Hello,

My doctor wants me to undergo Bariatric surgery because I'm 5'3" and weigh 289lbs. My BMI is 51 and I have been dieting and exercising all year without any results whatsoever (have not even dropped one pound). I have arthritis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, a thyroid condition, PCOD and ulcerative colitis. All of which my doctor thinks can be helped by weightloss.

Part of the "preparation" I guess you can call it is I have to watch a bunch of videos explaining the different types (band, sleeve and bypass). I was wondering if any one could tell me what kind of success they've had with the different ones, and if possible, share their stories (I know it may be personal, so I won't try to push any one or anything).

I won't lie. I'm a bit anxious about all of this. I have never had any surgery before in my entire life, and this seems like it's a major surgery. But if it will help me get healthier and get some of my medical conditions under control, then I am willing to give it a shot.

Any help would be appreciate, thank you

6 hours ago, Jellibean88 said:

I had sleeve on April 12th 2016 I had success in the loss going from 254 day of surgery to 162 I have gained almost 15lbs back but I'm going to get back on track. The best thing I will say is RESEARCH everything including rare side affect. I get sleeve kinks and have to go to a gastrointestinal doctor who dilates it to fix this. But I am way healthier then I was I had high blood pressure, pre diabetes, pcos, and asthma. Now my blood pressure is great and I'm no longer pre diabetic, pcos is fading also. The asthma won't go anywhere though allergy related. I'm happy I did the surgery but wish I had been informed of the kinks being possible cause they suck.

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Hmm you're the first one I've seen mention kinks. How did you know you had a kink? And how did they dilate it to fix it? Do you get them often?

Kinks are extremely rare but they do happen. I didn't know it was kinked at first about a month post op I wasn't able to keep some foods down then I started not being able to eat at all I threw up all solid matter. Finally in mid June I talk with my surgeon because I was unable to consume anything with out throwing up and I mean EVERYTHING water included. I was so sick I started randomly fainting and started have heart dysrhythmia. The gastrointestinal doctor who dilated it. He puts you under and inserts a balloon that dilates as many millimeters thick as the doctor thinks best with the hopes of straightening out the sleeve. The kink returning is even more rare but it can happen I was told it's nothing I'm doing my body is doing it on its own. He said some people need to only be dilated once some need 5 or 6. I have had 3 kinks my sleeve surgery day was April 12th 2016, first dilation was August 12th 2016, second October 20th 2016, last one was April 28th 2017. I'm having food intake issues again I don't know if it's my recent bad eating and drinking habits or if I am developing a kink. I have to change my bad habits and see if that helps if I change them and I still can't keep stuff down then to the gastrointestinal doctor I go.

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Whatever you and your doctor decide is the best for you, but I can guarantee you that you will be healthier after any WLS. I have had both the sleeve and now post op from RNY. I had neither for weightloss, I had GI issues that needed fixed. IMO the recovery for both is exactly the same, at least for me it has been. Of course the RNY has more restrictions cuz the pouch is smaller than your sleeve would be. I have heard from so many diabetics they are no longer diabetic and off their insulin. Good luck to you in whatever you and your doctor decide. You are on the way to a healthier you!

Edited July 14, 20179 yr by SleeveDreamer

On 6/29/2017 at 6:47 PM, skyewolfe said:

See, the strange thing for me is,, my thyroid disease is HYPERthyroidism (the one skinny people typically have. I mean, really, why cant I have THAT side effect?)

I try to do as much exercising as I can. I have fibromyalgia and arthritis with no pain medications at this moment (I see a pain management doctor on the 6th).

I'm glad you mentioned that the band is usually ineffective with PCOS, because thats one of the things I want to get under control.

Hi SkyeWolf,

I've struggled my whole life with metabolic issues - PCOS, Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenism -- plus arthritis and scoliosis. Being in full menopause, it's been almost impossible for me to lose the weight I gained after an unrelated medical disaster five years ago. I had the gastric sleeve on May 30 and I've lost a total of 33 lbs since I started the liquid pre-surgery diet. Already, I feel better and have far less arthritis pain. I'm already off over-the-counter pain meds and metformin for PCOS. My surgeon told me that the procedure could reset my metabolism, and I think that's happening. Everyone is different, but it has worked for me and I am so glad I had the procedure done. Good luck to you!