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 told them I would have no problem posting my experience in multiple locations. I told them I would not lie to anyone about why I was no longer going there.

That's so crazy Susan that they made such a big deal out of $5. That's just insane. Especially since you are an

established patient.

I have had ulcers a couple of times and never threw up. I just had terrible pain. They can do a blood test now for an ulcer. It's a test for H pylori which is a bacterial infection. They used to think ulcers are caused by stress

but now realize most of them are bacterial infections.

I hope you get your diagnosis soon.

You've gone through so much with your band and it's time to start feeling good.

I thought of you Elizabeth and WasA when I was talking to that lady from Texas. Her band wasn't slipped, but she has been miserable ever since she got a fill. I am beginning to think bands are worthless. Mine is in my purse. ten grand sitting in my purse.

We still need to have a "Kill The Band" party!

I am all for that!

I think you should make a video, where you put the band in a vice clamp....then slowly but surely you keep adjusting the clamp tighter and tighter, until it can't take it anymore.

Kind of turn around is fair play thing??

I think you should make a video, where you put the band in a vice clamp....then slowly but surely you keep adjusting the clamp tighter and tighter, until it can't take it anymore.

Kind of turn around is fair play thing??

I want to drag mine behind a horse through the desert. Then I want to find a big tank and run it over a few time. Then I want to hand it to a person that is going to the electric chair to hold for a bit, then ... well, I have lots of ideas but I like yours. I'm going to add it to the list.

Wow, you guys are vicious! I will follow your lead.

Official Update: As of today, I have lost 26 pounds! Loving this, loving eating with my coworkers without fear of choking up my food, loving my clothes getting loose and loving life!

wow Susan! That is so great!That's a lot of weight to lose in a month. I am really happy for you!

Congratulations, Susan! You'll be at goal very soon!

Yesterday we went to the World of Nations downtown. It is a cultural type festival where nations from all around the world are represented. They sell items from their country, put on shows of traditional dance and of course, sell food native to their country. Normally, when we go to this, I absolutely gorge myself on food. Not this year. I took a nibble here and there of things my family got and was more than satisified without feeling like I had overdone it. Having this amount of control is wonderful.

The other thing was I finally found something I can drink. I cannot drink milk anymore, it completely makes me sick to my stomach. I used to love Gatorade, not anymore, it is sickenly sweet to me. Crystal Light tasted funny to me. Water is okay, but I do like something with a little flavor. I drank some lemonade and it was the first thing that didn't taste funny to me. So, I bought some minute made light lemonade to keep at home for when I want something with a little flavor to it. I don't know why my tastes changed so drastically. I was getting frustrated because everything I drank seemed to leave such a funny aftertaste in my mouth.

The other thing I noticed, when I had my band, everything had to be at room temperature. Now, everything has to be very, very cold with lots of ice.

It is just odd to me some of the changes I have experienced since getting my sleeve. The temperature of what I drink, my milk intolerance, my lack of tolerance for sweet things, etc.

It is just odd to me some of the changes I have experienced since getting my sleeve. The temperature of what I drink, my milk intolerance, my lack of tolerance for sweet things, etc.

The lactose intolerance is common and usually short lived. I think for me it was about 4 months before it went away.

I used to have to do everything room temp when I was banded too. Nothing like room temp protein shakes made with water instead of milk. Yum. ;o)

Sweets, I was never a sweet eater. My poison was flour. But I hear you, I just can't tolerate anything overly sweet anymore. I have to water down my s/f drinks, they are too sweet.

Susan, What ever happened to you drain incision? Mine looks icky but WasA tells me that's the way it's supposed to look. It has yellow little strings coming out of the hole.

WasA told me to leave it alone and just keep changing the gauze. So that's what I have been doing. The hole is still deep. I am kind of glad about that. It's not closing up, but I don't like those yellow strings hanging out.

Susan, What ever happened to you drain incision? Mine looks icky but WasA tells me that's the way it's supposed to look. It has yellow little strings coming out of the hole.

WasA told me to leave it alone and just keep changing the gauze. So that's what I have been doing. The hole is still deep. I am kind of glad about that. It's not closing up, but I don't like those yellow strings hanging out.

No, I told you to use sterile gauze and gently clean the dried drainage out. ;o)

Right, but when I pat it with sterile gauze, it doesn't do a thing. I can't get it off by "gently trying to clean the dried drainage." I have just been leaving it alone and changing the gauze. I really want to try to drag it off with a q tip, but I just cover it back up. That way I won't feel like I need to touch it. I showed it to my daughter and she said it looked fine.

She has worked all over the hospital, and has seen those types of things all the time, so I trust her judgement that it looks the way it's supposed to.

I just gently cleaned my drainage site with a clean washcloth and antibacterial soap every day and covered it with new gauze after each cleaning. Other than that, I didn't mess with it. At one point, I thought I might have an infection because green stuff was coming out, but Dr. Campos said that was normal. I think mine took right at two weeks to close up.

Thanks Susan. I remember when you thought it was infected. Mine is yellow, not green, but like you said, I don't think it's an infection.