marfar7

From a former band patient who had complications (a slip) and went thru sleeve revision last year, I personallly would steer clear of the band. My dr only does them for those who insist on them now, he doesn't recommend them anymore. I understand ur hesitancy over the RNY. If those were the only 2 I could choose from, however, I would probly choose the RNY. WHile the immediate complications outweigh the immediate complications from the band, the long term complications from the band far outweigh the RNY. My dr offered either the sleeve or the RNY following the removal of my band (in one surgery), said both were good choices. However, at the time my bmi was 28 (174 lbs) and I couldn't get past going thru RNY to lose 40 lbs. It was lucky that my insurance company covered the sleeve. It wasn't offered to me in 2009 when I got my band and they started covering it 6 mths before my revision. SO thankfully I had a choice. I would do ur research on the complications and long term results of both the band and the RNY. For the first 2 yrs, I loved my band. Gave me my life back and I lost 104 lbs. Until it slipped, most likely caused by the excessive vomiting (almost everyday). U'll be able to eat more of a variety of foods with the RNY (like healthy Proteins and fresh veggies) that u might be unable to eat with the band (some can eat whatever they want, some can only get "slider" foods down). But if ur a big fat/sugar fan, u might get dumping with the RNY. It all depends on ur lifestyle. Research, research, research. Don't let anyone talk u into having something u feel uncomfortable with. Good luck! If u have any other ?'s, plz pm me!

I ate popcorn at about 4 mths. If I don't get a separate box at the movies to put a small amt in, I will eat 1/2 a bucket. It's my #1 slider. Occasionally I'll make it at home with real butter (I never use the chemical laden margarine). Luv it

Just becuz ur honeymoon period may be over doesn't mean u can't still get to goal. My dr said the honeymoon period is just the time where it's the easiest to lose the most amount of weight. Ur so close to goal now that ur body is holding on for dear life. The first 100 are easy peasy compared with the last 15. I know cuz I'm still working on em. And I'm a year out and my honeymoon period has been over for a long, long time. Not sure that it's a infinite amount of time but it's probly more person to person and weight to weight. Good luck! Ur almost there!

WTG! Congrats on ur success! thats fantastic!

I didn't go to my 20th in 2005. I lived 3,000 miles away, my husband was unemployed, and I weighed 250. No way. My 30th is coming up next year (2015), I live 4 hrs away, my 1st husband died and I'm remarried and my current husband has a job, and I weigh 150. Can't wait!

Wtg! U look fantastic...

Good info. I've read both, that my stomach can strecth and that it can't. Makes sense to me. Altho I'm a little bummed to find out its true. I also eat everything (1 yr out) but never as much as I did pre op. While I can eat more than I could at say 3 mths, its pretty steady now. I can eat about 2 oz of meat, 3 to 4 bites of each veggie and starch. Sometimes Ill "top off my tank", taking a couple bites more than full just so I'm not hungry 2 hrs later. Guess I need to stop that... Thanx for the info...

I wish I woulda taken advantage of the honeymoon period a little more. I'm now 12 mths post op and stuck, bouncing between the same 3 lbs back and forth for months. Had I stuck to a lower carb/higher Protein diet in the first 12 mths, maybe I'd now be at goal. The first 100 lbs r easy peasy compared to the last 15, for sure. I stuck to my post op diet to a t (cept 1 day before my soft diet I had some creamy Peanut Butter, couldn't hold out 1 more day. I was on 4 long weeks of liquids so that PB was like heaven), but when I could eat soft foods, I started eating fries, bagels, and Pasta. Just a few bites but I'm sure thats why I'm not to goal yet. Thank God I don't believe the theory of u don't lose any weight after the first year. I'm not giving up on the 140 goal. Alot of people say I look good and to be happy at 150. I am happy in my size 8's, but I can smell the 6's right around the corner...

I can't even imagine controlling my amt of pain at home. I was on IV Dialudid for 48 hrs and that was a requirement! It took my dr an extra 30 mins (unforseen) to dig my lapband out of my stomach so I was more sore than usual. I had a rougher than normal recovery and was happy to stay for the 2 days. Good luck with ur surgery. Most people have no problems afterwards so I think it's pretty safe to do it OP.

That sounds so familiar - buying clothes that hung off my butt and legs cuz I had to have them actually fit my thick waist. The last few yrs I just invested in maternity jeans and shorts from ebay (cuz I was too embarrassed to do it in person, not being pregnant and all) cuz 1. They make them to fit a large belly and a smaller butt/legs 2. They're actually pretty trendy, unlike the WOMENS section at Walmart. They were the first things that made its way into a box and given away a long, long time ago. Thought for sure when I got down to a single digit, I'd still have the same problem - hafta buy larger sizes to fit my waist. But even tho I still have sticks for legs, my waist actually is about normal for my butt and legs (size 8). Now if the top part of me was normal for the bottom half, that'd be great. I'm still wearing an XL on top. Thanx for the memories...

I'm not 100% clear on the whole "Ghrelin removal - lack of hunger" that comes the sleeve but I do know that I didn't experience it either. On day 10 post op I was ready to eat my arm. In the beginning (after the first 4 weeks of liquids, where u can put alot more than 1 oz in at a time), I was able to eat about 2oz and be hungry again 2 hrs later. I just started keeping a baggy of almonds in my purse. I'ts now been a year and I still can eat very litt.e While I no longer weigh or measure, I did weigh a pc of chicken a couple weeks ago that I ate all but about 4 bites of and it was 2 oz. So I'm still able to eat 2 oz of Protein + a few bites of carbs + a few bites of veggie. I can eat about 12-15 bites of any given meal + Snacks. Ur not gunna know how much u can hold this early on. Ur stomach will relax and ull be able to take in more. I'm hoping I stay about the same as I am now, as I can usually get by 3-4 hrs now without feeling like I could eat the side of a barn... Good luck!

Severe nightime reflux was also my only symptom of my slip. I sufferred with it for 4 mths before finally seeing my dr. I was afraid he'd unfill me and I'd gain back all 104 lbs I had lost. He did. When my reflux subsided, he started filling me slowly. By the time of my 3rd refill, my reflux came back. They took the previous 1cc out and told me it was now up to me, my band had done the job. Mentioned nothing of a revision or removal. 4 mths later, I had severe stomach pain and had to go to the ER. After a CT scan, it showed my band had finally had enuf and herniated (after continuing to vomit almost daily). I had an emergency total unfill and scheduled a sleeve revision. After a yr and a gain of 30 lbs, I finally had a light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a year since my revision (all at once) and I'm now 10 lbs from goal of 140. The first 100 lbs were easy peasy compared with the last 15. Good luck on ur new journey...

Like I am? Today I spent 90 minutes cruising Ulta, trying to find a good anti again regimen. Now that I've lost 100 lbs, I feel like I'm looking old (turned 47 yesterday). I usually just use an SPF 15 facial moristurizer and makeup and call it a day. Now, I'm trying to find every potion to turn bcak the years. Not to mention my luv for new clothes. I HATED shopping when I wore a 22. Now that I wear an 8, it's so much fun. I have no place to even store new clothes (not to mention a tight budget). While I still think I look fat, everyone tells me how great I look. And, to top it off, I'm trying to decide whether or not to even look into plastic surgery. My insurance will never cover it (don't have that much saggy skin to warrant a medical condition), so it will cost a small fortune. We just bought a motorhome last month so all of our extra money now has a black hole to put it into. Anyone else obsessed with beauty now? I used to wear makeup about once a week (church) and now it's almost daily. While I use Bare Minerals foundation, I just use drugstore makeup, but I've been contemplating indulging a bit. Not sure it's really worth it. Same with anti again serums. R the expensive things worth it or would it be the same thing to pay less than $25 at Target? What anti aging items do u suggest?

If it's a full liquid diet, then yes. If it's Clear liquids, then no. What kind is it? If I never see another cup of tomato or split pea soup again it'll be too soon (my 4 week liquid diet was a yr ago and I'm still sick of it) Good luck!

Wedding dresses r about 2 sizes bigger than u actually wear. When I got married 2 1/2 yrs ago, I was 144 and wearing a size 8 jeans. They measured me at a 4 on the bottom and a 16 on top (yes, I have a freaky body). So my dress was a 16. Thought I had gotten out of double digits. So don't freak out when they measure u and it comes out bigger than what u actually wear. I think it's standard wedding dress sizes. Make sure they will alter it for u in the future cuz ur bound to lose some between Aug and Nov. Good luck and CONGRATS!

I was a band to sleeve revision and the pain was much worse than my band plcmt in 2009. My dr took an extra 30 mins to dig my band out of my stomach so I was in a lot of pain. The IV Dialudid while in the hospital for 2 days was my saving grace. And the bottle of liquid Vicodin was my buddy for about 12 days. That stuff is good! For about 2 weeks, I felt like I was hit by a truck. I regretted my decision. My husband then reminded me that the band had to come out anyway, why not just add 1 more thing? It probly woulda been close to as much pain with just removal. After 2 weeks I started feeling more human. And when I started eating real food (4 weeks of liquids), I felt much better. Got my hunger back on day 10 and I woulda eaten my arm had I been able to suck it thru a straw! Good luck! I envy those who used tylenol and had no pain. The gas was difficult for the first few day. My shoulder ached the most from it (gas rise up to the shoulder).

I just visited Disneyland a couple months ago. While in line for the upside down coaster at California Adventure, I noticed an obese woman with her little girl in front of us. She weighed at LEAST 300 lbs. The whole 30 minutes we were in line, I was mortified for her cuz I knew once she got to the front of the line, they weren't going to let her on. To my amazement, she rode it just fine. The harness fit perfectly. About 4 mths ago we went to Knotts berry Farm and rode on a scary one (I'm just getting used to the scary ones! Still terrified). My husband is 6'0" and he barely fit. His knees were up to his chin. Had he been any bigger (taller) he probly wouldn't have fit. They don't tell u that u can be too tall for a ride. Good luck and have fun. I'm sure ur fine. At Six Flags I'm sure they will accomodate u. It's the rinky dink little rides (like at the fair) that u have to worry about fitting into.

My sleeve revision (was previously banded since 2009) was much more painful than banding. It took my dr an extra 30 mins to dig my band out of my stomach, causing much more discomfort than normal. They gave me liquid Vicodin which was my buddy for about 12 days. For some reason, the liquid version is much better than the pills (which don't do much for my back pain). AFter the 1st 2 weeks of feeling like I was hit by a truck, I felt much better. It's been a year and I don't even remember the pain. Now that I'm about 10 lbs from goal, even if I did remember it, it's still al worth it. Ull do fine. Hang in there. Everyone gets thru it at some discomfort level. Some don't even use pain meds (which I don't get at all!) Good luck!

Ok, I'm going out there by posting a pic of me at the beach yesterday. I'm 14 lbs from my goal of 140 - but it looks like I'm like 50. If I lose another pound from my legs/butt, I won't be able to hold myself up. I look like a marshmallow held up with 2 toothpicks. I look odd. And I was so uncomfortable the whole day. And here I thought I was so close to the prize. Plz tell me what u think? I know there's no way to tell my body where to lose, but anyone have any suggestions?

Hey, I know u! Ur the exact opposite of me! I've lost 100 lbs, about 85 of those from my butt and legs. If I lose anymore from down there, I won't be able to hold myself up. I say I look like "a marshmallow being held up with 2 toothpicks". I went from a 22 jean to a 6/8 and from a 3x to an XL top. I still wear an XL top! When I shop for pajamas, I take a set of xl's and a set of mediums in the dressing room. I then exchange them, so I take home the xl top and the med pants. I'm that person u cussed out at Target who sent u home with off sized pajamas! I still wear a 40D bra, for goodness sake. I posted a pic of me at the beach a couple weeks ago on this board, with the title: "My body looks photoshopped onto my head". It doens't look normal. (http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/310700-looks-like-someone-photoshopped-someones-elses-body-on-my-legs/?hl=%2Bphotoshopped#entry3507229) If there's any positive in ur dilemma I could state that lower body fat is healthier than fat around the middle or upper body. My positive is that I still have boobs. I'd actually like them to be a tad smaller but my husband would protest, I'm sure. WTG on ur sucess thus far! We can't complain too much, can we? Good luck!

I can't stand the taste of chewable vits. I've never had a problem swallowing pills. Even the nite after surgery, the nurse gave me what she couldn't give me in liquid form, in pill form. I was fine with it. Good luck to u!

HINT: Not only do liquids hotter than 130 degrees clump when unfl protein powder is added, it also denatures the protein, making it useless. Just warm up ur broth or cream soups to about 120 (still hot enuf to enjoy, but not burn urself) and add the powder before eating, not before heating it up.

Funny how people r so different. Alcohol doesn't affect me any differently now than before wls. I drink a 4oz glass of red wine almost everynite. Haven't gotten a buzz yet. I do miss drinking my Corona Lite on a really hot So Ca day - but carbonation is just uncomfortble now. I will occasionally have a sip of my husbands beer or diet Coke (and I mean just that - 1 sip) and it's ok. As long as I don't try one on my own. Not sure why I decided to measure my favorite wine glass a couple months ago. To my horror, it hold 12 oz! Wow. I had been drinking about 11 oz of wine everyday for months. Thinking it was about 100 calories (what a 5 oz serving is of my fav), I assumed I was doing ok. Come to find out it was almost 300 - a whole meal. I bought some 5 oz wine glasses and drink 4 oz every nite now. haven't missed even 1 oz. Even drinking 11 oz didn't get me buzzed! So not fair sometimes! I started drinking at about 4 mths post op.

Popcorn is my biggest slider (I can eat a whole bucket if I get one). Also chips/dip, crackers, and Cookies. Ice cream, however, is not for me. I can only eat about 4-6 bites and be good. I think a slider is personal for everyone. Basically it's whatever goes thru easily without filling u up. I think even healthy foods can be sliders (like yogurt)

Just got my Chike last week (I'm a yr out and still enjoy Starbucks but don't really like frapps, I like their hot and iced coffees). I put 1 scoop in a 8oz of milk. It was good, not great, but good. Then I read the back: 1 serving is 2 scoops. Duh. No wonder it was so weak. This time I put 1/2 Water and 1/2 milk and (1s time it was too rich) some cold espresso (I like to taste my coffee. No such thing as too strong) This time it was yummy! Never thought a powdered coffee could be so good. I'm a coffee snob (no Folgers in this house) and I was pleasantly surprised. Bought it on Ebay. It was $29+$4 shipping on Amazon. It was $26 with free shipping on Ebay. Only 14 servings so it'd better be good