MSG0310

Hi everyone, I hope I can get some support from this page because I’m lacking in it everywhere else. I have a HUGE family (both physically and quantitatively, lol) and it seems that no one is 100% supportive about my surgery. It’s making me question my decision. A little about me, I am about to turn 27 and I am 5’1, 247 lbs. I have PCOS and a history of diabetes and heart attacks in my family. Every day I fear I’m closer to death with my lifestyle. I have tried everything under the sun: specialized obesity clinics, endocrinologists, low carb diets, ketogenic diets, juicing, and even physician-supervised phentermine plan (I got heart palpitations as a result of the phentermine drug and never went back). All my family keeps telling me is that I can do it naturally, and I shouldn’t take such a drastic step. They are also extremely worried about me going to Tijuana, Mexico, even though my own family OB-GYN referred me to this surgeon because she got the surgery herself with the same doctor. I figured if my own family surgeon is comfortable enough with this doctor then why shouldn’t I be? 2 years ago when I first started researching I had a different insurance which would cover the surgery here in the US. I got all the preliminary appointments out of the way except for the endoscopy. My current plan won’t cover it, and I have the money for the surgery and I would like to get it done. But- They keep putting doubts in my mind, to the point where I’m fearful of a few things: 1) I’m afraid of dying on the table. I know the surgery is laparoscopic and has a high success rate, but my family is so afraid of surgery that I’ve gotten extremely bad anxiety about this. They think that because I’m going to Mexico, the level of care will be low. The fear of this wakes me up at night. 2) Fear of depression because of lifestyle changes. They tell me I can’t handle not being able to eat and drink at the same time, or not being able to gorge on food, or use food as a crutch. I personally believe I could deal with all of this, if it meant I could be happy and healthy in my body for once in my life. I have been researching this for 2.5 years since 2016, and I still don’t know what to do. Has anyone dealt with this kind of problem? And if so, how did you deal with all of the doubts, fears, worries, and risk of going out of the country?

I have hit a snag with financing my VSG surgery and I’m now rethinking the surgery as well. My nurse for my endoscopy the other day told me not to do it! She said the lifelong vitamin deficiencies, potential for bowel obstructions, gallbladder issues, brittle bones, etc. were all things she’s seen in her Bariatric patients long term. She didn’t say it in a bad way and I did ask her to be honest but once she realized she was discouraging me she felt bad. She told me that since I have no other comorbidities to just try losing it on my own again one more time and do it for a full year at 100% effort especially because I’m young (26). I am seriously on the fence especially now that my loan didn’t go through. I know so many people are happy with it and we hear from these people all the time saying the only thing they regret is not getting it done sooner, but does anyone wish they had given it one last go before surgery? Especially those who are otherwise relatively healthy. I don’t even have high cholesterol, sugars, or blood pressure! My bp is always around 125/83, sometimes a little bit higher but not by a huge amount. I hope people do not think I am attacking their choices or their way of life because VSG and the Bariatric community is something I have been researching for a long time and I’ve found lots of great info here, but this is a huge, major, life changing decision and it’s best to get everyone’s opinion and to be very thorough! I have had one friend who’s best friend was put in a coma, and another who had lost her life due to a bowel obstruction post WLS. I am terrible at even taking my birth control pills, so I just don’t want to set myself up for failure 5 years down the road if I’m too absent minded to take my vitamins. Any advice would be helpful. I lost about 48lbs in 5 months on phentermine but would not do it again due to heart issues it caused.

This makes me feel so much better. I’m starting preop liquid diet in 9 days and I’m dying of anxiety. Never had a major surgery before in my life! Only wisdom teeth under general anesthesia in 2015.

Hi everyone, I am scheduled for VSG on December 26th. Last week I went to do my upper GI with contrast. The nasty barium swallow. Well apparently in my report they found some abnormalities of my esophagus and some reflux. My surgeon said in my report that usually the liquid just goes down, but with me it shot up almost to my clavicles and then back down. I don’t notice this at all while I’m eating or drinking. As a result my doctor wants me to do an endoscopy and a motility test to check the function of my esophagus and how I swallow. He said depending on the results he could switch me to the bypass. I really do not want to do the bypass due to malabsorption, dumping syndrome, and cost because I am self pay. I have been waiting to get VSG for years and I’m afraid this test will come back abnormal as well. Has anyone had these tests done and still gotten the VSG even with abnormalities? What is the motility test like? Any information would be helpful.

I completely understand that both procedures have their own risks and neither is better than the other. Again my last comment was that bypass is more expensive and I probably won’t be able to afford the bypass if that’s the only route he can take. He said he’s not 100% certain yet and VSG definitely still is on the table, but I’m just trying to figure all of it out along with the stress that I may not even be able to get a surgery if we can’t do the VSG due to cost. Obviously malabsorption is still an added factor to consider and it was just one of my reasons for choosing VSG. I completely understand that my doctor will only do what’s best for me because neither of us want to see me suffer after surgery if VSG will cause major issues. We will see.

Hey everyone! I’m finding it hard to find someone who looks like me anywhere online, just to see what I may look like without all this fluff on me! I’m 5’1 and 246 right now. I have a really long torso and very short legs and I hold most of weight right in my belly area. My thighs, calves, arms, are pretty thin, but I also have a rather large chest, lol. Anyone have any progress photos along with how long it’s been since your surgery so I can have an idea of what to look forward to?! Thanks! I’ve made an Instagram for my weight loss journey @LookStraightVSG but haven’t posted anything yet! Would love to follow you guys too!

Yeah Ive researches what the ideal body type looks like I was more just wondering what real people who have been through the surgery look like and if they have loose skin around the belly area, weight evenly distributed, etc! It’s tough finding VSG people my height on instagram!

Wow! I’m excited!! I’m really worried about loose skin because most of my weight is in my belly but hopefully it won’t be too bad! You both look amazing

Guess every surgeon is different

The nurses at the hospital helped take my grandmothers jewelry off of her before surgery, but they unfortunately had to cut her bangles off. I would try to attend YouTube University for some tips and tricks to see if you can get them off beforehand so you don’t have the same experience!

My surgeon and many other surgeons in my area want you on a complete liquid diet for 2 weeks prior to surgery. Protein bars are the only non liquid form of food. Where did you hear this?

Mine is protein shakes and protein bars! I’m nervous too but just take it one day at a time. We’ll get through it!

Hi everyone, I just scheduled my surgery for December 26th and I’m a self pay patient. After I scheduled surgery I was bombarded with all the things I need to do in the next 7 weeks to prepare for surgery, including dividing my time and a full school schedule with my surgery requirements. I feel completely overwhelmed and was on the verge of a panic attack on the drive home! All of the appointments, nutrition visits, etc. as well as dealing with the reality that this is now a tangible thing in the very very near future that I’m investing a lot of money in. Did anyone have this feeling of dread and panic right after scheduling surgery? Luckily I was able to get into my local hospital rather than going out of the country, which eases my anxiety. Any words of advice to deal with this panic and severe anxiety? Thanks so much.

I am scheduled for December 26th! Day after Christmas. Will be spending Christmas Eve on a liquid diet, lol. I’m very nervous

Thanks everyone. The word “death” on the packet just really really scares me to the point where I panic about this decision. I don’t know how to rationalize it!

Like you I have been battling back and forth between getting VSG. I’m 26 and my primary care suggested it at 24. Honestly, when I think of all of the things I’m going to be missing out on, it does bother me for a little while. But then I realize that it is simply my food addiction talking to me. I have spent the past few months trying to really come to terms with my food addiction and mentally prepare myself for surgery. Food is currently a coping mechanism, a comfort, a means of control in a life where I do not feel in control in many other avenues. My advice to you would be to please, please, try to tackle the very debilitating issue of food addiction first before surgery. Therapy is a HUGE step in this. Additionally, Identifying thoughts and actions that are coming from your addiction rather than your better self is another step. Even if you are still currently going through the motions that your addiction dictates, just having that presence of mind to understand that you are buying this meal or drinking this soda etc because of your addiction is an important part of overcoming it. I am slowly trying to do this before I go in for surgery. If you are not mentally prepared, it will be a difficult ride. I can say though that your health is the most important thing in your life. More important than any of these doubts. I will say that everyone I know who has had surgery in the past does not have a problem with consuming nicotine, caffeine, or any of that. I’m sure in the beginning it will be tough, as you cannot have these things. But hopefully spending that time learning about yourself and coming up with healthier coping mechanisms will allow you to treat yourself on occasion. You can do it!