Excited and nervous...decided to have sleeve...

Recently decided to have gastric sleeve ...very excited but also very nervous..I have always been a big girl but with back problems from a wreck two years ago..the wt keeps coming on and I can't exercise b/c it hurts so bad.  So instead of having back surgery..i decided it was time to do this.  Then had to have emergency gall bladder surgery with doctor who does the bariatric surgery and voila ..I am having sometime in August. 
I am presently 315 lbs..and miserable so I am hoping this is going to help change my life.  I have been over 200 lbs for a very long time and never thought I would be over 300...Would love to hear from anyone who has had the sleeve and how they are doing...I am terrified but so excited ..Just a mixture of emotions..is this normal...
  thanks for any comments!!
    

I just had my sleeve on Thursday and I totally understand the emotions.  In fact, last night I became very emotional praying that I had made the right decision.  My surgery went well and I was released from the hospital on Friday.  My surgeon was Dr. Drake Bellenger who was wonderful!  I had it done at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Gonzales and the entire staff went above and beyond to help me.  One word of advice that I can give is to get up soon after surgery and walk, walk, walk!! I walked the halls of the hospital with the help of my husband and it helped with getting back into a routine and working the gas out.  So far, gas has been my biggest enemy!!

You and I have a lot in common with our weight issues.  I too went into surgery at 306 and have always been overweight.  It hurt like heck to realize that I let myself get to that weight and I knew it was time to take back my life.  The first goal I have set for myself is to be less than 300 lbs. Hopefully I will hit that by the end of this week :o)  Let me know if I can help and good luck on your journey and your new life

Thanks for responding Terri..I have been trying to decide on this for last 3 yrs..of course i first thought of doing lapband b/c of my mother mentioning it to me ..I just wasn't sold on it b/c of the money and the fact I would have a device inside of my body..i had never had surgery and it scared the crap out of me.  This year after being really sick off and on with salmonella & then gall bladder..& still not losing any weight..b/c i can't exercise with my back unless i want to load up on pain killers...I have just reached my limit. .then my general md kept pressing me about having it then when my back dr said nothing else was working so we could do surgery on back for torn disk..i was like nooo not yet..then i went to endocrinologist b/c of hump on back of neck thinking i had cushings..come to find out it was bc of high doses of cortisone due to injections been taking for back...but he warned me that i had metabolic syndrome and if i didn't get it together i would be diabetic within a year or two ...so i asked him about bariatric surgery and he was very enthusiastic and suggested sleeve which is one i was thinking of...So then test came back from HIDA scan on gall bladder and it had to come out b/c it was almost a dead organ..and my surgeon was none other than the surgeon that does the bariatric surgery..and i figured it was a sign.....haha!!  His name is Philip Gachassin and he is super nice and he has been sooo supportive..My gall bladder surgery has me changing my eating habits to avoid stomach issues..but it also took away some of my fear of the surgery part although having most of your stomach removed is terrifying..
  The surgery is laporscopic isn't it???  i know that may not be spelled right.  I go to the seminar next Saturday and then the predieting begins..he said i will start a diet then 2 weeks before surgery be on a strict diet..how is all of that??  I am allowing myself to enjoy whatever i want this week of course not in excess as my stomach still doesn't like a lot of food w/out my gall bladder..But i am ready to do this.  I am not married...about to turn 41 and have lived most of my life taking care of everyone but me.  So lets do this. 
  I hope you are feeling better today since you said you were having a rough patch last night..I found after my gall bladder surgery i was very emotional also..maybe the anesthesia adds to it??  But its such a huge thing you did and I will be doing that you can imagine you will be having plenty of emotions.  That is why i have decided to keep only the positive people and things in my life from now on..if something brings me down i am staying away from it..Let me know how you are feeling...Take care and lets keep in touch!
    Tami

Hi gigglee,
I am from southwest louisiana and can relate with your story very much. I have been in physical therepy for my back since feb. with four bulging disk and scholiosis on top of where the disk are. very painful and cannot exercise unless in water to take weight off spine. I am 337 poiunds and in the process of having the sleeve. CANT WAIT. I have found a dr in New Orleans who takes my insurance and see him on July 5th ( was surpose to be tomorrow but was rescheduled.) I do have kids and 35 years old with a three year old can be very exhausting lol. I think the slleve is an awesome choice. I am not really scared but just wish I could have the surgery tomorrow lol. I have read alot on the VGS forum for information about before and after surgery for the VGS. Hope to talk again..Good luck......Sherri

You will do great!!! I am 9 days out, have lost 15.5 pds!!! Woohoo!!! I have not been sick at all!!! I'm so happy I did this!!!!! Good Luck & God Bless!!

Hey gigglee,  Before you know it, you will complete your pre-op and have your sleeve completed.  You will do great and the weight will start dropping.  Dr G had me on a low carb, high protein pre-op diet and it really wasn't all the bad...much better than a 2 week liquid diet that some sleevers have to do.

I really like Dr. G and his staff and the bariatric team.  I also enjoy the support meetings...try to attend if you can.  

It's normal to be anxious about your surgery but you seem to have confidence in Dr G and he is a great surgeon.  I decided that I would do whatever he wants me to do on this journey of weight loss and I've done pretty much everything he asked and surprise surprise...the weight is coming off.  

Waiting for you on the LOSERS bench!!!

Marlene