LisaNLasVegas

I had/still have that too. I think it is the ketosis breath from no carbs. My surgery was Tuesday - I just bought a few packs of gum today, and mint life savers. There are many different opinions on this, but I couldn't stand tasting my own breath and had to do something!

Had my surgery Tuesday at North Vista Hospital (you are in Vegas, too, right?) When I woke up I definitely felt groggy. I looked around the room, and immediately a nurse was at my side telling me hello. I didn't feel any pain - just soreness. I cleared my throat a couple of times, then the nurse asked me if I would like some ice chips. I of course said yes, and she gave me some. (My doc does the leak test during surgery, so I didn't have to stay and have it the next day). I asked her if the doc was able to do the sleeve (I was a revision) and she said yes, he completed the band removal, hernia repair, and sleeve. I farted a couple of times (LOL-TMI but you asked!). Then, before I knew it, they were wheeling me back to the pre/post op area. I stayed there about 3 hours then went home. I was very lucky to have such a smooth experience. I hope yours goes just as well!

I was just wondering how long it takes you all to drink about 6 ounces of a thinned protein shake? I had my surgery 4 days ago. It takes me about 15 minutes to drink my shake. Wondering if I should be drinking it slower? I don't feel pain in my chest, so I don't think I am over-filling. Thoughts?

How can I change my lifestyle if I can't even succeed on the light version of the pre-op diet? Anyone else struggle through pre-op diet? Any tips? That is the million dollar question. If I could have stuck to the pre op diet then I wouldn't have needed surgery. I think they make us do it just to see how dedicated we are to the process. No advice except to take a nap and stay out of the house as much as you can!!

I'm not sure. My doc allows low sodium V-8 juice during the liquid phase, so I would guess that if you make it a liquid consistency it would be ok.

One more question - are you all waiting to drink water 30 min before and after to drink your shake? Seems to me that since it is liquid, I wouldn't necessarily have to wait unless my stomach is full. I feel like all I do all day long is drink (sip)!!

I am using the Premier Protein Chocolate shakes (pre-mixed) from Sams Club. I like them because they also have a screw lid on them, so I can drink half and put the rest back in the fridge until my next meal. They are 11 ounces and 30 grams of protein. I split them between 2 meals and for my third meal I use Unjury Chicken Soup flavor broth with 21 grams of protein. That gives me 51 grams. It has been good for the past 4 days - next week I will add another cup of broth to total 72 grams a day. My doc suggests 40 - 60 the first 2 weeks, then 60 - 80 for the rest. Good luck! Time will fly by!

I had surgery on Tuesday and on Thursday I woke up with the shoulder pains. I took 2 Gas X strips and used a heating pad and they went away in about 1 1/2 hours. Had no issues with stomach burning or getting fluids down. Well, it takes me about an hour to drink a cup of liquid, but I don't have any side effects.

PS - going to Mexico is risky. I had my lap band in Mexico in 2003. When I started having complications this year, one practice wouldn't even see me without a $5K "take over" fee since I had my surgery out of the US. I don't regret it, but there are definitely roadblocks in the future.

Plan a trip to Las Vegas! My surgeon is awesome and does travel packages. Check out the website Blossom Bariatrics with Dr. Umbach. You can search them both on You Tube and see some videos, as well. I think his charge is close to 11K for the whole procedure done in his surgical center. My insurance paid, so I am not sure, but you will love the practice! Good Luck!

I had a band removal, hernia repair and gastric sleeve on Tuesday (3 days ago). It was all done as outpatient. I got the the hospital at 6am and was home on my own couch by about 4:30pm. It has been 3 days and I feel great, except for a little tenderness on my larger incision when I get up or sit down, or when I turn onto my side during the night. I don't have kids to worry about, but I have 3 dogs. I have been able to feed them and even go in the backyard to pick up the poop! On day 2 (yesterday), I woke up with the dreaded shoulder pain. I put a heating pad on my shoulder and used the Gas X strips. The pain lasted about 1 1/2 hours. I am not on any pain meds and I am going stir crazy in my house! I have been walking in circles a lot, which helps. The hardest part is trying to get all the liquids down, because it takes me about an hour to sip a glass of water. That, however, has gotten better today, as well. I honestly thought it would be a lot worse. It hasn't been "difficult" or "hard" for me at all! Yay I'm a lucky one! Good luck to you!

Update - I had my revision surgery on Tuesday. Had band removed (doc said it was a booger to get out - had for 11 years), hiatial hernia repair, and gastric sleeve all in one surgery and I went home the SAME DAY! Feeling great, no pain meds as of last night.

What was your pre op diet? Could be carb withdrawal. My pre op was 2 shakes and a "lean and green" meal - which included lots of veggies and salads (carbs). My sleeve was done on Tuesday and I had a headache after surgery and the next day. I guessed that since on pre op I was still eating carbs and then went to no carbs with my one Protein shake and one protein Soup, it was because of that. I drank a fruit smoothie and it went away. Good luck!

Those are the questions I just can't tolerate anymore. Everyone will stall and, no, you won't lose 100 pounds in 2 weeks. So many people waited months for surgery and then whine that they haven't lost weight fast enough. I don't even read them anymore.

What happens when you "can't tolerate" a food? With my band, that meant throwing up. I didn't think throwing up was as much of an issue with the sleeve - what happens? Thanks!

Sometimes I think we have to retrain our minds to like more healthy foods. I said for years I don't like fish (and I don't think that I did.. lol). When I started thinking about my revision surgery, I just decided that I WAS going to like fish and I WAS going to eat it. The same that was mentioned above - I had to try different recipes, but now I can say I actually order salmon at restaurants and eat every bite! Of course if you continue to tell yourself you don't like it and you like chocolate and chips better, you will never get out of that rut. I, for one, like potato chips much better than yogurt or chicken. But I have to make a head decision that I do like chicken and it is so much better for me. The sleeve is not going to care if I have a handful of chips or a couple of pieces of chicken before I get full. So I have to make the choice for myself. Good luck finding recipes that you like!

2 things that happened this morning: 1. I can't wait to put on a tee shirt and not intentionally stretch the heck out of it before I put it on- just wear it "as is." 2. I have a sports car, and can't wait to sit down gently in the seat - not go with the 1-2-3-DROP method of getting in the driver's seat! Getting out is another issue.....

unjury makes a chicken Soup powder that I love! Tastes to me like regular chicken broth. You have to make sure you follow the directions and don't mix it with Water hotter then 140 degrees or it will clump and you will throw it away. I make hot water in my Keurig coffee machine and let it sit for about 5 minutes to get to about 125 - 130 degrees. Add a scoop, stir and enjoy. I even made it for a friend of mine who "hates" Protein Drinks and she didn't know the difference. When you open the jar it even smells like chicken broth. Others I like are: Syntrax Nectars Lemonade Stand; Premier Protein pre made in chocolate; Pure Protein Powder in chocolate. When you try a brand, unfortunately you have to try the different flavors. Example: I HATE Unjury strawberry and Pure Protein vanilla! blech! Good luck in your quest! PS - Unjury will send you free samples to your doctor's office. They stopped sending them to individuals, but if you call with your doc's info, they will send to you through the doc. (Probably loosing too much money on samples!)

That happened to me all the time with the band. I was told it was the esophagus going into spasms because of either eating too fast for the food to go down, taking too big of a bite, or being full. Slow down and chew, chew, chew! I don't know if it will happen once I get my band out and sleeved next week!

I'm on the pre op diet and my brain believes I am starving. I really am not - my calorie intake is close to 1000 calories a day (my doc recommends 2-3 shakes - depending on hunger- and one "lean and green" meal). But WHY, oh WHY does EVERY commercial have to be about food??? Anyone else notice this? It's annoying!

That is not true. ALL bariatric patients should be taking vitamins on a regular basis due to the low amount of food that we eat. The RDA is based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, bariatric patients usually do not eat anywhere near that amount. If one can't get the nutrients from the amount of food taken in, then one should take supplements.

My clinic today told me that my doc uses Exparel in surgery to keep stomach/incision areas numb for up to 3 days. Anyone else have a doctor that uses this, or have had any experience with it? I had never even heard of it! They said it was "gold in a bottle!" If it truly keeps you pain free for 3 days, sign me up! Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Hi There, Just curious how long you all were in the hospital for your band to sleeve revision? My doc says 1-2 nights, some books say 2-7 nights. What was yours? I'm having a band removal, hiatial hernia repair, and gastric sleeve on August 5th. Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Bottom line - if you don't want anyone to know, then have your surgery in another country and don't tell ANYONE! People are always looking for - "don't tell anyone, but...." It will always get out. That's why I decided to be open about it. I'd rather people just know rather than thinking they have one of my deep dark secrets! I'm not posting on facebook, but I don't really care who knows. That way I can't get mad at anyone!

Hey Miaoreo! My surgery is with Dr. Umbach on August 5th! Went for my pre op class yesterday and his staff and him are AWESOME!! Feel so comfortable with all of them. It kind of freaked me out a little that he said my band removal, hernia repair, and sleeve will be done as an outpatient, but home the same day would be nice. How is your brother doing?