LngRedRose

Wow.. it has been forever since I posted here. I am 9 months post op and have lost 114 lbs with my sleeve. I am 21 lbs from goal. I actually lost 100 lbs in the first 6 months of having surgery. What I love about the sleeve? No Maintanence! Absolutely NONE!! :-)

Lap Band Talk is excellent for Lap Bands. Can't find a better site. But for Gastric Sleeve, I have to say that OH has it going on. I had GS done on July 2nd... and I have lost 33 lbs. (in just 2 1/2 weeks). I learned so much from the people that were sleeved before me on that site. Hope this helps someone...:biggrin2:

jlwebb55.. I would find it hard to be 4 weeks post op and gain weight. What are you eating? How often? I am 2 1/2 months post op and I have lost 72 lbs...

Gina, I had the sleeve on July 2nd.. I am down 52 lbs. :-)

MacMadame.. I was the biggest scardy cat in the world!! You will do fine. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers...

Laura D.. Congrats!! :-) That will be here before you know it!

Solopoco.. Thanks! I actually have exercised three times since surgery. Once I walked 1/2 mile, Saturday I rode my bike one mile and Saturday I pushed mowed the grass. I NEED to get my rear end in gear and start exercising!!!

Welcome to the forum. There actually are long term (at least 5 years) studies out there.. go to Obesity Help.com and click on Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I had surgery on July 2nd.. I have lost 51 lbs since surgery.

Mandi, The reason I choose the sleeve is because it is maintaince free and it is non reversible. There is no overeating because you will throw up if you do (and trust me.. after a couple of times.. you won't do it again). I had the sleeve on July 2nd... I have lost 51 lbs since then. I wish you luck in whatever decision you make...

Congrats on your decision. I had surgery on July 2nd and I have lost 51 lbs! :-) I wish you luck!

Congrats on your 16 lb weight loss... the head hunger gets better! :-)

Macmadame.. Don't you just LOVE how misinformation gets started. <sigh>

There is an awesome site for the Sleeve. It is called Obesity Help. com (without the spaces). You should try it out!! :-)

Posted this once but can't find it! <sigh> I actually felt that Dr. Merriman's office was very unprofessional. They treated me so tacky that I actually filed a complaint with his office and I have NEVER done that before in my life. (My husband is a doc so I am not the type to complain about office staff). But, the complaint was dismissed in such a way that I would have never used Dr. M. I would have used Dr. Norwood had I went ahead with the LapBand. I decided on a different procedure (Gastric Sleeve). I had it done on July 2nd and I have lost 48 lbs as of today.

If it fails, then you do the next step. It is called the duodenal switch. Big success rate. :-) :-) You can get pregnant after the sleeve, they just ask that you wait a year before doing so. :tt2:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Advantages Reduces stomach capacity but tends to allow the stomach to function normally so most food items can be consumed, albeit in small amounts. Eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulates hunger (Ghrelin). Dumping syndrome is avoided or minimized because the pylorus is preserved. Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring. By avoiding the intestinal bypass, almost eliminates the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), marginal ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency. Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI > 55 kg/m2). Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 30-50 kg/m2). Appealing option for people who are concerned about the complications of intestinal bypass procedures or who have existing anemia, Crohn’s disease and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures. Appealing option for people who are concerned about the foreign body aspect of Banding procedures. Can be done laparoscopically in patients weighing over 500 pounds, thereby providing all the advantages of minimally invasive surgery: fewer wound and lung problems, less pain, and faster recovery. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Disadvantages Potential for inadequate weight loss or weight regain. While this is true for all procedures, it is theoretically more possible with procedures that do not have an intestinal bypass. Higher BMI patients will most likely need to have a second stage procedure later to help lose the rest of the weight. Remember, two stages may ultimately be safer and more effective than one operation for high BMI patients. This is an active point of discussion for bariatric surgeons. Soft calories such as ice cream, milk shakes, etc can be absorbed and may slow weight loss. This procedure does involve stomach stapling and therefore leaks and other complications related to stapling may occur. Because the stomach is removed, it is not reversible. It can be converted to almost any other weight loss procedure. Considered investigational by some surgeons and insurance companies.

Very interested! I love your recipes! :-)

Or for someone who does not live close to a doctor that can do the fill. For me.. it would be a 2 hour drive to the doctor and if it was too full, I would be going back 2 hours again (one way). That would just be torture in my opinion. Also, I have a needle phobia so I was not excited about them trying to stick the right place in the port to give me a fill. And working in surgery for the past 20+ years has taught me that I do not want any foreign body in my body for the rest of my life. Those were just some of my personal reasons for choosing the Sleeve over the LapBand.

Here's FYI for those that are interested! Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Advantages Reduces stomach capacity but tends to allow the stomach to function normally so most food items can be consumed, albeit in small amounts. Eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulates hunger (Ghrelin). Dumping syndrome is avoided or minimized because the pylorus is preserved. Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring. By avoiding the intestinal bypass, almost eliminates the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), marginal ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, Protein deficiency and Vitamin deficiency. Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI > 55 kg/m2). Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 30-50 kg/m2). Appealing option for people who are concerned about the complications of intestinal bypass procedures or who have existing anemia, Crohn’s disease and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures. Appealing option for people who are concerned about the foreign body aspect of Banding procedures. Can be done laparoscopically in patients weighing over 500 pounds, thereby providing all the advantages of minimally invasive surgery: fewer wound and lung problems, less pain, and faster recovery. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Disadvantages Potential for inadequate weight loss or weight regain. While this is true for all procedures, it is theoretically more possible with procedures that do not have an intestinal bypass. Higher BMI patients will most likely need to have a second stage procedure later to help lose the rest of the weight. Remember, two stages may ultimately be safer and more effective than one operation for high BMI patients. This is an active point of discussion for bariatric surgeons. Soft calories such as ice cream, milk shakes, etc can be absorbed and may slow weight loss. This procedure does involve stomach stapling and therefore leaks and other complications related to stapling may occur. Because the stomach is removed, it is not reversible. It can be converted to almost any other weight loss procedure. Considered investigational by some surgeons and insurance companies.

I am soooo wanting to hear how people can go septic and dying? Wow... that is a first one for me and I researched this surgery for 2 1/2 years before having it. My doc has done 1800 procedures and no one has died. And the percentages of people that have dumping syndrome from the sleeve are MAYBE 5%. That is a symptom of Gastric bypass NOT the sleeve. I had the sleeve done on July 2nd. Down 46 lbs since surgery and NO dumping syndrome. No fillings, no chance of slippeage, no unfills, no erosions.. NO maintainence. Sounds like heaven to me! :-) :-)

Pamela!! Hey! Glad to see you here. I love love love your blog! :-) Keep in touch!

Dr. Hargroder always uses a size 34. Do you know what size your doctor uses? Here's to good results on your test! Keep me posted.

I am glad that this forum got started too. I will be back and forth between this site and Obesity Help! I was sleeved on July 2nd. I am down 46 lbs from the day of surgery! Woooohooooo :-)

I had the gastric sleeve done on July 2nd. I have lost 34 lbs as of today. I did research the band and decided that I would rather go with something that did not require fills, worrying about slipping bands, erosions, etc. My surgeon has done over 1800 procedures.. (including gastric bypass) and has a 0% mortality rate. Pretty impressive!

Thanks.. you are a sweetheart!