Hi folks!

This is my first post ever. I've been researching VGS on and off for about a year and I think I may be ready to bite the bullet. My insurance will not cover the procedure since my BMI is slightly below 40 and with what I have you need two co morbid conditions as well so I'll be self paying.

I have been a decade long yo-yo dieter. I gain and lose the same 35 to 75 lbs every year. I lose fast, then I regain even faster. I have fairly severe anxiety and the extra weight makes it so much worse. After much research I feel like this is a tool that could finally move me forward.

Now that I'm getting more serious about it I've been going from general information to reading people's actual experiences. It seems like every single story I read and every video I see is someone relaying an AWFUL and miserable recovery that lasted months on end. Is this just how it is? I don't know if I'm uninformed or if people are more likely to share a more extreme story.

I had a DCR 3 years ago and a full laparoscopic hysterectomy about 2 years ago and I understand that this will be my biggest surgery ever.

It's kind of scaring me though! I'm not expecting a pleasant time and I can handle post surgical pain but some of these stories make it sound like a year long horror show. Just looking for input. Thanks!

It sucked! After 11 days I went back to work at my desk job. I was sleepy, in pain and mad. It did pass after a few weeks. My doc gave me more pain pills which helped a lot. I do not like taking any type of pill. I would do it again. It was not miserable but at 44 it was not easy.

Edited August 13, 201610 yr by LadyK44

@@GinaCampbell

You're taking my statement personally. I'm not directing it towards you. Go pick a fight with someone else.

However, allow me to summarize my initial post:

-No complications, easy recovery (to answer your question, that is my "experience in the matter")

-Therefore, from my perspective (i.e. "experience in the matter") the horrible recoveries that are discussed over and over and over on this board were over-hyped. As another poster mentioned, people with easy recoveries do not post since there is no story to tell.

I've read your story in another post. It sounds horrible. I'm sorry for the pain that you've gone through. But my experience was different from yours, thus my perspective is also different from yours. My experience, my perspective, and my post do not diminish or take away from your experience or your perspective.

So once again, stop taking my statement personally. Pick a fight with someone else.

Best.

You sure like the debate!!!

My surgery was two days ago on 8/8. I just got home yesterday. I'm feeling pretty lousy but nothing traumatic. Just really sore and it's hard to get in and out of bed. I'm tired and my stomach hurts when I swallow anything so hard to get in my Protein and liquids. However, it's only been two days so not expecting much more. I hadn't been nauseous at all and definitely haven't thrown up. I think this pain will be easily forgotten in the coming months.

I'm a month out and I had a smooth recovery. Everyone is different so you can't compare apples to oranges you know? It depends on your health going in & also your level of pain tolerance.

I was sluggish after surgery due to the drugs. That evening however I was up & walking. The nurse encouraged me to walk about 50-100 ft & to rest when needed. I walked the entire of one side of the hallway. By the next day I covered both sides three times (in two different sessions).

W/ the medication, the pain was bearable. The best I can explain it... It felt like I completed 500-1000 crunches. After about 4 days of being home, I didn't need the pain meds at all.

No complications so far.

Good luck!

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I'm only 3 weeks out and I feel great! I know everyone's experience is so different and you never know where you will fall on that scale. I had read both extreme's before surgery and because I'm in my mid 50's I was worried I would not bounce back as quick as some of the younger ones. But I have been blessed. The worst pain was the headaches in the hospital that first night after surgery. I assume it was from the anesthesia or caffeine withdrawal, or both! I never even took any of the morphine they offered because I was afraid it would make me nauseous and I had not had any nausea. I still haven't. Not once. I am just starting soft foods and I've not had any trouble tolerating any thing I've tried. I've eaten Beans and shrimp and stewed tomatoes. I've always drank a ton of tea and coffee and I continue to do so. I drink 24 oz of coffee in the morning then switch to earl grey tea for the rest of the day. Most days I will have another 12 oz cup of coffee after dinner also. No it's not decaf. No it doesn't keep me up at night and no it doesn't bother my stomach. I take no PPI. Like I said, I've been truly blessed. I had a lapband put in 2.5 years ago and went from 233 to 183, then slowly started gaining it back as the band was either too loose or too tight. My doctor recommended revision to sleeve which he did all in one surgery. This is usually a little more in depth and so he did leave me with a drain for a week after surgery. The drain caused some discomfort when I walked. I wasn't sure what it was until he removed it. It wasn't painful, just kind of a weird tugging feeling. Kinda worrisome until I knew what it was! But the drain and the pain are all gone. I don't have the sluggishness described by others after the first week or so. I've been meeting all my Fluid and Protein goals from about day 3. Will this be your experience? I have no idea. But I do think it's true that most of the posts on the forum are people looking for answers to questions or people having problems. The rest of the people having no problems and no current questions are off living and enjoying their new lives. For me, I think this was the right move. I hope you are as happy with whatever your decision, as I am with mine.

Five months out. No complications. No food aversions. Never got sick. Had surgery on a Wednesday and back at work on a Monday. I'm a very slow loser, but I'll take it!

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I honestly was woken up in the hospital, and I thought they would tell me my liver was too big, or that for some reason they could not do the surgery. I had absolutely no pain, other than trying to pee. which hurt for a day. I never had issues drinking water, in fact after sipping because I was told to, I was taking mouthfuls of liquid and pain. I was only in hospital one night, and it seemed like walking and getting out of bed was as easy as it was before. I was told I am 1 out of a hundred, and about 30% have no issues with water or swallowing. I was told they don't talk about it because most have some problems and that is more the normal, but discussing how easy many have it would just stress out the majority. I was laying on my stomach on my laptop on day two. I do not have any scares at all 5 weeks out, and have no hunger issues at all.

Why.

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Why.

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Why not?

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My recovery was awful and if I wasn't morbidly obese I would not have done it. Make sure you continue to see your therapist and take your meds. Don't underestimate your relationship with food. Speak to your doctor.

Take care, be strong.

My recovery was awful and if I wasn't morbidly obese I would not have done it. Make sure you continue to see your therapist and take your meds. Don't underestimate your relationship with food. Speak to your doctor.

Take care, be strong.

Thank you! I am trying right now to get in to see my GP but they were closed this afternoon and my bariatric team didn't answer the phone.

Found a specialist Consultant in C Diff infections in a nearby town but I need a referral from my GP.

I have chills and sweats but no fever so I don't know if it is the C diff, the Flagyl or a new infection. Or even heat, it's really hot here today!

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13 days out and doing fantastic, came back to work after 1 week, could have gone back earlier. No problems whatsoever, minimal pain, energy is good. My 4 little holes are already healed. This has been a breeze so far and I am very thankful. Got clearance from doc today to do any and all activities. My partner asked me if I asked my doc if I could have sex, lol. I said he said no, but that she could. LOL (We love to joke on each other.)