My VSG Story, had surgery 6/22/16

[APanda911 80]

Hello everybody,

Never posted on this forum before, but like I'm sure many others are, I'm a long-time lurker

Decided to have bariatric surgery in December 2015, after having switched PCPs and going through a full physical with my new doctor.

I'm 5'4", 32, have 3 young kids, and at the beginning of this journey (and actually also my preop weight) was 285lbs.

Essentially my new doc told me I'm 100% healthy. Great blood work, excellent blood pressure, no problems at all. I expressed to him that I was concerned about being so overweight, and having been this overweight for more than 5 yrs without any success keeping it off. He suggested I look into bariatric surgery. I told him I was not comfortable with the idea of rerouting my digestive system, and then he brought up vsg. He showed me some research and numbers that proved, in long term studies, vsg patients are as successful in keeping the weight off as gastric bypass patients. I was intrigued and began my own research into vsg.

In December I decided to have vsg at the Cleveland Clinic with Dr. Matthew Kroh. After going through the countless pre approval appointments and meetings in order to get insurance to cover the surgery, I was finally approved and given my June 22nd surgery date.

Honestly my main concern before having the surgery was not the procedure in itself, but what would my life be like afterwards?! How would my recovery go?? Would I be able to take care of my kids, since my husband could only take a week off of work to help out. I was stressed about it.

The 2 week pre op diet was not too bad, I cheated a little bit and had a bite here and there of things, and then went completely liquid 5 days prior with no cheating. I lost 10 lbs before my surgery day. (Prior to that I went on a total eating bender during the month of May, skyrocketed up to 295lbs, since I had convinced myself that I would never be able to eat again - ha!)

Day of surgery (Wed) I was nervous. Mostly about anaesthesia and the normal surgery worries. Everything went smoothly and my surgery took a little over 2 hrs.

When I woke up in pacu, I was suuuuuper nauseated and throwing up. But I was also super foggy and medicated and it was all just a blur of throwing up and being given ivs and anti nausea medicine, going in and out of sleep etc.

By the time they got me to my room in the bariatric recovery unit that afternoon, I was less foggy but still nauseated and with a pounding headache. My nurses said they thought it was from the anaesthesia. I pretty much slept all day, got up to walk the hall in the evening when my husband came to visit, and then crawled right back into my hospital bed and slept again. When moving around it felt like I had really sore abs, not much else. I had a lapro procedure and the incisions were covered with surgical glue. No drain. The large incision where they remove the stomach was the most tender. Really nothing bad at all though.

The next day (Thurs) I was allowed to drink Water and it went down fine. My horrible headache was still there but not much nausea. I also ate a sugar free popsicle, which was a little relief to my headache for some reason.

Because my head was hurting so bad I was just taking the wimpy way out and asking for pain meds just so I would be knocked out and wouldn't have to deal with it lol. They were giving me percocet every 4 hrs since the liquid oxy that is initially prescribed was making me nauseated and gagging. It cut the headache but never really made it go away entirely. They also gave me immitrex for headache but that didn't work either. I walked the halls a couple times but mostly just laid in bed and tried to sleep. The nurses would check on me with how much Water I had drank, and I was able to drink a couple oz. every hour, so I met the requirements. It really wasn't hard like I expected - I thought I would have to take these TINY TINY sips, but I was able to take a medium sized satisfying sip without a problem.

On Friday, the 3rd day, I was able to go home. They told me I could start a full liquid diet (phase 2.) I wore an abdominal binder, which is GREAT, I highly recommend you ask for one before you leave hospital. My husband drove me home, we stopped at cvs for prescriptions, and then I crawled in bed again. It was a rough night, still dealing with ridiculously awful headache and nausea, taking percocet so feeling foggy etc. At about 5am I asked my husband to grab me a premier Protein shake from the fridge and I sat up in bed and drank about half of it: HEADACHE GONE!!! #hallelujah!

Once my head stopped pounding, I was able to stop taking the pain meds so frequently, and by Sunday I was completely off of them.

Honestly my experience has been a dream. I went in on Monday for a post op checkup and I drove myself, I seriously forgot I had had surgery only 5 days prior. I was told by my docs that if I tolerate phase 2 perfectly fine, I can slowly start integrating real foods in like flaky fish, soft cheese etc etc. I tried mashed potatoes: nope, felt like a rock going down. Little pieces of cheese, thumbs up! Salmon, went down great. Just have to chew chew chew and remember to take small bites of everything.

It is AMAZING how little I need to eat to feel full. I mean like 3 bites? Maybe? It's unbelievable really! I was always somebody who could put down a large pizza, no problem. I couldn't finish a slice of cheese yesterday

Anyways this has been an amazing experience so far, and like so many other ppl, I only wish I'd done it sooner. I went for a long walk this morning and can't wait for longer walks, and maybe even long runs!

So far I'm down 12 lbs from my original surgery weight of 286, and just 12 lbs makes a difference in how my clothes fit. Now I'm just impatient for the rest to come off!!

Will update on progress. Good luck to you all!

Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Edited July 2, 2016 by APanda911

[Maggie143 94]

Hi Apanda - I had mine on the 21st. I started a thread in June for us June/July people. Come on over. Everyone will want your story. Look for

Late June Sleeve Buddies?

[APanda911 80]

Thanks so much!! I was hoping there was a group somewhere with late June people!! :-)

[APanda911 80]

Update: I am 15 days post op, and I've lost 15 lbs! Struggling to get all of my Protein requirements in, but otherwise doing well. Energy is good, incisions are almost completely healed (one is pretty much invisible at this point!) and my digestive system is functioning pretty much normally (no more excess gas/diarrhea etc)

Will update at 30 days post op with a progress picture!

Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

[Gripp 34]

Great news and keep up the good work

Sent from my SM-N915V using the BariatricPal App

[joannct1 59]

Its so worth it!! Congrats. Prayers!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using the BariatricPal App

I had my sleeve may 21,15

Sent from my SCH-I535 using the BariatricPal App