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Looking for some reassurance about being scoped tomorrow. I'm mostly worried about the anesthesia: either not being enough, or causing complications! I have sleep apnea with a CPAP and worried that it will for me to be adequately ventilated, especially being heavy. But the rational part of me says that there must be others in the same situation who have gone through this safely! Would greatly appreciate any shared thoughts. Thank you!

Congratulations on your new journey and im glad you're doing well and no complications. Keep up the good work🥇🥇🥇 Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

I’m 38 days post op and I wanted to share my experience so far. When I was prepping for this massive change, I relied on other folks’ experiences for guidance. I found some positive and some that made me go into surgery preparing for the worse, just because I knew it was possible. I also saw people’s negative experiences, and while it didn’t deter me, I wanted to post my very positive journey so far! Disclaimer: this is not me gloating! I know some folks have had a very difficult journey, some with far too many complications. I just want to share a story that I was looking for when going through my preop journey. I hope everyone’s path to healthiness is an affirmative one! My cardiology appointment, 2 weeks before my surgery, I weighed 282lbs with clothing on. After my liquid diet (which was tough for me, because I like to eat!) I was down to 267lbs on the day of my surgery. As an outsider looking in, I would think, “see, you can lose weight without surgery!” But those 2weeks were tough and it took my all to not snap at everyone and everything! It was certainly a nice kick off though! My surgery experience was great! I woke up and needed to wait another 3 hours for a room, but I slept for most of it. I was nauseous at first, but it subsided with some anti nausea meds. I walked around a lot, sipped water, caught up on my Netflix and SLEPT! I was able to burp, which oddly was something I was worried I would lose (I had read folks that don’t really burp anymore). I was able to keep liquids down, walk around, and even have some broth and jello. When my dr checked in on me after my evening, he was surprised I didn’t have complaints. I expected the pain I was in, it wasn’t a shock to me. I was sore, my incision marks were glued, and I had bruises, but I was prepared for the pain, so I had no complaints. I wanted to go home so badly, and the cute lil nurse kept telling me to not rush, but I really just wanted to be home in my bed. My surgery was 8am on a Thursday, and I was back at home by 4pm Friday. I took 1 week off from work (my job doesn’t involve a lot of moving or lifting, so my dr said as long as I wasn’t taking narcotics and could drive comfortably, I could go back to work). For the first 3 days, I pretty much slept. I took pain meds to help me sleep without waking constantly for being uncomfortable for those days, then stopped. I didn’t pass gas until Saturday (3 days after my surgery) and didn’t have a bowel movement until 1 week post op. I also got my period which was heavy and lasted longer than usual (but it stopped and my dr wasn’t concerned by it). I drank my protein shakes and water, chicken broths, took my meds without any issues (kept them down and didn’t experience pain), ate SO MANY sugar-free popsicles. Almost every article I read said that each food type phase is about 2 weeks. My dr had a schedule for me where each was one week, with caution that if I start something new and it upsets my stomach, go back to the step before. I was very thankful to move to puréed foods and then soft foods before my first month. I’m someone who doesn’t mind eating the same things over and over, especially if I like it, so I was ok with being limited. I wasn’t hungry, but I wanted to eat. It was so weird, but it was clear that my brain was used to the habit, so I would just make sure I kept drinking my water. As I introduced new foods, it became very clear that simple carb gave me almost immediate stomach pains and refined sugars would make me feel nauseous then give me diarrhea. I have been very good about my vitamins and water, but I need to keep better focus on my protein intake. I have only vomited a couple of times from taking that extra couple of bites, which helped encourage me to stop as soon as I feel full. Random hiccups happen, and sometimes they’re rough, but they eventually go away. From my weight at surgery, I’m down 20lbs; 20lbs In 38 days! I haven’t had to adjust my social life; I don’t drink, but that’s ok, and with going out for food, no one says anything if i take food home or don’t finish a meal. I’ve been moderately exercising, because I need to increase my stamina. I bought a nice beach bike which is a fun ride and not so intense that I would want to skip it (because we know how easy it is to make excuses!). Walking has been great too! I honestly forget about my surgery most of the time. The few people who know about it will ask if I’m ok with them eating in front of me or ask how I’m doing, and my immediate reaction is confusion. The I realize why they said it and I have to remind myself. So, super long post! Sorry! However, as you can tell, I have zero regrets and I’m very happy with my results so far. I keep a journal to reflect and track for when things get tough (or to remind me how sick I felt the last time I tried a piece on chocolate!). I keep track of my weight and my inches lost. I weigh myself on Sundays and I do my measurements once a month.all my vitamins are organized for the week and my energy is almost back to normal.

I think EVERYONE has sagging skin after weight loss, it’s just the degree to which you get it. But clothes cover everything that’s super-evident (thighs/upper arms/abdomen) and if it really bothers you there’s always plastics or other procedures. For now I’m making do with light shapewear and elbow-length sleeves. Two years ago at this time, dressing for summer was 100x more complicated because I didn’t show those areas anyhow AND I was trying to manage the form-fitting/layering/air con-to-blistering weather. Now all I have to worry about is do I look good in one of my many medium-sized elbow-length shirts. So much easier. Definitely overrides any loose skin worries. What will happen will happen. Even if you end up with the least elastic skin ever, you’ll have more options than you do now.

I am 10 days post op and I have had ZERO issues. Even in the hospital things moved along smoothly. Maybe it’s my own head just expecting it but I feel like this should be more complicated. Anyone else just have a fantastic experience? The worst pain I’ve had is from the blood thinner injections. Swelling and bruising that just won’t quit. Even nausea, I’m expecting that to kick in any moment. I know so many people struggle and I guess I have psyched myself out. Anyone else have smooth transitions?

Try not to google and self-diagnose. It will give you anxiety. Anything medical complications should be diagnosed by your Dr. I didn’t feel satisfied until real food stage. You are right, liquids to soft foods don’t stay in your pouch long. Are you getting your 60 to 100 grams of protein? Are you logging in a food app or tracking it by hand from food labels? Protein is going to help with hunger.

I’ve lived with gerd for nearly 20 years, I’m 36 now... this, in my case, is not gerd. this is a pain that I’ve never experienced before. It’s very similar to the dull pain that happens when the pouch is full, except it’s consistent even when I don’t eat. It’s not an unbearable pain, i is definitely not incapacitating, it only prevents me from having any true appetite, and sort of makes me feel bloated. I’m no doctor, but seems the most common complication of gastric bypass is ulceration sat either the stapled area, or where the small intestine is connected to the pouch. I’m sure the dr will most likely take precautions and have me go back on Zegerid daily, ( Zegerid is the best btw). It’s OTC now, I recommend you try it, basically it’s Prilosec with sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda). The sodium bicarbonate neutralizes any acid present immediately, and the prilosec does what it normally does, and prevents the acid from coming back. If you take that, and your pain goes away, most likely you’ve got an ulcer. but.... from everything I’ve researched, tests need to be done to diagnose and treat these ulcers correctly, so go see your surgeon as soon as you can, and explain it to them. Don’t take my word as gospel.

I had great weight loss with the VSG I hit goal in roughly 7-8months and kept it off for almost 3 yrs but the complications started causomg lots of issues. My sleeve was stretched by a non bariatric hi doc because it and my distal esophagus were very narrowed with inflammation. I loat that restriction at that point. I couldnt live with that.

That's a fairly old report and does not include the rate of revision from Sleeve to Bypass in the "complications" It also seems to include the dumping in the Bypass but not for the Sleeve as far as "complications". The rate of Sleeve to Bypass revision is fairly high. This also doesn't include or account for the medical advancements that have become common practice over the past several years AND seems to include older post op issues from older forms of the surgery. And, lets talk about the fact that Gastric Bypass happens more often than the Sleeve, thus again skewing the real numbers. Case by case. They would come out about even. Except with the looming revision for the sleeve. I had the band. I needed revision. So I had to have 2 surgeries thus increasing my overall risk as opposed to getting the bypass first which would have lowered my overall risk. Any information, when taken without all facts can seem scary. But you need to look at the entire picture. 273 SGs were performed of which 6.6% (n = 18) were converted to RYGB most commonly due to inadequate weight loss (65.3%) and severe reflux (26.1%). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28416180 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29496440 You've got approx. a 10% chance that you'll need revision to another surgery. So, maybe 1 surgery vs 1 surgery without factoring in revision increasing the risks because now you've had 2 surgeries instead of 1, leaving out dumping for the sleeve but adding it in for the bypass, sure, it looks like the bypass is a much more dangerous surgery. When you factor EVERYTHING in... pretty sure they break even if not a little in favor of the bypass. You still can't undo the sleeve though, no matter what happens. 70-90% of your stomach is gone. Nothing usually gets removed in the bypass, just moved around. Again, either way. Good luck with your choice.

Well...I'm too having a horrible time quitting. May will be my last visit before they submit the authorization. Do they run a nicotine test? I'm freaking out cause I don't want anything to go wrong but it's been so hard. I've been smoking since I was 17 and basically for the past 5 yrs I've smoke a pack a day (I know, that's a lot and im only 37 , such a bad habbit :(.. I just want to make it out alive, anyone here did good after surgery without complications despite the fact of being a smoker before surgery?

Hi guys! Has anyone here had VSG done already and was a heavy smoker before? Did you follow the guidelines to quit before the surgery and did you have a hard time. I'm 37 and May will be my last visit with the physicians before they submit the authorization for the surgery. I'm diabetic, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which I do take medications for all 3. I've also been a smoker since I was 17 and I've been smoking a pack a day for quiet a while now. I've been having a really hard time trying to quit and I know I don't have much time yet. Has anyone had some complications due to previously being a smoker. I would like to hear your story.

According to the FEP BCBS benefits guide this is what is required for revisions: •Benefits for subsequent surgery for morbid obesity, performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, are subject to the following additional pre-surgical requirements: - All criteria listed above for the initial procedure must be met again, except when the subsequent surgery is necessary to treat a complication from the prior morbid obesity surgery . - Previous surgery for morbid obesity was at least 2 years prior to repeat procedure - W eight loss from the initial procedure was less than 50% of the member’s excess body weight at the time of the initial procedure - Member complied with previously prescribed post- operative nutrition and exercise program - Claims for the surgical treatment of morbid obesity must include documentation from the member’s provider(s) that all pre-surgical requirements have been met

Hi guys! Has anyone here had VSG done already and was a heavy smoker before? Did you follow the guidelines to quit before the surgery and did you have a hard time. I'm 37 and May will be my last visit with the physicians before they submit the authorization for the surgery. I'm diabetic, high blood pressure and high cholesterol which I do take medications for all 3. I've also been a smoker since I was 17 and I've been smoking a pack a day for quiet a while now. I've been having a really hard time trying to quit and I know I don't have much time yet. Has anyone had some complications due to previously being a smoker. I would like to hear your story.

I'm 5 weeks away from my surgery, and the anxiety seems to swing in every three or four days. The surgery itself doesn't scare me, but the anesthesia does. Along with post-op pain and/or complications. But the fears I used to have about dying of a heart attack before I turn 45 or ending up with needing a limb amputated due to diabetes are slowly fading into the background.

Dr. Hu patients rarely come back with complications. Same for mcallaster. Both are very thorough and kind. Bernsten is very good as well I forgot to mention her, she is chill and knows her stuff. As far as coming back, I haven't noticed many of dunshee pts. It isnt like he is a bad surgeon, he is very good at what he does. As a nurse taking care of his patients though i see them go through things they shouldnt have to sometimes (needlessly nauseated >1hr because we have to go through the process of getting zofran for example) because he doesn't do some basic after surgery orders. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

What make you reccomend Dr Hu or Mcallister? Also what about Dr Berntsern? I am self pay and my insurance will not pay for any complications. My biggest worry is getting a complication. So I guess my thinking was Dr Dunshee is the department head and has the most experiance. This is such a hard decision to make. I really appreciate your input.

Ironically, complications from obesity related diseases and the possibility of dying from them is much higher statistically than the complications of the surgery itself, which is about 1%. That being said, it’s completely normal to fear the unknown. I think each and every one of us had the same thoughts and fears. But in the end, you have to weigh the risks vs benefits, and the benefits far outweigh the risks. At least for me it did! If you keep a positive attitude, strive for change in your lifestyle, manage your expectations and have a grateful heart, you’ll be thrilled you did it .

My biggest fear was death, and it didn't happen. LOL! I never had the first complication, pain, problem or anything, so it can be possible for surgery to go off without a hiccup.

Sorry to hear you've had such bad complications. 😥 Hope you get your new surgery soon and that fixes things. Keep us up to date on the progress.

I worked with an anesthesiologist that would occasionally remind people that they are statistically more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the hospital than from anesthesia. So when I would get nervous I just tried to put things in perspective. There are no guarantees in life. I could have complications from the surgery, I could also get cancer or get in a freak accident. There are so many things out of my control I just try to focus on what I can control.

Uh no. Can you find a medical journal to back up that statement? Because all the ones I've seen say the opposite. For example: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843041/ From the article: "VSG is primarily a restrictive procedure for weight loss. The perioperative and postoperative mortality rates are 0.29% and 0.34%, respectively, with complication rates of 13%" "RNYGBP has been the most common weight-loss procedure performed in the United States for the past several decades. Contemporary rates of perioperative and postoperative mortality are 0.38% and 0.72%, respectively.14 ..... In randomized controlled trials, the overall complication rate was 21%"

My fear is complications with surgery & vitamins deficiency which can lead to all kinds of things n even D Sent from my SM-G925T using BariatricPal mobile app

There are actually not more compilations with the bypass than the sleeve, this is incorrect. Also, the sleeve is 100% non-reversible, because parts of your anatomy end up in the waste. The bypass is actually reversible in certain situations, the reversal is tough and has it's own complications, but it is possible and does happen. Honestly, I'm really happy that I didn't go with the sleeve (I was a band revision and my surgeon *will not* do band to sleeve due to the increased staple line failure risk) I'm over a year with my bypass and I still am so very happy with it. To each their own, just, make sure you are basing your decision on facts, not feelings. Good luck! The bypass will prevent GERD, the sleeve has a chance of causing it or making it much, much worse. Stick with the facts and figures over feelings... because feelings associated with things we don't know much about... are generally not accurate. I was afraid of the bypass too at one point, because I had the wrong information. I got the band. I really wish I had just gotten the bypass from the get go and not waste so much money on 2 surgeries only because I was afraid of something based on the wrong information. My personal experience here. Good luck with whatever you chose to do!

@elcee, they didn’t cut your stomach for gastric bypass? I think no matter your surgery the end result depends on you. If you get the sleeve you get restriction and RNY you get malabsorption as well to help with weight loss. I know the sleeve is not reversible but it’s not common to have RNY reversed (from what I’ve read) and it’s complicated. Do your research on both and (no pun intended) go with your gut! 😂♥️

So I met with the surgeon's office today. Had the first meeting with the dietician, filled out the gigantic pile of paperwork and met with the doctor. Got some super amazing news from the coordinator of the program, which is not only does my insurance pay for the psych eval ($200), but also pays the program fees for the meetings and everything ($600). I was blown away. Then the super awesome amazing news - while my insurance carrier normally requires a documented 6 month dietitian/food class, my particular group does not. So that requirement is waived. On top of all that, when I went to check out and make my psych eval appointment, the nurse said - "Can you do today? Like in 15 minutes? She has an opening and she is right across the street." I said "sure!" and off I went. So in one day, I got my first appointment, first dietitian meeting, most of the paperwork and the psych eval done. Basically, I just have to attend one informational class/workshop/meeting and I am good to go! I feel like I at the wheel of a speeding train! As far as the debate, I had pretty much decided on Sleeve. I didn't like the idea of the bypass and I knew there were more complications with that procedure. But I do have Type 2 Diabetes and the RNY is this particular surgeon's gold standard for bariatric surgery. They said ultimately it is up to me, but now I am not sure. Anyone have any thoughts one way or the other? I am 44 years old, have approximately 150-170 lbs to lose and plan to live at least another 50 years. So for me it's mostly about the long term effects and while I know there is way more data about RNY, I just get skeeved out at the idea of re-routing my guts.