NancySmiles

If you make bad choices and eat cheesecake all day long (or any other crap food that's high in sugar and calories) you will gain the weight back. The good news is, you'll always have your tool to fall back on. Just go through the process again! Follow the post-op diet. Me, I would go through all the phases starting out with liquids and moving on through the stages. I'm anal, so that's just me. Dr. Aceves told me the same thing I'm telling you, your tool won't fail you but you can fail it!

Renee`

EXACTLY!!!! Wish I could convince the patients of this!!! Thanks for agreeing with what I have always learned from my training and surgeons!!

I think when we get home, we are going to order that test for Beardeditalian - he so totally craves sweets ... wonder if his tastes for sweets will change after surgery and everything will be super sweet like it is for me. I actually did crave a donut today!

That's the FIRST I have heard of that! Maybe I missed something but how does your VitD being off affect your craving for sweets? I just started taking VitD a few months ago cuz mine was low.

When do you crave carbs? When it is Low or High....??? Maybe I need to research this a little more.... Thanks!!

Nancy:biggrin0:

I will tell you now that they didn't have the sleeve option when I had my band in 2004.....BUT if they did, i would have had the sleeve in a heartbeat!!!

Don't get me wrong....I lost 112 lbs with the band, the first 2 years and felt great. Then I had a slip....had it replaced with another band....stupid me!....and then had a leak....

The surgeon, who I work for, said enough is enough how about a sleeve. So here I am 5 years later with a sleeve which I have had for a year.

BUT....I am gaining weight. I was so used to not being able to eat so many things with the band because of things getting stuck, reflux at night, having to vomit when things would not stay down...etc....! After the sleeve I got spoled because I could eat all those things that I had problems with....but what am I doing? I am eating junk!!! Don't worry....I am working on getting back on track! All of these success stories prove I finally have the right tool to halp me lose all of my weight!

Nancy

I am a year post op. I must admit I do not exercise....or at least very little. I have started a new eating program, so I hope that will kick it in.

I don't want to gain all my weight back that I lost with the band.

Guess I am just being bad.....but worse than I think I am. Or because I work for the Bariatric Surgeon I could have "bariatric burnout" !!!

Thanks for listening!

Nancy:sad0:

:thumbup:Hey Tracy!!

I am glad to see that you decided on the sleeve.....you will not be sorry!!!

I do not regret it at all....except the fact that I LET myself gain some weight back....it's my own fault and I know what I need to do....so I am going to put all I have into trying to get back on track and get to where I was when I had the sleeve!!!

Good luck with your new tool!!!

Nancy

Get back on track by eating solid Proteins and get your carbs from fresh fruits. They are low in calories and high in Fiber so you feel full quickly. Stick to 3 meals a day and keep Water with you to stay hydrated. You CAN do this.

That DOES make sense!! I find that when I DO eat the right things...I stay fuller longer as you said. I just need to get back in the healthy habits again!!

Thanks Elisabeth!!:scared0:

I haven't gained anything back either. I have been losing at a fairly consistent rate, other than a few weeks where I plateaued. Like Daisy, I am wondering what you are eating.

I guess I cannot tell a lie....I have been getting back into some very old BAD habits.....carbs...etc....so it's my own fault. But I am always hungry....which I thought was supposed to go away with the sleeve???

And I work for the surgeon who did my surgery....so maybe I have "bariatric burnout" !!!

Not exercising....and grazing....

I lost 112 with the band before the revision and I hate to gain it back.....I just want to start losing again so it looks like I need to get busy!!!

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

Welcome, Helen!

I am a revision from band to sleeve and I can't tell you how much better the sleeve is. I was prepared for "hard" when everyone kept telling me how hard the band is. I thought they meant hard work and dealing with head issues. I had no idea the kind of hard it would be. I did not realizze the constant band problems was the hard part. Puking, getting stuck, restriction issues, reflux, foaming, sliming... I had no idea.

After banding I was a little gun shy about another WLS, I was scared to death what I was experiencing with the band was what WLS is all about. It became a way of life. I was afraid that the sleeve would make my problems permanent. That scared the heck out of me. I finally decided that I did not want to be fat more than I was afraid of complications and such.

Turns out, it's the best thing I have ever done. I just wish I would have done the sleeve the first time around, it would have saved me a ton of money. ;o)

Don't let a risk of a leak scare you away from sleeves. It's possible, but the risk of being fat is greater than the risk of a leak. They are rare. Since this will be a revision for you I would suggest you make sure you go to a true revision surgeon. Not just any surgeon but a revision surgeon. I will tell you that a risk for leaks, perforation, and bleeding are three fold for revisions vs. working on a virgin stomach. But if you go to someone who has done a ton of revisions you stand the best odds for a safe surgery.

Welcome to the forum!

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

And no more fills.....being poked....too much fill....too little fill....what a relief!

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band?

I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Nancy

putting a heating pad or warm compress on it helps alot....just watch for signs of infection....but do give your surgeon a call to be safe.

I had the band and lost 112 pounds with it; but because of a slip and a leak, I was converted to a sleeve. Sure, there is no follow up with the sleeve, no fills, no foods getting stuck, etc. But if you are not going to follw your diet with the lap-band, you won't follow it with the sleeve. I am gaining weight now with the sleeve because I have been able to eat all the things I had problems with when I had the band. Of course, I am eating the wrong things....but it's cuz I CAN....and some days I wish I had the band back so that I COULD get a fill, believe it or not. THe sleeve is permanent....the band is still reversible and adjustable. I love having the sleeve but I also loved having the band. You can make it work, no matter what surgery you have....it's all up to you. And I am determined to get the sleeve to work for me too!!!

do you sometimes wish you did not have a band instead you had a sleeve??

I was reading on the sleeve website how easier it is than the band!

What do you think?

I mean, i love my band, been banded for a year now, but it gets painful at times when you PB or slime or just cannot eat that yummy food because you are afraid that you might throw up!

Also, i have been reading the complications here and it got me worried!

What are your thoughts on this?

1. I feel hungry all the time even though I'm eating mostly Protein and I've noticed that I am able to eat much more very rapidly. At first I couldn't stomach 1/4 cup of jell-o, and now I can pack away an entire cup of Beans without any discomfort and another cup an hour later. Is this normal, and do you have any advice on how to handle it?

2. Chest pressure: I don't feel full in my stomach, but sometimes there is a sort of pressure, or tightness in my chest.

3. Morning tightness: In the early morning, I can barely swallow Water to take my pills, but in the evening, it's as if I never had the surgery at all. Does anyone know what causes this and if it can be avoided, or how best to work around it?

I'll take a stab at it...

1. Are you eating 3 small meals and 3 Snacks and spacing your meals apart? Or are you leaving a long gap between meals? Sounds to me like you may need a fill.....

2. The pressure could be the overeating.....but if you think it might be gas from the refried Beans, you CAN use OTC meds like Gaviscon, Phazyme, GasX and if there is no relief, I would call the doc.

3. It's a proven fact that after sleeping all night, the area around the band is more swollen from lying down...and once you get moving and wait a couple hours....you should be able to eat. I have the same problem...and so do MANY MANY others....

Also you should not be drinking anything HOT....can be warm...but not hot....causes the same thing...

Hope this helps!

Nancy

If yu are having ANY doubts in your mind......Read this!!!

Getting banded was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family!!!

What people forget is that the band is just a "TOOL"......YOU have to make it work!!! You MUST follow up REGULARLY with your surgeon. You MUST attend Support Group Meetings. You MUST follow up with the Dietitian when you feel yourself slipping back into old bad habits.

I am the Lap-Band Program Director at my surgeon's office and I'm also a patient. I had the band surgery 2 yrs ago and I am doing fine!!! It never ceases to amaze me and anger me when I see patients who have had the surgery and never come back...and yet they call and say that "the band is not working for me".....that is so wrong! The band is only as good as it's owner!!!

I will tell you right now....if you do not intend to follow up regularly, follow a diet, Exercise, attend the support group meetings, and most importantly, change your eating habits and your lifestyle - DO NOT HAVE THE LAP-BAND SURGERY!!!

It only works as good as YOU make it work!!! Hope that helps! Remember the Triangle....DIET + EXERCISE + SURGERY ..... without one of these you cannot succeed!

Nancy

__________________

Getting banded was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family!!!

What people forget is that the band is just a "TOOL"......YOU have to make it work!!! You MUST follow up REGULARLY with your surgeon. You MUST attend Support Group Meetings. You MUST follow up with the Dietitian wwhen you feel yourself slipping into bad habits.

I am the Lap-Band Program Director at my surgeon's office and I m also a patient. I had the band surgery 2 yrs ago and I am doing fine!!! It never ceases to amaze me and anger me when I see patients who have had the surgery and never come back...and yet they call and say that "the band is not working for me".....that is so wrong! The band is only as good as it's owner!!!

I will tell you right now....if you do not intend to follow up regularly, follow the diet, attend the support group meetings, and most importantly, change your eating habits and your lifestyle - DO NOT HAVE THE LAP-BAND SURGERY!!!

It only works as good as YOU make it work!!! Hope that helps!

Nancy

I am the Lap-Band Program Director at our office and HAP will cover the surgery only if it is done at a HAP facility. Our hospital takes HAP patients; but HAP will only pay for bariatric surgery at their hospital. Any other surgery is usually ok.

when you go see your dr i would,

remind him that at 1.5cc you were to tight

tell him the kinds of foods you are eating NOW at 1.25cc where you are to loose.

*to me* if you were to tight at 1.5 then i would get a SMALL FILL around .1 that would bring you from 1.25 up to 1.35cc. when you are close (feeling some restriction but not quite enough) then the smallest amount can make ALL the difference.

what kinds of foods are you eating? when the band is restricted *perfectly* its SOLIDS that fill you up. if you are eating things that are mushy or to saucey then you can eat unlimited amounts. it is very easy to eat around the band. you can be doing it without even knowing it. sometimes foods that are technically a solid, if cooked properly is really a mushy. or you would think of them as a solid but once you have chewed the heck out of it it goes down fine.

Thanks Shelly !!! I haven't been on much but thinking the same thing....getting a .1 or .2 fill....makes sense!

Hope you're doing better!

Nancy

OMG Christina!!! I haven't been on in so long and just got on tonight and saw this!!! I JUST spoke to you what seems like only weeks ago and you were fine!!!

I am so happy that you are ok now....It's horrible to go through!!! I only know this because......on the day of the BIG BLACKOUT, August 14, 2003, I walked up 2 flights of stairs since the elevators were out, got to the top and could not feel my left side!!! I had a stroke too.....which was the final straw and deciding factor to have the lap-band surgery. Luckily it was a "tiny" one.....and I completely recovered with no deficits. It was, just as for you, the scariest day of my life!!!

I am truly glad that you are well again and I apologize for not seeing this sooner....call me anytime......I am here for you!!!

Hugs, Nancy*

I have been asked several times lately by our Lap-Band Support Group "regulars" about HOW to get the others or even the other regulars, to come to the meetings. There should be over 150 patients at the meetings and last week we had 8 - EIGHT - 8 - EIGHT!!! Is it due to the vacation season??? Not sure....

If anyone has ANY ideas on how to drum up interest in the meetings, make them more interesting, get more people to participate, etc. If your group has done something to motivate more attendance....PLEASE let me know!!!

thanks!!

NANCY

. .1 and 1/2 but definitally NOT .2. (my dr said a .1 fill is so small its hard to give one that tiny so it was a smidge more than .1 but not more than .2.) so i go home things are great. eating solids no PB's this goes on for a few days. i do notice that my meals are getting smaller and smaller. yesterday my caloric intake consisted of: HOW can a .1 - .1 1/2 fill SEAL ME OFF???? if i cant EVER get restriction again how can i be successfull with the band? in november it will be 2 YEARS that i have gone WITHOUT restriction.

I Have been going through EXACTLY the same thing!!! I now have 1.25cc in and when I had been filled with 1.50 cc it was too tight. When I had 1.5 cc it was too tight. I have restriction...but only for certain things ...just as you do!

All of a sudden....today....I have been able to eat way more than I used to. Not sure if something got jiggled around or what happened....but I am ready for a fill now!!! My wight is at a standstill and has been for almost a year!!

Someone had mentioned that if they got MORE than they were used to and that worked. So I should be asking for MORE than 1.25 cc at a time and see what happens???

Nancy

I will always remember Ryan as someone with a unique way of looking at things....at life. He will always be remembered for this......may he rest in peace......and in his dreams forever.