thebionicbroad

Well, I'm three days post-op, walking like I'm 154, instead of 54, having a terrible time trying to quaff enough Water and Protein, trying not to vomit when I down my crushed meds, my abdomen looks like I'm a cage fighter, sugar-free doesn't taste very good anymore, and I actually ordered a baby spoon, 2-oz. bowls with snap-on lids, and a 5" dinner plate to use at home. Holey moley. The surgeon was wonderful, the nursing staff divine, and my family is incredibly supportive. Kaiser in Harbor City, CA, was fabulous. After six years of a overly tight, partially slipped Band, I feel a bit lost. I'm scared to death of dilating the sleeve, I don't know whether or not I'm hungry, and I'll probably be asking some pretty stupid questions along the way. I'm not sorry at all that I did this. Thanks to you for being so supportive. I just want this to turn out better than that stoopid Band.

Well, tomorrow I'll find out. I'm a 6-year Bandster who has had nothing but grief with the thing. PBing, vomiting, unable to eat solid proteins, esophageal stacking, reflux, dehydration leading to a monstrous kidney stone, you name it. I am having a revision to a sleeve tomorrow, and never considered the by-pass for more than a few seconds. My mother is a retired nursing instructor, and she said that no one should get the by-pass unless they weigh a 1,000 pounds. Osteoporosis is BAD in my family, and I can't even consider a malabsorptive procedure like the by-pass. The only thing my mom wants me to ask the surgeon about is B-12 shots, since the fundus of the stomach makes the intrinsic factor, which enables us to absorb B-12. That's all she's concerned about. For me, the sleeve is the only option. Good luck with your research. It's a very personal and individualized decision.

I don't have much hair to start with. *sigh* My surgery date is 12/14. I guess I'll end up looking like an egg. A thin egg, but an egg nonetheless.

I won't know what is going to happen until the actual surgery. I do know that the Band is coming out, but the condition of my stomach will determine what else happens. I'm hoping for the sleeve, but would be okay with a by-pass. My biggest fear is that I won't have anything.

"My surgeon said he didn't originally have the pre-op diet requirement, but changed his policy when a patient gained TWENTY-FIVE pounds in the two weeks before surgery by having a non-stop food funeral." "Food funeral." What a great phrase! My surgeon requires two weeks of a preop diet (three Protein shakes a day), but since I have a BMI of 35, I can have two drinks and a tiny low-carb meal. My surgery date is December 14th.

Chrissy, I am scared that they won't be able to do the sleeve, that they'll just yank the Band, and I'll turn into the Goodyear blimp before they can do the revision. Good luck with your surgery, too. I'm looking forward to hearing how your procedure went.

Total newbie here. Six years ago, I had a Lap-band, and my unethical surgeon maxed out the Band in only three visits. Needless to say, I've gone over three years unable to eat solid food. On December 14th, if everything looks good when my (wonderful) new surgeon goes in, I'll have my Band removed, and a VSG done. There's too much osteoporosis in my family to even consider a by-pass. I'll be mostly lurking, trying to pick up information. Any advice is more than welcome.