PaPaBob

Well I am now officially sleeved . . . I had surgery yesterday(Wed) morning and I was discharged this evening. I am now home and on the end. My band removal and then the VGS went really well and smooth. Dr. Taylor at Barix clinic in Ypsilanti did a wonderful job. I met with him about 5 weeks ago and we made this decision to revise my lapband to VGS. He indicated that he wanted me to loose some additional weight. I had initially lost the 83 with the band and then gained 35 lbs back. Well, I started power walking 4 weeks ago and have covered 63 miles at about a 15:20 pace. The big news is that when I stood on the scale just before my surgery I had lost all 35 lbs and was back down to my lowest lapband weight. I am really pleased with that and so was my Dr. I have very little pain at this time but I do have a small amount of nausea. Got plenty of meds to handle each of these issues. I have been able to down 2 clear liquid meals. . . chicken broth, raspberry Jello, and a crystal light drink. Anyway I am headed to bed as I am a bit tired. Hopefully tomorrow will be as smooth as today. I am sure there will ups and downs throughout the first 2 weeks.

Just a little update . . . I will be sleeved on Wednesday . . that's two days from now. My WL has continued with my power walking and I have lost 30 lbs in a month which gives me just 5 more to lose before Wednesday. that will get me back down to the lowest with the lapband. I feel really great and looking forward to dropping many more pounds over the next 6 months. Will update after the surgery on Wednesday.

Good luck Charlene. . . Sounds like you have a good Dr. and above all you have the confidence in him. Will keep you updated on my progress after surgery. I am ready. . .

Well I have just a couple days until surgery and still keeping up my WL and power walking routine. Passed the 55 mile mark in 3 weeks and have dropped below 290. 289 puts me just 6 lbs above my lowest band weight. Going to try and get there before surgery on Wednesday. Just a personal goal. Then everything from that point will be Sleeve WL. I will have lost all that I regained with the band and will be at lowest point. Hooray!!! Still a bit nervous but determined that this will be the right decision in getting to a move liveable weight. That's my goal. Don't mind being a 200 lber but this 300 crap is for the birds. My goal is to get between 200 - 210. With my height(6') and bone structure I will be really happy with that weght and I believe all of my other issues will be taken care of . . . diabetes, BP, joints, etc.

I am having my LAPBAND removed and my revision to a sleeve done next Wednesday Aug. 17th. Band installed July 2009 but never achieved any restriction for two years. Have lost 83 lbs but just thru dieting and behavioral modification. So, the sleeve will have to continue my WL in the future. PreAdmission testing all done and I am good to go for the surgery.

Pre-Admission Testing completed today and all is set for my surgery next Wednesday. Everything is a go. . . still a bit nervous. Feeling so good right now . . . losing weight . . 25 lbs in last 3 weeks. . . walking like crazy . . 50 miles in last 3 weeks. . and I am going to mess this all up and restructure my stomach. . . LOL The stories of nausia, leakage, etc. . . are all on my mind now. But, I really know inside the band has to go and this has to be done for me to quickly get my excess weight off. I have 10 lbs to lose before next wednesday so I will be at my lowest weight achieved with the lapband. that's my goal for the next 7 days. Wish me luck.

Becca, thanks so much. I am going to be a regular here at VGS thru out my journey with the sleeve. I also am a member at the Barix Clinic forum which has been unbelievable supportive thru my lapband process. With both groups keeping an eye on me and keeping me honest I can't "Lose" . . . I mean I will Lose but I can't FAIL. . . . LOL Dropped another 2 lbs today. Still power walking like crazy. I really love the walking with my buddy "Jolly" who you can see in my avitar. Huge golden retriever that just loves our walks. Especially after I bought a new pair of shoes . . Sketchers " ShapeUps . . I love how the heel material protects you. My heels were killing me prior to these shoes but after I have zero foot pain. Doing well.

Thanks Charlene for the encouragement. No looking back and absolutely no regrets. As for your situation. Just go in there and convince your Dr. that this just has to be done. Too many problems in the past and you need a bright future. Good luck.

Thanks all for the kind words of encourgement. UPDATE: I received call from Barix clinic in Ypsi and my surgical date is set. Aug. 17th. I have a half day pre-admission testing(PATS) date for next Tuesday. So, I will be sleeved in less than two weeks. I am still progressing with my exercise program(power walking) and have covered 40 miles in past 2 weeks and dropped 25 lbs. I have 10 lbs to go to get back to my lowest LAPBAND weight. That will put me down 83 lbs from my lapband surgery 2 years ago. That is my goal for the 17th. So, everything from that point will be my NEW sleeved stomach and my mental willpower. Looking forward to the future. I am having this done ASAP as I need the recovery to be completed before the Fall hunting season. I hunt all over the midwest and am looking forward to small meals and healthy living.

I was banded in July 09 and lost 83 lbs in first 6 months . . but never felt a bit of restriction. Kept putting in Fluid and even when up to the max felt absolutely no restriction. No pains, no food stuck, no vomiting, no nothing. . . . but I could eat just about anything and any amount at a setting. Correction I did get a couple kernals of corn stuck once and couldn't clear it for 48 hrs. Had to have 5 cc's removed and start over filling it up again. In the end I then gained back 35 lbs and decided I needed to right this ship and get going the other direction. My Dr. and I decided the band was just not going to work for me(give me restriction). So, my options were the RNH and Sleever . . . after much research and discusion I felt the VGS would be the perfect fit for me to finish off my WL. Insurance is approved 100% and expecting call for scheduling tomorrow and should be sleeved within the month. No regrets at all as I need it done to gain my health back and eliminate the factors that are going to kill me someday. LOL My surgar is almost back to normal with no pills, BP is normal, Cholesterol has always been fantastic even with heavy, and my joints are feeling a whole lot better. I have been on a power walking regimen that past 15 days and have walked 40 miles. Lost 25 lbs of that 35 I had regained. Would love to be back down to my lowest with the lapband by surgery. If I get there I have a goal of an additional 80 after the sleeve. That would put me back to my wedding date weight which was 43 years ago. . . that would be super. Will keep updated with you after our surgeries. Good luck.

Bob here from Lansing and new here but I had my Lapband done at the Barix Clinic in Ypsilanti with Dr. Jamokay Taylor and we are going to remove the band after two years and perform the VGS as soon as my insurance approval is obtained. I did pretty well with the lapband as I dropped 83 lbs but then stalled, gained 25 back and we couldn't get the band any tigher and I still NEVER had any restriction. Very frustrating. They had to use a 14 cc LAPBAND on me and it just never tightened me down. So, this is the reason for the revision. Dr. Taylor is very good and thorough and I have tremendous confidence in his abilities.