vonnegutk

Remember, the Sleeve is a "tool" to help you change your eating habits/lifestyle. The first 3 months after surgery, you are training yourself to eat small bites from small portions that include Protein, vegetables, carbs, and starch. I eat 3 meals per day. Each meal is no more than 1 ½ cups of food. You will be full. You have to make sure you never drink with your meals and never eat anything 1 or 2 hours before you go to bed. One of the things you have to understand is that your body will not produce Gherlin. Gherlin is a hunger-stimulating peptide and hormone that is produced mainly in the lining of the fundus. Since you will be having surgery that removes more than 60% of your fundus, Gherlin will not be produced or will be produced in smaller quantities. You will not feel hungry. The bottom line is this – the Sleeve is a tool. Follow your surgeon’s medical advice and you will change your eating habits and lifestyle.

Awesome! Be proud of yourself. You are looking good and I am sure that you are feeling great!

Hi - you are on the right track. I was banded in 2007 and lost 160 pounds; on Jan. 23rd I had my band removed and I was sleeved. During the first year I had my band, I was obsessed with my weight loss. I came to the conclusion that my band wasn't simply about me losing weight, it was more about me focusing on being healthy. I threw away my scale and never weighed myself again (only stepped on a scale when I went to my scheduled doctor's visits). Most importantly, I exercised. I made it a point to do something each day. I walked/jogged; I did sit-ups, pushups; I danced around the house with my kids - anything to increase my endorphins. Throw that scale away and get movin! You are doing great and have made an awesome lifestyle change.

Congratulations! What a lifestyle change you have made. Over the last 5 years with the Lap-Band and now a Sleeve I have learned that exercise is the key. Do something every day that gets your heart pumping! Happy Birthday!

Hey all - my name is Tad. Had my revision January 23. More discomfort and pain than I anticipated (compared to Lap-Band surgery). 4 days out and I actually feel pretty good this morning. Ingesting 64-ounces of fluid is actually quite difficult. Just focusing on my protein shakes, vitamins, and then other fluids. Actually, I managed 44-ounces yesterday and today I will try to hit 50-ounces. Strange not feeling my old port in my left side (I don't miss it) and it is also nice to not feel that constant restriction in the band. I am so looking forward to going for a good 3-mile run when I feel up to it!

Hope that you are doing better. I am 4 days post and definitely find 64-ounces of fluid difficult to ingest.

Getting stronger with each passing day. What type of problems were you having with your band?

I haven't experienced an reflux (revision done Jan. 23.) My physician indicated that I would probably be on Pepcid for a long while. However, he did advise to never go to bed with anything in my stomach. He encouraged me to stop ingesting fluids/food at least 1 hour before bedtime. This was advice given to me by my Lap-Band surgeon as well.

4 days post surgery and I do feel better today. I actually slept about 6 hours straight! Ingesting 64-ounces of fluids is quite difficult for me. I managed 42 ounces yesterday and this was tough. Focused on getting proteins and vitamins first then other fluids. More pain than I had anticipated, but I was comparing it to my lap band surgery 5 years ago. As for not having my Lap-Band - it is odd not feeling the port and always feeling the actual Lap-Band tight on my stomach. Anybody else have a Lap-Band / Sleeve revision? I am actually contemplating going back to work tomorrow - probably not a good idea.

Excellent recipe ideas! When I get to the puree stage I will be sure to try them all. Thanks for the post!

4 days post surgery and I do feel better today. I actually slept about 6 hours straight! Ingesting 64-ounces of fluids is quite difficult for me. I managed 42 ounces yesterday and this was tough. Focused on getting proteins and vitamins first then other fluids. More pain than I had anticipated, but I was comparing it to my lap band surgery 5 years ago. As for not having my Lap-Band - it is odd not feeling the port and always feeling the actual Lap-Band tight on my stomach. Anybody else have a Lap-Band / Sleeve revision? I am actually contemplating going back to work tomorrow - probably not a good idea.

I was sleeved Jan. 23. More discomfort than I anticipated. I have had several burps and a tiny bowel movement. I have definitely experienced the gurgling feeling. Also, when I sip my drinks, I notice pressure in the left side of my body below my heart.

I am 4 days out. Actually more discomfort than I anticipated. Definitely, call you doctor.

Congratulations to you! So wonderful to hear that your life has changed.

Right on!

Back home from my Jan. 23 surgery. In a little more pain than I anticipated, but progressing nicely. I had my band for 5 years and lost a total of 160 pounds. Developed some problems with the band and my doctor recommended a revision to a sleeve. I was very lucky to be able to have the revision surgery and look forward to a lifetime of maintenance with my new sleeve. Are there any others out there who had a Lap Band Revision? TAD

January 23 revision surgery. Enjoying a nice dinner and walk on the beach with my wife tonight. I begin pre-op liquids tomorrow. I can't wait!

Hi all-My name is Tad. I live in Orange County, Ca. In July, 2007, I had my lap band surgery. I have lost over 160 pounds! However, I have had some complications and will be having conversion surgery to a gastric sleeve January 23, 2013. There is no erosion, so conversion will take place in one surgery. Just wanted to hear the experiences of others. Tad

Hi all-My name is Tad. In July, 2007, I had my lap band surgery. I have lost over 160 pounds! However, I have had some complications and will be having conversion surgery to a gastric sleeve January 23, 2012. Has any one in the forum had this conversion procedure? Tad

Thank you for the kind words. Congratulations on your weight loss. I am so looking forward to my conversion. I have been successful with the band, but believe the sleeve will lead to a lifetime of health!

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. The more I speak to people who have the sleeve the more I find out how successful the procedure is for most. Thanks!

Hi - I had my lap band with Blue Cross / St. Joseph's Bariatric. I now have Kaiser. Dr. Edward Mun will be performing the surgery in Jan. They have a bariatric surgical center in Harbor City.

Great job on your weight loss. My advice about stalls is to lose the term from your vocabulary! The term is an obstacle to your lifestyle change. I know that it is difficult to purge yourself of thoughts of being on a diet. These thoughts and feelings will pass. The most important aspect of this entire experience is to exercise, exercise, exercise. Do SOMETHING everyday that gets your heart rate up and gets your body moving. One last thing that has worked for me... take your scale outside in the back yard; get a baseball bat; use the baseball bat to destroy your scale! good luck and YOU WILL DO IT!

Congratulations on your approval for conversion. I look forward to sharing our experiences. My band was placed in 2007 and I was very successful losing 160 pounds. Back in July, 2012, I encountered several issues. 1. On some days I couldn't eat and others I could eat a lot (evidence of band slippage); 2. vomiting after meals; 3. pain where the band was located. Doctor removed Fluid from band to provide some relief. An endoscopy revealed that I had an esophageal ulcer, lesions in my esophagus, and a hiatal hernia. A second endoscopy indicated that the ulcer had healed and no erosion or other issues with the band existed. Doctor then recommended revision surgery. I have maintained weight and have gained about 20 pounds since July (not too bad).