Dawn Marie Silvestro

O&D, Haha, that is so awesome. I will start the process of studying for the CPA Exam. I will be taking a graduate level class in the spring in order to even sit. Where are you located. I thought you were from England or Ireland for some reason. Dawn Marie

Accounting. So boring but so many well paying jobs. How are you doing?

Thats awesome. This surgery is such a gift. We work hard for it but it works. Im grateful everyday Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Expect a stall anytime. Nothing a good round of pooping will get going again. Im a firm believer in its all about the digestive tract. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

What a great idea. I too donated my stuff to my cousin who just had surgery. I was happy to see it all go. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Great look. Its great feeling comfortable in clothes. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thats so awesome. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Not throwing up is the best nsv. Anyone who suffered with a lap band and now has a sleeve can attest to the difference. I thank God everyday my lap band is gone. Love my sleeve so much. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Congrats. Live life! Dont regret a second. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

I thought I would have it for sure. They put you on omeprezole after surgery but only for 30 days. I stayed on another 30 days terrified. Switched to rantidine. And knock on wood. No acid reflux. Occasionally ill take a pill but no need really. Hope you have the same experience. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have gone band to sleeve and I am down 64 pounds. It will be 5 months tommorow. My weight loss has slowed down for sure but im still at a steady 2 pounds a week. Look at everything you are doing. Really be honest with yourself. Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Somethings you just have to post[emoji1] Sent from my LGMS210 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my 3 month post op today. Down 45.7 or something like that. NP said I was ahead of schedule. Yay! I am really shooting for 100 pounds. I think the sleeve is a great fit for me. I hope you all do really well. I have to say the first 8 weeks were kind of hard. No energy , no pooping , no fun! But I noticed or didn't notice that I wasn't any of that anymore I just feel normal except for two or three good bites and I am done. I am starting a photo diary of what I eat so I can look back. I am terrible about capturing it all on an app or in a book. I have two accounts and I hadn't been checking here but Im so glad to see all the band to sleeve conversions. I will keep checking back. Dawn Marie

Hi Annie, I am on the other side of this. I had the lap band in 2011 and honestly never did well. Slipped it at 3 months, than again a month later after unfill and than refill. Kind of gave up got used to vomiting all the time. I was a vomit pro. When I slipped the band last summer and went to the er the NP that was there was from a different practice than I started at and she really convinced me to revise. I think the band was a epic failure for a lot of us. I was humiliated and constantly felt like a failure. I am 3 months out of the Gastric Sleeve revision and I am so happy I persevered. the Sleeve works like we all were told the band would. I am loosing at a wonderful pace with little to no complications at all. I wish you well and any questions please feel free to ask. Sincere and warmest wishes Dawn Marie

I failed the lap band as well and took me so long to come to terms with it I recently had a revision to the sleeve and could not be happier. Please tell your brother. The Band failed for a lot of people tell him there is hope and the band is the failure not him.

Hi Irish Girl, Don't be afraid, its a journey you will never regret. I had lap band in 2011 and had it out recently and was sleeved and I love my sleeve. I was afraid of surgery too. But I really hated being fat and unhappy. There is no shame in this game. And I want you to know I will pray for you for clarity and peace of mind for what ever you decide. this is not a cure but an amazing tool that allows people like us the ability to stick to healthy eating plans. Regards Dawn Marie

I remember my nutritionist telling me to watch the sodium content in them.

Hi Caribear, its an emotional ride, all around like everyone said not speaking for anyone but me. But the first time you get some male attention due to the new you can be awkward. I was sitting in the Hot tub at the gym the other day and this good looking guy was checking me out I was a little freaked out at first. and wouldn't get up out of the hot tub, but it felt good to have someone look at me like I was attractive. It can be a mixed bag at times. But when you feel physically better because of it thats the greatest part. Like more energy to play with your kids, better intimacy with your spouse, a cleaner house, cleaner neat clothes because you don't have to wear big giant things to cover up the weight, all a bit awkward and new but definitly awesome. Speaking for my self that is. Also the clarity in my head is amazing. Its incredible when you take out some of the junk that we tend to put in our bodies how cloudy our minds our. Good Luck and God Bless

HI Blue Pit County, congratulations on getting to this point. You will be on a bumpy road for a while and its quite the ride. Getting to the point of actually having the surgery is awesome I was in the planning stage for years as well. I was so happy when it was finally here. Be so proud of your self for getting to this point. Think of what you are sacrificing. When is your surgery are you doing any preop diet? Are you staying overnight in the hospital, all doctors are different. Do you have Gas X strips? and plenty of ice and liquids for the first week. The most important things I think to remember are, for some it is a really slow process in the beginning and it is alot of relearning and finding your own threasholds with food. fills don't happen for a month and than it can be some time once you start getting fills if you don't get immediate restriction. Be so patient with your self. I didn't get restriction for a long long time and felt like a bit of a failure. I am relearning eating everyday and some days you fall back into old behavior my band hates my old behavior and lets me know. Best of Luck. I hope you are one who doesn't have the long wait for restriction and never needs a fill. Be Gentle with your self and block out the negatives around you whatever they may be.

thats so awesome I see you were banded in July how much saline do you have in your band? what is your diet like? my weight loss is really slow and I am learning how to eat with the band everyday. do you excersise alot?

HI everybody, my progress has been extremely slow. I am still trying to learn how to eat the lap band way. Certain foods are finally a no no, rice gets stuck everytime, (so why do I even try?) I really thought this wasn't going to work for me but I think I am just going to be a really slow looser. My brain is so used to thinking I need 1800 calories so 1200 seems like starvation. But little bit at a time I am satisfied with less. I shopped in a regular department yesterday as opposed to the plus size which felt great. I also ran 2.5 miles on the treadmill and then joined my family for a swim at the y. Normally I wouldn't swim with them. My last fill was almost a month ago. I know I have to do the work for this not the lap band is going to do it all for me. I am at 27 pounds lost in 5 months, it seems so slow, but like everyone says the slower the better. looking forward to hearing from anyone banded in july 2011

oh my goodness I finally have some restriction. I have never been so excited. I am at 9 cc out of 14 and this is the first fill to give me any encouragement at all this it works. I was banded July 14th and expected results alot sooner. I have alot of work to do, trying to get my portions in place. this fill has finally made me slow down. I still don't feel super full like I had hoped but eating smaller bites is making me bored to tears with eating and I just want to stop. I think my brain might not even recognize "full" , full to me is like Thanksgiving full, pains in your belly that you have to try to walk off. I would love to hear from other july 2011 bandsters who are having results eithor way. Dawn Marie

Yippie you are on your way! keep in touch. The week after surgery is the hardest. Dawn Marie

I just had a really dumb moment, I looked at the bottom of my own profile and saw my Doctors name and thought it was your doctor. Sorry but do let us know how it goes

OH Goodness, I just reread everything and realized your Doctor is My Doctor. Dr Adam and his staff are really great, I was lucky I had alot of stuff already in place from when I started the process before. Did you meet with Jane the Nutritionist or the Psych doctor? Did you have your sleep study? Did you get your insurance stuff in place? I was there today for my 4th fill. Dr. Adam really does make you have a preop diet 2 weeks to 10 days before. I wasn't perfect with mine but I still managed to loose a few pounds to free up the liver to help make the stomach easier to get to. Did you call today? Call asap if you really want to get it done. Also the people at Norwood Hospital were really great. Let us know how it goes. Dawn Marie