VSG08252014
I had my Vertical Sleeve Surgery on August 25, 2014. Upon writing this I am one week and one day post surgery. Here is my story...
After trying numerous weight loss products, programs and gyms my general physician told me I should consider weight loss surgery. He referred me to Dr. Paya and said he was the best. Before my consultation I looked at Dr. Paya's website and learned that he performs three types of weight loss surgery: lap band, VSG and Gastric Bypass. I did research on all of them and from everything I read VSG seemed like the best option. When I went and saw Dr. Paya he recommended the VSG as well. I spent about a week or so thinking about the procedure, doing research, talking to people and finally decided to do it. My insurance was going to cover 80% of the procedure so I figure I should seize the opportunity to do it now. It took me about a month and a half to do all my pre-ops: nutritionist, psychiatrist, blood work, chest x-ray, ekg and physical. The Friday before my surgery I started my liquid diet which was really hard since I was starving. On Monday I had the surgery at UC Irvine Hospital and everything went well. I was in the hospital for almost three days and two nights. I was in pain after the procedure but it was manageable since I was on morphine. The hardest part was the fact that I wasn't allowed to drink anything for 24 hours (not even water) because they were going to check for a leak the following day. That part was really miserable as my throat was sore from the breathing tube and mouth was dry. The next morning I went down to x-ray to check and see if there was a leak and I had to drink this nasty fluid that would show up on the x-ray. After that, I was able to drink fluids which was hard at first and then I progressed to jello, broth and some version of a cream of wheat. I was back home Wednesday early afternoon.