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Hi B3B, kindle and other veteran OCC Sleevers, How are you all doing with your sleeves? Any great last minute advise, prep ideas, mental gymnastics, things you might have done different knowing what you know now ? I'm two weeks out and trying to prepare myself as much as possible . The followup and after care is not much with Mexico surgeries so I know I have to think of all the outcomes and try to be prepared . Thanks Rhonda

Oh! Cassiecarson, I just saw your post too! How are you making out with the protein/liquid diet? I start tomorrow and am fearful of the hunger and growling tummy as well as headache.... But I'm serious about hanging in till the Surg

Db1982 and Socalmom, How's the pre-op going ? Or are you started yet? I'm looking forward to meeting you both hopefully in Mexico! I am at the Marriott from Apr13-18 Best of luck with everything girls

I am so sorry to hear of the trauma and anxiety you have suffered! I am preparing to have my revision surgery with Dr Ariel Ortiz..... Was that the dr Ortiz that corrected your surgery? I have heard he is one of the best. Please be well and I sincerely hope you get the outcome that this surgery can offer.

Yeah! Good for you Ema.... That's the best attitude. I am trying to get in the mindset to start my 2 week pre-op.... 3 protein shakes a day , sf jello and Popsicles , min 1 Gal water, and up to 4 lbs of green veggies a day with only fat free salad spritzer. NUT says about day 5 the hunger goes away..... Hope so lol!

Thanks Kindle.... I will go hunting for one tomorrow... I sing a lot, so maybe my lungs will be good to go but I see the benefit of using something like that after surgery for sure

Mom of four.... I'm so sorry to hear of your sisters diagnosis:( What a beautiful thing for her to support you to go ahead to do something life changing for yourself! I hope we can all really bond and keep each other positive in the initial days. Hugs to you and stay strong Rhonda

How critical was the spirometer thing... Did they actually have you use it?? Don't remember this from my Lapband Surg at OCC before

Thanks for the protein suggestions ! I will pick some up today Congrats on the weight loss !

NUT .... Is nutritionist... I am on a veggie and Protein and healthy fat diet now to switch out of my predominant carb burning mode. Sugar detox has given me quite the headache! Getting ready for Protein shakes and salads next week..... Not supposed to have any fats and that is what tends to keep me from feeling hunger so I think I will struggle for sure... Ready to go for it though... The pre-op weight loss is SO important for many reasons ... Just gotta tough it out.

Hi Kate2014, I sure hope to run into all the surgery patients at Marriott while there.... I guess we will be the ones running around with drains attached to us Are flinstone vits approved??? That would make things easier .... I'm going with Premier Protein for convenience, But may look into others if they are available for me and recommended..... So far the highest recommended all have to be ordered online. Good luck to us all with liquids.... They say the hunger can be really hard to take Rhonda

Curvy what are your stats ? I can totally relate to the worry about "being hit by a train". I don't have the luxury of taking a lot of time off, so I need to hit the ground running! I have heard the surgery to remove and clean up after Lapband and then do sleeve is quite extensive.... Holy moly, that scares me so much..... But like everyone else I have SO many reasons to do this! Hi BMI, joints all sore , always tired, lifestyle diseases creeping up ... And I truly want to look GOOD again...

Ok me again. HoosierGirl ! Also thanks to you too for answering some of my questions... One more from another post... What is the 5:2 trick for stalls ? Thanks

Hi again group! Ok I finally got my pre-op stuff and settled on a surgery date of April 15! Yeah! I also think this is the best place for me to ask questions and update, as we are all Ariel Ortiz/Martinez patients. I have read through most of these posts and LOVE the knowledge and support of people like Kindle and B2B ..... Thank you for staying in these forums to help some of the newer ones like me I am a failed Lapband , placed by OCC in 2009. It never worked as advertised on me and after many fills and unfills, the port got perforated and I had to go for port repair.... Crap!! After that I was too afraid of getting fills so have just had it sitting there doing nothing! The main reason I got Lapband ( sleeve was an option at the time) was the reversible nature of the surgery..... So the idea of cutting away 80% of my stomach....permanently gone .... Is VERY scary for me especially thinking about the "what ifs" of complications..... I have to just not go there! I also have learned a few things along the way and recognize some of the things I did wrong last time. One is I thought I could "do it alone" and told NO ONE... Also was not on forums. Not this time.... I also know about head hunger, the importance of following ALL the rules, slider foods and high calorie drinks, and how all that can defeat ANY bariatric procedure ! So I am VERY open to any and ALL suggestions and ideas from this wonderful group as to what you felt most contributed to your success and helped you get through the tough parts. Thanks!

I will also be at Marriott. My dats are a little different now. I arrive at Marriott on Sunday April 13 and leave the 19th. Anyone else there at this time? I hope to connect with at least one other surgery patient as I know it makes it easier to get through things. I'm sure we will meet others at the hospital though. liquids start for me on the 1rst.... How about everyone else? I am really dreading this part! I have chosen premier Protein as it is easy and premixed.... What are others using?? Also what have been your recommendations for pre op Vitamins ? We all want to be healthy as we can be for surgery!

Wow. ... Two curvies getting sleeved! That's so cool. What support you will be for each other. I think it will make your rough days so much more bearable. I am a Canadian opting for the Mexico experience. I am a failed Lapband conversion to sleeve and am so excited about the opportunity to finally "do this". My surgeons and Lapband placement were excellent, but I now believe ( as others on these forums have verified) that the Lapband was just a poor tool for most and did not work as advertised! I have learned so much about things like eating and chewing slowly, head hunger, and slider and high calorie drinks and junk food that can defeat ANY bariatric procedure! I hope to be active on this forum as well and support others as much as I can, as that was another thing I learned..... You can't do this alone!! Good luck to all reading this! Our lives are soon to change forever Ps I don't know how to PM, and am using the iPhone app....which doesn't seem to allow direct posts to people...??

Hi Curvy and HappyGirl! We will be sleeve triplets as I am also scheduled for the 14th. Where are you both having surgery? I hear you on the jitters part , thinking all day long and a bit of worry about two weeks of liquid pre-op diet. I am going with premier Protein ( easy to get ) and I am also allowed lots of green veggies to give me Fiber and nutrition. I can have wishbone salad spritzer on it. This week I have been detoxing off sugar and caffeine ....yikes I still have a headache I am all booked for flights and preparations are mostly done.... It's really starting to sink in about getting 80% of my stomach removed ... But the results on my two cousins that had it done are soooo awesome! Just hope I am able to achieve the success they have! Let's keep encouraging each other through the pre-op liquids ..... I hear it's so crucial !

I'll be at Marriot from April 12-18, will be sleeved by Dr Ariel Ortiz/ Martinez

Hello Curvy and other April surgery gals! I am in Canada, but the system here is VERY difficult to get paid surgery unless you are very morbidly obese with health issues.... I have a BMI of 39, but do not have any health issues except knee problems, so I will be a self pay in Mexico. It is so interesting to me about all the pre-op diets! It would be interesting to do a correlation of what pre-op leads to the best post surgical outcomes...etc.... As well as best liver shrinkage. I think it is important to not be a carb and sugar burning mode just before going on what is like a modified fast post surgery..... Probably best to be burning our fatty tissue already....so good motivation to stay strict . Rhonda

Hi Curvy cakes .... I am also scheduled for the 14th. I will start my liquids on the 1rst. I am also allowed veggies. Where r u and where r u having surgery? I'm in Canada

Hello again OCC Sleevers! I have NOT been able to speak to drs again, but through the grapevine it appears that the sleeve is the recommendation for lap band revisions. I am looking at a surgery date of either Monday of April 14 or 21.... Anyone from here having surgery those days? Also, this is a huge group of posts... Anyone remember which ones contain all the best pre-op info or where is the best place to get it? OCC sends a bit if limited info on the pre diet, but I know the forums are where the details are Thanks for support and replies to this post Rhonda

Thanks to all for the comments so far! I really appreciate the input. I am planning on taking these points to Dr. Martinez and getting the Dr.s perspective. My biggest fear is it not working .... Why? Because I am a failed lap band and am going for a revision and want this to be my last surgery. I found my short chat with Dr O to be a little rushed but he basically said he would choose plication over sleeve for his own family member which says a lot. I will be posting my decision here, as I am starting to feel like plication might have too many "what ifs" attached vs the sleeve being more of a sure thing. Rhonda

Thinking about booking with Dr Ortiz in April for Plication.... What has everyone's research led them to believe about pros and cons with sleeve.... Ortiz said he would choose plication if it was a family member...? Hard to decide. All comments welcome . Thanks