TexasT

I know I've read of a few people having hematomas (pools/clots of blood) after surgery, but I'm one of the few whose incision came open and now I'm having to deal with an open wound. I had a band to sleeve revision on 1/08/10. When I went to have my staples removed, the post-care doc said to keep an eye on the swelling under my largest incision (where the port had been with my band). The swelling was the size of a lemon and pretty hard. It kept getting more and more purple/bruised looking and the swelling did not go down. On Saturday Jan. 23 (2 wks post-op) I was sitting down drying my hair after a shower. When I stood up it looked like I had been shot in the stomach. Blood was everywhere. I pulled my shirt up and saw that the incision above the hematoma had come open releasing the blood. I called my surgeon and he met me at the ER. The now open wound had to have the internal stitches removed (very painful!), then he cleaned and flushed it out and packed it with cotton packing before covering it with gauze. Once an incision comes open it has to stay open to prevent an abcess/infection. So twice a day my dear hubby cleans and re-packs my wound for me. He's a hunter and isn't squeamish about stuff like that. I looked at my wound once without the packing in it and almost gagged. Can't handle it! This continues to be pretty painful and is causing a definate slowdown of my recovery. I'm healing and have no infection, so I'm grateful for that. I still wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy though! I wish I could scream from the rooftops for people to NOT get the band - having to remove that port that had been put in so well in the first place really tore me up inside and left a big hole for all that blood to pool in. Those of you having the sleeve as your only WLS are so lucky!

My WLS doctor didn't mention getting scoped. And my GI didn't tell me any definate times for scopes. Said to just "keep an eye on it".

Correct, I have never had a problem with reflux before the sleeve. Like you, I also had a hiatal hernia fixed during my band to sleeve revision surgery. I plan on having follow-up scopes to make sure the damage has been stopped. I pray this is doing the trick.

Sorry, I been away and didn't see the responses to my post. I never had any heartburn issues before my lapband, with it, or even right after my sleeve. I don't think I ever would have known there was an issue without the scope, so I do think this may be a "stealth" problem we sleevers may have and not know about. My brother-in-law died from esophageal cancer, so I've seen it firsthand and it was horrible. I plan on having this monitored the rest of my life if need be, even though it's not something my surgeon suggested. I think my gastro is a smart guy and trust him if he tells me he's worried about it. I don't mean to cause anyone alarm, but do feel I should be responsible with reporting my personal situation just as a precautionary tale.

I got implants when I was 19, gained all my weight in my 30's, after 2 WLS (band & sleeve), have now been at goal for 3 yrs. A year after meeting goal I went to my plastic surgeon and had my implants replaced with bright, shiny new ones a tad bigger than my old ones. This was to help fill in the stretched out skin from being overweight. Even with implants, the additional breast tissue I had pretty much disappeared with my weight loss, so my breasts looked like deflated balloons with a small ball inside them. So basically the answer is YES - your breasts will get smaller, looser, floppier, etc. depending on your age, skin elasticity and amount of weight you lose. Lots of people at goal end up getting breast lifts or implants to help out if need be. I would just make sure you are done nursing/having babies before doing any plastics. And of course, at goal for at least a year.

I feel the like the band is evil and the sleeve is the good fairy - ha! Life is a million times better with the sleeve than what I went through for 3 yrs with the band. I was never able to lose all my weight with it and was miserable with food constantly getting stuck and having to run to the bathroom to spit it up. I got to goal very quickly with the sleeve, have had it for 3.5 yrs, and am happy and healthy. You won't regret it for a minute.

I never haiI never II never had a problem with heatburn pre-op, but was put on generic omeprazole after the sleeve. Last fall I had a scope down my throat due to another issue. The gastro doc was more concerned with the damage he saw as a result of my sleeve, and put me on a prescription PPI that was double the dose. I do have heartburn now, and can really tell if I neglect my pill every night. My doc said to take it before bedtime. I eat whatever I want, spicy, etc. and can't really tell that it's any worse when I do.

I DO have osteoporosis and have taken OTC Omeprazole since surgery 3.5 yrs ago. Last year while taking my osteoporosis meds, I didn't drink enough Water with it one day and ended up with esophageal erosion. I had a scope and afterwards the doc put me on a prescription 40mg Omeprazole. He said he was more concerned with how the lining of my stomach looked over what had happened to my esophagus. This kind of worried me a bit as I never had an issue with reflux or heartburn pre-sleeve. So all I can assume is that this problem is sleeve related and I will probably be on these meds the rest of my life.

I know I've read on here somewhere that the sleeve has actually been done for many many years (50+) as part of the surgery to remove stomach cancer. Cancer survivors have lived long and healthy lives afterwards with no repercussions from having most of their stomachs removed. I've had my sleeve for 3.5 yrs, and can tell you I've had no complications at all due to it. I did have a hematoma develop post-op in the area where the port from my band had been when it was removed, but this can happen with any surgery.

I had all this done during one surgery: band removed, hiatal hernia repaired, sleeved, gall bladder removed, adhesions from previous surgeries removed. And no, I didn't have an unfill of the band prior to surgery.

Way to go! As a former band sufferer also I welcome you over from the "Dark Side" . You WILL meet goal using the sleeve, and it looks like you are well on your way!

Protein pump inhibitor- like Nexium- to keep your stomach acid down. I still take it 3.5yrs post-op. Had a scope last year and doc put me on a prescription form.

Isopure ready to drink is pretty good. It's the clear type so not frothy and gloppy. Tastes like weak Kool-Aid to me. That might sit better on your tummy.

I think you were just lucky, because I did the exact same thing and shed like Lassie . Started growing back about a year post-op and got back to normal quickly.

Your tastes and types of food your stomach can handle will change for sure. It took me a year before I could stomach eggs again. They made me sick as a dog just smelling them. Ice cream also made me nauseous with just a tiny taste, but no problem now. Though after going through that I don't even want it anymore. I eat pretty much anything I want now, but I still take a PPI med before bed. And I of course eat almost no bread. I choose to not eat certain things, but not because of my sleeve.

Thanks for the kind words. My hubby's hair is all gray now (super sexy on him!), and he jokes that people will think he's my Sugar Daddy when we go out. We've been together since we were both 19, so he's glad to have his old girlfriend back .

Unfortunately, yes my feet got smaller. So now I have some shoes I love that just slip right off my feet. I went from wearing an 8 - 8.5 to wearing a 7.5 - 8. Mostly my foot is narrower, but smaller all around too.

I'm 5'4", start weight was 225. Had lap band in 2006, lost to 160-170lbs. Went to see surgeon to discuss pain I was having (ended up being all bladder issues). While there we talked about the sleeve since I was stuck with weight loss. Had my revision January of 2010. Got to my goal weight (135-145) within 6 months and have been coasting ever since. I give myself a 10lb swing with my weight before I get serious with cutting out high calorie foods. When I'm on the low end it's really too light for me because my face looks too gaunt. So I actually eat anything I want (sodas, sweets, carbs, etc.) just to maintain. My stomach can hold a lot more food now than a couple of years ago, so I can drag out a meal and look like I'm eating the same amount as others, which is nice during business dinners when you don't want to explain to strangers why you are only eating a small amount. I feel younger now at 52 than I did all through my 30's and 40's because I'm so much healthier. Had been on meds for depression, high triglycerides and had sleep apnea (used C-PAP machine). Now I'm off all meds and of course no sleep apnea.

Been at goal for several yrs. now, but thought I'd share.

I drink sodas all the time since I've been at goal. No issues whatsoever.

Best of luck to you. Life without the band is wonderful. The sleeve will work for you and you won't regret any of this.

I'm no good at putting pics in posts, so I've attached them. Lost almost 90lbs.

I have BCBS of AL (the home office of my company is in AL, though I'm in TX), and they never paid a dime for either of my surgeries. Guess you have a better plan than mine. Good luck with it!