Seriously considering a gastric sleeve. If you’ve had it done, please talk to me about your experiences.

[JaneIsInsane]

I’m very close to booking a consultation-well two actually as there’s two providers in my nearest city.
My BMI is 38 so obviously too high but not as high as some others who opt for WLS. However, I’m post menopause (late 40s) and so sick of dieting and only being able to maintain if I stick rigidly to 1200cals. I need to be under this every day to lose and I’m just exhausted from years of it. I also binge which is linked to me being an emotional eater. I have 3 kids who’d love me to be more active as they are very adventurous.
I have tried everything possible and now I’m breathless and my knees hurt etc.

So, if you’ve had the sleeve, please tell me your experiences good and bad. I need to get as full a picture as possible. If you had an amazing or really awful experience and are happy to share the name of your surgeon either here or via pm then that would be great. My ideal would be to still be able to eat normal food just much less of it. I’m convinced I’m addicted to white processed carbs so I’d love to get to a place where I can ditch those. This feels like a massive step for me as a size 16-18 but alongside that is the fact that my eating is so disordered and my metabolism messed up by years of yo-yo dieting that I need to do something otherwise in 2yrs time I’ll be a 22-24 and rising. But I’m scared of all the horror stories and terrified of making my health worse. I just want to be healthier and of course happier to be outside in weather like this without feeling like a fat sweaty blob.

I had it done in 2015. It has totally ruined my life.

@VerifiedBot2351

I had it done in 2015. It has totally ruined my life.

Gosh! Why do you say that? What happened? I do want to hear all sides before I commit. Thanks for the reply.

I had a sleeve in 2020 and it has been amazing. It’s not a magic wand - you still have to pay attention to your diet and you won’t physically be able to eat a lot of white carbs so if you can sort out the mental or emotional reasons why you go for these foods before having the operation you will be giving yourself the best chance of success.

I’m sorry VerifiedBot it didn’t work for you. It was hands down the best thing I could have done for me and my health but I can only speak for myself.

Ps my surgeon was Ali Alhamdani via Streamline and he was great. I had no pain after the op and have never had food getting ‘stuck’ or any sickness.

I had mine done 4 years ago and it's has made my life so much better. I have a normal BMI and feel so much better about myself and my life now. By far the best thing I ever did.

@MindBodyChocolate, thank you. You’re right that I would probably do better if I have some counselling in place too. I think a period of not eating them will help break the cycle but I do need to address why I’m obsessively drawn to them for comfort.
Thanks also for the surgeon recommendation. Whereabouts (roughly) in the country is he?

Thank you @FitAt50! Glad it’s worked well for you. What downsides would you say I need to be aware of?

[quote JaneIsInsane]@MindBodyChocolate, thank you. You’re right that I would probably do better if I have some counselling in place too. I think a period of not eating them will help break the cycle but I do need to address why I’m obsessively drawn to them for comfort.
Thanks also for the surgeon recommendation. Whereabouts (roughly) in the country is he?[/quote]
I can feel sick if I try to eat too much and sometimes to force myself to vomit to make myself comfortable. Difficult in restaurants as I can only really manage starters of little bits of meals.

I can feel sick if I try to eat too much and sometimes to force myself to vomit to make myself comfortable. Difficult in restaurants as I can only really manage starters of little bits of meals.
@FitAt50, thank you. Yes, one of my worries is food getting uncomfortably stuck and also not being able to eat a full light meal on a night out.

I did in 2019

It's not easy but I still highly recommend it as the only thing to really help me get somewhere at last rather than yo-yoing

Started at 300lb

I lost 40lbs in the dietician and pre op stage (1 year)

then lost 20lbs on the LRD (3 weeks and was surprisingly easy)

Then lost 70lbs post surgery (1 year)

just be aware that once you are about 4 to 6 months post surgery and you are fully healed internally, it IS fully possible to mindlessly have enough calories to not lose weight anymore and/or gain weight. You do still have to be aware, accurately calorie count and keep track, and follow your rules (no white bread or 'slider' foods, take your vitamins and get the b12 jabs)

I'm now happily settled and maintaining 165lbs ish and have to be pretty consistently low carb and active to maintain. There is no magic BUT like i said this is the only thing that got me where I wanted to be and gave me hope of finally staying there

Before the op I could easily lose 30 or 40lbs but then would end up regaining and starting again so its been excellent to break that cycle and the weight loss means I can be more active and hike in the hills etc (at 300lbs I could barely walk 100ft)

I also recommend the NHS route as while it takes longer than private, it sets you up for success and being fully informed. The time has flown by since I was first referred

I've had no post op problems at all

@chickyellowcute, thank you. I’m currently 209lbs so less to lose but caught in a similar cycle of gorge/binge then stringy dieting to lose 20lbs which comes straight back on and then some as soon as I relax the diet.

I wouldn’t be eligible for NHS route at 209lbs but we’ll done for staying the distance and now maintaining at 165lbs. You must feel so free of the constant dieting cycle.

@JaneIsInsane yes absolutely, I feel fantastic and I'm grateful every day to my surgeon for his skill and the nhs for saving my quality of life and probably a lot of years of life too. It's quite overwhelming!

I would still recommend it even going private, going by what I've seen of other people in fb groups, instagram etc - if you need low cost, there is a fantastic surgeon in Egypt who does the vsg with no visible scarring (though my scars have completely vanished now) and it's about 4k including flights and aftercare. Dr Tamer is his name and he is generally considered top notch

Also check out the #vsg and #gastricsleeve on instagram, lots of people and real life experiences and recommendations, advice etc

Thank you @chickyellowcute! I’m too scared to go abroad although I’m sure he’s wonderful. I’m not on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram so I wouldn’t know where to start but I’ll have a look.
Lovely to hear what a positive effect it’s had on your life.

I’ve booked two separate consultations within the next 2wks. I’ve really no idea how to distinguish between them. Prices are similar and both surgeons seem well qualified. Hoping to get it done early June.

I am 13 days post sleeve. I went via the public health system in my country so it was a long wait.

I’m managing well. But its hard. I am on 1/4 cup of puree foods at the moment. I can eat up to 1/2 cup of liquid. I am struggling to drink enough water.

I had it done in November and I’m now 9 stone down. Total lifesaver. If you search posts I’m on there’s a very recent one on this subject

@JudgeRindersMinder, wow! Congratulations! You must feel like an entirely new person. I’ve just done as you suggested and searched on your name. Did you go for the same surgeon in Turkey suggested by the other (AMA) poster? If not, can you put on here or pm me your surgeon? I’m assuming you’d recommend them? It seems such a saving to go to Turkey but the thought terrifies me.

@DrJump, congratulations on taking the plunge! I’ve heard from others that water intake is tricky as you cannot eat and drink at the same time. I hope your recovery continues to go well.

Thank you, it’s a good feeling. As the OP in the AMA, I went to Ozel Saglik in Ismir and my surgery was by Dr Mehmet Deniz. Lovely man and ai wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him