Barbwired

I guess I'm lucky, I use artificial sweeteners all the time with no issues at all. Didn't realize how lucky I was I guess. :-)

Hello, I just had a conversion from band to sleeve September 21st. I was banded in 2010 and loved it and did really well until a few years ago when the GERD became unbearable. They removed the fluid from my band first and I had to wait about 6 months to get the surgery and I gained 40 pounds, the result of no restriction and not being able to work out because my gym closed due to Covid. Yes, I know I could have worked out on my own but I'm not good at that at all LOL. I've been doing fitness boot camp for years and it's the only thing that works for me. I need a coach to crack the whip, otherwise I tend to just stay on the couch. The surgery was much easier than I thought it would be and GERD has not been a problem, but I am still on Omeprazole. It's too bad you can't have the revision all at once rather than having two surgeries, but it sounds like you're doing the right thing. I think this is pretty common now and most people do really well. My weight loss has been slow, partly because of my age (60) and because I still haven't been back to the gym, it's open again but I still don't think it's safe to go. Unfortunately for me if I don't work out every day I just don't lose weight. It's always been that way for me. I am glad I had the revision though and I'm trying to figure out a way to get my workouts in on my own. I'll get there! I wish you luck on your journey, I'm sure you'll do well and I'm sure you're making the right decision!

I love these Wasa Crispbreads. Only 20 calories each and they're really yummy with a little melted cheese on top. Great way to have a snack and satisfy my crunchy salty cravings. Also makes for a nice lunch with some tuna or chicken salad on top. They also come in other flavors like rye, flax seed, sourdough etc. but this one is my favorite.

I am getting my revision from band to sleeve on Monday, September 21st. There was no problem with the insurance covering it but I had to go through the whole program again like I did with the band so it took months. Then Covid hit and all surgeries were postponed so it's been a long wait. I got my band in 2010 and loved it and did really well, but a couple of years ago I started getting horrible GERD that was caused by the band. They had to take all the fluid out and since then I've put back on 40 pounds and I'm miserable. The fact that my gym closed and I couldn't go to my usual exercise class everyday didn't help either. I'm pretty sure your insurance will cover it, but it might take awhile if they make you go through the whole program again like they did with me. Good luck!

I really need your help. I got a lapband in 2010. It was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, I lost 100 pounds and life was good. Then the acid reflux started. It was hell on earth. I woke up chocking in the middle of the night and spent several months sleeping in a chair. They finally had to take all of the fluid out of my band and the reflux is better but not totally gone. I don't have to sleep in a chair now at least, but without the fluid in my band and my gym closing (I was going 5-6 days a week) I've put on 40 pounds and I'm miserable. I had been on track to convert to a sleeve, but now I'm on here reading about people with the sleeve still having reflux problems. I can't go through that again so might consider a bypass instead but it terrifies me. I'm so afraid of the whole dumping syndrome thing and I like a glass of wine occasionally and I'm afraid I'll never be able to do that again. I would love to hear from all and any of you who have had a bypass and if you're happy about it or not. I'm beside myself trying make this decision and I would really appreciate any advice any of you can give me. Thank you so much in advance.

I don't know how you do it, you're a stronger person than I am! If I can't eat it, I can't cook it LOL!

I'm sorry but is there some reason why your husband can't cook for now until you're ready to eat solid foods again? It DOES seem very cruel that you have to cook what you can't eat. Again I'm sorry but that's just not fair at all to you.

I loved my band and lost over 100 pounds but a couple of years ago I started getting horrible GERD so they removed all of the fluid from my band, and then Covid hit so I couldn't go to the gym and I've put back on 40 pounds and I'm miserable. They're going to remove the band and hopefully do the sleeve in the same surgery.

I should clarify; Had a band in 2010 and getting a revision to sleeve on 9/21.

I'm scheduled for 9/21. Terrified and excited all at the same time!

Thanks Sandra. Great job on your weight loss! :-)

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Thanks for sharing your story and I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. I'm crossing my fingers for you that things get better. Sending positive vibes your way!

I also had the lap band 10 years ago and loved it. I lost over 100 pounds and life was good until the gastric reflux started. It got so bad I was aspirating stomach acid into my lungs and I had to sleep in a chair. They removed all of the fluid from the band and the reflux went away and then I started on the track to get a revision to a sleeve. It seemed to me that I shouldn't have had to gone through the whole program for approval again but I did. I'm now waiting to get my surgery date finally after 6 months, which was probably a little longer because of Covid. Unfortunately having the band deflated and my gym closing (I was working out like crazy and now I've just stopped) I've gained a ton back. I'm so frustrated. Hoping to get the sleeve in 4-6 weeks, fingers crossed.

So has this been your experience?

Hello All, Hoping someone who has gone through a gastric band revision to a gastric sleeve can help me. I got the band 10 years ago and for awhile it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I lost 100 pounds and I was working out every day and life was good. Then the reflux started. So bad I spent months sleeping in a chair because lying in bed made me choke with all the stomach acid coming up. They took all the fluid out of my band and now I'm on track to get the band removed and get a gastric sleeve. Very worried about going to a hospital in the middle of the pandemic, but I'm going to be 60 soon and they're telling me that it's pretty much now or never. I'm hoping someone here who has had the experience with a band conversion to a sleeve can give me some advice about how different it is, or if it's similar and how much harder it is than the initial surgery. If there is no one on here who has had a conversion I'd also like to hear from people who got the sleeve and if they'd do it again. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Thank you Barbara. Great job with your weight loss!

Thanks Ann! So glad to hear you're doing well.

No, this is all new. I will discuss it with him tomorrow.

Wow, thank goodness my insurance is paying. Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I meet with my surgeon tomorrow, wish me luck!

Thank you for your good advice. I'm seriously considering the bypass now, even though I was dead set against it just a few days ago. Good luck to you and thanks again!

Thanks Rhonda, so sorry to hear about the tough time you're having. I started out dead set against getting the bypass, but now I'm second guessing everything and thinking that's the route I might go. I can't bear the thought of spending my life having to sleep in a chair because of my GERD. I don't think people who have never had it understand how bad it is at all. I'm meeting with my surgeon on Tuesday and have a lot of questions for him. Good luck to you, I hope things get better for you!

Thank you all so much!

Thanks, all good suggestions but I am already on a PPI, have been for years and when my band was full and my reflux was at its worst it didn't touch it. I have also had endoscopy, no hernia. The refulx is just a horrible side effect of the band and my fear is that I'll have the same issues with a sleeve.

Oh boy, so sorry to hear about this and thanks for sharing. I am thinking long and hard.