Sabrina

I never would have thought about pork rinds. Cool. Enjoy your trip, mini-me :blushing:

Pork rinds? Really? I'm going on a road trip mid March, but I'll be with 4 children. You are so lucky to be without the kids, Mini-me

I had surgery the same day and have lost the same amount of weight. I'd be happier if it were 42 lbs instead LOL. No clue about the nausea other than maybe chew ginger gum.

I had the sleeve two weeks ago. I go on a cruise in 4 weeks. I discussed to with my doctors before the surgery. They told me no problem. I would love to go on a zipline, but I have to heal more than just 6 weeks for that LOL Snorkeling will be fine as will your other activities. My doctor also told me to drink if I want. "if you have dumping syndrome, don't blame me. If you can handle it, then do it and enjoy your vacation." Seems reasonable to me.

Sounds less tragic than I imagine it being LOL Good for you!

We are going on a cruise in 4 weeks. I sure hope this passes by then. You are right on about that urgency. I thought I was going to poop my pants earlier LOL I didn't and that's the only reason I can laugh.

I have never been lactose intolerant. My stomach - at least my old one, maybe not the new one LOL - is made of steel. I can eat anything and it doesn't bother my tummy. As long as i stay hydrated, I'm not really worried about the diarrhea.

Thanks for the advice. I had wondered if it was the whey protein. The BM doesn't bother me. The hellacious cramping does though, as you can imagine. I can have yogurt. I haven't really bothered though. I'll go buy some Activia tomorrow.

I am 2 weeks out tomorrow (surgery same date as you) and down 22 lbs so far. I think I am one of the lucky ones. I am tall (5' 9"), so even though I was 227 day of surgery, I wasn't huge, just more chunky than I am comfortable being. I am guessing 20 the first month would be more the norm. When my husband saw my diet, he said, "you'll probably lose 20lbs just being on liquids for two weeks." He was right. If I can, I'll switch to a liquid diet for a week when I get a stall. I go to the doc Tuesday and I'll ask him, but I assume they prefer that I follow their diet now and transition to the soft foods then solids before I put myself back on liquids. Best of luck to you!

I had surgery on Monday and the drain came out when I was released on Wednesday... or was it Thursday? One of the surgeons took mine out before he put the discharge order in. I had 2 drains during my last surgery too (when my band eroded and put a huge hole in my stomach). I hate, hate, hated getting those things out. It is just an icky feeling. It hurts a little bit while you're getting them pulled out, but as soon as they are out no pain at all.

Tomorrow I will be 2 weeks out from surgery. I am doing great and have gone from 227 to 205 in 13 days! Since I have had this surgery, I don't have a BM often. The last two times I did, I had horrible cramps and what appeared to be diarrhea. Several trips to the bathroom today. Several trips last Tuesday. This is making me miserable. Is this the "norm?" I didn't sign on for this part of the surgery LOL

Vacation just won't be the same without a martini, but I'd hate to rip my stomach open at sea LOL The diet makes sense now tat you've explained it. Thanks for the info. I'm just looking forward to getting this done and over with. I was in the hospital for two weeks (was released one day, then back the next for an abscess) after my band removal. I was planning on that long for this surgery simply based upon my previous experience. My surgeon is very concerned about a leak.

Hi, Sarah! I had a lapband and regret it. I feel this is the right decision (for me) too. Welcome!

I'm in El Paso. If I were closer like Phoenix, I'd help you out. I don't have a weak stomach and have witnessed a few surgeries. We are going to be in southern CA a month prior. I don't know if I can talk my husband into taking leave just a month later so I can drive out to SD. If you get desperate, I can maybe swing it.

Hi, Laurie! I go under a week later, so we'll be going through thins at around the same time. I can't wait to hear how everyone is doing.

Thanks for the response! I guess I'll slowly ween myself off my soda now so it isn't such a shock in a couple of weeks.

WOW! That is truly amazing. I noticed in your siggy that you had your sleeve at Eglin AFB, I'm also getting the sleeve by a military doc. We do have some great docs here, for sure. I am curious, did you need any plastic surgery, or did your skin snap back to place? When I lost 80lbs on the band, my skin snapped just fine. I'm worried it isn't going to do that this time. You must be beside yourself with pride looking like that now. Amazing!

Hi all! I've been perusing the boards trying to gather info. My name is Sabrina and I have 4 small children. I had been thin my entire life. All of a sudden at 33 I had a newborn and a 1 year old and about 100 extra lbs of flub. My sister and I went to Tiajuana and had lap band surgery with Dr. Ortiz on 4/1/04. I lost 80 lbs in 6 months and looked and felt great! Then in 2006 I kept having issues with a "bubbly tummy." I was miserable and in pain almost all of the time. I was also pregnant with #3 and attributed it to being knocked up. 13 months after he was born I had our youngest child. Four babies in 5 years wreaked havoc on my once thin body. Even though I still had the band, I gained a large amount of weight with the last two pregnancies. I went to the doctor and was checked many times for the stomach pains I was having. From March 2006 until July 2009 I was in pain nearly all the time. in July 2009 my doctor decided to go in and remove my band. It wasn't working and I was miserable with it. He was going to take it out, take a look, then do the sleeve at that time. Well when he went in he found my band all eroded and a huge hole in my stomach. That was repaired. I was in the ICU for two days and not allowed to have any Water - not even ice chips - for fear I may have a leak. On day 3 they had me swallow barium under fluoroscopy and I was fine. I got some ice chips and I swear that was the absolute best thing I have ever put in my mouth LOL Due to the repair my doc made to my stomach, he wanted to wait until I was at least 6 months post op to do the sleeve. I have gained 50 lbs and 4 jean sizes since having that stupid band removed. My sister's eroded too and she had it removed in the summer of 2008. Hers nearly killed her. Infection just ravaged her body, it was very dire. She pulled through fine though. I know people who are getting the band and are so happy. I was happy with mine too for two years. I don't want to be a downer and tell them my horror stories LOL I've noticed a lot of you have had your bands removed. May I ask why? I'm still perusing the site. There is so much information here and so many stories. If you will indulge me in a coupe of questions, please? We cruise 6 weeks after my surgery. My doctor, even though he has warned me I am at a higher risk for leaks due to my previous hole and could possibly be in the hospital for a month, is confident I'll be ok to sail the high seas 6 weeks post op. I've been salivating over the menus on board, so I am regretting having the surgery before the cruise LOL I like to drink. I have four kids; I need to drink. Honestly, if it wasn't for fattening Sam Adams, I would likely be 110 lbs :wink1: I'll stick with martinis afterward, low carbs and less fattening than wine. I will have a cocktail a night on the cruise. This is vacation and vacations are made for fun and some drinking. How do y'all do with a cocktail? I cannot imagine it would be any different than pre-op, but I have read about stomach burning? I adore having a diet dr pepper every morning. How do y'all do with carbonated beverages? I can give that up if I have to, but I really do enjoy having one in the morning. I can go back to coffee. Much like quitting smoking, the hardest part will be while driving. I like to hit up sonic for a route 44 diet dr p if I'm going to be in the car for a while. I can switch to water though if I have to do it. Can you still toss back a soda, or is it hard on your tummy now? I am happy to report that as soon as I got that stupid band out, no more tummy pain. I don't want to do anything to screw up and start tummy pain again. That was just miserable. I look forward to getting to know everyone