The.new.g

I was denied for my band to sleeve revision twice by Aetna last year. I met all of their criteria listed in our revision policy at my employer, but they still denied me. After about 4 months, I finally reached the 40 BMI threshold again, and they approved me on 2nd appeal. But I did have surgery finally, 12/29/12.

I am a band to sleeve revision. I was happy with my band for a long time and lost a good amount of weight. Then it malfunctioned after my pregnancy and never worked again. I can tell you that in my experience so far (6 years banded and now 11 weeks post sleeve) that it is much easier to eat around the band than the sleeve, and my weight loss is faster (so far at least) even though I have always been a "slow loser". I think personally that the sleeve is a better surgery. The band is safer if you are worried about major complications like leaks. But long term people seem to have more problems with the band and the most recent research I have heard indicates that more than 50% have the band removed by 5 years post op, mostly either due to slip, erosion, or inadequate weight loss. Of course, these are my opinions based on my experience and what I have heard from other band folks. The band is an attractive idea but doesn't seem to work as well in practice. Good luck to you.

My doc said 4 weeks. I have a 2 year old, like others have noted sometimes you just can't avoid picking them up (in and out of car seat, etc). I did change her diaper on the floor for a few weeks and kept my lifting as minimal as possible but I really only made it about 2 weeks. Just do the best you can, you'll figure out some workarounds.

You should check in the self pay/Mexico forum. Most folks who go to Mexico for surgery have to fly there and back.

Once you are cleared to eat seeds, try some chia seeds. They are great and work very well.

I was only NPO after midnight (no food). You will probably be fine. Good luck.

That's true if you are on an ultra low carb plan. I'm not. I just track it in MFP and make sure I am within my guidelines.

No guilt. It's not the easy way out. And you do know that most of the Biggest Loser contestants gain back most, all, or even more weight after the show is over? It is one of the unhealthiest ways to lose weight! Numerous studies have shown that the old "diet and exercise" has a relapse rate of 95%. The sleeve isn't magic and it isn't easy. Don't feel guilty. Most of us do this because we want to be healthy for ourselves and our families, and the eternal dieting left us even less healthy, and disheartened. If you think this is the right thing for you and you have really researched what it involves, try not to let what others might think dissuade you from what you think is best for yourself. Welcome, and good luck.

Congrats to you! Speedy recovery

I have a 4 as well...there is a tiny wireless bluetooth dongle that fits in a USB slot so I can sync it on my PC. I just don't have to take it off to do it. (I wear it in my bra.) Also it syncs on my iPad. Someday I'll get a newer iPhone, but not yet.

I love mine. I do think it is pretty accurate. I like that you can sync it with My Fitness Pal. I looked at a lot of these types of monitors before buying the Fitbit, the Fitbit is the only one I found at the time that syncs via Bluetooth. The Nike Fuelband has to be connected to your PC to sync. The Fitbit also monitors your sleep, which I don't think any of the others do. It is great for increasing your incidental activity--at the end of the day I can see if I need to do more stairs or go for a walk to increase my steps for the day. In April the Fitbit Flex is supposed to come out, which is similar to the Fuelband. I am getting one of those and giving my One to my husband. I also have the Fitbit Aria scale, kind of pricy but I really like it. I really don't work for them, I just like these two products. I swear! LOL.

Over in the Food and Nutrition forum there is a sticky for where to get protein samples...you can try a lot without putting out too much cash. I was surprised by some that seemed like I would like them, but when I tried them I was glad I didn't buy a whole tub. I like vanilla & choc splendor Unjury, and choc and vanilla Trutein. I have some RTD Premier from Costco, but not my favorites. I like some of the RTD Oh Yeah drinks, but most of them have to be diluted with milk for me, too sweet and too much aftertaste. Mixed with milk they are better. I add half a pack of Starbucks Via in the morning (caffeine is okay on my plan). I also have some sugar free syrups that I add sometimes, but I have to use more milk or it gets way too sweet.

I think it's pretty normal for a partner's fear about your safety in surgery to come across as being unsupportive. My husband did the same thing both when I was banded and revised to sleeve (6 weeks post op). Once I got through safely, he has been very supportive. But he was scared for me to have surgery and at times said similar things to what you report.

That is awesome! What a great victory!

Holy crap! That is scary. My band was unclasped when they went in. What you went through sounds miserable. I'm glad things are much better for you now! I do think that each surgeon decides whether to do a revision in 1 or 2 procedures based on the damage they see in each patient. That's why we hire our surgeons, for their experience and surgical expertise. Same goes for bougie size. There's no real way to say that anyone's revision in 1 or 2 surgeries was "safe" or "unsafe" if we weren't the surgeon looking at the patient at the time of the surgery. My surgeon told me he would try to do it in 1, but that he couldn't guarantee that until he got in and actually saw what was there. I'm glad he was able to do it in one, but if he had to do it in 2 I would have been grateful to have had his expertise to make that decision at the time of surgery.