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I’m having a revision from sleeve to bypass on July 5th. I had a hard time with protein shakes when I had the sleeve, they tasted so chalky. Can anyone recommend protein shakes from Bariatric Pal that are good and not chalky tasting?

Hi, I share your pain. I too have had missing cc's over the past year. All kinds of tests and my Dr. says I am a mystery. I go from no restriction to tight to no again. Now I have constant heartburn, hicupping and reflux. My Dr. put in for band to sleeve revision and my insurance approved it but I am very scared to go through all this again. I am down from 207 to about 160 however I have had nothing but failure and discomfort from the band. I really have to weigh my options. Good luck to you, I really hope it all works out.

Revision: it takes a month to recover from an actual sleeve, and I have way too fast-paced a job to do that. I'd probably have to take unpaid leave or even quit the job. I can't. ESG was only a thing I could do because it had a week recovery time tops. If the sleeve had a week recovery, I'd have done that instead. Regarding vanity: They know. They have all my medical stats. They know my blood pressure is something that people aspire to, that my labs are clean as a whistle, and that I can drag a kayak a mile through choppy waters to shore or walk 10 miles straight for 3 hours. They know I have major psychological issues surrounding my body. I've seen a therapist for over a decade for in part this reason. It hasn't made me like how I look whatsoever, just helped me cope enough to have a reasonable life. I'm on several psych meds. As it stands, I have a view on this that is similar to transition. When you have gender dysphoria, people who are any kind of sane by modern science don't tell you to suck it up and go to therapy to embrace being your birth sex. They tell you to seek hormone treatments and transition, because transition works. I don't think that trying to love being fat works either. You change your body if you want to change your body. I'm going to cut back to 1000 cal/day goal and hate my life, but I guess it's something. And I mean technically I guess I have lost like 30 lbs worst case. I'm just so pissed and dismayed that I haven't gotten below pre-pandemic weight before my wedding. I want to be Internet Hot (tm) at my wedding.

I would love to follow you on your journey. I also was banded 2009 and am starting the process of a revision surgery to bypass

I would love to converse have you had surgery or a revision

Mine is June 22nd. Up until last week I was set on the sleeve but due to my EGD it may be changed to bypass. I have my pre-op Thursday and will make a decision then. Trying to avoid getting the sleeve and then having to have a revision due to acid reflux later. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am very impressed by your journey did you have any complications with your revision

How was you’re recovery process going from the sleeve to bypass? In a few weeks I will be doing a revision of my sleeve to bypass due to a hiatal hernia and acid reflux. I’m curious to know if the recovery after the surgery is worse, the same or easier the second time around. I’m also interested in knowing how your insurance covered the revision. My policy has an exclusion and I’m concerned I will be denied coverage.

Peacheeie- my story is just like your. My starting weight was 207 had a revision do to band failure and also diabetes. I have gotten down as far at 185. I started working out the lasts 3 weeks and I'm up to 188. Calories are set To 800 by me. Dr states not to count calories, eat three meals and stay away from carbs. I can eat more then 4 oz, wonder if I stretched my sleeve. Dr and RNP says my weightloss will be slow because of the band.

I like hearing stories about people like yourself who are successful with the revision. Would you mind sharing what you did that was successful to your "almost" reaching your goal. I'm only 4 months out and worried about failing.

I am three weeks out from surgery. And yes I can eat regular food without any problems and eat 1000 calories a day easily. A meal is 5 oz of Protein and a salad no problem. I do have a nutritionist but she's on vacation. I'm thinking I got a bigger stomach after the surgery. I have had zero problems with eating anything and I can chug a glass of Water easily too with no problems. I see my surgeon next week. I'm not eating crap food - I'm eating lean protein and veggies but I can still eat more than I should be able to at this point.I think MANY conversion folks feel that way. I know I did. This "I can only sip 2oz of water and I feel like I am drowning " never happened to me. There are as many after surgery diets as there are doctors. Everyone thinks their doc is the most right. But if none of them agree then my thought is there is no scientific answer and they are all GUESSING. SO, just be aware of that when people start judging you and what your doc has you doing. MOST people on here mean well, and they may come off as being harsh but they are providing helpful information along the way and they do care. Others are just food shaming and do nothing other than that...not actually offering any usefulness in their post. Ignore those ones and try not to let it get to you. Most docs do not have people on solids at 3 weeks but I have read the post diets from 3 different hospitals who do. So I am not totally suprised. That being said. It still hurts for me to eat meat. But that is me. If you are 3 weeks out and able to eat 1000 calories of solid food then you might benefit from a 5 day pouch test. You can look it up online but pretty much go back to liquids for a couple days, then mushies, softs, then regular food again. Some people say that helps them get some better restriction. Eating solids...and too much solid too soon and put stress on your staple line. I have also read that it can cause you to stretch out a but more...making it hard to fill up. I don't know how much of that is "bro science " and how much of that is proven science but it can't hurt to do a reset and see how you feel. Also, when you are eating normal food. Make sure you are not drinking with or too soon after. Conversion surgery people already seem to have their food make its way into the lower gi a little faster so don't speed that process up. Eat slow, BUT don't eat so slow that it takes you more than 20 min. I wad doing this very thing!!! I wad taking about 45 min to eat...and could eat a lot. But I sped up just a little bit and started stopping after 20 min and I am filling up on less calories. 1000 calories can add up fast. And really...in the long run....it is what we should eventually be eating. The idea that we live on 500 calories a day for ever is absurd. The point of this honeymoon phase is to help you lose weight WHILE retraining your system to eat healthy. NO ONE GETS FAT ON 1000 CALORIES A DAY OF VEGETABLES AND chicken....unless you are 2. So.... Hang in there. ..listen to your body....and just keep making good choices. Much love!!! Thanks! I saw my surgeon 2 days ago for my post-op follow up and he said he took off about 70% instead of the usual 80% because of the band. He didn't want leaks. He also said that 1,000 calories a day is fine and not to worry about what the NUT says. He said they are more used to dealing with straight sleevers and not revisions. He said revisions can sometimes eat more and I'm doing fine. He told me to just stick to Proteins and hit the goal and then fill in with the non-starchy veggies and not to worry about it. My surgeon's normal plan is for people to start solids between day 10 and day 14 depending on how they feel. Lean proteins and non-starchy veggies. He keeps reminding me every time I see him not to eat mashed potatoes. I hate, loathe and despise mashed potatoes. I told him I'd rather eat canned cat food - at least it has protein. Hahahahahha you go girl! I was eating similar to you...went to liquids 2 meals a day and just eggs for the 3rd meal. Now I am filling up on a lot less. Didn't even take 5 days. But I am losing again. Do what works for you...but if it stops working. ..try mixing it up a little. Remember. ..marathon...not a sprint.

I am three weeks out from surgery. And yes I can eat regular food without any problems and eat 1000 calories a day easily. A meal is 5 oz of Protein and a salad no problem. I do have a nutritionist but she's on vacation. I'm thinking I got a bigger stomach after the surgery. I have had zero problems with eating anything and I can chug a glass of Water easily too with no problems. I see my surgeon next week. I'm not eating crap food - I'm eating lean protein and veggies but I can still eat more than I should be able to at this point.I think MANY conversion folks feel that way. I know I did. This "I can only sip 2oz of water and I feel like I am drowning " never happened to me. There are as many after surgery diets as there are doctors. Everyone thinks their doc is the most right. But if none of them agree then my thought is there is no scientific answer and they are all GUESSING. SO, just be aware of that when people start judging you and what your doc has you doing. MOST people on here mean well, and they may come off as being harsh but they are providing helpful information along the way and they do care. Others are just food shaming and do nothing other than that...not actually offering any usefulness in their post. Ignore those ones and try not to let it get to you. Most docs do not have people on solids at 3 weeks but I have read the post diets from 3 different hospitals who do. So I am not totally suprised. That being said. It still hurts for me to eat meat. But that is me. If you are 3 weeks out and able to eat 1000 calories of solid food then you might benefit from a 5 day pouch test. You can look it up online but pretty much go back to liquids for a couple days, then mushies, softs, then regular food again. Some people say that helps them get some better restriction. Eating solids...and too much solid too soon and put stress on your staple line. I have also read that it can cause you to stretch out a but more...making it hard to fill up. I don't know how much of that is "bro science " and how much of that is proven science but it can't hurt to do a reset and see how you feel. Also, when you are eating normal food. Make sure you are not drinking with or too soon after. Conversion surgery people already seem to have their food make its way into the lower gi a little faster so don't speed that process up. Eat slow, BUT don't eat so slow that it takes you more than 20 min. I wad doing this very thing!!! I wad taking about 45 min to eat...and could eat a lot. But I sped up just a little bit and started stopping after 20 min and I am filling up on less calories. 1000 calories can add up fast. And really...in the long run....it is what we should eventually be eating. The idea that we live on 500 calories a day for ever is absurd. The point of this honeymoon phase is to help you lose weight WHILE retraining your system to eat healthy. NO ONE GETS FAT ON 1000 CALORIES A DAY OF VEGETABLES AND chicken....unless you are 2. So.... Hang in there. ..listen to your body....and just keep making good choices. Much love!!! Thanks! I saw my surgeon 2 days ago for my post-op follow up and he said he took off about 70% instead of the usual 80% because of the band. He didn't want leaks. He also said that 1,000 calories a day is fine and not to worry about what the NUT says. He said they are more used to dealing with straight sleevers and not revisions. He said revisions can sometimes eat more and I'm doing fine. He told me to just stick to Proteins and hit the goal and then fill in with the non-starchy veggies and not to worry about it. My surgeon's normal plan is for people to start solids between day 10 and day 14 depending on how they feel. Lean proteins and non-starchy veggies. He keeps reminding me every time I see him not to eat mashed potatoes. I hate, loathe and despise mashed potatoes. I told him I'd rather eat canned cat food - at least it has protein.

Our stories are very similar, I had lost only 30lbs before I started having problems. Had to unfill due to reflux and not being able to get liquids down. I have had no restriction since last year and gain all the weight back. Each time I tried to get a fill I would end up going back for an unfill. Never hit the so called "green zone". I'm now waiting for approval to revision to the sleeve. Best of luck on your journey!

Band removed & Sleeve done 5/27/15. Mind you I was first Banded in 2010 then Band replaced in 2014. I had success in the beginning with the Band, then the slips & not being able to tolerate food. Also the Band is not a FOREVER thing in which is not told in the beginning. I work in the medical field & 3 Nurses that had the Band for 7 plus years revised to sleeve & the Scar tissue from the band had started attaching to the Liver. My scar tissue wasn't bad at all being that I just had it replaced in 2014. I'm in the healing process but thanking GOD everyday that I not only maintained, but that I'm making it through day by day. Much success to each of you.

Is there anyone else out there dealing with what I am going through? I had my lap band done on Jan. 28th 2010 and it couldn't have gone smoother. I lost an astoning 71 pounds and felt like I became the person I should have been a long time ago. My nightmare started the day after my port revision. It had flipped in June of this year and of course was told is was a simple procedure...woke up twice on the table but I guess that can be common with a twighlight...ever since he did the revision it has been pure hell for me. He relocted the port, I have nothing but pain and none of my fills are working. I have had 3 fills since the surgery and nothing is working. I have expressed this to him and he did a CT Scan to see if there was anything going on around the port. Of coursenothing came up so why look into it anymore....he did a fill that day and I woke up at 4am in so much pain my husband had to help me out of bed. I laid on the couch for 24 hours with an ice pack and Tylenol. And cried a lot. I called the nurse and told her everything again and she has been very kind but kind doesn't help. She told me to make another money making appointment and have a heart to heart chat with him and write all my questions down. Not sure what else I can tell him!! When a patient has that much pain wouldn't you think your doc would look into this further or give you options. He told me it could soft tissue/scar tissue from the surgery or my body is rejecting it. Now I can't get in to see him for almost a month. Dec.21st!! Just in time to renew my deductable. I shouldn't worry so much about the money because my insurance does cover a lot of it, but I still have to pay some. So when I see him I am going to give him these options..either do a test to make sure the whole band is working, no leaks, port flips, or band slips. I have been poked so many times I feel like pin cushion. I don't even think he is getting the fluid in the port.. When I drink the water it does get stopped and then he does his thing with the fill. But then the next day I feel like there was nothing done. I think I have a surgeon who is not listening (not the first time), doesn't care or does't believe me. I am actually getting scared. Would've something is really wrong and he is missing it! So again, options are test, see a different surgeon or get the band removed which breaks my heart. It worked so well for me when it was just right. I am so sad about this right now. I thought I finally had found the answer to my obesity and its all messed up due to a flipped port. Gosh darn it! I also travel one hour to there. I go to Froedert in Milwaukee which is an awsome hospital. One of the best. People come all around from the world to go there. How did I end up in this mess. This time my husband is going with me....can someone please hlep me or support me in anyway. Give me any advice..I need something to keep going....I hear all these success stories and I want to be one of them. I was on my way too. Please, maybe just a pat on the back for me right now.Dec. 21st seems so far away. He is going to be gone I guess. There are two other docs in the practice whom i wish i picked now. I have met both of them and they are awsome. oh well...thanks for listening everyone...HELP!!!

I belonged to an all woman gym after my lapband surgery in 2009 (I'm now a a sleeve revision). I paid $60 a week for a personal trainer. Loved her. She kicked my butt every week. We spent 90 mins (30 on nutrition choices and 60 on weight training/cardio intervals). I told her I didn't like the elliptical cuz it was hard and made my legs feel like noodles. Guess what she chose for my 3 mins cardio intervals? Yep, the damn elliptical. By the time I left, I felt like Jello. Had a hard time walking to the car. After about 2 mths, I cut back to every 2 weeks (just cound't afford the $240 every month). I would weigh, we'd discuss my food intake and then she'd work me out. Everytime I got on the scale, I saw a loss. Even after not making the wisest choices at times. After a couple more months, I cut her back to once a month. Still saw losses every month. Then I met my now-husband. He had a membership at the Y, so I started going with him. He couldn't go to the all female gym with me and we didn't want to work out alone. So I gave up my trainer. Something she told me early on that I still remember: "You don't have to give up ur favorite foods. Just take a few bites and throw the rest away. U still have the taste but also have the control over what ur eating". She got me off my almost daily Tamale Pie (Found at Vons and Safeway on the West Coast). I cut back to once a week. Not giving it up but cutting back on it. I rarely eat them now.

Well without having read all the posts in between, that just rammed home two things for me. One, there are many doctors making a buck with obesity surgery who have no freaking idea of the emotional journey we take when we undergo it. Choosing a surgeon for this is like choosing an obstetrician, its somebody who you hope to have a long respectful relationship with and I've been appalled at stories I've heard from people about how little understanding their doctors have shown. TYou bare your soul to them afterall. This was just another example. What, is weight loss surgery the next big money spinner, but you hate fat people? And two, how very glad I am that I live in Australia. For a measly $3,000 I have my band AND I have guaranteed aftercare FOR EVER and that INCLUDES revision surgery if necessary. I know our health systems operate very differently but this should be the case for everyone.

Welcome, Kimber! You'll find quite a few people who have had or are planning sleeve-to-RNY revision surgeries. Hopefully you'll click with some folks following your same path!

There are lots of chair based exercises you can do. A quick Google search should turn up quite a few. Arm raises, calf raises, bicep curls, etc. Good for you for wanting to start out with good habits! Lap band 10/2007 revised to RNY 12/22/2017 HW 270 SW 263 CW 253

I was like you no comorbities. I was a great sleeve candidate. I was a terribly slow loser which I learned to live with. I have since had some complications post pregnancy and will be revised to bypass soon. I have developed terrible GERD with my sleeve. Also, some sleeve drs still do not advise taking NSAIDS. I took them after my c-section and thought I was gonna have a heart attack. Since then my surgeon had told me to stop using them. I think this is an area that is still conflicting amongst the sleeve community. People have success with both and there can be complications with both.

My Apologies, Didn't see the date on the side there, just that you were listed as a lap band, and you didn't state you were going in for revision. Good luck on everything! I hit 50 lbs lost today since my pre-surgical check in on March 2nd!

Thanks for sharing that info. I am set to revise from sleeve to bypass on Friday. I also wish that I had started with bypass. I swore that I would never revise. I do have gerd and hiatal hernia. Plus I only lost about half of excess weight with sleeve. Still the episodes of reflux have not been all that frequent. Here I am the day before surgery. Still wanting to back out.

My revision is May 21st..... happy to have a buddy! Lisa

Not sure if you have Kroger by you but they have this CARBMASTER MILK! Chocolate, Plain and Vanilla, 8 onz has 11 grams of Protein and 60 Calories. I know you need more but you could maybe mix protein powder with it. A Christmas I used it with Egg Beaters to make Eggnog. I told a friend of mine who's daughter has medical issues she was talking how her girl needed more protein but wouldn't drink ensure etc. I told her and she loves it. Tastes like regular chocolate milk. I mentioned it to my Dr he said it was find but as space is at a premium perhaps mix some additional unflavored protein powder with it. I currently have a band and am having a sleeve revision in May.

I had my surgery almost exactly 3 years ago and didn't tell anyone other than 2 friends who live halfway around the world and are not connected to any of my other friends, family, or co-workers. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but then I thought someone should know in case something happens to me. When people asked about my weight loss I focused on the the low carb/portion control aspect of what I was doing (which, let's face it, is what leads to long-term success). I'm going for my revision surgery in a month's time and this time no one will know. The only people I would be willing to tell are some friends who are also morbidly obese - but only if they asked me specifically about it. In a few years time, when I am hopefully in maintenance mode, I think I would be more willing to talk about it openly, but while I'm still struggling, it's not something I can really talk about. I live in a country that has one of the lowest overweight/obesity rates in the world, so it's not like there are a lot of people out there who have a shared life experience that I can talk to about it.