factoryline

After being overweight my entire life I decided to get the lap band in dec. 2012. I really wanted gastric sleeve surgery at the time, but my insurance didn't cover it and I felt bypass was "too extreme". My band never could get in the "green zone" and because I traveled for work, often times would be in horrible pain because due to cabin pressure the saline in my band would get tighter. I was miserable! After continually vomiting, uncontrollable acid reflux and weight gain I decided to switch surgical programs and seek new advice. My new doctor advised me on having a revision done and now my insurance approves the sleeve surgery. I thought about it a few months as I was hesitant with feeling like such a failure with the band. In fact I was quite open with my first surgery but people would say later "I thought you were supposed to lose lots of weight?". It just added to my feelings of failure and this round I'm being much more protective of who I talk to about it. I've not gotten a lot of support for my choice but hope by joining this group others will be able to understand my journey and share their own. I'm now going through the approval process and hope to get my sleeve at the end of June.

I travel quite a bit for work (33 times last year) and when I had my band would find it really hard to stay in the game when traveling. It's so much harder (I feel like) when you don't know the area you are in, deal with a late flight so grocery shopping is not an option and at the hotel might not have a refrigerator. One idea I had was to pack my 1 pound Oster blender in my suitcase with pre portioned protein. What are ways, tips and tricks you stay on point when traveling?

I loved diet red bulls but they were making me sick! I am now sipping Powerade Zero, my favorite flavor is mixed berry. I say just try new non carbonated sugar free drinks! Make it fun to experiment with new tastes.

I travel for work too and I always get so stressed if I can get a seatbelt extender or not. I flew 33 times last year and it was always so challenging to get one I really thought about taking one with me. Haha. Can you believe that's how bad it got? I'm thinking of stealing a seat belt extensor because I'm too big? I'm flying this week to Florida and already nervous about will I fit or not. I really like your honesty in this video. I look forward to seeing your updates! You will do amazing!

Yes, it's getting removed when I get sleeved.

I think that too sometimes. But I'm trusting my doctors recommendation, research and 4 people I know who have gotten surgery to guide me. Good luck!

I was banded in December of 2012 and went from 275 to 255. I never got in the "green zone" and constantly suffered from overwhelming pain after I would fly (I travel for work). My surgeon later explained to me that the band tightens after flights due to the cabin pressure. I would be miserable for days... Sometimes longer depending on how much I would fly. I also would vomit and get horrible reflux from my band. In seeing a new surgeon I feel really good about my revision, and am down 12 out of 15 pounds required before surgery. My goal is to be 265 at surgery time.