CarleneD

Thank you so much! I’ll definitely do that.

This topic is really helpful, so thank you for those contributing. I think the thing I'm most scared of is what I'm going to do with myself and how I'm going to spend my time. I'm single, no kids, live on my own, my parents gone, sisters live 4 states away from me. I moved here right when the pandemic started for my job and haven't made any friends. I mean, I have work friends but those are colleagues, not friends. I work, I stay home, I cook, look up recipes, make stuff, eat stuff, think about what to make/eat next. I have no hobbies other than scrolling through my phone and watching a little TV, maybe take my dog for a walk. How did I get to be 53 and have absolutely NO hobbies? Okay, I like to read, there's a hobby. But I need new hobbies to occupy my time that is currently taken up by food, food and more food. I'm not scared of the surgery, or the changes, I'm scared I will have too much time on my hands and nothing to fill it and that I'll fall back into my old habits. What in the world am I going to do with myself?

My doctor isn't making me stop vaping, but I've read enough to know that smoking and vaping can cause ulcers after surgery. So I'm doing what was suggested above - just ordered some zero mg eliquid in my favorite flavor (Earl Grey Tea with a hint of peach) and I'll start mixing that with my 3 mg, then move down to the zero. I'd love to quit completely by my surgery date in October.

I agree. I had the Lapband in 2011, lost 60 lbs but needed to lose about 180 at that point. I've kept it off, haven't really had any issues with GERD or anything else but I've never felt comfortable knowing this foreign object is in me. Plus my husband at the time absolutely refused to even consider having my insides rearranged, so the band it was. The sleeve really wasn't known much back then, and now I'm doing a revision to get the band out and get the bypass (I have long ago kicked that man to the curb). My doctor also wants to do the sleeve, because he says the band and the sleeve kind of do the same thing and there's no point if the band didn't get me where I needed to be.

I don't think you should be at all concerned with doctor shopping - we look at different cars/dealerships, different realtors when we buy a home. A doctor should be no different. But it looks like you have made your way through and yay for getting a revision! I had the Lapband in 2011. I never really felt restriction after my pouch healed (2 weeks or so) and I lost 60 lbs. I've kept it off but every time I try to lose more weight I end up gaining it right back. I've gone vegan for 2 years, then went keto and promptly had to have my gallbladder removed last summer - doc said it was directly related to keto. I've lost 40 lbs on my own and gained it right back. So in July I decided that since my insurance now covers bariatric I'd see what could be done. Boy have things moved fast. I went to my PCP (also a NP and I love her) and she referred me to a bariatric surgeon. I had my first consult with him on July 12th and he scheduled me for all the tests. I got them done in record time, sometimes two doctor appointments a day, and got done last week. Had my 30 day follow up today and although they're just submitting to insurance now, he's confident they're going to approve so I have my surgery date for October 24th. Here's to revision and another chance!

Hey everyone! I'm scheduled for October 24th for revision from Lapband to Bypass. Just got my date today. Still have a few of my results that need to come in so they can submit to insurance but my doctor seems pretty confident I'll have no problem getting approved. It's all happened pretty fast. First consult was on July 7th and I got all my testing done in the last 30 days. I was happy that I was down 4 lbs (not a lot but at least I was down) from that original appointment, my blood pressure was in a really good range and it seems everything is going well. Glad to meet you all and have some friends on this journey!