Gastric Sleeve Surgery Ruined My Life

The decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery, a procedure known for its effectiveness in weight loss and health improvement, is often made with the hope of transforming lives for the better. However, for a portion of individuals who have undergone this surgery, their experiences have taken an unexpected turn, leading them to declare, “Gastric Sleeve Surgery Ruined My Life.” 

In this exploration, we delve into the untold stories of those who believe their lives have been negatively impacted by the aftermath of gastric sleeve surgery. From physical complications and emotional turmoil to unforeseen challenges, we shed light on the hidden side effects and potential long-term consequences that can arise from this transformative procedure. It is crucial to recognize that these personal accounts offer a unique perspective and should be considered alongside the diverse range of outcomes that individuals may experience post-surgery.

What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

The gastric sleeve is also called sleeve gastrectomy or vertical sleeve gastrectomy. It forever changes the shape of your stomach from a big football to a small banana. To do this, up to 80% of the left side of your stomach is taken away. It is done with only 5 or 6 small cuts and takes less than an hour. You only have to stay in the hospital for one night.

This smaller stomach in the shape of a banana makes you feel full and happy after eating smaller meals, which helps you lose weight quickly and keep it off. The gastric sleeve also stops the body from making ghrelin, which is known as the “hunger hormone.” So, patients feel much less hungry, which lets them make better food choices and control how many calories they eat altogether.

How Does Gastric Sleeve Work?

A gastric sleeve removes a substantial piece of your stomach permanently, leaving a new, smaller stomach around the size of a banana. Because your stomach’s capacity is much limited, it can only hold a small amount of food. You will be less hungry between meals and will feel full after consuming considerably less food. Because of the reduced food consumption, the ensuing weight loss is usually rather quick.

The region of your stomach that produces the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin is also removed during sleeve gastrectomy. This suggests your appetite has been lowered.

After the surgery, you will start to lose weight right away. After 18 months, the sleeve starts to stretch, so it’s important to keep your portion sizes reasonable and not wait until the sleeve stops you from eating. If you eat the right things, which are not soft or liquid, you won’t feel hungry. You would have to take vitamins for the rest of your life and get B12 shots every three months.

How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Ruined My Life?

One woman’s story of how gastric sleeve surgery ruined her life. This surgery has caused nothing but pain, both physical and mental, as well as financial ruin and social isolation. There is hope for a better future, but people who are thinking about getting this surgery should be careful.

I used to be a cheerful, healthy individual and I had a wonderful job, a wonderful family, and a lovely home. And I was active and enjoyed going out and socializing, but I needed something more, and that was a better body figure, which I was promised gastric sleeve surgery could provide.

But everything changed after I underwent gastric sleeve surgery. Both physically and emotionally, the surgery was excruciatingly painful. I was in the hospital for a week following that, in a lot of pain. I also had to deal with the mental trauma of discovering I’d permanently altered my physique.

The surgery was extremely costly, leaving me with a substantial amount of debt. I was required to take time off work and pay for all medical expenses. In addition, I was left with numerous wounds. After the surgery, I was unable to socialize as frequently as before. And I was unable to appreciate my favorite foods and snacks, and I experienced some hair loss. I was self-conscious about my body because it was not what I had anticipated, and I did not want to be around other people. I became alone and isolated.

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Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

• Weight Loss: Significant weight loss is one of the primary reasons individuals elect for gastric sleeve surgery. The smaller stomach size facilitates portion control, making it simpler to adhere to a low-calorie diet. According to studies, patients can reduce 60-70 percent of their excess weight within the first year following surgery.
• Improved Overall Health: Weight loss through gastric sleeve surgery is frequently associated with improved overall health. Obesity-related medical disorders such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea are reduced in many people. Additionally, losing weight can help with joint pain and mobility.
• Increased Self-Confidence: Losing a significant amount of weight can improve self-esteem and confidence. Many people who have gastric sleeve surgery report feeling more at ease in social situations and enjoying things they previously avoided owing to weight worries.

Side Effects of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

• Pain and Discomfort: It is typical to have pain and discomfort around the incision site and the abdomen following gastric sleeve surgery. Pain severity varies from person to person and is normally controlled with pain medication provided by the surgical team.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Some people may feel nausea and vomiting in the days or weeks following surgery. This is primarily due to the stomach’s limited size and the body’s adaptation to the alterations. These symptoms can be alleviated with medications and dietary changes.
• Dietary Changes and Restrictions: Following gastric sleeve surgery, patients must adhere to a strict diet plan, gradually reintroducing solid foods. Initially, a liquid or pureed diet is followed, followed by a gradual transition to a solid food diet. Adjusting to these dietary adjustments can be difficult and may result in temporary discomfort or stomach problems.
• Acid Reflux: Acid reflux symptoms might sometimes worsen after gastric sleeve surgery. When stomach acid returns to the esophagus, it causes heartburn or regurgitation. To address acid reflux symptoms, medications or lifestyle changes may be prescribed.
• Dumping Syndrome: Dumping syndrome can happen after gastric sleeve surgery, though it happens less often than after gastric bypass surgery. It happens when food goes too quickly from the stomach to the small intestine, causing nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and sweating, among other things. This condition can be managed by eating smaller meals more often and staying away from foods that are high in sugar or fat.
• Vitamin and Nutritional Deficiencies: People who have had gastric sleeve surgery may be at risk of not getting enough vitamins and nutrients. Because the stomach is smaller, the body may not be able to receive all the nutrients it needs. Deficiencies can be avoided by keeping an eye on nutrient levels and taking vitamins and minerals as recommended.

What are The Risks of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

After any surgery, you could have side effects like bleeding, infection, or blood clots in your legs. General sedation can also make it hard to breathe or cause other problems.

You may also have trouble taking in some nutrients as time goes on. Or, your stomach sleeve may get tighter, which is called a “stricture.” After surgery, some people may have heartburn or acid reflux. If you have mild to serious reflux already, a gastric sleeve could make it worse. Instead, you might want to think about having gastric bypass surgery. With that kind of surgery, reflux and heartburn can be stopped.

Depending on how you feel, you may face other risks. Talk to your medical team about any worries you have before the surgery.

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Gastric Sleeve Pros and Cons

Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a popular weight loss procedure that involves removing a large portion of the stomach to create a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach. This surgical intervention has its own set of pros and cons. Let’s discuss them step by step:

Pros

1. Effective Weight Loss: One of the primary benefits of gastric sleeve surgery is significant weight loss. By reducing the stomach size, the procedure helps limit food intake, leading to reduced calorie consumption and weight loss. Many individuals experience substantial and long-lasting weight loss after undergoing this surgery.
2. Improved Health Conditions: Gastric sleeve surgery can improve or resolve several obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and joint pain. Losing excess weight can positively impact overall health and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases.
3. Reduced Hunger: The procedure involves removing the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, a hormone responsible for stimulating hunger. As a result, patients often experience reduced appetite and cravings, making it easier to adhere to a healthier eating plan.
4. Shorter Recovery Time: Compared to other bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery typically has a shorter recovery period. Most patients can return to their daily activities within a few weeks after the procedure.

Cons

1. Surgical Risks: As with any surgical procedure, gastric sleeve surgery carries potential risks and complications, including infection, bleeding, blood clots, leakage, and adverse reactions to anesthesia. While these risks are relatively low, they should be carefully considered and discussed with a qualified surgeon.
2. Permanent Modification: The gastric sleeve surgery involves permanently altering the size and shape of the stomach. Once the procedure is done, it cannot be reversed. Patients must be ready for the lifelong changes in eating habits and dietary restrictions that come with this surgery.
3. Nutritional Deficiencies: With a reduced stomach size, patients may experience difficulties in consuming an adequate amount of essential nutrients and vitamins. Regular monitoring and appropriate supplementation are necessary to prevent nutritional deficiencies and ensure optimal health post-surgery.
4. Potential for Weight Regain: While gastric sleeve surgery offers significant weight loss initially, there is a chance of weight regain over time. This can occur if patients do not adhere to the recommended lifestyle changes, including healthy eating habits and regular physical activity

Results of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery has helped thousands of people lose weight, and the normal weight loss one year after surgery is 70–75% of the extra weight. So, if you weigh 100 pounds more than you should, you can expect to lose between 70 and 75 pounds in the first year. Most long-term weight loss is in the range of 65%.

Some people will lose a little more weight than others, based on their metabolism, how much they exercise, and how well they follow the diet. Long-term success depends on taking responsibility. We have found that people who take part in our full Aftercare Program lose the most weight and keep it off the longest.

Obviously, losing a lot of weight makes you feel better and makes your life better. It can also make people live longer by getting rid of diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and sleep apnea that are caused by being overweight. More than 75% of people who have gastric sleeve surgery can expect these health problems to go away. So, patients are not only losing weight but also making big changes to their general health.

If you want to see how these surgeries are changing people’s lives, please read the stories of our patients and look at pictures of them before and after their surgeries. This will give you a good idea of how much the gastric sleeve could change your life.

How Much Weight Can You Lose from Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Patients often ask how much weight they can lose with gastric sleeve surgery, which is something we’ve already said. It’s important to remember that it’s different for each person. Some people can expect to lose between 25% and 60% of their extra fat. But there are things that affect how much weight you lose, such as what you eat and how much you exercise, how you live, and how committed you are to breaking bad habits.

Patients can expect to lose an average of 25% of their extra weight in the first month. After three months, up to 40% of the total extra loss can have happened. After six months, that number goes up to 60%. Up to 80% of the extra weight is gone after a year. Years after surgery, people who had a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy lost the most weight and kept it off the best.

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How Much Does a Gastric Sleeve Cost?

Most of the time, gastric sleeve surgery costs between £7,000 and £11,000 in the UK. The suggested price for Ramsay Health Care UK is £8,555. This reasonable price includes 24 months of follow-up care with expert bariatric nurses, specialist dieticians, and medical checks. Payment plans are available to fund your treatment.

Alternatives of Gastric Sleeve 

Reading about gastric sleeve doubts and bad outcomes may change how you feel about the surgery and make you less likely to go through with it. Gastric sleeve is one way to lose weight, but there are other options you can think about:

• Gastric bypass: This surgery cuts down on how much food can be eaten and how many calories are absorbed. The gastric bypass goes one step further than the gastric sleeve to help you lose more weight in a shorter amount of time. But it has its own problems and could lead to guilt.
• Gastric band: This is one of the most-used ways to lose weight. Your doctor wraps a flexible band around the upper part of your stomach to make a small pouch that limits how much food you can eat.
• Gastric balloon: This is a way to lose weight without surgery. A deflated balloon is put into the stomach through the mouth. The balloon is then filled with a sterile saline solution to make it bigger and take up more room in your stomach. This makes it harder to eat as much food. But it’s only a short-term fix that only works for six months.

Conclusion

The accounts of individuals who believe that gastric sleeve surgery has ruined their lives bring to light the potential negative consequences that can arise from this procedure. These stories highlight the physical, emotional, and social challenges they have faced, including complications, chronic pain, and psychological distress. 

While gastric sleeve surgery has been successful for many, it is essential to acknowledge that not all experiences are positive. The lessons learned from these narratives emphasize the importance of comprehensive pre-operative counseling, realistic expectations, and ongoing support. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to consider individual risk factors and provide personalized care to minimize potential risks and optimize outcomes for patients undergoing gastric sleeve surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is gastric sleeve surgery risky?

Long-term concerns of bariatric surgery include Dumping syndrome, a disorder that can cause symptoms including nausea and dizziness. Low blood sugar levels. Malnutrition.

Are people happy after gastric sleeve?

Losing this excess weight can help these patients’ emotional wellness. People who underwent bariatric surgery showed a 32.7% decrease in depression at the time of surgery and a 16.5% decrease six to twelve months later.

Can you live a normal life with the gastric sleeve?

Weight-loss surgery can help you live a healthier, longer, and more rewarding life. It is not a treatment for obesity, but rather a tool to aid in weight loss. Long-term success is dependent on your ability to adhere to dietary, activity, and lifestyle guidelines.

What is the safest weight loss surgery?

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is the most common and safest bariatric procedure. Gastric bypass and other weight-loss operations, like any major surgery, carry possible health concerns, both short and long-term.

How many years does a gastric sleeve last?

How long does it take for a gastric sleeve to wear out? A gastric sleeve is a surgery that can’t be undone. It can’t be changed and stays with you for the rest of your life.

Which gastric surgery is best?

Most people who get a gastric sleeve lose between 60 and 70% of their extra weight in 12 to 18 months. Most of the time, people with a Body Mass Index of 45 or more are advised to have gastric bypass surgery.

Is gastric sleeve successful long term?

Gastric sleeve surgery is also usually good, but patients lose less weight with it than with gastric bypass (up to 65% of their weight). This type of surgery to lose weight may not work as well in the long run: Research shows that after two years, many people gain back the weight they lost.

What is the newest gastric surgery?

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is a younger type of weight-loss surgery that doesn’t require a lot of cutting.

What is the oldest weight loss surgery?

Kremen is credited with performing the first metabolic surgery, the jejunoileal bypass, in 1954. 5 It was designed to treat severe forms of dyslipidemia and comprised of an anastomosis between the proximal jejunum and distal ileum, bypassing much of the small intestine.

Is gastric sleeve temporary?

The gastric balloon is only used for six months and is removed if necessary sooner. As a result, it has no long-term repercussions. The gastric sleeve, on the other hand, is a permanent procedure.