mountain_lover

Welcome, Your story sounds similar to mine. In the beginning I was only for the Band. I didn't want to have to go through anymore major surgery. But after attending Dr. Husted's Seminar here in Somerset, Ky I was leaning more toward something else. I decided that I did not want to go through all the maintenence of fills and unfills and getting stuck with the needles. Then I found out I had an autoimmune disorder, which the Band is not recommended for those patients. The sleeve was not an approved procedure at the beginning of my journey, but the Duodenal Switch was, so I was leaning towards that procedure. But Dr. Husted said that he would prefer to do the sleeve for me and he hoped that by the time my surgery would take place that the sleeve would be approved. He was going to try to convince Medicaid to start approving it. He really encouraged me to hang in there, which I did and now this Month I got my approval from Medicaid for the sleeve. I hope more states start approving it. It is less evasive than some of the other procedures for the people who can't or don't wish to have the band. Also it has less risks and is less expensive. He told me recently that he does not have to make 5 incisions, now he only has to make one small incision. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide. There are alot of good reveiws on the sleeve.

I cannot say anything about post-op, because my surgery is not until Dec.2, but I sure can about now. I am being weined off my antidepressant Celexa and boy did I have a few off days this past Sat-Tues. I will not go completely off my Celexa today as was planned. Now I will go down to 10 mg for the next 6 days, then I will have to go off completely the day of surgery until the doctor says I can go back on it. I was on 60 mg until the pre-op diet. They want patients to get weaned off of it so that the withdrawal will not cause complications or they won't be so severe if there is any. I guess right after surgery it is too difficult to swallow pills for a little while. I hope I don't have to stay off of mine very long. When had those off days I was on 20 mg a day, so I know that it is probably the effects of it being reduced from 60. If you are on any medications, have they let you start them again. I wish you all the best.

Glad to hear that you are gradually feeling better. Surgery is hard no matter what kind it is, but I am sure that anything involving the stomach has to be much harder, because it involves us eating afterwards. I am very glad that you are posting on here to let us know what to expect. I say expect anything, but hope and pray for the best. I am getting so much closer. Now it is less than a week before I have my surgery DEC.2. I am so excited, but I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride each day, never know how I am going to feel one day to the next. I am so grateful for this forum and all you posters, I hate to even think what it would have been like to go through all this without all this support. ( I think it would have be a nightmare, never really knowing what to expect along the way) I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery.

Hello Hope, I have been on my pre-op diet since last Wednesday and I have to be on it until the night before surgery on Dec.2. Mine consists of this recommended diet: 4-5 protein milkshakes 27 grams of protein each, protein bars high in protein but low in suger and fat, and 32-64 oz. of water each day for 2 weeks. I have been doing ok. I have been having a hard time getting 4-5 each day. I get 3 in ok, but I am having to do another on around 2-3am so that I am getting enough protein. I do not have a difficult time with physical hunger, but sometimes like now on thanksgiving day I am having a hard time with head hunger. It is going to be difficult being around all that food and not being able to eat any of it. I just keep trying to remember that it will pay off in the end. My sheet said that if the patient does not adhear to the diet, it may cause complications during or after surgery and could even cause the surgery to be cancelled. I have been making them into more like ice cream by using those plastic mugs with water inside of them that freezes in the freezer before I make the milkshakes. When I make the shake I make double the amount and freeze some in those mugs for later sometimes, so that I don't have to do all the clean up so many times. I hope everything goes ok for you.

Hello delitedesigns, How have you been doing on your pre-op diet? I know that you were having some difficulty. I am half-way pre-op. Everything still going ok, just looking forward to having surgery next Wednesday. Boy how time goes by so quickly. I wish you all the best on Sunday, my prayers are with you. I hope you post pictures and let us know how it is going with your weight loss.

Glad to hear that you are doing ok. Your comments are helping me. I am going to have surgery next Wednesday, so it helps to be more prepared by knowing what to expect. It helps knowing that everyone is different, and I guess it is best to just hope and pray for the best. I wish you both the best.

I had to laugh at this one. I bet you enjoyed every bite. It sounds so good, before I would go into White Castles and get 3-4 of those and a order of onion chips and sometimes a milkshake. Wow only 1 and you were stuffed. I hop e that my journey is similar to yours, I sure can handle that. Congratulations on getting below the 200 mark!!

Hello MamaAsh, Have they told you how many Duodenal Switch operations he has done? The sleeve is the first part of the Duodenal Switch without all the cutting and rearranging of the intestines. It is less evasive, it can be done lapriscopically or open. I was done with 5 incisions, but Dr.Husted here in Somerset Ky. told me that now he does it with only One small incision. I heard that the incision is 3-4 inches long. I will get to ask him Dec. 1 the day before I have surgery how big the incision will be. He has a very nice reputation as a surgeon and years of experience with many different procedures. He has a website. He is the one that started an approved procedure called a Vergito, Which has 3 kinds of procedures wrapped into one, if I do understand it right. He has some really good reveiws. Also you may want to read this article about the sleeve: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article is very good. I explained this in an earlier thread about the ghrelin. I find it so interesting that I am going to post it on here again, that way maybe more people will read it. Thank you!! .HomeLocal NewsNational NewsYour ExpertsFamily Health Watch: Local News Weight loss surgery curbs appetites, has advantages over gastric bypass from KY3 News Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 If you're looking into surgery to lose weight, doctors have one more option up their sleeve. The procedure is faster and less complicated than gastric bypass. Ophelia Brown had weight loss surgery two months ago and, so far, she's lost 35 pounds. "I don't breathe as hard. I don't get tired as easy," said Brown. The procedure is a new approach in bariatric surgery called sleeve gastrectomy. "We remove three-quarters of the stomach, so the new stomach has a new shape, looks like a sleeve or a banana," said bariatric surgeon Dr. Alex Gandsas. Unlike gastric bypass, surgeons don't have to reroute the bowel. Other than downsizing the stomach, the anatomy stays intact so there are fewer complications. “The sleeve actually does offer an appealing alternative for those patients who are intimidated by having a major operation such as the gastric bypass," said Gandsas. The sleeve not only forces patients to eat less but they also don't crave food as much because a big part of their stomachs are gone. "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas. "By removing that, the patient not only will be able to eat less, but will feel less hungry." Gandsas is pioneering the procedure at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore because, he says, the benefits are lifesaving. "Health issues such as diabetes type 2 have been resolved in approximately 65 percent. The hypertension's been resolved in 50 percent, sleep apnea in more than 75 percent," he said. "Already I'm off the diabetes medicine; the blood pressure I just take now and then," said Brown. Now, as Brown's weight goes down, her appetite for better health soars. The sleeve procedure is performed through small incisions. Patients can lose about 60 percent of their excess weight compared to gastric bypass's 70 percent. The sleeve procedure is not yet covered by many insurance companies. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope this helps you to make a decision for the best procedure. You are doing the right thing by researching and asking alot of Questions. Thank you for reading this.

Hello HeftyNefty, How much did you say you weighed right before you had the band taken out and the sleeve done? I have started reading your previous postings, and I found this earlier posting and I was wondering if the Band and the other problems you had led up to all of these complications or did the sleeve cause you the problems that you are experiencing now? This is what I read: 07-01-2009, 12:36 AM heftynetty Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 23 Gender: Female City: Dayton State: Nevada Member's Picture Albums Re: Another newbie with many, many questions! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am new here, I have a band currently, awaiting to see if I am approved through insurance for the sleeve. I had surgery January 2006 and lost weight, was doing ok, (mind you that was my second band, due to complications with scar tissue the first time) anyway, I got pregnant December 2006 and after delivering her I have had nothing but problems. I can not lose a freakin' pound (aside from the baby weight), I have been the same weight since getting pregnant. After 2 upper GI's they have found that my stomach is all twisted up over my band, they are assuming it is from being pregnant. I am scared of the sleeve due to the leaks going from band to sleeve, but I am also ready for a new start. I am hoping I am approved so I can move on to the weight loss path again! Good luck to you! LapBandTalk Click to visit the largest Lap-Band community online! Did the Doctor explain to you what would be the results if the band was removed and nothing else done.? I sure hope you never have to go through any of this again. We all really feel concerned about your situation. I sure hope and pray that you get through all this with the outcome being that you will eventually reach your goal weight of 180 or less if you desire to modify your goal weight to less. Also I hope you will have a speedy recovery from here on out and keep coming back on here to let us know how your Sleeve Journey is going. I pray that you can move on to the weight loss path again as you had hoped in your posting above. I will check in later to see if you post a reply to this. Thank you for your honesty and for sharing your story.

I found a bottle of "Spring Valley brand SUBLINGUAL DOTS B-12 500 mcg" at Wal-mart. 200 natural cherry flavored Microlozenges that you put under your tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing. They are suppose to help: formation of blood cells, nervous system, and maintain normal levels of homocysteine for heart and circulatory health (Energy Metabolism). You should always check with your Dr. first before taking suppliments. I carry them in my purse, because you can take 1-3 per day. I hope this helps. Also I found chewable chocolate sugar-free calcium citrate with vitamin E & K at Wal- Mart. And chewable Centrums multivitamins to take 1 daily. I also bought a bottle of super complex B vitamins that I have to swallow, they go down ok, but they don't taste very good. I did not buy this, but I did notice that they had a box of Liquid Sublingual B-12 with complex B vitamins. At GNC I got some CHEWABLE CALCIUM CITRATE WITH VITAMIN D-3. I had to ask what the 3 was for. The fellow told me that it means they are more easily absorbed. I hope all of the things that I purchased I will still be able to use them after surgery. Very interesting thread.

I clicked on this thread to read "Lib's" posting and when I read it I decided to read the whole thread. Very interesting, helpful and funny at times! I am on my Pre-op diet now, but before starting I had lost about 30 pounds since July. Then 3 days before my pre-op diet I really was out of control. I went out to eat with my daughter to have my Thanksgiving Dinner that I am not going to be able to eat the holiday. I ordered an All you can eat just like her entire family. I was not able to keep going back for more and more like usual and I was sharing my onion rings and even shared my Banana pudding, which normally I would have went back for seconds on a plate full of deserts. I am hoping that I never eat like I did before starting my journey and the three days before my Pre-op diet. I am going to try to find smaller portions and healthier food when I do go out to eat after surgery. I am glad that I read this. Thank you all for posting!!

I finally figured out how to put my ticker ruler on here. I am down to 232 pounds now. I hope I will lose some more the next 9 days on this pre-op diet of Protein milkshakes, Water and Protein Bars. I went to the flea market this weekend, and I was so happy that I found a plastic smoothie POPS@ container to freeze my milkshake into popsicles. They have 4 long ones on it and the plastic sticks with rubbery grips that you put on top before you freeze them. I don't know if they have them at Wal-mart or not but I am sure they might have something like them. I used them just a few minutes ago when I made my chocolate milkshake. When I poured it into them, I still had half of the mixture left (which I freeze in my plactic mug that has water inside it that freezes in the freezer, and it makes it like ice cream. Then later I can eat it when I need it, and it stays frozen until I get done eating it). I read on my pre-op diet, that you can freeze the protein milkshake, but you must eat it frozen, DO NOT LET IT THAW. MY QUESTION IS THIS: DOES IT DO SOMETHING TO THE PROTEIN OR SOMETHING ELSE? I HOPE SOMEONE HAS AN ANSWER. I really enjoy my shakes by experimenting like this and making them better. I have always liked ice cream so I am not having any problem right now. I do miss the food when I am around good smelling food, but it is only Head hunger. I am going to post something that I posted on another thread about milkshakes. Please read: Re: protein shakes-I'm going to starve! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: Originally Posted by RubyTuesday Hi Lucy- I find the powders are much better. I put a scoop of vanilla Isopure brand in, add frozen fruits, ice, and skim milk or yogurt (depending on your desired thickness) and blend! and you can barely taste the powder. If the powder makes the consistancy add 1/2 scoop, and just add little scoops here and there to compensate. I love frozen blackberries, mango, raspberries. Makes the best shakes ever!! Also, I've been drinking Isopure brand Fruit drinks with 40 grams of protein and 160 cals per 20 oz. bottle. And I personally think they are very tasty. Let me know if you try that stuff and how it works out for you! You are doing just about the same thing that I have been doing. I have only tried banana and pineapple fruit in mine. I also have tried some walnuts and pecans. I wanted to let you know that when I received my pre-op diet from my surgeon's office, I read on there that the milkshake should have 20-35 grams of protein in each one. It warned about using those with high amounts of protein, because Mega-dose Protein Drinks in excess of 40 grams per serving may cause kidney damage. I don't know how true that is I have not read up on it, but I don't want to take any chances without knowing for sure. It also said that the whey protein is easier digested and absorbed than soy protein. So I am keeping this in mind when drinking the shakes. I got my protein from GNC and I really like the flavors. They are really expensive, but I found them on sale, so I paid about $25 each tub. The serving size is 3 scoops, which has 60 grams in each serving, so I use 1 1/2 scoops which gives me 30 grams. It is really important to check out that information on all the tubs, and adjust your serving scoop size accordingly. I am very glad the fellow at GNC pointed this out to me, he was a big help in my search. Have a great day.

You are doing just about the same thing that I have been doing. I have only tried banana and pineapple fruit in mine. I also have tried some walnuts and pecans. I wanted to let you know that when I received my pre-op diet from my surgeon's office, I read on there that the milkshake should have 20-35 grams of protein in each one. It warned about using those with high amounts of protein, because Mega-dose Protein Drinks in excess of 40 grams per serving may cause kidney damage. I don't know how true that is I have not read up on it, but I don't want to take any chances without knowing for sure. It also said that the Whey protein is easier digested and absorbed than soy protein. So I am keeping this in mind when drinking the shakes. I got my protein from GNC and I really like the flavors. They are really expensive, but I found them on sale, so I paid about $25 each tub. The serving size is 3 scoops, which has 60 grams in each serving, so I use 1 1/2 scoops which gives me 30 grams. It is really important to check out that information on all the tubs, and adjust your serving scoop size accordingly. I am very glad the fellow at GNC pointed this out to me, he was a big help in my search. Have a great day.

Welcome Before you do decide, it might be a real good idea to check to see what procedures your insurance will approve if you are not self pay. Some insurance companies do not approve the sleeve. You might find this article interesting, I hope it will help: Please read: HomeLocal NewsNational NewsYour ExpertsFamily Health Watch: Local News Weight loss surgery curbs appetites, has advantages over gastric bypass from KY3 News Story Updated: Nov 2, 2009 If you're looking into surgery to lose weight, doctors have one more option up their sleeve. The procedure is faster and less complicated than gastric bypass. Ophelia Brown had weight loss surgery two months ago and, so far, she's lost 35 pounds. "I don't breathe as hard. I don't get tired as easy," said Brown. The procedure is a new approach in bariatric surgery called sleeve gastrectomy. "We remove three-quarters of the stomach, so the new stomach has a new shape, looks like a sleeve or a banana," said bariatric surgeon Dr. Alex Gandsas. Unlike gastric bypass, surgeons don't have to reroute the bowel. Other than downsizing the stomach, the anatomy stays intact so there are fewer complications. “The sleeve actually does offer an appealing alternative for those patients who are intimidated by having a major operation such as the gastric bypass," said Gandsas. The sleeve not only forces patients to eat less but they also don't crave food as much because a big part of their stomachs are gone. "This part of the stomach is in charge of producing a hormone called ghrelin, which is responsible for our appetite," said Gandsas. "By removing that, the patient not only will be able to eat less, but will feel less hungry." Gandsas is pioneering the procedure at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore because, he says, the benefits are lifesaving. "Health issues such as diabetes type 2 have been resolved in approximately 65 percent. The hypertension's been resolved in 50 percent, sleep apnea in more than 75 percent," he said. "Already I'm off the diabetes medicine; the blood pressure I just take now and then," said Brown. Now, as Brown's weight goes down, her appetite for better health soars. The sleeve procedure is performed through small incisions. Patients can lose about 60 percent of their excess weight compared to gastric bypass's 70 percent. The sleeve procedure is not yet covered by many insurance companies.

Please read this if you are interested in HeftyNefty, she could sure use are thoughts, prayers and comments: #1 (permalink) 11-18-2009, 02:09 AM heftynetty Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 23 Gender: Female City: Dayton State: Nevada Member's Picture Albums Heftynetty checking in after difficult surgery -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well I have been home since October 6th. I am on TPN and have a stent that will not come out for about 6 more months. I still have a drain, but the hole in my stomach is getting smaller and I am hoping that in another month or two it will be completely closed and then I at least get the drain out and can slowly start eating. I have not had a bite of food since before surgery in August!! I just got off of my atibiotics on Sunday and I am finally feeling like myself. I hate being hooked up to this drain and my central line, but I am home with my kids and starting to feel better! I appreciate everyone's thoughts and concerns. I have such a negative attitude about doing this, I regret this everyday of my life, I wish that I would of just taken the band out and called it a day. The GI doctor said my stomach was too weak to perform a sleeve surgery and it should not have been done, but apparently my surgeon felt okay with it and now here I am!! I am finally coming out of my depression mode, but I will always regret doing this! LapBandTalk Click to visit the largest Lap-Band community online! __________________ Janette banded 1/16/06 Dr. Sasse-Reno 4cc band, completely unfilled 297/240/180 I really hope that she keeps us posted on a regular basis. I hope she gets to feeling better, and becomes really happy that she did have the sleeve after all the problems that she had before with the band. She is at 180 pounds on 11/18/09 when she posted, so I hope that later after she recovers, the pounds start coming off and her happiness will return in her life. May God bless her with good health!!

Hello Joann, I hope the past few day for you have only been better than the first 30 hours. I am glad that you are still posting on here. I will be glad to see some photos of you as you lose weight.

Keep smiling and moving foward. This pre-op diet will be over soon for us and then we will be going through the post-op diet. If we have a hard time I am sure that everyone will be here to support us through it and help us to get back on the right path. Have a happy day!!( Well My stomach is making noises, I think I will go fix me another milk shake before I go to sleep. It is 2:14 AM in the morning, but I know that I will feel better and be more ready to go asleep afterwards. I have only been able to get 3 milkshakes in during the day, but around 2-3 in the morning I am ready for another one. )

I am so glad that you are feeling better. Just remember you are never alone now. You can always come on here and talk to us. EVEN AT 1:OO OR 2:00 IN THE MORNING. ( I see that there are at least 8 viewers on this pre-op topic ) I have a hard time going to sleep, I always have but it is even more difficult now since I am feeling like I am on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I am really glad that I found this forum to help me through this journey. I really feel sorry for all the people that have to go through this without any support. I wish you all the best on the 29th.

Hello Delitedesigns, I am sure that we will have some good days and some bad days ahead of us, but the important thing is to do just what you are doing now----STAY POSITIVE AND IF YOU FALL DOWN GET RIGHT BACK UP AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. I was able to go to the store to buy my sugar free hazelnut flavored syrup for my shakes, and I even bought some groceries for my family, but I did not buy me anything. I came back home and when they wanted to eat, I did not cook the food because I thought it would be so tempting right now. I looked over at their plate, but I did not dwell on it, I got busy on here and I made it through that moment of head hunger for some good tasting food. I am so determined that I will make it through this pre-op diet and post-op diet. I am so looking forward to the day when once again I can eat more of the foods that I was eating before this pre-op diet. I was eating those weight watcher Entrees, lean cuisene, healthy choice meals, and I was eating a dinner plate full of slices of tomatos, cucumbers and green peppers. I know that after surgery I will not be able to eat that same amount, but I still want to eat the same healthier meals. I lost 30 pounds before the pre-op diet just by changing my eating by doing it like that. Oh yes I did have my bad days and messed up quite a bit, but I would just try harder after that. I have a friend that is still losing weight after having Gastric Bypass, and she told me that when her and her husband go out to eat, she orders what items she wants to eat and when she is done, he eats the rest. Of course she can't eat very much, so he has quite a bit left over to eat. He jokes about being her garbage disposal. I hope that we can look back on these days and laugh at ourselves too. I wish you all the best.

Hello cajun, You are right, it will be here before I know it. It is already Nov.22. Time sure is going by fast. Thank you for your comments about my pics. Yes that was my daughters wedding. She got married last year in june. I weighed less than I do now in those pictures. I gained alot after those pictures. My mother passed away a week before my daughter got married. Also I had surgery in April of last year on my knee, a total knee replacement and it was hard for me to exercize. I wasn't very active after the surgery on my knee. It has healed up quite a bit now, so I am trying to exercize more. I hope I can continue to lose after surgery and not have to go through that up and down weight ever again. I want for this to be successful, I am really ready for a change. I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired of being obese. I wish you all the best.

Hello lucygoose, I am 5' 4 1/2" tall. My goal is 145. My goal up until I decided to have the sleeve was 155-166 pounds, because that is the weight I was at for at least 8+ years before 1978. That was the year that I was hospitalized when I had a so called "nervous breakdown" and they put me on tranqualizers for awhile and I started gaining weight. I gained up to about 300 pounds in 2 years being on medication. I have pictures of me before gaining all that weight, and all these years I have wanted to get back down to that weight. But now since I have decided to have the sleeve I do believe that I should have my goal at 145 pounds, which will be a more ideal weight for my height and my large body frame. I know that I will be happy with anything below 165, but I am hoping to be at 145 give or take a little. I want to be more healthy, happier and to live much longer. Also I would like to have better self-esteem from having a more ideal weight than what I have had all these years from being so obese. I wish you all the best on your surgery on Dec. 8.

Thank you so much, I have been trying to figure out ways to have 4-5 shakes and a protein bar each day without alot of calories. I have to try to stay between 700-1000 calories each day. Maybe I can start doing that tomorrow. I also found at Wal-mart a bottle of some syrup Hazelnut sugar-free, it is sweetened with splenda. I will find out the name of it and post it later. It is only $4.00 and it is a good sized bottle. I will go get some to use, that way I won't have to have the calories from the walnuts and pecans that I have been using in my shakes. I finally figured out how to put my ticker ruler on here. I am grateful for your information, have a great day!!

I hope you have a fast recovery. I am glad to hear that you are still glad that you had it done. I really want to be able to have my hope and dreams after I wake up from surgery on Dec.2. I am wondering about the outcome. I told my daughter that I have learned so much and I know that I need to know all the worst things that can happen, but I am still hoping and praying for the best. I wish you the best. Your comments have been an encouragement for me. Thank you!!

Best of wishes for you. You are doing so great.

wow I am so happy for you. A nice Christmas present for you!!! I wish the best for you.