I had my band placed on in April, 2006. The first year was a breeze and I lost a ton of weight. In month 13 of my journey, I was overfilled and slipped my band. Since then, I seemed to have developed an intolerance for my band. I have slipped it twice, constantly choke on my food, and have been miserable.

On April 2nd, I will be revising from the lapband to the gastric sleeve. Dr. Aceves will be doing the revision in Mexico. I have decided to chronicle my experience here, so others that have band issues and decide to convert can have an idea of what to expect.

I spoke with Nina, the patient coordinator yesterday and we now have everything scheduled. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I will leave here on April 1st, have my surgery on the 2nd and return home on the 5th. My mother will be accompanying me on the trip.

Nina advised me that Dr. Aceves is concerned about swelling due to the problems I have had with my band. Therefore, I am going this week for a complete unfill. Then, seven days before my surgery, I have to go on a complete liquid diet. This should alleviate any swelling issues and the chances of having to have the band removed and then go back at a later date for the sleeve. It is very important to me that I get this all done at the same time.

I am looking forward to this, and feel like I have been given a new opportunity at life. To those who have helped me to be able to get the sleeve, thank you. Because of you, I now am looking forward to enjoying life again, instead of living in misery.

I will update as I go through this journey.

I just had a delicious cheddar potato soup for dinner. I did have to put it through the magic bullet to liquefy the little bits of potato. It is so good to eat something with a little texture and a lot of flavor.

Oh, and for the first time since my surgery, I got my 70 grams of protein in today. I also am up to 504 calories for the day. Only 96 shy of the minimum 600.

I just had a delicious cheddar potato soup for dinner. I did have to put it through the magic bullet to liquefy the little bits of potato. It is so good to eat something with a little texture and a lot of flavor.

Oh, and for the first time since my surgery, I got my 70 grams of protein in today. I also am up to 504 calories for the day. Only 96 shy of the minimum 600.

Tastes good, eh? ;o)

Feel better now that you got fluid, calories, and protein in?

How is Dr. Campos doing? Your sleeve brother?

Amazingly, I am feeling better already. Although, I have been having to take immodium all day.

Dr. Campos sounded pretty good. He said he was feeling well.

I happy your on to full liquids, you're making me dread the clear liquids part, but I guess it all goes by quickly! Glad you're feeling better.

It actually does go by fast enough. The good news is, I have lost 18.5 pounds as of this morning!!

Goodness, I just noticed it is lunch time, and I still haven't finished my breakfast protein shake. I have been sipping on it since 7:30 a.m. and feel stuffed. Guess I won't need lunch anytime soon.

Tastes good, eh? ;o)

Feel better now that you got fluid, calories, and protein in?

How is Dr. Campos doing? Your sleeve brother?

WASa,

I didn't know Dr Campos was getting a sleeve. Ernesto (the driver) told me he was getting a sleeve the first week in April too.

WASa,

I didn't know Dr Campos was getting a sleeve. Ernesto (the driver) told me he was getting a sleeve the first week in April too.

I didn't know he was either. Elisabeth is the one that told me. He had his surgery the day after Elisabeth and the same day as Susan.

You know when I first researched WLS at the end of 2007 I was all for the sleeve. My friend from work totally convinced me the band is better. I did more research on this site and by far, everyone raved on the band. The sleeve was "new." I couldn't comprehend how a foreign object in your body would last for years with no complications. And now, you all are swearing by the sleeve. If only I had trusted my gut instincts. So I am coming up on my bandiversary and down a whopping 25 lbs. I really am thrilled to be down anything since it has been years of putting on weight. And my WLS & the band have not been a medical problem for me. I have had 2 fills and have been at onederland since the holidays. But I hate sliming & PB'ing. And you never know how the band will react in certain social situations. And how can you get enough dense protein when the band will often prohibit it? Well, at least I know there are alternatives. My question is this: How can you go thru sleeve surgery if you are close to goal? Wouldn't the liquid diet & surgery make you lose too much weight? Also, WASa, I would love to see before & after pics. Are they on this site anywhere? Thanks.

WASa,

I didn't know Dr Campos was getting a sleeve. Ernesto (the driver) told me he was getting a sleeve the first week in April too.

Campos had it done on 4/2 and Ernesto had it done on 4/3. One of the male RNs had it less than a year ago and said he lost 106 pounds and is at goal. It's interesting that the surgeon (Campos) elected VSG over the band.

It actually does go by fast enough. The good news is, I have lost 18.5 pounds as of this morning!!

Goodness, I just noticed it is lunch time, and I still haven't finished my breakfast protein shake. I have been sipping on it since 7:30 a.m. and feel stuffed. Guess I won't need lunch anytime soon.

Congratulations on the great loss!

You know when I first researched WLS at the end of 2007 I was all for the sleeve. My friend from work totally convinced me the band is better. I did more research on this site and by far, everyone raved on the band. The sleeve was "new." I couldn't comprehend how a foreign object in your body would last for years with no complications. And now, you all are swearing by the sleeve. If only I had trusted my gut instincts. So I am coming up on my bandiversary and down a whopping 25 lbs. I really am thrilled to be down anything since it has been years of putting on weight. And my WLS & the band have not been a medical problem for me. I have had 2 fills and have been at onederland since the holidays. But I hate sliming & PB'ing. And you never know how the band will react in certain social situations. And how can you get enough dense protein when the band will often prohibit it? Well, at least I know there are alternatives. My question is this: How can you go thru sleeve surgery if you are close to goal? Wouldn't the liquid diet & surgery make you lose too much weight? Also, WASa, I would love to see before & after pics. Are they on this site anywhere? Thanks.

What does your friend say about your band now? ;o) Is your friend banded? Sleeved? Is she still your friend? LOL

It's hard going through sleeve surgery at goal, VERY hard. But well worth it. It was a struggle to maintain and I lost that battle to be honest but I regained and I'm back to where I want to be.

I don't post photos but OregonDaisy can verify, I really did lose weight. HA We know one another in real time.

You can revise to a sleeve surgery if you are a self pay.

There are a lot of people who are unhappy with their band and are getting revision surgery. I am one of those people. I am no longer at goal because I have no restriction. I did learn new eating habits when I did have restriction, but life long habits are hard to get rid of when your band isn't giving you the extra help.

I did more research on this site and by far, everyone raved on the band.

Well, it's a band board. If you ask in the main section, everyone says how much they love their bands. At least that's what happened when I asked. But I couldn't get my surgery until the Fall so for months I hung out here and I started to get a different picture.

I'm so glad I had to wait!

My favorite full liquid food....Progresso Clam Chowder in a Magic Bullet. Oh man, I crave it sometimes even now!!!!! It makes the chowder thick and yummy.

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.