Well, today I got my surgery date. July 16 is my day for my band to sleeve revision. It totally herniated about 2 mths ago. Since I went thru the 4 hr class about wls 3 1/2 yrs ago before my band, I wasn't really given any info. I'm out of state right now and my nurse said she'd email me instructions about where and when to be at the hospital the day before for labs and an ekg. I have the old binder with my lapband instructions (no pre op diet, 4 weeks of liquid following surgery, etc). I have no instructions for this. Are they the same instructions? I'm hoping she won't assume I know all this and email me the protocol too. I'm guessing that since they're taking 85% of my stomach out that I would have to be on a pre op diet for a few days at least. And I'm hoping he changed his post op protocol a little and I'll be able to eat real food sooner than 4 weeks. Last time I cheated, eating mashed potatoes at 3 weeks, but this time (since there's a risk of leakage), I will not cheat at all.

Did you all have a pre op diet or did some of you not have one? I know on the lapband board, about 75% had one, the rest were like me, no diet at all. I'm just wondering if since it's a different type of surgery, that across the board is a pre op diet. I will find out from my clinic, but the're closed now and I'm curious right now!

Oh, and I ordered an 11 sample pack from bj's bariatrics of Syntrax nectar, since I heard they were the best. I paid $14.95 + $5.00 shipping. Does anyone know of a cheaper place to get them?

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from your surgeon - I had a pre-op diet and very strict instructions post-op (I'm on "full liquids" right now). As a former LapBand patient (mine had slipped to the bottom of my stomach - ugh!), I'm also very careful to follow every direction to a "tee" this time around - definitely a worse outcome if you try to go faster than your sleeve needs you to go!

My NUT gave me a full binder of material to read with their recommendations and protocols. I've since made my own tabs in the thing to help me as I move through recovery

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from your surgeon - I had a pre-op diet and very strict instructions post-op (I'm on "full liquids" right now). As a former LapBand patient (mine had slipped to the bottom of my stomach - ugh!), I'm also very careful to follow every direction to a "tee" this time around - definitely a worse outcome if you try to go faster than your sleeve needs you to go!

My NUT gave me a full binder of material to read with their recommendations and protocols. I've since made my own tabs in the thing to help me as I move through recovery

I live 3 hrs away from my drs office and I saw him last month for my pre op. We didn't think I'd be getting it done this soon cuz I had to come up with $5400 cash. I came up with it so I called the coordinator today and she told me I didn't have to go thru the class again (since I've already done it), nor see the nutritionist. She's trying to do everything so I just show up to the hospital the day before (we're gunna have to stay in a hotel that night and my hubby the following 2 nites) for my pre ops and have my surgery. I sure hope I don't have to drive the 6 hrs round trip just to be given instructions that she can email.

Just talked to her today, so I am expecting her to send info. Just wanted to find out before that if everyone HAS to be on a pre op diet. About 75% of lapbanders do, but I didn't. Wanted to know if this was true for sleevers too. I'm hoping that over the last 3 1/2 yrs, they have changed their post op diet, since I was on liquids only for 4 weeks.

My stomach is protruded up over my band too. I had a minor slip for a year that my symptoms were controlled with a partial unfill. It totally herniated 2 mths ago and it can't be fixed. I'm really hoping it hasn't done any damage so that I can get both surgeries done at once. I will be really bummed if I wake up and they tell me they couldn't do y sleeve. Can't really afford a 2nd surgery any time soon.

Thanks for your response!

I'd definitely ask for more clarification from your surgeon - I had a pre-op diet and very strict instructions post-op (I'm on "full liquids" right now). As a former LapBand patient (mine had slipped to the bottom of my stomach - ugh!), I'm also very careful to follow every direction to a "tee" this time around - definitely a worse outcome if you try to go faster than your sleeve needs you to go!

My NUT gave me a full binder of material to read with their recommendations and protocols. I've since made my own tabs in the thing to help me as I move through recovery

I live 3 hrs away from my drs office and I saw him last month for my pre op. We didn't think I'd be getting it done this soon cuz I had to come up with $5400 cash. I came up with it so I called the coordinator today and she told me I didn't have to go thru the class again (since I've already done it), nor see the nutritionist. She's trying to do everything so I just show up to the hospital the day before (we're gunna have to stay in a hotel that night and my hubby the following 2 nites) for my pre ops and have my surgery. I sure hope I don't have to drive the 6 hrs round trip just to be given instructions that she can email.

Just talked to her today, so I am expecting her to send info. Just wanted to find out before that if everyone HAS to be on a pre op diet. About 75% of lapbanders do, but I didn't. Wanted to know if this was true for sleevers too. I'm hoping that over the last 3 1/2 yrs, they have changed their post op diet, since I was on liquids only for 4 weeks.

My stomach is protruded up over my band too. I had a minor slip for a year that my symptoms were controlled with a partial unfill. It totally herniated 2 mths ago and it can't be fixed. I'm really hoping it hasn't done any damage so that I can get both surgeries done at once. I will be really bummed if I wake up and they tell me they couldn't do y sleeve. Can't really afford a 2nd surgery any time soon.

Thanks for your response!

I'll hope for the best for you as well! As a general rule, my doctor won't do a conversion surgery. I had my irreparable band out in March and had to wait 11 weeks for my sleeve. Gained weight in the meantime (ahhh - the freedom of being able to keep down solid food again!!), but my stomach had morphed into something huge and swollen because of the 2+ years I dealt with the slip (the insurance I had then wouldn't cover removal). They said that my stomach was the largest, and most awkwardly shaped, they'd ever removed from a sleeve patient

Now Im nervous. Scared to death of waking up in the recovery room to find out they couldn't do the sleeve. My dr said the plan was to do it at once but no guarantees. My insurance wont cover the sleeve afterwards cuz my bmi is 28. They'll only cover it if its done because of a complication and with my band removed, its no longer a complication. So im a little worried. I can't afford to pay cash for a sleeve and there's no way im gaining up to 35 bmi to qualify again.

Thanks for warning me...appreciate the info