Had my surgical consult yesterday!!
Yesterday I met with Dr. Jones at Meadowbrook. I really liked him! I had been researching both the VSG and RNY - both seemed like great options. We had a great discussion about the pros and cons of RNY vs VSG, and I ended up going with the sleeve (primarily due to my early-onset arthiritis, and family history of arthritis - I may need to use NSAIDS in the future to manage the pain). I feel great about the VSG decision :)
I'm still completely shocked that they are able to get me into surgery in less than 2 weeks! I start my liquid diet today.
If anyone has any tips about the liquid diet phase, or life after the VSG, please let me know :)
Thanks for listening :) !!
CW: 130ish HW: 264 SW:254 Hgt: 5'2
Goals-Dr:159-MET Mine:140-MET!!! Final Goal: 135-MET!!!!!
W4:-22 W8:-11 W12:-10.5 W16:-12 W20:-11.5 W24:-9.5 W28:-8 W32:-7.5 W36:-8 W40:-7.5 W44:-5 W48: -4.5 1Yr/W52: -7
Dr. Jones is an excellent surgeon, you'll be in very skilled hands. He did my RNY, and at the same time he fixed a hernia AND removed my appendix (it was all adhesed in the hernia mess). Then a little over 2 years later, when I had to have the rest of my female parts removed, he happened to be the on-call surgeon the day my OB scheduled me, and ended up doing another MAJOR hernia repair, as well as giving me one of the best gifts I've ever received - 'excision of redundant skin to aid in wound repair". (made my nasty hanging belly skin disappear!) Never even HOPED for that.
As for the LD? Just make up your mind that it's a GOOD thing! It's the last step you have to take before your WLS, and THAT will be a gift like no other! You don't want to jeopardize your surgery by taking the LD lightly. And as far as I'm concerned, it gave me the MOST CLARITY EVER with regard to my 'diet' - before OR after WLS! Not a lot of guessing involved, no justifying any solid food, you KNOW you can't have any. Just keep yourself busy, and for goodness sake, TURN OFF THE TV!!! As soon as your LD starts, all the networks and cable channels start playing more fast food and junk food commercials than EVER! Radio, too. Just avoid media altogether. Read books, listen to your own music, go for walks, organize your closets, ANYTHING to avoid the kitchen and all references to food! Make a list now of things to do when temptation hits, and USE IT!
Good luck to you!
As for the LD? Just make up your mind that it's a GOOD thing! It's the last step you have to take before your WLS, and THAT will be a gift like no other! You don't want to jeopardize your surgery by taking the LD lightly. And as far as I'm concerned, it gave me the MOST CLARITY EVER with regard to my 'diet' - before OR after WLS! Not a lot of guessing involved, no justifying any solid food, you KNOW you can't have any. Just keep yourself busy, and for goodness sake, TURN OFF THE TV!!! As soon as your LD starts, all the networks and cable channels start playing more fast food and junk food commercials than EVER! Radio, too. Just avoid media altogether. Read books, listen to your own music, go for walks, organize your closets, ANYTHING to avoid the kitchen and all references to food! Make a list now of things to do when temptation hits, and USE IT!
Good luck to you!
Imperfect does not = unsuccessful
I got my sleeve less than 2 months ago and I'm loving it!
Each doctor is different as to the pre-op liquid diet. I only had to do 2 days. That was enough!
If you're like me, I had a really easy recovery. I was shocked at how good I felt by the end of the first day. I was walking the halls the first evening. I was in the hosital 2 nights. No one was with me, at all, while I was in the hospital and I really didn't need anyone. Someone took me home, tho.
Because of the nature of my job I took more time off than is usual. But I remember thinking that if I had a desk job I could have easily gone back to work at the 2 week mark.
Just be prepared to have to baby your teen tiny little sleeve for a while. You'll want to take little sips for a while. Don't be surprised it you have NO appetite. That's one of the best things about VSG. They remove the part of your stomach that produces ghrelin. So you may have to remind yourself to eat. I know I still feel like I'm force-feeding myself, all the time.
Here's something I think. I have no proof, it's just what I think. It's possible that a benefit of the liquid diet, however long you're on it, is like going cold-turkey to get off sugar and carbs. It's hard to do it on your own, I know. Sugar and carbs were my 2 main food groups. Now, everything tastes too sweet. And the thought of bread or pasta or any of my favorite carbs seems like it would get stuck going down. So I'm not tempted. It's all I can do to get in my protein, don't have room for the other stuff.
I'm sure all these things are true of RNY, too. This is just my experience at this early date.
Good luck. You'll rock your sleeve!
Each doctor is different as to the pre-op liquid diet. I only had to do 2 days. That was enough!
If you're like me, I had a really easy recovery. I was shocked at how good I felt by the end of the first day. I was walking the halls the first evening. I was in the hosital 2 nights. No one was with me, at all, while I was in the hospital and I really didn't need anyone. Someone took me home, tho.
Because of the nature of my job I took more time off than is usual. But I remember thinking that if I had a desk job I could have easily gone back to work at the 2 week mark.
Just be prepared to have to baby your teen tiny little sleeve for a while. You'll want to take little sips for a while. Don't be surprised it you have NO appetite. That's one of the best things about VSG. They remove the part of your stomach that produces ghrelin. So you may have to remind yourself to eat. I know I still feel like I'm force-feeding myself, all the time.
Here's something I think. I have no proof, it's just what I think. It's possible that a benefit of the liquid diet, however long you're on it, is like going cold-turkey to get off sugar and carbs. It's hard to do it on your own, I know. Sugar and carbs were my 2 main food groups. Now, everything tastes too sweet. And the thought of bread or pasta or any of my favorite carbs seems like it would get stuck going down. So I'm not tempted. It's all I can do to get in my protein, don't have room for the other stuff.
I'm sure all these things are true of RNY, too. This is just my experience at this early date.
Good luck. You'll rock your sleeve!
5'5" Age 63 HW 212 SW 200 Currently 8 pounds below goal
Jacque 
Dr Jones did my sleeve 8 weeks ago! He was amazing and my recovery was really quick (Mine was a VSG with gallbladder removal at the same time).
You'll love your sleeve :) I also chose the sleeve because of being able to use NSAIDS (I was living on advil last winter because I shattered my leg and tore the tendons in my ankle). That and I didn't want to have the malabsorbtion.
Good luck and I can't wait to hear about how you are doing! Oh and I'm also south of the river (Savage) so if you wanted to get together to chat or if you have questions, I'd be happy to help :) I also try to get to the Park Nicollet support meetings in SLP!
~Jen
You'll love your sleeve :) I also chose the sleeve because of being able to use NSAIDS (I was living on advil last winter because I shattered my leg and tore the tendons in my ankle). That and I didn't want to have the malabsorbtion.
Good luck and I can't wait to hear about how you are doing! Oh and I'm also south of the river (Savage) so if you wanted to get together to chat or if you have questions, I'd be happy to help :) I also try to get to the Park Nicollet support meetings in SLP!
~Jen
Pre-op: -7 Month 1: -20 (-4, -9, -4, -3) Month 2: -16 (-4,-3,-3,-3, -3) Month 3: -14 (-3,-5,-4,-2) Month 4: -11 (-2,-3,-2,-4) Month 5: -10 (-4, -1, -2, -3) Month 6: -4 (-2, -1, -1, -0) Month 7: -8 (-4,-1,-1,-2) Week 30:
My kids have swim lessons on Saturday mornings so I've never been to the Saturday AM coffees. The PN support group is interesting. They have a set topic for each meeting and I like hearing people's questions. Plus there aren't a lot of VSG's, so I like to be there to answer questions for those that are getting it done.
~Jen
~Jen
Pre-op: -7 Month 1: -20 (-4, -9, -4, -3) Month 2: -16 (-4,-3,-3,-3, -3) Month 3: -14 (-3,-5,-4,-2) Month 4: -11 (-2,-3,-2,-4) Month 5: -10 (-4, -1, -2, -3) Month 6: -4 (-2, -1, -1, -0) Month 7: -8 (-4,-1,-1,-2) Week 30:
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