Sai

Wow what a great post. Although I have the sleeve, I love hearing about all WLS, especially when it's the new kid on the block. Thank you! The fact that you kept on your program and continued to lose weight is truly an inspiration.

@@Wayward Traveler Thank you, it's been quite a journey for me, first the lap band (2009), then the lap band to sleeve revision (just 2 months ago). I have to have restriction (cry hehe) which is why you're exceptionally inspirational to me. Keep up the great work!

No need to do that. I mean, you can but you don't have to. The science is sound. Purified Protein is nothing new, and because they add a mixture of enzymes to increase the bio-availablity, it is equivalent to 30g and a great product. Sorry for the nerd talk, but I've been a biochemist and purifying & analyzing Proteins for a very long time. Their competitors have been going on youtube and bodybuilding forums to try to slander them. Apparently people believe them but doctors know, NUTS know, which is why they often suggest GENEPRO. I've been using it from the beginning as my main Protein supplement and my protein labs are perfect every time.

Can put it in your coffee, broths and Soups, stews... Wherever. It's a great source of Protein and very versatile.

If you're located near Dallas. Have you tried Kim's Bariatric? They did all the paperwork for me, an on appeal, my revision was approved. I didn't have any health issues except high blood pressure. My insurance is BCBS of Texas too.

1) No, I kept the majority of the weight I lost off. I think I gained about a fourth of what I lost in total. The first 3 or 4 days after the unfill, I gained 17 lbs of just Water alone. Bleh. My average calories was similar to what it's been it's for 7 years (~1200 to 1500 calories). I was told this was normal due to being malnourished and dehydrated by having a too tight band for too long.
2) I had the band removal to sleeve in one step surgery. I was still in onederland when they suggested that I get a revision. They unfilled me that day. I remained unfilled for several months to let my esophagus and stomach rest before the surgery, which was done as an outpatient. (Easy recovery, btw)
3) Not much lost during 3 weeks pre-op, for the same reason I gained some of my weight back. My body was still adjusting and hung onto everything. Even on 800 cal pre-op, my body wouldn't budge! grrrr 4) 11 weeks post op revision: 36 lbs. lost

I had my lap band for 7 years and felt similar to you. I wrote about it in blog here just recently if you'd like to read it. I was mortified of having it unfilled and removed at first because it served me so well. I had my revision on Sept. 2, 2016. I was worried about the slower weight loss too but I am delighted with the speed I'm losing, especially because although I had gained some back due to being unfilled, I was still down the majority of my weight loss from my lap band. Think of it this way, if one eats 800 calories, and exercise a bit, they are going to lose weight, no way around that . I've lost six lbs a week in my first two weeks, total of 12 lbs. Sending you a *hug*. Hang in there and listen to your doctor.
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Same here. In 2009, the sleeve wasn't the "go to" surgery as it is today, but I believe just a first step towards a multi-stage procedure. If it was available back then, I'm pretty sure I would've gone for it but the marketing back then concerning the lap band was amazing. It wasn't till years later that the stories of complication arose.

@@LittleBill Study the clinical trials about prohydrolase and how enzymes help Protein absorption and make it more bioavailable. The point is, it doesn't matter if you eat 100000 g Protein if the majority of it isn't absorbed or if they spike it with crap. Several top protein companies have been sued for protein spiking, GENEPRO has not been one of them. There are other companies like Nutricia where 2 T equal 15 g of hydrolyzed collagen protein and yet it has tons of other ingredients like Malic acid, Glycerin and a zillion other things plus the protein... Yet it's only 2T. It's far too simplistic to debate on purely a weight to weight argument concerning protein. The gist is the stability of the protein and bioavailability, and many other complex factors.
Having said that, as I stated above, I am a nerdy scientist, and my day job is consulting Protein purification (mainly column chromatography) and analysis techniques, and I don't want to work on Christmas hehe... So I will stop here concerning GENEPRO. Believe what you want. ^^ Have a great and fun day <3.

@@Alex Brecher Thank you for the clinical trial link! I wish I could be part of it. I've been thinking of sending this past year's lab reports to show my total protein, albumin results to them.

My heart breaks for them. I want to hug them.

1) No, I kept the majority of the weight I lost off. I think I gained about a fourth of what I lost in total. The first 3 or 4 days after the unfill, I gained 17 lbs of just Water alone. Bleh. My average calories was similar to what it's been it's for 7 years (~1200 to 1500 calories). I was told this was normal due to being malnourished and dehydrated by having a too tight band for too long.
2) I had the band removal to sleeve in one step surgery. I was still in onederland when they suggested that I get a revision. They unfilled me that day. I remained unfilled for several months to let my esophagus and stomach rest before the surgery, which was done as an outpatient. (Easy recovery, btw)
3) Not much lost during 3 weeks pre-op, for the same reason I gained some of my weight back. My body was still adjusting and hung onto everything. Even on 800 cal pre-op, my body wouldn't budge! grrrr 4) 11 weeks post op revision: 36 lbs. lost

How hungry do you guys feel after 1 week of surgery? Is the hunger feeling totally gone?
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14 days post op here. Head hunger not totally gone, but real hunger, pretty much. Sometimes it's hard to figure out the difference but when you go to the kitchen to eat something, you automatically think "Nah, I don't feel like that." I was told that for awhile, one may feel hungry at first because when you're swollen, it sometimes mimics hunger. There is a video on youtube that covers that. Also an acidic stomach mimics hunger as well, so I have to make sure I take my antacid twice daily no matter what. While I may "think" I'm hungry from time to time, staying between 600-800 cal/day is unbelievably easy at this stage. Hope this helps.

I have been doing 16:8 or 12:12 throughout the past year or so. Good topic.

Everyday, sometimes more... For years now. I started when I got my lap band in 2009 and haven't stopped /cry. I use the app Libra to input my number every day. It is only for weight data and gives awesome stats.
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Maybe show them lots of before and afters, and some videos from Dr. Alvarez (I didn't go to him but I love his videos hehe), and also let them see the reviews?

Thank you for replying, and for the useful information, Susan!

I've been using GENEPRO for a long time, almost as my sole source, all my labs have been perfect (total Protein, Albumin/Globulin.. Etc). I couldn't find any independent data on the product as well, and have even wrote them. To purify Proteins through column chromatography is nothing new, nor is electrophoresis (I'm a Protein purification scientist) but I really wanted to see some data but to no avail. Maybe they are worried another company will copycat them (understandably) but at least I can go by my labs.
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Yeah, I thought about that too but I went ahead and had the revision done. I was very attached to my band. I thought exactly what you posted when I thought of a revision surgery. I know someone who had the bypass around the same time as my band, and now they are twice as heavy.
I initially went in for a fill since I've been traveling, working and moving, I hadn't seen a fill doctor for a couple of years since I was still doing well and losing with the level of Fluid I had. So when I finally made an appointment with my current bariatric center, just to check my Fluid level, and maybe get more added, they suggested the revision, and an unfill right then due to an enlarged esophagus (Too tight again, 2nd time for me). Gasp!
I wasn't a happy camper because I knew I was going to gain some weight back once they unfill me. No way, I just want a fill please. Um, no can do... Either rest my band for months again and get refilled & struggle to find that sweet spot again or rest my band and get a revision. That's why I opted for the revision so I wouldn't go through the weight gain-weight loss cycle again since I had a habit of being too tight. I was still working to get to goal again after my first enlarged esophagus episode.
I almost didn't go through with it. I'm happy with the results, the physical sensation that I get from the sleeve vs the band when I eat, as well as the weight loss results so far. I'm 24 days post-op and I'm down 22 lbs, and it's been relatively easy staying on program. Haven't thrown up or slimed yet. I guess from the band all these years, I know when to stop. That familiar pressure in the back of our throat... Stop or else. ^^
But, having said that, It is all very new to me though so check back in a few months lol.
Since you're at goal, does your doctor still want you to have a revision, do you have issues with your band? Either way, hope it works out for you.

It's been one year today since I had my sleeve done. My life has changed in every aspect.
My start weight was 333.1lbs
My weight this morning was 137.8lbs
That's a total loss of 195.3lbs!!
I've also lost a total of 95 inches...I'm a size 6 now...used to be a size 30.
I have accomplished this by being very focused and strict with my eating and exercise.
I eat very low carb, and always get in my Protein, Vitamins and Water every day.
For all of you just starting out, just know that anything is possible, and if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything!! 
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Maybe show them lots of before and afters, and some videos from Dr. Alvarez (I didn't go to him but I love his videos hehe), and also let them see the reviews?

Early in my lapband career I was able to buy a full-sized bag or tortilla chips or similar and weight out either one of one-half ounce and be happy. Then came the day when the amounts which fit nicely into my day's intake didn't work for me. I began to hit the bag again. And again. I tried buying multi-packs of one-ounce bags. I'd eat one packet and, lo!, go back for another and another. It took a while, but I finally arrived at a workable solution: I stopped buying tortilla chips and similar.
You're not overthinking. You're going in circles. Stop buying the crackers. Try again in the future, if you wish, but stop for now.

I can't have crackers in the house for the same reason.
You should make yourself some cheese crisps! You just melt some shredded cheese in a pan until it turns into little "crackers". Some stores actually sell them, too.

I took my first steps towards gastric sleeve in February of this year, 2016. The process was a bit of a nightmare, and I was denied by my insurance the first time around.
Once I did finally get my approval, it was so late in the year that I just knew that my surgery wouldn't be until January at the earliest. Which was very depressing because that would mean that my insurance out-of-pocket maximum would start over, and that would cost us thousands extra.
But my surgeon Dr. Shadle gave up his holiday vacation time to ensure that myself and many other patients got their surgeries before the end of the year. I cannot say enough good things about my surgeon. If any of you are in the Sacramento area, see if your insurance will work with Dr. Shadle. You won't be sorry you did.
I started my 2 week liquid diet on 12/14. It was pretty tough, but I knew what was at stake so I pushed through. Dr. Shadle even gave me permission to eat Proteins and vegetables for the Christmas holiday. That was great, but my body pretty much rejected it because I hasn't eaten in so long.
The night before the surgery I was so nervous and scared I could barely sleep. The next morning I paced around the house and sliced fruit for dehydration to keep my hands and mind occupied until it was time to go to the hospital.
The check in went smoothly and quickly, and before I knew it I was being wheeled back to the OR. The next thing I remember was waking up after the surgery. I was in sheer agony. Crying from the pain and desperately dry heaving. It took several hours for my pain to come down to a manageable level. Part of the pain was from the incisions themselves, and part of it was from the gas. The gas itself feels like a tight band around your chest, and it eventually settled in my shoulder. The gas pain has mostly subsided at this point.
Another aspect that I was not at all prepared for was how dry my mouth was. For the first 36 hours or so my mouth felt like sawdust, no matter if I just sipped Water or took an ice chip the moment before. This did eventually alleviate itself, thankfully.
One of the things they really monitored in the hospital was my liquid output (pee). Strangely enough, no matter how badly I felt like I had to go, it would only come out in a tiny trickle due to the fact that my insides were still asleep.
I was given a few doses of milk of magnesia to try to wake my bowels up, but to no avail. I also spent a good amount of time walking while I was in the hospital. It felt so good to get up and stretch out my torso.
I was released from the hospital yesterday morning. There was a bit of a kerfuffle with my prescriptions. I had thought that I couldn't pick them up until after the surgery, but they had apparently been sent over weeks beforehand, and to a different pharmacy than I thought. So by the time I got my pain meds, my pain was out of control again. I have oral dilauded for pain to take every 4 hours, but it wasn't taking the edge off. I was told I could take it every 2 hours until it was under control, but even then the pain wasn't receding. I finally sent my husband to the store to get some extra strength liquid Tylenol, and some milk of magnesia. I've found that taking 1 dilauded every 4 hours, and 30ml of Tylenol every 6 hours is the winning combination for me. The pain is still there but it is very manageable and I can move around without too much trouble. I have also found that putting a heat pad on my belly is very effective for helping me manage my pain.
I took a dose of milk of magnesia last night and finally had a bowel movement this morning! Tmi warning* it was completely liquid and did not cause any pain or discomfort at all.
I was technically supposed to start the "full liquids" stage of the post op diet yesterday, but I was too scared to try with all the pain I was in already. I just stuck with water, and a few sips of a pomegranate flavored bariatric Protein Drink (clear). This morning (12/30) I was actually feeling pretty good, so I tried about 1/4 cup or so of cream of chicken Soup. Took me about 30 minutes to get it down, and I have about 15 more minutes before I can start sipping liquids again to take my pills. It went down very well. There was one sip that I took a little too quickly that caused a little pain, but other than that there was no issue.
In addition to the dilauded and Tylenol, I also have zofran (nausea), colace (stool softener), pantropazole (anti-acid/reflux), and Vitamin D (because I'm deficient). This is on top of the daily Vitamin regimen that we are required to do. If you are reading this and don't already have one, I HIGHLY recommend getting a pill organizer. I have a 7 day, morn/noon/eve/bed organizer. It's a little bulky, but it is so very helpful.
I started my pre-op diet at 343 pounds. The morning of my surgery I was 326, and I am currently at about 325. I expect this will continue to go down as my swelling recedes.
I will be posting to this blog as often as I can, mostly for my own records so I can look back and see my progress.
Of course any comments, input, or tips are most welcome
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@@vegbeth - I was cleared to go back to gym after 4 weeks. I just did light workouts for two weeks and then week 6 started kicking things up. I worked with my NUT to make sure my diet was adequate for the extra work. I only increased my weights 10% per week until I hit failure and then would wait two weeks to check if I could do 10% more.
This will go by like a flash. The hardest part was week three with mush. I hate eating that slow, and had to use a plate warmer to keep my food less than horrible. But it was important to teach my stomach to eat again.

You're absolutely right. It is a tool that does not go away just because someone loses focus. I got more "comfortable" with my diet around maybe 2 years post op, and that is a slippery slope. I was able to regain focus and lose the 15 pounds I regained. I didn't do any "reset" or "diet" necessarily. I just returned to the basics. It's amazing to me how cutting out the simple carbs and increasing Protein makes you feel fuller longer and even in the days after you feel more restriction, have more energy, better motivation, etc. It's a cycle either in a positive or negative way. For me, most of it is a mental/emotional battle, and getting myself in the right place with my coping mechanisms.