To kenysmaddox, my sleeve experience.

[Guest guest]

If you haven't been scared off one way or the other, I thought I'd

give my experience with the sleeve and why I chose it. Below is a

rewritten portion of a larger email I posted in this group earlier in

the year. I'm 25 (soon to be 26!) I had my surgery 01/08/08, starting

weight of 215, size 14/16. I apologize in advance, I'm very long

winded.

I was a low BMI patient, my BMI the day of surgery was 33 (it had

been up to 34 at one point). I researched the lapband for over a

year, believing it was the answer to my hopes. I picked Dr. Aceves, a

surgery date, and even postponed my surgery slightly so I could get

the new AP bands that were coming out. About a month before my

surgery I read about the VSG. Previously I'd only known it as the

first part to the Duodenal Switch, a surgery that was way too

aggressive for my tastes. Within a week of learning about the sleeve

as a stand alone procedure, and that the weightloss with the Sleeve

was comparable to a RNY, but without the upkeep of a LapBand or the

intestinal re-routing of a RNY, I switched over. My reasons for

jumping off the lap-band wagon (a little pun there, no harm ment)

were the benifits of a one-shot surgery. No fills, slips, erosions,

punctured tubing/port, no aftercare, etc. The initial risk of a leak

scared the pants off me, but no more than the risk of a 2nd surgery

to remove the band. There's also the matter of how the VSG can't be

reveresed. The idea scared me, but then again what the hell had I

been doing with that extra stomach capacity? I'd been eating myself

miserable. I decided I didn't really need it anyway.

Post-Op life is pretty easy. The first month I was on solid foods I

vomited quite frequently or got stuck because I was experiencing what

I call the learning curve. After surgery your eyes are about 80% too

big for your stomach. Before surgery I could eat half an appetizer,

salad, dinner, a couple of rolls, and probably dessert. When I

orginally wrote this I was about 6months out from surgery and wrote

about how I had 2 stuffed potato skins and a few bites of soup and

was stuffed. About a year out from surgery this is still true, so

that eases any fears of stretching.

The first month you're still learning that when you feel full, it's

time to STOP. Not cram in a few more bites, because if you do, you'll

make yourself sick. You also have to learn that chewing is something

to take your time with, not race through as quickly as you can and on

to the next bite. The " full " sensation is different too, and the

signs that you're getting full are different. The signals are

different too, my " soft stops " are hiccups or a running nose.

Now I'm childless by choice, however I really don't think there's a

great deal of difference between the band or the sleeve as far as

pregnancy/nutrition go. While you are constantly limited as far as

how much you eat with the sleeve, you are not limited by how OFTEN

you eat. It's entirely possible to have a meal, wait 30-45 minutes,

and eat again (I know, because that's how I had dinner AND pie on

Thanksgiving). It's not as convient as an unfill, but entirely

possible. If people who have DS and RNY surgeries can have fat

healthy happy babies, I really doubt that the marginal difference

between a sleeve and a band makes much of a difference.

I'm 11 months out from surgery, here are my stats:

Current weight:

147 +/- about a pound

Size: Women's size 6/8, Jr's 9/10. I actually purchased a pair of

Mossimo Jr's size 9's this weekend. Pretty awesome experience.

Shirts I wear a small-medium.

My knees don't hurt. My GERD has backed off. My stomach is getting

progressively flatter. I've got some saggy skin and my breasts aren't

as full as they used to be... But I can run three miles now! I have

muscle definition in my legs and arms. MY ARMS! I didn't even know I

had muscles there! I don't have nearly as many issues with my asthma

as I used to. Before I had to use it several times during a workout.

Now I take one puff before I hit the treadmill and I'm good to go.

I'm no longer invisible. I get check out, hit on, asked out, all

things that didn't happen before. I'm finally getting to live the

life I should have always had. Whatever surgery you choose, Lap-Band,

VSG, RNY, it's the right choice. Any of these surgeries can help you

lose the weight that is weighing down your life. The VSG worked

wonders for me, but may not be for you.

If you're interested, my before/afters are on the last page of photos

and titled " Transformation " . I just added some new images today.

Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Regards,

le.