Wasa had her revision to a sleeve today. I spoke with Nina (Dr.Aceves coodinator) and she told me that everything went just fine. She was in recovery (this was at 530 pm Arizona time) and will be going back to her room very shortly. As soon as I hear from her I will update you all.

Wasa, I'm glad you are doing well! Your weight loss results from lapband were phenomenal, so I'm sorry you had to have it removed but I happy you found another procedure. I wish you the best and sincerley hope you will be sticking around here. You have given some great advice here. Good luck and I wish you a speedy recovery.

There is a little piece of me that is afraid to be without my band. I KNOW that worked for me although it was a hard journey in my case. I keep thinking ... what if the sleeve doesn't do the trick? But, I think it will.

I was on liquids for so long I kinda got used to it over the past 3 months and now that I know things are fixed and after the post op diet I can eat real food again it's triggering a thing in my brain. Now head hunger is coming out in full force. I have no Ghrelin so I have no hunger now with a sleeve. But seriously, who needs Ghrelin when my head is telling me I'm hungry? ;o)

My friend's grandma (KittenQutie) is from the south and she's promised me my favorite foods, Southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes on 7/4. That's all I think about. A chicken wing is about all that will fit in my new tube stomach. Makes me wonder how long it will take to eat a single meal in the beginning? It should be trippy to find out! HA! Actually, I can't wait to find out. I'm telling you, if it takes me all day to eat a piece of chicken, so be it! I'll do it. I want real food!

I can't wait to meet you! You should have gone shopping with Denise and me a few weeks ago, would'a been fun.

Hey I just got my plane tickets! I will be back from Aug. 20th until the 30th Let's get together yeah yeah yeah, (song from the parent trap)

By then you should be able to eat your chicken wing!

Welcome back, WasA. I'm glad everything went well for you!

Hi, Wasa,

I've been having the same problems as you for about 5 months. The test show that my opening is okay. I have gastritis and esophagitis (sp). The doctor says to chew better. Right!!! I am presently at 116 lbs. I can't keep much down, although, I am staying at the same weight (don't know how that is posible). I have feel, unfill, fill, unfill, and on and on. Could I ask how much it costs to convert over to the sleeve? Thank you for coming on and telling all. It gives me hope. Cheryl

Hi, Wasa,

I've been having the same problems as you for about 5 months. The test show that my opening is okay. I have gastritis and esophagitis (sp). The doctor says to chew better. Right!!! I am presently at 116 lbs. I can't keep much down, although, I am staying at the same weight (don't know how that is posible). I have feel, unfill, fill, unfill, and on and on. Could I ask how much it costs to convert over to the sleeve? Thank you for coming on and telling all. It gives me hope. Cheryl

It costs a lot. ;o)

In Mexico it was $12,500. But well worth every single penny. Thing is, the longer you put it off and don't do anything about it the more damage to your esophagus, that means permanent and forever.

Revision surgery is more expensive than an original procedure. It's far more difficult to do and not just any band surgeon can do a revision safely. It takes a ton of skill with staple lines. Doing a staple line on a scarred stomach (banded) is not easy and carries a great deal more risk of perforations, bleeding, infection, leaks, etc. It takes longer, there is more OR time, it requires more skill, it results in more pain and a harder recovery. But I think it is safer than going on the way I was. I'm tired of fighting band issues, I'm tired of trying to force it to work when in my case, it just wasn't healthy.

But it was a choice, continue living as I was, removing the band and gaining weight, or going for it. I decided to go for it and am thrilled that I did.

Wasa,

Thank you for your reply. A couple of questions. I don't believe that much of my food/drink makes it to my stomache. It seems to stay in the esopagus (sp). If the tests show that the stoma is open and I chew well, why would it not go down? I don't have any acid reflux, it just comes back up. I've been banded for 2 1/2 years and have lost 90 lbs. Also, why wouldn't I continue to lose weight if a majority (if not all) of my food stays in the esopagus? Another thing, I had a TT March 30th. My problem had started in Dec 07. Thanks, again.

Cheryl

I was wondering where you went to Wasa. I missed you.

I really value your input on protein. You really helped me and I hope the Sleeve works well for you and you will be able to eat real food again. I wish you the best of luck.

But not all the mods, eh? (wink wink nudge nudge)<wink wink="" nudge="">

My post op diet is 10 days of clears, 10 of fulls, 10 soft, then regular food.

I'm at 8 days, I just ate 16 chickens, a ham, a pound of taffy, and a fifth of rum.

Did I hurt my staple line?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I couldn't resist! ;o)))

It's soooo tempting to go to the newbie section and post some questions....</wink>

Ha! Don't forget the case of Mt. Dew!

but Mt. Dew is healthy, right??

so glad you are healing well, Wasa.

Wasa - you finally did it woman!! wahoooooo~!! I remember you talking about this a long time ago . I also did research on it, but my insurance wouldn't cover it, and my new band is working for me, though I do hate going to get the fills and all that.

You mentioned a person ragging on you about it, well, the lap band police need to just get over it. I'm so sick and tired of people getting so easily offended on this forum over anything that can be misconstrued as going against the band... even when it's NOT.

We all have different bodies and different problems and sometimes the band doesn't work, and a lot of times it seems to be the folks who got the older band (the 4cc one) because they seemed to be too tight and have more slips (I'm sure that statement will piss some off, but oh well, it's what I've seen, read and heard for the last two years). Disclaimer: yes, I know there are poeple with 4cc bands who've had no problems. yes, I know there are people with newer bands who have had problems. (it sucks I even have to write this in, but, well, you know all too well how it is).

It's your fricking body and you can do what you want to with it and you're right about the "chew more"... when you have the issues that you had with the band, it doesn't matter what you swallow or the consistency, you will have problems.

So, I'm very happy that you were able to get this procedure. CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :biggrin:

There is a little piece of me that is afraid to be without my band. I KNOW that worked for me although it was a hard journey in my case. I keep thinking ... what if the sleeve doesn't do the trick? But, I think it will.

I was on liquids for so long I kinda got used to it over the past 3 months and now that I know things are fixed and after the post op diet I can eat real food again it's triggering a thing in my brain. Now head hunger is coming out in full force. I have no Ghrelin so I have no hunger now with a sleeve. But seriously, who needs Ghrelin when my head is telling me I'm hungry? ;o)

My friend's grandma (KittenQutie) is from the south and she's promised me my favorite foods, Southern fried chicken and mashed potatoes on 7/4. That's all I think about. A chicken wing is about all that will fit in my new tube stomach. Makes me wonder how long it will take to eat a single meal in the beginning? It should be trippy to find out! HA! Actually, I can't wait to find out. I'm telling you, if it takes me all day to eat a piece of chicken, so be it! I'll do it. I want real food!

LOL! I don't blame you. I can't imagine being on liquids for 3 months. :biggrin:

For me, head hunger is the hardest thing about this. It has gotten better but I still struggle with it everyday, especially since I don't have very good restriction right now. Have you always had head hunger issues? Does it get a lot better once you hit your sweet spot? I'm hoping it does.

Anyway, I'm so proud of all you have accomplished. Sounds like you had a rough time getting there, but you did it! To me, that's a real inspiration. Many people give up when complications occur and I commend you for sticking with it and kicking butt! Best of luck to you!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I am sorry that you had so much trouble with the band, but I'm glad it is resolved now. I like to know there is an option if I have further trouble with my band, but $12,500 is a little steep as I was self-pay. But, it is invaluable in the end. Keep us posted and stay healthy!

Wasa,

Thank you for your reply. A couple of questions. I don't believe that much of my food/drink makes it to my stomache. It seems to stay in the esopagus (sp). If the tests show that the stoma is open and I chew well, why would it not go down? I don't have any acid reflux, it just comes back up. I've been banded for 2 1/2 years and have lost 90 lbs. Also, why wouldn't I continue to lose weight if a majority (if not all) of my food stays in the esopagus? Another thing, I had a TT March 30th. My problem had started in Dec 07. Thanks, again.

Cheryl

My tests showed the same thing until one day he caught it on fluoro. Turns out it was stoma spasms. I'd be fine for a couple of bites and then BAMMO, my stoma would go into spasm and nothing would stay down. Could that be the case for you?

This is why I got a sleeve, no more stoma!

I suspect that more is going down than you realize. When food comes back up it is mixed with saliva and makes it look like more than it really is. Could food be going down and just some of it be coming back up?

I was wondering where you went to Wasa. I missed you.

I really value your input on protein. You really helped me and I hope the Sleeve works well for you and you will be able to eat real food again. I wish you the best of luck.

Thank you!

Everyone here is so sweet. I kinda half expected a bit of negativity about revising to another procedure so this is really nice. Thank you.

LOL! I don't blame you. I can't imagine being on liquids for 3 months. :biggrin:

For me, head hunger is the hardest thing about this. It has gotten better but I still struggle with it everyday, especially since I don't have very good restriction right now. Have you always had head hunger issues? Does it get a lot better once you hit your sweet spot? I'm hoping it does.

Anyway, I'm so proud of all you have accomplished. Sounds like you had a rough time getting there, but you did it! To me, that's a real inspiration. Many people give up when complications occur and I commend you for sticking with it and kicking butt! Best of luck to you!

I think head hunger is an issue for all of us. If we didn't have head hunger and only ate what we needed, when we needed it - we wouldn't be fat.

For me it took a long time but I pretty well have control over head hunger now. 95-99% of the time I do but it took a lot of work to get there.

I have it now, full force. But I think it's just because I don't know how much or what, I'll be able to eat. Once I know my limitations I'll have control again and it shouldn't be much of an issue.

It will happen for you, it takes time and you have to learn little head games and what works for you. For me if that chocolate is calling my name I just remember that I *can* have it, just not right this minute. Then I'm not depriving myself, I'm just putting it off. Works for me.