onmyway11

My surgeon told me that by the end of summer, 9 months after sleeve surgery, I would be done losing weight. I'm just wondering if anyone understands this. Is this bc my metabolism will be used to my low calories? I still have about 40 lbs to lose yikes! Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

I've lost a good bit by now (84lbs with 39 to go) my belly button isn't getting any air and it's gross and smelly and wet. Sooo gross. I've tried lotrimin spray and alcohol to clean it but it's still gross. Any advise on how to deal with this? Also when do you start thinking about plastic surgery. Again I still have a ways to go but I'm already seeing belly button issues and thinking I need to wrap my head around another surgery. And also what's the chance I get my insurance company to pay for it? Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

Thanks everyone. I'm trying a bunch of diff things and will contact my pcp tomorrow. I have another question tho is it that the insurance will cover a panni but not a tummy tuck? And do most surgeons/insurance whoever allow you to pay the difference? Is that how it works generally? Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

Help! Haha I'm leaving for a 10 day vacation and I'm 4 months out from surgery. Down 73ish lbs from preop and feeling great! I'm so worried about how I'm going to stay on track in Europe. I don't know what the food will be like and how I will get in all my protein. Thinking about packing 10 protein drinks but that's silly right? Not sure. Thought about 100 calorie nuts packets and protein bars. Any suggestions for what I can bring with me or any suggestions from anyone that has been to Paris/Loire Valley or Barcelona while on track and seen or know of any good ideas or options so I don't come back 10 lbs heavier. My weight loss journey has been a battle and I fight the demons every day. I haven't had an easy, not hungry time of it and I really don't want to lose now! Thanks in advance for your help! Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 210 GW: 160

I had surgery mid January and I can't get over how heavy my menstrual cycles have been! Nor how often! Last year I went months in between cycles (I'm 50 so I'm close to menopause I guess) now it's back to every 28 days. Sigh. And the worst it's ever ever been. I mean crazy heavy. Is this a post surgical side effect or something else? I've recently had a check up with my gynecologist (since surgery) but it was before my last 2 crazy cycles. Please let me know if anyone else is experiencing this!

Do it! I too was banded in 2011 and revised mid January of this year. Today I got on the scale lighter than I ever was with the band. After 2 and a half months. The sleeve is completely different. It works. It's not VIOLENT. You will not take a random bite of an apple and be in pain for a half an hour. You won't have port pain for forever. You will still need to work and I'm far far from having this all figured out but if your experience was anything like mine you will be very very happy you took the plunge. Oh and also I felt this surgery was easier than the band. I don't know why I was super diligent of about water and walking maybe?? Good luck with your decision. I was super emotional and nervous about this surgery. Something about "doing it again" that made me feel incredibly anxious. I know how you feel but this can and most likely will be your answer! Lap band 9/2011 Revision to gastric sleeve 1/2017 HW:283 CW:225 Goal:160

I'm about 11 weeks post op gastric sleeve. Things are going great I'm down about 58 lbs since I started pre-op in September. My body is shrinking great, my mind is whacko tho. Ive started these past couple of weeks to become hungry (ravenous) it's not as easy as it was in the beginning. I started going to therapy bc this time I really want give it my absolute best shot! I hear "you need to do the work" on this site all the time but I'm not really sure what that means. How do I change my head? I've come to understand some things already about why I maybovereat but I'm still HUNGRY! My therapist said I don't need food I don't need food but I genuinely feel hunger (I think). I'm doing an ok job of staying in track I'm just nervous about how difficult it's been these past couple weeks. My questions to you are is it too early to be this hungry? Can I be genuinely hungry with my tiny stomach? Or is this emotional hunger? And what do you all think "the work" is? Understanding why I overeat? How in the world do I ever conquer this? Thanks for reading. Getting through this time is challenging to say the least. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 2.5 weeks out from band to sleeve revision. Let me just say...yay! Totally totally different. Very happy. I had a band for 5 years and the port discomfort never truly disappeared during those years. I didn't always feel it but sometimes it bothered me mostly getting comfortable at nighttime in bed. I just feel like I always knew it was there. I think the pain I'm having now is where the port used to be?? It could just be bc that's the biggest incision?? Did any of you have this?know it's still early but I'm hoping this will heal and eventually feel normal. Also this far out which position should I be sleeping in? Sleeping on my back hurts my back sleeping on my side hurts that previous port area. Sigh. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm only 11 days out but this is my 5th day at the same weight. Today's weight was actually up a tad. I'm only consuming 300-400 calories. I'm getting about 30-40 grams of Protein and about 48oz Water. I'm trying to keep calm/not compare etc etc but I'm starting to think I should be doing something differently and that I'm wasting precious first weeks time! Do in need to chill or reevaluate? I was cruising in the beginning losing a pound or 2 a day. Sighhhh Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes my Protein is low because my surgeons office said in recovery mode to just do what you can. I'm supposed to just either eat mushy foods or drink Protein shakes every 2 hours and that's where I've been ending up. It's SO frustrating that the scale hasn't moved in 6 days when I see people saying they lost 30 lbs the first few weeks. I know this is a long road and I need to relax and not compare it's just so so hard! I do feel like I drink more than I urinate out (TMI) but perhaps I am simply retaining Water?? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm 10 days out from a gastric sleeve. I'm down 36 lbs since I started this journey in September and 12 of that since surgery with probably another 90 to go! I just had my post op appt with my surgeon and my hubby was with me. As we were leaving he said this is the easy part. The first 9 months are when you lose almost all of the weight you will lose because of your sleeve so make the most out of it! My husband and I were planning on a 10-14 day trip to Europe in May to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I will only be 4 months out. When we left my hubby said maybe we should wait till September?? I wasn't even thinking I would attempt a ten day food and wine festival in Europe. I kinda expected to watch myself there. Although my biggest issues seem to be getting back on track after I fall off the wagon and I do not want to do anything at all to ruin this opportunity to lose the weight. Thoughts? Would you go? Would you wait? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm a week out from gastric sleeve surgery. Down 10 since last Monday (35 total since September yay!) A few days ago I noticed my hair is already falling out at an alarming rate. I know this is temporary but I'm nervous. Does anyone have any tips to slow this down? Strengthen your hair? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm so sorry to hear this. I was revised from a band to a sleeve on Jan 16th so this especially breaks my heart. I was told there was a chance I would wake up to news like this. I thought long and hard about whether I would have the nerve to go through another surgery if this was the case. I know you realize it's safety first and certainly don't want to take risks that could jeopardize your long term health. I will say this about us as a group. We are warriors. This is not the easy way out. It's hard emotionally, physically and socially. Your health is worth it. Your happiness is worth it. Right now you need to heal physically and then figure out how you will get to where you want to be. Sometimes it helps to think that things were meant to happen for a reason (like the 5 wasted years I spent with my band). Maybe going into surgery 50 lbs lighter is how you will end up being completely successful in your journey. I sincerely wish you all the luck in the world don't stop fighting! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Any advise on what to bring? I'm scheduled Monday morning YIKES! I'm nervous and excited and a little worried about a slight head cold causing a reschedule but I'm ready. I'm down 25lbs and excited to start my journey! I've read to bring gas x strips to help with the gas, headphones and earplugs to drown out the hospital noise, loose clothing and chapstick. Am I missing anything? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm scheduled to have VSG on Monday and woke up today with a head cold...sigh. Did anyone here have surgery with a cold? Wondering if they are going to reschedule now which of course throws my entire life off with time off from work and travel schedules etc. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm about a week and a half out. I'm freaking out. Soooo nervous. I have a band and I want it OUT so it only makes sense to be sleeved at the same time. I'm at my highest weight (minus 15 I've lost since joining my hospitals program). I have zero reason to believe I will "do this on my own" since I've been overweight my entire life and just turned 50. I've tried and tried and failed and failed at that. I lost with the band with great difficulty and gained it back. My bjggest fear right now is the actual surgery. I hate IVs and hospitals in general. Then I'm afraid of the recovery. Last time I was sick for about a month when everyone said it would be a nothing type of thing with the band. Nausea. Then lastly of course afraid I will fail at my 2nd weight loss surgery. Wondering if everyone else went through these jitters? If anyone has regrets that they did the surgery? What you did to calm your nerves. My poor husband thanks you in advance for anyone who can calm me down haha Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm about a month away from surgery with Dr. Chahal for a band removal to sleeve gastrectomy. Hoping to hear experiences good or bad!

I went to my surgeon fully prepared to choose bypass surgery and he told me that his sleeve patients are losing the same amount of weight as his bypass patients. And also that he had only preformed one bypass in recent months because everyone was choosing the sleeve. The sleeve makes me nervous because I am a band failure. I'm not sure I want to do a surgery that is not the "gold standard" bc I'm afraid I will fail at losing weight. I've met with 3 women that have had weight loss surgery in recent months one that did bypass and is very thin. One a sleeve that is at a healthy weight might need to lose another 15 or so and one that did a sleeve and regained 40lbs recently. THATS what I'm afraid of. After going through so much with the band I want to get this one right! The sleeve is of course more appealing. I'm hoping you band to sleevers can tell me your thoughts on why you chose the sleeve and if you are happy you did and didn't go to bypass. Also if you believe there's a motive for my surgeon to encourage the sleeve over bypass (easier surgery i.e. Better for him) I'm not a conspiracy person just wondering why and that's in the back of my head. Thank you so much for your advise!

I'm compiling my list for my surgeon like an informed patient and I thought I would check in to see what you all thought were the most important questions to ask? So far I have 1. Please explain the surgery and where the incisions will be 2. Which incision will be the most painful? I'm assuming the site where the port from my band is removed? 3. Will there be more problem performing the sleeve operation because of the band 4. What are the chances this can not be performed in one surgery? 5. Will i lose slower because I have had a band? 6. What are the side effects of the sleeve? Possible reflux? 7. How long is recovery and when can I return to work? 8. If slider foods still go down how will I be successful with a sleeve if I wasn't with the band? 9. Is it true the part of your stomach that creates hunger is removed and is it true that it comes back? That's all I have for now and sometimes it feels like I am swimming in information. I really want to make the right decision and use this tool correctly unlike what I did with the band. Thanks for reading this long post! And TIA for your advise!

Thank you jennifer1 these are great!

Yes thank you I realize this as a bander who has struggled for years with the band and lifelong before the band. However my #8 question is in reference to the fact that many banders are unsuccessful for this reason while statistically many sleevers are successful. In my research I see that many sleevers can in fact eat sliders yet they are successful. Thats why I do believe it is a question for a surgeon.

What's the truth about ibuprofen? I'm a band patient hoping to get revised to RNY. When I received my band my surgeon said no ibuprofen/no carbonation. Never ever changed to "Awww go ahead" not long into my journey so Im wondering if the same is true for RNY? I'm not an Advil junkie but a little worried about never ever ever having an effective pain reliever to use occasionally or if God forbid I need an anti inflammatory later in life. Thanks!

I was banded almost 5 years ago and have managed to gain just about all the weight I lost (which quite honestly I don't think the band helped me lose all that much). I still have port discomfort after 5 years and I hate that sometimes I can get stuck on one bite and sometimes hardly feel restriction. I've found a way around the band by eating slow or waiting till the food goes down and continuing to eat. I hate the feeling of the discomfort in my chest and I hate that healthy things like chicken and raw veggies are close to impossible to eat with a band. I feel like I would be better off without the band and no further surgery. I could eat healthier but I want to lose a lot of weight (probably 120lbs to lose) and I'm turning 50 this year. I currently have no health problems except feeling like crap because of the weight but I'm sure they are coming. My question to those of you that have had both is what is the daily difference? Can you eat in a restaurant? What does it feel like when you reach restriction? Can you eat almost anything just very small portions?How common is it to fail at weight loss after a bypass? I know I will need to work at it forever but will bypass make my struggle easier? Thanks in advance for your advise!

I was banded almost 5 years ago. I lost 55lbs over a very long period of time and from what I honestly think was just hard work and not much help from the band. I hate my band. It hurts. I feel like it's violent when I get stuck (often) and I can feel my port all the time for FIVE years. Sigh. Eating is stressful and to top it off I've gained every ounce back. I sometimes eat 2 bites can't eat another bite longingly look at my healthy or even healthy-ish food and an hour later eat Cookies because I am starving. I feel like my eating habits have become worse because of the band and at this point I'm totally out of control. I'm excited about revising and petrified too. I would like the sleeve but I'm so afraid I will eat thru it like I did with the band. I hear "it's so different" but I wonder if that applies to people like me that ate around the band. Waited for food to pass then slid junk down. I suppose I could fail at the bypass as well. I'm wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience with the band and been successful with the sleeve or failed to lose with the sleeve as well. Any and all advise would be so appreciated!!!

I'm wondering how much weight to expect at the 6 month mark after a band to RNY revision? Also is the 6 month mark when you slow down? 1 year? I have about 120 to lose. Thanks in advance for your help with my curiosity!