NewLife4Jen

I have been through so much in the last year.....
I originally had my band done on April 27, 2012. Over the course of the 2.5 years, the majority of my diet was liquid. I could rarely keep things down. When I was lucky enough to keep something down, I'd eat it at a later date and then it would come back up again. The 1 cup of food I was supposedly able to eventually eat never happened. My surgeon kept saying I was fine. I had to go to the hospital twice last year, a CT and ultrasound done and was told everything was fine...no slippage said the surgeon and again, I was fine. I don't think so. The last 6-7 months of last year, I kept growing sicker....toward the end only keeping Water down. But supposedly I was FINE.
I sought a second opinion the last part of last Oct. by another physician...this time one specializing in bariatrics not just a general surgeon. He said that not everything can be seen on a CT scan or ultrasound. I had an Upper GI in Nov. and was found to have a slipped band...quite slipped and was eroding. I saw the pictures. So it was immediately deflated. I already had some relief. On Dec. 5th, my band was removed. My band had eroded two complete holes in my stomach and the port had become encapsulated in the muscle. No wonder I felt so bad! It was such a relief, I cried. I also saw surgery pics. Needless to say, I could not have a revision done at that time. The doctor was quite sure that I could get insurance to cover the revision. But, I knew that there were no guarantees. I wanted to believe but there was always a little fear in the back of my mind. I tried not to think about. I just concentrated on recovering and trying not to gain too much weight since I could finally keep down food. I have gained 10 pounds. I would normally feel bad about that but the dr. said that even if I was eating very little and the best of the best, compared to Water, I'd gain weight.
Anyway, I got word today that there is medical necessity for the sleeve gastrectomy. I had to read the "medical necessity" part of the letter about 7 times. I then broke down in tears. My surgery is scheduled for a little over a week away. Will be starting pre-op diet tomorrow. I am so looking forward to being healthy again and finally lose my weight after almost 3 years on this journey. At my lowest on the band, I had gotten to 185 lbs but had slowly regained to 208 (when I could drink more than water, I had some ice cream shakes as the Protein shakes and Soups were getting old. Imagine eating only Protein Shakes and Soups for about 90% of your diet for 2.5 years! So yes, I added the ice cream shakes.
I asked my new surgeon why it had eroded and so badly. He said that it usually happens when too much pressure is put on one side of the band and stomach....that usually happens when it is put in(which could explain why I never really could eat). Also, I am sure my GERD had a little something to do with it. They said that because of my GERD, the acid attacked the food before it ever got to the pouch (everything is slower) forcing it to be attacked and me losing it before it ever got to the stomach. Then when I vomited, it could have shifted the band a bit putting too much pressure on the one side.
So, I wanted to update my story and am hoping that my story may be of some hope and help to others struggling out there. I am so looking forward to next week. Thanks for listening.

Thank you all for your support. It has been a while since I have been here and posted anything......
I had gastric sleeve surgery on Feb. 4, 2015 after recovering from the removal of my lapband and repair of 2 holes in my stomach that was done on Dec. 5, 2014. The second surgery went great but 2 major surgeries in 2 months took their toll and recovery was long.
I am doing great now and can actually hold down food. What a blessing! I have lost 35.5 lbs. since my surgery in Feb. Of course I want it to be faster but I will take it after all I've been through and the fact that I can actually eat. Exercise was slow to come due to complete exhaustion in my recovery but slowly building strength there too so I expect things to start progressing faster now. Well, hoping anyway.
I have another 2 pounds to lose to get back to the lightest I was post lapband surgery then after that, it is all the sleeve and my hard work!
So, here's to another 2 pounds and increase in exercise and to a new life for me! I looked last night at a picture of me at my heaviest and I started to cry. I don't even recognize myself. It is a reminder of how completely unhappy I was then and all that I had gone through to bring me to that weight. I am glad I have those pictures. Even though it is so hard to look at, I will, as it is motivation and reminder to myself that I will NEVER EVER go back there again!
I have never been so hopeful and happy in all my life!

I just turned 48 and I feel fabulous and haven't looked this good since my 20's!!!!

Happy to be here!

I just turned 48 and I feel fabulous and haven't looked this good since my 20's!!!!

Happy to be here!

Thank you all for your support. It has been a while since I have been here and posted anything......
I had gastric sleeve surgery on Feb. 4, 2015 after recovering from the removal of my lapband and repair of 2 holes in my stomach that was done on Dec. 5, 2014. The second surgery went great but 2 major surgeries in 2 months took their toll and recovery was long.
I am doing great now and can actually hold down food. What a blessing! I have lost 35.5 lbs. since my surgery in Feb. Of course I want it to be faster but I will take it after all I've been through and the fact that I can actually eat. Exercise was slow to come due to complete exhaustion in my recovery but slowly building strength there too so I expect things to start progressing faster now. Well, hoping anyway.
I have another 2 pounds to lose to get back to the lightest I was post lapband surgery then after that, it is all the sleeve and my hard work!
So, here's to another 2 pounds and increase in exercise and to a new life for me! I looked last night at a picture of me at my heaviest and I started to cry. I don't even recognize myself. It is a reminder of how completely unhappy I was then and all that I had gone through to bring me to that weight. I am glad I have those pictures. Even though it is so hard to look at, I will, as it is motivation and reminder to myself that I will NEVER EVER go back there again!
I have never been so hopeful and happy in all my life!

Thank you all for your support. It has been a while since I have been here and posted anything......
I had gastric sleeve surgery on Feb. 4, 2015 after recovering from the removal of my lapband and repair of 2 holes in my stomach that was done on Dec. 5, 2014. The second surgery went great but 2 major surgeries in 2 months took their toll and recovery was long.
I am doing great now and can actually hold down food. What a blessing! I have lost 35.5 lbs. since my surgery in Feb. Of course I want it to be faster but I will take it after all I've been through and the fact that I can actually eat. Exercise was slow to come due to complete exhaustion in my recovery but slowly building strength there too so I expect things to start progressing faster now. Well, hoping anyway.
I have another 2 pounds to lose to get back to the lightest I was post lapband surgery then after that, it is all the sleeve and my hard work!
So, here's to another 2 pounds and increase in exercise and to a new life for me! I looked last night at a picture of me at my heaviest and I started to cry. I don't even recognize myself. It is a reminder of how completely unhappy I was then and all that I had gone through to bring me to that weight. I am glad I have those pictures. Even though it is so hard to look at, I will, as it is motivation and reminder to myself that I will NEVER EVER go back there again!
I have never been so hopeful and happy in all my life!

I have been through so much in the last year.....
I originally had my band done on April 27, 2012. Over the course of the 2.5 years, the majority of my diet was liquid. I could rarely keep things down. When I was lucky enough to keep something down, I'd eat it at a later date and then it would come back up again. The 1 cup of food I was supposedly able to eventually eat never happened. My surgeon kept saying I was fine. I had to go to the hospital twice last year, a CT and ultrasound done and was told everything was fine...no slippage said the surgeon and again, I was fine. I don't think so. The last 6-7 months of last year, I kept growing sicker....toward the end only keeping Water down. But supposedly I was FINE.
I sought a second opinion the last part of last Oct. by another physician...this time one specializing in bariatrics not just a general surgeon. He said that not everything can be seen on a CT scan or ultrasound. I had an Upper GI in Nov. and was found to have a slipped band...quite slipped and was eroding. I saw the pictures. So it was immediately deflated. I already had some relief. On Dec. 5th, my band was removed. My band had eroded two complete holes in my stomach and the port had become encapsulated in the muscle. No wonder I felt so bad! It was such a relief, I cried. I also saw surgery pics. Needless to say, I could not have a revision done at that time. The doctor was quite sure that I could get insurance to cover the revision. But, I knew that there were no guarantees. I wanted to believe but there was always a little fear in the back of my mind. I tried not to think about. I just concentrated on recovering and trying not to gain too much weight since I could finally keep down food. I have gained 10 pounds. I would normally feel bad about that but the dr. said that even if I was eating very little and the best of the best, compared to Water, I'd gain weight.
Anyway, I got word today that there is medical necessity for the sleeve gastrectomy. I had to read the "medical necessity" part of the letter about 7 times. I then broke down in tears. My surgery is scheduled for a little over a week away. Will be starting pre-op diet tomorrow. I am so looking forward to being healthy again and finally lose my weight after almost 3 years on this journey. At my lowest on the band, I had gotten to 185 lbs but had slowly regained to 208 (when I could drink more than water, I had some ice cream shakes as the Protein shakes and Soups were getting old. Imagine eating only Protein Shakes and Soups for about 90% of your diet for 2.5 years! So yes, I added the ice cream shakes.
I asked my new surgeon why it had eroded and so badly. He said that it usually happens when too much pressure is put on one side of the band and stomach....that usually happens when it is put in(which could explain why I never really could eat). Also, I am sure my GERD had a little something to do with it. They said that because of my GERD, the acid attacked the food before it ever got to the pouch (everything is slower) forcing it to be attacked and me losing it before it ever got to the stomach. Then when I vomited, it could have shifted the band a bit putting too much pressure on the one side.
So, I wanted to update my story and am hoping that my story may be of some hope and help to others struggling out there. I am so looking forward to next week. Thanks for listening.

I have been through so much in the last year.....
I originally had my band done on April 27, 2012. Over the course of the 2.5 years, the majority of my diet was liquid. I could rarely keep things down. When I was lucky enough to keep something down, I'd eat it at a later date and then it would come back up again. The 1 cup of food I was supposedly able to eventually eat never happened. My surgeon kept saying I was fine. I had to go to the hospital twice last year, a CT and ultrasound done and was told everything was fine...no slippage said the surgeon and again, I was fine. I don't think so. The last 6-7 months of last year, I kept growing sicker....toward the end only keeping Water down. But supposedly I was FINE.
I sought a second opinion the last part of last Oct. by another physician...this time one specializing in bariatrics not just a general surgeon. He said that not everything can be seen on a CT scan or ultrasound. I had an Upper GI in Nov. and was found to have a slipped band...quite slipped and was eroding. I saw the pictures. So it was immediately deflated. I already had some relief. On Dec. 5th, my band was removed. My band had eroded two complete holes in my stomach and the port had become encapsulated in the muscle. No wonder I felt so bad! It was such a relief, I cried. I also saw surgery pics. Needless to say, I could not have a revision done at that time. The doctor was quite sure that I could get insurance to cover the revision. But, I knew that there were no guarantees. I wanted to believe but there was always a little fear in the back of my mind. I tried not to think about. I just concentrated on recovering and trying not to gain too much weight since I could finally keep down food. I have gained 10 pounds. I would normally feel bad about that but the dr. said that even if I was eating very little and the best of the best, compared to Water, I'd gain weight.
Anyway, I got word today that there is medical necessity for the sleeve gastrectomy. I had to read the "medical necessity" part of the letter about 7 times. I then broke down in tears. My surgery is scheduled for a little over a week away. Will be starting pre-op diet tomorrow. I am so looking forward to being healthy again and finally lose my weight after almost 3 years on this journey. At my lowest on the band, I had gotten to 185 lbs but had slowly regained to 208 (when I could drink more than water, I had some ice cream shakes as the Protein shakes and Soups were getting old. Imagine eating only Protein Shakes and Soups for about 90% of your diet for 2.5 years! So yes, I added the ice cream shakes.
I asked my new surgeon why it had eroded and so badly. He said that it usually happens when too much pressure is put on one side of the band and stomach....that usually happens when it is put in(which could explain why I never really could eat). Also, I am sure my GERD had a little something to do with it. They said that because of my GERD, the acid attacked the food before it ever got to the pouch (everything is slower) forcing it to be attacked and me losing it before it ever got to the stomach. Then when I vomited, it could have shifted the band a bit putting too much pressure on the one side.
So, I wanted to update my story and am hoping that my story may be of some hope and help to others struggling out there. I am so looking forward to next week. Thanks for listening.

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hi Smwtwins...
It is just my opinion but if you are close enough to be intimate and he is your boyfriend, then I would recommend telling him. For me, a relationship starts with trust and you build on that together.
Does he know about your sleeve? If you plan on starting to be intimate with him and your scars are not something that can be hidden then I think you should talk to him first. This should not come as a surprise to him....where will that leave you two?
Good luck

Hey Draven and everyone else who have been so willing to give support, I have had my ups and downs (literally). I was filled and still wasn't losing. I just had an unfill this past Monday cause I had gotten sick twice on Sunday night. We went to Olive Garden and I only had about 3 slow, little bites of salad and I was completely sick. After that, I felt better and tried a little soup.....Nope, my body was not going to have that either. I was sick of feeling sick and I realized, after reading Alex's book on lapband, that I have never been able to eat what he says that I should be able to at this point in my journey. It has always been easier to drink my intake. So, I spoke with the nurse practitioner on Monday. She didn't really want to unfill me cause she was concerned I would gain. She did anyway and took out 0.25 cc so I am at a total of 5.5cc. I feel so much better and can eat but sure enough, I have gained a little. But, I haven't been exercising like I should. My surgiversary date (April 27th) was NOT what I had expected. I wanted to be in a losing mode and weigh less than I ever have on this journey. I wasn't though. I did take pictures and I am proud of where I have come but still need to lose about 30 pounds more. I am still wanting and needing support. Will be now keeping food diary better than I was and for and will be eating sensibly. Next week, I may even go back to my liquid pre-op diet for about a week to kick start things again. Thanks everyone for your support. I clearly need to be on this thread and website more regularly. PS.....another motivating factor. One of my best friends, who once asked if I ever thought I had taken the easy way out, just had a sleeve done about 2.5 weeks ago.

I should retake pictures. After my TT I have even lost more inches. I love my band.

Hi Jen. Just checking in. I hope all is going well.

Hi there, I live in Australia and I too have slipped back a bit.... With a NO weight loss since nov 2012....
I don't know what to do ..

I know exactly how you feel.. I had the surgery Sept 2011 and have only lost about 70 pounds...I need to lose about 65 more pounds to be considered not overweight..I had to have a partial unfill this past december myself and have found myself drinking diet cokes like I never stopped, and I have an unhealthy relationship with extra cheddar goldfish...weird huh. I work 11 hours a day and am constantly on the go at work. I only have a 30 minute lunchbreak which is aweful for people with lapbands. Some days I can eat a complete salad and some days, like today, I cannot. I am cheating my band and have no one to talk to about this. I have no ideas as to what to eat for my lunches and Breakfast. If you would like to chat more then please respond and let me know. I know that some people on here are only looking for success story tellers to help, so either way, just let me know.