marfar7

Wow. I had no pre op diet (just 24 hrs of liquids) but was on full liquids for 4 weeks. That was hard enuf and I didn't have 85% of my stomach, making a tiny bit easier. If u can stay on a liquid diet for 2 mths, my hands are off to u. How long is ur post op diet?

I went to the Los Angeles County fair last Sep. I made a collage of pics of all of the deep fried food. I did sample (cpl bites) of a huge corndog and a few bites of funnel cake. First time at a fair that big. Now that we live in LA County, I plan on sampling fair food again this year. The corn dogs and funnel cake ARE the reason I even go to the fair. Good job on the restraint!

I'm a side sleeper but I couldn't for the first couple weeks. Was on my back in bed (no tv in the living room where the recliner is!). After the first 2 weeks, I propped a pillow between my side and the bed so my tummy didn't droop and cause pain (why I couldn't sleep on my side). Good luck with ur surgery!

Congrats! WTG!

Me too. I've never had a problem taking pills. From the nite after surgery, I was taking my normal meds (including Gabapentin, which is HUGE). Good luck!

The first week I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Missed the IV Dilaudid. The bottle of liquid Vicodin and I became fast friends that first 10 days. I promise, it WILL get better. And when u start sliding smaller jeans on, ull forget about all the pain! Good luck!

I take bcp's too. I've often wondered if I could finally get to goal (11 lbs from it) if I stopped. Scared to tho. Scared of getting pregnat at 47 (expecting 1st grandson anyday now). It would be tragic. But Id also like to get to goal. Maybe that's what's preventing it?

I'm impressed u were evn able to post. I couldn't even see my keyboard after my pain meds. For 2 days I couldn't manage my phone Congrats on ur easy recovery!

It definitely a good idea to taste numerous Protein powders before u hafta rely on them. When I was banded in 2009, I made the mistake of ordering cases of Muscle Milk and Isopure. That was a waste of over $130. I hated both. Never really found one I liked back then. When I went thru my sleeve revision last summer, I decided to try different brands/flavors. I stopped at my 3rd brand (Syntrax Nectar). Luv'd it. Got a pack of 12 sample packs (all different flavors) from bjsbaritatrics.com for $15.00. I also tried unjury and Premium (from Sams). I liked Syntrax the best. Not really fond of the ones u mix with Water (like strawberry kiwi, roadside lemonade, etc). I prefer the ones u mix with milk (cappucino and vanilla bean torte - mixed with sf coffee syrup). Adds a few more calories (also protein by 9gms) but ur drinking so little calories in the beginning, the extra calories are actually good. Just an FYI: I found out after my icky order from GNC.com had expired that whatever u order from the website, u can return if u don't like it. WOulda saved a boatload of money.

Seems a little low on the Protein shake scale. My Syntrax Nectars have 24 gms of protein for 8 oz. Maybe u can use 2 scoops (unless it's really strong tasting). I would ask ur dr. My dr specifically said no use of Slim Fast cuz it didn't contain enuf protein per serving (10 gms for 8 oz). Good luck!

I promise, it will get better. Hang in there. It'll all be worth it one day. I was full liquids for 4 weeks and dreamed about my first "real" meal. I made refried Beans, a pinch of cheese, and taco sauce. It was like steak and lobster. I didn't realize how much I missed chewing. Good luck! Ull make it. We all do...

I've had it once. I was convinced I had a band slip (I used to have a lapband). It was extremely painful. Never had it again. ACtually, I thought I had it again and went to the ER. It WAS actually a band herniation that time. So glad that darned band is out. Good luck!

Congrats! Fantastic news!

I was banded for 3 1/2 yrs prior to my sleeve revision last year (almost a yr out). While the amt of restriction is similar (I can eat about as much as when my band was at it's premium (not that that was very long, actually)), the feeling u get being full is not really the same. food got stuck in my esophagus, so I felt more chest "pain" when I ate too fast or 1 bite too much. I immediately vomited (hence the slipped band) and it relieved it. Now when I've had 1 bite too much, my stomach (basically the lower part of my chest) hurts some. But it's really hard to induce vomiting. Something thats a long drawn out and often fruitless option. So I haven't vomited much since being sleeved. U'd think I'd have learned to eat slower with my band but alas, I haven't. So, u will have similar restriction but a different "full" feeling. Not sure if that was ur actual question or not so sorry if I didn't answer ur question. Good luck to u. So glad I don't vomit everyday anymore. And I can eat everything - everything without getting "stuck".

It's the surgeons choice. I had a drain until I left the hospital (48 hrs). No biggy. They diaper pinned it to my gown and emptied it 2x each shift. Feels a little weird coming out but not really painful

Just an FYI: For those of u with a Cash and Carry or Smart and Final nearby (or I'm assuming any restaurant supply store), u'll find a HUGE variety of both Torani and Da Vinci syrups (like an entire aisle). Walmart has like 2 flavors (usually vanilla and hazelnut) as do most other grocery stores. And u can get a big bottle at Cash and Carry for about $3.50. Our last trip there we stocked up and go 15 bottles (ranging from Khalua to Toffee Nut to Almond Joy). Couldn't carry all the flavors I wanted (nor do we have room to store them!) They're really yummy in plain vanilla Protein shakes..

When u start eating solids again, u'lll actually feel full. Probly not the same u did before (I call it "Thanksgiving full") but right now the liquids don't stay in there long enuf to satiate u. I was on liquids for 4 weeks so I was literally read to eat my arm by day 10 (some people claim their hunger goes away for a long period after the sleeve, due to the removal of Ghrelin, but about 50% of us go back to feeling hungry soon after). I promise ull notice a difference once u start eating real food. I never had a pureed period (went from liquids to soft) so I'm not sure about that step but I know after my first Tb or so of refried Beans, I felt like I had eaten half a cow. Oh, and some people can tolerate anything right off the bat (not a good idea, however) and some have to go slowly thru the stages.When u've overdone it or eaten the wrong foods, ur stomach will let u know. And it'll take a long tiime before u go there again... Good luck!

HINT: Check the nutrition facts of anything new u might buy. Just finished my Trader Joes Greek Honey Yogurt (8 oz) for a total of 290 cals. Of course, I didn't know till I finished, otherwise I wouldn't have eaten it. Even eating 1/2 woulda been too much for yogurt. Geez, what the heck r they thinking? To make something that seems so innocent so guilty? I will be reading labels before I buy next time...

Never heard of the 3 mth rule for flying. Personally, the band recovery was easy peasy compared with my revision. Everyday for 12 days I felt like I was hit by a truck. My liquid Vicodin was my best friend for 12 days. I had a rougher than average recovery tho. Ur might be much better. 1 week after, however, is being mighty optimistic. U could be great, climbing mountains. Or more like me, lying in agony. U never know. If it were me, Id give myself at least 2 weeks before I expected to travel. But again, that's just me...good luck

I'm 10mths post op and still heavily rely on my sleeve restriction. I can only eat so much without being in extreme pain. I'm wondering if the longer I go, will the restriction still be my main goal or if the healthier habits I should have picked up by now take over? What do u think the secrets of ur success r attributed to? I know I should pick up healthy habits just in case I lose the optimal retriction I now enjoy. I guess I'm holding on to the hope Ill always be able to eat very little and that I can continue eating whatever I want. A girl can dream can't she?

Been there, done that with the lapband. Had it for almost 3 1/2 yrs. Had a revision to sleeve cuz it herniated (after a yr with a small slip, I continued to almost daily vomiting even with an unfill - until it finally herniated and had to come out). Since I only had 35 lbs to lose (started at 174), I thought a RNY was a bit drastic. Even more drastic (at least to me) than having 85% of my stomach removed. I knew that I needed a tool inside me to get to goal (not to mention not to regain what I had already lost), so I chose a sleeve revision. So happy I did. I've vomited 2x in the past almost 1 yr vs almost daily with the band. I can eat anything I want - just really small amounts of it. And being "full" isn't the same as with the band. It's a more natural feeling, not a pain-in-the-chest feeling. Good luck with ur decision. I'm just so glad that in 2014, one has a choice in wls's (unlike 20 yrs ago, when ur only choice was either getting it or not)

I remember commenting to my hubby that I thought he had filled in the local tv network of my upcoming revision last July. They had purposely put every single commercial a food commercial (at least that's what it seemed) when all I could have was full liquids. MnM's never looked so good in my life as they did when I couldn't chew anything... Good job not giving into temptation. Thats the way the food situation is in So Ca also - except there'd be about 6 Starbucks in the 4 miles on the way to somewhere...

To me (and I previously had a drain taken out after my gallbladder surgery 20 yrs ago) it's more 'freaky' than painful. It's almost like when u swallow a strand of spaghetti and then pull it back up. And yes, I've done it even as an adult! Had it lasted longer than about 5 seconds, it probly woulda been painful to me. The whole 2 days after my surgery, I anticipated them removing my drain before leaving the hospital. I panicked. Then my memory came flooding back to me (kinda like labor does with subsequent babies) afterwards. Sorry it hurt. Not sure why it would hurt. Good luck on the rest of ur recovery. Hopefully the worst is behind u.

Oh, and something else I just noticed: It only had 8gms of protein! Wow. usually my Greek yogurt ( I usually eat Natures Path at 120 calories for 6 oz) has 15 gms. How can TJ's even sell this as Greek Yogurt? Seems like it should be in the dessert aisle...

I like Carbmaster also. We have it at Ralphs on the West Coast. They don't make Grek yogurt, tho, do they? My fav is the caramel "something". Tastes like dessert. I think there's something like 4 carbs - which is excellent for yogurt