brittu

Sorry to hear about the communication issues. My experience over a year of communicating with them was different - I got an email reply within 24 hours and Nina was almost always at her desk. Hopefully it's just a fluke, maybe related to their time away from the office. My guess is that things will all get sorted out and you'll have the same great surgical experience so many of us have had with the Aceves team.

That's what mine looked like too. There was no fixing it. If I got a fill it returned. And then it started slipping and I was having a lot of pain. My sleeve was removed last October and, even though insurance would have covered it, I refused to get another one. I revised to a sleeve about a month ago and it's a completely different world. I'm losing weight more quickly, I don't have any hunger, and I'm very satisfied on a small amount of food. This is what I thought the band was going to be like. After I got the dilation and the slip I had to admit to myself that, even though I was getting close to goal, the band was misery most of the time.

Let's see, aside from all the basic stuff here's what else I found made it easier for me... I went alone and thought that worked out really well. I made friends with the other patient arriving that day and her daughter and it was really nice. We had dinner together at the hotel the night before. I felt like I had a support system but didn't have to worry about someone else getting bored or having to talk if I didn't want to. I wish I'd taken my swimsuit. It was really hot and the pool was cool and lovely. I dangled my legs but I would have loved to have an hour or two of floating around on the hotel night. I took some Special K Protein Water packets to add to my water on the way home. They were good. I think just the regular Crystal Light is even better but it was nice to get a little protein in. In my room the extra chair was small and uncomfortable. Took me awhile to figure out there were better chairs. When I did I switched to a big comfy recliner and it was so much more comfortable than the hospital bed. I put Skype on my laptop and my iPhone and the prepaid $10. I made tons of calls and shared my phone with my friends and still only used about $3. Calls home otherwise would have been at least 99 cents a minute. I got a simple Nancy Drew Dossier game to play on my pc. It was easy enough that I didn't need much brain power but it really passed the time. I downloaded a few TV shows to my iPhone for the ride home. That was great, I was so anxious to get home and Drop Dead Diva and Royal Pains really helped make the flight go quicker. I didn't need a wheelchair on the San Diego side because it was such a short walk to the gate. But I prearranged for one on the Seattle side and was really glad I did - it would have been a really long walk and it had already been a very long day. Nobody told me that the spinal block would make peeing a little weird. I took me awhile to figure it out, I was worried at first. I bought just one extra Nexium. They don't taste too bad but I'm glad I only bought one and can switch to pills later this week as per Gaby (at Dr. Aceves' office). I wish I'd thought to ask for another prescription of Toradol. I can't remember what the Mexican name for it is but they give you a small box to take home. It's a little pain killer that goes under your tongue. I had a really stiff neck for several days after I got home and it worked better than anything without making me drowsy. I didn't have any surgery pain but it was super for my neck. Buy some surgical gauze and a surgical no leak pad and tape before you go. My mom got me some and I really needed it for the first 4-5 days. I leaked out of my drain incision a lot. It would drench my clothes. The pads kept me dry then if I was home I'd air it out a bit. I don't know what I would have done without that stuff. Make sure you brush your teeth with bottled water and not tap water in the hospital. Shower and walk. You'll feel better. I used airmiles and flew home first class. I'm sure I would have been fine in coach but it was so nice to have the extra space and more comfortable seat. Make sure you write down the name of the person you want them to call when you're out of surgery on a separate sheet of paper and hand it in with your other paperwork. I thought just writing it in the paperwork was enough but nobody ever called my husband so he had to wait, worrying, until I was able to call at 6pm that night. Rest, relax, and don't hesitate to ask for what you need. They are great at the hospital - they are happy to help and don't get impatient. My experience was really as good as everyone said it'd be and I'm really happy I finally went with Dr. Aceves. I'm almost a month out and down 20lbs. I have lots of energy, am never hungery, and am just super happy to have my sleeve. A far cry than my miserable old band.

My flight got in a little after 11 and they were great about waiting for me. I took a carry on so I'd be fast. It turned out the other patient that had arrived early had to go to FedEx so they left and came back for me. It all worked out. I suspect a couple of minutes isn't a huge deal. Meant my husband could take me to the airport on his way to work vs. having to take a shuttle at 4am.

I'd err on the side of being conservative. The longer you can give your staple line to heal the better. My doctor and much of the advice I've seen on the boards advances patients through clears to full liquides then purees without introducing soft or regular foods until a month after surgery. It'll be over sooner than you think. I've got 3 more days and can't believe how quickly it all went by. Not being hungry helps. I was miserable during the post-op diet phase when I got my band.

Have you been attending a support group or considered counseling? I lost most of my weight with the band and found a support group (and Weight Watchers) to be really helpful. I just wish I'd followed my own advice when the band was removed - I regained most of my weight. Now I'm really committed to both a support group and a two year follow-up program offered for sleeve patients at a local nutritionist. I'm going to start when I get down as low as I can go on my own. For me it's the maintenance that's always the problem. So I think two years of help then to work on my issues and keep me honest in maintenance will be the difference.

I had surgery on a Wednesday and left the hospital to fly home on Saturday. I never had any real pain and was able to sip liquids from the first day they let me have them. I was careful and maybe twice I took too big a swallow, it was uncomfortable for a few seconds but that was about it. I took naps the first couple days I was home but went back to work that Monday. I think my need for naps went away at about a week. A few days later when I went on full liquids I got all my energy back and I've been fine since. I'm on purees and a couple of times have had a little to much - again it was uncomfortable, like after a really big Thanksgiving meal but that's about it.

I had to do them the entire time I was pregnant. I had a nice purple ring around my tummy but really, it was no big deal. The needle is tiny and it's over quickly. Doesn't hurt and you'll be a pro in a day or two. For the bruising my mom had some magnets (a good brand people sell for wellness) and it worked so well that under the magnets the bruises went away quickly. The doctors all thought that was interesting and everyone made me show them whenever I went in. But it's really easy, you'll get the hang of it.

I felt exactly the same way. I have too little boys and got all worried wondering if I'd really wake up after the surgery. The way I handled it was writing a "just in case" letter the night before in the hotel room. I emailed it to my friend who'd have it to give to my family if needed. It made me feel like I'd put down my thoughts and I could let it go and just focus on having a successful surgery. Dr. Aceves coordinator will give you a valium to take in the hotel. That helped me a lot. I woke up the morning of the surgery feeling happy and confident. And it went so fast and so easily all my fears were forgotten. The spinal block is great, I never had any pain. Just a bit of discomfort from the dang hard hospital bed. Ask for another pillow and if you don't get a good second chair ask for another one. They swapped out the little one in my room for a big comfy recliner and it was great. One thing I would suggest is getting an extra prescription to take home of the little pain medication they give you that goes under your tongue. I wasn't in much pain so I didn't think I needed it but ended up having a reall stiff shoulder and neck for the first week. Those little pills worked great without making me sleepy and I wished I'd had a few more of them. All will be well. Everyone tells you how great Dr. Aceves and his staff is and then you get there and find out that they were right. You'll have a great experience.

I can relate. It's like you've been trying to control your eating all by yourself for so long. Then finally you're scheduled and know you'll really have help, a tool you can use. And it's hard to not just let go. But I'll tell you I sure wish I'd gotten on top of things between the removal of my band and my sleeve surgery. If I had, I'd be near my lowest weight now after my 18lb loss instead of still 50 pounds away. Even when I was sleeved I found Weight Watchers to be a great way for me to be mindful and in control of my eating. Maybe you could try that for a few weeks and just focus on maintenance. What you'll learn there is useful with sleeve too - including lots of great recipes. And many WLS patients now attend WW. My doctor also offered me a prescription weight loss medication to help me get through it. I chose not to take it but probably should have. Take care. Start practicing now how you're going to eat later. Up your Water intake. Don't eat and drink at the same time. Eat Protein first. Even without the sleeve that well help you maintain without feeling deprived. You can do it!

Federal BCBS covers the sleeve and with your current BMI you shouldn't have any problem. The local BCBS that administers might stick you with the "investigational" claim but it's easy to fight on first appeal. In case you need it, here are the letters I've written. My revision was an insurance mess because my BMI was too low, I would have been approved right away with a 40. My Revision Appeal: From Lap Band to VSG Britt

The investigational claim is pretty easy to fight. My local BCBS gave it up on the first round of appeal (then went on to fight my revision because I hadn't regained up to a 35 BMI yet, then when I did went on to fight because there aren't studies showing a VSG is an appropriate revision procedure). You can see the information I used on my blog that got them off the investigational kick. I loved Dr. Aceves but it's nice to get insurance coverage for the procedure and any possible complications if you can. But you probably also want a surgeon with lots of sleeve experience too if you can. Britt My Revision Appeal: From Lap Band to VSG: VSG: No Longer Investigational

I noticed that one of the other school moms has my build - same height, small frame, small wrists, more legs than upper body. So I boldly told her she looked wonderful and asked her for her weight. It was 142 so I decided 140 is my goal. I was 135 once but I was in my 20s then so we'll see. It was nice of her to tell me her weight I thought (whether she thinks I can even come close to it I don't know and I don't care). When I lost weight with my band I got down to 160 but looked thinner than I had at that weight in the past. I suspect it was all the pilates. So I'm hoping that'll be true at 140. I didn't go through everything that I've had to go through not to make it to goal :-). A local nutritionist offers a sleeve program. We decided I won't start it now but will plan to start it later when I really need help going the distance. Either when I'm at goal to make sure I'm doing all the right things to maintain, or if I get stuck a bit above goal like I did with the band. For now, things are easy enough I don't feel like I need help yet -- but I know I will want to work on food issues at some point. 1st day of mushies today! I bought some Protein oatmeal and plan to give it a whirl later this morning. Britt

I had my surgery with Dr. Aceves three weeks ago and it was great. No pain at all, great hospital experience. And I'm down 18 pounds already. I was a little nervous the night before but the sedative helped and I was still confident I was doing the right thing too. You'll do great.

I like most of them (not the vanilla, it's too watery). I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be as good in terms of protein quality as any of the other whey based shakes.

Jello makes me full (as does warm thicker soup). But I didn't have Jello until about 6 days after surgery so I'm not sure if it would have felt the same early on. I had two tablespoons of thin guacamole tonight for dinner and felt like I'd just had Thanksgiving dinner. Between that and never feeling hungry I' super happy with the sleeve so far. Britt

Day 21 for me. 10 days clears, 10 days full liquids and then 10 days mushies. I get to start them on Tuesday. It'll be a nice change, already looking forward to cereal and refried beans.

For me the problem with soy milk is it has less protein. But I do love raw, unpasteurized milk you can get here. There's been a lot written how much better it is when the proteins haven't been heated. The guy at the healthfood store told me he's lactose intolerant but can drink it just fine. It sure tastes different, it's my favorite.

The pudding on diet direct can be a pudding or a shake so I'm betting that you can make a kind of pudding with any kind of shake by putting in 1/2 the water. You can also try shake mix with diet cool whip.

I've tried just about everything and am using Lose It right now. Very fast to add new foods and you can choose which nutritional values to track. It also tells me how many calories I'm under for the day which is helpful since I'm still in liquides and getting enough in is a problem for me. I think they all have pretty much the same features. Mine doesn't support PC tracking which was nice but I'm getting along just fine with only the iPhone for now.

Face first, a$$ last. I wish it went bottom up. I have to be really thin to get nice looking legs. And when I get there this time I'm going to need a thigh lift to deal with the skin. Oh well. I just tell myself that it's all gone at goal weight no matter what order it left in...

I really like vegetarian breakfast meats. Here they're called Morningstar Farms. They have sausage patties and links. They really fill me up and are very low in calories. I actually like bacon too - well cooked there's not much fat and two pieces only has 80 calories. And I've always loved beef Jerky. In general, I think that food helps fill you up more than Protein drinks. I only do those if I need the extra protein. But protein of any kind satisfies me and fills me up for several hours (talking from my band days, I'm still on liquids with my sleeve).

What was your doctor thinking? You need a liquid pain killer. Liquid valium works and relaxes your stomach and esophogas. My doctor also gave me liquid oxycodone. It wiped me out completely and I had to take benadryl chewables for the itching (if morphine doesn't make you itch then you're fine). Toradol is a lighter pain killer that goes under your tongue. I don't know what the doctor was thinking give you pills. Britt

Oh I'm all over it. I'd lost most of my weight before my band broke. Now I'm sleeved and know I'll want plastic surgery when I'm a year out from when I reach goal. There's a great surgeon where I live who does weight loss patients almost exclusively and his work is great. I've had fat unattractive legs for so long, they were lean and lovely when I was a teenager. That's what I care about most because it means I can wear short skirts and shorts which I haven't been able to since my early 20s. So I'm planning on a leg lift, arm lift and neck lift. I'm not sure about a tummy tuck or boobs - I have too many scars for a bikini and since I can make those areas look good with clothes or undergarments I think I'll be fine focusing on the parts people can see. Britt