azdmelissa

Hi everyone, I was a low BMI bandster. I had good weight loss success with my band, but it has been a journey. Fills, unfills, episodes of being so tight I had to have an immediate unfill, etc. About 6 months ago I started having symptoms associated with a slip and the upper GI tests I've had done definitely show a slip. My choices are: remove lap band (which is not what I want to do), reposition lap band, or revise to a sleeve or bypass. I work for one of the largest health care providers in the St. Louis area and my insurance will cover a revision, but only with a provider in their network. Guess how many bariatric providers there are in the network? 2! One is the surgeon who did my lap band and he only does lap band. The other surgeon is currently not doing revisions and won't be for potentially another year. I could go to another surgeon and do self-pay, but that seems crazy to go through that again. I was self pay for my lap band surgery because my BMI was not high enough and I just recently paid all those bills off. I am also leery of the sleeve surgery because it is so permanent. Lap bands can always come out. I feel like the decision is being made for me. I prayed for assistance making this decision and all arrows are pointing me this way. Has anyone had success after a lap band slip, then reposition? I am worried about it happening again in another three years.

Amazingly enough, I have not gained a pound since I've had this slip, even with no fluid in my band. I thought I would gain, but I still have a tightness and feel restriction. Sometimes it's uncomfortable to eat, so I just don't. Thank you for all the advice and well wishes!

I was banded 3 years ago. I had a lower BMI when I started and have had successful weight loss, my BMI is currently a 26, so I am very close to normal. I have had numerous fills and unfills over the last three years. It seems like every time I was in the green zone, I would get too tight and be unable to keep anything down until I had an unfill. My band has been high maintenance. I started having night time reflux so I had all the Fluid removed, then an upper GI. The upper GI revealed a slip in my band. That was 3 months ago and I had another upper GI to see if it had fixed itself. Unfortunately it did not, and now I notice that I am uncomfortably tight (without any fluid). I plan to call the surgeon's office to discuss the possibility of either getting the lap band fixed, but after reading more about it, I am also interested in revision to the sleeve. My sister in law had the sleeve and she has had good success. I would love to know the good and bad about revision to the sleeve after lap band. I am worried that I might have a lot of scar tissue and/or a hiatial hernia that is causing some of the nighttime reflux. Some weeks when the slip makes everything feel super tight, I mostly live on soft foods, Protein shakes, and Soup. It's not fun. One major benefit (to me) of having a revision to the sleeve is less maintenance. As I said earlier, mine has been high maintenance - unfills, fills, reflux, and episodes of being so tight I can't keep much of anything down. Thank you!

I'm too scared to go to Mexico. I would rather just have my band removed and see what happens than go to Mexico. Maybe I'm uneducated on that experience but it's not something I would consider. Im glad to hear you have had a good experience with the sleeve. I have an appt to discuss my options with the surgeon and I am hopeful for insurance coverage!

Wow, I hate to hear that! It sounds similar to my symptoms.

If it's not too personal, what complications are you having? I was prepared for fills and adjustments for 6 months, maybe a year. I never imagined I would continue the process now three years later and now with a slip. My reflux has been getting to the point of intolerable. I have put up with it for months. I've maintained my weight loss even without my band actually doing its job because the reflux is bad if I eat more than a small amount. So I mostly don't eat very much because of that.

Rice (especially sticky rice) is a big no-no for me. I haven't tried sushi, but I doubt I will due to the rice. Muffins have given me problems in the past, but if I take tiny tiny bites, I can eat a small one. But I rarely do. Bread also gives me problems if I eat more than a few tiny bites. I usually just try to avoid bread. I haven't tried spaghetti because I heard horror stories I can eat most things if I just slow down and take small bites. I have problems when I forget and take big bites or don't chew extremely well.

I was a low BMI bandster (BMI 32.5 before surgery) and I lost 14 lbs at my 4 week post-op appointment. I was so motivated and thrilled. Now I am 3 weeks later and only down 1 more lb. I have been exercising like crazy (30-40 mins of elliptical trainer or walk/jog combos plus just started two days of weight training) and really watching my eating. No snacks unless I am starving and then it's just a small snack (cheese, yogurt, etc). Breakfast is always either meat or Greek yogurt, lunch is usually some protein (chicken, tuna, etc) with veggies or a small starch (a few crackers) and dinner is similar. I have been snacking sometimes after 7 pm though. I am going to ask my dietician about carb cycling. My team (surgeon, nurse, dietician, etc) recommends a lower carb diet, but I am struggling with the weight loss now, I need a kick start! I am on a serious plateau and I feel like I have made so many good changes with little weight loss. With some simple tweeks, the low carb days would be similar to my eating now so I would just need to add in some fruits, whole grains, etc on high carb days. I would definitely need to cut out the eating after 6 pm, although for me it might have to be 7 pm.

I also noticed how good food smelled while I was on my 10 day pre-op diet. It's like my sense of smell was incredibly keen! I always asked my coworkers and friends to tell me what they ate after their meal. I don't know why it mattered but I was very curious! I was like "indulge me because I can't have food!"

I am in the same boat! I was banded on March 27 and am so hungry!! I feel like I'm eating larger portions than I should (a bit larger than the dietician's recommendations) to feel satisfied and am still hungry about 2-3 hours after eating. I am still losing weight despite that, but I am also exercising pretty often (I've always been an exerciser so it comes easy). My first fill is April 25 and I am meeting with the dietician the day before that. The one thing I am really trying to do is focus my meal around Protein. I make sure to have a good protein source and eat it first, that does help a little with hunger. If I eat a meal without much protein, I definitely get hungry faster!

Hi everyone, I was researching more about lap bands and found this forum. I am 32 years old and my BMI is 31. People look at me and don't think I'm fat, but I see fat when I look in the mirror. I am considering lap band as an option and I'm looking more at it from a preventative standpoint because I've been steadily gaining weight over the years. My dad has diabetes and heart disease (first heart attack when he was 42) and my BP runs a little high, so I know I need to do something now and not later. I exercise 3-5 times a week. I work out hard. I do a combination of weights and cardio and by the time I leave the gym, I am exhausted. I have always worked out as long as I can remember and I will for the rest of my life. I enjoy it. I like to run but my weight makes it more difficult to do that now. I am continually improving my diet, I cut back on sweets, drink more Water, eat more vegetables, eat more Protein and have cut way back on breads and pastas. My diet is better now than it probably ever has been, but I still struggle with losing weight. My diet is not perfect by any means, but I feel like there isn't much else I can improve on my own. I need help. I have 2 degrees in exercise science and health promotion and it's embarrassing that I can't lose weight. I lose some, then it comes back, then I gain some, then I lose some. It's a never ending battle. I am attending a seminar at the location where I am looking to have lap band. I would be a self pay because my insurance won't cover it unless my BMI is 35. I don't feel like trying to gain weight to get up there and there are other hoops to jump through. The price will be $9,500 plus extra for fills. Any thoughts, recommendations? I know everyone here has way more experience and expertise than I do.

My BMI is 33 and I am scheduled for surgery on Wed, March 27. I am excited and a bit scared. I have been doing the 10 day pre op diet and its been hell. I can have 16 oz of Protein shakes, 16 oz of milk (not including the amount I can use for the shakes) or Gatorade, and unlimited broth, sf Popsicles, and sf Jello. Plus other no calorie liquids. I haven't had soda or caffeine since I started. I've lost about 5 lbs, from 195 lbs to 190. I've cheated a few times, nothing terrible, but I am so hungry. I tried exercising a few times but was starving after so I didn't do that again. I feel like this pre op diet is like hazing or torture. I have never been this hungry in my life and everyday I hit a new high of hunger. I also miss going to restaurants, I haven't been able to do that except once in the 10 days. People eating in front of me hasn't bothered me too much. Anyway, enough complaining I am a little scared of surgery because it will be my first one. I hope I feel ok enough to get up and move around and walk the few days after surgery. I am off for 5 days after surgery, so I hope I am good to go back after that. I am a self-pay, so it was a huge decision but everyone has been so supportive. Ready for the next chapter in my life!

Everything went well with surgery, thank you all for your positive notes. I was in and out in about 6 hours. I had about an hour and a half ride home but I kinda napped a little and even let my mom run a quick errand in the way home while I stayed in the car. I walked around while we waited for my meds. I wasn't hungry yesterday but tried to rehydrate myself and ate 2 Popsicles for my throat (sore from the tube). The worst pain has been my sternum and upper back, I think from the gas and moving my diaphragm around. It's not unbearable. My stomach doesn't hurt much, only when I get up or lie down. I slept ok, but only about 2-3 hrs at a time. I am going to try to eat some yogurt or pudding around noon, as instructed by my dietician. Thanks for your positive thoughts. I am glad I am on this journey and excited for the future.

Everything went well with surgery, thank you all for your positive notes. I was in and out in about 6 hours. I had about an hour and a half ride home but I kinda napped a little and even let my mom run a quick errand in the way home while I stayed in the car. I walked around while we waited for my meds. I wasn't hungry yesterday but tried to rehydrate myself and ate 2 Popsicles for my throat (sore from the tube). The worst pain has been my sternum and upper back, I think from the gas and moving my diaphragm around. It's not unbearable. My stomach doesn't hurt much, only when I get up or lie down. I slept ok, but only about 2-3 hrs at a time. I am going to try to eat some yogurt or pudding around noon, as instructed by my dietician. Thanks for your positive thoughts. I am glad I am on this journey and excited for the future.

My surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, March 27! I am excited but also a little scared. The pre op diet (10 days, 16 oz Protein shakes, 16 oz milk or Gatorade, unlimited broth, sf Popsicles, sf Jello, and no calorie liquids) has been hell. I have never been so hungry in my life. I have cheated a few times but have not had soda or caffeine since I started the pre op. I have lost about 5 lbs in 10 days. I don't anticipate having soda again, I don't miss it. I would like to add some caffeine back someday. I have been active all my life and have exercised regularly until my pre op diet. In 10 days I've only exercised 2 times but I have barely had any energy to do so and I am STARVING after exercise because broth and Protein Shakes do nothing. I am a little scared of the surgery and recovery. My BMI was 33 but its probably closer to 32 now with my pre op weight loss. I will update after surgery! Or check my blog for updates http://melissaswtlossjourney.blogspot.com

I have. I have a minor case of hypothyroidism and I take a small dose of levothryoxine.