thebionicbroad

My surgeon was thrilled to be able to take the gall bladder out the same time as the revision was done. I had a calcified, ancient stone the size of a jaw-breaker. He told me that the risks of having the gall bladder out were less than depending on the meds. The revision was my 6th abdominal surgery. Enough is enough.

Hey Biggie, Welcome to the forum. The first 5 days, I was convinced that I had made a mistake. I hurt (gall bladder came out, too), I felt like a balloon, and I was scared to drink too much. I had a real turn-around at day 8, and I've felt great ever since. Gas-X, lots of walking, and I don't measure my Water. I drink to keep my urine clear or very pale. Probably TMI, but it works for me.

I'm losing a bit more hair than usual, but honestly, if I had to make a choice, I'd rather be bald than obese.

Welcome, Sunshine! Lots of great info and support here. I'm almost 3 weeks post-op and feeling great.

Good work, and an inspiration to those of us who aren't there yet! My doc gave me a prescription for Famotidine (Pepcid), 20 mg, 2X day.

FF, I'm getting all my fluids, and I've been drinking the same Protein, Isopure, on and off for a few years. Nothing has changed except fat and calorie intake. And it's just from hip joint to knee. I'm just weird, I guess.

When using a public restroom, I won't have to stand on the toilet to get the door open and closed.

Welcome, Brown Owl! ​Sounds like you are doing beautifully. I'm only 2 1/2 weeks post-op, so your story is good for me to hear.

I still have residual esophageal dilation from my Band (ping-pong ball feeling). I still have an occasional spasm, which hurts like crazy. But with the acid-blocker, and time, they are going away.

I'm 2 1/2 weeks post-op, and happy as a clam. A 28-pound lighter clam.

In spite of the brainwashing out there, a normal cholesterol range is 200 - 220. Your cholesterol ratio, total cholesterol to your HDL number, is a better way to figure your heart attack risk than just cholesterol alone. According to the Mayo Clinic: "You can calculate your cholesterol ratio by dividing your high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol into your total cholesterol. For example, if your total cholesterol is 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), and your HDL cholesterol is 50 mg/dL, your cholesterol ratio is 4-to-1. The goal is to keep your cholesterol ratio 4-to-1 or lower. A higher ratio indicates a higher risk of heart disease; a lower ratio indicates a lower risk" A low cholesterol score can actually be more of a heart attack danger than one around 220. It all depends on your ratio.

2 1/2 weeks post-op and on mushies. I used to live on peanut butter, so I slipped a small amount into my blended chocolate protein drink. I almost threw up, I was so nauseous. That's the only nausea I've had. Never again. Aaargh.

Popcorn from the beginning?! All it takes is the mental image of an impacted, abscessed staple line to kill the craving. Popcorn is one of the things that I will only attempt with the surgeon's permission. Holy moley.

Yecats, Thank you. That explains a lot.

Welcome! I was on full liquids on the 2nd day, and on mushies at one week post-op. Every doctor is different.

Happy New Year, kimmr! My insurance, Kaiser, didn't do the Band back in '05, so I was a self-pay. Now that Kaiser does the sleeve, I didn't qualify because of having a lower BMI (36) with no co-morbidities. No high BP, no diabetes, no sleep apnea. I qualified for the sleeve because of all the complications I was having with the Band. 28 pounds in 28 days is all I can say.

It's ironic that, if I hadn't have had the Band with all of its complications, my insurance wouldn't have paid for the revision. I'm 16 days post-op, on mushies, and able to eat cooked egg, something I couldn't do with the Band. I am a very Happy Camper. All of you, have a wonderful New Year! My black-eyed peas are already in the pantry, waiting to be pureed.

Per my surgeon's orders, I'm on mushies until February 2nd, my next appointment. A sample menu for me is a poached egg for breakfast with a bit of pureed ham, a double protein drink (50 gms. protein), and a 1/4 c. cottage cheese for supper. I've also had three Vienna sausages, or a 1/4 c. of refried beans with a few cheese shreds on top. So far, so good.

Counseling sounds like a good idea. I've gone several times in the course of my years, and it's helped. My alcoholic and diabetic family is prone to depression. And I don't think that you're being unreasonable. You're looking for answers. Pat

Happy, Fear and confusion don't come from God. Your first friend's outcome was a miracle; the second was malpractice. Hang on to what you know is best for you.

I'm two weeks post-op and on mushies and full liquids. I forget to eat. Will this change after the stomach heals? I don't know. All I do know is that this is 1,000% better than the Band.

Hey, everyone. I'm two weeks post-op as of today, down 25 pounds since December 1st, and recovering nicely. I keep reading occasional comments about the 3-week stall. Am I about to hit a weight-loss wall? What happened to you, and what did you do about it? Thanks.

Kimmr, Heck, yes, I can feel your pain. I felt shame for years after my Band failure. People would look at me and sneer. "YOU have a Band?" I had gained all my weight back plus some, and couldn't eat anything but what kept my weight up - greasy, fatty, slippery. My surgeon told me that no matter how disciplined the patient, whenever the Band was removed, the patient gained weight. Every. Patient. A Lap-band failure doesn't mean that we are failures. The Band is not what it was touted to be. It causes slips, and scarring, and esophageal dilation, and erosion, and GERD, and hernias. The blasted thing should be pulled from the market. My surgeon lost someone who came in with a black, gangrenous stomach pouch. Those of us lucky enough to survive the thing to have a revision to a sleeve are the lucky ones. Obesity is one of the most complicated health issues on the planet. It's NOT just pushing away from the table. It is NOT a character flaw or weakness. It is a genetic, hormonal, and behavioral problem. Can you imagine a diabetic hating himself because he has to take insulin? Or a cancer patient despising herself because she's in chemo? But we chunkies love to hate ourselves. It ain't all us. Something, somewhere, at the cellular level, something went wrong. It doesn't mean that we are terrible people. It means that we need medical intervention. The Band was a flawed solution. The by-pass was out because the malabsorptive issue. The sleeve was my choice and my surgeon's recommendation. So far, I'm very pleased. I just don't want to see you blame yourself for a Band failure. Sounds like you did as well as anyone could. You deserve a better solution, my friend. Pat

Happy New Year to you, too, Roseigirl. Your weight loss is amazing!

Kimmr, I trust my surgeon's opinion and competence, and I'm holding up my part of the bargain by following the rules. If a leak does develop, I'll know that it wasn't due to something I did wrong. I'll deal with it if it happens. I know my body, and I don't ignore warning signs. The sleeve is one of the safest bariatric procedures out there. I researched thoroughly before I had the sleeve. I never would have agreed to something that I thought would take me away from my DH and family. I'm more afraid of losing my hair than developing a leak.