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
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