xbander

Hi All On the 20th OCT I had my op - revision from band to sleeve. When I arrived at the hospital I was really nervous, my blood pressure was thru the roof. The staff were great, calmed me down. I was scheduled to go in at 200pm and ended up going in only at about 7pm. Everything went as expected - thanks to this form.:001_smile: I am feeling NOT hungry - which is very weird, because I have not eaten for 3 days - starting now on the liquids - had the IV up until yesterday. There was one little thing though that I did want to mention. When I was in the recovery room right after the op, I was in a hell of a lot of pain. I didn't quite expect that. The nurses gave me pain killers straight away, but I did start to hyperventilate and get into a bit of a panic. Once the meds kicked in I was fine and I have been feeling fine ever since. So there were no complications (so far.... Thank God) I think that I am happy having done the sleeve, but feel almost as if I am grieving a little. Did that happen to anyone else? Also, my Dr has said to be on Clear Liquids for a week and then the 2nd -3 rd week mushies - does that sound right? Also, I read that alot of people after the sleeve can't tolerate milk. What do the coffee drinkers do? Is coffee with milk considered clear fluids? Hope to hear from someone.

Hi Helen so what happens when you start eating "normally" and kind of forget you have the sleeve for that split second - take that gulp or bite with out chewing properly - do you run to the toilet to vomit like with the band? I just want to feel normal with food - and know that I can eat - but just smaller portions. Will that happen?

They did a leak test in the OR. I woke up with all blue on my tongue and my DR said that was because of the leak test. But nothing since. Should I ask for one? I think I feel fine. But just incase..... Also, the scales are already not budging. I have lost almost 4kg, but nothing in the last 2 days.

Hi Vegas why can't you have anything until mid morning? I thought that sleeve stopped that kind of problem. I had that with the band that I could not put anything hardly in my mouth until late morning coz things would get stuck. I have just had the sleeve so I don't really know about proper food. Isn't the sleeve supposed to work as a proper stomach but just limit the amount of food that you eat? Also, question regarding dumping syndrome. I have noticed that if I have taken a taste of yoghurt that is "too" sugary I get palpations and sweaty. I also thought with the sleeve your not supposed to get that. Has anyone experienced the above?

Hi thanks for your replies. I was actually LOL when I read about jelly. When I say jelly I mean the wobbly cold stuff that you make with boiling Water and stick in the fridge and not jam that you spread on bread. Isn't the English language interesting? There are quite a few other words that now that I think about them have different meanings in different countries.... even though it is still English. So Helen, thanks for clarifying Anyway, regarding the toilet issue. I am one week out now and have not had the runs - only managed to do one that was pretty ordinary. So I am getting pretty anxious now. I think I will get some benefibre - should I take a laxative though in the meanwhile? I just remember reading a story here - can't remember who it was but they said that they were so bad and in such agony that one night it just ended up coming out hard as rocks and caused them some internal damage. I am definately watching my liquid intake but still.....

Hi Jachat I was reading your post - and I was so excited to read that someone is describing themselves with having skinny parts :001_tongue:. I looked at your photos your amazing - you look as if you were never overweight!!!! When did you get sleeved? How much have you lost? What is your story? I am sure you have probably said it many times - but I am not sure how to find it here. I think you could definately be a huge inspiration for all.

WOW you look fantastic!!!!!! Such a difference.:thumbup1:

Tiff I love your answers. They are always so informative. Thanks so much.

Oh my goodness!!! I really hope that you feel better soon. Good on you for being in touch with your body. I think that if there is any concern with anything - always go to the Dr. I am a bit worried - my Dr has not asked me to do an ultra sound at all. Should I request one? I had my op 6 days ago.

Hi Tiff Thanks for the detailed info. It is very true that different surgeons advise of different diets to start with. Mine has not been as "strict" I guess. Even said that I can start on mushies..... as long as I chew until I feel that all is liquid in my mouth. One of my biggest fears at the moment is going to the toilet. It has happened once since the op.... I am just scared that if I have to push I might do something to damage my insides. Hi Wishinghoping the really bad pain was only in the recovery room right after the op. I did ask for pain relief the whole time in hospital - but honestly I could have done with out it. My op was done laproscopically. Now that I am home I am not taking anything. My tummy is a little sore, and when I am in bed and have to turn over it hurts a little, but not something that is terrible. Are you pre op?

I heard that you lose first where you gain first. Regardless, the areas we hate the most are always the last to go.... for me my thunder thighs and tyre and bowling ball head. I am hoping in a few more weeks I will be able to tell you what my personal experience is and describe myself a little better. But, good on you for losing so much weight in such a short time.

Hi So how is it that people are eating jelly? Jelly isn't clear? I hate to sound daft..... What about fruit juices, Protein shakes, they are not clear either? Now I am a bit confused.:001_smile:

Hi All I am scheduled for tomorrow and so excited that I can hardly concentrate on anything....... Now I feel as if I have forgotten all the info that I have accumulated over the last few months. Can somebody please remind me of pre and post op procedures, diet etc.. I will go over the threads again. But I am all frazzled. YAY :sad0::lol0::lol0::lol0::lol0::lol0:

Hi Everyone Thanks for your words of encouragement!!!! I posted in the post op section. Generally feeling pretty good. I will keep you updated. But, please please keep writing about your personal experiences - I live for them!!!!

Hi I wanted to know if VSG is the same as stomach stapling?

Hi Guys I havn't written in a while because I was really down. I thought getting the sleeve date organised was going to be a piece of cake after talking to my surgeon. Anyway, here there is so much bureaucracy. I have to do a million and one tests, all at different places all over the country!!!! It has got me so down that I have not stopped eating. I think that I have put on at least 4kg just because I feel like SH..... Hopefully though there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On the 11 OCT I have to go to a meeting with 4 DR to see if they approve the surgery. Here, even though my DR has agreed, nothing can be done without their approval. In the meanwhile though I have to make sure that I have completed all the neccessary tests. Anyway, I am also getting nervous that I am going to be one of those failed cases and still continue with my old terrible habit of binging until my stomach hurts. Does any one recall every sitting there and eating and eating, thinking to themselves - what is my problem.... why can't I stop eating, but still keep eating? I really hope that with the sleeve the emothional eating will stop and that I won't sit there anymore and eat for the sake of eating. As you can see I am pretty down, I hope though that my enthusiasm will return.

I just told my mum the other day. She has never had a weight issue - no one in my family has - so I really did not tell her all the information that I have. I am so scared that I will fail again. I am not even telling my husband yet - he just thinks that I plan on having the band removed. He is very supportive with all my decisions, but he is a believer in will power - mind over matter. I want to succeed (hopefully) and then see what happens from there. You know how when you tell people that you plan on stopping to smoke, and then they see you with the same thing. I think that it is the same concept. Anyway, its my body, my decision and one that I think I definately have thought thru. But honestly - I am still quite embarrassed of the whole concept. You know what I mean?

Hi All I am new to this and actually a bit nervous writing on this forum as I have never done it before. I was hoping to hear from others that have had the lapband in the past and now have done the sleeve. I am getting my band removed in couple of weeks and getting the sleeve done. When I went to the dr I was really nervous that he would tell me that I no longer qualify for any surgery anymore because my BMI is too low. Lucky for me (I guess) my BMI is 32- still can't shop in regular clothes stores where I live. :wink0: To cut a long story short, I have other medical problems and with out hesitating he said that there is no way that he will let me go with out anything to protect me from becoming morbidly obese again. Is there anyone out there that can tell me their experience. I really want to hear from you - especially those that started off with low BMI (even though it is still in the obese catagory) I want to hear the good and the bad.

GOOD ON YOU - you must be so proud of yourself. Keep up the good work :biggrin2:

Hi Ruthi I know that my biggest problem is head hunger!!! If it wasn't for head hunger I wouldn't be in the situation that I am in today. How do you control it? What do you do when you sit there and eat, know your not hungary and still can't stop? That is my biggest fear. You know you hear of people that no how to cheat - how do I stop myself from looking for it?

Hi Chantie Funny you should mentione chantix, I only heard about it yesterday. I am a smoker and I am dying to quit. Are you allowed to take it before an operation? Does it have any bad affects. A dr I saw yesterday perscribed it to me, but I forgot to ask if it is ok to take before surgery.

Hi Guys I have a question. Do most people have the one surgery when removing the band and then getting the sleeve. From the post I am not sure, as many say they get the band removed by ione Dr and then the sleeve done by another. I will be having the band to sleeve done all in one. But I just wanted to know what others have done.

Just wanted to ask regarding the stuck feeling - does anyone know if it is the same kind of stuck feeling you get with the lap band. If it is, then now I am getting quite anxious because I decided to get the sleeve done and was actually looking forward to it. Now I am having second thoughts... Help please.

Hi I am in the same boat as you, however I am lucky that when I did the band and now when I will get my sleeve insurance will pay. I am not from the US, why is it that insurance won't cover? I don't get it - the whole world knows that obesity is one of the biggest killer diseases!!! Anyway, I just joined recently myself and from most of the info that I have been receiving from the people here, the sleeve sounds like an absolute life saver. I can't wait for it now. Of course though I checked every single website that I could find regarding the sleeve and especially those sites that had info on revision from band to sleeve. The best for me though is to actually hearing things from real people that are just telling their personal stories.