Embrace

Not at all Ypsibander.
When I did the sleeve revision I was within 1 pound of my high when I band done six years earlier.
July 19 - Started the revision pre-op liquid diet: 212 pounds
July 27 (Night before surgery): 203
July 29 - Left the hospital: 200
February 21 (been a lengthy plateau): 168
The doctor says that I'm losing weight more slowly than most of his other sleeve patients. I suspect my body's metabolism had slowed significantly because I was throwing up most food during the entire year before the band was removed - even slider foods didn't always stay down. It's taken several months for me to figure out a key to getting the scale to budge. I'm working out 4 days a week and walking approximately 10,000 more steps a day. Working out has produced a lot of change in body shape. I'm down nearly 3 sizes. It's still slow going but even so this is the best decision that I ever made. My last labs are fantastic. Blood sugar is in the 80s and my health is remarkable.
Good luck with your consultation.

Not at all Ypsibander.
When I did the sleeve revision I was within 1 pound of my high when I band done six years earlier.
July 19 - Started the revision pre-op liquid diet: 212 pounds
July 27 (Night before surgery): 203
July 29 - Left the hospital: 200
February 21 (been a lengthy plateau): 168
The doctor says that I'm losing weight more slowly than most of his other sleeve patients. I suspect my body's metabolism had slowed significantly because I was throwing up most food during the entire year before the band was removed - even slider foods didn't always stay down. It's taken several months for me to figure out a key to getting the scale to budge. I'm working out 4 days a week and walking approximately 10,000 more steps a day. Working out has produced a lot of change in body shape. I'm down nearly 3 sizes. It's still slow going but even so this is the best decision that I ever made. My last labs are fantastic. Blood sugar is in the 80s and my health is remarkable.
Good luck with your consultation.

Hello wright616,
My band to sleeve revision was last July 28. My band and my sleeve were performed by the same surgeon and he put in the band for "eternity." Unfortunately, that worked against me when it had to come out 6 years later. The band did not slip but I couldn't keep down anything by the end and the vomiting caused serious problems with my esophogus. I had a significant amount of scar tissue around the port and my surgery took 3 hours (about 1.5 hours longer than anticipated). In spite of the more extensive surgery, my hospital stay was the standard 36-hours. I can tell you that I felt very little "general" pain. Actually, the whole experience would have been very easy on me with one exception: there was a lot -- A LOT -- of discomfort where the port was removed. It was about the size of a grapefruit. I made the pain worse because I pulled the area once trying to get off the hospital bed to go to the bathroom on the first night. I pulled it again, badly, when I tried to get off the couch on the second day I was home. After that, the area hurt for about 2 solid weeks and then was just sore for another week after that. Walking helped for all the reasons that you've probably heard: pain management, accelerating the anethesia out of the body, weight loss, etc. I had absolutely no trouble walking from the first time that the nurse got me out of bed. That localized area burned while I walked but it wasn't unbearable, just persistent. Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No hesitation. No regrets. I wish you all the best with your surgery.
Good luck!
Embrace

It makes sense that your fears are magnified with so little support at home. Good for you for coming to a safe place and asking for feedback from people who have actually had sleeve surgery. Everyone's journey is unique but we KNOW what we're talking about.
I am a band to sleeve revision. (Band failed to produce weight loss and 6 years later caused serious complications.) I wasn't sure the sleeve would work for me either. I feared another failure. It had to make a conscious decision that whether or not the sleeve produced weight loss, I was giving myself the best chance possible to avoid diabetes, heart disease or stroke - all of which contributed to my mom's death. it was the mental adjustment I needed and I went into surgery 100% at peace.
Recovery was so easy. I had localized pain where the port was removed from the abdominal wall but it wasn't unbearable and resolved completely in a couple of weeks. My nurses had me up and walking, which I think jumpstarted my healing. I would do it again tomorrow because my experience was so positive. Really, I would do it again with no hesitation.
Weight loss has been slower than I'd like but I'm losing 1 - 1.5 pounds a week. Plus, my joints don't hurt, my clothes are getting loose, I'm starting to recognize my face in the mirror. I feel terrifi. I made the right choice for me. You considered this choice in consultation with your doctor for a reason. Listen to your inner voice and have the confidence in yourself to know that you'll make this happen. The sleeve is a powerful tool if you work your program. Don't give up and keep coming back here! We'll support you!!!!
Band to Sleeve Revision
Surgery 7/28/14
Before surgery 211. Now 173
Pounds Lost: 38 and counting

It makes sense that your fears are magnified with so little support at home. Good for you for coming to a safe place and asking for feedback from people who have actually had sleeve surgery. Everyone's journey is unique but we KNOW what we're talking about.
I am a band to sleeve revision. (Band failed to produce weight loss and 6 years later caused serious complications.) I wasn't sure the sleeve would work for me either. I feared another failure. It had to make a conscious decision that whether or not the sleeve produced weight loss, I was giving myself the best chance possible to avoid diabetes, heart disease or stroke - all of which contributed to my mom's death. it was the mental adjustment I needed and I went into surgery 100% at peace.
Recovery was so easy. I had localized pain where the port was removed from the abdominal wall but it wasn't unbearable and resolved completely in a couple of weeks. My nurses had me up and walking, which I think jumpstarted my healing. I would do it again tomorrow because my experience was so positive. Really, I would do it again with no hesitation.
Weight loss has been slower than I'd like but I'm losing 1 - 1.5 pounds a week. Plus, my joints don't hurt, my clothes are getting loose, I'm starting to recognize my face in the mirror. I feel terrifi. I made the right choice for me. You considered this choice in consultation with your doctor for a reason. Listen to your inner voice and have the confidence in yourself to know that you'll make this happen. The sleeve is a powerful tool if you work your program. Don't give up and keep coming back here! We'll support you!!!!
Band to Sleeve Revision
Surgery 7/28/14
Before surgery 211. Now 173
Pounds Lost: 38 and counting

I think you should just JUMP OFF THAT LEDGE! And what you will find is a new found freedom! A new life, new hope, new friends, new support......you are on the cusp of a very exciting, healthy new life. There are many many success stories here (and very few stories that were not successful, if any at all!). Not trying to toot my own horn, but I am one of the success stories and I wrote about my journey every Sunday for the first year.....please read it; I think you will find it inspirational. When I was waiting for my surgery....(I only had to wait 3 weeks from decision to surgery) I read another woman's blog and it got me so excited!!!! And that's what you need right now.
I am now 3 years out and I just wrote a new blog entry (first time in 2 years). My husband is editing it now, but this is part of it:
It changed my life. It changed my marriage. It changed my knees, my feet, my health. It changed the way I live. It changed the way I eat. It changed the way I dress, how I act with other people. It changed our sex life. It changed how happy I am to be alive. IT SAVED MY LIFE.
Now here I am exactly 3 years from those days of transition. We are living in Amsterdam permanently now, I will be 61 years old in a few days, and I am happier than I have ever been in my entire life.
Please read my blog (or any one elses and you will see that you have so much to look forward to! Start at www.queenofcrop.com/about And by tomorrow you can sign up for new posts if you like. STAY STRONG and remember this forum is all about support!

So glad to hear from you @FedUpwithBeingFat! By now you've had your check up with the doctor and I can't wait to hear how you're doing. I'm hope the appt. will put your mind at east about the lingering anethesia symptoms. Unless you've been there, I'll bet it's hard to describe. I've had a few surgeries but none has lasted as long as yours so I have no frame of reference. I imagine it will take longer to fully rest and recover. Be sure to give yourself the time. I went back to work after 2 weeks and when I got home I didn't do much. I didn't venture into the kitchen to cook for a full month cuz working 8 hours was taxing and I've got a desk job! My hubby was very supportive too so no pressure from him.
Your Water weight gain must havebeen a real blow. Several people on these boards (and the author of a book that I ordered from Amazon) complained about the Water weight. Your initial discouragent is going to be replaced with excitement - especially about the future - when the "real" weight starts to peel off. After the band failure, it's like a miracle to see the scale going the opposite diretion for a change. We'lll have to trade stories.
I must admit, I didn't know about the ban on most medications in pill-form until my pre-op appointment a few days before surgery. It sure shocked me. I hope you find an alternative for the Migraine meds. Perhaps a neurologist will have an idea.
Thanks for asking about my progress. I finally dropped into the 170s. Barely. No kidding, just squeaked by but that didn't stop me from skipping around the room for a couple of minutes. I haven't seen 170's on the scale since 2010, and even with the band, I never got down to 160's. At least now I believe that it's possible, and I hope you begin to feel that kind of confidence in your future too.
I'll be traveling for a week and probably won't be able to post but please keep share your progress. I'm looking forward to more conversations with you.

@FedUpwithBeingFat
I understand completely. I felt happy, excited, nerous and a bit terrified the night before surgery. Still, it was the best decision I've made relative to long term health because diabetes runs in my family. Three pieces of advice: 1) start right away to walk as often and for as long as your body tolerates. It kept my soreness to a minimum and helped work out the anesthesia from my system. 2) Rest. Your body will need time to recover. Give yourself a break so it can put itself back together. 3) Give yourself time to adjust mentally to your new portion sizes. It looks ridiculous to see a few spoonfuls on a plate. It's stupid to admit this but when I see so little food I start to rebel mentally. I need to switch to saucer or salad plates but for the time being when I think I'm going to have a hard time, I drink a Protein shake instead. I beats dishing up enough food for the old me and then having to put it back.
Good luck tomorrow. Please post when you can to share your progress. I'll think of you tomorrow!

@@FedUpwithBeingFat
My surgery was July 28. Before surgery, I loss of food grief was a huge problem for me. I kinda obsessed about it. I even panicked the morning of surgery when I read that a meal of Cream of What would be 3-4 tablespoons (recovery phase). Turns out, all of that anxiety was for nothing. We had a graduation party for a friend at 3 weeks out. I drank my Protein shake before I left and sipped Crystal Light lemonade when I got there. No one even paid attention because my new college graduate was center stage. I'm back on regular food now and eat a few bites of nearly anything at meals. I'm completely comfortable because I feel full without feeling deprived. I've chosen not to eat sweets (except SF jello), bread, Pasta or rice and so far I don't miss them. I don't miss the 30 pounds I've lost. And I don't miss worrying about what clothes are going to fit when I have to get ready for work. I'll bet you have the same success. Good luck as you move through this journey.

@@JakeLancaster
You'll be fine if you're careful. It was an area about the size of a fist that hurt like a son of gun for more than a week if I moved the wrong way. Otherwise, I swear, Jake it was the easiest thing. Good luck!

I use to have a lot of issues with my band, as we all possibly did. But one of the biggest issues is if I waited to long to eat I would have pains in the area where my band was. It would be so bad sometimes that I would have to take a pain pill. It would also happen at times when I wasn't hungry.
So I have really had a hard time with not eating, because I first I feel like I'm becoming sick to my stomach, then the pains some. I wish I had thought to have them to remove all the Fluid from the band last week at my Dr's visit. I am so scared about tomorrow. I honestly cheated during my pre-op, but it's a while nothing thing to eat before someone opens your stomach.
I'm also a therapist, and I couldn't take the day off. So tomorrow is gonna be super busy. I have to find the time to drink broth or tea. Cause I know I will need something hot. Please keep me in your prayers yall. I have been thinking about this day for the last 2 weeks. So scared.

My surgery was on July 28. I won't lie. The worst part of the revision was the pain where the port was. Remember, it was supposed to be a permanent fixture so taking it out causes a lot of stress on the body. Otherwise, the whole surgery was a piece of cake. I'd do it again tomorrow if I had to do it over again! Be encouraged. Your future has a much brighter outlook beginnig tomorrow!

I had my surgery done on July 28th also and feeling such a difference already. I have not been on the scale in over two weeks but last time I did check I was down 32lbs. I am trying to hold off weighing myself again until I go back to the surgeon for my next check up which is on October 7th.

Exactly what happened with my band. So many disappointments and complications. GERD started gradually but five years later I ingested into the lungs and nearly died. My diet was a disaster too. I couldn't tolerate any raw or most cooked veggies, cottage cheese, eggs no matter how cooked, and most meat came right back up too. Pretty much anything nutrient dense was impossible to keep down. Even unhealthy slider foods had a 50/50 chance of coming back up. Despite that, I lost 35 pounds total and never budged another ounce. Once the decision was made to revise band to sleeve, the Fluid came out and I ate veggies like a woman possessed. I ate salad compulsively for lunch and dinner for 2 solid months. Loaded up on fruit too. I actually snacked on steamed broccoli and roasted cauliflower every other day. It was like my body knew it needed serious nutrition.
I'm one week post sleeve revision and very much still on liquid diet so I can't speak to that but I'm very encouraged by others' experiences with veggies. It makes me feel that this will be a healthier long-term option and I'm looking forward to the future.

Do it!! Do it, and not look back, food is intended to sustain us, but you will find much more pleasure in so many other new things, a new body, and different outlook! Go go go! Forget the food thoughts!! When you are slimmer and agile and start having a different outlook on fashion and outside fun , believe me food is the last thing you will b worried about. Do it for yourself, your marriage, self image, HEALTHY, and sooo many other great outcomes with weightloss. Been there...done that. Had a Lap band after being g the size of a fridge, then lost 170 pounds, had Tummy Tuck, breast implants...and lots of exercise...I was so much better!! After a decade the band failed n slippage occurred. Had it removed and in one year... "started eating my life away again and packed on 70 pounds, I was terribly overweight again, so I did the sleeve in Tijuana Mexico with a great team and very cost effective result. I'm angry at myself for going back to the food addiction and pleasures it gave me, it did nothing but ruin my body again. Did the sleeve and already planning next year's body reconstruction. Bought a new cruiser bike in Wal-Mart and ready to ride 3 miles daily and get my self back in the saddle and in control of my life, don't give it another middle thought.....go for the surgery and give it all you got! I'm here to support u in any way I can. Mother of two, RN. Orlando FL.
Laura

I was banded in 2005 and revised to sleeve in 4/2014....So far I have no regrets and No complications. I am 20 pounds down and have been feeling normal since day 3 of coming home from the one night stay at the hospital...We are all different and we will all have different results and different feelings. I really like my Sleeve and its nothing like the band, no throwing up,no stuck food, no fills and unfills, no being too tight at night. Good luck with your journey and decision.

I had my band for three years before it slipped. I had problems with it probably starting after the first 6 months. Chest and back pain, inflammation, vomiting, filling and unfilling...
And it never took me to goal or even close. There is south pain related to the band. With the sleeve, for me, the only pain came from healing. Yes the first 30 days were rough. Really rough. But I feel great now, and when I eat 3 oz I feel full. A healthy full, not pain. The difference is night and day for me. The sleeve sounds scary, but do the research on it and you'll see less complications than for the band, and higher success rates.
*so much pain. Not south lol