NewStart95987

I had a Lap band too, revised to sleeve, but my doctor didn’t do it at once, let me have a month between surgeries... you can also get an abdominal binding belt to help you with the driving and sleep.
Best of luck with all!!

Surgery (what you'll experience) and recovery were about the same for the most part. I was also banded in 2011 and had issues, I was revised to the Bypass this past March (could not be happier!).

Most def bring that pillow! All other advice is really the same as the band, with the exception of, don't buy too much before surgery to prep... more than likely you either won't use it, will have too much or won't like the taste.

It was advised to me that revision patients don't lose as quickly as first timers, just something to be aware of... that said, I'm down 100 lbs since March, so, your mileage may vary.

Otherwise, good luck!

If you want revision, yes!!!!! Take all the fluid out! This may be enough time to help heal a bit and can increase the odds of it being one surgery instead of 2. I felt instant relief when my fluid was taken out. I could not believe it. Again, it wasn't even half full and I was just used to it and vomiting almost daily.

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Hi dear, not aure if you're asking me but I'll respond:-)

I started revision hoops last week, 6 months of stuff but doctor said because I have one failure with band, high BMI and sleep apnea, I will totally be approved.

She won't know if it will be one surgery or two until she's there and sees what state I'm in. She said it most certainly sounds like I have scar tissue bit having an unfill and months to heal, could certainly work in my favor. I'm hoping to have it all done in one but if it takes two, then so be it. Better safe then sorry.

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I had band done in 2011, got pregnant a few month later with an empty band. Fast forward to finally getting 2 small fills. Vomiting almost daily and thought I was just doing something wrong. I finally realize that stress, my period, time of day and so many other factors actually affected my band. I had an unfill last week and started the process of having it removed and getting bypass. It was normal to vomit or go days without keeping anything down. IT'S NOT NORMAL! but I kept blaming myself or making excuses.
I cannot wait for revision. It'll take 6 months of insurance hoops but I can't Wait!
Just remember everybody and Every Body is different.
I did band because I felt like it was less invasive and the success was still up to me. Live and learn. It wasn't right for me and the more research you do, the more confusing it can be. What are you comfortable with? How much of a fight are you willing to give?
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I had band done in 2011, got pregnant a few month later with an empty band. Fast forward to finally getting 2 small fills. Vomiting almost daily and thought I was just doing something wrong. I finally realize that stress, my period, time of day and so many other factors actually affected my band. I had an unfill last week and started the process of having it removed and getting bypass. It was normal to vomit or go days without keeping anything down. IT'S NOT NORMAL! but I kept blaming myself or making excuses.
I cannot wait for revision. It'll take 6 months of insurance hoops but I can't Wait!
Just remember everybody and Every Body is different.
I did band because I felt like it was less invasive and the success was still up to me. Live and learn. It wasn't right for me and the more research you do, the more confusing it can be. What are you comfortable with? How much of a fight are you willing to give?
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Hi Guys...

Haven't been on here in a long time.
Just thought I would stop by and let you know after a year of having my band in... I had it removed in January.

Constantly choking, puking, etc... I made the decision.

I can honestly say I wish I never did it.

My surgeon and his office shut down... basically ran about a month after I was banded.
Now I hear of a class action suit in Canada... going after Lap Band.

Hopefully it works for some people... not me.

Spend $12 000.... I tried.....lol.

I would say... really do your homework.

Thank you for your replies. I was always so against bypass for me. But I'm actually leaning towards it as of now. Crazy. I'm excited regardless. A new journey :-)

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Would put you in a tricky spot for sure...but I can't see how they could withhold your records...I mean...they do belong to you.
Would depend very much on the new surgeon.
Can I ask what the roadblock is?

If you want revision, yes!!!!! Take all the fluid out! This may be enough time to help heal a bit and can increase the odds of it being one surgery instead of 2. I felt instant relief when my fluid was taken out. I could not believe it. Again, it wasn't even half full and I was just used to it and vomiting almost daily.

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Awe Stacy, you got this honey! Something that is sticking to me is what my surgeon said. Bypass helps with the eating of course but also the biology. Something contributes to obesity. Whatever it is (a million variables like thyroid, metabolism blah blah), bypass hits the serving size and helps with the bio. There's a cartoon type video on her website I would be happy to private message you to see if you're interested :-)

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I had band done in 2011, got pregnant a few month later with an empty band. Fast forward to finally getting 2 small fills. Vomiting almost daily and thought I was just doing something wrong. I finally realize that stress, my period, time of day and so many other factors actually affected my band. I had an unfill last week and started the process of having it removed and getting bypass. It was normal to vomit or go days without keeping anything down. IT'S NOT NORMAL! but I kept blaming myself or making excuses.
I cannot wait for revision. It'll take 6 months of insurance hoops but I can't Wait!
Just remember everybody and Every Body is different.
I did band because I felt like it was less invasive and the success was still up to me. Live and learn. It wasn't right for me and the more research you do, the more confusing it can be. What are you comfortable with? How much of a fight are you willing to give?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

What's that?

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Awe Stacy, you got this honey! Something that is sticking to me is what my surgeon said. Bypass helps with the eating of course but also the biology. Something contributes to obesity. Whatever it is (a million variables like thyroid, metabolism blah blah), bypass hits the serving size and helps with the bio. There's a cartoon type video on her website I would be happy to private message you to see if you're interested :-)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for your replies. I was always so against bypass for me. But I'm actually leaning towards it as of now. Crazy. I'm excited regardless. A new journey :-)

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Thanks dear!

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I had lapband in 2011. Got pregnant almost right away, finally years later had 2 fills. I have vomited almost daily now for years as well. After many life changes (divorce, new career, etc) I'm ready for me. I saw my surgeon today and had the 5cc's in my band taken out and I noticed the moment it was out. That pressure was gone but for me, it was normal. So I start my 6 month process of hoops now for the insurance. I'll be paying plenty out of pocket along with it but I'm torn. I was totally ready for Sleeve but now I'm wondering. Go big or go home? Enough screwing around and just do the gastric. My surgeon (same who did my band) agrees wholeheartedly on a revision but she herself said there is no winner. She thinks both would be fine since I'm not a heavy or sweet eater. I'm just scared and I have time but..... Any help? BTW, Back at the heaviest I have ever been, just not sure how to update my profile on here.

Do it! I too was banded in 2011 and revised mid January of this year. Today I got on the scale lighter than I ever was with the band. After 2 and a half months.

The sleeve is completely different. It works. It's not VIOLENT. You will not take a random bite of an apple and be in pain for a half an hour. You won't have port pain for forever. You will still need to work and I'm far far from having this all figured out but if your experience was anything like mine you will be very very happy you took the plunge.

Oh and also I felt this surgery was easier than the band. I don't know why I was super diligent of about Water and walking maybe??

Good luck with your decision. I was super emotional and nervous about this surgery. Something about "doing it again" that made me feel incredibly anxious. I know how you feel but this can and most likely will be your answer!


Lap band 9/2011
Revision to gastric sleeve 1/2017
HW:283
CW:225
Goal:160

I am that warped person that kept my band after removal! So far, so good with everything. This was the best decision that I could have made. I can now eat healthier food without that stuck feeling and I don't have the acid and back pain issues that I used to have! It took removing 60-70% of my stomach for me to feel normal again. BEST. DECISION.EVER.
Banded 2010 weight:327
Sleeved 12/28/16 weight:253
Currently 222.9lbs
104 lbs down!!
Heather in Texas

Pasta, red meat, or rice. Some ppl can and others cant. There's no guarantees which one you will fall into. I will lose weight. But I won't be able to eat like a normal person ever again even in moderation.
2) Acid reflux is a serious issue with the sleeve. I never ever had an issue with the band. I am dealing with rather bad GERD even though I am taking prescription meds. I have chatted with folks that it got so bad over the yrs that they had to revise to gastric bypass.
3) Vitamins! You can't live without them. Daily intake or I will develop issues. Are committed to do that?
4) NSAIDS! Even if your surgeon tells you that you can take them. There's significant debate on whether sleeved folks should take them or not. These meds are very hard on a normal stomach let alone a thin sleeve! Continous use will most likely lead ulcers which are very dangerous with little or no stomach left.Think about aging and the lack of NSAIDS.
5) You can still get stuck! I just had to vomit food yesterday. You still experience that nasty slime....eww! I cried the first time it happened cause I lived with that for 8 yrs.
Please feel free to message me. Think about life beyond weight loss cause there's no turning back with the sleeve

Hi there! I have a high BMI and am getting banded tomorrow morning. I didn't have a liquid diet, I had a goal. I was told to lose 20 lbs. They would THEN schedule surgery. I did this with a high Protein, low carb diet. It's very possible to do and I am a picky eater and did NOT want to live on salad. I ended up losing 23 lbs and was able to get my date. Guess what, I did VERY little exercise so adding that will speed up the process. Here's some foods I ate and some ideas:


cheese sliced from a chunk (This is usually lower in fat than the string cheese but the string cheese was an alternative to convenience)
* String Cheese
* Cottage cheese (I would add garlic salt and some pepper, you can add fruit but keep in mind that fruit can have a high sugar content, especially if it's not fresh and has been sitting in Syrup or juice
* Cream Cheese (I would smear some on a piece of lunch meat and wrap it up. Make lettuce wraps with lunch meat and cheese!) You can even have sour cream!

*eggs, I usually made an omelet with ham and cheese or had them scrambled.

Meat- for dinner if I wasn't into a salad I would do the following:

* Bake or BBQ chicken breast. My favorite was adding just a little virgin oil or spraying some Pam in a skillet and adding the breast with some Mrs. Dash. If your feeling crazy, I would mix a little mayo with some hot sauce and lightly spread that on, it was AWESOME! Stay away from BBQ sauce! Even ketchup was something I avoided all together.
* Bacon, Not the leanest but it was a treat and I enjoyed it with my eggs on occasion!
* Beef, I would make a roast in my crock pot and add carrots, onion, garlic and celery. It's great by itself.
* Ground beef, I would throw some in a skillet with garlic and drain the grease. You can also make a meatloaf and add veggies to it.
* Ground Turkey, Bariatriceating.com has an amazing recipe for turkey strognoff meatballs. I made them on Easter and they were a hit! You can also just throw this in a skillet and get creative as well. Make a lettuce taco, add Tomato, sour cream, onion!

drinks
*Crystal light became my best friend! You can even freeze some and make Popsicles. Refrain from using juice because of the carbs and sugar content. These come out more like ice cubes and are hard to bite BUT it keep the hand to mouth going and lasted longer so I felt like I had more going into my body.

*Protein Drinks were a big help and my Breakfast on the go! I use Hydro whey from GNC in chocolate. It's 30 grams of Protein, 2 carbs and no sugar. It tastes REALLY good in milk. I would even add some instant coffee crystals and it would taste just like a cold mocha! Let it sit in the fridge for a couple minutes to let the coffee crystals dissolve. You can buy some through GNC and if you don't like it, take it back for a FULL refund. Can't beat that!



Work

I work in an office with no break room or kitchen so the fridge and microwave was my friend. I also cut up summer sausage and would eat that with my cheese slices or my lunch meat wraps. An extra Protein Drink is essential for when you get a hunger kick. I always keep a variety of Crystal Light flavors in my desk. Raw Almonds or nuts would help with a crunch as well as Pork rinds. Yep, pork rinds! I didn't want to kill everything I had been doing because I wanted chips, I wanted the crunch! They sell plain, BBQ, spicy and a variety of other flavors! No carbs in pork rinds and they have protein. Not something that will fill you up but will satisfy your need for a crunch!


I DID NOT eat any of the Fiber bars, Protein Bars or anything like that. I was VERY strict with my carb intake and kept it a minimum! A lot of those still have a nice chunk of carbs. My Mom thought she was doing well with watching her intake until I pointed out the 20 something carbs per bar she was eating. I was having less than 20 carbs a day, let alone in one bar!

Everyone is different and it's all a matter of getting creative! If you throw in some exercise, you will be in GREAT shape. Don't get frustrated with the scale. I would hit a plateau and get so upset, only to drop a couple pounds more the next week. You can do it!
P.S. I was NEVER hungry and always allowed myself something to eat if I was. You do not have to starve. I am in fact glad things were done this way and I didn't have to deal with the liquid diet before. I will be on enough liquids after and since I'm working, even today, day before banding, I was afraid of being weak. Not the case and am glad things worked out the way they did!

Hi there! I have a high BMI and am getting banded tomorrow morning. I didn't have a liquid diet, I had a goal. I was told to lose 20 lbs. They would THEN schedule surgery. I did this with a high Protein, low carb diet. It's very possible to do and I am a picky eater and did NOT want to live on salad. I ended up losing 23 lbs and was able to get my date. Guess what, I did VERY little exercise so adding that will speed up the process. Here's some foods I ate and some ideas:


cheese sliced from a chunk (This is usually lower in fat than the string cheese but the string cheese was an alternative to convenience)
* String Cheese
* Cottage cheese (I would add garlic salt and some pepper, you can add fruit but keep in mind that fruit can have a high sugar content, especially if it's not fresh and has been sitting in Syrup or juice
* Cream Cheese (I would smear some on a piece of lunch meat and wrap it up. Make lettuce wraps with lunch meat and cheese!) You can even have sour cream!

*eggs, I usually made an omelet with ham and cheese or had them scrambled.

Meat- for dinner if I wasn't into a salad I would do the following:

* Bake or BBQ chicken breast. My favorite was adding just a little virgin oil or spraying some Pam in a skillet and adding the breast with some Mrs. Dash. If your feeling crazy, I would mix a little mayo with some hot sauce and lightly spread that on, it was AWESOME! Stay away from BBQ sauce! Even ketchup was something I avoided all together.
* Bacon, Not the leanest but it was a treat and I enjoyed it with my eggs on occasion!
* Beef, I would make a roast in my crock pot and add carrots, onion, garlic and celery. It's great by itself.
* Ground beef, I would throw some in a skillet with garlic and drain the grease. You can also make a meatloaf and add veggies to it.
* Ground Turkey, Bariatriceating.com has an amazing recipe for turkey strognoff meatballs. I made them on Easter and they were a hit! You can also just throw this in a skillet and get creative as well. Make a lettuce taco, add Tomato, sour cream, onion!

drinks
*Crystal light became my best friend! You can even freeze some and make Popsicles. Refrain from using juice because of the carbs and sugar content. These come out more like ice cubes and are hard to bite BUT it keep the hand to mouth going and lasted longer so I felt like I had more going into my body.

*Protein Drinks were a big help and my Breakfast on the go! I use Hydro whey from GNC in chocolate. It's 30 grams of Protein, 2 carbs and no sugar. It tastes REALLY good in milk. I would even add some instant coffee crystals and it would taste just like a cold mocha! Let it sit in the fridge for a couple minutes to let the coffee crystals dissolve. You can buy some through GNC and if you don't like it, take it back for a FULL refund. Can't beat that!



Work

I work in an office with no break room or kitchen so the fridge and microwave was my friend. I also cut up summer sausage and would eat that with my cheese slices or my lunch meat wraps. An extra Protein Drink is essential for when you get a hunger kick. I always keep a variety of Crystal Light flavors in my desk. Raw Almonds or nuts would help with a crunch as well as Pork rinds. Yep, pork rinds! I didn't want to kill everything I had been doing because I wanted chips, I wanted the crunch! They sell plain, BBQ, spicy and a variety of other flavors! No carbs in pork rinds and they have protein. Not something that will fill you up but will satisfy your need for a crunch!


I DID NOT eat any of the Fiber bars, Protein Bars or anything like that. I was VERY strict with my carb intake and kept it a minimum! A lot of those still have a nice chunk of carbs. My Mom thought she was doing well with watching her intake until I pointed out the 20 something carbs per bar she was eating. I was having less than 20 carbs a day, let alone in one bar!

Everyone is different and it's all a matter of getting creative! If you throw in some exercise, you will be in GREAT shape. Don't get frustrated with the scale. I would hit a plateau and get so upset, only to drop a couple pounds more the next week. You can do it!
P.S. I was NEVER hungry and always allowed myself something to eat if I was. You do not have to starve. I am in fact glad things were done this way and I didn't have to deal with the liquid diet before. I will be on enough liquids after and since I'm working, even today, day before banding, I was afraid of being weak. Not the case and am glad things worked out the way they did!

Both the insurance and surgeon assures me its all legit. I have been fighting but to no avail :-(
It's really frustrating when I specifically asked these questions before surgery and was assured I was good to go. Insurance blames the surgeon, surgeon blames the insurance.

I was under the impression that all I needed to pay was the $3,000 non professional fee to my surgeon that insurance won't cover. I have had an additonal bill after another from my surgeon, her assistant, the hospital and others. I'm not a happy camper when this is now over $7,000 that I paid out of pocket AND I had insurance! They paid for 80% of it. The extra costs are killing me! I was banded in June and still just 2 weeks ago recieved another bill. Anyone else experience this? Wouldn't the surgeon's office be nice enough to warn you? I specifically asked the surgeon and my insurance about this type of thing and was told not to worry.

The fact you're young is definitely on your side, but anytime you have a lot to lose it's common to have excess skin.
Age, genes, the amount of weight to lose, whether or not you smoke, and even hydration play a big part in it. It's unfortunate but some people are going to have excess skin no matter what they do.
The best way to try to minimize it is toning, building muscle, not smoking, good lotion, and keeping well hydrated.
Speaking as someone who has lost a lot of weight and does have excess skin- I'll take the excess skin over the excess fat any day. I can easily hide the skin but there was no hiding over 200 pounds of fat.
Best wishes