Enough fluids/calories after surgery to breastfeed???

You want the sleeve? or do you want a repair?  I think you should call it.

I had lots of issues with my band flipped port straight out, shattered port, revision needed straight out for port and hosing leaks - OMG! No restriction the first 2.5 years, reflux, night cough, unfill, refill, unfill, refill, dilated esophagus.  During the last complete unfill, I asked my doc for a revision to the VSG possible DS.  We had talked about it for quite some time.  He was extremely patient with me.  He didn't want to do a DS at my BMI of 35ish - infact he wasn't enthused about doing any WLS on me.  He kept saying the long-term studies weren't in for the sleeve - I pleaded, insisted.  I was desperate, depressed that WLS didn't work - I felt like a failure.

So we put in for VSG approval.  I was denied but approved for LB removal.  We put in an outside appeal to overturn this decision.  In the meanwhile I was soooooooooo upset with my weight.  I threw myself into WW then I asked to try filling the band again - of course my amazing doc did.   My band started working for the first time with absolutely no side effects.  I lost 62lbs in a year Feb 2008 to Feb 2009.  I have since lost  even more weight and still my band works beautifully.

Now I am glad that I did not have to opt for the VSG.  I mean I thought it was a superb surgery and now from what I've been seeing with the people who had trouble and revised to the sleeve it is 50/50.  Some lose, some lose some, some have full WL success.  They say if you had a working band and you lost the weight, then the sleeve would work for you.  If you had restriction with the band and still couldn't lose -  the VSG will not help as it is restrictive only.

My thought is my band only works for me when I have restriction.  If I got sleeved and stretched out and lost restriction long-term it would fail me, I would fail myself and gain.  It has been my history with the band through fills and unfills.  I am not a good dieter in fact I can't diet at all anymore.  Also, when I am restricted with the band, I don't get the profound hunger that just gnawed at me all my life.  Yeah ghrelin effect is removed with the stomach when having VSG BUT somehow reproduction of the hormone begins again and people get hungry again.  I don't have to deal with that right now and that is half the battle for me.

So a repair, those are 50/50 but I think I would have taken a chance on a new low pressure band with my problems (esophageal).  One of my best friends had a slip and hernia repair.  He is doing well and does not regret the decision . . .  of course you know some don't do as well  BUT you still can decide something else much later down the line when more studies are complete.

I'll be thinking about you on Thursday.  I am the praying type so I'll say a little prayer for you.

Best,
Leila