hirnsandy

That's great! Hubby's see us how they want to see us!

I'm a little over 3 weeks out from my revision from band to sleeve. I lost about 50# the first year with the band and then it stopped working and eventually I got to the point where I couldn't eat anything healthy without puking even though I had no fluid in my band. I gained back 25# and decided to go for the sleeve. Between the pre-op diet and over these 3 weeks I am down to what I was at my lowest with the band (might be lower now, but I only weigh once a week). I have been much more tired with this surgery, so plan for time to recover. Other than that, it's been great! It's what I thought I was getting with the band. After a couple of bites, I'm done. You won't regret it... good luck!

Tripler used to require a monthly walking group. Don't know if they still do that. The hope was that during the waiting time you would become more used to exercise and set a routine. Hey, if you are in the Tripler area and want some fitness help, Dr. Verschelle (from Behavioral Psych) has free sessions with a personal trainer. I was given 4 sessions before my band and hired Kristy for my weekly trainer. I still go to her (she's at Schofield gym). I just emailed her that I thought the pain that she put me through weekly prepared me to be able to handle the pain of surgery! Kristy told me recently that she didn't know why Dr. V wasn't giving more out... she is willing and ready to work with his patients.I just told him that I had heard of them and wanted them and he gave me the order for the sessions.

I had my surgery with Dr Payne on Thursday and it went very well. It was a little ironic that when I awoke in my room my nurse was Nurse Panic.... Dr Payne, Nurse Panic... I see some sort of theme going here! (Her name was actually "Paneesh" but it read Panic on her name tag!) I had my band done in Nov 08 and went to have a re-eval done in Jan 12. I probably could have done it sooner but my life wasn't ready for surgery. I am feeling great. Feel slightly like I was hit by a Mack truck but am moving well and only taking tylenol now. This was an easier seeming surgery to me. I think I was in better shape than the original. I was up and walking every 2 hours and in little pain... thanks to the PCA I had little pain the entire time.

Anjelika, Yvette isn't good about answering those calls! I've been trying to reach her that way for a month! I did find out that she did what I asked about on the message I left (my documents for medical leave). She is very busy. Start the process with a PCP and then you will be in her system. Good luck!

I am getting a band to sleeve revision done at Tripler tomorrow. The revision route is a lot faster. I went through the program for the band about 3 years ago. I started in Feb and it was done in Nov. That was about average for that time with one surgeon who got deployed. Now there are 3 surgeons doing the procedures so I'm sure it's faster. Their pre-op program is pretty comprehensive. Although I lost about 40# with the band, it has not worked well for me. I can only eat soft (usually higher cal) foods or I puke. I needed better nutrition so I decided on a revision to sleeve. Yvette, the bariatrics nurse, is really in your corner, so use her! Anjelika... go to a PCP and have him do a referral. When I went initially, it wasn't even MY PCP... any one can see whether you would be a candidate and put in a referral. It's not up to the PCP to decide, the bariatrics team has the requirements. The PCP just puts in the referral and gets the ball rolling.