Oregondaisy

A typical day of eating for me is a Protein shake for Breakfast. lunch just depends on if I have leftovers. If I don't, I will have a salad with chicken breast on top. I usually have chicken or fish for dinner with some veggies. If I go out to eat, I eat whatever I want, whether it's pork or steak. I do eat some fruit. Lately I have been eating blueberries. The carbs I stay away from are rice, Pasta, bread, etc. I just don't have room for them anyway. I also sometimes eat Protein Bars, but I am careful to choose the ones that have more protein than carbs. Some of them are very high in carbs.

There are a few other people on this board who are going through what you are going through, if you want to check in with them. You can do a thread search. I think Hefftynetty is still in the hospital with her leak. Please try to look on the bright side, even though right now it's difficult. We all have this surgery to lose weight and be healthier. In the end, you will have that. In my opinion, you had the best weight loss surgery that is available to us. The band has horrible complications, and the gastric bypass people have to be very vigilant about taking their Vitamins for the rest of their lives or they will have complications as well. I am sorry you are in the 1% of the people who get a leak, but I am sure down the road, you will be happy you had the sleeve instead of any other surgery.

Believe me, if you overeat, you will be so uncomfortable, you will learn to not do it again. You will learn by seeing the food on the plate, whether it's too much to eat. I am sure my sleeve has stretched some, because right after surgery, I could only eat 3-5 bites of anything. But I don't think it has stretched more than it is supposed to. I can eat more now, but not very much more. It really depends on what you are eating.

Do you mind me asking who did your surgery? Did you have a band first like Tiffy? I am so sorry to hear of your leak. I hope you heal soon. Having the sleeve is wonderful, once you get over this. I know it must be extremely hard right now, but you will heal, and then you will eventually be really happy that you did this. I have had the sleeve for almost 5 months and maintaining my weight loss is so easy and most of the time, I don't even think about having the sleeve. I can eat whatever I want, in small portions, and I am thinner than I have been in over 25 years.

I think if you know something about serious complications, you should not be afraid to talk about it. There are people that want to go to a doctor who has not had complications. People should know everything they can find out about a doctor who is going to be cutting on their stomach. It's these boards that gives us a point of reference to do our research. I know money is an issue, but when someone is cutting on your stomach, it's not always wise to shop for a doctor by price, rather than experience and complication rates.

I watch them all. I don't like to eat many carbs because all they do is make me want more carbs. I count protein because my hair is falling out. I count calories because Dr. Aceves said to keep my calories at around 800.

8:30 on the west coast and I have the chat window open...........

I recommended the Beck Diet Solution. I have heard the work book is more helpful than the book, but I didn't know there was a work book when I ordered the book. I believe the book Mac recommended was something like food and Feelings?

Believe me, it does get better. Most of the time, I totally forget that I even had surgery or have the sleeve.

Have you read all of the band to sleeve revision posts? We would not all have gone through a second surgery if we were happy with the band. There are also some stories of why people had their bands taken out in the tell your story section.

Cajun and I are in the chat room if anyone wants to talk. It's almost 8 on the west coast and I will leave the window open in there for at least a couple hours, if anyone wants to talk.

Yes, really I can eat anything I want. I have had steak, pork, pizza, etc. There is nothing that can't eat. I just have to remember to take small bites and chew well. That's something that I have to really concentrate on.

I was never told we had to stop drinking 30 min before eating. I drink right up until I eat but I do wait an hour after I eat. It will get better. Just keep sipping away.

Go into lap band talk and read all the complications. In the long run, the sleeve is a much safer long term option. I don't know anyone who has had their band long term. Everyone loves it in the beginning, until all the complications start showing up. This might not happen for a couple of years, but you'll end up getting your band removed down the road. I was sleeved on a Wed and went back to work that next monday. I was not even off work a week. Feel free to ask me anything. I can tell you one thing, living with the sleeve is 1000 times better than living with the band.

Oh Tiff, I know how heartbreaking this has to be for you . I will be babysitting at my DD's this evening if you want to chat. I am so sorry to hear this. I hope the delay is not a long one and he is home very soon. I'll leave the chat window open. I'll be there in an hour 7 my time 9 yours.

My dad died unexpectedly in June. In July my bf broke up with me the week after he told me he missed me so much after I got back from my dad's funeral, that he never wanted to let go of me. Today my little silky terrier who has been my baby for 13 years died in my arms while I was waiting for my vet to meet me at his office. She has had a heart murmur and has been on Lasix since Nov. and today her little heart just gave out. Oh boy, I am at goal and life still sucks.

Benefiber gives me terrible gas. It seems like everything gives me gas. I seem to "go" okay though. I am having a better time with this issue than I did with the band.

What is happening with your clot?

It's not easy that's for sure. Thank goodness my house is paid for, because if it wasn't, I would not be able to afford both.

I have been telling people this for months but everyone seems to think these bullets are the way to go so I got sick of saying the same thing over and over again. They are not a good form of protein and I don't know any doctor who thinks they are.

I wish they would just stop doing band surgeries. People get so excited thinking they are doing something good for themselves and they have no clue how badly the band can damage their stomachs. The bands should be outlawed!

Dr. Aceves had Susan do a complete unfill land on a liquid diet one week before surgery just to be sure there was no swelling. He made new incisions on me, and did not go through the old one. Recovery for me was a breeze. I loved Dr. Aceves and all is staff.They are all very warm and friendly. I love having the sleeve. I was really sick of my band -the food getting stuck, I was throwing up in my sleep, I gained weight back because I had to be unfilled. I have had no problems with the sleeve. I can eat anything I want in small portions. It's great! Feel free to ask whatever will make you feel more comfortable. Living with the sleeve is 1000X better than the band.

Glad you're on the road to recovery!

I am lucky that I like the protein drinks . There are quite a few that I like. I like to eat soft fish, and those little itty bitty cans of chicken salad. I need to eat more veggies that's for sure.

She was my first and only dog. I had dogs as a child but they were my parent's dogs. There is no way I will ever go through this again. Losing her was horrible and I never want to go through that again. I am planning on traveling at the beginning of next month, and I keep thinking this could have happened while she was being boarded at a kennel. Thank you everyone for your kind words. It means a lot that so many people know that this is very painful.