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Gigi, i started feeling hungry all the time, and there was no restriction, when i went to my doctor he would try to add sailine, he was able to put in more then the max amount allowed...my insurance only paid for a removal of the band or just a revision of the port, they wouldnt pay for anything else, because i wasnt considred obese. so i had the band removed, and then paid for the sleeve out of pocket.

Hi, I had weight loss surgery when I was 63 and I am now 65 . I have been sleeved of 2 1/2 years. I lost 105 pounds on my journey. So I do know a little about what I am going to say. I have done what you want to do or have already done. So I have been thinking about this. WHY do so many of our friends not say Yay! or I am happy for you? 1. They know NOTHING about weight loss surgery let alone when we say we are have the "sleeve" done? 2. They have not heard of any positive things about WLS. 3. They are scared for us because we are having some kind of surgery they no nothing about. 4. They think we are having gastric bypass (we know it isn't but they don't) and they have heard nothing but bad thing when it comes to this surgery. Dumping, malnutrition, people gaining weight back again, because they have stretched out their pouch. 5. The are sure we are going to die during the surgery.:thumbs_down: 6. They have never had a weight problem in their life.:censored: 7. They view this as the easy way out--it take more courage to have this surgery than to do nothing at all, but they beleive it is the easy way out. 8. How will you stop losing weight. 9. Is this healthy--they are sure it isn't.:hurt: 10. It cost too much money and you will never keep the weight off and WHY if you are over 60 would you want to do this to yourself? So those are the top ten reason I can think of that the people are thinking all these things. I think if we are willing to talk more about it to them "AFTER" we have had the surgery and explain things to them--I say educate the uneducated friends that we have, they may be more willing to listen. There are so many people that just can't image that we would have surgery to lose weight, so they really have to see with their own eyes that you are OK and healthy and this is working for you. I know you want their support, but honestly sometimes it is just not going to happen. This isn't something that we just woke up one morning and said hey I think I will have someone remove 80% of my stomach and then I will solve all my weight issues. We thought about this for a long time, we did some research, we checked with other people and joined web sites to educated ourselves. So, don't let the uneducated people in your life stop you from doing what you know is right for you. If you had a tooth ache you would go see a dentist to get it fixed--and they would think that is the right thing to do. We have an addiction to food and an emotional connection to food. What is wrong with going and getting the help we need to stop our addiction. This is our tool that we are going to use to accomplish the weight loss with. It isn't a magical cure by any means. It takes time, work and effort on our part to become successful. A little support along the way also helps a heap! Finding the right doctor to trust our life with and one who is highly skilled in the field of WLS is the next step. For me that was Dr. Aceves, and I can't say enough kind words about him and his skills and he GREAT staff and wonderful hospital. I knew at 63 if I was going to take this giant step, it had to be with someone that I trusted and that had done a lot of these with no complications and was a skilled surgeon. So when the next person you talk to rolls their eyes around because you are over 60 and going to have weight loss surgery, please just have some patients with them. The are very UNEDUCATED. We will work at educating them and letting them know that this really isn't about them at all. It is ALL about you and you have earned and deserved the right to have this surgery. You will be making a lifestyle change and not be on a diet any more. You are going to put yourself first, for the first time in a long time. I want you to feel good about what you are doing because it is going to be a life changing event that is going to be so fabulous. Someone is going to call your "skinny" for the first time and you are going to smile and say "yes" I did it. I am here every step of the way to assist, you and help you. I will answer your million questions you may have and help you deal with the emotions that you are feeling. I want you to know that you are doing the right thing by wanting to become healthy and add years to your life. Hugs to you and you go for what you want in life. If not now then WHEN???? Suzanne

I am 58 and about to go for my last surgery. I am 9 years out of my lap band surgery and on my best day I am down almost 70 lbs. I’ve had it all done, breast lift with aug, tummy tuck, and a revision, lower body lift, and many rounds of Lipo. I started with plastic work around 2 years after surgery. I say wait a little while and get close to your goal weight. This is a personal decision. Do not listen to others that have not had the experience. No one else sees or feels the way you do when you look in the mirror. You lose weight and see all the imperfections and want to correct them. Nothing wrong with that. The pain is tolerable and well worth the result. Interview many Doctors and do your research. Find one that you are comfortable with and drag your hubs there to listen and see. He will change his mind. My parents weren’t on board but could see how much happier I was with myself. In the long run, we are all pleased. Good luck.

Hello, My name is Peggy, I had the surgery a month ago, and my Dr. told me not to have any alcohol for about a month and then so in moderation. My friends had the bypass thing done and they say not to have nay for at least a year. I am starting to have my wine again, maybe two glasses some nights, I know they are empty calories, but hello we have to have some fun sometimes...:tongue2:

I try to just count carbs, easier than cal. lower numbers, don't have to count as high. Good luck, my wife is getting a bypass on 6 April and as you can see I got the realize band on 4 March. The Liquid diet gets a little rough (hunger) but remember the end result and try your best. We only had to be on a liquid diet for ten days so we started about 14 days out and after the third day I had a bowl of chili so I was still in compliance with my Dr. orders but got thru the third day hump and the rest of the 14 day liquid diet went fine, infact I was eating one or two liquid meals a day prior to that to find a good liquid that I liked. Again Good luck.

Sure Michelle, I don't mind sharing at all! I believe that one of the biggest factors that has made me successful is tracking my food, fluid, and exercise. By doing this I find that if I fall off track I am able to hold myself more accountable for my actions. I exercise a fair amount, generally do at least an hour of cardio 3-4 times a week in addition to an hour to an hour and a half of hot yoga 2-3 times a week. The yoga has really helped me trim and tone not to mention it is a huge stress reducer for me. As far as what I am eating well.... for the most part I try to be good, but everyone has their slip ups right? I avoid pastas, breads, rice, and any other high carb content foods. My carbohydrate intake is generally about 40 grams/day and I try to eat at least 70 grams of protein in a day. I am a stickler for my fluid intake and I consume generally a minimum of 2 liters of water in a day. I avoid eating foods with high sugar content and for the most part stick to sugar free, if that is not an option I will not eat more than 5 grams of sugar in a meal. My average calorie intake is roughly 900-1000 calories a day. I am almost to my revised goal of 140 pounds, I know that to keep up my amount of physical exercise and to maintain 140# I will eventually have to increase my caloric intake which seems right now like it will be a difficult task. I stick to my vitamin regimen as well. I think my greatest challenge is getting past that little voice in my head telling me that I want junk food and that makes me want to eat even when I am not hungry. Also I have a 2 year old and an 8 month old + I work full time so fitting in all of my exercise is a challenge, but I have learned that if I don't I feel awful. Treating yourself is helpful too, get your hair and nails done.....makes me feel like a million bucks every time and it makes me want to try even harder to do the best I can. Good luck!

So I met with my surgeon and we will submit paper work tomorrow hopefully for approval of revision from band to sleeve!! And he said he would only do it in one surgery!!!!

And I'm also a band to sleeve revision

I’m just wondering if they will maybe take the band out separately since it is causing problems and then have me wait for the revision

Did you have the mini or the full bypass? How much have you lost?

I know it seems absurd that anyone would even consider doing this, but I know a Dr. that tried to do her own fill a little while back.... she used the wrong kind of needle and the port wouldn't seal. She had to have a port revision ($7000) to replace it. So, it DOES happen! LOL

Good Lord NOOOOOO ! This surgery (for me anyhow) was nothing compared to c/sections (I've had 2) nor as bad as my hysterectomy, bilateral breast reduction, tonsilectomy, shunt placement and revision, angiograms, etc (18 major surgeries) I was up and walking well by 6 hours after surgery without difficulities. . . I would say the one thing that bothered me was the drain. . . that was a pain in the gluteous maxamus. . . I am highly allergic to narcotics so the only pain med i can take is tylenol and that did the job just fine for me. . . but we all are different and handle pain differently, if you have a high pain threshold you'll do well if not well i guess you'll hurt. . . good luck

So at this point I have started to research MTF's. I live in the Charleston, SC area and looking for an MTF that does the Sleeve. I've heard of one person going to Columbia, SC and having theirs done at Fort Jackson/Moncrief Army Community Hospital and possibly someone using Beaufort. I'm looking for any advice on these two facilities or will by PCM even consider referring me to either. If I can't figure out something soon I may have to resort to Gastric Bypass at MUSC in Charleston. I had a very serious slip with the LapBand and I won't consider doing it again. I really need this surgery ASAP I'm gaining weight like mad and need help!!!

I think it's hard for him to accept since some people, myself included, have had Medicare & Medicaid pay for VSG. They can put whatever information they wish on the internet, but those of us who have had this surgery paid for know it's not accurate. When I contacted Medicare initially about WLS, I was told they cover gastric bypass. I opted for that surgery and only found out through my surgeon that the sleeve is covered.

I don't think so. We're all different. I blame my slowness, on 1) revision band to sleeve 2) started at a lower BMI 3) thyroid and 4) just my metabolism in general, I've always been a slow loser. I'm happy with my results even though it's taken a lot longer than I thought it would.

I talked to my doc about this yesterday. He agrees it can be frustrating int eh beginning, but says that the struggle you have before you hit the sweet spot (where you lose consistently) helps you modify your own behavior, and in teh long run, lap band people keep off the weight much better, and have healthier lives than bypass patients. He said to focus on two pounds at a time, never more. Don't worry about the ultimate goal, worry about the next two pounds.

I was banded December 30th and I have lost 40 lbs- gained back 4, lost 3... I have very little restriction after 2 fills and my doc puts the band in empty. I am hungry all the time, just like I was never banded. My first fill was 4cc's and my next one was only 1 cc! My doc just does 1 cc at a time and says it can take 6 months to get any restriction! I wish someone had told me that before the surgery- I probably would have chosen gastric bypass! Anyone who has been through this and has encouraging words, please help! I'm so frustrated!!!!:wink:

I got this off of a LapBand surgery Info site...they don't recommend Centrium or Flinstones if you have had gastric bypass, but they are both fine if you have had the LapBand surgery because they don't bypass your stomach... LAP-BAND® The LAP-BAND® is a purely restrictive operation and does not result in any decreased absorption. For this reason the Vitamin requirements are less than for a gastric bypass. For the first 3 weeks you will need the following: <TABLE width="100%" border=2><TBODY><TR align=middle bgColor=#6633cc><TD width="34%"> Item </TD><TD width="25%"> Times Per Day </TD><TD width="41%"> Notes </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffcc><TD align=middle> Chewable Multivitamin </TD><TD> 1 </TD><TD>Flintstones or other chewable children's or adult's vitamin </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> After your 3-week postoperative visit, you will probably be advanced to the following regimen <TABLE width="100%" border=2><TBODY><TR align=middle bgColor=#6633cc><TD width="34%"> Item </TD><TD width="25%"> Times Per Day </TD><TD width="41%"> Notes </TD></TR><TR bgColor=#ffffcc><TD align=middle> Regular Adult Multivitamin </TD><TD> 1 </TD><TD>OK to take chewable or standard swallowable vitamins</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Your bariatric team may suggest a Calcium and/or Iron supplement if needed.

Wow Tiffykins, that's quite an ordeal. I think I read in a past post of yours that your leak was from your esophagus? What was the issue with your band - were you an erosion? All in all, how long did your recovery take - until you could resume normal activity? My band is completely unfilled - fortunately. And while I'm told my slip is bad enough that they don't want to attempt a reposition or reband, it's not really messing with me that much. I'm "tolerating" it in such a way as that I don't present with many of the typical symptoms. But who knows what I look like on the inside. I know that from my band surgery, there is a lump of scar tissue I can feel from the outside (if I "try"), so I know it's likely to be an issue. I suspect my surgeon will put me on a significant liquid diet prior to any procedures. His "generic" liquid pre-op diet is only 2 days, but I've heard his revision diet is more like 6 weeks. I never wondered why, but maybe it's to prevent secondary or tertiary swelling caused by processing solids. I too have had someone tell me that revision patients are at 3X the risk for complications. I think I'd gladly take a second procedure if it's an option. I'll just tell him to use blanket sutures & mesh "just in case" -- just do my sleeve as though I already have a leak. Yes, how to treat leaks is on my list of questions, and how to diagnose: how many leak tests, when, which types of tests does he use, how frequently -- as well as his accessibility to me or other providers post-op. He's only about 45 minutes from home, but when I live 5 minutes from another hospital, that can be significant if there's an emergency.

I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...) My restriction is consistent except that I do notice that right before my period, I seem to be able to eat a little bit more (or maybe it is that I want to due to hormones). With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit? I hated being stuck with the band! I have never had anything get stuck with the sleeve. Sometimes, when I eat out, I may take that one bite too many and I feel extremely full. So full that I don't even want to think about food or be around it. That is what has allowed my great success though! I can only eat at small amount at a time~ I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random? The only time I get that feeling is if I eat Cereal with milk. I am not sure if it is the the milk or that the cereal swells in my stomach, but I feel sick and like I need to lay down. I don't usually eat cereal becasue of this. If I drink milk alone or in something, I am fine. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months...I am not sure but my doctor did say to follow the post op diet closely to avoid putting stress on the staple line and which can cause a leak. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...You can have issues with Calcium absorption which can cause problems with your bones and teeth. You have to take calcium citirate regularly. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray? I have just had blood tests and check ups. So easy and nice! I hated getting fills. What do you like best about your VSG? It works! I feel amazing. I can't sabotoge myself anymore with food. Food doesn't control me. What do you like least about your VSG? Maybe the scars, but I love the sleeve itself. I really feel it is one of the best decisions of my life! What did you not know going in, that you wish you did? I wish I had asked for the morphine pump for when I woke up after surgery. I didn't discuss it with my doctor because I just thought everyone got one. OUCH! I was fine once they started giving me pain meds through my IV though. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery? I actually thought they were about the same. I didn't have a drain with my band and I did with the sleeve. I did not like the drain, but it is there to detect leaks. I would do it again in a heartbeat! How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc. My band never really worked right, so it is hard to compare. I know I always had to worry about getting stuck at the most inconvient times, like at a restaurant. I would have to run to the bathroom and pray no one else was in there when I slimed. With the sleeve I have restriction all the time. I do have to focus on Protein first, but I really can eat anything, just smaller amounts. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG) I just have to stop at the first sign of fullness. Just one bite over my sleeve capacity and I am miserable from fullness. Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?I had some soreness where the port was, but that is gone now. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for) Nope It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while? I get hearburn with certain foods (spicy usually). I had it a little the first three months after surgery and took my prescription. Now it is just on an as need basis. I rarely get heartburn. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?For some reason, hamburger meat in the patty form does not agree with my sleeve. I have thrown up three times trying to eat it. I just avoid it now! I can eat it if it is ground up like taco meat. The three times I tried hamburger patties are the only times I have thrown up with the sleeve. Otherwise, nothing else has caused this issued. I LOVE the sleeve! Good luck with your revision~

My surgeon not the severe erosion on the inside of my stomach but on the outside, I don't know if that makes sense. But, my port had flipped early out, and my douchebag band doctor ignored my complaints of pain for months, it got to where the port migrated, and the tubing was pulling on my band that was wrapped around my stomach. 3.5 months for me to resume normal activity. I actually didn't have a pre-op liquid diet. I just had to low carb it, and then fast the night before surgery after midnight. I don't know many revision patients that have to do a prolonged liquid diet unless they are having major issues with their band and even then I've never read more than 2 weeks of Protein shakes and other liquids including yogurt, sugar free popsicles, pudding and Jello. My leak was directly where the band was wrapped around my stomach. I did lose additional stomach tissue from that area, but it was not at the esophagus/stomach connection. My leak was discovered on my 3rd and final leak test with contrast fluid(gastrographin Fluid should be used since barium is not Water soluble).

I am the analytical type... so I tend to want to know the "why" - but when it comes to managing obesity I am over it. At this point, it is just "how" I was committed when I revised from band to sleeve... and I remain committed to the "fight". I love life as a normal sized person too much to consider any other path.

Congratulations on getting your surgery and back home for Christmas. Why did you choose lapband over bypass? I'm trying to make that decision now.I'm tyring to get points of view.l

I am new here and hoping I am doing this right! I am on the fourth of six months pre-op. At my last appointment, the surgeon said he was shooting for the end of April for my surgery date! I am still undecided on which surgery to go for, by gastric bypass is in the lead so far. If anyone can share their thoughts, it would be great. My reason for WLS Is my back. I will most likely need surgery in the very near future per my back specialist and need to lose a significant amount of weight first. I was 340 when I started this journey and am now at 304. Any thoughts?

OMG ..... If it's the Depo Shot..... STOPPPPPPP!!!!!! Years ago they removed the IUD and started me on the Depo... I gained 50lbs in one month.... it was horrible. Look into the Nuvo Ring. It was the best Birth control EVER.... I tried it all, the Pill (nausea all the time), diaphragm (terrible bladder and yeast infections), Condoms with and without foam (latex-sensitive), IUD (terrible bleeding), the shot (major weight gain, but i didn't bleed), then the Ring. It was the only one that worked for me. Then in my 30ies i had a partial hysterectomy.... OMG it was like the heavens parted and the angels were singing.... At 50 i started menopause and it sucks Ass..... I started gaining weight and couldn't control it, no matter what i did. So i decided enough was enough and paid OOP for a revision to the sleeve. Note: All of the birth control was before i was banded in 2009 SW: 232 LW 143: Removal 2017 at 143. Sleeved 8/28/19 at 173.5, today 131.4