Just an introduction

Hi all,  I'm scheduled for my surgery 3 weeks from today.  Started the Optifast, not yum, but at least the chocolate is bearable.  I'm also in the process of moving from Canada to Georgia so have to fly back for the surgery.  I just retired at the end of December too so getting used to less money coming in a month.  Way too much going on.

Just a couple of questions.  How is the pain level after surgery?  Recovery time I hear is less than for bypass?  Can anyone confirm that?  Also, how has the weight loss gone?  I keep hearing you lose less with the sleeve but I don't want my bowels involved, they're way to touchy as it is.  

Peggy

Hi Peggy

Welcome and good luck on surgery day!  To answer your questions:

The pain level for me was about 8 for about 4 days and then it got much better.

Recovery for me took about two weeks and then I was fine.

I was sleeved on 1/14 and as of today I'm down 33lbs.

Hope that helps.

The only real pain I had was right after the surgery in the recovery area.  It was pretty standard gas pain and was medically managed well.  I stopped taking any pain meds the day after returning home (was only in hospital for 1 night).

Following my return home, the only pain (discomfort really) was the same as doing a couple of hundred situps.  Bascially my abs were cramped.  The abs situation cleared up each day over the course of about a week.  It was seriously so not a big deal really.

I've been very successful with the sleeve.  Numbers in the signature.

It was pretty much the same for me, walking after surgery helps with the gas pain but I didn't do much for a few days.  I went to a birthday party on the 6th day, sipped water but was fine.  Sip & walk! ~Cheers

The surgery itself for me was not a big deal. I had the pretty standard gas pains in my chest and shoulders in recovery, the most pain I had was maybe a 4 on the 10 scale, I walked the gas off in 2 days and had some cramping around one of my incisions that got better after about 10 days. The pre-surgery prep work was the painful part for me. Pre-op testing and diets aren't fun! I also passed a gallstone on the pre-op diet. That hurt more than the VSG surgery!

I'm 11 days out. My sleeve is still swollen and touchy. Sometimes it doesn't want me to drink my protein, and sometimes I feel a little reflux-y, but only when the swelling is up. Swelling seems to come and go. It will probably do that for the first 6 months.

Overall: not a bad surgery, not regretting it one bit, am down 8 pounds from surgery weight. Not bad!

Would not regret the surgery for a minute!

Pain was a 6-7 for me...for about a week.  Then a 3-4 for another few days and intermittently after that before settling to a few stabs or pulls now at 1 month out.  I would register them a 1-2 typically and they rarely happen anymore.  Only when I overexert at something.

26 lbs in one month.  I'm happy happy happy w/ that loss!

I don't think you have to lose less with the sleeve.  I fully anticipate losing all the weight.  I think it just depends on how hard you work the tool.  If you work it, it will work for you! 

My doctor states that recovery for both surgeries is the same.  He also has the same pre-op and post-op nutrition plans for both.

My pain level was minimal.  I was off all pain medications 6 hours after surgery in the hospital.  Recovery was very smooth.  I am 3 1/2 months post surgery and have lost almost 70 pounds.  I am very focused and do not deviate/cheat on my plan.  At my center, VSG patients have the same rate of weight loss as bypass patients.