trudyjo

Hi everyone, I'm revising from a lapband to a sleeve and I've been planning to have a friend stay with me after surgery for a few days. Lately, I haven't been getting along with this person as well as I have previously and I'd prefer to not have him stay in my home but I don't have anyone else that could come and stay with me. Just wondering if anyone else went home and immediately began taking care of themselves? I also have 3 dogs that will need to be taken care of. What are the challenges I should begin planning for?? Thanks so much for any advice.

None. Not one! The sleeve is an entirely different experience. It's what you hoped the band would be. The sleeve is great!

I'm 8 months out and still suffer from serious constipation. I've accepted it as a part of life. I tried many of the suggestions previously mentioned and they didn't work well for me. What did work is a tea that you can buy called "smooth move." I drink it every other evening before I go to bed and the issue is solved. It is frustrating because it certainly does affect the scales. It does get better though , I promise.

I had a band to sleeve revision in April and I had no real pain. I had nausea from the anesthesia (I always do). But no real pain.

Hi guys, just went through the dreaded 3 week stall myself. At 16 days I stopped losing no matter what i did. I was getting in all my protein and water, exercising daily, doing all we are told to do and nothing. It lasted 8 days... The scale finally dropped 1.5 pounds yesterday. It does pass, it's super frustrating, but it does pass... Hang in there!

There are several reasons for not having a bowel movement after surgery, the primary reason is that you are not taking solids in.. No solids in, minimal or no solids out. If you are on liquids, then your primary source of elimination will also be liquid. A poster asked about clearing your system prior to surgery.. This should be determined by your doctor. Mine did the Calcium citrate the night before surgery so I didn't expect to have another until several days after surgery at the earliest and I was right. I didn't have a bowel movement for 5 days after surgery. Their is a tea called "smooth move" that works wonderfully if you believe you are constipated early on after surgery. If you are early out from surgery, be careful with Fiber laxatives as your digestive tract is still very sensitive to fiber. Discuss with your doctor just to make sure it's ok. Be sure you are getting all your Water in as this will help also.

Texturized vegetable protein has more protein than any animal protein product, vital wheat gluten does also. I choose to eat eggs and fish, but that is because I like them, not because I feel like I must in order to get enough protein in. Just do a little research, there are so many options (once you get to solid food...). You will do great!

I've talked with my doctor about this, but I'm curious what everyone's experiences have been... How long did your band to sleeve conversion surgery take? Did the dr. do anything else like a hernia repair or gallbladder removal? Right now, I'm just scheduled for conversion, but I know more can happen once the dr. gets in there and pokes around. I just want my family to be prepared for the amount of time I might be in the OR. Thanks

My dr. Is 1 week liquid diet post op, then begin to introduce soft foods. He recommends one food a day to make sure you tolerate them well. I don't see a problem with 1 week at all if this is what your dr. Is recommending. Just take it at a pace that works for you.

I agree that yogurt would be a good place to start. Also mashed potatoes and thin cream of wheat.

I'm a band to sleeve conversion and just had my surgery on 4/7. Had a rough time in the hospital from nausea, but I'm home now and feeling good. I have a desk job, and honestly I could probably go back to work in Monday if I wanted. I requested 2 weeks so I'm taking them, just to be sure I've got a good eating/drinking routine down before I begin to take my focus away from healing and deal with day to day things like work projects. Your dr. Is your best advisor as to how much time you should take off work based on your overall health and physical activity level. Be sure to talk with him/her.

I was sleeved on the 7th and had a rough start because of nausea they struggled to control. Spent 2 nights in the hospital, when I came home and got a good nights sleep I really began to feel better. I don't have any pain, and I don't have any nausea now, just a bit of a rumble tummy. I'm able to get all my water in and I'm working on my protein. All in all, I'm feeling much better than I did and glad to be feeling well again.

Hi dimplesonblast, I had my surgery Monday too and was absolutely miserable the first couple of days. The nausea and pain meds didn't work for me, they had to switch them out twice before they found something that helped at all. I came home yesterday and had a pretty good night last night. I'm still very weak and shakey, but I also, for the first time since surgery, feeling at least slightly human. I'm getting my fluids in and trying to make sure there are calories in everything I'm taking in. I feel like ,hopefully, the worst part is over. I will keep you in my prayers that you feel better soon too.

I'm right there with you! My surgery is also tomorrow and I find I am "nervous" cleaning and organizing, and I've been through this once before (band to sleeve revision). I believe we are all going to do great! Best wishes to us all!!!

What is the name of this type of procedure? I'd like to learn more.

I too am a band to sleeve revision patient. I'm scheduled to have my surgery Monday, 4/7. While I haven't had the surgery yet, I've been researching it for well over 2 years. There are many on this board that I believe confirm the following: 1. Yes, many who have a band to sleeve conversion lose all their excess weight and more. It requires working with the band and following the eating guidelines your doctor has set out for you, but it is totally possible. 2. The rate of weight loss seems to be slower (for some), my doctor told me this would happen and said it was because your body already understands what you are trying to do (drastic calorie reduction) and will work to hold on to weight longer. There are several on this board that I've read who did not have this issue, and several who do seem to lose slower, but they lose and that, to me, is the most important part. 3. Your doctor was telling you the truth about the hormone that causes the hunger sensation. It is called the ghrelin hormone and it is produced (for the most part) in a part of your stomach that is removed. Many people on these boards report no sense of hunger (or minimal sense of hunger) for several months (6-9 months appx.) after surgery. Beyond that point, your body increases the production of this hormone, and you do feel a stronger sense of hunger, but, I've read, not like it was prior to surgery, however, you still have to manage it. In addition things like acid reflux, GERD, and head hunger can make you think you are hungry when in fact it is something else. We have to train ourselves to recognize the difference. I hope this helps, there are many, many posts on these boards about these exact topics from those who have had the surgery. It has helped me in planning to read what others have experienced and to understand that this isn't a magic bullet, but a powerful tool that we can use to help us in our weight loss goals.

HI Cassiecarson, I'm not sure if you are asking me or another poster.... My surgery is scheduled for Monday, 4/7. I'll let you know after its done.

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling much more secure about being by myself after surgery. I'll be in the hospital for 2 nights so that should help and everything else seems totally doable! I truly appreciate everyone's advice.

Thanks so much everyone, your thoughts and suggestions are truly helpful. I'm starting a list of challenges and how to handle them for the first week or so. Keep your recommendations coming! I appreciate them all!

My dogs are very small and don't have to be walked (although they LOVE to go whenever we can). I have a scooper for their food that I could use to fill their food bowl with and a pitcher that would allow me to pour water in without bending too much, but it would probably splash a bit. I'll have to think about getting in/out of bed and/or chairs..... Hmmmm...

I always find it so interesting to see how different doctors manage their program for their patients and what food they say should be eaten both pre and post op. I've had experience with 3 different surgeons now ( the one who placed my lapland in 2009, the one who was going to remove and convert my band last fall, but my insurance was cancelled so I had to postpone, and the one I hope will now be doing my surgery in the next month or so under my new insurance). Each one has different guidelines... My dr now would never allow all the crackers and bread type products in these menu's. my first dr. would have. These menus are great though in helping to plan. I'll print them out and use them for reference.

I'm a revision patient waiting to convert from a band to a sleeve. I was banded in 2009 and lost 50 pounds. After about a year,I began to have problems with food getting stuck which is excruciatingly painful. I ended up in the hospital 3 times because of stuck food. During this time, I switched jobs and had to start over with a new bariatric surgeon who had to do extensive testing in order to figure out what was was wrong. Dr finally determined that my band had slipped and removed all fluid. That was a year ago. It has taken me this long to do everything required to submit for revision surgery. I've gained back 25 pounds. I'm just waiting for insurance approval again so I can get this painful, useless thing out of me. I would not recommend the band to anyone.

As a person who has had a lapband since 2009, I can tell you that it is just as invasive, simply in different ways. With a lapband, you will develop scar tissue around the band that can cause significant issues, you may also have a band slip which happens more than you are probably anticipating, you can have band erosions, ports that flip, tubes that leak, etc. In addition, you will still have the hunger you experience today, you just won't be able to satisfy it, or the food might get stuck. I've been in the hospital 3 times with stuck episodes, and now my band has slipped and sits near my esophagus. I'm converting to a sleeve as quickly as I can. There is a forum for people who are converting from a band to a sleeve, you might want to look around there a bitt to get the real scoop on issues with the band.

I always want to be as supportive as I can, but guys, you can't spot lose fat. There is no such thing as "abdominal" fat or "butt" fat. Fat is fat. Many may have lost weight on the HCG diet in the past, but how many kept it off? In addition, you are playing with hormones that are already messed up from surgery. Stick with the plan you were given, even if it means living with a stall for a while and your weight will eventually come off. Most of us have tried all these crazy diets I the past, dozens of them - if they worked, you wouldn't have needed the surgery. Please try to stop the diet mentality. This is a life change, not a quick fix.

Well, I still haven't had to complete the 2 week pre op diet. My surgery has been moved 4 times as I try to get all my final clearances... Had an issue with an abnormal EKG, but all is well and I finally have a surgery date that I truly believe is going to take place. I'm over being upset about the pre op diet.. Having started 4 times now for several days each time, my opinion of the diet has changed. I'll do fine this time because I've come to understand how truly temporary it is. I can dislike what I'm eating/drinking for a few weeks and I can be strong while my body adjusts. So, last pre op diet (hopefully) begins again on Monday....