Wow! To all of you have replied and all who will, I thank you. I have read every response and it comforts me to know you've read my story and it connected with you in some way. For all the well wishes, hugs and encouragements...you helped me get thru another day and night with less despair, less loneliness and less frustration. Thank you for reaching out to me like I did to you.
Here is some additional information for those who asked:
I live in Southwest Michigan and my surgeon is from a renowned practice here in my town. They pioneered the sleeve and have done more of them than bypasses now, I think. My surgeon is well educated, many of the doctors and PAs have ivy league educations in addition to real world experience that made them the best choice to me. My surgeon was kind, answered my numerous questions and was as honest as he likely could have been about the risks. I asked point blank how many patients had died in their practice and for stats on their particular history of complications, how they resolved them and what my likelihood may be of experiencing any. My concern like many people, was of a potential leg DVT after surgery, leak, stricture, heart attack or stroke during surgery.
Like so many of you have said, I was part of the dreaded "1%". Whatever can go wrong, did. At first my docotrs smiled and gave words of encouragement, always the same "it'll get better, I promise" "in a year I can guarentee you won't regret having the surgery done". Wrong, I do, I will. My story isn't one of serious complications caught and handled quickly but of a general breakdown of care resulting in problem after problem that individually might have had lesser impact. My doctor will not admit anything went wrong, was unusual or that there may be symptoms with no known ideation.
For those of you preparing to go thru surgery I won't discourage you. This is truly lifesaving for many people, some of us would die from obesity related illnesses sooner or later anyway. For all of us, post-op, pre-op, still considering, take charge of your healthcare, demand answers even if there aren't any, talk back, respond, ask questions, if the answer doesn't make sense ask again and if you still don't get it ask the PA the nurse and even the nurse aid or medical assistant...someone is bound to listen and respond.
Do your homework, we all do, we think we know what to expect, we know someone, a friend, sibling, co-worker who went thru surgery and everything was great, they comfort us and tell us that they don;t know of anybody who ever had problems. They're wrong, we're here, the d@*% one percent, the ones who quietly fade, embarressed to go out carrying a TPN bag, tired of the questions from strangers about the PICC dressing that always shows, disgusted by our appearance, hair falling out, sallow skin, too ashamed to walk to the mailbox because people think you're sick, and you are, just not that kind of sick, embarressed that you like a cancer victim and you know thats what you think, and if you were you know you would have some kind of answer and could feel legitimately sick, but instead you're just sick, and tired, and sick, and theres no one to blame but yourself because this was an elective surgery, even tho it wasn't, you know for you it was a necessary removal of what has caused you problems for your whole life, your stomach.
You take the psyche exam, talk to the doctors, you know it will hurt to be without one of your best friends, you'll miss your food, the beautifull salads, homemade breads, never ending Pasta and endless shrimp, the chinese buffet, free dessert on your birthday, the giant muffins from costco, poptarts, diet coke, you say goodbye and thank you, thank you for being there on my fortieth birthday, for when I went thru my divorce, comforting me thru fights, bringing my family together every holiday, the chicken Soup when I was sick, ice cream when I was happy, orange juice and coffee. Thank you for being my friend, I don't need you or want you anymore, I'll be good without you, I won't lie to myself anymore that you fill me up. We the 1% with our resolve to never cheat on our new diet and vow to live a healthy lifestyle, join the gym, walk the dog, just like the other 99%, only we're too physically depleted to walk to the bathroom, can't stand in the shower, would kill someone if it meant we could drink enough to quench our terrible thirst, or at least beat someone up if it meant we could keep 8oz down just once. We no longer fantasize about cakes with no calories, we yearn for the decadent 70 calories in a cappacino Protein shake, a scrambled egg, a greek yogurt, but the 6oz looks like a mountain and your throat closes up, the spasms rock your chest and you feel the familiar punch in the chest that is an esophogeal spasm, followed by the sensation of those tiny molecules hitting your stomach and the noises and the rapid decent to the bowel thru 20 ft of intestine in under 3 seconds. Thank you the other 1%ers and the 99% too, we have all lived thru this and can offer eachother comfort, an ear to listen, offer advice- whether it be crazy, medical, legal or desperate. I know an answer will come for me, soon or too late- either way it won't be in vain, someone will gain knowledge and experience from this, maybe a doctor will stumble across here and find an answer for one of their tough cases, regardless, this has done what I needed it to, brought me together with other people so I didn't feel so alone. :-)
I personally think that while the leak rate MIGHT be 1%, I think the overall complication rate is higher... I think I saw a study that suggested around 2-3% since leak isn't the only complication.
I was a band to sleeve revision and the surgeon told me that our risks were probably "about double" that of a virgin sleeve. Scared the crud out of me, but I was in a pretty bad way at 308 pounds, 52 BMI so finally decided I was going to die of obesity if i didn't take the risk.
I thank God on a regular basis how well this has gone, no complications so far, and that while I am not at goal I am a normal sized person and my life has changed for the wonderful!
It is so scary to read about the complications, but it makes me so happy to read the "happy endings" when people get over it and get back to the business of losing weight and being healthy!
So I am 5 months out and follow the 600 - 800 calories/64 oz min water/min 60 prot/20 to 40 carbs that a lot of people seem to follow. I measure everything and only eat 1.5 to 2 oz of meat for each meal. I could eat more and I could def fit in many more carbs if I wanted. I feel satisfied with these portions...not full. Well, not full like in the pre sleeve days. Sometime, if I feel a little crazy, I add in a few low carb veggie Snacks. Carbs = Cravings and being hungrier for many of us. Just because you can eat more doent mean that you should. Losing weight pretty quickly (115 lbs) and feeling more energy lets me know this is the right plan for me.
hi Molly ! I've read about a LOT of successful band-to-sleeve revisions on various forums! I hope the sleeve is what you need to get the weight off and feel better. It has worked for many people and you sound like you want it bad enough to make it work. One lady told me that the sleeve is what she thought the band would be for her. She said it's like "instant restriction!" She used to have a band and never really got to the sweet spot and did not do good with it at all. She said it always bothered her that she never got to the sweet spot and that it never really helped her lose weight. She has lost successfully with the sleeve as have many others. I wish you all of the best in your quest!
I remember this from Weight Watchers but I could not find it in my recipe files. Luckily, I came across this metric version online. I had to weight the ingredients which were in grams.
225 grams of cottage cheese ( one cup)
4 medium eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons lemon zest
125 grams crashed pineapple ( about 1/3 cup)
45 grams sweetener ( I tried Truvia)
20 grams of corn flour about 3 Tablespoons corn starch)
Mix all ingredients in blender and blend on high until thoroughly mixed.
Place in 4 individual pie tins, buttered and bake in a 440 degree F oven for 20 minutes. When done pies will puff up in the oven and slightly brown around the edges...
Very good recipe and good for mushie stage as well.
Each pie has about 18 grams of Protein.< /p>
Also wishing for a piece of toast, but honestly, getting food particles stuck in the staple line would so NOT be worth it. It's only a short time, and you have the rest of your like to enjoy eating responsibly. Give your body the time it needs to heal without shooting yourself in the foot. I for one will NOT be cheating on my doctor's plan. Just because somebody else may have cheated in the past with no complications is no guarantee that you or I will fare similarly.
My son is a type 1 diabetic, and while he was working in a hot kitchen environment he has times when his blood sugars would drop. The best solution we found for him was glucose tablets. We bought them in a roll (kinda like candy) and when he needed it he could chew one or two.
