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The sleeve and not the pretty kind

It is not the weight you lose, but the life you gain through bariatric surgery.

Would you believe that this time two years ago, to the day, I weighed a staggering 320 lbs? It is hard to fathom, especially considering how far I have come since then. At that point in my life, I was struggling with my weight, and it was only getting worse as I approached graduation from high school. I have the prom pictures to prove it, and looking back at those photos fills me with a mix of nostalgia and disbelief. Those images capture not just a moment in time but a reflection of the challenges I faced. PLEASE HEED MY WARNING: this is not a speech urging anyone to dive head-first into weight loss surgery or an advertisement for any program. Instead, I want to emphasize that you are perfect just the way you are, regardless of your size or shape. Everyone has a unique journey, and self-acceptance is crucial. What I am sharing is merely my perspective on the pros and cons of my experience and how it has dramatically altered my life, both positively and negatively. On one hand, I have gained confidence and a newfound zest for life; on the other, I have faced challenges that I never predicted. The road to change is rarely linear, and it is important to understand that there are complexities involved. My goal is to offer insight into my journey, allowing others to learn from my experiences, whatever their paths may be.

So, what is a gastric sleeve exactly? A Gastric Sleeve also known as sleeve gastrectomy or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery aimed at weight loss. It is a surgical procedure designed to aid with significant weight loss by removing 80% of your stomach, leaving a structure that is only slightly larger than a toothbrush in both size and capacity. People opt for this surgery for a range of reasons, with the clearest being the desire for weight loss. Excess weight can impair overall health, leading to serious conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnea, diminishing one’s quality of life. Gastric sleeve surgery offers a pathway to reclaiming health and well-being. The process fundamentally changes how you consume food, making it so that even if you feel full, you cannot eat much more without discomfort, which can lead to nausea. For instance, I can only manage to eat about a cup of cereal or a comparable amount of any other food before I reach my limit. In practical terms, when I order a Subway footlong, it takes me two days to finish it. I often find myself unable to complete even half of it in one sitting, and I must pace myself to avoid feeling sick. This restriction also applies to liquids; I can no longer enjoy carbonated beverages because the gases create pressure in my stomach, making me uncomfortable if they don’t escape quickly enough. Despite these challenges, the results have been remarkable. I lost 150 pounds in the first year following the surgery and gradually shed another 50 pounds in the later.

People often confuse gastric sleeve and bypass often so there is the difference. To begin with, the gastric sleeve procedure involves the surgical removal of a sizable part of the stomach, resulting in a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach. This procedure effectively limits the amount of food you can consume at one time, which can lead to gradual weight loss over months. However, this method may also come with some side effects, one of the most notable being an increased risk of developing diabetes for certain individuals. “The mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission following SG (sleeve gastronomy) have yet to be fully decided, but some studies have reported favorable changes in insulin sensitivity [11]. Sabatini et al. [12] have proved a near-normalization of insulin resistance in patients treated with SG.” (Sleeve Gastrectomy). While the gastric sleeve is often seen as a more straightforward choice, there are various pros and cons associated with it that I will elaborate on later. On the other hand, gastric bypass surgery is fundamentally different. This procedure is often described as a detour for food. During gastric bypass surgery, surgeons create a small pouch at the top of the stomach, which is then directly connected to the small intestine, effectively bypassing most of the stomach and a part of the small intestine. As a result, patients typically experience a more rapid weight loss compared to those who undergo gastric sleeve surgery. It comes with cons, including the potential for nutritional deficiencies and complications related to the altered digestive process.

The gastric sleeve and the experiences I have come to understand on a personal level. While there are undeniable benefits to this procedure, the challenges can be quite daunting. One of the most significant drawbacks I face is my limited capacity to eat. Going out to dinner, for instance, has turned into a complex social endeavor. Trying new foods and enjoying the company of friends can feel overwhelming. I often find that I can only gaze longingly at a plate of food before feeling full, which can make it difficult to take part in the shared experience of dining. Unfortunately, the carbonation makes me feel ill if I consume it too quickly, which is a disappointment since it used to be one of my favorite drinks. Another significant issue is that the surgery has altered my sense of hunger. The hormones that typically signal hunger in our bodies have been diminished, leading me to forget meals altogether. This has resulted in some alarming moments where I have nearly passed out due to my blood sugar dropping too low. Moreover, my nutritional health has taken a hit, particularly with my iron and vitamin B12 levels. I have been diagnosed as anemic, which adds another layer of complexity to my daily routine. For example, in his book “Another consideration is that the sleeve stomach empties rapidly into the small intestine, potentially lowering the bioavailability of iron and vitamin B12. One study on nutrient deficiencies in bariatric patients found a significant drop in ferritin levels 1 year after sleeve gastrectomy, although there was no development of iron deficiency” (Gastric Bypass by Bailey. Gary. H.) Certain foods that I once enjoyed, like greasy burgers and overly sweet desserts, now make me feel nauseous. As a result, I have had to say goodbye to many of my former favorites, as they simply do not sit well in the limited space of my new stomach. The journey is both challenging and enlightening me to reevaluate my relationship with food and my overall health.

Sometimes, after exhausting all other options, there may be no other way to achieve the desired health outcomes. I tried countless diets, pushing myself to the limits, to the point where all I consumed was rice. I even ran so intensely that I would only eat with chopsticks to slow myself down—an unconventional method, but it became a quirky part of my journey. Now, as a bonus, I can pick up a single grain of rice with my chopsticks, a skill I never thought I would master.

Works Cited

Gastric Bypass by Rogers, Jennifer. T https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.franu.edu/c/q57jtw/search/details/trl5gpohiz?limiters=None&q=gastric%20sleeve

Sleeve Gastrectomy by Bailey, Gary H. https://research-ebsco-com.ezproxy.franu.edu/c/q57jtw/search/details/cqdflcqjir?limiters=None&q=gastric%20sleeve