*Susan* revision from band to sleeve

[*susan* 1,709]

Fluffy, what I have noticed is most of the newly banded, while still in the honeymoon stage that first year or so, do love their bands. I was one of them. And there are people out there who are successful long term with the band, and I am happy for those people. I would love to see everyone who gets the band to succeed with it.

Unfortunately, what I am seeing is more and more people such as myself, who are two to three years out start having problems with it. With my band, my quality of life was steadily declining. I didn't dare go out to eat with my family, friends or coworkers. I never knew if I was going to have a good band day or a bad band day. I got so tired of the humiliation of having to jump up in the middle of a meal to run to the bathroom to choke my food back up. Or not knowing when I got up if it was going to be a food day or a liquids only day. It took away all the enjoyment of going out with friends and family for me.

Now that I have the sleeve, I know that will no longer be an issue and I truly look forward to improving the quality of my life.

[fluffycat 1]

WASa, My friend never did have WLS mainly because her husband said no. She has serious health issues and many women in her family have had problems with WLS over the past decade. Her sister almost lost her life twice after RNY! The military insurance paid for WLS & PS. She developed staph infections in the hospital after PS. The military kept moving her family around and it got to where no one would touch her. My friend looks to me as a role model but I am not the bandster to provide encouragement. My results are not great but that's my own fault.

So, I feel you about social eating and the band. But can you tell the doctor how large you want your stomach to be with the sleeve? What if it only holds 4 oz and you are at a restaurant. Wouldn't you have to choose--do I eat the salad first or leave it? Doesn't it look like your whole meal goes home in a doggy bag? And the stomach will always stay the same size right?

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

WASa, My friend never did have WLS mainly because her husband said no. She has serious health issues and many women in her family have had problems with WLS over the past decade. Her sister almost lost her life twice after RNY! The military insurance paid for WLS & PS. She developed staph infections in the hospital after PS. The military kept moving her family around and it got to where no one would touch her. My friend looks to me as a role model but I am not the bandster to provide encouragement. My results are not great but that's my own fault.

So, I feel you about social eating and the band. But can you tell the doctor how large you want your stomach to be with the sleeve? What if it only holds 4 oz and you are at a restaurant. Wouldn't you have to choose--do I eat the salad first or leave it? Doesn't it look like your whole meal goes home in a doggy bag? And the stomach will always stay the same size right?

You can usually get them to go a little bigger but I darn sure didn't want that. I want tiny and that's what I got. I maintain without effort.

It's a trade off, you can have a bigger stomach and use will power to control portions (HA!) or eat normal size portions every single time.

I do not look at obesity as an addiction to food at all, I look at it as an obsession. With that said wanting to overeat at a restaurant is really no different from an alcoholic wanting to drink just on weekends.

WLS takes the fun out of eating but that's a good thing. We tend to enjoy food, restaurants, etc., a little too much and that is what got us fat.

[Elisabethsew 50]

WASa, My friend never did have WLS mainly because her husband said no. She has serious health issues and many women in her family have had problems with WLS over the past decade. Her sister almost lost her life twice after RNY! The military insurance paid for WLS & PS. She developed staph infections in the hospital after PS. The military kept moving her family around and it got to where no one would touch her. My friend looks to me as a role model but I am not the bandster to provide encouragement. My results are not great but that's my own fault.

So, I feel you about social eating and the band. But can you tell the doctor how large you want your stomach to be with the sleeve? What if it only holds 4 oz and you are at a restaurant. Wouldn't you have to choose--do I eat the salad first or leave it? Doesn't it look like your whole meal goes home in a doggy bag? And the stomach will always stay the same size right?

I believe you can stretch out the stomach but why would you want to? As for eating out, I would much rather just skip the appetizers and dessert and enjoy the entree. If the portion is too much, I can either give out taste portions to those who might want some or bring it home. I would much rather have people commenting on how little I am eating as opposed to how much. LOL.

[*susan* 1,709]

Not to change the subject, but the family is having pizza right now. I so want to just take a bite, chew it and then spit it out. Just for the taste. But, no, instead I am being good and sitting here eating my Soup.< /p>

[*susan* 1,709]

Did anyone notice any kind of change in their cycle or anything? I started my period today and am having the worst cramps I have ever experienced in my entire life.

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

Not to change the subject, but the family is having pizza right now. I so want to just take a bite, chew it and then spit it out. Just for the taste. But, no, instead I am being good and sitting here eating my Soup.< /div>

Just keep reminding yourself.. you CAN have pizza again, just not this minute. You are not depriving yourself, it's just that this very minute isn't the best time. You'll have it later and you will.

Did anyone notice any kind of change in their cycle or anything? I started my period today and am having the worst cramps I have ever experienced in my entire life.

Absolutely. Some female hormones are stored in fat cells. You are losing weight like crazy right now. I have had a half dozen cycles in the last 2.5 years... all since surgery. Some have more/harder cycles and some (like me) get off easy. ;o)

ETA.... do you have any Toradol left from surgery?

[MacMadame 81]

I find I enjoy going out to eat more now because I spend more time talking and visiting and less time shoveling food into my mouth. :wub:

[*susan* 1,709]

I actually took some of the Toradol before going to bed last night, thinking it might help the cramps. Thank goodness, it did.

I didn't cave to the pizza craving. I just reminded myself how important it is to keep my staple line intact and that it isn't like this was my last opportunity ever to have pizza. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future to eat it.

[Elisabethsew 50]

That toradol put me in a coma! LOL. I hope you're feeling better today.

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

You're doing great Susan. I would be unhappy if someone ate pizza in front of me. I will probably be just like I was when I did the post op diet after banding. I stayed away from people who were eating. I live alone so luckily, there will be nobody eating pizza in front of me.

I probably would have wanted to drink some pizza sauce!

[*susan* 1,709]

Believe me, I wanted to liquify it. My son told me next week, I could just eat the topping for a mushy food.< /p>

[*susan* 1,709]

I just wasn't up for Soup tonight, so I went for a Protein Shake instead, as I am way down on my Protein intake. I have to say, this one is quite tasty. I used one tablespoon of Peanut Butter, one package of stage 1 banana baby food, one packet of splenda, 1 cup of fat free milk and two tablespoons of whey peanut butter/chocolate flavored protein. This actually reminds me of the peanut butter fudge sundae from Sonic's that I love. Yummy.

[kareyquilts 1]

Susan: How long does it take you to drink/eat something like the protien shake you described?

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

That sounds yummy Susan. I really like the Peanut Butter shake mix.