LisaNLasVegas

This is a cross post- Here are my quick stats: Lap-Band in Monterrey, Mexico in 2003. Over 11 years I lost 100 pounds and gained back 40. Revision to Gastric Sleeve in Las Vegas August 5, 2014 When I was first researching about a revision surgery and the sleeve, I read about so many complications. I learned a lot about what could happen. For those of you who are debating surgery, here is my success story: My experience has been great. I have NO REGRETS. I had my revision surgery from the lap-band to a gastric sleeve in one operation. In fact, it was done as an outpatient. I arrived at the hospital at 6am and was on my couch recovering at about 4:30 pm. Since the first day I was able to drink Water and a ready-made Protein shake. It was slow drinking, but had no issues. I took my pain medication for 2 days, only because I was scared that if I didn't take them, I would have pain. I didn't. I would say the worst pain I felt on a scale of 1-10 was about a 4. I slept on my side after about 3 nights. I took a shower the day after my surgery and walked a lot. On about day 3 I got the gas pains, but took Gas X and they only were bad for about an hour. I had no problem getting in my 60 grams of protein - in fact, I usually had 80 grams (2 shakes and one powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup broth) On day 10, my Protein Shakes started to disagree with me - well, my intestines disagreed with them! As soon as I started drinking, I could feel my intestines filling with water and would have to run to the bathroom. TMI I know, but it happened. 14 days after surgery at my 2 week follow up appointment, I told my doc that the protein shakes were giving me issues and his response was to stop drinking them and "let's get you on solid foods." I haven't had one since (almost 2 weeks ago). Since then, I have been eating real food and I feel great! I have mostly had softer foods like deli turkey or eggs but last night I had salmon and it was great. I feel better today 25 days after surgery than I have felt in the last 2 years. I have lost 25 pounds but it must look like more because everyone I see is asking me if I have lost weight (I don't think I look like I have, but that's another issue.....) I have energy like never before. I sleep better. I feel "normal" when I go out to eat. I sometimes want the junk, but I am able to resist. My stomach has NEVER growled and I don't feel hungry. Sometimes I feel "empty," but I can wait to eat. I am a boring patient. I LOVE being boring! Anyone else out there proud to be boring?

Yes - I got to the hospital at 6am, had lap band removal, hernia repair, and gastric sleeve and was home on my own couch at 4:30 pm. I was so glad that I didn't have to stay!

Here are my quick stats: Lap-Band in Monterrey, Mexico in 2003. Over 11 years I lost 100 pounds and gained back 40. Revision to Gastric Sleeve in Las Vegas August 5, 2014 When I was first researching about a revision surgery and the sleeve, I read about so many complications. I learned a lot about what could happen. For those of you who are debating surgery, here is my success story: My experience has been great. I have NO REGRETS. I had my revision surgery from the lap-band to a gastric sleeve in one operation. In fact, it was done as an outpatient. I arrived at the hospital at 6am and was on my couch recovering at about 4:30 pm. Since the first day I was able to drink Water and a ready-made Protein shake. It was slow drinking, but had no issues. I took my pain medication for 2 days, only because I was scared that if I didn't take them, I would have pain. I didn't. I would say the worst pain I felt on a scale of 1-10 was about a 4. I slept on my side after about 3 nights. I took a shower the day after my surgery and walked a lot. On about day 3 I got the gas pains, but took Gas X and they only were bad for about an hour. I had no problem getting in my 60 grams of protein - in fact, I usually had 80 grams (2 shakes and one powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury chicken Soup broth) On day 10, my Protein Shakes started to disagree with me - well, my intestines disagreed with them! As soon as I started drinking, I could feel my intestines filling with water and would have to run to the bathroom. TMI I know, but it happened. 14 days after surgery at my 2 week follow up appointment, I told my doc that the protein shakes were giving me issues and his response was to stop drinking them and "let's get you on solid foods." I haven't had one since (almost 2 weeks ago). Since then, I have been eating real food and I feel great! I have mostly had softer foods like deli turkey or eggs but last night I had salmon and it was great. I feel better today 25 days after surgery than I have felt in the last 2 years. I have lost 25 pounds but it must look like more because everyone I see is asking me if I have lost weight (I don't think I look like I have, but that's another issue.....) I have energy like never before. I sleep better. I feel "normal" when I go out to eat. I sometimes want the junk, but I am able to resist. My stomach has NEVER growled and I don't feel hungry. Sometimes I feel "empty," but I can wait to eat. I am a boring patient. I LOVE being boring! Anyone else out there proud to be boring?

It's hard to say without you posting what you are eating. What does an honest typical day look like? OR even the not typical days? What is your protein/fat/carb intake? Calorie intake? You haven't given enough information for us to offer suggestions.

wjcunni2000 - I had my surgery on Aug 5 and eat about that much, too. Usually my calorie intake is about 700 - 900 calories. If I eat cheese during the day with my turkey wrap, my calories might go to 1000. But, according to my fitness pal, if I eat 1200 calories a day I should be losing 2.5 lbs a week. That is my goal - to lose 10 pounds a month. My doctor, too, believes that we don't have to baby the stomach for too long. I started solid foods (yet soft ones) 2 weeks after my surgery. I have no problem getting in 60-80 grams of Protein a day, which is my goal. I can also drink Water pretty quickly on an empty stomach. Some doctors are just more cautious than others. For me, I was GRATEFUL that my doctor wanted to get me on solid foods as soon as tolerated. I don't think I could have done liquids for a month or more! Let us know what your doc says tomorrow!

I had surgery on a Tuesday and tried to go back to work the following Monday. I worked half days on Mon and Tues and came home and took the rest of the week off because I was in too much pain. For me, the pain was caused by my bra putting constant pressure on my hiatial hernia repair site. If I didn't have the repair, I think I would have been fine. Or, if I could have gotten away with not wearing a bra, that would have been wonderful. Neither one of those were an option so I stayed home for the rest of the week, braless, and was able to go back the next week - so I took 2 weeks off. If you have to go back, I would suggest getting a tight tank top that you could wear under your clothes instead of a bra. Or, if you are brave or don't have very large breasts, let them hang free!

10eshoes- YES my doc was Dr. Rumbaut in July 2003. I loved him. I never regret getting the band. It just lived its life and now I am on to more permanent changes!

Good luck Summer and Beauty! I hope your procedures are without drama, as well!

Everybody's signs are different. When I had the lap band (2003-2014) and now with the sleeve (as of Aug 5) my "sign" that I am full or satisfied is this: During my meal I will naturally take a large breath, like a sigh. If I stop eating when that happens and put the food away, I am comfortable. If I keep eating, a few bites later I will have a small pain in either my chest or around my bra line. You probably experiences this pain with the band - most do. That is the gentle reminder to stop for real! If I eat more after the pain, with my band it meant throwing up. I haven't pushed it that far with the sleeve. I am happy to report that I have not thrown up since July. It is a blessing to not have to scope out the bathroom at every place before you eat out!

I will be the hopefully gentle critic here. It looks like you are making bad choices, and feeling guilty about the good ones. There is nothing wrong with a turkey wrap with no bread. In fact, that is a GREAT lunch. Try spreading hummus on the turkey instead of the cheese sometimes to lower the fat. I eat turkey, hummus or cheese, and a leaf of lettuce almost every day for lunch. Also, the pepper steak and onions are not bad, either. Those choices are both high in Protein and will keep you full. Just make sure you chew it up real good and that you eat slowly. Now.... the topping off a pizza are high fat, high sodium, and not much protein. If the chicken tender was breaded, then that was also a lot of fat. We don't need to talk about the Doritos, right? Please don't get into the "it was the only food that went down" excuses. When I had my lap-band I fell into that habit and it only results in weight gain. If you have the sleeve, then your stomach should tolerate just about everything it did before, so that is a mindset that you have to get out of. I know that a lot of people have trouble with certain types of food, but if your surgery was successful and you are having a normal recovery, you should not have many issues. I'm sure you know this, but I will say it out loud (sort of) - WLS will NOT make you lose weight. You still have to CHOOSE everything that goes into your mouth. I believe you DO have to sill be on a "diet" while losing weight. Watch your calories - do you use my fitness pal to log your food? WLS will help you control the portion of what you eat, but you have to make the choice of what that portion is going to be. In my opinion WLS gives you the opportunity of maintain your weight loss and makes losing a little easier. But you still have to diet to get there. You got this - you have lost 30 pounds which is great. It will come off. STOP beating yourself up! hugs!

I assume at some point I was standing, because when I got on the operating table they put a platform on my feet and strapped the legs/ankles to the board. My doc does the leak test during surgery, so I thought that was a part of it. I don't know how long I was in the upright position.

Yes I did have that problem. My idea probably won't work for you. I had the same problem, but after I was a week out. At my 2 week follow up appointment, I told my doc that at soon as I started to drink them I could feel my intestines filling with water and had to run to the bathroom. His solution was: "Stop drinking them. Let's get you on solid food." haha LOVE my doc! Now I am not saying that is the solution for you, but I was SO GLAD he is a little more liberal with the "rules." PS - I haven't had a shake since he told me that last Monday!

It's hard to offer advice with the information you have provided. If you are eating 60 grams of protein, that only amounts to 240 calories. What are the other 660? Fat? Carbs? How many grams of sugar are you eating per day? Log everything that goes in your mouth - everything! Measure everything. Use an app like my fitness pal - it will calculate how many calories you need per day and how many you should cut to lose weight. When I weighed 220 pounds, my daily calorie requirement to lose 2 pounds per week was 1200. WIth your BMI at 28 (I don't know your weight - I don't know KGS), I don't know what your calorie intake should be. Is it possible that you are at your goal weight and your body is maintaining?

The pre op diet is the hardest part of the whole process. You are exactly right - your stomach isn't smaller, you still have an appetite, you are still "normal." I don't have any advice except it sucks! I spent a lot of time in bed because I couldn't sit in the living room or in front of the tv. Every commercial is about food - don't watch tv! lol Just remember that there is a reason you are doing it. You WILL eat again. I actually started making mental lists of what foods I wanted to eat for "when I could again." It helped a little (not really!) Good luck! We all went through it and feel your pain!

I am almost 2 weeks post op. I have eaten (all approved) yogurt, applesause, and cottage cheese along with my Protein shakes. I had a soft scrambled egg this morning and was in heaven! Diet: 1-2 weeks - liquids or "funnel diet" - if it can go through a funnel, it is ok. 3-4 weeks - funnel diet and can add textured food (no more than 1/4 cup at a time) 6 weeks and beyond - normal, but add foods one at a time. Sleeve not minding at all. My doc's rationale is that it is easier for the sleeve to "handle" normal eating if you start using the stomach right away. Well, not RIGHT AWAY, but not waiting for 4-6 weeks until introducing anything solid. Isn't it funny how every doctor has a differnt opinion? Kind of like the boards, right? LOL

I am only one week out, but I have one protein shake (160 cal/ 30 gm protein) and one protein soup (100 cal/ 20 gm protein) daily, which makes up 50 grams of protein and only 260 calories. The rest of my protein comes from (right now) cottage cheese and yogurt. Once I go to a normal diet, then I will probably still have continue to drink one protein shake a day to get in all the protein.

My advice: you can't change your decision so suck it up and accept it! (harsh, I know, but why sugar coat?)

A good rule of thumb is to make sure the sugar content is lower than the Protein content. Also, try to stay under 8 grams of sugar per serving. Danon Light and Fit are great!

Following this too - wondering the same

I have 3 dogs and live alone, as well. I did have someone stay with me the first night. I didn't really need her there, but it was comforting to know. I should also say that I was done as an outpatient and came home about 4 hours after my surgery. Due to my sister's insistence I also had someone stay with me the second night, but really didn't need them. On my third day home I sent my "nurses" away. It was helpful to have my help feed the dogs. It was hard to bend over and pick up their bowls and put them back down. You could do it. Just keep your kiddos off of your stomach (mine are lap dogs and they really didn't understand that!). If you can have help the first night you might feel more comfortable, but will be fine. Good luck!

No problems, here, thank God. I was revision band to sleeve 6 days ago - going back to work today. Pain meds for 2 days only because I didn't want to feel any breakthrough pain (but never did). I can drink an 11 ounce Protein shake at one time (well, taking about an hour, lol). Get all my Water every day, since 2 days after surgery. I haven't tried any food that will fill my sleeve yet. I will try applesauce tomorrow, but I don't expect any problems. Yay for the boring patients! I love it when my doctor tells me I'm boring!

No drain. Outpatient. Ask your surgeon if he/she uses them.

Put your utensils down after every bite. Cut your food, put the food in your mouth, put the utensils down, and chew your food and enjoy it! Don't pick them up again until you are ready for another bite. Maybe even have some conversation in between. I am always the last one finished!

My experience was very different - I had Surgery this past Tuesday, August 5. When I arrived at the hospital at 6am, the bariatric coordinator took me over to pre op, and took my sister to the waiting room. Pre op asked me questions about my history and I changed into a gown. I went to my bed and they put the compression stockings on my legs and started an IV. I was then given 2 percocets by mouth, a pain reliever and anti biotic in my IV, and was given a patch behind my ear for nausea. (My doctor truly believes in preventative care, so he loads his patients first). They then went and got my sister to wait with me. After about an hour, they took me to the waiting room in the OR, where my sister could not come. I was the first patient of the day, but my doc had an emergency, so I would guess he started my surgery about 9am. I woke up in the recovery room and cleared my throat a little - wasn't really in pain at all. The nurse gave me some ice chips (again, most will not, but my doc does the leak test right after surgery while you are still out and knew I was ok to drink). Then I was taken back over to the pre op area and rested. My sister came back in and we just waited until I felt ok to go home. Yes, I went home the same day. No drains, no catheters, no pain drip. I got up a couple of times and walked to the bathroom and felt ok, considering. I went home at about 4pm and have had no issues. I took a shower without help the next morning. The first day it was hard to swallow my pain pills which were not liquid. I had to cut them in half. I took no nausea medicine and I only took the pain meds for 2 days. First night I slept in my recliner. The next few nights I slept in my bed on my back - but my bed is adjustable, so I had the head up like a hospital bed. Last night (5 days later) I slept with my bed flat on my side and feel great this morning! I had the gas pains on day 2, but I used a heating pad and Gas X and it helped. I'm ready to go back to work tomorrow (4 days off including surgery day). I might only work 1/2 day, though. I don't want to force myself to get up too early in the morning. I hope this helps. Some people have told me that I must have a high pain tolerance. I don't think I do - in fact, I think I'm a baby when it comes to pain. I really didn't feel any. Just when I was going to stand from sitting or sit from standing, my incisions would pull and hurt a little. For that, you just hold pressure on them with your hand or a pillow and it is fine. Good luck to you! You will do great!

It is scary - I started to cry as soon as I had to move over to the operating table (did really good before then!). But they were super nice and understanding and told me they would take good care of me. The anesthesiologist asked me if I was local. i said yes. He then asked what high school I went to and I think I told him - but the air vent on the ceiling that I was staring at went blurry - and then I woke up!