slikchik10

I totally understand about my "default" and heading to the plus area. This weekend I went eyeballing some shapeware and decided to try on a couple of dresses that were in a size I've never seen in my life. I was amazed, I looked great!!!! It really finally hit me that I don't even need to entertain the idea of plus sizes anymore. Still am working on accepting this....so, I wish ya luck.

As a person that was revised FROM a band TO a sleeve, I would suggest you check out BOTH the sleeve forums and band forums for information. Also, there is a section in the sleeve forums that those of us that have gone through the revision process post discussions about our journey of change. Each of these areas have people with veterans (long time experience) as well as folks that are fitting your physical description and concerns. Do a search in each of these areas and you'll find previous posts discussing things. I hope this helps. Good luck making your decision. I'm guessing you have guessed what advice I would give....

When I read the OP the first thought I had was "sounds like me." I see the pounds down on the scale. I see and feel my clothes becoming looser (I've had seasonal closet purge going on for a while). But, no matter how many times I hear "wow, you look great!" or "you're getting so little" I just don't always see it. My "fat girl brain" has never been at this place before so what I see in the mirror is not always the same as what others are seeing. I was talking with a close friend the other day (she's about 10yrs. post WLS) and mentioned this to her. She said it took her a few years of being at her set point for the image SHE sees in the mirror to match what others see. I think this is all part of our healing process; coming to terms with the new us. Just my 2 cents. :-)

I'm 7 mos. out from my revision surgery and it has been great! I had a very easy time with recovery. The procedure was probably a couple of hours and included a hernia repair as well as the removal/revision. Stick to the diet plan and you'll do well. Good luck!

Mine was just a couple of hours. It included band removal, hernia repair and sleeve. From what my dr. said prior to surgery it will just depend on what is found once inside. I know I'm not the typical and things have gone very well for me.

Domik03, I'm not sure about Kaiser (CO) but I'm Kaiser (CA) and since I was having a problem with the band, they covered the removal. But to cover the revision I had to attend the 12 wks. of education classes as if I were a new WLS patient. Did I care...nope! It got me the revision needed. Good luck.

I'm down 53 lbs. since May, but does it really matter the speed of weight loss as long as it is coming off? I've been slow and steady. The holidays were a tough one, but I didn't gain. Now, I refocus and plow on. Just food for thought. Good luck! My Stats: HW:248 SW:218 CW:165

Hey there. I had a band back in 2007 and was down 60 lbs. 2 yrs. later I began having reflux issues and had gained 30 lbs. back. Now, by 2012 I was told the band should come out because it was causing all my stomach issues as well as my esphogus beginning to become stretched. So, May of 2013 I had a revision....and for me, my results have been how I expected the band to work. I'm a weight I've not seen in 30 yrs. and a size I've never known in a woman's body! Yes, it was a scary thought at first but then I thought about the decision to be banded...it was about being healthy and living a long life and what I was dealing with pre-band and post band were not making that happen. Are there risks, YES! But, I was willing to do it because I could see what my future could be looking at my family's health. My mother is only 20 yrs. older than me (66) and she can't walk the mall, can't climb stairs, etc. because of her weight. She just had her first grandchild but she'll never be able to play on the floor with him, fling him around...you know, all those wonderful things a kid should have with grandma. In fact, she might not be here beyond his 10th birthday. THESE things pushed me toward doing this revision. You review and contemplat ALL your options...you could just have it removed...that was the option given to me. However, be honest with yourself (very honest)....will that be enough or will you still need a tool to help keep off the weight long term? Hugs and best of luck in making your decision. Annette

I would suggest a couple of things: 1) embrace the plan. As band patients, when things went bad the tendency was to just give up the meal plan. This time, really stick to the plan. It has helped keep my loss steady. 2) exercise, yes...it must happen. :-). I hate it, but I do it. Now, it might be just walking, it might be Zumba, but I've decided that (for me) it is a must. (To me, it is my job and I must do it...3-4 times a week). Find what you like...then just do it. 3) support, support, support. Whether here online or a local group that meets, but having buddies to share the experience with is a great piece for success. You'll do great! Best of luck!

Ok, gonna be ugly for a moment.....but we're you expecting magic results?!? Your just 3 weeks out. This means you're in the middle of healing and recovering. Give yourself a break! Keep in mind this is a LONG TERM thing, not a "poof it's gone" process. If you can't be happy with ANY loss, then this process will be hard. Cut yourself a break for pity's sake. I'm 7 mos. out, 53 lbs. down and at a weight & size I've not seen in 30 years!! This has not come in big chunks, it's been a pound here and a pound there...from the beginning! My first month was NOT my biggest loss...just slow and steady. Find something each day to be grateful for each day/week. It can be a NSV or not. OH, and don't compare your journey to others you read about on here!!!! There might be some similarities but it's still YOUR journey and there will be differences that are unique to you. Sorry to be a bit harsh, but in the words of Cher in Moonstruck "Snap out of it!!" This is not a "sprint" to goal but a "marathon." Hugs and good luck. :-)

Caity, congrats on your revision. My revision was back in May after 6 yrs w/the band. (4 of those yrs. dealing with the probs of my band). I completely agree w/Laura V. 1) I've found the adjustment to having a sleeve a bit easier because of some things I learned having a band. However, there will still be things that are different. For example, the feeling of full is different now than before and there are no such things as PBs. 2) Feeling bleh is part of the transition through the food stages. I was so ready for July when I could actually eat REAL food, no Soup or mush. Granted it was tee tiny amounts, but...it was real! :-) Take this time of ease to really focus on embracing the change. Build up YOU. Best of luck! Annette

Aw sweetie, it does get better. I was a revision from band to VSG and my Dr. discovered a hiatal hernia once he got in and repaired it. My bounce back was a bit longer than I anticipate but it DID happen. My surgery was in May and I was never so glad to see July in my life. Finally, normal food....smaller amounts, but no soup or mush. The change in the beginning is tough but it is a great time to work on YOU. Use it and find one thing each day to be grateful for...(remember Oprah's gratitude journal idea). Those small items will get you through the rough spells. Best of luck!

I'm a revision gal. Banded in Mar of '07, revised in May 2013. BEST decision I've made. I'm down 52 lbs and am in a size I've not seen in 30 yrs. I feel like my revision results are what I hoped for when I chose the lapband. I will say that I think the thing that has had the most impact on my results for me is the change I had made by having the band. Completing the lifestyle change hasn't been as difficult as I was expecting. I still have some struggles, but the 'grieving' of food hasn't been as bad I thought it would be because of the many changes made by having the band. Best of luck to all of those revisionists. Work the plan, love the plan, BE the plan.

Hey there. I'm a kaiser gal that had surgery in May. My understanding is once you qualify, your in, no matter what your weightloss prior to the surgery. I was a revision patient and didn't lose a whole bunch pre surgery. However, the pre surgery diet is really about preparing you in a couple of ways. 1) are you committed to the change in lifestyle? Losing weight prior to surgery begins you on a path for continued success. 2) prepping the body for surgery. To complete the surgery your liver needs to downsize and losing weight prior to surgery will do this. It's like a win-win! I would think if you still desire the surgery, then it will still be a go. Just my 2 cents. :-)

Thought I'd jump in here and say this: It works, it finally works! I was banded back in Mar of 2007 and was removed/revised in May 2013. Finally I am seeing what I had hoped the lapband would do for me. With the band I lost 60, but with the reflux & other problems I had, I regained 30. Now I'm down 53 since May and LOVING it! I haven't seen this weight in 25+ yrs. and I've never been this size. I realize I'm in the honeymoon phase, but I'm sticking to the plan, making changes and MAKING sure this WLS is a success. Just work the plan, stay focused and it will work! I was talking with a colleague this past week and she pointed out that I'd not only NOT gained weight over Thanksgiving, but I'd lost a couple of pounds...how cool is THAT?! So, good luck fellow revisionists! Be bold, be of good cheer and know there are many of us out here enjoying our success. :-)

Hey, I'm at 6 mos. also and I'm only down 52 lbs. I really don't care about the speed of loss, just that I'm losing. But, could it be that you're not getting in enough calories for what you're doing each day? I had to up things to get things moving again when I had a stall. I've got about 25-30 lbs to go and I'm trying to find a balance with calories in & calories out to maintain the loss w/no stalls. We've done well so don't beat yourself up. We're in this together. :-)

I usually don't post much, but I do read the wonderful things so many of you share on this site. However, today...I want to share my mini victory. I had lapband surgery back in Mar. 2007. I was hoping this would help with losing the weight I needed to lose. Well, 6 yrs. later (after 4 yrs. of band problems) I was able to have my band removed and a revision to a VSG on 5/20/13. When I began this leg of the weightloss journey, many folks I knew asked "what size" I wanted to be and I usually told them I didn't really know because the lowest size I can remember ever being with a "woman's body" (boobs & butt) was a size 14. So, today I offically (and comfortably) wore a size 12 to church! I know I'm only 6 mos. into this, but I just had to share with someone that would understand how huge (pun intended) this would feel. Thanks for all the encouragement so many of you provide to those of us that tend to lurk more than participate in the discussions. Thanks, Annette HW: 248 SW: 218 CW: 165 (Pics: Black shirt--HW(2007), White shirt--2 days before surgery(May), Full length--current)

YAY for you!! I had my revision 5/20/13. THE best decision I could have made after 6 yrs w/the band (4 of those yrs. dealing with complications). I am now a weight & size I've not seen in 20+ yrs. I tell people this is what I had hoped the band would do for me. I'm the "turtle"...slow ands ready will win the race. So, good luck and best wishes!

Is this not the most AWESOME feeling?!?! Kudos to you!

I was sleeved 5/20 and when I hit the stall moments I take a look at what's happening to my body. Are my clothes fitting better, etc.? Also, I check my totals via MFP. Then I ask "am I as careful as I can be with my food?" I know for me I have to be brutally honest about this and adjust accordingly. Also...am I moving enough? To me the food & movement are like a delicate balance that helps me be successful. I hope this helps...good luck,

Ok, I'm jumping in with a few thoughts. First, I'm a revision from band to sleeve 5/20/13. I had my band for 6 yrs, suffering from band complications for 4 yrs. until I was able to get this revision (reason is a long story). Anyhoo, for me....the outcome I am having with my sleeve is what I had expected the band to do for me but did not. I have healed well, weight coming off slowly, but surely and eating items that used to stick in my band aren't a problem. Now, all that said...I do look at this as a 2nd chance for me to be totally committed to a lifestyle change. I think that having the band prior to this allowed me to skip through the "food grieving" stage that happens after WLS. I have only experienced dumping as stomach cramping (and it has only happened 2x) and my sleeve helps me feel "full," which never truly happened w/ the band. And that feeling is difficult to explain, but seriously....full is full and lasts for a mighty long time. I am determined to make better eating choices but I am not giving up everything...just working on moderation. For example, I have love for dark chocolate and have been able to do a square about once a week. Well...recently a friend gave me a bag of dark chocolate salted caramels. I figured I would do a ball once in a while. WRONG! Those things are KRYPTONITE!!!! So, no caramels for me...no will power in relation to those. Making those type of decisions have been vital to my success. So, the revision question....that's really up to you and how you want to live life. For me, as many say..."I'd do it all again." I love all the blessings it has brought to my life at this moment. I have not been this size/weight in 20+ yrs. My goal is to live a long, happy, healthy life. Best of Luck