mich

Good luck to everyone going in this week. I had my band to sleeve revision on Monday the 19. It sounds like the band was encapsulated in tissue. Took a while to get it out. They did some heavy stitching in my upper right side, I think that means on my stomach where the band was. Still having pain at different areas around my stomach. I was having lots of diareaha on days 2 and 3, seems to be stopping now. Also so much rumbling in my stomach and intestines. It felt and sounded like an earthquake in there. I'm walking and drinking, I can finally get up with out my husband lifting me today. Feeling a little more anxious and jittery today. I sat out in the sun for a while and that helped, I feel a bit better. One day at a time! Every day is a bit better than the day before.

Well, it's official. I'm sleeved. I just passed my swallow test and have moved up to clear liquids. It sure is hard to sleep in the hospital. Hope I get to go home today. Praying for all my August sleeve buddies. Wishing you all smooth recoveries. To my August 19th buddies, hope all went well. One day at a time for recover.

Welcome! My surgery will be band removal and sleeve revision in one operation. Monday morning 9am check in, same day as you! I too am hopping I will do well with the sleeve. I was (mostly) happy with the band until it went bad. If it helps, I have never read anyone post that they went from band to sleeve and wish they still had a band. But I have read about so many people that revised and love their sleeve.

Love the title of your thread. Rest (like stay off your feet rest), drink, maybe up your calories a bit today. If you feel worse or no better by tomorrow, the urgent care idea sounds good. I have passed out a few times in my life, sounds like you are feeling like I do beforehand. We don't want you falling down! Maybe drink a couple G2's today? Or even regular Gatoraid?

August 19 here as well. I'm enjoying my last day of solid food for many weeks. Clear liquids only tomorrow. Check in at the hospital 9am Monday morning. Good luck to my fellow August 19th sleevers!

Just got the call, 9 am check in time on Monday. Good luck to all of us going in on the 19th! And thanks again to everyone posting their August sleeve stories and updates.

Thank you for posting, congratulations on your success. It's so great to hear another happy band to sleeve story.

My revision is scheduled for Monday, four days from now. I'm still confused and torn. I'm sure I will go in and have the surgery. But I'm upset, frustrated, and even angry that its my future. I was down to 200, a 50+ pound loss with my band, and I was lucky enough to maintain it for several years. I was so happy at that weight. Fast forward, band problems, band empty, and I'm gaining weight. I know the sleeve is the only way for me to not regain more. But gee wiz, I guess I'm having a pity party. Why do I have to make this decision? And the treads that deal with severe complications scare the day lights out of me. Five years ago when I did the band I was miserable, desperate and so unhappy. I do not want to get there again. I know going in on Monday is what I will do. But boy am I scared. It's nice to read all your stories and know I'm not alone. Thanks.

It's so great to read all these positive posts! Thank you for all the post op updates. I'm scheduled for Monday 8/19.

Thank you for this post. I always hope that these board are like what you find in costomer service. A happy customer tells one person, an unhappy customer tells ten. So when I read over and over again about people struggling, unhappy, or having regrets, I have a secret hope that many more sleeves are out for a walk or happily watching a movie with family. I also wonder if sleevers who have an easy recovery don't want to post for fear of hurting feelings of those suffering. This site is amazing, and I have learned so much from every post I read. I had my pre op today, surgery 8/19. I'm a bundle of nerves, this thread was just what I needed to see. Now I'll put away the iPad and go for a walk!

Nursebarbie, Sprinkles, are you feeling better? I hope you are doing well.

Thinking of you today. Wishing you a smooth recovery.

Hope it all went great ! Keep us posted. I'll be revising on the 19th. Wish it was tomorrow, the waiting is tough.

Sorry to hear you are so unhappy. Are you taking an acid reducer? My surgeon recommends Zantac, and if that is not enough, then a PPI. Reflux can cause the symptom you mentioned. I have been banded for 5 years and eating out is the worst! What works for me is if I get a drink, I give it to my husband when the food arrives (and he stops me if I try to grab it, some habits never die!) or I give it to the wait staff to take away. Also asking for a to go tray (or sometimes a small plate) when they deliver the meal helps. I will either place my portion on a new plate, and give the rest to my husband or kids. or I pack up most of the food before I start. It sometimes feels like a lot of fuss, but I'm used to it now. Small portion, small plate, and no drink within my reach makes eating out work better for me. Good luck!

You look so skinny! Thanks for this, from a 5'2" newbie on her way to being sleeved on 8/19.

Love this, thank you! You look beautiful in you pictures, the before and the afters. I have the same goal with my sleeve surgery scheduled in two weeks. I have been holding at 200 for a few years and honestly I'm happy! Life is so much better than it was at 255 for 10+ years. My sleeve goal is 170, I am so looking forward to the journey. The last time I weighed 170 was a short time in high school as I steadily gained weight. Thanks again for the great post and pictures!

Sorry to hear that. It's so frustrating how long things take, never mind throwing in office mistakes. And that seems like a big mistake on someone's part. It took me about a year to get my lap-band, and it will be just over 4 months process for the revision to sleeve. "Only" 4 months because I was already a patient in this Weight Center. Good luck

Don't get discouraged! My insurance, unicare, has in network and out of network. I just pay more for out of network. What does your surgeons office say about it? The rougher the journey, the sweeter the reward!

It's official! I got a call from my insurance company today. I'm approved and good to go for August 19. I'm so excited!!

Thank you. I hope it's gone forever for both of us after we get sleeved. Good luck on the 9th! I'll be sleeved on August 19th. So that feeling was bad last night, I took a few tums and felt better. Maybe it is heartburn? I would prefer it to be the band, I could still have heartburn after being sleeved. And I hate this feeling!

20 pounds, yikes! Thanks for the warning. I suppose as long as it comes off post op I can deal with it. I can't wait to love my sleeve!

I am going in tomorrow to get my band un-filled in preparation for revision surgery. And now that its here I can't wait to get this pressure off my chest! Did anyone else have this? I don't notice it all the time, but a lot of mornings and evenings, sometimes during the day, it just feels tight and very uncomfortable. Like something is sitting on my chest. I want to take a deep breath and streatch around. But it rarely helps. It may be heartburn, but I'm not sure. It feels like I'm being squeezed, so I assume its the band. And it just occurred to me, does the sleeve have any constriction feeling like this? Can anyone who has had their revision band to sleeve relate? How does the sleeve feel? Thank you!

Have you called your insurance company? My surgeons office said it would be helpful if I call on Friday, she said follow prompts for pre approval, and ask if my surgery approval was ready. If yes, take down the approval number, call my surgeons office, and I'm all set. I'll take all the prayers I can get, and send one up for you too.

I am also band to sleeve revision. My surgeons office submited insurance papers yesterday, and now I wait. My surgeon mentioned once that there is a chance it will be denied and it may take a few tries, he may have to do a one on one with my insurance. I think I have read this refered to as a peer to peer review? But he seemed confident that it would happen in the end. I believe the reasoning for the request is band intolerance. I am vomiting much more than I used to, and can never tell when it will happen. Maybe the office worker was just having a bad day, and came across negative. I have read many times about people fighting to get approved, it may take time. But I find it hard to believe they can make us keep a device in us, one that was suppose to help us, but instead is causing us pain! Good luck!

Sorry to hear that. I have heard in my state (MA) that is is illegal for insurance company's to discriminate or turn down based on a pre existent condition. Could a lap band count as a pre existing condition? I would work with your surgeon and let his/her office try to get approval. I never get anywhere calling them directly, or contacting personal at my husbands work. My surgeon said he might need to go peer to peer ( or something like that) after a denial to get it approved. Good luck.