any info on pre-op for the sleeve would be greatly appreciated.

I have decided on doing the sleeve surgery. I am looking for tips for pre-op to help things go a little better. any comments would be great! I am wanting to loose a little bit before I go in. I am waiting on my surgery date. And I am very excited and feel comfortable about my decison. ( of course, this is also what my surgeon reccomends due to my age and medical status.) Let me hear from you'all Virginia L.

Never heard of the sleeve surgery!!!! Please explain. How old are you? Medical status? I only know that for folks over 55 the lap band is done. Less complications. Elissa Hart

The surgery I am referring to is called vertical sleeve gastrectomy. It is as safe as the band and not as intense as the rny. It does not cut into the intestimes so there is no dumping or malnutrition, vitiamin deficiency ando so on. The actually removed a portion of your stomach and leave a banana shape stomach callled the sleeve. I am 66 years old and have diabetes, htn, gerd, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea. The surgery takes about 45 minutes. When did you have the rny? and how much have you lost? My sister is having the rny, she is waiting for her surgery date also. keep in touch, Ginger

Ginger, interesting concept. After you research and do a lot of soul searching, make sure above all you follow your surgeon's advice and follow the rules. Get good habits and follow them. No options/excuses. Save 20 minutes a day to think about exercise. Start out with 5 minutes and each week build up to the 20. Don'****ch tv or talk on the phone for the 20 min. Get used to giving yourself the time to devote to exercise. Then you'll incrase the time as you loose lbs you get more energized. I'll have to look into it more. Good for you at 66 yrs young to take charge of your health. Yesterday was my 3rd anniversary for RNY. I was 54 then and a size 5x. I am app minus 200 lbs and now a size 12/14.. No longer on BP, cholesterol, IBS meds. I still have sleep apnea, it has been cut in half down to a 6 setting from a 12. I had double replacement knee surgery last January. So they lie about loosing weight helping the knees. Bone on bone is still bone on bone. LOL. I feel wonderfull. I attend 3-4 support group mtgs a month. It helps to keep me positive & focused. Plus I've made sooooo many new friends on my journey. Life is healthy & happy. Good luck on your jouney. It can be crazy & fun and a little scary. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Elissa, thanks so much for your reply. Congrats on you loosing 200 lbs! It doesn't seem possible does it until you prove to yourself it can be done... And you did it! I am a size 3x top and 2x bottom, I would be thrilled to be a 12/14. I haven't seen that in 35 years. I also had a right knee replacement last April, now it is wonderful not having bone on bone pain all the time. My sleep apnea is set at 11. I really don't use it like I should and am hoping I can get rid of it altogether. My surgeon recommended that I have the sleeve because of my age and less complications. My sisiter is having the Rny, she is 7 years younger than me. We are both really excited and waiting for our surgery date. My surgeon said maybe by April. I am now waiting for approval from my Insurance. Hope that goes by fast. I am digging out my old Richard Simmons vcr tapes so I can do a little dance daily for my exercise. I also belong to the ymca and love to go swimming, I take the little old ladies arthritis class.. but am thinking of moving up to the aerobics because the arthritis class is really boring. I sure don't feel like I am 66 years old! I still work everyday and have no plans of retiring any time soon. Keep in touch and keep up the good work. Ginger

The "Less Complications" with the band thing is a myth. They have just as many as with any other WLS. Slips, erosions, reflux, port flip, band failures, adhesions, leaks, etc. I know many bandsters who have converted to RNY or DS and several who are waiting for approval to convert. I have heard of the VGS. Isn't there a forum here on OH about it? As with any surgery, do your research. Can your doctor give you a hand-out about it. There's also a book called WLS for Dummies that can help.

I have to agree with the other posters. ANY surgery not just WLS there are chances for complications. One should research the Surgery and with understanding and talking with the surgeon make your choice for YOU. As with any WLS it is a tool not a miracle or an easy way to loose weight. I know first hand that for me this was NOT the easy way out but I work with what I chose to have and thankful for having the surgery. Ask your surgeon what his recommendations are pre-operatively as each surgeon is different. Follow those directions. Hope this helps....