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Cat...how did are you doing?? First two days were pretty rough for me. Stayed in the hospital 2 nites, cause the nausea and vomiting were terrible. I think the pain meds were making me sick. The doc said that since I was had the band out and the sleeve done all in the same day it made the surgery a little worse then if I was a virgin sleever. F-in band...good riddance Today I came home, and the ride sucked, I live about an hour from the hospital. But now I'm home, showered, comfortable and content. Was thinking about you and hoping that you had an easier time then I. Let me know how u r.

Well I had my revision done yesterday morning, and so far the experience has been less then pleasant. The pain meds make me nauseous, the nausea makes me throw up, and the throwing up hurts like hell. They are going to keep me for an extra nite just to be safe. Prayers for an easier recovery would be much appreciated.

Yea I agree but they weren't helping. The finally gave me a compazine suppository and although unpleasant was a god send. Feeling 90% better now.

I'm here too in the beautiful gown and non-skid sexy socks lol. Good luck!

Good luck lady, I will be thinking of you. nite nite, see you on the other side

Cat...9 hours until I leave my house...how bout u, how u holdin up? Nerves, excitement, jitters. I'm so not gonna sleep????

The days before surgery we are all anxiety ridden I think. But the funny thing is, as women WE put up a brave front so that the people around us will feel better, when truthfully they should be trying to make us (the patient) feel better. It's nice to be able to come here and vent, and people understand. This time tomorrow we will be on the other side...and working on our new normal. Yea US!

By this time tomorrow I will be rid of this band...yeah!!!!! Mom just called and cried worried about my surgery, husband is nervous but coping. I'm trying to stay positive and upbeat as I don't want anyone to worry about me. Only told everyone at work, my kids and my parents that they are removing the band. Will wait until all is well before I relay the news of the gastric sleeve...no need for needless worry or criticism. I work at the hospital where I'm having the surgery...so hopefully they will be scared about screwing up an administrator...hehehe. Hey every job has it's perks

Best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Hi Cat, tomorrow is my day as well. Many of the things you mentioned rang true for me. My husband and I spent an exorbitant amount of time talking about, planning, cooking and eating meals. We also spent a lot of time in bars eating and drinking. Well he was forced to stop drinking and now I'm going to have to change the way that I eat and drink. It is going to be a change for both of us, and we will need to find other things to do to occupy our time. My hope is that now he is healthy from his addiction and I will be healthier from losing weight that other things will be easier for us to do and enjoy doing. One thing that you said really hit me, that you haven't celebrated any of your pre-op weight loss because you've lost that weight before, and that's exactly how I feel. I've been here before and so scared for failure. But we are going to do it anyway, and hopefully from now on we can celebrate our weight loss and at the end be able to maintain it for the rest of our lives. Crossing fingers and toes for you!!!

You can get the protein shakes from all different places, department stores, drug stores, gnc, the vitamin shoppe, or on-line. After many, many, many trials I've found that designer whey has the least offensive taste, pretty smooth actually. At my pre-op meeting the other day they recommended Nectar brand as an alternative to chocolate, strawberry, vanilla shakes, just ordered a sample pack from their website.

Xray tech here: They are checking for clear lungs, properly sized heart, no current disease process like pneumonia. It's all for anesthesia clearance.

Good luck!!!

Thought it would be a good idea to know both sides of this story, and now I'm scared to death. Dropped foot, leaks, stents, pain, unable to eat for months at a time....WTH am I doing to myself!??? God, that was a bad idea.

Everything is done, all pre-op appointments done, blood work done yesterday, FMLA paperwork handed in today, pre-op food bought. I'm ready, and now that there is nothing else to worry about I'm getting nervous. Cmon next Wednesday, let's get this rolling.

So last night turned into world war 3 in my house. Husband is angry that I want to convert to the sleeve. He's all for me getting the band out but is totally opposed to the conversion. He supported me through the band decision, and agrees that it has been an utter failure, my fault of course, but says he can not support my decision to convert to the sleeve, as it will most likely also be a failure cause "I won't stop eating!" (his words) He loves me just the way I am, he thinks I'm beautiful, he doesn't understand why I would jeapordize my life (again his words) in order to be skinny. He's not buying that it is for my health, I have lupus and I am always stiff and hurting, hoping losing weight will help with some of these symptoms but he doesn't think it will work. Don't misunderstand please, he loves me and I think he is just extremely scared that something bad will happen, but has anyone had any success in convincing a loved one that this is the right decision for you.

i posted this same issue a few weeks ago, but the negative nelly was my DH. He didn't understand, and is scared for my safety, but after a few days of arguing, he realized I can't be swayed and now he is being supportive. Time will tell, but only I can make this decision, and only I can make this tool work for me. Good luck and do what you feel is best.

I have Lupus diagnosed post Lap-band placement, soooo, band is contraindicated and needs to come out, so I will be converting to the sleeve at the same time. I have to stop the meloxicam 7 days before, not looking forward to that I'm gonna be hurting. Hopefully getting the band out and losing the weight will help with my overall pain situation. Crossing-fingers, and feel free to stay tuned. I'll definately post my experience with Lupus/VSG post surgery.

I'm scheduled for my band removal and sleeve on the same day. My surgeon said he typically likes to wait a few months in between, but for insurance purposes will be doing it all the same day. Mind you I would prefer to have one surgery but on a side note, I think it sucks that insurance gets to dictate how a doctor practices medicine....just saying.

I think many would be reluctant to say that they are doing it for vanity reasons. Weight loss surgery seems to be such a taboo in the general public. I get "Oh you don't look like you need surgery, you're not THAT overweight." Well yea I am, and everyday I see something else that doesn't appeal to me at this weight. Clothes don't fit, I don't recognize myself when I look in the mirror, i don't feel attractive even though my husband loves me to pieces. I don't have the typical comorbities, but I do have lupus which puts enough strain on my body to make me feel like crap, I don't need the extra weight adding to my aches and pains. When it comes right down to it, I want to be thinner, I didn't diet because I wanted to be healthier, I dieted because I wanted to be thinner, and more attractive, and be able to walk into a room and turn heads. I want to be able to shop for clothes and not have to go to the "big-girl" section...the clothes there are god-awful, and who the heck decided that prints would make a big-chick more attracticve? I don't want to continue to gain and loose the same damn 30-40 pounds over and over again and never get to my goal. And strangely enough I want my kids and my husband to be proud to say that's my mom/wife. Not that they aren't now, but I am sooo much hotter when I am in onederland..hehe The health benefits are going to be an added bonus as far as I'm concerned...shallow...maybe. Honest...absolutely.

Hi Shiela In the same boat. Very glad I found this site. I'm scheduled for revision 4/24 and a friend asked me today why I'm still on the fence about having it done, my answer...I don't want to fail again. The surgery itself doesn't scare me, the pre-and post surgery diets don't look like they are a lot of fun, but I can muddle through them. Pain doesn't scare me. The only thing I'm scared of is FAILING AGAIN. My plan is to keep reading the encouraging words of wisdom from the people on this sight who have gone through it. And to prepare myself as much as I can for this next chapter of life. Do what's best for you. For me the band was a waste of time, money and energy. Praying that the sleeve is a better tool for me.

Thanks all. He has said that of course he will support me in anything that I chose to do. Just wish the surgery itself didn't scare him. It doesn't scare me, being in healthcare the OR is not a scarey place to me. If I didn't trust my surgeon I wouldn't let him cut me open. I agree stefaniwig, maybe I can get cowgirl to sit with the hubster during the surgery lol.

Mickeymantle I'm not quite sure how you came to the conclusion from my minimal post that I am not ready for the sleeve. My band NEVER gave me restriction, had an Upper GI recently that validated the fact that there was no restriction even with a complete fill. There are health problems associated with my band, as I stated I have Lupus, which was diagnosed post-banding, Lupus is a contraindication for the band as there is a foreign substance in your body and Lupus is an auto-immune disease. So regardless of wether I'm sleeved or not, the band has to go. I'm assuming that you have suggested therapy to everyone on this board, as everyone that requires bariatric surgery has some type of food issue, otherwise bariatric surgery would not be necessary and 35% of the population of the United States would not be considered obese. I am ready for the revision, my husband is the one that has concerns. Not looking for judgement on my decision, looking for assistance in convincing a loved one.

CowgirlJane I'm hoping to have the same outcome as you. As you mentioned the band NEVER addressed my hunger, it made me full faster immediately after a fill, but I neve reached the "sweet spot" that other successful banders referred to. My hospital has an excellent support program that I intend to follow, and hopefully this time I will not fail. My husband is just extremely scared that I will die during surgery. He doesn't want anything to happen to me, and does not think I need to lose weight, mind you I just barely qualify for sx with my BMI and comorbidities. I love him and respect his fears, I'm just looking for someway to put his mind at ease.

I feel ya...I'm also freaked about this being another failure. Praying that you are successful!