CowgirlJane

I am not an expert on this - but from what you describe I have a very hard time seeing how the sleeve would cause you to lose weight. ALL the sleeve procedure does is reduce your appetite and reduce your capacity for food. Then, combined with the structure of how you are supposed to eat, gives you a shot in the arm to get weight off - the rest is up to the person. For me, i was hungry alot presleeve so the reduction in appetite and quantity "helped" me make better decisions. I went from eating probably in the 2000-3000 calorie a day range to under 1000. As the weight came off, it became easier to be active too - so that also helped. I personally would want the surgeon to explain how it would work if you are already under 1000 cal a day, eating mostly Protein and doing high intensity exercise. There is nothing about the sleeve that would cause that same regimen to work if it is not working now.

No complications, but it was weird. It filled with fluid, since the absence of the port kinda leaves a hole where it used to be.

I revised from band to sleeve and they are very different. I don't know what to tell you about success with the sleeve. I was not a binge eater but i definately ate too big of portions before. I also ate the wrong things because I had discomfort and misery with the band and it kinda drove me toward slider foods. The thing is, it does not take eating massive quantities for some of us to get and stay fat. I used to eat dinner on a dinner plate, but not crazy portions. Now I eat dinner on a tiny little plate and have the rule that the food can't touch. Big difference. The only way you really know what you are consuming is to accurately journal in myfitnesspal or some other software. It will tell you things beyond calories that might be enlightening. One of the things I have definately learned is that it is a plain lie that "a calorie is a calorie". It does make a difference WHAT you are eating too - carbs, sugar, versus Protein, Fiber etc. Since you aren't eating much food, I wonder if you would start losing weight with the band if you just started following the sleever rules? It is pretty simple - protein first, at least 60g a day, then healthy veggies, then fruit or other complex carbs like grains. Drink 64 oz of Water a day. Do not eat or drink within 30 minutes of each other. Exercise. The lousy thing about any WLS is you usually lose pretty well at first, but it gets harder, and certainly maintenance requires work work work! Even so, the band really wasn't as good of a tool as the sleeve is!

Ok, I think we are talking about two different calculations. The Livestrong site says it is calculating %EWL but it is not. It is calculating what percent of your body weight you lost. In my case, i lost 114, my starting weight was 308 so my percentage is: 114/308=.37 or 37% I have lost 37% of my STARTING body weight. When I get to my goal of 158 I will have lost .487 or 49% of my STARTING body weight. The calculation I was taught by my NUT was how they calculate the studies that show success rate for bariatric surgery - the percentages usually quoted are 60-80% of excess weight loss. They don't mean % of your starting body weight - that would be crazy - I would have to get down to 60 pounds to lose 80% of my starting weight. The formula for calculating the percentage of your EXCESS weight lost is: Starting Weight - Ideal weight (not your goal weight, your ideal weight by the charts) = EXCESS weight Weight lost/Excess weight*100 = % of EXCESS weight lost. The bad thing about the formula my NUT used is that the "ideal" weight is all over the board - people are not all reading from the same chart! My NUT used the weight that matches a 24 BMI - under 25 is a "normal" weight.

Whatever it is - drinking Water won't do it any harm and will likely do you good. Sounds like dehydration to me too. The first couple of months post op... the mantra needs to be sip sip sip but don't be afraid of asking for an IV of Fluid either. It gets easier though so hang in there! I hope you are feelng better very soon.

The standard way this is calculated is: Start weight - Ideal weight = Excess Excess weight/start weight = Excess weight loss percentage The ideal weight of 144 maps to a 24 BMI. So, I am 5'5", I started at 308 and am currently at 194. So, my excess = 164 pounds. I have lost 70% of my excess but i am still losing. My goal is to get to 158 which will equate to me losing 90% of my excess. My surgeon's goal is to lose 80% of excess which would get me to weighing 174 (assuming I did my math right) I have heard it said that 27 BMI is a really good goal for a person who has been obese for a long time - we have more skin and probably heavier bones from lugging all that weight.

I can't say whether you should have surgery - I personally think if you are high BMI, have tried over and over to get and keep weight off... and especially as you get older - your chances of getting to a healthy weight without surgery is pretty low. I think that as you get older, the risks from obesity become more scary then the risk from surgery. Whatever you do - DON'T get the lapband. I can go on and on all the reasons, but if you are worried about "eating normal food" the sleeve is a much much much better choice then the lapband. I had the band for 10 years and even with NO fill in it, I could never eat rice for example. Many veggies and dense Proteins could be difficult to eat. i have been sleeved almost 10 months and although there are food restrictions at the beginning - now I can eat anything, just in small portions. It is much easier to eat healthy with the sleeve over the band. There are other benefits as well, but since you mention that concern I wanted to point out the contrast. As far as gastric bypass - do look into it. It has been around a long time and although you will hear it knocked on this forum (by people who have not had it done) it is a valid choice. It wasn't a good choice for me as I didn't want a "pouch" again like I had with the band, but the stats are a little better then the sleeve honestly.

I have crazy curly/kinky hair, it is long and it is fairly fine and dry dry dry. I stopped using shampoo years ago (except after swimming in chlorine) - "wash" with a product that is more like a conditioner. I use an amazing leave in conditioner/detangler called "mixed chicks" that I buy at Karin's beauty supply. I top it off with a tad of that Morracan oil. This has helped my hair alot. My hair is soft, but I get nice defined curls with no frizz I lost alot of hair in this WLS process, my hair is actually now easier to manage as i think my hair was too thick before.

I weigh daily, but it doesn't drive me crazy. I know myself, when I don't weigh daily, it is the beginning of my weight denial phase. I have a long history of losing and regaining and I know exactly how that "regain" cycle feels and I just don't allow it. Weigh everyday, no stretchy waist bands, no excuses. As far as the stalls - yeah, how annoying! It is sometimes helpful to think of monthly goals and look at the daily ups and downs, including stalls, as just that. Stay focused on a longer term horizon if you can!

jasleeve, so glad you are feeling great and doing so well! My hairloss got pretty bad - but seems to have stopped now. My hair is probably 1/2 gone - but luckily I started with massive hair so it looks fine. My Protein and Vitamins have been good - it sometimes happens no matter what you try. It is a tough one - to ask the question "is it worth it?" My personal feeling is that WLS is very drastic and is really only worth it in extreme cases - all else has failed. It is easy for me to say, since i had no complications, but I do think it is worth it for someone like me - high BMI, reaching middle age and a lifetime (starting age 4) of fighting obesity, mostly unsuccessful. The last few years, it got harder and harder to even temporarily lose weight and I felt pretty out of control. I just returned from my sister in law's funeral. She dropped dead of a heart attack while still in her early 60s. A lifetime of carrying around an extra 100-200# caught up with her frankly. I am 48, and the handwriting has been on the wall for me for awhile - question was just which risk is the one to take - risk of surgery or risk of obesity. I would suggest that people with lower BMI, especially if they are younger - try try try really hard another way before resorting to surgery. Even though I had no complications, this isn't so easy and I have permanently modified my body. For me, I just didn't see another choice, but I strongly suggest that others in earlier stages of the obesity disease should really exhaust those avenues before surgery. Just my 2cents. Continued success to you Jas!

It isn't easy, but hang in there. Some people have very strong emotional (and physical) reactions to this surgery. do talk to your surgeon, but also realize that this too will pass. I think that the "head" part of this surgery is often underestimated. I hosted Christmas brunch 2 weeks post op. I had a hot chocolate Protein drink while everyone else enjoyed the feast. Luckily, I wasn't hungry, but it was a little sad feeling. I have had that sad feeling a few times post op, but let me tell you, the joy I have experienced from being 100+ pounds thinner has more then made up for it. I was prepared for the emotional drama post op, but now 9 months, almost 10 months out, I am started to freak out about keeping the weight off. sigh. I am doing good, but the memories of so many failures (regain) from my past haunt me.

I was pretty "blah" for 6-8 weeks post op. I had read enough to know it was pretty common so just kinda rolled with it. For most of us, the feeling great started later.... hang in there and get your fluids in!!!!

WLS isn't for everyone, and yes, there are risks. I think the biggest risk - quite honestly - is that the patient isn't really ready to make the lifestyle changes for long term success. I feel even myself wondering that and I have spent a lot of time and energy "preparing" myself for this path. I just got back from a family funeral out of state. My sister in law dropped dead of a sudden heart attack at age 62. She was at least 150# overweight and had the co-morbidities that put her at risk of heart failure and it happened. She was an active, social and neat lady that we lost a couple of decades too early due to her obesity. My brother (her husband) and their adult daughter are also very large and I can tell you are pretty shaken up and deciding how they can improve their own outlook. so, I would never try to talk someone into having WLS, but I do suggest you actually meet with a surgeon and discuss the ACTUAL risks (as they are real) and decide which path gives you the best odds of a healthy, high quality of life in the coming decades. These forums are great for support - but when you focus on only the complications, or perhaps only focus on the "success" stories you don't get a balanced view of the actual results that a broad group of people have. Only some people stay posting on the forum!!!! So, to get a better picture, do actual research beyond reading posts on a forum. note: okay, I missed the post saying you are going back- keep us posted what you learn! BTW, we were all terrified, so you are in good company!

I had 2.5 months between band removal and sleeve. Doctor would have done it in one procedure if i insisted, but i asked him what he recommended to minimize the risks of leaks etc and he thought 2 surgeries was a better option. I had the band for 10 years, it had slipped, I had massive scar tissue. In addition, it was "tight" even though it wasn't filled. who knows if the wait makes a difference, but i know my surgeon does them in one procedure too, especially for "cash pay" patients since it adds so much to the cost to have separate procedures. This worked out for me because I was insatiably and out of control hungry for those 2.5 months. I was a wreck and it made me realize and remove any doubt at all that i needed the sleeve! When people post about their "regrets" post op I can only think they didn't have that drive to eat 24/7 - I was just in misery. It has been wonderful to be free from the hunger demon and i have never once doubted the sleeve even through the un-fun recovery weeks.

Another Pacific Surgical fan! Dr Billing removed my band and did alot of the preop stuff for me. I think he is amazing, caring and really took the time to explain things to me. Dr Landerholm did my sleeve because I ran into a time crunch (insurance was changing) and Dr Billing was on vacation by the time I was ready to be sleeved. I felt like I got great care, and have done really well since the surgery. Their mandatory followup with the NUT has been very helpful to me.

Look him up on health grades. Ask about attending a support group where his patients go, you will meet people and find out the real deal. Not sure what stories are scaring you - but it is a serious surgery and there is a risk of complications. If you can lose weight and keep it off without surgery - that is safer. Me, I couldn't do that and weighing 300+ was killing me slowly so I was willing to take the risk. Sleeve surgery has slightly lower complication rate then the gastric bypass however. I picked a surgeon with lots of experience, and with a good reputation and then had the good luck too - no complications. It is a risk though.

I was terrified in advance, and never had a moment's regret after. I had read enough on these forums to know what to expect and so no suprises there. The first weeks after are hard, but do-able. Hang in there and it will be just a distant memory before you know it!

I think those are good questions for the surgeon as your case is not the same as many others. There are plenty of people who have it done in one surgery though and have been fine. I am not even sure that studies actually prove that two separate surgeries reduce risk - I think at this point surgeons are using "judgement" on that one. I had a seriously slipped band and pouch dialation. Mine was unfilled for years before it slipped and then when it was diagnosed as slipped, he tried to unfill more "just in case" but found it was empty - it was just tight on me I guess. That band had to go - and then I did the sleeve later. As far as risk of complications - I was thoroughly educated in those possibilities even though there weren't clear large studies to point to. I would be disappointed if a surgeon did not educate me so I could make a good informed decision. I am guessing that you will be signing something saying that you are informed of the risks before they operate.

It is my understanding that the current protocol on bougie size is 32-40 range. Going too small, higher risk of side effects like acid reflux; going to big, higher risk of not losing weight well enough. My surgeon used 38 and as near as I can tell, I am losing weight at an expected rate for my age/situation. Now, one thing to keep in mind is that this bougie thing is just a guide the surgeon uses. Your actual stomach capacity depends on the length of your stomach as we are not all identical and on the surgeons technique too. My opinion is that as long as your surgeon is somewhere in that range and that practice has a good track record/good stats of weight loss and low complications - I wouldn't worry about it. The difference between say a 38 and 36 is pretty minor and frankly I doubt makes that much difference. Who knows, 5 years from now they might have whole different recommendations! Anyway, you can search youtube and find videos of the surgery and there is one video that explains about the bougie and how they are used. I am sorry, I don't have the links anymore, but i found them pretty easily before. Dr Alvarez does have a series of videos out there, some of them you might find interesting search for "Endobariatric" My personal philosophy is to be an educated consumer, and part of that might be asking the surgeon about these things, but in general i leave this kind of stuff to him as long as i feel confident his patients have good outcomes.

Here is what I was told, and this by a nurse who "failed" with the band and got to a normal BMI with the sleeve. Some bandsters have learned to tolerate that overful feeling - packing the pouch or whatever. Or, they have developed habits to eat slider type foods to avoid that painful feeling the band gives you with healthier food. If a person doesn't change those bad habits, they will not do well with the sleeve. On the plus side, bandsters typically understand how to comply with things and generally are less shocked and (frankly speaking) don't seem to let the normal healing process get them down so much. Getting used to not drinking with meals for example is no biggie to someone who complied with the rules of being banded. First surgeon I saw told me I was not a good candidate for the sleeve because my BMI was over 50 and I had "failed" with the band, also a restrictive procedure. He advocated the gastric bypass for me, but I just could not get my mind around it. I had basically decided to not revise to anything - and was trying one more weight loss program. That was the luckiest phone call I ever made. I spoke to the director of the nutrition center and she told me flat out i would likely not be successful without a revision surgery and to seriously seriously consider the sleeve. She connected me with the surgeons I wound up using and I am forever thankful. At least for me, I have had few "issues" with the sleeve because it is SO MUCH BETTER then living with the band. I don't vomit, I don't have pain after eating and i am not going around hungry all the time. I was terrified too, I mean really scared. Maybe a healthy respect for the risk you are taking and the lifestyle changes needed is a good thing, i don't know. I am glad I did it though because not only is my health ALOT better but my quality of life is just incredible compared to when I was over 300#.

I have shared my story with you already. Bottom line, the sleeve is much better then the lapband (banded in 2001, removed in 2011 so i have some experience on the subject). I think that it is really important to go through the self questioning - am I really ready for this??? Am I ready to committ to just eating ALOT LESS food for the rest of my life? There are other "rules" too, but committing to that permanent, child's portion, well, it is a big decision. I sure as heck was ready by the time I did the surgery, but it took me a long time to get there.

I know many people have had their lives saved by the RNY, so I don't mean to talk it down at all. I just couldn't do it... and here is my partial list: - I was a revision from the band, and the complications revising to the rny were much riskier - I had a pouch when i was banded and it SUCKED. I have no idea if the pouch for the RNY behaves the same way, but I suspect it does. I don't want to vomit up food for unpredictable reasons. I spent 10 years in that hell and decided I just couldn't do it. - Mentally, I could get used to the idea that my stomach was too big and just needed to be reduced but i could never get comfortable with the RNY procedure - gave me the heebie geebies. Irrational, yes, but it was a key factor. -20 years ago the woman who was our daycare provider had the RNY. In those days they were done open, so recovery was a big huge deal. I know it isn't the same now, but i can't quite shake the memories of how ill she was and how long it took her to recover (she looked awesome though, lost all of her excess weight!) - I was convinced by the studies available that my chances of success are nearly as good with the sleeve compared to the RNY, but my risks were considerably lower. That just made sense to me. One piece of advice is to consider a surgeon who has a thriving "sleeve" practice. I did that and feel that their after care and all that was spot on for a sleever.

I was not diabetic, but was "borderline". My fasting blood sugar was always around 99... year after year. Even more concerning was my A1C number was high. Since my surgery, my fasting blood sugar has tested in the low 70s and my A1C is completely normal. This seemed to have happened really fast post op too. I am so pleased because I have 3 siblings with diabetes, it was definately "in the mail" for me and I have hopefully prevented it from turning into fullblown diabetes. What a lifesaver (literally!).

I was told to wait 6 weeks before doing anything more taxing then a walk. I personally still felt pretty weak and wiped out even 6 weeks post op. My advice would be to give yourself a little time to increase the intensity/duration of exercise. I am guessing the dizziness was more dehydration then anything - but who knows. I think a lot of sleevers in the early weeks are borderline dehydrated. It is safe to exercise with the low calorie post surgery diet. As you are increasing your exercise intensity you will feel weak if you haven't had enough carbs. It is like you run out of gas - that is easily resolved by a little fruit or a Protein bar that has some carbs in it. I saw a fitness specialist as part of my surgical follow up. One thing they told me is to not get too crazy with super high intensity for long periods of time as that can stimulate appetite. So, we are trying to find that balance - fitness, developing he exercise habit and burning calories - without going overboard and potentially triggering hunger. Her comments were directed at me because I like doing like 60 minutes on the eliptical and that was too much - she wanted half that time to be stretching or strength training.

And it doesn't happen evenly. My bust stayed about the same for a long time, really losing the first 80-90 pounds - and now bam - I suddenly swim in D cup bras. I suspect I am heading for the B catagory, which is fine with me since I am interested in athletic activities.