SylviaMom

I had a band removed in June and was told to wait 6 months before any WLS because of an erosion. Doctor says a risk of a leak for me with VSG is 30-50% and instead recommends bypass. I won't do a bypass for a number of different reasons. I've read lots of feedback from various folks with leaks (thanks all) but wondering specifically if: 1) if you heard odds like I got, you would still do the VSG? 2) for those who had leaks whether you were able to go back to work while healing? 3) how long the leak related hospitalization was? 4) any idea what the total cost of treatment was (WLS nor complications are covered by my insurance)? 5) any advice, words of wisdom? Any questions I should ask my surgeon? Thank you so much in advance. I am really struggling with this. :-/

Hi all! First congrats to everyone who is improving their health-- you all rock! I just want to shout out to all my fellow slow losers and remind them enjoy their own journey. I've lost 22 lbs since my surgery on 12/17. It's a little shy of two lbs a week. I also just turned the corner from a stubborn 3 week stall. Comparatively, my loss is puny...but for me, it makes a big difference. It means my sleep apnea, blood sugar, blood pressure and ability to be active are all better. I will reach goal. It may take me a full year or even two...but baby steps are steps in the right direction.

Thanks for posting. I have been on a 3 week stall. Hanging out at 199.5. It's like my body said, "hey, you are in onederland...we'll hang here for a while :-/ I see people losing twice as fast as me at the same starting BMI...all i can do is shrug and go on my own journey. I agree those of us who are losing slower simply aren't as vocal as those losing mega-lbs every week it's nice to hear i am not alone.

Unfortunately, the band is a temporary device. The data is showing high complication rates for long term bandsters and honestly, having had both, my only regret is not having the sleeve sooner. Compared with the torture I experienced with the band (including a serious erosion that I didn't even know about until I went for my revision), the health benefits of the sleeve significantly outweigh the risks...at least for me. Good luck in your journey and know that there will always be naysayers, but you need to make your own decisions about your health based on soul searching and consultation with your docs.

My Doc, Dr. Aceves, does the 2 in 1s when possible. I had my band in for 7 or 8 years and had a pretty wicked erosion...which you can't really know until you open things up. I had to wait 6 months between procedures. It's not ideal but safety first!

I <3 this forum. Thanks to the OP and all the positive reinforcement from all the other posters. It's nice to be on a journey together even if our paths and paces are different.

For me, it's really hard to keep perspective but in my more logical moments, i realize 20 lbs in two months is pretty darn remarkable and i know without the help of my sleeve near possible. It may be more than others buy i am eating healthier and less and feel pretty awesome. I also eat the chobani. You and i have so many similarities. If we continue to lose a pound or two every week, we will be at goal in no time flat. :-)

This is exactly how i feel too! I can eat 6 or 8 oz of food without any restriction. I guess the big thing that has changed though is the edgy insatiable hunger is gone.. Anyway, good riddance to the band! When i talked to my doc, they want me closer to 700 calories. I am trying to get back to basics/low carb to see if it will help with portion sizes. I'm 6 weeks out and 16 pound diwn.

In addition to walking, GasX strips seemed to help for me. Also, it gets better. If, however, you have a fever, then call your doc.

Sorry to hear about her reaction. Sometimes people show they love you in hurtful ways. Odds, are though, she loves you a lot and when you are on your way to a healthier path after surgery, she will see that and turn around. My husband was similarly unsupportive but now, 6 months out he sees how happy I am with the help I get from the sleeve. It's helped me to make real changes in my health. Unfortunately, she is not going to a great support person until and unless she does some research and you know what they say about horses and water. Just know you have great spurt on this forum! Good luck in your journey.

Hey ladies (and gents are welcome too)-- Any interest in a monthly pedicure and clothes exchange meetup? I live in Federal Way but we can rotate locations. SInce we in various stages of shrinking (or did our shrinking) maybe it would be great to meet up, swap clothes ( am currently a size 20/22 and hoping to be smaller soon--surgery date on 6/4), and use those extra dollars on a pedicure! There is a great place off of 1-5 in Federal Way for the first meet up. In addition to the clothes, I am hoping to meet some folks with similar challenges and joys so we can provide support and encouragement. Let me know if you are interested and I will email you offline with dates. I am thinking the first one would be in late June, where I hope to bring LOTS of size 22/20 clothes. :-)

Not so far. But definitely know the risks and understand the lifestyle changes you will make to be successful in the long run. It's not a magic pill but so far it has been a great tool. Whatever you decide, best wishes for health and happiness.

I tried parsley, mints, peppermint oil. Doctor recommended listerine drops. Nonef it really helped until I got on mushies and started to et carbs again. Weight loss is slower but at least my hubby isn't gagging.

This is the hardest couple of days. Next week, you'll nr doing great. Congrats!

4 weeks out and like you, feel like I can/do eat more than I should. Still on mushies but even when on full liquids I could eat a cup or two of soup at one sitting before feeling satiated. The 2 oz guidance from my nut been a little impractical at least at this stage (i Undertand i will feel more restriction when i get to solid foods). My calories are also tracking higher than the recommended 600-800 calories so I know I need to be more disciplined about it. My weight loss, not surprisingly has been similarly modest but I am ok and get to start running again this week ( I used to run, ever so slowly pre-op) so I am hoping that will help turn up the fat burner. 3 lbs a week is a really great weight loss if you think about it and gives our skin and brains a chance to keep up. So, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing (I have lots of the same questions/concerns) and wanted to send my encouragement to keep up the forward momentum. I know the hare seems pretty envious at times, but like the tortoise--slow, steady and sexy wins the race! :-)

Just another thought: since this is a sleeve forum, we are obviously biased. Be sure to chat with some bandsters too, eSpecially bandsters who are more than 5 years out.

I had the band for close to ten years. What they didn't tell me at the outset, which I wish I knew, was that the band is temporary. Meaning, it is intended to someday be removed. That's another abdominal surgery and constant expensive maintenance. Also, for what its worth, the band drove me towards slider foods instead of healthier proteins and veggies. By the time I finally gave up on my band (I.e. the modest weight loss of 20 lbs wasn't worth all the constant vomiting and discomfort) I discovered my band had badly eroded. I obviously was not successful with the band, and I hope you are. But, I definitely would not have the band knowing what I know now. I am a month into a sleeve revision and have no regrets with the sleeve thus far. Whatever you chose, best of luck but the road with the band was unpleasant for me and every other bandster/former bandster I know. Hopefully, it will be better fr you. If you want to ask me questions offline, don't hesitate. I don't want to scare you but share with you my failure in the hope that you have a better experience then I did.

Unjury has a protein chicken broth which is nice and an unflavored kind you can add to miso or whatever broth you like. It gets easier when you can have full liquids and can add the unjury unflavored to cream based soups.

Band for 10 years. I was originally hoping for a one step but had a very bad erosion and needed to wait for 6 months. Doctor wanted to do a RNY because he believed it would minimize the odds for a leak. Glad to report that I did get the sleeve and very happy about it. 2 weeks out today. Down 11pounds and though it maybe mostly water, I am excited for the loss. I anticipate a slower loss and am good with it. More time for the skin to catch up. Good luck in your journey!

Hey 17ers, anyone having intense bad breath-- the kind you can't just brush your teeth or eat a mint to make go away? Any suggestions to solve it? The worst problem is that I can't even smell it but my hubby can... :-/. PRevious posts talk about this being a result of ketosis which is good but looking for suggestions to manage it. I was thinking of pureeing some parsley or...

Thanks for posting! You can do this. You are an inspiration to many and have helped so many through hard times. Redirect some of that awesome energy towards refocusing. You got this!

I see your picture and you are drop dead gorgeous. Of course there are tons of reasons beyond looking good, but gurllll, you got to keep diligent to keep all you worked for.

Unjury has both an unflavored and chicken broth protein mixes. The unflavored protein goes into anything like decaf coffee, pho soup base and miso. All are artificial sweetener free and delicious. They use the whey protein isolate which I am told is both a better source of protein and more delicious. I had the unflavored with coffee and it was like a decadent latte.

For 10-15 days, I am on "clears" which includes Protein drinks so long as they are watered down to a thin consistency. There are also a number of transparent liquid Protein Drinks like isopure or Special k Protein Drink. I totally understand your frustration. I see people a few days out of surgery eating cottage cheese and pudding and wonder why such difference? To mix things up, my friend bought me some miso which is delicious and I was planning on making some very thin egg drop Soup and draining out all the chunks. This time will fly by and then we will be eating retried Beans and cottage cheese in no time at all. :-). Hope you are well.

My doc recommended crushing pills for about 3weeks. I am not thrilled by this as it's nasty tasting and I suspect is less time released(i.e. impacts you faster/harder but effects wear off sooner). When did your docs allow you to pills without crushing? For those required to crush, any ideas on making it more effective and less horrible tasting? Thanks in advice for any data, logic, coping mechanisms you can provide.