fatBgone

My surgeon also will not do a leak test on me. I discussed this with him and his response was that most leaks happen for someone like me at 2-3 weeks post op because of necrosis of the tissue at the staple line. He said if there are symptoms of a leak during my aftercare, post op visits at 1 and 3 weeks, then he would do one. He said he 's only had one incident of a person with a leak and that it was years ago and her health going in was not good. He did say some people are more at risk for leaks, higher BMI, lap band revisions, etc. He also said that he may do one on someone who travels to see him who may either not have all the post op visits or have the post op visits back at their home with their PCP.

Ok I'm a loser...what does NSV stand for????

Yes if you are going the insurance route, then most plans do require a 3-6 mo doctor supervised diet. Plus medical history to show you've been overweight for 2-5 years usually. Don't look it at it like a dely, look at it like preperation for a new life. Seriously, you need time to mentally prepare for all aspects of your new life. New eating habits, new physical look, how people will treat you differently if you are thinner, set goals for yourself, think about all the things you want to do as you lose, not just once you lose. Depending on how much you have to lose its not going to happen overnight so you also need to be prepared that its a process to get to where you want to be. On the other hand, I know exactly how you feel. I was in the same boat last year this time. I wanted a lap band approved by my insurance, I went through the 3 mo diet, got all my medical records and I was denied!!!! Yep talk about devastation. But now I'm back and I'm a self pay and I'm doing the sleeve not the band. I have less than a week to surgery. And honestly I learn more everyday and I feel so much better prepared now than I would have been had this happened last year. Good luck to you!

So glad to hear it Crosswind. It's funny, you are two weeks ahead of me and I'm monitoring all your posts so I can kinda gauge how I'll be at that same point in 2 weeks. So keep the updates coming! And I hope it stays this smooth for you (and me in two weeks)

Meggiep, Sounds like, assuming you have no complications, you would probably be okay for that wedding on the 30th, since its only a one day event then you get time off again. Based on what I've read on here, I would say to make sure you are well hydrated going into the wedding and take drinks with you, even Protein drinks so you can nurish during the wedding. But just in case you have a rough time and are one of the ones who can't get enough Fluid or have excess pain, is there a backup you can have standing reading just in case? Might be a good idea. And you should be able to give that backup a heads up on how your doing in the days before.

Lanette, I work from home too and my surgery is on Monday, Apr 11 and I'm going back Monday, Apr 18, but I only have to work for 3 days that week. I'm sooooo hoping I'm in as good a shage as you are!

Well none of that sounds any fun! Sorry to hear you are dealing with all of that. What exactly is a stricture? Is that a blockage? Is that why they stretched your sleeve? Are they going to go in and fix the hernia? Good luck to you, you have my best wishes.

Really tough couple of days there for you! So sorry to hear it. You are doing the right thing with the fluids, definitely work on getting in as much as you can. Protein will help too if you can get (and keep) any down. I'm sending all good wishes your way.

My understanding is that it falls out because of lack of Protein. As you have probably seen on here, in the first weeks after surgery some people have difficulty getting enough protein. If you let that go on too long it will have adverse effects, one being loss of hair. Some people will take Biotin to help prevent the hair loss and to also help it grow back quicker. As far as I know, yes it will grow back as your diet improves.

First get to know your surgeon by research...is s/he reputable? how many RNYs and sleeves has s/he done? what about complications? Get those questions answered and if s/he is a good surgeon then listen to why s/he wants you to have RNY. There may be a good reason for it. It will all depend on your statistics and co-mobidities. I suggest you listen to his/her reasons first then ask about the sleeve. Ask why s/he doesn't think the sleeve will accomplish your goals. Explain you have researched the sleeve and feel that its right for you. Explain why you feel the sleeve is right and not RNY.

You should check your surgeon's dietary guidelines for that time out from surgery. For me at 7-8 weeks post op, I'll be on soft food, which means fish or ground meats and cooked veggies, no salads. So I think you can definitly get by on 'normal food' if your family eats these things. If they want to cook steak every night you may not want to do that!

ASB, I'm sorry its cancelled but once you figure out what is going on and get it fixed you can reschedule. Good luck to you!

My surgery will be next Monday and I'll go home on Tuesday

I ended up asking my doc, he said I won't have one but my literature did mention one because its for all bariatric surgeries and I think my doc does it for RNYs. So its probably best to ask and even then you may get a maybe because I think some docs will just see how the surgery goes and determine then if he/she wants to put the drain in.

My doc bases it on BMI, says it can be anywhere from 3 days to 4 weeks. I'm just 1 week. But it isn't clear liquids, mine is Medifast and/or Fast Track so it has eggs, Soups, Protein bars and smoothies plus all the SF Jello you want. But it isn't the most flavorful food you've ever had and the no carbs is a killer!

My post op diet calls for it at 3 mos. The dietician did say that people are dying for salad by 3 mos.

April 11 for me! Next week this time I'll be in recovery or maybe even out of recovery by now. I'm both nervous and excited. I started by pre-op diet today and whoa! I can't believe how horrible I feel. The dietician says its carb withdrawal. That is so pathetic that I feel this way because I'm not eating carbs. The way I look at it, I'm glad to do it this week so that I'm finished with this feeling for next week.

You're right that other bariatric procedures have been around longer. My surgeon has done over 400 sleeves though so I think you can find an experienced surgeon if that is important to you. My surgeon's done over 1000 RNYs and even more lapbands. So you need to talk to him and determine what you are comfortable with.

Welcome back Crooswind! Glad you had a good surgery.

I have to echo what others have said about the bigger you are the more weight there is between sizes. I know I lose from the ends in, meaning my hands and feet first and then the stomach, butt and hips last (of course), so it can take a good 40 lbs to change sizes.

Can someone fill me in on the chapstick? Are you congested after surgery?

Well what I can tell you is that my post op diet is clear liquids for 1 week and yes it includes the Unjury chicken. As you know each of us has a different pre-op diet so checking with your surgeon is best. My pre-op is a weeklong and it is all pre packaged items I bought from the doctor, mostly Medifast. I start Monday. Not looking forward to it.

Well good luck! You will be fine. No more atavan for you!!!

I completely agree with the view that food should be viewed as an ex lover and that we are divorcing it! Brilliant. Brian66, you are right there, the first step for any bad behavior is realizing that you do it!!! You know what it is, you know its bad. Now you need to reconcile how you want to deal with it. Remember, YOU have the control to deal with it however YOU want to. Make your choices and move on.

I'm jealous! Because it happened like this for you, you don't have to work up that fear for the next two weeks. You just have to ride the tide and go with the flow. Good luck to you!