Ellisa

Cheri, Margaritas????? And I was dumb enough to have my surgery here! My preop diet was NPO after midnight and no alcohol 24 hours before surgery!!!!! I don't drink much or often, but a little send off before surgery would have been nice. ARRRRR Oh well, at least I could eat the whole day. Prior to my lapband I had the two week liquid regime. But then my BMI was over 40. Sunshine, you will be pleasantly surprised. I thought I would feel many times more pain than I did with my lapband, but honestly I don't think it was as much. Go figure. Euphoric, nibble nibble nibble. LOL My DH laughs watching me chipping at the crackers with my front teeth. I have to make sure I'm very careful to THINK about what I'm doing. I realize it would be so easy to thoughtlessly take a regular bite and give it a couple of chews and swallow. Most of the time when I got something "stuck" with my band, it was because I momentarily forgot. Not pretty.

Hey Breezy, Your weight loss is great! I honeslty don't think that carbs make that much difference in weight loss for those of us with WLS. However when I had a regular stomach, I could eat a lot more food/calories following low carb. But hey guess what? That's why I'm a WLS patient. It's too hard to stick to day in and day out, year in year out, and one little slip could add several lbs. when your stomach is regular size. If we concentrate on what we need to put in (Protein, Vitamins, minerals, fiber) then the rest will take care of itself because we only have a small amount of space. Where people get into trouble with any WLS is eating a lot of high calorie emply foods. You can do a lot of damage with with candy, milks-shakes and easily eat thousands of calories in a short time.

I can’t get in as much nutrition as I need eating carb-packed foods. I don’t actually “count” anything unless I have an appointment, then I’ll quickly look a few typical days and check because my dietitian WILL ask. LOL Right now my main concern is to get fluids in, next week the concern will be more about proportions. But as a former lapband patient, I found that if I eat Protein (1 egg, or 2 – 3 oz of protein) at every meal, there is only enough room for so much. So trying to eat the most nutritious foods I can is important, low carb veggies and berries. cantalope, yams/sweet potatoes tend to have higher nutrition per bite than starchy/sugary foods do. I also try to get in dairy products but do take supplements. As I’ve said before if I really want say French fry, I will occasionally eat a few (maybe 5) or whatever is the craving of the moment, I allow a bite, not a meal of the “empty” calorie foods. If you eat your recommended protein and lower carb foods you will have no problem staying at recommended amounts without a lot of paperwork after you get used to it. Our protein requirements are probably a higher proportion of our overall food intake, but they are not “high protein” by anyone’s stretch of the imagination. We don’t have the capacity to eat a high protein diet… well unless we really add a lot of Protein powder to everything we eat and drink.

Good vibes to all those being sleeved today!!! And thinking of all of you who are on the waiting list.

ADS, I'm also more tired than I want to be, but my surgery was 3 hrs due to the extensive repair to hiatal hernia, band removal, and sleeve... all in one. AND I've actually lost 14 lbs as of today. So I'll take the "tired." Are you still taking prescription pain meds? I'm taking them occasionally, so I think that accounts for some draggy butt too. LOL Euphoric in Tx, When I had my band 2 ? years ago I was allowed anything that would puree in the blender during the pureed stage. But this time I didn’t have a dietitian visit prior to being sleeved because we weren’t really sure that was going to be the result. This time I was told 1 week clear (due to two procedures to my stomach, removal of band which was stitched in place, and sleevation; yes I make up words). That to be followed by3 weeks of pureed. Of course I thought since this procedure is more invasive I probably shouldn’t have acidic or spicy foods. But they brought apple juice to me in the hospital (which I assumed MUST be a mistake because fruit juice is acidic). So when I got home I emailed my dietitian to see if tomato based foods, orange juice, spicy and whatever would be okay. She said they would. I remembered eating Wendy’s chili a lot and it was like… bean dip. I also do something else… but I didn’t ask. Okay… Saltines can go in the blender with the soup. So my theory is if I eat them whole with my chili but chew like a nibbling mouse and make sure they are completely pureed before swallowing, what’s the harm? So I dip a tiny corner of the cracker (think ? inch sq) in the pureed soup and chew like a mouse, swallow only when it’s become completely smooth. Of course the crackers aren’t adding anything except “appeal.” You are correct... you absolutely should check with your surgeon's office because my diet is different from others who have my same surgeon. They know what YOU should be able to tolerate based on your body, not mine. LOL BUT if you are allowed the same types of things that I am... Please read my post (I think above) about how to thin foods for pureeing so you don't make them bland.

I should have said instead of "in my carbs program" that my dietitian (who works in my docs office) likes to see us under 60 grams of carb and about 60 grams of protein.

My carbs program (after the first few weeks when fluid is more important than food) is under 60 grams. I assume that's total carbs not net carbs (net meaning after subracting fiber). So depending on the types of carbs being eaten 30 net carbs wouldn't be all that low. Most of my carbs... when I was eating properly came from low carb veggies, berries, cantalope, sweet potatoes, whole grains, etc. with a small pouch (with my band), it's not hard to stay under. I avoided things like white flour products, added sugar products, white potatoes, pasta, rice. They didn't "go down" well for me anyway. That's not to say I absolutely never tasted those things, but when my band was properly restricted I could eat my healthy food and take a taste of something I thought I just had to have and it satisfied. Hoping it will be the same with the sleeve.

LaSaJaTa, Woo hoo.... on your way!!! Possumtrot, Wish you well. Have fun out there. We went for the first time in April (proababy last time too, I didn't leave anything there LOL) but anyway we did love the canyon. We drove to the south rim (huge all day drive) and took a sunrise bus tour and a helicopter ride. Priceless! I thought I'd be terrified flying over, but it was so awesome the view took my breath. I didn't remember I might be afraid until it was over. It was very cold and windy when we were there. There was snow on the north rim when we flew over. We had actuall flown in and out of LA so we didn't go back to Vegas from there. Never been that far west before so loved every minute of the scenery. I'd love to take my grand children to the canyon, but other than than, I don't have any huge desire to go back. Once was enough. But once should be on everyone's to do list. LOL

Donna, Stick to it today! Strong thoughts your way.>>>>>>> My doc mentioned at the seminar a few years back that the purpose of his low carb liquid diet is to shrink the liver pre op. If it's small enough, he did it lap... if not we'd come out with a large incision. That was enough to make me be compliant. LOL This time my BMI was low enough that I didn't have any preop prep except NPO after midnight. What a deal.

Thinking of all who are having surgery today, wish you the best and speedy recovery! Hey it's my one week sleeve-anniversary ALREADY! I had planned to go back to work tomorrow (office job) but my sweet boss said to take my time and stay off until the drain comes out. She's a nurse as well as department head (I work for a college). Nurses are so nice! Guess that's why I do clerical work. LOL I've worked at the same university for 15 years and I've never had a boss say that before! But nurses are just so much more concerned. Of course I have the choice to go back if I want but I think I'll be more comfortable waiting. I stated thin pureed yesterday. AWESOME! Wendy's Chili in the blender rocks! Today I should be able to tolerate thicker pureed. I had no issues at all yesterday. For those of you new to the pureed foods, my dietitian told me when thinning foods in the blender do NOT use water. Use something that?s appropriate for the food that will add flavor, not make it more bland. I use V8, tomato juice, seasoned broth, fruit juice, milk (maybe with Splenda) Adkins shakes (the ready to drink) . She was so right when she told us that using water alone is the main reason people dislike the pureed stage. BTW, the pureed Chili was also her recommendation. I think of my pureed foods as ?dip? without chips. I dip my spoon, LOL.

Let your doctor advise you on what's best in YOUR case. Sometimes (in my case) that isn't determined until he can actually see what's in there (xray is helpful but not a substitute). Scar tissue won't go away because you have two separate surgeries. I would guess there could be more at the time of the second surgery because the band removal surgury is going to have it's own set of scars. I'm glad mine could be done in one surgery because: 1, I was under anesthetic once instead of twice 2, only one recovery period (less work days missed) 3, once going through the pre and post op regimes 4, not having to deal with excess weight gain (therefore risk) between the two surgeries. That being said, if the only SAFE way would have been with two surgeries, I would have done that. Actually I wouldn't have a choice, my doc will only do what is best for his patients' health. I suppose if it didn't matter I had a choice, I would prefer all in one. Hope this helps.

My doc has me on clear liquid for one week post op also. Had I not had to have a band removed and a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time I would have been on pureed within a couple of days. The danger of leakage is higher due to the band removal. Also I didn't have to have a pre op diet this time. Because my BMI is around 30 rather than above 40. Also I've never carried most of my weight in the belly area. Please keep in mind that your doc may have decided on your post op diet based on what he saw when he did your surgery and may have a different diet for another patient. I'm 56, so I assume my tissue wouldn't be as good as a 20 year old, even if this were my first WLS. Please do as your doctor recommends and don't try to do what someone else is allowed. :thumbup:

Thinking of all the people having surgery today. Good vibes your way!!

Chica, I wasn't given a list. He simply said clear liquid for one week. My understanding is that clear liquid means you can see though it. I?ll tell you what was served to me in the hospital, though each tray would have been two days worth for me. LOL In the hospital, I consumed mostly ice chips and an occasional bite of popsicle. The ice just was more appealing to me then. Coffee/tea Jello (sugarfree) Apple juice broth (low fat low sodium) Kool Aid type popsicles (sugarfree) I haven?t tried juice I was afraid the acid might be too much. I do eat a lot of broth. I?ve been eating regular pop sickles because my hubby accidently got the ones with sugar. The calories and sugar are minimal since I don?t eat that many of them. I?ve emailed the dietician regarding protein because I think it helps with hunger issues. She agreed and said that GNC sells some clear liquid Proteins. (I?ve used them in the past.) I wasn?t really told that protein is a huge issue at this point and so far haven?t made the 30 mi. trip to get clear protein. And I really haven?t been hungry. I?ve emailed the dietician yesterday with a whole list of questions since this is all so new to me. I expect to hear from her today. BTW, I have a drain. One of the purposes of it that is leakage, it will come through the drain and we will know quickly. How I asked? Eat a purple pop sickle and if the drainage changes color, I?ll know. LOL I went into my lapband with so much more understanding because my DH was banded 2 ? years before me. I?m paving my own way this time. I don?t know anyone personally who has had it done. But this forum has been very helpful. Of course I check things with my doc or his staff. They are only an email or phone call away and very prompt.

Sanct, Yes there are a variety of pre op and post op diets. I was banded 2 1/2 years ago and have several family members banded and GBSed. So I felt pretty confident answering questions about those surgeries...the answers usually started with "everybody is different but..." I'm the only person I know personally who's been sleeved. The same surgeon did my band and sleeve. In my case, my pre op diet was just NPO after midnight the night prior. It wasn't a given that I'd come out "sleeved;" saving my band was the goal, but my hiatal hernia was too big for the doc to trust the repair would hold with the band in place. But it was a possibility. The determining factor for my pre op diet was that my BMI is way better than when I was banded and even pre band, the bulk of my fat is not in the belly area. Others with my surgeon could have a complete two week liquid regime. My post op diet is a stricter variety than many of his band patients. Why? If the sleeve were my initial surgery or the band had been removed and the stomach a chance to heal first then the VGS procedure done the risk of leakage would have been lower. Ah but the risk of anesthesia doubled (two surgeries). So while some going to my doc are able to have pureed the day after being sleeved didn't apply to me. I have to be on clear liquid an entire week. Then I begin pureed, but it must be very thin at first (more of a full liquid) and gradually thicker as tolerated. I really don't mind it except when I smell food. LOL But if I drink something I'm okay. And I'm drinking tea and eating popsicles all the time. So it's really not so bad. It's really not... have I convinced myself yet??? Your big day is coming up soon! Wishing you the best!

Oh I agree, about the research. Our son was looking into the sleeve a year ago and felt it was a better fit for him than lapband, due to the maintenance. It didn't work out for him to have either. So while I was hoping not to have my band removed I was confortable with the last resort being a sleeve. Not all people can be "sleeved" at the same time the band is removed. I was fortunate enough that the tissue appeared to be able to handle that. So... in reality it may not have been an option for you at the time. Whatever you do, I think it's awesome you have so much weightloss and sincerely hope you can keep it off and more!

Don't forget squatting!!! I'll never forget the day I discovered I could squat down to get in the bottow drawer. I LOVE squatting now. LOL

I'm enjoying all the posts as I'm recovering. Wish all the recents and soon to be's the very best! For those of you having your first WLS it's even more exciting. Well at least it was that way for me. I was absolutely tingling with excitement when I was being banded and even soon after. This time, while I'm delighted that I don't have the fear of regaining all my lost weight and will likely lose a bit more, it's not the same level of excitement. Just musing here, but it's kind of like when you have your first child or grandchild. Then next one is every bit as precious and loved but the fact is the transformation to "mother" or "grandmother" happens only with the FIRST. So too for me with this second surgery. I'm happy it's going to be great, it's just that while the RESULT is just as valuable, the transformation to myself has already been experienced. Okay, I'm rambling... blame it on the pain meds. Keep up the posting. With all this time on my hands I'd love to reply to just EVERYONE! Know they are being read and appreciated by many!

I didn't read all the posts, but wanted to comment after reading several pages. 1. Eyebrows and breasts are sisters not identical twins. 2. I'd love to find a surgeon to give me those results and then return all my money. What a deal. I doubt any surgeon would do more than fix the surgery if he/she deemed it necessary. Bodies do heal differenlty and sometimes it's not the surgeons fault. My weight loss has resulted in one leg being noticably larger than the other. So if I have plastics I would assume the PS would do his/her best to rememdy that, but if my body decides there's going to be more swelling on that side there's really nothing to do about it. I can't find any two of my body parts that match in size and shape to the other. Hope you are getting along with "the girls" better these days.

Allison, Due to a hiatal hernia I had my band removed on Tuesday. Although I'm not close to goal, my tummy area has never been large. But that above the navel area has looked funky since I was banded. I didn't mind because I'm older than dirt, my legs look like crap so there's no possibility I'll be wearing a swim suit of any sort without spandex from bust to ankel. LOL Anyway after my port was removed already my tummy doesn't look funky even with surgery swelling still going on. MY DH had a TT two years ago. He'd lost 170 lbs... most in his tummy. So he had massive loose skin to be removed. And the improvements are immense, but his navel looks odd. Some people don't get to keep their navels and that can look even funkier if one is "created." The trade off in his case was well worth it. Good that you are thinking it through before spending tons of money for improvements that might only satisfy your plastic surgeon.

My DH had TT after losing 170 lbs and most of it in his tummy. We found a platic surgeon who accepted his insurance (he has Medical Mutual). They took pictures, documented his rash and the insurance covered all except his deductibles and co pays. There were some specifics that had to be met... like how far the tummy hangs over the pubis. I don't know what the minimum requirements were. He had it done a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier with the results. He doesn't have the rashes and his ability to bend and walk was improved. Most plastic surgeons' offices have staff who help with the insurance issues. Find a good surgeon in network and make an appointment.

Donna 4545, I hear you! And the only person I know personally who went to Mexico it didn't go so well for. But that's just one person and the problem could have happened anywhere. Her port flipped. She's been nearly 3 years can't afford to go back and can't afford to have it fixed here. She's lost nothing, maybe gained. But that certainly wasn't the fault of her doctor. He (the Mexican doc) would fix it free. She discovered it was flipped when she finally found someone to do her fill and he was unable. The cost of fixing the port (here) was more than the cost of going back. He (the American doc) also told her that it's not an uncommon thing to happen. BUT the sleeve procedure doesn't have a port and if an emergency happens you can get it fixed here if necessary without paying the entire surgery up front. Fixing a port isn't considered a medical necessity. After I lose another 30 lbs I'll be shopping for plastics that aren't covered by insurance and I'll definitely be researching Mexico.

Cheri, Hope all goes well! Don't worry about the layover... be glad there is one. If your flight gets in late you have a little breathing room! By the time you change planes, get some refreshment use the facilities... the time will pass quickly. Your surgery will be upon you before you know it, the time does fly! I have a week of Clear Liquids following my surgery and I was so dreading it, but it's been almost a week already. It hasn't been bad at all. I didn't have any preop diet this time. Sounds like you have everything under control for your family too! Ah to be young again. LOL

Congrats on the weight loss and wish you well on your jouney. So sorry you had to go through so much and lose your band so quickly. I am mourning the loss of my band on 7/6 (details in separate post). I did opt for the sleeve. Only time will tell if that was a good idea or not. Wish you well and continued weight loss. It looks like there's a lot of momentum in the media and many workplaces to encourage healthier habits. Go with the force. May your weight loss be all you need and you keep it off your whole life. One thing about it, those of us who have opted for WLS regardless of our outcome, know that it's not an easy way out.

Dawn, I sent you a PM. I'm glad you got some encouragement from the post.