Nursebarbie

Its official! The band is out and sleeve in place. I feel great. So much easier than the band surgery. I have walked and drank 60cc so far. The surgeon had to place a drain because the band had been strangling a major artery. No wonder I was fainting all the time and low blood pressure. Night and day difference. Still in the hospital. Likely go home tomorrow. Best thing I have ever done for myself!

Its official! The band is out and sleeve in place. I feel great. So much easier than the band surgery. I have walked and drank 60cc so far. The surgeon had to place a drain because the band had been strangling a major artery. No wonder I was fainting all the time and low blood pressure. Night and day difference. Still in the hospital. Likely go home tomorrow. Best thing I have ever done for myself!

Mine said smaller than a baby aspirin do not need to be crushed. Capsules can turn sideways as they go down. Stuck pills is the worst. I say go liquid or grind them and put it in liquid unless it is a med that cannot be altered. Check with the pharmacist first.

I have a wonderful new surgeon at Kaiser. A million times different from start to finish. O band group felt like a cattle call to me rushing us in and out of surgery only to desert me post op. Thank God I have Kaiser - I think it gave me my life back.

I am day 1 post op, now resting at home from band removal and conversion to gastric sleeve. My surgeon said my surgery took over 4 hours because 1)my pancreatic artery was trapped inside the band, 2)lots of scar tissue posterior side of band, 3). Not only was my port sewn in side ways (hence the electrical shocks I had been getting) but was leaking Fluid. And the kicker is it was a port from the Realize band attached hodgepodged to an allergan lapband which are not interchangeable! No wonder I have had so many problems with the lapband. Good riddance lap band and hello sleeve!

I have a wonderful new surgeon at Kaiser. A million times different from start to finish. O band group felt like a cattle call to me rushing us in and out of surgery only to desert me post op. Thank God I have Kaiser - I think it gave me my life back.

I am day 1 post op, now resting at home from band removal and conversion to gastric sleeve. My surgeon said my surgery took over 4 hours because 1)my pancreatic artery was trapped inside the band, 2)lots of scar tissue posterior side of band, 3). Not only was my port sewn in side ways (hence the electrical shocks I had been getting) but was leaking Fluid. And the kicker is it was a port from the Realize band attached hodgepodged to an allergan lapband which are not interchangeable! No wonder I have had so many problems with the lapband. Good riddance lap band and hello sleeve!

Amazing work! Looking good!

This, too, shall pass.
I know it seems rough - but you'll get there! You'll soon Celebrate the pounds coming off, the ability to drink to your heart's content, and the ability to eat just a few bites of REAL food and feel full.
Keep your eye on the prize!

Here's my latest picture. Still having trouble with my mind catching up to my body image.. But I hear that's normal. Love love love my sleeve! Picture on the left is last April ('12) at my heaviest... Right is tonight
[ATTACH]14779[/ATTACH]

I go up a lb or two then drop. I have gotten used to the rhythms of my weight loss so I am not alarmed...annoyed a bit, yes. Lol. If you are following the game plan...getting in Protein, drinking Water and limiting carbs and mixing in some physical activity...your weight can only eventually go down...good luck:)

Its official! The band is out and sleeve in place. I feel great. So much easier than the band surgery. I have walked and drank 60cc so far. The surgeon had to place a drain because the band had been strangling a major artery. No wonder I was fainting all the time and low blood pressure. Night and day difference. Still in the hospital. Likely go home tomorrow. Best thing I have ever done for myself!

Me too. Today I started crying not because of sadness but because I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Almost there.....can you see it?????

Me too. Today I started crying not because of sadness but because I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Almost there.....can you see it?????

Hang in there! I am happy to chat any time!

If there was to be a Class Action lawsuit against lap band and related companies, would you join it? My surgeon really believes its going to be yanked off for the market because as a medical device its failure rate is extremly high with high rate of complications that are way outside the margin of accepted standards for the FDA. I'm not sure I would though. I'm not the suing type.

I also just pulled out my consents for the lap band and no where does it describe anything other than the standard post op disclaimers. But anyhow, there is no argument. Just don't participate if there is a lawsuit. Simple. It was just a poll asking opinions. Frankly your two posts sound like someone who works for one of these lap band companies. For me, I hate the band, its coming out, and I'm getting the sleeve. I have no intention of sueing anyone but as a nurse I know there are plenty of medical devices that do cause harm and companies are found at fault. Vaginal mesh has a 15% failure rate. That was enough for a recall and successful class action lawsuits. With the high failure rate and subsequent complications I can only imagine what's going to have next.

I also just pulled out my consents for the lap band and no where does it describe anything other than the standard post op disclaimers. But anyhow, there is no argument. Just don't participate if there is a lawsuit. Simple. It was just a poll asking opinions. Frankly your two posts sound like someone who works for one of these lap band companies. For me, I hate the band, its coming out, and I'm getting the sleeve. I have no intention of sueing anyone but as a nurse I know there are plenty of medical devices that do cause harm and companies are found at fault. Vaginal mesh has a 15% failure rate. That was enough for a recall and successful class action lawsuits. With the high failure rate and subsequent complications I can only imagine what's going to have next.

I also just pulled out my consents for the lap band and no where does it describe anything other than the standard post op disclaimers. But anyhow, there is no argument. Just don't participate if there is a lawsuit. Simple. It was just a poll asking opinions. Frankly your two posts sound like someone who works for one of these lap band companies. For me, I hate the band, its coming out, and I'm getting the sleeve. I have no intention of sueing anyone but as a nurse I know there are plenty of medical devices that do cause harm and companies are found at fault. Vaginal mesh has a 15% failure rate. That was enough for a recall and successful class action lawsuits. With the high failure rate and subsequent complications I can only imagine what's going to have next.

Didn't you hear? Forty is the new thirty! ; )

Prayers and hugs!!!

Didn't you hear? Forty is the new thirty! ; )

Hello everyone,
I went to visit my new surgeon (I'm Kaiser now) to discuss my lap band slipping. I was thinking we could just take out a little saline and see what happens. Never heard of the sleeve before today but when he discussed this option while taking out my band at the same time- I immediately knew it was the right decision. My band has been a total nightmare. The group who performed my band surgery pretty much deserted me after my operation. Kaiser has been a dream come true for me. There were things about the band I was never told- like most people get it out about 2-5 years later and almost nobody has it in after 10 years. I was led to believe this band stayed in forever. I also thought it was going to be a simple surgery. Wrong. I have been hospitalized so many times for problems. I faint after I eat sometimes because its pushing up again my Vagal nerve. And its been too tight for months- finally after months of vomiting/getting food stuck constantly/and slime issues- it slipped. Thank God, because it slipped I pay for nothing- my insurance will cover this as well as my revision to the sleeve. I am so excited to have my surgery June 28th. It is so helpful to read all your comments and stories. Today my surgeon removed almost all of the saline explaining it helps to reduce any swelling to make surgery and revision easier. And I am so happy to NEVER have to get a fill or have this port accessed again. Yippee!

I have a lap band and I have hated every single minute of it. slipped a week ago so this Friday I'm getting it out and converted to a sleeve. My surgeon thinks we will be seeing attorney commericals for class action lawsuits against lap band soon. It will not at all what I was led to believe about it. First it is about as reversible as leaving a tourniquet on your arm for 5 years and expecting it to be ok. Its not. Second the limitations of what you can eat without getting stuck or slimeing lead to unfortunate choices of soft foods that slide down easier. The port accessing hurts and sometimes it shocks me when I'm walking. It always makes its presence known. Cannot ever forget its there. It requires so much maintence and follow up. And doctors are really reluctant to touch another surgeons work. Most people I know hate their band. I know I do. Absolute nightmare.