I think all "considering the gastric sleeve" would like to know about long-term results. People who now have more than two years sleeved. This is a realatively new procedure, so I think it's important to know about them. Please!!!!
Printable View
I think all "considering the gastric sleeve" would like to know about long-term results. People who now have more than two years sleeved. This is a realatively new procedure, so I think it's important to know about them. Please!!!!
Hope these videos help... :D
YouTube - Long Term Results with the Gastric Sleeve
YouTube - Long Term Results with the Gastric Sleeve
YouTube - 3 year follow-up after having Gastric Sleeve (VSG) Surgery
YouTube - 4 years post-op with the Gastric Sleeve
YouTube - Gastric Sleeve: 3 years after
Best regards,
Dr. Alvarez
My question is about the body's anatomy(sp). I quess the one thing keeping me on the concerned side is I'm not sure about how having such a small stomach is good for anyone. I know that the sleeve works and I see wonderful results, however, I ask myself "Am I going to regret doing this when I'm 65, 75 years old?" Like, am i going to have problems down the road with having a small stomach? Will it ever go back to feeling normal? Will I always be reminded that I had surgery when I was 35. Does your body feel the same ever again???? I know, what about the issues that can come from being over weight and all that needs to be thought about. I'm just thinking and typing and would like to know about these things. Haaaaaa!!!!
Gracias Dr. Alvarez! he estado viendo algunos de los videos y otros más suyos, muy informativos!
I think you hit on a very interesting point. "What is the risk of me remaining overweight?" There are no studies, even for the bypass, which are in the 30-40 year range. What we do know is that being overweight increases your chances greatly for some really nasty diseases and shortens your life expectancy. Being a normal weight reduces those risks. Being a normal weight feels better. Studies have shown those who eat low calories have longer lives.Quote:
Originally Posted by razn4
Personally, I think the biggest long term risk is that you are having surgery on a major organ. An organ the produces some hormones. But on balance, excess weight will be far bigger risk.
Does your body every feel normal again? No. But I wouldn't want my body to ever feel like it did at 300lbs. Really, at 3 months into it, I am not distracted by what I eat or don't eat anymore. Does my body feel different. Hell yes and thank god for that, but it feels so much better. I have more energy, I sleep better, I am generally happier and less moody, people notice me and comment on how I am looking.
Kitsonk...you look very good! The important thing is that you're healthy! The feeling of having self control outweighs how you ate and looked at food before surgery. Before I was a slave to food, but now I eat to live and enjoy my meals.LOL...Bonnie
Thank you for this post. I am having surgery in 2 days and having second thoughts. I am really uneasy about it. I appreciate what you posted here about the risks. I have high bp and hypertension as well as mild sleep apnea. Doctor has been telling me that I will be diabetic. I have great cholesterol picture perfect. I heat a lot of wheat and grains. Sugar is my enemy.
Thanks again.
I'm 19 months out, and I've gained a few pounds back from stress eating and reintroduction of alcohol...lol That ends this week so far so good. I also never exercised even though I lost like 200 pounds including 50+ before surgery.
I feel great, and I know I'm much better off now than where I was heading - kitsonk hit the nail on the head. Everything except my hypertension is resolved for the most part (divorce will cure that I'm sure).
I eat normal size meals, and no foods upset my stomach any more. I enjoy small salads again, and just started craving carbs again so I'll address that now before it gets out of control (Damn you Nabisco and your Swiss cookies!)
Best of luck all, it's a great decision and a great tool.
This is a great thread. I think we are pioneers - the surgery hasn't been around long enough for a definitive answer on the long term effects. So, where does that leave us? We have instead of basing it on historical evidence, base it on our personal experience and weigh up (no pun intended) the impact of leaving it as it is now, with simply behavioural changes to our diet.
I've been food obsessed and fighting this for 45 years - I've come to the point now, where I have to think about the value of the viable years and optimising my health. I do what I call "Life Math". Goes like this - pick an age that you think you will reliably get to when you die.... for me I'm going with 86 years old. If I assume that the last say 10 years of that might be limited in some way - physically, mentally, then that brings it back to 76 years. I'm 55 now, so that means I've got 21 years ahead of me IF I don't change anything. But if I have the sleeve, I reckon I can really optimise the years where I might be physically compromised, so extending the good years. I have another thing to consider - here in Australia they will not operate on your if your 65 or over. So basically, it's now or never and I want to wear a pair of shorts before I die!
My only concern is that I have the operation and a week later they discover a rare blend of herbs that cures all forms of obesity. It's unlikely, but this operation didn't exist 10 years ago and science always moves on. I just don't have the time to wait.
Something else to consider is that your stomach still functions as it did before. It's just a change in capacity. I was always told that our stomachs are about the size of our fists, but after years of over eating, it can stretch it out to double or triple the size it should be. Not sure about other countries, but here in the States, EVERYTHING is SUPER SIZED and that includes our stomachs. This surgery takes our stomachs back to the small size, taking out most of it that can re-stretch, but also figuring in that the portion left will stretch minimally. Of ALL of the WLS out there, this keeps your innards as close to "normal" but still having success at losing weight.
I am 8 months out, and this is definitely one of the best decisions I've ever made. Not only for myself, but for my family. :D
I was concerned about this also. I asked my Dr. about it and he told me that the procedure has been around longer then most people know. It was part of the gastric bypass procedure in the 80's. That is more then 30 years it has been done. He was telling me that they did the sleeve on people that had a BMI over 50 so that they would lose weight before they could do the bypass. Many of them werent coming back for the second half of the procedure because they were having great success with just the sleeve. This information set my mind at ease.
My doc told me it's also been used for over 50 years on people with stomach cancers and other stomach ailments. It's just the weight loss aspect they don't have stats for. And thank you Dr. Alvarez for the video links!
Hi all, this is putting my mind to ease as well. Newbie here, but just had the medical screening yesterday, now it's a 4 week wait till the results arrive. My biggest concern is that the doctor said they don't do sleeves (i live in Holland) except for special cases and bmi over 60. Doc made a note in my file "sleeve" but now i'm worried they are going to try and force a bypass on me, which means i have to start everything over somewhere else. I wonder why they will not respect my decision for a sleeve. Has anyone else encountered this before?
Jersey John, I just have to say, you look AWESOME. What a difference from your before pic.
I'm having all these same worries. But I keep telling myself that the benefits outweigh all of those worries. I'm scheduled for surgery in 23 days (pending insurance approval) and I'm extremely excited and terrified at the same time but I think that is normal.