Question:
I am considering having the sleevew I am5`2 & 291lbs can any one give me imfo

or contact me I have lots of questions    — sweetpee (posted on November 23, 2008)

November 23, 2008
I have had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy and I have lost 105 pounds in 6 months. I have had a 3 month stall that was due to one of my physicians making a change in my thyroid medications that put me TOO LOW on my meds for 3 months. Now that my bloodwork has come back and has shown that I need more medication, my thyroid meds have been increased, and I am back on track to losing again. Part of the problem was that I was losing weight so FAST that the doctor had a hard time keeping up with the WEIGHT LOSS with the MEDICATION changes. I think he tried to get ahead of the CURVE and instead caused a STALL. It has taken about a MONTH for me to get the medication levels built back up in my blood stream and get started back to losing again, but I have FINALLY started noticing a DIFFERENCE! If you want to know MORE about the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, which is one of the most EFFECTIVE weight loss surgery options available, and is the SAFEST one available, check out my profile page at: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hubarlow/ . Look for a post on my blog on that site called "Surgical Comparisons." If you don't see it on the main profile page, look for it in the March 2008 archives. It will give you information on all of the MAIN weight loss surgeries available today. Use this information as a foundation for your OWN study. PLEASE research this ON YOUR OWN! Getting advice from Obesity Help members is GREAT, but you have to keep in mind that EACH of us has an investment in one type of a procedure or another. There are FEW people on the boards that are TRULY unbiased! The DOCTORS each have a stake in what type of surgery that you chose, because some will offer ONE type but NOT the other. Some INSURANCE companies will COVER one type, but NOT the other. Each PATIENT has either had a GOOD experience with his or her procedure or NOT, and is biased FOR or AGAINST it based on that. SOME are emotionally invested in their surgery to such a point that they cannot see anyone ELSE getting ANY OTHER surgical procedure! There are people on the OH Boards that will belittle your choice, no matter WHAT it is. There are folks who think that the Gastric Bypass is the ONLY way to go. There are OTHER people who think that the DUODENAL SWITCH is the ONLY POSSIBLE SURGICAL OPTION for anyone considering weight loss surgery. Frankly, I say, "Get what works for YOU!" I think that the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is the BEST choice for MOST people! It is not the best choice for ALL people. If, for some reason, you cannot GET the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, GET WHATEVER YOU CAN! ANY weight loss surgery is better than DYING of obesity related illnesses! If your INSURANCE will not PAY for the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, FIGHT for it. If you STILL cannot get it with INSURANCE, consider paying for it YOURSELF! If you CAN'T, then GET whatever surgery your INSURANCE WILL PAY FOR! I hope this answers your questions, Hugh
   — hubarlow

November 23, 2008
I am 5'2" and weighed 351. I lost 15 lbs on the pre-op diet (2 weeks). I had surgery September 5, and as of this morning, have lost 35 lbs since surgery (20 lbs first month, 12 lbs second month, and then an additional 13 lbs so far this month). I probably would have lost more if I had kicked up the exercise more, but it takes a while for someone with this much weight and who has really not moved around much at all to get up to 30 minutes of exercise a day. So, my goal now is to work on that exercise portion. I have never been sorry I had the surgery, although the week before surgery I was pretty nervous. Now, I do get hungry, but it isn't like before. I feel my stomach growl, and as long as I remember not to drink anything 30 minutes prior to eating, and an hour after, I do fine. I am only up to about 3-4 oz max at a meal depending on what I eat (if I eat any meat or fish, I can only handle 1-2 oz). My taste buds have changed so much, that so many things I liked before just don't taste good any more. Please feel free to e-mail me if you want to talk more. I spent 5 years trying to get surgery approved, and am glad I had to wait that long because the sleeve wasn't offered here until just this past year, and I am so glad I had it rather than any of the other surgeries. Wendy
   — Wendy M.

November 23, 2008
I know the group of doctors that did my surgery said they only use the sleeve for very heavy patients. Ones over 400 lbs.
   — trible