Stephy5

I wanted to share about being debanded and newly sleeved. Got my first band 1/11 and lost over 100 lbs, felt great. Got something funky, docs think West Nile virus and through it my band slipped. Doc changed to a bigger band to fix the slip in 8/12. Never was I the same. Gained 45lbs and lived with it for the next 4 years. My daughter went to be sleeved and I asked doc about conversion details and decided to go for it. I was reluctant. Had read so many things that scared me. On here and other places. I had my complete conversion on July 20th. I'm 2 weeks out and I am soooooooooo happy that band is gone. Honestly I didn't realize how bad I was feeling. I always felt like I had a lump in my throat. I was fighting reflux and throwing up. I haven't thrown up in 2 weeks, no reflux and lump is gone. I had lost my restriction with my band. I can now eat about 1-2 zoos of mushies. Drinking is pretty easy. I drink probably 64 oz of Water. The best part is so many people said they loose weight super slow....I've already lost 32 lbs. I know we are all different, but I recommend dumping the band if your questioning it. So much easier then the band. I will keep you updated because I know this is the info I was looking for. Just remember you can not have the band mindset or it won't work. A lot of people can eat and drink through the band. Don't try it here. It will hurt and stretch out your pouch. Have a super night Stephanie Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Tomorrow at 7:30 am is my procedure. Praying for a one shot surgery, but it's in Gods hands and what's best will happen. Please keep me in your prayers. I'm so excited for the next step of this journey! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm not sure what you mean step by step. Let's see. I was on 2 weeks of full liquids, the 2 days of Clear Liquids. Checked into the hospital the morning of. Did all my vitals. Gave me drugs to relax me. Wheeled me into the surgery room. They took my band and port out and sleeved me all in under 2 hours. Came out of surgery, my surgeon doesn't allow anything by mouth until 24 hours later. That was rough. Next day I got Water and as soon as we knew I would tolerate that I was allowed broth, Protein juice etc. they released me 48 hours after admission to come home. I see him again on Tuesday to go over the rest of my diet. I noticed instantly my band was gone. Felt nice. My port site isn't as sore as I expected. Make sure you walk walk walk. Be slow with hot and cold as your tummy is sensitive now that it's been cut. Not sure if there was anything else you were curious about. Let me know. Good luck on Tuesday Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm headed home. Went great. I can feel that my band is gone. Thank goodness. I haven't been able to burp since having my band placed. Well since Wednesday I keep burping. It's a very satisfying feeling. We will have too see how it goes from here. Thanks everyone for the support. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm glad they can do yours at the same time. My date is July 20th and I can't wait. Hope it's a good experience. Good luck to you on the revision. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Howdy, I have my revision scheduled for July 20th. Have had 2 lapbands. #1 was very successful and I lost over 100 lbs. sadly got an illness(not band related) had a band slip and on came #2. I've had #2 for over 4 years and have gained about 50lbs back. Lots of reflux, vomitting etc. I'm so afraid not to have a band, because regardless of the complications it changed my life for the better. My daughter had sleeve surgery 1 month ago and is doing well. Losing weight etc. I read lots of people's posts stating that after sleeve they feel better but weightloss is very slow or non existent. That worries me if I'm doing the right thing. I have become dependent on my crappy band Another thing is the first year post band was such a learning year I'm worried about starting all over again. I know I'm rambling but so many fears and concerns about the revision and no one I know has ever done it. Well I guess I will have all the answers soon. Thanks for sharing your stories as some are very helpful Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Thanks @beagleLover. The only problem is i need the band out asap. My esophagus has class c erosion and im vomiting blood every time i try to eat or drink. Unless an appeal can be streamlined within a week or two. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App With the Class C erosion will they do your conversion the same day? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for responding. I'm feeling much better. I know I have to get rid of this band and have to have faith that all will go as planned. I start my 2 week pre op diet tomorrow. I'm ready! Sure I'll be leaning on this group a lot. Again thank you Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My first lap band was amazing. Second one has sucked, but I was informed and the band changed my life. Now having revision due to some complications. But I was aware of these complications. Sorry everyone's experience wasn't good. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I have my revision on July 20th after 5 + years with my band. So nervous about different things. Share how your doing please. Hope all is well Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this as well. Yes they denied first go around, but approved after I went to nutritionist and psych again. So nervous. Good luck Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

So I am so me with a long story, so long story short... First band 1/2011 lost over 100 lbs Got deathly ill and band slipped , second band 8/2102 and it has sucked. I am not scheduled for revision surgery July 20th. Excited, scared, nervous are just a few words. I may have to have the procedure done in 2 surgeries and that stinks. I am over all this. My first band changed my life for the better and I want that again. My daughter is having sleeve surgery in less then 2 weeks so she's my focus right now, but all the emotions are making me crazy. Ok done rambling. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

SusanB55 how long did you have your band before revision? Glad it went well. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My name is Stephanie I am a 43 year old mother of 3 and wife to Matt for almost 25 years. I got my first band January 2011. I proceeded over the next year to go from a size 24 down to a 14. I was running and loving life. I did great and loved my band, it was honestly my saving grace. In August 2012 on a Monday , I went to lunch and began throwing up. I luckily had just had all my Fluid removed from my band so a little throwing up didn't make me overly concerned. I went home from work. By the next day I was throwing up constantly, I went to the ER as my lapband doctor was out of town. The ER said I was dehydrated and gave me IVs but no anti nausea meds. Went home and still throwing up constantly. I again on Wednesday was in the ER. I had no energy etc. But I was still able to get stuff down, although it was coming up. Thursday I went to the ER again as I had lost 22 lbs since Monday from throwing up so much. They admitted me into the hospital. They determined I didn't have the flu nor food poisoning. They think it was a different type of virus. I kept telling the docs I had a lap band and they needed to call my LB doc and get instruction before something happens. Of course they didn't. So they had me on tons of IVs and other meds trying to stop the vomiting. I finally starting feeling better late Friday night with only occasional vomiting. Well I vomited one time Saturday morning and I just knew right than that my band had slipped. They did xrays and barium swallow and yep, it slipped. My doc came back and immediately after getting of the plane, came to see me. He was so angry with the hospital. He scheduled me for surgery the very next morning. He explained I was probably going to lose my band. I went into surgery Sunday morning just knowing the life I had known for the last almost 2 years was over. But I was so sick and in so much discomfort I didn't care. But deep down I was freaking out. I came out of surgery to find out he was able to place another band. The bad part it was bigger. So I waited. I did ok keeping my weight ok with just a tough of gain. I started having fills in October and nothing. I felt no restriction. I was so stressed I began gaining weight steadily. I was no longer running, I just was discouraged and depressed. I started arguing with my doctor because I was always his prize student and now I wasn't. I quit going to the doctor and even tried to change doctors. The problem is the only other doctor is over an hour away. I tried going to him for 6 months and I was not getting anywhere. I have at this point gained about 80 of the 100 lbs I lost. I finally decided a month ago that this is stupid and I needed to fight for what I deserved. I went back to my original doctor and I confronted him. To my surprise he apologized to me and said we would get back to where I was. So here I am starting again. It was just happenstance that I got sick and lost my band. I have learned so much. What I learned that I am now trying to help other bariatric patients... skinny/healthy or fat/over weight we have to find a way to deal with stress and road blocks. So I am now back into my running and I will see my doctor again tomorrow. Hoping to get my thyroid back in check and my weight back down. I am glad to be back here also. I used to use a lot of support groups and I am reconnecting with that right now. Sorry for the overly long story, but I needed to share to be able to move forward. I am no longer going to be a victim, but a survivor. Hope to meet some new people!!! Stephanie

Jack, Thank you!!! It's hard sometimes to share my story as I felt like a failure. Now I just don't care what anyone thinks. The difference in bands for me is huge! My first band I had instant restrictiin, this one I am starting to feel a little with around 7+ CCs. Again thanks for the encouragement. I see my doc Friday so I'm anxious Stephanie

Gowalking Thank you. Yes my town only has 1 doctor. I am now established with another doc that's over an hour away, but if an emergency pops up I can see him. Honestly the likelihood what I went through will happen to someone else is slim, but if it did make sure your family understands how to advocate for you. I was so weak and I didn't make my hubby understand enough about my band in this type of situation. Well I'm back and going to make this happen. If I was the model student before I can do it again. Just going to work even harder on my mental part.

B - 52 I had a small band so 1 cc of fluid and I was at full restriction. I had fluid out as I had some reflux a few months earlier so he took fluid out. Was maintaining my weight so didn't need it back in at that point. My illness was a funky situation and yes I vomited over 150 times in 4 days, as I stated I lost 22 lbs during the 4 days. The doctor called it vomiting. I called doc immediately and did what I was suppose to. My town has one LB doctor and as they found with me the training he gave ER staff on the band they didn't use. This was completely out of my hands. I did exactly as I was always told with the doc but the support was tough. I am just looking for support as you don't plan on going through what I did and you honestly can't prepare for it. Also heaven forbid someone else go through the same thing maybe my story will help.

Judy I am sorry you have so much stress. Just take time for yourself!!! I had my gall bladder out 20 years ago so long before banding. Thanks for your support.

Nothing I can't live with!

Congrats. As you can see by my signature we started at the same weight and have the same "goal" I like you are not sure if I will be done or not. But I am here to share with you there will be days it seems its taking forever and than you will look around and realize you have lost a bunch of weight. Keep up the good work and I know you will do great!

I am gonna guess you will be good is you were over filled with .2ccs more. But I say keep the appt, its included, and talk to them and see what they say. Can you look for a fill center around you that isn't as expensive for your fills? Or another doctor. Seems so expensive. I think mine are only 185.00

Everyone is different. Depends on what size band you have and how much fat is under and around the band. I have a 10 Cc band that was placed 1/19/11. I felt some restiction with an empty band from the beginning. I have had a total of 3 fills to date. I currently have 2.8 CCs in my band and think I will probably get another .5ccs soon. But I have had good restriction since March and I have lost a total of 86 lbs. I know a girl with the same size band as me and she has 9.5 ccs and has no real restriction. Again everyone is different. Good luck and be patient.(althought I know it is hard)

Congrats to you!!! I just hit a 14 myself after over 23 years. Good for you and I am so happy this is proving you made the right decision for yourself. I know I did!!! Keep it up.... Size 12 here we come!!!

I think you are right with both thoughts. I find people treat me much differently. I have been around people for years that wouldn't give me the time of day and now suddenly they talk to me. I do know I stand up straighter and smile more which helps with people who don't already know me... But again the people I have known for years ie. sports parents from my kids sports that are snotty and into how you look and what you have. Good for you for doing such a great job on your weight loss.

I so agree, have your gallbladder checked. The pain you are describing sounds like when I had my gallbladder attacks. Also they had ahard time determining it was my gallbladder, so push them hard just to make sure. Good luck!