Let's get to know each other before our surgery...I'll go first.

My name is Amy (37 years old). I live in central FL with my husband and two kids, 3 yo DS and 4.5 yo DD. I work in IT doing technical writing and operational readiness. I love photography and have a small side business, and when I'm thinner, I really enjoy running and spinning.

I was banded in Nov 2009 at 374 lbs. From my banding until Dec 2011 (2 years), I lost 198 lbs. I was thrilled! Despite the occasional vomit and inability to eat certain foods, I was still 99.9% happy with my band. Right after Christmas this year, however, I got a terrible upper respiratory infection. I coughed and coughed and coughed. I coughed until I puked, which caused a slip.

I got a complete unfill in early January. Once the slip was fixed, I started getting fills. But then my band developed a leak and slipped once again. Since the surgeon I was seeing was less than helpful, I found a new surgeon, Dr. Domkowski, who finally treated me without acting like I was crazy, as my last surgeon did. Based on his recommendations and test results, we decided to do the removal and sleeve in two separate surgeries.

Dr. D removed my band on August 3, 2012. Because of the extent of damage done by the band, including scarring and pulling the fundus through the diaphragm, I am waiting around four months to be sleeved. I'd love to be banded on November 25, which would have been the three year anniversary of my band.

I've gained about 70 lbs since December. Sigh. The good news is my surgeon is not at all concerned about my weight gain. He is 100% convinced that I'll lose it all once I'm sleeved, since I was so successful with the band. I'm a bit of a goody two-shoes, and I followed the rules to a "T", and I intend to do the same with the sleeve.

I hope the next four months fly by!

This gives me so much hope! I am 5 days post op and still am feeling miserable. I'm up all hours of the night walking trying to make the gas pain stop. I also have gained 4 poundsdde1e here's to hoping day 8 is the magic day!

I am there with you. I am 4 days out and not feeling the best. Every time I take a drink of anything, it hurts...no matter if its warm or cold, a shake or water. I'm up at night and just hoping this temporary. I am not regretting this, but it has been different than I expected. I had to stay in hospital an extra day due to not keeping anything down and being nauseous. The amount of gas I feel inside seems insane. Hoping every day will be better :-)

I am there with you. I am 4 days out and not feeling the best. Every time I take a drink of anything' date=' it hurts...no matter if its warm or cold, a shake or water. I'm up at night and just hoping this temporary. I am not regretting this, but it has been different than I expected. I had to stay in hospital an extra day due to not keeping anything down and being nauseous. The amount of gas I feel inside seems insane. Hoping every day will be better :-)[/quote']

I completely understand. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I hope it gets better for you. It helps me to stand and drink then walk around. It WILL GET BETTER!

I completely understand. I'm so sorry you're going through all of this. I hope it gets better for you. It helps me to stand and drink then walk around. It WILL GET BETTER!

Great advice! Stand, drink, then walk.

This gives me so much hope! I am 5 days post op and still am feeling miserable. I'm up all hours of the night walking trying to make the gas pain stop. I also have gained 4 poundsdde1e here's to hoping day 8 is the magic day!

I'm 4 days post op and last night was the first night that I pretty much slept through the night. I woke up once at like 4 but I did sleep from 9-6:15. It's hard to sleep but it's getting more manageable. The best advice I can give is ride it out as best as you can. Ad if you haven't pooped yet...try smooth move tea. Omg it was a Godsend! That is a huge part of the battle with the gas. Get that flowing and it goes a long way towards helping you feel so much better.

I am there with you. I am 4 days out and not feeling the best. Every time I take a drink of anything' date=' it hurts...no matter if its warm or cold, a shake or water. I'm up at night and just hoping this temporary. I am not regretting this, but it has been different than I expected. I had to stay in hospital an extra day due to not keeping anything down and being nauseous. The amount of gas I feel inside seems insane. Hoping every day will be better :-)[/quote']

Poop. The best thing you can do is poop. Sounds gross but it's true.

Great advice! Stand' date=' drink, then walk.[/quote']

I so agree! I noticed it goes down easier if I'm standing. Definitely a must.

8 Days! Back to pureed tomorrow!

Surgery was on the 20th I'm home now and still feel weak. Hoping I can get up the stairs and to my office on Tuesday. Also very worried about wearing a bra. It kills to do that. I drive for about ten minutes today and feel like the rest of my time will be walking and resting. Going poop would probably help tremendously! I still cant get enough liquids down. It's been a rough ride but each day is easier. Just didn't expect to feel this worn out.

I'm 4 days post op and last night was the first night that I pretty much slept through the night. I woke up once at like 4 but I did sleep from 9-6:15. It's hard to sleep but it's getting more manageable. The best advice I can give is ride it out as best as you can. Ad if you haven't pooped yet...try smooth move tea. Omg it was a Godsend! That is a huge part of the battle with the gas. Get that flowing and it goes a long way towards helping you feel so much better.

Where can I get this tea?

Where can I get this tea?

I go it at a health food store, but Walgreens carries it and most grocery stores. It's in the organic aisle usually. But really any laxative tea that is made from senna leaf is pretty much the same thing. I prefer a more natural approach rather than more meds. And mine worked. I've gone twice today. I'm getting back to my normal.

Sleeved on 11/12. Nothing hurts. Nothing tastes funny. Insides are working great. Down 18 lbs. I have tons of energy and a constant smile on my face. My biggest concern is the outcome of the Michigan/Ohio State game.

Sleeved on 11/12. Nothing hurts. Nothing tastes funny. Insides are working great. Down 18 lbs. I have tons of energy and a constant smile on my face. My biggest concern is the outcome of the Michigan/Ohio State game.

I'm sitting here enjoying a popsicle watching "The Game" myself.... really hoping Ohio State pulls this one off and remains undefeated! Go Buckeyes!!

Ok. I need some input. I'm on The pre-op liquid diet. The problem is I seem to have a lot of gurgling going on in my stomach. It is a lot of air and I don't know what I can do about it. I won't even start talking about the bathroom visits. Any suggestions on how to alleviate this problem?

Ok. I need some input. I'm on The pre-op liquid diet. The problem is I seem to have a lot of gurgling going on in my stomach. It is a lot of air and I don't know what I can do about it. I won't even start talking about the bathroom visits. Any suggestions on how to alleviate this problem?

Perhaps gas-x? I take a chewable that is somewhat helping me post-op.

Freja, I'm sorry to say I just had to suck it up on pre-op. My stomach was a mess and so unhappy. The last two days, I think I just drank water, because I was soooooo over protein shakes. They were making me gag at that point!

Freja' date=' I'm sorry to say I just had to suck it up on pre-op. My stomach was a mess and so unhappy. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> The last two days, I think I just drank water, because I was soooooo over protein shakes. They were making me gag at that point![/quote']

Well sucking it up, I am. I have a question and I hope it's not too personal. How long did it take for your bowels to return to normal duty? I asked because this is really sucky! I'm scared to travel too far from my bathroom.