FabBy50

Hi Jill!!! So glad to see you are up and posting again! Yes that first 24 hours is a little tough, but I'm glad they were able to keep you comfortable. That is great that they are doing so many leak tests, my Dr. does 3. I think it is best to have a lot just to make sure. I'm so happy for you, sleeved sister!! I'm now one week out and I love it. I feel great, just a little sore. You will do great and before you know it you will be at goal! Take care, and post when you can! Bernadette

Hi Stuck You sound just like so many other bandster, we all start out loving the band and then it fails us. I had my revision just 6 days ago but already I like it so much more. I can actually drink, not sip! I have tried a little bit of food, went right down. To me they are not even in the same boat, the band is always a job! There are many great Dr's throughout Mexico, just do your research. I have been to my Dr twice now and he does a great job. Why would you have the band taken out in the states if you don't mind me asking? As long as you don't have too much damage they will do it all at the same time. I would not want to do the surgeries separate, if you are going to be in there anyway , just get it done!! Good luck on your decision. Bernadette

It is strange how the taste buds change. I have tried different drinks that don't taste the same now. I also had some of my favorite chicken noodle Soup and it tasted like metal! I drink tons of Water and thank goodness it still tastes great! So 7 days, wow I'm right behind you! So far I love my sleeve! I can eat and know when I'm full and then I just stop. I don't have any hunger pains, which is a blessing. Good luck Bernadette

I had my lap band done in March lost 40lbs and that was that. I started having trouble getting food or Water to go down. I just kept trying to work with it, then I started having horrible pains in my side. The tests showed that the band needed to come out. So I had my revision done 6 days ago, I could not be happier with the results. I can now drink without it coming back up. I tried food today and it went down great. I had my original surgery in Mexico, loved my surgeon so I went back. I have not heard of a surgeon who would turn you down for a revision from the band. Do you research, of course Mexico is the least priced. Good luck! Bernadette

Hi 4re4me I just had my revision done 6 days ago and already I love the sleeve! I could not get in enough Water because it would come back up. Don't even get me started on food! I can now drink any liguid hot or cold with no problems, and I don't have to sip. I actually had some refried Beans today and the sleeve tells you when you have had enough! I had 4 small bites, had a little discomfort. Then I tried the 5th and had a little pain. Time to stop, that is how easy it is! I had read that is how other peopl know when to quit, and sure enough that is it. Get the sleeve, you will love it. Bernadette

Hi Mica I too had the band and it worked great for awhile, then bam I started having problems. I just had my revision done 6 days ago and already I love it!! I can actually drink without it coming back up. I tried some refried beans and they went down great! The sleeve even tells you when to quit eating, I had 4 small bites and felt a little discomfort. I took one more bite and it turned into a little pain, BAM you know when to quit!! Get the sleeve and never look back! Good luck to you! Bernadette

Congrats!!!!!! Where you going and with which Dr?? Bernadette

I'm just 6 days post op, it takes me 30-40 minutes. I used to drink ice water, now just very cold water. It does taste a little different now. They let me have ice chips on the second day, oh they tasted like a bit of heaven! Good luck, Bernadette

Hey Jill I'm jealous, no fair you got to eat before!!! I was on a liquid diet for 3 days ahead of time. I hear you with the sleeping pill, I took one with me in case I couldn't sleep and used it too. Good luck!!! Happy thoughts! Bernadette

Thank you Linda!! Yes I'm feeling so much better, in fact I just got back from a mile and a half walk! In the rain, I live in the Seattle area it always rains :crying: At the very end of the walk I was getting a little bit of pain so I started home, it felt wonderful! Have a great day! Bernadette

Hey Anearctica Glad to see you are doing so well!! I feel so much better everyday, today I'm going to venture out and try to get a real walk in. I have 2 dogs that I would love to take but they tend to pull when they want to smell something so not yet. Isn't it great!!! No hunger pains! I have to remind myself to get my Protein in so that I don't get sick. I'm still on Clear liquids and it does not bother me one bit. Love, Love, Love the sleeve! Bernadette

I'm still on clear liquids until tomorrow which will make it an even 10 days!!! Next week will be full liquids. As far as pills I have been able to take them since day 3, not a problem at all. I do have antibiotic pills that are huge and I break them in half. My Dr. did not prescribe anything Nexium or anything like that. I have not had any hearburn either. I know some Dr's prescribe it automatically, but not mine. I was not on anything before, so I'm hoping I won't need anything now. But when I was heavy I started everyday with a Zantac or two!!! Yes, yes, yes take gas-x you will need it just like after the band, in fact I needed it more this time because of the length of my surgery. And I was not able to get up and walk as much this time, so the gas was horrible. As far as getting things ready before you go, I would just reccomend that the house is clean! My husband was off work for 10 days and had all 3 of his kids here for the duration. I'm going nuts looking at a messy house that they so nicely left for me :thumbup1: I tend to be a clean freak, and looking at everything out of order is driving me nuts. I will do what I can today, but not too much! I wish you lots of luck, you will do great with the sleeve. In fact I just went to the kitchen and filled a glass of cold Water and drank about half of it in one gulp!!! I could not have any cold water in the morning at all. In fact with the band I could not get nearly as much water in that I wanted to, it was hard because I'm a water drinker. So far so good with the sleeve I think I'm going to LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bernadette

Good luck tomorrow!!! Don't be worried about being alone the first 2 days you sleep most of the time. You won't feel like visiting, and if I would have had someone there I would have worried about them being comfortable. Sending you cyber hugs for Tuesday! Bernadette

Youknowit I'm so happy to hear that you have a date all set! It will be here before you know it. This experience was more than I thought it would be, I certainly did not expect this much discomfort. But you know each day is better and better, I don't have much pain left, just discomfort. I have not taken any pain pills today, and I hope I won't have to take anymore at all! I'm so glad to just have the dumb band out and be onto a healthier life. Good luck to you, keep me posted! Bernadette

Hi Linda Yes in retrospect I wish I would have done the sleeve in the first place. I did do research but just took the sleeve out, I thought for some dumb reason it was designed for severly morbidly obese! Don't know why I had thought that, if I would have know what a great tool it is I could have saved myself many days of being sick, and many dollars!!!!!!! Bernadette

Wonderful Pictures, you are looking great!!! Keep up the good work! Bernadette

I have been twice to Mexico for surgery and I went alone both times, with that being said would I have wanted someone there? Yes and no! While you are in the hospital there is very little for them to do, and when you get out you won't feel like doing a lot. As one of the earlier posters stated if she is okay sitting around a lot then take her. Do you have a laptop? Does she have an Ipod, lots of videos to watch, books. These are just suggestion of things for her to bring. Might be a good bonding experience for the two of you! Good luck, and happy losing Bernadette

Stoongal YES I wish they would outlaw it, what it did to my stomach more than likely would have killed me if I had not gotten help. The Dr. said that it had been going on for a long time, I have a high pain tolerance so I guess I just passed it off as normal pains. Yes my pain level after the surgery was thru the roof, I have had MANY surgeries and never had so much pain. I'm glad that it is under control now. I probably won't need anymore pills. I just wanted to say a little hi, and say that I appreciate your posts. They are no nonsence and no bull!! You give a lot of good comforting tips, thanks and keep up the good work! Bernadette

Anne Congrats on your surgery, you are one day ahead of me! I hope you are doing well, I'm feeling better everyday. Did you have a catheter? Because if you did it might be awhile before you will go as easily. The other thing is that you are not drinking so nothing to come out. Good luck on your recovery and your weight loss! Bernadette

Hi I'm new to the sleeve thing, just got mine on Dec 30th. But already I LOVE the difference, granted I'm not eating yet. With the band I had trouble even drinking water. Food now that was awful. I did research on the sleeve before I did the band but not enough! If I would have I would have done the sleeve to start with. Samie do you have a date yet? I really hope you get it done quickly! Good luck, Bernadette

Hi youknowit! Thanks for your post! First of all Before they did the surgery I never did get a clear explanation of what was wrong with the band. Well when the got in there the stomach had grown around the band, I'm not sure if the band slipped and that allowed it or what. My others organs had gotton pushed int a corner so ther were growing together. When it came time to take the band out the could not get at it in whole, so they had to cut little pieces out at a time. Then the went in and cleaned up the scar tissue. What a mess!!! My surgery should have been about an hour but it ended up taking 4 hours. I have had 15 surgeries and this is the absolute worst one I have had. So happy your band is out, and you will just have the sleeve surgery. There were two other women that had the sleeve the same day as I did and they bounced right back, so you will do GREAT! So when are you scheduled? Thanks for your post and keep me posted, Bernadette

That stuff is awful!!! It was all I could do not to puke it back up! But no leaks!

I don't know if they did one in the OR but I had 2 following surgery. They gave us the awful purple stuff to dink and then watched our drains. The second test was the exray following the drink. I thought they all did leak tests?

Just got home today form having the sleeve done, I had my drain for 4 days. The research I have read states that 4 days is average. I had a complete mastectomy and reconstruction using belly fat and had to have 4 drains for three weeks. I had NO problem having this one for 4 days. YEAH! no more band! PS Hi Bill, how are you?