BB145

Hi. I was sleeved the same day as you. My doctor's phases are a little different and he is super conservative about moving on. I'm in phase 2 which means any of the clear liquids, protein drinks, and heart healthy (low fat) strained, thinned creamed soups. I can't move on to the next phase which is blenderized/pureed until week 4. He also gives instruction when adding new foods to have one bite, chew well, and if there is no distress, try it again. If at any point you have distress, stop and wait a few days before you try it again. I'm trying to get creative and my family is eating a lot of soup these days. :-) I've gotten a super full feeling if I've "eaten" too fast. It doesn't really hurt, but is uncomfortable. I made the mistake of eating a broth that was too rich the other night and I was in the bathroom all night. I was so worried about making sure it was thin enough and strained that it never occured to me that my system isn't used to rich foods since being on liquids for so many weeks. I was naseated for a couple of hours. I learned my lesson. I now also take into consideration what kind of liquids things are made with. I too feel really well now and am mostly back to normal. I am just so ready to eat something with a little more substance. I have lost 16 pounds though so that's good! Good luck. Let us know how advancing the diet goes.

I was sleeved 2/12. I had to do clear liquids until I was tolerating them well. I started full liquids today. Protein shakes are no problem, strained and thinned f/f cream soups are kinda making my stomach hurt so I'm thinking I'm not quite ready. I'm going to hold off on that for another couple of days and try again. I do the full liquid thing for 2 weeks. Then blended/pureed foods for two weeks. And then soft proteins for 2 weeks and then slowly start to incorporate everything else as tolerted. My doc really encourages listening to your body and advancing as tolerated within reason. Today is the first day I've been "hungry", but I think it's more that I want to chew something and am head hungry. I dreamed about food last night. LOL I think also the gas moving around kinda feels like hunger pangs.

Oh my gosh! I too am having issues with diarrhea! Thought I might be the only one. It's about to do me in. I just went to the store to get out of the house, didn't think I was going to make it home. .

I'm sorry you're having issues. I understand tho, that's why I had to stay. I too wanted to come home but didn't want to get myself in trouble and just have to go back later. It will pass and you'll feel better. Keep us posted. I hope you feel better very soon!

I had to stay 3 days. Why are you having to stay?

I was sleeved 2-12 (band removed also). I dry heaved for the first 48 hours. Anesthesia and I are not friends. I was so terrified I would rip something, but my leak test was negative. It was very painful Tho. Stayed an extra day in the hospital because of the nausea. I haven't had any narcotic pain meds since Wednesday. After the vomiting the remaining surgical pain was nothing. I'm tolerating liquids just fine. Sipping all day long, getting in about 60 oz per day which is on track with what my doc wants. I feel pretty good today. My tummy is still sore but I slept pretty well last night. My incisions are starting to itch and they are bothersome. I'm down 12 pounds since starting my pre-op diet which is pretty good since I know I'm still retaining fluid in my gut. It's hard as a rock, but its getting better. I'm walking short distances several times a day. Went to WM yesterday for a little while to get out of the house and that wore me out. Came home and slept for 2 hours. I had dreams last night about food. What a nightmare! Lol! I really don't feel "hungry", but I want to chew something. And of course I want something yummy. . But I'm doing okay and I'm not going crazy yet. Hope everyone continues to do well.

I was sleeved early 2/12. I spent the first 48 hours dry heaving. Not pleasant. I was terrified I was going to rip something open, but my leak test was negative. I stayed in the hospital an extra day to get control of the nausea. I got home late yesterday afternoon and have been fine. I'm able to take in liquids with no problem. Nothing sounds good to me tho. I still have gas pain, but other than my belly being tender, I don't have any pain at all. I have not taken any narcotic pain meds since day before yesterday. I took Tylenol last night since it was my first night in my own bed. I slept okay. I do have pretty bad heartburn which they say is normal. I started taking my Pepsid and hopefully that will help over the next couple of days. IF I continue to do well today with the clear liquids, I'm going to add another liquid to the mix. I feel I need some calories, I feel pretty tired and weak. Unfortunately everything seems to be going right through. At least I'm not constipated I guess. I've lost 10 pounds in a week which includes my time on pre-op diet. I walked quite a bit today and am now exhausted. Going to rest for a while. Hope you all continue to feel better.

I'm on day 5. My children have found other places to be tonight, I'm thinking that's not by accident. Everything irritates me, I even irritate myself for being snippy. I feel like I'm just a ball of nerves. I've decided I need to just stay away from people until I have surgery. I'd get away from myself if I could. LOL. I hate feeling like this, but I can't seem to help it. Just a couple more days. So ready!

Congrats to everyone who has been banded this week! I hope you all feel better. This is my 4th day of liquid pre-op diet. I've been doing okay with it, but today I have had a horrible headache. I've lost 6 pounds tho, so that's good. I didn't think this week was ever going to end. This weekend will fly by as weekends always do and then I only have one more day at work. Surgery Tuesday! So ready to get on with my life!

Hi! I'm working with Dr. Kim's office in hopes of doing a revision to sleeve. I've had my initial visit, my EGD, a follow up, and am now waiting on insurance approval. I'm wondering if anyone out there who sees Dr. Kim or his associate has had trouble getting things done? I was seen initially in November. I called the sleep study place the first week of December because they had not called me like Dr. Kim's office stated they would. The sleep study place told me they would have to pre-cert my insurance and they would get back to me. Okay, that's reasonable. I waited patiently through the holidays as I know how that can slow things up. I finally called them the first week of January and they told me they had no record of me. Ugh! So when I followed up with Dr. Kim's office for my EGD results they faxed everything back over. I still have not heard from them. I was told that everyone who comes to Dr. Kim must have a sleep study. I had my EGD on 1/4/13. No issues were evident, so that's positive. While at the hospital, everyone kept asking me if I was coming back next week for my sleeve. It seems everyone who was getting an EGD was already approved and scheduled. And from what I overheard (those curtains hold nothing back), they all still had the band, same as me. Hmmm... So, my questions for you who have been to this practice are these.... Did you have to have a sleep study? Did you have issues with the clinic where the studies take place? Did you have the EGD right before before surgery or was your surgery date dependent upon the EGD? Did you have to have a cardio workup? I'm really not trying to be ugly or anything. I'm just wondering what other's experiences have been like. I'm a nurse so I get that things have to be done according to policy, etc etc. It just seems that it's not going so smoothly for me. When I was banded I had everything done, boom boom boom. (I have the same insurance and I feel confident they will approve the revision. My insurance is pretty good.) However, this experience is much more chaotic. If you have story, please share as I'm just curious. Thanks!

Well I've done an EGD, a sleep study, a stress test, pre-op blood work and EKG, pre-op visits, and tomorrow I start the all liquid diet. Not to mention the fact that I had the band placed and it has failed (leaking) with no restriction and I've regained, so now I'm getting sleeved. I'm not lazy, stupid, or misinformed. I was chatting with a woman at the doctor's office last week who was 6 weeks post-op. She was so happy as she had already lost 30 pounds. She told me she no longer felt the need to eat all day long and she felt free for the first time in her life. She was in her late 50's. I know I don't want to give up another 20 years of my life living like this. That's why I'm doing this. I have such an unhealthy, exhausting relationship with food. I don't eat because I'm hungry each time. I eat because I can, because I'm sad, because I'm happy, because it's there. For me it's like I can never shut that need off. I hate myself everyday for not being able to control it. I just want to be "normal" when it comes to food. I want a tool that will help me eat because I need to, not because I want to. I'm scared too. I worry that it won't turn out how I want it to. I worry that I'm sacrificing so much just to do this. I swore I'd never go this route, but yet here I am. But I also know I have to do something. I just want to be free. I'm doing this for myself and for my family. I want to be around a long time. And I want to actually participate in my life, not just be a bystander. Tomorrow is the start of all liquids. I know it's going to be brutal, but if this is what I have to do to get where I want to be, then I'll do it. So, this "rant" is for those of you who tell me I'm taking the easy way out. Walk a mile in my shoes and tell me how easy it is. Until then.... Shut it!

Ahhhhhhh! This is going to be the longest week of my life! So ready to get this done. One week from tomorrow. Start the ALL liquid diet tomorrow.

Good luck!! Keep us posted!

Good luck! I hope you get your approval soon!

What a great idea!! Love it! I'd wear it with pride.

Thanks for posting that! I needed to hear that today! I'm so glad to hear how well you've done. Congrats!! I'm so ready to do this! This is going to be the longest week of my life!

No, I haven't been judged here. the outside world is not so kind. I've had a rough day and the negativity I have been feeling from others has finally gotten on my last nerve. Thank you for the well wishes.

I am!!! Start pre-op liquid diet on 2/5. I've done it before and it is brutal, but I can do it! :-) Good luck to you!

I'm sorry you got that reaction from your mom. I had similar issues when I was banded a few years back which is why this time around with revision, I'm not telling a soul with the exception of my husband, my best friend, and my mother in law. I only told my mother in law because she is also researching surgical options. Those three people get it and are supportive. I'm so guarded this time because some people can be so hurtful and really I'm tired of having to explain and justify my decision. It's my life and my body and my decision. Some people just don't understand that. Good luck to you! I hope you have a great experience!

Shopped for my pre-op diet and got some of the stuff I'll need post-op. Someone told me about peanut butter powder and I got some to add to my protein drinks. It's really pretty good. It's a lot lower in calories and fat than regular or even reduced fat PB. I can't wait to try it in a shake. I also got a bottle off liquid vitamins/minerals. I was scared, but it really doesn't taste too bad. It's bright green tho. LOL! Oh well, as long as I can get it down, that's all that matters. I start my pre-op diet Monday. I remember what it was like from before I was banded. Not looking forward to it, but am trying to keep in mind that it will help me get to where I want to be. Having my hubby make his famous grilled burgers tonight. The last one for a long time. I'm not sad about that though, I'm just ready to feel better and find myself again.

Hi! I'm on 2/12. I had the same thought about being so close to Valentine's Day. :-) I'm in Texas. I was instructed to start the pre-op diet 2/5, but I'm actually starting Monday. I'm out of control and I feel terrible and I would like to lose a few pounds before surgery. I'm so ready to just get on with it! I was banded 5 years ago so I'll be having my band removed and converted to sleeve. I hope all in one procedure. My surgeon seems to think it won't be an issue. I'll be so disappoined if not. Good luck to you!

Took care of my HR requirements today and have everything in order at work, I think. Had my pre-op visit and education class also. Just have to have my sleep study Friday, stress test and blood work next week. It's becoming a little more real now. I had to buy my protein powder from the Dr.'s office and it is yucko! But at least I only have to do it for a week, but I've decided to start a little earlier and try to ease into it. I remember how horrible the liquid diet was when I was banded and I remember how horrible and moody I became. So for my family's and employee's sakes, I'm going to start this week having shakes at breakfast , the following week having a shake at breakfast and lunch, and then the last week going whole hog. Hopefully this will ease some of the trauma of not being able to chew anything for that last week. :-) I know 3 weeks isn't that long, but it feels like it will never get here!! So ready!! Ugh!

I've done the EGD. I have the rest of the stuff over the next two weeks. The EGD was a piece of cake. It literally took longer for them to prepare me (register, IV, talk to anesthesiologist, etc) than for the actual procedure. I don't remember a thing and had no problems after. I was on my way home less than an hour after the procedure. I was scheduled for 0830, had to be there at 0700, got taken back to OR at 0930, was on the way home at 1015. Easiest thing I've done! You'll do great. Do you guys have to have a sleep study? That's the one I'm not looking forward to.

I got my date today, February 12. Happy Valentine's Day to me!! Now scrambling around trying to get everything set up and ready as it's not that far away! That's okay though, I'm just glad to know what, when, and where. I'm being revised from leaking band to sleeve. Just so ready to get this done and get back to my life. Hoping and praying that I can get everything squared away at work and that I can get everything covered. Good luck to everyone! I look forward to hearing about all of your experiences! It's right around the corner for us all! Yay!!!