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Great words from all I am a nurse also and it took many years to get me to decide i needed wls. Mostly due to all the complications I had seen as a nurse. On august 31 2022 I had VGS. It was a rough go the first few days but I am feeling much better. Thanks for all your comments it helps alot to read about how they are progressing.

Hi there, it has been wonderful to read all of the stories here. I'm a 39-year old mother of three from Finland and have had RYGB 17 days ago. Here surgeons actually operate more RYGB than SG (contrary to US), and although I was set on SG before when I decided on needing the surgery, the surgeon did convince me with RYGB suiting me better in the end (and she is the surgeon in Finland who gets referred with the most difficult cases and operates a lot both in University hospital as well a privately, so I just ended up trusting her expertise). I don't know anyone personally who has had the surgery so nobody to really have discussions with about the downs (ups is another matter as I do have a family but obviously not all of the NSV's (a new term I learned today, yay) can be comprehended by someone who really has never been there. I started my journey with the decision in May, first appointment at the clinic June 2nd weighing 352 lb (160kg, I'm 5'10 tall so BMI about 50 at this point), 11 weeks later August 10th had a meeting with the surgeon and internist for approval (weighing 320 lb), had to have ECG and gastroscopy due to medical history to be approved, and the surgery was done 26th of August so jyst over two weeks ago. My weight that day was 317 lb (143,8kg), and currently it is 301 lb (136,6kg). Here in Finland we have the possibility to get the operation through regular healthcare system if we fullfil the criteria (BMI over 35 with obesity related diseases or BMI over 40 plus you need to have had experience before atleast of 6 months of conservative weight loss (can be from the past, does not need to be just then) and you need to lose 8% of your weight prior to surgery with atleast 3-4 weeks vlcd to make sure liver loses its fat to make surgery less risky). I obviously fullfilled the criteria and was referred to the process, but unfortunately due to Covid having resulted in so many cancellations of elective surgeries, the waiting time for surgery was more than a year in every University hospital (we have 5, so I called everyone of them). Here we have this wonderful thing, called progressive taxation which ensures that people who make decent money, don't really get to keep more than 50% of my paycheck so having good healthcare and free education (like University is free, free school meals up until you're 18) comes with a prize tag that we just have had to accept, so obviously I would have preferred to get the surgery for that regular prize (which would have been probably around 300 euros in total with the doctor's pre visits and the hospital days). However I quickly decided, and my hubby agreed, that waiting for a year, maybe even two, was too long as my body had gone through so much already last year. I was worried that too long of a wait would result in me yoyoing with my weight and more complications could have a really bad impact on my long term health. So, I ended going to a private hospital in Finland which in overall was a good experience, and I was able to go home the next day as planned. Tried to go to work 3 days later, but had to go back home after a couple of hours and just work from home the amount I was able to. After leaving the hospital I only took a couple of acetaminophens a day, which I found quite surprising. A week later I was already working regularly normal hours (mostly a desk job, no heavy lifting). No vomiting but a couple of times now that after two weeks I was allowed to have crisp bread (and somehow thought it was a good idea to make it less dry by combining it with cream cheese) have I had it block the stoma or just become just a big clump inside the pouch. Not a pleasent feeling, and tried to drink a bit, and I could feel the fluid staying in the esophagus so just waited it out... Thing I find most annoying is that I have never been a person to drink my calories, not a soup person, especially pureed soups are not at all my thing. Vlcd with the shakes was already a 5 week misery and the the liquid and pureed food phase now after surgery. I already hate all the things I previously used to like such as protein puddings and smoothies. I like the textures of differents foods, fresh fruits and vegetables and can't have most of them in a long time. I have started to chew foods like sweet paprika in my mouth to get the experience and then spit it out to not cause problems. I had no idea I would grow such a disgust (it really is like a physical feeling of nausea) towards so many liquid and pureed foods so quickly.. Feels like right now, at this point when I really don't have any of the NSV's etc effects yet, that it is quite hard to stay in positive at times when the physical nausea, inability to join the family dinners etc. makes you feel down. Maybe atleast some of you understand where I'm coming from, some support would be encouraging. At least reading threads about different topics related to WLS is already something to keep my mind of negativity. Final note; WLS aka weight loss surgery sounds so much more upbeat than our translation in Finnish which is Lihavuusleikkaus (direct translation to Englush for it is Obesity surgery). It sort of has the emphasis on the obesity rather than what it aims to do. Person who came up with the terminology must not have been obese themselves... For anyone who actually read the whole post, thank you, I appreciate it! Sent from my AC2003 using BariatricPal mobile app

Has anyone experience sleeve leakage 6 months to a year after surgery?

I am a year and a half out and I sorta wish I had gone with the bypass too. Not cause of any complications, just cause I didn’t lose as much as I had hoped and I wonder if the grass would’ve been greener on the other side. I chose sleeve because I am on medications though and have to remind myself that I may have issues with that had I chosen differently. I think it’s pretty natural to wonder if things could have been better if we had made a different choice but who knows. I have to think that everything happens for some reason. That’s what makes me feel a little better about it.

I’m happy that you didn’t experience any nausea or pain. I’ve asked GOD to cover me and I’ve also prayed for no complications, nausea, or pain as well. It’s getting closer for me. My surgery date is Monday September 26. Not too sure how to feel right now

Did you have any complications from your surgery or post op? I'm wondering if the juice itself will cause any issues with my lungs while under anesthesia. When I googled about affects on your lungs during anesthesia I got a little concerned that I couldn't even vape 0 nicotine.

This will be my 15th or 16th actual surgery, including open heart surgery in 2020. I'm always nervous about them and I think that's healthy. It's perfectly normal to wonder if you'll get the results you are hoping for, to be concerned about how much pain you'll have and how your life might change, and to be concerned about potential complications. The way I have always coped is to learn as much as I can about the surgery in question. Regarding my bariatric surgery, I know my specific risk factors and how to minimize those risks. I have detailed plans for every step of the recovery process, including how I'll eat, and how I'll deal with pain or complications. I know that stalls are a normal part of the process and that scales lie. I know that what really matters is how I feel. I know exactly why I want the surgery and how my life will improve as I lose weight. I have very specific goals related to % body fat loss and rewards planned as I progress. I short, I have done everything I can to mentally and physically prepare myself for this surgery. This preparation reassures me that this is the right choice and makes be feel in control, which goes a long way toward alleviating the fear.

Surgery at IUCPQ, Québec City. Pré -op pounds was 284 pounds. 28/02/2022 : I passe trough 2 weeks of liquid diet. Lost 12 pounds. 14/03/2022 Steeve gastrectomy by Dr. Laurent Berthiot: weight surgery Day : 272 pounds.one Day surgery. Good recuperation without complications. Today, i am feeling really great. A lot easier for every moove I make. I am founding the real me that i knew so many years ago. So i've started at 284 pounds and today i have lost 75 pounds, so proud of me! I am meeting the person I was 9 years ago, i am loving myself more every day! My objective premier is to throw out of me 100 pounds Who hurt me so much! Sent from my SM-G975W using BariatricPal mobile app

I've mentioned in other posts that I had complications post-revision surgery. I became profoundly depressed while in hospital for weeks without knowing when I would be able to leave. My Wellbutrin was bumped from 150mg XR to 225mg daily and it helped tremendously. Once I was out of rehab and back home the extra dose was discontinued. You might talk to your doctor about adding a bit more during this slide you are in.

The best advice I can give is to return to your pre-surgery food plan. My clinic uses a "liver reduction" plan which is high protein, low carb, high vegetables/fiber, and occasional 30g protein drinks I am post RNY>RNY revision on 12/21/21 and losing very slowly after losing a lot (70 lbs) pre-surgery). It's frustrating. Because of complications post surgery I have no more consumption restriction than I had pre-surgery, so I have to strictly track my food intake, calories, and protein on the Baritastic app. I'm getting about 1000-1200 kcal per day now. The clinic wants me to eat 800 kcal. I can stick to the diet for meals, but struggle with craving between meals. I'm like a zombie staggering to the refrigerator at 3pm, 8pm, and bedtime. The cravings are irresistible. I want ANYTHING! While I have been choosing "good" food, like fat-free Greek yogurt or fat-free cottage cheese and fruit, I'm exceeding the calorie count they want me to maintain. I don't eat sugar, flour, white potatoes, rice, and processed foods because I am a sugar/food addict and these are "trigger foods" for me. I've recently found a few snack foods that are satisfying the craving for these things. For "bread" I've discovered low-cal, low-wheat Ak-Mak Sesame Crackers, WASA Crisp'n Light Crispbread, & WASA Light Rye Crispbread at 20 kcal per cracker. For sweets I like Smucker's Sugar-Free Jam at 25 kcal per Tbsp. A single cracker with a tablespoon of the sugar-free jam often satisfy the urge to stuff my mouth. If not, two surely will. I'm still not meeting the 800 kcal goal, but getting closer. Good luck getting back on track with eating healthy. Get exercise, too!

A lot of people who have never struggled with their weight (or people who have only had to lose, like, 20 pounds) want to think of weight as a personal or moral attribute. They want to believe that their ability to control their weight is indicative of their personal superiority, so they feel threatened by the thought of some of us -- whom they view as inferior based solely on weight -- can "cheat" our way into their category. Many people who haven't looked into weight loss surgery also have no idea how hard it is. I think back to the first time I read about gastric bypass and thought it sounded like absolute magic -- the answer to all my problems! You get your stomach stapled and the weight just falls right off. And then I found out about all the risks and potential complications, dumping syndrome, and the fact that some people still regain the weight, and that was enough to turn me off from weight loss surgery for 15+ years. And even then, it wasn't until I actually started the process that I found out about the pre-op diet and all the post-op phases, having to constantly sip water all day just to avoid dehydration and go for weeks without solid food. I'd be willing to bet that most people have no clue how hard it is to get through all the pre-op requirements and post-op phases. Ironically, it's those people who have never had to think about weight loss surgery who really have the easy way out in that they don't have the propensity for weight gain in the first place. They have no idea how hard some of us have to work to lose weight and/or keep it off.

I was a smoker for years and then I vaped for a couple years as well so I get the addiction as well. Just know that quitting is possible. I actually quit smoking cold Turkey the first time and picked it up again years later. The second time I decided to use the vape as a tool to help me quit. I slowly decreased the nicotine until I got to zero and then it was easier to quit just the habit without the nicotine addiction. As others have said, smoking preop increases your risks of complications from surgery and smoking afterwards affects healing and can cause ulcers so please don’t take a chance with that. It’s really not worth it. If you need more time to truly quit, ask for a date a little further out and give yourself the time to really quit. I assure you it can be done once you make your mind up to do it. And I know how much you want this surgery asap. We all do, but if you have complications you will be down even longer recovering so better to get yourself truly ready and even if your surgery date is later you will probably be back to normal sooner doing it the safer way.

Aside from the damage smoking does to your lungs and heart, it does a number of other harmful things to your body. Some of these are important when talking about bariatric surgery. Fast facts: Most surgeons won't operate on you if you have smoked within 4-6 weeks of the surgery. Some want you be smoke free even longer. Smoking significantly increases your recovery time because it causes your blood vessels to constrict, which reduces blood flow. It also reduces the amount of oxygen your red blood cells can transport. Well oxygenated blood is critical for healing. You will have at least a 30% increased risk of complications over a non-smoker. (Blood clot, anastomotic leak, pneumonia, etc.) Your mortality risk due to surgery is double or even triple that of a non-smoker. Smoking can cause esophageal strictures post-surgery that would need emergency care and possibly another operation. The chances are extremely high that you will develop an ulcer even years later, especially if you take up smoking again post-surgery. A complete perforation due to an ulcer is a life threatening emergency due to sepsis. Your chances of reaching your goal weight are much lower than non-smokers. Much of this is attributed to the fact that smoking reduces your ability to exercise, and numerous studies have shown people that don't exercise post-surgery are significantly more likely lose less weight, or even return to their original weight, than those that exercise regularly. If you are expecting bariatric surgery to reduce your cravings for nicotine, I wouldn't count on it. It's extremely common for smokers to restart post surgery. In fact, there's even an elevated chance that non-smokers start smoking post surgery as they replace one addiction with another. Best of luck. I hope you can kick the habit now and if possible, wait a while before having WLS. The longer you let your body heal after quitting smoking, the lower the risk and better your outcomes will be.

I read a bunch of horror stories before I had surgery and had to make myself stop. A lot of these stories are about things that rarely happen. You have to keep in mind that people post when they're having issues because they're looking for advice or support. The vast majority of us either never have complications or have minor ones that are easily "fixed" or managed. If things are all going well, people generally don't post about it. All those issues like tooth decay, bowel obstructions, etc, can certainly happen, but they're pretty rare. I had bypass. Strictures are the most common complication (besides dumping, which affects about 30% of us), but strictures only happen to 5% of us. And that's considered a "common complication" - if that gives you any idea...

No, I've never been a smoker. You really should do whatever you can to stop smoking now. Being a smoker and having surgery may cause you to not heal properly, and have an increased risk of blood clots. Obesity itself increases the risk of blood clots, so being an active smoker puts you at super high risk. Also smoking can cause increased risk of anesthesia issues, and infection. Is it worth the chance? So why go through with a surgery expecting a full recovery and a completely healed stomach pouch, but risk all of the complications of being an active smoker? You could get a gut leak and that could be deadly. Stop now, don't think about risking it. Also some surgeons do nicotene tests and will cancel surgery if you test positive. Best Wishes!

I’m currently in the process of dealing with hypoglycemia too. I am also three years out and this is the first complication I have had. It’s very exhausting and mentally taxing. Hang in there!

Hi Buddies - Two weeks away and I've got a lot of head trash going on that I just need to get off my chest. ::deep breath:: Fair warning - this is kinda long, rambling and full of woe is me. Feel free to exit stage left now. I am afraid. Not of surgery, not of complications, but of failure. I've tried so many things and failed. Or succeeded, then gained the weight back and then some more. I feel so out of control of my weight, I've gained steadily for two years straight. 50+lbs. Nothing stopped it, not even my usual approaches. And I can't help but think, if starving myself didn't work in the past (I mentioned I've tried everything, including very low calorie diets) and led to regain plus some, why will this work? If I couldn't stop the gain, how will I possibly lose the 100lbs I need to lose? If I am in control of the successful outcome of the surgery based on adherence to the rules - then that makes me shake in my boots. I've been down that road before, "You will be successful if you just follow the program!" Didn't work so well obviously. I'm feeling defeated because of my past, but trying to find hope. My hope is all the success stories. I'm almost hesitant to feel TOO hopeful because of my fear of failure. I also know I'm not alone in how I feel, that many of you feel or felt the same. And if you don't feel this way, please don't let my fear become your fear! I KNOW you all will be successful!! It's my own failure that I'm all too familiar with. Sorry to be so negative. I just had to get this **** out of my head and get honest with how I'm feeling.

To Op did you get your surgery? Did you stop before? If not, did you have any complications? I am going through the same thing with smoking that you were and I came across your post.

I agree but I had a revision to Gastric Bypass because of horrible complications from a VBG in 2004. I was 228. I am now 170. Moderation

@Starwarsandcupcakes and @SpartanMaker are spot on. talk to your dr and be honest and open to avoid potentially serious complications.

I've seen a few posts on this on here. And I found this, it's an interesting read. https://www.barilife.com/blog/secret-complication-after-bariatric-surgery-2/

I agree with the others, the risk of complications from the surgery are low (much lower than other surgeries). The only reason you individually may be at a higher risk is because of any pre existing health issues you may have but this is a conversation you should have with your surgeon. Don’t be afraid to ask for his stats on the age of their patients, success rate, complications, etc. There are many here who have successfully had surgery in their 60s & 70s. The pre surgery diet has a couple of purposes including breaking some food dependencies, losing some weight & reducing the size of the liver. The difference between your gall surgery & your sleeve surgery is the surgeon has to move & navigate around the liver more to clearly & more easily access your tummy (it’s partially covered by the liver). Most of your gall is visible & is much easier to remove - more of a clip, a snip & suture. The more easily your surgeon can access your tummy, the easier the surgery. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel & more active you’ll be after you’ve lost weight. All the best.

I had revision at age 73, 30 years after my RNY. I was on the bariatric clinic’s program for eight months prior to the revision surgery. I lost 70 pounds pre-surgery by cutting out all sugar, flour, white potatoes, rice, and processed foods. I’ve lost a total of 106 pounds to date. There were complications from the revision surgery so it did not result in any consumption restrictions. The additional weight loss is due to sticking with the plan above. I encourage you to do some reading about sugar and food addiction. I recommend the following books. Food junkies: recovery from food addiction, by Vera Tarman Why Diets Fail (because you’re addicted to sugar), by Nicole Avena & John Talbot Weight loss surgery does not treat food addiction, by Connie Stapleton

I posted these recently in another thread, but here are some recent studies that investigated how safe bariatric surgery is for seniors: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11695-019-03718-6 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550728922001605 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ggi.12527 https://europepmc.org/article/med/30175564 The cliff's notes version is that the surgery is actually safer than staying obese. As others pointed out, complications can happen, but obesity is a lot more likely to kill you than the surgery. To be safe, make sure the bariatric center you are going to is ASMBS accredited and that your surgeon is an ASMBS Fellow. Ask about their experience with senior patients and about mortality risk for you based on any underlying health conditions you have. They can run a risk stratification and explain the specific risks to you.

make a list to ask the dr. each surgeon is different with their pre and post diets, time off work and other requirements. complications do happen with any surgery from time to time, but from my research, gastric sleeve has a relatively low complication rates overall. if you can listen to the dr and follow the instructions you should do well.