TexasT

With that formula, I would end up with a BMI of 27, which is still considered overweight for my height. My doc wants me to have a BMI of 23-24, and I think that weight will be good for me. I'm almost there...I can see that light at the end of the tunnel.

Hello Julianne and welcome to the board. I won't go into it now, but whatever you do DO NOT get a band. That said, I used to have sleep apnea also, along with high cholesterol and triglycerides and depression that I took meds for. Now at 70/lbs less I no longer have ANY of those problems and am off the C-PAP machine and meds. I feel great and am so happy now. You'll love the sleeve. It will change your life!

Isopure has a ready-made bottle in lots of flavors that has 40g in 20 ounces. It's more expensive that powders, but tastes better to me. I use both (powders and bottles), but the ready-made Isopure is kind of like watered-down Kool-Aid and quenches my thirst unlike the thick drinks.

Protein drinks are never really "fun", but at least after surgery the "hunger hormones" are much less (if not all gone) so you're not hungry and may not even care if you eat or not. So I guess you could say it's easier than pre-op that way. Look at the food section of this website to get lots of ideas of things to add to your shakes to make them taste better, etc. Having a variety of shakes (thick, thin, pre-made, etc.) will help make it more tolerable. I found some protein hot chocolate that's pretty darn good from a company called BariWise. I only have to drink 8oz for 15 grams. It's quick, easy and tastes good. They also make a shake/pudding mix that's not bad. Good luck!

Vitamin Shoppe will also let you return items if you don't like them. I buy their ready-to-drink Isopure in bottles that have 42g of Protein in each drink. I tried the powdered Isopure and couldn't handle it. I do like the nectar brand - I have vanilla which you can mix with just about any fruit, extract, etc. As for a hot drink, which feels so good after surgery too, I use BariWise hot chocolate mix. It has 15g of protein in just an 8oz serving. I buy mine from the Diet Direct website, but other websites also sell that brand. It tastes even better to me than regular hot chocolate mix. They have a Variety box with all their flavors in it. I've tried them all so far and the Cinnamon is my favorite. Since it's the end of the season, these are on sale at a pretty good price right now.

It drove me crazy at the New Year to see all the Lapband commercials on TV - I wanted to scream DON'T DO IT!!! to anyone considering getting one. I had a band for over 3.5/yrs. For the last year I was having vague abdominal pain that 4 docs couldn't figure out. An ultrasound showed I DID have gall stones, but that wasn't really where the pain came from. I went to my band surgeon to make sure it was OK and not the cause of my pain. He told me that most people start having complications from the band at 3-5 yrs post-op and suggested the sleeve to me. After doing research, I decided to have the revision done. During surgery, the doctor discovered a large hiatal hernia right by the band and close to the port. With the band gone and hernia repaired I feel like a new person. DO NOT GET THE BAND - whatever you do. I feel that sewing the port into your body like they do is very damaging and can cause a lot of issues. I ended up with a large hematoma that burst open after my sleeve surgery because removing the port left such a big open hole in my body. I'm very happy with my sleeve and wish it had been an option 4 yrs ago when I got the band.

As for the hair loss - I never had it with the band, and I haven't had it with the sleeve. I've got plenty of hair and it grows like crazy. As for the hubby, I'm lucky that mine has always had my back no matter what I've done. When I had my sleeve in January he took it upon himself to change his eating habits also and has lost 15/lbs. He also started on the treadmill too. I think he wanted to look better for me since I looked better for him (although, that's not the reason I did this!). So many people need a little counseling to learn how to live with their different bodies, eating habits, etc. after WLS. It would be great if your husband could talk to someone with you to see why he's not happy about your decision. You're doing something to make yourself happier and healthier, and to have an even longer life WITH HIM. He should be happy about this and not resentful - it sounds like he has some issues himself that a counselor could help him deal with. I wish you the best!

Way to go - you look amazing!!! Can't wait to see how beautiful you'll look as a bride! Best wishes for your continued happiness and hard work.

I swear by my Cuisinart SmartStick? Hand Blender!!! I've been using it for 4/yrs - every since I had my original band surgery. It's so easy to clean and is a real workhorse. Plus it has a bowl w/lid (makes it like a food processor) and a whisk attachment. I can stick it in a jar of salsa to puree it, in a soup can, etc.

I was 40/lbs from goal when I had my revision in January. I've lost 18/lbs more, so I'm now 22/lbs from goal. I just went through my closet today and tried on a bunch of capris and shirts for spring. Most of them are going to the donation pile (Yeah!!!). I've lost 3 inches from my waist so they are just falling off me now. My husband thinks I look great at this weight, but the doc wants me to lose that extra 20/lbs. During that first month of mostly liquids you'll drop a good amount. Just be sure to get your Protein in so you don't lose too much muscle!

I don't think I'm lactose intolerant because I can eat cheese, but I took a bite of my husband's ice cream one night and got horribly sick to my stomach. This was while I was on soft foods. I don't think it was the sugar either, because I use a small amount of sugar in my tea each day. A week later I tried a bite of ice cream again at a birthday party - and the same thing happened. So I guess I'm done with ice cream - not that I NEED it anyway! :001_rolleyes: My husband and I are going to Italy in May and I'm already mourning the gelato I WON'T be eating...

While I was still on liquids I had to go to a business lunch with a bunch of guys I work with, most I only see a few times a year. I ordered a cup of Soup, which I ate most of and some tea. Everyone was so busy talking that no one said anything about my not eating much. If you don't make a big deal about it, a lot of times people don't really pay much attention to what's going on with other's plates. I HAVE had servers at a restaurant ask if I didn't like my food when I only ate a little bit. I just tell them I ate a large lunch/breakfast and would like a to-go box. My husband and I also share Entrees quite often, or I'll order an appetizer.

Like VegasAngel, I also like to keep a cup of hot tea with me when I eat. I take a few sips if I feel I need to and haven't had any cramping or problems. I also believe you will do fine. Our bodies have an amazing capacity to adapt to what we need.

When I was in the hospital, they gave me a bottle of Isopure Grape Frost flavor along with some regular grape juice. I mixed them together and it was great. The pre-made Isopure is clear. I've tried the powder, but didn't like it nearly as much, and it wasn't clear, even mixed with water. The Isopure pre-made has 40Grams of protein in a 20oz bottle. Vitamin Shoppe and GNC have them by the bottle or case. You can try several flavors and see what you like. They can also be mixed with Crystal Lite if you want, though I just drink them 'straight'.

Ditto on the paper tape - it's amazing. I got whelps on my skin that itched like crazy from the regular tape. But I now have an open incision from a hematoma that I have to keep packed and covered with gauze. I use the paper tape to keep the gauze on. It comes off easily and is not irritating. Plus you can wet it to make it come off even better.

I had surgery on Friday and went home on Sunday. I had band removal, sleeve, gall bladder removal, adhesion removal, and an undiagnosed hiatal hernia repaired. So it was a pretty wild surgery. After my leak test on Saturday, they decided to keep me in an extra day because my esophagus was so inflamed and my bloodwork indicated I might have internal bleeding. They took labs again Sunday morning early, everything was fine and I went home that afternoon.

I totally feel your pain! After weeks on protein shakes, I now find the only thing I don't have to force down is the pre-made Isopure drinks. They are in a bottle and have over 40grams of protein. They are not as cheap as the powders, but they are clear and come in a lot of flavors. I was given the Grape Frost in the hospital and like it OK - tastes like watered down grape Kool-Aid. But my favorite is the Pineapple Orange Banana. I bought that flavor in the powder too, but I'm going to take it back and exchange for a case of the ready-made. The powder is cloudy and just yucky tasting to me, but others may like it. The Vitamin Shoppe will let you return any of their items for a full refund if you don't like them, and their prices are better then GNC (at least in my area).

D. asked: TexasT, OK have to ask; I too am a tea-alcoholic( just regular Lipton no fancy stuff for me)! Did you switch to decaf??:smile: I am weaning myself off of regular and miss my caffeine. Besides sugar it is the only "vice", if can call it that, I have left. How did the port removal go? I have a realize port and am concerned because it is attached with surgical clips not sutured in place. Getting my unfill next week, concerned I will gain too much weight back. already up 5 # my jeans are getting tight!!! :thumbup1: No way going to buy a bigger size... D. OK - I'll fess up. I did decaf the first week after surgery, then went back to my normal tea. I love Constant Comment, Earl Grey, and Lady Grey - which all taste better with a touch of sugar. So I put in just a little. I get migraines from artificial sweeteners, so I forgo them. I'm still losing weight at a steady pace, so I'm not worrying about it. I can taste a difference in decaf vs. caffeine, so I prefer the taste with it. I haven't had any problems so far. I do drink decaf or herbal teas at night, but after drinking a big Protein drink, I don't have much room for tea. As for your question regarding port removal, you should see my thread titled "Hematoma Hell" for the answer to that question. :scared0: They put those ports in to stay, so taking them out really messes your insides up. Mine was sutured and had clips - it wasn't going anywhere! Good luck with the unfill. I had mine just 10 days pre-op so I didn't have much time to gain any back. With the band, your stomach has shrunk already, and I found that I still couldn't eat a whole lot with an unfill. But it was nice to eat salads, which I couldn't eat with the band. Plus they were very filling. Starting on some Protein drinks now will also help you feel full.

You said you were kind of woozy feeling - are you taking vitamins? I take 2 chewable multis a day, along with a sublingual B12 for energy. I also agree about the warm fluids. I'm a "tea-aholic" and drink warm tea all the time. It definately feels nice going down and is very soothing.

Shontel, no I didn't have a drain after surgery. My hematoma was about the same size as yours but my skin above it was completely purple. Thank goodness mine has never been infected. I'm on antibiotics right now just in case though. I've been downing the Protein, trying to get muscle to grow back and close up that wound. My hubby is still packing it for me and says it's getting smaller every day. Luckily the pain is virtually gone, so I'm very thankful for that too. Taking those ports out must be torturous to our insides based on what I've seen and heard!

I know this has a lot of sodium, but I love Deviled Ham in the small cans! I just eat it with a spoon since I can't have crackers yet. I know it would be much better for me to take my own ham and blend it up really fine. But sometimes I just need a big boost of flavor, and this works for me. I only eat a few spoonfuls at a time anyway. Luckily I don't have any blood pressure issues, so I'm not staying away from all sodium.

I agree - staple removal is no big deal. It will be over before you know it. Just take some liquid Tylenol an hour before if you want.

My Cuisinart stick blender has been a godsend! I use it EVERY day to make Protein shakes, blend Soups, etc. It's so easy to clean, I just rinse it off and it's ready to go again. You can blend in a cup, glass, or cooking bowl which saves on clean-up. Plus it's portable - if you go visit relatives or go on vacation just throw it in your bag. I also made sure to have some drinkable yogurt. My doc prescribed an acid reducer in capsule form. I just open the capsule in the yogurt and drink it down. I can't even taste the meds that way. I normally get vanilla and sometimes add some banana extract for a change of pace. I also use a mortar and pestle to crush meds - I had a post-surgical complication and have to take 2 horse pill size antibiotics each day and they MUST be crushed. I had the band for 3 years and have never weighed my food - but I'm sure it's a good habit to get into. I just don't have the patience for it! :sad0: I haven't had a problem with my body letting me know when I've had too much.

Congrats to you - that is such a great accomplishment! I know the sleeve is a great tool, but you've also put in a lot of hard work to reach that amount of weight loss in 5 short months. Way to go!!!

Dear Stuck, my revision was all done lap, not open. And this included having my gall bladder removed also. My surgeon uses staples on ALL of his incisions, even the teeny ones, but removes them less than a week after surgery. And yes, when I went back to have my follow-up appointment after the wound opening up I was put on an antibiotic for a couple of weeks just to be safe. I'm working very hard to keep drinking that Protein, and the wound is healing very nicely already. It's draining MUCH less, is barely painful at all, and according to my husband he's using less and less packing each day, which means the bottom of the "hole" is filling in with muscle again. :confused1: