Tiffykins

I'm glad surgery went well, and hope you start feeling no pain soon ! ! !

Clears for 14 days (I did 17). Then I did a combination of full liquids/mushies for another 2 weeks. I was over a month out due to the leak before I ever started full liquids.

My port flipped shortly after surgery. I dealt with it for 6 months with my civilian surgeon, and when he did nothing about it, I left his practice. I was at a pain level 6-8 on a daily basis, and couldn't perform some household chores because the band would actually tug on my stomach. The port pain alone was beyond painful. My husband and I couldn't have sex in certain positions because it was so painful. I finally had enough of it in late March/early April and started looking at my options. I could of just had the port repositioned, but I truly believe once I started having problems, they would continue. I was miserable, regaining weight because the lack of being able to get fills properly. Once my new surgeon was in there, he found multiple adhesions to the band and tubing. The port had not only flipped, but it had caused major scar tissue where the bottom 2 sutures were ripped. I was happy with my band for the first couple of months. Then not knowing when I was going to be able, and when certain foods would get stuck one day, and go down the next, it was just frustrating. I was so tired of the pb'ing, and sliming. For me, it was my quality of life was sub-par and I had to do the best thing for my future. I only had my band for 8 months, and started having pain after 2 short months from the flipped port. It just progressively got worse.

Congrats on your great success ! ! ! I'm almost 3 months out, and still haven't found one that I can tolerate. Either the taste/smell get to me, or they have me running to the bathroom. . .

I had never experienced constipation until I had this surgery. It's only happened once, and I was absolutely miserable ! ! !

I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts ! ! !

I had a Spouse's (my husband's active duty Air Force for those that don't know) club Breakfast this morning, and was so nervous that I had talked myself out of eating. I had told everyone that I had breakfast with my son earlier that morning ( I didn't really eat). I had walked around a huge conference area meeting with vendors, and socializing, so I knew that I needed to eat. Once the other ladies at my table were chowing away at their breakfast burritos, fresh fruit, and hashbrowns, I decided to venture to the buffet line. I took a small portion of the sausage, hashbrowns, and some cantaloupe. All of it went down wonderfully, I mean it was a small amount 3-4oz total, and I wasn't "scared" of eating anymore. A lady in line said "Tiffany, you're being good." I whispered to her that I had surgery, and she said "Good for you, you're braver than me." She was the sweetest lady, and told me to not worry about eating a lot, she would eat enough for the both of us. She seemed to understand, and was very kind. I'm not too worried about people finding out I had surgery. I'm a really open person, and find it's easier to tell people rather than finding an alternative answer. Most people are generally open to listening, and are curious. None of them at my table asked why I was eating so little. I ate slow, and enjoyed my "first meal" out with strangers.

Just from my experience, my head hunger has decreased substantially. The most difficult times for me is when I don't hear from my husband for days on end (he's deployed to Afghanistan). I find myself wanting something to eat, but I end up journaling or writing him an email to tell him how we're doing back home. It is mind over matter, but the sleeve makes it look so much easier. I rarely find myself with the fridge door open searching for something to "snack" on. The sleeve will make it easier. I haven't been truly hungry, and find it's easier to stay away from the refrigerator.

Nana, I'm sorry I'm late on this, but congrats on your surgery, and success thus far ! ! !

My revision took about 3 hours.

Good to hear you're doing well post-op, congrats on surgery going well. Keep us updated with your progress. . .

I was a serious volume eater before surgery. I could put away large amounts of food, and loved it. BUT, since surgery, I have found that food has become a necessity, and not an obsession. I haven't missed any specific food because I'm able to eat just about anything I want just in smaller quantities. I've even had a few Funyuns (my favorite), and a couple of Reese's white chocolate miniatures. I had a long talk with my surgeon this last Monday, and he specifically told me, " Tiffany, you know what choices are best, but I don't want you to deprive yourself. Just realize that you have to make good decisions about what goes in your mouth." I told him I understood that, but I just wanted to have something different. I know what food choices are the "right" ones, and the sleeve makes it much easier. I am never truly hungry, do I want certain foods, yes, but I also can make better choices now. I keep myself busy by cleaning my house, getting out of the house a couple of times a week, and chatting with friends. .

You also have to remember everybody's bodies are different. For me, I've only gotten that "stuck" feeling once with my sleeve. It was not as painful and I didn't PB, slime like I did with the band. This happened on a piece of chicken within the first couple of days of me transitioning to solid food with the sleeve. It is not the same feeling in my opinion. With my band, things were stuck forever, and I would slime until I would force myself to vomit. With the sleeve, it's a little tightness in my sternum area, and then the piece of chicken moved down on it's own. Eating with the sleeve is similar with the band in the early days. Chew, chew, chew, slow, slow, slow, for me, I wouldn't trade my sleeve for another band even if someone paid me.

I had mine all done in one procedure.

Caysen has been bugging me for weeks to go have Mexican food at the local dive mexican food joint here. Well, I decided today to venture out and give it a whirl. . . The most exciting part of the meal was when I went to sit down and I didn't have to move the table closer to him to fit in between the seat and table. I almost moved it habitually, then stopped myself and thought "go ahead, try to fit there, no one is looking, if you have to move it then move it" So, as I glided in slowly I realized not only was i going to actually fit, I had a good 6-8 inches of space between my belly and the table. We ordered chicken fajitas for one, and brought home enough food for another person to eat a fajita. I had 4-5 little strips of chicken with sour cream and salsa. It was by far the best feeling in the world with the booth situation, but I didn't get sick on any of the food. YIPPEEEEEEE! ! !

I have never overeaten and had the urge to vomit. I pretty much stick to 2-4oz of food and with that I am satisfied. I can pretty much eyeball that amount so I haven't technically been measuring anything that I eat. I started drinking as soon as my feet hit the floor. I wait to eat anything solid for about an hour. I just started setting an alarm on my cell phone for every 3.5-4 hours to remind me to eat. I literally forget to eat some days, and I know my nutritional levels will drop if I don't start taking in more calories. My husband is naturally thin, and lean. He can eat anything and never gain a pound. Even though he met and married me at my heaviest, and loves me regardless of pant size, he was concerned about me having the lapband surgery. His main concern was that I would "change" on the inside. He was more concerned with the mental and emotional aspects of weight loss surgery. Luckily, my mom had lapband in Nov 2007, and talked to him a lot. He knew I struggled with my weight my entire life, and had seen me "diet", listened to me vent about the Weight Watchers meetings I had attended, and he knew that I needed surgical intervention to get healthy. I am extremely blunt, and to the point. One day, he was on a tangent about me having surgery. I looked at him and said " you told me you wanted to grow old with me, well I'm not going to live to be 60 at this rate, and 60 is not old to me." Least to say, he started being more supportive, and understanding that I was having this done for myself, and for my future health. We would also like to have a child in the near future. I told him I would never get pregnant at my pre-op weight. I would have nothing but problems, and it isn't fair to conceive a child and give him/her an unhealthy body to develop in. I had my revision to the sleeve while he is deployed because I could not live in pain every day any longer. I was miserable for over 6 months with the band, and while he was worried about me going through surgery, he was supportive, and knew that I was making the best choice, not only for myself, but for our family. I'm sorry for the ramble, but having WLS is not about being skinny. It's about losing weight, and living a longer, healthier, and more productive life. Getting skinny is just a bonus. I just laid out the facts for my husband. I told him about my family history of heart disease on both sides. My maternal grandmother had 3 strokes in 2 years and 2 heart aches a few years ago, my maternal aunts have all suffered from some sort of HBP, or other cardio vascular issues. My mother had HBP until she lost 75-80lbs with her band. Diabetes is/was a huge concern for me, dying of a heart attack, or having to take a pill everyday for high cholesterol. The co-morbidities are so scary, and so inevitable with being obese. If you ever want to talk, feel free to PM here. . .

You really want to talk to the anesthesiologist and your surgeon. I know some surgeons won't perform the surgery if you haven't quit for 30-90 days pre-op. I smoke, and I know how difficult it is to quit. I smoked right up to my surgery, quit, then started again, quit again, and just recently picked it back up.

I will keep you in my thoughts today ! ! ! I know you'll do fabulous today, and I can't wait until to you let us know you are okay. . .

That is so awesome, Congrats ! ! !

That's awesome ! ! !

Don't give up, call and see if you can appeal the decision. I could of sworn that someone else had won an appeal with Fed BCBS. Check on OH, if you haven't already as well. I'm really sorry, and I'll keep you in my thoughts.

Went and saw "Time Traveler's Wife" with my friend "J" this afternoon, and least to say, I was super disappointed. It just wasn't as climatic as I was expecting, plus it pretty predictable. . . After the movie, we headed to the mall. I wanted to stop in at Old Navy and just see if I could possibly wear anything from there. I have never been able to wear anything from Old Navy except for the men's clothes, and even then it was an XXL. So, J convinced me to try on some clothes. . . I fit into a woman's XL, not XXL, but XL and I've lost 3 pant sizes almost 4 because I tried on a smaller size, and they almost fit. I almost cried because I was shocked. . . I bought 3 new shirts (all XL all different styles one is a little snug around the boobs but I'll be super comfy next month) and 2 pairs of pants. It was overwhelming emotionally because even though I've lost the weight mentally I just don't "see it". I was super anxious to try on clothes, I was getting icky feeling because it just felt so weird to try on clothes that are "normal". I know an XL is not "normal", but it's the closest thing to normal I've been in over a decade.I was thinking the whole time "these people think I'm crazy for trying on these clothes because I'm too fat". On the way home, we stopped by the store, and this guy smiled super big, checked me out, and then stood super close to me. Not in a creepy way, it was nice to be noticed. Overall, today has been great. I didn't eat enough before we left so I felt pretty sluggish once we got home. I ate a little peanut butter, and had a frozen fruit bar. I already feel better. . . I need to carry some beef jerky in my purse for days like today. Today was my first day out except for short trips to Wal-Mart. It felt so good to be out of the house, and just have a nice day out. I hope everyone had a great weekend ! ! !

Nope, you aren't alone at all. I am impatient as well, but I had to keep reminding myself that it's an endurance race, not a sprint. I've already lost over 50% of my excess weight, and I'm elated, but I really want to be at goal. I'm right there with you. . .

There's quite a few of us on here who had band to sleeve revisions. I had my band removed on June 3rd after only 8 short months. I lost initially then complications prevented decent fills, and I started gaining. I couldn't be happier with the sleeve. I have restriction, I am learning to eat to live, and not live to eat.

I've been in bed early every night, and I just haven't been up to chatting lately. . . I'll try to make it in over the weekend sometime.