Formerly Fluffy

Good luck to both of you! I think it's so exciting that the 2 of you are doing this together!!!

I still have the band and I don't drink with meals or 30 mins. after I eat. It was annoying at first, but you get used to it. :-)

Congrats! Can't wait to see the 8 month update!

I have heard that you can get a prescription from your Dr. for the Protein and TSA will let you have it then. Don't know how true that is. Also probably one of those YMMV things as well.

Hugs! Sorry to hear about the leak and fistula. Do u mind if I ask who the surgeon was, and also were you a revision???

I was in Mexico and didn't feel right from the start. After 2 days I told the doctors I knew something was wrong and they took me into surgery again to check it out. They said I had an ulcer that they missed while they were doing the sleeve, but I had a scope done before I left the U.S and there was no sign of anything. Butttt..... they said the ulcer caused a hole which they repaired. I felt better and returned to the U.S. I started having fever and pain, so I went to a general doc who diagnosed me as having double pneumonia so I was admitted into the hospital where they done tests and found out that I had a leak. From there everything went downhill. I was in the hospital another 2 weeks and had to do tpm at home for at least 6 wks. I thought I was in hell, but I was thankful everything was caught and fixed befofe anything even worse happened. I was lucky. My doc in the U.S. who I found on my own,( a bariatric surgeon who I begged to take my case ) took me in. He kept me on nothing through the mouth and only tpn until it healed on it's own. I had the mexico surgery video and he said it looked like it created an ulcer while being cauterized during the surgery, thus when I consumed liquids, causing infection. So I did antiboiotics through tpm. I eventually healed and was where I should have been after the initial surgery.

Sorry about all your problems! I am researching VSG in Mexico. Who was your surgeon???

i am so sorry to hear! march 14, 2003, my house burned down after living there my entire life. i lost everything including 5family members. it was nothing less than a tragedy! i know exactly what youre going thru.

i think you should push back surgery until youre more stable & in a better space! good luck to u.

i am so sorry to hear! march 14, 2003, my house burned down after living there my entire life. i lost everything including 5family members. it was nothing less than a tragedy! i know exactly what youre going thru.

i think you should push back surgery until youre more stable & in a better space! good luck to u.

So sorry to hear that! Hugs!!!

It could be just a slip and not erosion. Either way.............the sooner it comes out the better in my opinion! Good luck on your revision!

Hugs! No time is a good time, but I'm so sorry that happened when it did. As much as I hate to say it, it would be best to delay the VSG temporarily. You don't need the added stress right now.

Good luck!

I self paid for my lapband, that was NOT worth it because it broke and almost killed me. Fate would have it that my exclusion was taken off of my insurance and I was able to get the sleeve (with a $3,000 copay). The sleeve is worth EVERY penny! I still get compliments daily at a year out. More and more people are asking me how I am losing and keeping the weight off. I feel amazing. Why live another minute of this life unhappy about your weight? DO THIS FOR YOU!!!

Becca I'm with you on the Lap-Band part! I still have mine in and paid cash for the POS. I am hoping to revise to VSG!

Well what's your health worth? You know most people won't hesitate to go out and spend $15,000-$25,000 on a

car...........but when it's that amount for WLS they hesitate. Yes, it's a lot of money. However you're going to save a lot more than you would have spent over the years on obesity related illnesses somewhere down the line, not to mention having a better quality of life.

Do this for YOU! You're worth it! :-)

Hello All! I currently have a band and am considering a revision to a sleeve. I have had the band for 4 years. I am still yo-yo'ing depending on my fill levels. I just want something that works without the constant adjustments on a monthly basis. I am not sure if my insurance will pay for the revision although I do have WLS coverage. My BMI is 41 today....I am just worried that the sleeve may not work for me either.

I still have the band, but am hoping to revise to VSG. The band does not work for most ppl long term. All the bandsters but one that I know of have done great with their VSG's though.

As far as your insurance covering a revision.........well I would ask NOW! Many insurance companies are starting a "one WLS per lifetime" clause in the policies. So even if your insurance company doesn't have this........they could add it at any time, so if you are considering a revision, my advise would be to get it sooner rather than later!!!

Good luck!

I understand ... I am just trying to increase my Protein intake and am having a hard time w/shakes, so I am trying new things to encourage my having my Protein shakes ... tonight I tried something called yoplait smoothie -- have you heard of that? it's fruit & small frozen yogurt pieces and you add skim milk & I also added some Protein Powder and put all in blender .. I think this is better for me calorie-wise than the eddies one .. it's only 70 calories per serving (the mixture is for 2 servings) and only 10g of sugar, so maybe this is a better choice?

Fyi..........the RTD's are generally much easier to get down than a lot of the powders. You might try some of those like Premier, Oh Yeah! and Lean Body.

Good luck!

Well it is only 5 days till I get the band removed and it can't come quick enough.

I really hope people do their research on bands - it makes me sad when I read about people going to get them, I know they do work for some, but I think they don't for more than anyone ever knew.

I will have to wait the 4/6 months wait with this surgeon to get the sleeve - which will go quickly, I have been on this recent issue of wanting to get the band out since June last year, so a few more months won't matter.

Will report back once I am back from the surgery.

Good luck with your revision!!!

It just amazes me to see how many people have problems with the band. I hope when new people are researching weight loss surgery, they are really looking at long term results people have had with it and see how many people are revising. If I had known then what I know now, I would have never had the band. I cannot and will not ever recommend it to anyone.

" If I had known then what I know now, I would have never had the band. I cannot and will not ever recommend it to anyone."

Omg! You have no idea how many times I have said that!

CHOOSE YOUR WLS WISELY!

May I suggest you also keep a running total of meds, etc that are administered...and make sure that before they give you any otc meds ask the cost - you have the right to bring them in if they are charging too much.

Note everyone you saw and what they did and how much time they took - especially if you have complications later.

These are for you later on to be able to dispute any charges you should not have to pay.

Excellent suggestions!!!

I've been researching revision in Mexico. Aceves seems to be excellent. One thing I know is NOT to use Almanza. Too many leaks and infections have come out of his "hospital"!

Unfortunately that's one of the first things to go. :-(

I love my garden tub also! No dribbles though.

It is what it is. You've got to admit, the loose skin looks better than all the excess weight! If he has any integrity at all, the excess skin won't matter. That being said though..........many men are extremely SHALLOW! I hope that is not the case with your new bf!!!

i had my band removed on Jan 6th due to it slipping. I was going to go with another band but the surgon said it would not work cuz it weakened my stomach wall. All of your storys of band removal suprized me I never realized that how many people had problems with their band. Here is to a happy future with our Sleeve !!!

Oh there are tons of bandsters that have had to have bands removed! You'll notice that you rarely see a bandster that has made it 5 years with their band. The band is really just a short term "fix", that often doesn't fix anything! :-(

I posted a list of resources with tips for getting WLS approved easier with your insurance company. Hope it helps! :-)

http://www.formerlyfluffy.com/weight-loss-surgery-insurance-approval-resource/

I've had a non-adjustable band for 17 years now and will have it out on January 6th here in Houston. I dont have an eroded band or anything, just placed incorrectly for all these years. I also had the all too familiar puking, sliming, having to stand up to let the food "go down", sitting by a bathroom at all restaurants, excusing myself to go throw up my meal (wasting money!!) eating and still feeling hungry..etc... I am scared to death to have this removed since some restriction is better than no restriction but I keep telling myself that six weeks later (I am scheduled for Mexico with Dr. Kelly on 2/22/12) I will be sleeved and that it is going to be soooo worth it!!!! My sleeve surgery is still considered a revision since this is my second (and last!!) WLS but Dr. Kelly was honest and upfront about his experience with my band so I am having it removed by a team that is familiar with it. (and insurance DID approve my removal)

Good luck to you!!!

Wow! 17 years with the band........and all the problems that go along with it! :-(

Good luck!

My husband commented on that, how odd the eating rules were with the band. For me, I was fine with giivng up rice and stuff like that, i just hated that it was so inconsistent. and that I was still hungry.

I have the band and after 17 fills I am still hungry all the time. Hopeing to be able to revise to VSG!

I was self-pay also. Mine was around $15,000. Mine has not slipped, but after 17 fills I never received restriction. I would love to be able to to VSG! You will be much happier when the band is out and you have your revision!!!

Good luck!