wishinghoping

Can the gall bladder be removed when the sleeve surgery is done. Mine needs out. RnY can do it at the same time but they say they will not do it when installing a band. Anyone have any experience with this?

That's my question. Has anyone here, or anyone you know, chickened out on the day of the surgery? I am a big coward and I am so afraid that I am going to back out. The surgeon told me they would give me "brave pills" (cute) but I'm afraid there are not enough in this world to get me to go through with this. So just wondering. Would I be the first?

I mentioned that when I started this process I told them I had just joined WW and I was told that might not be a good idea and to run it by the experts on my day long event. Well I asked and the answer was that WW is a fine plan. They don't care that I am doing WW so much as it should be second chair to their plan which is more about learning how to be an sleeved person. They don't like the idea of weighing in each week. They are more interested in working the transition that will need to occur over the next 3 months for me to be a happy camper. For instance, if I want to go have a big meal at my favorite restaurant, or have a "last" big family event for Thanksgiving, they are good with that as long as I am doing the rest of the drill...giving up carbonated drinks, chew, chew, chew, concentrating on Protein, giving up whte carbs as much as possible..... So if I WANT to do WW, have at it. But they said that I will soon enough be on the pre-surgery diet and that's when I need to have walked away from all the other things...things that right now are okay with where I am in the process. I'm going for a middle ground. I'm going to stay with the WW plan as a guide for healthy eating but I'm not sweating the numbers. If I want to go out and have pizza with friends a last time before I'm sleeved that's fine as long as I am also going down their list of pre-surgery habits, working them and checking them off as well.

First, hi to Lackland from a military family!!! It took me a long time to decide for myself which was right too. Here's my suggestion. Step back and try to take the emotion out of it. Write out an actual list of the pro's and con's of each procedure AS YOU SEE IT. Do the research on each. And if you've already done it, remember each. What you see as a pro, someone else might see as a neutral. But then, after you have taken some time to think it all through, assume you would succeed with either of them, and pick which one you would prefer. Pick the one that will best fit you as a person and your life, believing that you will succeed with it. I think we have all dieted, lost, then gained back so often we are unable to see a real solution even when we have it. The people I have talked to have told me that any of the main procedures had worked for many and any of them have failed for many. So try and take that fear of failure element out of your decision and pick the one that will work best with your lifestyle. If you assume success, it really will be more likely to happen for you. Good luck.

Thanks. I think I'll start making more of an effort on the soft, mushy foods. I'm doing well on slowing down, stopping, chewing on the solid foods. But the soft, mushy just seem to slide down my throat. I'll make more of a conscious effort to hold them in my mouth and "play" with them a bit before they go down as a start.

No, Chancie, no date yet. I'm just starting the process. I really don't have any hidden issues or agendas. I don't mean to sound negative. I'm just not a brave person. Some of us aren't. I am a coward and I have embraced that about myself. I don't think it will change but I have found that I can do things I'd never imagined if I get the information I need. Education helps me a great deal. No, I've never looked for any elective surgeries before. I don't like or desire surgery. As a matter of fact, until you used that phrase, I never considered this elective. I think it's mandatory or me. Very necessary or I would not be doing it. But then that's me. You know, I'm also afraid to fly. There are of course millions of people who would think that foolish. But by admitting it and dealing with it, I have 3 times flown to Europe. And I'm not even all that crazy about Europe. But it reminds me of what I can do in spite of my fears. I'm hoping that in 6 months from now being sleeved will be on that list!

Thank you Helen. You gave me the right things to think about. I'm in my 50's and have been overweight so long I worry about the risk of heart attack or stroke ( I have high BP ) while having the surgery. You are pointing me in the right direction. I do need to realize that my overall "health" won't hold out if I don't fix things now. As the one doctor said to me, most health issues for obese people are just around the corner if they have not already hit. I envy those who can have this surgery at a younger age so they do not have the higher risk situations. But you're right. It's still a gift, an opportunity. And it's nice to know not everyone is major brave and carefree about this step. Even us worriers can make it work! Thanks. And congrats on your loss!

I made the final decision on being sleeved about a month ago after much research. Since then I've been thinking about this and, to my major shock, I have not gone off on any sort of eat till I drop binge. Instead, just one thing is in my mind. I love movie popcorn. And before I am sleeved, I am going to go to a movie alone and get the big popcorn, big soda, sit back, relax and dive in. It's funny because I very rarely get popcorn because of the $$ and I never get a soda at the theater. Maybe that's why it feels like it would be such a generous splurge to myself. Because I want to ween off the soda early in this process, I think I will do this within the next 2 or 3 weeks. And, I have no idea why this sticks out as my last hurrah (how sad is that!!!) but I'm going for it. I'll let you all know when I'm done licking my fingers. : )

Hi - Can you help me to understand this. So are you saying that chewing mushy foods is essential....as in, I would put something in the blender and puree it and then have to chew, chew, chew? Is that difficult? I'm afraid these mushies will almost slide down my throat before I want them too. Is that easier than I think it will be? Thanks.

Hi - First, thanks for sharing your experience. Keep us posted on how things keep moving along. Second, did you need to stay on the pain meds? Or was it just an initial period of pain right upon waking? And was your surgery laproscopic? Thanks, blcr

I have one real life friend who was sleeved about 18 months ago, self pay. She, like me, loves diet soda. She waited 6 months before she drank any and since then has one about one a week. She treats it the way a lot of people treat beer. It's special and she has rules. She drinks only a "small" from a fast food joint which also has ice in it...no high test with no ice, sips it over about 30 minutes and considers it a sub for a meal. (Doesn't try to drink it soon after for before food.) She said it's never caused her any bother following those guidelines aside from the occasional burp. It's interesting because she told her doctor about it when they ran into each other at the Zoo and she was holding a cup sipping as she walked this past spring! Caught red handed. He told her that it's all about reason and sanity where anything is concerned (and of course TIME, not doing anything too soon but I'm adding that). He believe the carbonation does stretch the stomach back out and that's why he prefers that people not drink soda. But the way she drinks it, he said he can't see it being a big problem or she would know it by now. She, by the way, is about 30 pound from goal. She doesn't talk numbers but my guess is that she has lost about 80 pounds in the 18 months. She's doing great and lives life like she was always this way. I hope to be just like her in 2 years.

Hi all - I finally decided to take the plunge and get sleeved. I've done the research, lost a ton of weight and then promptly gained 2/3's of it back. So I've finally gotten it through my thick head that 1) I can't do it "on my own" and 2) life is too short to keep putting off the one thing that might give me my life back. I have had my first meeting with the surgical center. I go next week for an all day check where I will see several people - doctor, psychologist, diet expert. The idea of surgery scares me. The idea of not having surgery scares me more. Now, here's the biggest surprise so far in my one-on-one with this place. I mentioned in the first meeting that I had joined weight watchers. I joined because I want to begin better eating habits now, not later. And I will feel much more confident going into surgery if I've lost 20 pounds between now and then. (They are telling me it will take 3 to 4 more months so 20 seems a reasonable goal if I do it by eating healthy, not "dieting".) Well, when I told them that they wrinkled up their noses and said I shouldn't have done it. I was very surprised. I thought it was a positive step in the right direction, they said the dietitian would probably ask me to quit and follow his/her advice instead. I've not quit WW yet. If they tell me to do so at my all day event, I will. But I want to make sure they really think I should not be going and it's not just the administrative people guessing. In this first week, without starving and just eating much, much better I have lost about 3 pounds. It's a positive change for me. Anyone else been told this? Anyhoo, now that I've committed (read: put down non-refundable $$$ :001_tongue:) I'll be around some going forward. I'll ask a lot of questions. I tend to analyze things to death. I keep telling myself that I just need to be brave for 6 months, then I'll only need to be strong. Strong I can do. Brave can be difficult. :crying: Later Blcr

On the one hand I'm frustrated that I waited so long to make this decision. My weight...loss and gain...is quite the story. 8 years ago I lost 165 pounds on my own in 18 months. I kept the vast majority off for about 3 years but I cannot keep it off. Over the past years I've gained and gained. Basically, I got a taste of life then lost it again. However, I also have to admit that I am very, very, very glad I did not have either a band or r-n-y. The entire time I was thinking about surgery I would think "why don't they have a middle ground". I just knew neither of them out there were really right for me. The minute I learned about the sleeve, I felt the fog clearing. The more I researched, the more I knew it was right for me. (All of this, especially about my losing and gaining the weight is very hard to admit but trying to change a lot of things and maybe this is one of them...telling the cold, hard truth.) Now here's the great news. As of a few months ago, my insurance has decided to cover the sleeve!!!! A family medical crisis emptied my savings 2 years ago so I could not self pay. I can't even begin to explain the turmoil it all created. On the one hand, I was proud of myself because I helped family at a time they needed it. Then I realized I didn't have the money to save myself. So now, it all seems to be falling back into place. My insurance has told the program AND myself in separate calls that they now cover the sleeve and the program said they will have it in writing before my all day event. (Not that I specifically am covered but that they cover the sleeve.) About the diet, they told me that I will only meet with the diet program folks 3 times between now and my surgery date assuming I have no major issues aside from overeating. I have no history of anorexia, bulimia or major binge eating. (I think most of us have little binges.) Based on that, only 3 diet visit. So the issue of not joining WW really is a mystery to me. I'll find out in a couple of weeks. And to WW....I lost 5.4 pounds my first week. You know how it is...the first week is always your big number. But even if I level out to 1-2 a week, I don't know how they could have an issue with it. But, as I said, I'll find out. I hope to read everyone's stories and info and get excited. I need to turn nerves into excitement and try to enjoy this ride as a way to a new and better life. Thanks all.

I've watched a couple of YouTube's showing this surgery. (Some parts with my eyes closed. I'm squeemish. ) As I've read here I've seen some posts where folks who are long past the initial surgery say to the newbies "it won't always be that way." So that's my question. What is it like for those of you who are 18 months or further away from your surgery. One of the YouTube's stated that there is a loss of appetite and cravings for the first 12 months. Does that mean they come back after that first 12 months? And what is your approximately daily intake of food now? And do you still have issues with food causing you significant problems if you'd accidently not chew a bite very, very well. I have a friend who had gastric bypass about 6 years ago. She is considered a big success because she lost 150 pounds. But they stopped the follow up at 4 years. And in the past 18 months she has really started gaining weight back....I'd guess as much as 50 pounds. She said it's a combo problem. She still cannot eat but about 1/2 of what I can but believes that after years of eating only about 1000 calories a day if you averaged the years, her metabolism is shot. So now, with 1400-1500, she's gaining. That concerns me because each of the YouTube's I watched pointed out that since this proceedure hasn't been done commonly that long, they can't say what the longer term success level will be. So for those who have had this for a while, give me an idea of what it's like. Do you even think about it on a daily basis anymore? Thanks.

After just a short time at this site I'm rethinking my decision to be banded. I'm very glad I did not mail my nonrefundable $500 deposit! I've been to quite a few seminars and none of them do the sleeve. Based on the information I was hearing, I'd decided on the band. But now that I've read the details here, this sounds exactly like what I want. Basically, I just want a fighting chance. I know that without my stomach being made smaller in some way, I can lose the weight but will always gain it back. The gastric bypass is just too harsh in terms of robbing your body of nutrients. (my opinion) The band has a lot of maintenance and I really worry that I'll lose my insurance and not be able to afford it. So now I'm learning about this sleeve and it sounds like what I've been looking for all along. I kept wondering why they couldn't just reduce the size of the stomach and allow for the same digestive process. Well boy howdy am I excited. I've found a semi-local place and will be going to yet another seminar next week. I hate that I've lost a couple of months time but it may be a lucky two months to have lost. My only concern sitting here on a Sunday is reading that this is not considered mainstream yet. So I'll find out tomorrow if my insurance will cover this particular surgery. Fingers crossed! :lol0: Thanks in advance to those who kindly answer my questions and best wishes to all in this battle!

What are white carbs? I know she cannot eat white sugar in any form so I don't think that's caused her gain. She gets horrible "lower gastric response" very quickly. We were in a coffee shop one day and they put sugar in her coffee instead of sweetner. She knew within about 5 minutes. It's actually the type of thing that's making me really think this whole process through. All the talk about foaming and sliming with the band pretty much ended that consideration. It sounds like the way you experience hunger now is a healthy way. Enough to trigger the desire to eat, but not enough to be driven by it.

Leaking? From where? If from incisions, is that common? This info just keeps getting better and better.....:lol0:

What do "PB" and "slime" mean? I've searched and I find a lot of thread where they are discussed but not specifically what they mean. Something tells me PB has nothing to do with Peanut Butter. :wink:

I think you are doing great! What bothers me is that his statements were just plain stupid. HOW you are losing the weight is very important. If this is your first fill, you almost have to be doing it by doing all the right things. Sure, starving yourself might have taken another 10 or 15 pounds but we've all done that and ultimately it gets you no where but fatter. I don't think I would bother with the documentation. He wouldn't believe it anyway. But I do think I would be ready with an honest and direct response. Tell him that you, like most of us, have "sprint" dieted our entire lives. Now, with the band, you've committed to a marathon. You won't get there as fast as "stave, starve" but with eating right and taking longer will get you much further. Then I'd look him right in the eye and say "are you able to accept that?" How could he say no? I don't do well when I am caught off guard but with time to think about it, I'd be ready. He was way off base.

I wondered about the shakes. But can't you drink something to help? I get low blood sugar shakes and worry about that during the first week or so but I hoped that once I got past the Clear liquids days I'd be able to drink something like a slim fast to help me out.

Very new here so forgive a stupid question but is this typical to still not be on liquids 1.5 weeks after surgery? What is a TPN? Thanks.

Are posts that refer to "pre-op diet" talking about the plan over the months while you wait for your date for surgery? Or does this refer to the plan that is in place for maybe the week immediately before the surgery?

One of my very good friends had gastric bypass a few years ago. Her experience is the reason I am leaning toward the band. She initially had incredible weight loss, but with the bypass she was actually not able to eat healthy. The only thing she could eat that was actually good for her was lean Protein. Things like veggies and fruits sent her into vomiting (veggies mostly) or the trots (fruits). With being years since the surgery, she is actually to the place where she can eat bread again, but still not veggies. Something like a salad with raw veggies blended in would put her on the couch for hours with terrible indigestion. And this means after maybe 3 bites. So I'm curious for banders: What food (aside from bread) have you found you cannot eat? Did you have any surprises? I don't think my friend thought it would be so difficult to eat a healthy diet. I know this varies by individual but I'm curious as to what some of the items are. Thanks.

This comment really helps. Everyone keeps referring to the tiny bites. The other day as I was eating lunch I was trying for tiny bites and it almost was like I wasn't consuming any food. I suspect I am thinking of these tiny bites as miniscule. The smaller the bite of food, the harder it was to chew, chew, chew. I also noticed that the really soft foods almost go down my throat without my command, if that makes any sense. That was a concern. Sooooooo much to learn!!!!

Linda: Things do seem to be widely varied. The doc who would be doing my surgery said that he wants a 10 pound weight loss in the month prior to surgery but how you want to do that is up to you and would even vary according to how well you have done in the previous months. For instance, your stats show you are doing great on the pre-surgery diet so he might expect less than 10 pounds from you in that month since you are doing well at consistently lowering your weight. Based on my personality I wish things were a little more cut and dry on the process of this surgery. For such a big decision it feels like a lot of the process is wishy washy. At least so far.