BeanieandRosie'smom

Thanks, the nurse in me is always asking questions like that. They use Toradol here in Canada too, or at least at my clinic the surgeons do.

Just wanted to update for all you upcoming sleevers. I feel almost 100%! Yesterday I was still dealing with issues from my IV site, but today I went out and did regular things and I can now sleep on my stomach again! It only took about three days to feel better. I don't really need pain medication (I have Toradol, no narcotics) but I'm still taking it on schedule to help with the discomfort and swelling in my abdomen. Even though the clear Protein is disgusting, I've managed to get it down fine! I visited the doctor yesterday (here in the states) and got some zofran for nausea which helps me sleep...something about laying down has been giving me nausea (?) I think it might be my post nasal drip...
All in all, this was the toughest surgery I've ever had (I've had sinus surgery, lap-band, melanoma removal, gall bladder and now sleeve), and I thought I wanted to die when I was vomiting blood Friday night, but it's amazing what a turn around a few days makes. For all you wanting to die right after surgery---hang on! Especially you guys in Mexico with the crappy pain killers :/ You can do this!!
Good luck and love to all!!
Erika

Just wanted to update for all you upcoming sleevers. I feel almost 100%! Yesterday I was still dealing with issues from my IV site, but today I went out and did regular things and I can now sleep on my stomach again! It only took about three days to feel better. I don't really need pain medication (I have Toradol, no narcotics) but I'm still taking it on schedule to help with the discomfort and swelling in my abdomen. Even though the clear Protein is disgusting, I've managed to get it down fine! I visited the doctor yesterday (here in the states) and got some zofran for nausea which helps me sleep...something about laying down has been giving me nausea (?) I think it might be my post nasal drip...
All in all, this was the toughest surgery I've ever had (I've had sinus surgery, lap-band, melanoma removal, gall bladder and now sleeve), and I thought I wanted to die when I was vomiting blood Friday night, but it's amazing what a turn around a few days makes. For all you wanting to die right after surgery---hang on! Especially you guys in Mexico with the crappy pain killers :/ You can do this!!
Good luck and love to all!!
Erika

Sleeved August 15th and down12 lbs. but I can't wait for soft foods next week. I don't want to see Jello or another Popsicle again.

Hey So Ready!
I am doing ok! Just walking around, still have major gas pains... I would love it if you'd email me!

Hey all!
I will admit I haven't been the best about reading the posts in here since it got so huge! I just thought I'd give an update since my surgery was yesterday.
I seem to be one of the people with lots of nausea (boo!) I threw up blood most of the night. I am a revision surgery so I'm sure there's more trauma with them removing scar tissue, etc...
I am feeling better this morning, it's amazing, the pain is just about the same as it was getting my band placed! It's just the nausea that's killing me! Luckily the anti-nausea meds helped me sleep.
The best thing I did was bring two of our down comforters from home in space bags for my husband and I. I didn't do this last time and the sheets were too thin here. I've been sleeping lots better with my cozy banket.
I hope all you sleevers are going great!
Love to you all
Erika

Tks Erika! & congrats to u! How r u feelin today?! I def will email u with ques-hope u don't mind!! Did your procedure run smoothly? I'm flyin in the same day as my surgery-so will b rush rush-I pref it that way

Hey all!
I will admit I haven't been the best about reading the posts in here since it got so huge! I just thought I'd give an update since my surgery was yesterday.
I seem to be one of the people with lots of nausea (boo!) I threw up blood most of the night. I am a revision surgery so I'm sure there's more trauma with them removing scar tissue, etc...
I am feeling better this morning, it's amazing, the pain is just about the same as it was getting my band placed! It's just the nausea that's killing me! Luckily the anti-nausea meds helped me sleep.
The best thing I did was bring two of our down comforters from home in space bags for my husband and I. I didn't do this last time and the sheets were too thin here. I've been sleeping lots better with my cozy banket.
I hope all you sleevers are going great!
Love to you all
Erika

Hey all!
I will admit I haven't been the best about reading the posts in here since it got so huge! I just thought I'd give an update since my surgery was yesterday.
I seem to be one of the people with lots of nausea (boo!) I threw up blood most of the night. I am a revision surgery so I'm sure there's more trauma with them removing scar tissue, etc...
I am feeling better this morning, it's amazing, the pain is just about the same as it was getting my band placed! It's just the nausea that's killing me! Luckily the anti-nausea meds helped me sleep.
The best thing I did was bring two of our down comforters from home in space bags for my husband and I. I didn't do this last time and the sheets were too thin here. I've been sleeping lots better with my cozy banket.
I hope all you sleevers are going great!
Love to you all
Erika

I never achieved that kind of success with the band. I think I lost 30 lbs and gained all of it back and then some. So you are already ahead of the game.

I am new to this forum & SO glad I've joined! I'm havin my band remov converted to vsg on Sept 14th & don't really have anyone around who understands, or can give advice! U r all special!! I don't feel so alone in this adventure now-just being able to read & kno there r ppl out there who feel EXACTLY what I am! I am travelling to Mex to have mine done-has anyone else done this? I'm nervous & excited-what an adventure I'm about to begin

I'm checked into the hospital and ready to go! Waiting for them to take me down. Wish me luck and I'll try to post later.

Great to hear the surgery went good!! I'm having mine tomorrow!!!

I am also having my band removed in Sept. I have had my band since June of 2011 and had some success, but due to lots of swelling, vomiting and "stuck" episodes my surgeon wants it out. Time for another route. liquid diet starts in 2 weeks!

PJ, I think one of the powers of posting to these forums is the "Self discovery" as you write. I had no idea how complex my feelings about the band were until I was .... overwhelmed with fear and doubt about the decision to revise.
I spent about a year in complete turmoil. AT some point, I started posting here and another sleeve forum and began to understand those feelings. There were a couple of regular posters here who very much inspired me (Tiffikins among others) to realize that I didn't just fail with the band, the band failed me.
I lost 70# in the first year with the band. I exercised, I dieted, I suffered reflux that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I suffered embarrasment of needing to throw up in the middle of a business lunch. I was hungry but couldn't eat. I felt horrible about myself even as I was losing weight. And you know what, I blamed myself for all that. Then, when I thought I would die from the reflux and had all the Fluid removed, that huge rebound in weight was further evidence that "I failed".
But, my new perspective is this - I did better losing weight on weight watchers with zero fill in the band then I EVER did following the "band" protocol. Fills were uncomfortable and miserable. It was stupid to have a device that I would hurl after one bite of salad so slider foods where the only thing that felt comfortable. I had horrid aftercare, nobody told me how to properly manage the reflux etc etc. I no longer feel embarrassed about my failure. If anything I am more pissed off about what i went through.
This experience really did influence me in choosing a surgeon and choosing how I am approaching the sleeve though. After care means the world to me because I didn't have it before and I need it (not saying everybody does, but i do) so I stayed in the USA and went to a local surgeon. I set aside any pride and go to a nutritionalist, even though i am already fairly self educated. She turned out to be an amazing cheerleader and resource for me - but I needed to be open to that. I can go on and on about what i am doing different this time, but bottom line, the sleeve is a better tool by a long shot and your ODDS of success are just much better with a heck of a lot less suffering. I hope i have learned from my mistakes too and just bring a different point of view to the table now.

You will get biased information here. Everyone of us had significant issues or we would still be banded.
My view - the band is absolutely terrible. It causes damage, scar tissue, reflux. Most/many people eventually have problems of some sort that requires Fluid to be removed or band removal. In my case, I often felt a strong desire to eat even though the pouch was full. I vomited more then I care to recall and it was often triggered by healthier foods like veggies and salads. Junk food, no problem.
It is said that only about 30% of the people are successful with it over the long term (ie more then 5 years out). I personally would be surprised to here it is that good. I was banded for 10 years and knew quite a few fellow bandsters from a decade ago. Only 2 are still banded and have remained trim. Like I said, the vast majority will need to have it unfilled (permanently) and like removed eventually.
It was a reasonable choice 10 years ago, since it was either it or the gastric bypass, but I have no idea why people are still getting it (unless there is a specific reason they cannot be sleeved). Many docs are shifting away from the band due to poor long term results.
Tell your friend to ask lots of questions about the 5-10 year + results.
The counter argument is that the sleeve doesn't have such a long track record - so taking a gamble. True, but with the band you KNOW the track record is very poor over the long run so in my mind it isn't so much a gamble as it is betting that your results will beat the known averages - seems to me an unwise bet.

Thanks guys for the support! I do appreciate it! My assistant is out having a baby, so she called this morning when I was crying to check on me. She heard me sobbing and said, 'Oh, no you don't ! You've wanted this too long to doubt yourself now! Pull your big girl panties up and let's do this!' That's pretty much what I told her when she called me crying during labor from her hospital bed! So, I offer the same advice to all of us - let's pull the big girl panties up and get through this! The rest of it (how much will I lose, will I be successful, etc.) can wait until the surgery is done!

Hey!! Don't panic! I cheated Saturday and told my surgical coordinator. She said it was fine, and they only expect you to "try your best." I felt horrible, but then I didn't feel so bad after she said that. My friend who had her surgery in May didn't even have a pre-op diet, and she was fine. I doubt there will be a problem. I had the same pre-op diet with my lap band and I also cheated, and they told me my liver looked great. I am around 250lbs. I'm not sure if how big a deal
Cheating is the bigger you are.
Main point: don't beat yourself up. No one is perfect! Good luck!!!
Erika

I had a slight breakdown this morning! I was getting ready for work and just started crying my eyes out! It's not that I'm scared.... Okay, maybe a little, but I think my biggest fear is failure once again. What if it doesn't work for me? This seems like such a last ditch effort and I don't want to screw this up! Anybody feeling my pain out there?

Let's try to get some perspective here.
When was the last time you lost 40lbs?
How tall are you? What was your start weight?
Even if your weightloss dropped to 1/2 the rate it has been, you will have lost 100lbs by your 1 year mark.
How much exercise are you getting?
And be aware, a big part of your emotional state right now is because you are losing weight. All that fat that is coming off is releasing more estrogen into your system
You are doing just fine.
Can you do better? Maybe, that is really up to you.
Don't try to make this a race, this is a life thing.