Looking for info and inspiration!

 Hey everyone, I am Courtney and over this past week I lost my Lap Band. I loved my band, I really did , and it worked well for me but getting another one is out of the question. I have already schedualed a revision surgery for 3 months from now but I have to pick between the VSG and Gastirc Bypass. I am leaning heavily toward the sleeve. 

I am just looking for some personal experiences, what was your surgery like, recovery time, after surgery diet, what did your weight loss look like, what kind of foods can/can't you eat, how far out are you and would you recommend the sleeve for your best friend? 

I am kind of freaking out about having surgery again, losing my band has been kind of tramatic and the recovery (while not physically difficult) has been rough on everyone. 

I am up for the good, bad and ugly, I want to hear it all.

I saw your post on the other board.  Sorry you lost your band.

I had an absolutely unremarkable surgery and recovery.  Very sore, but no real pain.  In the hospital overnight.  Progressed through all the post-op eating phases and hit regular food at 6 weeks out.  I don't have intolerances for any food - everything goes down just fine.  No vomiting, no slimies, no foamies.  Just get satisfied on a lot less food.

From what I've heard, the sleeve does what the band is suppose to do with a lot less hassle and no hardware to worry about.  Once you're pass the point where a leak might show up (which is immediately post-op), you're back to life as normal, just much smaller amounts of food.

I still get hungry after 3-4 hours, but it's a normal hungry and not the never-ending demand to eat that I had pre-op.  A small meal satisfies the hunger and I'm good to go for several more hours.

Best of luck on your decision!

This is my post - don't know why I'm suddenly a man!  Must be an OH glitch! 

are you serious, how'd that happen?  I hope I don't morph into him too!

 Thanks so much for the post! The more I read, and the more I hear the more I am set on the Sleeve. I have my check up next week and I am 99% sure that I am going to be telling him that we are a go for the surgery in Sept!

Long post!

I flew to MX for mine as I was a self-pay, DH came with to help.
Surgery was a breeze, I got an epidural in addition to general- woke up in absolutely no pain.. just *plink* I was awake.. I did however come to realize I cannot handle narcotics at all, and spent the next 36 hrs nauseous.. but, never heaved and they gave me meds to try to help it.. but I just had to wait it out. Not a biggie once it was over.

I had mild-moderate pain when I would go to stand up, but it wasn't bad at all, and I was on strong NSAID's only.. Generally just sore. My IV that blew bothered me more than the incisions did if you can believe it. I flew home after three nights, and it was a very long day of travel but it wasn't a problem at all. Walking felt sore, sitting I was fine.. and I sipped my watered down gatoraid the whole time. I took my Toradol for about 3-4 days once home, usually only at night, and propped the head of my bed up as laying flat pulled my belly a bit.

At home, I was up to the full 64oz & 70g protein by 5 days post-op, sipping is a full time job that first week or so. I had 10days clear liquids, 10 full liquids, 10 mushies, then onto solids. Meats not allowed till solids.. I tried one new food/meat a day, and nothing disagreed. I can eat chicken- dry or moist, beef, pork, jerky w/o a problem. I have puked twice, both because of Centrum vitamins.. I now can tolerate them as long as I pop it in after a full protein meal.. but food tolerance is just as it was before surgery, except I can only fit 2oz of dense protein period. 

I felt great the first week, really tired the second.. still not at full stamina (tried hiking, was not ready) at a month.. and now I feel fine, just trying to get back into shape finally.. had a bad ankle injury that pops up and keeps me from any serious walking, but I'm working on it as long as it stays quiet.

You can click my username to see my weekly weight loss tallies. I'm losing fairly steady with little exercise (working on that) and just by staying on plan. I don't lose at all during my period week. My drs plan is like many on here: 3 meals a day, 800 cals, under 40 carbs, 70g protein.. I usually get 600-700 cals, 20-25g carb and 70 or higher protein.. At this point, all I have room for is protein and maybe a bite of veg. If I start adding a snack, it would likely be a veg snack with greek yogurt dip or something, but I'm not hungry.. so no snacks for me..

Oh, and to add to this insanely long post.. I woke up with no cravings, and no hunger.. it was like a switch was flipped. I was able to be around food and cook for my husband while on liquids and not have an issue. I still enjoy my food and look forward to it- and my tastes did not change.. but I just don't have that same drive to eat. I realize this is likely temporary, but it's nice. I have just recently started to feel real hunger, but it's an occasional thing only, and generally if I haven't eaten for a long time- like breakfast esp if I sleep in late!

Hope this helps.. I tend to go long on my posts. 

 Thank you so much for the long post, it answered all my questions! I am pretty sure after reading all night last night (I had alot of pain and was not able to sleep LOL), I am going with the sleeve. GB just does not seem like an option for me.

Well I just got sleeved on June 17, I am feeling good with little discomfort at all. Just a little tired. Literally NO pain after surgery I only took pain meds one time:). a week prior to surgery I was 224, at surgery about 217, now a week after surgery 207:) I have to do a liquid diet for 4 weeks and one week into it right now. The diet is not bad at all and best of all I am not hungry!!! If I were you hands down I would do the sleeve. I have a friend that did Gastric Bypass and has lost weight but has had HELL recovering. The Bypass is definitly more invasive and you are completely rerouted inside which can be very hard. Good Luck!!

:) Lydia

 Thanks so much for the info, sounds like things are going very well for you! All these stories of great experiences are making me excited (I have been a little crazy over the thought of more surgery) to be on my journey again!

 Courtney, 

You have come to the right place for all the things you request most of all love and support us VSG'rs are the best. 

I was sleeved 2 1/2 years ago. I spent two nites in the hospital should have only been one but the hospital was so busy they did not get around to doing my leak test the day after and the doc would not send me home until they did so I stayed.After surgery I will be honest I was asking myself what had I done to myself I was so tired never felt to exhausted before, could take in very little but within a couple weeks I was feeling much better tired but now glad at the decision I had made. 
I was back at work in four weeks a job where I am on my feet and walking 12 hours a day.

I reached my goal weight in 10 months and below goal by 1 year and have maintained ever since easily however I have just decided that I want to lose ten more pounds so I am going back to the beginning and starting to cut back all my carbs no more sugar sweets, alcohol etc. 
Yes that is correct there is nothing I can't eat or don't eat I eat and drink it all no problem and maintain I just do everything in moderation as that is all my lil tummy alows. 
Would I reccomemnd this to my  best friend, Absolutely and I did and she was sleeved in fact I have 6 people now that I have recommended and either have been sleeved or in the process of it and all extremely happy. 

Hope this helps it is the best thing I have ever done and my first thought afterwards were I wish that anyone and everyone that has struggled with weight as I have could have this done 

Cheers 

MO