Rev Me Up!

you're doing great!!!!!!!! welcome!

Re: not losing weight--you may be hitting your 3-5 week stall. A lot of us were told to use an acid reducer from day one, regardless of whether we had symptoms. I use Zegerid OTC. Anything with Omeprazole in it will work (Prilosec, Nexium). Take it first thing in the morning and don't eat for an hour afterwards. If you are having acid problems, that should help. I would call the doc, though, just in case there is something else going on. Not being able to drink is not good. Are you eating ok?

I usually choose from one of the following: - a brie bite (from Trader Joes) broken in 4 pieces with 4 flax pita crackers. - vanilla yogurt with slivered almonds mixed in - flax oatmeal packet with a little vanilla creamer in it I eat more solids later in the day. I don't have time to cook anything in the morning, so I am limited in what I can carry in my purse and eat at work. I can see that mushy / liquids can end up giving you more calories than you want, but the AM can be tough for solid food. It is not very convenient and some of us have trouble eating solids first thing in the morning. Good luck---

Thanks for opening up this group! My name is Lara and I am also a band to sleeve revision. My journey started 6 years ago after the birth of my daughter. Weighed 240 when I got home from the hospital, lost 40 pounds on my own and then stayed at 200 for a while. In 2007, maxed out at 215 and got the band. It worked a bit, but I ended up back at 195 when I decided to get that toxic piece of crap out of my body. Honestly, I wasn't even thinking I would lose weight, I just wanted an "insurance policy" to keep me from balooning up after the band was gone. The sleeve has been UNBELIEVABLE!!!! In 3 months, I have lost 33.5 pounds and am now past the half-way point towards my goal. I have 26.5 to lose and I think I can lose them by my 6 month surgiversary, September 7. I could not be happier with my progress. My body feels so much better since the band is gone, the weight loss success is the icing on the cake! Thanks so much for giving us short timers a place to come and support each other! Lara

That is fantastic!! You are such an inspiriation for us former bandsters. You can do it!!!

I am similarly proportioned :-) I usually buy low rise jeans that are tight through hip and thigh. They are usually cut more generously at the waist and tighter everywhere else. I also wear a lot of skirts :-) The weight loss has been interesting because I didn't know my butt could get any smaller. My stomach is shrinking too, but not as quickly as the legs / face / back. I also seem to be maintaining my boobs, which is interesting. Don't worry, we are all a work-in-progress.

Hi--- Your question: Rev Me Up! -- did your surgeon detect the adhesions prior to surgery? No, he did not detect them before surgery, I don't think they can see it under regular flouro / xray. This was my 4th abdominal surgery, so it was understood that there would probably be some scarring in there.

I think it is ridiculous!!!! From high school until I was about 21, I weighed 115 pounds. I was a solid size 6. Back then, there were very few size 4's in the store and no one had ever heard of a size 0 - and I was TINY!!! These days, I see the size 0 and 00, and I don't see very many people who were smaller than I was. Very strange. Once I saw the prevalence of size 0 in the stores, I knew that something had to be fishy with the sizing. It's awful because it is much harder to find a size that fits. I am sort of in between sizes right now, but I have tried on pants in size 16 down to 12 and they all fit, depending on where I buy them. I think it makes everything much harder for the consumer.

That's tough with the pills. I had a dissolvable acid reducer when I came home from surgery, but I hear it is only available in Mexico. I also had chewable tylenol, just in case I needed it. I didn't start Vitamins until the 2nd week and, when I did, I was taking a chewable Vitamin. My throat was really scratchy and felt weird for at least a week or 2. I think it was the tube in the throat and some night-time acid that was keeping it raw. Keep pursuing alternatives on the pills with your doctor. Also, you live in LA, it might be worthwile for you to drive down to San Diego and take a quick walk over the border to pick up some Nexium MUPS which dissolves in Water. I'll admit, after the 2nd week I wanted to gag on the dissolved tablets, but it worked and it was easy on my new stomach. I started "real" pills after 4 weeks, per my surgeons instruction.

Hello! There are a few items that or OK at fast food restaurants. Also, maybe you can stock up at the grocery store before your return trip. Most delis have a veggie plate with cut up vegetables and a sinlge serving of hummus. Back in the day I used to get a hamburger and salad from McDonalds - throw out the bun and cut the patty onto the salad and eat it. Very low carb and may get you through a bad situation if drive through is the only option. Good luck!

I'll do my best. I'm 3 months out and your mileage may vary... I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...)The retriction is extremely consistent. I seem to be a little tighter first thing in the morning, but it isn't too bad. I am able to eat the same quantity at every meal, but I seem to want to eat a little more often in the afternoon. For example, I am more likely to have a snack or 2 in the afternoon than I am in the morning. The amount I eat in one sitting is no different. With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit?I never vomitted withe the band and I do not vomit with the sleeve. When I eat too much (and that is the only time I am uncomfortable) I am very uncomfortable for about 15 minutes. I wouldn't call it pain so much as it feels like I have to burp and it is stuck. SOmetimes I get a wave of nausea. Sometimes I get a flushed feeling along with some exhaustion as if my stomach just demanded that all my blood and energy be diverted to my stomach to process my food. It's not the same feeling that you have with the band. Also, I only get this feeling when I eat too much and I don't chew very well. With the band EVERYTHING got stuck because of the texture, dryness, etc. I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random?I haven't had any terrible reactions to food. I have foud that I don't like the taste of anything sweet now, but a small piece of cake does not send me to the toilet. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months... I was told 2 weeks, but I think there may be risk up to 2 months, because that is how long it would take for incisions to completely heal. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...I have not heard of much else besides complications from leaks. There are strictures that some people get when their pouch heals too narrow in the middle. There are peripheral effects like dehydration, and Vitamin deficiency. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray?My US doctor does not have flouro or barium swallow as part of their follow up protocol. My MX surgeon recommends a barium swallow at 3 months, which I have not had yet. The US protocol is a series of bloodwork to make sure you are not nutrient deficient. It is my understanding that a leak would be apparent in profound discomfort, fever, etc. What do you like best about your VSG?What do you like least about your VSG?I love that it works. Sounds like your band experience has been good, but mine just didn't work. 2 things about the sleeve are tough for me: 1) that I needed a sleeve at all. 2) the recovery is so much harder than the band. The sleeve really forces you to eat less - this is a good thing, but it is so hard to get your mind adjusted to your new reality. I think having a bad befoer is helpful because you are used to not drinking with food, taking small bites, etc. What did you not know going in, that you wish you did?I devoured the posts on this board, so there were not a lot of surprises. I think that the experience of going through it is different than reading about it. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery?liquids for 3 weeks. That is rough. Also, your stomach is so much more damaged with VSG that you simply can't eat the way you did after band surgery. Remember that after band surgery you could eat fairly normally for several weeks before you got your first fill? This is extreme restriction and serious stomach altering from day 1. You may be horribly exhausted for 6 weeks or so. You will be desperate to eat something after the liquid phase and you will be very disappointed when you find you can't tolerate hardly any food at all. It is a very tough mental transition. How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc.Same rules apply. I think it varies with each person as far as how hard it is. I find those rules easy to follow. The hard part for me was dealing with the restricted post-op diet. It is a tough emotional ride the first month. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG)Don't know what a "soft stop" is? Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?There are a few people on this board who have. I had my band for 3.5 years and I had adhesions on my liver and stomach. These were corrected in my surgery and it was not presented as being excessively dangerous. I went to a VERY experienced surgeon with regard to revision. My surgery took about 90 minutes. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for)No - I have been really regular (for the most part) since surgery. I also found that my gas is not very smelly at all. Must be my new diet? It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while?Yes, acid is a problem. My doc said to take an omeprazole based acid reducer for several months after surgery, whether I have symptoms or not. I had acid issues (even with the PPI) for the first month. I have since switched to Zegerid OTC and have had no problem at all. I may try to wean off the acid reducer around the 6 month mark. Some people take them forever, some people don't. I did not have any acid probelms with the band or before the band. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?Not at all. I found that my band was really picky with dry food or certain textures. I did not eat chicken for 3.5 years because I could not get it down with the band. Right now, all food goes down just fine. The difference is what you feel like after the food is safely in your stomach. Sugar makes me queasy. Chicken is my new favorite :-) Best of luck on your decision

The first 6 months is generally regarded as the honeymoon period. Like thinoneday said, the weight is flying off like crazy. Generally, you are going to lose the most weight in the first 6 months and then it slows down.

The other question I would ask is, how long did it take? I think at about 9 weeks could eat almost a whole grilled chicken patty but it took some time and I was uncomfortable afterwards. If you are chewing really well and the patty is soft, it's possible to circumvent te system and eat "more" than you should. Still, that isn't a lot of food.

I did start mushy in the 2nd week. You can try a small bite of cottage cheese, chew it until it is almost liquid and see how it goes down. At first, you can only get a bite or maybe 2 down. I also like ricotta cheese in that time. It's a little creamier and you can stir different things into it for flavor. My surgeon in MX wanted me on liquids for 3 weeks, but my doctor here at home adivsed me to move on to mushies sooner. Depends on the doc :-)

You have to take your acid reducer. At this point, I don't think your stomach is capable of "hunger pains". The nerves are severed and there is not the normal hunger function. WHat you can feel, though, is acid and gas. Get some Gas-x strips and take them a couple of times a day and see if that helps. Also, get some Nexium from the doc. Or you can try Prilosec. I am taking Zegerid OTC, but the pill is huge and there is no way you could get it down at one week out. I had the dissolvable Nexium after I left the hospital, but I think you can only get it in MX. Ask the doc for an Omeprazole based acid reducer right away - it will help with the rumbling.

I felt more normal after 2 months had passed. Everything gets a little more comfortable and you have learned your new eating habits and they don't seem as strange or difficult. You will have had a few rough experiences trying new foods and you will have a better sense of what you can eat and what you can't. You will also be more comfortable with your new likes / dislikes (I can't eat sweet stuff anymore - yuck!). I am at 3 months now and I feel really normal. I am settled into my habits and my energy is back up. I can eat pretty much anything, but only a tiny bit of it. I have seen a lot of progress with my weight so I am not worried about whether or not the surgery is working. At 4 months, you'll be doing great!!

DON'T EAT UNTIL IT HURTS!!!!! That is really bad for your new stomach. You should be eating about 1/4 cup and that's it. I ate about 1/4 cup of food, 6 times a day for the first couple of months. I am 3 monhs out and I know I eat a little more, but I don't really have to measure it any more. I eat about 5 bites of whatever and I am full. That's it. It isn't much, and it seems really weird compared to other people, but that's all we get. Some folks burp, some folks hiccup, I get a bubbly feeling and I know I'm full. Once you get used to the feeling, you will stop before you get uncomfortable. I know I had to measure my portions for the first couple of months becuase the full feeling didn't register until it was too late. Buy small bowls that are 1/2 cup deep and fill them half way with your meal. It really helps!! Please don't push your sleeve right now. You will be "healing" for up to 6 months. This is the time to ride the wave of super restriction and let the stomach heal itself. Take care--

Have you talked to your insurance provider? I am with Kaiser So Cal and they are offering me their regular post-bariatric program even though I had surgery in Mexico. YOu do need to speak with your regular doctor to let them know what you are having done. Also, it needs to be added to your record so they know not to prescribe you NSAIDs after your surgery. Have a talk with the provider. You don't have to tell them you are having surgery in MX, just let them know you are going to an outside bariatric clinic and you want to know what kinid of follow up care you can expect. ALso, verify that the ER will know what to do with you if you show up with problems after your surgery. You will most likely not need it, but you need to make sure the physicins there understand the unique issues with a post-bariatric patient. You may also ask who your insurance provider usually uses as a bariatric surgeon and forge a relationship with th surgeons office. He/She can be an advocate for you in the future if there are any questions about your treatment in the fututre. Good luck--

SOunds like you have been dealing with some hormonal shifts and that can TOTALLY cause weight gain / stall. I woudl recommend that you start getting some more Fiber in your diet to get the bowels moving regularly. Eat a 1/2 cup of oatmeal every day if you can. I am also really bad about Water intake, but it doesn't seem to stall my progress. I also find jusy changing up what I eat can keep my weight moving. I was eatign the exact same thing every day for the first couple of months - since I started to change it up, I have been losing more every week. I would also go back to the doc and talk about the dysmennhoria (no periods). It is not normal to have that for a long time. At this point in your weight loss journey, you should be getting back to normal. You might have to go on a hormone suoplement (birth control pill) to get the periods under control until your body can regulate on its own. Good luck!

The one thing that is for sure, we all stall at 3-5 weeks - every single one of us. Now, what you are eating is not optimal, but in the long run it could be detrimental because you are not focusing on the Protein. Eating an apple is not the end of the world. Trying to live with your sleeve for the first 6 weeks is torture. It doesn't matter if you have a hectic life or an abusive childhood - this is the hardest part of your sleeve transition. Do your best to reach for some protein before anything else. You will fill up on it very quickly and the other stuff won't have room to get in. I was eating 6 times a day early out because my portions were so small. I always packed specific foods and took them with me so I knew I had "legal" food and it was easier for me to eat. No one said this was going to be easy...

I have never had that problem so much, but I think it's because I have a couple of items in my daily food routine that help me out. I eat a packet of high Fiber oatmeal with flax every day. I also eat at least one serving of yogurt every day (you might want to try Activia). Since surgery, I only "go" once every other day or once every 3 days. Sorry to hear about your discomfort, and I hope you get some relief soon.

I had terrible anxiety before surgery. It si perfectly normal. Don't worry, once you get started with the surgery, you will be on lots of meds and you won't worry about anything :-)

THe dreaded 3-5 week stall strikes again! Do a search on the board for "stall" and you will see that pretty much every single sleever stalled in the 2nd month. It lasts about 2 weeks. Keep doing the right things and try to stay away from the scale for a week or so - it will help your sanity.

I plead "stomach problems" for anyone who asks about my eating habits. You won't have to get specific with them. I found its actually harder when you get on to real food because it gets so obvious that you can't eat much AT ALL. Good luck!

I found that most behaviors with the sleeve are kind of forced, so they are not that hard to pick up. For example, you will find very early that if you don't chew, it is going to be very unpleasant. You won't make that mistake more than a couple of times. If you slip up, you will get an instant reminder. Same goes for the drinking with meals. Toughest habit for me to pick up is the fluids. I still barely get in half of what I am supposed to. It doesn't seem to hinder my weight loss and I have healthy urine so it isn't a big concern at this point. It's just so hard for me.