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I'm very pleased with my decision to have the VSG. I found the recovery to be a simple matter of time. I felt better and better as time went on. Mostly I was distracted from the process of recovery because I was too busy trying to figure out what I could eat then drink LOL. I have lost a total of 75 pounds and weigh 158 lbs now. I have 9 more pounds to go to meet Dr. Miranda's goal of 149 and 23 lbs to goal to meet my own personal goal. I work out 5 days a week. I run 2 miles at 5 miles per hour and walk another 1 mile on an incline. All on my treadmill. I paid to have a personal trainer at the gym. 13 - 1/2 hour sessions. I have 5 more to go. I lift weights 5 times a week for 1/2 hour a day, usually right after I run. I've upped my protein to 80 - 100 grams because I can tell that it helps my muscles feel better after I run and then I'm able to run again the next day. I learned to do this gradually, I started by walking EVERY DAY for 20 minutes on my treadmill. Then it was just faster and faster and a little farther. Now, it is like my morning coffee...gotta have it. LOL I wish I had not indulged in or "tried" to eat things like chips or drinking wine. (Note* I am a BIG wine person, always have been and I have a serious collection). I would have waited until I hit goal to avoid the empty calories. It would have made goal a lot easier. Especially because when you get close to goal you have to work harder. I think Dr. Ortiz and his entire staff were the best. I could not have asked for better care and knowledge. I'm hoping my daughter will be able to go in February. So lets share our story, ok? donna

It varies, with Dr. Ortiz and the others the price can go up and down. Not sure what makes it so, probably hospital/personnel costs. But $8000 average? Give or take a $1000? Subject to change I'm sure, especially with the economy the way it is. Hope this helps. donna

I had my surgery 8/1/2011 I've lost 54 pounds post op. I lost 21 lbs on the pre-op diet. So total 75 pounds gone! After I reached about 165 pounds (I'm 5'4" female) I had to really buckle down and pay attention to what/how much/how often I was eating. I had to really start excersizing. Now I run 2 miles a day and lift weights for half an hour a day. I tend to eat more than I should, probably 1000 to 1200 calories a day and I'm still losing a pound a week. I want to lose another 23 pounds but that may be unrealistic. Dr. Miranda set a goal of 149 for me. So only 9 lbs to go. If I could go back to the beginning?....I would follow the initial post surgery plan a lot closer, I would have avoided things like mashed potatoes,chips and wine for a lot longer....probably until the 4-6 month if life permitted or really tried to keep my lifestyle in check. The added calories play a big part in the speed of weight loss. I would have most definately started a DAILY excersize routine. Probably not much at first, just 20 to 30 minutes a day on the treadmill or something like that. But I know now that doing it DAILY is the key. Not how much or how far. You mind is a big tool. If you do it daily, it will be just like getting your morning coffee....you wont forget and you wont feel right until you do! I have learned this the last 6 weeks. This is really the big boost to get me to my goal. I am now planning to pay for my daughter to get the VSG. She and I are both excited. Now that she sees exactly how it works and exactly how you work it....she is ready. Donna

Thanks a bunch!

My husband and I are scheduled for Aug 1st for the gastric sleeve. Has anyone had the sleeve longer than 2 years? Do you have any withdraw from food? Like I did when I quit smoking 3 years ago? Do you tend to overeat as soon as you heal? If you do can you bust open those staples? I know that right now before surgery, I can't eat a small meal and walk away and be full or not be hungry again soon after. does this stop? After the initial time to get used to the difference do you feel deprived? I'm more worried about my husband because he is such a big eater. should we sign up for some sort of counceling when we get back to the states? Thanks for the experienced input. Donna

Thanks that was very helpful. I'm hoping this all goes smoothly.

My husband an I have made the appointment for the Gastric Sleeve with Dr. Ortiz for Aug 1st. We are bringing his brother and wife with us for support. Will we be feeling well enough after the surgery to go out and about. If so is there any places to have some fun? Go shopping etc? Are we allowed to go over the border back into the states and then come back in the evening to the hotel? We were told that we would stay overnight in the hospital and then we could go back to our hotel but we would have to get our drain checked every day for 5 days more. Do they come to the hotel room? Or do we need to go there? Are we going to need a rental car? I'm just not sure if having people come along just to sit in a hotel room while we recover from surgery sounds like a fun time for them. We are flying in from the North East coast of the US so the flight will be a long one. Should I be prepared in any way for the flight back? Any feedback from the more experienced would be appreciated. Donna