FutureFitGal

I was 56 when I got sleeved in February of this year. It’s definitely slower, but I felt 20 years older than my age before the surgery and now I feel 20 years younger!

I too am afraid that this current stall is the end and I won’t lose more. I’m eating no more than 1200 calories a day, so how can I not be losing??

Hi everyone - Now that we’re all past our 8 month surgiversary I was just curious how many calories are you all getting a day? I’m trying really hard to stay at 1000 but most days I’m at 1100 or 1200.

Hi - I just had my 8 month surgiversary for the sleeve. I also had a band - from 2011 to 2015. The tubing broke twice and saline was just leaking into my abdomen! I’ve lost 58 lbs which I am thrilled about, but I realize it is way slower than with people who have not had the band. I wonder if there are any statistics out there about getting sleeved 1) after having the band 2) at an older age (I’m 57) and 3) at a lower starting weight (232). I think because of any one of these things, or a combination thereof, the weight loss is slower. Any thoughts? Statistics? I’d love to know if anyone has read anything about these issues.

SO glad you started this thread! I had a lap band from 2011 to 2015 with two major painful problems which I won’t go into unless you want me to. Long story short, I got it removed in 2015 and ended up gaining all the weight back plus 17 more lbs. I just got sleeved this February. YES, the weight loss is MUCH slower than newbies! I never got that first month 20 or 30 lbs. so many other people have reported. But I’m losing a nice 2 lbs. a week and I’ll take it! It’s a bit frustrating to read about everyone else’s rapid weight loss, but I’ll take 2 lbs a week over nothing or gaining any day.

I got the band in 2011. The tubing broke as if someone took scissors and cut it in 2013. Then it happened AGAIN in 2015 and I got it taken out. Just got sleeved on 2/14/18 after gaining back so much that I weighed 15 lbs. more than I started before the band! The restriction feels about the same as when the band was working (remember, I’m less than 2 months in). My weight loss is much slower than most first-time sleevers. I didn’t experience that 20 to 30 lbs first month loss, but I am losing at a consistent 2 lbs/week so far.

Okay gang - official freak out time. I'm having surgery tomorrow and I think I developed an oral yeast infection from all sugar in the juice I'm mixing with protein drinks to make them pallatable. I usually stay away from juices because of the sugar, but I figured for two days it would be okay. I'm assuming the sugar in the juice was a shock to my system and caused the yeast infection. Does anyone know if they won't let me have my surgery because of an oral yeast infections?? Please reply asap!!!

I had my 2 week post op appointment today and the doc said I was doing great. I tried to explain to him and the nurse that ever since surgery, even after I was off all my pain meds, I have had their weird "out of it" or "out of body" feeling that won't go away. I don't feel faint or dizzy, it is like I'm not quite there. Sort of how it feels to be on pot, or after you faint or especially how I would feel for a whole day after a migraine (which I never knew if the feeling was the aftermath of the migraine, or the effects of the migraine meds.) Has anyone experienced this? Am I making any sense? Anyone know what it could be?

Thanks for all the ideas. If it doesn't go away soon, I'll go to my primary care doc and see what she says.

Kakatlady - yes, I had my surgery!! Surgery went well, no complications, but I was having a lot of difficulty drinking (sipping) anything - lots of pain regardless of how small the sips were. After being home for two days, I became dehydrated and had to be re admitted to the hospital yesterday to get IV fluids. Came back home today and am now doing fine. It just took longer for the swelling at the opening of my stomach to go down. Thanks for asking and for your concern!!

Fluffy - yes - it was suggested. The pre-op liquid diet for me is just to clear out the stomach, not for weight loss.

Pretty sure, Fluffy - I've had it before.

Exactly one week from today! Excited, nervous, scared, but mostly excited!!!

Are there any long-time sleevers (or bypassers) out there that have maintained their weight loss? I am getting sleeved on the the 14th and have been doing a lot of reading on this forum, but I can't seem to find any posts from people who have been successful in their weight loss and have kept it off for many years. Hearing from you would reassure me that it can be done! Thanks!

Me too! Quadruplets!

Hi everyone - new to the forum. Just got my date: February 14th - Valentine's Day! What a strange way to celebrate. Can't tell if I'm more excited or scared!

Hi everyone - I know this is kinda of an old thread, but I just came upon it today. Every single person has described the exact same thing I have been experiencing. I've been banded for about 1 1/2 years. I lost 35 pounds in the first 6 months, and then NOTHING! I too can not eat any Breakfast, just a little lunch, and then can eat anything I want in the afternoons and evenings. This seems so common among everyone who has posted here - has anyone checked with their doctor to see if this is some sort of syndrome? It just doesn't seem right what we're all going through. Additionally, if I wait too long between meals, it seems that the band tightens and then I can't eat anything for a while after that. I have to take a bit or two of something, feel really uncomfortable for about 1/2 an hour and then I can eat anything. The biggest thing I see wrong about this is that the whole point of the band was that we would feel satisfied for up to 5 hours. If I have to eat every 2 to 3 hours to keep the band "open", this whole thing seems pointless!! Needless to say, I am very frustrated with the whole thing and feel it was a waste of money. My doctor is no help. He just says Protein, protein, protein and can't seem to give any other advice. If any of you find a doctor who has helped you with this problem, please post! Thanks for letting me rant!

Congrats! Isn't it great?Let me add one. We had a news years eve party at our house this year and a friend friend of mine who doesn't know that I did the surgery and hasn't seen me in a while walked in, took one look at me and said "you look amazing, have you had Botox?" !!! lol, I can't stop laughing thinking about it!

I was at my surgeon's office yesteray. I had origanally come in because I had been having issues with the band being too tight since the previous fill. Well, between the time i made the appointment and the time I can in, the issues seem to have resolved themelves. So I went in anyway, saything that I had been extremely over tightened over the last 3 weeks, but that things we okay now. My only concern is that we are going on vacation to Hawaii later this month and I had heard that some people get extreme constriction of the band while in the air. So even though I was finally in that perfect "green zone" I wanted him to take some out for the upcoming air travel. So he agreed to take out .1 cc to give me some "breathing room" or "slack". Here's where the weired part comes in - I lay down, he feels around for the port and I could fee he was feeling in the wrong place. My port is below and to the left of my incission. So he palpitates for a few second, then supposedly inserts the needle and then shows me the full needle - "See, that's how much we took out". Well, I certainly didnt feel any needle and I didn't feel the pressure of him pushing down on the port and I didn't fee the usually feeling I get when the needle hits the port or when liquid is taken out. Afterward there was no sign of a needle prick and the bandaide was in completely the wrong spot. So I'm feeling like I What would he have gained by doing that? He either could have said you don't need an unfill and explained why, or given me the unfill? I feel like he was "humoring" me for no reason. - I wasn't some desperate person coming in instisting for a unfill I didn't need. I just wanted to know whether it was a good idea if I was going to fly. So now I'm in a really awkward position of saying nothing (and having doubts about my doctor) or calling his office and explaining what I experienced - without accusing him of unethical behaviour or incomptancy! What should I do?

Hi - well, I'm back from vacation - had a great time~ after two stuck episodes right at the begginning (dinner the ngith we got there and lunch the next day), I had no problems, It seems as if I can't eat anything solid for breakfast, (I just have a protein shake) and then can't really eat until after around 1:00 and then slowly I can eat more and more during the day until dinner, when I can't eat almost anything if I chew it well.That's my overall pattern with the band, reguardless of vacation, flying, or anything else and I just will have to learn to live with it. Happy New Year Everyone!

Thanks for all your responses! I keep hearing different things from different people - some swear that flying causes their band to tighten, while others say there is no reason for that since it is a closed system. I guess, I'll just trust that my doctor did what he said he did, (even though there is no indication on my body or in what I felt), stick to liquids in the air, and hope for the best! Thanks again, everyone.

I had the weirdest experience after my fill. I got the tiniest of fills - 1/2 a cc- and was fine in the doctor's office. I was fine the rest of the day and then in the evening I was eating a yogurt and I started getting that "stuck" feeling that I only have had in the past if I forgot to chew solid food thoroughly. The next morning I had oatmeal, and THAT got stuck. For the next two days I could barely eat any food, even mushies, until dinner time. Today is the 3rd day after the fill and I haven't tried eating anything yet, but this is SO weird! Has anyone else experienced this delayed reaction to a fill?

Wow - you're an inspiration! How are you doing it so fast? What's your eating/exercise routine? I really want to learn from people who have been so successful!!

At Wendy's I get the plain baked potato (it comes with margerine and nonfat sour cream so you can control how much you use) and a small version of one of their salads - they have a really good low-fat or non-fat raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I remember how scary it was at the very beginning, going out and now knowing what you were going to be able to tolerate well. And being afraid of having a stuck episode in pulbic. Just remember to chew chew chew and try one type of food before you go on to the next so you can tell for sure which food are going down well. Good luck!

I've reached Onderland!!! I didn't want to say anything for a few days because I was hovering at round the 197 198 marks, but I went in for my second fill today and was officially 196!!! i'm so happy! I can't wait to start fitting into smaller clothes and to start doing more active sports. I've lost 19 lbs since I was banded on May 24th - quite an achievement for me. Im so happy!