cutlass6521

Good Day

I am going to have my gastric band removed and the gastric sleeve done on May 17, 2024 due to complications from the band. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions on recovery, foods, exercise etc for the first few days after the surgery.

When I had the band installed i was on a liquid diet, then puree and finally real food. Lots of gas pains in chest and shoulders back then.

Now I am on a new journey at the end of the month.

Any success stories?

Hello Everyone:

I am getting my gastric band removed on May 17 and going with the gastric sleeve as per my surgeon's suggestion. He feels I will do well with it. I managed to lose 150lbs with the band ( surgeon told me it was not a typical result). I started having trouble getting food to go down. I guess I created a pouch and have a lot of scar tissue. Had to have all the Fluid taken out of the band while I was in Nevada. The surgeon performing this (not easy to find anyone in Las Vegas who would even look at removing the fluid) advised what was going on. There are only 5% of surgeons still installing the band in the entire country. Many, many complications with it. I was fine until a year ago. Had fluid put in (the doctor back home put too much in), then the chest and back pains started. Food would go down sometimes and sometimes not. I managed to regain 15lbs. Struggling every day. I hope the revision to the sleeve will be a success.

My experience with alcohol (wine) and the lapband is that I don't feel the effects of the booze immediately. Then like someone flipped the switch and I am bombed, almost passed out (have passed out). I also purchased an alcohol breath testing machine. It takes 3 times as long to the booze to leave my system as my husbands when having the same amount of drinks. The machine will read triple zeros for him and I will have a .045 blood alcohol level. We are wondering with the band is the alcohol residue is staying above the band longer.

I recently started seeing a doctor that has a handle on the band concept. Before, I was doing yo-yo fills and defills. She explained there is a fine line between under filled and over filled. I had to remove all Fluid because the acid reflux was so bad I couldn’t even sleep. Tests were performed and you could see the first sip of fluid would go down. A big sip of liquid backed up, burped and then went down. Way too tight. The doctor started refilling slowly. Now my latest fill was .1 of a millimeter. Things are getting back on track.

Four years ago the surgical group that installed my band, only performed this surgery. They now perform the gastric sleeve as well. The last time I visited one of the surgeons in their group I asked which was really better...the band or the sleeve. He said from a patient perspective the band was a wonderful tool because it can be tailored/adjusted to each individual. He believes it really does work, if the patient listens to what it is telling you. He also said there is a movement towards the sleeve. He said the slogan used by surgeons today is "sleeve em & leave em" I guess it is a cost of aftercare, a nurse to perform fills etc.

For the past year I have been having my band filled and defilled with Fluid. I will have a session of stuck episodes, then episodes of uncontrolled hunger. I don't understand why this is happening. I have had xray tests and sometimes it shows fluid slow to go down and other times it is okay.

Has anyone else had this problem with their band?

I am looking for clues as to why I am having this grief

I was banded in January 2014. Everything was going great up until about 9 months ago. I has .2 cc of Fluid added and I would have days of feeling very tight, then days of ok. I went back to the surgeon and he took .5cc out about 3 months ago.. I was ok, until a week ago. Now for no reason at all everything is getting stuck. My rings are loose and I don't feel swollen. I have been tested for the band placement, nothing has moved. Does anyone know what is causing this? How can you go from eating everything ok to extreme tight without an adjustment?

Hello, I had my surgery with Smart Shape in Jan 2014 at the Mississauga office. For some ridiculous reason-Alberta Health-my BMI was too high to have surgery in Alberta, but ok in Ontario. On the flip side, I think it was good to go to the head office in Mississauga to have the procedure. I had a chance to meet the staff, nurses, dietician, and Dr Cobourn.

All the administrative was smooth for me, the after care, webinars etc all good.

Booking my fills at first went through the head office, now in Calgary you can contact the nurse direct and book your appointment. Very helpful and informative.

If you are looking for medical advise after the surgery....don't contact Smart Shape. I believe they are not allowed to give their insight into any issue you may be having. According to them, nothing is related to the surgery or the changes in your body due to the weight loss. The standard answer is ...book an appointment with your family doctor. That being said, if there is a bariatric surgeon affiliated with Smart Shape in your area, you will be referred to that doctor for a follow up

Good luck in your weight loss journey.

The one food I miss since being banded is spaghetti and meatballs. Tried this carb friendly version, 5 strands of spaghetti noodles with zucchini and long squash.

3 cups zucchini and long squash slivered ( I used a veggie peeler)

1/2 c diced onion

2 cloves garlic chopped

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/4 c white wine (or water)

1 c diced tomatoes (or cherry tomatoes)

1/4 c parmesan cheese

1 tsp olive oil

pinch of salt

pepper to taste

Add onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and oil to a skillet. Saute until onions are soft. Add mushrooms and brown. Deglaze pan with white wine, add zucchini and cook to soften. Add tomatoes to warm. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve. Makes 3 servings at approx. 114 calories/serving.

I added 5 strands of cooked spaghetti, 1/4 cup of marina sauce and 2 meatballs to my dish to give it the Italian Pasta night feel.

I eat between 1200 and 1300 calories per day. under a 1000 and your brain does not function properly. if I happen to eat a little too much I go for a walk. don't forget about the Water. I personally hate the stuff, but plain Water helps drop the weight. I have no idea how it works, but it does.

I follow about 95% of the rules. Life happens and I learned not to stress. if friends want to go out for pizza, I go and enjoy a couple pieces of thin crust pizza. Big deal! We got this band for life and the idea was to teach us not to consume food to excess, but to learn how to eat normally. I still weigh all my food, it is more of a habit than a necessity. Yes, I hop on the scale every morning, gotta keep myself honest. More importantly, you have to do what works for you!

Hello

I had Dr Cobourn perform my surgery in January 2014

He is very honest. This is not a miracle cure. You must follow the rules! As one lady says on this site, "A compliant bandster is a successful bandster". I have kept this thought in my mind throughout the past 12 months

The staff are wonderful and very helpful. Keep in mind they cannot give medical advise that only your family doctor can give you. If you need nutritional advise, guidance etc they have it there for you. Do All the webinars. Very helpful to get you on the right track. Go back and redo them if you feel confused.

I have lost over 100 pounds since my journey began jan 2014. It had its ups and downs. Just like the trans Canada highway has a few potholes too. Lol

My only regret....not doing this sooner.

Good luck

Recently found this program called W5 from Canada. It follows 2 teenagers and their Quest for weight loss. The sleeve is gaining popularity among the medical profession. I have added the link to the show.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=522642&playlistId=1.2169271&binId=1.811589&playlistPageNum=1&binPageNum=1

I use the fitbit in conjunction with my fitness pal. it keeps me honest. I can look back each week ad see how lazy I really am

this is just an observation, but how much bread and cheese are you eating? Bread expands when Water is added and cheese is very binding. Would you put a piece of bread and cheese down your kitchen sink drain and add Water?

My suggestion is to go back to the basics on eating. Lean Protein and cooked veggie. Skip all the refined carbs and high fat cheese.

I too have heard not to mix this supplement with blood thinners including the 81mg aspirin.

I am starting to think it would be better to include more real fish in my diet

Is anyone taking fish oil supplements? I have read good and bad things about adding this to our diet.

I have been asked numerous times: oh, wow! how much weight have you lost. I tell them because I am proud of my accomplishment. Then my husband was asked this question about me by an acquaintance. He promptly spit out the number. Then this buddy of his asks: well, what did she weigh when she started this? I luv my hubby, he responded: 90 lbs more than she did a year ago! His next stupid question: ok, what does she weigh now? Quick response: 90 lbs less than before. WTF! This coming from a man that borrowed my friends motorhome to lay down on the floor to get his pants done up!

I was diagnosed with lipedema today. Is there anyone out there that has this disease?

From my understanding it is the pooling of fat and Fluid in your legs.

My cardiologist described it as a redistribution of fluids and fats. Since I have had WLS, the fat is looking for somewhere to go and it has chosen my legs.

I currently wear support stocking to help control the pooling, but I am fighting a losing battle.

Does anyone have experience with this?

Hello Flaxseed:

number 1: scrap that health care program. It will be a min of 5 years before you see any type of surgery ( and you don't get to choose the surgery).

I live in Canada as well, went to the Alberta Weight management program. After the 2 hour seminar it was very clear that they believe weight loss surgery will not work. They firmly believe that our weight problems are in our head and that we choose not to have self control. I'll bet these people have never been more than 5 lbs overweight a day in their life.

I took matters into my own hands. I had the band installed by smart shape in Mississauga (good group of people, lots of support) at the end of Jan 2014.

My friend went to Mexico and had the sleeve in March 2014. (my friend's family doctor told her to go for it in mexico, health care cannot be denied in Canada if you have an issue later on in life)

We have both been successful, both of us are now down 90 lbs

Family doctors in Alberta have very limited knowledge on WLS. Mine was skeptical, now he is just thrilled about my weight loss.

both diets are the same for the band and the sleeve. small portions, Protein first etc Get the big book on the band or sleeve to help you along

I am guessing that you are like the rest of us, been on every diet known to man, with limited or zero success. I believe once you get to a certain weight-no amount of yo-yo dieting will help. You will not be able to stick to it.

WLS will not make you lose all the weight, but it will help you get the control you need and with a little determination on your part it will work!

Good luck in your journey.

I have only one huge regret....I wish I had jumped on the Band-Wagon 5 years earlier. I am down almost 90 lbs and couldn't be happier. Don't let the negative comments influence your decision. if you are ready for WLS and mentally prepared for the challenge...do it now!

I am 8 months post-op and I am shedding more than my cat! Does it ever stop?

went to see the family doctor last Friday. He was not available, so I had to see one of his associates. This guy is sharp, figured out my problem quickly. Then came the quiz: how tall are you, how much do you weigh? I knew where this was going. I started to chuckle. He is a bit of a smart ass, so I asked him at what stage do you want to know my weight. I informed him that last January 1st I was 85 lbs heavier than I am now. His jaw dropped, he said never mind the questions and left. I guess he couldn't be bothered to read my chart-he would have known I had WLS. LOL Best I have felt in years after being to the doctor.

here is my 2 cents:

If we all had good control on what we ate or how much we ate, why the hell would we need WLS!

Throw out all the junk food out of your house-now. Eat high Protein meats and low carb veggies. Since you are pre-surgery, Portion Control is real tough.

Don't be afraid to confront your surgeon. Tell them this is why I am here. If I could lose weight living on the bird barf diet for the rest of my life, I would not need you or your team. Also, if they try to bully you, ask them how much weight they lost? I bet the skinny 98 lb stick rolling her eyes at you has never lost more than 5 lbs max.

It took me 2 1/2 weeks to start feeling better. Then I realized that my stomach was really empty. That didn't help matters. Give it some time. Remember, the surgeon was digging around on your insides while you took a nap!