FabBy50

Yeah I have to say I had the best of both worlds!! Till now, I have lost so much weight that I don't have much left! Oh well I have a flat tummy out of the deal. Good luck to all, Bernadette

Thinoneday You know I thought it was okay to have alomonds, and then you wrote that. I looked it up on my list and they are NOT on there! OMG I don't know why I thought they were. Oh well I have not had many and I chew everything to smithereens!!! Lap band teaches you that! I guess I better take them off of my nummy list, I still can't believe I ate something not on my list. I think I will try tuna, I just looked it up and yup it's on there!! Thanks for the heads up!

I have not tried tuna yet, mainly because it does not sound good. I think sometime next week I will give it a try. I usually love it, so I'm sure it will be fine. I'm stuck on refried Beans, fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, almonds. That is about it. Good luck everyone!

Hi Jeepchick So you are home, GREAT!!! Nothing feels better than being in your comfortable surroundings! I still struggle getting enough fluids in, I have to make sure I drink them when I'm not going to eat anything. I have found that drinking Water in the morning before any food is easy. The energy drinks to me are not easy to get down, I poor them over ice it helps. Keep up the good work!!

Prayers and hugs headed your way!!! Good luck!

Lan2k From someone who has dealt with depression most of her life, you are doing a good job taking care of it. Sometimes people don't understand what is happening to them until they are so deep in the depression that it is hard to get out. Get on some pills and if they don't work, speak up!! Not all of them work for everyone, it sometimes takes trial and error to get it right. Depression is a chemical imbalance, simple as that! so the drugs will get you back to where you need to be again. Take a deep breath, yiou will be better in no time!

My major regret is having the band done first, not the sleeve. If I would have known what I know now I NEVER would have gotten the band! I love the sleeve, I'm only 2 weeks and 2 days out but I can't believe the difference. I can eat and not worry about spending half of the dinner time in the bathroom. I so wish I would have done the sleeve first!!!!

Hi Jeepchick Today you should feel even better!! I know it seems like a pain but the walking does make a big difference. I would walk as much as I could stand, rest for awhile and then go again. Good luck on the recovery and weight loss!! We are all rooting for you!

Good luck to all you pre-ops!!!!!!! I did the liquid diet for 3 days, this time it was not bad at all. Before my lap band I thought it would kill me!! I did not ever find the perfect Protein drink but I did use Vitamin Water too. Good luck to all of you, before you know it you will have this behind you and the surgery too!!

Judy You are a very busy woman!! I know what you mean about just doing it, if you put it off at all it won't get done. I did not get my walk in yesterday because it was raining so hard. But today no matter what I will go. I have 2 miniature Schnauzers, Bailey & Baxter. They are the love of my life!! I have always had cats until them. I did not know you could love an animal as much as I love these two. They go everywhere with us!. I posted pictures of them if you would like to see how cute they are!! I'm in a little bit of a stall, and NO I won't freak out about it. I see so many people posting all upset about being the same weight for a few days. I know it will move again, if I do what I'm supposed to do! I think my body caught up to how fast I lost right off that bat!! 13lbs in 14 days!! Good luck, and keep up the good work!

Hi all Well I guess I should confess, I have had a tummy tuck already!! Well it really was not just a tummy tuck it was called a tram flap! For any of you familiar with breast cancer I had a mastectomy and reconstruction. The type of reconstruction I had is called a Tram Flap. They take a football shaped section from your tummy and make a new boob with it! So I got a 2 fer!!! I have a new boob and a flat tummy to boot! Not exactly the way I would have chose to have the tummy tuck but worked well, and the insurance covered it!! So that is my confession for the day!!

Kai Yes day 3 is much beter, day 2 on every surgery I have had was the worst!! Your chest pain is probably just gas, do you have Gas-X? If you do, try one when the pain hits. I had chest and shoulder pain when the gas would hit. Oh that awful stuff they make you drink.....I actually gagged trying to get it down, it made me so full. The taste is soo awful, well it is behind you now. So you are heading home tomorrow? Wow time goes by fast when it is not you having the surgery! Are you flying or driving? My flight home was not bad at all, I grabbed a good book and read the whole way! Good luck, and happy losing!! Duh!!! I just looked at where you are from, I take it you won't be driving!! LOL

Stacy The 25th will be here before you know it and you will be a sleeved sister!! Good luck on your journey! We will be rooting for you!

Texas T Good to hear you are home and doing so well!! I can't believe how much you had done!! I had my band removed and the sleeve and I felt pretty crappy for 3 days. I bet you are happy to have that stupid band out! I know Iam. I love the fact that when it is time to eat I don't start stressing out! You will do great with the sleeve, I'm 2 weeks out and have lost 13lbs, no mess no fuss!! I love the sleeve!

You can go to any jeweler in a mall and they will have what is called a ring guard. It is a metal piece that is put on the inside of your ring and the arms wrap around the band of your ring. It works great, should only be about $10 but is made to be just temp. The actual guard will move slightly on the sides of your ring so don't do it long term. I finally gave up and took mine off until I get to goal. I would not recomend the speed bumps because your ring can still come off if it is very large. The speed bumps were designed for people with artheritis because of the size of the nuckle. Plus they are expensive and not very comfortable You can purchase the ring adjusters at Miles Kimble for $2.99. I worked in jewelry for 20 years for those of you wanting to know why I know this!!

I'm 2 weeks out today after a revision, I feel very good!! The first week for me was a little tough, but it was because of all the damage the band had done!! Now at 2 weeks I can walk 2-3 miles no problem, work a full day, clean house etc. The only thing is that I still get tired quicker. No problem though. Good luck on your surgery, looks like you have found a good Dr. You will like the sleeve it is an amazing tool!!

I would NEVER have gotten the band!!!!!!! I can't tell you what a horrible experience that was!!! The other thing is that I wish I would have had the sleeve first and sooner!

Tiffany First and foremost, breath!!!! Sometimes people have no idea how much their actions can hurt us!! Second: You will NOT die if you go to Tijuana, I' living proof! I have been there twice for surgery and not only did not die, I came back having had a great experience!! I heard the same thing before I went, it makes me laugh now!!! And the go to the gym instead comment, I would like to smack who ever said that!!! Don't let any of this slow you down or deter you from your goals!! There will always be at least one person who has some stupid comment to make about your choice of WLS. Don't let it get to you, let it make you stronger!!!!!!! You can do it!! So rant all you want, but don't lose site of what you really want!!!

Kai Not quite sure why I thought this was a revision for you, well that is great you will heal faster with just the sleeve being done!! Yes day 2 is the worst, just know that everyday after that will be just a little better. Make sure you walk as much as possible, it helps with the gas and helps you heal faster. Sorry about the dry heaves, I bet that was no fun! Drinking that blue stuff was horrible, but it is always great to know that the sleeve is working properly and not leaking. So many Dr's do 3-4 tests I think that is great. Especially for us who have been to Mexico, I don't want to get home and have a leak. You will find that even sipping for the first few days will make you feel very full, this is the same feeling you will get when you start eating. It is great because you know right away when to stop eating. So glad to hear you have an amazing medical staff, that makes all of this so much easier. I have to say surgery in Mexico is different, but in a good way!! The nurses are much more attentive than here in the states. Glad to see you are doing so well, and remember everyday you will feel better and better!! Good luck.

Stacy I say the sooner the better, if you can get the surgery sooner do it!! I'm 2 weeks out and can't believe the difference! I only had to do 3 days of Clear liquids for pre op! So happy about that, some Dr's have no pre op some have several weeks, it is hard to keep up with them. Good luck on your up coming surgery, you will love your sleeve!!

WOW JudyJudyJudy You are very busy!!! I try to get 2 miles in a day but you are way above that! Have you had your surgery? I did not see if you had. I'm just 2 weeks out so some of these would be a bit tough for me. I have 2 miniature Schnauzers that I walk everyday, minimum of 2 miles. I would love to swim but my main insision is not healed enough yet. You go girl!!!!!

Coopersmama Good luck on your upcoming surgery, you will do great and before you know it you will be at goal!! I understand what you mean about the women in your family not living long lifes, mine is not quite that bad but all of them are obese by the time they hit 40. When I was younger I never had to watch my weight, I also played team sports and played almost every day. I played my last game when I was 43 and that is when the weight started creaping up. I'm a very competitive person and I miss playing. But since being without a team I have piled on the weight!! Now I'm thinking I might find a team again when I'm at goal. I just turned 50 and luckily in this area they have "over the hill" teams. With the sleeve you will be able to do what you did in the past and the weight WILL come off, just the amount yo9u were eating and excersizing will do it. With the sleeve you won't be able to get 1400 calories in, you would be way to full. Love, love, love my sleeve...you will too!

I actually wore bikini panties and my drain fit perfect in there! But this is after losing 40+ lbs with the band before the sleeve. I loved your title "big girl panties" and the story behind it!! LOL

Congrats!!!!!!!! You will love the sleeve, it is just like you never had surgery, just eat and go. Well after you are cleared to eat!! Just remember after surgery walk, walk, walk!! It makes a big difference in how fast you heal. You will do great!!! Good luck, keep us posted!

Toni I so wish that even 10 months ago they would have pushed more for the sleeve, I had the band and then had to do a revision. The sleeve is nothing short of a miracle, you eat thats it!!. Well what I'm trying to say is that you eat a small amount of food and you are satisfied, no hunger pains. I never feel hungry I eat because I know I need to! I also had Dr Almanza for both surgeries and think he is amazing! Dr Betancourt is awesome too!!!