DebSee

That's wonderful news, Debs! All the best to you on your journey and give Mr Patel a hug from me!

In the first day after my op, and after the various fluids I drank to test the staple line, I absolutely did shart myself. Once. And standing in the privacy of my own shower room. The nurses, old hands with the newly sleeved, had prepared me for the possibility and explained it was the ikky stuff you have to drink for the post-op tests that do it. Apparently, few are immune. For the liquid stage, consider, too, that what goes in is exactly what comes out - liquid stuff. It's not for long, and many aren't as hershey-squirty as I was. For about three weeks, it was just good pre-planning - I just made sure I had a darn good idea of where the restrooms were whenever I went out of the house lol. From my experience so far (sleeved mid-September), once you're on semi-solids & solids again, everything rights itself. I'm generally a much better burper than farter, but I AM confident it's just wind that's being generated back there!

I had a band (SAGB) for 10yrs and I was sleeved in September. I can say there's no air bubble feeling - perhaps this is because there is no pouch. I fully admit I have felt over-full and on two occasions I have yakked when I've chanced that one more bite, but unlike with my band, there was no foaming or sliming.

*raises hand* I was over 400lbs on surgery day, and just under now. Just four weeks out and already 42lbs down, I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat! My knees are already thanking me. Also, there is a section here at Verticalsleevetalk for folks who have 200 lbs or more to lose:- http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/39-200-pounds/ Good luck on your journey! *hugs*

I was granted NHS funding for my sleeve. However, for personal reasons (cancer in a close family member), I needed to be recovered from my op & losing weight sooner rather than later so I could be fit & able to help out as needed. At 30st I was no use to anyone - 3st lighter and I'm already far more active. As Mr Patel's list is currently running at about the one year mark (I was first seen last February, so by next Jan/Feb I would have been done), and because we could afford it really, we went the private route. Yes, I did gain some weight from referral to surgery, not a huge amount, mind. I confess to having done the whole "food Funeral" routine and even had a list of stuff I wanted to eat for the last time. Unlike some surgeons, Mr Patel did not require me to lose any weight or do a liver reduction diet prior to surgery. His clinical nurse assistant says he prefers his patients to have good reserves for healing up after surgery. That said, it really is a matter for your own particular surgeon - What may be advisable to me may or may not be best for you or someone else, see? Thanks for the well wishes, and good luck! Yes, Pauline who looks after Mr Patel's NHS list at Kings College London is saying there's about a one year waiting list period. In reality, it's a wee bit less than that, so think in terms of probably April/May next year. Bear in mind, too, that Mr Patel books his own list himself. Since I came off the NHS list,. there's at least one less op before yours! =) As for baggy skin, I would be very surprised if there wasn't some since I started out over 400lbs. Frankly, it's a price I'll gladly to pay in return for regaining health. There's always plastic surgery if I find I want it some day, right? You will love Mr Patel. I'm sure there's a vid of him on Youtube, think I sent it to my mother who was curious about the op. Oh, here we are:

Hey there, I was sleeved by Mr Patel at Kings College Hospital on Sunday, 18th September 2011. It seems I'm much bigger than you - My surgery weight was 199k or just shy of 30st. I'm at 180k now or 28st 4lbs. I'm thrilled to report it's the first time I've been under 400lbs in years. In four short weeks, even with just 42lbs (3st) lost, my long suffering knees are already thanking me! I was admitted on a Sunday and went home again on the Wednesday morning. I had an unpleasant reaction to the gastrograffin liquid they use to test the staple line, so I wound up staying an extra night. Nothing drastic, just severe, prolonged runny runs. There was just no way I could travel from Denmark Hill to South London in that state so it was agreed to keep me in overnight. By my own choice, I was on just paracetemol from the day after my surgery. I'm honestly not superwoman nor do I have some insanely high level of pain tolerance; I just genuinely didn't need anything stronger. I was up & walking the halls the next day. Walking helps disperse the gas they pump into you to do the op, so I was all about walking! The nurses and staff were all wonderful at Kings College Hospital and they were particularly sweet to my 8yr old daughter who has some complex special needs. Given a choice, I'd absolutely do it all again in a heartbeat. Good luck with your journey! DebSee

I was given a blanket period of three weeks - so I've been driving since last Sunday.

Well done! Your progress is inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing!

I have long term WLS friend with whom I was first banded (SAGB) in 2000. She developed complications a good 7yrs ago and she went the revision to Duodenal Switch route. She's required re-sleeving once in the last 5 years and says she could probably do with another resleeve, but is currently unable to fund it privately. She's a major diet coke drinker. We're all different. It's just doesn't take much to work out that with no carbonated drink addiction, my own band was not removed until February 2011. My pouch was intact, the port tubing was leaky. I was sleeved on the 18th Sept. and I don't expect to ever need resleeving. If I do, I can guarantee it won't be down to fizzy drinks since that's something which is absolutely under my own control. I can't make anyone elses' choices for them, nor would I want that kind of onerous responsibility. Neither can I remain silent when I've seen first hand resleeving required in a big diet coke drinker.

I was sent home with a one month supply of omeprazole 20mg (one a day, mornings) and a prescription for a further three months. I don't generally have an acidic tum, nor do I suffer from reflux or anything. I imagine it's just a precautionary measure and to permit my sleeve to heal.

Avoid Bubbly beverages – Regular sodas are packed with sugar and high in calories, which can cause you to regain weight quickly, and also cause dumping syndrome if you had a gastric bypass. Diet sodas have zero calories, but ironically, they still can cause you to regain weight. Numerous studies show that diet sodas trigger certain hormonal reactions that cause the body to store more fat. In addition, if you drink a carbonated beverage – even seltzer Water – while eating, it forces food through the stomach pouch faster. That means food does not stay in your pouch as long and you lose the feeling of satiety and increase the chances that you will eat more. Finally, the gas released from the carbonated beverage may cause the food forced through the pouch to enlarge your stoma, which again would allow you to eat more at one sitting – defeating the purpose of the weight loss surgery. Stick with water, caffeine-free teas, and other non-carbonated beverages for best results.Dr David Provost on bariatric surgery and bubbly beverages I'm guessing the sleeve as a standalone operation is too new to have many scholarly articles on the topic, however, I will certainly keep looking. Even if there is the slimmest, most remote possibility it might enlarge my stoma, coke, soda, pop, etc is something I can quite happy never touch again.

Beautifully said, and we've taken the same approach. My daughter is 8 and has some special needs. We explained that Mum was getting her tummy fixed because it wasn't working properly. We brought her to the hospital for admission so she could see me in my room and picture me sleeping there for a couple days. For a kid who doesn't deal well with changes to routine, she's done amazingly well. What she loves best of all is being my "Special Helper!" Plenty of positive reinforcement and she's proud of her contribution to the family.

Since there is a possibility carbonation might stretch the sleeve, nope. I'd rather not need re-sleeving some years down the line. For me, it's actually an easy trade-off for healthy.

Three weeks liquids, two weeks mushies, gradually adding solids as able.

Well done with 19lbs, Paige! I'm bigger than many sleevers so had an inkling my recovery might be a bit more finnicky. My surgeon recommended a good three weeks to me on liquids, described as "anything with no bits that I could suck up a straw," so I was already prepared for that one. In the grand scheme of things, I'm content to spend another week on liquids to ensure the best healing possible for my new tum.