Almost 6 months now

[BMI Guy 0]

Well its been long enough and time to tell my story.

After so many years of dieting - everything from Atkins to Weight Watchers and evething in between it was time to make a decision. I took money out of my 401K (where I was headed I most likely would not be there at retirement). I had a friend who did the lapband and I was settled on that. I was telling another friend that I was looking and she suggested something she had called a Verticle Sleeve. Not only had she had it done her brother and his wife had it done. She was about 9 months out when we first talked.. She told me some things that sounded good and some that sounded a bit scary. After it all she said she would have it again in a minute.

I started to do research and talked to my band friend who had lost a lot of weight but had problems with gagging and cramping and she mentioned trips to the doctor to have saline put in and taken out. That part did not bother me until she said she had to pay for it each time. I looked at the By Pass but it was just not right for me so it was between the sleeve and the band.

I got to thinking that I was 5'6 and weight 290 lbs and I could not diet again and would not diet again the conventional way and if I did nothing I was going to gain more weight. The advantages to the band I thought was when you reached your goal you could have it removed but then I thought "Gee that would put me right back to where I was - hungry all the time but lighter.

I got to researching the Sleeve and found some things I liked. First, Gheralin was removed that caused hunger plus with a smaller stomach even if I ate something it would fill me up faster. Those two things really appealled to me. On the negative side was "It's forever" and not too much data on it. . That is a hard concept to wrap around. Forever and daily supplements. So after looking closely I decided that forever was o.k. and that a daily Flintstones Vitamin with Iron and some gumm Calcium and a monthly shot of Vit B I could live with it. I checked my pharmacy and they had a ten month supply of Vit B for $11.00. The syringes were .20 each. Very affordable.

So, I got pricing from everyone within 50 miles of St Louis and asked hundreds of questions - I found that many of Bariatric doctors have performed the procedure many times on those who were really overweight in order to get them down to a weight where they could have a By Pass. That was not me but I was glad they were familiar with it. Then I found it was done in Europe for years with success.

I found a doctor that had done about 60 of the surgeries and a bunch of By passes and Bands. Upon my first visit to his office I noticed his wall of fame. People who had various surgeries and their after photo's. I tried to find a male who weighed what I weighed and how long it took them to lose the weight. I found a couple who had the surgery but they were much heavier than me to start.

I had the surgery on Feb 7, 2011. I am coming up to six months.

The surgery went fine and I started exercising about 3 weeks after surgery. I could have started earlier but did not want to.

My starting weight was 289 lbs. Today (and I do mean today lol) I am 183 lbs. 106 lbs lost. I exercise about 4-5 times a week on the treadmill. I spend about 45 minutes on the treadmill and burn about 500 calories. I lost 40 lbs the first two weeks following post surgery. Then I was averaging about 4 lbs a week into the 3rd month. I have been tracking my loss and found that from May 7th - today I lost 28 lbs. I have been averaging about 2 pounds a week for the last 8 weeks.

I have gone from XXXL shirts to L and expect to eventually get to a medium. My pants were size 54 and I am not 38. I expect to get to a 36.

My goal is 150 lbs. Just 33 lbs to go. I am averaging a weight loss now of about 2 lbs a week. I was losing about 4-5 lbs a week at the start and even into the 4th month post op. I do not cheat and stay pretty much to a very strict diet but when I have gone off the wagon a bit the stomach tells me "No more".

For being 5'6 the BMI says 150 lbs is considered a normal weight. 151 lbs is still considered overweight. Go figure. My BMI has gone from Morbidly Obese to Obese and now I am just overweight.

I attend support group every two weeks. Things are going well but I know the support is for the future when its a year or more down the line and fatigue sets in. I have a lap band person in my group who has had the band in for four years. Four years - wow- she talks about gagging and other things especially about having the saline put in and taken out and the cost. Something you never think about. She has started to gain and is hungry all the time. That was my big fear. If and when she has it removed she has a full size stomach and all the cravings etc.

The support group has about 25 people in it and about 6 are sleeve people. About 12-14 are band the remainder are By pass. Its important for me to go to the support group because I hear about what life could be like in a year or two years or 5 years. Pitfalls people have gotten into and things they did wrong or wish they had done differently. Lot of great info.

One more thing. From the time I paid for the surgery to the time I had the surgery it was ONE WEEK. I signed the papers on a Friday and the following MOnday I started clear fluids. The next monday at 6 am I was in the operating room. For those of you getting ready I wanted to let you know I was scared. I saw the good and wanted it but saw forever and that made me get more apprehensive as the date got closer. On the Friday before the surgery about 5 pm I was ready to bail out. Touble is no one to call. The doctors was closed. I have talked to others and many have had these same fears but IT IS SO WORTH IT. Good luck to all.

Well that is my story.

[SeattleSue 25]

I'm so glad you decided to share your story...you've done great! I applaud you for taking out of your 401K...you're right, when it comes down to it, we have to have a life and the sleever (or WLS) is a HUGE tool to help us sustain our life; and then improve the quality!!

Thanks for the insight into support groups. I need to find one, I'm only a week out...but I know how valuable THIS site has been to me already...but a local group is necessary too.

Good luck. You are an encouragement!!! Congrats.

Susan

[GreenEyedMamma 5]

Great story. Congrats on your success. It is an AMAZING journey to be on isn't it? I am lovin every minute of it.

[wondering1 103]

Thank u for sharing! I really enjoyed reading your story.

Congratulations on your success. You've really done great job with this tool.

[Shea 13]

Thanks for your story. I'm wondering, compared to others in your support group which group seems the happiest with their tool, the Sleevers, LapBander's, or Bypasser's? Thanks and Congrats on your success!!!!

[BMI Guy 0]

Thanks for your story. I'm wondering, compared to others in your support group which group seems the happiest with their tool, the Sleevers, LapBander's, or Bypasser's? Thanks and Congrats on your success!!!!

[BMI Guy 0]

Who was the happiest in the support is a great question - the answer is everyone seems very happy with the Bariatric Choice they made. I think the band people have had a bit more discomfort and the by pass a bit more maintenance supplement wise but everyone is happy with the weight loss and what they are achieving thru it regadless of the method chosen.

[BMI Guy 0]

Thank u for sharing! I really enjoyed reading your story.

Congratulations on your success. You've really done great job with this tool.

[BMI Guy 0]

Wow such a big difference between what you had to do and what I had to do before surgery and the timeline. I was self pay. I met my surgeon Jan 30th. and signed the papers and gave him a check. I had to meet with my primary care physician once, the dietician once and get tests run before my date. My surgery was Feb 7th - I met with his people on a Friday and my fast started the following MOnday - I had to drink Clear Liquids for the week and then on that Monday the surgery. No time to think it was over that quick. NO hoops to jump thru, or anything of the such. I met with my primary care guy, dietitican and had tests done the week I was on the clear liquids.

ONe thing - as it got closer I started to get scared. On the Friday before the surgery I was ready to bail but it was too late to call anyone.

I am so glad I went thru it. LIfe is so much better.