TexasT

I had tons of adhesions myself, as the revision was my 6th abdominal surgery. My surgeon spent a lot of time removing them, and used a mesh substance inside to help prevent more from forming. And even with my hematoma complication, I'm glad the port is out. It always got stuck under my ribs, you could see it from the outside, and now there is no "foreign" plastic thing in my body anymore. It sounds like you are a perfect candidate for the sleeve. You should be able to meet goal very quickly. Best of luck!

I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? More so with solid foods/proteins than with slider foods. But much more so than with the band. Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Yes. With the band I couldn't eat breakfast, but now I can. Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...) Not for me. I flew overseas with no problem post-VSG, altitude caused me problems with the band. With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? Never for me. I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? I've never had an issue with food coming up,but I've been careful not to overeat. Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit? I've never vomited with the sleeve. I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random? I've never had a dumping problem. I had my gall bladder out at the same time as my revision and now fatty foods nauseate me, but sweets are fine. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months... That's a doctor question, but I think you have to be careful for a couple of months until you are completely healed. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there... That's all I've heard also, though I didn't have any problems. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? I only went back to my surgeon once post-op. After that my primary care doc handles everything. I just have labs once or twice a year. Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray? No. What do you like best about your VSG? The ability to eat healthy foods that I couldn't with the band (salads, certain fruits/veggies), not having to ever worry again about eating too much - I can't, being able to eat like a "normal" person (not counting calories, fat grams, etc.). I eat whatever I want, but in moderation. What do you like least about your VSG? There are times your brain still wants to pig out on something, but your body can't do it, so you have to just deal with that. I lost more muscle than I would have liked to, but that I can build back up. What did you not know going in, that you wish you did? I was pretty well informed, but I guess I didn't realize how hard it would be to get all my protein in without supplements. I still have to eat protein bars to get it all in. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery? I've had 12 surgeries in my life, so I may be an old pro about it, but I thought my recovery was just as easy. I work from home on the computer and was back at my desk the day after I got home from the hospital for short spurts. Pain was minimal. How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc. You don't have to worry about chewing everything up super small with the VSG like you do with the band or taking small bites. The opening to your stomach is the same as anyone else's, so that's not an issue anymore. I eat just like anyone else. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG) Not sure what that means... Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band? My surgeon did both the band and my revision to VSG. He had put my port in there really good, so it was a bear to get out. I was left with a large open area internally that filled with blood and caused a hematoma. The incision above the hematoma opened up, the blood drained, and the hole had to then heal from the inside out. I had to keep it packed with cotton tape and change twice a day for a couple of months. I also had a hiatal hernia that I fell was caused by the band. The doc fixed it during the revision surgery. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for) None at all. In fact, I used to have IBS but no more. It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while? I continue to take a PPI to control acid, so it's not an issue. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB? I can eat or drink anything I want with the sleeve, no restrictions. I choose to NOT eat much bread, as it swells with liquids and takes up room in my tummy I should be filling with protein. I can tolerate anything - spicy foods, wine and spirits, etc.

Just made an appointment for my breast augmentation revision (I've had mine for 31 yrs!!) with Dr. Michael Bogdan in Southlake, TX for next month. He took a whole 1.5 hrs for my consult. This is the 3rd consult I've had and was super impressed with him and his staff. We're concentrating on the girls this time, but once I save up some more $$ I'm probably going to get a neck lift and maybe something done to my cheeks (the ones on my face, in case you're wondering - ha!). Now that I'm done losing weight, the areas beside my nose look pretty gaunt and sunk in. Hopefully some type of filler can plump them back up again, but I know they also do fat transfers for that area too. That's one of the bad things about losing so much weight - sometimes you lose it in places you don't really want to. But it's a trade-off I'd happily make again to be skinny everywhere else.

My favorite "non-sweet" mushie was refried black beans. I love spicy foods, so I put a bit of salsa in them, topped with a small spoon of white queso, in the microwave for a few seconds and I was in heaven!

A lot of people in my family get this if we take products with the same ingredients as Pepto-Bismal. There's something in it that causes that to happen too. If you're taking anything like that it could also be the cause.

Way to go!! Sounds like you're working your sleeve and will be at goal in no time.

Sure, he does it all. Check out his website for photos and info. I'm getting so excited for my appointment and so ready for this surgery. I've had 2 other consults and one of the docs didn't listen to me at all when I told him what I wanted (silicone gel) and pretty much insisted on saline. Now that my frame is so much smaller and I have practically NO real breast tissue left, I don't want to worry about seeing the ridged edges of saline implants under my skin. I'm looking for someone with experience replacing old implants and also someone who works with WLS patients. Hope this is the guy for me - but we'll see!

I've got a consult the first part of June with Dr. Michael A. Bogdan in Southlake. He charges $50 for a consult, just to keep people from making appts. and not showing up. I'll report back after I see him. He does a lot of work with post-WLS patients and also has an office somewhere in Dallas.

I collect Fiesta Ware, and I love their tiny dessert bowls. They are my new serving dish for most of my meals. I also use their salad plates as dinner plates. I love all the colors they come in and it's fun to find retired color pieces at antique shops. I like the little spoons and forks ideas. I'll have to start looking for them next.

You had a very wonderful and thoughtful response and showed a lot of poise in the situation. I probably would have told her where to put it and just walked out. Now you have the upper hand. Just start working out there, losing weight with the help of the VSG, and shrink before her eyes. Maybe you can be an exaxmple for her and she'll change her mind about her son. That would also be a win-win! Good luck!

At my highest weight my BMI was 40. When I was revised from the band to the sleeve it was 31. Now it's 23, which is in the normal range. So absolutely it IS doable.

So I guess my answer, for this board, is no. I assume most people are still in the losing stage and not ready for this yet. I guess I'll stick with my local docs. Living in the DFW area I'm fortunate to have access to some of the best in the country, so I may as well take advantage of it, even if it will cost a bit more. Thanks everyone -

"I'm scared to death of possible complications there by also causing job problems and even more scared of life afterwards i.e. not being normal anymore cuz i cant eat anything." This is the comment that drives me the craziest and I wish everyone could wrap their brains around it - PLEASE listen up: ONE DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO EAT - NO RESTRICTIONS OTHER THAN THE QUANITY YOUR STOMACH CAN HOLD. I consider myself perfectly "normal" now. I eat out for business quite often and no one even notices the amount of food I actually get in. Don't let these fears get the best of you. I had the same questions, even with being a revision from the lap-band. With your co-morbidities, this will be a life saving operation for you I'm sure. You owe it to yourself to be healthy and happy. And believe me - once you get the weight off and feel and look better you'll be so happy you made this decision. Best of luck to you!

I think it's different for everyone. I haven't had any issues with weight re-gain and I certainly don't eat a model diet. I eat sweets, carbs, whatever I want. My weight fluctuates between 3 lbs no matter what I do. I don't get any exercise, so maybe if I did I might need to eat more to stop from losing anymore weight. My body has always picked a weight and stayed there unless something drastic happens to change it (like WLS). I can eat much more now than I did a year ago, but it's not enough to make me start gaining weight again.

I don't mean to be rude, but I was asking for replies from members of this board who have already had plastic surgery in Mexico. I am not interested in having a dialogue with a doctor or his group. Thanks!

They call this shedding, just like your pet would shed. So random strands come out when you wash or brush it, not in clumps. Mine started about 5 months post-op and lasted about 5 months. I would pull a hand full out of my brush after each shampoo. I tried all the remedies (Biotin, special serum, shampoos, more protein) and nothing stopped it but good old Father Time. Just hold on for the ride and pray for it to end. Unfortunately, all my new growth has been gray, but at least I can be happy I've got something for Miss Clairol to hold on to - ha!

My surgeon's office is also about an hours drive away from me in horrible Dallas traffic (about as bad as Atlanta's!), so I don't go. The drive alone is enough to stress me out so much it's not worth it. Also, his support group is for people who've had all types of WLS. I was a revision from a lap-band and think the band should be outlawed. That said, I don't think they want me there with a bunch of people who have or are about to have the band, because I would not be a very positive influence on them . This site works for me. It might be worth it to try to start your own group from this website, or something like meetup.com if you feel it's just too far to drive.

I was lucky to not be extremely obsese to start with, so I would also say my saggy skin is minimal. I have a little at my inner elbow, where the top of my arm meets my shoulder (also inner arm), the VERY top inner thigh area, and my tummy. My stomach is pretty flat, but yucky looking if I'm bending over from the waist, mostly from the stretch marks. My double chin has been replaced with a tiny turkey neck, and I can tell that my cheeks are more hollow looking. That list sounds bad, but I just turned 50 and had several people I had just met think I was much younger, so I can't complain too much. I think at our age we can't expect much in the way of skin snapping back. The collagen is just not there. I'm not ruling out a face lift or fillers in the coming years. But I also know I need to be lifting weights to gain some of the muscle mass back that I lost - especially in my arms.

There's one sexual position that is a no-go for me now because of how I feel about my body - me on top. It's not an option - don't even ask! My boobies just hang there like deflated balloons and my stomach has vertical folds like an accordion from the stretch marks and empty skin when I lean over from the waist. At the age of 50 I'm not even considering a tummy tuck - after 2 C-sections, full open hysterectomy, lap-band and then sleeve I'm DONE with abdominal surgeries! My hubby is blissfully happy with the way I look now, so it's just me nitpicking. My super-feminist daughter is trying to teach me to love myself no matter how I look, but it's not an easy thing to do. She even gets on to me for coloring my hair - but hey - that's the one thing I WILL NOT give up for quite some time - ha! We women are so hard on ourselves, and the way society worships perfect bodies doesn't help with our self-esteem when we don't measure up. It's a constant struggle to be as loving to ourselves as we are to others.

If they're doing an open hysterectomy, then you will be a little slower moving about. I've had 2 C-sections and a full hysterectomy myself, and I don't remember walking up and down the halls quite as quickly with those surgeries. But they will have you up probably sooner than you think you should be (at least that's how I felt - ha!), but you won't be running any marathons. You'll be shuffling around, hunched over a bit maybe, like a little old lady, pushing your IV stand around. It will take a few more days than someone who only has a lap sleeve done before you feel better.

As they say - "this too shall pass". After just a few months post-op I could drink quite a bit of water at a time, no sipping. And I use straws now also, but I don't really remember when I started doing it.

I had my gall bladder out when I got sleeved, so multiple procedures are fairly common. Go for it if you can! Less recuperating with just one surgery.

My story is almost the same as REV ME UP. I had no real complications. My surgeon was so wonderful, my port was sewed in amazingly well and wasn't going anywhere. That's one reason I had him do my revision - he's a top notch doctor. I just hated living with the band and all the problems it created. It was so tight in the mornings I was never able to eat Breakfast. Then later in the day when I could eat, things were always getting stuck even when I chewed my food really well. I couldn't eat healthy foods like salad, broccoli, oranges, etc. But milkshakes and cheese dip went down with no problem. So of course I was stalled and unable to lose that last 40-50 lbs. Getting the band out and being able to have the VSG has been just what I needed. I feel free now to eat whatever I want in moderate portions. I can eat all the healthy foods I crave and not have to worry about them going down. That horrible port is gone and not in the way - bumping on my ribs and poking through my skin. Life is good now!