The Gastric Sleeve Journey

The Gastric Sleeve Journey

A popular weight loss surgery is the gastric sleeve. The gastric sleeve has grown in popularity over the past decade due to its success rate in treating chronic obesity. Bariatricians treat obesity as a chronic disease, and surgical intervention has the highest form of success rate in the long term compared to only diet and exercise.

This is a serious procedure that must be fully understood and researched.  This surgery cannot be reversed due to its removal of 85 percent of your existing stomach. Because of the permanent nature of the surgery, you must take this surgery seriously. You must also be ready to start creating positive daily habits to increase the odds of success.

For the surgery, the remaining portion of your stomach becomes the size and shape of a banana.  The side of the sleeve is securely shut with staples and other dissolvable closures.  With the reduced capacity of your stomach, you will eat less immediately and must follow a strict diet following surgery for everything to heal properly.

Common reasons why patients prefer this surgery is because there are less often  follow up appointments required compared to adjustable gastric band surgery. Also, there is a reduced likelihood of vitamin deficiencies and fewer food restrictions compared to the other mainstream surgeries, such as the gastric bypass.  

Other added benefits are the limited hospital stay; on average, it is one or two days.  The overall recovery period after surgery lasts between two and four weeks. This is a surgery that saves lives from chronic disease of obesity.  Other common comorbidities that often occur alongside obesity are diabetes, high blood pressure, infertility, mood disorders, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. With bariatric surgery, these diseases are more in control and often cured after bariatric surgery.

Surgery is a tool that treats obesity, discuss your options with your local bariatrician.

Gastric Sleeve Statistics

Bariatric doctors consider weight loss surgery to be the most effective and durable treatment for obesity.  This disease has erupted into an epidemic since the 1970s and currently affects forty percent of Americans.  This is the highest rate in history, and it is projected to grow significantly in the next few years.

The gastric sleeve helps patients lose about thirty percent of their original body weight and keeps most of it off.  This surgery remains successful because it includes more than dieting and exercising to lower body weight.  Due to the smaller size of your stomach, your food portions are significantly reduced.

Also, the likelihood of treating and curing obesity-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes increases with gastric sleeve surgery.

Daily exercise, along with a healthy diet, increases success after surgery.

Although the odds of a healthier life after surgery are high, some patients may develop complications after surgery.

Weight loss surgery changes your life.  This surgery takes a lot of work and effort on your part.

To help increase your odds for success, you need a competent surgeon and supportive network of friends and family to change your life for the better permanently.

I find that getting surgery is easy, but the real work is using your tool effectively.  This demands daily choices that must put your health first.  This includes exercise and healthy eating habits.  If these are a struggle before surgery, they will not magically be healed afterward.

My Gastric Sleeve Journey

My gastric sleeve journey began in August of 2017, when I decided to begin the application process for bariatric surgery. I started this process because I had struggled my whole life with being overweight, starting at age five, and dealing with obesity in my teens and morbidity obesity in my young adulthood.

I had my first appointment in November of 2017 with the bariatric clinic, and my surgery was in August 2018.  In those nine months, I was able to mentally and physically prepare myself for the necessary work for a successful surgery.  This included regular exercise and a healthier diet.  I increased my protein intake, added more vegetables, and cut back on the carbohydrates.  I also had weekly counseling sessions with a bariatric therapist who was able to tackle and help me identify my relationship with food.

Tackling your relationship with food is exhausting, but necessary.

I discovered I had a codependent relationship with food. I often use the HALT acronym to assist me in navigating my emotions and decided if I am truly hungry, or if I am masking my emotions.

With nine months of daily habits being cultivated and altered, I became quite comfortable and ready for surgery.  I was able to lose seventy pounds before surgery, just with changes in daily habits.

After my gastric sleeve surgery, I followed the strict liquid diet for two weeks, and then eventually graduated to a pureed diet.

By Thanksgiving, I was able to stomach solid foods.  I didn’t find my appetite returning until six months after surgery.  I started slowly craving and wanting food, which had not existed for over nine months.

I am now 21 months post-surgery and have lost an additional one hundred pounds.  I have maintained my current weight for six months and have soon begun researching and saving up for skin removal surgery.  I knew this would be a likely necessity due to my large amount of weight loss.

Overall I am pleased with my weight loss journey.  I still struggle with confidence and self-esteem with my smaller body, but I am proud of how far I have come, and I am excited about the future.

Weight loss surgery should not be made with careful thought and consideration.

My Gastric Sleeve Aftermath

Hair Loss

After six months after my surgery, I experienced hair loss.  I have always had long hair, but due to my rapidly changing hormones, I was losing my hair, and new textures started coming in.  I have always had wavy hair with tight curls around my face.

After surgery, the new hair growth was curly.  I currently have mostly tight, soft angelic curls that have reduced my hair length.

It took some adjustments, but I have grown more comfortable with my hair and its new texture.

Growing your hair back after surgery is a slow process.

Having regular trims helps maintain good hair health and not using any harsh dyes or chemicals as well.

Vitamins

Along with specific food and liquid rules, you will need to take a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement after surgery.

Because of your smaller sized stomach, you have an increased risk of nutrient deficiency.  I use a pill reminder app to help me remember all of my vitamin and supplements I take daily.

I currently take a calcium supplement, multivitamin, Vitamin D supplement, and hair skin and nails supplement.

Drinking and Eating

The main rule after surgery is not eating and drinking at the same time.  You cannot drink for at least 30 minutes before eating and 30 minutes after eating.

If you choose to drink and eat at the same time, you will fill up too quickly.  You may experience discomfort or a need to vomit.  Your stomach is extremely sensitive, and you will overeat with you to eat and drink at the same time.  You will also prevent yourself from using your sleeve effectively.

Dehydration is life-threatening if not taken seriously.

Hydration

Because dehydration is the main reason bariatric patients are readmitted to the hospital post-surgery, you must maintain your liquids.  Drinking a minimum of 64 ounces a day is recommended.  I regularly experience dizziness and lightheadedness when I slack on my liquid intake.  Hydration should be the main priority alongside getting your optimum protein amount.

Overall

Understanding your need to be committed to this process is key to your success.  I know many people that have regained a lot of their weight due to resorting back to their bad habits before surgery.  The gastric sleeve is not a magic cure for your weight and food-related problems.

Most of the work is done in your head.

At times I find my self-control slipping and wanting to cheat, but in the end, I remember my goal and purpose.  In the end, it is always my choice.

Kelsey Renae Schulze

Author

Kelsey is a post-op bariatric patient who had sleeve surgery in 2018. She is a writer, focusing on a variety of topics given her background in legal studies and criminal justice.