December 2013 Revisions: Get in touch!

[klelly1 20]

I had my band in 2003 and I am having my revision to sleeve 12/31/ 2013 at 7:30 am , so another day and ahalf and I will be sleeved! Can't wait I'm so excited!

[XXShelXX 346]

Hi everyone! I'm here.... Nerves are starting to kick in. Hopefully I will be sleeved in the morning.

[moni75 22]

I'm up next. Got the call from the hospital to arrive @ 1245. Today is my birthday & it killed me not to have any of my birthday cake or meal my mother made. But it's all worth it! Good luck to all of us starting our new lives tomorrow!!!

[XXShelXX 346]

Happy Birthday! What a great present!!

[moni75 22]

Thanks Snuffaluffagus!! Good luck to you also ????

[nursebeccarn 26]

I am so excited for all of you! Congrats!

[earthless 14]

Hello! I am brand new to this forum! I got the lap band in Mexico in 2008. I did lose some weight but I lived in an area that does not have bariatric surgeons and it was atleast a 4-6 hr drive for the fills. SOOo, I gained weight back, my blood pressure went up and so did my cholesterol and I was headed in the same mis-direction. I had the lapband removed and the gastric sleeve done on 12-12-13! I am so happy! BUT, I have stalled at week 3 and am finding out (THANK GOODNESS!) that this is normal! My surgeons diet for week 3 is still Protein shakes, liquids, blended Soups and drinkable yogurt, no lumps or bumps! I am faithfully chugging these down and getting my 64oz of fluids and atleast 60gms of Protein daily. I've only pooped ONCE since surgery and that was with medicated help. No discomfort, bowels rumbling, passing gas but really???? I now live north of Dallas and I'm looking for a support group/forumm so far I found this site!!!! I look forward to discussions and HELP!! Thank you!!!

[imsexywhenimme 8]

I had my band in 2003 and I am having my revision to sleeve 12/31/ 2013 at 7:30 am , so another day and ahalf and I will be sleeved! Can't wait I'm so excited!

Good luck!!!!!!!

Hope all goes well!

Easy recovery!

[imsexywhenimme 8]

I am so excited for all of you! Congrats!

Hello! I am brand new to this forum! I got the lap band in Mexico in 2008. I did lose some weight but I lived in an area that does not have bariatric surgeons and it was atleast a 4-6 hr drive for the fills. SOOo, I gained weight back, my blood pressure went up and so did my cholesterol and I was headed in the same mis-direction. I had the lapband removed and the gastric sleeve done on 12-12-13! I am so happy! BUT, I have stalled at week 3 and am finding out (THANK GOODNESS!) that this is normal! My surgeons diet for week 3 is still Protein shakes, liquids, blended Soups and drinkable yogurt, no lumps or bumps! I am faithfully chugging these down and getting my 64oz of fluids and atleast 60gms of Protein daily. I've only pooped ONCE since surgery and that was with medicated help. No discomfort, bowels rumbling, passing gas but really???? I now live north of Dallas and I'm looking for a support group/forumm so far I found this site!!!! I look forward to discussions and HELP!! Thank you!!!

Hi earthless,

Welcome!

I'm also new here, and hoping to gain lots of help, ideas and tips on this site.

But, what do u mean got stalled at week 3?

Don't u find it super hard to only be on such limited food/liquid??

I had revision surgery band-sleeve on 12-23-13. Which makes me 7 days post op...almost.

I am starved!!!

What is wrong with me??

[earthless 14]

Hi Imsexywhenimme!

NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU!! You and I are just at the begininng of a NEW JOURNEY!!

I am on my 3rd week post op. I lost 19 lbs in the 1st 2 weeks and none so far in 5 days! They call this a "stall" It freaked me out because I wasnt informed before hand that "stalling" is normal during sleeve weight loss. I weighed this morning and did lose 1 more pound!!!! I also pooped on my own last night YAY!!! I also learned that not pooping is also an issue for lots of sleevers post op! This is what I have learned so far in my own personal 3 weeks of experience LOL !

1. For my Clear liquid diet I was allowed my Protein shakes. Which helped with hunger. Drink your fluids 64 oz per day and Protein atleast 60grams per day per my doctor . I drink a combination of these shakes below during the day to make the 60 grams and they keep me full!

a. Favorite Protein drinks so far

1) Muscle Milk 32grms of protein per 2 scoops mixed in 8 oz of Water. Flavors: Graham Cracker, banana Creme lots more flavors avail online.

2) MP Combat Protein powder Cookies and cream 25gm per one scoop

3) Syntrax nectar "Fuzzy Navel" 23 grams of protein per scoop. This one is almost just like ORANGE JUICE!!! so its something different from the milky type flavors. They also have one thats like ice tea but havent tried it yet.

2. Stalls: Stalls are a period of non- weightloss. I used to call these "plateaus" when I was dieting. Didnt even imagine it could happen with the sleeve! but it is a period of time when I guess your body is reorganizing and restabilizing so we don't just waste away and get into some metabolic crisis. I've read that these stalls can last for a few weeks! (eek!) But when my next stall happens I am going to HIDE MY scale and weigh only once a week.

3. Pooping. Sometimes it can take awhile to poop after sleeve surgery. Lots of times we have been on liquid diets pre op and ofcourse post op and some of us had to take a powerful laxative prior to surgery and there is just nothing to poop. I did not poop x 14 days!!!!! I didn't even feel like I needed to! I had rumbles and gas so I knew my bowels werent locked. I took Milk O' Mag like my doc said and still nothing! Finally on day 14 my Doc gave me a sample of Amitiza and it worked. It took 2 doses and it was not pleasant! I dry heaved with the waste basket in my lap and pooped pure muddy liquid over a couple of hours. (Ugh) Dry heaves scared me but no harm done, now 5 days later I had my own NORMAL poop. So call your doctor if you become uncomfortable.

4. Head hunger. Being sleeved over the holidays had its pros and cons. I didn't gorge myself to death on all the goodies so I didn't gain my holiday 20. But I would SEE the food and WANT the food and THINK I was hungry for it but when I checked my Stomach it wasn't hungry AT ALL. It was my HEAD that wanted it!!!! Im learning the difference now and it's hard!

5. HONESTY:

A. I have put food in my mouth (the perfect prime rib I cooked for everyone at Christmas) Chewed it and spit it out. I did the same with the home made mac and cheese I made for everyone. Dangerous thing because if I had swallowed it a chunk could have got stuck in my stomach incision and caused a life threatening abcess.

B. I got so upset about not losing weight this week (stall) that I went to Sonic yesterday and got a chocolate carmel sundae (no chunks right) and ate 4-6 big bites of it fast (EMOTIONAL EATING). It made me SICK. I was sweaty, weak, cramping stomach and had to lay down for almost an hour. I HOPE I NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.

These are just my experiences. I wish I had known some of this beforehand. Thursday will be week 4 and I can start some pureed foods and soft foods. I found a website last night called thewordaccordingtoeggface.com. It's a lady who had bariatric surgery and she has some AWESOME EASY recipes and also valuable tips for us and LIVING after bariatric surgery. Check it out!!

I'm going today to GNC to find the Isopure Water. I think it has 40gms of protein per 16oz. I hope some of this helps you!! Let me know what you discover during your journey as we are traveling a parallel path!!!!!!

[SleevedSteph 4]

Thanks earthless for your post - very helpful and I made some of the same mistakes you did - chocolate pudding pie with cool whip is a soft food - right??? Wrong - maybe if it was unsweetened I wouldn't have felt like crap after! I think I am in the 3rd week stall too but since I could switch to soft foods I have been guilty of not making sure I'm getting all the Protein I need which I know can stall weight loss as body probably holding on to fat for starvation mode. Also after reading your post - I don't know that bowel movements have gone back to "normal" yet.

I was banded in 2005 - lost 140 pounds - gained some back over the years with two babies and a leak in port but lost it right back. However, got another leak (tubing this time) in 2012 and doc said it was time to replace the old band if I wanted to stick to band (even though he rarely does bands anymore) or convert to sleeve. Only after gaining 60 pounds (not by choice!) to my insurance finally approve revision surgery and I had it on 12/16. I was so worried but recovery (for me) was easier than the band and even port replacement as far as pain. The only pain I have had (which was rough) was a night of severe left shoulder pain one week after which I understand was from the gas from the procedure. I have lost about 20 pounds from my pre-op appointment two weeks prior to surgery date which I had to do 2 week liquid diet pre-op but have stalled in weight loss for the past few days so obviously need to do better on Protein. I hope this feeling of feeling full does not go away over time with the sleeve - love feeling full again on small serving of food! Happy New Year to all of you!

[earthless 14]

YAY Sleeved Steph!

It sounds as if we have a lot in common with our weightloss surgeries! I am very happy to have the sleeve!!! I, too, like this full feeling! It seems as though food is slowly losing its grip on my life! Used to with the band it seemed like I was STARVING all the time!! I didn't know about eating good Protein at that time either. I just constantly felt STARVED!. I also threw up alot with the band and that just made me hungry too. I'm going to do everything I can to baby this sleeve and get the most out of it as a tool to a better lifestyle!! Let me know if you come across any good Proteins, tips, recipes etc!!!

[Newgma13 3]

Hello Everyone!

I posted two days ago that I'm a newbie here and trying to figure the site out. My surgery was Dec. 18th - just two weeks ago. (As an aside our first grandchild - grand daughter was born on Dec. 13th = ). My motivation is increased to be heathy for a long long time and to be able to chase after her. I found a website from a blogger who had surgery and has blogged about it. She also has lots of recipes to check out, plus more. Give it a try and see what you think.

Theworldaccordingtoeggface.com

Happy New Year to all!

[Idlewood4 93]

Just checking in to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Several people were getting sleeves yesterday or today. Wishing you all the best, and check in with us when you can.

[Terryh1008 0]

I had a band in August 2009, lost some weight, then gained some weight. On December 17,2013 had band removed and a sleeve gastrectomy.

I see the surgeon tomorrow and get my diet advanced to purée, so excited to have other choices!