nursebeccarn

I had my revision on December 20, 2013, so I'm roughly four months out... My question for you long-time sleevers..... what do you eat when you just don't feel like eating? For almost two weeks now, I have had zero appetite. I never feel "hungry", but can tell when I'm "empty". I have never had any hypoglycemic episodes until this surgery and I have had two in the past month. I don't have problems with "head hunger", in fact, if I could live off Vitamins and not eat at all, I'd probably be a happy girl. Eating is a chore that I really have come to have a love/hate relationship with, i eat because I have too, not because i "feel like it". ( Which quite honestly, could be a bright side in itself). What's your go too food when you don't feel like eating anything?

Bella, I am having the EXACT same symptoms. I have lost about 50 lbs, have had a period every two weeks with some spotting in between, ALWAYS cold, and have had two hypoglycemic episodes in a month. I went back to my GYN and she said that she didn't think it had anything to do with my weight loss... I'm no doctor, but i am a Registered Nurse and my thought process was this: Estrogen is stored in excess fat, we lost weight rapidly, the fat is metabolized and where does all that estrogen go? In my blood stream which causes menstrual changes? I go back to have blood work drawn in a few weeks... my surgeon wasn't interested in checking my Vitamin levels until I was six months out.... Glad I'm not alone, I was beginning to think I was losing more than just the weight...

I can't decide I this is something I would support..although I do find it off putting that there are surgeons that are still offering the band knowing their failure rate... It's essentially lying. If someone were to ask me about getting the band I would tell ten to run away screaming. All WLS have complications and while we can predict who may be higher risk than others for developing these complications, it's the risk you take.

Hi, I just recently joined and was hoping to find some other people who also had Band to Sleeve revision around the same time I did. I had my lap band in 2010 and had all the usual complications. On December 20th 2013 I had the band removed and the sleeve done all in the same procedure. I was hoping to find some others to keep in touch and provide each other support throughout the stages! I'm looking forward to meeting everyone!

I had terrible heartburn for a while too. I take omeprazole daily which was only helping for maybe half the day. I talked to my doctor and am now taking carafate three times a day in addition to the omeprazole. My advice is talk to your doctor, they should be your partner and should fix the problem in no time!

ONE-DERLAND!!! I am one HAPPY girl! Not quite two months out!

Oh my goodness, the heartburn I have had has been TERRIBLE. I think i created a new food group especially for tums and all the two other medicines I take in attempt to keep the reflux under wraps. It sounds like you're doing awesome! I have become a thirft store queen lately!

I found a great resource that I think a lot of us newbies would find helpful. I started reading a book called " The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients" but Colleen Cook. I started reading this book because the last thing I wanted was to be another failure... I began to research and read everything I could get my hands on to make sure I would have all the tools I needed to get to my goal weight and stay there long term.Although many of us here are no stranger to WLS, I found it to be a great refresher to help me get back to the basics and use the concepts in the book for long term success. It discusses everything from 'The cottage cheese test" to a whole appendix of tips, tricks, resources and programs tailored just for us! Its a great, easy read, and I hope you all find it as helpful as I have. I want to re-read this book after one year!

I'm almost a month out and of course the first two weeks I lost very quickly, now that's slowed down to about 1-3 lbs a week. I certainly don't expect to, or want to lose faster than that, but I'm concerned about the fact that I may be eating too little. I'm not really counting the exact calories of every single bite, but I am making healthy choices and eating only very small portions which i usually don't finish. For example, here's what I ate yesterday. Protein shake with 2tbsp of almond butter Refried Beans w/ finely shredded chicken A few shrimp with guacamole There you have it. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Should I be eating every two hours? Should I be exercising more?

I just had my follow up with my doc and he said 60-70 grams of Protein and 64oz of Fluid. I think I'm definitely hitting my protein mark, but could improve in the Water department. I'm walking every day for at least 30 minutes. Now that's he's released me to do more, I'm going to start swimming and weight training so I don't look like I'm melting. When my exercise increases should I increase my calorie intake? I just want to make sure I stay out of starvation mode and my metabolism stays where it should.

I saw my surgeon today for my 3-4 week follow-up. I got on the scale backwards and told the nurse not to tell me what I weighed (Recovering scale addict, remember?!) which she honored, but she did tell me that I've already lost 22% of my excess body weight! Yay me! I go back in 6 months and have no doubts I will be at my goal weight the next time I see him! I'm having trouble getting in all the Water too, but my doctor didn't seem to be too concerned.... its going to be a slow process, just going to have to work up to getting in everything you need,,,

For me, it is INCREDIBLY easy. I'm almost a month out and eating soft foods- eggs, fish, avocado, refried Beans. Compared to the lap band, the sleeve is a walk in the park. Due to the lack of ghrelin, my hunger is almost non-existent. There is a myth out there that sleevers never get hungry, I do get "hungry" but its not a " must chew my arm off right now" hungry like it was with the band, therefore I am able to make better choices about what and when I eat.On that note, I have very little desire to eat, even the meals i prepare for myself, but its a must if you want to stay out of starvation mode and don't want your hair to fall out. Mu "hunger" now feels like an emptiness and if I wait too long and don't eat I tend to get irritable. Don't be fooled though, it does take work- I spend lots of time a week meal planning and taking the extra time before work to pack my lunch. Long story, short- I'm a very happy sleever

I had the same feelings! "OMG am I actually going through with this a second time?!" I knew that I needed to put aside everyone else's judgements and do what was right for me. Our family can sometimes be the greatest source of hurt. My family, including my long term boyfriend didn't understand why I needed to do this. "Are you sure you need to cut out most of our stomach?! You're not that heavy!", "I love you no matter what." After all is said and done, they have become very supportive and see my progress and how happy I am with my choice. People who don't struggle with their weight don't understand so I explained it to my mom that it's no different than people getting a boob job or a knee replacement. We all have our reasons.

Way to go earthless! I will be one month out next monday and I am 8lbs away from my first goal! On a side note, I was really worried about " The three week stall" and I had all these feelings of fear that stemmed from lap band failure... I was so afraid that the three week stall would turn into a three year fail. I made a commitment to myself that those were lies in my head and gave up my scale. I'm a recovering scale addict... the obsession of weighing every.single.day. And so on Sunday, I got my scale back just for a brief moment to weigh myself then it was returned to its hiding place. And as it turns out..... The three week stall wasn't a stall at all! I had lost three more pounds! Needless to say my faith has been renewed- stick to the plan, stay true to yourself and keep going- the rest will take care of itself.

I'm sorry for the typos, I apparently get lazy and can't spell when it's 12 degrees outside and I'm sleepy...

I am in no way a veteran, but I can tell you why I chose it: My band surgeon doesn't do band to sleeve revisions, he too advised me to have the bypass. There is a common belief ( whether it's true or not) that band to sleeve revisions are not as successful and therefore the bypass is recommended. However, my personal reason were I did not want a forces malabsorption syndrome, I had less than 100lbs to lose, and wanted to have kids without all the risks of being a high risk pregnancy. I decided the sleeve was the right choice for me and found a surgeon that supported my decision. I can tell you 110% that I am happy with my decision and felt like it was the right choice for me. You have to decide what is right for you.... Good luck to you! This is a great group!

My comment wasn't meant to be condescending- we are all "Anti-Band" here for the most part. Regardless of your reasons, your surgeon should offer solid advice. Good luck.

Have you talked to your surgeon? What was his advice? If you have the sleeve done, YOU WILL lose more weight. It sounds like you've been successful with the band, curious as to why you're revising?

Comparison is the thief of joy. Focus on all the good things that are happening in your life right now and follow your doctors instructions! Try not to focus on what everyone else did, focus on you and making healthy changes! You can do this!

Clear Liquids for FOUR WEEKS?! Holy Crap! You are sure to lose quickly! Hang in there!

How funny, I had my band in June 2010, removed in June 2013, and was converted to sleeve on the 18th of Dec. Sleeve Sisters!

Ok so I work for a Major Health Insurance company and I will be the first to tell you to call your insurance company's bariatric department and ask them that question and get the answer in writing. Write down WHO you speak with the date and the time. A little known secret outside of the insurance world is that it is RARE for an insurance company to deny a REVISION of any type. However, benefit requirements and eligibility vary depending on your plan. I can tell you from experience that not all BCBS plans are umbrella'd under than same eligibility... so make sure you ASK them DIRECTLY. Good luck to you!

Its been three days and I keep bouncing between 209-211. grrrrrr I know I shouldn't be weighting myself everyday so today I vow to put the scale AWAY. I'm just going to work the plan, start exercising since i'm now on week three,and hope for the best. Congrats to all our new December/January sleevers! What an awesome way to start 2014!

It's important to realize that everyone's experience is truly unique and individual. I had virtually NO PAIN. I can relate to two different "sensations" that I had both of which have gladly gone away! The "pouch feeling" I had for a while too no matter what I ate- but it's magically gone now and I think has to do with the way your stomach heals. Secondly, I had that lower abdominal- discomfort- that too has gone away. Hang in there- everyone is different!

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"