TexasT

Sounds exactly like my story too. Having all that plastic out of my body feels so freeing. The band is equal to a medieval torture device in my opinion!!! Insurance companies are always behind the times. In a couple of years they won't pay for the band and they'll go to the sleeve. I was self-pay for both surgeries, but it was worth it to get that horrible band removed. I DO NOT miss that feeling of food getting stuck. Life is so good now!!!

Welcome to the site! You'll find tons of info on here, so just read read read. I'll turn 50 this month, and wish this surgery had been available when I was your age. You're very lucky to be able to start on a healthier life at such a young age. I have no doubt you'll be able to run and do anything else you've been dreaming about. The sleeve is amazing! Good luck!

I can't comment on the Mexico portion of your questions, but I can vouch for the part about how you'll feel about food. You WILL still be able to eat pretty much anything you want to eat after your stomach heals (more so once you reach goal), so there's no reason to feel deprived or that you're missing out. I went to Italy last year, and ate Pasta, drank wine, and scarfed down gelato to my heart's content. My hubby and I go out each week for date night, and I always have a cocktail and whatever I want to eat. The good thing is that I can only eat 1/3 to 1/4 of an entree, so I bring it home and get to enjoy it for several more days. I think that's pretty cool myself. I still get plenty of joy out of food. One thing I have noticed though is that I'm much pickier about what I eat. It's more about the quality now, instead of the quantity like before VSG. If you feel that you'll have a problem living like this, then you might want to check into seeing a therapist. A lot of people do - just to talk things through beforehand. But from my perspective, it hasn't been an issue.

My surgeon's office has a clothing swap every so often. You might check with yours to see if they do that, and if not, if someone there can start one.

I also had my gall bladder removed and a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time I had my revision done. It was a piece of cake - sorry - I mean it went as smooth as a cup of low-fat yogurt - ha! It was really no worse at all than when I had my band done. I'm sure you'll do great. Congrats on your surgery date!

...your hubby's business collegue you met a few years ago sees your pic on hubby's Iphone and asks who his hot new girlfriend is. The poor guy thought we had gotten divorced! My hubby was proud to tell him it was me and left it at that.

I've been with the same wonderful guy for 30 yrs now, and our sex life is even better than when we started out. Being at my goal weight makes me have a much better attitude about my body, which of course is the most important aspect of a healthy sexual relationship. I'll be 50 in a few weeks, the last child is now out of the nest - so I'm looking forward to the next years my hubby and will have together having fun (sexual and otherwise!) and being healthy enough to travel, walk, etc. Glad to hear you're in the same boat!

I was a revision from band. We didn't do an endoscopy pre-op, but found that I also had a hernia while the doc was doing the VSG. He fixed it during the surgery with no problem. This is pretty common and not normally an issue. Best of luck!

I started losing hair about 4-5 months post-op and did so for about 4 months. Now all my new growth is gray - but at least I've got a bunch of short wiry gray hair growing in! I work from home so I could get away with washing less often. That seemed to be all I could do though - took biotin, bought a fancy growth serum/shampoo combo, ate all my protein but could see no difference. Nothing but time will really help...

Welcome Malcom - I'm not a guy but I am a former lapbander also. I've had the sleeve for over a year and am absolutely thankful that there was this alternative. When my band was removed it was discovered that I also had a hernia, which the doc repaired during surgery. I was not as successful with the band as you were, but I also had less to lose at the time. I think you'll find similar success with the sleeve, and I have full faith that the weight will stay off this time. Living with the sleeve is pretty much effortless once you get past the first few weeks of special diets while your tummy heals. Best of luck with your decision and hopefully your wife's too!

I only had to get a cardia clearance pre-op with my revision.

It's funny how we see ourselves and sometimes don't realize exactly how big we've gotten. Full length mirrors can be brutal - especially in a terribly lit dressing room! OUCH!! Now that I'm in maintenance, I look at my old photos and can't believe that I used to look so bad - I thought I looked fine! Looks aside, the best part of this is feeling and being so healthy. It really is a blessing and a life changer. Best of luck to you! PS - Bands are kin to medieval torture devices - good decision to forgo it.

It doesn't take much food now, does it? Sounds like you're doing great - keep it up!

I remember that moment after my surgery too. Being able to feel my collar bone was just amazing to me - I kept telling my husband "feel this, can you believe it???" I hope you can keep some of your booty, because mine is non-existent now and my butt can certainly get SORE when I sit on something hard! Being "boney" is a mixed blessing!

I've never had anything come back up with the sleeve, but constantly had problems when I had the band. Life is good now!

As much as I HATED my band, I also almost cancelled my VSG surgery at the last minute. I am SOOO glad I didn't though. It's been over a year now, and it's the best thing I've done. Sometimes I'll put my hand where the port was and remember how I could feel it, how it would bump against my ribs and get in the way. It's so wonderful to have all that plastic OUT of my body. VSG surgery is scary - that's for sure. But it is so worth it - I know you won't regret it. Good luck!!

Dr. Wade Barker did both my surgeries. He's a fantastic surgeon and has a very nice staff. My revision was $5000, but I also had my gall bladder removed, so insurance helped pay some of the fees for the hospital, OR, etc. I got down to my goal weight very quickly after my VSG, this after having lost NO weight with the band for 3 yrs (I only lost with it the first 6 months post-op).

I eat the Premier Protein bars and not the drinks. At a year post-op they are an easy snack to keep at my desk or in my purse and they taste better than any others with 30grams of protein that I've tasted (and I've tasted A LOT of brands).

Great job on reaching this important goal!!! I know you'll also reach all your others too - you're doing great so far!

Flo Mo - or Flower Mound to everyone one else!

No regrets about the sleeve. I was a revision from the lapband - which is kin to a medieval torture device - so THAT I regret! The sleeve is amazing and I promise you won't regret it if you have it done.

It sounds like you've got the right attitude about all of this, and that's the most important thing right now. The first few weeks can be pretty frustrating as you learn a new way to eat, and are on such a restricted diet. I'm over a year past surgery and I'm still on an acid reducer, so don't be in too big of a hurry to get off of it. Some people can do it, others can't. I can't believe you're on mushies after just one week. I couldn't have them until after week 3. Take it slow and steady and enjoy not being hungry and not being able to eat a ton of food anymore. The weight coming off is great motivation to keep with it and not get discouraged. Best of luck to you and keep with it- sounds like you're doing great!

I LOVE Bari-wise Protein hot chocolate mixes. I buy them online from Diet Direct. They taste like Swiss Miss, only better. The Cinnamon flavor is my favorite. I've also gought the Wonder Slim brand, but didn't like the taste of them as much. For Breakfast I've been having one of the hot chocolates with a Bari-wise crispy Protein Bar. That gives me 30grams of protein between the two. For a snack, I normally eat the Premier Nutrition Protein Bars that have 30grams each. I can't stand the normal Protein drinks anymore, so I just try and get it from my foods and these products.

I tried Bare Minerals at an Ulta store, where they will give you a "makeover" and let you try it before you buy it. I found that it did NOT work with dry skin. It just made it seem even drier because it's just all powder. I continued using my "anti-aging" foundation and cream blush and have had no problems. I haven't tried the Philosophy Miracle Worker so I can't offer an opinion on it. I use Olay Regenerist serum morning and night and can tell that my skin is smoother and less splotchy (not sure that's even a word!) - so I'm going to continue with it.

I was a revision from lapband. When I had my sleeve my BMI was 31.1, and within just a few months I was at goal with a BMI of 24. I had not lost any weight in over 3 yrs with the band, so the sleeve got me to where I needed to be. Don't let anyone tell you your BMI is too low. Yes, this is drastic surgery. But I know without it I most likely would have gone back up to my pre-band BMI of 39.