Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Second time around



Recommended Posts

Hi, My name is Lisa. I live in Michigan and work as a Bariatric Center Manager and Certified Group Support Leader. I am married and have 2 children, a step daughter and 2 grand children by marriage. My husband didnt want me to have surgery because he didnt want to chance losing me on the table. He went to one of our informational sessions so I could explain why this is important to me. I want to be around!!! And with the weight I am carrying, my time here will be shortened. He understood and is now one of my biggest supporters. I am blessed.

I had the Lap Band done in 2008. I had complications, my port moved which meant second surgery. From the beginning it was hard for my band to be filled the pokes ranged from 15-27 even under floroscopy. I went to another doctor, the one that eventually I would work with. He did some testing and found my band had moved. I had to have another surgery to take the band out to stop erosion on my stomach. I had lost in total 110 lbs but over time had gained alot back. My New Surgeon Vasanth Salin MD performed a sleeve gastrectomy on 1/7/13. To date I am 30lbs down and feeling great!! I can definately tell the difference in the surgeries because I feel very restricted.

I coach and help patients on a daily basis and my job is very fulfilling. But I am human too and need guidance and support. That is why I joined this forum. For support and also topics that I can present to our patients that attend the group support we offer.

I look forward to the new friends I will make.

Lisa :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome Lisa. This a great place to both glean and share experience. We do have our fair share of emotional posts & responses, as I'm sure you would expect having your experience.

I hope you enjoy our little community.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Congrats! Looking forward to being on the losers bench with ya.. Surgery date pending (feb)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good for you Lisa, Welcome to the forum!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi Lisa! Glad you're here! I'm glad to hear you found a great doc and that things are going smoothly.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a 25 year old female and I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and I was contemplating the lap band or sleeve just looking for some imput im 268lbs 5' 9"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Welcome! It's alot of fun reading the posts and making new friends. Congrats!! I'm scheduled for my sleeve this Monday. Terrified and excited at the same time.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Krissy, based on the fact that I have had both surgeries, I can tell you a few things.

1. With the lap band, you can still put the wrong foods in. I could eat anything I wanted. I had to have the will power to choose healthy foods. If you struggle with will power the band may not be the choice for you.

2. With the sleeve I felt instant restriction when i tried my first real meal. My body told me I was full and I had no choice but to listen.

No one but you and your doctor should tell you which surgery is best for you. I suggest researching both of the surgeries and based on your research, your health history and your surgeons recommendations make your choice from there. Good Luck!! I wish you great success.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am a 25 year old female and I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and I was contemplating the lap band or sleeve just looking for some imput im 268lbs 5' 9"

Since this is a sleeve forum I would venture to say that most of us would recommend the sleeve over the band. I think we might be just a tad less than objective.

In the interest of giving you tons of anti-band rhetoric, I'll recommend that you check out the thread "Is the band really that bad" or you could check out our band to sleeve revision section.

There is also a sister site to us called LapBand Talk. But keep in mind they are a bit partial too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Ok thank you just figured id ask since I see a lot of people had it first and stuff that's way I asked thanks everyone for your help

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×