Lissa

I was 44 when I developed the severe co-morbs. I've had problems with my knees for years, even when I was 11 and weighed nothing I dislocated a knee cap. I dislocated a knee at 23, when I was 9 months pregnant with my youngest, and I probably weighed about 230 then. Last year I did hard core Atkins and lost 50 pounds, but I got pneumonia in March of this year and the steroids/antibiotics put that, plus some, back on me within a couple of weeks. I had previous dx of rheumatoid arthritis, borderline diabetes, probably sleep apnea, and borderline high blood pressure. I think the HBP dx was wrong, though, because the only time my BP was high was when I went to that particular doctor. After the pneumonia, they dx me with asthma, severe sleep apnea, and added another borderline diabetes dx. I was 352 or so when I got those dx. I couldn't walk from my car to the door without being winded and I couldn't carry groceries because I couldn't breathe when I added that kind of load. I also had a huge blood clot in my left leg (DVT) and that spawned two small clots that sat in my lungs (pulmonary emoblisms), but thankfully, those two did not burst. Between March and June, I was hospitalized 3 times. I had surgery Aug 30, 2011, and started walking as soon as I got home. At first it was a struggle to walk around the end of my building, but I persisted and did that several times a day, then I started walking around the farther end of my building. Once I could do that without feeling like I was going to die, I started adding more distance. I managed to walk around the lake in my apartment complex about 3 weeks out from surgery! I'm now doing at least a mile every other day on the treadmill, at 3 months out. My goal there is to walk a 5k in January, 2012. I'm still on the asthma meds, but they are being reduced each time I see the doc. I am still taking coumadin for blood clots, but only because I had some clot factor in my last blood test. The doctor is pretty sure that the coumadin will be gone by Jan 15, when I have my next blood test. At 280 pounds, so hopefully within this month, my doctor plans to take me off the bi-pap completely. That will be 20% of my highest weight gone, which seems to be the magic number to drop the c-pap. I'm looking forward to that! So, by about 4 months out, my two worst co-morbidities should be gone. I haven't had blood tests yet to check the blood sugar levels, but I think they will be phenomenal as well. Good luck with your journey!

(((Ready2BDone))) You're having a rough day. Take a hot bath, get a good night's sleep and it will all look better tomorrow. This WILL happen for you and you will rock the sleeve! You've come so far and done so well. Before surgery, I could gain 10 pounds in a few days from TOM or just regular bloating. Now, it seems like I lose no matter what. That will happen for you!!! Good Luck!!!

Wow! Just WOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone has a different full signal. This pain MAY be yours. Are you taking an acid reducer? If not, try one and see if that helps. Also, it's very hard when you are newly post-op to get in all the requirements (64 oz of Water and 70 g of protein) daily. Work on the liquid first. It's way more important in the first few weeks than the Protein. Good luck!!

Yep! I'm lactose intolerant and have been since about 5 days post op. My son made me a Protein shake and I drank a few sips, then it waas off to the races!!! I can do small amounts of cheese, but no milk, cottage cheese or any other soft dairy items. Good luck!

I'm so glad to see that you followed through on the surgery! And, I'm thrilled that you let us know how it went! You have had a lot of changes this last couple of years and you still have a great attitude. I'm looking forward to watching you shrink!

I can already see a HUGE difference in your belly and hips! You're doing great! Keep up the good work!

I am glad that you are a member of all three boards. That means you are doing your research and looking for the right choice for yourself. I'm a Virgo, so I understand wanting to have all of the information possible before making a decision...and it better be the right decision, too. I don't see people here bashing the band so much as posting what they think about things. And, that's a good thing. I spent a lot of time on the LB boards where it seemed like most people were sold on their choice as well. I didn't get the impression they were bashing other types of WLS, either. It's good that you have spent a lot of time researching and have stood firm on what you think is the right decision for you. All of us have individual reasons for making our final choices, whether it is because insurance will or won't pay for a procedure, or because we don't like the thought of losing part of our stomach, or because we want to be able to reverse the procedure we have done. My final decision to do VSG over LB is that I wanted the restriction for even slider foods and I have a latex allergy that was discovered after minor surgery. I know the LB is supposed to be non-allergenic, but I felt would be that one person who became allergic to the material which composes the band. I'm also allergic to the glue used to put shoes together, so my body definitely knows how to pick it's allergies! I really do want to hear about your journey with the LB/plication, so I'll be looking for your posts. I hope you are extremely successful!

Shelly, I appreciate that you are trying to get all the information you can on both procedures. It does sound like you are totally sold on the band with plication, though, so that should probably be your choice. Each of us is an individual and has different goals and different ideas on how to get there. You quoted two people who seemed to have conflicting ideas in your post. One thought that you could eat more regular food with the band and the other thought you could eat more regular food with the sleeve. The truth is that both the band and the sleeve will allow one to eat regular food. Both will also allow one to eat slider foods like ice cream, cake, etc. My choice of the sleeve is based on the restriction that the sleeve automatically gives without the need for fills. I can eat all those slider foods, but I can only eat so much of them before I'm too full to continue. THAT is the reason for sleeve versus band for me. LilMissDiva gave you links to success and failure areas for both lap band and for vertical sleeve. If you are truly interested in reading more about both procedures, those are the areas to check out. And, you are definitely going to get more praise for VSG on this board because that is the choice most of us have made. I'm sure you'll have a similar experience on the lap band board. Those folks have chosen the lap band for themselves and are working their program as well. I find it interesting that many lap band patients do end up having a revision from lap band to something else...and that revision is often to VSG. I knew that before I had my sleeve done and that was a factor in my decision. Also, I never heard of plication during my research phase. I definitely never heard anyone suggest a band with plication. I don't know anything about that process at all. It may turn out to be better than either or both the LB or the VSG. I'm all for any process which helps us to lose weight and become healthier. I hope that you will let us know how you are doing on your journey and I wish you the best of luck with it!

Raven, A couple of suggestions to help with the vomiting. First, it seems like you have progressed to soft foods very quickly. I was on "full liquids" at this point in my recovery. Protein shakes, pureed soups, cottage cheese. Basically, it was still "If you can chew it, don't do it". So, maybe you need to back up to full liquids for a little bit and give your sleeve more time to heal. Second, I discovered that I am lactose intolerant at about your current stage as well. I quit drinking milk, eating yogurt or cottage cheese and I didn't have diarrhea issues after that. Maybe try some non-dairy milk (soy or almond) and see if that helps. Third, are you taking an acid reducer? You may be sick because your sleeve is producing too much acid. Too much acid can also make you feel hungry all the time. Fourth, you should really be concentrating on getting your Water in at this early stage. Yes, you should work on the protein, but it's more important to stay hydrated than it is to reach the protein goal right now. As your swelling goes down, you'll be able to get more protein, but you must stay hydrated to avoid kidney stones and/or ending up in the hospital. Lastly, Good luck and welcome to VST!!! Good luck on your journey!!

Congrats on getting the approval letter!! And, welcome to VST! It's great for support and answers to all those questions we never think to ask our doctor!

I don't like any hot teas since surgery. I drink cold, decaf tea all day long. I'd be concerned with drinking cannabis tea because I'd hate to have a positive drug test. Does the THC transfer through the tea?

coffee, did they use regular tape on you or bandaids? If so, and the red marks are in those places, congrats, you have a latex allergy! My surgeon put a big bandaid over my drain opening when he pulled the drain out. The drain hole has healed pretty well at 3 months out, but I can still see the red mark from the bandaid around it! I was dx with the latex allergy after having a pre-cancerous melanoma removed from my back as an outpatient. The nurse taped a huge bandage onto my back and by morning I was screaming in pain. I went back into the docs office and when they pulled the tape off, everywhere they had put the tape, I had huge welts. Some of them were even weeping Fluid. Not a pleasant way to learn. I knew about my latex allergy before surgery and that's why I got to be the first operation of the day. That way they didn't have to clean the OR specifically for latex between operations. Maybe the nurses will weigh in here, but I guess that's a long, tedious process. I use a little hydrocortisone if the spots get itchy or weepy, otherwise, just wash them well when you bathe and it should heal up with time. It should also be noted on your medical chart for the doctor and hospital. "dermatitis" is one of those dx that docs use when they aren't sure what's actually bothering you. "Contact Dermatitis" means that your skin reacts to a certain substance. Good luck!

I'm lost at the "upper portion of my stomach" comment. Our sleeves are shaped more like a banana than anything else. Are you not able to swallow, so liquids and foods are sitting in your throat/esophagus? If that is the case, are you having slimies? If you are, you'll definitely know. I didn't have surgery complications, but I did/do have some difficulty swallowing. It happens when I either drink/eat too fast, or when I'm already full and try to put more into my sleeve. Are you taking an acid reducer? That might help with the heartburn and burping. But, burping is how I know that I'm full. I will be going right along, enjoying my meal and I'll have the urge to burp, or it will actually slip out. I immediately put my fork down and get rid of anything that's in my mouth, because it's not going to fit into my sleeve. I'm assuming you're on solid foods since you are six weeks post-op. Are you chewing well enough? I still have to chew everything to applesauce consistency or it isn't comfortable once it hits my tummy. Also, if I don't chew very well, I can't eat as much, maybe 1 oz of meat versus 3 or 4 oz of meat. Since my goal is to get my Protein, I chew and chew and chew. I see that you have an appt with your doc to have this issue addressed, which is good. Hopefully, he'll tell you it's something very simple that does not require any follow up. Personally, I'm wondering if you are having some swelling there since you're still pretty early in recovery. I hope it's minor and it's all cleared up very soon. So, in short, take your acid reducer and chew very well when you eat solids. Maybe switch to easier liquids for a little while. Good luck!

Welcome, Jessica!! Settle in, get a glass of water and start reading! I'm betting that if you can come up with the question, someone has answered it, or WILL answer it fairly quickly.

Ophelia, Surgery or not, you will have to face your food demons sometime. I am seeing a therapist to help me work through some issues because it was recommended in my psyche evaluation and because I want to maximize my benefits from this surgery. So far, I've realized that it IS possible for me to deal with heavy emotions without resorting to food. I used to literally eat my problems away, but, just like an alcoholic, those problems were still waiting after I indulged. Now I'm learning to speak up when I'm upset, and to realize when I'm upset with someone, rather than eating something to shut myself up. Whether you go forward with the sleeve or not, it's a good thing to deal with the food issues. I agree that most obese people do not have a healthy relationship with food. That's not our fault, but we are the ones who have to do the work to put food back in it's proper place in our lives.''\ I'm finding it very interesting that for me food is no longer divided into "good" or "bad". Now it either IS or IS NOT Protein. if I want something, I decide whether to eat it based on whether I have reached my protein and Water goals for the day. I eat what I want, but I concentrate on the protein first, usually. Just like every other human being, I have days where I don't meet my goals, but I am changing my way of living, not "dieting". That's the freedom I get from being sleeved. It lets me eat to live without the distractions of constant hunger. I no longer live to eat. Oh, and dealing with problems now? I go walk somewhere, or I get on the treadmill, or I do my version of weighlifting. Once I've done some kind of physical activity, if I'm still upset, THEN I address the person who has upset me. So I'm also building my conflict resolution skills while I'm getting healthier. It's a win win for me! Good luck with your journey!!

You canceled your surgery because a RELATIVE told you that it wasn't good to do the sleeve with polyps in your stomach? Really? You should ask your doctor about that, not your relatives. Good luck with your journey!!

My observation is that, initially anyway, those who have higher BMIs lose faster. Once they are down into the lower ranges (Say 230 and down) the weight loss seems to slow down and it becomes more an issue of what kind of diet/exercise program someone is following. I think that is because our bodies need fewer calories once we get to those ranges and that is usually when we are getting to a point where we slack off on the strict diet/exercise programs. I'm working on exercise now so I will, I hope, be capable of doing the extra exercise required to get to goal and keep me on track at that point. I'm 45, if that makes any difference.

Does your doc have an after-hours number? I recently had a round of diarrhea and the nurse was very concerned about it. She wanted me to call if it lasted more than one day because it's very easy for us to get dehydrated after the sleeve. She did NOT want me to take any anti-diarrhea medicine. Thankfully it cleared up after I ate some cheese, okay a bunch of cheese. She also suggested bananas

check out the blog "the world according to egg face". Her name is Schelly and she has TONS of muffin type recipes that are carb-free and yummy. I adore her ricotta bake. It tastes just like lasagna without the noodles!

Wow! I know he didn't mean that the way it came out, because you are pretty already!! Awkward comments come along with telling people. Just try to remember that most people say it from concern FOR you rather than something AGAINST you. I've posted before about my friend's sister in law who had WLS and is not compliant with her diet, Water, or exercise regime. She has lost her weight, but at a tremendous cost to her long term health. The sister in law is actually my inspiration for working my sleeve correctly. When I first mentioned WLS to the friend, she was horrified and made comments about it being a lot of work and not a magic wand. At first I was somewhat offended, but I finally asked her what she meant by that comment. Once I knew where she was coming from, the sting went out of her words. Maybe we are so over-sensitive from our years of dealing with negativity surrounding our weight that it's difficult for us to see that people do mean things in a positive manner. We're just not used to assuming the best of those comments. That's my thought process anyway.

I bought a bottle of Neutrogena Body Oil right after surgery. I take my shower in the morning, then slather the body oil on from the neck down, without towelling dry first. I let that air dry while I'm doing my hair before I get dressed. I use a facial moisturizer with SPF 15 (living in Fl, it's required). I'm seeing improvement even in my decades old stretch marks from doing this. My heritage is American Indian, so my family normally has oily skin, but you couldn't tell looking at me right now. I'm trying to be careful about what I use to wash my skin. I use moisturizing liquid soap for my body and shampoo for my face. My granny swore by shampoo for her face, then noxema and she died with very few wrinkles at 84. My mom followed the same routine and didn't look anywhere close to 56 when she passed away. Staying hydrated with plenty of Water helps as well, I've found. I have a tendency to have puffy under eye circles and water seems to help keep them under control. Good luck with your journey!!

I started out wanting the lap band as well, but changed my mind after my seminar with my surgeon. I did go to a doctor before that (Straxx Rejuvenation, Dr Michael Choi), who told me he would do a band on me, no questions asked. I felt like a piece of meat there, and decided to talk to another surgeon. Dr. Domkowski, whose seminar I attended, made a statement at the seminar that still rings in my mind. He said that the band was good for people whose problem is "just" that they overeat. He said the sleeve was better for folks whose main problem is being addicted to sweets, which is me. I immediately switched to researching the sleeve instead of the band. I had been reading the lap band boards for a while, and I went looking for something similar for VSG, and here I am. After reading everything I could find at both places, it reinforced my decision to have VSG. When I went for my initial consult, the surgeon went over the paperwork I had filled out for him (22 pages!) and we decided together that the VSG is/was the best option for me. At nearly 61 pounds gone this morning, I'm still convinced we made the right choice for me!

It's normal to have some fear pre-op. I know I did, but you need to weigh the risks for you. Weighing 300 pounds is taking away your quality of life, and it 100% poses HUGE risks for your health. There's a 1 in 1000 chance of major complications with this surgery, IIRC. You need to weigh one against the other and decide what you want to do. I'd rather have some loose skin, that I can have removed if I wish, versus carrying 170 extra pounds that I can't have removed. Good luck with your journey!!

Waiting a few extra days isn't so bad. I had surgery before to install a filter because of blood clots, then surgery after my VSG to remove the filter. I was a little ticked that my doc required the filter thing until the tech told me after the removal that the filter had caught not one, but two, clots! Those clots could have killed me or left me a paralyzed vegetable. I appreciated Doctor D's caution after that! So, be happy that your surgeon is being proactive and moving your surgery to a hospital that is better able to care for you if something did happen. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! We'll still save you a nice warm spot on the loser's bench!