Sleeve Sizes

I was told the bougie size is only one thing. It also depends how tightly the surgeon stretches your tummy around it. It is just a guide apparently.

I can sometimes eat more these days - 1.75 years out - than I could but other times I can't fit much in at all. It just depends on what it is, and some random factor I haven't identified yet.

I feel like I've been eating a lot, but still losing a bit of weight (or maintaining) below 59 kgs. Very happy.

Hi I have 28F

I can eat a whole yohgurt and half a medium banana in one sitting!
My stomach capacity is around 250 mls!

This is all very interesting.
We were sleeved on 4th October in Belgium and are surprised at how much we can fit in
already!!!

If fact PJ is absolutely mortified and particularly worried.

I have eaten enough to feel uncomfortable but not sick ... never sick.

It is scarey when so many on this site only eat half a yoghurt!!!!!!

I am located in the US. I was sleeved March 31, 2009. My doctor used a 36 bougie. She would not discuss any smaller. She said any smaller may cause too many problems (vomiting and all the problems that go along with that) and weight loss might be too fast. I will say I have only been sick twice. Both times it was bread. I have been very pleased.

I was sleeved in Townsville and the surgeon used a 40 bougie.
The Moth was sleeved in Perth and the surgeon used a 36 bougie.

I can definitely fit in more food than the Moth but maybe because he has only been sleeved since the 20th July.
I can fit a cup of food in but sometimes it depends on the consistency of the food.

I'm in NZ and I'm a 32french and I've had a pretty easy recovery. My capacity is fairly low - less than 1/2 cup except soup which I can slowly comsume abour a cup of (unless it has lentils).

I am in USA and I am a 36 Fr Bougies :D
When I asked my surgeon about how big was my stomach capacity he said about 2 oz which makes it about 125 ml.

The thing is there is the stomach looking like a tube and at the end there is a mini pouch so I guess the 2 oz is the pouch size... not so sure about that one :D

Hi Steph!
Good thinking! That is probably why! Actually, today I feel much better and liquids get down much easier. Thanks for the positive response, I think it has a lot to do with me feeling better.
Take care! Deana

Hi Dea,

My surgeon uses a 34 and he said he has spoken with surgeons in the States who use a 32 and asked why they use that size. They claim that it's harder in the beginning but loss is greater in the long run. So that could be another reason why you are having restriction but stick with the fluids and I know in a few months time that you will be another great success story of the sleeve and will have no regrets.

All the best to you.

steph

Hi Peter,
I had missed your reply, and I thank you for answering me. I think you're right that it's all about the stretching and some micrometers...
:-) Dea

I don't believe there is anyone in Australia who is currently using a 32. But this size is still used in USA.

Like I said in a post below, it also makes a difference what technique is used when the template is applied. It's possible that your doctor does not stretch the stomach while using the template, which may mean you finish with something more like other peoples 36.

From what I have read, I would also be concerned about using such a small size and I don't know why it is necessary. You have the rest of your life to lose the weight why do they want to make it so restricted? Tell you doctor about your concerns.

I have found on the net that one French equals 0.3302 millimetres, so a 40 French bougie is 13.208mm, or about the size of a male index finger. So in reality when Dr's here use 34-42 French Bougie here there is only a maximum of around 2.6mm difference smallest to largest diameter.

Peter.

My surgeon told me that he'll use a 32FR bougie to sleeve me. No idea what that means, but I have to say that the earlier replies make me nervous when they say that it's way too small...

Please let me know if there is someone who is sleeved with 32 and how you feel.

Dea

I believe that Dr Padovan does the same thing, but I am not 100% sure. There is something in my distant memory that tells me that Dr Padovan said something about being quite tight but using a size 40. I guess the tighter the surgeon pulls the stomach around the Bougie the less likely it is to stretch in the future as the tissue is already stretched to the max.

Ok, I have a little more information.

Regarding Dr Cohen's choice of a 40 French Bougie, he says that it is not only the size of the bougie that matters, but also how it is used. He uses a tight method, which means he pulls the stomach while using the insert. Some surgeon do not do this. So his 40 may be similar to another doctors 36-38.

Which makes it hard to compare unless you know the technique used by your surgeon.

Peter.

Supposedly my doctor used a 36 although I am unsure about exactly how close he adheres to the size. I wouldn't say I have had any blockages but I still upchuck at least once a day, and it took about a month before I could reliably sip a glass of water and expect it to stay down. When I asked my doctor about a 32 he said it was simply too small. I was pretty worried about it before - I think I had a few posts about it somewhere but there is only one showing at this link, but now I can't imagine what my life would be like if my stomach was any smaller than it already is. As for the whole speed of loss thing the best way to gain perspective is to realize that you will be 100 pounds lighter in a year.

Dr Leon Cohen in Perth uses a 40, I was surprised about this after reading US forums about a 32. I was told by Dr Deborah Jenner (who did the initial consult) that 32 was just too small and can cause more blockages/reflux.

I will probably ask Dr Cohen's advise about about maybe using something slightly smaller than a 40 during the pre-op appointment.

Hi asnewme,

I have been to see my surgeon today and we got to talking about the bougie size. He told me that mine is a 34 and he does the smallest in Australia. A lot of other surgeons do up to 40.
But the 34 is only as wide as his pinky so it's pretty small so I wouldn't worry if your surgeon wants to do a 36. My surgeon said that he often does a 36 on people who have a hiatus hernia op too and who get a lot of reflux.
He told me that there are surgeons in the US that do a 32 but he thinks it's far too small and he said that when he questioned this particular surgeon that he said sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind LOL. He said that you have to work at it really hard in the beginning as it is so small.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry at all.

steph

im different again i w 48hours on clear fluids a week on nourishing fluids then 4 weeks on mushies

Hey, asnewme, don't let it get to you.
Most of us had no idea of what size we'd get, just that we'd have a sleeve.
And it's all good!
Chris

I am going to see if I can manage to do Applesauce's post op plan rather than my doctor's plan- I guess it will depend if I am hungry- lord I hope not- the size of the bougie really concerns me.

And I was told 2-3 days in clear fluids, 2-3 days on nourishing fluids, 3-4 weeks on purees, then on to overcooked veggies, rice, etc for another 2-3 weeks and then on to finely cut up food, and finally back to normal.
I'm 6 weeks out, and have spent longer on each section, sometimes moving on to the next one and having to go back - but that's me, as I take longer than most to heal. I'm happily sitting on purees at the moment, but am having fairly thick purees now, not runny ones.
Chris

The US tend to do larger sleeves than here in australia. I had 1 week on clear liquids, 1 week on nourising liquids, then 3 weeks on mushies starting out with very running purred stuff making it thicker and more like solid mushies over that 3 weeks.

applesauce

Who is hungry at this point-
Hayley there is now a non surgical intervention being tested to shrink the pouch- of a rny through the mouth- should I try to find it again for you

Fadding- I am confused- are you hungry or not hungry

I really am going to have to keep a better score card

Doctor shot me back an email saying a 32 or 34 was too small- What do you think I should do? It would be a real problem to have to go to another doctor- need Mount Sinai facility in case my heart goes loopy. Should I try to insist? Also my post diet is 2 days of clear liquids and then 1 month of pureed. Applesauce- where is the advice your doctor gave you on post diet- maybe I will try to stick to your guidelines- can you send direct me back to your post?