Kristina J.

I'm in Mexico, resting at the beautiful Marriott after being sleeved on Saturday. I have yet to be robbed, mugged, decapitated or forced to bribe my way out of the grasp of the cartels. It's been a wonderful trip filled with wonderfully kind natives who are all too happy to have the money and reputation that the local surgeons bring! It sounds like this guy is someone that will never support you on a path to what you need. I'm sorry you have to put up with that.

Hey Jackie! I'm leaving Friday to have mine done by Dr. Garcia in Mexico at florence Hospital! I live in Surprise!

Even better then!!! Lol I know getting our wills in order was a crappy process, but it's nice having things in order, just in case. This is like that, only way happier all around!!

Since I'm in my pre-op diet still, I have to stick to skim milk, and for the first week after surgery, but if I haven't adjusted by then, I'll be back on 1% as well. The difference in an 8 ounce glass is 20 calories (at least with my local brand). I just have to make sure I'm taking the extra 20 into consideration with my daily intake! I got into the habit of drinking whatever milk I needed for my kids, so for a while that was actually whole milk. Even at one cup a day, whole milk is so high! Lol so the adjustment to 1% was enough for me. Skim tastes like glue water! Lol I don't think I could ever drink it straight, but I've adjusted to it in my protein shakes for now at least!

Ok, so a few things lol Cheating early in your pre-op diet likely won't result in your doctor not being able to do surgery. But, depending on how or when you cheat, you can sabotage surgery!! So be 100% on track now. You've "used up your cheat" lol And more importantly, be careful comparing what another patient had to do, to your pre-op diet, even from the same surgeon. I have a group of 9 friends, all seeing the same surgeon in the same 4 day stretch and there are at least 4 different pre-op diets between the 9 of us. Your doctor tailors your pre-op diet to your specific needs, so stick to it as closely as you can. I'm on day 9 of 14 for surgery on May 11th, and while I haven't cheated, I totally get how hard it is not to! Hang in there. This is the home stretch... The most important part of your pre-op diet. You can do it!!!

Hahaha I saw some story on their apology saying that the color is actually manatee gray for all departments, but since each department posts individually, the misses posting just eyeballed the color, while the plus size post had the actual color name... But seriously?!? What woman, in ANY size, wants to wear something with manatee in the title?!? Lol

Woo hoo!!!!! Such an awesome step!!

You look absolutely beautiful!! Such pretty pictures too!

Congratulations!! It's no small victory!! I can only imagine the peace of mind this gives you going into your sleeve. What a wonderful time for your family.

Got a favor to ask of all you wonderful VST MFPers!! Who'd be willing to add my husband?! Lol trjohns1979 I'm 5 DAYS pre-op now (can't believe how fast it's gone) and my husband has been so supportive, losing 20lbs along side me this past few months. Well, he has started tracking with me too now!!! He's not a sleever, but a very loving supporter, if you like lots of buddies, I'm surprise blasting him with friend requests today and would love for you all to help me and welcome him to tracking!! He's been so supportive and I'd love to make MFP more exciting for him!! Thank you!!!!!! Also, if we aren't buddies yet, please add me too!! kejohnson83 ... I track everyday with an open diary and love buddies to track with!!

And I understand that completely. Even as someone who did hide WLS out of shame and embarrassment, I am 100% sure that there are a lot of people, like you and my sister who just don't share any information like that, and it has nothing to do with shame. My post wasn't just directed to you. Like you said, you were responding to the "liar" comments. I've heard the "self promoter" thing probably half as much as the other side has heard "liar" and I know how much it bothers me, so I really get where you were coming from. Thank you for apologizing. That's why I want to BE you. Because you're awesome I just wish this didn't have to be such an "our side, your side" issue, but it always becomes that in these threads. I am open about it, but understand someone being private about it. It just seems to always come down to name calling. Admittedly usually started by the "sharers" calling the "privates" liars. It's just so unnecessary.

I fell for it and commented on another one of these threads and I regret it. Again. To be very clear, I said that when I PERSONALLY didn't tell that it was from shame and embarrassment, and that I can't be the only one. But I also pointed out that some people (even citing my sister and her WLS as an example)) are just private people and it has nothing to do with shame. Calling people "liars" if they don't tell, or "self-promoters" if they do tell, is just bullying from both sides. But that seems to be a running theme around here lately.

I'm still 9 days pre-op but was diagnosed with Celiac 10 years ago and have been GF ever since. I tend to "avoid rather than substitute," so I don't eat many carbs, which is great heading into this. I've been focusing on eating more like I will post op for the last few months, and haven't noticed many changes. We'll see once I'm sleeved though! Lol Just find a good GF protein shake. I like the Premier shakes from Costco/Sam's Club! Good luck!

They want us to do caffeine free for the same reason pre-op as post-op. Caffeine is a diuretic and can aid in dehydration. That being said, it's been the ONLY area where I haven't been super faithful to my pre-op. I just try and make sure I get in extra Fluid when I drink caffeine and monitor my urine color (lol that's sounds so nasty) to make sure I'm well hydrated. I'll be compliant and give it up post op, but for now, I am dragging as I'm adjusting to fluids only and caffeine helps me not pass out! lol it's better now on day 4 than day 1, so I'll try and drop it for week two of pre-op!

You look fantastic!! And since I'm not willing to put into writing the variety and weight of things that I have thrown at my (very supportive) husband in the last 3 days since starting my liquid diet, I will simply say, I understand.

I'm right behind you for my revision and I had dilation too! I was banded in 2003 for the first time, then after a really bad slip and erosion, I had to have my band removed in 2005... but lucky me? They punctured my stomach during surgery! I was in the hospital for 10 days and had a pretty tough recovery, but was eventually rebanded as a self pay in 2006. My insurance changed during that year, so what started as a "she's too thin to be approved for another band" turned into "we don't cover any bariatric, even if it would prevent eminent death" after the new year's plan was activated. After eventually paying out of pocket for my second band, I just never had near the success with it as I did my first band. I had put back on the 100# that I lost, plus another 20 in that unbanded year. After almost 7 years with that second band, I'm only down the additional 20lbs, leaving me with 100# to lose again (still lol). I did at one point lose almost 50 of the 120 with the second band, but after 2 pregnancies, all but 20 of that is back and no matter how many adjustments, I just can't keep losing. Since I'm pre-op, I don't have much sleeve advice to offer, other than what I've learned with success and failure with my band over the last 10 years. I think surgery itself can be a very easy recovery if you follow all of the pre-op and post-op instructions. After talking to tons of revision patients, and just sleeve patients in general... Walk walk walk after surgery!! The mantra is sip sip sip, walk walk walk, repeat!! As far as eating post op and long term success, the people with the most success are the people that stuck to their surgeons plan. If it's liquids for two weeks, stay on liquids for two weeks, even if other patients can eat soft foods 7 days out. Don't negotiate your plan, just stick to it. And keep up with the exercise. It sounds like you're already ahead of most of us in that department! lol But as far as pain, I wouldn't worry about that. I know it's a legitimate fear, and one that I've spent some time on myself, but most people say it's mostly pain free, just uncomfortable. The first day or so when it actually hurts, you'll be medicated in the hospital! And most people attribute any actual "pain" to gas, which will be minimal if you walk walk walk!! Otherwise, the patients that have surgery in Mexico (like I am doing) actually aren't even sent home with narcotics, just a anti-inflammatory pain reliever, and they have all said that it's been more than enough to control their pain! Good luck! Let us know how surgery goes!

Congratulations Tricia!! That's so exciting! My insurance has a bariatric exclusion, so even after 10 years with this evil thing, I would never be approved, despite being at the same starting weight as 10 years ago (actually 8lbs over when I first scheduled my revision lol). I love hearing when people are approved for revisions so easily. It gives me hope that surgeons and even insurance are finally figuring out that the band is not the success everyone was hoping it would be! What does your liquid diet look like? I am on day 3 of mine, and with my band unfilled, this is torture! lol But definitely worth it!

I have been banded for 10 years with a band replacement a few years in. My pouch was dilated too when I scheduled my revision, so 2 months before surgery (which is coming up in less than 2 weeks), I had my band completely unfilled. I don't know about long term success, though I tend to think (in my non-medical professional opinion lol) that once the dilation heals, it shouldn't really be a factor. However, I have heard, both from my surgeon and my lap band doc that a dilated pouch can cause your stomach to be misshapen after band removal, which can make it too difficult to do the band to sleeve revision in one surgery. As a self pay, I am really hoping for a single surgery revision which is part of why I decided to empty my band so early. The last time my pouch was super dilated, I was told to leave my band unfilled for 3 months so that it could completely heal, then I could start the fill process again. So I went with that logic and just emptied early. I'm crossing my fingers that I can revise in one, but obviously, if it's not healed enough, or just not safe, I'll just have to suck it up and pay for both surgeries! I guess I'll see on May 11th! lol

That sounds about right. If you're in the low 160's then your BMI is likely at a level that indicates you don't have the fatty liver that most of us high (or even relatively high) BMI'ers have. Just keep up with your healthy diet as usual and say a quiet thank you to the pre-op gods! lol Do you need to do a clear liquid diet the 24hours before surgery or anything? That's the only thing I would ask about since generally that's a requirement for most surgeries, but especially bariatric! Good luck on your revision!! Let us know how you do!!

I have also heard that for some, they believe the band causes people to be "slow losers" but I honestly think that everyone loses at their own pace, it just gets blamed on the band in a revision patient. I have spoken to so many revision sleevers and it seems to be about the same ratio of fast to slow losers as "virgin" sleevers. And going back to what CowgirlJane said, I think ANY weight loss surgery is going to be what you make it. Yes, the band was a flawed system that made it so much harder to eat the healthy foods... however, I know for me personally, there came a point with my band that I gave up trying to find my "sweet spot" and resorted to sliders. I had been through so many fill adjustments that my patience and, as a self pay, money, were running thin. I resorted to sliders to get through and it was a very easy and familiar way of eating, so I stuck with it, instead of continuing to try and get the most out of my band. Do I think that everyone can be successful with the band if they just try harder? No, of course not (myself included), and I don't think anyone should be expected to go through the insane number of adjustments it would likely take to actually find a "sweet spot" for a lot of us. But, I do agree with Jane that part of the success with the sleeve, at least for me, will really come from evaluating where I made poor choices with the band. And honestly, in a lot of ways, I am thankful for my last 10 years with the band... as much of a mess as it was, I feel like it's put me in a good place mentally to adjust to a sleeve and be committed to the program I need for long term success!!

So glad to hear you're doing so well. I'm revising on May 11th and hoping that my recovery goes as smoothly. I have a tendency to over do it after surgery as soon as I start feeling well, and then end up feeling worse! This is a good reminder to make sure I don't do that... and maybe remind my husband to hold me back if I don't remember on my own! lol I just always get so excited to recover so quickly and then jump out of the gate and regret it later! lol How is eating going for you? I think in some ways I'm expecting post op eating (well, drinking lol) to feel a bit like having a band that's too tight. How would you compare the sensations? Side note: So thankful for this site and this forum specifically. It's a weird thing for us to be old pros, but starting over at the same time! Glad to have the feedback from other revisions!!

If this was my first abdominal surgery, I would consider it, but with the wide array of scars I already have, the doc may be able to use some combo of them again anyway lol. I do think it's a cool idea, but it would be purely for vanity for me, so I'd have to weigh it against any possible increased risk.

You are hilarious! There were so many lines that I had to read out loud to my husband that I finally just gave up and had him read the whole thing! hahaha I think it's fantastic and I'm not usually one for "potty humor" but this had me rolling! hahaha Great job!!