Gastric Sleeve

katiemhop
katiemhop Posts: 4 Member
in Motivation and Support
Good morning. In two weeks, I start the process of getting scheduled for a gastric sleeve. I'm a little excited and a little scared to death. I've had friends who have had it, and they've done amazing. I know it's not a miracle, but a tool.

I'd love to hear from people who have had it or are considering it.

I started a blog about my journey, mostly because I'm not good at talking to people I love, but I'm excellent at rambling to the world in general. http://healthymamahop.blogspot.com/

Thanks :)

Replies

  • LuzRamos
    LuzRamos Posts: 1
    Congrads on your journey, I had mine done on 9/18 starting at 264.7 and I am now 225.7, with more to go. I love to keep up with your journey.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?
  • LiminalAscendance
    LiminalAscendance Posts: 489 Member
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?

    I have no idea.

    I view it as self-mutilation, which facilitates weight loss through artificially impairing one's ability to adequately process food.

    In any event, I've yet to see an example where the same results couldn't be achieved by application of will alone.
  • flumi_f
    flumi_f Posts: 1,888 Member
    Limina,


    That is just so judgemental and down right mean! Without knowing someones story, just stop!

    It wouldn't be my route of choice either, But for some people it is.


    OP - I wish you well for your surgery and for the time to come. I hope, you get the results, you are hoping for!
  • TheSlorax
    TheSlorax Posts: 2,401 Member
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?

    I have no idea.

    I view it as self-mutilation, which facilitates weight loss through artificially impairing one's ability to adequately process food.

    In any event, I've yet to see an example where the same results couldn't be achieved by application of will alone.

    ok. really?
  • TribeHokie
    TribeHokie Posts: 711 Member
    Limina,


    That is just so judgemental and down right mean! Without knowing someones story, just stop!

    It wouldn't be my route of choice either, But for some people it is.


    OP - I wish you well for your surgery and for the time to come. I hope, you get the results, you are hoping for!

    With the possible exception of using the term "self mutilation" I would not agree. I think LiminalAscend hit it right on the head. Too many people are using surgical options without really trying to exercise their willpower, and many of these patients don't have an astronomical amount of weight to lose. For example, I've seen people here on mfp and on other sites lose upward of 200-300lbs through diet and exercise alone. If the OP's profile is correct, she is aiming to lose just over 100lbs. I myself am working on 100lbs and I have never once considered surgery as an option because I would never want an irreversible procedure (which the sleeve is) that I know will impact the rest of my life when I know that I can lose this weight if I just master my willpower to eat well and exercise regularly.

    OP, if you are going to go through with this surgery (which again, I would like to emphasize is NOT reversible though hopefully your doctor has told you that) you need to really understand what the phrase "this is just a tool" means. The human stomach is built to stretch and even if you cut out a portion of it, this tissue can still expand to quite a large capacity. The reason a lot of bariatric patients end up not losing nearly as much weight as they expected is that they stretch out their new stomachs and eat calorie dense food instead of a common sense calorie deficit or maintenance diet that is required to lose or maintain weight. Just because you don't have the volume capacity for a time doesn't mean you can neglect to pay attention to what you eat. Surgery in itself is not a fix and too many patients think it is.
  • amyk0202
    amyk0202 Posts: 666 Member
    Good luck with your surgery. I was sleeved on 4/4/12 & it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. You'll find that MFP is not supportive about WLS in general & you'll get a lot of posts telling you that if you try harder you can lose the weight without surgery. Some of us need the help that the sleeve gives us & there is nothing wrong with that. I am grateful that it is not reversible & if I keep using it correctly, it will continue to work for me. I don't live my life starving to death & waiting for my next meal & I'm so thankful. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about your weight loss choices. We all know that permanent weight loss is a life time commitment & regain happens to people who do it without surgery as well. Just do the best you can & make certain you educate yourself & work with your surgical team & nutritionist.
  • katiemhop
    katiemhop Posts: 4 Member
    I have thought it all through, trust me. I've dieted, exercised, binged, purged, ran laps, ate lettuce, etc... I've discussed it with my doctor, my friends who are in the medical field and my family. I've researched, done interviews with people who have had it done, interviewed surgeons, and read just about every book you can find. In fact, I understand more about it than you could possibly imagine. Self-mutilation? Ok. Sure. That's between me and God, though, and I think I'm cool with it.

    It's a "tool" because it's not an instant fix. I've met LOTS of people who have gained all or more of their weight back because they abused it. Exercise and diet are also tools, ones which you can also abuse. This is something that will help, yes, but it's no different than anything else. It's just new, so it's scary, and people judge. That's ok. I'm at peace with my decision.

    I appreciate the constructive comments, even when they disagree with me, but I mostly appreciate the positive messages I've gotten both on here and in my inbox. I hear that there are sleeve groups, which I plan on joining. In any case, my first appointment is this Wednesday, 11/13, which is also my daughter's first birthday. Symbolic, I think, because I'm doing this for her.

    Thanks, all, for your comments. Even the not so nice ones. :)
  • pawoodhull
    pawoodhull Posts: 1,759 Member
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?

    It means that although the surgery causes weight loss initially with little to no effort on your part, at some point in the process it no longer does. At that point, and understand I have been at that point for about a year, it's all about diets, counting calories, exercise, all the same things that people without the surgery have to do to lose and keep off the weight.

    For me at 386 pound and with really no mobility left, it allowed me to lose weight when nothing else would, which in turn gave me back my mobiity, making it possible to exercise. So now I'm still losing, slowly, but still losing. I have about 75 pounds to goal. It's not easy, never has been, but it's worth it. The surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself! It's not for everyone, but it is for me.
  • LadyG0915
    LadyG0915 Posts: 137 Member
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?

    It means that although the surgery causes weight loss initially with little to no effort on your part, at some point in the process it no longer does. At that point, and understand I have been at that point for about a year, it's all about diets, counting calories, exercise, all the same things that people without the surgery have to do to lose and keep off the weight.

    For me at 386 pound and with really no mobility left, it allowed me to lose weight when nothing else would, which in turn gave me back my mobiity, making it possible to exercise. So now I'm still losing, slowly, but still losing. I have about 75 pounds to goal. It's not easy, never has been, but it's worth it. The surgery was the best thing I have ever done for myself! It's not for everyone, but it is for me.


    ^^ this!
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    Good morning. In two weeks, I start the process of getting scheduled for a gastric sleeve. I'm a little excited and a little scared to death. I've had friends who have had it, and they've done amazing. I know it's not a miracle, but a tool.

    I'd love to hear from people who have had it or are considering it.

    I started a blog about my journey, mostly because I'm not good at talking to people I love, but I'm excellent at rambling to the world in general. http://healthymamahop.blogspot.com/

    Thanks :)

    Duck and Cover! People will come out of the woodwork or at least the foreground to Lambaste you for taking "the easy way out" my strong suggestion is to find a group on this site for people who have a gastric sleeve and not mention anywhere else that you have one as everyone else will be less than helpful if not out right condemning.
  • 4menotyou730
    4menotyou730 Posts: 2
    I'm having the gastric sleeve done on 10/21/14 feel free to add me.
  • funchords
    funchords Posts: 413 Member
    LiminalAscendance wrote: »
    curious when people say it is a tool what do they mean?
    I have no idea.

    I view it as self-mutilation, which facilitates weight loss through artificially impairing one's ability to adequately process food.

    In any event, I've yet to see an example where the same results couldn't be achieved by application of will alone.
    I've seen several examples. These are not weaker people. And, in my case, the surgeon took me through the entire process and got my weight loss started without the surgery -- so he didn't get a big fat hospital fee but he did get a success story and a satisfied customer. I have no more will now than I had then.

    I can't speak for all surgeons or patients, but in my case, my surgeon is successful BECAUSE he doesn't always end up doing the surgery. The patients are very carefully screened, prepared and educated. Every last effort to lose weight is tried.
  • funchords
    funchords Posts: 413 Member
    TribeHokie wrote: »
    Too many people are using surgical options without really trying to exercise their willpower, and many of these patients don't have an astronomical amount of weight to lose.

    I am interested in exactly how you know this.

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