MegaBob

I never had any surgery before the sleeve. I thought I was going to be nervous wreck the day of the surgery but I was surprisingly calm. I knew it was something I needed to do for me and my family. I just told myself that although it is a major surgery many people have gone through much more and are fine ie hip replacements, C-sections, heart surgery. My surgeon was highly rated, I knew several people he had done surgery on, and that had a calming effect too. Perhaps the thing that helped the most is I got excited about my future weight lost and visualized myself thin and staying thin. My recovery was pain free! I did exactly what they told me to and I had no problems at all. This is my third week post op and I am very tired of liquids, but sunday I get soft foods. The best thing about the sleeve is that you will lose weight, no doubt about it. You will have to have discipline to keep it off but at least you will be in the position of having lost weight.

Pre surgery I did triathlons (longest was 1/2 ironman), ran a few marathons, many 1/2 marathons, and rode tribike and mountain bike extensively. I was about 230# then. I am on my way back down to hopefully under 2003, and was sleeved 12-23-13. when I was doing this I really has to push the fluids and take GU every 30 minutes or else I would "bonk". My concern is that I won't be able to stay hydrated and keep the calories coming in post surgery. Will my ability to take more fluids improve in the next 6 months? I am considering keeping workouts to an hour, but loved doing the century rides and running 1/2 marathons with friends. That being said I gained 20# training for each marathon and don't want to gain weight again post surgery.

My experience has been that the people who found out or I told after surgery were very supportive. I lost a bunch of weight 3 years ago with diet and exercise. My friends, family and associates were very proud/supportive. Then they watched me put the weight back on over the next years, struggle with eating right, and slowly quit going to the gym. The most common response has been "good for you, don't give up, keep fighting". Which honestly surprised me. People that are close to you or care about you will support you, and rest don't matter. I only told a select few before surgery because I just didn't want to answer the same questions over and over, and was afraid people would try to talk me out of it. I spend more time explaining it to people I think are in need of doing something about their weight and are showing interest. I was also shocked how many friends had family members that had some sort of WLS so it really was not a big deal to them.

I was sleeved 12-23 and have had a painless recovery. My only issue is that the area around the incision where they did the most work from is numbish and sort of burns. It feels like my tee shirt is rubbing it and irritating it. I ask the Dr and a nurse who had the surgery and they said it was normal and described why it feels that way. They said everyone is different in how long it lasts. What is your experience?

I think my Dr. goal is too low for me. I am 5'10" and his goal after being on the body composition scale is 180#, which would put me at 20% body fat. I dropped 170# a few years ago and got down to 215# but did not stay there for long. I really can't remember when I weighed 180, it certainly was in middle school and I am 45 now. My wife will be mad at me if I hit 180 because she is 170#. LOL

One night. I had no pain at all. I walked for 45 minutes every 2-3 hours and that really helped with the gas pain in my shoulder. My Dr. was great about not kicking me out until I was ready to go. I opted to go after one night but they would have let me stay another if I wanted to. My roommate had a hernia fixed and gall bladder out in addition to the sleeve so the Dr. kept him a second night.

I was sleeved on 12-23-13. I have another week before I start my soft regular protein. I had no pain after surgery and have no nausea at all. I don't know if I am the exception but the whole surgery and recovery was really easy for me. I lost 20# from my two week liquids to my one week check up, so about 6# a week average. At my two week check up I only lost another 3#. I was a bit disappointed but am trying not to focus on the scale at all. I know I am drinking less than 750 calories per day so the weight will come off. I know my body is fighting me because of the low caloric intake. That will change over time and so far I have been not been focusing on the scale. I am really looking forward to some real food, even if it will be a few bites. No regrets so far. I am glad to be back to work because sitting around the house with food I could not eat was getting difficult.

I am two weeks post surgery and have a week to go for soft food. I don't think I have had a full feeling yet. I never had trouble getting my protein in with shakes or proti soup. Is rher a big difference in how soon you feel full once you go to softs?

I had my one week post op visit and was down 20# in three weeks. Two were the liquid fast and one week post op. My Dr. also don't get on the scale right away. We all want to see the results of our sacrifices but I think getting hung up on a number is short sighted. I lost #170 pounds with diet and exercise, but put 150# back on. I think I focussed too much on hitting that goal number and was poorly prepared mentally for what to do after that. This time I know the pounds will come off, I will hit a bottom number at some point, so now my focus is on the rest of my life as being the goal. I picture myself 2,3, 5, 10 years down the road and being healthy. Trust me, the real fight begins once you hit that goal weight. I am not going to lose that fight again.

I go 12-23 and am on the same roller coaster. Lost 7 pounds the first week on liquids, and nothing this week. I am bummed about that. The negative side of my brain says maybe you won't lose much or very fast with the sleeve. The intellectual side says it is just a shock to the system and will work in the long run. I try to keep busy to keep my mind off of things, but it is difficult. There are so few posts about bad surgery and hard recoveries that I am sure it will all work out.

BMI 54. My doctor's result are that his sleeve patients are within 3% of the RNY for excess weight loss, but with much fewer complications. He also thinks that sleevers will do better long term because the hungry hormone is lessened with the sleeve. I chose sleeve because I don't want to experience dumping and believe our bodies work best when our nutrients are absorbed. Friends have had the sleeve and the combination of not feeling hungry and limited portions have been keys to success weight loss.

I lost 170# with diet and exercise and it was HARD! I am one week from surgery, doing pre-op diet and it is Hard!. I am sure post op and the next 6-12 months will be hard. But the hardest part for me was that after counting calories, working about 10 hrs a week, and doing the right things for about 2 years I STARTED TO PUT THE POUNDS BACK ON. I lost the 170# and was doing triathlons, ran marathons and was up for any physical challenge,..but the weight came back. It was hard to be fat again after being thin/healthy. My skin was loose but not as bad as I expected. I think the exercise helped greatly in that department. when I was at goal I convinced myself I would never be fat again. Well, I was clearly wrong. I put 150 pounds back on. Now am hopeful that the surgery, exercise, and the knowledge I got from the last time failed attempt I will keep the weight off. I am sure it will be very hard but I think the surgery is my best hope for sustained weight loss. Plus, if we all looked great naked, there would be no need for clothes.