GalleyGal

Me too!!!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Me 3! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

In t-minus 9(ish) hours I will be wheeled in to get this dreadful contraption out of me and my tummy will be transformed into a sleeve. I was banded in December 2009 and about 8 months ago began feeling the worst I've ever felt. Nothing would stay down, not even Water. I have since heard similar stories multiple times. After a few months of appointments and waiting on insurance I'm finally heading in to surgery. I'm excited, scared, nervous, happy... all kinds of emotions are going through me right now. I was very successful with the band. Started at a lower BMI and ultimately lost about 60 pounds when I was at my lowest of 132. I never thought I would let myself gain weight again. I had my amazing son and just couldn't get those last 10 pounds off then the band slipped and I went down hill from there. Since having it unfilled in November, while the dr was trying to do and EGD and couldn't get the scope through, I have gained 25 pounds! I knew I would gain some, going from eating nothing to pretty much all I wanted, but I've gained more than I thought. I now know for sure that this is the best choice for me. I need this tool, I can't do it alone. I'm not worried about portions or not eating like I have the last few months, I loved the band. I love taking a couple of bites and being satisfied. I'm ready to get to that feeling again. I'm most worried about the pain. But I keep telling myself it's just temporary, I will heal and I will begin this second weight loss journey, no looking back now! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the band to sleeve revision too. My surgery was on feb 16. I had to do the preop diet for 2 weeks prior. I have lost a total 17 pounds since 2/2 . I started at 242 preop , 233 day of surgery and 224 as of today 2/25. Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App Niya0216 how did you feel after surgery? I've been told since it's a revision that the main is worse due to the removal of the band and port along with scar tissue. Any issues after surgery? Good job at the weight loss so far!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My band to sleeve revision is scheduled for 3/2 and I'm going to have to pay my $750 deductible plus the 15% coinsurance. I'm going to be out of pocket about $3,500. But all worth it for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Great post... I gave up aspartame 6 years ago when I realized that's what was giving me some serious tummy trouble. I stick with stevia and there are more and more things coming out without artificial sweeteners. When I do need something sweet I do all natural sugars. Of course that's not sugar free but it's also more natural than aspartame and doesn't upset my tummy. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

No my insurance didn't require a diet trial. Thank goodness, are you having to do one? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm having a band to sleeve revision on the 2nd! It was supposed to be 2/23 but it was rescheduled due to a death in the family this week and the Drs schedule. I'm so excited to get this done! I'm a lower bmi so I only have to do a week on the pre-op diet of Protein shakes and 1 small meal a day until the day before with only liquids. I'm ready to focus on me again and take care of myself. I have a 2 yr old I need to be healthy for! Good luck everyone else! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Well the Drs office called to reschedule my surgery from tomorrow (Tuesday) to Wednesday. With the funeral on Thursday I knew there would be absolutely no way to make it since I would be released on Thursday from the hospital. Luckily they can get me in next week! So it all worked out. Now I can focus on being with family and getting ready for surgery next week. What a relief. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi y'all! I'm so happy I remembered this forum. I was banded back in 2009, I have had pretty good success until the last 6-8 months. I would go days without even keeping water down then one day I could eat anything but back to nothing the next day. I finally was miserable enough to get a consult and my band had slipped. I was unfilled in November when the dr tried to do an egd and couldn't even get the scoop through. Since then I've gained about 20lbs, I knew I would gain some weight going from throwing everything up to actually eating. Luckily my insurance has approved my revision and I have surgery scheduled Tuesday. My grandmother passed away last night and it looks like the funeral is going to be on Thursday. My question is how was your pain 2 days postop? My mom is the only one that knows I'm having surgery and doesn't want me to reschedule since it took so long to get in. I know the added stress of the funeral isn't going to help but I have to be there. Any advice? I'm so ready for the revision and to begin my weight loss journey again. I only have about 35lbs to hit my goal, praying this works.

Just wondering if anyone else is going through the same thing as me... I had surgery on 11/5/09, and I've lost 25lbs, which I'm super happy about. BUT, I've only lost one pant size. It's great to feel my old jeans big, but then I put on a size smaller and they fit just right, not loose, but good. I would have thought 25lbs would have been at least 2 sizes. I started at 191lbs, so I know I don't have a lot more to loose, but if 25lbs is one size, then is the next 25lbs only going to be one more size? Just feeling a little frustrated and disscouraged right now. I really want to go to the mall and slide right into a pair of cute skinny jeans. What was your ratio of weight loss to size loss?

Hey y'all, I fly all the time, I'm a flight attendant!! :confused: I try to pack all my food as much as I can so I don't get stuck eating the 'evil' and over priced airport food. I always have sliced turkey and cheese with me, you should be able to bring the bag of tuna through security since it doesn't have the Water in it, and you can always find some mustard or mayo to mix with it at one of the fast food places in the airport. Bananas are great to take with me. I also pre measure my protien powder into little snack ziplocks and just put that into a half of a bottle of water after drinking the first half. Also I usually have cheerios with me for Breakfast or oatmeal and you can always ask the flight attendant for milk or hot water, or buy it in the terminal. I have heard from a few people to not eat or drink while on the plane since the air pressure will affect your band, but I haven't been filled yet, so I've been able to eat and drink small amounts while in the air. I don't know what I'm going to do if the band does expand while in the air and I'm not able to eat on my long flights, I'm going to be starving!! Hope this helps some.

I am so happy I stumbled across the thread. Lastnight I was feel so sorry for myself, as I'm sure most of us have felt, I'm almost 3 weeks postop and I'm not feeling any restriction right now. I'm getting filled next week, so I can't wait for that. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in the "bandster hell".

Hi Homewith2, I was banded on Nov. 5th with a BMI of 34.5. I am extreamly happy that I was banded. I've lost around 15 pounds so far. I get my first fill on Dec. 2nd and I can't wait because I've gottten to a point where I feel like I can eat more now. I'm sure a lot of the swelling has gone down and the little weight I've lost has helped with the decreased restriction. I'm looking forward to the restriction a fill will give me. Good luck, and I think the jitters are normal. Even the first couple days after getting the band I had doubts on if I should have done it or not, but I think it was the pain and meds talking. I'm very happy now. Good Luck!!!!

Another point to make and question.. does anyone know about the tax breaks for surgery and how exactly that works? I keep on hearing something about 7.5% of your income but I don't know anything about taxes. I heard that there was a tax break too, but I'm not exactly sure what or how it works. That would help so much to know I can claim $12,000 on my taxes!!!

Just have to say that I love that someone posted this. I got banded 2 weeks ago, and had a bmi of around 35. I'm 5'2 1/2" (always thought I was 5"3' until my first consult), and started at 191. I decided to have the surgery becuase I know that with out it after marriage, kids, life, I know I would have gradually put on weight and I didn't want to wake up one morning and have a bmi of 45 instead of 35. I would have been far worse off than I am now if I would have waited. I felt I needed to take my life and weight into my own hands, and I did!!! I have already lost 13lbs, and right now I'm around the weight that I couldn't get past on diets on my own. I would always get here, get stuck and gain the weight back. I'm excited to get past this point. I'm very optimistic about this surgery and I'm looking forward to reaching my goal of 135lbs, and a healthy bmi!!

Hi everyone, it's so nice to see that there are so many of us self-payers. I had my first consultation on Oct. 19 and found out that the company I work for as a WLS exclusion on our insurance so that was out from the beggining. I still set my surgery date and figured I would figure it out before then. Through many prayers and an amazing mother and grandmother, I had surgery Nov. 5. I am so happy I did it. Now it's time to worry about paying back the 2 small loans I got and the money I borrowed from my grandma, but I know with God I will be able to get it done. I'm 2 weeks post-op and sooooo happy I did this. I have already lost 13lbs, and I'm looking forward to the contiued weight loss I know is going to come. My mom was banded about 5 years ago and ended up having severe problems, her dr was horrible and didn't really care that she couldn't keep anything down (she would throw up everything that she tried to eat) since she didn't have insurance. After about a year of pain, vomiting, and just not doing good, she finally found a dr that would help her. She had a slipped band, and part of her stomach died, so they HAD to do the sleeve. I'm not saying this to scare anyone, but if you ever have a problem please get it checked out. By that time she had insurance so the dr went in and took out her gall bladder and did the sleeve, and since he took the gall bladder it was covered. After all that she doesn't regret getting banded, and is very happy and supportive that I made the decision to do this. Good luck to everyone else here!! It would be great to have a self payers forum to vent about our money problems since this is a very expensive, life changing experience.

Hi Deb, I was banded on 11/5, and I had a rough first few days too. I didn't really feel my self till probably day 4 or 5, I got out for a few hours on day 4 and got really really tierd. I'm not 11 days post op and I'm still sore, but I feel good. You'll be fine, good luck!!!!

Hi Snow, Congrats on your new band, this is such an exciting adventure isn't it. I felt the gas pains in my chest, shoulders and back for about 4 days, thank goodness that's gone. After about day 5 I was starving too, my stomach was growling and I was truly feeling hungry. I had tons of yogurt, pudding, applesauce, sugarfree popsicles, I got wonton soup and didn't eat the wontons so I could atleast think I was eating a real meal. After my first full week I felt great so I asked if I could go ahead and move on to mushies. I didn't throw anything up and everything was staying down, so now I'm happy to be on mushies for a couple of weeks.

Thanks for all of your responses, I feel more normal now.

I hope this is normal since so many of us are feeling it.

Hey women, I was wondering if anyone had issues with your cycle right after getting banded. I'm sure the surgery does a number on our systems, but immediately after the surgery I started my period again just for the day. Then today, 1 week postop, I started again. I'm on birth control and I did take a couple of my pills late this week, but I've never experienced this. Do you think it could be from the surgery, anesthesia maybe?

Hey everyone! I was banded last thursday and I've already lost 12 pounds, very happy. I feel great now, still a little sore in my tummy, like I did 1000 crunches, but other than that I'm good. I'm able to keep down all my liquids, yogurt, pudding, etc., but everytime I eat or drink anything I get a couple of hic-ups and burp a little, it's almost like a combination of a hic-up and a burp. Anyone else get this feeling?