iwannabslim

I had the band for almost 4 years. I had actually lost about 85 pounds with the band, but I started having problems last year and gained a little more than 30 pounds back. I had my band removed and the sleeve done in one surgery. It really wasn't bad at all. My biggest issue was the incision where the port for the band was located. That incision ached up to last week. It's all going great now, though. My weight loss is slower, and probably will continue be slower, than most new sleeve patients. I don't mind that at all as long as I keep losing.

I am a lapband revision. That is my total weight loss.

Just throwing in my two cents worth. I haven't felt true hunger since the morning BEFORE surgery. I have not been hungry since I woke up. Right now, I'm using my son's internal clock to know it is time to eat. I figure I will have to set alarms when I go back to work. I just hope this feeling lasts.

I have wondered about the "limit" thing. I have a friend that currently has lapband. She was trying for revision through her new insurance. She found out that they have a "1 per lifetime" limit on bariatric surgery even though THEY didn't have anything to do with the original surgery. It would seem to me that it would be cheaper on the insurance company to go ahead and cover the surgery rather than paying for the multitude of specialists that she would have to see to deal with the affects of obesity on her body. As for recovery, it is VERY similar to getting the band. I am on lifting restrictions for 4 weeks. I work at a pretty physical job so I am actually off work on short term disability for the entire time. I have heard of people going back to work soon after surgery (like less than a week). The hardest part, to me, is getting my fluids in. It is very easy to get dehydrated post op. I struggle to get in 5 cups of Water a day. I working on it, but it can be tough. I'm in contact with a few revisioners. They still VERY happy with their decision to revise. They inspire me daily. I will admit that it was their sucess that made me finally talk to my doctor about revising.

thanks for the reassurance!

Seriously, will my brain EVER catch on to the fact that I can only handle so much food at once? I just struggled with less than 2 oz of salmon! Pre-surgery, I would have INHALED TWO 6 oz servings PLUS salad and another side...I kept thinking I should be able to eat these three ounces of fish (I had weighed out 3 oz to start with, but I could NOT finish it).

It's on my list of things that are ok.

Lots of people take milk of magnesia. I can't stomach the thought of that one. I have been taking Miralax powder. You may want to check with your surgeon about what they suggest. Good luck because I know that is a miserable feeling.

Hi. I am also a revision from last month. So far, it has been the best decision. I went through what you are going through now. I had all of the Fluid removed from my band 5 weeks before surgery. I told myself I would not get into "last meal" mode, but it is hard not to. When you take a bite of something that would normally get you "stuck" and it goes down easy? Well, I'm sure you know exactly what I am talking. Try to remember the rules. Eat your Protein first. Try really hard not to snack away. I gained 10 pounds between the day my band was unfilled to the day (three weeks later) that I started my pre-op diet. Now, I truly haven't felt real hunger since I woke up from surgery. Doing Clear liquids the first week was EASY. Ok, only easy because I wasn't hungry at all, but NOT SO easy in that it is hard during the first week to get your fluid levels up. I'll admit that the permanence of the sleeve scared me to death, however the permanence of being obese scared me more. I wish you the absolute best! August 6th will be here before you know it!

I wish you had something, too! I am SO a talker once I get going.

That was my fear too! I was starving from the time I came home until they took it out! hahaha I NEVER had a time that I wasn"t physically hungry with the band. I could get to the point where I couldn't eat (multiple productive burps during the week), but I was STILL hungry. I have not felt hungry at ALL since I woke up with my sleeve. The first few days, I did good just to remember to drink Water. It has truly been night and day as far as that. I'm very excited for you! Those 8 days will FLY by! Let us know how you are doing!

I feel really good. Thanks for asking! This part of the journey is VERY similar to after first getting the band as far as progressing through the food stages, but that is where the similarity stops. I actually have no real interest in food yet. I eat because I know I have to, but I have yet to actually feel hungry (knock on wood). I wish you the best on your revision!

I can try this later this week when I start pureed! Thanks!

I've tasted something similar made with salmon. It was very tasty.

Also, it isn't a lie. You ARE having your band removed. They don't have to know about the rest.