Kristina J.

So today I had ALL the Fluid taken out of my band. Hoping that over the next 63 days (not that I'm counting) my pouch dilation will go down and heal and I will be in a better position for a one surgery band to sleeve revision! I am so ready for May 11th. Finally going to ditch this band for good, after 10 years, and start fresh. Both physically and mentally. This time around is so much more important for me and my commitment level is so much higher than it was with the band. This time, I recognize my failures and issues and not only want, but need to face them. For my amazing husband, my beautiful young girls and most importantly, myself. I really feel like I needed to wait a few years so that I could be at this point and really make this count. Reflecting back on everything with my Mom today I realized, I am give or take, right where I was when my first band was placed in 2003. I hate the band, and I mean hate! Lol BUT, it has served a purpose in my life and though my losses weren't good with the second band, it kept me from gaining like I know I could have during and after 2 pregnancies. Last time my band was empty I gained 20lbs in 3 months, so "anxious and nervous" to be empty over the next two months is an understatement. Though I am pretty confident I won't do that this time since I've been really good with my diet lately and I am working toward a (self imposed) pre-surgery goal of 230. As of this morning, I am down nine pounds to 241!! I'm not going to pretend that this isn't a huge deal for me. It's the first time the scale has moved that way in YEARS! Feeling a little awful today (which usually happens to me after any big band adjustment, anyone else?), but so positive! Feeling stuck and miserable everyday, is now a thing of my PAST!!!! Long and rambly, but just had to get it all out. And you people know how I love to ramble anyway

Raain, I decided to unfill my band early because of some dilation and prolapse. If you're not experiencing complications, I would wait and see what your surgeon suggests. If our bands are unfilled we run a risk of gaining more before surgery. If you're anxious about it, or worry that you may have some band complications, I would call your surgeon and let them know. They can do an upper GI and detect most band issues in minutes!!! Good luck, and keep me updated!!!

That's a bummer you have to delay. I was originally scheduled for April 24th and to delay too, mine was for my husbands work schedule! Oh well, we know we are going at least, even if we have to wait a little longer!! Setting a date is a huge step!!

That's awesome! Hope ours come that fast! I'll feel better knowing it's checked off my list!

So glad everything is going so well!!! I know you were anxious, so I'm so happy for you that it's worked out so well!!! Hope you're feeling even better today!!

Exciting!! I'm going May 11th, so if you end up a little early, maybe I'll see you there! Lol Congrats!!

Yeah, I was also told it "should be fine." But if I'm going through all of this, I'd rather be safe than sorry. All the documentation I can find says that a passport or passcard are required as of July 2009. I can't find anything official saying that a BC and ID are approved ID to cross the border. I know I would probably get through fine, as many have posted here at VST, and they may be more lenient since we're driving with a surgery transport, but it would be just my luck to get a guy like my friend got!! Lol I'm waiting until May. That gives me plenty of time to get our passcards delivered and to try and lose some more weight before surgery!! Every pound now, is one less later, and gives me a better chance at an easy surgery!! When do you leave?!

Bands are evil! Lol

Oh and my husband and I opted for the passcards too. Cheaper (much cheaper) and they're good for land border crossing into Mexico!!

Some people have reported that they got through just fine with a birth certificate and ID, but when my friend drove into TJ last week, the officer/agent (?) was very "by the book" and told her she needed a passport or passcard and that BC and Driver's license aren't enough. I would imagine 90% of people get through fine, but it's just not worth the risk. I would be furious if I got down to the border and had to delay because I didn't get my passport renewed!!

Unfortunately the best price I could find in my area (Phoenix, AZ) was around $27K for the revision (IF they could do it in one surgery) and the surgeon had only done "less than 20" revisions. So I started looking into Mexico (on the forums here to start) and found that a lot of the revisions had used Dr. Fernando Garcia in Mexico. I did some more research on him and decided he was the one for me. Self pay for me, because of the revision is only $5500, and that includes an endoscopy and upper GI to help determine BEFORE surgery if he thinks he can do it all in one procedure. Not everyone is comfortable going out of the country and I definitely understand that, but for me, I am getting more experience at a quarter of the price. They include one night pre-op in a hotel, 2 nights at the hospital and 2 nights post op at the hotel. I would love to have picked someone here, but my ins doesn't cover any bariatric at all.

Oh dear, please, do NOT go with the band!!! :-/ I have had two of them now! Please take a minute and read my story on my profile. The band gave me some up front success but then nothing but problems and multiple surgeries on top of all the maintenance!! It's taken 10 years, but I am finally getting this thing out of me! There are so many people with stories just like mine. I wish I had never messed with the lap band, and wish even more that after I did and had it taken out, that someone had told me about the sleeve before I tried it again (though it wasn't near as well known in 2006). There's a board here called "Lap Band to Sleeve Revision" ... Go read up there and also on lapbandtalk.com under the complications section. There are definitely risks with either, but the long term (2+ years) complications of the band far outweigh that of the sleeve! Good luck with your decision though. I know there's nothing easy about it. And I certainly understand the appeal of the band... but it's a trick

So sorry to hear about all your band issues!! I've been there... Well, I AM there! Lol I had a severe slip in 2005 after 2 years banded and 100# down. When they went to surgically adjust my band, ("simple procedure") they punctured my stomach. My band was removed and I was in the hospital for 9 days. Then I couldn't get approval for replacement from my ins and no one was really talking VSG back then. I saved money and self payed to reband in 2006 after gaining it all back plus some. I never lost more than 40# with the second band and now it has slipped some and my pouch is dilated! Ugh!!!!!! I am scheduled for revision on May 11th. I am unfilling tomorrow in hopes that it will really let the dilation heal these next 2 months and aid in successfully revising in one surgery since I'm self pay again!! But, if the doc says I need two surgeries, so be it. Oh but fingers crossed I don't! Lol I'm with you... Get this thing out of me!!!!!!!!!!

I am SO happy for you!!! I couldn't get anything covered after they removed my band. I wouldn't wish that on anyone!!! I made the mistake of self paying to re-band since I had success up until the slip and erosion, but bands being the evil little things they are, I'm having a revision done too now after a lot of complications! Lol What a huge relief!!! So happy for you!!!! let us know when you get a surgery date!!! The next few months will go faster than you think!!

When I lost significant weight with the band I was constantly freezing, and I had a surgeon tell me that it happens when we drop a lot of weight because the body is trying to "slow down" and "conserve calories." He never really explained it more than that, but I found this article a while back that says the same thing in different terms lol http://www.livestrong.com/article/305720-how-come-when-you-lose-weight-you-feel-cold/

I hadn't heard of these before today! I'll have to try them out! I also just read (since this got me interested lol) that there are a few more brands of Water enhancers sweetened with stevia. I don't really know that it's better for you, there seem to be some differing opinions on that, but since I can't go completely without, I'll give it a shot. I like that its natural and plant based as opposed to chemical. So, there's Crystal Light Pure. Only a few flavors and in pre-measured packets. (I use a big reusable water bottle, so I prefer the convenience of liquid enhancers). There's also TRUE in flavors like lemon, orange and strawberry. Also just a few flavors and pre-measured packets. But really well reviewed! Last, I saw an article talking about how Walmart is starting to make their Great Value Water Enhancers with stevia as well. So far there's only a few flavors and all in packets, but they are working on getting some additional flavors changed over and some liquid ones to the market soon! Hoping I can wean myself off and drink straight water, but I'm sensitive to it now, just with a lap band! I can't imagine that'll get better after I'm sleeved. :-/

Pretty much every brand of packet or liquid Water Enhancer has artificial sweetener in it. Only alternative I've found was real sugar, which defeats the purpose! There are some pre-flavored waters like MetroMint (very yummy, despite not being sweet at all) that don't have any sweeteners, though they tend to be pricey and for me, have to be ice cold. If you want to avoid artificial sweetener altogether, I would switch to decaf black or green tea or even herbal tea. Or try flavoring your own water. I have a friend who always has a pitcher of water in her fridge with some mint, ginger and berries in it. Which I like, but I need something more portable. I don't like the idea of artificial sweeteners either but for my tastes, I have to deal with them for now or I'll never get my water in (now or especially post op). I am trying to use less and less flavor to wean myself off of them, but just can't quite stomach the water plain or just flavored with fruit/mint still.

So glad it went well!!!! Get some rest! You may not feel like you need it, but you probably still do!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!!!!!!!!!