Rev Me Up!

I agree with Nancy - I had to measure everything for the first 3 months. If I tried to eyeball it, I would eat too much and be very uncomfortable. I bought some 1/2 cup tupperware storage cups and would fill the halfway to equal 1/4 cup of food. It looks like nothing, but that is what your sleeve can comfortably handle right now. Cool thing about tupperware is that I could fill a few of them up and then store them for later, put them in my purse, etc. I alsways had a "legal" snack with me wherever I went.

I don't think I have heard of that at all on this board, but maybe someone will come forard. Question: how often do you have a BM and is there any dry heaving at any other time?

Moisturize!!! Find a moisturizer you like and use it every day. Besides the sagging skin, I have also found that my skin is REALLY dry since I had the surgery and it looks a million times better when I use a good moisturizer on it. On a side note, I noticed my skin change when I was about 30 before I lost any weight. It was bound to happen either way :-) I don't get wrinkles much (good genes) but I noticed my eyelids sort of fold over when I am putting make up on. My problem area since the weight loss is my neck. I am using a neck cream that I massage on every day. My aesthetician friend says that no cream can actually stop your skin from sagging, but the massage when you put the lotion on can help. Good luck!

I agree with the posts above - the liquids don't fill you up as much and diffeent people have different tolerance for liquids early out. I was super swollen and could barely drink Water, much less creamy soup. Also, I had to move to 2 omeprazole per day in the first month (one AM and one PM) because of evening acid reflux and general yuck feeling in my tummy. I only had to do it for about a month. In general, your stomach is going to make an ungodly amount of noise for a couple of months, even when you are just drinking water. Hang in there - you are doing great!

That's usually a good problem :-) You will have your biggest, fastest weight loss in the 2 weeks after surgery. Then you will probably stall and worry that the surgery isn't working. Then your body will fall into a rhythm of a couple pounds per week. I suppose its possible to lose too fast, but a lot of the early weight is Water from the IV fluids during surgery. Keep following the Dr's orders for nutrition and you will stay healthy in spite of the rapid weight loss. Congrats!!

I found food completely repulsive in the first couple of weeks after surgery. However, if you are vomitting on Water - can't keep anything dow, you need to go to the doc ASAP. If it was one episode, your tummy may not be ready to move to the next level. The transition to real food is difficult and there is a lot of trial and error with what you will be able to tolerate. Good luck--

With the weight loss does come some confidence and adventure, but there are also a lot of people who still have body image issues after the weight is gone. It is somewhat likely that you will feel the same jealousy after the weight is gone. Make sure you try to schedule some group therapy or something while you are going through your journey. It is really helpful for those who can't let go of the "big girl" monologue in their head. Good luck!

To be completely honest, it was elective for me. But, who cares? I was borderline obese. I was tired of being fat. I COULD NOT DO IT ON MY OWN. That's it - I couldn't do it. I just didn't want to continue the eating / beating myself up / eat some more roller coaster I was on. I was putting on weight a little every year, eventually I would have been morbidly obese. Yes, it was elective and I am thrilled that I did it. Even if you think of it as purely plastic surgery - people do that every day. Fake boobs, tummy tuck, nose job - people have electvie surgeries all the time. The awesome part about this surgery is that I am actually healthier and very likely extended my life by doing it. Even if my life is not extended, I know for a fact that I am so much happier because I have stopped thinking about my weight. The surgery is a big deal and you need to do your research and make sure you understand the risks as well as the rewards. Once you make your mind up, you have to own it and not worry about what other people think. Good luck--

I have lost 46.5 pounds in 4 months, 77% of my excess weight. Still losing about a pound a week.

Your doctor will want you to get all your protein from solid food eventually, but now you have to take care of your new tummy. I get all my protein from chicken, cheese, peanuts, etc. Glad to hear you are doing well!! Keep up the good work!

Hi, It is impossible to say because we each only know our own experience. I had a BMI of 31. I had a revision from a lap and which is a more complicated surgery. My surgery went great, I never threw up, I was on liquids for 3 weeks, but I did cheat a bit and eat some yogurt and cottage cheese after 2 weeks because I COULD NOT tolerate the Protein shakes. I also started driking full sugar gatorade in the second week because I was getting zero nutrition. I had significant exhaustion for up to 8 weeks. Exhaustion to the point where I could barely hold my head up at my desk. It eventually went away, but it was depressing. I took 2 weeks off before I went back to work, and I was useless because I was so tired. All that said, I have seen others with similar experience that were not low BMI. I think it depends on how your body handles surgery, how well you tolerate protein after the fact, how you tolerate the anesthesia, etc. I am 5 months out and am 75% to my goal. I am still losing a pound or so a week, but I only have 14 left to go. My stomach is small and I can only eat about 5 good bites of anything and then I have to stop. Although, I have also discovered that I can eat tortilla chips in large quantities and they are banned form my house :-) Good luck--

Potatoes can be too starchy to eat in the beginning, Also, Most people can only eat about 3 bites of anything in the first month or 2 - that's it, no matter what it is. A lot of us were on liquids for up to 3 weeks after surgery, that's why some people will be shocked that you are eating food right now. That said, if you have been cleared for mushies try: cottage cheese cream cheese rolled up in thin sliced deli turkey blended oatmeal very moist cooked white fish, mashed up boiled, mashed yam (add some of the cooking Water to thin it out) with salt But, seriously, no more than about 3 bites and make sure to wait an hour afterwards before you drink anything - it will come right back up. You may also want to measure your food. Early out, I used a 1/2 cup tupperware and filled it exactly halfway to equal a quarter cup of food. I couldn't finish a 1/4 cup of food for almost 3 months. If you don't measure, you will accidentally over eat and make yourself uncomfortable. No more potatoes!!! Take care---

Hi there! Some people tell, some people don't. I keep mine to myself. I had a lap-band befoer the sleeve and I didn't tell anyone about that either. I was a lower BMI and I didn't want anyone's opinion about what I was doing. You may find it difficult to explain why you eat almost nothing when you go out with friends, but I find eating communal food like chinese helps out a lot. You can just pick up a couple of pieces and it looks like you are eating more. This is a very personal process. Some people find they are more comfortable talking about it once the weight comes off. To each his own, I guess. For me, it remains a closely guarded secret. I may change my mind one day, but it just isn't my style to talk about medical stuff with other people. The one person I ended up telling after the fact was a friend of mine that is really struggling with her weight because of depression. She saw how much weight I lost and I couldn't look her in the eye and tell her I was just dieting. She is really in pain over her weight and a pending divorce and I didn't want to make the pain worse by pretending I had mastered the art of self control all on my own - because I did not. Good luck!

Hi there- I am a fellow San Diegan and a Dr Aceves revision patient. Dr Aceves is THE MAN for revisions. They will take good care of you, the hosptial is top notch, and you will have several tests to check for leaks before you leave. It's not a bad drive to Mexicali. Also, Mexicali is much nicer than TJ. This decision is really hard. Its difficult to get your courage and resolve together for a second weight loss surgery when the first one was a failure. Every one of us revision folks knows what that feels like. Its terrible. It also seems, to outsiders looking in, that you aren't fat enough to have another surgery because of the weight you lost with the band. I know for sure I would have ballooned up if I had only taken the band out. Instead, I had the revision and now I am at a "normal" weight on my way to my goal weight. Is it hard? Oh yes!! Is it worth it? Absolutely. Good for you on doing your homework and good luck with your decision.

I found that frozen yogurt made me feel sick after I ate it and I haven't tried it again. Maybe I ate too much? Maybe it was too sweet? Not sure, but make sure you limit yourself and don't overload your sleeve just because it is easy to eat. good luck--

Thanks so much for the update - you look great!!!!!

Hi there- You should probably change to an omeprazole based acid reducer. Unfortunately, zantac is not going to do it for us. Prilosec, Nexium, or generic omeprazole pills (they are nice and small) is what you should take every morning and then wait an hour before you eat. Take one in the morning and one an hour before bed if you need to (I took 2 a day for about a month and then it got better). Also, you will have much better satiety when you start more solid foods. The liquids just run right through you :-) Take care---

Biotene will save you!! You should keep up with your liquids, but to ease the dry feeling you can swish with biotene mouthwash. It absolutely SAVED me during my hospital stay and for the couple of weeks I was on liquids. You probably aren't salivating because you are not chewing anything. Go get some biotene and you will be so relieved. Take care-- Lara

HI, I had a BMI of 31, but I was also a lap-band revision. I did not bother trying with insurance, I went to straight to Dr Aceves in Mexicali because he has a ton of experience with the revision. I am doing so well with the sleeve and have reached a "normal" BMI in 4 months. I still have about 16 pounds till goal, but I couldn't be happier. Make sure you set your expectations properly - you are not going to lose weight as fast as others on this board. You need to look at your percentage of weight lost, not the pounds. The fact is you have less to lose than others and it will come off slower. Bottom line, the sleeve really works and I think it is great that you are addressing it now before your weight or health suffers. Thanks for starting the thread - its nice to see other low-BMI patients out there. We are not alone!

My tummy was very noisy for the first month or so. But, it also may be acid. Talk to your doctor about taking an acid reducer every morning before you eat - it really helps!

Did you get in to see someone? Please post an update and let us know how you are doing. Hopefully the fever is unrelated to surgery :-)

Yeah, the negative bio-feedback is immediate and unkind. Sorry-- I never ever eat rice or Pasta for that very reason. Hope you feel better...

FANTASTIC!!!!!! What great news! Congratulations!

No doubt, the surgery and recovery are tough and you have to mentally prepare for that. Up until the day I showed up for surgery I had anxiety about it - I was very emotional. I kept coming back to 2 things: 1) I wanted that piece of crap OUT OF MY BODY. 2) I didn't want to gain a lot of weight afterwards and the sleeve was my only option with a BMI of 31. That is what worked for me. This is a dificult decision and commitment, but it has a lot of benefit on the other side. On another note, you may want to re-think your November date - the holidays will be TOUGH if they are right after surgery. You can't eat normal food for at least a month after surgery. Good luck!

Hello and welcome!! What a wonderful PaPa you are!! All of us revision folks know what you mean about the band. We all have different stories about how we became overweight, but the bottom line is that the band is just not a good tool for sustained weight loss. I am really happy your approval process is going well. Good luck and keep us posted!!