SleevedSteph

Caity, I know exactly what you mean! I forget that I even had surgery (12/16). I haven't been depressed (yet!) - opposite - very happy to have revision surgery over with and have the feeling of fullness back and not being hungry all the time. However, I'm starting to get scared. I had heard that for some reason, weight loss can be slower for former bandsters - not for sure why. What scares me is that the sleeve (for me) is so much easier in that I can already tell that I can eat foods that were hard for me to eat with the band (I was pretty restricted) and that if I overdo it - I have a very uncomfortable fullness feeling - but not having to throw up - which was a huge deterrent for me with the band. So I'm scared that I will overeat and eventually stretch my sleeve which I'm only 3 weeks out but I don't want another WLS failure! Also when I get discouraged I want to eat. I am not hungry and glad (now) that I did the 2-week liquid pre-op diet because it reminded me what true hunger is - not the head hunger or boredom I may get now. Also - a co-worker had gastric bypass this week and I know that the weight is going to literally fall off of her the 1st 6 months and people can't help but compare us even though I have tried to explain that sleeve does not have malabsorption - folks just hear "gastric" and its all the same to them. So I hope I won't get discouraged with my initial slower weight loss. Also - PCOS sucks! I also have it and depression is not only one of the common symptoms but the other "wonderful" symptoms we get cause us to get depressed. Yes, we are insulin-resistant so we are not going to lose as fast as others but we can still lose the same amount it will just take us longer and the key will still be (even with WLS) that we watch our carbs and sugar and exercise is a must to keep that metabolism going. You already have an exercise routine and a work-out buddy (your BF) so you are ahead of the game. Also, I think we are not as excited because we know the reality of WLS and that it is just a tool and not a cure and with the band when our tool "broke" we felt like a failure even though it wasn't even our fault (my band leaked twice) - at least we don't have a "mechanical device" to worry about. I cringe when I hear new WLS patients state "100 pounds lost FOREVER!" ... because we all know that is not always the case. But I am so thankful and feel blessed to have this WLS tool that was not available to me in 2005 when I had the band. Tomorrow is a NEW year and a new beginning for the both of us so smile and that about that hot black mini dress you'll be wearing next New Year's Eve! :-)

Thanks earthless for your post - very helpful and I made some of the same mistakes you did - chocolate pudding pie with cool whip is a soft food - right??? Wrong - maybe if it was unsweetened I wouldn't have felt like crap after! I think I am in the 3rd week stall too but since I could switch to soft foods I have been guilty of not making sure I'm getting all the Protein I need which I know can stall weight loss as body probably holding on to fat for starvation mode. Also after reading your post - I don't know that bowel movements have gone back to "normal" yet. I was banded in 2005 - lost 140 pounds - gained some back over the years with two babies and a leak in port but lost it right back. However, got another leak (tubing this time) in 2012 and doc said it was time to replace the old band if I wanted to stick to band (even though he rarely does bands anymore) or convert to sleeve. Only after gaining 60 pounds (not by choice!) to my insurance finally approve revision surgery and I had it on 12/16. I was so worried but recovery (for me) was easier than the band and even port replacement as far as pain. The only pain I have had (which was rough) was a night of severe left shoulder pain one week after which I understand was from the gas from the procedure. I have lost about 20 pounds from my pre-op appointment two weeks prior to surgery date which I had to do 2 week liquid diet pre-op but have stalled in weight loss for the past few days so obviously need to do better on protein. I hope this feeling of feeling full does not go away over time with the sleeve - love feeling full again on small serving of food! Happy New Year to all of you!

I got the lap band in 2005 and loved it - lost 140 pounds. Well soon after I found out I was pregnant with band baby #2, I lost all restriction and it turned out I had leak in port and couldn't get fixed until after a couple of months after giving birth and ended up gaining over 60 pounds during the pregnancy but after port replacement in 2010 lost all the weight back and then in 2012 all restriction was gone again and now a leak in the tubing so surgeon told me it was time to replace the band with either the new band or revise to gastric sleeve as his patients had great success from band to sleeve. Well after having the band for 7 years and thought it was my answer to weight loss, I was devastated that a 3rd surgery would be required so decided to hold off and prove I could maintain the weight on my own and gained nearly 60 pounds. :-( I was so nervous to get the sleeve as my husband was in so much pain after his surgery and the band surgery was rough for me (had gall bladder removed at same time too). Well, I had my band removed and gastric sleeve on Monday and got to come home Tuesday afternoon and I feel great. It is a struggle to get my liquids down but I understand that is common. I slept the whole time I was in the hospital except to walk the hallways so maybe the sleep was what I needed. However, I didn't have scar tissue or hernia as some have during their revision so that might be why I have not had pain. I did have nausea when I was awake in hospital but in addition to nausea meds they gave me a patch behind my ear which I think really helped with that. I hope my recovery continues to go smoothly and look forward to learning from all your experiences so that I can use this new tool and to get those 60 pounds back off and more!

Thank you, BellaHugz! Honestly, I forget that I have had surgery as my incisions have all healed up except for the big one where my port was but had that scar ever since lap band. I feel like I can eat more than I thought I could so I will really have to watch it. Also I was already used to not drinking with meals from the band and when I do drink I am able to take gulps of Water which I was worried since immediately after I could only do small sips. It is freeing to have a fullness after eating and not feel hungry all the time. I'm still on vacation from work so a lot of it is wanting to eat from boredom or head hunger. So glad to see that you have been approved for surgery! The hardest for me was the 2 week liquid diet that my surgeon required. Best of luck and look forward to hearing about your progress!

So sorry to hear about your painful recovery! I think the scar tissue from the band makes a huge different. I was sleeved on Monday and the surgeon told my husband it was a quick and smooth surgery with no scar tissue. The sleeve has been easy on me so far but the band kicked my butt! However, that could change as I am only on day 4. My husband was mowing the lawn the day after his band surgery but he had scar tissue and he said he felt like a train wreck after his sleeve and he had severe pain where his port was and was slow moving and took him almost 2 months before he felt himself. He has had his sleeve for one year and loves it and has had no issues. Hoping you are at the end of your pain/nausea!

Thank you for your encouragement! So joatsaint, how do I "pimp" my sleeve? :-)

I'm so glad to have found this forum! I will post this on the insurance forum also. I was banded in 2005 and did great - lost 140 pounds in 2 years and maintained until leak in 2009 and also found out I was pregnant - so no restriction and pregnancy was not a good combo and couldn't get band repaired until after baby. Gained half the weight back and then in 2011 got the band repaired (ended up just the port had to be replaced) and lost the weight back. Last October, noticed I did not have any restriction and fluro xray confirmed a leak again (where unknown). I have now gained over 40 pounds since then! I am a federal employee and had GEHA since 2005 (BCBS would not cover band at that time). Both my husband and I got the band in 2005. Early in 2012, my husband had to have his fill removed due to dilation of the esophagus (which I had never heard of before) and he started gaining weight rapidly and after consulting with the surgeon decided to convert to sleeve. I was against that but then went online and saw that it was not uncommon. Well, we were with GEHA and he was able to get band removal/conversion to sleeve approved with no problem and had it done in December and is almost back down to his lowest band weight. He loves the sleeve as the last couple of years he had so much issues with the band. Well at the same time I found out I had another leak - I also learned that my 2 yr old required intensive speech therapy which GEHA had very limited number of visits but BCBS FEP had better coverage for speech therapy so I switched to BCBS for 2013. I wasn't too concerned with me as I was hoping that I would maintain/lose weight without WLS (that didn't work!) and had always heard how great BCBS FEP was as far as approving WLS. Well, I found out that their requirements changed in 2011 and it applies to second WLS as well. I thought since my band was defective that insurance would want me to have conversion (since this is my 2nd leak and the long term results of the band has not been what the medical community thought) or at a minimum replace the band to avoid me getting to the weight I was before WLS and the health risks that come along with that. Well, I received a letter stating that band removal was approved but all the requirements must be met (for initial WLS and the additional requirements for subsequent WLS?) before conversion would be approved. There were no specifics in the letter as to what specific requirements had to be met. I tried to talk to someone at BCBS - but unlike GEHA where I could talk to the bariatric specialist - I can only talk to the customer service rep and all communication as to go through my surgeon's office. So I have asked them to find out from BCBS if EVERY requirement has to be met (morbidly obese for 2 years!, etc.) before conversion will be covered. If that is the case - will they at least replace the band now? So for those of you with BCBS FEP who have converted since 2011 - any suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated! I found a great appeal letter from "Britt" but it was before the requirements had changed for subsequent WLS. Thanks!!!

I also posted this in the Band to Sleeve Forum. I was banded in 2005 and did great - lost 140 pounds in 2 years and maintained until leak in 2009 and also found out I was pregnant - so no restriction and pregnancy was not a good combo and couldn't get band repaired until after baby. Gained half the weight back and then in 2011 got the band repaired (ended up just the port had to be replaced) and lost the weight back. Last October, noticed I did not have any restriction and fluro xray confirmed a leak again (where unknown). I have now gained over 40 pounds since then! I am a federal employee and had GEHA since 2005 (BCBS would not cover band at that time). Both my husband and I got the band in 2005. Early in 2012, my husband had to have his fill removed due to dilation of the esophagus (which I had never heard of before) and he started gaining weight rapidly and after consulting with the surgeon decided to convert to sleeve. I was against that but then went online and saw that it was not uncommon. Well, we were with GEHA and he was able to get band removal/conversion to sleeve approved with no problem and had it done in December and is almost back down to his lowest band weight. He loves the sleeve as the last couple of years he had so much issues with the band. Well at the same time I found out I had another leak - I also learned that my 2 yr old required intensive speech therapy which GEHA had very limited number of visits but BCBS FEP had better coverage for speech therapy so I switched to BCBS for 2013. I wasn't too concerned with me as I was hoping that I would maintain/lose weight without WLS (that didn't work!) and had always heard how great BCBS FEP was as far as approving WLS. Well, I found out that their requirements changed in 2011 and it applies to second WLS as well. I thought since my band was defective that insurance would want me to have conversion (since this is my 2nd leak and the long term results of the band has not been what the medical community thought) or at a minimum replace the band to avoid me getting to the weight I was before WLS and the health risks that come along with that. Well, I received a letter stating that band removal was approved but all the requirements must be met (for initial WLS and the additional requirements for subsequent WLS?) before conversion would be approved. There were no specifics in the letter as to what specific requirements had to be met. I tried to talk to someone at BCBS - but unlike GEHA where I could talk to the bariatric specialist - I can only talk to the customer service rep and all communication as to go through my surgeon's office. So I have asked them to find out from BCBS if EVERY requirement has to be met (morbidly obese for 2 years!, etc.) before conversion will be covered. If that is the case - will they at least replace the band now? So for those of you with BCBS FEP who have converted since 2011 - any suggestions you could give me would be greatly appreciated! I found a great appeal letter from "Britt" but it was before the requirements had changed for subsequent WLS. Thanks!!!

Thank you, ladies, for the reply! Were you required to show morbid obesity for most recent 2 years? I don't understand why ins would require that for defective devise/subsequent surgery. Also, my PCP said that BCBS is looking for 10% weight loss during supervised diet (I have gained!). How much did ya'll have to lose during the 3 month supvd diet? Chinamama - what is a peer-to-peer review? tlah - great job on the exercise!