Hi, I had my Sleeve in Melbourne, Australia on 14 Sept... My surgery like many exbanders was complicated by an abscess and adhesions (my band was 75% eroded when removed July 2008).. so I had an feeding tube placed, in case of complication... have to say my recovery has been remarkable,... feel better than I have for 18 months, which was when my band possibly started to erode... still take pain medication for back pain,... as I tend to get back pain rather than abdo pain from my stomach... I have progressed through liquids- pur?e - soft and now to normal diet as tolerated... which I am doing well with... find the rules are a the same as with the band... cut food up small... and chew well... I have lost around 8 kg (16-18Ib)... and expect a fairly slow weight loss as I only have 20 kg to loss, as my BMI was 28 when sleeved..... Have found though that I now have no desire to eat sweets, where as post banding I craved anything sweet... am exercising.... and back to work two weeks earlier than first thought, this week... and the feeding tube will be removed within the next few weeks as it isn't being used....
At this stage i am so glad i went ahead with the sleeve for so many reasons....