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Heparin injections during hospital only. HW 250/1st Lapband 198/2nd Lapband 232/Pre conversion 2/6/13 to bypass 232.....Current 211

I lost 30lbs of the 100+ I needed to lose with the band. The only reason I lost so much was due to an only liquid diet. I couldn't get anything else down. I was miserable and my husband thought I looked sickly. I would try to eat chicken breast and it would come back up or hurt when it finally went down. I was banded in 2009. Now when I eat I have anxiety. Will it go down, will it get stuck,why can't I eat properly? I ammore focused on food now than I was pre band. I hope your surgeon let's you change to the sleeve if that's what you want. I am in the process of getting a revision and I can't wait until I don't have to fear food anymore.

There's more to it than just eatin right and exercising. Eating at the right times is just as if not more important. I "mostly" eat healthier and try to eat the right potions but I felt like I should be losing more. I rarely ate Breakfast so I would go without food(energy) for sometimes 16 hours, in turn my body went into starvation mode. My dr. recomended keeping low cal protien bars in my van(180 cals, 20 gr protien, taste great). When I went back for my last fill I lost 6 1/2 #, not great but I finally got below 300# to 294. Ive been fighting to get below 300 for the last 2 fills. If you dont eat at the right times you become super hungry and it becomes alot easier to make bad decisions. I thought I would get the band and lose alot of weight fast by just eating less of mostly the same foods which isnt so! There are alot of factors that need to happen for the band to "help". Im trying to incorporate changes in every facet of my life slowly because in the past I've tried to do everything at once and I believe many major changes to what I was used to and comfortable with contributed to my failures. Btreiger actually gave me the advice many months back. Im not concerned about losing all my weight in 6 months although it would be nice. This is going to be a lifetime of learning for me and Im content on hopefully being at goal in another year or so. Also someone recomended having a revision to the sleeve. If you do decide to, make sure your doing all thats necessary for the band to work because the same changes need to be taken for the sleeve or any surgery to work(basically are you following your drs. orders to a T?). The good news is, if you arent doing all you can you can still change. The band is forgiving, just start again. Find support groups in your town, on here wherever, you've come to far(surgery) to give up now or to not take this serious. Besides all surgeries require alot of work from you, there are no quick fixes! (assuming your not doing everything required). Or maybe your one of the few who it wont work for. You'd be the only one I've heard of without a band problem(erosion, slippage). Im sure you have the support of everyone here. Dont give up.

'' It took me somewhere between 20-25 minutes, no liquids. I'm quite good about no liquids. Now, at dinner, I had 4 small grilled shrimp, about an ounce of pork and less than an ounce of thin cut grilled beef (we went out for vietnamese) and I was STUFFED. That was about 4-5 oz total, that seems more like it. I guess cottage cheese and the soft brie were just a bit more sliderish than I would have guessed. Dorrie -- I would kill to feel restriction after 4-5 bites. Wow!! I am seriously wondering if I am going to have to be one of those people that revise to RNY in a couple of years.

Hi Butterfly66.... I am very fortunate.... My insurance company will pay for the revision because I have not retained 30% of my weight loss. To be totally honest, I never lost 30% of my weight to begin with. I have joined a new bariatric program at a different hospital. A fresh start... a new beginning.

Hi all, i was banded in 2010 and in aug 2014 it was removed as the band failed.. In oct 2014 i was revised to sleeve and its the best decision I've made in my life. I have GERD since being sleeved however, i haven't had a bout of reflux for about a month now. So i believe its well and truly under control ????. I started off at 383lbs, I'm currently at 235 lbs and still losing. I can eat almost anything i want just really small amounts . I do have a problem with eating anything with corn and any leafy greens.. Thats about it! Wishing you every success with your Journey.

Yep. I just got mine removed 5 days ago and so glad I did. I had so many problems with GERD and initially wanted to revise to sleeve, but based on my history of GERD, my surgeon says that the sleeve would cause me to continue to have the same reflux and heartburn due to the high pressure of the sleeve so He recommended bypass and after thorough research, and I am an RN with several friends who have had both sleeve and bypass..... and numerous conversations with my surgeon, I will be revising to gastric bypass in November. The removal of the port has been the most painful. I stayed the night in the hospital due to pain control because he also removed the scar tissue around the band as well. Adhesion removal can be painful. I was on IV Dilaudid every 4 hours, IV Toradol and Norco in the hospital. They switched me to percocets and I have been fine on those. Take a pillow with you to hold against your tummy to splint the incision so you can cough. Also get a start on taking some over the counter miralax to help with constipation because pain med can cause things to slow way down, on top of the anesthesia. I have asthma so I needed breathing treatments and I used my incentive spirometer every hour while awake to exercise my lungs which helped me greatly! They leave the incisions open to air and seal them with Dermabond, a type of glue. I am healing quite fast. Here is a pic of my incisions. He did a total of 3. The biggest was where the port was. Make sure your decision is yours and also listen to your surgeon and what will be best for you. The next few months will be the hardest, however I still feel restriction post op.

Good luck in your journey - I haven't had the sleeve yet so can't answer most questions. Call your insurance to see if they cover the sleeve. As for weight loss, I have heard it can be comparable to gastric bypass.

Thanks for the response. My guy is on the heavy side, but unfortunately weighs less than me:eek His weight goes up and down. When I first started to look into WLS this past summer, he decided to go on Optifast. He lost 30-40 lbs, and had more to go. He told me afterwards that he went on Optifast to show me that weight can be lost without surgery. As much as I've told him that I have faced the fact that I can't do it alone, he claims it can be done. (He was furious at me when I was considering gastric bypass. But then I met a bandster at a surgeon's open house, and decided that this was the way to go). P.S. My guy has since gained all the lost optifast weight back.

Yeah for you !!!! I've been reading your posts and I think if your dietician told you that you're eating the right things (you didn't lie to her, did you?!?!?!?) then you are what this surgery was thinked up for---hee hee...as your fills progress, your noticable "full feeling" will become sooner and sooner and GRADUALLY you will eat less and therefore lose the weight. Remember, this is a slow process, you didn't get here overnight, and getting down to your goal overnight has it's consequences...that's what bypass is for...I say, be glad for the earlier fill, it's gonna help get you where you want to be...but, be patient with your band and yourself. I just had my 2nd fill -1cc- for a total of 4 cc in a 10 cc band. I am noticing some restriction, the total amount of what I eat in a day has decreased, but it's not like I only eat a meatball and I'm full. A word of advice, take it for what it's worth---I buy those 3 ounce protein bullets from GNC (42 grams of protein in each test tube)...the grape ones...and add 1/2 of it to a litre water bottle with an equate grape drink bottle mix...the protein helps to curb my appetite while the water is a MUST...maybe this will help...drink between meals to help with the starving feeling...hope it gets better.

Anyone have revision from sleeve to bypass? I would like to hear your story? Ups, downs, how it is working for you?....any information you are willing to share with me... Thank you

This surgery was the best thing I did for myself, and I would do it again, without hesitation. I have been given a second chance at life! I have lost 157 pounds in 12 months... And I workout three times weekly, and have gotten my life back. I have Lupus, and had many health issues. My lupus is now currently in clinical remission, and I feel better than I have in years! It wasn't easy, and you have to be ready to make a life change, but it is so worth it, once you do!

I'm on day 3 of my 2 week preop diet. The slightest smell of food is making me want to back out of surgery. I'm on 3-4 protein shakes and 3ozs of lean meat and a serving of veggies per day. I'm scheduled for gastric bypass on December 19th. I really need this surgery, but I'M STARVING! Any suggestions on how I can curb or ignore the hunger pains? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hey All, So today was my first day home after having Gastric Bypass on Wednesday, 1/30. All day my stomach has been gurgling and I ended up slowly running to the bathroom with an upset stomach and lots of gas several times. At first I was excited not to be backed up from all the pain meds, but it’s happened all day now. Is it normal to poop 6-8 times so soon after surgery? Is it a reaction to a new medication/vitamin or something I’m drinking? Any ideas?

Maybe this will encourage you..... the coach on my daughter's volleyball team just had it done last Monday. I couldn't even tell he had surgery on Saturday. His wife had it too but it was fine on Wednesday and a revision from Lap band to sleeve and I could tell she had something done with her abdomen but didn't know what. I found out after the game. Everyone is different though. Determination plays a role too. Get up and walk as much as you can and you'll heal faster imo.

Also check out this website Weight loss surgery site for info http://www.trueresul...-loss-surgeries It will give you a pretty unbiased chart comparing band sleeve and bypass I've only been banded 4 1/2 months so my opinion may not hold weight but so far I love it !! And have list 43 lbs .Choosing weightloss surgery is a hard decision ! Good luck in your journey no matter what you chose.:-)

Keep in mind one issue. When people have bypass many (most?) lose a LOT of weight quickly. The thing that doesn't come out is that within about 5 years the body starts to compensate for the loss of intestinal tissue and it makes MORE! Not all malabsorption is forever. The body replaces SOME of the "removed" tissue. So within a few years you'll be back to diet and exercise. With the band if you start to gain later, you get another fill. No big deal. If I could lose weight and KEEP it off via diet and exercise, I wouldn't NEED any type of WLS. But maybe you are different. The first few inches of intestine absorb Calcium and Vitamin B12. Does it make sense to you to have to take a great deal of suppliments since your body no longer absorbs it naturally? If that makes sense to you, have bypass done. Look at the stats. When people have revision surgery they aren't typically going from band to bypass. But they ARE typically going from bypass to band. Perhaps the 2nd question you need to ask yourself is how many weight loss procedures you want in your life?

My best friend had the gastric bypass...She was about 500 pounds. Her health was in serious trouble and she needed to do something YESTERDAY to help herself. She had a young child at the time, hes a big boy now.....and you know what they say, Despirate times call for despirate measures. In my opinion, I feel that the RNY is just that...a despirate measure. Do it if you are 300 + pounds over weight. Do it if your health can not hold out much longer. If you have 100 pounds to lose, it is TOTALLY "do-able" with only having the band....I say only like I take it lightly, but what I mean is that your intestines do not need to be rerouted....My girlfriend lost her weight quickly. She now has over 40 pounds of extra stuff, skin, cellulite to get surgically removed.......another surgery.....another risk. Granted, some of us get reconstructive surgery too..but there is a better chance at our skin reforming around our newly found muscles due to the slow weight loss! I am 32 years old. I am holding on to that hope for dear life! I dont want a tummy tuck, but if it comes to it, I will. I do however want a boob job!! That is my two cents on the subject. Good luck to you and please let us know which way you deside, and eventually how your surgery goes......

Thanks so much to all for your suggestions. Hiatal hernia repair definitely seems like the way to go. And I've had some reflux problems of late, so who knows what the surgeon will find. I don't have any family in the area, and only a couple family members 1500 miles away. My 90 year old mother doesn't need to know. I am very close to my daughter and will tell her soon. At this point, I am thinking I won't say anything before the surgery. I am going to spend a couple days with friends in the city I used to live in. When I return home, IF I find I am more house bound than anticipated (eg not playing bridge, etc), I will say I had a hernia repair. And that will explain everything. My weight loss will be the result of eating (much) less and lots of exercise. Everyone knows I used to spend a lot of time in the gym anyway. Thanks again, everyone! And I know all of you will travel your journey with great success. (The "other") Karen -- yes...we are both revisions and having our surgery on the same day. I would love to keep in touch. Karen W

You sounds like me Karen! Lol! My name is Karen, I have a band that has caused me so much reflux that I am having it taken out with a sleeve revision on March 3 too and the doctor is repairing my hernia! Unlike the band where I told almost no one, I have shared my intentions because someone else I work with had a sleeve revision and they are getting tremendous from our coworkers and I decided to draw from that as well. I'm 225 right now and hoping to get to 145. I start 2 weeks of liquids only on Monday! Good luck to you!

20 lbs. a month is great. Don't compare yourself to other peoples #'s. Its healthier to lose the weight more gradual over this 12 month period as opposed to dropping the bulk of it right off. You'll have less lose skin and always remember everyone loses at their own pace. Stick with your plan and you'll do fine...also set realistic goals and have realistic expectations. Bypass patients are actually expected to lose the weight over a one year period of time...its not a race. Patience is a virtue also congrats on the 20 lbs... Sent from my Nexus S 4G using RNYTalk

Insurance is covering mine (besides the $100 co-pay). I'm having my band removed on Feb 5th. I had no issues getting it approved. I haven't had a slip or erosion, but I had alot of inflammation in my throat and stomach, but I'm sure that's due to the fact that I've thrown up on a daily basis for almost 2 years because most foods were getting stuck and it progressively got worse. All the fluid is out of my band which has helped that but I've gained weight. I'm back to where I started pre band (and then some). But I would eat foods that I knew I could tolerate (which were typically not the best choices....but I was hungry and tired of vomiting). My surgeon won't do the revision at the same time....so I have to wait 3 months to have that done (pending insurance approval for that one). I wish you the best of luck!

I am 7 1/2 years into my band and it is being removed and revised to the sleeve in about 2 weeks. It was great the first 2 years, then GERD and vomiting, then issues with dilation of the upper pouch (which I of course am likely responsible for, too), which causes food waste to be trapped in the upper pouch, and then recently a gastric bleed from the band slipping down and causing a blood vessel to pop, which caused me to lose half my blood and spend a week in the hospital. My gastroenterologist said he wanted it out of me asap due to the risk of another bleeding episode. I have been advised by doctors involved that it just seems like everyone who has the band will need to have it out at some point. My insurance will not cover bariatric so I am off to Mexico. $18,000 here to remove band. $4500 in Mexico to remove and revise to sleeve.

Hi! I am 7 days post-op. I had a mini gastric bypass at the Star Medica hospital in Juarez, Mexico. Dr. Jose Rodriguez did a fantastic job and I swear I've never been better taken care of in any hospital in the states. It was a really great experience and if I had to do it again, I wouldn't' change a thing. The company I went through (BeLiteWeight) is definitely not the cheapest but everything went smoothly. We even had an English speaking assistant for our entire stay (2 days). I paid $7,900 (MGB). The price they charge for the sleeve is $6,800.

VerticalSleeveTalk News This is it! We’re launching our VerticalSleeveTalk News, a regular newsletter to keep you up to date on our community. We’ll tell you all about our exciting new features, programs and anything else you need and want to know about VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Our goal is to make sure you know everything This is the first edition of VerticalSleeveTalk News, and we have a lot to talk about. In this edition, you’ll find information on: The Alex Brecher Founder VerticalSleeveTalk.com Apps Have Launched! Now take VerticalSleeveTalk.com with you wherever you go. The fully functional Celebrate the release of our Mobile apps, we’re giving away a brand-new iPod Touch. It’s a drawing, but we want to reward our active posters, referrers, bloggers, members with completed profiles and new members. The more you participate in VerticalSleeveTalk.com, the better chance you have of winning. Here’s how it works. Eligibility and Chances of Winning Forum members must make at least one post in any forum on VerticalSleeveTalk during the contest period of 30 days from your receipt of this newsletter. Members must have a completed patient profile. You can increase your chances of winning by making more forum and blog posts, uploading more photos and referring members. At the end of the contest period, one of the forum administrators will find all of the eligible forum members – remember, you have to make at least one post and have a completed Gastric Sleeve profile. We’ll make a big spreadsheet with the Username of each member who is eligible, and assign points based on your activities. The more points you have, the better your chances of getting the iPod! Point Structure 1 point: each forum post and each uploaded photo 2 points: each forum post from our mobile apps and each blog post 5 points: join a group 10 Points: complete My Surgery, My Surgeon or My Gastric Sleeve Story; upload before and/or after photos 20 points for each successful forum referral; and 40 points for a fully completed patient profile Get Involved Again If you’re an old-timer who hasn’t been around much, this contest is a great opportunity to bring you back to the boards. You have tons of experience and advice to share with newer gastric sleeve patients. If you’ve fallen off the wagon, don’t be shy. It’s never too late to get back on, and we’re here to give you the support and confidence you need for success in your lifestyle goals. Some Reminders and New Features Create or update your own Gastric Sleeve Patient profile. Your information encourages other members and helps you connect with members that have your same interests and struggles. It also gets you 40 points for our iPod Touch giveaway. We've recently updated our surgeon database; now, every bariatric surgeon in the world is included. Check it out and find a local surgeon who can help you. You can locate and read reviews on gastric sleeve surgeons to help you choose an expert for your care. Our social and support groups are up and running. We know that you all have special interests and identities, and our social and support groups provide more specialized platforms than our general community. Just of the few types of groups we have are Regional groups of people from your city or state. Surgery Buddy groups with people who got the Gastric Sleeve at the same time as you. Medical Condition groups with people with a particular condition, such as PCOS Eating Support groups with people who struggle with eating issues, such as emotional eating Check them out and join one or start your own. Be a Good Friend Be sure to mention VerticalSleeveTalk.com as a source of support and information for any your friends, family members or associates who are considering gastric sleeve surgery or have had it. Also, don’t forget that VerticalSleeveTalk.com is a member of the WLSBoards.com network. Recommend our other four communities to anyone you know who needs them, and please stop on by and introduce yourself if you have had a weight loss surgery revision. LapBandTalk.com for LAP-BAND Adjustable Gastric Band RNYTalk.com for Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass SleevePlicationTalk.com for Gastric Sleeve Plication RealizeBandSupport.com for Realize Adjustable Gastric Band We Need Your Help When you come here, you can depend on support, encouragement, sympathetic ears and expert advice from surgeons. But we need you to let community be able to continue grow stronger! Over the years, I’ve found that many bariatric surgeons and their staff don’t even know we’re here. Help us out by asking your surgeon to hang a couple of fliers in the clinic. They can go the waiting room bulletin board, at the reception desk and in patient consultation rooms. I’ve even gotten the fliers ready for you in color and black-and-white options. Print them out and bring them to your next appointment, or email them to the office. So please, support us and ask your surgeon to post these fliers in their office and hand them out to their patients. It helps you out because our community will benefit from more patients and surgeons with valuable advice. Remind your surgeon and clinic staff that it helps them out because it gives them more exposure to patients. Stay in Touch Feedback forum - we're always open to members ideas and feedback. Please use our feedback forum to let us know how we’re doing and send us your ideas on what you’d like to see at VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We always want to know what you’re thinking and how we can improve! We're now on Facebook and on Twitter. Like us and follow us to keep track of what's going on in our communities and show your support! Don’t forget to support and celebrate! Our upcoming surgeries list tells you which members are about to get their bariatric surgery, so stop by and wish them luck! Come by the surgery anniversary list to congratulate members when they hit their annual anniversaries of their surgeries. Your name will be automatically entered onto the right list as soon as you update your patient profile. Coming Soon… We're releasing customizable health trackers and tickers within the next 90 days. We'll include more info in future newsletters, so stay tuned for information on those and the other latest happenings around VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Thanks for reading, and talk to you soon! 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