Some of y'all know me from elsewhere.

Seems I have three choices in front of me now: a third revision on the band, take it all the way out, or change to something else.

The sleeve sounds good in theory -- but so did the band. Any long-term folks here, or is everyone still in the OMG this is so KEWL stages?

Thanks

Hello Manatee. My comment is with regards to the money issue. My trip, surgery and hotel stay for 7 days in Belgium cost me $8,000. I learned yesterday that I will be getting $3,400 back. So, my sleeve basically cost me $4,600. Just thought you should have as much information as you could. I can provide you the doctor's information if you desire. Keep safe and go for it.

Some of y'all know me from elsewhere.

Seems I have three choices in front of me now: a third revision on the band, take it all the way out, or change to something else.

The sleeve sounds good in theory -- but so did the band. Any long-term folks here, or is everyone still in the OMG this is so KEWL stages?

Thanks

Well I think the band was great too, when they went back in to adjust my band the doctors couldn't, so they removed it, I was so upset, I felt like I went through a death, I didn?t want to gain any weight back. So I had to heal before doing something else, I chose the sleeve insurance didn?t pay, I paid 12,500.00 total.

4,500.00 to the doctors and 8,00.00 to the hospital. The surgery was great, walking the next day and went home that afternoon and back to work on Monday.

The doctors were great! Had surgery June 22, 2009 lost 40 pounds, they say the first three months are the hardest and I agree. It?s not as easy as the band for me, but it works. I know there?s nothing inside of me, no appts to have fills, so far so good. I took six months for me to think about what I was going to do, the sleeve or the bypass, so just take your time and think it threw, I called a couple of patients from my doctors office to see how and what they though about there new sleeve. They had all good things to say. Maybe you can speak to some patients from your doctor?s office too. I know of one reason I picked the sleeve was there no absorption, no getting sick from eating high starch content or sugars, dumping. Good Luck in what ever you choose???. You?ll do great!!!

:thumbup:

I do get sick if I eat the wrong foods. They say you don't dump with the sleeve, so I don't know what you call it. My heart races, I get nauseous and very bad diarrhea.

I am not sure what causes it. It's a combination of either sugar, fat or milk intolerance.

I do get sick if I eat the wrong foods. They say you don't dump with the sleeve, so I don't know what you call it. My heart races, I get nauseous and very bad diarrhea.

I am not sure what causes it. It's a combination of either sugar, fat or milk intolerance.

I don't know about getting sick, but I have had diarrhea since the surgery, they don't know why? I got very dehydrated had to stay in the hospital for three days. The doctors told me not to eat dairy for a week and see what happens, haven't try it yet. Never been intolerance to dairy either, so I don't no the problem.

Hows your weight loss going? I don't one anyone around me who has had this surgery as of yet, only the band or the gastric bypass. It's been very hard on me to eat things of substance, Protein first instead of soft and mushier foods, how about you?

I am lucky that I like the protein drinks . There are quite a few that I like. I like to eat soft fish, and those little itty bitty cans of chicken salad. I need to eat more veggies that's for sure.

I became lactose intolerant after surgery. It's fairly common and not just with the sleeve.

I became lactose intolerant after surgery. It's fairly common and not just with the sleeve.

So you're a year out and still lactose intolerant Mac? I guess that means it doesn't go away. I was already that way before surgery; however Bearded wasn't, but now is. Good thing I never liked milk to begin with!:tongue_smilie:

I am lucky that I like the Protein drinks . There are quite a few that I like. I like to eat soft fish, and those little itty bitty cans of chicken salad. I need to eat more veggies that's for sure.

Hi,

Now that its been almost five months for you, do you find it easier to eat steak,chicken or ribs food of substance? Some days just a little for me other days can eat more. I think I'm going to journal to see what I have problems with. i can do soft foods, steam vegatbles and cheses.

:tongue_smilie:

I'm almost 10 months out.

I have to say there is NO WAY I'd get a 3rd band revision. No matter what surgery you end up getting, it's clear the band and your body don't get along!

Anyway, I have some links to posts from people who are 1, 2, 3, etc. years out from their sleeve surgery here:

ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND? System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options.

:thumbup1: Thank you so much for this link! I have my first appointment on Thursday and I read every one of the links! Laughed and cried (happy tears) for all the successes! Can't wait to begin!

:biggrin0: Thank you so much for this link! I have my first appointment on Thursday and I read every one of the links! Laughed and cried (happy tears) for all the successes! Can't wait to begin!

Hi Pam,

I went to the website also, learned a lot more too. Keep me posted on what your going to do............ :redface1:

Yes, really I can eat anything I want. I have had steak, pork, pizza, etc. There is nothing that can't eat. I just have to remember to take small bites and chew well. That's something that I have to really concentrate on.

Getting closer

Yesterday I had the pre-op meetings with the surgeon, nurse, hospital, nutritionist and at least one person that I had no idea what their role might be.

I've gone through this before, so there wasn't a whole lot new. I was interested in the differences in digestion time between gastric banding and the sleeve. It turns out to be significant, as the band still has a complete stomach and the sleeve does not. This difference means that Vitamin supplements and Calcium supplements are more vital to sleeve patients than band patients.

In running through the paperwork it turned out that my initial labs were never ordered. The hospital decided to add them to the mandatory pre-op labs. This ended up requiring 13 tubes of blood from my sad little vein. I desperately needed some food after that!

So all is set, and a week from now at 7:00 AM I get to have my 7th medical procedure in 2.5 years. Huzzah!

I have never been told that. I thought we were told that because we still have a stomach even if it's a small stomach, we still absorb what we need from our food. I do take a multiple Vitamin and calcium citrate though.

Good luck Manatee. Keep in touch with us so we know how you are doing!

Tick tock tick tock

Counting down, on Clear liquids now...

Best wishes for a speed recovery manatee - we'll be looking forward to hearing from you when you're feeling up to it.