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Congrats!!! I had my revision done just over 3 weeks ago. I'm loving my sleeve! Good Luck! Nichole

Congratulations! Keep us posted.

Desertmom - I can tell you I had those same fears. My band caused every complication known to mankind. My surgeon was more than happy to remove my band. So, I had my band removed in April 2011 after having it for 18 months. In that surgery, my surgeon was going to do my sleeve at the same time. However that was not an option as I had a ton of swelling from my band. So I waited to have my sleeve. I am now just over a week post-op from my sleeve. I am in love with it! I have had very little pain. My surgeon does multiple injections of lidacane prior to waking you up from surgery. These injections provide numbness in your abdomen for about 1-2 weeks. The fear of failure with a second WLS is not only real but difficult to deal with. I know that my band is what failed not me. I am positive that you did not fail your band, but that the band failed you! Keep in mind that if you follow your diet and remember that this will change your life for the good, you will do great! My advice is to go ahead and remove your band. Give yourself as long as it takes to make the decision to do a sleeve. Having had 2 months between surgeries really cemented my faith in the sleeve and that everything would turn out great. If you need to talk, send me an email. I'd be glad to share and listen. Nichole

Thank you everyone for the well wishes! I am just over a week post-op and doing great. My surgeon told me on Tuesday that the reason I am having very little pain is because prior to waking up, she did multiple injections of lidacane to numb my entire abdomen. The numbness is suppose to last approximately 1-2 weeks. I am so loving that!!! As far as a pre-op diet, I did not have one. I can tell you that I had the realize band put in in November 2009. I lost 50 lbs with my band and then had several complications. I then gained back 25 lbs. My surgeon removed my band in April 2011. She had hoped to do the sleeve at the same time, but there was too much swelling, so I had to wait. At my one week sleeve post-op, I have lost 10 lbs. Good Luck to everyone! Nichole

Hey there! I am having surgery tomorrow! I can't believe it. I am nervous but not about surgery...Just about wanting it to work so badly!!! I know this isn't rational but those types of thoughts are no where to be found! I just know that my band failed and I'm hoping that my sleeve won't let me down the same way. I know it sounds crazy! Any reassuring thoughts would be great. Please keep me in your thoughts tomorrow. See everyone on the other side! Nichole Realize Band - 11/12/2009 Complications - Many!!! Band Removal - 4/13/2011 Sleeve - 6/8/2011

Ok so I am officially on the other side! I already feel pretty normal. I think it is probably the first time I have ever not been hungry!!! What a miracle! Recovery so far has been a breeze. I'm not even taking any pain medicine! My liquids are going down great and I am just trying to find a Protein mix that isn't sickening sweet or taste like chalk. I'll write more later. Nichole

Good Luck! I will keep you in my prayers!!! I will join you on the flip side on Wednesday of this week! See you there! Nichole

Hopefully you have found someone. But if not, I am having my sleeve done on Wednesday, June 8th with Dr. Rosemarie Jones in Indy. I am revising from the band to the sleeve. I will let you know how it goes, but I know she is good. Nichole

June 8th in Indianapolis, IN

Mine is June 8th! I am only 1 week from tomorrow!!! i can't wait for it to be here. Nichole

I had my band removed in April and will be having my sleeve done on June 8th. I can tell you that at first you aren't real hungry. In fact, it wasn't until the last week that I have had an increase in my appetite. The pain isn't too bad either. I was sore but all of my band pain that I had been experiencing was gone. I went back to work after a week. But I will tell you that I was tired for awhile. That's surgery for you! I can tell you that it is better to know going in that it will be in 2 surgeries than not. I went in thinking that it was going to be in 1 surgery and waking up to find that I had no sleeve due to the amount of swelling. My surgeon opted to wait to do the sleeve until the swelling had gone down. I was cleared for my sleeve about 2 weeks after surgery. I was just waiting until I had the right time for work purposes. Let me know if I can be of more help. Nichole

I agree. You don't have to say anything! I told my work last month about having my band removed. But I am not telling them about my sleeve on June 8th. I told them that I am having repair work done from the band's damage. Good Luck! Nichole

I never could remember my vitamins when I first started on my WLS Journey. So, I set a reminder in my cell phone for them. Now, I can't make the excuse that I forgot them. The crazy phone goes off and I know exatly what it is for. It might help get you back in a routine.

So glad to hear someone else is going in June! Mine is scheduled for June 8th in Indianapolis, IN.

So much has happened since my post. I had my band removed on April 13th. All of the pain I was having is just GONE!!! The day before surgery, my surgeon called to tell me that I was going to hopefully have surgery the next day as long as insurance approved. So on the morning of surgery, I headed to the hospital and while enroute I got the call from the insurance company that I had hoped for. I was approved to have my band removed and the sleeve done! I was dumbfounded and speechless. As my insurance was notified just two days prior. I arrived at the hospital and spoke with my surgeon. She said as long as there was not a ton of damage from my band she would do both surgeries. But everything hinged on the fact that the band needed to not cause to many issues. I agreed with the surgeon and told her I would rather be safe than sorry! So I went into surgery not knowing what I was going to end up with when I woke up. When I woke up, my Mom told me that the surgeon was only able to remove my band. My band had left an extreme amount of swelling and she felt it would be safer to wait so that the stitches for my sleeve could be placed exactly where she wanted them to go. I have to admit I was disappointed by not waking up to my sleeved stomach, but I also know that the relief I felt from the band be gone was amazing! No more pain!!! The only pain I had was surgical pain. I went to the surgeon for a follow up this week. She said everything is looking good. I go back on May 3rd for another Upper GI to determine if the swelling has decreased enough for her to perform my sleeve. So here is hoping that all goes well on May 3rd. I am suppose to go to the Czech Republic and Scotland in June and I am hoping that surgery will be able to work around this trip. I know this sounds crazy, but I am torn between going over seas first and then doing my sleeve when I come home. Any thoughts? Nichole

UPDATE So I went to the surgeon yesterday. All of the swelling from the band is gone! I have scheduled my sleeve for June 8th. My trip overseas was postponed because of work stuff. So I will be going overseas in September. I'm just excited to be getting my sleeve, but yet weird enough I am also a little nervous about whether this WLS give me the results that I want. How do you reconcile that the second WLS is going to work when the first one didn't? Guess I'm really just nervous...

Good Luck! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!!! I hope to join you soon. Nichole

Thanks Hip, I go to see my surgeon on Tuesday to find out if the swelling has gone down. I am hoping it is down as I want to schedule my sleeve. I'll update on Tuesday when I find out what is going on. Nichole

I'm not sure if it is normal or not. I know that my surgeon said that the swelling was just too much for it to be safe. She said that by waiting a few weeks for all of the swelling to go down, my chances of a leak would be greatly reduced and she would be able to put the staple cartridge exactly where she wanted to and not have to alter it at all. Just in case anyone is wondering my band was unfilled at the beginning of February of this year. I would definitely talk to the doc about it. It is much easier to wake up knowing what the possibilities are than to be surprised. Good luck on your surgery. I'm sure everything will be great! Nichole

Congrats!!! I will keep you in my prayers. Good Luck! I can't wait to join you! Nichole

Thanks so much for all your thoughts! I can't wait to get my sleeve!!! I will keep you all posted as things progress. Nichole

Ok, so I have been reading lots of posts over the last several weeks on here. I’ve even made a few posts, but for the first time I would like to talk about my WLS journey. I started on my journey in April 2009 at 241 lbs. I was banded with the Realize Band in November 2009. I lost nearly 50 lbs in the first six months. From the time I was banded, as I know many of you are aware, my quality of life has decreased significantly. I will not discredit the fact that I lost nearly 50 lbs with it before gaining back 10 lbs. I would have just preferred to not have been a forced bulimic in the process. Through this whole process, I have experienced the typical complications for a band: sliming, PBing, vomiting, severe pain from food sticking, port site pain, port flipping, port detachment, severe reflux, chronic gastritis, H-Pylori bacterial infection, esophageal stricture, and now just constant pain. So much for something that was supposedly going to have few side effects…I’m thinking that is just hogwash!! As if having all of those complications weren’t bad enough, I lost my surgeon in February 2011. He and his family moved back to Kansas City, MO. He did send me to another surgeon who has excellent references and experience. So the new surgeon and I have spoken and we are going to remove my band and revise to the sleeve. I am just curious how you all felt going into your surgery? I know that a lot of my hesitation is coming from the fear of one failed surgery. I just want to make sure I am making the right decision and that it is going to work for me. Did anyone else have that fear that a second surgery could possibly fail? If so, how did you overcome it? Thank you all in advance for reading and support! Nichole

Welcome KMR! I can tell you, as well as many others, that I would not go with the band. This is from my own personal experience. I currently have my band and am in the process of getting a revision to the sleeve. I have had numerous complications and to this day I am in pain constantly. I would recommend that either you self-pay for what you know is right for you or hang in there until BCBS of MA adds it to the approved list of surgeries. As far as insurance goes, I would definitely appeal to them with lots of evidence. You never know what they are going to say. I would look on the internet for appeals specifically geared towards the sleeve. That will help you with your appeal. Feel free to email. I'm more than glad to share my personal experience with my band. Also check out the band to sleeve revisions section tons of good information. Good Luck! Let me know if I can be of any help. Nichole

Hi Terri, I'm new here as well, but not new to WLS. I think you will find lots of support here. Just remember it is ok to be a little scared. It's surgery. I'm sure you will do great! I can tell you having had my band since November 2009 that you get use to drinking your liquid away from food. I always feel that I am too full to put one more thing down. Have faith. It takes some getting use to. Good Luck! Let me know if I can be of any help. Nichole Waiting to be sleeved as a revision!

Hi! I would love to have a copy, as I am considering revising from the band to the sleeve. My email address is nicholesmyth@hotmail.com Thanks so much for your generosity! Nichole