Tiffykins

My leak was caused by damage from the band. It was immediately repaired with heavy suturing. I had central line in my arm that fed me 1800 calories daily for over 2 weeks and then I went on clears for 17 days, and then progressed through the rest of the post-op diet. I was hospitalized in mid-July due to abscesses/fluid pockets in my abdomen that was attributed to microscopic pieces of bacteria from the leak hiding out in my abdomen after the leak repair was done. I had drains placed, hospitalized for a week, and on heavy antibiotics for a couple of weeks. Leaks happen in 1% of virgin sleeve patients. Smoking definitely slows down healing, and has been known to compromise the sleeve since the healing time takes longer, and leaks occur most often within the first 6 weeks post-op. I am grateful that my surgeon repaired my leak the way he did. I've many stories about the stents, and drains approach, and while my recovery was difficult, my sleeve looks fabulous (I saw the pics from my scope done on February 4th). I have zero issues now due to the leak, and have no higher risk of developing issues further down the road because of it. Hand sanitizer and Lysol served me well when I was around the kiddo. I was able to hold off on getting colds/sickness for over 8 months post-op. I caught a chest cold after my gb surgery on Feb 4th.

I'm up late tonight, wanna chat?

Lynda, I hope these next few days fly by for you. Congrats on the new and bright future.

I'm sorry you had a rough recovery, and horrible pain. I honestly don't know what I would have done without my Lortabs. I hope your recovery goes more smoothly from here on out, and if you need anything let us know.

Just because we can doesn't mean we should. With that being said, I indulge in a soda occasionally. It literally takes me all day to drink 8-12oz. I'm 9 months, and didn't even remotely think about having soda until I was several months out. If you have one, be prepared for gas pain, discomfort with your sleeve, also, if you drink a high acid soda, like Coke, remember it can cause upset stomach. Sodas are empty calories, and leech the Calcium from our bones. If it's a trigger for you that you won't be able to control, I would avoid it. But, there is no evidence that carbonation can cause sleeve stretching like it does with RNY and Band pouches. My surgeon explained it like this " soda goes in, you burp, the carbonation is gone, and the liquid goes through and you just consumed a bunch of empty calories." It's not like we have a slow draining pouch/stoma combo. So, while I may have a soda occasionally, it's a slippery slope for some. Soda does not count as your Fluid intake for the day either so make sure you are still able to get in your minimum 64 ounces of clear fluids.

I'm really happy to hear y'all were able to communicate through this. Communication is the key to every healthy relationship. I love that y'all are both fairly self-aware and that will serve you well in your future as husband and wife.

Hey there, and welcome to VST. I'm a band to sleeve revision as well, and I can honestly tell you that I think you'll love the sleeve. I never saw myself skinny either. But, here I am at 130lbs, and really loving it. Yeah, I got the excess skin, and flabbiness, but I wouldn't trade them in for the fat rolls and misery that came with my obesity. Cheers to you on having your date, and keep us posted on your progress.

There really isn't anything about the sleeve that leaves me disappointed. I've had one case of what many refer to as "buyer's remorse". Thanksgiving we traveled to West Virginia to spend the week with my husband's family. Well, I was super pissed off when I ate my tiny portions of everything, then I was stuffed and couldn't binge. You know on Thanksgiving it is that one day a year, fat chicks can binge and not be judged. I actually excused myself from the table, went outside, kicked rocks, was telling myself how stupid I was for doing this to myself. My husband came out to check on me. He said "you can have more later". He was right, but I wanted it all right then. I stayed outside for awhile until I talked myself off the ledge. Went back inside and saw everyone had changed into stretchy pants, and were in food comas. I was feeling good, and awake, and realized just how wonderful this tool really is. 2 hours later I went back and had more broccoli cheese rice casserole and some turkey. Point of the story: The sleeve gives you exactly what you put into it, and honestly I have zero regrets, or irritation when it comes to eating now. During the losing phase, things are a little tougher, but once you get to regular food, life returns to pretty normal. I never feel deprived. I honestly eat anything and everything I want. I don't overdo anything, and the sleeve makes it so much easier to battle the constant hunger that I had pre-op. I'm never hungry, and I mean never. My stomach never growls, rumbles. I simply know I have to eat for fuel.

Since you have ramped up your exercise, while you are building muscle, the muscle tears or gets little rips in the muscle tissue as we have to break it down to build it up, and needs Water to repair therefore causing some water weight/retention. It is very temporary. When I first started lifting real seriously, my muscles burned, and I would go up and down on the scale 0.5-1.5 pounds for a couple of weeks. You are doing everything right, but your body is so confused, and trying to compensate. It's scientific, you're burning calories, building muscle, burning fat, and your body needs to adjust. I know it's frustrating, but you just have to know that you are doing everything right.

Awwwwww I absolutely love your updates! ! ! You've done amazing, and I can't wait to see the wedding pics.

I honestly can't see one upside to RNY over the sleeve considering that all the published studies show the EWL with sleeve is extremely close with RNY initially. The revision rate for VSG is less than RNY, and the complications with nutritional and Vitamin deficiencies are definitely higher with RNY.

I think her issue is that she is overseas and their next assignment is overseas (if I remember correctly) none of the overseas MTFS are offering VSG at this time.

I'll be in chat for a bit.

My mother has a band, and hypothryroidism she has been able to lose 75lbs in the first year, but it's because her band gives her hell. She has been stalled out for over a year now. Her thyroid meds have been adjusted as she lost weight. Essentially, with her band, she has lost restriction and can't get a fill because she pukes. So, she's kind of maintaining her 75lb loss with hopes of losing another 30 with diet and exercise.

Soy meat is actually really tolerable, and I found it to be more tolerated by my sleeve when I first progressed to solid foods. I had some soy burgers that I tried for awhile. I also eat seitan a few times to get in my protein when meat wasn't working for me.

You betcha Mark. Anytime, this place was my saving grace through my revision and recovery so I just try to help where/when I can. If you ever need anything, feel free to post away, or message me.

Having the band out that long, will decrease your risk of complications substantially. Of course, they can still happen, but your stomach has time to heal from the band removal. I had my revision in one procedure, and did have a leak due to the damage from the band that was not known until my surgeon got in there. As for the recovery for the band vs. the sleeve. The band sucked recovery wise for me because of the port placement. As for the sleeve, the first 2 days post-op were pretty great, my actual pain was minimal still had the nasty gas from the CO2 gas they use, but nothing that was not manageable. Due to my leak, and leak repair surgery, my recovery was completely different than everyone elses. But, no lifting for 6 weeks, I wasn't allowed to lift anything over 10 pounds. Incisional hernias are still an issue with lap procedures. Plus, you do not want to stress the staple line of the sleeve. Most patients experience fatigue or exhaustion for a couple of weeks post-op. Staying hydrated will be your focus, and staying on the post-op diet. If you have any other specific questions feel free to contact me via the private message system here. Thanks, Lan. I just happen to click on this thread tonight.

LOL Kabranda, you wouldn't want my husband driving the cart and drinking beer. Ha ha ha I'll start calling some of the hotels and getting rates. My folks are coming here in July, and they got a little 3 bed/2bath rental on the beach for 5 days. All the ones we called on wanted at least a full 7 days booked. So, I'll call some hotels, and some of the condo rentals to see what I can find for weekend rates. We'll get all this figured out.

Through the winter months, my hair always grows slower, but this sparse hair growth has been really recent. I shaved my legs last night for the time in 3 weeks, and I literally counted 40 little hairs on the top of my leg (shin area) and that was it. The hair on my thighs, and back of my legs have always been super sparse, but it's even worse now. The hair on my neck (I have to shave it now), I know gross, sorry, but I only have to shave it every other day instead of every day. The chins on my hair only have to be tweezed instead of being waxed now, and they have slowed down significantly as well. I noticed it with my eyebrows and lip hair as well. I haven't waxed my lip or eyebrows in almost 2.5 months, and I used to have to do it every 4 weeks religiously. So, it's a pretty new thing for me. I'm hoping it lasts because it's super nice to not have to shave, wax and tweeze so much. Oh yeah, the other thing I noticed is when I had my c-section with Caysen, they shaved my entire lower abdomen. Well, lucky me with all the hormone changes grew hair from my belly button down to my pubic area. It was super gross, like a happy trail in men. I shaved it for the longest time, then started waxing it. Now, the hair has practically disappeared. There's a few strays, but for the most part, I don't have to shave or wax that area anymore.

How many sleeves he's performed? How many leaks/complications? What size bougie? Follow up care, labs when will they be pulled? How many nights in the hospital? How many leak tests? Post-op diet? Goal weight expectations? Do you oversew or use glue on the staple line? Will you use my old lap scars from my band surgery? (this one won't apply to most) I asked a bunch of questions pertaining to my personal eating habits, my lifestyle, and my previous health issues.

I'm so very sorry that your insurance is being such a pain in the butt. Can you get a CPAP machine? Sometimes sharing other people's Mexico experience with family can ease their mind, and fears. I know I have never seen a bad experience posted by any of Dr. Aceves patients, and I've been on the weight loss forums for over 3 years. He would have been my only choice for Mexico surgeons if my insurance would not have covered my revision.

Can you get into your PCP to get a referral for a scope to rule out any strictures?

DeeDee, I have the same emotions, thought processes on my body image at this point. I'm looking really deflated, and realize that it's just going to be this way, but, that doesn't mean I have to like it all the time. It's okay to feel that way. I was having a really difficult time with my tummy fat roll. It was really bringing me down, I would actually push it in, stretch it out over my body, and stand and stare in the mirror just to see how I would look without it. Then, I really started realizing that at 130 pounds, it's okay to have that pooch on my stomach, that it's okay to saggy boobs, but I don't like looking at it all the time. I started trying to let it go. But, found myself kind of obsessing about it, and finally I let it go. Every once in awhile, I let the negativity creep in, then I go slide on my size 6 jeans, and get over it. It's something I think I'll struggle with regardless of my size, or shape.