Want2surf

I packed a little bag which my parents brought later. I packed my phone, IPad, toiletries (each room had a bathroom with shower), underwear and slip on tennis shoes. I had lap band removal, gastric sleeve and hernia repair. I was at the hospital 2 1/2 days and I was out of it much of the time. The hospital gave us a little bag with Chapstick and mouthwash which I did use. I never did watch TV, read or go online...mostly slept . I did put on the underwear and did use the slip on shoes to walk around to prevent clots and help with gas.

I just had surgery 5/4. I had low BMI and an existing lap band that I needed to have removed and revised to a sleeve . They still required me to go through the program. So...12 weeks of classes with a 2 week delay because of the holidays. Then labs, evaluation by Bariatrics doctor and evaluation by family therapist and finally pre op evaluation with the surgeon. Things moved quickly after classes ended. I had surgery 2 months after classes ended and others in my class got done a few weeks sooner than I did. I got delayed because my PMD wouldn't sign off without seeing me in person and it took awhile to get an appointment with her. We were told we could be denied if we gained weight. Most people in my class lost weight because they were motivated and really trying hard. Delays can result because of things like low iron.

Had band to sleeve revision on May 4. I'm 14 days out. First day off liquids and on puréed foods. Doing great!

I add 2 tablespoons of PB2 to mine. It's only 45 calories and has protein. I figure 45 calories is a small price to pay to make the shakes palatable.

I'm 14 days post op and wishing the best for all of you!

That's great!

I know this is an old thread but I don't want to clutter things up by starting a new one. I'm new and not sure whether a new post bumps up a thread? I had terrible reflux after I lost all my weight with a lap band. Literally, as soon as I got really thin I became miserable with constant burning and night cough. I used everything available OTC. I ate so many Tums that I showed up with elevated Calcium in labs done for a work physical. My band was done in Mexico and I didn't have aftercare. I finally saw my PMD 2 years ago and was prescribed something that didn't work at all. I went back and was prescribed omeprazole which worked like a charm. No more burning. I am day 11 post op after lap band to sleeve conversion, including hernia repair. I've been given liquid Ranitidine to take for 1 month and told not to take my omeprazole. All my old symptoms came back yesterday. Burning chest, constantly clearing throat. I see my surgeon for post op appointment today and I'm hoping for a medication change. I haven' done anything I can thing of to cause this. I've had only premade Protein drinks, Water, V-8 and chicken broth. The v-8 was 4 days ago. I did get a virus/infection at the hospital and ended up with sore throat and ear aches. PMD gave me nasal spray but I've research here and found several people that take it without any problem.

I had the revision done 5/4. My wounds are healing really well. Bruising around wounds has diminished to almost zero. Today i get the drain removed from my abdomen. The drain is a bit of a pain because you have to try to hide if you want to go anyplace but it doesn't hurt and it's actually kind of interesting seeing and tracking what comes out through it. I had my first touch of reflux yesterday and today (days 11 and 12). I'm staying at my folks' house because I was told not to drive and I hadn't expected that. So...I don't have all the foods here that I had gotten ahead of time. While here I've been doing 2 costco Protein shakes a day, 1 small can of V-8 (just because it tastes good and feels like real food), 1/2 cup of chicken broth (some days) and Water (sometimes Isopure Protein Water). I haven't felt hungry. I have felt extremely thirsty but my surgeon requires you to pour all intake into a one ounce medical cup and drink it over 15 minutes. I think I have the reflux because I got impatient yesterday and drank too much Soup too quickly. Sorry to be so wordy! I've been cooped up in my parents' house for 11 days and trying not to drive them crazy. As I related in an earlier post, I have a nasty virus or infection giving me earaches, sore throat, sore jaw, sore teeth. Something I got at the hospital and it isn't getting better so it skews my perception of this healing process a bit. There is definitely no comparison between band recovery and band to sleeve revision recovery. By this time after banding I was back at work and I was a firefighter. My surgeon this time around doesn't allow weight lifting until 4-6 weeks out, driving and stuff like vacuuming the floor until 2 weeks out.

Hi there, I had the lap band put in in 2001 and removed in 2010 due to 2 port disconnects. I am not looking into getting the sleeve. Did your insurance cover the sleeve? What it difficult to meet the qualifications? Thank you. I was very lucky that my Kaiser insurance covered the conversion from band to sleeve. I didn't think they would. I had a very old band done in Mexico. I've had Kaiser for 40 years but I did the band in Mexico because Kaiser didn't do them back them. I did have to go through their 8 weeks of informational classes, around of medical test and psyche testing even though I was within 15 pounds of goal weight. The classes were helpful. I made friends and they helped prep me mentally for the sleeve process. I didn't think I needed that but I really did. Having had the band in for 8 years, I'd developed a very limited scope of what I could eat and not throw up. I'd forgotten how to eat like a normal person. It wasn't difficult to ask for the band removal. I just told them I throw up constantly and basically had been living on popcorn and tea for years. The conversion part took more convincing but not that much because I'm pretty shy and passive and yet here I am, 12 days about from my revision surgery.

Got the band at age 47. Came out of anesthesia with mild problems (I was freezing and had to be treated with space heaters and warm blankets) but recovery was super quick. I literally had surgery at 9 pm, was released at 11 am and was out shopping that same afternoon. I never used any of the pain medication. A week ago, I had the band to sleeve conversion, including a repaired hernia. It's been a lot harder. I'm now aged 54. I was hospitalized for 2.5 days. I have a stomach drain for 15 days. I spent the first 3 days using maximum pain med dosage and struggling to get Protein and fluids down. Stopped the pain meds on day 5 and got more active. Day 7 woke up with severe sore throat and bilateral ear aches. Spent all day Sunday trying internet remedies to help ear pain. Took surgery pain meds so I could sleep. Today emailed surgeon and was told to see PMD. Got a late appointment and was given Flonase. Ear pain still worse than surgery pain was so I've just taken pain meds again so I can sleep after sitting up all night with warm compresses on ears. I think I picked up an infection from the hospital but they don't like to give antibiotics so I'm using the Flonase and hoping for relief. This is day 8. I have no abdominal pain. I have good mobility. Other than ear aches my biggest difficulty is staying on top of Fluid and protein consumption. My surgeon requires 1 ounce spread over 15 minutes. This takes all day and all night. I keep falling asleep and losing time. I thought it would be easier. I premade cute food logs. I got my phone alarm app ready to go. I haven't met my intake or exercise goals at all. I think I got this virus or infection at the hospital and it has me feeling tired and out of it. Ear aches are the worst. No wonder little kids cry so much when they have them. I think if I didn't have this side issue going on I would be out walking and doing better with fluid intake, so I'm guessing for a low BMI conversion you can be fairly recovered in a week's time. Wash hands often while hospitalized and don't allow a nurse to reinsert a nasal cannula that was dragged across the floor as I did!

I just had a band to sleeve conversion done on 5/4. I had zero nausea but the pain at incision sites (6 plus drain) and my left shoulder have been severe every day. I'm using maximum dose of pain killer at four days out. Let me add that it is worth it. It feels so good not to have the pressure at the band site and no more throwing up. It hurts right now but overall it's a good thing and I'm feeling optimistic. Let me add: I'm at day 12. I stopped pain meds at day 5. All gas pain was gone. No gas pain since and only slight tugging pain at incisions when I blow my nose or laugh too hard. When I read the beginning of m post from a few days I sound like such a baby! It's funny, I was at the hospital for 2.5 days because I had the conversion and a hernia repair done all at once. I was walking around that place like a maniac on day 2 but when I came home I wasn't as active and my shoulder started to hurt.. What people say here about walking is definitely true. Keep it up when you get home too, even if it's just little circles around the living room.

Every body is different and you will have to wait to see how things turn out with yours. My cousin started out a lot heavier than I was. He's 5 years younger. He had virtually no draping skin after he lost weight. I had surgery at age 47. I started at 230 and dropped below 120 at times and my abdomen and thighs are saggy BUT i've gained and lost a lot of weight twice and I think that contributed. I agree with everybody else that having saggy skin is far better than being obese and unhealthy. Sure, I don't wear bikinis but I get cute tankini's from Title Nine and I don't think anybody is horrified to look at me. I used to go to work and the supermarket and that was it. Now I'm out doing all sorts of things.

I was banded in Mexico in 2007 and I'm having a revision done by Kaiser So Cal on 5/4. I had old X-rays and info about my band but my doctor didn't need any of that. They did a scan so he could see the condition of the band and port sites. He said he takes out bands from other doctors, including those in Mexico all the time. I think it's becoming very common for some of us with the older bands to finally become fed up with the throwing up and problems.

I have revision surgery on 5/4. I'm a little scared because of the damage the band caused.

We live in a parallel universe! I haven't been in a restaurant in over a year because I hate that sudden need to run for the bathroom. I'm getting a revision on 5/4 and I'm excited to live life without throwing up. I'm scared too but I think we will be fine.