Sleeve Gastrectomy: Stories

Like most stories, mine starts with four little words. Except, in my story, those words are not, “Once Upon A Time...” or “A Long Time Ago...”. Hell, I would have settled for “In a Galaxy Far, Far Away.....” But, while I’ve often lived in my own little world; always hoping for a fairy tale ending, dreaming of magic, and believing, just a little bit, in the unbelievable; my journey does not begin like most fairy tales do. Instead it begins with: “When are you due?” And, here’s the crux, the kicker, the major PROBLEM. I was not due; not even a little bit. There were no pregnancies in my foreseeable and immediate future. The short and the short... I was fat, not pregnant. But, after all that, I took a moment to truly assess myself and my life. And, just like all my favorite heroines, I realized that somewhere along the way, I have lost sight of myself (and my waistline). More importantly? I’d had enough of being overweight, and so i started researching bariatric surgery.

I originally was drawn to lap band because it is reversible; but when I truly considered it- i realized I did not want to have the option to reverse this surgery. I wanted something permanent- and so I made the decision to go forward with vertical sleeve surgery. VSG is more invasive, which means more pain, and recovery is longer. But, the five year results are amazing, and it is less invasive than gastric bypass.

I went to a seminar, filed for insurance, and 5 weeks later, i was headed into surgery. I weighed over 270 pounds. Since that time, I have lost down to 125 pounds. So, here's the disclaimer: it has been hard. Coming out of surgery is like being a toddler again- you spend months relearning what you can and cannot tolerate. Personally, I sometimes crave sodas, I still hate sweating, and I occasionally miss frappucinos. I cannot eat rice or corn. I over ate and threw up a ton in the beginning. I have to take B12 injections monthly, and a round of vitamins daily. But, about six months after surgery, I woke up and had the most astounding revalation. My life pre surgery was consumed by food and my next meal. And, one morning I woke up, got ready for work, made it through my shift- and I had a startling thought. I no longer spent time obsessing over food or about what or when my next meal would be.

I have never felt such a sense of freedom. I am now 18 months post op, have lost over 135 pounds, and I went from a size 24 to a size 2. My main complaint has been the excess skin on my belly causing issues and a hernia- so one week ago, I had a full tummy tuck. It is the only reconstructive surgery I will need. VSG changed my life, i have no regrets.