ChaChaBurch

I know that at my age, sagging skin comes with the weight loss. About the best way to reduce it (naturally), is to work out with weights. Build muscle (which will replace the fat), and you will have less sagging skin. I remember when I did Weight Watchers, our "Leader" had lost over 200lbs, and she used her clothing to help "camouflage" her sagging skin (longer sleeves, etc). I think the best way is with plastic surgery - and at this point I am not even going to consider another surgery. Might change my mind in a year or two, but who knows. I knew going into this that sagging skin comes with the weight loss, so the sagging skin is one of those things that I just expect.

I had both the Unjury and the Revival shakes. The Unjury were good, and the Revival shakes were disgusting!

After spending some time this morning reading around on the site, I have to say that I feel especially blessed today. It breaks my heart hearing about those who have had some really serious issues with their sleeve. Either from the surgery, or adjusting. Needless to say, my prayer list is getting longer. So far, my experience has sheer joy -- I know, can you say "Honeymoon Phase"? I'm gonna enjoy as long as it lasts. Also, those who have had some very serious issues with their sleeve in the past, but have fought through it, have been inspirational to me. It takes a tremendous amount of courage and determination to go through what some of these folks have been through -- AMAZING! I am so blessed, and so thankful that I found this site. It really helps when I have questions, or concerns, or whatever. I don't always post on some of the forums, but if I have a question, or a concern, I can just look, and find something that really helps!

You will be added to my prayers as well! I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Please, Please, Please, keep us updated! Also, I see you're in Dallas. I moved FROM Dallas in 2009 after living there my whole life - family reasons. Would you mind sharing who your Doctor is? If you don't feel comfortable with that, I can certainly respect that.

For me, my Doctor had the following for my Post Op Dy 1 - 4: Clear liquids Dy 5 - 8: All Liquids - which includes runny oatmeal, runny cream of wheat, and FF Small curd cottage cheese, applesauce, FF Cream Soups, Protein shakes (my choice of what kind), FF Yogurt, SF Jello. Day 9 - Week 3: Pureed/Blended Week 3 - 4: Moist/Mushy Week 5-6 - I will start eating regular table food, but have to start with the really soft stuff, and SLOWLY - over time - start adding other stuff As for your heartburn with the skim milk, I've read on quite a few posts that some folks develop a lactose intolerance after surgery. Some of them said it went away after a few months, and others said that theirs stayed with them. You might look into that.

I had the band in 2007, and had the band to sleeve revision just 9 days ago. DON'T GET THE BAND! It worked for about 4-6 months, then years of issues. Go to the forum on Lapband Revision on this sight. The stories are all the same. No matter what the Dr tells you about the band, they don't tell you EVERYTHING!

I had a lapband revision - to sleeve - done two weeks ago. I can tell you EVERYTHING about sliming, and copious amounts of saliva . . . . I lived with it daily for 5 YEARS! The sliming is actually your bodies way of trying to "wash down" something (food) which is stuck, The longer it's stuck, the more saliva your body produces (it thinks you may choke on the food). The reason your getting is stuck is a bit trickier. For me, it was almost always due to me not chewing my food until it was liquified. Also, if/when you over eat, your food will begin backing up your esophagus, Just slow down. I know it seems hard, but you're not doing your sleeve any good with regurgitating. Don't force yourself to eat more. Like "Spatters3" said, take a bite, put down your fork/spoon, chew, chew, chew, swallow, look around, chat a bit, or read a page of a book or magazine, then take another bite. Most importantly - DON'T GET TOO DISCOURAGED -- you'll get there.

With weekend coming up, I plan on getting out and doing some walking down by the lake -- the weather is really nice here. Anyone else have anything special planned for the weekend?

I felt like a kid on their first day at school today! Excited AND nervous. I started my Pureed/Blended Soft Diet. This morning I had 1 super soft scrambled egg, and for lunch I blended tuna (in water) with low-fat Mayo. Both went down easily, since I was eating teeny weeny bites, and chewing, chewing, chewing. Both tasted wonderful! But the most interesting thing to me, is that I am not the least bit hungry. After I got up this morning, it was still about 3 hours before I cooked the egg. Either I'm no longer able to tell when I'm hungry (which would be a good thing), or I've never really known what TRUE hunger is (probably a true fact anyway). I don't know if it's because my sleeve is still new and in the healing phase, or if it will stay. But if I had my choice, I would choose that it stayed this way. Still sipping water, and protein shake in between the meals -- still have to get all that in. SLEEP -- I can't sleep more than 4 hours at night, and then NONE during the day. I'm getting really, really tired, and would love nothing else than to lay down and have a nice long nap, but alas, the sleep just won't come. Prior to surgery, I could nap at the drop of a hat. If I'm still not sleeping better by next week, then I am DEFINITELY calling the Doc. WARNING - TMI Coming up - Okay, I've been wondering this, and I haven't seen it anywhere on the boards, so I thought I would put it on here -- My pee has been super concentrated since the surgery, but today it wasn't. I have to say I'm relieved. I was beginning to worry about it, and didn't think to ask the Surgeon about it.

Congrats Sexy Slim! Welcome to the world of the sleeved!

It's hard to believe that a week ago I was in the hospital getting my lap band removed and my sleeve done. This past week has been really amazing, and in some ways really surreal. I'm feeling really good, not having any issues with anything that I've eaten so far, and I get to start my "blended/puree" phase tomorrow (1st thing on the list is soft scrambled egg). If it weren't for this website, and the friends that I've made, I don't think I could have been nearly as successful. Really looking forward to week 2 and the new things I'll learn!

Congrats! Glad to hear everything went well.

For me, my protein comes from pre-made shakes (Myoplex - 42g per shake), and unflavored protein power (from GNC). According to my NUT, I will need to consider the protein drinks a part of my daily intake, until I reach the "all foods" phase, and then after tracking what I eat, I may need to continue at least one protein drink a day, or not, if I'm getting in enough protein through my regular eating.

Hey Joni! Congrats on your approval and your date! I'll be cheering you on all the way!!!- ChaCha

Didn't sleep but 3 hours last night, so after DH went to work, I took myself right back to bed! Slept about another 2 then just got up. When I weighed this morning, it showed I had lose 15lbs since my pre-op liquid diet! I will start the "mushy/pureed" diet on Friday, and then from that point I will only weigh on Fridays. Don't want to become too obsessed with the scale just now. The Surgeon hasn't set a weight goal for me, but the NUT did ask me, when I went to see her, how much weight did I want to lose. I told her that I didn't really have a good idea yet of where I wanted to be. I want to focus more on my over all health, and not just a number given to me by a square piece of metal that I stand on. I'm thinking I'll set a goal weight in about 3 months -- we'll see. My follow-up with the Surgeon went great! They removed my drain (just burned a little), removed all my bandages, said the incisions looked great. They were really amazed at how well I'm feeling. Told me I had 2 more weeks before I could begin to resume my "usual duties" - riding mower, gardening, and all the other things I do around here on our little homestead. So, starting tomorrow, I am going to focus on smaller goals: 1) Get as much protein, liquids, etc that I can each day, and sticking with the Post-Op eating plan; 2) Learning better/healthier ways to cook - being from the South, if it ain't fried, smothered in gravy, or slathered in butter, we just don't cook it -- going to search online for some great cooking classes (via DVD's). 3) Work on increasing my activity and working out sessions. For my 50th BDay, my girls got me the Zumba fitness DVD's, and a beginner's Yoga DVD - that's that I told them I wanted. So I can start the Yoga now, but the Zumba has to wait at least 2 more weeks. I'm still struggling with eating enough, as I am not ever hungry - not even head-hunger pains. It's a really strange feeling, but I know that as my tummy heals, those things will start coming back.

Congrats! That's awesome news!!

So far, so good. I got in a 17oz protein shake with 42g of protein, 2 bottles of water, a small coffee, 1 packet of cream of wheat, and a SF pudding yesterday, all with no issues. Just have to take my time and do baby sips. Slept for 4.5 hours straight last night! That's a record since the surgery. Woke this morning feeling pretty good. I still have brief moments of feeling a teeny weeny faint, but then it passes and I'm good for a while. Don't know if that's lack of food, lack of sleep, or just from the surgery itself. Today, again I'm going to focus on getting in the nutrition, liquids, and just all around resting. The weather is absolutely beautiful, so the windows are open, and I will go for a few short walks later today.

I'll be thinking about you and keeping you in my prayers!

My surgeon put in a "drain" in one of my incisions. It's a very thin rubber tube that comes out of the incision site, and drains into a bulb. It helps drain out excess fluid. I don't think all Surgeons do it. But I'm glad he did. It has drastically reduced my swelling. It doesn't hurt, it's just inconvenient when I'm up walking around. I make sure I wear pants with front pockets so I can put the bulb part in my pocket.

You're only one day ahead of me, and my incisions are still VERY sore. Can't sleep except on my back, on the recliner, and even then for only 1-2 hours at a time. As for the gas, I would suggest walking as much as you can. The gas could very well be a byproduct from the surgery and just hasn't bee absorbed. As your doctor about something for the gas if the walking doesn't help. Also, you might ask about extra strength tylenol or something else over the counter. I do know that with each and every day I feel better than the day before.

I've only been active on the board these last few weeks. I too have seen some rather aggressive comments. However, I greatly value those of you who have been on this journey longer than me. What works for one person, may not work with the other. That's why it's important that we see other's journey's to know that there is a way to move forward whatever roadblocks we face. Don't let those negative folks push you off the boards. If so, then they've won. You seem like a much tougher cookie than that! I admire your courage in your journey, and your posts have had a positive impact on me.

Kwikwits - what an inspiration! You go girl!!

Well, I'm 4 days Post-Op, and everything went as planned. Feeling really good today and get to start on "full" liquids. Will get my drain removed on Wednesday, and then move on to soft/mushy food on Friday . . . as long as everything continues to progress well!

My surgery was on 3/22, and I have to admit that I wasn't even a little bit nervous, until we were actually in the OR. The Head Nurse gave me my "happy juice", I immediately apologized for anything that I might say, then pure oblivion. I had a flash of someone calling my name, and I remember asking, "Laproscopic?". I was concerned that they wouldn't be able to remove my band and do the sleeve laproscopically, even though the Surgeon felt confident he could, he did warn that it might require him to "open me up". Thankfully everything was done laproscopically. I don't remember another thing until I woke up in my hospital room, and my DH was sitting next to the bed holding my hand. I asked him the same question - just in case I imagined the first one - and he confirmed that they were able to remove my band/port, and do the sleeve laproscopically. He told me that the Surgeon said I had a tremendous amount of scar tissue from the band, and that he ended up removing 85% of my stomach. I didn't use much of the pain meds, they made me nauseous, even though they gave me anti-nausea medicine. My pain was about a 7, so I could handle it.The switched my pain meds from morophine to dilaudin, which still made me sick. They waited until the next morning around 10am to do my swallow test, then after that, ice chips. I don't think I've ever taste anything so good in all my life. I've also never had acid reflux before, but I did then, at least until Sunday morning. BTW - Has anyone mentioned (or experienced) the extreme pain in the head, neck and shoulders? I don't know if it was from the surgery table, being tense, or lack of caffeine and/or food, but my head and neck hurt much worse than my surgery did. It was exactly like the migraine's I used to get. They discharged me Friday afternoon, and I got home around 6pm. I ended up sleeping on/off until about noon Saturday on the Couch (it has reclining on both ends). Felt a little better Saturday afternoon/evening, but by Sunday was feeling vastly improved. Headache/neckache were finally gone. I ate applesauce, jello, broth, water, and popsicle that day. Today, (Day 4 - AS) - I get to start full liquids. I'm also feeling almost normal, except for being a little woozy, which I don't know if it's from a lack of food, left over from surgery, or what. I've been working on getting down a protein shake (worth 42g of protein). So far, everything I've consumed has gone down with no issues. No more nausea, no more acid reflux. My big fear now is, how much is too much? How will I know if I've put too much in? Will I vomit (don't want to, that will really hurt), Will my stomach tear (REALLY don't want that), or will I get that sliming/spitting thing I used to get every single day with the band? I'm not willing to push it just yet, so will continue to take "baby sips" all day long. I have a follow-up appointment for Wednesday afternoon. The Surgeon will remove my drain then. By Friday of this week (if all is going well), I will progress to mushy foods (yayyyy)!. Also, just a thought, but I KNOW I have never seen so many food commercials in all my life!

Hey Marchers! How's everyone doing today? Today I move forward to full liquids (protein shakes, SF Jello, NF Yogurt, really thin oatmeal, thin cream of wheat, etc.). I think I will focus on my shake and take "baby sips" all day. If I can get down just 1 shake, then that's 42g of protein. Also taking tiny sips of water pretty much all day. I haven't tried to reach that "full" stage yet, still a little scared to try and push it yet. I have a follow up Wednesday with Surgeon and he will remove my drain. I'll ask him more then. Feeling much more normal now . . . . if only I could get back my good posture (LOL). Everytime I get up to walk somewhere I find myself walking like my grandmother (haha).