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Hi, my name is Gwyn, I'm 35, married with two kids. I'm new here. My surgery is scheduled for the 21st of Jan with Dr. Zapata in MTY, MX. I am so looking foward to it. Like it's a new beginning. I just had my second baby in late October. Back in 2000 I had Galbladder surgery and weighed 290lbs. After my surgery I decided to get healthy. Through diet and exercise I got down to 220. Never could get lower. After meeting my husband and two kids later I gained it all back and then some. I'm now 335. It has gotten so much harder to loose the weight. Last year after my first baby I was exercising like crazy and starving with WW. The pounds were not coming off. I just gave up! It just seemed impossible. Since having my second baby and being completely misserable in my own skin I decided to have surgery. I was going to do the Lapband. I did a lot of research and set a date. I talk to some one in a forum about the fills and costs after surgery and she said she was going to have a revision to the sleeve. I had never heard of it then. So I did some research and I'm glad I did. I'm looking forward to having portion control. That was the most enticing thing about this whole surgery. Can't wait to start seeing the pounds come off.

I'm a revision from lapband to sleeve so a little nervous over leak. Lapband 8 years and no weight loss and no weight gain but 2 partial knees and diabetic now! I'm ready for my sleeve! I'm ready for a healthy tool to assist my body to health! Best wishes to all.

@Skinnygirl04 I'm getting a revision. I can tell you that my initial surgeon had tendency to push for the stages sooner than other patients. The warning signs are your body's way of telling you ENOUGH. In my case, my nose would run and my heart would beat fast...sounds strange but they are effects with some people. In regards to soup as more of a puree, the thickened ones I did the sip shots out of a medicine cup like the water after your surgery. It worked and usually after 3 to 4 sips, it was game over and my nose would run. Hope this helps.

I had a RNY revision on 2/9 is it okay if i crash this party too??

Do you have any chance of having a revision to a different surgery? I think the feeling of "I couldn't have this before but now I can" can cause really big problems, because your current situation likely isn't going to change soon

hello, I too am a revision from band to sleeve...we have to be more careful as it was a longer surgery...my weight loss is very slow...i had started weights at 6 weeks but got a lot of swelling.. first few weeks are tough but soon you will forget them. so now i am being careful.i dare not ruin things by being careless...what is the hurry..i can wait few weeks... all the best to you both.

Hi, I had revision from band to gastric bypass on 8/1/13 and I am still struggling getting my Protein, liquids and calories. On a good day, I get the minimum (48 oz liquid 45-60 protein but approx. 500-600 cal). I just feel too full and can't fit anything else in. Getting these amount is a real painful struggle. I did have a recent complication of a hernia with my intestines twisted up and around the pouch. During that whole month of dire pain I was only getting 300-400 calories. I am healed up now, but I still struggle like I did before the complication getting 500-600 calories. Is there anyone else that struggles because they are just too darn full all the time? Oh I also have more pronounced food sensitivities. Most of the time I am in pain from trapped gas and I think about how I can't continue living like this. It's really depressing. I am happy that I am losing weight, but I don't feel successful, because I feel like crap everyday (lack of energy, dizzy, very depressed from lack of calories, and borderline wanting to end it all). Hubby says take it one day at a time, but I don't know if I can anymore. Doc told me to take beano, digestive enzymes and gave me prescription strength antacid. These things don't seen to work well. Please, is there anyone else going through this?

So 3 weeks ago I has the band to sleeve revision and so far I'm ok. The only problem I'm having is getting all my liquids down or drinking or eating any protein. I feel so full once I drink like 3 sips of my shake and that's all I can get down for the rest of the day. My dr said don't worry but I'm weak and can't even exercise because I have no food in my system. Has this happened to anyone else?

Hi luv2teech! Sorry for the delay in responding...I can't believe how crazy my life has gotten! I wasn't even going to look into surgery until my mother suggested I was putting my life on hold, which is silly. Then I just decided to talk to surgeons, loosely plan for a surgery date of a year later. Take my time finding the right guy. Well what I found was, as I met with surgeons, the whole concept became more real. They told me that it didn't matter if I lost weight after surgery, it just mattered that I didn't continue to gain. And then surgery became that much more possible for me. So my recommendation to you is - if it's all you ever think about, what's keeping you from investigating surgeons?? Nothing! At least start meeting them, figuring out what you want, what it will cost. It really changes your perspective...you may decide it isn't for you. Or you may decide it is...but being "paralyzed by fear" is a wasteful emotion. Get out there girl! You can do ANYthing, you survived morbid obesity!! :thumbup: Woo hoo! (I'm so caffeinated this morning) There's more than one surgeon around - so don't hang your hat on one office that has a waiting list that long. Really, by the time I found Dr. Capella I knew everything about the operation itself AND the surgery and could ask intelligent questions like, what's your revision clause? But, let's defang the fear. Why are you so afraid to even look into cosmetic surgery? Are you afraid of the operation, or the results? Why did you swear you'd never do it? It's not for everyone, but I can say with conviction at this point in my life, that for me the only way I can boot fat Kate into the pages of history and truly let go of that old self is to have the surgery. It's a psychological boon to roll over in bed and not be dragging a heap of skin with me. I know I will be so much happier and proud of my accomplishment. It's different for everyone. As far as price... My price tag came to under $20,000.00 Yes, hideously expensive. That includes replacing the port, arms, breast, FULL circumferential body lift (not just a tummy tuck) and flank lipo. I did not want the tube body post op, so he's contouring. I'm only doing this once, so it's gonna be complete. The only way I was able to add arms in is because Dr. Capella has a physician assistant who's been working with him for a few years and together they get the procedure done quickly. Initially I was going to add arms later...but they will be finished with me in 5 hours, and do not feel it is a risk to my health. My arms aren't bad, but are in need of help, and will not take long to do. So why not? :smile2:

Wow, does she know the carbonation in soda stretches the pouch. I hag RUN back in 2001, I had sutures left inside and developed a hiatal hernia so they did revision and I'm 3 weeks out and having lots of left side pain still and tired of liquids. But I stopped soda back in 2001

I'm not sure of a lot of statistics with revision but I do recall some info about the 5 day pouch test which is supposed to help get you back on track. Good luck!

If my dr was doing gastric sleeve at the time I had my initial wls I would have went that route. I had lap band 3/2006 and revision in 1 surgery 4/2014. I did not have reflux prior to revision but I do now. Gastric Sleeve is still way better choice in my opinion. I have been happy with my procedure. Weight loss has been slower. I just keep telling myself I will get to my goal. It may take time but I will do it.

I hate the band. I lost very little weight. I threw up continuously anytime I ate anything remotely healthly. The unhealthy foods slide down easy. I could never eat chicken. I ended up with esophogeal erosions. I love my sleeve. I am a slow looser but I have lost consistently with the sleeve. I had my revision on Mar 21 and have lost 45 lbs. Some would complain but I am not complaining. I feel healthier and happier. They don't want me at support group meetings either. I am a very vocal anti-band person. I love the analogy to the ex. smokers. It is so true. Cathy

just throwing in my two-cent experience. i was banded in march 2008 and had a really good experience with the band for the first year. i lost about 55-60 lbs and felt pretty good. at that point, i could have stood to lose another 60 lbs. out of the blue one day, i had a particularly bad pb and everything got really, really tight. i ended up going to the ER because i was coughing up blood--not very pretty. the next two years were filled with constant fills/unfills - anytime i got tightened, i got WAAAY too tight. it was horrible. i gained back about 40 of my 60 lbs lost because i was sick of the fills/unfills (and paying for them each time i went in). nevertheless, i'm not sorry that i got banded in 2008. i lived a very different life than i would have if i hadn't gotten banded. i was out-of-pocket pay at the time and the sleeve wasn't really being offered around chicago at that time. i couldn't afford rny so i went with the band. i was fortunate enough to have insurance pay for my revision to sleeve (surgery was last tuesday!!) in an actual hospital that kept me overnight for two days and took really, really, good care of me (vs the lap band clinic that sent me home mere hours after surgery). i feel like i'm doing things the long, hard proper way this time. i also feel very fortunate that i was able to do the revision (financially and physically). i'm looking forward to this new life

I could write a book about how to succeed with the band, including what and how to eat. As a matter of fact, I DID write a book about that, and I'd be happy to tell you more about it, but right now I want to say that there is no single way to succeed at weight loss with the band. No single food plan, no single exercise plan...because we're all unique individuals who have to figure out what works best for each of us...and that may change as we advance towards our weight goal. If you're a post-op and your surgeon or dietitian didn't give you a food/snack plan to follow, ask for it. If you're a pre-op wondering what a bandster eats, you'll find the answers extremely varied. One of the ways you can get ideas of what other people are eating each day is to post a daily "What are you eating today?" thread. If you had done that today, my answer would have been as follows: B: Protein latte S: egg beaters scrambled with chopped scallion, sugar snap peas, and cheese S: cinnamon-oat Breakfast cookie L: eggplant & tomato salad w/ Havarti cheese S: popcorn S: raw sugar snap peas D: sesame-orange shrimp, braised cabbage S: to be determined I should add that I have to eat 8+ times a day in order to manage some unwanted consequences of my 2012 revision from the band to the sleeve. It may look like I eat an awful lot, but each meal or snack is very, very small - maybe 3-4 bites each. Jean

Didn't your doc send you home with enough pain meds? I'd try and continue with what he prescribed until you can eat normal foods. Like FatToPhat said, I'd act as though I'd had the full plication again foodwise. Long term NSAIDs are fine after plication. You can't have them after RNY ever. I had sublingual painkillers for the first few weeks post op, so I'd check with your surgeon if they're OK before you're allowed solids (you don't wanna mess up your revision).

I had the very same problem, I am 1 year out and 2 weeks ago I had a port revision. The doctor went in and moved my port because of the pain, I couldn't wear pants, sits forward, or even lift things. It was so painful, and now I have no pain at all, wear jeans again, sit normal and lift. It's been great. Talk to your doctor about moving your port

Like wannaBthinsoon, I have been totally open and honest about my surgery. And while I haven't actually sat down and suggested WLS to anyone or even talked anyone into it, I do know of 3 people that had WLS because of my success. They approached me and I answered any questions they had. One had VSG with my surgeon, one went to a different Mexico surgeon, and one went through their insurance and had bypass in the U.S. I currently have 2 clients asking lots of questions and are considering VSG for themselves. They were thrilled TO hear about a WLS Option that wasn't bypass or lapband. Another friend is looking to revise her band to VSG. My PCP and OB/Gyn have also given my surgeon's info to some of their patients who don't have insurance that covers for WLS. Not sure how many, if any, have gone through with it.

I am having a revision from Lapband to RNY. I have my preop appointment with him on the 29th so I should find out more then. I have not seen a nutritionist as of yet but it would be great if he had one in the office. I just bought a case of protein drinks from Costco - 30g per serving of protein and only 1g of sugar and 5g of carbs. I had to rely on protein drinks after my lapband surgery 5 years ago.

You're scared of the unknown. Read through my posts of the past week. You would not be normal not to be second guessing removing so much of an organ from your body. What you have to realize is how much success would you be able to do on your own and MAINTAIN it? With maintaining over the long term. I am 2 days out. I got discharged from the hospital yesterday, exactly 24 hours after having surgery to remove a Lap Band and have a revision to the VSG. I am still uncomfortable, it hurts to cough and I refuse to laugh at anything. Other than that it's not as bad as when I had my two previous c-sections because it's higher up in your chest. Everyone has fears going into the unknown, it's normal. I am exhausted and uncomfortable but at the moment I'm glad to have that band out of my body and to be healing. Each hour is another one closer to a healthy BMI and weight for me. I almost cancelled several times myself. I did this for my kids. I'm starting to get excited though of the thought of being able to buy clothes that look nice on my body again and fitting in my leather jacket I haven't been able to wear in so long. Take care and remember we are all here for you!!

Ok, I am revising the Mexico v US problems poll so we can evaluate people who have been banded for 2 years or more.

I was banded by Dr. Jawad 7/15 & am doing great. I live in Daytona Beach. Can I ask something personal? Where is your port site? I may have to get a port revision. Every day just gets easier...CONGRATS!:whatchutalkingabout

Dr Aceves did my band to sleeve revision about a year ago. Glad you did so wonderfully. Like you I had very little pain and couldn't believe it was so uneventful. I don't mind flying but was really surprised that it was only 3 days after surgery and I felt no pain on the flight and it was from San Diego to FL with a 3 hour layover in Dallas. Good Luck on your journey.

Hey guys! I am looking for a surgery buddy! I am being revised to RYN on July 9th due to Gerd

what is a MGB? and why are you being revised? GERD?