sleevedup

Yep, it's a travesty. I have to wait another 7 months before VSG:( My doc has to have surgery, at this point it is unclear if he will even be able to operate at all, although I am not sure what it is that happened to him exactly either. The thing is, I finally came to a decision about a doc. I've looked for several months and found "the one." It took me awhile to get to this mental place to be surgery ready, but I finally am, and now I have to wait 7 months. I know, I know, things could be worse but I am just a bit bummed as the post says. I am not looking forward to carry around 80 pounds of excess weight for another 7 months. Ba hum bug. So, I am trying to see how I can be positive and productive about this. I thought that maybe I could use this time to lose some weight since I have been worried about how losing weight with VSG potentially quickly might result in excess skin. But another part of me like "well, heck, if I could'a did that, I would'a done did that." I have a real issue with food especially since changing vices (alcohol to food). Food been my crutch, feeling out of control with it and having little confidence that I can lose any weight at all. Trying not to gain, that's more of a reasonable goal it seems, but feel pretty powerless. Negative Nancy in here. Any words of wisdom out there?

Thank you for that alyssadietrch:)

Hi Everyone, It's been 3 month of pretty intensive research on surgeons and general information gathering. Finally, I thought I had found "the one!" lol. This Dr. is local, very reputable, and performs single incision which is the route for VSG I am interested in. On paper, he met my full criteria. But, I was disappointed. First, he walks into the room and made some crack about my weight being suitable....if I was 7ft tall (I am 5'2). Eh, not good. I tried to look past that (made a crack right back like, "yeah, then I could probably model!"..lol) and gave him "foot in mouth" benefit of the doubt. There was just something about him I didn't really care for though. He seemed a little (and really just a tad, I want to paint a fair picture) tired/drain/know-it-allish but at the same time he was informative to be fair. However, he would go off on tangents and knowing how many questions I had, I did my best to get those in. I have been waiting to see him for awhile now (his office called two weeks ago cancelling the first scheduled appointment because he was sick) and had a lot of questions which I had written down. He was getting up and making the motions that it was time to wrap it up (understandable, he does have other patients) and I still had a few questions. I let him know I would make it quick, got to ask 2-3 (one of which was "Do post VSG patients ever talk about being more cold?" He had never heard of this, which was a little strange to me) then he was like "okay, I have go, have another patient but you can make another appointment with me if you have more questions,"and wrapped it up by adding a few key points. Now, I am self-pay and this consultation cost me about 250 bucks. I can't afford to keep going in and seeing him. Now, he was polite. He did engage, I don't want to paint this Dr. out to be a total jerk. I just would have appreciate a "you can email me," or something. Perhaps that is an unrealistic desire, I am not sure. He made some kind of comment about me having to do more research (to wish I almost wanted to say try 3 months of 3-4 hours a day or even more to the point, I have and the questions I have are directly from that process) and that was irritating. If I am going to have a life altering surgery, why wouldn't I have several questions? He made me feel a little like me questioning him was...I don't know...a little insulting maybe. I just know I left feeling like, time to look some more. Just bummed, blew 250 of some hard earned money and didn't even get real answers to some of my burning questions. Perhaps he didn't even have them, now that I think of it. Just had to vent to my peeps here and maybe get some of your thoughts.

While I sincerely respect and admire those of you who have had the courage to tell others about your bariatric surgery, I do not think omitting the fact the you had WLS surgery should be chided, especially by your own community. I highly dislike comments that insinuate someone is a liar for not exposing something that is truly a personal decision. I agree strongly as well however, that it is important for others to inform the public about this process as so many people remain ignorant about the disease of obesity. You are being of service and potential being a great resource and inspiration for other who may need the surgery or have loved ones who do. However, don't knock your trudging buddy for having a different path, please respect those of us who decide to remain anonymous. It is an understandable not to make your surgery public, considering the judgement and pain many of us have already experienced. I understand many of you have tried to remain civil about your opinion and don't consider your comments hurtful, but it really is not in your place to judge our desire to keep things private. I am a member of AA. Like obesity, alcoholism is also a disease. For various reasons, I don't go around telling others I don't drink because I have the disease of alcoholism. No one in the program would ever question this, we support one another. I feel those who chose to share are courageous and an inspiration, but they in turn, they completely understand my position and don't make me feel like I am lying by saying "I am good" or "I have had enough" or "no thanks" when offered a drink I can not take. Why? Because they understand the stigma. They understand the judgment of others and the fact that not everyone has the energy to deal with being the spokesperson for the resolution of a disease. AA, like bariatric surgery, is common knowledge. It is not a secret society, we should not be made to feel like liars because we do not share every aspect of our journey. So please, just stop. Be proud of your courage, I love that people like you are out there, I really think you who chose to share are amazing folks. But it is also not in your place to comment on those of us who don't.

Hi Everyone! I am considering VSG, hoping to have the op sometime in December. I am very aware that the sleeve is a tool. I know you can gain a lot of weight back by making poor food choices (chips, ice cream, slider foods, etc.) and that if you want to keep the weight off, you have to make a lifestyle change. I am prepared for all this, in fact I welcome it greatly. But the more I read, I get scared. I am starting to feel like post 6 months there is not much restriction and you are kind of left to your own devices. Apart of why I am having this surgery is because I feel like a bottomless pit and want an internal stop button. I want to feel full without eating 1000 calories a sitting. To be honest, I don't have much physical hunger to begin with now. I mostly feel (unless I have just eaten the usual big/unhealthy meal) I am up to eat more for the sake of gluttony. I know I have issues with food, I am a recovery addict with some years of sobriety, and I understand since being sober I have used food as a drug. I definitely emotionally eat and most of my hunger is head hunger. Again, I am willing (very willing) to do the work and I know this is a tool, but the some of the things I've read make me feel that after sometime the sleeve is not much of a tool at all:( Can anyone shed some light? I can deal with making the appropriate food changes and eating the right things (i.e. Proteins first, veggies, etc.), but will that make me feel truly full? I am ready to start incorporating a fitness routine but I am just beginning to question if the sleeve provides restriction after the initial honeymoon period.

BitterSweet* i live in lalaland (L.A.) so I think that they feel more entitled to charge out here. If I had received a 10-15 min consultation at no charge I would have understood more so, but when you shelve out this kind a cash it dings a bit more. You made me think though, maybe I should ask right up front about time limits and post more than I have been. Thank you BitterSweet*! I really appreciate your response:)

Thanks *Lexie*!!!! Your surgeon sounds awesome. Do you mind sharing who it is? VSGAnn2014, you make some great points. I had some of those question on my list (and adding now the ones I didn't...really good stuff!) but he left before I could get to any of it. It's true through, while a bedside manner is very important, I really want someone with those surgical chops:) Thank you VSGAnn2014!

Thanks kidrn72!!! Awww....so helpful to here sister:)

Thanks beautysleeve559! I appreciate that. I was in with him for about 30 minutes but I did feel rushed. I do appreciate your feedback greatly!

Work B!!ch is great!

Dr. Carlos Diaz with MBC. He uses what is called the Da Vinci system. This also allows for them to do the op as a single incision procedure, however BMI has to be less than 40 I believe. He got vids on youtube about it. Do a search here and you'll find some more info.

Congratulations on getting sleeved up! I have yet to be sleeved, looking at December now. As excited as I am, I am anticipated it being a very difficult process that will involve grieving. I have used food as a drug all my life and I know having to change that is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done. I believe the journey does become less of a struggle but it still will have challenges. It takes a lot of courage to do what you just did:) All the best! A new and much better life is waiting to be lived

Hi All! I am planning on having VSG in December and like many of those pre-op, have been obsessed with this forum and just generally reading up on VSG. When I first started considering surgery, I had no idea that weight re-gain was a definite possibility. I was very ignorant, really believing surgery would be a cure all. However, the more I researched, the more it became very clear that VSG is a tool and that there is a definite level of work behind it. But now, I am feeling still a little confused. I sometimes read people talk about having little restriction post-op (1 year +) and say things like "I had to do all the work now." Sometimes, this makes me feel like restriction is just gone and this is very discouraging. Now, I understand that you still have to make the appropriate food choices and that eating slider foods is a sure fire way to pack on those pounds. I am also aware that there is more restriction in the first year too, but some of the posts make me feel like restriction is just gone after the initial honeymoon stage. Could anyone shed some light on this please?

I would be frustrated too. I am so sorry you had to deal with that. I wish you a speedy recovery:)

Check it out: http://asmbs.org/resources/sleeve-gastrectomy-as-a-bariatric-procedure

WOW!!!! You look AMAZING!!! Congratulations:)

That's just wonderful! I love this share:)

I showed my mother your before and after and she said "She looks like a young Linda Carter, Wonder Woman!" You truly are an inspiration and look beautiful! Thank you for sharing sister:) As a food addict, you give me hope.

This might help:

You look AMAZING!!!!! Thank you for sharing:)

That song for the "Rocky" movie...lol.

Definitely looking awesome!!! Totally inspired:)

I think it all depends. I am have not yet had surgery but I do not plan on telling anyone except my mother. As much as I love my family and friends, I don't think telling them will add any extra social support that would really benefit me. They may unintentionally even mention it to others and that is also something I personally don't want. There is so much ignorance surrounding obesity, the perception of those in our community is that we are lazy and lack self-control. So naturally, the solution of surgery would just be seen as the "lazy" and "easy way out." I am not signing up to be the spokes person for VSG (although I honestly admire those who are open and do it to inform others..big ups!) and the journey is difficult enough. As for eating situation, that's a bit trickier. I have yet to cross that bridge but have some thoughts on how to handle it. I figure I can always chalk my new found way of eating as a lifestyle change (which it is indeed) and that my friends respect me enough to understand and leave it at that. Good stuff to think about though. For me it all boils down to why I want to tell them and if it is beneficial to me. It may sound selfish, but hey, I am doing this for me:)

You are awesome CoffeeGrinDR!!! Wow, very nice indeed!

Thanks for sharing this feedyoureye!!!