Recent Posts

DianaMll
on 2/19/23 7:21 am
Topic: RE: Mental Health After Surgery
On February 17, 2023 at 4:32 PM Pacific Time, DianaMll wrote:

My son went through surgery, and I can definitely say that his mental health has improved. It shows up in everything. He became less aggressive and restrained, open to learning new things and finally just enjoying life. I hope all is well with you too.

I will add that the operation was, for us, one of the best decisions in life. So if someone doubts - do not.

DianaMll
on 2/17/23 8:32 am
Topic: RE: Mental Health After Surgery

My son went through surgery, and I can definitely say that his mental health has improved. It shows up in everything. He became less aggressive and restrained, open to learning new things and finally just enjoying life. I hope all is well with you too.

FiggyPudding
on 2/6/23 4:04 pm
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

6 weeks ago, I could have written this. As another person wrote, I was lying on a gurney in preop and still not 100% sure I was going to go through with it (basically right up until the anesthesiologist offerred me something "to relax" and I promptly passed out and woke up in post op). I will say, I do think your stat is outdated - General anesthesia is much, much safer than it was even just a decade ago, and the sleeve has about half the rate of operating and post-op complocations of operating and the bypass. Complications can include a lot of things, most are not fatal, though there is always a potential - infections, clots, liver lacerations, and even post op dehydration (one of the most common post-op complications) are all factored into the stats. Somewhere online, there is a tool that calculates risk by age and I think the risk of complications might be 1 in 1000, but, I think I remember the risk of fatal complicatioms being considerably lower. My surgeon also reminded me that the risk pool also includes people with serious health issues that I don't have, and wanted to have surgery in part to avoid - without them, my risk was likely well below even the averager rate. Did that calm my existential anxiety? Not really, but, it helped me rationalize my way through it and recognize my odds of waking up and being healthier in the long run were better than not. I mean, your chance of dying of heart disease, cancer, etc. decreases far more in 3 years by having surgery then the risk of the surgery itself. Anyway - I shrank my liver, had my surgery, felt like crap for a day or two, and recovered remarlably quickly. Lost 45 lbs pre.surgery and 30 since so far, and am halfway to my goal weight. Too early to tell how the skin situation will pan out - it takes about 24 months for your skin to finish shrinking, and I had a pannus before I had the sleeve so not expecting I'll lose it. But to be honest, nothing is super floppy or weird, at least not yet. I habe had times when I lost some weight under my arm, or on my innner thigh, nd it felt floppy for a day or so - but what's the worst that could happen, I decide not to wear short sleeves? I wasn't wearing short sleeves anyway. I think if you do it, you just have to be prepared to accept whatever changes come.next with humor and grace.

Kathleen W.
on 2/1/23 4:39 pm - Lancaster, PA
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

I didn"t have a problem with the surgeon before hand. It wasn't until I told him there was problem that he blew me off.

I'm 13 years out and still struggle with food.

SW 327
GW 150
CW 126

                                      

Freewheeler
on 2/1/23 11:47 am
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

Thank you very much for your feedback.

Are you taking supplements to fight the hair loss or was it something you never really considered prior to surgery, so you never tried specific vitamins in relation to hair health to see if it would make any difference?

I know loose skin is unavoidable. I am mostly just concerned about the hanging skin in my groin area hanging even lower. When you have to move skin around to go to the bathroom - that's a problem.

I wish you all the best with your gallbladder surgery.

Freewheeler
on 2/1/23 11:28 am, edited 2/1/23 3:29 am
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

I am so sorry that you had to go through that. Similar to my situation, were you not entirely happy with your surgeon from the get go or he became a problem after the fact?

I have never heard anyone ever mention issues with teeth after gastric surgery. Do you mean loose teeth? I will look into that.

Yes, I am especially concerned about the skin in my groin area - it is already hanging low and clearly an issue when it comes to using the bathroom, so I am hoping it shrinks during weight loss and not just start hanging down to my knees. I will absolutely need a panniculectomy.

I think that is why some have gained the weight back after surgery, because while they now have a tool to lose the weight, they haven't fixed the issues in their head as to WHY they overeat, etc. This has been my concern as well for myself as well when it comes to anxiety and using food as comfort with emotional eating. I know my brain will still send those signals/cravings to go eat something when I have anxiety to get that dose of dopamine. I am hoping seeing the weight loss will motivate me and stay on track like you said.

Thanks!

Kathleen W.
on 2/1/23 7:17 am - Lancaster, PA
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

My complications started with a couple of stiches breaking. I had a greyish/black fluid coming out of my drainage tube. When I told the surgeon, he didn't listen and sent me home. That lead to other problems. Stiches breaking can happen in any surgery. I was just angry that the surgeon didn't listen to me. Nor did he listen to the visiting nurse that came to my place after my release. It wasn't until the nurse basically threaten him that she was going to admit me to the hospital under her own authority and that he would have to answer to the medical board why he didn't admit me. Would I do it again? Yes!

As far as skin removal, the only area that I had is a pinealectomy. There was 8 lbs of excess skin in my groin area. The other areas(thighs and upper arms) are my badge of honor for maintaining my weight loss (and it's not all that bad.)

As far as weight loss, I do WW. It helps keep me accountable for staying on track, how to deal with head hunger, bad habits, etc. For me, my wls just worked on my stomach but not my habits, etc.

My hair is better now than when I had surgery. The only problem I had was with my teeth. From what I understand, it's common with the rny, I'm not sure how it is with the type you're having.

Please let us know how you are doing. You're making the right decision.

SW 327
GW 150
CW 126

                                      

Cautiously_Hopeful
on 2/1/23 3:47 am
WLS on 07/15/22
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

Good morning,

So I see you've gotten a lot of feedback from folks but I'll weigh in just to add another data point.

I'm six and a half months out from a modified duodenal switch, whi*****ludes a 32 bougie sleeve. I've lost a considerable amount of weight and have about 30 pounds more, maybe, that could go. My hair started falling out around the second month. It's slowed down now but it's very thin, and I have super fine hair. So I have it cut shorter for now. I've lost a ton of weight multiple times, including going through the hair loss phase. It does come back but I think thinning hair over time runs in my family if my mother and sister are any indication.

I also have loose skin. I'm deflating. Baggy underarms, baggy thighs and stomach. I've always preferred long pants and sleeves because I'm pale and glow in the dark, so I use them to compress everything. I am not currently considering any skin removals because I heal slowly, they're much more invasive surgeries than my laparoscopic WLS was, and I'd have to self pay. I'll happily (and proudly) live with all these outcomes from weight loss than be trapped in my body and unable to live the life I want. But that's just me.

I've also got gallbladder issues now and am scheduled for removal next Friday. The surgeon does think it's a result of the quick weight loss, so a common happening in this space.

Hope you're able to resolve your concerns and be confident about the procedure. Cheers!

HW 282, LW 123.4 (8/29/23), CW 144.4

Pre-op-33, M1-12, M2-17, M3-14, M4-11, M5-14, M6-5, M7-6, M8-5, M9-22, M10-6, M11-5, M12-2, M13-2, M14-5

Lady2This
on 1/31/23 7:42 pm - NC
Topic: RE: Panniculectomy

Hi, I had the RNY in 2010. I had the Panni in 2016. The first day was painful. I also had pain the second day. I was good after that. I had my drains removed sooner than expected. I went back to work a week after surgery.

Freewheeler
on 1/31/23 6:54 pm, edited 1/31/23 10:57 am
Topic: RE: Upcoming Gastric Sleeve Surgery And I Am Dreading It

I totally understand.

I wasn't always overweight/obese, so I guess the hope is that in addition to losing the weight and getting healthy - you can go back to how you looked before in better clothes or a suit and somewhat have a comeback when it comes to your confidence and appearance.

Ideally you don't want to thin now, but bald.

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