Hi Guys,

I'm a 37 year old guy from Scotland and am seriously considering gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey through a company called Mcan Health.

I have been overweight my entire life but am currently the heaviest I've ever been weighing in at around 275lbs. I'm only 168cm tall so am now classed as morbidly obese.

I have issues with my joints due to being so overweight and am extremely depressed and thoroughly hate the way I look.

I am just trying to find out if gastric sleeve surgery is right for me? I have tried every diet under the sun and while I do tend to.loseva little weight initially I always pile it back on and more!

I would love to hear from anyone who has had the surgery and how it worked out for you? Good and bad stories are most welcome.

I've also read that fizzy drinks are a no no after the op and wondered if this was permanent? I enjoy a few beers with friends every so often and would really miss being unable to do this however being healthy means more!

Sorry for rambling on a bit but as I say any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance ?

In addition to the above I just have a few questions:

1) Do you need to have a liquid diet in the weeks leading up to the surgery?

2) How painful is the surgery and how quickly can I resume work? (I'm a delivery driver who delivers light packages).

3) How soon after surgery can I eat solids?

4) what happens if you overeat?

5) Does the stomach expand in the months and years after surgery meaning you can eat more?

6) Are there any foods that you absolutely cannot eat?

7) Do you regret having the surgery.

Again, thanks in advance!

It's working for me. I'm almost five months post op and have lost nearly 80lbs.

*Fizzy drinks are a no from my doctor, but I've heard mostly because the carbonation would be painful for your banana-sized stomach.

*Every surgery center is different. I've seen some people on the diet for one day prior, or on it for two weeks prior (like myself).

*It wasn't the surgery that was painful, actually. I was in mild discomfort, but I was fine with just tylenol afterwards. It's the gas that hurts- just means you need to move, move, move. Lots of walking is very helpful. And how light is light? I was told nothing heavier than 15lbs for three months.

*It also depends on how you heal. I was eating solids a month after surgery (SOFT solids, but solids). I'm eating crunchy things now, but it did take me about two months before I could without discomfort.

*If I overeat, I feel bloated and sick. I haven't vomited yet, but I've had water/food just sit in my throat and come back up before. It's why you eat slow and don't drink while you eat. You eventually get used to it so it's second nature, but in the beginning, I used a timer to help me while I was eating so I wouldn't overindulge.

*I feel like it slowly expands. When I first started out, I was barely making 300 calories a day. I'm almost 5 months out and eat between 600-800 calories a day, currently. I eat about 2oz worth of meat with each meal, and that is just enough to not make me overfull.

*Strangely, I cannot eat tuna anymore. Like canned tuna. The smell completely turns me off. My husband has ordered fries before from fast food places and the smell of that makes me gag. A lot of food tastes and smells will change for you, but mostly in a good way. I crave healthy foods now (though I occasionally miss the bad foods, it's not as hard to stay away from them now).

*Not at all. I even had complications with my gallbladder failing right afterwards and I still would do it again. Just wish I had done it sooner, is all. It's scary- it's life changing. But if it's something that can potentially add years to my life, it's worth it.

2 hours ago, Scotsman83 said:

In addition to the above I just have a few questions:

1) Do you need to have a liquid diet in the weeks leading up to the surgery?

2) How painful is the surgery and how quickly can I resume work? (I'm a delivery driver who delivers light packages).

3) How soon after surgery can I eat solids?

4) what happens if you overeat?

5) Does the stomach expand in the months and years after surgery meaning you can eat more?

6) Are there any foods that you absolutely cannot eat?

7) Do you regret having the surgery.

Again, thanks in advance!

1.my plan was one week prior so yes

2. i went back to work in one week

3.it was about three weeks give or take

4. for me i would puke it up

5.yes it is only a tool and you can cheat !!!

6. everyone is different for me yes red meat dont work well for me

7.this tool is the best thing i ever did for myself

dont kid yourself this is not for the faint at heart it is something you must want and want to make the changes and exercise and do the head work to have the success you are looking for almost two years out and maintaining 160lb weight loss easy no !! lots of work with great reward !!!!

3 hours ago, Scotsman83 said:

I am just trying to find out if gastric sleeve surgery is right for me? I have tried every diet under the sun and while I do tend to.loseva little weight initially I always pile it back on and more!

Yes it is you are exactly my life = All i can say is get healthy and the sleeve is a great tool Look at me and Superman and the others on the mens forum - It will be a great tool in the battle - Below is a 6 month before and after - You are next step up and get healthy

Wow, thanks for all your replies, they're very helpful.

One of the questions I forgot to ask was regarding alcohol. Can you still drink alcohol after surgery? (Obviously not straight away lol). It's not a deal breaker but as mentioned in my original post I do enjoy drinks with friends every so often.

@WInston223322 you look amazing, like 2 different people! ?

1 minute ago, Scotsman83 said:

Wow, thanks for all your replies, they're very helpful.

One of the questions I forgot to ask was regarding alcohol. Can you still drink alcohol after surgery? (Obviously not straight away lol). It's not a deal breaker but as mentioned in my original post I do enjoy drinks with friends every so often.

@WInston223322 you look amazing, like 2 different people! ?

From what I've heard, at least from my surgeon (not sure what yours would say), after a year, once in a while drinks are okay, but be aware that because you have a smaller stomach, the alcohol will hit you differently. You won't need as much to get a buzz. It's also calorie-dense and dehydrates you, so keep that in mind as well.

Just now, Sammi_Katt said:

From what I've heard, at least from my surgeon (not sure what yours would say), after a year, once in a while drinks are okay, but be aware that because you have a smaller stomach, the alcohol will hit you differently. You won't need as much to get a buzz. It's also calorie-dense and dehydrates you, so keep that in mind as well.

Great, thanks Sammi ?

Do not follow my advice or direction as a doctor

I drink just about every other day - No where near like before but My doc said after 6 months a occasional drink will not kill you! So i just pour a bigger drink and call it a drink! But I am no poster child on this site for following the rules so you make your decision. As for Beer I can only handle about 5 oz the carbonation fight back.

For sure it will crush you - Straight to hammered Especially in he beginning. I drink my Vodka Protein water or Vodka Gator aid to fight the dehydration issue

So yes you can still enjoy it - But if you have to have it = My answer would be no

Edited May 27, 20206 yr by WInston223322

i do drink nothing carbonated however so beer is a no for me

Thanks Guys, so something like wine or a vodka with fruit juice should be ok? God I sound like an alcoholic lol.

Has anyone had any problems with losing too much weight? Like once you've hit your target weight and it keeps dropping off? What would you do if that happened? I'm desperate to lose the weight but really don't want to end up looking like skeletor!

18 minutes ago, Scotsman83 said:

Thanks Guys, so something like wine or a vodka with fruit juice should be ok? God I sound like an alcoholic lol.

Has anyone had any problems with losing too much weight? Like once you've hit your target weight and it keeps dropping off? What would you do if that happened? I'm desperate to lose the weight but really don't want to end up looking like skeletor!

it's far more common for people not to make it to goal than it is to lose too much weight. And besides, you can always start eating more if you're concerned about getting too thin. Also, a majority of people regain 10-20 lbs after they hit their lowest weight, so getting a bit too thin initially isn't necessarily bad. I got too thin, in my opinion, but I put on 15-20 lbs during year 3, and now I'm at a really good weight for me.

1 minute ago, catwoman7 said:

it's far more common for people not to make it to goal than it is to lose too much weight. And besides, you can always start eating more if you're concerned about getting too thin. Also, a majority of people regain 10-20 lbs after they hit their lowest weight, so getting a bit too thin initially isn't necessarily bad. I got too thin, in my opinion, but I put on 15-20 lbs during year 3, and now I'm at a really good weight for me.

Ah ok, thanks for the information.

How much food are you able to eat these days compared to say 6 months post op?

3 minutes ago, Scotsman83 said:

Ah ok, thanks for the information.

How much food are you able to eat these days compared to say 6 months post op?

at six months post-op I was eating about 800 kcal/day. I've been in maintenance for a long time now - and to stay where I'm at, I average around 1600-1700 kcal/day. If I have much more than 1700 for too many days, my weight will start to go up. If I want to lose weight, I drop down to around 1500.

that varies quite a bit between people, though. I'm female and in my 60's. I'm moderately active, but I'm no gym rat - so all that affects how many calories you can eat. But you'll definitely be able to eat a lot more when you transition into maintenance than you will at six months post-op.

3 minutes ago, Scotsman83 said:

1 minute ago, catwoman7 said:

at six months post-op I was eating about 800 kcal/day. I've been in maintenance for a long time now - and to stay where I'm at, I average around 1600-1700 kcal/day. If I have much more than 1700 for too many days, my weight will start to go up. If I want to lose weight, I drop down to around 1500.

that varies quite a bit between people, though. I'm female and in my 60's. I'm moderately active, but I'm no gym rat - so all that affects how many calories you can eat. But you'll definitely be able to eat a lot more when you transition into maintenance than you will at six months post-op.

Excellent, thank you, that's very helpful

Hiya,

Fellow Scot here

I had a sleeve done 2 years ago when I was 39. Would do it again tomorrow and twice the day after! I went to Belgium for my surgery with Dr Dillemanns in Brugges - 100% recommend!

I was advised to do a predominantly liquid diet for two weeks pre op but was allowed veg and some chicken. I did it for a month as figured it would all help.

As far as work goes everyone is different but if it's light packages I'd have thought couple of weeks.

I was on solids after 4 weeks I think, if I recall my first solid meal was steak and char grilled asparagus and tender stem broccoli

Carbonation is fine for me now, still enjoy and pint or several, the only difference is it's not really easy to drink soon after eating.

Feel free to PM if you want a chat and good luck with whatever you decide!