hbrhonda

He is the BEST. His clinic is the BEST. Friend him on FB and you can watch live surgeries on Friday. I used him for my LapBand several years ago, but couldn't afford him for my sleeve revision or I would have gone there!!!

Right after surgery 2-3 days, you have the overwhelming sense of loss. That maybe they took too much stomach, that there is no turning back, that you are gonna die. But it does go away. That was the worst part for me.

To answer your question YES it does get better. I am 4 months out and I enjoy going to restaurants for conversation and ambiance. Because obviously I am not there to eat. LOL I never order a meal. I just take a bread plate and take 3 oz of my hubbies food, which he never misses. In the beginning out of habit I would order an appetizer or a side. Now I realize its a waste of money. food isn't as appealing as it once was. Which is how I got fat in the first place so I will take that.

After two weeks of liquids I was so starving I added baby rice Cereal to Protein shake and I survived. Made my new sleeve so happy.

Obesity Control Center Dr Ortiz is a great start. I used Dr Fernando Garcia because of financial reasons.

I used Dr Garcia in May 2016. Best surgeon and facilities. You made the correct choice. I am 1/2 way to goal today. Try not to be so nervous you are in great hands with Dr Garcia and his staff.

Yes it is emergency care that is life saving. Not an elective surgery.

I was sleeved in May. I mixed a teaspoon of baby rice Cereal into my Protein shake to "thicken" it up a tiny bit. Definitely helped with fullness.

My husband was not supportive AFTER my wls. He felt as though his life ended. Going out to eat unhealthy, drinking, me cooking... He says if he had to do it over again he would rather have me fat. I love my sleeve, in time (4 months) he is slowly coming around. I am limping him through the process. He is now on board and realizes we can't turn back.

My point is you have a big obstacle to over come. He needs to be on board and be supportive in the beginning or it's not gonna work. You guys need to be on the same page. It almost ended my 20 year marriage. A lot of really nice people on this forum gave me advice, that I followed. I worked really hard to show him life doesn't have to change that much. We still go to Vegas, buffets, wine tasting, etc Just so he doesn't feel lost. You really do need to find out his specific reasons for not being on board. Maybe if he sees that even your medical doctors are on board, that it's medically necessary he will be more supportive.

Trust me you will not want to wear a belly binder with incisions and fresh out of surgery. Use gas X strips, the ones that dissolve on your tongue if you are worried about possible gas.

OK so I have noticed that I will lose 8 lbs then stop losing for 8 days. It has been like this since May when I got my sleeve. Anyone else notice a pattern? How much weight do you usually lose before you stall or how often do you stall? I do embrace the stall, just when I feel extra skin or squishy, I stall and it seems to tighten up.

I am with your DR on this one. You will go under weight. Depends on how long you have the Fluid out and how much you gain. If you have 50 or more pounds to lose I would recommend sleeve revision. But not if you are at goal. I had revision because I gained a lot of weight back with my band after a car accident, but I also never got to goal with my band. Best of Luck!

With my LapBand I only told my husband and kids. It was so hard to keep "the secret". Almost as if I were lying by not telling anyone. One time my daughter slipped and said "she cant eat and drink together" I almost came unglued.

This time I shouted it from the roof tops I AM GETTING THE SLEEVE. Not hiding anything. Posting updates and pics on FB. Now I have a huge support system. Its a personal option that is yours to choose. Choose wisely grasshopper...

I used Dr Fernando Garcia and would use him again. The facility was perfect, everything went so smooth. No time to be nervous. Its done before you know it. I used OCC the first time around and Dr Ariel Ortiz was first class. I just couldn't afford to use him for my revision to sleeve. I would highly recommend both doctors.

I was 203 going into surgery 215 three days later!!!!!! It comes off quick by week 3. Just concentrate of fluids and healing

As far as noticing changes. Well I must have been wearing some REALLY tight clothes. I was stuffed into a 16 at surgery. Now I am in a 14 comfortably after 35 lbs. I had LapBand before my sleeve so I have boxes of clothes all the way down to size 8. I am trying to just be positive about what I have lost, this being a revision I am losing a lot slower the second time around. This is my LapBand before and after pic. I am holding off till I get to goal weight before I post new sleeve pics

My staples were removed on day 3 when I went home. Since my LapBand scars turned white after 1 year I am hoping these will as well. One thing my PCP told me is don't allow sun to get to them, sun promotes scarring. My recovery was super easy too. Except sipping Water, that hurt for about 3 weeks. It felt like it "dried" my stomach out. I had a dry - pulling feeling that eventually passed. The weird thing was it didn't happen with broth or Protein Shakes only water, I even found myself adding SF flavor sticks to my water to lessen the discomfort.

My vote is to wait on telling her. Wait until you have gone through all your food stages and start to feel confident about your new body and less stressed. She may even notice or ask on her own. By then it will be too late to turn back or change her opinion on it

At one week NOTHING. Only clear fluids and not more than 4 oz per sitting. At 5 weeks and on not more than 3-4 oz per meal of Protein. Like what you would feed a 9 month old baby

WOW 3 more days. So exciting!!! I got my sleeve late May. It seems like I have had it forever.

Right after surgery, like day 1 you may feel regret, remorse, doubt, this is all normal. It passes quickly too.

Sipping Water feels like a chore. Just trying to get in a few oz in may take over an hour. This too passes.

Make sure you start walking soon. This helps rid your body of possible gas leftover from surgery. Also, gets you ready for your exercise routine. Exercise is a must after you are cleared by your surgeon. Don't rush that either. Remember you are going to be healing and that's your #1 priority.

Try not to rush your food stages. Your nutritionist will set out guidelines for you too follow. Don't cheat and don't push it. It takes up such a short amount of time to get through the stages. Your new tummy only has one chance to heal. Don't jeopardize that.

One day at a time and remember you have a pretty big support team here. Ask for advice, keep us up to date and stay positive!!!

Best of Luck on your journey...

It's very hard to describe. More like your esophagus gets full??? Like you cant swallow any more food. Like I said before, sometimes this happens in between bites. Then you need to discretely get rid of the food you are chewing into a napkin. DO NOT swallow or eat more food when you are "signaled" you are full. After it happening once or twice you get with the program real quick. The goal isnt to eat till you get full. The goal is to eat small amounts of protien comfortably over a long period of time to lose weight.

I do 2-3 pieces I also enjoy poke about 3oz.

I have had my sleeve for 3 months and thank gawd no slimeing or foaming. With LapBand I had slimeing whenever I got stuck or ate almonds (I think they poked my band). I am super careful about chewing and stopping when my body lets me know I've had enough. Sometimes I actually spit out a bite I am chewing because I feel unable to swallow it.

Before my revision I noticed that my port pain was directly affected by what I wore. If I wore jeans my port would be sore the next day. Usually while driving I would unzip my jeans. If I had port pain I would wear stretch pants, sweats or a dress. Now all of that is a distant memory. So happy with my new sleeve. No more slimming, getting stuck or port pain!

I like that whole Water suggestion. I ate last night before we went out to dinner. My husband was like "your not gonna be able to eat". DUH that was my plan. We were going to Spaghetti Factory. I ordered ice tea and sipped one glass through the whole meal. Didn't feel like I missed a thing. Now I plan to order water at my Rams games! Oh and last week I was good for 2 wings!!!