Gastric Sleeve Experts... Please Chime In!

[Chimera 644]

My surgeon's numbers are that patients can be expected to lose 50% of their excess weight over the first 6 months, another 25% in the following 6 months - and the final 25% over the second year.

I was originally planning on a RNY and my surgeon talked me into the vsg. He was thrilled that my insurance covers the vsg - it seems like it is a sugery that he really thinks works well for his patients. At my support groups the vsg patients that are more than a year out - which are a just a handful, as it is fairly new have lost a staggering amount of weight - all of them have hit goal = 100%+ of excess weight gone.

Surgery the day after tomorrow with a big old mess of lbs to lose

[mysleeve24 3]

I had my surgery on May 24th this year. I've gotten on the scale, and I've gained 3 lb since my surgery day. Is this normal?

[amarieh 3]

Thank you Lisa Lu for the info, because the statistics, as quoted to us, are confusing! When I heard that the average person loses about 65% of excess from the sleeve, I decided that : 1) I refuse to be just average, and 2) most people having the sleeve in the past were at 60 BMI so their situation might be different than mine, with a starting BMI of 40. 3) I do not feel the need to weigh 120 pounds to be healthy and happy...140 works for me, so if I look at the "ideal" weight, even if I just lose 75% of the excess, I will be happy. Bottom line: it is good to have realistic expectations but it is also good to shoot for your goal and have confidence that if you stick to it, you will make it!!

[SleeveDreamer 383]

My doctor says if you are on track, you should see about a 6-10 lb. weight loss per month. This is when you are still losing and have not yet reached your goal. Hhe said it may not sound like alot, but then he always says "When is the last time you lost almost 50 lbs. on your own?" Something to think about when you feel like you aren's losing fast enough!

[newnin 3]

I am a new newbie I am hoping to have my surgery in December, so excited and still lots of little questions. Can you tell me about the day of surgery, what you experienced, did you have to have catheters, drain tubes etc. I have never had a surgery before other than childbirth, so that part is what freaks me out more that anything. I am having the laprascopic sleeve. Any other details you want to share would be great, pain levels etc.

I am one week post op. I feel very well. I went in the morning of surgery and had my IV placed,, met with the surgical team for last minute questions and they walked me through what to expect. A catheter was placed and another IV after I was asleep. No drains.

Some discomfort with movement after surgery but not really painful. Up and walking that evening. I was kept overnight and began sipping fluids the next day. Clear Liquids (jello and broth) for lunch and then was monitored as to how well I tolerated these. I went home later in the afternoon the day after surgery. Since being home I have no problems, the discomfort is getting better every day. I do nap each day and keep up my fluids and Protein. My husband was home with me for the days following surgery. I will return to dr office in three more days for follow up. You will do fine and we are there to support you every step of the way.

[amarieh 3]

My experfience was very similar to the one by one week post op above....except I didn't have a catheter (unless it was just in while I was under anesthetic). You will be sore, but if you follow directions, you won't find it as hard as child birth. Use a pillow as a sort of splint when you move around the first few days...hold it tight against your abdomen. Take your pain meds. Move your feet, get up a walk when they tell you to and keep doing short walks (to help get the gas out). I also bought gas-x strips to put on my tongue in the hospital and for the first few days....I think they helped with the gas. Also, eat what they tell you to eat....don't push it and try to eat at the next level until the correct time has passed. I am 9 weeks post op, but I also had my gallbladder out two weeks ago. I am doing fine, just some nausea with meats (not ground) and eggs. Lost 35 pounds so far. The actual surgical pain seems to stop within a week or so...the hardest part is getting used to eating again and eating such very small amounts, exremely slowly, and not drinking before, during or after eating. I still try to drink a Protein Drink every day just to keep up my Protein. I took a month off work so I could spend the time getting better and adjusting. But, everyone is in different circumstances so that is not mandatory. I hope this helps.

[MG in SD 75]

Everyone is different. I lost 25 lbs in the first month. I am 4 weeks out and doing great. But I workout every day and my calorie consumption is between 500-750 daily. I made a huge commitment when I decided to go under the knife, and I intend to follow the rules. I think if you want to lose all your weight, you can and will.

[ICandothis 108]

It has been a while since I have logged on... and I just had my 4th month post op visit with my doctor/nutritionist. I have lost 43 pounds in total and am so EXCITED! I feel great!!

Now, I am a little bit concerned because the NUT said that I am about 50%. He said most gastric sleeve patients lose 65% of their excess weight. So, that would mean, if I weighed 100 pounds over my IDEAL weight then I am expected to lose about 65 pounds and they consider that to be the norm. NOW, I want to lose the 100 pounds that I am over weight by -- but the NUT made me feel like that was not typical and went one to say that when one is heavy it takes more energy and therefore you lose more weight but once you have lost about 65% of the excess weight it is more difficult... So, is he trying to discourage me or, well, I don't know?

So, those of you who have had the surgery and are at the 1 year mark -- did you lose ALL your excess weight or was it the 65% of the EXCESS weight that my NUT was talking about?

I am not in for my surgery till August 4th but with everything I have seen and read and understand now about weight loss...If you use this surgery as your starting point to change your life then the weight and all of it will come off regardless of what you have to lose....The average person doesn't change anything in their lives as far as eating goes. Dr.s would expect that if you have not changed your eating up till now what makes them think you will. So average says if you still eat what you want instead of what you need then yes you will lose weight but only 50 60 %.

We have to try to remember that if you change your eating and stay on it, which was always my downfall you will lose all your weight too. So there is no way if you eat right, let go of your breads, sugars, garbage food that you will not lose all your weight and probably more than your goal regardless of how much weight you have to lose.

My goal is not to stretch my stomach..If my stomach only fits a half cup food at a time, that is all it's getting dammit...*grin*

[michele911 4]

I met with a nurse today (having surgery next week!). She said "average" for the first month is 5-10 lbs....BUT then she said most people she sees far exceed that the first month. So...it is JUST averages. Don't get discouraged.

I'm 3 weeks and 1 day out since my surgery. I have lost 30 lbs today. This has been amazing, my future looks bright again.

[Purdy in Pink 57]

Hello,

I'm 1 year, 2 months out......and I did lose all the weight i wanted, plus an additional 10 lbs past my goal.

yes, the last 20 lbs was the toughest......but I was determined to do it....I've kept if off now for 8 months..

So, I'd say, its up to you........how determined are you?

Good luck to all!

[rline66 14]

Hello fellow sleevers! Life has been going well since my surgery at the end of June. I was 343 pre-op and 300 days of surgery. I currently weight 261 so have lost 39 pounds since surgery. I think the percentage of weight loss varies by person, eating and exercise habits. Seems that people with higher BMI lose the most, guess that's obvious though.

Here is my latest YouTube update: this is the 5th video I have posted. You can find it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2NdFsUuM-M. Keep up the good work and thanks for being here...

[kristy lee 10]

You Just worry about you. We are all so different in individual and we will lose weight at different rates. I had my sleeve on August sixth and my weight was 205. At 1 month out now I weight 165 with a weight loss of 40 pounds. Just keep eating right and exercising as much as you can you've got this!

[jenjen82 25]

i went to a seminar the other day and on one of the printouts it shows the different features and outcomes of the different surgeries and for the vsg it says that in the first year the average person can lose 46-83% of excess body fat...so there is a big difference from person to person i guess..it sure would be nice to lose 83% the first year...i really can imagine it!!!!!

[Shmrock 2]

So, if you lose just 5-10 lbs a month by eating so little and exercising...is the surgery worth it? If you did all that without surgery, would you get the same results? I am thinking of getting the surgery in November... so I am asking, would you do it again knowing what you know now? Did you lose hair? Are you always in pain or does it go away? Do you ever live a normal life again?

[MG in SD 75]

yes, you feel normal again. I did it because I need help keeping the weight off for good, not help just losing it. I have "lost it" many, many times before. What I love about this surgery is that I literaly cannot overeat. It is damn near impossible. I get super full off of very little, and a bad day for me is maybe 1300 calories. I would do it over again. I am 5 months out and over 75 lbs down. The weight comes off slower after the first few months but it still comes off regardless of how hard I try. The harder I try the more I lose. And I feel normal. I went to lunch today and shared an appetizer with a coworker. I drink occasionally, and still go out to clubs. I am going on vacation at the end of this month. My diet doesnt rule me, if anything ruled me before it was my weight. Good luck.