Heather_8.1.14

If you told me in August that I would be where I am now I wouldnt have believed you. If you told me not only would I have reached my goal but dropped a few more pounds I would have said its not possible. The choice to have my "malfunctioned" band removed and converted to RNY was not an easy one, and it was a decision I had to make quickly, but it was by far the best decision I've ever made (aside from having WLS in general). This coming Feb (the 22nd) it will be 5 years since I had my original WLS, it may have taken me a little longer (and two beautiful boys in between) to reach my goal, but it was worth it. The pain, the tears, the sacrifices I've made, all for the best. 6 years ago my doctors told me that if I didnt change my lifestyles I would suffer a heart attack before my 30th birthday, and I needed to do something. I turned 30 this past October and I'm the healthiest I've been in so long. To hear how proud my doctor was and to hear that I was the "poster child for weight loss surgery" filled me with so much joy. I look so forward to the new year and for every year after. Happy Holidays to all of you! I wish you all the best of luck, and to the happiest, healthiest years of our lives!!

I've now moved onto the soft phase which is nice. I love some lean smoked deli turkey rolled up for lunch. I still cant even LOOK at tuna haha. I also made some excellent rosemary chicken for dinner the other night. YUM. Since moving to softs I've noticed my weight loss has started back up again I'm down about 3lbs since Monday (crazy!!!) Cereal seems to be hit or miss with me, but I love the Special K Protein cereal (10g!)

Can I ask why you regret it?

I am now 4 weeks post op and I'm supposed to still be on puree's. I wont lie, I have no longer been able to stick to them. As soon as I puree something it makes me sick to my stomach and I end up not eating. I cant take any more tuna, scrambled eggs, puree everything, its nauseating. When I make taco's for my family I'll have a few small bites of it and chew really well, same goes with sloppy joe meat or anything else I can chew until its soft. I see my surgeon on Tuesday the 2nd and from there I'll only advance to SOFTS, then have to wait another MONTH until I can go to the "stabilize" phase. To be honest I think this is a bit extreme and I'm amazed at talking to other bypass patients and hearing about their diets. One girl I know was on her stabilize phase within her 3rd week! Im tired of trying to force myself to eat. I cant stomach any more Protein shakes and puke looking foods Please tell me I'm not alone!!!

UGH me too!! My puree phase still continues until I see the doctor in SEPTEMBER!!! I just want to cry. I've been trying to get creative and some of my new things are now: (mind you I proportion these as needed, Im not eating the whole can, etc...) 1 can chicken some low fat shred chedder cheese some franks red hot low fat ranch dressing Blend that baby up, give it a min or two in the microwave and its almost like a puree version of buffalo chicken dip. Satisifies my craving for a spicier food and isn't as boring and bland as tuna I also puree a can of Hormel chili

Next Friday!!! Im so excited and nervous lol

My surgeon stressed to me this time around I'm going to feel a lot more nauseous and tired too. One week to go!!!

I've kept a blog for a few years with my lapband surgery, and I felt it was time to kick it back into high gear and get back to blogging on whats been going on since... Feel free to say hello, stalk my blog, and make sure to leave yours so I can follow too! http://lapbandroad.blogspot.com/

I'm having surgery a few days before you so I will make sure to keep you in my thoughts!!

Thank you! My doctor told me that the "worst case" scenario really for me will just be 4 weeks of blood thinner injections and I should be good to go afterwards I'm just soooo ready for this to be over

I'm almost done with all of my pre op testings and so far so good, but the blood work has shown I am Vitamin D deficient and that I have some sort of blood clotting disorder (I cant remember the name) and I am being referred to a hematologist. Has anyone else had this diagnosis before surgery? Did they have to take extra precautions (transfusion on hand, etc..). I've only suffered issues with my platelet count during my pregnancies so to know this is clearly an issue I have all the time scares me a little. 2.5 weeks until I go in for revision surgery. I'm scared. I'm unable to eat almost anything at this point, my stomach hurts all the time and I'm just praying for time to go faster so the pain goes away.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for posting this. I am 2.5 weeks away from having my revision surgery due to a band slippage and every day I grow more and more scared and start to question my decision. I'm finishing up the last of my pre op tests and will be getting my clearance next week from my PCP. I'm currently unable to eat almost anything, so I'm basically on a puree/protein shake diet right now and I'm having such a hard time with it. I feel so depressed and trapped. My husband keeps re assuring me that the pain is almost over. However I found that I have some type of blood clotting disorder and have to see a hematologist and I'm a little worried. So glad everything is going well for you!

Oh Im so sorry...5 days means tomorrow? I'll keep you in my prayers. Please update me when you can *hugs*

I'd love to keep in touch! I'll send you a message here shortly. My surgeon assured me that your body will not let you "lose too much weight". My husband just gets really upset when he sees me getting sick, and he's afraid it will be like that all the time after RNY, but I told him that its nothing like that, and as long as I continue to do what I did with my band I'll be ok. The part that's hard for me is the people who aren't really for me getting the revision are the ones who love to eat (which is how I am/was), I keep telling them its not that I cant enjoy a bit of cake or party foods but I need to do it in moderation. I just keep telling myself that I don't want to be 300lbs again, I cant do that to myself, my children or my husband Good luck on your surgery and yes, please keep in touch!

Hi Mim thank you! My BMI was 34.66 and my insurance denied it at first and I was devastated since I was less then a %, but my surgeon kicked it back and they approved. I go in for surgery on August 1st! I've got a ton of testing to complete but Im looking forward to finally finishing my WL journey

Stacie-yes my surgeon agrees that the RNY is a better option for me then the sleeve. I cant really tell right now how bad/normal my reflux is since eating almost anything is nearly impossible right now with the slip Thanks so much and I hope you have a great recovery!!

Lots of views but no replies from my last post, hoping for something in this one Insurance has approved (after a small argument) my revision from my broken band to the RNY. Going through the steps all over again with all of the tests, hoping to get them all done ASAP. Looking for some advice and support. I'm a mom of 4 (my youngest is 8 months) and Im hoping the recovery isn't too bad, especially since I've got little ones counting on me! Thanks! -Heather

Thanks Erin!! I'm going in for bypass on August 1st, so keep me in your thoughts then! I wont forget about you guys!! I'll keep popping in to check on you all! By the way, Happy 1st birthday to your little guy!!!

I think because you knew what to expect the second time around, ya know? That's what I'm hoping for if I'm approved for the RNY. I went into a pretty bad depression after my surgery because I just sat and watched life basically go on without me (in a sense, ya know what I mean) and I couldn't do anything but sip my clear liquids and cry. I have a high pain tolerance and I'm hoping that like the last time, gas is my only issue

*This is a copy and paste of what I wrote in the Lapband complications thread* Long time bandster, mostly now a creeper lol. A quick back story. I was banded in 2010, I had lost 70lbs and with my surgeons blessing got pregnant with my 3rd child (1st "band baby") 9 months post op. Had a successful pregnancy/delivery with an empty band. A few months after my surgery my gall bladder went bad and had it removed. Didn't do a whole lot of "maintence" with my band between 2011 and 2013. After my 4th child (2nd band baby) was born this past October I was noticing that even with an empty band I was still getting the stuck feeling and having difficulty eating and many times I found myself vomiting. Fast forward to now. Being a mom of 4 I was putting myself on the back burner for my heath, finally I called my dr Monday and today I had an upper GI done to find my worst fear had come true, my band slipped. It isn't severe enough to need to be removed right this second but they are already working on getting everything needed to go back to the insurance company. My doctor does not feel putting another band in would be the best option since this one failed and suggested bypass. My practice does the sleeve but the PA said that because of my history with reflux I wouldn't make the best candidate and because I was so successful with my band he believes I can be with the GB as well. I'm just afraid of that whole surgery, which is why I chose the band. But I have heard people say they've had the exact experience and ended up going the bypass route and they were happy. I had chose the band because it was less invasive and I had planned on having more kids, but now we're done and maybe this isn't a bad option. I guess I'm just looking for others who experienced/experience this and some guidance and support I have Keystone BCBS insurance. Any idea on how long this process will take? What hoops I may have to jump through?

I'm currently dealing with the same issue. I've been having issues with vomiting off and on for a year and finally I had an upper GI done and come to find my band slipped. They are currently submitting the paperwork to the insurance for the bypass. I'm also a little apprehensive but Im not the best candidate for the sleeve so Im out of options Hope everything goes well for you!! Keep in touch if you'd like!

Update for you ladies....I finally went and saw my dr (I know this was awhile ago I wrote this) and they did an upper GI and found my band did slip So they are submitting a request for bypass surgery since my band "malfunctioned" and they wont cover another band. I'm a little scared to go the bypass route but I know I need a "tool". My surgeon said because of my history of reflux I'm not a good candidate for the sleeve since reflux disease can intensify 10 x's and can aggravate the sleeve and cause damage. If you mamas pray will you say a prayer for me that everything goes the way it should? I'll keep you all posted

Thanks, I'll take a look. I was hoping to find someone who was going through the same thing in here as well

Long time bandster, mostly now a creeper lol. A quick back story. I was banded in 2010, I had lost 70lbs and with my surgeons blessing got pregnant with my 3rd child (1st "band baby") 9 months post op. Had a successful pregnancy/delivery with an empty band. A few months after my surgery my gall bladder went bad and had it removed. Didn't do a whole lot of "maintence" with my band between 2011 and 2013. After my 4th child (2nd band baby) was born this past October I was noticing that even with an empty band I was still getting the stuck feeling and having difficulty eating and many times I found myself vomiting. Fast forward to now. Being a mom of 4 I was putting myself on the back burner for my heath, finally I called my dr Monday and today I had an upper GI done to find my worst fear had come true, my band slipped. It isn't severe enough to need to be removed right this second but they are already working on getting everything needed to go back to the insurance company. My doctor does not feel putting another band in would be the best option since this one failed and suggested bypass. My practice does the sleeve but the PA said that because of my history with reflux I wouldn't make the best candidate and because I was so successful with my band he believes I can be with the GB as well. I'm just afraid of that whole surgery, which is why I chose the band. But I have heard people say they've had the exact experience and ended up going the bypass route and they were happy. I had chose the band because it was less invasive and I had planned on having more kids, but now we're done and maybe this isn't a bad option. I guess I'm just looking for others who experienced/experience this and some guidance and support

I gained about 28lbs and lost it all, breastfeeding will help you lose the weight faster And don't focus on your weight gain now, just as long as baby is growing healthy and you're doing well that's all that matters