SusitaNM

I am a 55-year-old woman who lost my left leg -- and much of my mobility -- due to trauma. In the years since, I've struggled terribly with my weight. I've always had weight problems, but balanced them out with healthy exercise, healthy food, and proper medical diagnosis of several metabolic disorders, including Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, hypoandrogenism, and poly cystic ovarian syndrome. Several years later.... I'm in full-blown menopause and I've gained close to forty pounds since my amputation. Because of that, I basically spend all my time in a wheelchair. I CANNOT GET THE WEIGHT OFF. So I decided to do a gastric sleeve. My surgeon advised me that the surgery will help me shed enough weight to regain my mobility and may even reset my metabolism to make it easier to keep the weight off in the future. I am reaching out to any other amputee gastric sleeve patients who might be out there. My surgery is about a month away, and I would really benefit from some realistic advice about walking after surgery, mobility, etc. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks, SusitaNM

Hi Wesja - In the end, it's your call. You know yourself better than anyone else and only you can weigh risks vs. benefits. However, as someone with the EXACT medical conditions -- Hashimoto's and PCOS -- I need to tell you that having gastric sleeve surgery has been nothing short of miraculous for me. It has completely reset my metabolism and allowed me to do the impossible -- lose weight. A lot of it. Six months in and I've lost 64 pounds. Something that was impossible for me before surgery. And, I've had zero complications and zero side effects. I'm a lot older than you, and I wish this option was available to me many years ago. The older I got, the more these metabolic conditions kept me from longterm weight loss success. When I added a physical disability and menopause into the mix -- gah! I was roadkill. Oh and by the way -- my endocrinologist and primary care doc both said I didn't need the surgery. That I wasn't "fat enough." Now, they're both thrilled with my weight loss and improvement to my overall health. I wish you the best of luck. If you have questions for me, shoot me a message. Take care!

Hi SkyeWolf, I've struggled my whole life with metabolic issues - PCOS, Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, and hyperandrogenism -- plus arthritis and scoliosis. Being in full menopause, it's been almost impossible for me to lose the weight I gained after an unrelated medical disaster five years ago. I had the gastric sleeve on May 30 and I've lost a total of 33 lbs since I started the liquid pre-surgery diet. Already, I feel better and have far less arthritis pain. I'm already off over-the-counter pain meds and metformin for PCOS. My surgeon told me that the procedure could reset my metabolism, and I think that's happening. Everyone is different, but it has worked for me and I am so glad I had the procedure done. Good luck to you!

So happy for you!!!!

Hi -- I live in Placitas and had surgery with Dr. Tyner on May 30. I'm two weeks out tomorrow and all is well -- tired, but very little pain and no complications. I certainly understand feeling nervous. I was a wreck right before the procedure, myself. I wish you all the best! Dr, Tyner is a wonderful surgeon and everyone at Sandoval Regional was top-notch. I wish you all the best!

I had my surgery Tuesday morning (May 30) and everything went great. The surgeon found a hiatal hernia and fixed that while he was in the neighborhood. The day of surgery was painful -- I hurt like a somab*tch from my chin to my hips, and it took three full days for the gas pain to dissipate. I came home yesterday morning, on Day 3 of post-op. Today is Day 4 post-op and most of the pain and swelling is gone. I'm trying to get in my walking and allow myself all the naps I want. I haven't experienced nausea at this point -- thank goodness -- and have managed to keep protein shakes and fluids down. It takes me about two hours to drink an 11-oz Premier shake. I'm just so relieved and happy that the procedure iitself is behind me. Best wishes to everyone who is just home from the hospital.

Great to hear the surgery went well. Keep us posted!

Good luck to you, too! Let's keep up with eah other post-op, if possible. Here's to our successful surgeries!

Good luck to you, too! We should touch base with each other in the post-op week. I know I will need the comaraderie.

Agreed. Premier is the least awful. It's become my go-to.

I had my anesthesia pre-op consult yesterday and all is set for my Tuesday May 30 surgery. I'm more excited than nervous. But...as I start Day 10 of my 14-Day liver-shrink diet, I have to admit this liquid protein thing is getting reeeeely old. The good news is I'm not hungry. I'm not experiencing cravings for other foods. I even lost a few pounds in a week of drinking this vile stuff! So I'll keep my focus on the positive. Any other May 30 sleevers out there? Anyone else in their last few days of pre-op? How are you doing?

I'm just hoping to make it through the next 7 days without being charged with a violent felony. I'm soooo irritible right now. This has been a six-month process for me as well -- my first appointment was in late November. I will be relieved to have the surgery behind me, since it's felt like my whole life has revolved around "the day" for six months now. Otherwise, the process has gone smoothly.

My sleeve is scheduled for May 30 and I'm also here to benefit from the shared experience and knowledge of this group. How has the pre-op phase of your diet gone? I'm on Day 6 of 14 and surviving. But I have noticed my brain's not working so great....I'm in a fog from the calorie restriction. One hour at a time...

My date is May 30...I'm also new to the forum and nervous! Now that I've got a surgery date, I'm starting to tell people in my life. It's a relief.

Sounds like we're both on the fast track to get ready for this. I'd love to keep in touch. I have my pre-op scheduled May 15, with liquid diet starting the next day.

Sounds like we're both on the fast track to get ready for the big day.

Thanks!

May 30, and I could really use a buddy to go through the pre-op with. I started this journey in November, but there were some mixups that had me waiting around for months without knowing if I were really going to get a surgery date. Now that I have one, I need to get my head and heart prepared in a month. Anybody getting the procedure done at the end of May?