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Each individual person has to decide this for themselves. I personally never considered bypass. I didn't want my insides rerouted. I also knew that I didn't want to be limited on the foods I can eat (variety). I temporarily considered the band, but the sleeve was right for me. I know other people that had bypass that are loving it. They're also the type that do exactly as the doctor says to the letter. The ones that don't are the ones having problems with their bypass. I didn't want to deal with malabsorption issues either - last thing I wanted was an iron infusion or blood transfusion. I don't have those issues with my sleeve. Not everyone with a bypass has those issues either. There are pros and cons to both. Many bypass surgeries can be reversed if necessary. A sleeve cannot. I didn't see any reason I would ever need a reversal. Some people are comforted by the fact that they can have the procedure reversed. It's something you have to decide. Write down the pros and cons of each and figure out if one of them is an absolute "deal breaker" for you on the cons side. If not, then go to the pro side - which one has the biggest "winners" for the life you WANT to lead, not the life you have NOW.

it varies for everyone - the more you walk and get the gas out, the faster that aspect of it will go down. The swelling from the trauma of the surgery is an individual thing. Mine took about 2 weeks really. Everyone's different though.

Well, what are you expecting to get out of it? Are you thinking that it will increase your elasticity in your skin? They really don't - they infuse moisture into your skin temporarily, but there are no lasting effects. If it makes you feel better and its not a cost concern, go for it. But if you're looking for the magic skin tightener that gives you permanent results, sorry.

congrats! I didn't know Dr. Gluck was doing the sleeve now? Very cool!

any store that has an athletic department will sell chaffing sticks - looks kinda like deoderant and works wonders!

Yall, I just gotta say - don't worry about how fast it comes off - the fact is, it DOES come off! And probably faster than you might think! I thought I was never going to get to even have the surgery. Now I'm almost 9 months out, down about 140 lbs and feeling like A MILLION BUCKS! I feel better than I have in YEARS. And ya know what? I'm looking pretty spectacular too! I cannot stress how WONDERFUL things can get - just be being positive and working the sleeve.

I'm 8 1/2 months out and my hair has thinned and now started to return. Its NOT THAT BAD!

good luck!

These are all very genuine concerns to have. The surgery won't fix the sweet tooth - YOU have to do that. The sleeve is a tool - much like a hammer. The hammer can't build a house, but it can make it easier. This is not a magical process. You have to do the work. The sleeve facilitates portion control - you have to decide what you're going to do with that portion control. There's more work than laying on the table involved. I can say that after the sleeve, my body only craves protein. I didn't have much of a sweet tooth before, and I really haven't got one now. When you get down to brass tax, the body will tell you what it needs. Its up to you to listen to it.

My hair thinned but I and my hair stylist were the only ones that noticed. Take your vitamins and get your protein - that'll help. Its a side effect for many just due to having surgery - the anesthesia can have that effect. You don't go bald - but you probably will lose some hair. Small price to pay to keep your life and be healthy.

the more you walk, the faster they go away. take very small sips.

Yup - you haven't had any solid food so they're going to be loose - the dizzy is normal too it seems - if it doesn't start to subside, consult your doc.

A couple hours before bed - a frozen yogurt or small light snack - popcorn etc. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My preop weight was 386. I'm at 260 now. Surgery was 7.5 months ago - doing great. Cannot believe how much better I feel and how Much more active I am Sent from my iPhone using VST

Have some cranberry juice. All bars have it. Sit back and relax Sent from my iPhone using VST

absolutely 1000000% I would do it again. Best decision of my life.

relax. This is what is going to happen. You'll be moving to the next stage of food soon. Pudding and water should never make you 'full' Trust me, real food, and not very much of it will make you FULL. You are probably experiencing head hunger and acid issues as well. Those will make you feel unfull. Be thankful that you can get your water and protein in - a lot of people can't.

the forums here are good, but youtube videos allow you to see people and their progress as well. I originally was going to have the band as well, but dang I'm so glad I didn't. Just remember that everyone is different. Don't get caught up on the scale. Don't worry about what it says from one day to the next - its a marathon, not a sprint

Frankly, I'm too busy out enjoying my life to be here! Down 118 lbs in just over 6 months. Excited about life. Love the way I'm starting to look. LOVE the way I feel. Love that I am NEVER home! Working a lot, playing even more I'm so very excited about getting my life back. Still no complications. I weigh myself about every 3-4 weeks I think. I'm happy every time I step on the scale because it ALWAYS goes down. I eat about 4-5 oz max at a meal of protein. For those of you struggling with the decision on this surgery - only you can decide if its right for you. But if you're wanting your life back, and wanting to experience LIFE as its meant to be - this may be the answer for you. It has brought the REAL me back to myself, my family and my friends. I'm just too busy loving life to be here! But I do check in from time to time - if anyone has questions, I'm more than happy to answer them! LOVE!

Walk walk walk walk. Every 2 hours at least. sleep sitting up for the first night. Worked great for me. Felt like I could run a marathon day after surgery. Didn't have any more pain meds or anything. The walking does amazing things Sent from my iPhone using VST

Loved Dr. Almanza. Cost of surgery wasnt a big issue for me and I chose Almanza. I felt completely comfortable at all times an zero complications. I stayed at the hotel instead of the recovery house. I had my surgery on a Friday and only had pain meds that night and then first thing Saturday morning. Never needed them after that. I suggest walking every 2 hours the entire night after surgery and sleep sitting up the first night. I had zero gas pains after that and really no pain at all. Didn't even take the naproxen they gave me. I didn't have 2 stitches in my upper inscision, and that was the first of mine to heal - we are all different though. Sent from my iPhone using VST

please please please - if you really want to do something for your health, please quit smoking! I KNOW how hard it can be. I did it - several times. I finally did it for real almost 6 years ago. You have to really want to make the change in order for it to work - and I'm telling you - it'll be the best choice you ever make for yourself - even better than this surgery. Why? Because it ALLOWS you to have this surgery and allows you to BREATHE again! Good luck! Try anything! Chantix worked for me!