steelemagnolia

I'd stick with an "it's not something I'm comfortable talking about" rather than making something up - then if the thing you made up really needs to happen in the future, you don't have to make up a third thing. It gets hard to keep track . Best of luck to you!

I'm sure that you have your reasons for not speaking about it. That is your choice. But, what if you can help your other co-workers or friends? I think that it shows great courage on your part to have the surgery. In my eyes, you're a hereo! I wouldn't be ashamed of taking positive actions to make yourself healthier and looking more beautiful! "Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid." I will pray for your success!

Rebecca, We are all different and we all respond differently. It sounds as though you have poured everything you have into this. Don't beat yourself up. I had my band in Dec. 2008. I lost from 230 llbs. to 170. I was thrilled! BUT, on New Years Eve, 2009, I found out that I had breast cancer. On top of that, I could hardly walk because of no cartiledge in my knees. I went through the radiation (Thank God, it was found in a mammogram early!) Then my mother had emergency surgery. My sister was acting strange and we found out that she had brain cancer. She lived until March 2010. Many family tragedy's happened over the next 2 years. My doc had to remove all Fluid from band because of scar tissue. I still need to have the problem fixed, but I had to have knee replacement and then a hip replacement last year. I am now 67 years old. With absolutely no Fluid, I still get choked swallowing med's. I still get choked a LOT! I am sharing all this because I still want to live and be mobile. I still want to go on cruises! I still want to live a happy life! If the doc agree's, I would love to go from band to sleeve. As the Monty Python movie say's "I'M NOT DEAD YET! PUT ME DOWN, I'M NOT DEAD YET!" LOL
I pray that you will continue to thrive and be HAPPY! Please keep me posted!
Merry Christmas! Shirley

Rebecca, We are all different and we all respond differently. It sounds as though you have poured everything you have into this. Don't beat yourself up. I had my band in Dec. 2008. I lost from 230 llbs. to 170. I was thrilled! BUT, on New Years Eve, 2009, I found out that I had breast cancer. On top of that, I could hardly walk because of no cartiledge in my knees. I went through the radiation (Thank God, it was found in a mammogram early!) Then my mother had emergency surgery. My sister was acting strange and we found out that she had brain cancer. She lived until March 2010. Many family tragedy's happened over the next 2 years. My doc had to remove all Fluid from band because of scar tissue. I still need to have the problem fixed, but I had to have knee replacement and then a hip replacement last year. I am now 67 years old. With absolutely no Fluid, I still get choked swallowing med's. I still get choked a LOT! I am sharing all this because I still want to live and be mobile. I still want to go on cruises! I still want to live a happy life! If the doc agree's, I would love to go from band to sleeve. As the Monty Python movie say's "I'M NOT DEAD YET! PUT ME DOWN, I'M NOT DEAD YET!" LOL
I pray that you will continue to thrive and be HAPPY! Please keep me posted!
Merry Christmas! Shirley

I got banded in August 2014 liking the idea it wasn't permanent because I wasn't sure I would be able to adapt to the lifestyle changes. I have had 3 fills and am now at 8 CCs. I am in the green zone. I eat small portions and chew well. I joined a gym, own an exercise bike, and do yoga. I exercise most days 30-50 minutes. Since August I have had a fluctuating loss of 14-22 lbs. I get stuck on virtually all solid food. I had lost 120 lbs on my own before and regained it. Right now I have about 45 lbs to lose to get to my goal. I believe I need assistance and really wish I had chose the sleeve. I want something permanent that will be with me forever. I am dedicated to this lifestyle. My surgeon knows how frustrated I am with my standstill weight loss and regurgitation issues. I am going for a barium swallow to see how the band is, this is my surgeons first step in the revision process. Then we meet and discuss the revision but I'm a little worried he won't do it because he'll want me to give the band a longer shot. Thanks for letting me vent!!!

I had the lapband for two years and just had it removed and the sleeve done 6 days ago. The lapband worked for me for 7 months until I got acid reflux and it had to be emptied and we could never get it full without reflux again. Then a few months ago it slipped so I decided to revise to the sleeve. So far I have no pain and no hunger;) hoping for a great journey with the sleeve;)

I just had a revision 10 days ago and I feel great. Down 17 lbs since preop. I haven't had any pain only some vomiting the day of surgery. The next day I was great. Already I feel much better than with the band. I am 60 for those of us older folks it wasn't bad. I hope to live out the rest of my years healthy.

most ppl just don't understand that dieting doesn't help with us. we have tried and tried. they see the biggest loser and other wlshows and say why don't you just do that? like i'm going to go out and turn a semi-tractor tire over and over again. our health issues prohibits us from being a normal dieter. I have taken a I just don't care what you may think of me attitude. the ppl that count knows how hard I tried before surgery and are my biggest supporters so therefore my ppl. I wish you the best as you deal with this.

Well , yes you do have a sassy attitude, and I like it !!! You are going to need it if you have to continue to deal with other uninformed attitudes. You already explained to them about the health problems !! They're nurses and they STILL don't get it ?? Geesh !!! You may or may not become more outspoken when you start to lose weight, some people become more self confident when they feel stronger and better about themselves. Well, good for you for staying strong and standing up for yourself ! I think you made the right decision, and I think you're going to be very successful !! Good luck !!!

re: "It was a very difficult decision and I feeling a bit vulnerable."
understand the sensation, disagree that such is inevitable....having made the decision and then going thru with it, gave me a greater sense of Personal Power, as comments from the Helpful as well as the Clueless really were a form of entertainment more than anything else.
Strongly opinionated people are difficult to sway, and while nurses en bloc are sensitive intelligent and professionally helpful, some of them resemble the Jerry Springer School of Personal Diplomacy.
What they think or 'that' they think at all of your procedure, really has only the power over your feelings that you give them.
*I* felt somewhat 'vulnerable' for a while, and perhaps 'weak' etc resorting to such a contrivance as WLS....however, it was the best rational decision available at the time.
Cheers on your journey.

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent"
Eleanor Roosevelt

You are and will be absolutely beautiful. Don't give other people your power. And, you are a powerful woman!

Thanks SteelMagnolia!

Probably not. At least not until after. But what's done is done. I did need to tell my own truth before my very gossipy boss shared for me, I wish I would have been able to do it in my own time as opposed to feeling pressured into sharing now.

If you could go back in time, would you tell your coworkers?

Beni, you are absolutely right. Unfortunately many people they don't look at obesity as a disease but a lifestyle choice. They are sympathetic to what they deem as "real diseases".

Sassy redhead:
I think, and this is based in a lifetime of experience, diet and exercise work for some people but not for others.
I wonder, and I am sorry for being cheeky (I am in no way poking fun at patients with cancer), if you had cancer and went through all lengths to save your life, would anyone have told you you didn't have too much cancer, it's only a little one you can suck it up and deal with it buttercup. Well, you have a disease, it's called obesity. Your's perhaps is not a very advanced case of it but you know you have it and so do I. What is the cure for your disease? I'm not sure, I am not a doctor. But you and your doctor will have to figure out what is the best way to deal with it. Going home to deal with cancer on your own is not an option, right?

You're living your life, not theirs. If you can just joke about it. Maybe they are just trying to make you feel better, or maybe they think you look great. Just enjoy your life. For me, I have 1/10th of my thyroid gland. I have a low metabilism. I am 66 and my thyroid cancer happened when I was 36. I learned many years ago that people think low metabolism is a cop out. I just rarely mention it.

I tried explaining that is a health issue, but that follows with I should try harder. Some I just have to agree to disagree and let it go. It's always mean hard for me to open up about my weight issue. Thanks for the support!

Yeah, I can see how they would get under your skin. My co-workers know and I framed it as a health issue. I weighted 165 the day of surgery, but I have diabetes and high blood pressure. That they understood and they have been very supportive.
Some of them are probably envious that you are doing it so they are needling you. I know it is hard to hear this day in and day out, but can you subtly blow them off?
Good luck!

I'll start off by saying, I am a nurse and I obviously work with nurses. Nurses are really judgmental at times, especially to one of their own. It just in most of our natures to have the "suck it up buttercup and quit feeling sorry for yourself. You did this to yourself" attitude. Anyway, for this reason I was trying not to tell anyone other than one close friend/coworker and my nurse manager. Well my nurse manager forced my hand, for reasons I won't bore you with, and I felt the need to own my situation and tell my unit. It's a small 13 person unit and we love/bicker like sisters. Most have been supportive but some keep saying "you're not that big", "you don't have that much to lose, you shouldn't need it". Well let me tell ya ladies, if it was that easy I would have done it when I was 13 and battling it, or all of the other failed attempts, most of which involved weight loss meds. I know I'm "only" 190, but when I have 70lbs to lose it is a lot to me. My joints are wearing from the weight due to my rheumatoid arthritis and I am in a lot of pain. They don't see it because I don't broadcast it. They don't see me fret over my LDL of 186. I just don't need people being flippant and judgmental right now. It was a very difficult decision and I feeling a bit vulnerable.

I am anxious to hear the others response. One tip. liquid Stevia is natural and a wonderful substitute for sugar or honey! You usually cannot buy at the grocery store (thank you lobbyists for Equal,etc.) but you can buy at GNC, or any good health food store. It has a little dropper to drop the liquid Stevia onto whatever you want sweetened. It's wonderful and healthy! You also can cook with it! God Bless.

Hello,
I had a sleeve 6 years ago, never lost enough weight and what I did I have regained. I'm 7 days out on full liquids. My dr didn't have to resize the sleeve so I'm thinking that's what is making it easier for me. When I had the sleeve I could bearly take in a few sips of Water and this surgery I'm able to drink just fine. Im on purée liquids, did any one else find it easier this surgery? I also had my gallbladder removed.

1. food won't be the dominant thought but you will feel hungry at mealtime.
2. Thirst is an issue. I rarely get thirsty. You need to track your Water intake to make sure you get what your body needs. Sip, sip, sip.
3. Liquids was only 2 weeks post op moving on to mushy and by two months whole foods but remember to chew well.
4. Haven't heard about the hiney thing though it has far too. Many carbs. Alcohol sounds right. Moderation though empty calories.
5. bread Pasta and rice should only be brought into diet when at goal weight. Still watch those carbs.
6. I agree that sweets do taste differently after surgery. Tastes even sweeter. Don't crave sweets as I did before.
I have allergies and they don't effect the sleeve. Stress effects your stomach whether sleeved not sleeved or banded.
And yes if I eat or drink very sweet high fat I get dumping sensation. Ue ice cream ice coffee etc. hope this helps. Good luck

I was banded in 2006 and it was really great for about six months. That was when I had the first episode of the band closing itself up. They had to remove all the Fluid and it never worked right after that. Fast forward a few years and I've been to the ER twice to have Fluid removed because it has closed up on me again. I haven't had any fluid in my band for the past three months and I'm still struggling with things getting stuck and vomiting and never knowing when I'll be able to eat food or only have liquids.
So, I went to the doctor today, we reviewed my issues and he suggested removing the band and doing the sleeve. Now I'm freaking out a bit. I worry that if I failed at the band, the sleeve won't work either. And the sleeve is permanent. However the doc feels that I will lose what weight I need to within six months.
I went ahead and did the first step of meeting with the nutritionist today (she had a last minute cancellation). Here's a list of things I was told...I'd love to know what the reality is, though.
1. I won't feel hungry again
2. I won't get thirsty again
3. Two months of liquids post-op
4. No alcohol or honey (what I use for a sweetener) for at least 8 weeks
5. No bread, Pasta, or rice for six months
6. Sweets will taste different after the surgery
How do allergies and stress affect the sleeve? These seem to be the culprit to causing issues with my band.
Do you get dumping syndrome like with Gastric Bypass?
Any information at all would be greatly appreciated.