Revision questions for those who can relate!

[MelissaGG 9]

I have had a million happiest post op moments. I have to say probably the most memorable was when a guy I have known for years, very conservative, very polite, professional type relationship says to me "holy ****, you are HOT!" On days when I feel low, I remember that moment and smile...lol.. I have come along way from the 300+ pound woman who hated to be seen by others.

So, early on, your tummy sensations are not mature. I don't have time to type a novel about this, but bottom line, don't believe the bull that you are somehow not going to be as successful since you are a revision. The REASON for that is bandsters have learned how to cheat... lets me honest... that band trained us to go for sliders etc. If you take that lesson "how i failed at weight loss surgery without really trying" and be determined to learn from it and have a different experience this time - there is no reason you can't rock the sleeve and have awesome results.

I beat the odds - started at 50+ BMI, was banded for 10 years with crappy results... and here I am now... at goal and feeling great. You too can do this and it doesn't matter if the weight comes off fast or slow... steady and smart choices wins at this race.

Jane, you so totally get howi feel about this. It is so easy to feel like a failure. I have to say in my 10 years of dealing with this band, I just never thought anything could be done. I never wanted to undergo another surgery, not to remove it, not to revise it, nothing. I thought in 10,000 years they would dig me up and wonder what the contraption was with my bones. I know it's morbid but I was told it was a forever solution and it would never come out. After the surgery, I moved on to other health challenges, including infertility and finally had my miracle baby at 41. I hate that I am facing this now and I look at you and see hope. Thanks for being here, your words are just what I need to hear.

[SoCalDixieGal 172]

Jane you nailed it! My band was either too tight so I could only eat sliders or loose to the point I it was like it wasn't there. I felt like I had totally failed. But, I also think we have some advantages - we've already learned the tiny bites, chewing like crazy and the drinking thing. We've also learned that WLS isn't magic.

It's so hard not to compare your loss to others. My opinion is that the yogurt is okay. Yes, it's high in carbs, but it's healthier carbs. Watch though for added sugars. I'm not familiar with that brand so I don't know if they add in sugars or if the carbs are just naturally from plain yogurt.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

Carbmaster is the only yogurt I eat

I avoid Protein bars (mostly)

I have lots of things like that but I learned them through the journey... one of the advantages of having massive amounts to lose (150 pounds in my case!) is that you have alot of chance to practice what works and what doesn't..lol

the number one thing I learned from my failed bandster experience - don't give up, don't go hide in shame when things are going poorly... instead expect and DEMAND support from experts (nutritionalists etc) as well as from fellow WLS patients. I felt very judged when I did poorly with the band, and one thing i learned is "screw that" - I did this to save my life and I am not going to let hurt feelings or other people's views interfere!!!! I take what helps, ignore the rest and simply don't accept criticisms that make me feel bad about myself. I don't care if John Doe lost 150 in 3 months, it took me 14 months and I am quite happy with that!!!

Now maintenance, that will be my journey too and while I am working to learn from others, I also accept that it is something I need to figure out what works for me; taking into account experiences from those who have gone before me. so far, I am basically doing what I was doing during the losing phase, but allowing myself a little extra from time to time. If that doesn't work, I will figure out something else - but I refuse to go hide in shame if I start having issues.

Never give up.

[tannak 60]

Thanks for your posts cowgirljane!! You are my new inspiration in this process!! I have a similar experience to yours. I had the lapband for lost 10 years with crappy results and here I am excited for a new weight loss surgery to lose 150 pounds that the lapband failed to help me with! I lost weight at the beginning of my banded life but started regaining during my two subsequent pregnancies until i regained it all back and that darned band didnt do anything to stop it!! i never felt much restriction with the band!! I am scheduled for surgery at the end of this month. I hope my successes with the sleeve will be similar to yours as well!!

[YURiiMii 6]

I am so happy to see this thread!! I am a band to sleeve revision. Had my band for 2 years and had my revision on the 15th of November 2012. I have lost 30 lbs since my revision. It's kind of upsetting because if I try to stay with 800 calories I feel sick like I am going to pass out. They ran all kinds of blood test and can't find anything wrong. Even took a look at my sleeve and everything seems fine. My surgeon says its all me and I need to stick my 800 calories. My PCP tells me to up my calories to 1000 to 1200 so that I don't feel sick and avoid the possibly of fainting. I honestly don't know what to do sometimes. I get hungry some days and others I have to remind my self to eat. I hope that as the months come by I will be able to find some kind of middle ground with my sleeve and at the same time satisfy the doctor so I don't get in trouble.

[brandibandtosleeve2012 12]

I am so happy to see this thread!! I am a band to sleeve revision. Had my band for 2 years and had my revision on the 15th of November 2012. I have lost 30 lbs since my revision. It's kind of upsetting because if I try to stay with 800 calories I feel sick like I am going to pass out. They ran all kinds of blood test and can't find anything wrong. Even took a look at my sleeve and everything seems fine. My surgeon says its all me and I need to stick my 800 calories. My PCP tells me to up my calories to 1000 to 1200 so that I don't feel sick and avoid the possibly of fainting. I honestly don't know what to do sometimes. I get hungry some days and others I have to remind my self to eat. I hope that as the months come by I will be able to find some kind of middle ground with my sleeve and at the same time satisfy the doctor so I don't get in trouble.

I see a dietician outside of my surgeon's office and it's been a huge help. I couldn't function on 600-800 calories and my dietician said my body needs at least 1,000. I'm aiming for 1,200. I feel much better. Dietician doesn't even want me to do vigorous exercise until I'm averaging 1,200. I lose more when I eat that much. It has helped me break through several stalls. I hope that you start feeling better soon.

[shuckybucky 107]

I have been having a hard time with hunger and portions. Most days I eat 2 - 3 bites and that's it but yesterday I ate an entire lean cuisine (small one with just beef tips and broccoli) and I felt so guilty afterwards. Then I look at the box and the entire meal was probably 6 ounces and only 160 calories. I did over eat because I felt that sensation in my throat and its my fault for

Letting myself get so hungry and eating fast. I was a band revision also (1/25/13) and I have not lost much weight since my revision (6 pounds) but I also realize I was almost at goal weight when they did the revision and I was so sick for so long with the band that I was living on Popsicles so I'm probably consuming 3x the calories now. It's going to take my body some time to adjust and me some time to get my nutrition back together. I am so happy to be able to eat some meat again. I do not eat bread or Pasta because I'm to scared to even try them. I have started working out again which will also increase hunger so I have to find a way to pull all of this together.

[MzGray29 8]

Good morning, I think the most important thing a lot of people are forgetting is inorder for you to lose weight you have to have a significant calorie intake. Am I saying go eat a number 1 from mcdonalds 2x a day hell no but you have to consume at least 1200 calories a day especially if your working out.

[timetobefree 74]

I was VERY hungry for the first few months and could eat more than I can now at nearly 4 months post-op. I have some dilation of my esophagus from the band, and I think that is finally going back to normal.

Just hang in there - I am so much happier today with my sleeve than I was even a month ago. It's a HUGE learning curve, even after nearly 3 years with the band.

I will say the one good thing the band taught me was how to chew my food well and swallow small bits at a time - I have never, ever been stuck with the sleeve and never had any pain from not chewing well enough. I did vomit once, but it was about 3 weeks post-op, and I fully admit, I just completely overdid it (on fish!).

[FlabBattleInSeattle 20]

Your body is telling you that you need more calories! 1000 a day is not excessive at all! If you need more calories to gain strength to work out, then eat! Just make sure you are putting healthy things into your body and good fuel! Use your sleeve like we all should have used our band, eat your calories instead of drinking them. The whole success is to get full on small amounts. if you eat a quarter of a chicken breast, you probably wont be able to fit anything else in! If you eat a couple of sweet fruity yogurts, you may have room left for more.... Just say no to too many high calorie mushy slippy meals and you will find the success that this sleeve was intended to provide! Good luck in your healthy weightloss!

[TinaM8 9]

Hi. I am 5 weeks out and I am a band to sleeve revision (one year apart) and AFTER my revision my surgeon told me ppl who had the band before usually lose slower and have less restriction. I feel this is exactly what has happened to me. Some days I am not that hungry and can eat 4bites and I'm full and then some days (like today, sadly) I feel hungry most of the day and eat 1000calories. On an average day I eat 700-850calories. Judging by others on this site it seems like most people 5weeks out can only eat 500calories!!! Am I a total f$&k up or what?! I feel 500cal is not possible for me. I don't feel like I'm exaggerating as I'm eating Protein but I don't have a problem eating 5-6 small portions. I have lost 15lbs since being sleeved 5weeks ago. Am I normal? Lol

Anyone else feel they can eat more or less because of the band revision?

This is probably one of my number 1 concerns with getting a revision. I haven't decided 100% to do it yet but I really think I want to. I had the lap band in 2006. Lost 60 gained back 20. I have to say..slow or not...I would be happy with weight loss period at this point! I am beyond frustrated with the band!!!

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

This topic is a month old, but moved to the top.

I have been in maintenance since February - maintenance scares me more then anything! So far, it is going great!!!!

I don't want to make it sound easy, it is not. Life keeps wanting to draw me into eating too much of the wrong foods, tempting me to skip working out etc.... but I remain determined.

For those of you planning a revision, or still in the sleeve weight loss journey - I just want to share that it is possible to be successful as a revision. There were several ladies who used to post to this forum that lost 100+ after being revised and they gave me the courage to "believe". Like many of you, I felt like I was the one person on the planet that can fail at losing weight no matter what the surgery. Truth is, any of us can not do great, or we can do awesome. Alot of it is in our own personal control. I found a NUT/dietician that helped me so much and I learned to change things up. Sometimes you need to eat more, need to eat less, reduce carbs, increase carbs... shake it up. Change your exercise routines... listen to your body.

Don't be afraid of "only" losing 10# a month. How the heck do you think I lost 150# in 14 months? By losing in the general ballpark of 10 a month!!!! Some months way more... some way less.... be in this for the long haul.

Hope it is going great for all of you.