NikNakMcCants

I am having surgery with Dr. Simon on the following Monday June 10th! Best of luck to you! Keep in touch.

I am having surgery on June 10th as well. I am in Upstate NY in the Syracuse area. Best of luck to you!

OK!!!! I just created a new surgery ticker and I realized I am only 3 weeks and 5 days away from getting sleeved! Holy crap! I better get moving! I have made lists of all of the things that I will need post surgery. While I have purchased many things, there are still a few things that I need to pick up. I need to go and get these this weekend. ASAP! Scheduling an extended timed trip to WalMart and GNC. I have also promised myself that I would start toning pre-surgery. I want to start pumping those muscles up now! I have to find my hand weights and schedule some time in my week to start my circuit again at Planet Fitness. I have already begun my vitamins including my Biotin. So, I have to schedule in extra time to shave my legs because the hair is growing back 3 times as fast! UGH! (The hair on my head better grow like this! For goodness sake!) I want to take pictures and measurements of myself so I can chart my progress. This is going to be a depressing harsh dose of reality. (I better add a bottle of rum to my list in celebration of my Bye-Bye To Fat Measurement Pity Party.) I also have to schedule time to take these measurements and pics! My surgeon is not requiring a pre-op diet because I am a lap-band to sleeve revision. However, I feel that if everyone else has to do a special diet well, then I should too! Now, don't get me wrong! I am not thinking about 2 weeks of liquids. NOOOOO!!! More along the lines of a week of 2 protein shakes a day and one light meal followed by two days of liquids immediately prior to surgery. (See. I have some discipline!) I better pencil the diet starting date into my planner. Now....... having said all that, I have just one thought. Being a teacher, and having all of the end of the year stuff to manage and complete, I have a "full plate" with this WLS. And... WLS and full plates do not go hand in hand! I think I need to hire an assistant. I need someone to make sure that I am keeping to all of these schedules! My husband already has said that he does not want the job no matter how high the pay! Geez! I guess I better start taking applications! Only serious inquiries need to apply! LOL

Hello from upstate NY!!!!!! I am a 39 year old mother of an 8 year old beautiful daughter, a wife of 5 years, and an elementary school teacher . I have always been a big girl with a bigger personality! I am also, a failed lap-bander! As my daughter grew, I realized that there were a lot of things that I wanted to experience with her.However, I felt limited because of my weight and size. I decided to take charge of my weight and end the self doubt once and for all. I was banded in May 2009. I lost 85 pounds quickly. Unfortunately, I had a major slip in Feb 2012. I had a second surgery but after.... my lap-band just never worked correctly. I have since, switched surgeons and have become more informed of surgical options. I will be sleeved on Monday June 10th! I am so excited. I am looking forward to going on amusement park rides with my daughter without experiencing the fear of possibly not fitting. I want to get on an airplane and not hold my breath and stomach in while buckling the seat belt. And..... I CAN NOT wait to go horse back riding without feeling sorry for the poor horse that has to carry my big behind on his back! GOOD LUCK TO ALL! I can not wait to be sexy and sleeved!

I am scheduled to have a band to sleeve revision on Monday June 10th. Last week, I met with my surgeon. While going over the surgery he told me that I did not need to do a pre-op diet. He went on to say, "Now don't go out and eat three Big Mac's the night before or hold a food funeral but, you also don't need to go on a liquid diet either." So, I was wondering what other revision patients were told by their doctors. Did you have a pre-op diet? If so, what did it consist of? It just seems like I should be doing one.

Awwww........this is really nice! Makes me feel special. THANK YOU! Best wishes to all of my fellow June 2013 sleevers!

Glad to hear that you are doing well. I will be getting my band to sleeve revision on June 10th. I hope my surgery goes as well as yours. Take care and keep me posted on your progress!

Got the following answers from my doctor at my appointment. I am just 35 days away from surgery! Yeah!!!! I have an appointment tomorrow and I have sooooo many questions! Excuse me while I make a little list. And feel free to "chime in" with your experience. 1. I just started birth control pills. It was mandatory before my lap-band surgery. So I thought I was doing a good thing. However, I have read that some doctors make you stop taking them prior to sleeve surgery due to blood clotting. So, do I continue taking them or stop? (Stay on them. You have no history of blood clots.) 2. What size bougie will be used? (36 I staple and suture so it actually ends up smaller.) 3. How much will my stomach hold after surgery? ( I forgot to ask this one.) 4. Will I have a post-surgical drain? (Depends on how your surgery goes.) 5. I have read that some band to sleeve revisions result in larger volume sleeves due to scarring. Is that true? (Scarring does occur with bands but they have no effect on size of sleeve.) 6. I also heard that with revision surgeries, weight loss is some times slower and of a lesser total amount. Is this true? (No. It has nothing to do with revisions. Follow diet guidelines and exercise and you will have good weight loss.) 7. My goal is just to feel better. I want the back and leg pain to stop. However, what is a realistic goal weight for me? (I agree. Don't focus on numbers. You had great success with your band. You will do extremely well with your sleeve.) I know I have more questions but, I am drawing a blank. Any other suggestions? Am I leaving anything out? Because of all of the hassle that I have gone through with this lap-band, I just want to be as informed and knowledgeable as I can. I am sure that I will think of things all night long. However, I am going to try and get some sleep. Night! Night! He also told me that I did not have to do a pre-op diet. He said, "Don't get me wrong. Don't go have three Big Macs or have a huge food funeral the night before. But I don't need you on liquids for two weeks either. Just keep doing what you have been doing. You are doing great!"

I just saw your response today! Sorry it has been over two weeks. Thanks for the encouraging words. How are you feeling?

June 10th for me!!!

I am a band to sleeve revision scheduled for June 10th as well. Best of luck to you!!!!!! Keep in touch!

I am having my surgery June 10th! I am very excited! No nerves here! This is my third surgery, thanks to my awful Lap-Band!

I learned that I will be getting my Lap-Band removed and my gastric sleeve on Monday June 10th. That is only 46 days away!!!!! I am so excited, happy, nervous, grateful, strong....... the list goes on. It has been a long rocky road since my first bariatric surgery in May of 2009. I have had some major success and huge disappointments and failures as well. Looking back, I would not change a thing. The band worked for me in the beginning. I experienced good weight loss and for the first time felt what it was like to enjoy many new things at a healthy weight. I was a much more active happy person. When I started having issues with my band I went to my doctor immediately. But, unfortunately and for whatever reason, he didn't listen to what I was telling him. I had a slipped band for almost a year before I demanded the tests which resulted in a second surgery. I lost all faith in my doctor when I continued to gain weight after my second surgery. Finally, after I pressed my doctor for answers, he told me there was nothing that he could do for me. My band was broken a second time. I felt defeated, angry, lied to... but from this situation positives arose. I learned to listen to my body and be assertive. I have grown stronger as a person. I have developed much better eating habits. I exercise more frequently. I could have just accepted my Lap-Band as a failure. I could have given up hope. But, I decided to move forward. I am so grateful to have found Dr. Howard Simon at Upstate Bariatrics in Syracuse, NY. He has explained things to me that my previous surgeon failed to. He has directed me to websites and groups so that I could see that numerous other people have had the same experience with their Lap-Band. He has walked me personally, step by step through this revision process to gastric sleeve. He has restored my confidence in both doctors and more importantly in myself. Because of him I realized that I did not fail but rather my tool (Lap-Band) failed me. I am completely 100% ready for my sleeve. I believe that my previous failed weight loss experience has helped me become so prepared and a much stronger individual overall. I am so happy that it is almost here. Until then........I will be counting down the days!!!!

Hello from central New York! I am getting sleeved on June 10th!!!!!

Well, it had been a good 24 hours!!! 1. Yesterday I found out that my revision surgery will be on June 10th!!! (Bye- bye to this broken lap-band!) 2. I tried a sample of the Chike protein iced coffee. DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! What a way to start the weekend!!!!!!!!!!

Well, it had been a good 24 hours!!! 1. Yesterday I found out that my revision surgery will be on June 10th!!! (Bye- bye to this broken lap-band!) 2. I tried a sample of the Chike protein iced coffee. DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!! What a way to start the weekend!!!!!!!!!!

I have a slipped band as well. I am converting to a sleeve. I just received insurance approval today and will get a surgery date by Friday ( my surgeon's scheduling secretary is out sick). My surgeon said that he tries to remove and convert in one operation. However, it all depends on what he is presented at the time of surgery. If there is damage that requires healing time or complications I will have to wait a few months and come back for a second surgery. No one wants to have two surgeries but, I would rather do what is best for my body. Good luck with your journey!

I am a lap-band revision. I am working with Dr. Simon at Upstate. I just received my insurance approval today! I don't have a surgery date yet. I should be hearing from them soon. So glad to see you are doing well! Keep it up!!!

I received a phone call today. My new surgeon submitted the paperwork to my insurance company. I am planning on having a revision from a lap-band to a sleeve. I have BCBS so I hope I do not have to wait long. The approval for my lap-band was quick, just three days. I want this to move a long just as fast. I want this broken lap-band removed! It had been a long 4 year ordeal. I am so ready to start my weight loss journey over with a sleeve!

I too am going to Upstate and have Dr. Simon. I am having a revision from a broken lap-band to a sleeve. His office has been wonderful! No complaints!! My paperwork was submitted to my insurance company today! Hopefully it won't be long.

OK... WARNING!!!! I AM GOING TO COMPLAIN!!!!!! I am trying to have a revision from a lap band. My insurance company informed me today, that even though I had good success with my lap band before my supposed slip, that I would have to start the whole bariatric process over. They said that because my initial surgery was in 2009 I needed current proof of bariatric compliance. However, they would accept the last four years of diet documentation because the lap band slip was of no fault to me. Sounds crazy right? I have to attend meetings, take nutrition classes, have another pysch eval, obtain another support letter from my doctor, and go through cardiac clearance. UGH!!!!! Meanwhile, I have an empty lap band, an uncomfortable port, pain while eating, excess gas,and a tingling numbing pain that radiates behind my left shoulder and runs down to my finger tips. I want out of lap band hell! I have to focus on the positive. I am able to get all of the above taken care of before my next appointment in April. (I just have to rearrange my life to do so.) Thanks for listening!

Me too! I went from a size 26 to a 14 and now back up to a 20. My back hurts, I am constantly battling hunger, and the skin around my port is also tender and raised. Moreover, at my heaviest weight I was never as self conscious as I am now. I can't wait to move forward. I wish I had the option of a vertical sleeve prior to having lap-band surgery. I feel like the last four years were such a waste of time and effort.

I too am "in the same boat." I had great success with my band until it slipped. My new surgeon said he was going to have his office submit my paperwork . I guess we wait. GOOD LUCK!!!!! Keep in touch!

I visited my new surgeon today. He looked at all of my records, the x-rays of my last lapband revision surgery, and decided that he was going to immediately submit the paperwork to my insurance company for a revision to vertical sleeve. Yeah! He then told me that it now becomes a waiting game. The positives are that I had great success with my lapband before my "possible slip" and I have a good insurance company (Blue Cross Blue Shield). However, because I was banded in 2009 my insurance company may ask for a new pysh eval, documented 3 month weight loss, and nutrition class meetings. So, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope that I hear an answer back soon. If not, I have another appointment March 28th. So, The Waiting Game begins!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have an appointment tomorrow with my new bariatric surgeon. I have visited my physician and obtained a letter in support of revision surgery. I am also down 4lbs. I know it is not much but at this point I will take whatever I can. I am hoping that I do not have to go through another pysch eval. I am also hoping that my insurance company will take into consideration all of my success and then failure caused by my broken lapband. I am a little nervous and very excited. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I proceed quickly through this revision process.