Gastric Sleeve Surgery – pros, cons, guidelines
Obesity and overweight have become the most pressing health issues facing the planet. The health complications and conditions relating to obesity impact on people socially, psychologically, physically and financially. The costs related to obesity are in the billions of dollars per annum.
Unfortunately obesity has proved an extremely difficult condition to treat and surgical interventions have become more common. Many people are asking questions about weight loss surgeries. One of the newest procedures is gastric sleeve surgery.
This blog overviews gastric sleeve surgery. Information has been taken from medical websites, YouTube and people who have had bariatric surgery procedures. There is a case study blog that is regularly updated that gives you a step-by-step personal insight into the gastric sleeve procedure.
So, what is bariatric surgery?
Baros is a Greek word for weight so not surprisingly bariatric surgery is weight loss surgery. Bariatris surgery is generally performed on severely obese individuals who have been unsuccessful in their weight loss and attempts.
To be eligible for bariatric surgery you need to fulfill one of two weight criteria. The first is you must have severe or morbid obesity. The accepted guideline for severe obesity is having a Body Mass Index or BMI of more than 40. To determine your BMI you divide your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in metres.
The second criteria for bariatric surgery is having a BMI greater than 35 and an associated medical condition related to obesity. Example of obesity related medical conditions are diabetes, high blood pressure or high blood fat levels like cholesterol.
Photo Credit: http://www.gastricsleevereviews.com/lap-band-vs-gastric-sleeve/
There are two types of bariatric surgery:
The first uses devices to reduce the size of the stomach. An example would be lap band surgery.
The second type of bariatric procedure are gastric bypasses or surgeries which remove a portion of the stomach like gastric sleeve surgery.
Gastric Sleeve involves removing the lateral two-thirds (>~60%) of the stomach with a stapling device. The procedure can be done using keyhole surgery.
The remaining stomach is more like a tube or ‘sleeve’ than a sac. It is estimated that the remaining stomach has about a 200ml capacity. This represents a significantly reduced stomach capacity and would only allow an entrée sizes meal.
The gastric sleeve procedure is ‘restrictive’ as opposed to ‘malabsorptive’. This means that it restricts the amount of food you can consume. There is reduced surface area of stomach lining as a result of the surgery so not only do you need to eat less, you need to chew well. Chewing your food well maximizes the absorption of what you do eat. Poorly chewed food will cause discomfort and just pass through and be eliminated by the bowel. Being able to eat much smaller portions means that what you do eat must be of a high nutrient value.
The gastric sleeve procedure originated as the first part of a duodenal switch surgery in people with severe obesity. The gastric sleeve allowed enough weight loss in these high risk clients to permit the second surgery.
Let’s look at who gastric sleeve surgery is suitable for.
As we have already said, having severe obesity or a BMI of more than 40 is the first criteria.
Another criteria is having an increased risk of health problems such as sleep apnoea, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver, or a combination of these problems. These conditions have the potential to shorten your life span.
A third criteria for gastric sleeve surgery could be that you are experiencing chronic physical symptoms. Physical symptoms could include fatigue, back pain, reflux, impaired mobility and difficulty performing tasks such as tying your shoe laces or even washing yourself.
A fourth criteria is that your weight has impacted on you psychologically. You may be experiencing levels of depression, anxiety and stress that impact negatively and significantly on your life. You may also have very low self-esteem and limited self-confidence.
Another criteria is that your obesity has impacted on you socially. For example it may have impacted on your current relationships, your ability to have an intimate relationship, or your confidence in being able to attend social events. You may not be able to travel or go to the movies because you cannot fit in a normal sized seat.
A necessary criteria for weight loss surgery is that you have genuinely attempted to lose weight by a variety of means but been unsuccessful.
Weight loss surgery is not a panacaea for weight loss. There are many people who have had the surgery and gained weight because they eat or drink the wrong foods, and do not make the necessary lifestyle changes such as regular exercise.
Weight loss surgery will work for you only if it is accompanied by lifestyle changes and changes in your thinking. It is imperative that you practice mental self-discipline in relation to food choice and do regular exercise
Gastric sleeve surgery is an option for people for whom a gastric bypass is contraindicated. This includes people who have conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease. It also includes people with higher risk of complications such as smokers or those on anticoagulation therapy like warfarin.
Gastric sleeve surgery may not be an option for people who have significant issues with a hiatus hernia or a history of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is because once the gastric sleeve procedure is performed further gastric reflux surgery generally cannot be done.
Now let’s look at the pros and cons of the gastric sleeve
The first pro is that the procedure reduces hunger. The surgery cuts out more than 60% of your stomach. This reduces the concentration of biochemicals in your stomach that cause the sensation of hunger.
The second pro is that there is no band or other permanently restrictive device or foreign body left in your body after the surgery. The problem with the gastric band is a number of objects are left in your body. The band can slip, erode or cause infections.
The third pro is the large amount of weight you lose after having the procedure. Different websites report different ranges of weight loss. One site reported 30-50% weight loss in the first 6-12 months. Another site estimated that people who undergo this procedure achieve 40-60% weight reduction over the first 1-2 years.
A fourth pro is that the significant weight loss resulting from the bariatric surgery will generally lead to improvements in blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnoea, joint pain, reflux and fatty liver etc.
A fifth advantage of the gastric sleeve is there is no malabsorption of nutrients. As noted above the gastric sleeve surgery is a restrictive procedure as opposed to one that is malabsorptive. You will be able to eat what you previously did but will need to eat in much smaller amounts and may find some foods physically uncomfortable to consume. And, because you are eating less you will need to ensure that you eat nutrient dense foods, not junk foods!
A sixth pro of surgical treatments is that the risk of surgery is often less than the risks caused by severe obesity.
A final pro is that another surgery called a gastric bypass or duodenal switch can be performed after this procedure.
And, now for the cons or downside of gastric sleeve surgery.
The foremost downside of gastric sleeve surgery is that it is irreversible. It is a permanent procedure.
The second downside is that the procedure is expensive and not usually covered by medical insurance companies or medicare
As the gastric sleeve is a surgical procedure there could be post-operative complications such as infections, pneumonia and bleeding. As the procedure involves stapling part of the stomach, leakage is always possible. If leakage occurs it may cause infection and other health problems. The more obese you are prior to surgery the higher the risk of complications. However, the literature indicates a mortality risk of less than 0.3%.
The fourth issue with gastric sleeve surgery is that it only restricts your capacity to consume solid foods not liquids. There are high energy liquid foods that if consumed after a gastric sleeve will prevent weight loss. Drinking high calorie liquids frequently enough could even cause weight gain. Be warned, having a gastric sleeve does not mean you can get away with eating and drinking what you like!
A fifth issue is that after a gastric sleeve the remaining stomach will gradually stretch and permit larger meals. If you make unhealthy food choices you may gain weight.
A sixth issue is that because 60% of your stomach has been removed your stomach space is much smaller and you will feel full more quickly. If you overeat or swallow poorly chewed food you may feel uncomfortable and vomit.
A seventh issue is that you will need to reframe your relationship and attitude towards food because you will not be able to eat what and how you did previously. There will be a mourning involved. You will need to get used to watching other people eat in a way you no longer can.
An eighth issue is acknowledging that most people eat psychologically, not in response to hunger. So, despite some people saying the gastric sleeve operation reduces the production of the hunger hormone, most of my clients don’t eat because they are hungry. Most people eat because they are bored, upset, or out of habit. If people on the planet only ate when they were hungry then none of us would be fat! So, even after having the gastric sleeve you will need to exercise ongoing commitment to healthy eating and exercise.
Once you have made the decision to proceed with a gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon will give you pre-operative guidelines.
Pre-operatively you will likely be recommended a meal replacement or liquid diet program to follow for between one and four weeks.
On the day of your surgery you will only be allowed ice to suck.
From day one post-op to day three you will only be allowed clear fluids. As rule of thumb you will be required to drink 30-50mls of water every 15 minutes to ensure adequate hydration.
From day four to day 10 to 14 you will be transitioned to mixed fluids. Mixed fluids include clear broth, soups, custards, milk drinks, juices etc. It is essential that you maintain an adequate water intake to prevent dehydration. If you become dehydrated you are more likely to experience nausea and to be readmitted to hospital for intravenous rehydration.
By week three post-op you will be transitioned to soft, watery/liquidy foods as tolerated, as well as the mixed fluids. Foods you may include at this stage could be oatmeal consistency foods, thicker soups, pureed fruit perhaps mixed with yoghurt or custard, mashed potato/pumpkin with gravy etc
In the longer term you will be recommended to consume foods as tolerated and at least 2 litres of water daily.
When you have progressed to eating normal food, choose food that you are able to chew into a consistency that you can swallow easily. If food is difficult to swallow it may cause discomfort or reactions such as vomiting. Mashed, pureed or naturally soft semi-liquid foods will be initially easier to eat. You will learn through experience that it is essential that foods be chewed to a soft or mashed consistency to make swallowing easy. Meals you previously took five minutes to eat, may take up to an hour to consume!
There are a number of things you can do to help you manage the changes to eating post-gastric sleeve surgery.
The first thing to do is to ensure you cut food into very small pieces. Many people reduce their bite sizes to a quarter the size they would normally have eaten pre-surgery. It may even help to try eating with a teaspoon or small fork to ensure you only take small bites.
The second recommendation is that you chew all food extremely well. As stated above chewing food well ensures it is a soft consistency when you swallow, reducing discomfort. While chewing practice mindfulness. Focus on the taste and texture of the food and how it feels in your mouth. Mindfulness practice will help you slow down your eating. Avoid foods you cannot chew well.
Thirdly, avoid consuming liquids with meals.
Fourthly, stay hydrated. Drink 2-3 litres between meals.
Fifthly, to avoid reflux avoid known gastric stimulants such as tea, coffee, fatty foods, spices, and avoid lying down immediately after a meal. Also avoid gasey drinks like mineral and soda waters with gas.
Sixth, eat five to six small meals a day. Your meal sizes will be much smaller because the gastric sleeve surgery only leaves a small sleeve for your stomach. Lunch may be a piece small piece of fruit and half a sandwich. As mentioned numerous times in this blog, because you can only eat small amounts of food, what you eat must be of high nutritional value.
Seventh, beware of high calorie fluids and foods with a soft fluidy consistency that are easy to consume such as milkshakes, cordial and soft drink, fruit juice, sports drinks with sugar, ice cream, custards, puddings, crème caramels, blancmanges etc It is easier to drink on weight than it is to eat it on!
Following is a food intake that was tolerated by a patient at day 4 post-gastric sleeve surgery.
- Breakfast: One Up and Go
- Mid-morning: One cup of reduced fat iced coffee
- Lunch: One cup of soup
- Mid-afternoon: 1 cup of milk
- Dinner: Half a cup of Low-fat custard
The total energy of this food intake is 2496kilojourles or 594 kcalories. It is 35grams of protein. A dietitian would view the intake as nutritionally inadequate. A recommendation to supplement this intake is extra juice for more energy, vitamins and hydration as well as extra sources of liquid protein.
Below are some gastric sleeve post-op comments summarised from U-Tube
Comments from Day 1 Post- gastric sleeve surgery included the following:
- after surgery you are only given ice.
- swallowing is difficult.
- you may experience significant pain and be given pain killers.
Comments from Day 2 Post- gastric sleeve surgery included:
- you are usually an inpatient for two days and two nights.
- you are discharged two days after the surgery.
- you are asked to walk around the second day.
- by day two you are feeling better than day one, but still experience discomfort particularly in certain positions.
- juice is provided on day 2.
- patients say they eat what is given but admit that there stomach is still swollen. They made comments like, ‘the liquids don’t feel great in the stomach even though it is nice to have something in the mouth’.
- Two u-tube videos said that it was in the immediate post-surgery period that they questioned what they had done. To deal with their doubts they said they focused on successful outcomes of people who were further down the track post surgery.
Comments from Day 4 Post-gastric sleeve surgery included the following points:
- Patients reported feeling weak at this stage and attributed the weakness to having no protein.
- On discharge one person commented that they brought a bag they had to carry to the hospital, but had to purchase a bag with wheels that they could pull because they could not carry anything. She said she had no energy to lift anything and was still in pain and on pain killers.
- A patient in Australia said she was advised to do NO lifting for two weeks after the surgery.
- At day 4 one person on u-tube reported not being hungry but liking the smell of food. They said they were dreaming about food.
- By day 4 swallowing was reported as easier.
Comments from Day 6 Post-gastric sleeve surgery were as follows.
- Some patients reported feeling dehydrated and were making a conscious effort to stay hydrated.
- At day 6 most people were saying they were still on clear liquids but said they would be starting full liquids in the near future. Full liquids included fat free cream soups and meal replacements.
- Patients reported sleeping less. For example, one reported only sleeping 5 hours.
- Some said their energy levels were fluctuating from some days with reasonable energy levels to other days with no energy.
Comments from the second Week Post- gastric sleeve surgery were as follows.
- One person had lost 20 pounds or 10 kilograms post surgery.
- Someone said the second week post-surgery can still be difficult as the body is still healing.
- Another person commented that drinking water was difficult.
- By week two most people were drinking protein shakes and milk. By week three they had progressed to soft foods.
- One person said that during week two they were only consuming 200 kilocalories a day. Considering that you cannot nutritionally balance a dietary intake on 200 kilocalories per day it is hardly surprising that this person reported feeling weak.
- By week two the bruising caused by the surgery was resolving.
- By week two, for some, the pain had abated and they were no longer taking pain medication.
- Some people said they had started multi-vitamins.
- Some people said they were worried about muscle loss because of the significant levels of weight they had lost. They were told they needed 70-80 grams of protein per day and were unable to eat that much.
- One person reported the difference between feeling full on liquids and feeling full on solids.
- Most people emphasised staying hydrated.
Comments during the fourth week post- gastric sleeve surgery were as follows:
- Difficulty meeting protein needs remained an issue.
- One person said that if they ate bread they had to spit it out.
- It was suggested that the easiest foods to eat were foods with a high water content like strawberries and fruit, yoghurt and soups.
- By week four activity levels can be increased.
Comments at ten weeks post-astric sleeve surgery were as follows.
- At this stage people can be exercising.
- Weight loss will be significant enough to have caused you to throw out your old “big” clothes and replace them with smaller sizes.
- Confidence levels will have increased, as will energy levels.
- If drinking alcohol it will impact on you more, so monitor it carefully.
- As you are on a reduced food intake it is important to eat nutrient dense foods when you do eat, to eat small bites, eat slowly and over a period of 30-60 minutes.
- Bread and thick chunky foods do not feel good when they are swallowed so avoid them.
- People will be eating better.
- Some people complained of a “sour stomach” and were taking “acid reducers” and enzyme support supplements.
- A 300ml or 10oz protein shake was taking an hour to drink.
- They had all learned to eat very small bites and recognised that it takes a long time to eat.
- Fried foods were not tasting good and were hard to swallow.
- People were saying that they judged food by how it felt.
- Warning, warning, warning: ice cream was described as feeling good and tasting good, so keep it out of the house.
General comments were made on u-tube and included the following.
- The pain of the surgery can last up to 1 ½ weeks.
- It is during the high pain period that people experience the most self-doubt about having had the surgery.
- It took about 2-3 weeks to feel better.
- After recovery people described their meal sizes as children’s sizes and then probably with something left over.
- One person admitted that he believed that the change to his eating habits, and how he now had to eat, would require an adjustment of 1 – 1.5 years.
- Another person said they mourned not being able to eat properly.
- One person said that it was a procedure one should not do if they were lazy and hadn’t tried to lose weight. He advised that it should be everyone’s last resort. He also warned to “be prepared for a life changing experience”. He said, “My life is nothing like it was before. I miss eating big meals, but I can now do a lot of stuff I couldn’t do for years.”
- A few people suggested recouping your surgery costs by selling your clothes on ebay.
- Another suggestion was to buy clothes that look good when they get loose because it was very likely you would be losing several clothes sizes.
DietPsyche’s Recommendation is to ensure you have your dietary intake monitored by a registered dietitian to ensure nutritional adequacy. Another recommendation was to discuss the significant changes the surgery creates in your life with a psychologist to assist adjustment.
In summary, while the gastric sleeve procedure markedly reduces your capacity for food, it is still important to exercise discipline in food choice and to make lifestyle changes including regular exercise. It is crucial that you avoid fluids and fluid consistency foods high in calories and low in nutrients such as soft drinks, milk based drinks and soft desserts like icecream. As you will only be able to eat small amounts what you do eat matters more. To ensure nutritional adequacy and good health you MUST make healthy food choices.
Remember, “If it is to Be; it is up to Me!”. Your health is in YOUR hands.
in all the literature i find it says you remove the old portion of the stomach. How is this done and what happens to the old part of the stomach
They do it laprascopically – pin hole surgery. At least 60% of the stomach is surgically removed. The surgery is irreversible.
I am considering having my lap band removed and replaced with a sleeeve and after research i am unsure if this is the right road has anyone ever had to follow my path. havinga banding removed and tgen the sleeve done
I am sure you are not the only one to have removed the band and pursued an alternative procedure. It would be best to see a surgeon to inform your decision. All procedures have pros and cons and I guess the con of the sleeve is the permanency. Another is that it forces self-discipline, it doesn’t teach it. My major concern as a dietitian is being able to achieve nutritional adequacy with the sleeve.
like to hear from someone that has had the grastic sleeve for more then 5 yrs like to know what they think of it long term is it easy to stay satisfied and not hungry all the time and is it easy to live with only a smaller part of your stomach , and why do they say you could gain back all the weight you’ve lost how is that possibal when your stomach has been made smaller it can strech that much ….. HELP I JUST REALLY WANT THE 411 !!!
The http://www.lapsurg.com.au/ website has a lot of good information about the lap band surgery procedures as well as a brief history – it could be good for anyone looking for some more info about gastric banding and so forth.
We have some excellent resources on gastric sleeve procedures, lap banding and gastric balloon procedures. These might help to answer some of the questions you have regarding the gastric sleeve procedure. You can always contact our staff directly to ask further questions.
Having the gastric sleeve surgery was the best thing I have done. They said to expect a mack truck to have hit you for 4 days post-surgery, well it was a tonka truck that hit. After the boring period of liquid diets, I have adjusted to so much smaller eating, have lost 37 kgs, go to the gym 3 times a week, and have got my life back about 20 years ago! Please just do it, it’s life changing.
A work collegue of mine had the lap banding done two years ago. She lost about 35kilos and then the weight loss stopped. She was excerising regularly (min 30 minutes per day) and eating sensibly but teh weight wouldn’t shift. She has only just found out this week her band has corroded and now she needs it removed. She is now considering sleeving. I’m saddened by this because I had banding done in March this year and have lost about 16 kilos (I’m lazier and don’t excerise enough. Food intake is good but I need more excerise) I oly had the surgery because I watched her. now I’m worried I’ll have the same problem as I had the same surgeon. If my band fails i won;t be in a hurry for sleving – I remember the pain post-banding. I’ll maintain my small portions and low-calorie fluids for now
(and get my @$$ up and moving! LOL!)
I liked what Kelly Osbourne said after successfully losing weight – “the secret is, there is no secret”. Weight loss requires discipline and commitment and we live in an obesogenic environment saturated in media messages encouraging us to eat, which doesn’t make weight loss an easy thing to do. However, we can’t afford to give up. There is a lot to be said for being happy with the weight you have lost now and to not worry about what might happen in the future. Be here right now and celebrate your good work to date. And, since you have identified not exercising as one of your issues to work on…. get on to it….. it can be your 2011 resolution. Take your body for a walk! Anita
Good on you for including exercise in your post-operative plan. A lot of people don’t bother to do it, and depend on weight loss created purely by eating loss. The exercise is essential. You clearly have self-discipline! Congratulations on your weight loss. Anita
PS Don’t forget that people can still lose weight without surgical procedures.
I am considering gastric sleeve surgery myself. People tend to think of this as a new type of surgery ~ it is not. Only recently has this surgery been used for weight loss (and approved for use by insurance companies). Surgeons have been removing portions of peoples stomachs for YEARS for other reasons such as stomach cancer or bleeding ulcers. If you want more info in regards to long term effects, you may have to broaden your seach to include those realms.
Hi my father in-law is looking into having the gastric sleeve surgery. He is a quietly larger man and my concern is of complications due to his weight. I wondering if there is any one who has had the surgery and wasnt 100% satifsfied and why??
I had a gastric sleeve surgery and it helped me to reduce my fat. I lost almost 25 pounds in 6 months. I exercised also after surgery. One of my friend also went with same type of surgery and she lost 20 pounds in the same period of time. So it is not the surgery but the exercise and workout after surgery which plays a vital role in loosing the fat from the body.
I had the sleeve done in March 2011. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. My only compliant is that I am not hungry everyday and sometimes can’t remember if I ate or not. I’m still getting my protein via drinks..60-70 g a day (unjury.com). I’ve lost a total of 43 lbs from my first doctor appt in Feb. to now, June. Yes, this surgery may not be for everyone, but I am very happy with it and glad I did it! Do your research and you must be committed because yes, being on the diet post surgery can get a little frustrating but well worth it.
Many people elect to do gastric sleeve surgery and not lap band, because the gastric sleeve completely removes personal choice and overall they tend to lose more weight, more consistently. However, because your food intake is reduced markedly it is crucial that the food you do consume is nutrient dense. If you google gastric sleeve you will see that while there is a possibility of complications the percentage is small, and anyway, the appropriateness of the surgery will be determined by a medical team anyway. In relation to complaints about gastric sleeve surgery, of course there are small numbers of people who have suffered complications and regret it. The majority seem satisfied. I personally do not believe it should be pursued unless people make an honest and realistic attempt at weight loss prior to choosing the surgical route. Ideally one should address the reasons for the weight gain in the first place before proceeding. Anita
So true. Exercise is essential. When you lose weight quickly, muscle is broken down and you end up a smaller and flabbier version of your former self. Exercise helps prevent muscle breakdown. The focus should be fat loss, not weight loss. Muscle is heavier than fat, and doing weight training as well as cardiovascular exercise under the supervision of a professional is strongly recommended. Congratulations Clinton. Anita DietPsyche
HI Char. Yes, people comment that they are not always prepared for the post-surgical changes to eating, and there is definitely a period of adjustment with unusual events like food tasting different, food preferences changing etc. Certainly it is a slow journey towards foods you previously were easily able to eat pre-surgery. You are very smart to keep your protein intake up, and wise to acknowledge that you must eat even though you are less hungry (common with gastric sleeve). Because your food intake is reduced everything you can eat that is nutrient dense must be eaten to prevent deficiencies. Congratulations on your weight loss. You didn’t mention exercise but I assume you are doing it. It may benefit others if you can do a post on what you have been able to eat, and the journey your food intake has had post-surgery. DietPsyche
I wanted to know what is done to the stomach that is removed after the Gastric Sleeve? Is that portion of the stomach removed and discarded? Or is it left in???
Hi Im booked in to have Gastric sleeve surgery on 21st September 2011 and Im not gonna tell u im a hero cos im not but i need to have this done as i have a bad knee problem and dont want a new knee …i am serverly overweight and i cant seem to lose the weight by myself so im taking the drastic action of having this surgery ..I know i will be in some pain the first day or two …..just thought i’d share my thoughts with u
Pia
I had a lap band done in june 2009 i weighed 121kgs before i had surgery and i was happy with the weight lose i was having, i then fell pregnant with my 3rd child, right through being pregnant i keep loosing weight by the time i went into labour i weighed 104kgs baby was born i then weighed 94kgs i was the best thing i had ever done until about 5 days after having my baby somthing went wrong i was having troubles swollowing any sort of food i had never had any sort of problem the hole time i had the lap band so it was a big shock this went on for 12mths in the mean time i had the camera down my neck and had about 3-4 xray shots taken while eating and swollowing chalk like liquid and no one could find anything wrong in the end i had the lap band removed in march 2011 and it was not what i wonted as it had been working great up until then i have now put back on most of my weight lost and am very depressed in myself and im now booked in to have the sleeving done in october 2011 im just hoping that it works just as good as the lap band i would have like to ga back and have the band done again but my Dr said that he dont think it would be a good idea as he thinks it will only happen again so this was my next option i just need help with my weight loss….. I hope it all works well.
Hi Tennille. Let us know how it goes. Read the case study on Jenny and what happened when she had the sleeve. I haven’t got back to finishing her case but will in the next few weeks. She started at 150kgs and is now around 80kgs. She had a baby three months ago. Anita
Hi Pia. It is a big decision because it is irreversible. However, at this current stage of research and development, bariatric surgery is the only evidence-based treatment for obesity. I am currently doing research that approaches weight management from a multidisciplinary perspective hoping that this will make a difference. Anita
Excellent question Elizabeth. I am a member of a mental health professionals peer support group and we have a bariatric surgeon speaking this week so I will ask him and post his response after the talk. Anita
Hi well i had my opp last Wednesday 12th october and came home Saturday 15th october. The day i came out of having the opp i was very uncomftable but not so much the pain but all the air they fill you up with when they operate it just give me a very blotted feeling and made my back sore i also had a tube up my nose that went down to my tummy to drain all the mess out only over night and that made my throat very sore for about 3-4 days, other then that i didnt have much pain at all like soreness in my tummy. That soreness pretty much went away by friday and i just felt very weak and jelly legged and am still a little bit like that now i have been having clear soups since friday lunch time and that made me feel a little stronger but not enough to run a marathon. lol. im still just trying to drink lots of water and im having black tea and apple juice as well the apple juice gives me a little change. If i sip the fluid to fast it will give me a tight feeling in my chest and a little sharp pain in the stomach area for a few seconds then go away other then that i cant wait until i feel 100% and start getting some of my weight off… Thanks for listening.
Hi all, I’m 39, female and live in Australia. I had lapband surgery in september 2007 and then had the lapband removed in september 2011 and on the 10th november 2011 had gastric sleeving. My band and I were only friends for the first 6 months of those 4 years of living inside me. I have tried all of the diets out there and used reductil and duramine, rotating monthly for 2 years and lost 80kgs for the lead up to having the band and then only lost 10kgs with the band. I was once well and truly over 220kgs (in 2005) and started my sleeve journey weighing 150kgs. I don’t regret having the band, as I would never have known if it worked or not, I regret the 4 years of pain I had from it and the massive vitamin deficiency that I have now and hope to start rebuilding the vitamins now. I was unable to eat meat and veges with my band and so I look forward to being able to eat these and also sit with my family and eat a meal without hopefully spending all my time in the toilet, wasting food, as my mother calls it. I really look forward to the next part of my journey as there is no going back now!
I have just read this page from top to bottom with tears in my eyes. I have been very over weight since i had my first baby 8 years ago and have struggled with loosing it ever since! i can not even write my weight down here… im too embarressed. This is the first time i have looked into weight loss operations and for the first time in years i feel like there might be a way for me to get my life back!! I have dieted and gone to the gym, lost 12 kg or more then something happens and i fall into a downwards emotional spiral and i end up stacking on more weight than i lost. How or where can i get more infrmation on proceeding to book in for this procedure (of course i will be researching it non stop online but i want to speak to a doctor about it)
I am scheduled for the sleeve in Feb 2012 along with a girlfriend. We have tried every diet and were unsuccessful. The research I did is why I chose the sleeve. Didn’t want a band due to object inside my body and hate needles, the bi-pass grossed me out knowing parts would be hanging out and redirected. Really excited to get back to a healthy life…
I will be updating the case study I started on a person who had the sleeve surgery and provide her before and after shots. While the before and after photos confirm a radical change to how she looks (she has lost 60+ kgs) there are still long term considerations to consider including the fact that your nutrient intake will be permanently limited by the small amount of food you can eat, and you can still cheat! While my case study Jenny provides an example of a positive outcome their are still cases that have had negative outcomes which I will also include as cases at a later date. While your health will benefit greatly by the weight loss created by the sleeve surgery don’t forget that your healthy life can start right now. Best wishes. Anita
Hi Kelly. Remember it is not our weight that upsets us but the meaning we give it. As many of my clients have discovered, you are the same person at 70kgs as you are at 150kgs! Your comment indicates that you indeed have the capacity and tenacity to lose weight and exercise having lost 12kgs in the past and attended gym. Your problem area, like most people, is keeping your weight off and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours like exercise. From what you say, you relapse during times of stress. If instead of eating during crises you took up non-food related coping activities such as yoga, exercise, writing or talking to a friend, you could learn to keep your weight off in the least financially expensive, but personally enriching way possible. Why surgery works is “it removes your choice”; you simply physically cannot overeat or you will vomit! Ultimately the choice of how you lose weight is up to you. You know you best. If you take the surgery route ensure you research not just the procedures but the people conducting them. Warm Regards Anita.
Hi Lisa. How did your gastric sleeve surgery go? I am sure the readers, as well as me, will be interested to hear. I am updating the outcome of the case study I did and will add a few more over the coming weeks. I hope it all went well. Happy New Year. Anita
Hi Elizabeth. I forgot to reply to you. I spoke to a bariatric surgeon. They suck it out. The 85% of stomach they remove, is removed FOREVER!! Anita
Pia. How did your operation go? Would you like to post a comment on how you have coped and what you have experienced for others to read. thankyou. Anita
Hi Tennille. I hope everything has continued to go well since your surgery. Please update us with your progress, and in particular with what you can eat and how much. Also an indication of how much weight you have lost would be good. Thanks Anita
Hello everyone. I am a 37 year old male, and weigh 132kg. I have high blood pressure, High Cholesterol and Sleep Apnoea. All of these issues are treated with Medication. I also have a history of heart disease on both sides of my family, so alarm bells are ringing!!!
I am booked in for a Gastric Sleeve operation on the 27 th March 2012. I am a little nervous as I have never had an operation in my life before, and don’t really know what to expect.
Anyway, I will keep updating my progress as we proceed down the path of a healthier life. Cheers.
I don’t know where you all had this gastric sleeve but I was on pain meds 2 days—No pain after that only sore for about 3 more days—No probles—3 weeks out and eatting some mashed potatoes, soups crackers, alot of stuff—down 30 lbs–I had my surgery done in Tiwaini Mexico with Dr Vaboonen–Wonderful place—:}
i am having gastric sleeve surgery on 31st march 2012 i am absolutely pertrified and now feel maybe i didnt try hard enough to lose weight in the past i am not sure these are true expressions or feelings or just that i have woken up this morning feeling absolutely pertrified of the forthcoming surgery and what it will mean to my relationships with family all my kids are grown up and my husband and i,s social life is nice meals in restaurants and on holiday and a nice bottle of wine etc. Everybody keeps telling me how lucky i am to get this surgery and how jealous they are but their feelings and comments are from a purely cosmetic point of view i need surgery on both knees and this is reason for weight loss but i wish i could have another couple of months to continue on my diet it all seems to have happened very quickly and i dont feel in right frame of mind can anyone advise
I just had the surgery 8 weeks ago and mourning the inability to “stuff my face.” I was thin up until around 10 years ago when I just “gave up” on the will power and activity needed to fight my genetics. I had the surgery because I saw the writing on the wall. I had a predisposition to heart disease and diabetes. I believe the physical and psychological adjustment will be yearlong or more. I did not try to diet and exercise prior to getting this surgery and while that will harm my weight loss goals in the long run, I feel I did not mess up my metabolism by the yoyo dieting many overweight people endure in their attempts to lose weight. I have no idea what the future has in store for me. Everything, including my brain and body are being affected by my VSG surgery.
Hi. It is indeed an adjustment to go from eating whatever you want to being physically limited to what you can consume. I would suggest accessing support from a counsellor or psychologist to assist you with the transition. While research can never be set in concrete because one person’s research outcome is generally disproved by the next person’s there are some researchers who would agree with you that it is better to stay the same weight, than to lose and regain. It is unusual that you were accepted for surgery when you had not tried to diet or exercise to achieve weight loss first. In Australia it is one of the screening requirements. I hope things improve for you. Anita
Hi Maggie. I am sorry that I didn’t see this post before now (I have been busy doing research in obesity) becuase I agree with you. It is best to proceed with surgery when you feel most comfortable. You are the expert in your own life and it is important to follow your own intuition. I think if everyone was honest they would agree that they don’t always try hard enough with weight loss endeavours. However, if you have proceeded with it, I hope that it all went well and you are finding some relief for your knees. Let us know. Warm Regards. Anita
So, how are you going now? Anita
Hi. Would love an update. Let us know how you went. Anita
Hi sorry it taken me so long to reply Anita. Im going pretty good i still am having the swallowing problem which also gives me restriction on how much i eat, some weeks are better the others but on average im eating of a child size melamine plate i can not eat any more, some times im lucky to even eat that it just depends on what my swallowing has been like that day/week. Well i had my surgery in October 2011 and went in to hospital weighing 113kg im now down to 87.5kg and have just kept on lossing i havent gained any weight but have had weeks where i may only loss 0.5-1kg. But im now seeing it myself and am feeling much better in myself and have no regrets in have the surgery.
Thanks
I am thinking about getting a surgery i have my appt to talk w my dr about this procedure tomorrow May 7 and iam a bit nervouse after 3 kids i have gained alot of it mostly after my 2nd child i am at 111kg and a BMI of 44. iam still not sure if i should go for the band or the sleeve… any advise??? iam female 24 years old. thanks
It is a decision only you can make Mari. Bariatric surgery works because it removes choice; you simply cannot eat what you ate previously. The advantage of the lapband is, it is reversible. The sleeve isn’t. Based on your BMI you are in the range where a doctor would consider bariatric surgery, particularly if you had tried hard to lose weight previously, but without success. Normally the surgeon will have a team of people ranging from himself to a psychologist and dietitian to assist you with assessment and your final decision. Remember that it is possible to lose weight without surgery but it requires more self-discipline and follow through. Let us know what you decide to do and why. Good luck. Anita
Thanks for replying Tennille. It is helpful for others to read how you are going. Your weight loss is great, and I agree it makes you feel so much better mentally. It is so important when you are on a reduced food intake to maximise the nutritional value of everything you eat. Keep us posted on how you go. Anita
Hey. I just noticed your comment today. How did your surgery go? How much weight did you lose, and how are you adjusting to the changes in eating? Anita
Hi everyone i was born a 7kg baby and i neveq have been a normal weight and i grew up bigger and bigger. Have tried all kinds of diet go to swim everyday for 1 hour but no result. Am 52 now i just had the sleeve surgery on the 27 of april. I let you know
Hi 7kgs is a BIG baby!. Good luck with your surgery. Look forward to your feedback. Anita
Hi – can someone elaborate on the leakage problem associated with this operation ? I am thinking to undergo the operation but worried because my father died of some leakage (not associated within obesity operation) and this is the only issue that keeps me away from sleeving.