I had my band placed on in April, 2006. The first year was a breeze and I lost a ton of weight. In month 13 of my journey, I was overfilled and slipped my band. Since then, I seemed to have developed an intolerance for my band. I have slipped it twice, constantly choke on my food, and have been miserable.

On April 2nd, I will be revising from the lapband to the gastric sleeve. Dr. Aceves will be doing the revision in Mexico. I have decided to chronicle my experience here, so others that have band issues and decide to convert can have an idea of what to expect.

I spoke with Nina, the patient coordinator yesterday and we now have everything scheduled. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I will leave here on April 1st, have my surgery on the 2nd and return home on the 5th. My mother will be accompanying me on the trip.

Nina advised me that Dr. Aceves is concerned about swelling due to the problems I have had with my band. Therefore, I am going this week for a complete unfill. Then, seven days before my surgery, I have to go on a complete liquid diet. This should alleviate any swelling issues and the chances of having to have the band removed and then go back at a later date for the sleeve. It is very important to me that I get this all done at the same time.

I am looking forward to this, and feel like I have been given a new opportunity at life. To those who have helped me to be able to get the sleeve, thank you. Because of you, I now am looking forward to enjoying life again, instead of living in misery.

I will update as I go through this journey.

I suppose a nice boar's head roast beef sandwich with provolone cheese on Publix Italian sandwich bread is out of the question right now?

Of course not, not on full liquids. You could get your blender, add the sandwich (plenty of Provolone) and about a gallon of mustard and when it will go through a straw, you can sip sip sip! ;o)

Oh, not a bad idea. Maybe I will have to try that when I move to full liquids on Sunday.

Oh, not a bad idea. Maybe I will have to try that when I move to full liquids on Sunday.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy!

I am not even attempting to count protein until Sunday. I am averaging between 80 and 100 calories a day right now and have no energy. Good thing I have one day of full liquids before I go back to work Monday. I don't know how you are doing it.

My secret weapon is Kelloggs lemon protein water. It comes in 16 oz bottles and has 50 cal and 5 g protein. I literally keep one in my labcoat pocket and store others in my office. When I'm out rounding, I am constantly sipping. The few carbs balance with the protein and keep me going. It tastes like a mild lemonaide and I found it with the breakfast bars. You might want to give a 4 pack a try.

I don't like any of the other Kellogg's water, but I haven't tried that one. I will give it a try. Thanks.

I suppose a nice boar's head roast beef sandwich with provolone cheese on Publix Italian sandwich bread is out of the question right now?

Make mine honey turkey breast on rye with lettuce and light mayo!

Man, that sounds so good, as I sit here drinking my broth.

Someone told me to get Ramen noodles, dump the noodles and take the seasoning packet and mix it with hot water. I have to say, it is pretty good and the chicken flavor one has a nice kick to it for a change.

Today has been an interesting one for me. The site where my drainage bag was had me a bit concerned. After they take the bag out, they leave the wound open so you can continue to drain, and say anywhere from seven to fifteen days later it will close up on its own.

The first couple of days, I had a lot of drainage. But since then, when I take the bandage off there will be just a small brown spot. Well today, I get up and take it off and there is green stuff on it. My incision had pretty much looked like it closed up, but today it was opened again and also had green stuff. I remembered when I left the hospital, they reinforced many times that no fever means no infection. But, I was worried anyways. So, I got on here and sent a PM to WASaBubbleButt asking for her advice. She got me in touch with Dr. Campos, Dr. Aceves assistant doc, and he reassured me that everything should be fine. He said probably what happened was the outer layer did close, but inside the "tunnel" was still open. I probably had some excess drainage that needed to get out but couldn't because it had closed. So, he said that stuff probably sat there for a couple of days, got a little bacteria in it but eventually forced the inicision back open so it could drain out. He told me to wash it and change my bandages twice a day instead of once a day and everything thing should be fine. So, that was a big relief. And, thanks again, WASa, for being there for me. You are always so helpful and it is wonderful knowing you are there if I go into panic mode about anything.

On a lighter side, I just got back from the grocery store. I get to move to full liquids tomorrow and am so excited about finally being able to get a bit more sustenance in me. I feel so weak right now, and am continuing to fight the lightheadedness and nausea. Dr. Campos said this should subside once I get to full liquids. I hope so. Anyways, I had been looking up reciepes on here for the past few days to make my protein shakes a bit more tolerable. Off I went to the grocery store with those reciepes in hand. I was buying bananas, frozen strawberries, baby food. chocolate soy milk, fat free yogurt and all kinds of stuff. All for the protein shakes. I also bought some yummy looking thick soups which I can't wait to try.

Starting tomorrow morning, I never, EVER want to see broth again. I am so sick of it. Bye Bye broth, hello full liquids!!!

That makes me nervous leaving the hospital with an open wound. I guess I never thought about the fact that things won't be healed up when you leave. We didn't have drains when we got banded.

Today has been an interesting one for me. The site where my drainage bag was had me a bit concerned. After they take the bag out, they leave the wound open so you can continue to drain, and say anywhere from seven to fifteen days later it will close up on its own.

The first couple of days, I had a lot of drainage. But since then, when I take the bandage off there will be just a small brown spot. Well today, I get up and take it off and there is green stuff on it. My incision had pretty much looked like it closed up, but today it was opened again and also had green stuff. I remembered when I left the hospital, they reinforced many times that no fever means no infection. But, I was worried anyways. So, I got on here and sent a PM to WASaBubbleButt asking for her advice. She got me in touch with Dr. Campos, Dr. Aceves assistant doc, and he reassured me that everything should be fine. He said probably what happened was the outer layer did close, but inside the "tunnel" was still open. I probably had some excess drainage that needed to get out but couldn't because it had closed. So, he said that stuff probably sat there for a couple of days, got a little bacteria in it but eventually forced the inicision back open so it could drain out. He told me to wash it and change my bandages twice a day instead of once a day and everything thing should be fine. So, that was a big relief. And, thanks again, WASa, for being there for me. You are always so helpful and it is wonderful knowing you are there if I go into panic mode about anything.

On a lighter side, I just got back from the grocery store. I get to move to full liquids tomorrow and am so excited about finally being able to get a bit more sustenance in me. I feel so weak right now, and am continuing to fight the lightheadedness and nausea. Dr. Campos said this should subside once I get to full liquids. I hope so. Anyways, I had been looking up reciepes on here for the past few days to make my protein shakes a bit more tolerable. Off I went to the grocery store with those reciepes in hand. I was buying bananas, frozen strawberries, baby food. chocolate soy milk, fat free yogurt and all kinds of stuff. All for the protein shakes. I also bought some yummy looking thick soups which I can't wait to try.

Starting tomorrow morning, I never, EVER want to see broth again. I am so sick of it. Bye Bye broth, hello full liquids!!!

The same thing happened with my drain site about 2 days ago but I'm a medical person so I knew it was normal. Today, I just have a bandaide on it and all is fine. When I showered, the last of the coverings came off the trochar sites and the incisions all look good.

Enjoy your full fluids and Happy Easter!

Today is such a wonderful, beautiful day. FULL LIQUIDS!!!! No more broth for this chick!! I got up this morning and took a package of sugar free malt flavored carnation, 1 cup of skim milk and 1 scoop of vanilla flavored unjury and mixed it all up in my magic bullet. I am sitting here sipping on it now and feel like I am drinking a chocolate milkshake, it tastes so good!!

I feel the need to comment on this. And if it is TMI, my apologies. I am really, really tired of liquids in, liquids out. Especially when I seem to get no advanced warning on the out part whatsoever!!!

Today is such a wonderful, beautiful day. FULL LIQUIDS!!!! No more broth for this chick!! I got up this morning and took a package of sugar free malt flavored carnation, 1 cup of skim milk and 1 scoop of vanilla flavored unjury and mixed it all up in my magic bullet. I am sitting here sipping on it now and feel like I am drinking a chocolate milkshake, it tastes so good!!

Happy Easter and Happy Full Fluids! I'm still doing my soy slender drink for breakfast and the liquid in/liquid out seems not to apply to me... thank God!

I feel the need to comment on this. And if it is TMI, my apologies. I am really, really tired of liquids in, liquids out. Especially when I seem to get no advanced warning on the out part whatsoever!!!

Don't worry... that part gets better.

Thanks, Mac. I hope it gets better soon.

Wow, seeing pudding is on the full fluids diet, I decided to have a cup of sugar free, fat free, double chocolate pudding. I can tell my sleeve is in there. I only ate about 1/4 a cup before I was stuffed.

Edited April 12, 200917 yr by *Susan*