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! :-)

I'm not quite 7 months out and am down 92 lb.s It's a myth that revision folks don't lose much or don't lose quickly. Best of luck to you,
Kim

I'm 5 weeks out from band to sleeve revision and have lost 43 pounds.

SW - 257.8
CW - 156.0
I lost to my original goal weight of 180 pounds in 6 months less a day!!
The sleeve is an absolutely wonderful tool to help you get to your goal weight, good luck!!

YAY Sleeved Steph!
It sounds as if we have a lot in common with our weightloss surgeries! I am very happy to have the sleeve!!! I, too, like this full feeling! It seems as though food is slowly losing its grip on my life! Used to with the band it seemed like I was STARVING all the time!! I didn't know about eating good Protein at that time either. I just constantly felt STARVED!. I also threw up alot with the band and that just made me hungry too. I'm going to do everything I can to baby this sleeve and get the most out of it as a tool to a better lifestyle!! Let me know if you come across any good Proteins, tips, recipes etc!!!

Banded in 2006, lost 80 pounds from 256 to 176.
Two slips, dilation, and two babies later, I revised to VSG on 12/27/13. I was 266. I'm now 257!

I am two weeks out tomorrow and am down exactly 20lbs! I NEVER had this much success with the band. I am very happy with my decision and just wonder if the weight loss will remain this steady... Hoping to avoid the dreaded "three week stall"

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!

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! :-)

Hi everyone ! I am currently going through my band to sleeve revision. I had the band removed Oct 1, and am having my sleeve done January 13th in Mexico.
I had the privilege of coming across a blog last week by a fellow sleever who is a year and a half out. She faithfully blogged and told her story once a week for over a year. It was very encouraging to me and I couldn't put it down after I started reading. Her blog is at http://www.queenofcrop.com/about/
I thought I would attempt to do the same, and at some point, maybe it will help someone else in their journey. So if you are interested, here it is:
http://www.band2sleevejourney.com

Hi Imsexywhenimme!
NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOU!! You and I are just at the begininng of a NEW JOURNEY!!

I am on my 3rd week post op. I lost 19 lbs in the 1st 2 weeks and none so far in 5 days! They call this a "stall" It freaked me out because I wasnt informed before hand that "stalling" is normal during sleeve weight loss. I weighed this morning and did lose 1 more pound!!!! I also pooped on my own last night YAY!!! I also learned that not pooping is also an issue for lots of sleevers post op! This is what I have learned so far in my own personal 3 weeks of experience LOL !
1. For my Clear liquid diet I was allowed my Protein shakes. Which helped with hunger. Drink your fluids 64 oz per day and Protein atleast 60grams per day per my doctor . I drink a combination of these shakes below during the day to make the 60 grams and they keep me full!
a. Favorite Protein drinks so far
1) Muscle Milk 32grms of protein per 2 scoops mixed in 8 oz of Water. Flavors: Graham Cracker, banana Creme lots more flavors avail online.
2) MP Combat Protein powder Cookies and cream 25gm per one scoop
3) Syntrax nectar "Fuzzy Navel" 23 grams of protein per scoop. This one is almost just like ORANGE JUICE!!! so its something different from the milky type flavors. They also have one thats like ice tea but havent tried it yet.
2. Stalls: Stalls are a period of non- weightloss. I used to call these "plateaus" when I was dieting. Didnt even imagine it could happen with the sleeve! but it is a period of time when I guess your body is reorganizing and restabilizing so we don't just waste away and get into some metabolic crisis. I've read that these stalls can last for a few weeks! (eek!) But when my next stall happens I am going to HIDE MY scale and weigh only once a week.
3. Pooping. Sometimes it can take awhile to poop after sleeve surgery. Lots of times we have been on liquid diets pre op and ofcourse post op and some of us had to take a powerful laxative prior to surgery and there is just nothing to poop. I did not poop x 14 days!!!!! I didn't even feel like I needed to! I had rumbles and gas so I knew my bowels werent locked. I took Milk O' Mag like my doc said and still nothing! Finally on day 14 my Doc gave me a sample of Amitiza and it worked. It took 2 doses and it was not pleasant! I dry heaved with the waste basket in my lap and pooped pure muddy liquid over a couple of hours. (Ugh) Dry heaves scared me but no harm done, now 5 days later I had my own NORMAL poop. So call your doctor if you become uncomfortable.
4. Head hunger. Being sleeved over the holidays had its pros and cons. I didn't gorge myself to death on all the goodies so I didn't gain my holiday 20. But I would SEE the food and WANT the food and THINK I was hungry for it but when I checked my Stomach it wasn't hungry AT ALL. It was my HEAD that wanted it!!!! Im learning the difference now and it's hard!
5. HONESTY:
A. I have put food in my mouth (the perfect prime rib I cooked for everyone at Christmas) Chewed it and spit it out. I did the same with the home made mac and cheese I made for everyone. Dangerous thing because if I had swallowed it a chunk could have got stuck in my stomach incision and caused a life threatening abcess.
B. I got so upset about not losing weight this week (stall) that I went to Sonic yesterday and got a chocolate carmel sundae (no chunks right) and ate 4-6 big bites of it fast (EMOTIONAL EATING). It made me SICK. I was sweaty, weak, cramping stomach and had to lay down for almost an hour. I HOPE I NEVER DO THAT AGAIN.
These are just my experiences. I wish I had known some of this beforehand. Thursday will be week 4 and I can start some pureed foods and soft foods. I found a website last night called thewordaccordingtoeggface.com. It's a lady who had bariatric surgery and she has some AWESOME EASY recipes and also valuable tips for us and LIVING after bariatric surgery. Check it out!!
I'm going today to GNC to find the Isopure Water. I think it has 40gms of protein per 16oz. I hope some of this helps you!! Let me know what you discover during your journey as we are traveling a parallel path!!!!!!

Thought I'd jump in here and say this: It works, it finally works! I was banded back in Mar of 2007 and was removed/revised in May 2013. Finally I am seeing what I had hoped the lapband would do for me. With the band I lost 60, but with the reflux & other problems I had, I regained 30. Now I'm down 53 since May and LOVING it! I haven't seen this weight in 25+ yrs. and I've never been this size. I realize I'm in the honeymoon phase, but I'm sticking to the plan, making changes and MAKING sure this WLS is a success. Just work the plan, stay focused and it will work! I was talking with a colleague this past week and she pointed out that I'd not only NOT gained weight over Thanksgiving, but I'd lost a couple of pounds...how cool is THAT?! So, good luck fellow revisionists! Be bold, be of good cheer and know there are many of us out here enjoying our success. :-)

I had the same fears...but that was 2 years and 160# ago. I am so glad I kept believing and got sleeved....changed my life.

I had my Band removed early Sept 2013. I just had the Sleeve on Dec 3, 2013. I was really nervous and had so much anxiety about the surgery. Having gone through it now I feel great and am relieved. Don't worry about the surgery, you will do fine. If you have any questions just let me know.

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!