Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

pirategrandma

Hi everyone.

I am turning 50 this year and have fought with my weight yo-yoing for over thirty of my years. This year, I realized I needed help beyond my capabilities. I had VSG a month ago and I am thrilled with my decision. Having this new tool constantly reminds me of my commitment to my new lifestyle change.

I have lost over 40 pounds since the pre-op diet started two weeks before surgery. I have also lost my sleep apnea! No more machine to sleep with at night. My blood pressure has returned to normal. No more BP pills. And my arthritis has calmed down considerable that I am no longer taking medication for pain. I am walking again and enjoying being able to shop again! I had to drive the wheelchair cart in stores because my legs would give out.

I had some naysayers when I first made my decision to have this surgery but they didn't live in this body. If it was cancer, I would have gotten treatment years ago. (Please...I am not trying to make light of cancer) In a way, it felt like the obesity was eating up my life and shortening it. Obesity was definitely stealing my joy. I couldn't play with my grandchildren. I could only sit and watch them. I wanted to roll down the hill with them, or chase them playing tag or hide and seek. There was never any room on my lap to snuggle with them either. This year, I could take it no more.

My daughter got devastating news from her bariactric surgeon. She had to gain another 50 pounds and contract diabetes before he would look at her again. He told her she needed to exercise. She had joined a gym two years ago and worked out every day, 6 days a week and lost 20 pounds. He told her that she needed to learn to eat properly. She showed him her food diary. She has PCOS and that was not a reason for Ontario's OHIP to pay for her to have weight loss surgery in Canada. We had investigated the possibility of WLS last year. Then put it on the back burner while she jumped through the hoops set out by the Health Insurance industry.

She called me. That was the last straw for us both. Within a week, we were had our surgeries booked and had three weeks to prepare. Her biggest fear? That she might have to have this conversation with her daughter one day in the future. We were going to learn how to eat food all over again. Start from the beginning with liquids and slowly introduce foods. Just like a baby.

Yes, we paid out of pocket for our surgeries. Something unheard of in Canada. We went to Tijuana, Mexico to an International Center of Excellence accredited hospital. One of the top surgeons in the world. Dr. Ortiz and his team are amazing! We were treated like royalty. They were so kind and understanding and they made us feel like we were worth it. We received all kinds of counselling and tips on how to live in this world of food.

So, one month later...I am not sorry for my decision. I am happy that I took the matters into my own hands and did something positive!

Now...I need to see those grandchildren again...!!

catwrangler

Very happy it worked out for both of you. Hope it continues to go well in future. :flowerforyou:

Kelly_Wilson1990

Awesome!!

cownancy

Congratulations! I had the lapband surgery and felt much like you...was watching the world pass me by and decided I wanted to take part again. Is there a support group near you where you can attend? I get so much out of mine! Is there a doctor you can see locally if you need? Those are my only worries for you! I'm sure you two are going to do wonderfully since you have such motivation!

Best of luck!

lynheff

Congrats to you. My story is very similar--50 years of being overweight that finally put me and my arthritic hips in a wheelchair. The surgeon told me I would need hip replacement if I ever wanted to walk again and he couldn't help me at my weight. So I had gastric by-pass surgery. It was the best decision I ever made. I have lost 150 pounds,and now I walk 2.2-.24 miles a day on the treadmill. I still haven't had the hip surgery but losing that much weight made it possible for me to park my wheelchair in the garage and use a cane to get around. I have had to work very hard to regain my mobility so I certainly don't want to give anyone the impression that it was easy. But I do want to say, it can be done. You are never too old or too out of shape or too overweight to get healthy and start living a normal life again. Good luck to you , your daughter and everyone who struggles with weight.

songofserenity81

welcome to the site
There are a few of us here who have had WLS, be it bypass, sleeve or band.
I was banded 2007 , feel free to add me.