chattykathywlc

Well after almost 5 long years of having the band not do a thing but cause problems for me,
Reflux, gaging, weight gain (lost 116, gained 40) and feeling like crap, I am set for tomorrow to have band removed, and sleeved. YAY!
Have lost 9 lbs in the past 6 days from the preop diet.
Not too bad. Have not been hungry, which is a good thing. The shakes help a lot.
So wish me luck, and I will see you on the flip side.
Montie

I found out the past few days why I haven't told to many people. I actually had someone whom I thought was a big help for me in the past tell me, I was taking the easy way out. I about wanted to burst into tears. I held them back & said, you obviously have no idea what this is... Now my decision is solid. No one else will no. I don't need that in my life, it's part of why I am the way I am, I don't need approval from anyone, this is my life & I'm taking it back for me.

Try different temps it worked for me. I also chewed on ice. It kinda slides down and soothes the troat. I was about 1 week post op when I felt like I had a handle on drinking and at 6 months you will get your fluids in no prob. It gets better by the day.

I had surgery on April 10 with Dr Aceves in Mexicali. This is the best thing I have ever done in my life and wish I had done this a long time ago. I started at 189 day of surgery and now weigh 138. My goal weight is to be 120 by the end of the year. I really don't see that happening. My height is 5'1 so on the short side. I am wearing size small tops and size 4-6 in pants. Have been fat my whole life and the first time I can remember being this size. I have 3 sisters and all of them are skinny but I ended up getting the fat genes. Good luck to everyone.

This is truly me. Not the professional, mother, friend afraid of judgement or wife making light of her past - but really me. Feels good to just be that - me.
I had an emotional childhood. The oldest of 5 kids and daughter to high functioning alcoholic and untreated bipolar disorder/clinical depression parents. Riddled with disabling eczema and asthma, I got to know hospitals very well. I would scratch, bleed into my bed covers and by morning they had become the scabs we could not rip off. The belt beatings from my mother in a blind rage were the worst. I can still hear myself screaming. I chose happiness any way I could. I started hoarding candy from birthday parties.
I was a heavy teenager but excelled in high school. I was the smart overweight friend who would tutor the football team in basic math. I wasn't date able so the guys treated me with respect but not the same goofy behavior as when the liked a girl. I was relieved to stand behind them instead of being in their sights as a possible conquest.
Then one day my junior year in high school, one of the most sought after and cutest boys "Victor" looked over the railing of our 2 story honors classes building and called my name. Me? Probably dropped something he wanted me to bring up? Then he ran down the stairs half way to meet me to talk about last nights reading assignment. All the saliva left my mouth from the stair climb but I managed the brief conversation.
Next day he waited and we walked up together. We realized we lived on the same long curvy street but on opposite ends. That summer we did not see each other at all. We both had jobs. Determined, I started exercising. With all my job and academic involvement I walked to the school quite a bit and decided to run.
Senior year was great until his mom said he could not go to prom if it was with me. So he went with another girl "for the pictures." Talk about a kick in the self esteem. But, I chose happiness any way I could.
Depressed and choosing happiness/gaining weight, I graduated and as I threw my cap in the air I walked away. I knew I was going to college somehow and getting out of this small town where you grow up, marry some guy you never would have dated in school. Have kids and repeat cycle. Got a new job through a friend who said she would set fire to my bed if I did not get out of it! I discovered that I could starve myself and only ate every 4th day and workout 3x week. That's about as long as I could go without starting to fall down a lot. When I did eat, it was about 2tablespoons of whatever. I lost 80 lbs. Women would ask me how I did it. If I felt like being honest, I would tell them. No one believed me. Guess who called 1 year after high school? Yup, Victor.
I was living on my own, with job and school and car but I still accepted his invitation to lunch. He had to be home before his mom got home from work so we could not have dinner. I know, cringe. I thought I was choosing happiness. We dated again, it ended when I started dating grown men. Still starving, I started eating every other day to control my weight. I dated a semi pro athlete and he would always call me fat. I has 5'1 and 115 lbs. So, more starvation.
Eventually, I met a beautiful man who loved me thin and as the pounds creeped back on.
We have been married 22 years. I had a wonderful 25 year career as an advertising director of an department. I worked hard to get to that position. Many 14 hour days and late night binge eating.
After 10 years and several miscarriages, we finally had a baby. 6 months later we discovered I had breast cancer while pregnant. With a very young child, I opted for bilateral mastectomy. After extensive chemo and 11 surgeries, I made a full recovery.
I tried every diet out there. I had the money so why not try? Then the company shut down as the economy tanked. I was now out of a job. I could never starve myself again. It was so painful. I tried more diets. Cheaper ones. Still, they only work as long as you stick to them.
1year into my new job I started feeling sick and very tired. I knew it had to be something deep. Colds or flu don't feel this way. I had a two week rule. If it hurts for two weeks, then I go in to doctor. Most everything passed before time was up. One day as I getting my son ready for school, I lost control of my bowels and soiled myself. I knew I was going to hospital. I took a shower, got my 1st grader into the car and drove him to school. Instead of walking him in as usual, I encouraged him out of the car and told him to walk in and tell the office his mom was going to hospital. I riddled off my medical history as I sat in the ER doubled over. Good thing most of that history occurred there. After some tests and pain meds they consoled me by letting me know how sooty they were to inform me that my appendices ruptured and they would have to perform surgery asap. I chose happiness. I laughed as I told them I thought it was cancer returned. And since people live through appendicitis, let's go!!! I met my surgeon after he performed appendectomy - maybe before...morphine. When I asked him how is it my body did not stop me sooner, he very gently stated that it was my nature... My nature to endure pain. So much for choosing happiness.
He suggested some form of WLS but I snuffed it off telling him that I was way to strong, smart and happy to do it. I just had to get my butt in gear. But, 1.5 years later after having lost and regained 45 pounds plus some, I came back and asked for help. I had been so tired lately since regaining weight. I just couldn't choose what I thought was happiness anymore. I needed help.
When I look back and think of all the pain I went through, I wrap my arms around myself and thank God I am still here. Now that I have had Sleeve surgery, I feel like I can step back from anxiety, emotion and that overwhelming urge to eat high calorie ice cream and truly chose happiness that in the end will result in happiness - a healthier me!

I had my surgery on July 25...started at 244 and am now down to 215. Wish I'd done this sooner, to be quite honest. The 25th was a Thursday, my surgery was at 8am, I was released on Friday evening, and I was back to work on Monday. I work in IT, so while my job can be stressful, I mostly sit at my desk or in meetings. I've been very lucky...only issue I've had was a wicked rash from something post-surgery...doc thinks it was the extra adhesive they put on the surgical tape to make it stick longer. I wanted to scratch the skin off my stomach...and I've never had an allergic reaction to anything...so it was definitely weird. But in the grand scheme of complications, no sweat...steroid and antibiotics and it was gone. food has been fine for me, no reactions or stomach problems to date. I've been mostly on yogurts, cheese, cottage cheese, apple sauce...stuff like that. I've started to dabble in other foods for the next phase...cautiously, but with no issues. Nothing tastes different to me, at least yet. I am struggling to get my Protein in...it's a constant battle, but I'm getting better at it. liquids I seem to do pretty well with...I'm usually in the 65-75 oz range. I did my first Couch 2 5k jogs this week...hoping to get back into running and lifting to tone up. My surgeon made my day when I had my follow-up the other day...said he could really see the definition in my cheek bones coming out. Yay...my face is less fat! A work in progress, for sure...but I couldn't be happier with my results to date.
If you're on the fence, don't be! Do this for you, your family, your kids, your spouse/significant other...whatever inspires and motivates you. I did it for all of the above...and I did it for my career as well. I have a great job that I love...and I didn't want my weight to get in the way or slow me down.
For those of you pursuing approval, keep trying. For those of you scheduled, best wishes. For those of you who are post-surgery, keep rockin' it! All the best...

Mine is scheduled for September 12th!!!

I guess I am unusual. I have NEVER had any regrets at all. Even not admitting them to myself. Yes, I was tired. Yes, I did have to figure out what worked for me but I lost easily and quickly and got better pretty quickly. I think it is truly a "state of mind." Life will never be the same after having the sleeve but truly for me, it was life changing. Three years out now and still would do it again tomorrow! Good luck to all!

I just had my band taken out 16 days ago and the sleeve done. I chose the Band because it was less invasive and no cutting on my stomach would have to be done. I had it for 5 years but after 3 yrs I started having reflux that was so bad i was choking at night in my sleep. i tried everthing, I even had an endoscopy that showed nothing was wrong with the band but i did have a hiatal hernia. I had surgery to fix the hernia and still had the reflux! I can honestly say, having to go in all the time for fills and then the band would get to tight and I would have to have Fluid taken out, was a pain. Also the feeling when eating, of having food stuck in your throat like a rock after just a few bits was frustrating and unfullfilling. I nolonger had the sensation of the food going down into my stomach and it feeling satisfying. Now that i have the sleeve eating feels normal again. I wish I would have had the sleeve done in the first place.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm very excited to finally do something permanent. One of the selling points for me about getting the band in the first place was that it was reversible. What a fallacy that was. And not only that, who wants to reverse back to being fat? Was I going to wake up one day and say I'm tired of being thin, I miss being fat? Of course not. Now that I have this band I am miserable. Lost 2 jobs due to being out sick too long. All this for 35 pounds lost? Anyhow I am so grateful that I can have a revision to the sleeve when my band is taken out. Hopefully. I look forward to a permanent solution rather than the roller coaster ride called Lap Band.

I had a band to sleeve conversion 4/29. I had all the Fluid taken out due to issues with the band in November. I had a slip and a partial erosion, luckily the part that was eroded was the part that was removed. Surgery with conversion was done all at once. I felt the surgery and recovery were a breeze.
As far as the difference between the two? No comparison. I feel full without the painful sliming and vomiting that were a daily occurrence with the band. I can eat comfortably albeit a much smaller amount. I am satisfied with the portions and unlike the band I am not looking around for food. The band never made me feel hunger satiation, but rather a painful stuck feeling. I love the sleeve and am glad I did it. Good luck to you.

I am a revision patient had band placed 2010. I lost 120 pounds got pregnant gains 45 and was on a standstill for 6 months after my daughter was born. Went to an awesome Bariatric dr and was approved for the sleeve wth no problem. I am a year post op and down 105 pounds and still losing I in total lost 200 pounds since 2010 and weigh 189 baby whooohooo!! I am now working with my surgeon to have a Tummy Tuck done and arm skin removal due to extreme weightloss. This sleeve was the best choice I've ever made and weight loss to me isn't slow I want it to slow down now so I'm hoping I don't lose much more I am content wth my weight and am working on maintaining I wish you all the best of luck

I had my 90 day check up today & I've lost a total of 51 lbs. My doc is very happy with me since he went through everything with my band for 5 years. I'm a lot happier with the sleeve & so pleased with myself that I made the decision go with the sleeve.

Today is "our" first day post-op. it has been an overall positive experience punctuated by meeting and working cooperatively with the amazing staff of Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. Her surgeon and medical director of the Bariatric unit, masterfully completed the operation in such a way that my baby is recovering at a pace that has left all of us pleasantly and peacefully surprised.
As a spouse and life partner, one has many doubts when your better half decides to do something so seemingly drastic! I would think, honey! 85% of your stomach, a vital organ, is going to be excised!!!??? Gone forever!!!? I said think because saying such a thing would be unbecoming of a supportive partner. And in my heart of hearts I am truly. But darn, how dare we as mere humans tinker with the perfect order of the systems of the human body!!!??
This blog, as well as the team at Lenox Hill, and the amazing courage that my love has had throughout the entire LONG process, deserve all the credit for changing my mind, for inspiring comfort and confidence among each other, for being so accurately informative.
But of course, I needed a moment to cement it all, and so it was that to me it all came together, this morning. Call it the final confirmation, if you will. After a long night of midnight walks in a cold, quiet hospital hallway, fighting
through fear and pain; pushing on because "in the blog" they said this thing or that thing was the thing to do "to make the best recovery"... After all of the months and months of expectation, excitement, anxiety... It all came together the moment that alobri, your now sleeve compadre, tells me, after her upper GI, "I saw my new stomach....I love my sleeve; it is perfect".
I felt like I was part of something so positively life altering in her life. I felt like I had given her the best gift ever....the gift of a life free of the worries of dieting, diabetes ( which claimed the life of her beloved mother), of chronic low self esteem and low energy and tiredness. In short, I felt like I was part of her becoming all the things she wants for herself...and for us!

September 12th in Tempe AZ.

Sept 11th here! Ready Ready Ready!