Anyone have weight loss surgery?

Question

Can you share your experience with us? The good and the bad?

Answer

Yes, I had a gastric sleeve in 2010. I lost and kept off 80lbs very gradually in the process. I should still lose 40lbs to be in the "normal" range but I am a size 8/10 now and very comfortable with that.

I chose the sleeve because I hate needles and did not want a foreign body impanted in me (like lap band) and did not want the risks associated with a full gastric bypass.

I exercised and lost my weight at the average of 2-3lbs a week. The sleeve helps control my portions. To this day, I still eat very small portions in any sitting. I had some excess skin removed from my lower abdomen but everything else snapped back...I was great fun for that.

Two years after the surgery, I got pregnant and now have a beautiful almost 2 year old son.

Answer

My surgery was laproscopic (gastric sleeve) so the recovery time was quick. I did not have too much pain but was definitely uncomfortable for about 3 weeks. Amazing how little I realized how hard my abs worked for everyday tasks.

I would definitely do it again but only this procedure. I still had to work extra hard and exercise to lose the weight.

With any surgery, you can regain weight based on what you eat and if you keep up with exercise.

Answer

I am 6 mo post op Sleeve Gastrectomy (gastric sleeve/VSG). My surgery was April 24, 2017. My highest weight was 305 lbs. I have lost around 71 lbs so far. My current weight is 234 lbs. I am about 5’6 and 28 (almost 29 years old) - just to give you an idea of my stats. I am still losing steadily however I do still hit stalls, which is perfectly normal. To answer the usual questions of : did it hurt? How long was your recovery time? How has your life changed? Um, like with any surgery there were times where I was uncomfortable yes, however I had meds for pain control. But the pain wasn’t what killed me, it was the gas pain which sucked. I just walked as much as possible and used gas X strips and it helped. The more I walked the better I felt over all to be honest. I also always kept an ice pack on my belly for the swelling which helped too. How has my life changed? Well, I no longer eat crap. I’m more active than I was before and I’m more determined the more I lose and see results. You have to really be mindful about what you consume which is sometimes hard but as you see your body change it becomes easier because you get more excited to lose that next 10 lbs. as far as recovery time, I was fine after 3 weeks but I wasn’t cleared for work or the gym until after 6 weeks. My advice is to not rush your recovery. Your energy level is gonna suck for awhile until you can level out and find a balance to your protein and water intake. This over all experience though has been great and I would do it all over again in a heart beat! So worth it!!

Answer

I had the roux en y gastric bypass just over a year ago. I am down 106 pounds from surgery day, about 140 overall. I am literally pounds from being categorized as overweight instead of obese, but got pregnant 11 months after surgery. They advised me to wait 18-24 months. The post-WLS life has been challenging for me as I am on a plant-based diet, but I'm still here. The rapid weight loss messes with your hormones like mad (had a few really bad periods, crazy mood swings, stuff like that), the bulk of my hair fell out, I'm generally too weak to do much at all (so I've got a fair amount of loose skin from being unable to properly exercise), and it's hard cause sometimes my brain wants ALL THE FOODS but honestly, this whole thing could've been a lot worse. I'm happy to answer any questions of whatever of anyone needs.

Answer

As far as being healthy. I personally dont believe this is the best option. I know many people get caught up on how long it takes them to lose weight. But the simple fact of it is, you didn't gain all the weight in 3 months or even 6 months. And losing weight in a short amount of time doesn't change the habits you have. Also weight loss for a lot of us is in our head our emotions connected with weight are many times what keeps use from losing weight. My mother had this surgery but because she never really changed exercise habits or eating habits or social habits the desired results were never reached. I to have struggled with weight loss. The real way to sustainable weight is to put yourself first and address what is really important to you. While putting in the effort, nothing worth it comes easy!

Answer

I had the band. It didn’t hurt much, I was out of the hospital the next day and back to class three days after. Unfortunately I had massive complications, and 5months later I spent 10 days in the hospital with a lot of procedures which were much more painful and scary. I still lost weight because they had to sew my stomach back together so it’s smaller than it was. I don’t regret WLS but I wish I had gotten bypass. In 2008 when I got it the sleeve was still relatively new and my doctor wouldn’t do it.

Answer

Okay. So here are my questions. 

1. Did it hurt?
2. Do you feel you are better off?
3. Would you do it again?