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Band Out, Sleeve In! It's done.



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Yes, you can add artificial sweetners to drinks. I would go to a health food store and see if they have samples of whey Protein. Try some post-op to see if there is one you can tolerate.

Remember, if you can't do any of them (most people can do one), contact the patient coordinator (Gaby). I found soy slender in the grocery store that's got Fiber, 8 g protein, and 80 cal in 8 oz. I was allowed to use that after gagging up the whey stuff... day 5 post-op.

Gaby isn't a coordinator, she's the aftercare specialist, she's a psychologist. She's great about things like... transfer addiction! She has really helped me a great deal with issues like that.

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Geeeez! I don't need another addiction! LOL. I suspect shopping for new clothes in "regular" stores will be fun.

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Geeeez! I don't need another addiction! LOL. I suspect shopping for new clothes in "regular" stores will be fun.

BTDT too! ;o) It's still fun to shop in regular stores. That hasn't worn off yet AND it's cheaper!

My big mega issue right now is body dysmorphia. :)/

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BTDT too! ;o) It's still fun to shop in regular stores. That hasn't worn off yet AND it's cheaper!

My big mega issue right now is body dysmorphia. :)/

The lowest size I got to was a 14-16 so it's a dream to get to a 10-12 and shop in regular stores. I do remember looking in the mirror and thinking I was much heavier than I really was and swearing the clothes I chose to try on would never fit... they did. LOL.

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The lowest size I got to was a 14-16 so it's a dream to get to a 10-12 and shop in regular stores. I do remember looking in the mirror and thinking I was much heavier than I really was and swearing the clothes I chose to try on would never fit... they did. LOL.

My mom has always said you stay heavier in your mind longer than you do your body.

I will be so excited to not have to buy in the W (my g/f talks it WIDE) section and to be able to have cuter clothes. I've told my DBF he better have a lot of $$$ because I'm going to need a whole new wardrobe when this is all said and done. He said NO PROBLEM! :)

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It really exciting to look forward to the smaller sizes isn't it?! I remember the euphoria I felt when I made it toa size 12, now I'm a size 10, was an 8 before my unfill:cursing:. Anyway enjoy the ride!

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It really exciting to look forward to the smaller sizes isn't it?! I remember the euphoria I felt when I made it toa size 12, now I'm a size 10, was an 8 before my unfill:cursing:. Anyway enjoy the ride!

I haven't been out of women's in SO LONG. And when I was able to get my weight off and keep it off for any length of time -- long before the days of pregnancy -- I was a size 12. One time I got into a 10 and everyone thought I looked anorexic ... I am tall; however, not big boned, so I have no idea what size I will be in once I reach my goal ... however, I intend to enjoy the ride on the downhill side that is for sure!!!!:)

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I'm the opposite... 5' 2" and petite bone frame... tiny hands and a size 6 shoes. At my present weight, I am a 1X (18-20). Since I have never not been fat, I have no idea what size I would be at goal so it should be fun seeing how low I can go... weight and size! LOL.

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I haven't been out of women's in SO LONG. And when I was able to get my weight off and keep it off for any length of time -- long before the days of pregnancy -- I was a size 12. One time I got into a 10 and everyone thought I looked anorexic ... I am tall; however, not big boned, so I have no idea what size I will be in once I reach my goal ... however, I intend to enjoy the ride on the downhill side that is for sure!!!!:)

It gets *really* expensive as you lose weight. The closer you get to goal the faster you go down in size. I was at an 8 and satisfied with that and then band problems kicked in big time and I was on liquids for a few months. I had a huge wardrobe of size 8 clothes that I have spent a fortune on. Then I started losing more weight. I'm down to a 4, sometimes 6 depending on brand/style. Then I had to start all over again. It's fun but verrry expensive! ;o)

I still go in stores and wish I was small enough to fit into something on display and then... I remember I'm at goal. HA

There was a post on another board from someone that is in the clothing industry. She works at the factory level. She was explaining the reason you go through sizes so fast when you get closer to goal is that there is 2" more material between sizes for Womens than there is between sizes for non-womens. That's one of the reasons it takes more pounds to change sizes in womens. Once you are out of those the sizes start zipping by.

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That's interesting about they make garments differently based on size. I am still wearing the same clothes I did the day I had the revision surgery but they are VERY loose. The tops I can get away with a little longer but the dress slacks will need to go after another 10 pounds is gone.

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On May 2, I was allowed to go back to an unrestricted diet and eats solids. I am still surprised at how little I am eating and at how much I need to chew food in order to get it down. This is something I never had to do with the band as food easily went down with that.

All my gherlin must have been cut out because I never feel hungry and I notice that I get the hiccups when my stomach is full. It takes just a small amount of food for me to feel full and I'm in no hurry to go back to solids.

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That's great that you're doing so well Elizabeth. You'll be wearing small sizes in no time at all.

I am confused when it comes to the mushy stage. I am not there yet, but I think Dr. A's idea of mushy is different from what I could have on my list after lap band surgery. For instance, I could have soft cheese like

mozzarella and provelone on my other doctor's mushy diet. He called it mushy/soft. So it could be mushy or solid as long as it was soft.

What is considered okay to eat during dr. A's mushy diet?

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Elisabeth, do you mind sharing what kind of band you had and what was your highest fill? i have an Inamed (sp) 5cc band w/a 3.9 fill.

Will anyone share what i may expect as far as the psyche profile/eval goes? I must do this Wed. Tomorrow I see my pcp regarding my bp-140/100-is this bad? i didn't even know my bp was an eyebrow-raiser until the nurses @ the clinic took it twice last week and asked if it is always so high. maybe that why i am so #!*#!! tired.

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That's great that you're doing so well Elizabeth. You'll be wearing small sizes in no time at all.

I am confused when it comes to the mushy stage. I am not there yet, but I think Dr. A's idea of mushy is different from what I could have on my list after lap band surgery. For instance, I could have soft cheese like

mozzarella and provelone on my other doctor's mushy diet. He called it mushy/soft. So it could be mushy or solid as long as it was soft.

What is considered okay to eat during dr. A's mushy diet?

You can have Soups, mashed potatoes, puddings, chicken salad, tuna salad, cottage cheese, yogurt, meatballs, Pasta, etc. You can't have hard Protein like a steak or chicken breast or pork chop.

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Elisabeth, do you mind sharing what kind of band you had and what was your highest fill?

I had the Inamed VG 10 cc band. After 11 fills there was 9.3 ccs in it. When they took all the Fluid out the day before I revised to the sleeve, they got a total of 8.6 ccs out.

i have an Inamed (sp) 5cc band w/a 3.9 fill.

Will anyone share what i may expect as far as the psyche profile/eval goes?

The psych eval is a breeze. They want to make sure that you know what you're doing and why you're doing it and that you have realistic expectations. You fill out some forms, sit and talk afterwards, and that's it... about an hour in total.

I must do this Wed. Tomorrow I see my pcp regarding my bp-140/100-is this bad?

Yes, it's elevated. The bottom number is the heart at rest and they like that to be below 80. The top number should be below 120. You need to be placed on hypertention medication and maybe a beta blocker if your heart rate (pulse) is fast. They might also consider a diuretic.

i didn't even know my bp was an eyebrow-raiser until the nurses @ the clinic took it twice last week and asked if it is always so high. maybe that why i am so #!*#!! tired.

The tiredness might be due to anemia or abnormal thyroid values. Simple blood tests will give you the answers.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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