TracyBar

Thanks Karine76 I see you just had your surgery. How are you doing? Are things going well? Happy you went ahead with it? And finally - how long was your wait for surgery?

I too don't like narcotics. Luckily I've had only a couple surgeries (appendix and c-section). I don't like the way they make me feel either. However, if it was morphine you didn't like for instance, perhaps there's an alternative. I'm not sure but usually if you explain past reactions to drugs they will work with you to make things easier. Good luck!

Good luck to you! Just curious - the 6 month process: is this to determine if you're a candidate or more to see if you will change your mind in the 6 months leading up to surgery?

Hi everyone, Just wondering why this is the ideal amount of stomach removal? I've read quite a lot of posts now and trying to find a commonality. Would a proper level of nutrition be better achieved if more stomach is retained? Would hydration be easier/better achieved with more stomach left in?

Yes - very true!

I'm in Canada anniebanana - and I could have the surgery for free, however the wait time can be years. If I'm going to do this (and I'm 54 now) I can't wait for years obviously. This clinic was recommended by a doctor to somebody I know, as the one clinic they trusted. The standards are very high. Perhaps I shouldn't jump to conclusions based on this one facilitator but I haven't looked elsewhere either. The other reason this clinic was the choice was because it has a Canadian connection and our medical standards, like the U.S., are high. I think my own doctor could help and that's my next step. I wish it could be done here (surgery) that way all resources are close at hand.

Yes, very true. And wow! You have lost so much weight since your surgery in April - congratulations!

Tomorrow! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Best of luck Clarevoyant! Look forward to hearing from you after :-)

I'm researching the surgery to make sure it's the right thing for me - both physically and mentally. I'm not at the point yet where I'm comfortable with this option. Not sure what it will take to get me there, maybe just time and more research. I've been really facing up to my past - all the times that I've been so deeply saddened by the low points or rock bottom's that we all have stories of. I can trace them back quite a long way as I've battled weight issues for so long. Even in childhood it was a tough thing for me. My mom really disliked having a chubby child when her other 3 were so slender. She's the mom that would give her last dollar to her kids, but she couldn't come to terms with me being overweight. I had many years of being slender - but this took very low calories and 2-3 hours of working out per day 6 or 7 days a week. That's been the only way I've ever kept weight off. But who, after kids, can keep up that kind of lifestyle? Anyway, I have other issues that I need to consider (physically). I malabsorb certain foods - go straight through me - and haven't got a complete handle on that yet. So it does worry me that this surgery could result in me being unable to absorb much and have diarrhea all the time. I also don't do well at all on a diet without Protein (so the liquid stage). Protein shakes would be a good option except I can't have soy or dairy! lol So you see I need to do more research! Also concerning is the fact that the facilitator with the Mexican clinic I was dealing with let me know that she doesn't get paid for time spent answering questions and taking phone calls so I was left with a bad taste in my mouth about that place. It's supposed to be the best with a beautiful hospital, high-tech equipment and highly trained staff. If my experience going into this has been bad, what can I expect AFTER they have my money and the surgery is done? I can't imagine it would be very good. This particular clinic, WLF, has a Canadian connection but not sure how. Think a Canadian woman started it, and funded it but need to look further into it. Their diet seems to be far more strict than what I'm reading here, including yours. It's one month pre-op 800 calories a day - can't remember but believe liquid diet prior to surgery?? Then clear liquid for 2 weeks, and what they call full liquids 2 weeks, then pureed, etc. My reaction in the past to protein shakes alone (those shake diets) resulted in illness and shaking. Can't take so much time off work! So you see - lots of big question marks in my mind!

Well said - and what I would have said as well! Until the relationship is very serious, nobody's business but yours.

@@#9grammy - thanks. My mom is very thin too, very. But she never had gastric surgery, just always been slender. I don't live near her but my brother tells me she has good days and bad which is to be expected. Some days she enjoys her food, others she has no desire. I appreciate your answer - I'm making sure I've looked at every possible outcome now and in future in order to make a decision.

@@anniebanana - great to hear! I'm not sure what the stages are, but happy to hear you're getting through o.k. What emotions can be expected? (good and bad)

Hi anniebanana - I see you've just had surgery. How did it go? Are you managing well mentally and physically?

I'll have to see what my doc says - never know, maybe we have something here in Calgary. I haven't researched enough about Canada and wait times, but I understand a person could wait up to 7+ years. A lot can happen in 7 years -

Learning a ton from you I'll check out you links!

Hi - no, I'm in Calgary. Born and raised in Vancouver (Coquitlam). My family and friends are there. I'll talk to my GP to see if she knows more about it here in Calgary. What hospital are they running the pilot program out of?

Yikes. That sounds really bad! Lawsuit? wow - don't know what to say. I'm appalled by the lack of care in the hospital! I'm lucky enough to have limited experience in hospital - appendix out and c-section. Appendix the care was fantastic. C-section not so much. 2 different hospitals. I think when having a baby the nurses just feel like you are fine - sadly I had a terrible infection that got worse and was largely ignored until day4 when the surgeon came to release me and said "you have an infection!" Ya, no kidding. Anyway, I'd still rather have the surgery in Canada, but doubt that'll happen. Wait would be too long. But I'm not going to race off to Mexico without looking into everything that I can. The one thing that concerned me when I was speaking with the facilitator not far from me, that works for WLF in Mexico - she said she is booking for July and August. She KNEW I was completely new at looking into this. It made me pause and think - all about the money for them? Apparently the surgeon is extremely good and she's performed many, many surgeries. The hospital has a higher rating than Canadian hospitals (according to them). At any rate, a chat with my doctor is in order! I wish you luck and hope you find relief soon.

Fantastic input and I appreciate very much that although your surgery and journey thus far has been positive, you support the practice of researching all aspects to make sure (as much as possible) that the surgery will be safe and appropriate based on pre-op health, mental state, etc. I don't have any health issues (other than being fat! ). The only way I would consider the surgery is if, between my GP and I, we decided that it would beneficial physically (and really mentally too - daily focus has been on weight most of my adult life). I don't want diabetes and feel that in my state I'm a prime candidate for it. I am SO reluctant to diet once again, as every single time I gained it back plus more resulting in my weight now. A new set-point every time so that my body worked to reach my newest all time high and surpassed it. Repeat, repeat. We all know the drill.... I'm in Canada and it's unlikely free surgery would be available to me in the near future. Wait times are long. Mexico is the other option but that in itself causes me nerves. Just the flight itself on my own after surgery is something to worry about - travelling alone 4 days post-op and not knowing how I'll feel gives me pause. I never thought about surgery for myself before - ever. Then my massage therapist told me she is saving to go to WLF in Mexico for the surgery. I was shocked - she looks pretty normal to me! It was days before I even considered it as an option for myself. How would you gauge your own psychological and physical state prior to surgery? Did you make an effort to get as fit as possible prior to surgery? For you, how was the pre-op diet? Did you feel well during it? And after the surgery - what did you feel like - pain? Difficulty swallowing? Any issues at all? Mental state after? And how did you manage on the liquid diet (is it 2 months?). Thanks!

Hi KristenLe - have you had the surgery yet? I would love to find a group in my area. Great suggestion! I'll see if I can search one up!

thanks - finding this board is great. I needed the perspective of people that don't represent a specific clinic. Talking to the facilitator that works for a clinic isn't the best. She is telling me what she's suppose to tell prospective people. I know there has to be SOME thing that can go wrong - but she said she, her mom and abou17 of her friends and family all had the operation and not any issues at all. just seemed a bit too good to be true...:-)

Thanks everyone - all helps - I asked the question because my mom (dementia) was having a hard to time eating. She does seem better now she's in a home. Great answers all!

Hi GinaCampbell - thank you for responding. And yes, I'm doing my research. I won't go into this blind and in fact, I'm searching out information good and bad. Initially I did look at all the good stuff (and admittedly still do!) but then decided to focus my research on the bad in order to get the full story. It's easy to seek out good stories to support a decision to get the surgery when you really want to stop the weight battle. But it's permanent, and I knew that I would need to know it all before making a decision. Are you seeing a doctor to help you with the lack of fluids? Are you getting IV fluids? You may need this in order to start to feel better and get well. Perhaps once your fluids are up and you feel better you'll be able to tolerate food and then you'll be on the road to recovery. I really have no idea how it works after the surgery (there seems to be many differences) - but hoping you find some relief quickly. I don't think 200 calories a day is anywhere near safe for 6 weeks. Does it make you nauseous to have thicker liquids? I read somewhere that you should make your own broths so that you know you're getting good quality broth. It's easier to use the boxed or canned kind and maybe that's ok sometimes, but cooking down a chicken yourself would be better. Can the clear broth also have vegetables simmered in with the chicken? I assume you can have pureed foods by this point (if you could tolerate them)? I feel bad for you - but it's really helpful for me to hear the experiences of many. Are you working by the way? I have to work, no choice, so the idea that I could end up too sick to work would put my family in jeopardy financially and that most definitely worries me. Keep in touch - I'd like to hear how you're doing :-)

Thank you - I appreciate all the input. I wonder if I'll ever get to a place where I'm sure! I watched a couple of videos about the downsides of the surgery -brown smelly pee like the elderly, GERD, bad pains in muscles and joints, dehydration - and a lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in. There are definitely a lot of people that are happy about the surgery. But how many are aggravated or sad about the downside? Do you have any of these problems now?? I see you've had your surgery for a while now. I also just read that Rosie O'Donnell had the sleeve and she said there was 2 months of severe pain - Wow! This stage of researching is confusing and terrifying - lol "Brown smelly per like the elderly? " Huh? That sounds like a symptom of dehydration. Initially, as in the first few weeks after surgery, it is difficult to get in enough Fluid, but it can be done. Whether you have surgery or not staying hydrated is critical for health. Frankly, if you don't drink enough fluid anyone's pee will be brown. I just find it odd that this is what you are focusing on. "A lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in"? Again, in the first few weeks after surgery,it can be physically difficult to to get in enough Protein, but that is temporary. What in the world are you watching and reading? Hi - I think you may be right about the brown pee/dehydration. One of the posters on here linked two videos from two people that have had the surgery (I think a couple years out) about the negatives of surgery that they wished they'd known prior to going in. For me, I have to know it all - good and bad - before I'd make a decision like this. I also want to know as much as possible before I speak with my GP. Maybe, just maybe, I may come to realize that if I'm willing to undergo surgery to lose weight, then perhaps the idea that going to such lengths will urge me to finally lose the weight and keep it off. I need to figure it out. All input here is relevant and helpful. Thank you for your input....

Thank you - I appreciate all the input. I wonder if I'll ever get to a place where I'm sure! I watched a couple of videos about the downsides of the surgery -brown smelly pee like the elderly, GERD, bad pains in muscles and joints, dehydration - and a lifetime of concentrating on every morsel you can get in. There are definitely a lot of people that are happy about the surgery. But how many are aggravated or sad about the downside? Do you have any of these problems now?? I see you've had your surgery for a while now. I also just read that Rosie O'Donnell had the sleeve and she said there was 2 months of severe pain - Wow! This stage of researching is confusing and terrifying - lol

Hello everyone. I'm looking forward to hearing what you all have to say about sleeve surgery. From those that are considering it and those that have experienced it. I've spoken to a facilitator over the phone and email and hope to meet her mom who lives near me as she has had the surgery as well and is a facilitator too. She's also close in age to me (I'm 54) and I thought that meeting her face-to-face may help me make a decision. I'm in Canada and the hospital is in Mexico - it has a Canadian connection (I think owned by a Canadian woman) and meets very high standards. Although it's in Mexico I don't feel worried about the level of care, or the abilities of the doctors and staff. I've asked a lot of questions of the facilitator - to the point where I think I've asked more questions, or taken more of her time than she wishes to give. That did turn me off a little - it was only two phone calls and a couple of emails. I guess they have their limit as per how much they get paid? As the hospital is in Mexico I don't get to meet the surgeon to discuss things and that's a worry for me. I'm relying on facilitators with no medical background, just the fact they've been through it and have had some training. My biggest worry: REGRET. This is a permanent procedure. I read something where somebody commented - "why would anybody want to remove a perfectly healthy, functioning body part?!" I get this - it's what makes this whole thing a bit on the bizarre side to me. And what if I just cannot STAND the changes? What if I feel nothing but sorrow and regret and horror at what I've done to myself? There's no going back - this thought haunts me in the time that I've been considering this as an option to weight loss. I don't see myself as somebody that is super obsessed with food. Not once have I ever gotten up in the middle of the night to eat something - not one time. I don't overeat. I choose the wrong foods a lot of the time and I love chocolate. My servings at dinner are likely too big, but I've never just eaten non-stop. Don't eat a bag of Cookies, nothing like that. I noted that I was putting on weight at 9 years old. I distinctly remember the moment I was aware of this. I've battled weight gain for much of my life. The thinnest I've ever been was when I was eating around 1200 calories a day, and working out (literally!) 2-3 hours PER DAY. Yup. I was super fit and looked good. This of course, was before I had 3 children. I'm a Weight Watchers "joiner" as my friend and I refer to ourselves. Never a WW grad, always a joiner. I did Weight Loss Clinic in my early 20's and lost weight. Up and down, up and down. Always weighing more with each subsequent weight gain. I'm sure what I've said here is pretty close to what each of you have experienced. How do I deal with this fear of regret? I can't seem to move past it. I hear what my facilitator says - she doesn't know anybody that has regretted it. She says she has many, many relatives and friends that have done this surgery and they all feel happy about their decision. But I'm also speaking to somebody who WORKS for the hospital and from my point of view, is trying to bring clients in for the money (cost is $13,600 just for me, no companion). A bit cost prohibitive for us, and I haven't mentioned a thing to my husband - he won't have a clue how I feel as he's never had a weight issue in his life - but he'll sure feel reluctant about the money spent! We all have our stories about our rock bottom. In fact, I have many rock bottom stories - each one, at the time, I'm thinking it's the worst thing that's happened to me. The most embarrassing, the most demeaning, the most sad I've felt. I don't see these rock bottom occurrences stopping because I'm not losing any weight. I've dieted my way all the way up to this weight (I'm guessing my weight is around 250 lbs.) and in the last few years I've given up on dieting. I'll just end up losing it once again and then gaining it all back +more, so why try? Why keep doing that? My biggest worries are: 1) Regret - what if I regret my decision? 2) Age - is 54 too old to do this? 3) Post-op diet - along with the pre-op 800 cal. a day diet (wow!), I'm worried about the weeks of liquid diet. I have to work, how will I do it if I'm starving? (my job can be intense and I have to be on the ball all the time). 4) I have chronic migraines and see a Neurologist. Will the weight loss alleviate/lessen migraines, or make them worse? 5) Will I ever actually enjoy food again? Or be able to? We have a favourite restaurant - would hate if I can never again enjoy that sort of outing 6) No caffeine, no alcohol! OMG - that's harsh! I love wine and would miss that. But think it's 6 months off of it? Caffeine. Due to migraines I'm not supposed to have it at all, but I now just have a tea in the morning so guess I could do that. I do love my tea and wine though :-) I so appreciate any comments, good or bad, that you can offer me. I do want to be truly happy in my own skin. I can't picture myself on the plane, in Mexico (never been there), and in the hospital going through with this. It just doesn't seem like a reality. And I really am fearful of the entire thing. My income is very important to my family and I still have a young child (almost 11) to care for. What if I don't recover? What if I can't work and cause my family to suffer due to me wanting to look good (okay, and hopefully ward off diabetes and other weight-related issues). Ugh… I'm a mess! LOL Tracy