Tiffykins

Woohoo for getting your date. Congrats on the beautiful babies, and I can't wait to follow your progress.

I figured out I can't drink anything with aspartame (crystal lite, the special K protein waters, and so forth). It tastes too "sweet" and leaves an after taste now. So, I decided to pick up some decaffeinated Lipton tea bags. I brew it, and make unsweet ice tea. I add Splenda because it's the only artificial sweetener I can tolerate at this point. It's helped me get closer to hitting the 64oz fluid mark.

Thanks Susan. . . I got carded the other day for cigarettes. It was amazing. Here in Florida, if you look under 25 or 27 they are supposed to card you. I almost flipped out when the woman "said you that can't be you in the picture". I told her it was me plus 70lbs, and we both had a good giggle.

Hey Katie, and welcome to VST. I look forward to keeping up with your progress.

Thanks Cajun ! ! ! He'll be home in roughly 2 weeks. We're both super excited. Something, I don't think I've shared here is when he left, I weighed around 100 pounds more than him. He's 6ft, and weighed about 163-165. Well, he's gained 25lbs of muscle :sad0:, and now I only weigh 5lbs more than he does. I'm super stoked about him seeing me. He met, fell in love, and married me at my highest weight, so I know he's going to love seeing me 70lbs smaller. Sorry for the threadjacking Shanda.

The protein bullets are mainly a hydrolyzed collagenic protein. Which is not as high quality as soy or whey protein. It's 42 grams of protein, but there's a lot of controversy on the quality of the main protein. If I could tolerate any shakes, I would drink them, but shakes make me want to vomit. I haven't ever liked shakes even pre-op even regular ice cream milkshakes make me sick. Now they make me seriously just nauseous. I wish I could tolerate one of the 15 -16 different brands, but either I can stand the taste, or my stomach churns for hours after consuming the protein drinks. Luckily, I think I'm figuring out the eating thing, and am getting in my protein from food sources instead of relying on supplements. My surgeon really wants me eating my protein, and I agree with him. It just seems healthier. I'm 3 months out, and don't want to drink my protein for the rest of my life.

I've tried the orange and strawberry of the Chike samples I ordered, and neither of them work for me. I'm at my wit's end. I just don't know what to do. I think I'm going to have to order or buy at GNC an unflavored powder and mix it with SF pudding, or something. I can't keep going without, my body is going to start really suffering. I'm half tempted to go back to the bullets, and mix them with a popsicle. Even though they aren't the highest quality of protein at least it would be some sort of protein. My mother uses them and swears by them. I just can't tolerate the taste, and the gas that follows. I'm so scared of my hair falling out completely. I have a lot of hair, and it thinning a little wouldn't bother me, but I'm getting paranoid at this point. Eating is such a chore for me at this point. I know it will get better, but I'm frustrated. I need to really focus on eating, and really trying to in the minimum calories, and protein. Something has to give soon.

I got booted out of chat tonight, and then had to reboot my laptop. Sorry, I couldn't get back in before everyone left. I'll try to be back in sometime this weekend.

I thought I would hop in and chat for a bit, but no one has been in tonight. I'll leave the window up for the next 30-45 minutes then I'm off to bed.

The first soft food I tried was mashed potatoes. I felt like I could take tiny bits, swish it around my mouth, and it was more "liquified". I know one patient down here who bought baby food to make the transition to soft foods. My best advice would be to just take it super slow.

I hate to hear that you are back in the hospital. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Keep us updated on your recovery.

I had my band to sleeve revision done here in Florida, and was scheduled to stay in the hospital for 3 total days, 2 nights. My surgeon performs 3 leak tests. The last leak test being performed on the day of discharge. From everything I've seen here and on a couple of other boards, the average stay is 2-3 days. I'm grateful that he requires the 3 days. On the day of discharge a leak was found on the last test, and it was repaired immediately. The reason for my leak was due to the damage the band caused to my stomach. Leak risks triple with revisions, and I'm so glad they found it before I was discharged.

Thank you so very much. I just had my hair done yesterday, and it felt so amazing. I don't mind sharing any details of what I went through with this surgery. Sorry, I'm kind of long-winded. Hopefully, I'll be able to explain the clotting disorder and how they treated it pre-op and during my recovery. I did test negative for von Willebrand disease, and apparently there is no "name" for the clotting disorder. I believe the hematologist finally diagnosed "idipathic clotting disorder". The DDAVP definitely reversed the clotting factors, and my clotting time decreased from 8.5-9 minutes to around 4 minutes. The hematologist gave me DDAVP the day before surgery, and then the next morning I was given another dose on a drip for 24 hours. I apparently will always have a slow clotting time, and I still have to contact DMV to put a medic alert on my driver's license. I'm not on any permanent medications, but have been warned that if I have surgery, or any other type of procedure, I'll need to make the medical staff is aware of this issue. I was still given Lovenox injections pre-op and post-op. Apparently, the DDAVP and Lovenox worked together somehow in my body. Of course, I am not a medical professional, and some of the terminilogy and reasons behind all of the injections was kind of confusing. I didn't have any issues with clots.

I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts. I know how frustrating getting bad news on labs can be especially right before surgery. They discovered a funky clotting disorder right before I had surgery, and it was a horrific experience. I hope everything goes well on Monday for you.

LOL, I wasn't sure what type of "drainage" you had heard about. I didn't have any drains until I had the leak repair surgery 2 days after my original band to sleeve revision.

I'm going to assume by drainage, they mean loose bowel movements or spontaneous "UT OH I gotta run to the bathroom?" Since moving to regular food, and off of the liquid post-op diet, I've had zero issues with any type of "drainage". In the beginning, it was liquid in, liquid out.

I felt the same way over there. My own mom thinks the LapBand is the most awesome thing in the world. She's had hers for almost 2 years, and she throws up, pb's, slimes, can't eat some days, but she just thinks that is "normal". When she found out I was switching to the sleeve, she was livid. I hope through your research you find the best surgeon, and surgical option that is best for you. My hunger level is completely void, and I'm 3 months out. I had a flipped port that went untreated by my original surgeon and I revised to the sleeve due to pain and my quality of life was deplorable with a different surgeon. The port actually moved, and caused tugging on the band that was attached to my stomach. It was horrific. The sleeve has been great for me. I had complications post-op, and have my own unique struggles every day. But, my successes outweigh the struggles, and every day gets a little better.

My revision was performed in one procedure. I haven't heard of a lot of people having to wait months in between unless it was an emergency band removal, or the patient later decided to have a 2nd procedure.

They counted as clears for my band surgery, and for my revision.

I can't choke them down. They are super bitter sweet to me, but what I do is mush up a no sugar added frozen fruit bar, and drink it that way. I can tolerate the Fruit Punch and Blue Raspberry flavor of the ones they sell at GNC. The ones I get are 42grams of protein.

I gave up on all protein powder mixes for the time being. I did have some bullets leftover in the fridge so I had one of them yesterday with a mushed up popsicle mixed with it. Least to say, I was able to drink it, and I didn't get horrific gas. I know the bullets are not the best quality protein, but it's something. I did buy some new pre-cut seasoned chicken from the deli section today, and I can eat a bunch of chicken.

I agree it is weird. Not to scare you more, but I can't drink from a straw. It puts too much air in my tummy, and it hurts. In the beginning, you do have to sip, sip, sip. My instructions were 2oz every 15 minutes. I had to do this for the first couple of weeks. It's temporary. There are adjustments to everything we put in our mouths. Even now 3 months later, I'm finding that some things just don't work. I know VegasAngel can drink through a straw without any issues.

In the beginning, you may not be able to gulp down water. I know I couldn't for several weeks. Now, I can take pretty hefty swigs of water, definitely not gulps, but nice drinks. I can also drink cold water without any issues.

I went out and bought Wii Active today, and love it. I haven't worked out in about 8 months, and I really wanted to give this a whirl. Least to say, I am impressed. I just did the easy 20 minute cardio work out, and broke a sweat. It felt good even with my ankles and knees popping like crazy. I know I'll hurt tomorrow, but I plan on doing this 3-5 times per week. . .