WshfullyShrnkng

Hello Everyone, Short story- 3 years ago I had a lap band placed. It worked pretty good for a few months when I began to have troubles eating foods like lettuce, chicken, veggies, etc. I have been fighting this issue this entire time, having my "stuck" episodes and constant adjustment with no sweet spot. Finally I had an unfill of almost all the Fluid and have left it. I still get stuck. I have finally hit a point where my weight is back up, I am tired of the pains associated with my port location and my band. So I have looked into a revision. I started out originally looking at getting converted to the Sleeve because the idea of not struggling with malabsorbtion is a bonus. Then after talking to the surgeon I plan to use, he stated I may need the RNY. I started reading up on both procedures and found lots of stories about people planning to get the sleeve but had to do RNY due to the damage their band caused. This is really opening me up to both ideas. I was just wondering what experience everyone had with revision and why you chose the surgery you did? I should mention that this will be an out of pocket expense for me and I will have to travel to Mexico, but I have a very good surgeon and know his nurse. My hopes are to have it done by the end of February. Feel free to share below. I wouldn't mind seeing progress pics or information from those who had revisions. Thanks!

Ultimately mine will depend on what they see when they get in there, but as of right now the plan is to do the sleeve. We just don't know exactly what damage my band has caused so that's the only issue, but my surgeon is very optimistic that he can do the sleeve as he's skilled at what he does. So fingers crossed it all goes well. Glad to hear you are losing weight. 28 lbs isn't slow at all. That's fantastic! Keep it up. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am scheduled for VSG 2/4/17!

Got my surgery date!! February 4th! YAY!! Going from Band to Sleeve. I am so excited. I have also been shaping up my eating and drinking more water and I am down 4 pounds in 4 days. Probably all the toxins built up in my body. I still can't eat most the healthy foods I should due to band issues, but I have been doing lots of protein shakes. Good luck to everyone and can't wait to see how you all progress!

Hello Everyone, Due to the holiday I am having to wait for answers from my hospital choice, but I thought I would ask here first. Do you have to have someone go with you to the hospital and be there when you get dismissed? Normally when you check out from a hospital someone has to drive you home, however the driver would take me to the airport, I would fly home, and then I would get picked up and driven home. So is taking someone along a necessity? I can use my phone for emotional support during the process. What is your experience, thoughts, opinions, knowledge?? TIA

I ended up getting a hold of the place I plan to have surgery and they did confirm that I did not need anyone with me at discharge...so YAY!! However, one of my old child hood friends said she may come up to at least be there when I get out to support me. How awesome. Thanks everyone for your insight I total didn't think they would contact me back so fast!

I'll have to check out that book! Thanks for your input! I was leaning towards sleeve a lot and now I'm going back and forth. Before my band I was going to have the bypass but I talked myself out of it and now I regret it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was mainly asking since I won't have to drive at all. I don't have anyone to go with me since my husband will have to stay with our son. Thanks for your input. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

That's why I was wondering. It seemed like if I'm not driving I shouldn't need anyone with me but thought I'd see if anyone had any idea. Thanks for the response! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The one I'm looking at does all of that, but I wasn't sure if I was expected to have say my husband or a friend with me in order to be released from the hospital or if I could check myself out. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I don't have a date yet but I'm hoping for February if finances work out. I will be heading to Mexico as my insurance doesn't cover anything related to weight loss. I will be a band to sleeve revision. Eek! So many issues with my band it's time for a change. Looking forward to seeing everyone's progress! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So did I read correctly that they picked you up in San Diego at the airport and transported you to the hotel/hospital and back? I would have to fly into San Diego if I were to go the route of surgery in Mexico and was stressing about how I would get down there.

I too am looking at a revision to VSG. I have been researching because I have struggled with my band since I got it. I can't eat a lot of the healthy foods even with my band almost completely empty! I have gained back all the weight I had lost and then some, some of which happened with pregnancy and some of which I was already struggling with. However, my insurance does not cover anything related to WLS. So I am on my own if I want to pay for it. I am looking into loans and maybe the option of traveling to Mexico for it. Looking forward to following your journey.

Hey Folks! Just looking to see if there are any local Bandsters in the Nebraska Panhandle that frequent this page? If so tell me a little about you and who your doctor was and how its been since your surgery! I had Dr. Jeffery Holloway. He was great. Feel free to ask me anything!!

Hello Folks! I am looking for suggestions for different meals to cook that are Atkins Introduction friendly please Also tell me if you are doing Atkins? How long you have been on it? How well it has worked for you? and How you got started on Atkins? My Answers: I have tried it 3 times now (Just started over again). I have been on it for two days now. It has worked for me in the past and seems to be working for me now. and I got started on it because of the suggestion of one of the Main nurses at my surgeons office. Now your turn!!

Story time: So I went to my gramma's house two weeks ago and while I was there we were chatting about clothing and such. My gramma tried to send me home with a huge bag of potatoes which I kindly told her I was not interested in. She shot back with "What you don't eat potatoes now either!" (Referencing my parents who are healthy eaters as of these last two years and having lost lots of weight and wanting to keep it off.) I told her "No I eat potatoes but I will never remember to take them home with me." I then proceeded to mention that I do try to eat a little better and that I had lost 50+ pounds....She looked me right in the eye and said "Oh, you've lost weight? Really?" I was kind of taken back by her comment...can she not notice?? 50+ pounds is a lot. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. Did she say this to be hurtful or is she truly that blissfully ignorant to my weight loss. *Note:she does not know I had the surgery...She is very critical of my mother who had RNY many moons ago. I didn't dare tell her about my lapband. Yikes that's scary. Anywho, has anyone ever had this problem with friends and family? What did you say about it? How long did it take for your family to notice your change? And whats your current weight loss?

Hey everyone....I am writing to tell you about something I am experiencing and wonder if any of you have ever experienced it before and I would like to hear YOUR story!! How you delt or are dealing with the situation, If you have conquered it I want to hear how you feel now. My Story: I have this image of myself. I see myself as a larger person. I don't see myself as a morbidly obese person like my weight and BMI would suggest. I can look at myself in the mirror...see my collar bones, my cheek bones, my picture perfect face if you hold the camera slightly above your head and twist it a tad to the side as if to show the profile of my face. I am okay with what I see...some days I even think I look pretty. Then I step in front of a larger mirror that shows more of my body. I am not happy. I see a chunky girl. Yes my clothes, weight, and BMI all say I am this chunky girl but on the inside looking out that's not what I picture people seeing. There is no way I have that many rolls, that bumpy of a tummy, that second set of boobs on my torso and the third pair on my back. Then I see a full body photo...I cry sometimes, other times I just get mad, sometimes I stand there for 10...15...sometimes 30 minutes trying to take more body pictures as if my camera had glitched and put this monstrosity in front of me. Who do those hips belong too? Those chunky legs? Again the tummy.... That's not me...Then I eventually come to the realization that it is in fact me. That is my body...that IS how people see me....That camera isn't broken...how I see myself is. Is this the reason I got to be as big as I am? Inner monologue saying, "girl you are delightfully chunky!" When all the while I am actually just getting more and more obese. How could I not see myself as that same person in the mirror. I have always seen myself as a number and that not coordinating with how I looked to others. It wasn't until I seen 283 that my heart jumped and I plummeted out of my body for a brief moment to realize how big I had gotten. As I dropped weight I crawled right back in and have not seen anything that outside me again until someone is so cruel as to snap a picture of me...Maybe its motivation but then again its also torture. Why can I not see myself as I am...Is the inner skinny and healthy me...refusing to see the real me? Let me know your thoughts, opinions, suggestions, and most of all YOUR story...I am still working on seeing myself how I am so I can see the changes in my body but meanwhile...I seek your support, knowledge...etc.

Hello! I have been banded for 9 months as of today. I am down almost 50 pounds. I had my banding, then had to have my gallbladder taken out, got set back, and now I am back on track. My question to you folks is this: What does your diet consist of? I am on Atkins. Restarted at the 20-25 net carbs a day (introductory phase), I upped my Water intake, started taking Fiber supplement for obvi reasons....Now I want to know what you are all doing?

Thank you! I actually cut it myself...as the weight started coming off...I said "time to change my hair"...out came the scissors and boom! I ended up like it is in the pic...haha great job on your weight loss...I am so jealous! keep up the good work.

SandyM - you can buy them at walmart, grocery stores, farmers markets. They are delish. I have never seen them dried but that would be cool. I normally rinse mine and then dry them with a towel then cook them with spaghetti sauce and it mask that weird smell. I like them...I actually bought more of them jjust the other day haha.

You mentioned one of my biggest problems. I can't enjoy my body as it is now. I am not anywhere near my goal weight by any means but I should still feel happy with how much I have lost already. I should be enjoying the lighter me...but I am not. I am held back. Unfortunately for me I can not afford to go seek help on the subject so I pour my heart into pages like these. Never feel like you are the only one...I am sure you could make your own topic about any number of issues you face and there will be several others right there with you. Keep up the good work and know that you are amazing and in time that feeling and ability to accept it will come.

I myself drink a Protein shake in the morning because I am not hungry and will never reach my protein levels without some assistance. A lot of people will say no don't but it works for me so I will continue. I was in that stopped too soon part that you describe and had I stayed on track I would weigh a lot less by now. So keep going until your green haha. I am getting there now and doing much better and the weight is coming off again. Best of luck to you and feel free to check out my blog or my youtube videos. I am beginning to talk about my journey. Seeing as I am 9 months out. wshfullyshrnkng.tumblr.com (has a link for my videos.) Good luck on your journey and keep it up! and stay away from bread...it just gets more evil as your band gets more tight lol