Bornagainbabe

Yes it could be hematoma, not trying to scare you here, and it can easily be treated. Just get it looked at asap. It may also just be scar tissue but you won't know until you get it checked out. I had a hematoma and it was soon sorted out with antibiotics so don't get into a panic x

A hairdresser over here suggested Evening Primrose Oil. Not tried it yet but I have noticed hair loss, nothing too serious, when I wash it.

Yes it's not easy is it? I know what you're going through. My husband was in the army for 22 years and fought on the front line in the first Gulf War. My daughter was 12 months old when he went and we were living in Germany with no family for support. I gained 30lbs whilst he was away as my only comfort was in wine and food! We are all here for you to have a good old moan to when you need to xxx

I had it! I was itching all over, in particular on the soles of my feet and my palms but it was everywhere else as well. I came out in little red blotches on my hands and feet which would flare up and then disappear. My surgeon had no idea what it was and I treated it myself with anti-fungal creams at first. My GP had no idea what it was either and prescribed me with a very strong anti-histamine and anti-itch cream. It did go though and I am no longer troubled with it. My friend who is a doctor is convinced it was pruritus (?) and could have resulted from all the stuff they slap all over you prior to surgery.

I agree with what's already been said and I would just keep an eye on it and not panic. You are bound to have occasional pain considering you have just had an operation and as it was revision surgery there will be more scar tissue etc. I still get pain every now and then but nothing that I am overly concerned about considering what my stomach has been put through. I did get sharp pains soon after surgery, especially after eating or drinking and it was just my stomach being sensitive, which it would be after having had a band slipped the third of the way down it, daily reflux and vomiting and then most of it cut out and the remaining bit stapled up!

I am a band to sleeve revisionist and I have posted quite a bit on this subject in the past. There are several of us on here, many with more experience on the subject than I, but I think I am right in saying that I believe your success will depend largely on your attitude and how you work with your sleeve. By that I am not trying to insinuate that you didn't work with your band as I, like you, had many problems with the band and couldn't wait to get it out. When you first have your sleeve you have to stick to the dietary guidelines given to you by your surgeon. Foods not recommended won't get stuck but they will give you a lot of pain and will have the potential to cause you serious damage. It's not rocket science but it's not easy either and it is very important that you go into it with the right attitude and are prepared to do as you are told and work with it. I think that the recovery rate is very similar to the band if you have laparascopic surgery. I didn't as I had major abdominal surgery at the same time and that was a greater issue to me pain-wise and recovery-wise so that's why I am guessing that the sleeve surgery alone is not so bad, but I am sure that there will be plenty of people here who might put me straight on that one!!! You will be up and about straight afterwards though and in hospital 2 or 3 days. I think that if you have the right attitude and need to lose a lot of weight then you would be mad not to have the revision surgery as without it you will only regain those 30lbs you lost, if not more, and then be back to square one. But you really do need to give it a lot of thought and consideration and some some research of your own. Plenty of advice will be along here after Thanksgiving! Good luck, Helen x

Is Mr Ahmed doing yours Chilli? I know of people getting it on the NHS but like you they have other health issues. I was very lucky in getting my revision done on the NHS and the surgeon told me that it would definitely not be offered to me again if I backed out. I didn't have serious health issues but I did have a slipped band that was causing me a lot of pain and discomfort as well as well constant vomiting as a result of the reflux. I had had surgery the previous year on a huge abdominal hernia so perhaps the PCT reckoned that it was in their best interest to fund the revision rather than me regaining all my lost weight and having further hernia problems. I was lucky anyway as here in Sheffield no one, without other health issues, is considered for bariatric surgery with a BMI of under 50! Hi Hyacinth, not seen you for a while. You have really been through it lately haven't you? That was my worst nightmare having a cold before my surgery date. I hope you finally get your surgery in Jan though and can be on your way. It must be so frustrating for you xxx

I think that is a good cautionary tale and I have watched programmes on TV where patients are viewing this surgery as a magic wand being cast over them in order to become a size zero. I think there are those who do see it as an easy option and have no understanding of the seriousness of major surgery or its possible complications, similarly to those seeking cosmetic surgery for minor imperfections. I know that NHS patients in the UK, as chillihot rightly stated, undergo rigorous pre-op assessments but I expect that is a slightly different story for some private patients prepared to part with 10k. I didn't have any pre-op assessment at all when I had my band done. I was a private patient with a huge abdominal hernia who failed to lose weight in order to undergo surgery and my surgeon who is also a highly reputable bariatric surgeon carried out band surgery a month after us discussing it. However, band surgery is a lot less invasive than other bariatric surgeries and I am confident that he was confident that I was intelligent enough to follow all the dietary guidelines and be wholly sensible. I was and I stuck to my pre-op diet rigorously and followed all instructions after the op to the letter. This was the same when I had my sleeve done. Again I had already proved to my surgeon by working with my band for two years and losing a lot of weight that I was a candidate for revision surgery. It is major surgery though and you just can't go into it thinking it anything but that. I had researched it, I was well-aware of the possible complications associated with it, as with any surgery, and I did exactly as my surgeon instructed. Follow-ups are not so good over here as I haven't seen anyone since August and am waiting for my 3 monthly appointment, but, I know where I can go if I do need any help. I agree with you and dispute whether or not your mother-in-law was a viable candidate for this surgery. It does appear, on first reading your post, that she didn't have a full understanding of what she was getting into and the surgeon and dieticians involved should have been more aware of this. I know that many will not carry out surgery if the liver hasn't been shrunk enough and patients are being stitched up and sent back up to the ward! I am very sorry for your mother-in-law. It must be very stressful for all of you and I hope that she makes a good recovery. I also think that your post is a very valuable cautionary tale for those who think that this surgery, or any type of bariatric surgery, is an easy option. It does have to be taken extremely seriously and does require commitment from the patient as well. Helenx

Helen, White castles are a very small hamburger or cheeze burger. The buns are like a dinner roll. Very soft white bread. The meat patties are square like a large postage stamp. they put chopped onions, grilled if you want on and that is it. No sauces of any kind. there are little packets of ketchup and pickles and mayo you can add your own. The whole thing is steam cooked. All very soft and wonderful. Horrible for you I am sure! It is a chain of fast food places in the Mid west and Eastern part of the US. I do not thave them in California. I have relatives in Michigan. Hence my knowledge. White castles were the cure for a hangover when I was of that inclination. We can get them here frozen from costco, but, they are NOT the same. All the restruants out here are making "sliders" little tiny hamburgers, but, really good ingredients. Excellant for sleevers. Only, three of us need to go eat one plate of them. hahaha. It's all good. They sound alright! I looked at the link Bill sent and didn't quite get what 'sliders' meant but it is all becoming clearer now. I have never been a fan of burgers, even pre-op I was never much into that type of food and if we ever went to MacDonalds I would always opt for chicken or fish. Fast food tends to make me feel bunged up and sluggish! However, very occasionally I have had the craving and would love lots of fried onions and ketchup on it. I haven't seen anything like that in Costco over here so maybe they don't think that they would appeal to the UK market - good idea for kids' parties though!

Thanks Bill! Good idea if you can only eat very small amounts and are dying for a burger! Can you order just one though or do you have to have a portion of 4? It's ok if you have the family with you and they can finish off the leftovers although it's not very good for them and they are expanding as quickly as I am shrinking lol!

Well done Judy! Reaching Onederland is your first milestone reached and it's great! You will feel great when you're slipping into that slinky little black number at Christmas! Incidentally, I'm one of those people who doesn't know what White Castles is???

It may take a while Daisy. Be patient and get plenty of rest - you're only a week out. I had abdominal surgery at the same time as my sleeve and it seemed to take ages to get over it. Glad you are on the mend though and if you have any worries see your doctor. Take care x

Hope you are feeling better soon. It's doing the rounds this side of the pond too, together with sickness bugs, and I like you work with children so only a matter or time I guess....

I am so sorry for all you have been through. Revision surgery is always riskier and you have been extremely unfortunate. There's nothing more I can say except that I hope you continue to get better. Much love x

I avoid going out to eat now if I can help it as I will keep eating and picking at it if it's on my plate and when I am at home it makes me feel really ill and I have to lie down. I don't get any fullness signs at all and am struggling more with the sleeve than I did with the band, but saying that, I don't get reflux or have pain with things getting stuck. There is no pleasure in eating out at all for me now. Saves me some money anyway!

This is the hardest and most important diet that you will ever have to go on and you must focus and think hard about why you want this surgery. Take a few minutes to sit on your own in peace and quiet. You need to tell yourself that you can do it and you will do it. Get rid of all the crap food in the house if you have to, don't go out food shopping, don't prepare anyone elses' meals; just sit and do nothing but watch tv if it helps. Go to bed if you want. But keep telling yourself over and over that you can do it and you will do it whatever. We are all here for you to talk to but you really need to get your head round this if you are to succeed. You haven't failed yet. You can do it:001_smile:

Glad you're through it and doing so well. I still get shaky and feel quite unwell with sweating and palpitations sometimes and attribute it to either eating too much or too quickly. Just take it easy.

Hi Norma, glad you're now post-op and doing so well. I am sorry about your knee though - it sounds painful. Just concentrate on getting well as you have plenty of time to think about exercising yet. Take care of yourself xxx

Good luck in making your decision tomorrow. I had band to sleeve revision in July and I had my doubts right up until the last minute as well. I didn't have your issues though as my family were wholly supportive and I wasn't breastfeeding either but I did know deep down that I would regain all the weight I had already lost and would never be fit and healthy unless I took the opportunity given to me. I am still losing weight, albeit very slowly now, and I have absolutely no regrets. Let us know how you get on. Helenxxx

Thanks Luck, you have confirmed what I suspected and I think the answer is to try to eat smaller portions, at regular intervals, rather than letting myself get hungry. I think I do drink plenty but evenings are a killer as I sit and just think about food all the time. Then I will get a biscuit, let it go down and then ten mins later get another one.....Think the answer is to not buy in unhealthy Snacks on a regular basis and just allow them as a treat. Thanks for your advice. Will slow down now xxx

That's interesting because I snack and have been berating myself for it. Some days I don't feel all that hungry at all and others I just want to graze constantly, especially in the evenings. Thanks for your post LUCK - it's good to see from someone two years out. Do you still ever eat too much? Sometimes if I let myself get really hungry I do stuff myself with too much and too quickly. I still don't seem to get any 'fullness' signs and often have to judge by sight. If I don't measure and have too much on my plate I will keep picking at it until I make myself ill. It sounds a like a ridiculous case of self-control but I don't have any and never have. However, I do try to be very strong and will throw leftovers away now so that I don't get tempted carry on eating. I found it a lot easier to control with my band to be honest because as soon as I felt full I would stop. I don't feel full with the sleeve until it's too late and I am feeling really rough with palpitations etc. Helenxxx

Look for me on Facebook - Helen Odling - I got dressed up for Halloween to keep my son happy! Not hard to be a good witch these days!

I agree. It's true that you can quite often trust your own instincts, but you are only a week out and it is early days. If you have a leak you will be really poorly. Are you on a PPI (is Nexium what you guys take over there?). Keep an eye on it but don't panic x

Sounds a bit like what I used to get with my band. I would be inclined to go very, very gently with the solids, your new stomach is just finding them a bit difficult to take at the moment, but it will get easier. I found dry chewy things like steak etc. really difficult and had to progress very slowly. I am still cautious now although most foods seem to be unproblematic. Don't worry, you will be fine if you just take it easy.

Fantastic! It's a brilliant feeling isn't it? You go in tentatively thinking to yourself that these clothes will never fit and when you try them on.....