scubadottie

Hi All! Just an update... one week out! Doing great! I went to the San Diego Zoo five days after my surgery and had an awesome time. I think it was a record high in San Diego of about 100 degrees! Sipping my water and keeping hydrated. I have had two episodes of "didn't agree with my new tummy"... my fault for trying spice in my broth. I have toned it down and all is well. My flight from San Diego was smooth... got a letter of necessity from my surgeon and was able to take a couple drinkable yogurts and gatorades on the plane. I stepped on the scale today and am down 10 pounds since my surgery. Yeah! Love being here with my Mom and lots of choices for my full liquid phase. Another week and a half and then to softs... can't wait to try cottage cheese! Life's little pleasures! Staying active and walking my Mom's dog and walking the mall and Wal-Mart. Guys, keep the positive thoughts coming and I will meet you all in onederland! Bought my first 1X top in forever today!!! Cheers to ALL! Dottie

Hi PJ, Yes, you can do it! I have copied my post from the other forum for you about my experience this past Monday. You will do great! Hi Everybody, Did it! Done it! My surgery was on Monday and it went so smooth! Dr. Ortiz is the bomb! Had an awesome experience! I am a revision... so, I had my band removed and the sleeve done at the same time. The doctor said I had alot of scar tissue around the band and a tiny hernia...but, they fixed all that. The IV was the hardest part of the whole process. For being a big girl... I have tiny veins and they are hard to find and hit! Ended up getting poked 5 times before they got it...but, if that is the worst... then I consider myself very very lucky! I was in OR for about an hour and a half... pretty groggy when I came out... my friend, Stacy had two heads for awhile. Smile! Got up about three time to go to the restroom... had a little nausea, but the nurse gave me something for that right away and haven't had any other problems with that again. Woke up at about 6:00am Tuesday and read and relaxed until I was discharged at about 10:30 am. No pain, no gas... felt good! The drain was the most uncomfortable part, which felt like I had a stitch in my side (like you get when you run alot). Got back to the Marriott (great hotel) and took a taxi up to WalMart for a walk around, and then walked back to the hotel. Had some Water and chicken broth for dinner and as long as I sip slowly... no problems. On Wednesday... back to the clinic to have my drain checked... all good. Went to the dentist and had my teeth cleaned and then back to the hotel for a nap. Broth and hot tea for dinner and called it a night. Today... got my drain out...yeah! Two days ahead of schedule! Just relaxing and resting today. Tomorrow... head back across the border and will have two days in San Diego before I fly back home on Sunday. Thinking about going to the Zoo and doing a little shopping! Overall, I am sooo glad that I had this done and very excited about getting to onederland! Dr. Ortiz and Obesity Control Center is the absolute greatest and I highly recommend him to any and all! Thank you to everybody that sent me your thoughts and prayers and I am ready to get this journey started! Cheers, Dottie

Hi, There is a sub forum which is Revision - Band to Sleeve, that has a lot of great info. I am having my band removed and sleeve done in 12 days! Good luck to you! Cheers, Dottie

September 10th for me! I am 52 and looking forward to getting sexy and healthy! Cheers, Dottie

Hello Gorgeous Ladies! I am 52 and getting my sleeve in 12 days (September 10th). I am a revision...getting my lapband removed and sleeve done at the same time (I hope!). I am thinking positive and I know that I can do this! I have lost 38 pounds so far on my pre-op diet and only another 60 pounds to go until I hit onederland! I can overcome my weight! I can be sexy, beautiful and awesome! Wish me luck! Dottie

Good luck! Think positive thoughts! All will be well!

How about going to a store that sells higher limit scales... and trying it out in the store. No need to buy. Test it!

Congrats...2 days is 2 days...all the quicker to get started. My surgery is in 13 days!

Hi to all Revision people! Just wondering how many of you had to do a barium swallow and endoscopy before/during their VSG revision? Thanks, Dottie

Hi, Just came across this study published June 2012... about the three common types of bariatric surgery. The quote that I found the most interesting was.... The rate of a gastrointestinal leak, considered a serious complication, was three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) for sleeve gastrectomy versus four-tenths of one percent (0.4%) for gastric bypass patients. The percentage of procedures requiring reoperations due to complications was 15.3 percent for the gastric band, 7.7 percent for gastric bypass and 1.5 percent for sleeve gastrectomy. And... A third study on sleeve gastrectomy conducted by the Naval Medical Center in San Diego found while gastric bypass patients lost more of their excess weight after the first year, 72.3 percent versus 63.7 percent, there were no statistically significant differences in excess weight loss after two and five years. This study examined 486 patients, half had gastric bypass and half had sleeve gastrectomy. Here is the link to the article... http://asmbs.org/2012/06/new-studies-weigh-in-on-safety-and-effectiveness-of-newer-bariatric-and-metabolic-procedure-sleeve-gastrectomy-demonstrates-weight-loss-and-safety-comparable-to-more-established-procedures/ Good luck to all the Sleevers! Dottie

Congrats...as you said, that's 10 down never to return! Think positive! My surgery is a little over 2 weeks away... and I have lost 36 pounds so far on my pre-op. I have three days of clear liquids just before my surgery...I know we can do this! Good luck to you! Cheers, Dottie

I had one fill after my band surgery. 2.85cc. Sliming and Pbing was almost a daily experience. About 8 months after band surgery, it got too tight... I was having trouble liquids. Had to exist on thin soups and such for two months before I could fly back to the States for an unfill. The band has never really worked for me. I had a complete unfill last September... and now only 2 weeks until I get this band out! My doctor is saying that I will need to do a barium swallow the morning of the surgery and possibly a endoscopy. I will do whatever he recommends...just wondering about every bodies experience. Thanks for the feedback. Cheers, Dottie

Congrats and wish you the very best of luck in your new you!

Onederland is just around the corner from you! Go!

Hi Trinie, I am the 10th also...sleeve buddies! Good luck! I am having my done in Tijuana... how about you? Cheers, Dottie

Hi, My NUT wanted me to lose 32 pounds before surgery with the last two weeks being liquids only. I have lost 36 pounds since January... and now my NUT says I have to do the liquids only pre-op diet for 3 days before surgery. My surgery is scheduled for September 10th. January 2012 - 297 lbs February - 292 lbs March - 287 lbs April - 281 lbs May - 277 lbs June - 271 lbs July - 265 lbs August - 261 lbs (so far)

Thank you Suzanne! You are inspiring! It will work for me! It will work for me! That is my new mantra... and I will make it happen! Cheered, Dottie

Inspiring! I can do this! You look Fab! Onederland is just around the corner!

Congrats! Your smile is brighter... the ladies are swooning, I'm sure!

Good luck Natalee! Please keep us posted. My revision is in 25 days. Nervous and excited! Look forward to hearing from you! Cheers, Dottie

Oops...losing track of time! 25 days to go!

I couldn't see the link either using my tablet with the VST app... had to up with browser to see link.

Hi Barb, I have never worn Spanx... which one are you referencing? I can't find the split crotch one that you mentioned on the Spanx website. Thanks for your help. Cheers, Dottie