SpeedyCheeks

Just wanted to see if anyone has found a way around this...I've been referred for a band removal (Big Surprise, NOT!). I was hoping to get referred to the nearest MTF so I could hopefully revise to the VSG because if I have to go civilian I can only get RNY due to the Dr they want to send me to. I will not even consider RNY, severe malabsorption, stricture risks, the five year failure rate, etc. it's just not for me. I was self pay for the lapband 4.5 years ago; circumstances have changed and I can't afford to self pay again. I'm desperate to not regain ALL the weight; my highest was 278 I'm at 233 now but I WAS down to 203. Any thoughts/help will be greatly appreciated.

For the low-carbers, you could use this rack to shape some cheese crisps into taco shells :drool5: YUM!

I went into my surgery yesterday (April 4th) knowing there was a possibility I wouldn't get my sleeve since I've had that horrid contraption (lapband) for nearly 5 years which never really helped me lose any weight. But when my doc told me the extent of damage that had been done I just had to wonder "How in the world is this legal to implant in people?" and I understood why I'd been feeling like total CRAP for so long. I wish I had gotten that thing out of me sooner. Now I'm stuck with permanant scarring around my stomach and since my sh**-for-brains lapand doc placed it so low on my stomach it's shaped like an hour glass with a fairly large pouch at the top. I'm so dissappointed; my doc said the only op he would do on me now is the RNY. I'm just not willing or desparate enough to try that yet. So I'm sitting here in pain from surgery and scared I'm going to start gaining again. I hope writing this helps to save someone from getting the lapband; do yourself a favor and go straight for the sleeve, the band is a lie, it doesn't help - it hurts, and their claim that it is reversible - BS!!!!! And by the way the GERD I've been suffering from since being banded was instantly relieved by getting it removed. I'm sorry to be so pissy but I'm really angry that the lapband is still being put into people. Thanks for reading and I want to thank everyone on here for the hours and hours of education I've received. I'm not giving up; I'll probably try Weight Watchers or something and I'm going to keep getting scoped to see if the scarring has stretched enough to allow a sleeve. TTFN

WOW!!! You are SO INSPIRING and you are glowing with success!!!

Barb, I'll be praying all goes well and you can get everything done in one op. Sweet dreams during your "nap"!

Wow, there are so many "lap band gone wild" stories that it makes me wonder if they all aren't ticking timebombs waiting to go off. I wish everyone going for their revisions much luck and you will be in my prayers. I went for my post-op follow-up appoinment today and the doc said (because I keep asking) that the absolute soonest he would consider trying a sleeve would be at 2 months out but that's if I get scoped and there is enough stomach tissue to work with; I will be praying ALOT. And if you are feeling like a failure due to the lap band DON'T the band failed us, not the other way around!

There's a "Struggling Sleevers" area further down the VST front page; it's under "VSG Complications Support Group". Good luck, I hope you find the answers that will help you.

Beautiful AND collar bones too! You look like a movie star!

Great job to You and Kansas; may the rest of your weight melt right off in the spring and summer sun!

Monica, congratulations on your revision; happy healing! You say you would have been stuck with the band but I really can't believe there is even 1 person on this planet that will be able to keep their band as a lifelong weight loss tool. Even people with no outward problems/complications suffer extensive stomach, liver, scarring and adhesion damage. I hope the band will be banned soon; I will be telling anyone who will listen about the horrors of the band. I feel so much better now that it is out of my body; I really had no idea just how miserable I had become. Anyway, I'm happy for you and knowing that there are good band to sleeve revisions gives me hope. Gas dissapating prayers goin' out to you! And Thank you to everyone for the "love" that is so freely outpoured; this is just the best, shiniest spot on the whole internet!! Y'all rock!!

They should consider your banded time a supervised "diet plan", after all isn't why we got the blasted things!? Twelve years is a long time to have a band; I had mine for 4 yr 7 months and the damage was bad even without a slip. Good luck to you, you'll be in my prayers.

I get teary eyed from all this support, Thank you so much...Becca, I regretted getting the band from the very first time I threw-up which was the 1st day. I was self pay $15,000 and if I'd had any money left to get that evil thing out of me sooner I would have. Luckily, the military picked-up the tab on the removal but it took some time and lots of patience to finally get it done. And LilMiss I have to say the band wasn't effective for me either. I started at 278. Three years and 2 pregnancies later I clawed my way down to 203 but I quickly gained back 43 lbs which leaves me at 246 and scared to death that I'm going to keep on gaining. I was ALWAYS hungry with the band; never could feel satisfied because food couldn't reach my stomach, I always threw up the first part of every meal and only on good days I'd be able to keep the second part down. I hated running to restrooms when we'd go out to eat, I know people had to think I was a fat bulimic! I'm so glad those days are behind me; I'm hoping to be losing like you all someday soon - your loses are so inspirational! Thanks again!

You gals are the best of the best; how can I feel defeated with all of this support?! Patti it sounds like you and I had similar damage; were you told you had permanant scarring? It gives me such hope to know that you were able to get your sleeve after suffering damage. And Tiffykins, I wholeheartedly agree, Dr Michel is worth his weight in gold. I found out that Dr M might get orders to MacDill soon, in about 6 months, so I really want to get my sleeve ASAP if I'm able to get one. I haven't met Dr Riley but I was told that he stood in to assist with my band removal so at least he's familiar with my case. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and I'm putting all my worries in God's hands! Bless you all and Thank you so much!

AutumnLily I'm so glad you were scared of the band; 5 years ago people weren't brave enough to tell the truth about the band. They were probably afraid they were the only one with a problem or they might have been told "It's your own fault" like my band doc told me. He told me I wasn't chewing enough; I asked him "How many times do I need to chew a protein shake?!". I've puked everyday for the last 4 years and 7 months and believe me I want to post advertisements on billboards to get the word out about the band. Congratulations on your success with the sleeve, you are doing fabulous! Thank you so much for your good thoughts and I'll update when I get scoped in 3 months. Until then keep workin' that sleeve!

Thank you all for the well-wishes; this board is such a blessing! I'm so sore today; they spent an hour inside me cutting out adhesions and scar tissue so I guess I should expect to be sore. Tiffykins and I share the same surgeon, Dr Michel; I trust his decision, he said that I may still have quite a bit of restriction due to the very narrow scarring (picture an hour glass). It is that narrow scarring that didn't leave enough tissue to create a sleeve; I'm praying that it will eventually stretch just enough to get a sleeve in there. It was the perfect set-up for an RNY with the pouch on top all they would have to do is cut off the narrow scarring, hook up the intestines then Voila! another nutritional deficiency case walking out the door. It sounds like Swizzly lives in a place of good values and common sense; I wish all bariatric surgeons would ban the band! And I can say my quality of life is much improved without the horrible GERD!! I will still be scanning this board looking for people who are trying to decide whether to get the band or sleeve, you can bet I'll be chiming-in with my opinion. Whether you all know it or not, you are my friends that I turn to for a pick-me-up; I know I can always count on being inspired by someone or something said on here so Thank You! I hope to be telling an inspirational story of my own someday (soon I hope).

April 4th at 11:20!!!

Hey, is there room for one more? My date is M NDAY April 4th (the day after tomorrow)!! I think I'm starting to freak out a little. I wasn't given a pre-op diet or any special prep other than "don't eat anything after midnight the night before surgery". I do have a lapband that has to be removed and I was told there is a possibility that I may have to have a second surgery to get my sleeve but I'm keeping my fingers crossed and staying hopeful that I can get it all in one operation. Good luck and Congrats to all!

This is such an encouraging post! I can't wait to be DE-banded and feel somewhat "normal" again. You're doing so great, keep up the good work and thanks for the inspiration!

I've jumped through all the hoops (and a few extra) and my date is Monday April 4th! I'm excited and scared. And there is a possibility I won't get my sleeve with this op; my lapband has to be removed and depending on the amount of damage it has done in the last 4.5 years I may have to wait 6-12 weeks to get sleeved. I'm really hoping and praying for everything to be done in one surgery. I wasn't given a pre-op diet so I'm doing my own quasi pre-op with shakes and Protein. I'm interested to know if anyone else has gone through a similar experience. Of course I've been driving myself crazy thinking about all the things that could go wrong but I try to remind myself that something could actually go "right"; it's just hard to believe after having the band. I can't wait to be on the losin' side!

Thank you for your reply; you addressed exactly what I was worried about...2 recoveries. I have two small children (and 1 bigger) and I'm worried about all the extra strain I'll be putting on my husband if things go badly. I'm soo glad to hear that the band removal recovery is better/easier. Your reply will help me sleep better tonight. Thanks again.

Congratulations!!!! Many prayers and lots of well-wishes to you and your growing family!

I think I'll post this in the insurance area Just wanted to see if anyone has found a way around this...I've been referred for a band removal (Big Surprise, NOT!). I was hoping to get referred to the nearest MTF so I could hopefully revise to the VSG because if I have to go civilian I can only get RNY due to the Dr they want to send me to. I will not even consider RNY, severe malabsorption, stricture risks, the five year failure rate, etc. it's just not for me. Help

Thank you so much for all the info. After A LOT of calling and talking I finally did succeed in getting an on-base referral. My base is only 30 mins away but some of our bariatric surgeons are deployed so they were kickin' us off base. I feel fortunate to have made it this far. However, my surgeon isn't exactly a pro at band to sleeve revisions; he's only done one BUT he is a very sincere, caring, and competent surgeon he's done lots of bypasses. He spent over an hour with me to answer all my questions, he even drew pictures for me to really grasp what he may encounter when he gets in there bc I've had my band for 4.5 years there may be too much damage to do a regular sleeve. Anyway, thanks again it means a lot to have a place to come to that offers so much support.

I think it is very likely it could be the Splenda especially if you are sensitive to sugars bc the amount of actual Splenda in one packet could fit on the tip of a pin. It is a very powerful sweetener. The bulk of what is in the packet is maltodextrin which is a sugar/starch made from corn that has been shown to AND will raise glucose.

Fan-freakin-tabulous!!! Wow, wow, wow!!!! You've gone beyond awesome...thanks for spreading hope and inspiration!