I posted this question over on the general discussion section, but thought I would pose it here since you guys have specific experience in this area---

Hello everyone. I have been lurking for a while but this is my first time posting. Sorry kinda lengthy!!

I have a question and wanted to see if anyone could give my any insight. To give you a little bit of history-I was banded 2 years ago. I initially lost about 55 lbs. over the first 4-5 months. I then got an adjustment that resulted in me being too tight, learning to drink with my food just to get it to go down, then drinking all my food down. I maintained my weight loss for several months, but eventually over the last year have gained back about 30 of the 55 lbs.

After researching VSG, I am very impressed with both how happy people are with their sleeves and the amount of weight that is being lost.

My main question is this, over the last 5-6 weeks I have been trying to lose the weight that I had gained back on my own. I have been eating the band/sleeve/low carb way, with mainly Protein and occasionally some vegetables with one of my meals. I have eaten between 900 and 1200 calories and exercise on the elliptical for approx 50 mins 3-5 times per week. I lost 10 lbs in the first week and a half and nothing since. I am worried that through all the years of yo-yo dieting and then the band that I have made myself weight loss resistant!

Has anyone had extreme trouble losing weight on their own or with a band and then had success with the sleeve. I don't want to go through the risks etc of another surgery just to fail again?!?!?

Hello, I have experienced the same thing. My band was removed in September 2009. I started out exercising and lifting weights and watching my diet but gained 20-30 pounds after my band was removed. I am scheduled for sleeve surgery on March 19, 2010 with Dr Wade Baker. Can't wait. I am not able to get back on track after being so angry with the weight gain. This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. I feel this is the best decision for me. I have lost almost 100 lbs with band but i was sick with it. I pray this works for me.

Same story here although I really do miss my band, slip or no slip. It did provide restriction for me and now that I don't have it, I have regained about 30 lbs :crying:. Anyway....I have Aetna, so I'm hoping that they revise their policy this month to include the VSG, it was scheduled to be reviewed starting yesterday. If not, I may just ask to be rebanded :lol0:

Ya know I think most of us are "professional dieters" aka Yo-Yo dieters. I am having a revision I have waited to get an unfil because I know I will pack on the lbs. Gonna have it unfilled ~2 weeks before. I have been gaining weight. I am so scared of getting something stuck (soooo unpredictable) that I have been eating slider food. I get SO hungry. I look at it this way. This sleeve is the last stop for me. I can't go on living like this with this band. Best of luck with your decision. I am planning on retiring as a profession dieter!!!

D.

Ya know I think most of us are "professional dieters" aka Yo-Yo dieters. I am having a revision I have waited to get an unfil because I know I will pack on the lbs. Gonna have it unfilled ~2 weeks before. I have been gaining weight. I am so scared of getting something stuck (soooo unpredictable) that I have been eating slider food. I get SO hungry. I look at it this way. This sleeve is the last stop for me. I can't go on living like this with this band. Best of luck with your decision. I am planning on retiring as a profession dieter!!!

D.

Amen!!!

I feel the same way!

No more yo you dieting!

I think I have lost the same 60 lbs 10 times!!

Don't worry. The difference between living with the sleeve and the band is like night and day. For me, losing weight after I had my band taken out and got sleeved was pretty effortless. You will love the sleeve.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement!

I feel like the sleeve is the answer. I just have to get my doctor to agree! He feels like since there is nothing actually "wrong" with my band that we should try to make the band work with proper adjustments. I understand what he is trying to do and appreciate his honesty (he could always have said -yeah lets do the revision and made $ off of me).

But, I feel like its prolonging the inevitable and don't want to waste another x number of months figuring that out. I would rather have the surgery (which I don't take lightly BTW, and am scared to death of), but then I can get on with losing the weight and on with my life.

Proper adjustments? That means a bunch of fills and unfills. Who needs that?

I hope you get the sleeve. You'll have perfect restriction all the time.

I agree with Daisy. I dealt with trying to get restriciton, and it was just beyond frustrating. I wanted to pull my hair out.

I can appreciate your doctor wanting to give the band a "good college try", but you've been there done that. It's time to start living. Life with the band vs. life with the sleeve is like trying to compare night and day. I know it seems so drastic to remove 75% of the stomach, but I can honestly tell ya, I don't miss mine one single bit.

Thanks for the encouragement Oregondaisy and Tiffykins.

I just found out that the dr. that I had been seeing (not the dr that did my original lapband) is not covered under my insurance (united healthcare), so I am in the process of setting up an appt. with another very experienced reputable dr. here in Houston. Dr. Carlos Ferrari.

I am hopeful that he and his staff will get my revision approval quickly and I can schedule my surgery ASAP.

I really just want to get on with healing and losing the weight I have to loss and getting on with living life!

I am still worried because of the increased risks associated with revisions-but don't feel like I really have any option at this point. My band is not working for me and will have to eventually come out anyway.

I am also still worried about not losing all of my weight (approx 110 lbs)-I so want it gone NOW!

Thanks again