BabyGirl2730

Thank You all so much for this info!! I have looked everywhere to find out how to go from the band to the sleeve. I was banded in July 2010 at Ft. Lewis, WA and since then have only lost 52 pounds. I have had so many issues with the band and most of my weight loss has come from it starving me to the point I couldn't get fluid down even ended up in the ER a few times. I vomit ALL the time usually with every meal, I'm lucky if I can get down a couple spoon fulls not to mention the blood that I have been vomitting up. I finally had to have ALL my fluid taken out and still have these issues even after the fluid has been out for about 5 months. I really wish I would have taken my surgeons advice and gone with the sleeve to begin with. I see a off post surgeon because they don't have anyone at the base I am at that will even touch me becuase there is no one that is certified in this field here and was hoping to get approved to have the band removed and the sleeve done in it's place. Please keep me posted if anyone gets any news and is able to have this approved!!

Wow, am I understanding this correctly...Tricare doesn't cover the sleeve? I do know they do it on military bases, which is where I was banded but I have had SO many problems with my band that I was considering having it removed and going with the sleeve instead. Has anyone heard if it has been approved through a civilian provider yet?

I know these post are older but I just have to say thank you for all these comments. I'm 6 days post op and just want to cry. Keep asking myself if I will ever be able to eat normally in a sense again. I have family members who have had this surgery as well and some say they can tolerate one thing but not another. I love steamed rice, I love banana nut bread and I'm half italian so yes I love pasta and to think that I would never be able to have any of this ever again was driving me bonkers. LOL I'm glad to see that some can still eat these things even if it's just a bite or two. I think I might wait about 6 months out before trying, then I should be healed and might be able to tolerate it. Right now I feel sick, I can't even get down all the liquids they want me too and can't seem to stay hydrated. I also HATE most soups so I'm getting to that point where I just want to sleep until my mushy stage and then the real food stage. LOL All your comments have given me a postive outlook that things will get better and I will have more of a normal way of life again, it just takes time So thank You, been a great help!!!!!

I'm pre-op and need to drop 10 pounds for surgery. The doctor said to go on a all liquid diet and I'll drop weight quick but didn't give me any ideas in what fluids to do. Anyone have any advice how I can drop 10 pounds quick???? Any help or advice is welcome.....:thumbup:

If anyone is in WA state please let me know if you are having problems because I have the numbers to call... You should never have to go through submitting any paper work if you are at a military base that does the surgery. If you have to be sent out to a civilian hospital for the surgery I'm not sure then. I had the easiest process ever. Never had to write any letters or anything of that nature like I have heard some people talk about. it took about 3 months for my number to come up for the pathway but once I started the pathway it only took me about 2-3 weeks to get through the pathway. Now I'm just waiting on my appt with the surgeon next week to let him know what surgery I'd like and to schedule my surgery date... If I can help anyone in my area please let me know, I know how it feels to be lost in the beginning!!! :tongue2:

I don't mean to butt in on your conversation but my husband is military and we are stationed in WA. I am actually at the end of my pathway and getting ready to see the surgeon next week to set my surgery date. The steps I took were very easy and should be for you, if you are near a military base that provides the surgery. I never once had to write any letters to tricare or anyone. All I did was go to my primary care doctor on post and she put in what they said was a referral. You go to this huge meeting at the hospital with a group of other people (which you need to get there early because the whole process is first come first serve) and listen to the surgeon and plastic surgeon give a conference on the different types of surgery and what all everything intels. When you show up and sign in your name automatically will be put on a list. The waiting time for me to start my pathway was about 3 months. You will go through mandatory classes which I completed in 2 weeks then you will see a shrink and do a personality test that can take up to 4 hours. you go back in a few days to a week to get the results and then from there you will make you appt with the surgeon and at that initial appt you will schedule you surgery date which is usually out about a month. As long as you have a BMI of 40 or 100 pounds over weight OR you have a BMI of at least 36 and health issues such as high blood pressure you should have no problems. I have a BMI of 38 and I have blood pressure and had no problems what so ever through the whole process, I never once had to even deal with tricare. I'm not sure what steps you have taken but if you go to you doctor and have them put in the referral you should have no issues. I hope that I've been able to help :tongue2:

new to this site....I just finished my pathway, not sure if everyone has to go through one but the military makes it a requirement. I will see the surgeon in a couple weeks to schedule my surgery date, looking at sometime in July more than likely. I was just wondering what the whole pre-diet consists of? I know that some surgeons have different pre-diets....would like to get an idea of what I'm in for :redface: