Very Confused & Nervous!! Regrets Anyone??

[LadyLacey]

Thanks thinblue.. keep up the good work!!

[bigkathy]

I am only 2 weeks out but no regrets at all. I am walking about 4 miles per day and gardening but nothing more strenuous than that.

[tslam]

Lacey, you will eat normal foods again, all this does is force portion control. It's a wonderful tool and I would recommend it to everyone who struggles with their weight. It's great you're doing your research so you know what to expect. I'll keep you in my prayers!
Trina

[justme1]

I never had any regrets even with complication of one of my incisions becoming infected. Now at 6 months I am 22 pounds from my goal and off the insulin pump (no insulin at all now), off all blood pressure medications, and cholestoral meds. I have more energy and love the "new" me. The surgery is a wonderful tool. The more you learn about how to use the tool the happier you will be. Best of luck!!!

[Evie Sleevie]

NO REGRETS!! I wish I had done it sooner in my life!! I feel like I am finally living again.

[5DogMa]

I'm 6 months out now and I am still dealing with the head game and have days I'm really frustrated. The one thing I really have come to understand is this is a life changer and you have to change. Change is hard and old habits die hard. Your new normal isn't normal in the beginning and it will take time to adjust. This is a tool, not a miracle or silver bullet. You still have to diet, I could gain weight if I don't eat healthy. I could fill up my sleeve every couple of hours with bad foods and gain weight. Sure I can only eat half of a half sandwich, but I could eat the whole sandwich if I take a few hours. The food you waste gets to you, or at least it gets to me. It's hard to remember and think about only putting 25% of what you use to on your plate.

With all the frustrations I've had mentally dealing with this sleeve I WOULD still do it again. My blood pressure is normal, my sleep apena is gone, my sugar levels are normal, my back and knees don't hurt anymore, I can walk for miles, I can cross my legs, I fit with room to spare in the airline seats, I fit in the booth at resturants (although soup is about all I order), plastic folding chairs don't scare me anymore and most important I don't always feel like the fattest person in the room and people are staring at me.

Oh, a word of advise. Shop at the Goodwill and don't buy new clothes. You can get fairly new or even new things there for a fraction of the cost.

Good luck, it will be worth it. Just know this isn't a cake walk - not for a lot of us anyway.

[Jeni]

One thing to remember is each person's reaction to the surgery is slightly different. I have not thrown up 1 time (except when I had the flu) since my surgery June 29, 2011. Just stop when you're full. If you follow your doctor's directions you should be fine. I have lost almost 100 lbs. and I have went from size 28 to 14/16 top and 18 pants. It hasn't always been easy and stalls happen, but it isn't as bad as I thought it would be! It's my way of life now!

[IrishGirl]

Hello there! I completely understand your concerns. I am 10 months out from my surgery and down 85 pounds. I have not regretted this choice once. It has literally changed every aspec of my life! The physical change is great naturally, I still have more to go but I am far more active, LOVE going out and feel like I am finally living my life! One thing i will tell you is this, the sleeve is a TOOL. It is not magic, you will have to do the mental work on your eatingand get realistic about the fact that food is fuel, bottom line. For me the mental was much, much harder than any physical changes. I was still ordering, preparing and planning on my food as though I hadn't been sleeved. It didn't take too many times to learn that wasn't going to work. I had never been thin. Once in my life I got close to my ideal weight so this for me is like a dream that starts when I open my eyes. I look forward to each new day in a way I never hve before. I have had some MAJOR stalls and my weight loss has been slow so I kicked up the workouts and now I am consistently losing again. Don't make yourself nuts after the surgery by looking at what others weight loss is. You will make yourself crazy. Everyone is different but you will get where you need to go. Trust God, He will be with you and keep you. BEST WISHES!!!!

[Guest-BGT]

Ok everyone I finally decided to actually join this forum. I have some questions. I have plans on getting the spider GS. I'm a nervous wreck about not having a "normal' tummy anymore! I'd like to know if anyone has had ANY regrets having the GS? Also, before I gained 100 lbs. in 5 years I used to be very active. I loved riding my horses. Does anybody have problems when they bounce up & down? When you're active at all? I have set my date but I'm still extremely leery about all of this! Any advice please??
Thanks!!

Very reasonable concerns and I researched about 2-months prior attending a seminar and meeting my doctor the next day to pull the trigger. I'm roughly 2.5 to 3 months out until surgery, but am super excited. I'm new here so feeling my way around, good information on this forum but I will recommend you also seek any and all of your answers by questioning your doctor/facility/doctors head-nurse/etc and ensure you're satisfied with all your questions. For example I was interested in further intel about leaks and learned the following today after my last couple months of research and my doctors head-nurse just emailed me back this information below.

There are 3 levels of leak protection.

1) Staplers- these have improved with time and it is totally used by the doctor, staple lines are closely inspected by us both after each firing.
2) Fibrin Glue- we use this over the staple line to solidify the staples and protect against leak.
3) Omental covering- we do this after the glue is placed to place the “fatty apron” of the abdomen over the staple line.
All 3 measures are taken to prevent a leak. Having worked together for over 22 years as a team, we have a significant skill set- all combined, lessens the risk of leak.

[TexansCat1885]

I'm 12 weeks out and I do not regret getting the sleeve!! In the beginning it is very difficult because you want to eat but can't....it's all mental. But after the first 3 weeks....it's downhill from there! I love eating small portions and it shows me how much I used to eat...which was ridiculous! I see other people eat like I used to and it makes me sick. My weight loss has been a lot slower than expected actually. I workout 4 times a week doing elliptical and light weights. The scale moves every couple weeks! It's discouraging at times. I've gone down 2 pants sizes so I know I'm doing something right...but I've been so focused on the scale number that it makes me sad when it doesnt move. I try to tell myself "give it time, give it time"....but that's easier said than done. Luckily I have my mom for support so talking about my problems helps. Dont be like me and get discouraged when the scale isn't in your favor. I have always had problems getting my protein in...so that could be my.problem. I plan on changing that! I'm determined to lose this weight...i have to start over and start from beginning doing protein shakes and eating fish and tofu. Just don't get off track and stay focused. Your results alone will have you so happy that you made this decision. I wish I had done it years ago.

[IrishGirl]

Texans you have a great attitude!! I wish you nothing but amazing success!!!

[ElleMarie]

I have never regretted my decision. Certainly there have been bouts of "wish I could eat that" and every so often when my usually darling husband will get me angry and I want to slip back to eating a box of cookies but honestly...then I think about how I felt after and and grateful that my body will no longer allow me to mess up.

Every so often I will forget not to drink for 30 minutes and get an upset tummy for a few minutes. BUT the extra energy I have, the zest for life, those things by FAR outweigh ANY negative thing regarding the surgery. No regrets, except...why did I wait so long to do it?

[JSJ03]

It's been one week for me. So far I'm constantly thinking of regrets. I have 3 children this Mother's Day wasn't good. I'm confuse. What to eat, what not to eat. 30 minutes before and after. Every morning I wake up starving. I drink my water and my protein. Everything else is a blur.

[RBYRDSR]

I am in Santa Fe near Houston. I had my surgery feb 16th I have no regrets at all. I am 68 pounds down. I am fighting the mental hunger try too watch what I eat. I dont have any problems eating foods just meats only can eat small amounts. I did over did it a few times boy to learn by your mistakes lol. If you have any more question please ask.

[compact]

Lacey -- it's not just that the surgery is a tool for faster weight loss. For some of our friends here it isn't. A slow loss is still way better than gaining or maintaining at a heavy weight. The thing is that this tool offers is the prospect of longterm, sustainable weight loss. Only 5% of dieters are able to maintain their loss longterm. All of us here have dieted and know that it does not and will not work for us. Perhaps you are a bit younger than many of us here (I myself am 50 this month). In that case you may be saving yourself an extra 10 or 20 years of being heavy by having this surgery.
Good on you!
Nel