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No questions are stupid but I cannot imagine a credible doctor that would leave the band on wile performing a revision. The band has to be removed so the stomach can be resized into a sleeve.

It is true every doctor has different requirements. My doc requires at least two weeks but prefers patients take four. I've tried returning to work early from procedures in the past and decided to follow the rules this time. I am bored to death but honestly think the time off is needed to become accustomed to this new stomach/life.

Thanks for this thread. I am just at three weeks out and was having an easy time of it pain wise until last Wednesday. An area to the (my) right of the belly button has gone insane with pain upon movement! My doctor's office advice is to just take more pain meds which I am not doing for personal reasons. I was actually considering an ER visit but thoughts of the copay and coinsurance amounts made me think twice. Goodness knows I already have enough bills from the surgery itself. Now I'll just try to tough it out.

You really need to consider yourself lucky. I am almost three weeks out and still cannot get in the amounts of liquid that you can. I will not even discuss protein amounts because I have given up on that totally because all if does is make me ill (i've tried multiple brands/formats). I only wish I was able to do what you are, my greatest fear is this eating/drinking crap will never get better.

Not that it was ever on my radar but my doctor is not a fan of the lapband and made it very well known. I selected the sleeve because I was deathly afraid of the malabsorbation issues which are pretty much standard with RNY.

Another Houston sleever here. I just joined the meetup group, hope we can get something planned soon. I'm open to just about any and everything at this point, I just need to meet/talk to others that are going through the same things as I.

I'm recently sleeved but had already decided the Texas Summer was not going to be my friend on the walking front! I joined a local Y and will get all walking in on the treadmill. I much prefer real walking outside but that will not be possible for several more months so will have to make due on the machines.

I was sleeved on 7/17/12 and totally feel your pain. I am taking prevacid daily per doctor's orders but I had reflux prior to surgery as well. I still cannot tolerate protein drinks of any type. Not the Isopure premixed fruit drinks, not the GNC mixes or even the BariCare mixes that I was on prior to surgery. I am worried about this as my doc presses the importance of protein as a healing mechanism but right now I could care less. If I cannot get or keep it down then it is no longer important right now. My focus right now is staying hydrated as I can only sip liquids which does not nearly quench my ungodly thirst.

Wow, you've been through the ringer but you're still here! Congrats on that and may you heal quickly and most importantly, uneventfully!

The liquid, full liquid and puree stages are not easy. There is nothing really to say except you have to suffer through it. I am 12 days out and just started purees. It has been an experience. One day we'll all look back on this and laugh.

I'm on a second floor and has to do stairs from day one. My surgeon had no issues with this except for a concern about the stairs and pain medication use. I will say , go slow! This is not a race and you will be very sore after surgeon, probably more on the right side, and trying to race up the stairs will only cause more pain.

Per my surgeon's request I am taking Lovenoxdaily for 14 days after discharge. It was given to me post op in the hospial as well. I did not have any issues with blood clooting prior to surgery but my doc uses it as a preventative. I will say this, I'm on the generic and the cost was still insane at $107.

I have PCOS and was sleeved on 7/17/12 so cannot answer your questions but I will keep an eye on this forum to see if others have advice.

A little late to the discussion but my surgeon requires no driving for at least a week to ten days after surgeon and requires a patient to be off of all pain medications. Luckily I did not feel the neeed for pain meds after coming home from the hospital and started driving about day 8.

In addition to other items, my surgeon has very strict rules about soda consumption and smoking. I was addicted to both as a major coke addict (several a day) and smoker (1/4 - 1/2 pack a day). Never thought I'd be able to stop either but was doubly worried about the soda. I stopped coke, cold turkey, 2 months prior to surgery and the cigs 1 1/2 month. I did this because my surgeon will not knowingly operate on people that still drink soda and/or smoke. Those are his rules and I respect them. People I have spoken to state that he has very strict pre and post op rules and they are correct but maybe this is how he keeps his complication rates low. I've no idea but I chose him to be my surgeon and feel like it is my duty to follow his rules. There are many WLS docs in my city and if I did not want to tow the line, I could have selected someone else. Do I still crave two of my biggest vices? Hell yes, almost daily but I am trying to make positive health changes for the future. I went so far as to mutilate my stomach in an effort to lose weight so at least I can do all to make it a worthwhile endeavor. Just my .02