Thinking About Gastric Sleeve Surgery

[MelissaRose24 91]

I am new here and I am a beginner when it comes to Forums. I am here because I am seriously considering getting gastric Sleeve Surgery. I am 28 and I weight 260lbs. I had a miscarriage 2 years ago and put on alot of weight because of pregnancy and feeling depressed.

I would like to know what are the main pros and cons of the surgery and if anyone has any advice they could give me I am more than open to it. I would highly appreciate it. I have hear about vomiting and Gerd and wanted to know how bad it is. Also how small are the portions the first month post opt. Also what is the average amount of weight most people my size lost the first month?

Thank you.

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[Bufflehead 6,358]

Vomiting and GERD -- I haven't had any

Pro's and con's -- first time in my life I am at a normal weight, which means my life has changed entirely. No real cons except (1) it's major surgery, so that does mean a period of pain and tiredness after as you recover; and (2) some people find themselves unable to tolerate certain types of food after. I can't/don't eat bread anymore or anything carbonated.

Advice -- you have to be ready and want to build an entirely new relationship with food. Food will no longer be your comfort, your entertainment, your stress relief, your way of celebrating holidays or family. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it though. You have to be willing to work hard at weight loss and weight maintenance for the rest of your life (I'm deadly serious about that). You have to be willing to accept the possibility that you radically change the kind of food you eat for the rest of your life. Don't kid yourself into thinking this surgery means you eat three bites of pancakes for Breakfast, one mini-cheeseburger for lunch, a Snickers fun bar for a snack, and a twinkie for dinner with a side of a couple french fries. Doesn't work like that. If you are like most of us, those types of foods are either entirely or very largely excised from our lives completely if we want to be successful in losing weight and keeping the weight off.

Small portions for the first month? I didn't have any "portions" for the first month. My plan called for liquids for the first month post-op.

After that I was allowed to move to pureed high Protein foods for four weeks. Portion size there was 1.5 ounces weighed or 3 tablespoons measured. This was more than enough, believe me.

After that I moved to soft foods for four months and my mandated size for each of my three daily meals was 3 ounces. I could rarely eat that much though.

I am now 3.5 years post op and can eat about 5 ounces per meal, depending on what is in the meal. I still focus on high protein, low carb eating in order to maintain my weight loss (over 200 lbs).

I don't know that there are stats or averages for weight loss in the first month. The first month post-op, your body does some insane things trying to recover from the trauma of surgery. Healing and getting used to a new way of relating to food should be your focus in the first month post op, not how fast you are losing. All that said, I would think anywhere from 8 - 25 lbs is a reasonable expectation for first month loss for someone your size. Focus on the lower end of that and if you lose more, let yourself be surprised and happy. Good luck in your decision!

[MelissaRose24 91]

Bufflehead Thank you so very much. I agree with you that this is a life change and I have to be serious about changing my way of living and relationship with food but that is what I want. Thank you very much for your response Im just happy to learn more about the sleeve. I want to know as much as possible before my surgery.

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[OKCPirate 5,323]

You might find this article interesting, it explains why WLS is not like wiring your jaw shut...in other words its not just about restriction, but bigger changes in your hormones, hunger signals et.al. But if you have to take care of the emotional issues which got you into this place, or you will find yourself back at square one...http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2014/03/26/the-humble-heroes-of-weight-loss-surgery-stomach-acids-and-gut-microbes/#comment-3309413

[DaleCruse 756]

Are you planning to be pregnant again? If so, please speak with your physician about how to proceed. Good luck!

[MelissaRose24 91]

Thank you so much OKCPirate it was phenomenal! I see now that this surgery is way more than just Portion Control. Thanks!

FutureFitGirl

[MelissaRose24 91]

DaleCruse I definitely want to get pregnant again but thats in the future it wouldn't be anytime soon.

FutureFitGirl

[DisneyMom2El 120]

DaleCruse I definitely want to get pregnant again but thats in the future it wouldn't be anytime soon.

FutureFitGirl

It's funny, I hear all sorts of things about do's and don'ts after surgery that sound so severe, but every one of them, my surgeon has dismissed. He asked if I planned to have more kids, and I said yes, but I know I need to wait 18 months. He shrugged his shoulders and told me you can't always control life, and if I get pregnant before that, everything will be safe and fine (I'm still not planning on it, but it's nice to know). He told me that he had one woman come in for her 6 week checkup pregnant, she found out at the appointment, and she had twins! He said that was ten years ago, the pregnancy was normal, babies delivered healthy, and she's still doing well after ten years with no complications.

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[MelissaRose24 91]

Wow! That is definitely amazing! It feels so good to know that when I get pregnant it can be a healthy pregnancy. Thank you so much for that DisneyM2EI. I definitely think my weight had something to do with my precious miscarriage.

FutureFitGirl

[Middus 491]

I think we have to be wary of exceptions. If you are planning to get pregnant again, leave about a year after surgery just in case. No one plans for hernias or some complications that may arise as a result of surgery.
In addition, when Pregnant, you are eating for two; many people can't even get enough essential nutrients for themselves in the initial 2-3 months after surgeries like Bypass and sleeve, so you can imagine how risky it might be for a developing foetus.
In life, there are always exceptions, but better safe than sorry.

[MelissaRose24 91]

Yes I agree...Im happy that this surgery may help get my life back on track in a healthy way and maybe help with having a healthy pregnancy but im currently single so like I said no plans to get pregnant again in the near future. Thank you Middus.

FutureFitGirl

[MelissaRose24 91]

Thank all of you guys for your replies you are giving me so much hope.

FutureFitGirl

[Newme17 3,444]

Congrats on the decision! You will do well. I had two miscarriages and two babies delivered. I never thought I had an emotional eating problem until the loss of my first baby. So I wholly understand your pain. But God is good, we have tools to use to put our bodies back where he'd like us to be, healthy!!! I can't have any more babies, but I'm getting the sleeve myself to prevent health issues that'll keep me from my kids and family now. Keep us posted on your journey. We're here to support you. . Happy new year to you too!

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[Babbs 14,681]

Everyone already covered a lot of great advice, but I just wanted to say you're gorgeous

[pvechiola 195]

I am new here and I am a beginner when it comes to Forums. I am here because I am seriously considering getting gastric Sleeve Surgery. I am 28 and I weight 260lbs. I had a miscarriage 2 years ago and put on alot of weight because of pregnancy and feeling depressed.

I would like to know what are the main pros and cons of the surgery and if anyone has any advice they could give me I am more than open to it. I would highly appreciate it. I have hear about vomiting and Gerd and wanted to know how bad it is. Also how small are the portions the first month post opt. Also what is the ImageUploadedByBariatricPal1483451873.240533.jpgaverage amount of weight most people my size lost the first month?

Thank you.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You're a very pretty YOUNG lady and at only 28 I'm pretty sure at your age you might be able to get your weight down by eating sensibly and walking, I am 55 and I have been trying for 10 years to get my weight off. I wish I was 28 again there are so many other ways besides weight loss surgery for you. I don't know your health matters or how long you've been trying to lose but if I was 28 I would try exercise over surgery any day. Good luck with whatever road you take, my daughter loves dance and she dropped at least 80 lbs doing Zumba and she was right about the age you are now when she got serious. Good luck.

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