Bougie size

[minniegirl 258]

Ther are a couple studies out there with a decent population size that seem to show a slightly larger boogie (40-60) has lower leak rate and actually more weight loss than more restrictive.

Google boogie leak rate and they will pop right up. I got a 40.

Thank you! Based on what little I know so far, I could live with 40f

[JamieLogical 8,708]

I highly recommend this article:

http://tinyurl.com/pu2fv2d

[Recycled 2,182]

he could use a 32 and you could still wind up with a sleeve a 42 would fit. It's more of what he actually does during surgery than what he says before.

[alwaysvegas 702]

he could use a 32 and you could still wind up with a sleeve a 42 would fit. It's more of what he actually does during surgery than what he says before.

That's exactly what my surgeon said, so the resulting size can vary a bit. I understand (and shared) the fear of getting 'too big' but my surgeon assured me I would be pleased. I believe mine was a 34 bougie. And I'm just over 6 months out and can eat about 4.5 oz at a time and I *love* it!!! I feel perfectly satisfied and full, no acid reflux, or any other problems.

I do admit that just after surgery when I was on liquids I thought maybe the sleeve was too big, but it was just the liquids passing through quickly. Once I started on mushies it was a world of difference and my sleeve was just dandy!

Edited February 7, 2015 by AlwaysVegas

[downsizingdiva 459]

I asked....34

[harley_quinn25 80]

I thank you for making this post and for all those who have input on it. I had NO idea there were sizes and things as such. Is there a site I can use to get in depth information?

[Thankfulmomof3 41]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what is a bougie? I have never even heard of this until now. My surgery date is March 9, thus is this something that I should be speaking with my surgeon about? What are the potential implications on my surgery?

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

For those of you who are just learning about vertical sleeve gastrectomies (VSGs), go to the patients section of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery at https://asmbs.org/patients.

That site has answers to frequently asked questions, videos of surgery, research findings, etc.

Otherwise, google is your friend.

Also, you should identify a bariatric surgeon in your neighborhood and attend the (typically monthly) 3-hour-long lecture on bariatric surgery that most surgeons give. Just because you attend a specific surgeon's lecture doesn't mean you have to have surgery with her/him.

Good luck.

P.S. A bougie is the plastic calibration tube the surgeon puts down your throat into your stomach to guide her/him to do a perfect cut or pattern for your new stomach so you will have the precise amount of stomach left behind -- and so she/he does not cut too much stomach or too little stomach. Bougies used in VSGs come in width sizes from French (Fr) 32 through 42 (years ago they used to be even larger).

You can view a video about all this at

[JamieLogical 8,708]

I thank you for making this post and for all those who have input on it. I had NO idea there were sizes and things as such. Is there a site I can use to get in depth information?

I posted this link earlier, but it's worth repeating. This is an excellent article with photos and videos that will really help you understand bougie size better. One note, the video links don't appear to work right now, if you copy/paste the address for the videos into your browser's address bar, you can properly view the videos.

http://tinyurl.com/pu2fv2d

Edited February 8, 2015 by JamieLogical

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Great links. This study of nearly ten thousand sleevers showed same weight loss result 3 years out whether under or over 40 bougie. Larger bougies showed decrease in risk of leaks. Mine was 38 I think.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23023201

[minniegirl 258]

Great links. This study of nearly ten thousand sleevers showed same weight loss result 3 years out whether under or over 40 bougie. Larger bougies showed decrease in risk of leaks. Mine was 38 I think.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23023201

Thank you, I had seem the other links that were posted and they were extremely informative.

I had not seen the one you posted and it too was super helpful, not as worried about the size now but of course I am still going to ask. I will post back when I know. Happy Sunday everybody

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

Worried that it seems like second guessing him

@@minniegirl

if you have ANY question for the doc

you must ask/discuss

if you want a smaller size bougie - tell him

then he'll explain why you should or shouldn't have that size

talk about anything and everything

you are the patient

you are entitled to ask anything

I had a 36

but.............my doc said their is a miniscule difference from one size to another

surgery around the 25th???

good luck

speedy recovery

kathy

Edited February 8, 2015 by proudgrammy

[minniegirl 258]

Thank you, proudgrammy! XO

[LipstickLady 25,682]

Bougie size:

[borg/assimilated 576]

I asked my surgeon what size bougie he would use and was told a 40fr. I was very happy with that answer. He also explained that there is only mm differences between sizes, and he felt there were fewer issues with the larger size and weight loss would be pretty much the same.