marfar7

I never really had pain when eating. Was eager to move onto the new eating steps. The weakness was over about 3 weeks post op. I had a rougher recovery than most also, but I was be-bopping around by 3 weeks. Good luck!

I drink a glass of red wine about 3x a week, have since about 3 mths post op. Doesn't affect me any differently. The very first glass, I will admit made me quite tipsy, but from then on - doesn't affect me at all. I count the 110 calories in it in my daily allotment.

I'm also a band to sleeve revision (almost a yr now). Had my band for 3 1/2 yrs and lost almost all of my weight (went from 250 to 144. Then it slipped. After vomiting almost everyday. After my unfill, I gained about 35 lbs back. Had to have a tool so I chose the sleeve (I figured the RNY was a bit drastic to lose 40 lbs) when my band had to be removed (eventually herniated when I continued vomiting even with a total unfill) While the weightloss is really slow (I'm still 15 lbs from goal), I know if I actually tried, I could lose it. It's nice to not even try and still maintain. I've vomited 2x in the last yr - vs almost everyday. Vomiting now is a long drawn out process that yields little results, so if I take 1 bite too many, I'm miserable till it passes. Luv my sleeve. Even if all it does is allow me to maintain...I vote for the sleeve. My dr told me once ur band slips, u have a higher chance of slippage with a new band...

I used to luv Fresca! I would think a splash of grapefruit in some Water, or maybe some grapefruit, a touch of lemonade, and water? Good luck!

There's really a new diet out there called The Cottonball Diet. Saw it on Good Morning America about 3 mths ago. Teen girls are really into this right now... http://abcnews.go.com/Health/dangerous-diet-trend-cotton-ball-diet/story?id=20942888 Scary...

I did. My goal weight was 130. A few months ago, I thought it might motivate me more to lose 12 lbs instead of 22 and change it to 140. While I now wear a size 8 jeans (started at a 22), I still feel "fat". I still see rolls, fat, and still an XL on top (Swedish genes, I guess), but my goal is still 140. I recently gained a few lbs (instead of motivating me, it made me more comfy with being "almost there" and slacking a bit. I'm now 15 from goal. I will get there. So will u. Even if u feel the desire to alter ur goal. It's totally up to u. If u feel comfortable, I say embrace it and be comfortable. Ull still need to do the same things to maintain as u did to lose, however, so don't ever get too comfortable... Good luck!

In and Out and 4 Guys also have "Protein style" burgers which r wrapped in lettuce. Hubby gets these all the time. It's a great way to eat a burger, holding it in ur hands like an actual burger. Personally, I don't like lettuce wrapped burgers. It's not really a burger without the bun. I eat them occasionally, and I will eat about 1/3 of an In and Out. Hubby can eat In and Out about 3x a week. I like it about once a month.

Had my gallbladder out 20 yrs ago (at age 25), 24 yrs before my sleeve revision last year. I had to take a few stool softeners after surgery, as things weren't moving along as they should have been. then again, I never did have a problem with diarrhea after my gallbladder surgery. The only problem I had was the inability to eat red meat for about a year. The smell made my stomach turn. Then the first bite of a burger and thats all she wrote... I guess u were probly asking those that have recently gotten their gallbladders out tho, huh? Oh well. Just my .02... Good luck!

Thanx. Never even noticed my calves. I have no muscles in my legs anymore - it's all wiggly like Jello. Thanx for ur kind words... And might I add: I wish I was at ur current weight right now (139). I'd be at goal! Actually under by a pound. That would be sweet. U lucky dog...

Thanx Irene. Shoulda thought about the responses I'd get before I posted. I appreciate ur kindness.

Not to argue with u, but where exactly did u get ur info? Had no clue my metabolism was even affected by making my stomach smaller. I'm interested in reading about this... Never mind. Found a website with info on it. interesting. never knew this

There's what called the "honeymoon period" of about 12 mths or so. Meaning, it will be EASIER for u to lose the first 12 mths, not that ur limited to 12 months. Ur right, how r we expected to lose so much in 1 yr? U aren't. Ur just sposed to take advantage of the easier first 12 mths to lose weight. I think it's cuz most peoples hunger comes back after the first year. I never lost mine so my honeymoon period was the first 10 days! Most people will continue to lose at a much slower pace after the first year. Not sure where that "window" "rule" became and actual "rule", cuz it's not. Good luck!

I didn't like McD's before my surgery, let alone afterwards. It's funny ur mentioning this right now. Last month, McD's came out with the buy 1 get 1 free of Big Macs. haven't wanted a Big Mac in about 10 yrs. Till I saw the commercial. About a week ago, my poor hubby had to get dressed (we're usually in bed by 9) at 9 pm (cuz it's only after 9) and go get me a Big Mac. It's been 11 mths since my revision and that 1/3 of a Big Mac was yummy, not at all like I remembered it from 10 yrs ago. Hope this isn't the start of something... But, since u asked, I DO eat most of my fav foods (incuding pizza, tacos, burgers, fries) occasionally and a very small amt (like I can eat about 1/2 pc of thin crust pizza, 1/3 of an In and Out cheeseburger, 2/3 of a Del Taco soft taco, about 8 fries-and this isn't all in 1 meal, btw! LOL). I luv my tiny tummy and I don't want to ruin it and it's affects by eating too much/too often. When u start sliding into a single digit pair of jeans, u really don't want to go back to a size 22 again... Good luck!

I've tried tons of them. The only one I actually like is Syntrax nectar products U can get a sample pack (I think its 12-15 packets that u can choose the flavors (bjsbariatrics.com) and when u find one u like, u can get a 2lb tub on amazon. Vitamin Shoppe sells them too, at a higher price, of course. But if u need it today, it's the only place I've found them' My fav: Cappucino. Yummy. I don't really like the ones u mix with Water (strawberry Kiwi, Roadside Lemonade, etc). I also use Syntrax unflav powder. 2 small scoops is 20gms in whatever u want. I would try a variety of them before I chose one. When I was banded in 2009, I ordered about\ $200 worth of Protein drinks on GNC.com. Didn't like any of em (didn't know at the time that gnc will take back stuff u don't like)\. Especially the Isopure Fruit Drinks. My nurse told me they taste like Jolly Ranchers. They don't. I managed to get down about 1/4 of 1 bottle and the case cost me about $65. Good luck!

I' now regretting my above comment. Now I've probly got u more freaked out than before. So sorry if I've just made it worse. Good luck!

While I've gone thru numerous surgeries (all rougher than revision, btw), my revision (all at once) is the one I was the most freaked out about. I came across an article about "Anesthesia Awareness". It's really, really rare but it's when upon giving u the several drugs to knock u out, u wake up but r unable to move, talk, even blink. But u can hear everything and feel everything. I was convinced it would happen to me. My anesthesiologist has been in practice for 35 yrs and has never personally seen a case of it - probly becuz if it does happen, ur given drugs to give u amnesia - so u don't remember any of it. Hope I didn't just freak u out even more. Revisions (any surgery, really) r extremely safe and especially for someone ur age. I cried the morning of surgery (and I'm usually a rock when it comes to medical procedures) cuz I knew it would be the last time I saw my husband. And then the nurse gave me something to make me loopy in my iv and I felt better about it. In about 2 minutes, I was waking up to c my husband (not really 2 mins, but it seems like it). To my surprise, this was the 1st surgery I've ever had where I wasn't super nauseous afterwards. No problems with nausea at all during my recovery phase (cept for the hour following my leak test the day after. First they gave me to drink was a sugary, chalky barium which didn't sit well). Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it. But, I guess I ruined that didn't I? If u didn't know about the AA, now u do and u have something new to worry about. It's like so, so very rare. Ur gunna be in a hospital with people who know what their doing, not in a hut on the African tundra. Relax. Good luck!

Wow. This is so normal on the lapband board (which I used to frequent before my sleeve revision 11 mths ago) but had no idea it happened so much to sleevers also. When I was sleeved, if I took 1 bite too much, I would hiccup - just once - to let me know I've had enuf. Now, nuthin. Cept a tummy ache if I take 1 bite too much.

Oh, and unless u have wls on ur brain (call me when they start offerring that) ull always have food on ur mind. Ur always deciding what to eat, how much to eat, when to eat. I think of my next meal at my current meal. It would help if u lose ur hunger but for many of us, that wasn't the case. If ur obsessed with food now, u will still be obsessed. Ull need therapy or something other than altering ur anatomy. As I said above, when they come out with brain surgery for wls, sign me up!

About 50% of people lose their hunger for a long period of time (6-12 mths) and the other unlucky 50% get theirs back almost right away. Mine came back on day 10. I'm 46 and know the difference between acid and hunger - and it was truly hunger. Besides, I take 40mg of Prilosec 2x a day. Now, however, my hunger is taken away with literally a few bites. I usually "top it off" with a couple bites over my satiated feeling (about 10 bites) just so I can actually go 90 minutes before I'm hungry again. Seems like I'm always eating something. I feel like a pig when I announce to my husband that I'm hungry - AGAIN. Truth is, even tho I eat often, I don't eat much so that allows me to continue losing. Water: The above poster was right about the sip. Pretend ur sipping coffee. The first few weeks, I was only able to take tiny, room temp sips of Water (and I'm a big ice cold fan). Felt like a fire in my stomach when I drank something iced cold. Now that I'm 11 mths out, I can guzzle liquids as I did pre op. I started this at about 3 mths. Alot of us still guzzle. My dr doesn't prohibit this. The only things he really says no to is drinking carbonation and drinking before/during meals. Drinking with a straw, eating carbs, etc are a personal preference for us. If it wasn't for a straw, not sure I could get in enuf water a day. And I add Dasani drops (my current favs are strawberry kiwi and cherry pomegranite) just to flavor it a little, not too strong. Good luck!

I used to vomit almost daily with my band (from 2009-2013) and lost 104 lbs virtually from band induced bulimia. There were a few things I couldn't eat, but basically since I vomited (I enjoyed getting stuff out, therefore I could eat more) everything, I ate everything - even things that I "couldn't" eat. There's nothing I can't eat - cept ice cream. Thats why I luv my sleeve so much - I can eat anything, just smaller amounts. About the same amt as when my band was at it's premium (which was only for about 9 mths of 3 1/2 yrs with it). In the last 11 mths, I've vomited 2x - all my fault. It's a long drawn out, painful process that yields little results so I don't even bother overeating anymore cuz to get it back up is a pain in the butt. Believe it or not, when I was banded, I'd eat 1/4 of a Big Mac. Then throw it up. Eat another 1/4 and repeated till it was gone (about 3 hrs). Not anymore. Can only eat about 10-12 bites of any given food. The weight is coming off very slowly, as I knew it would starting at 174 11 mths ago. I'm about 14 lbs from goal and it seems I'll NEVER get there. But I can and will.... Good luck!

It matters mostly with what ur dr requires, not the type of surgery u had. I had the lapband and the sleeve (same surgeon) and was told for both that I could drink right up till the first bite then 30-45 mins after. Like I said prior, after a while ull be able to "feel" when the food has passed and ur safe to drink again. Depending on what I eat translates to the amt of time I hafta wait: salads I can drink within 30 minutes. Meat and others, about 45 mins. Not sure why but thats the way it is

Hint: When I dine on spicy foods (luv Mexican), I suck on an ice cube afterwards. And ice cube contains very little liquid and my dr approves it. Yep, ull get used to it. Not sure why the 30 minute beforehand rule. I can drink up till the time I take my first bite of food and then I actually can FEEL when it's time to drink something (30-45 mins), when my food has cleared my stomach. Not only is it to keep the food in ur stomach longer but it also stops the volcano from erupting. I was a lapband patient for almost 4 yrs prior to my sleeve revision 11 mths ago. I literally couldn't drink during/after eating cuz the food would make a cork in my esophagus and anything I drank would come right back up - violently. Now that there's nothing in the way, I still don't drink after eating cuz #1. I'm still scared as it feels like it's "stuck" at times and #2. I'm now used to it. I promise, ull get used to it soon. Try the ice cube trick. It works well

I had severe nightime reflux pre-sleeve due to a slipped lapband. Rx Prilosec 2x a day + OTC Zantac helped some but didn't totally relieve it. Thought if I got the lapband out, it would help. While it's gotten better since my revision 11 mths ago, it's still there. Everytime I attempt to go without my Prilosec (now take 40mg 2x a day), I wake up choking on stomach acid and it takes hours to get it under control.Not sure if it's the sleeve that caused it or the actual damage that my band did, cuz what caused it to begin with is gone now. U'd think the reflux would be also. If I hafta take 2 pills a day forever, then so be it. Had I known about this before my revision, I might've chosen the RNY. But whats done is done and I'm not doing a 3rd wls. I'll just take the meds forever. I guess it's somewhat better cuz I don't need the OTC Zantac anymore. Just Rx Prilosec 2x a day and Tums as needed (about 1-2x a week). Much better than weighing 250 lbs! Good luck!

Wow. Ur a 6'4" inch man and u eat between 700-1100 cals a day? Sounds like Ur starving. I would suggest u up ur calories a little, even just to maintain ur weight, not necessarily gain some. Good luck!

I agree. I gulp water all the time. The 1st month, however, I had to drink my water slowly at room temp (and I'm an ice cold fan). cuz it sat like a brick in my chest. After that tho, I would think there's no limitations in how fast u drink ur water. Unless ur doing it like a beer bong, that is!