WendyDTX

I agree with Yoga-Lady. What you described are the symptoms I had when I had gallstones.

My sleeve surgery (band-to-sleeve revision) is the 16th. I'm so excited.... and glad to have one last "hurrah" with Super Bowl Snacks - I start my preop diet on Monday. Be well and yay for all of us!

I was prescribed Adipex (Phentermine) when I was in my pre-Band medically supervised diet back in 2008. I lost 70 lbs with it (and doctor supervision and diet journaling) prior to surgery. At first, taking it made me a little nauseated, so I didn't want to eat - therefore instant appetite suppressant. Then it started to mess with my blood pressure and my sleeping. I took it for almost a year, I think, before and for a little while after lapband surgery. Getting off of it didn't cause the weight to return (or bring its friends), but that was because of the lapband. Since then, I have had trouble with my LapBand (having revision surgery in Feb 2015), and I was prescribed it once again. Not so good this time. - If I take it, I'm so jittery that my hands shake and my writing is almost illegible for about 3-4 hours following the dose. - If I take it, I am guaranteed that I will NOT sleep that night. Maybe 15 minutes total all night. Not even kidding. I would take it between 4-5 am - come night time, I close my eyes and they continue to dart around like I'm in an "awake" REM cycle, my mind races... insomnia is hell. - If I take it, I will have poor BP results - even a day later. I have a couple weeks' supply of them left, and I'd have to be REALLY desperate to take them, despite the weight I've gained following the fail of my band. On a related topic: My mom took the Phen-Fen (Fen-Phen?) concoction back in the late 80s and lost 123 lbs in 8 months - you couldn't nail her down, she was on such a speed-high during that time. However, about 10-12 years later, she was awarded part of the big lawsuit settlement after having an artificial heart valve placed as a result of the "non-phentermine" part of the drug. My personal opinion - I appreciated the drug years ago, but I'm no longer on the Adipex bandwagon.

@@MsCP At Sam's, they are sold in 12 packs for about $15/box, and come in vanilla, strawberries and cream, or chocolate. However, I have seen them in slightly different packaging than what I buy at Sam's (there, they have a red "spout" lid - the ones I've seen in the fridge at work were the "old" packaging with a silver tear-off opening on top), so I feel pretty confident you can buy them individually "somewhere" - I just don't know where that might be. I know Vitamin Shoppe has a fridge full of different Protein drinks, I wonder if they can be found there? While all three flavors are very good, the vanilla is my favorite. None of them taste "diet-y", if that makes sense.

I'm having revision surgery on the 16th, but Protein shakes have been part of my life for years since lapband. The band surgeon recommended Premier Protein Shakes (found at Sam's club) - they're 160 calories, 30 grams protein, and of ALL of the shakes I've tried over the years, I like these the best. I was pleased to see my new sleeve/revision surgeon recommends them as well.

@@Jlkhollins, My story is very much like yours. Banded in Dec 2008, the most I lost was 50 lbs, then gained it, then lost it, now gained it again. My band completely "broke" in September, 2014 - I realized I had lost all restriction when I gained 19 lbs in 10 days. I did OODLES of research, found a new doctor, and I've now been back through the insurance denial and appeal process, and learned last week they have approved my revision surgery, which is scheduled for Feb 16, 2015. I am so excited I am beside myself (!!!!!), but don't want to tell anyone about it.... I have carried such shame and embarrassment for the past six years around those who knew I had a LapBand because of my failure with it. Only five people know I'm having a revision (three of which are immediate family members), but thought this could be a great venue for me to shout it from the mountaintops! I give the band credit for keeping me from gaining weight (when it was working) - but it also created in me a "medical-device bulimic". With it no longer providing any restriction, I've gained 49 lbs (grrr), and my metabolism is shot. I have high hopes that my experience and failure will keep me focused and successful in my new, "last chance", journey. Wish me luck!!!!! @@CowgirlJane, I wanna be like you!