Becca

I had a very similar glitch happen to me. It was so frustrating! Just know that the sleeve is worth waiting for. You can take this time to mentally prepare for your journey. While I was waiting, I watched Youtube videos of sleeve journeys to help me pass the time. I know it's hard to wait, but all good things in life are...Hugs!

I do have excess skin, but it is still all worth it. I wear Spanx to help. I will take my health and energy over saggy skin any day.

Thanks everyone! I really do love this forum.

Congrats!!!

Hi VST family, It's hard to believe that a year ago I had a revision from the band to the sleeve. I never could have imagined how amazing life would be after the pain I went through with the band. The sleeve has given me restriction, health, and happiness. I finally feel like myself. I have lost a total of 91 pounds in the past year with the sleeve and 133 pounds total with both surgeries. I weigh in at 153. I am four pounds from a normal weight. I was hoping to be at a normal BMI by my surgiversary today, but my body didn't cooperate. LOL I WILL get there though! My ultimate goal is to weigh 143, which is half of where I started on my journey with the lapband over four years ago. I do have pretty bad hanging skin issues on my stomach, which I am hoping to one day correct. Other than that, life is great. It is so nice to have control over my food issues. Shopping is so much fun! People tell me I am like an entirely different person. I guess it is true. I am living life now, instead of being depressed because of my size. I am so thankful to all the wonderful friends I have met here. I would never have had the courage to have my revision if it weren't the support of all my sleeve sisters and brothers here. I love you all and I also LOVE my sleeve!

You will be fine. You are consuming so little calories at this point that it's not going to make that big of a difference. Congrats on your sleeve!

Callenetics. You can get the video online. The video is great for toning and has special exercises just for saddlebags.

Welcome!!!

The worst pain for me was the first couple of days. As long as I took my pain medicine, I was fine. I even went to Walmart the day I got out from the hospital (day 3 post op) to get a few things. I really think the trick is to do lots of walking. I have had a band and a sleeve and with both, I walked. I recovered pretty nicely. I went back to work after two weeks. The only problem I really had was that I became anemic because I couldn't tolerate my vitamins. I was taking Flinstones and they don't have the correct ratio of iron for us, so just watch for that. When I went back to work, the pants I was wearing rubbed one of my incisions and it kept opening up. I covered it with one of those big cotton bandages to help. Work made me tired, but I would just take a nap when I got home. I remember feeling so much better after week three. Good luck!!! I went to Mexico for my band and actually had a very good experience. I am so excited for you!

I'm in! I have four pounds to lose to get to a normal weight. I need some motivation since I haven't been working out as much lately due to the holidays. SW: 153 GW: 149 CW: 153 pounds to lose: 4 Let's do this!!!

My girls got Just Dance 3 and it is pretty fun. I was dancing with them tonight and it was a good workout. Zumba is really good too.

I was pretty scared when I used to think about having most of my stomach cut out. My revision went great though. I am almost and year out and I still can't believe how amazing I feel. The surgery is totally 100% worth it. I love my sleeve and I would go through the surgery again to have the life I have now.

The first few months after my revision I would have a stabbing pain where my port was. It has fadded for the most part now, but sometimes when I workout, I will feel it slightly.

Please do not blame yourself for the band not working for you. Many of us have had failed lapbands and then go on to do fabulous with the sleeve. I am so sorry this has happened to you. Hopefully the doctors can help you get the surgery. It sounds like most of your medical issues are due to obesity. The sleeve will allow you to lose the weight so you can get better. I am sending hugs your way and don't give up on the sleeve. We are always here for you.

I just celebrated my birthday and I only had one bite of cake. Then I was through! In the past I could have eaten the entire cake by myself. Holiday treats are about the same. I just don't care for them that much. If there is something I want, I am able to just take a bite and that's all I need. Amazing how the sleeve changes everything. I love it!!

I wouldn't worry about the gain right now. I am sure it is just water gain or it has something to do with your body adjusting to all the changes. Just make sure you are getting in your protein and fluids. That is most important at first. I wish you the best!

You are doing great!!! I walked mostly at first and then went back to classes at the YMCA at about three months. So happy for your success so far. I am sure there will be many more accomplishments to come!!!

I haven't heard that about protein. I do know that there is a limit on how much vitamins we can absorb at once. This would be interesting to research though.

I think he would be up to seeing you run. Most people do pretty well after a week. Men usually recover quickly too. Congrats on the marathon! How awesome to run through Disneyland.

Congrats! I wish you the best!

So sorry. The insurance companies can be such bullies! Keep fighting. My insurance company tried to deny me too. I fought and called them so much I think they got sick of me. I wish you the best in getting approved. Just know many of us have been denied and then gone on to get our sleeves.

The couch to 5K program is great. I do that when I can't make it to the gym. I started walking at week three and gradually started adding weights. The Shake Weight works really well if you don't have one. I didn't go back to the gym until week 6. I started going a couple of times a week and worked my way back up to going full time.

The liquid diet is so hard! After surgery, you won't have the hunger there. Plus with the swelling and recovery from surgery, not eating isn't that big of a deal. I know this is such a difficult process. I was an emotional mess on the pre-op diet. It is so worth it though! There is nothing more wonderful than seeing yourself lose and reaching goals you never dreamed possible. The sleeve is going to change your life in amazing ways. I watched lots of videos on YouTube to help me as I waited for my sleeve and of course stayed on VST lots. I know the time will go by quickly and you will be sleeved before you know it!

I had a band and I will say the sleeve is entirely different. I have been amazingly successful with the sleeve. The sleeve does give you restriction. The band never did that for me. The restriction is constant. You do have to make good food choices. Protein fills you up and keeps you full. If you eat junk, you don't get the restriction and you will be hungry again soon. Having the ghrelin reduced has helped me not be obsessed about food anymore. For the most part, I want healthy foods. I do have a couple of trigger foods that I just avoid (peanut butter makes my head hunger go crazy for example). I am thankful each and every day for the sleeve. It has given me my life back. We will be here to support you. I think you will be successful. Most do very well with the sleeve.