NJMOMof2

That is an eye-opening story!!! So glad it worked out well. I am going to check now to be sure we have benadryl in the house all the time!!!

I was told no more than 6-8 oz an hour. Good Luck and before you know it...this will all be in the past.

I am 6 weeks out and had hamburger meat with no problem. I took TINY bites and chewed like crazy. Although I have not vomited, I did have one occasion where I was eating a Lean Cuisine fish this week and I guess I took one bite too many and literally choked the last bite up. It was very weird. Not a vomit (sorry TMI). I felt a little uneasy but then after about 20 minutes I was fine. I won't make that mistake again. Scrambled eggs killed me after surgery (why does the doctor recommend them?) but egg salad does not. I have not tried scrambled eggs lately though.... Good luck

I had a drain and my doctor said he wouldn't do the surgery without it. If you have a leak or an infection, it will show in the drain before you even had symptoms. My drain was a tube hanging out of the right night of my stomach and I had to empty it twice a day. The Fluid looks like kool aid (sorry TMI). It only fills a little bit and isn't too bad. My doctor removed it after 10 days. They remove it in the office and the hole literally closes on it's own. I was amazed it didn't need a stitch. The drain is the pain the the butt. It tends to pull and tugs. sleeping is difficult. BUT the good thing about the drain, other than peace of mind with infection, etc is that I spent so much of my time hating the drain, I got through 10 days of Clear liquids fairly easily. So, in the end ....it was a good distraction! LOL. The good news is that all this inconvenient stuff is TEMPORARY. By 3 weeks post op I was feeling Good and by 4 weeks, I was great! I even went sledding!! Good Luck.

I am 6 weeks out and enjoy 4 oz of orange juice every morning. Remember, everyone is different and has different tolerances! When you feel comfortable, try a small amount!

No NG tube. Just had to have an upper GI and had to drink this clear brown liquid to check for leaks. It was the worst stuff I've ever tasted. I could vomit just thinking about it.

the drain was the WORST!!! The stabbing pain in from it. Happened to me. You will feel so much better once that sucker is out!! I focused all my hatred on the drain and got through Clear liquids rather easily! LOL As for the constipation. ....I didn't go until 2 weeks. You can take Miralax. After you can eat solids, eat high Fiber for Breakfast. I use splenda with fiber and every time I have a Protein shake, i put some benefiber in it. It will get easier. sleep propped up until the drain is out and most importantly take the pain meds the doctor gave you at night!!! I was 100% myself by week 4 and you will be too!!!

Congratulations Diva!! I am so happy for you. No one understands what the band does both mentally and physically to a person!! I am also creeping up to my lowest band weight.....only 7 pounds to go. My doctor said he won't consider my surgery a "success" until I am lower than my lowest band weight. You are certainly right about the first month but the feeling of being lighter, healther, and dare I say......sexier .....LOL is sure worth it. I make sure I visit this site every day to keep my eyes on the prize. I am a recovering sweet addict. I know that I can't have them just like an alcoholic can't have a drink. I savor my sugar free fudge pop each night and I am fine with that!!! I know you will continue to reach your goals...Keep up the great work! Nina

Things are going well, weight loss wise and I am doing good with exercise. The only problem I have is that when I eat I get a gas bubble and food just doesn't feel good going down. Of course, this is a life change from a person who enjoyed eating so much. I can't say what others say, "I love my sleeve.".....YET! I will be 6 weeks out on Monday and I know it getting better. Other than that, I feel excellent. No problems at all. I have been 100% since week 4. The only thing I have to laugh at is the whole "you won't get hungry" thing (hormone?). I am starving 2 hours after I eat.

You should not be feeling this way 4 weeks out!! Can you tell us how you are doing?? Sending good thoughts your way.

The way i think about it is that the other option is to have high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems....ect... If it makes you feel better, my 84 year old grandmother had most of her stomach removed over 30 years ago due to an ulcer (that's how they treated it back then) and she is alive and kicking....but cranky!!! There is people walking around with other peoples organs in them, screws, plates and many more. A smaller stomach is not going to be a problem. I am not a doctor but I know there is worse out there. In 5 weeks, I have lost 35 pounds and probably added years onto my life!

I took 4 weeks off an it was great. I wanted to be more comfortable eating. My doctor said this surgery is like hitting "control, alt, delete". We have to learn a new way of eating. If you can take 4, do it. I am a teacher so I bend and stand a lot so I wanted to be 100% before I went back.

I have Protein shots called "Proasis" they are 2.9oz and have 25 grams of protein. They are very sour tasting so I just mix an ounce at a time in diet decaf iced tea. They are not gross at all if you dilute them. I buy them at Wegmans supermarket.

I had 6 incisions plus the drain and one IV. Good Luck. You will do great!!

Wow! Thanks for sharing. We are all human and make mistakes. Because I had a bad experience with the LapBank. I am SUPER careful when eating. I find it difficult to tell when I am actually full, since I often get gas bubbles when I ear. I am 4 weeks out and I have not vomited. I am determined no to!!!! But I know there could be an instance. Learning to eat again is probably the most difficult part of this process. I have to re-program myself to not fall into bad habits (like eating too fast). Little things like eating with a baby spoon really helps to remind me to take small bites and chew slowly. I will never forget the horrible feeling of getting food "stuck" in the LapBand and how the LapBand felt when it slipped. Unfortunately.....we learn most from bad experiences. Good Luck in your journey...

Wow..that creates a small pouch. My dr uses a size 40. (USA doctor)

Monday I will be 4 weeks out and what a difference that makes.....You are 1 YEAR out and wow...what a difference that makes for you. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Gas X thin strips work and are safe for you now. Move around as much as possible. It helps move the bubble. My gas pain was worse than surgery pain!!

My doctor told me that after 10 days the chance of a leak is less than 1% and after 2 weeks it 0%. He said if I had a leak after 2 weeks, he wouldn't even treat it surgically. It's very important to follow the liquids after surgery. I had to do 10 days of clear liquids. My doctor is very conservative, which is fine with me. He also uses a drain. The purpose of a drain is to alert you to a leak even before you get symptoms. The drain stayed in for the first 10 days then was removed in the office.

I didnt' have to do a pre-op diet and I had no problem getting insurance approval.

Be sure to appeal the insurance denial. Many insurance companies make it a regular practice to deny the first time, in hopes you won't appeal.

Everyone has their own reasons for being open or not. It's really a personal decision. I was VERY open when I had the LapBand and kept it quiet when I had the sleeve. I only told my immediate family and closest friends. I told my in-laws the day before the surgery. I go back to work on monday, down 27 pounds. If anyone asks, I may tell them I had a "TUMMY TUCK" LOL

I was at the mall and looked at SaladWorks and salivated!! I know the feeling. I am 23 days out on mushy foods. Other than a baked potato or sweet potato, I have had no veggies yet. I can't get them in after I eat my protein. One more week until I can start transitioning to solids and I can't wait. This has been the longest month of my life

EGGs kill! LOL I don't know why they tell people to have them. I thought I was going to throw up. I did better with egg salad though. Around day 15 the pain stopped but I still get that bubble (I'm day 22 post op). Good luck.

Oh thanks! I may try that click drink!