Fishnfool

If your thinking of having the Sleeve done id say go for it. It Saved my life and my wife has a new husband so to speak.. we do more now and i have more energy then her..LOL we rode bikes this summer which was cool and did alot more outdoor activities then ever before.. Its a big decision that has to be talked about with your family, me I went about it the opposite way I have a Italian/Ukranian families who love to eat and thats one reason i was Obese and i love food, they would never say you need Bariatric Surgery, they did say your fat but I know my family wouldnt want me to have Surgery, So i told Mom i was going to a hernia done at 42 still lying to my Mom, well when i came out of the hospital and was home for a week i have mom, grandmom and brothers over for dinner, I couldnt eat food i was just drinking a lil Clear liquids and made my family a nice dinner and just before we sat to eat i broke down and cried my eyes out one because i felt overwhelmed and excited that i knew my life was going to be different from here forward and two i didnt want to hold this back from my family anymore, i told them my story how i was feeling and hated my life and we all cried and were very supportive after, even thou my mother said she probably would have wanted me to look into other options, but this was the best option for me!!! Sorry for long winded story, but all the things im writing probably happened to may many other on this site, some had the surgery and other probably didnt, your family loves you but whats right for them might not be right for you! Best of luck... Youll Do Great

Thank You!!! and Best of Luck on your upcoming Surgery!!!

Keep Up the Great Work You Look Great!!! Good Luck with Your Journey also Joe

Kathy, i know how you feel i still love food, i found talking to a dietican or food consoler helped teach me how not to turn to food when i wasnt havent a good day, but food was my life, I still eat most foods i did in past but in very small portions now. Another reason i had my surgery done on Nov 2nd was so i could atleast have mush foods at thanksgiving (fat guy) always thinking.. LOL Its not easy believe me you have to get yourself saying I can do this, Food will not run my life anymore!!! If you stumble get back up and start the next day... But please follow what your doctor says you dont want any complications, i have read others eating different foods at different weeks, stick with what your doctor feels is right for his patiants.. Good Luck God Bless!!!

Hey Guys I dont frequent the boards like i used too but just felt like i should share today with a few that are on the fence about getting the Sleeve. Nov 2nd 2010 i had the vertical sleeve done in Stratford Nj, after a few days of feeling queezy from drugs they put me under with i felt fine. within a week i felt minimal pain in the tummy area, dont get me wrong you felt like you had stomach surgery but i was up and moving around.. always remember drink drink drink..LOL it worked for me! My starting weight was 345lbs and today im happy to say in 225.4lbs 120.00 lbs gone forever!!! My goal was 220lb whick im still working on, but im so happy to be where i am today the sleeve saved my life. I had servere sleep apnea (used the machine) and had a small leak in the pulmonary valve that has since corrected itself. I went from a size 46-48 pants to a 36 and from 3-4xxl shirts to XL. I did stretch my skin out one too many times and im not a spring chicken so i have some skin sagging under the armpits, man boobs and around the tummy which i expected, but i feel great!!!! I was pretty strict the first 6 months tring to get as much off as possible and your body does adjust after losing that much weight and you will stall could last a day a week a month or 2 months so dont get upset slow and steady!!! i really havent lost much in the last few month's ive been right around the 223-225 mark all summer but i have to admit i didnt exersize at all, i did get out and moved around but i would say i probably would have lost more and toned with exersize... Never give up on yourself, we only have one shot in this world make the best of it! Its your Journey dont let anyone scare you or change your mind, you will have regrets i waited 2 yrs longer then i should have because i was told that they loved me for who i was and didnt care about my weight, lies lies lies... when your dead and in a box theyll say he should have tried to lose weight and i tried and tried and tried, i lost but gained it all back again plus more.. well i hope this helps even just one person move forward in there goal to get healthier, these boards helped me so much and i thank everyone who answered all my stupid questions and supported me through my journey. im gonna try and add a before and after picture .... hope it works!! Good Luck and Just Do It!!! JOE BEFORE AFTER (not best pics but i really dont have many new ones yet

CONGRATS on losing the CPAP machine ive had mine for 4 yrs now and hate it, just like you said every morning my belly is full of air and had nasty reflux, the mask was making sores on bridge of nose and near my lip from rubbing thru the night. I had my VSG on Nov 2 2010 ........3 months later im down 61lbs and wife says i dont snore anymore when i dont use the machine!!!!! Im going to have another sleep study late spring after being 6 months out and see what the results are. I have to say the VSG saved my life..

Like everyone else said most of us are Foodies we love food and it was our best friend in times when we were sad or happy and it also was killing us slowly, its only been 10 weeks but now i EAT to LIVE i try and eat small portions 6 times a day usually get 4 or 5 meals in depending on what im doing. I had my sleeve done Nov 2 and went thru thanksgiving and christmas watching everyone gorge on food but i knew one day soon id be able to eat everything they ate just in small portions and i do now! but for me i hop on the scale every tuesday and see the pounds coming off that makes me know i made the right choice for me. By Sept you will be a new person with a healthier life. sorry im a old 43 ..lol Good Luck

Good Luck everyone on your journey.. I dont post much but wanted to say this was the best choice for me it saved my life i was dying a slow death being 345lbs sleep apnea, valve leak to lungs(stress from being obese) sore joints and back,chronic pain and depression etc. i looked into weight loss suregry two years ago looking at the lap band and after talking to the doctor i felt it wasnt for me and a year later while on you tube i found the Sleeve. I didnt tell anyone what i was doing and made a appt to see a doctor that did this type of surgery and went to a seminar also, i was nervous also but i knew it was time for me to take my life back! I just couldnt loose all the weight i gained and didnt want to die gasping for air (sleep apnea) or be in pain anymore. Nov 2 2010 i had the sleeve done, it wasnt as bad as i thought the incisions actually bothered me the most i didnt feel any different stomach wize (no pain ) but you have to be aware of taking sips of fluids after surgery cause you are full fast and dont want to get dehydrated. in two weeks youll feel almost normal and a month you will be eating mushy foods a few weeks later you can eat solids just in real small amounts, i wondered soon after having the sugery when youll know when you full well everyone is different and there is a learning curve for me i wanna say i burt a few times and stomach growls and of course i try and get another bite and over do it..lol Ive never been sick (vomiting) and i do eat to fast which im tring to slow down and now will read or get up and come back to food. Sorry for the long winded story i just wanted to say i was nervous also but after reading all the success stories on here and youtube video's i know i made the right choice, YOU just have to know for yourself try not to let anyone else make that decsion for you its your journey and dont you want to be happy and live a better life? take care and good luck! Joe

Best Of Luck.... Remember sip sip sip...walk walk walk One Day at a Time!! What a great holiday gift for yourselves!!! Joe

Question for you one month out>>>>>> do you have any gas or slight discomfort while or after eating, im only 2 weeks out and just started mushies and have had alot of gas(burps) and a slight discomfort while food gets to the stomach. hoping it gets better at a month out.. congrats for making it this far and good luck on the rest of your journey!! Joe

Your not alone i had and still have those same issues i did try Gas X strips last night but i still have to try after eating (im on mushys now) for the real test. so as far as i know its looks to be common and hopin as more time goes by with healing and swelling will go away. good luck and welcome to the loser side Joe