Search the Community

I've been on every diet known to man. Thats why I was banded, so I wouldn't have to diet again. I lost 104 lbs eating whatever I wanted, just much less of it. That being said: Last year my band slipped (what happens when u eat too fast and vomit almost every meal). After many unfills/fills/tweaks, it herniated. I had a sleeve revision 4 mths ago. I kept my philosphy about dieting. I eat everything (bread, potatoes, Pasta, Cookies, etc) but a very small amt. Now, THAT being said: I'm now stuck at 153. The scale hasn't budged in 2 mths. Haven't gained (thank God). I've been reevaluating my diet, trying to figure out how to get to the elusive "GOAL". Guess I'm gunna have to start counting something (be calories, carbs, whatever) and eat my words of wisdom "Eat everything, just a few bites of it" cuz it's not working anymore. My goal is to maintain until after the holidays. The, I will start counting calories and watching the crap I put into my mouth. Sample of my food intake (yesterday) 8:30 am: 1/4 pumpkin bagel with whipped cream cheese and coffee with sf creamer 12:00: Handful of chocolate covered almonds 1:00: About 10 pineapple chunks (guestimate since I didn't measure it) 3:00: 1/3 of an In and Out cheeseburger (without onions, that might save 4 calories!), maybe 12 fries 6:30: About 5 bites of shake and Bake chicken breast, about 8 bites of mashed potatoes and maybe 5 bites of cooked carrots 9:00: About 10 bites of reheated mashed potatoes from dinner (with chicken gravy) 10:00: A handful of Cheese Its and a small handful of Cinnamon Life Cereal Did I mention the glass of red wine I have everynite also? Far from healthy. But it's also probly under 1200 calories (I occasionally will count on my fitnesspal and I rarely go over 1200). Ok, where was I going with this? Oh yeah. My philosophy: It WAS eat everything, just small amounts. Now that it's ceasing to work, I guess I'm gunna have to step up my game and actually count everything that goes into my mouth if I want to reach goal.

January 17th revision from band to sleeve! Excited and scared. Have to travel to be in a wedding on January 5th so I'm nervous about the liquid diet at that time. But no one said it would be easy. Congrats to everyone!

Alabama checking in!! Having band to sleeve revision on January 9th 2013. Very Very Nervous!

I'm not a revision, but I'm Jan 15th with Dr Ortiz too!!

I know everyone is different, but I had very little pain with my RNY (I'm not a revision, though). I thought plastic surgery was MUCH more painful.

I used to vomit almost daily with my lapband. I've only vomited once in the last 7 mths since my revision. I've actually tried to vomit (ate 1 bite too much and it caused much pain) but it's just not as easily done as when I was banded. I used to just bend over and my food would come up. Now I have to stick my toothbursh down my throat and nothing will come up. I guess thats good. I was becoming an unwitting bulimic while banded for almost 4 yrs. I think thats how I lost all of my weight. Now I hafta think about what I put into my tummy, as I can't press the reject button anymore.

I feel bad for you, to have had to have the revision really sucks! I got the mesh (or whatever you called it) in the first place to give it a good base to scar to to prevent the flip (I have Allergan) so I hope that works. I always wonder if I have a complication like that do I have to pay because I self-payed the first time! Anyway I hope you feel better soon, its a bump in the road (a long road of life I guess) but you are doing great!!

Did you end up having to pay for the port revision? Even though I was a self pay I went to a doc who is on my provider list in case I had any complications I hoped they would be covered but who knows!?

I'm getting my endoscopy there tomorrow and lapband to sleeve revision there on October 3rd.

Ok im back from the revision, it all went good and im back to work. I asked my Doc why it flipped and he is saying that the type of band i got (realize) tends to flip. So he went in and said THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH INTERNAL SCARING TO HOLD IT IN POSITION oops caps. So he placed gauze inside to promote scaring and installed a new port w/ a small fill I barely feel any restriction which sucks. So here i am sore and bruised.

My port flipped after surgery as well - well we believe it was the week of surgery. I didn't find out until my first fill. I too had to have revision surgery. It was a breeze. Apparently mine wasn't stitched down well and the stitches came loose. It really wasn't a big deal to get corrected. It delayed my fills (recovery and all) and well frankly ticked me off but it was so worth it!

I use dr. Touliatos at trinity. He's the one who put my lap band in. I really like him. By the way, I loved the band- it totally worked for me. But unfortunately the stupid thing broke down & eroded into my stomach! So I had to get it out. Now dr. Touliatos doesn't even do bands anymore! So he recommended the sleeve. I'm really worried BCBS is gonna reject it - even though its a "revision surgery" due to the band erosion.

I have been reading other people's blogs and am happy for every single one of you who have posted pictures of you rafting, hiking or cycling yourselves to a new you. I'm also incredibly jealous because that will never be me. The spirit is more than willing, but the body just isn't able. For sure I'm going to be able to do more things than I have been able in years but my success will be more moderate: I will be able to walk to the store two days in a row. I will be able to walk two days in a row. :biggrin: What I find frustrating is the people at the clinic don't seem to get it. I appear to be a misfit among the misfits of society. I keep being assured that my life will change so much, which I don't doubt, but I wonder if they have any clue of what my life is like? Will the band magically let me hold a pencil long enough to write a letter? Will I be able to play my violin or harp again? The psych lady I met yesterday was all impressed how I seemed to know my body much better than the average person and that learning the rules of the band would be a breeze for me. The truth is that for years, one small lapse in thought and I've popped something in my mouth that will lead to hours of gut wrenching pain or my eyes swelling shut. Push myself too hard and I'm bedridden for days. She seemed really nice and wanting to help while we chatted for our 35 minute hour, but she specialises in anorexia, bulemia and overeating... I wonder if she knows much about people who've grown old before their time. Then again, it was the first session... I'm hoping that a few more sessions will get us all on the same page. I'm really looking forward to working with the chiropractor they have on staff. Ontario's major failing in health care is that if it can't find something specifically wrong, it won't fix it or expend the energy to see what can be done for you. When one of the foremost rhumatologists in Toronto tells you "wow, your life must suck, but there's nothing I can do about it" you tend to lose heart. I've not been able to afford private physiotherapy, massage therapy or the chiropractic care I probably could use, so I've gone without. I didn't want to risk getting addicted to a therapy I couldn't do long term. How dumb is that? So apparently for the next year or so I'm being offered unlimited access to this guy. After me, they may want to revise that policy. Usually I'm not so much of a whiner... I promise I'll be more upbeat next time. In the meantime, keep posting the canoeing pictures. Even though I can't do it myself, that doesn't mean I don't like seeing others have fun.:sad:

Well the 2nd fill has broken my plateau. Am I to my "sweet" spot? Don't think so, but feeling less hunger than ever. Tonight I ate about 5ozs of good healthy food and felt satisfied. It's now 11pm and my belly is rumbling a bit, but seems that i always have a problem this time of night. Guess I should hurry and get this blog done so i can go sleep off the hunger? I go July 1st for my next fill. So, in two weeks i think i will be where i want to be! Today is June 13, 2010 and I weighed in this morning at 178! Yippppeee!!!:mad2: My first goal was to get to 179, so I just set my new short term goal today at 169. Then, I have a family reunion coming up on July 22. So, that is five weeks for me to lose all I can. My original goal for family reunion week was 170. I think I am going to revise that to 165, this is just to push myself more at the gym. I am currently kickin' my own butt... I come home feeling good, but sore! I know I will be converting some of this blubber to muscle so I may even have issue with the scale moving the way i want it. But, oh well...it gives me something to work towards. All in all today was long, but pretty good. No complaints... I had a great day at the gym. 10 minutes on the rowing maching, 15 minutes on the stairmaster (my new love!) and then 30 minutes on the Elyptical on the cross training mode with intensity of 9 kept heart rate up in the cardo range the entire time. Everyday it gets easier!:frown: Bad news, I am SO hungry! Think I'll have a little chuck of cheese:blush: then off to bed.

Hardly anyone knows that i had weight-loss surgery...AGAIN! and even few people know that I went to Mexico to have my band to sleeve revision. I'm 5 days post-op. (June 8 2017). I'm not sure if I'm ready to recommend it to all of my friends yet...however...I followed their pre-op without a single cheat. I lost 23 pounds in the pre-op diet but even more importantly I have been pain free. No gas pains. No about pains. Flying home only 3 days post-op was excruciating but only because it was so exhausting. So I may be getting closer to recommending it. My insurance is great as long as you don't mention weight-loss surgery. So my lapband surgeon actually recommended Mexico and the hospital. My revision was going to be about $28k in the US. Mexico was $4900. That's a big incentive. If you're going to Mexico here are some things I learned. I'm writing them down here so I don't forget too... Bring... Your own towel or two Your own pillow (I brought mine and it helped having it in the hospital and on the plane) Baby wipes for the bathroom. It gets messy. Water shoes (a lot of women wore slippers but I've never been real good at them. Plus I could keep these on while sleeping. And you need them for the shower anyway) Giant sanitary pads (Mother Nature is a b***h and I got my period the day after surgery. Tampons were not happening. Plus it helps with the surprise "juice fart") Extension cord for plugging in phone chargers and cpap machines Your own bandages and tape. For after you leave the hospital. I also brought juice and protein shakes in my checked baggage. I wasn't sure what they had for a liquid diet and if I was going to like it. They had jello and broth and they were delicious. My US surgeon also gave me a prescription for nausea and pain for the flight home. I ended up not needing either but I was so glad it was there just in case. Lysol/Clorox Wipes...I'm a bit of a germ freak Clothes. They have gowns of course but you will be up walking around so much you need something else. I wore loose Capri pull-on pants and giant tshirts. Several sets. Not fancy. Loose comfy old panties Compression socks. Several pairs. They have their own and they are stickers about keeping them on until you get home! I understand the importance. But so glad I had brought a couple of pairs. A very supportive person to go with you. My husband is a super hero without a cape. Unlike my roommates friend she brought. Gave her a sip of her beer she snuck into the hospital! No joke!!! A drink of beer about 24 hours out of surgery! Which brings me to this...whatever you can get private room!! They have them. I saw them. My roommate was so annoying! A phone and a tablet going all day and night with loud games and videos...even at 3am!!! I probably should have brought her some headphones! Bring yourself some too. At least some ear plugs. One of the best things I did was set up a private Facebook Group with only 9 of my closest friends and family that knew what was going on. I could keep everyone updated (in the terribly spotty WiFi service. Don't believe the free WiFi pitch. It's there. sometimes. If you're lucky.) Anyway, my husband kept everyone updated there too after surgery until I was coherent enough. It was great. I loved seeing that everyone was praying for me. It was fun. Like home. Again, I'm not ready to fully recommend it. Maybe soon. I hear a lot of people wake up from surgery with "what did I just do?" Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

BarryW, Christinamo7, 2GoldenGirl, all your reccomendations and suggestions are much appreciated. The complications from the hip revision surgery have left my range of mobility diminishing rather than improving and advancing. Thank you for the information, I will discuss this matter further with my Physical Therapist and my Doctor. As far as the protein mentioned by 2Goldengirl, I have a whey liquid protein(42g) in the am and my whey protein shake at night. The Optimum Nutrition Salted Caramel flavor is my favorite and it acts as a "sweet treat" at night. May I congratulate all of you are your weight losses!

I'm not a revision patient, but at over four years out I can eat anything. Even at two years out, I could eat anything. Most of the restrictions and food intolerances are in the first few months post-surgery. as far as volume, you can eat more and more as time goes on (although just because you CAN doesn't always mean you SHOULD). Right now I would characterize myself as a "light eater". I highly doubt anyone would guess I've had WLS (whereas early out, it was obvious that something was going on). I eat normally, but fairly lightly. Not any different than my regular weight-conscious, normal weight friends eat, really. If I go out, I typically get an appetizer - or a salad - or I'll order an entree and bring half of it home. Most of my naturally thin or weight conscious friends do that, too.

Hi Barb - I'm self-pay, so getting rebanded even six months down the road (earliest I could have it re-done) is probably not going to work into my finances. Plus, most of the info I have read states that the likelihood of re-eroding is much higher than the first time around. At this time I'm planning on relying on Meridia if the hunger gets to an unmanageable level. I'm sure as time goes by, other options will present themselves. If I did get rebanded, I think I would try the mid-band because it does seem to have a lower erosion rate. But, like I said, I'm still paying off the $17,000 the initial banding, port-revision, and unbanding has cost. No more self-pay for a while!!!

I had a revision due to gerd and during the liquid and puree phase, I did not feel any restriction. Once I entered solid foods, I absolutely did and still do. I can not eat more than 2 ounces of protein at a time and a little veggies/fruit, and it keeps me full for about 3-4 hours. I am a little over 6 months. I'm close to goal and the weight loss has been steady. It is a definite learning curve though. My "I'm satisfied" flag does not come up till 30 to 40 min later so I've learned to always measure my food beforehand to avoid anything uncomfortable later and to chew a lot.

Hi Magii.... I am in same situation as you. I just found out this Friday (10/10/08) that my band had slipped. My Dr didnt tell me to go on liquids, etc. he just told me to try not to gain weight since I got a total unfill. I have been eating the same as I was when I had a fill HOWEVER I am noticeably hungry and really have to watch myself. I have to go back in 3 weeks for another flouroscopy and see if part of my stomach went under the band again. Do you have to go back in one or two weeks? Did your Dr tell you what is next? I'm assuming that if there is no change in my slip I will have to have a revision. Hope you are doing well and wonder if you heard from anyone else who has had a slipped band and if they went on liquids or continued on solids. Angie Banded 3/29/06 down 75 lbs

That is just wonderful news. I am so happy for you and excited that you're having success with your revision. Personally, I'm tired of waiting. I refuse to pay for this myself since my insurance policy clearly covers revisions. They're just thinking that I won't pursue it the same as many others -- but they don't know who they're messing with. I WILL WIN THIS APPEAL! I WILL WIN THIS APPEAL! I WILL WIN THIS APPEAL!

I'm curious as to how you and your doctor made the decision for revision to bypass?? I'm a revision from lapband to sleeve....and I too lost the bulk of my weight the first 6 months....now I'm 13 months post op and I've lost 13 pounds in the last 7 months..... I'm praying that I'm a slow loser, but my doctor wants to see me again in sept to see if I've lost any more weight, but my scale hasn't budged in weeks

I just had band to rny revision on May 7. Mine was covered by insurance, thank goodness! I had struggled with the band since 2008 and originally lost aprox. 60 lbs but then slowly creeped up 40. Now 6 weeks after the bypass I am at the lowest weight that I have been at in 15 years! Dropped under 220 for the first time! Even though I've had a few complications... Battling a stricture. (Everyone in the endoscopy department of the hospital knows me now). This has been the best decision I could have made! No more running to throw up after eating 3 bites of chicken! It definitely gets better every day ????

Hi Just to add what my doc said regarding GERD/heartburn and WLS- I asked specifically as I've been treated for GERD for many years- he said that while there is a chance that reflux may appear or worsen with the sleeve, in his patients, he's only had 3 that needed revision to RnY because of that. I feel confident in going ahead with the sleeve, as weight loss itself may improve my reflux dramatically. Good luck with your decision- as long as it's a fully informed one, it's the right decision for you.

Check the Band to Sleeve revision board here on VST. Lots of us can tell you our stories about the band. Some never had success with it, some had some weight loss but lots of problems getting food down or keeping it down. I had success for 3 years, but my band broke after my pregnancy in 2010. Currently the statistics are showing that the band won't be in you forever even though they market it that way: 55% of patients have had it removed by 5 years, usually for erosions, slips, or failure to lose weight. I'm surprised surgeons are still offering the band at all. Of course, everyone here will pretty much be biased toward the sleeve. Have you checked out Lap Band Talk? You'll find more people who like their bands there...but also, a lot of people looking to revise it.