Bornagainbabe

You've had your sleeve for a few months, do you find yourself hungry when you shouldn't be? that is one of my fears, that the hunger that shouldn't be happening won't be gone. I know some of it is "head hunger" but I have my concerns about the hunger. I do get hungry at times but it's never when I shouldn't be. It happens when I haven't eaten for some time and am 'really' hungry. I can go quite a long time before that happens as well. I do get cravings occasionally but I am no longer able to binge like I used to. It all takes a while to get used to to be honest. There are a lot of people here who have had their sleeves far longer than me and will be able to better advise you. I'm still learning! Your surgery seems to have been very successful and looks like the band helped quite a bit too. Best of luck. Thank you. It has been and I am very grateful for having the opportunity to have the revision surgery. My band was good whilst it was working efficiently and I did lose a lot of weight with it although you will find that most people lose more and faster with the sleeve. Mine's slowed down now but that is fine as I am still losing and not gaining weight. I haven't heard anyone say that they are dissatisfied with their sleeve or regret having it done. Good luck x

Ha ha I know I know! We don't have lots of exercise channels, err.... we have a very small house with no room to jump about, err...we have no television.................Anyway, why would you want to bounce around your living room when you can sit and slob out??? Only kidding, I shall ask Santa for a Wii Fit and see what he comes up with lol!

Hi Mike, sounds like you're doing really well so far. Having surgery was the best thing I ever did. This site is great and there are lots of lovely friendly people here who will be able to help and advise you along your journey.

Hi Nayna, I had major abdominal surgery at the same time as my sleeve and I was up the next day and in the shower the day after that. Mine was open surgery so I was in hospital a bit longer but I think most people are in for about 3 days if it's laparascopic. Recovery is pretty quick anyway. Sorry I don't know anything about the sleeve and Crohn's either but as has been said your surgeon may be able to help you more there. Good luck anyway x

Good luck Carol. The pre-op diet is a killer isn't it but it's all worth it and not long now. Before you know it you will be on the losing side. Lots of great people on this site who will help you out. Keep us posted x

I have done none either and I know I should. I keep thinking about it....My surgery included all my ab muscles being stitched and overstitched after suffering a huge hernia some years ago and I am still very wary of doing anything despite my surgeon telling me I can! I can't afford to go to the gym and I can't be bothered to go out walking the streets on my own, I can't afford a Wii Fit this year and I hate housework! I have got an excuse for it all! Have said I would start light jogging but can't even afford a decent pair of trainers at the moment!

I don't regret it but I had no major complications. I did, however, suffer some complications from the band I had prior to this and I did nearly back out of further surgery (see chickening out thread). Am so glad I didn't. Have lost 119lbs in just over 2 years, BMI is down from 47 to 29 and I am still slowly losing more weight. I was obese for 20 years like you, with my weight going up and up and it would have gone up even more had I not had the surgery. No regrets whatsoever.

You won't be the first person to be operated on with high BP and being in your 50s doesn't make you particularly old either. My friend is 58 and having band to sleeve revision next month and she has other health issues as well. I have another one who is having the sleeve as her first surgery in December and she has a whole host of health problems including BP, arthritis etc. The surgeons will be well-aware and take extra care - they won't take any unnecessary risks. Good luck in making your decision - you have got us all on here to talk to whenever you're feeling down or worried xxx

No one ever told me when it was ok but I think I saw on a website that you should wait about 10 - 14 days. I may be corrected on that! When I had emergency surgery for a hernia I had a bath 3 days later and I don't think I should have really - I was ok though!

I don't think you would be the first as it is really scary and that's absolutely normal, but, I think what you have to do is dig deep, really deep and ask yourself, 'will I be here in (say) 10 years time if I don't do this?' or, 'do I want to get diabetes etc. etc.' I nearly chickened out, directly before my surgery when my surgeon confirmed that yes it was 3 times riskier for revision surgery and yes I could suffer a leak......but they have to tell you all these risks and we all know that any type of surgery is risky. And these bariatric surgeons are so experienced now. It's not the new pioneering surgery that it used to be. Plus they are so careful with the leak tests they offer (in the US, Mexico etc). I can tell you that I am really glad that I didn't back out as I know that I would have gained another 28 pounds, or whatever, by now and not lost them! I did have my doubts directly after surgery and was questioning had I done the right thing and again I think that it's normal, maybe some more than others. I am a compulsive worrier but I have no regrets now that I am getting slimmer and healthier. It's great and we are so lucky to have this opportunity.

I wouldn't risk it prior to surgery. I wouldn't have it anyway unless I was high risk with all that mercury in it. I'm neither a doctor or a nurse but I am highly suspicious of all vaccinations now.

Sorry to hear you're back in hospital Barefoot. I had a suspected hematoma at about two weeks post-op and was treated successfully with antibiotics. Hope you're fully recovered soon xxx Xbander - I had no leak tests at all! My surgeon doesn't consider it a necessity (more likely to be a NHS money-saving exercise IMO), but he was very relaxed and when I questioned him on it assured me that I would certainly know if I did have a leak and be feeling very ill. Obviously I would have appreciated having a leak test as I think that is what we all worry most about and I did consider going to a private hospital for one but I didn't and I am over 3 months out and fine.

I took a laxative when I hadn't been for about 5 days post-op and I did have bad stomach ache with it, but I went and it was a relief afterwards. I'm not sure if it's good advice or not to take it. My doc said it was fine and it did me no harm but I do stick the Benefiber in my coffee every day now to ensure regularity. There's a thread about Lactulose on here too and that's good although it gives me chronic wind!

Yes, I get that if I overeat. Have had some bad bouts after eating too much sugar and/or fat. I had too much to eat earlier - I don't get clear signs of fullness- after going back for a bit more and ended up being sick and feeling quite rough. I usually have to have a lie down until it passes. It doesn't happen too much now though if I am careful. The other thing about eating later - I had that with the band and still do now. It's not I can't eat, I just don't really feel like anything until about 10 ish and then I don't feel like much. I do get hungry and sometimes I can't get the food in my mouth fast enough and then I can feel ill. I don't think many people seem to get that though and can easily forget to eat.

Hi Haley, welcome to VST. Glad you're doing so well. I have just had to do some quick calculations as I work in pounds and stones and easily get confused! I used to be more familiar with kilos when I lived in Germany but that is a lot time ago now. Everyone is really friendly and helpful on this site and I am sure many will be along later to wish you well xxx

Good luck Judy!

Errr - what is sex again???

Good luck Norma xxx

Good post! Glad you're doing so well xxx

This wasn't an issue for me as my surgeon was very experienced and had performed other abdominal surgery on me so I put me trust in him. I'm not being facetious here so don't take it the wrong way but I am just curious - are there a lot of obese people in Mexico and is that why the surgeons are so experienced?

If you're worried about constipation try adding some Benefiber to your (I was going to say coffee!) tea in a morning and that will help. Doc told me it was fine to take laxatives as well if there was a problem. Peristalsis does slow down after surgery, but a lot of people on here do report having bouts of diarrhoea.

Yes Bob, I agree with everyone else. You have done brilliantly!

Interesting about the Caffeine Tiff. I wasn't told to avoid it before or after my surgery and although I don't drink coffee in huge quantities I 'carried on as normal'. I wished I had cut it out before my op as I had terrible headaches from the morphine and anesthesia and it makes me wonder whether or not the caffeine contributed to that. It was only when I started working with young children that I started experiencing bouts of dizziness on standing upright again and after reading comments on here, that I decided to cut out the caffeine. I'm not sure if it has helped or not, I don't think I get dizzy quite as much, but I do make myself eat before I go out as well, which I wasn't doing properly before as I didn't feel hungry. I still have the occasional cappucino when I go out but sometimes if I overdo the caffeine and sugar (caramel syrup is fave of mine in my coffee!) I can feel quite rough with palpitations and feel sick. In my opinion, limiting caffeine can only be good thing really.

Hi Xbander, so glad to hear you're doing well. I meant to post a message up earlier but have been so busy lately. Sounds like you are doing ok with the diet. It's right that different surgeons prescribe slightly different diet plans. I followed mine's advice but also looked to info on the internet, plus advice here. I was on clears for 3 days and then had runny blended food for about 3 weeks, progressing slowly to more textured stuff. I think the main thing is to take it easy and not to try running before you can walk. I also supplemented with some Protein shakes to ensure I kept protein levels up. Also I think that 'jelly' (English English) is what they call 'jam' in the States. 'Jello' is what English people call jelly. Am sure I have got that right! Good luck with it and keep us posted on your progress xxx

Hi Pete, My band slipped after 12 months, was repositioned and then it slipped again soon after for no known reason like yours. It couldn't be filled, I suffered from horrendous reflux and indigestion and I started gaining weight again. I had the choice of having it removed and not having any further surgery (which was very tempting) or going for the revision to sleeve. I went for it as I knew and my surgeon knew that I would definitely regain all my lost weight - it was a sure thing! I have no regrets. I am still losing weight, albeit very slowly now, but it is coming off and not going back on. Plus I am healthier, more confident etc. etc. Revision surgery is riskier but you do need to be honest with yourself and do your research. Also, I am not sure why and I might be corrected here but I think that most surgeons prefer to revise to the sleeve rather than the RNY as it is a safer option. Am sure that you will be given accurate and helpful advice on this site. Welcome and good luck!