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Just stepping into this forum ... I'm scheduled for the LSG on March 11. Frightened about complications but very very excited. I've battled my weight my entire life -- the fat small kid. But it was made so much worse by dangerously high doses of prednisone and decadron to treat my asthma. (Even as a kid I thought it wasn't professional that the family doctor would come to my house, give me the drugs and then give me a huge shot of adrenalin in the morning -- but never took me to the hospital ...) Anyhow I'm 57 with a 42 BMI and I so want to get back to something below 30 -- and stay there! Any tips, preop advice? I'd be really grateful! Thanks!

If you don’t have any surgical complications, you might be fine to do this as an outpatient procedure (especially since you have your husband to keep an eye on you and provide assistance). However, you need to be really diligent about following post-surgery instructions. I stayed one night, and I was eager to get released and go home, but in hindsight, I’m glad they made me stay overnight because it was so difficult to get sufficient fluid intake those first few days. While I was in the hospital, they pumped me full of IV fluids, which gave me a head start on hydration while I struggled to drink water. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of hospitalization after surgery, so without the help of an extra night of IV fluids, you’ll need to be extra careful about keeping up with your fluid intake or you might have to go back to the hospital anyway.

I haven’t checked in for a while. Doing great here. So far no complications. I am down to 185 and feeling great. I pretty much made it without any of the difficulties. I never really got foamies and don’t think I got sick more than 5 times and most were in the first 6 months. Now I can pretty much eat whatever I want I just get full really quickly. My body has relearned its relationship with food and unlike the old days the minute I start to feel full I totally lose my appetite and just want food to go away. I probably need to work on my protein intake since I still love carbs but no one is perfect. I am glad everyone is doing well. It is not a quick fix like I thought it would be but overall I feel like it was a healthy way to lose weight. I am medication free with normal labs and blood pressure now and no more CPAP.

Good morning, Started 291 current weight 216.6 Goal 200, recently moved and need to exercise more with home-prepared meals, move into a townhouse in 2 weeks then I expect to shed off the additional weight. Did you hit your goal? Nope initially set a 185 lb goal but I am happy with 200., I am 5'9" and shaped like a triangle (chicken legs :)) Did you stall at any point and what did you do to get past it? yes, I stalled at 240 for a year and frankly, Ozempic helped a lot. I am a Type 2 and was put on it to get my A1C in control, side benefits are a metric crapton of weight loss 40 lbs at the best because it makes me slightly nauseous and kills my hunger response. Gain any weight back? I waffle between 200-205 normally but recently spiked up to 220 after moving and eating out all the time. Loose skin? yes but luckily as a fella, it's not as bad for me and my wife is super supportive of the minor apron at 200. Improvements in comorbidities like diabetes or sleep apnea? I am a diabetic and the Type 2 (a1c) is now the normal range (under 5.7), off metformin and still take Ozempic (by choice). I was sleep apneic and not only my beautiful wife snores. It is cute :). I sounded like I was dry water drowning and she had to put up with that for years prior to the CPAP then the hum of the machine... Regrets? Only when I eat at great restaurants and telling my coworkers when they notice I do not eat very much. Complications? None really, Tips? Try Ozempic first!! Outside of carbonated beverages anything you can't eat or tolerate now? I can drink carbonated beverages but learned that it can be really uncomfortable if I have gas. What's life like for you now? Wonderful, I wear business formal (suits) to work and I am back to tailoring the suits and the dad diaper (huge pants looking like an adult with a diaper in my slacks) has disappeared. My waist went from 46 to 32, a huge change.

Almost 4 years since my sleeve. Reached goal at 6 months. Exceeded it by another 10/11kg & have basically maintained +/- a kilo or two. Didn’t have co morbidities before my surgery. Didn’t really stall in the truest sense - just odd couple of days with no loss. No complications. Have low blood pressure but always had a tendency towards it. Gone from a couple of times a month to every day. (My higher weight probably kept my BP in the normal range.) Had my gall out about two years after my sleeve but not necessarily related to my weight loss. Still don’t eat rice, pasta, bread, potatoes. They sit heavily in my tummy. Don’t miss them. I have a glass of sparkling water every day but I let it go fairly fiat. Occasionally I’ll have a glass of champagne or have soda or tonic water as a mixer but no other carbonated drinks. Don’t drink much alcohol any more (a glass once a month+/-). Not that I can’t, just not interested. I have loose skin. Not a lot. Can’t really be seen under my clothes … unless you look closely.😉 I wear body conscious dresses without needing shape wear to control the loose skin. No regrets.

I had VSG July 2020 (at age 68). so that puts me at about 2 1/2 years out. I started at 200#. My goal was about 139, but I have been stabilized at 144 for over a year. In fairness to the program/procedure, I haven’t exercised as much as I should have. I can eat whatever I want, no intolerances, but I try to eat protein/ veggies /fruit/ whole grains. I don’t care for carbonated beverages , so no worries there. I limit myself to eating 4 times/day. No grazing. Maybe about 4-5 ounces of wine at dinner a couple times a week. Blood pressure improved. A little loose skin, but I probably won’t have surgery. Absolutely no regrets or complications!

If you had VSG 2+ years would you please share your updates? Did you hit your goal? Did you stall at any point and what did you do to get past it? Gain any weight back? Loose skin? Improvements in comorbidities like diabetes or sleep apnea? Regrets? Complications? Tips? Outside of carbonated beverages anything you can't eat or tolerate now? What's life like for you now? I would love to hear your successes and struggles!

I am almost 74. I had a lapband done in 2009 and did well, but had complications and they took all the saline out in 2012, and finally had the band taken out and getting ready to have the sleeve done sometimes in the last week in March.I remember everything about things to do to prepare and have most of everything ready for the 2 weeks liquid diet before surgery as well for the first 2 weeks post surgery.How soon will I be able to take regular medications post surgery? Has anyone tried baby food during the purée stage?

Yes like everyone said this is more so about your liver. It helps the surgeon do the job much easier, less risks of complications. Also, use this liquid diet to learn more disciplinary habits you can use for your post op diet!

62, and scheduled for my sleeve Feb 23. I did the lap band in 2007 and it was life changing. I reached my goal weight. Then had all the complications and had to have it removed. I was told I wouldn't be a candidate for the sleeve even as I gained some weight back after the removal as I was too close to my goal weight. Now here I am 40 lbs. heavier than when I initially had the band.

My insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, so I am self pay. It is scheduled for Feb 23 at an Outpatient facility, and they are telling me no overnight stay is required. (If needed, overnight care is available). So far everything I've read states at least one night in the hospital. I'm a little concerned with cost cutting measures for self pay. We have a hotel booked a few miles from the surgery center in case of any complications (and for my husband in case I do stay overnight) as we are about 2 hours away. Mount Sinai Surgery Center in Tarzana CA. Anyone with experience there or going home same day? I also have 2 complications, Moderate sleep apnea, and likely a lot of scar tissue from a previous lap band. Not that I want to stay overnight, but I would prefer to be mentally prepared!

Hello...I had gastric bypass surgery in October of 2012. Biggest mistake of my life. I got to my goal weight in 2014. I felt pretty good. All of a sudden I started waking up several times a night with severe panic attacks (I had been suffering from this prior to surgery). I was on the right meds for this and they were manageable. All of a sudden they came back with vengeance. I asked my med doc what was happening and she said she didn't know how to help me. Yes, a med provider said she couldn't help me and that the meds I were on were working before. So this shocked me and I was on the search for another doctor. Was having a real difficult time finding someone to help me. I finally found one and what a strange person he was. He was arguing with my primary doc about what meds I should be on. It went on too long. My attacks got more intense during the night. Then they began during the day. It was nonstop anxiety with depression. I joined a CBT program because I became suicidal. The psychiatrist with the program noticed right away that I had had gastric bypass. He knew immediately what was happening. My meds weren't absorbing. He put me on a liquid medication. One that made me gain weight in the first place (ugh). It took a while for the liquid med to work so I was suffering badly. It was hard handing on. CBT program was done and I had to check myself in for my depression and anxiety. They wanted to send me to the CBT program. I was like...I just finished it! Went home to suffer some more. I was losing more weight because everytime I ate, my anxiety got worse. Never will understand that and no one can explain that to me to this day. I would start shaking after I ate and anxiety is got very strong. It still happens. Months later I had a heart attack. 3 stents. I couldn't believe all this was happening. I finally found a great med provider and therapist. On a different liquid medication but my health has worsen. I have IBS so badly, lost a lot of hair. I'm taking my vitamins and protein but still losing hair. My mental state is worse then it ever was. I was handing and living with my mental health before surgery and now worse then ever. I had this surgery because I was 80 pds overweight. I had had my 1st heart attack before surgery and my primary doc said I should have the surgery. Worse decision of my life. Sorry for long story but I just want to know if anyone is having these same complications. I went back to my gastric surgeon and she said Gastric bypass doesn't affect your meds and because I had gained 8 pds back, she rudely said..."well you're absorbing something" and looked me up and down. At that point I was done with her. This has been a nightmare

I did have to get a tooth pulled after WLS, but I had gone over a year between appointments due to the pandemic so I don't necessarily blame the WLS and its complications. I had "full mouth rehabilitation" in 2008 resulting in reshaping my bite with crowns on all of my teeth. Over the years I've had to replace a few crowns or have had some root canals and subsequent implants. Yes, crowns are expensive. Implants are even more expensive, and you do need good bone structure. I have five implants now. I can't tell the difference between the implants and my natural teeth. I don't regret the expense even though I had to budget and save for each procedure. My health and smile are worth the expense.

Agree that the liquid diet is not for weight loss but for safety. That thought alone allowed me to do it, I did not want any complications or worse to be opened up and closed back up because of the liver size, I saw some videos on YouTube that made it easier to stick it through. I was allowed a lean dinner, maybe they can let you have that?

Generally, the pre-op diet isn't about weight (although it can be if you have surgery or insurance requirements to meet). But more frequently, its to reduce the size of your liver to make it safe for the surgeon to do the surgery. Obesity OFTEN enlarges your liver which can get in the way of WLS and can pose a risk of complications, so the pre-op diet helps to shrink your liver and open up space for the surgeon to operate safely. My suggestion would be to do exactly what they tell you to. ONE - its for your safety and, TWO - having the knowledge that YOU DID IT will absolutely help you stick it out when it gets harder post-op. And it gets much, much harder. You'll want to start getting into the mindset that there are simply non-negotiables post-op and that doing what you need to now will set you up for success long term and help you commit to those changes.

Hi All I was recently sleeves on 1/26/23. I was very excited and anxious for the procedure to jump start my progress. Fast fwd since surgery I have been having a hard time. When I graduated to semi soft foods It been rough. I haven't been able to keep anything down. It's been so bad that I was informed that it would be best that I go back to the previous stage of liquids only. I'm starting to feel down about getting the procedure. I been vomiting, having heart burn, discomfort trying to drink water, stomach pains, unsuccessful attempts to belch. I've been so frustrated trying to explain this to my Dr. She look at my like i'm crazy and it's hard telling someone the complications I'm having who have never experienced it. Have anyone else had this issue? Like water hurt when I drink it.. it's like so rough when trying to go down like i feel pain while it's traveling and when it finally settle. I'm going crazy please help. My Dr said she will order a upper GI so we will see. I feel like I may have dumping syndrome- although I haven't eaten anything sugary or with fat. I was told dumping syndrome mostly only occur with bypass patients. As in I shouldn't be having that issue but I feel like I do. If i try something as simple as yogurt it come right up like fast within a few minutes and I experience all the issues notes above. I be bent over trying to deal with the pain when this is happening. Any suggestions, tips or advice is welcomed.

I have to have a revision due to sleeve complications (insane gerd causing high doses of PPI which have cased a ton of polyps all through my stomach, which make the gerd worse, which caused gastritis and esophagitis). I love my sleeve and am really sad to need a revision. I have to have half the polyps removed on the 17th, then the other half on March 10th. We're looking at a revision to bypass probably in May, which is ironic because that's my 1 year surgiversary for my sleeve lol The main things I experience is nausea after I eat anything, sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen that cause me to lose my breath and not be able to do anything but lay on the bed and cry, burning and churning in my stomach and up my esophagus, burning in my throat that sometimes makes my throat scratchy and my voice hoarse, spasming in my esophagus causing my throat to close and food to get stuck. I cannot WAIT to get better. Honestly. I love my sleeve, but this is too much. I just want to feel better. I didn't want the bypass because I don't want to deal with possible strictures, dumping syndrome, and I have 2 extended release meds that I can't stop taking (can't be broken or crushed) that will be an issue with the bypass. I never had any gerd or reflux issues, so all these problems came as a shock to me. I'm also really nervous this time around (I wasn't at all with the sleeve).

First, let me start by saying I now have to have a revision due to sleeve complications (insane gerd causing high doses of PPI which have cased a ton of polyps all through my stomach, which make the gerd worse, which caused gastritis and esophagitis). I love my sleeve and am really sad to need a revision. I have to have half the polyps removed on the 17th, then the other half on March 10th. We're looking at a revision to bypass probably in May, which is ironic because that's my 1 year surgiversary for my sleeve lol My ring size is now a 7 1/2 and my clothing size is an 18/20. My surgeon told me to expect to lose maybe another 60-65 pounds with the bypass (it'll be slower and not as much weight lost since it's a revision) but I'm ok with that. If I can lose another 15 pounds by surgery day, then the bypass will get me to goal within another year. I'm ok with it taking 2 years to hit goal, given all these stupid complications. My main thing right now is to feel better. I have to really watch how much I work out and what kinds I do because that can set things off. I watch my diet like a hawk. I still end up in pain sometimes, or sick to my stomach, or any number of things. But the revision will take care of that and then I can just get on with the business of living again. The main things I experience is nausea after I eat anything, sharp stabbing pains in my abdomen that cause me to lose my breath and not be able to do anything but lay on the bed and cry, burning and churning in my stomach and up my esophagus, burning in my throat that sometimes makes my throat scratchy and my voice hoarse, spasming in my esophagus causing my throat to close and food to get stuck. I cannot WAIT to get better. Honestly. I love my sleeve, but this is too much. I just want to feel better.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a few weeks, but this is my first time posting. I had gastric sleeve last year, January 5, 2022, knowing there was a possibility I may have to eventually convert. I really wish I would have just done bypass initially, but I was so worried about complications and was having a hiatal hernia repair at the same time as surgery and I guess I just hoped that would take care of my reflux issue, which wasn't severe at that point. I started out with a BMI of 35, lost 50 pounds and now have a BMI of 28. I probably should have lost more, but doctor feels the reflux I have played a part in that. I am absolutely terrified of this surgery, which is the reason I didn't have it to begin with obviously. I am also having a gallbladder removal (full of tiny stones), but I never would have known that if not for the ultrasound. My doctor feels it's wise to take it out at the same time as bypass as he says if I need it out in the future it could turn into a 5 hour surgery as it is more difficult to access the gallbladder after gastric bypass. Also having a second hiatal hernia repair since it recurred, albeit small now. I feel like these things are going to make my recovery so much more difficult. Has anyone had all three of these things done at the same time as their revision and if so, how was your recovery? Thanks in advance!!

I got sleeved on my 50th birthday! I'm 11 months post-op and at goal. Everything worked well for me, no complications and the weight came off quickly. I have lost 99% of my excess weight... normal BMI, diabetes in remission, sleep apnea gone, tons of energy, and I look so much better. It's never too late!

I had my surgery in Monterrey almost five years ago with Dr. Francisco Barrera Rodriguez. He is with the Monterrey Gastro & Bariatric Group. My experience with them was awesome. They provide all instructions ahead of time such as itinerary, preop and postop info. I had surgery on Thursday afternoon and was discharged on Saturday at noon. They answered all my questions even the stupid ones. They don't rush you through anything and they run all the preliminary testing in house (EKG, blood tests, nutritional eval). I am not sure if any of their process has changed, but that was my experience at that time. Oh and they assign a nutritionist and office personnel who are available throughout the process. One thing I did do was stay in Monterrey for a few days just in case I had any complications. The drive from Texas was about 6 hours so not too bad. If you have any specific questions I'll be happy to answer them.

Yes, it is a rather hyper-focused situation for meeeee.. never had this before. I kinda like living [emoji1787] so I guess that's why. Yeah I had never thought of looking into complications of obesity oddly enough but I went now either or that'll make me panic hahaha [emoji38] but no you're right. It all makes total sense. With anxiety, I just think of the worst and believe that'll happen. I am putting all that energy into regime and routine though and thank you for comforting me with hard truth. It did make me smile and more relaxed. [emoji3590] 🫂 *~☆AnxiousMommy☆~*

mortality rate on gastric bypass is 0.3%, and it's even lower on sleeve (can't remember the percentage on sleeve other than it's lower). That means you have at least a 99.7% chance of making it through just fine. Those are better odds than hip replacement surgeries. major complications are pretty rare. The most common complication with bypass is a stricture (also known as a stenosis), which happens to about 5% of bypass patients. That's a very minor issue and is easily "fixable". I had two of them - one at four weeks out and the second at eight weeks out. They just do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out. Easy peasy. You're right in that complications, if you do have them, will usually crop up during the first three months after surgery (strictures do - they're extremely rare after that), but that doesn't mean you're at any great risk. It just means they usually show up early, if they show up at all. Lots of people on here have never had any complications at all. And again, the vast majority are minor and can be fixed. After the first three months, you're pretty much home free (that's not to say that complications will never show up after the first three months, but they're very rare after that). quit reading the horror stories. I read those too and they scared the crap out of me, so I made myself quit reading them. I've been on this board for eight years, and most of us have no complications at all or very minor ones that can be fixed. you are at much greater risk by staying obese than you are having the surgery.

The truth is that you are many times more likely to die of complications related to obesity, than you are from anything related to the surgery. In addition, WLS surgery actually has a much lower complication rate than a lot of other common surgeries like knee surgery. While nothing's guaranteed, as long as you follow your surgeon's instructions like quitting smoking (if you smoke), following your pre-op diet (assuming you have one), following your discharge and post-op instructions, it's really unlikely you'll have any issues whatsoever. The complication rate is a lot higher for older patients (70+), smokers, and those with severe pre-op conditions like undiagnosed heart disease.

I can tell based on your posts this is of great preoccupation. It might be beneficial to discuss these feelings with a therapist. Did/Do you have the same anxiety about the health risks associated with being overweight? Heart failure, blood clots among them as well. If you’re looking at the studies you’ve also surely seen the risk of complication is extremely low when looked at as a percentage of all patients who have weight loss surgery. Remember that the Quantitative data is much more reliable. Im sure your surgery center has given you specific care and nutritional instruction including daily active minutes, grams of Protein, Oz of Water. All those instructions are tailored specifically to help you avoid complications. Other than speaking with a therapist the other thing you can do is channel this anxious into following their nutritional and care instructions to the letter to set yourself up for greatest success. And do make sure your sleeping and not googling all night. Rest is essential to healing. It’s normal to have some anxiety but don’t let it consume you.