help!

I am set for surgery on Monday and am totally freaking out and considering not doing it! What if the sleeve becomes like the band, where at 7 or so years out everything is great, but the longer its out more problems pop up like slippage or erosion. there r no real studies of how patients do 10, 20 or 30 years out out with sleeve? I am scared to death!

I'm pre-op as well and I can certainly relate to doubt and getting cold feet. Some days I'm gung ho and ready to do it, and the next I'm glad I still have some time to prepare myself. I honestly think that VSG is one of the safer WLS. Once you are healed your insides are the same as before just a much smaller stomach. No rerouting of intestines, so that issue is avoided down the road. Although like all surgery there is always risks. Everyone reacts differently but I think in 10,20, 30 years from now would I even be alive if I continued living with the excess weight. Even if I was the quality of my life would be so low it would be void of joy. I think being afraid right now is completely normal but read all these amazing posts from the post-op people and realize those amazing experiences will be ours soon. We are all here to listen and help support no matter what choice you make. The decision is ultimately yours but I hope if you have come this far that if you go forward you will be posting your NSV and probably saying it was the best decision you ever made too. Best of luck! 

Honey, take a deep breath! I have researched this surgery to death and you have no worries long term. This is the least invasive of the surgeries. I have read many of the posts from long term vsg people and they have no bad effects except weight loss, or gain if they don't follow their plan. I have no fears as this is the least invasive tool I could use to be successful.

The alternative is that my health will continue to decline and my life will be shortened and what I am able to do would be vastly reduced. If I had cancer I would have surgery to save my life. ... well obesity it's such a disease that it steals your life away slowly. We all have moments of fear and that is natural. But know that your bravery and courage has brought you this far and will help you make the best decision for you. Know that there is much info on this site and many willing to help.

n2sleeve

I"m sure it is normal to freak out, it is voluntary surgery. Deep breaths. This is going to be the start of something GREAT for you.

I remember asking my doctor something similar.  He said that this type of surgery has been around for longer than we think, just not as a stand-alone weight loss tool.  It has been the first stage of (the RNY or DS?  I forget which) for extremely morbidly obese people to get them thin enough to make that surgery possible, and similar surgery has been done when damage to the stomach requires partial removal.  

The only thing you really won't have any more is the part of your stomach that produces ghrelin.  I asked if he could promise me that they would never discover some reason why people absolutely needed ghrelin, and he said "sorry, I can't promise you that.  You just never know." but I'm sure if that is ever the case, some drug company will figure out how to make pills for it.

Pretty sound logic here.  Ditto.

I am right there with you all the way. I have GREAT insurance that requires nothing like all the stuff you read about from people. I was 2 weeks from surgery and backed out for ALL the reasons you listed. I totally think about the future and what I will be like. 20 years after surgery. Look at the band and how everyone thought it was so great and now look at all the problems. What if 10 years from now they discover something that wasn't thought of regarding this surgery and people are having problems. But then I think I will not be around 10 years at. 6' and 385. So,lately I have been back on the wagon as I am fooling myself thinking I can do this myself. I am totally thinking that the surgery is the only thing that can help me. Let us know what you decide to do. Peace out .........

I'm with you so scared too ..... However, great responss !! Talk about speaking power to the truth! I feel like I'm fooling myself too....

My surgery is monday too. Facing any surgery is scary but it will be worth it. As far as the long trem effects go, my Grandfather had 80% of his stomach removed do to ulcers more then 45 years ago. He lived into his 80 s with no problems.

Good luck on Monday! We are going to do just fine.

Everything is going to be fine!! I know for a fact that you have an excellent surgeon. I totally freaked out the night before as well. You have gotten a lot of great responses from other posters and I totally agree with them. Personally I knew that if I didn't have the surgery my health wasn't going to get any better on it's own, I was only going to continue to decline. It's scary, but you will get through it and you will be so glad that you did. You know the issues that I have been having and I would still go back and have it again. Good Luck on Monday, I will be thinking about you. Feel free to PM me if you need to talk.

 

~Jenny