Hi Everybody,

My name is Dottie and I live in the Cayman Islands. I had LapBand surgery with Dr. Ortiz in August 2007. Had my first fill in Oct 4, 2007. Went back to work in the Caymans and did okay for about 8 months losing weight. Band was really tight in the AM and somewhat tight for lunch and fine for dinner. And then all of a sudden, Band was too tight...had a hard time with liquids... no matter what time of the day. So, I was on a liquid diet for about 2 months until I could get back to the States for an unfill. Had an unfill in August of 2008. Lost some more weight... total loss from pre-op diet to lowest was 77 pounds... from 307 to 230 in about one year.

Stopped losing weight... but, afraid to get fill that might restrict too much again... since I could not get an unfill easily (i.e. - get time off work, plane ticket to the States. etc). Overall, just not happy with band... my fault since I can't get fills and unfills readily. So, I have gained most of my weight back and and am miserable. I realize that the Band was not maybe the best choice for me considering my location.

So... new chapter! I am looking to get the Band removed and the Gastric Sleeve revision done with Dr. Ortiz. I think that the Sleeve will be a much better fit for me. So, now... I am planning my new adventure/lifestyle change.

I am booked! Doing the Revision surgery (lapband to sleeve) on October 8, 2012. I have to lose 32 pounds before my surgery... I am worried, but excited at the same time. My Mom went with me when I had my Lapband done and it was great having her support. I don't know that I want to ask her to go with me for the Revision... alot more days in Tijuana (approx. one week).

For those of you that have done the Revision surgery... what did you do all day? I know that we go back to OCC to get the drain checked once a day... were you comfortably walking around Tijuana? Anything to go see or must do's? (That are do-able after the surgery)

I have a very good friend that has volunteered to go with me... she had a gastric by-pass several years ago and has lost over 250 pounds...so, I know she would be good support. Any thoughts or feelings on doing it alone or with someone?

And since I do live on a tiny little island in the middle of nowhere... I need to do alot of preparing ahead of time. I am starting to collect Protein shakes... and I have ordered a Cuisinart Puree/Blender. Any feedback on best online prices and variety? Anything else that I should start think about stock-piling?

Thanks to everyone for listening to me! And sorry for rambling....

Cheers, Dottie

Powerade Zero - Grape & Strawberry flavors - It's .88 for a 32 oz bottle at Target & Wal Mart. also, Isopure protein water 40 grams of protein in a 20 OZ bottle, available at GNC for 5$ a bottle. I drink a bottle of each per day , plus 2 bottles of 16oz Water. HYDRATE is # 1 concern for the first few weeks !!!!

I haven't been sleeved yet, but I'm on my pre op diet and I've been doing ISOPURE Protein drinks as monalisa1010 said and at 40 gram s of protein per serving, its a great save. Also sodium free broth by Herb-ox.

Those have helped me. Good luck!

When in TJ, as long as you stick to well-traveled areas during the daytime you should have no problems. I have traveled extensively in Mexico and have never had a problem, but I have always exercised due care. If you go shopping, go to a place called Mercado de Artesanias. Ask anyone for directions when you get downtown. It is about a block from Calle Revolucion where all the (expensive) curio stores are. Prices are probably 30-50% less in the Mercado de Artesanias than they are on Calle Revolucion.

Rosarito Beach is only about a 30 minute drive from TJ and it's a great place to have a few margaritas and go to the beach. Taxis are cheap in Mexico and - if you're adventurous - public transit buses are a real kick! You cannot take a rental car into Mexico without specific permission from the rental company and to do so is a crime. If you are planning on driving in Mexico, you must have proof of car insurance or risk being jailed if you're stopped even for a traffic violation.

We always stock up on antibiotics when we go because they are legal to buy in Mexico without a prescription and very inexpensive. They are legal to bring into the US, too, as long as you are just buying them for personal use.

Lastly, when you go there, treat the residents with respect, despite their socio-economic status, and they will respond in kind. Many of these people are Seri indians who have come to the border from the interior because they can at least make a meager living by begging. You will be besieged by the very poor, including homeless adults and street children, asking for handouts. If you give something to one, you will be inundated, so be very subtle.

My best to you and your revision. If I can be of help, let me know.

Ted

When in TJ, as long as you stick to well-traveled areas during the daytime you should have no problems. I have traveled extensively in Mexico and have never had a problem, but I have always exercised due care. If you go shopping, go to a place called Mercado de Artesanias. Ask anyone for directions when you get downtown. It is about a block from Calle Revolucion where all the (expensive) curio stores are. Prices are probably 30-50% less in the Mercado de Artesanias than they are on Calle Revolucion.

Rosarito Beach is only about a 30 minute drive from TJ and it's a great place to have a few margaritas and go to the beach. Taxis are cheap in Mexico and - if you're adventurous - public transit buses are a real kick! You cannot take a rental car into Mexico without specific permission from the rental company and to do so is a crime. If you are planning on driving in Mexico, you must have proof of car insurance or risk being jailed if you're stopped even for a traffic violation.

We always stock up on antibiotics when we go because they are legal to buy in Mexico without a prescription and very inexpensive. They are legal to bring into the US, too, as long as you are just buying them for personal use.

Lastly, when you go there, treat the residents with respect, despite their socio-economic status, and they will respond in kind. Many of these people are Seri indians who have come to the border from the interior because they can at least make a meager living by begging. You will be besieged by the very poor, including homeless adults and street children, asking for handouts. If you give something to one, you will be inundated, so be very subtle.

My best to you and your revision. If I can be of help, let me know.

Ted

I stocked up on homemade stock both beef and chicken and Premier Protien from Sam's/Costco. My suggestion is to try the protein supplements to find which one you like.

I have found that after the surgery I can no longer digest dairy, so I changed my protein to unjury powder. It comes in several flavors, including a "unflavored" one that you can add to broth or soups, etc.

I have found that after the surgery I can no longer digest dairy, so I changed my Protein to unjury powder. It comes in several flavors, including a "unflavored" one that you can add to broth or soups, etc.

Hi Nicky,

Congrats on the new sleeve! I am very excited and scared at the same time. How did you find out that you couldn't digest dairy anymore? Did it make you feel ill? Or does it come back up? Thank you for the feedback!

Cheers, Dottie

Thank you!! I started to put two and two together that every time I had dairy- either in protein shakes or milk in soup- that I was soon in the bathroom. Not coming back up, but the other way. Not pleasant.

Since you live in a remote area, you may want to also consider some sugar free syrups such as Torani (sold by Amazon). There are quite a few flavors and they may help make Protein drinks more palatable after surgery. For me, anything sweet became gross for the first 3 months post-op. Great for avoiding slider foods, but horrible for being able to drink protein drinks! I drank a lot of chicken broth, homemade and canned, until I was back on solid food again. At 5 months post-op, I now like the Mio drops for my Water, and I adore decaf tea. The tea seems to go down easier than water for me.

Unflavored protein, which does have a taste, may be your best choice because you can add it to many other things to help meet your post-surgery protein goals. Also, I'd suggest having some extra chewable multi-Vitamins on hand. I like the Centrum chewables, but there are others that supposedly are geared toward bariatric patients. My nut is fine with the Centrums for me. I also take a sublingual B12 every day, along with Tums for Calcium. Tums aren't the recommended way to get calcium, though, for most patients. I take them because I am also on long-term coumadin therapy. I started taking Biotin at 2 months post-op to help prevent hair loss, so you may want to consider buying that as well. If you're coming to the States to do this stock up, then I suggest checking at CVS or Walgreens for the vitamins. They often have B1G1 sales, which will save some money.

I am also lactose intolerant after surgery. I can't drink straight milk and have had to switch to soy or almond milk. I discovered it when a Protein shake made with cow's milk sent me immediately to the bathroom for an extended visit.

As for trying different Protein Drinks before surgery to see which you like, I don't know if that will help post-op. My taste changed so completely after surgery that I have several protein powders in the pantry which I still can't handle.

Good luck and keep us up to date on your journey, please!

Since you live in a remote area, you may want to also consider some sugar free syrups such as Torani (sold by Amazon). There are quite a few flavors and they may help make Protein drinks more palatable after surgery. For me, anything sweet became gross for the first 3 months post-op. Great for avoiding slider foods, but horrible for being able to drink protein drinks! I drank a lot of chicken broth, homemade and canned, until I was back on solid food again. At 5 months post-op, I now like the Mio drops for my Water, and I adore decaf tea. The tea seems to go down easier than water for me.

Unflavored protein, which does have a taste, may be your best choice because you can add it to many other things to help meet your post-surgery protein goals. Also, I'd suggest having some extra chewable multi-Vitamins on hand. I like the Centrum chewables, but there are others that supposedly are geared toward bariatric patients. My nut is fine with the Centrums for me. I also take a sublingual B12 every day, along with Tums for Calcium. Tums aren't the recommended way to get calcium, though, for most patients. I take them because I am also on long-term coumadin therapy. I started taking Biotin at 2 months post-op to help prevent hair loss, so you may want to consider buying that as well. If you're coming to the States to do this stock up, then I suggest checking at CVS or Walgreens for the vitamins. They often have B1G1 sales, which will save some money.

I am also lactose intolerant after surgery. I can't drink straight milk and have had to switch to soy or almond milk. I discovered it when a Protein shake made with cow's milk sent me immediately to the bathroom for an extended visit.

As for trying different Protein Drinks before surgery to see which you like, I don't know if that will help post-op. My taste changed so completely after surgery that I have several protein powders in the pantry which I still can't handle.

Good luck and keep us up to date on your journey, please!

Thanks so much for all the great advice. I will be heading to the States for a few weeks before and after the surgery... so, I will be stocking up on things. I have been getting some samples of different Protein shakes that I will use during my two week liquids only pre-op diet. And since, I should still be in the States when I go to Full Liquids after the surgery... I can try them again.

Does anyone know why we become intolerant to certain things... or why our tastebuds seem to change? Kind of odd when you think that our stomach influences our taste.

Again... thanks for the good info!

Cheers, Dottie

I will say that my tastes really did change after surgery. I had to go back shopping to get things I could tolerate when I got home. It's good to stock up, just don't go too crazy. I do suggest a few 5 hour energy drinks. They helped give me a pick up the first few days when I felt wiped out. I would just sip a little here and there. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. You will love the sleeve!

I will say that my tastes really did change after surgery. I had to go back shopping to get things I could tolerate when I got home. It's good to stock up, just don't go too crazy. I do suggest a few 5 hour energy drinks. They helped give me a pick up the first few days when I felt wiped out. I would just sip a little here and there. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. You will love the sleeve!

Hi Becca,

Thanks... it is weird that our stomach changes our tastebuds. I will follow your advice and not buy too much in advance. Since, I will be in the States for a couple weeks after the surgery... I can try and see what I like and stock on some of that.

I had a question about the 5 hour energy drinks... I thought we weren't suppose to do caffeine after bariatric surgery? I don't do caffeine now... it makes me too jumpy... so, I think I would be alittle afraid to try it after the surgery. Were you a big caffeine drinker before the surgery? Did you find yourself lactose intolerant?

Thanks to all for the great info and I am getting so excited... even if the surgery is 7 months away.

Cheers, Dottie

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick question... did anyone have pain around the port area prior to their Revision? I am feeling discomfort (soreness) at that area... I am assuming it is because I have gained weight and my innards are pushing on the port from the inside. Any thoughts?

I have lost 5 pounds and have 27 more to go before my surgery in October.

Cheers, Dottie

I had the band for 5 years and had two revision port surgeries (1 or leak and 1 for flip). My port gave me a lot of pain...so much that it would be a really bad muscle spasm (think charliehorse) in my abs and I looked like a fool trying to get the muscle to relax. It even happened to me the day of surgery in pre-op when I got my lap-band removed...I couldn't lay in the hospital bed in an upright position. Now that my band is out..nomore pain at the port site.

I did lose 100lbs w the lapband but I also travelled a lot plus I lived in Europe last year and could not maintain fills. That combined with breaking my ankle and leg and being in a cast/boot for 10 months I put on Abt 50lbs that I lost w the band. My prob was it stopped working and the damn thing kept getting a leak and wouldn't hold restriction.

I had my band removed 10 days ago and was sleeved 4 days ago. Everyone is different but I have to tell u that based on my experience the pain and discomfort after the sleeve was 10x worse for me. I have had 8 operations and don't usually take the painkillers at all but for the sleeve I called the dr and asked them for a stronger pain med then they prescribed. It's a lot more invasive than the lapband and I find I get winded quick. Each day is a little better though... Oh and don't weigh yourself right after surgery. I GAINED 10lbs from the iv fluids and whatnot just from surgery..that was tough to see.

As for Vitamins...my dr has me on Bariatric Advantage products, a thin lemonade nectar with a scoop of crystals for multiple-vit and also a b12 sublingual and vit d chews and calcium chews.

Good luck to u!

I never had issues with caffeine. I always make sure to get in my water, along with my morning cup of coffee each day. I drank lots of hot tea right after surgery with no problems. I only used the five hour energy when I felt weak from not eating for days. A small sip would give me a litttle boost. I didn't need it once I was eating normal foods. You may be fine without it. I personally struggled with feeling weak on the liquid stage. Totally worth it though! I love my sleeve!