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I was actually self pay....darn exemptions! Good luck on getting the approval! So far the differences are night and day. Recovery was a snap this time around! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I was burping on day 1 and passing gas on day 2, but I was doing lots of walking. I also slept sitting in a very elevated position until I could lay on my side. Gas was passed the best when I could lay flat with my knees as close to my chest as possible! I don't have any gas pain now and never had to use gas x, but it took about 1 week for the severe gas pain to subside with my band, and gas x was my bff. Both experiences were so different. Get better!! I hope this helps!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I am on soft solid stage 1. Greek yogurt, fat free re fried Beans or beans chewed really well, pudding, Protein shakes, scrambled eggs, cheese. I was told to try 1 new item per meal to make sure that my body can handle it. In 3-4 days I progress to soft solids stage 2, ground beef, lunch meat, chicken, cooked veggies. That is my life for the first month!! They said to take a small bite, chew really well and wait 1-4 minutes to make sure that your body is accepting the texture. It should take 15 mins to eat the few oz of food at each meal! Good luck on everything!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

This was after 5 years with the band. I was sleeved 1 week ago, but no pic yet! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

Lots of tiny sips....lots and lots and lots!!! I got a headache the first 2 days home and did a saline nasal rinse 2 days in a row. No more headache. I was also drinking A LOT of Water. I ate and drank nothing but water, broth, and sugar free popsicles for 6 days. No Protein (at the requirement of my doctor). Listen to the doctor and your body and drink water!! I'm day 8 and back to work running a resort! I feel great with a little fatigue from limited calories, but it is totally worth it!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

My hormones are completely out of wack! I am having crazy hot flashes and complaining about burning up when everyone else is freezing. Before surgery I was always cold. I'm only 1 week out and only 37, but my body is ON FIRE!!! The dr said hormone changes are completely normal after surgery. He told me to wait 3 months to go to my GYN and ENDO so things can level out more!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I was sleeved 8 days ago. I stayed in the hospital for 1 night and pain was bearable enough to go home the next morning, but they made me stay 24 hours. I was on Hycet pretty religiously the first day out of the hospital, but I was up moving, taking stairs the same day out of the hospital...so Day 2. Gas pain wasn't any big deal, like it was with my band! I was up and grocery shopping on day 7 and back to work day 8. Energy level is a little low because of lack of calories, but the sleeve surgery beat the band surgery BIG TIME! And I had a band removed with the sleeve surgery, so more scarring to remove and overall prodding around in my body! I was off of pain meds completely on day 4. Everyone is different, but it totally depends on your pain tolerance! Good luck! It will be worth it one day!!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I regret getting the band and not going with the sleeve. I had band complications, but am only 1 week out on the sleeve. I lost 100 lbs with the band and all complications were band related, so I don't See having too many problems with the sleeve! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I just had that experience!!! Grabbed hot chocolate, had 1/4 cup and got dizzy, nauseated and sweaty! Probably dumping! I'm also 1 week out! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

Do yourself a favor and cut out as much sugar as possible right now. A few bites of a sweet dessert will be ok in the future, but a day with lots of carbs or sugar causes most people to "dump." This hasn't applied to me yet because I am only 1 week out with the sleeve. I lost 100 lbs with the band (gained about 20 back) and am 17.5 lbs down in 1 week with the sleeve. Both of my sisters have sleeves and have lost 150lbs and 70 lbs, but still don't eat much sugar or high carb (think Italian food extravaganza) because of dumping. Neither one really has cravings, but you may think you are craving when you do actually get hungry! Drink water!!! ALL THE TIME!!! Except for 1 hour after you eat (but longer is better!). 80-100g Protein per day is optimum. Work on eating your protein first, then veggies, then some good fats. Try not to have too much fruit and start tracking everything!!!! Use an app like MyFitnessPal or baritastic! Those are my tips! Hope this helps! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

I was banded in 2010. I lost 100 lbs, but had too many complications as of the last few years. I gained 50 lbs and then lost it again. I gained about 20 in the last 3 months due to not being able to eat properly with stomach lining fluctuations. I was unbanded and sleeved in 1 surgery 1 week ago. I can already tell a huge difference in hormonal changes with removing the part of the stomach that produces gheralin. Recovery has been much easier and I'm down 17.5 lbs. life is good thus far....and no acid reflux! So far so good! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

On march 1, 2010 I was admitted to a hospital to get lap-band surgery. It was outpatient so I went home the same day. Over the next 9 months, I lost 87 lbs. I started having problems with fills, overfilling, prolapse, and not being able to tolerate healthy foods because the unhealthy would go down and not make me vomit (you don't know about this until you have had a band!). I gained 50 lbs back over the next 2 years, but worked really hard and managed to lose the 50 and then 13 more for a total of 100 lbs lost! That loss was short lived because I had another prolapse, tight band, loose band, slip, prolapse....etc. I have gained 25 lbs over the last few months and decided 1 month ago to have the band removed and converted to the sleeve. My surgery was last Thursday 12/29/16 and the differences are staggering! I remember having a couple of days right after my band where I thought "What on earth did I do to myself?" The gas and the pain from gas was almost disabling. I have gas from surgery with this, but no physical barrier keeping it from escaping now. I'm up, moving around, taking care of myself, no hunger, a complete distain for food. I have yet to have a "bad idea" thought about my sleeve surgery. I'm excited about my future and not having to deal with band complications any longer! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

If I would not have had the problems with acid erosion, I wouldn't have switched to sleeve. The band has been good to me for a long time! Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Starting weight 327lbs-Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

Way to go starting early! I wish I would have started early like you instead of in my 30s. I'm in the same spot as you, one week on Thursday. I think I'm in a really good place mentally because I have been through it before. I have heard about many people having issues adapting mentally to such a drastic body change. Make sure you are talking to someone who is a professional and understands your specific situation. Believe me, not many people understand Bariatric surgery and all that it takes to get through it! Both of my sisters have been sleeved. One has been sleeved for 18 months and is 150 lbs down and the other has been sleeved for 7 months and is 70 lbs down, but both have hit lots of plateaus and went through periods of no loss at all. Just keep it up and make sure that you are talking to someone who understands how BRAVE you are to take this step at such a young age! We can do this together, even though I'm old enough to be your mom!! The first month is ROUGH, but you have the rest of your life to live!! Great job! Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

It is good to see that you are back at physical activity so soon! Im super high energy and never lay around the house. This is KILLING me! I'm going a little stir crazy and it has been only 5 days. I'm ready to start my trampoline park fitness class again, but I know that will probably be at least a month out because of intensity! Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

That is what I'm hoping for!!! Way to go on reaching your goal! I have a very achievable goal of 180, which is less than I weighed in jr high. I'm only 5'4" so I'll probably make it lower once I get there. I'm down 10 lbs since the night before surgery, but I know it is because I'm on the first week post op diet. I go back for my 1 week checkup in 2 days!! Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

Thank you for such kind words!! It is something that I have to work at daily! I'm just looking forward to focusing on nutrition and not band problems! Way to go on 7 weeks! I bet it feels great! Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

Awesome! I totally understand where you are coming from! I can't wait to hear about your journey. Are you having the removal an sleeve in 1 surgery or 2? Banded 03/01/10, unbanded and VSGd 12/29/16 77 lbs down, 90 ish to go! Normal weight range...I'm coming for you!! Heather in Texas

I LOVE your dress! You are looking great! Wow!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

PCOS here! I had lap-band in 2010 and have lost 85 lbs, but with lots of ups and downs. I am getting the band removed and getting sleeved on Thursday because of complications with the band. I still have about 95 lbs to go. I'm on the max dose of spironolatone, but since losing 85 lbs, it is actually improving symptoms. I was on 2000 mg of metformin for a while, but eventually got off of that. Dr says that he has seen people off of PCOS meds completely after losing to a healthy weight. Here's to hoping!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Quest chocolate....with PB2 sometimes! It is great for shakes and you can bake with it as well. I make chocolate mini cakes with it. I have a band, but converting to sleeve after Christmas. 85 lbs down (was 100, but gained 15 with complications!) 90ish more to go! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am considering getting a revision from band to sleeve. Anyone who has revised a band to sleeve, did you do it all in 1 surgery or 2 (band removal and then sleeve?). Have you had success with the revision?

Nice! My doctor likes to do 2, but said he will do one since I will have to be self pay for both...it saves me $8K and I'm trying to figure out if it is worth it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Good luck with your revision!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That was my attempt at bonding with the misguided youth of today.....probably a botched effort, but an effort none the less! I attended an educational seminar on Saturday at my surgeon's office. I am going to attempt to re-state what I learned. Keep in mind, I am an industrial applications specialist, not a doctor or a dietician.........I just like to share learned information. I was not aware that the average female body is designed to absorb no more than 45 grams of carbs and 27 grams of protein per 4 hour period. This was amazing news to me because I always thought that more protein was better, and it didn't matter when you got it all in, just that you got it in. I was also under the impression that carbs are bad........THIS IS NOT THE CASE. Carbs fuel our muscles. Protein repairs and rebuilds our body and muscles. Excessive carbs turn to sugar in the blood stream, and will sit there and circulate as sugar in your blood stream until you work them out through time or more quickly through workouts. Excessive protein can be bad for your kidneys. Protein after a workout is necessary, but excessive protein consistantly can become a kidney problem. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME MORE GREAT NEWS? On average, there are 7 grams of protein in a 1 oz serving of meat. Women should be getting 3.5 oz (approx 27 g) per meal....what does that say about a 10 oz steak? TOO MUCH? YEAH! On average, there are 15g of carbs in a serving of pasta (1/2 cup) or 1/2 of a piece of fruit (apple, banana, pear). We need 3, 15G servings of carbs in a 4 hour period.....how much do you think is in that tortilla, or that Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie? This all can change if you have an active lifestyle or with workouts, or if you are lucky enough to be a man. I learned more, including stress management techniques from a clinical psychologist, but these are the main points that I thought I needed to share! WEIGH-IN in 2 more days! I'll finally know how much has been lost in my 1 month after surgery!