, experiences

glad you have finally committed to having WLS

one thing about complicating surgery for 15 years

is still thinking for 15 year and 1 day!!

sleeve hopefully will give you no problems

normal side effects of possible gas, tiredness etc

most of us have been there done that

i can't imagine the fear of hospitals

maybe you've never had to go to hospital??

i am pretty sure many others are in the same boat as you

try to mentally prepare yourself for surgery

MAYBE you could even visit hospital, check things out

doc could even explain that hospital should/will be safe

no second guessing yourself if you are scared of hospitals

i have confidence that you can do this

the end result of having successful surgery

out "weighs" LOL being a little uncomfortable/scared

good luck

kathy

Thanks Kathy for all the insight! I think I am finally MENTALLY there just wish it hadn't taken 15 years to commit. however, I guess it is better late than never. Thanks for the Warm welcome!

im pre-op but i am choosing vsg over bypass because i take several medications to manage psychatric issues and need them to be absorbed

Great point, thanks for the reply.

Welcome and good luck on your journey!

I also started out thinking for sure that I wanted the bypass. However, about 4 months into the pre-op process I realized that all of my reservations were related to the re-routing of the intestines that goes on with the bypass and not any other part of it. So, I talked to my surgeon and we agreed that I would do the sleeve instead. I felt a huge relief because I knew it was the right decision. It just somehow felt less invasive if that makes sense. I have not one single time regretted my choice. I was thinking the bypass originally because I read that you could lose more weight with it. But, I just realized that at a certain point, I had to just work hard to make up that final 10 pounds that maybe I would have lost easier with the bypass. In the end I've lost 140+ pounds so far and have been maintaining for about a year and a half. So, no regrets~!

The one thing I wish I would have done pre-op that I didn't was start working on the emotional side of things. I didn't get to be 280 pounds and in need of WLS by just liking the taste of food. I had underlying emotional eating issues that had to be dealt with. I didn't really start dealing with this until about 9 months post op, and I so wish I would have started sooner. If you have some free time I highly recommend "When Food is Love" by Geneen Roth. I would have loved for someone to have shared that resource with me pre-op because it's made such a difference in my life.

Wow this post really hit the nail on the head for me. I will check out that book for sure, I greatly appreciate your wisdom and recommendations!! Thanks and Congrats on Amazing job with your VSG. I know this will be a lot of work but you all are truly inspirational for me!

i'm in Pre Op stage. No surgery date yet. I am in the 6 month pre op phase. On month 5 going to Dr. Jan 28th to get referred to surgeon. I am going sleeve 100%. My husbands daughter had the sleeve in Oct 2014 and has successfully lost 110.lbs. I have been heavy for 15 years. i'm dreading this Christmas season because i'm going in it feeling dumpy. I just keep looking at my 2016 year as a begining of my life. I need this as a tool to help me. i have a machine for my apnea and know this would help me rid of this machince perhaps. I have dreams people that I will be comfortably be able to walk distances, do things like swim with out shame. I am tired of standing behind my family in pictures. I have tried every diet in the book. I studied this whole sleeve thing and yes i'd be lying to say i'm not nervous because i am. Why? i'm afraid of losing my comfort zone, who I am. But my fear is going to be put aside because i want for myself is much stronger I am 47 now I have adult children and 3 grandbabies that I need to be around for. God gave me this body that I abused for years and I want to take control of it and get it back again. Just looking forward to this journey.....

Amazing post!! I love how you say Comfort zone, I felt exactly the same way. Good Luck with your Journey but I have no doubt with your attitude you will be beyond successful!

Christmas scares the Hell out of me and going to be a Huge challenge for me but I HAVE to look past the food aspect of it and enjoy the family and friends more importantly!!

I agree feel like 2016 will be the beginning of my new life and not to be overly corny (my Wife tends to say that I am, LOL) I choose my VSG on my birthday and feel like I am getting a shot at a new HEALTHIER life!!

Thanks to all for the replies and inspiration. As an outsider of this forum, I have been lurking for a while and your threads/posts/Knowledge mean so much to many of us newbies!

I chose VSG because the bypass seems like overkill for me (I think of it as the 'drastic bypass'). The band seems like a gimmick, or something, and I'm not interested in follow ups for fills, and it just seems like too much trouble to get it right and keep it happy.

I like that with the sleeve, food goes into and comes out of the stomach exactly the same way, there's just less room in the stomach.