kyllfalcon

I have told everyone. No one said that I didn't need it, should do it the old-fashioned way, or that I wasn't that big. But three coworkers expressed concern over the risks, not really being non-supportive or judgmental. I was scared to death to tell my grown sons, but they were totally supportive and accepting when I did. My husband has been my rock. Tells me everyday how glorious I look. Has changed his eating habits and lifestyle to be more in sync with mine. Prepares all his own food. What a man! But bottom line, to heck with what "they" say. Do what you need to do for you.

I'm going to chime in here although I was a lower BMI patient at 39.5. My surgeon prided himself on sleeving higher BMI patients that other surgeons rejected. I don't know if they lost 100% of their excess weight, but even if not, whatever they lost has to be a vast improvement in their health. He talked about those cases with great pride and pleasure as if they were successful. Please realize too that it might be difficult to get to the "prescribed" BMI where you're coming from, simply due to the weight of excess skin. Wishing you the best, and my, what a beautiful face! I know you're sick of hearing that, but it is true!

My surgeon said it was at first considered reversible but they have since found it is not always. Seems the stomach doesn't want to return to its former shape. The purported reversibility was what at first attracted me. And my surgeon was very willing to perform it. But since it was not reversible, there was no reason to pursue it. And the surgeon did not feel that weight loss results were as good as with the sleeve.

I did not consciously make an effort to prepare. My mind just took over and did it. I gradually began to eat less, eat right, and I "lived" the new life style in my mind. Kind of "seeing" myself succeed. This all happened even before I had outwardly committed to the surgery! It was very strange. My husband noticed and commented several times that I had already adopted the life style.

Get another physician.

Not always mental. Since day 1 I have been hungry, still am. I have tried every med available and the hunger does not go away. Still, it's a kitten compared to the lion it was before. It feels like I eat all day long, and pretty much do. I counted it up, I eat 10 times a day, but not much at any one time. And I'm almost at goal, so I'm not really overeating. I was a little disappointed at first, because I thought I would not be hungry. But on the flip side, there is the blessing that I still want and enjoy food very much! So it's a good compromise in my eyes.

It's normal and healthy to be worried about both. Don't know if you've ever had surgery or not, so don't know what your benchmark of pain is. I've had lots, and this was one of the very easiest as far as pain and discomfort. Maybe my tubal ligation a hundred years ago was easier, but that would be the only one of my ten surgeries easier than this. It may not have been so for everyone else though. Most of us are very worried about complications too. I surely was. I finally realized the complications of obesity were very likely, almost certain, to happen to me, and that outweighted the lesser risk of the surgery. No regrets.

Same here. My surgeon did not routinely test for leaks, but I had a low grade fever for a couple of weeks. I had to drink nastiness and was put in an xray machine with a bed, which tilted this way and that and I had to turn this way and that, so they could video the nastiness as it made its way down. Not painful, just a pain. I did have drains. They were not bad or painful, just in the way. They were removed the morning I left the hospital. Eight months out it's all fuzzy and surreal. None of that mattered past the moment in which it occurred. What matters is the end result! And you will love that!!

I look better than I thought I would. Yep, my former fatness plumped out my wrinkles, which are now more prominent, but I'm pushing 60. My chin turned out better, as I was expecting a lot of wrinkly saggy neck skin and that didn't happen. My thighs look like hell, and I wasn't expecting that. Boobs better than expected. Butt, a saggy mess. I'm thrilled over all. At my age, I usually just get naked to shower!! So if my face and neck look ok, and I can cover the rest with clothing, I'm happy. May need a tummy tuck just so I can wear pants that aren't too fluffy in the butt.

I was self pay The cost of the hospital was just a line item on a single bill, all of which was paid to the surgeon's practice, which then distributed the funds to the hospital, anesthesia, etc. I don't remember exact numbers, but my total bill was about $18,000. Some of that was to purchase insurance in the event of complications. Expensive, but worth the peace of mind to me. Dr. Weiss, Bluegrass Bariatrics, in Kentucky.

Dang, I feel really lucky. So sorry anyone had to go through all that!

I take the maximum strength of a certain prescription NSAID. I'm 8 months out, and have taken them since week 3 post-op, with my surgeon's blessing and no ill effects. Your surgeon may feel otherwise.

Mmmm, you're certainly welcome on this forum, but I wonder how many RNY patients you'll find, if any. This forum is about the Vertical Gastric Sleeve, a different procedure.

I was wondering about what Spatter said. Maybe you've just lost feeling from the surgery. I had foot surgery three years ago and that part of my foot is still numb!! At any rate, please don't fear the worst or jump to conclusions. It may not be so bad. We're here to listen!

Spatter, I had that procedure done too! I kept running a low-grade fever and they were checking for a leak. Didn't have one! But the video was indeed cool!

Please don't take this wrong, but what do you mean talking to your doctor won't do any good??? Have you tried? Have you asked your doctor how much stomach was removed? Did you not discuss that beforehand? Perhaps there is a real reason why you don't feel any restriction. Please, talk to your doctor.

Five and the largest one was made where I already had a small scar from previous surgeries. Now that spot has been used four times! I don't give a hoot about the scars though. Small price to pay.

Not 60 yet, but will be in a couple of months. Had my surgery in March, and I too worried I was too old. Not. Had my head on straight and totally in the game. Almost at goal. Best thing I ever did! Just compared a picture taken at Easter with the granddaughter to one taken last night on Halloween with the granddaughter... two different people! I love my sleeve and don't regret a minute of the discomfort or a penny spent.

I did. And I ran a low-grade fever, for about two or three weeks, along with the fits of chills. They never found the reason - tested for leaks and infection, found nothing. It eventually went away, although I still freeze to freakin' death but only at night in the bed. That said, keep an eye on your temperature. Just because I or someone else had a low-grade temp but no complications doesn't mean everyone will be so lucky. Good luck!

You are not alone. You will find literally hundreds and hundreds of posts on this forum about the dreaded week 3 stall. Seems like almost everyone experiences it (luckily I did not and have never had a stall!). Just keep doing the right things and it will pass very soon.

I don't get the gum and straw warnings. Neither have bothered me in the least. I rarely chew gum, but I've tried it with no ill effects. I use a straw all day every day and have since surgery. Hey, back in the day when my 40-something kids were little, they sold some bitter-tasting preparation to keep kids from sucking their thumbs. Maybe they still make it.

chicken breast for some reason has always given me spasms when I try to swallow, before and after surgery. Same with white potatoes that are cooked but not mashed. Don't really know why. So I don't eat it, although I do love it. Oh, well. But I can eat two chicken legs or thighs!

It is my understanding that sleeves don't stretch. They may feel tighter at first due to swelling, and over a period of time as that swelling subsides and total healing occurs we become more comfortable with more intake. My surgeon said he removes the stretchy part of the stomach, the fundus. A pouch is what a bypass patient is left with (we don't technically have a pouch, we have a sleeve), and part of that pouch is the stretchy fundus. To answer your specific question, I was able to drink more than 4 oz of Fluid in an hour at one week out, but not 11 oz in 5 mintues. I think as long as you are comfortable you can drink whatever amount you want, but really this question is best asked of your surgeon.

It has never taken me that long to eat anything after the surgery. I eat at my usual pace, which was fast. I drink normally. I can chug. At first all the pills were an issue, but now not even that. When I eat with a crowd, no one notices anything out of the ordinary, because there is nothing to notice. And everyone knows I had the surgery. I am happy with the amount I can eat. I am satisfied mentally, emotionally and physically. It's like gmanbat indicated, the satisfaction is in the taste, not the quantity. Most everyone gets back to eating and drinking normally. Don't allow yourself to be misinformed. Don't allow that misinformation to cause you to make a poor decision.

You're still losing though! Look at the bright side!