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I began my journey back in December and now my gastric sleeve surgery date has finally arrived. Back when I first started out and was attending pre-op appointments, nutritionist visits, getting various tests and lab work done, and generally jumping through a lot of hoops, it seemed like I'd never get to this point. Now that I'm here it almost seems like it's all happening too fast. I've done a lot of reading on here and other bariatric surgery forums in the past few months, but I never felt a desire to participate until now. I'll be heading to the hospital soon and I'm feeling emotional. Everyone seems to be so different in how their recovery progresses and I have a lot of anxiety over not knowing how I'll feel when I wake up and for the first few months. It's also daunting to be making such a big decision that involves a serious and irreversible change to my body. Still, I can only hope it will be better than the life I've been living. I'm only 24, but I'm physically disabled (from birth) and I've spent most of my life overweight to obese due to low activity levels, a poor relationship with food and nutrition, and a lack of positive coping skills to deal with my anxiety and depression. I'm tired of physically feeling heavy and how the weight exacerbates my disability-related pains and mobility issues. I'm tired of the slow creep towards various comorbidities. And I'm tired of looking in the mirror and being ashamed of what I see and how I got myself to this point. I also don't want food and eating to rule my life and my feelings anymore. I am scared. But the stories I've read about here and elsewhere online have inspired me. I think I'm finally ready to change my life. Wish me luck.

Thank you so much for this info about calling in. When I read this my spidy senses kicked in, I decided to call and low and behold, they are waiting for something from the dr. office. I just sent a very matter of fact email to the coordinator asking what is the hold up on their end. Always be your own advocate!

1. What made you choose the Sleeve over the Lap Band? never considered the band, big failure rate, erosion issues 2. Have you had Hair loss with the Sleeve? some hair loss, but new hairs growing back in now 3. What can you absolutely NOT eat now with the Sleeve? beef is a little harsh, stringy meat. what I refuse to eat - pasta, most breads, doughnuts, frosting, seldom rice, I don't really care for chocolate much anymore 4. At what point did you know you made the right decision with the Sleeve surgery? when I kept hearing about rny patients needing iron infusions, getting ulcers in the unused stomach portion 5. What as been the best tool you've used in keeping your weight loss progressing? the physical restriction of the sleeve, my mind accepting the journey, tracking with Baritastic app, my SIP by S'Well water thermos

Proud of you, you inspire all us immediate pre surgery candidates. Thanks for the story!!

I understand where you are coming from because I wouldn't swallow my gum either especially knowing that it could cause complications. I definitely don't want to cause any complications to a procedure that I have worked so hard for. @nikkiF22 How has your post op been so far besides the food thing?

I was talking to my husband about the judgement passed on people who have bariatric surgery. He is on the fence about the whole "easy way out" thing. But he is being supportive of me. So he tells me that when he thinks about the easy way out, he compares it to jumping off a plane. The easy way out would be when someone pries your fingers of the plane and pushes you out. That's the easy way out but the problem is that after that the is no getting back on the plane. So you are screaming all the way down hoping the parachute will open. My response was, think about it this way you are on a plane that has lost its engines. They tell you they are going to try landing it but chances are it will still be a crash landing and many on the plane will die. Or you can put on one of the parachutes and jump? So what do you choose? The plane is obesity. We know it is a killer. Some live long, normal lives while being obese, but the majority will get sick in various ways and die prematurely. If you jump, which is having the surgery, the parachute might not open but the chances of that are minimal. The parachute might open late and you will get seriously hurt, but you survive and end up living a long life. You might not land well because you don't know how to parachute and break your legs. But you still land and live. So which one do you choose? Stay on the plane and hope you survive the crash? Or jump and take the risks of jumping with the more likelihood of survival? It is a personal decision that only you can make for yourself. I choose to jump off the DAMN plane!!!! Because I am already on the plane and the only decisions you can make are jump or crash. The option to never get on the plane to begin with is long gone.

I'm not going to tell you to not do it... but, I would NEVER do it again. 1. The sleeve wasn't an option for me, it wasn't approved yet when I had the band installed, it was band or bypass, and I wish I went bypass back in 2011. 2. I had no hair loss with the band. I had no hair loss with the bypass either. 3. The stuff I should have been eating, I had issues with. There wasn't anything I "couldn't" eat, but things like grilled chicken, lettuce, leafy greens, all hurt to eat or would get stuck and I'd have to regurgitate it. 4. The first few months were great... then things just started to get problematic, I never had a psychical issue with the band, no erosion, no slippage, nothing of that nature, the band just stopped being effective, and there are PLENTY of reports like this. 5. Best tool was getting the band out and revising to the bypass. Honestly best thing WLS related that I've ever done was to dump the band and go with the bypass. Also, 2 of the major manufacturers of the band have either stopped production or sold off their lines, those companies no longer make parts for the bands. Something to think about. Why any honest surgeon would still be pushing these horrible little devices is so far beyond me it's not funny.

I am so glad that everything went well! I felt the exact same way! I was not in a lot of pain, I walked around the hospital unit, and I slept a lot. You might have a bit more pain at home because the nurses are not always providing you with medicine; however, it truly is not so terrible. I hope you do not suffer diarrhea like I did. I got it right after the x-ray drink and putting liquids in my belly. It's terrible. I really want to use depends lol. I cannot wait to start solids! Good luck fellow sleever!

And so will you @ dreaming of a sleeve! I believe yours fears are fears of the unknown, not,of the surgery itself. And that is normal, you can hear all of us until you think your head will pop, but since you are an individual yours still might differ. But it will be good, good for you, and a -👣step on the pathway to good health. I have met only one person not planning for hers, she,was the 1 in a million that had a rare abdominal occurance and ended up with a sleeve to save her life. She came here, scared, bewildered what happened and I'm glad we could give her enough. practical advice that I think she's going to be okay. And if we were here for her, rest assured we are here for you too. Ask if something is bothering you, we usually have at least 1 answer. Sometimes many!