Elisabethsew

I have had my gallbladder out (lap), been banded (lap), and am now 5 weeks post-op from the VSG (lap). I have to say the VSG was the easiest of them all. I was worried about traveling home alone on a 6 hour flight but the pain was minimal. It feels like you did a ton of sit-ups and the more you move, the better you feel. You're both going to do great. WASA was sick when she had her revision and had a longer recovery but did great as well.

WASA was who I "used" to hook me up with a good surgeon. Since she and I are both RNs, we tend to be on the same page about many things. LOL.

If you're having surgery as a self-pay, you don't have to worry about the BMI. WASA had a revision when she was at (even a little below) her goal weight. The lower your weight, the easier it usually is for the surgeon so you're good to go.

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you.

It's the guide they use to size the sleeve. Dr. A. uses a 36 but he oversews the staple line (leak prevention) so it becomes a 34. The smallest is a 32 and some MDs use very large sizes. To understand oversewing, think of hemming a skirt. You fold over the fabric and sew. After stapling the suture line, Dr. A. folds over part of the stomach and sews it. That makes the 36 boughie the size of a 34.

There is no aftercare with the sleeve. You have the surgery, do the post-op diet, and that's it.

Your surgeon sounds like a complete ass and the nutritionist sounds like one also. He probably doesn't have the skill to perform a revision to VSG and that's why he's laughing. He'll be crying when the band surgery is history and his money flow is compromised. What goes around comes around. If your BMI is 40 or more (like mine), you'll be required to do a pre-op diet for a week. You can have only 30 g carbohydrates a day for that week. Lean meats, poultry, chicken, etc. are all allowed so it's not too bad... nothing like a liquid diet. On the last day of the pre-op diet, you can't have anything for 6 hours prior to your blood work. I arrived in Mexico on Tuesday at @ 1 PM their time and was met by the driver at the airport. He drove me to the hospital where the RN was waiting for me. I gave a urine sample, then had bloods drawn, then had an EKG, then went for a chest x-ray, and ended with the barium swallow. During the swallow, the band is evaluated and completely unfilled. All of this took less than an hour. The final step is meeting with Yolanda who takes the payment and gives you forms to fill out and bring back the next day. The driver was waiting when I finished with Yolanda and he drove me a short distance to the Lucerna Resort. He paid the room bill (included in the surgery price as were the pre-op tests) and walked me to the room which was spacious and gorgeous (2 full size beds, table and chairs, recliner, full bath). You are allowed to have anything you desire for dinner and the resort has 3 restaurants (and 3 pools). I brought a sandwich with me as I worked the night before traveling and had been awake over 38 hours. My last meal was a Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich. LOL. At 7 AM the next day you are picked up at the resort and brought to the hospital. You go directly to your hospital room and see the medical MD, the anesthesiologist, the assistant surgeon (Campos), and the surgeon, Dr. A. All rooms are private with a leather love seat or couch, a chair, hospital bed, and private bath. They have internet access free. You change into a hosp. gown (they have bariatric gowns) and get 2 pills that knock you out. LOL. After surgery, you go to the recovery room and then go back to your room. Dr. A. has his own unit so it's just his patients which minimizes infection. You are constantly checked on by RNs and I saw Dr. A. three times a day. I've been a registered nurse for MANY years and can only saw positive things about my time in Mexico. I hope that helps you out. The transportation from and back to the airport is also included in the surgery price.

You have to do what's best for you. I was in a situation that did not allow me to wait... had to get the band out STAT. LOL.

Susan, About how much food are you able to get down at a meal? I am not eating much and staying full for a long time.

My situation made it necessary to get the band out ASAP. I could not spend 6-9 months creating a paper trail of problems and then apply for insurance to approve a revision but your situation might be different. It doesn't cost a thing to call and ask what the APR for financing is.

I think the experienced sleeve people can tell you it does not apply to all foods. Ice-cream slides on down as does high calorie drinks. The same foods that went down easily with the band go down the sleeved stomach.

Yikes! Be careful with the sugar free stuff. They use mannitol and sorbitol to sweeten it and those are laxatives! LOL.

Processed food is high in simple carbohydrates and they begin to be digested in the mouth. You CAN gain weight with the sleeve if you don't watch calories. Remember Dr. A. saying you can eat a handful of food that is either 300 calories or 1000 calories depending on what you select?

Thanks, Ruthi. The band was a complete failure for me so this is whole new experience for me. I definitely feel full when the hiccups start and put the folk down. LOL.

I just seem to hiccup but it's LOUD. LOL. Also, my nose starts to run and I think some people with the band experience this too.

LOL. I'm glad to know I'm not alone, Susan!

He is one of the best surgeons so nothing was done wrong. They say the true test is when you go to solids. I did that for the first time this evening and boy are they right! Hang in there. If you feel hungry all the time, write to Gaby and maybe they will allow you to advance early.

Everyone is different. Also, I had a filled band up until the day before surgery. I also suffered from daily heart burn and acid reflux. Susan was barfing food and had her band unfilled @ 3 weeks before surgery. I believe you had an unfilled band for quite some time and really had no major problems with the band. How much weight do you need to lose to get to goal? Given the choice, I would have LOVED to be able to down fluids the way you can. I NEVER had restriction with the band so maybe that is a factor also.

Actually, feeling restriction validates for me that the band was useless. I never felt ANYTHING like this with the band. It's so strange "existing" on so little food but I'm not complaining!

When they did the barium swallow, I was told my esophagus was VERY dilated and Dr. Aceves mentioned that again to me post-op. Maybe you didn't have a lot of swelling. Also, you don't have a lot of weight to lose so that could be a factor.

I had my first "hard" protein today. I made chicken cutlets with ziti and tomato sauce. Knowing I needed protein first, I decided to go for the chicken. After eating 1/3 of the chicken and 2 ziti (yes, only 2), I was stuffed. I'm noticing that I get the hiccups when I'm full. If I take "one more bite" I feel like I'm going to be sick. This is definitely a learning experience.

I can eat MUCH less but, after 30 days post-op, have no food restrictions and don't have to worry about problem foods.

No, you don't have to wait on clears. I'm amazed you're hungry! LOL. I haven't experienced hunger since surgery. You must heal quickly! Bravo!

You hadn't had the surgery yet so you would not have gotten one. Email them if you want one to fill out.

Mine are the same as WASAs. They are smaller than the band scars and healed quickly.