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It's too early, IMHO. There's too much growing happening in a 12 year old to be on an ultra-low calorie diet. And a 12 year old doesn't really grasp what lifelong decisions they're making. I know being an obese pre-adolescent and adolescent is awful (been there, done that), but I think WLS should be reserved until the late teens if at all possible. Just MHO, and what I would do if I had a son or daughter in this situation.

I have staples right now (they're coming out tomorrow) and I was told to remove the dressings Day 3 or 4 (I can't remember) and keep the sites very dry. I'm not sure what instructions I will get after my staples come out tomorrow.

My surgeon includes any type of protein drink or protein powder mixed with water in the "clear liquids" phase, even if they aren't clear. You could ask.

Whoa...surprise! Best of luck and I hope you have a good recovery.

Nah, don't worry. That's a great loss. I was 15 pounds up a couple of days after surgery ( !), and now am showing two pounds down from my surgery day weight. The body is still swollen and adjusting and you're not eating much.

The pink liquid might be Carafate. It coats and protects the stomach, so definitely try to get that in if you're feeling nauseous.

I do the liquid. Thirty seconds under the tongue, then swallow and I'm off ...

I'm not using pantozol (I'm cracking open a Nexium capsule and sprinkling those granules), but I found this online (grain of salt, of course): I've been sprinkling my Nexium granules on top of a spoonful of applesauce and I haven't had any problems.

I just had my revision on the 22nd. So far, so good. My pain has been well under control, and I feel pretty decent overall.

Thanks for putting my mind at ease. I'll up my spirometer use and relax a bit.

I am on day four and I have been running mild fevers in the afternoon/evenings...around 99.5 degrees since day two. My nurses when I was in the hospital were not concerned about it at all and said not to worry unless it got up to the 101-102 level. They said it was a result of being put under anesthesia and the phlegm, etc. in the lungs that needs to get up and out. I am still using my spirometer that they gave me in the hospital. By morning the fevers are gone. Has anyone else had this happen?

Well, I am home from the hospital after a successful band to sleeve revision. I had to be at the hospital by 6:45 am, and I was taken back to the pre-op area in about 30 minutes. After having a brief convo with my surgeon and anesthesiologist, I was put into my hospital smock and off I went to the ER. They moved me onto the table and that's pretty much all I remember. I woke up in the recovery room. I remember having a hard time keeping my eyelids open. Anyway, my blood pressure was really high, so I ended up staying in the recovery room for about three hours. My mother was going crazy, etc. My surgery itself was only an hour and a half. After my BP came down somewhat, they took me up to my hospital room/suite. It was really nice. Private, with a recliner and sofa that your loved ones could sleep on if they want to. I was fixed with a pain pump, and I slept a lot that first night. I was, however, up and ambulating down the halls within four hours of hitting the room. Overall my pain was well-controlled and I only felt pain when I had to get myself out of bed, etc. The worst part was not being able to have any type of Water. My throat was soooooo dry. The next morning I had a barium swallow to check for leaks and I was fine. That night I began running a low-grade fever (99.6), but my doctor nor my nurses were concerned about that. I was told it was due to the gunk in my lungs due to being put under. My temp was down later on my second day, and I do have a small low-grade fever now, but we'll see how it goes. My catheter was removed in the middle of Day 2 because I was getting up out of bed really well. This morning I was told I could go home. I have a stack of prescriptions and I"ve managed to get down one Protein shake. I still don't know how to drink those (how fast?), but I'm figuring it out. I'm a wee more sore today, but I'm sure it'll get better.

Well, I am home from the hospital after a successful band to sleeve revision. I had to be at the hospital by 6:45 am, and I was taken back to the pre-op area in about 30 minutes. After having a brief convo with my surgeon and anesthesiologist, I was put into my hospital smock and off I went to the ER. They moved me onto the table and that's pretty much all I remember. I woke up in the recovery room. I remember having a hard time keeping my eyelids open. Anyway, my blood pressure was really high, so I ended up staying in the recovery room for about three hours. My mother was going crazy, etc. My surgery itself was only an hour and a half. After my BP came down somewhat, they took me up to my hospital room/suite. It was really nice. Private, with a recliner and sofa that your loved ones could sleep on if they want to. I was fixed with a pain pump, and I slept a lot that first night. I was, however, up and ambulating down the halls within four hours of hitting the room. Overall my pain was well-controlled and I only felt pain when I had to get myself out of bed, etc. The worst part was not being able to have any type of Water. My throat was soooooo dry. The next morning I had a barium swallow to check for leaks and I was fine. That night I began running a low-grade fever (99.6), but my doctor nor my nurses were concerned about that. I was told it was due to the gunk in my lungs due to being put under. My temp was down later on my second day, and I do have a small low-grade fever now, but we'll see how it goes. My catheter was removed in the middle of Day 2 because I was getting up out of bed really well. This morning I was told I could go home. I have a stack of prescriptions and I"ve managed to get down one Protein shake. I still don't know how to drink those (how fast?), but I'm figuring it out. I'm a wee more sore today, but I'm sure it'll get better.

Whoops, it somehow got posted twice, if a mod can delete this one, I'd appreciate it.

I'd thin it with skim milk or fat-free sour cream if you can handle dairy. You could also use chicken broth. Another option is to buy the "instant" mashed potatoes and then just use extra Water.

150,000 Americans cross the border into Mexico for travel, tourism and business every single day. Of course you want to use caution and be smart, but honestly, the chances of anything happening to you in Tijuana are pretty slim.

Well, I think this was a success. Although it would have been great if you had been able to walk away, at least you were able to eat less than a full strip. That's less than 130 calories. How many strips would you have eaten if you hadn't had the sleeve? So, you take the lesson and try to do better next time.

Splenda and pumpkin pie spice is pretty good.

I have a lap band that I got nearly 10 years ago. It's been non-fuctioning for virtually all of that time (all but about four months). Anyway, my surgeon initially told me that he could do the two procedures (removal of band and the sleeve) in one procedure UNLESS I had really bad scar tissue, in which case he'd have to just remove the band, let it heal, and do the sleeve as a separate procedure. I really thought I had taken that in and understood that, but as I now sit here two weeks from my operation, I'm getting fretful. I had my final pre-op appointment with my surgeon today and today he was like "It's more likely than not that you will not get your sleeve at the same time." ACK. I'm self-pay. My surgeon said that if he could do the two procedures together, he'd charge me just for the sleeve. If I have to have the second surgery it's going to cost me another $15,000, plus possibly another $10,000 on top of that. if I have to wait more than a month or six weeks between the two surgeries, because I would have to have my IVC filter removed...then another one put in for the second surgery. I want my surgeon to do what is best for me, and I don't want a leak. So I get that if two surgeries is best, that's what I need to do...but man. I was all psyched up and prepared for the sleeve. My house is full of everything I need, I have people coming into town to help me. I'm just having a pity party worrying about where I'm going to come up with the additional $15,000+ and it's really settling in that I'll probably need a second surgery and a second recovery period. Blech. And does anyone know what type of recovery time is needed after removal of the band alone? And what type of clear fluids regimen, etc. you were on after that?

I'm glad you're feeling better. I had to have an IVC filter put in last week, and having that surgery has sooooo relaxed me for this one. Granted, that was a quick, easy procedure and the VSG is major surgery, but just going through the entire pre-op, being in the operating room, waking up, etc. has helped me because I feel like I've had a "dry run". lol. I'm sure I'll be plenty nervous the day of, but right now I'm sleeping great and feel pretty good about my outcome.

It's great to hear the various stories. Thanks for the well wishes.