Shari

I had my band put in in 2003. It is a non-adjustable band. Told the doc from the beginning that I thought the pouch was too big. I initially lost probably about 50 pounds, but then I started gaining and have been gaining ever since. When I made the decision to have the band removed and the sleeve done, I weighed more than I have ever in my life weighed. . .(can't say that now as I have lost 20 pounds in two weeks on the liquid diet). The only thing the band did was make me sick. . . I wouldn't chew the first bite or two of a meal adequately and then it would get stuck and it would be 36 hours before it would finally dislodge and go down. . .During that 36 hours, everything I swallowed would come back up. . .solids, semi-solids, liquids, everything. . . You would think I would have lost much of this weight because of this, but NO, no weight loss associated with all the n & V. So, eating meats, rice, bread, pasta, has become quite the no-no. I can live without most of those, but would really like to be able to eat rice again. . . So, I have decided to have the band removed to reduce the restriction it caused and do the sleeve as it should help me feel full with less food as the stomach will not be able to hold much. I have my fingers crossed we can do both procedures on the 14th. . . this is really a one trip only opportunity for me. . . Then when the weight is gone in a year or so, I will make one more trip to Tijuana for the "PS" that Nicole had saved her money for. . . (See, I am learning the lingo. . . LOL) I hope to keep all of you informed day by day. . . Think I should tell Dr. Ortiz he needs to be at his best as I am documenting everything for everyone here???? LOL

Hey Nicole! What's a PS?? Senility kicking in . . .LOL. . .Ten more days until I arrive at the clinic and eleven until surgery. . . Getting the band off and the sleeve done. Fingers crossed. . . I will be posting as each day goes by if they will provide me with a computer. . .

Thanks, Laura. I couldn't get the edit signature to come up before.. Don't know why, but it worked this time. Keep up the good work on your weight loss.

I am scheduled for sleeve surgery on the 14th, so can't tell you anything yet. . . Counting the days. . .

I'll be at the Camino. . . Shari Adams. . . Give me a call when you get in. . . WTG! Five pounds in three days!! You rock! Keep it up!!

Well, I keep telling everyone that I am old, blonde and senile. . . and this will prove it, I imagine. . . I can't find out how to change my signature. . . and I want to add the info everyone else has, like decision weight, weight on surgery day, etc. . . How do I do that?? I think I saw instructions on how to add the ticker thingy. . . Will have to check that out again. . . Shari

Hey Emily! It will get better. . . I started my pre-op diet 11 days ago. Unlike you, I can only have full liquids for three weeks. Sigh. . . You will especially feel better when you see the pounds slipping away. Today is Day 11 for me on this diet and the brain has finally realized that I am not starving to death and that I can do this. I have not cheated once since starting it and as of this a.m. have lost 18.8 pounds. I am scheduled for surgery on the 14th. . . gastric sleeve. . . and I go home on the 21st (my choice). So, maybe we will get a chance to meet. . . Hope so! Don't get me wrong. . . I am looking forward to the day I get to eat something that can't be sucked up through a straw, but today was the first day that it wasn't the FIRST thing on my mind. . .LOL Shari

Curveydiva and Shmee. . .How are you guys doing on your diets? Or have you started them yet? I think most I have heard from just have a two week diet pre-op. . .Lucky ones. . . I have a three week liquid diet. . .sigh. . . But, hey the first 8 days are by me now. . . I even had lunch with a bunch of my riding friends today. . .They all ate chicken-fried steaks, etc. The cafe didn't have soup, so I had the only thing I could find on the menu that I could drink and that was a milk shake. . .It was very good. . .My friends, God love them. . . all passed me their near empty salad dressing and gravy bowls. . .hooted and hollered and to play their game, I swiped my finger on the bowl and tasted all of it. . . After all, it was liquid. . . LOL

Isn't though!! LOL When do you leave for home? I am flying in on the 13th and staying at the Camino near the hospital. . . I am sure you will be on your way home by the time I get there! My passport should be here Wednesday. . . Something funny. . . I ordered an easy to wear outfit for the trip out there and back. . . It got here today and after being on my full liquid diet, it is WAY TOO BIG!!!! LOL Sending it back this week and ordering a smaller size. . . Heheheheheeeee Maybe I should just shop locally a couple of days before I leave. . . Sigh. . . I am also thinking about walking around the house with my jeans pulled down to just barely cover my butt to show my 16 year old what it looks like when I see him . . LOL

Found it at Costco. . . Of course, I had to join Costco to get it. . .LOL. . . I guess any excuse is okay. . . in order to join yet another club. . .LOL Bought 3 (18 packs) and will try my first one tomorrow. . .Sent one home to my sister who is having a lapband done in October for her to try as well. . . . Thanks for the tip!!!!

Other than the constant headache, I am doing well on my pre-op liquid diet. I weighed myself on Friday a.m. and started my liquid diet on Saturday. I have to do it for three weeks. Ugh! I have lost, as of this a.m. 11.9 pounds and am halfway to my pre-op weight loss goal. Yesterday was the hardest day so far, but I went back to work and it was extremely difficult, but I didn't give in. I sure miss my popcorn and my turkey and cheese sandwiches. Otherwise, I am not missing anything.

I am going alone as well. My surgery is the 14th and am scheduled to have my non-adjustable band removed and a gastric sleeve done. My family is freaking out due to all the negative news from Mexico. I am fine. I have been reassured by staff here and at Cosmed that everything is safe where they are. So. . . I am off by myself as well.

I guess basically I am just a wuss! I will be traveling by myself for this surgery. I want to know how everyone felt AFTER surgery. . . A lot of pain, a little pain? And for how long? I am planning on staying a couple of extra days post-op because I live so far away and don't want to take any chances.

Great! I will look there too. . . However, I called the closest Costco and they did say they have them. Don't know why they didn't show up on their website.

Rats! I just went to the Costco website and can't find the Premier Shakes anywhere. . . Is there a website on the can of the shake that I can access to find out where else it is sold?

Great news. I just happen to be going to Dallas either this week or next to get my passport and I know there is a Costco there. I am not a member of Costco, but I guess that is about to change. . .LOL

I had a non-adjustable band put on in 2003. I now weigh more than I have ever weighed in my life. I tried to tell the surgeon that the pouch was too big and I was able to eat too much. His response was that the goal was not to see how much I could eat, but how little. My response was that if I had been able to do that, I wouldn't have had the surgery to begin with. Since then, I have been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, ongoing depression, not to mention that I have chronic back pain, my legs and ankles swell, yada, yada, yada. I am now on my full liquid 3 week diet prior to the sleeve surgery that I am scheduled for on the 14th. I have lost nearly 10 pounds in 4 days, but have the headache to pay for it. It's proving to be quite difficult not to want to eat food here at work. At home, I have not had a problem yet except for missing my popcorn. . .LOL I am bound and determined to do this right this time. I have to. . . I am using every cent I have been saving up for retirement to do this. No nest egg to fall back on now. I will need a lot of support after this and hopefully will find it here. And, hopefully, I will be able to be the support to those that follow me. . . Everybody think of me on the 14th... as I have this band removed and the sleeve performed by Dr. Ortiz. . . BTW, doesn't he have the most dreamy eyes?? LOL I can't wait to meet him in person. . . Shari

Donna, It's been two months since your surgery. How is it going and how are you doing? Shari

I am scheduled to have a gastric sleeve done on 9/14. I, too, would love to hear from others that have had this procedure done. . .All the stories on the website are lapband related. Where are you gastric sleeve patients? Shari