Sleevers

Hello... I'm getting closer and closer to surgery day and still haven't decided between the sleeve and the RNY.  (The Lapband and DS are not options for me.) I have a few questions that I'm hoping can make all the difference for me if you would be kind enough to share some info with me.

1. How long did it take you to feel "hungry" again if at all?

2. How is your restriction? How much can you comfortably eat?

3. If you could do it all over again, would you still chose the sleeve?

4. Do you eat any carbs and what are your starting BMIs?

5. Is there ANYthing you wish you had known before surgery that you learned during the process that you think pre-ops may find useful.

6. Have you incurred any medical issues where the fact that so much of your stomach has been removed has been an issue?

Sorry for all the questions all at once. I'm thinking that the sleeve may be a good long term option for me. I'm always hungry (or at least I think I am). I like the attractiveness of RNY's malabsorption of calories but I know it doesn't last forever where as the malabsorption of nutrients does.

My surgery will be late September/early October so I need to settle on this once and for all.

Thanks a lot!!

I have a DS, but I wanted to comment on your saying that you're always hungry. Pre-op, I was, too, and I've heard a lot of DSers say they were, too. For most of us, removing most of the stomach has completely cured this. I do still get hungry, but it's what I think of as 'normal' hunger---SO much nicer!

Thanks... I can't wait to experience "normal hunger" again. As a matter of fact, I hope I'm never hungry again but I know that's no realistic. So I'll settle for "normal". LOL

1) I had no hunger at all for about six months.  Then some of the hunger returned, but it is much less intense than before surgery. I don't actually mind this amount of huger as it reminds me to eat and makes food more enjoyable.  Before surgery, I felt ravenous almost all the time.   I am now four years out from surgery and the hunger has remained pretty steady in its intensity, I would say it is about 40-50% of what it was pre VSG.

2) I chose to find a doctor that is known for making a tight sleeve and I am very happy that I did this.  I had very strong restriction early on, about 2-3 ounces of protein would fully fill me up.  Now, at four years out, I can comfortably eat about 3 ounces of protein and 1/2 cup of veggies at a meal.  The restriction has held up since about one year out.

3) There is no question that I would choose to get the VSG again and I have had a number of close friends that have had it and are at goal based on my experience.  I really have nothing at all negative to say about it, it has been a life saver for me.

4) During my losing phase, I restricted my carbs to under 40 grams a day.  Now, in maintenance, I eat about 80 grams a day. Some days more, some days less.

5)  I could write a book about all the things I learned post-up, there just isn't enough space here. Suffice it to say, it was all good.

6) This last year, I developed mild GERD and need to take small amounts of medicine to control it. 

Hi Elina,

Thanks for the help and congrats on reaching and maintaining goal! Sorry to hear about developing GERD. All in all, it seems like you had a good experience. I don't know anyone personally that had the Sleeve so it means a LOT to me that you took time out to share your experience with me. One of the most attractive things about the sleeve to me is the fact that your digestive system gets to remain in tact. I only wish there was a pill I could take to malabsorb. I'm thinking of going sleeve and then DS if I still need to but with insurance companies going to one WLS per life, you just don't know.

Maybe you really should write a book. Information on the sleeve will be even more highly sought after. The hospital I work at is performing more and more sleeves and recommending them to more people. However, many are apprehensive about it because there isn't as much info out there as there are about the band and bypass. I know a LOT of people that would buy your book..including me. :)

Thanks!

1 I never lost my hunger, but it got a LOT better. I have had the same amount of hunger since I had the sleeve. It hasn't gotten worse or better. BUt it's much improved compared to before surgery when I felt MUCH hungrier. So it did decrease significantly

2. My restriction seems to be more than most at my point> I'm 18 months post op in just a few days and I can only eat 2-2.5 ounces of protein tops. Usually, it's more like 2 ounces and not 2.5. If I eat 2 ounces of protein, I can eat a bite or two of veggies and that is it. I can eat half a cup of cottage cheese MAX, usually it's about 3 ounces. I guess I have a lot of restriction. But the sliders like crackers? I can eat quite a bit of that so restriction is limited on sliders!

3. If I could choose it over, I would still select to have the sleeve.

4. My starting BMI was 38. I eat carbs in the form of veggies, occasional fruits,  and occasionally whole grains. I really do not eat white sugar or white flour products at all. I take that back, I've had ice cream on a few occasions (kids birthdays). I got a small dairy queen ice cream cone (this was at 17 months post op) and believe it or not, I couldn't even eat half of it. I guess maybe because it's a thicker ice cream? I don't know but I have restriction with some ice cream. I do NOT have much restriction with crackers or something like that though. Weird.

5. During the process I've realized that pre op I had no idea I'd have the hiccups a lot :-)

6. I am healthy, lost my diabetes, lost my weight. No vitamin issues so far but I take ALL of the recommended vitamins every day. I DID develop mild acid reflux post op. Never had it before the sleeve. But mine is mild because I can take a 20MG of Prilosec or omeprazole (they are basically the same thing) and I do NOT experience reflux if I take the pill. I don't consider that a big deal. If I had to take 60-80MG of prilosec and still had break through acid, then I'd be really concerned. Mine is easily controlled with minimal OTC omeprazole.