Back~To~Amy

The band is only initially lower risk. Once your stomach has healed from the VSG (about 12 weeks), there is virtually no risk. The risks with the band begin and continue while it is in your body. I was initially against VSG because they were cutting and removing the majority of my stomach. During the similar, the doctor said something that struck a chord. He said that VSG is relatively new but they have been cutting and removing portions of stomachs for medical issues such as cancer amd ulcers and other stuff since the early 1900's. That statement was the beginning of my research on the VSG and I never looked back. The band is very high maintenance and seems to have a lot of complications. Why don't you make a post here that you can show your Mom asking people to post about their band experience. There are a bunch here who are revision from band to VSG. Or, better yet, have your Mom come here and ask questions. Good luck to hoh in making your decision and in your journey.

Oh and one more thing. Use this board. The people here are priceless. I've been here with several issues and there are always people here to help. Family and friends are great support, but cannot truly understand what you are going through like the people here can. That is, unless they've been through this too.

Good luck to you all. I'm now 4 days postop and it has been an up and down journey. I've had moments of regret mostly because of unconteolled pain, but as I type this I have adequate pain control and no regret. Keep us posted.

Of course you worry. According to your user name you are a mother and that's what mothers do. Thanks for your support.

Thanks mama. My paperwork actually says I only have to call my doctor if it's over 101 degrees. My nurse told me a low grade fever isn't unusual. I was thinking about my fluid intake and I have been getting most of it by water. I made myself 8 ounces of chicken broth with a buillion cube dissolved in it and drank that. I finally do feel full. I also recently took my pain medicine and it has Tyelnol in it. So I'm hoping soon I will be fever and pain free on addition to my belly being full!

I'm only 4 days postop. Should I feel hungry? I'm having trouble with protein right now. Artificial sweetners are agreeing with my tummy. I've gotten in 30 grams of protein today but cannot go through again what I did earlier to get more in this evening. I'm allowed creamed soups but I keep those to a minimum. My paperwork doesn't say how much soup I'm allowed to eat on a day. Is it okay to increase it to feel full? Also, I'm running a low grade fever (99.2) and am feeling weak. I assume the weakness is lack of nutrition since surgery. Any words of wisdom from you postopers on how to feel full and better is appreciated.

Wow! I am so sorry you had to deal with what you did. That is just awful! The place where I had my surgery was awesome about controlling my pain. The first day I had serious gas pains. Since then, not so much. I can feel it and it feels better after I burp or toot, but it isn't painful. My severe pain was/is centered around that big incision where they pull the majority of your stomach out from. Just getting some relief from the pain has done a total 180 on my mental outlook. It's amazing the difference I feel both physically and mentally.

I just wanted to welcome you to VST and tell you the support around here is awesome! I can't answer your question though since I was sleeved just a day before you. Best of luck to you in your journey!

I'm only 3 days post op. but can already relate. I've had "buyers remorse" for having the surgery. What I discovered was it was all because of the intense pain I was in. I ended up calling my doctor who called in something stronger. Now that my pain is under control my outlook is much, much brighter! Don't let your pain get out of control! Call your doctor!

I have been in a huge amount of pain unable to stand up straight since they took me off the morphine at the start of day 2. I figured this wa normal amd it would get better. Then I remembered what my discharge nurse said about calling my doctor if my pain level wasn't under a certain level after 45 minutes of taking my pain meds. Therefore, I called them and they were more than happy to call me in something stronger and man oh mam can I tell a difference. I feel so much better. Yeah, I can still feel the area of my source of pain, but instead of a constant and annoying pain level of around 7, my pain level is around a 2. I'm a much happier girl right now. Finally, some relief! Some may ask the reason I chose to post this. It is so you learn from my lesson and don't suffer in pain when there is something out there stronger and/or better equipped to treat your pain. My outlook on this whole process is so much sunnier now that I'm not suffering so much!

Unfortunately, no one can tell you if you have anything to worry about as a lot of factors play into how your skin shrinks. One of the big ones is your genetics which are different in each person. I too worry about this. What I do know is I've read a ton of people say they'd rather be thinner with loose skin than to weigh what they weighed when they started this journey.

I too had crazy sleeve dreams right before surgery. I haven't had one in the 3 days since and I've slept a lot since then. Maybe the conflict worked itself out or maybe I'm not remembering any dreams due to the pain meds I'm on.

I am on a 21 day liquid postop diet. I have a feeling it's gonna be a long 21 days too. I'm trying to stay positive about it ny thinking of all the weight I'll lose while I'm on liquids. Stay strong! This is only temporary and you can do it!

I love pickles. Right before surgery, I found and purchased a huge jar of this sweet and spicy pickle that is my all time favorite. I'm only 3 days postop but I hope one day to be able to add them into my diet.

It wasn't painful for me either but you do have to take small sips. I'm only 3 days postop and the thing I notice is every time I take a drink I feel the gas pressure building in my chest right between my breasts. Then, I usually need to burp to release it.It doesn't hurt. I just feel it. I have had minimal gas pains and none, other than day 1, we're very bad.

1.) Yes 2.) 2 weeks...two shakes a day, 3 high Protein Snacks a day and one dinner with 5 oz. of lean meat, 2 cups of non- starch veggies and 1 fat serving. 3.) I'm only 3 days post op. I've had pain from just shot me to very little. Of course, the very little was when I got a bolus of morphine on top of the morphine pain pump. Today was my first full day out of the hospital and I had to call the doctor for a stronger pain relief. I'm still not able to stand up completely due to the pain.

Good information to know considering I'm on liquids for the next two weeks and 4 days.

I say leave him at home. You will be doing a lot of sleeping and he will be bored. Plus, if he complains you will be more worried about him than you and you don't need that.

I only have pain in one of my incisions.....the big one on the left side. I've never been stabbed but I'd venture to guess that the pain in that incision site feels like I was stabbed multiple times!

Thanks y'all for the quick replies. A friend of mine I met on here reminded about the heating pad. It is making a world of difference. Good to know I can give myself a little break on the Protein and just concentrate on my Water. Yesterday, I got over 50 ounces which I thought was pretty good this early out. I'm definitely not getting dehydrated. I will work on protein after I heal just a bit. I'm usually not a weenie when it comes to pain, but after this surgery I sure feel like one! I do feel somewhat better and less hopeless after reading your posts and now that my pain is down to around a 2 or 3 from the 6 or 7 it was when I made the original post.

How long does of take to stop hurting so intensely? And how long were you nauseous? I had surgery on Tuesday and the only thing I can get down is Water. My Protein makes me gag! I know I need it, but right now all I really care about is keeping hydrated with water and trying to alleviate some of my pain. I am certainly having "buyers remorse" and not liking my surgeon right now! How long did it take to feel somewhat better than feeling like you'd been run over by a Mack truck?

As I'm sure most of us know, the physicians all have their own way of doing things that they believe is in the best interest of their patients. For example, my doctor keeps us on liquids for 3 weeks postop because he has a 0 leak record if a person didn't cheat that. I've not come across any other surgeon who is quite that conservative. He does it because he believes it is best. Just as another doctor has a different protocol that he feels is best. Best of luck to you!