shall0207

Whereare the island are you? I'm on Farmingdale

Hi! How excited you must be! You are making a great decision! So do you know of any support groups? There is another person Laney on here from Dix hills. Looking to meet her next week

Anyone know of or interested in starting a LI sleevers support group?

When will you be meeting again?

Would love to join your Long Island support group!

Long island, NY Sent from my VS995 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi, Congrats on your upcoming surgery! If you weren't nervous you wouldn't be normal. You are making the right decision! I am about 4 yrs out and doing great! There may be things that come up such as anemia and heartburn which is what I have come across but I manage that and believe me, would do it all again if I had to. I was banded first but that failed. Sleeve was definately the right choice for me. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Good luck!!! Sue

First of all....you are doing wonderfully! I had my surgery in Oct 2012 and I am down about 60 lbs. Slowly but very happy! I eat pretty much what I want but in very small portions which is what makes me very happy! I know much of what I do eat the docs say we shouldn't but I feel like I have the life I always wanted. No deprivation and tons of satisfaction because a little bit gets me full. I have about 35 lbs to go and I know I will get there one of these days but even if I don't I am finally at a weight I can live with. When I look in the mirror, I finally see a "normal" sized person looking back at me.

I have been drinking Oh Yeah! Protein drinks. I like the strawberry best. It tastes a lot like Quick and it has 32 grams of protein.

Hi Sarah, I had my band removed and the sleeve done on the same day, 10/9/12. I am now nearly 7 wks post op and doing very well. I did not have any issues at all but I will tell you this. The first month after surgery was the most difficult for me. Once a month was up, I was great! The full feeling that I get is different than what you felt with the band and NO MORE STUCK FOOD!!! That was my biggest problem as well. I was throwing up constantly too. You will get more of a full sensation that moves up your stomach instead of out so eat slow because if you over do it you will throw up too. I had a lot of nausea the first month and still do sometimes when I eat something that doesn't agree with my new stomach but it passes. You will definately be happy with your choice. It is sooooo much better than the band. Last I checked I have lost a total of 29 pounds which I am very happy with. Good luck Sarah and I wish you all the best! Sue

Fever is not normal so like the previous post said....CALL YOUR DOCTOR. Do not wait. If you have a leak you need to get it fixed immediately. Don't panic but don't shrug it off. Could be very serious. Let us know how everything goes. Praying all is okay.

Hi Oct Sleevers, Had my surgery on Tues 10/9 so I am 3 days post op now. I am doing well but was curious to know if others are experience some discomfort after swallowing? It feels like a sore spot in my stomach and I am sure it will get better but just wanted to know if anyone else is experiencing something similar. sin Doc has me giving myself shots of Lovonox in my stomach twice a day. I am doing it but really not comfortable with giving myself needles. Has anyone else had to do this as well? I have to do it for 10 days. I am home and feeling a lot better after leaving the hospital. Been walking a lot too so gas is not an issue anymore. Very tired though. Anyway, congrats to all my fellow Oct Sleevers and I hope you are all doing great! .

So happy for you! Glad you are not having any complications. I will be in your shoes 6 days from now when it is my turn. Very anxious but excited too. I wish you much success and looking forward to seeing posts on your journey. All the best, Sue

Just joined MFP....add me too everyone sueCque27

So happy for you!! I am pre-op too (9 days and counting). Excited and of course nervous but I sure hope I feel the way you do soon! Wishing you all the best! Sue

I am having my band removed and sleeve done all at once as well on Oct 9, 2012. My doctor didn't say anything to me about it being more difficult than a virgin sleeve but I have read otherwise. I am still going through with it though because I had the Fluid in my band removed in July due to a slip and I have already gained 25-30 lbs back so I know I need a tool to help me get the weight off. Keeping it off? Well, that is another story as we all know.... Anyway, surgery is in 9 days so I will be sure to let you know how it goes. Wish me luck and pray all goes well. I am nervous but confident all will turn out fine. Sue

I am scheduled for 10/9 w/Dr. Acosta in El Paso, TX

I have a little different scenario going on then what I have read that I would like to share with you. I am scheduled for VGS for 10/9 and I am really nervous too. This time last year I had the lap band surgery done and wasn't really nervous at all figuring it is reversable so if it doesn't work I can go to the next step. Of course thinking all would be fine and it was in that I did not have any complications from the surgery BUT..... I did lose about 60 lbs but about 4 mos ago I started to have issues with the band getting tight on me and was constantly trowing up because food would get stuck. The pain was so uncomfortable and eating became a chore rather than pleasure as it used to be. Well, I had to have all the Fluid removed and once that was done all my issues were gone! Except of course the issue that started the whole journey. It took me 10 months to lose 60 lbs and now, 2 months later after having the band unfilled, I have gained 20 POUNDS already!!! As scared as I am to have the VGS surgery because of the natural fear of dying we all seem to have, I know I need the help. We all have it in us to lose weight and excercise but for how long? Why can't we stick to doing that for life? I wish I knew and I wish I had it in me to do it that way but I have tried and tried but I keep ending up FATTER than before. As I said, I too am scared but I so want to live a happy life without the constant burdeon of my weight hanging over my head. If I don't get the weight off once and for all, I will end up like my other family members...DEAD from heart disease and diabetic complications. They truly suffered....my dad died at 65 and my two brothers at 59 & 56. Other siblings are still alive but they two have heart issues. I am the baby of the family and I am watching my future if I don't lose the weight once and for all. You will be fine....I am praying for you. Stay strong and focus on the wonderful, fat free life that lies ahead. God Bless!

If you weren't nervous, you wouldn't be normal. Just focus on the fact that this time next year you will be THIN!!! Think about how life changing that is going to be and how exciting!! I haven't had my sleeve surgery yet. I have the gastric band and it slipped so I am now waiting for the insurance company's decision on whether or not they will revise me to the sleeve. I am nervous about it too but I have been researching and looking at YouTube videos and there is so much positive feedback on the sleeve that I have decided to go for it. You are going to be just fine and so happy you did it! I wish you all the best and I will be looking out for your future posts on you success! Wishing you the best, Sue

I wish you luck tomorrow. You are going to be great! LovetheNewMe couldn't have said it better. The band is the only thing that has ever truly worked for me but just remember it is a tool. You need to work it correctly and if you don't you will suffer the concequences. Trust me.....the band is very tempermental so follow your doctors orders and chew...chew...chew!!!! Keep us posted on how things go tomorrow.

Hi Banders, I live in ABQ and I am in the process now on getting approvals to be banded through Lovelace West Hosp. As Kat817 mentioned there is a new lap band program going on at Lovelace West under Dr. Adam Smith who is from Ft. Worth TX. He has a practice in Texas (www.fortworthlapband.com). He is training a doctor and staff at Lovelace to finally bring the lap band to ABQ. I am so excited. I had my first consultation with him the other day and he is a really nice man with an excellent bedside manner. Oh and get this....HE IS BANDED HIMSELF. Which made me feel even more at ease knowing he has it too and understands the struggles first hand that we all go through before and after being banded. He is doing the banding surgeries himself also while training the other doctor until she is fully trained. They do have a support group this coming Monday 3/8 at 7pm to 8 pm. It is held every 2nd Monday of the month at Lovelace West in the Celestia Hall. For more info call 505-898.1414. I haven't been to one yet but I plan on going this coming Monday. I will let you all know how it goes. For those in ABQ that are thinking of getting the lap band but need to know more about it, they have a seminar at Lovelace West coming up on Wednesday,March 24th at 6:30pm. Space is limited so call to register...505.898.1414. I hope this info is helpful. Good luck everyone! Thanks, Sue

Hi Jack, Well, that is good to know. What was your worst experiences with banding? Would you mind elaborating. I am curious. Thanks, Sue