SwampBillies

I went for my final doctor appointment before my surgery on July 22nd today. My insurance has approved me for band to sleeve revision all in one surgery. I remember my doctor mentioning when we first discussed revision surgery that it is done in one surgery unless there is a lot of scar tissue or something. I didn't think too much about it because I've never had hernia surgery or gall bladder or any other abdominal surgery other than the lap band. So today he tells me that most of the time the revision is done in two surgeries! I am really upset. I can't take time off work and burn up sick time, money, energy etc on a third surgery! So I guess my question is how many of you were told it might be two surgeries and woke up sleeved? Do most doctors just say that to cover the behinds?

I made some delicious garlic shrimp and deviled eggs made with low fat mayo and splenda.....Can't keep my husband out of MY food!! LOL

My surgeon allowed coffee both pre and post surgery as long as it didn't bother my stomach.....and it never did.....I drink coffee all morning then go to hot Earl Gray Tea....and back to coffee after dinner.

My family convinced me that a band would be better because it was less invasive and "reversible". At the time I seriously looked at the sleeve then finally went for the band in 2014. I just revised to the sleeve July 22nd. Wish I had just done the sleeve from the beginning! So much better! Don't make your decision based on someone else's opinion. Do what you feel is best for you.

I'm just starting soft foods at week three. My kingdom for a salad!!

I'm only 3 weeks out and I feel great! I know everyone's experience is so different and you never know where you will fall on that scale. I had read both extreme's before surgery and because I'm in my mid 50's I was worried I would not bounce back as quick as some of the younger ones. But I have been blessed. The worst pain was the headaches in the hospital that first night after surgery. I assume it was from the anesthesia or caffeine withdrawal, or both! I never even took any of the morphine they offered because I was afraid it would make me nauseous and I had not had any nausea. I still haven't. Not once. I am just starting soft foods and I've not had any trouble tolerating any thing I've tried. I've eaten Beans and shrimp and stewed tomatoes. I've always drank a ton of tea and coffee and I continue to do so. I drink 24 oz of coffee in the morning then switch to earl grey tea for the rest of the day. Most days I will have another 12 oz cup of coffee after dinner also. No it's not decaf. No it doesn't keep me up at night and no it doesn't bother my stomach. I take no PPI. Like I said, I've been truly blessed. I had a lapband put in 2.5 years ago and went from 233 to 183, then slowly started gaining it back as the band was either too loose or too tight. My doctor recommended revision to sleeve which he did all in one surgery. This is usually a little more in depth and so he did leave me with a drain for a week after surgery. The drain caused some discomfort when I walked. I wasn't sure what it was until he removed it. It wasn't painful, just kind of a weird tugging feeling. Kinda worrisome until I knew what it was! But the drain and the pain are all gone. I don't have the sluggishness described by others after the first week or so. I've been meeting all my Fluid and Protein goals from about day 3. Will this be your experience? I have no idea. But I do think it's true that most of the posts on the forum are people looking for answers to questions or people having problems. The rest of the people having no problems and no current questions are off living and enjoying their new lives. For me, I think this was the right move. I hope you are as happy with whatever your decision, as I am with mine.

@@8petals I'm so sorry your feeling crappy. I hope you feel better soon. Is your doctor available to see you on Saturday? Let us know what he says.

I always have...still do.

Oh OK....I thought they would have a sugar free flavored syrup to put on it since they have so many other flavors.....Who is doing their menu planning anyway!? LOL....I will try it and maybe just get some sugar free something on my own to put on it...Thanks for the tip!

What is Sonic Ice? I actually went other day thinking I could get something icey and cold to eat with a spoon.....They had nothing! He told me the only sugar free things they had were carbonated. I was disappointed. Maybe if I knew what to ask for?

My doctor told me not to crush pills also. He said I could take them whole, one at a time. If they were too big like a vitamin then I could cut them in half. I have taken Tylenol PM a couple of times starting about a week after surgery and didn't have any problems. Just great sleep! I only took one and it worked great. Quick too. Before surgery I would have taken two.

How many calories do they have?

Excellent news!! Keep us up to date on your progress. So happy for you!

I'm 8 days post op and I understand your nervousness. I was nervous. I think most of us were. It's a major change and a major operation. But I guess I was one of the lucky ones who really has had very little pain associated with this procedure. Discomfort yes. But nothing that a couple of Advil hasn't handled after the first 3 days. I haven't even taken the liquid Tylenol with Codeine since day 3. I had my surgery on a Friday and went back to work on Tuesday. And I had a lapband removed at the same time I had the sleeve done. I have a desk job so it's not like I'm carting around bales of hay or anything. I get tired at the end of the day and grab some soup and hit the sack shortly after I get home, but everyday has gotten better and better. Keep your eye on the prize. It sounds like you have a great support system and that's just as important as anything else. Good luck tomorrow!

I had surgery on July 22nd, and I go to have my drain tube removed in the morning. YAY! I hate this thing! I have had some drainage around the drain site. I change the dressing most every day. Some days it's yucky and some days not. I think it depends on whether I've pulled on it any that day, which I am prone to do. Have I mentioned I hate this thing!!

When was your surgery? It could be gas. Are you walking? Are you taking any GasX? Are you passing any gas?

What meds for spasms? I didn't have any meds for spasms. I also have a pain in my midsection. I don't think it's my stomach because it doesn't hurt when I cough or sneeze. Doesn't hurt when I'm sitting. Really only hurts when I'm walking. Like something jiggling and hurting. It does seem a little better today. I had my surgery, a band sleeve revision, on the 22nd. I thought maybe gas?

Your story sounds very similar to mine except for the esophageal erosion. I didn't have that. My band was either too loose or too tight. But I was revised on July 22nd. What I find interesting is that your incisions go up and down your torso. Mine are in a crooked line across my abdomen with a drainage tube on my left hip. I didn't have much pain either except for a horrible unrelenting headache. I figured out later it was caffeine withdrawals. Congrats on your sleeve!!

Do you take any medications? Sometimes as you lose weight your medication dosages become too much for your now smaller body.

If you're waiting for the urge to pass, it may never. I smoked for 35 years then one day I decided enough. Everyone was shocked. Including me. I loved smoking and had never tried to quit. Didn't want to. It was hell for about a week then it gradually got better. That was 8 years ago and there are still times I want one so bad I can't stand it. Still times I automatically reach for one without even thinking. But I know that if I smoke one, I'll be back to over a pack a day. With all that said, I'm so glad I quit. I feel so free. No longer restricted on where I can go or how long I can stay because you can't smoke anywhere anymore. I had to go cold turkey. I wish I could do that with food. It's hard to do just a little bit. That's what I'm hoping the sleeve will do for me. Good luck in your journey.

Smooth Move Tea is what works for me. You can buy it at any grocery store. It's gentle and natural. My surgery was July 22nd. Band to Sleeve revision.

Thank you! Praying you're right!!

So did it hurt coming out? Don't want it in and scared to have it removed.

I AM SLEEVED!! So I was here at 6:00 am this morning. Went in for surgery at 7:30 and woke up SLEEVED about 10:30. My surgeon came in just a bit ago and said my stomach wall wasn't too thick from the band. He also said I will be on Clear liquids about 2 weeks and not to push it because the area of the stomach at the top where the band was will end a little more time. I'm not In too much pain, no nausea. I guess that $130 pill worked. And I AM SLEEVED! Sent from my SM-T537V using the BariatricPal App

Before surgery my doctor called in a prescription for some nausea medicine to be taken the night before surgery. When I went to pick it up the pharmacist said $50.00. Wow! I said how much is it before insurance and he said $130.00.....When I opened it up to take it that night it was just one pill!! Amend was the name of it....But I haven't had any nausea so I would buy it again. Hmm, now you have me wondering. My surgeon called in some meds for me too. Anti nausea, acid reflux, and stool softener. I thought they were all for after the surgery, but I wonder if I'm supposed to take the anti nausea one beforehand. My surgery is Wednesday. I guess I better get on that! Yes, I would find out...You will probably want to pick them up before surgery anyway because you won't want to do it on the way home from the hospital. I took that pill the night before and they gave me IV anti nausea and a patch behind my ear at the hospital before surgery.....covered all my bases...I hate to be nauseous! My doctor didn't send me home with any anti nausea meds though....he said after the first couple of days it's not such an issue, and it hasn't been.