deb_fox

Karen, I thought the sleeve was only approved by the FDA here in the US about two years ago, so I don't think you will find anyone that has done it as far back as you are looking for. My support group disussed this and said there are just unknowns for now. I was given an option when I signed into surgery to have my progress followed to help with studies. I think I would be nervous if I didn't have my children already because of the unknowns.

Way to go Susan! That is such an awesome start to your new weight loss journey. Keep it up!

I am 5 weeks out. Does anyone know when I can have popcorn?

Mindy, I am 5'2 and signed the papers for surgery at 252 pounds. I reached the decision after years of yo-yo dieting and beating myself up when I failed. The motivating factor for me is that I am turning 45 in October. Both of my parent's died at the age of 52. My Dad was 135 pounds and 5'7. My Mom was 5'1 and 120 pounds. My Dad had all kinds of heart problems...high blood pressure...high cholesterol...history of heart attacks. My Mom died of lung cancer. I was scared. I am approaching the time in my life where I start to feel like I am running out of time to make things right. I have been on cholesterol medication for close to 15 years. I have hypothyroidism and hashimotos disease. My Doctor told me last year that I was borderline diabetic and if I was smart, I would lose weight to reduce the risk of being a diabetic. That scared me. I tried and tried and tried to lose the weight. That is when I heard that an acquaintance of mine had the sleeve. I never heard of it. My Doctors have suggested the band to me several times over the years. I was not going to give in and do it. I was determined I would lose this weight on my own. Finally, I asked this woman about the sleeve. She gave me information and I attended a seminar that the Surgeon had. I was sold. I had more of a chance of dying from a stroke or heart attack than I did from the surgery. It was a chance to get the life I wanted for so long. I was thin until I had my kids and I know the difference between living life as an obese person and a thin person. That was it for me. I started the process. I dieted and lost 20 pounds. I did everything I was supposed to do until the day of surgery. Once you start the liquid diet pre-op, more weight will fall off. The reason for them wanting you to be on a liquid diet is it shrinks your liver, making for a safer surgery. My Surgeon insisted on 2 weeks liquid. I know many Doctors call for less. It was well worth it. Everything has been. I had my surgery June 11, 2012 and am down 53 pounds and hear all day long from people how incredible I look. It has been years since I have been told that. I feel great, I look great and I am eating well.

My advice to you is that you need to listen to what your own heart is telling you. This is such a personal decision and it shouldn't be influenced by other people. When you ask yourself if this is right for you, go with your own answer. The sleeve is not an easy way out, it is a tool. It is a journey that still requires lifestyle changes and commitment. Nobody is doing this for you which is why you need to be the one to decide. Good luck!

My Surgeon tells me 4 months post-op for salad or any raw vegetables. It's always what you can't have that you crave! I want a salad and I am only 2.5 months post-op. I watched my co-workers eat a greek salad and I wanted it so bad.

My insurance company (Multi-plan) requires me to pay a personal deductable of $350 per year. I met that prior to surgery, so I was then responsible for 15% of my surgery. I paid $180 out of pocket to see a Nutritionist (2 visits) and to get my Psychological eval. I could have gone anywhere I wanted, but it was just easier for me to do everything with them. My surgery included a hernia repair (which I didn't know about until I was in recovery) cost me $460. Not too bad! Then I got annoying bills. When I was allowed to be released, my Surgeon was going to be in Surgery for the rest of the day. They had a PA come in and ask me a couple of questions. The PA signed me out. I got a bill of $100 for their service. They spent 5 minutes with me. I got the Anesthesiology bill, the hospital bill and the radiology bill. I think all together, I had to pay close to $2,000. I wasn't asked to pay any Doctor fees upfront. My Surgeon has support group 3x a week that I can go to for life at no charge. In fact, they encourage me to go. They do the clothes swap as a free service.

I drink the muscle milk light. The only other thing I found that I can stomach is a light chocolate milk my local supermarket sells with 20 grams of protein. The problem is they are out of it half the time I go shopping. I am lactose intolerant too. Even though the muscle milk is dairy free, it goes right through me sometimes. I think it may be that it is so sweet.

I wouldn't take it. I would try tylenol. I know it's not the same, but you don't want to risk anything. I know all Doctors tell us different things, but I was told to stay clear of Acetaminophen and caffeine.

This is freaky that you are asking about the vision. I told my husband that all of a sudden, I feel like I can't see the television or street signs anymore with my current eye glasses. It has only been for a short while. I had my surgery on June 11th. Now I am wondering if the nutrition could be playing a role in this. I keep saying I have to get my eyes checked again. Things that make you go hmmm.

I thought it was just me! I am 2.5 months post op and mine are reddish-pink. I had my gallbladder out 15 years ago and one of my scars is visible if I wear a light shirt or a tight shirt because it is raised. I just assumed that I don't heal as well as others. I guess that since I have 10 incision scars between the sleeve and the gallbladder along with the stretch marks from 3 pregnancies that bikinis were never in the cards for me anyway!

I was prescribed Prilosec to take every day for 6 months after surgery. I never in my life had indigestion, heartburn or reflux. I hate taking pills that I don't need, but maybe taking this has made it so I never had to experience the nausea and vomiting. I do worry that my food intake is not enough to sustain a healthy body. My bloodwork came back excellent, so I guess what I am consuming is enough. I eat only a few fork fulls per meal and drink a few protein shakes daily. Good luck. Hopefully this is only a very temporary problem.

I have used the straw that came with my Protein drink when I didn't have access to a cup and was absolutely fine. I think I will not worry myself about the occasional straw usage!

I was told that for the rest of my life I cannot use a straw, chew gum, drink carbonated beverages or caffeine by my Surgeon's office.

It certainly helps that we can share the humor in something that could be embarassing.

I am not the type of person that asks personal questions of people, so I am alway's amazed by the questions people will ask. It is nobody's business. If I see someone has lost weight and looks good, I tell them that they look good and leave it at that.

It was easy for me because my Parent's didn't allow us to have a drink until after we have finished our meal. This came about because we would fill up on the beverage and not have room for the nutritional stuff. I guess it's kind of the same reasoning here. We would fill our sleeves with a drink and have less room for the important protein. Keep trying. Like someone else said, don't even bring a drink near the table.

I didn't keep my surgery a secret. I told all of my family, friends and co-workers. The reason I didn't keep it a secret is that I have known several morbidly obese woman who have told me through the years that they were huge their entire lives. Then, all of a sudden, they become skinny within a year and keep it off. I feel they had to have done a form of surgery because to struggle your entire life and then to claim to lost it all in a year or less and keep it off seems suspicious. I just wanted it out in the open because I feel there is no shame involved. Getting a sleeve is just a tool I needed to help me.

The paperwork my Surgeon sent me home with said to wait one month.

The paperwork my Surgeon sent me home with said to wait one month.

I have a "shelf" above my butt that is nothing but fat. It makes it difficult to buy clothes. I have to wear shirts that are long enough to cover it and that makes me look even bigger. With that said...when I delivered my 3rd child (about 180 pounds), I went to walk to the restroom and apparently my butt was hanging out of the hospital gown. The nurse said, "oh my goodness! Then she say's "Oh, never mind, that is just fat above your butt". I have had this ridiculous thing for years and it actually hurts me when I lay on the floor to do any kind of exercises. I am looking forward to the day it goes away! The worst thing that happened to me was when I went to my Doctors office and they said they needed to get my weight. Their scale for some reason is in the same room they use to take people's blood pressure and other things. I had to step on the scale in front of other patients and several staff members. My gyno's office is the same way! I love my Doctors, but this is a bit insensitive to place it in a multi-purpose room where more than one patient is in at a time. So many people say weight isn't the most important thing. Then why is it that everywhere you go they ask your height and weight?

It is complicated because you do need to walk a lot to get all of the gas out of your body. I was told it could be there for weeks. If you don't get it out, you will be very uncomfortable. I felt so tired for several weeks after surgery and asked about it on this site. So many people told me that it was expected and completely normal. To help ward that feeling of exhaustion, be certain to drink the protein, it really makes a difference. I was also instructed by my surgeon to walk one block my first day home and to add more distance each day. By the end of my first week, I was walking a mile and a half. It is a good thing!

I was on clear liquids for a week, then I graduated to full liquids. The Glucerna my Surgeon had me drinking the 2 weeks prior to surgery gave me the runs bad. It is a similar thing to Ensure. I was actually nervous about losing my bowels during surgery it was so bad. Fortunately, they had me cleanse my bowels first. Now, 8 weeks post-op, sometimes my muscle milk light makes me make a mad dash for the bathroom. I think all of these drinks are super sweet and that is what causes the problem for me.

My Paternal Grandpa was born and raised in Ilocus Norte, Phillipines. My Dad was 1/2 Filipino. My Aunts were all short and chunky until they neared their 50's. That is when they all lost weight. I have the same body shape as them, but am heavier than they were. They all have said things about my weight over the years and it gets me so upset. They and some of my cousins talk about my weight as if I am the only one in the family with a weight issue. I will never criticize anyone's weight once I reach my goal. It is hurtful and we often don't know what led to the person's weight gains. In my case, it was depression after losing both of my folks while still in my 20's.