lisacaron

I’m in 😉 the FB group.

So my fellow Novemberians...to use someone else’s phrase 😉 Do you ever have a day when your just feeling “fat”? The I don’t even feel comfortable in my skin type of day? Like a stuffed sausage feeling? Maybe I am bloated and maybe it’s just side affect of my flu shot or stress I don’t know. Today I seriously feel stuffed into this casing that is my skin. Putting on clothes today only made it worse I just wanted my baggy nightgown back and to pull the covers over my head to hide the rest of the day. This is not my usual MO. I’m usually pretty comfortable in my own skin but lately...not so much. Maybe anxiety or anticipation for up coming surgery. I almost can’t wait to get back on liquid diet and prep for it!

Tmrtyty2018 My surgery was moved to Nov also. Jump on the Nov. thread!

We should do a Facebook group. You can make it private so only the approved members can view. This way if your not sharing your surgery with friends co-workers or extended family you can still get support from us!!

My date was scheduled for Oct. 8 but I had to reschedule until Nov 9 because of my father in laws passing. I just didn’t feel I could focus on this 100% at the time. I am ready for this Nov surgery.

My hubs is still banded. I had to have mine removed a year ago from complications. Not everyone’s body likes the band and none was one that was rejecting it every which way. Trying to expel it like you would a baby but the wrong way. Kept causing nausea cramps no matter if it was empty or full. Hubs has his struggles but the tool still works as long as the choices are good the weight comes down. It stops the over eating to excess and that’s a plus I have really missed this last year. This prep is horrible for me right now. Day 3 and I slip and slide liquids only is torture. I try to stick it out...but you know everyone needs to eat around me and make me hangry. My seat mate at work is eating a quesadilla yummy onion and chicken smell and me... yougurt and protein shake! Do you hear the silent scream???? Tummy rumbles with gas and irritation so I sneak some cheese it’s. Bad Lisa

You all are doing awesome. I’m pretty good during the day...at night just a little tougher. The worst is knowing I “can” eat and shouldn’t. Nothing stoping me right now...and yes it’s so much harder when people eat around me. Right now my seat mate at work is eating a quesadilla and the smell of the onion and chicken is making me crazy!! Yougurt cup and water...yeah not enough to combat the hangry self right now. If only she wasn’t eating at the desk!! I stay here so I don’t have to smell the cafe food. Grrrr

Day 2 of liquid diet and it’s a struggle. I want to bite something savory. Sick of the sweet vanilla chocolate of it all.

I’m scheduled for bypass on Oct 8. I have had a previous surgery. (Lapband). I did the 2 week diet then before and after surgery. Slow progression to mushy foods. Followed it to the T. It was not easy...I can say the food funerals yep we held them before the two weeks nearly every day but you know what the truth is you are going to eat those foods again. Hopefully in a good and balanced way thinking of all your hard work and surgery before taking the bite right? Band didn’t work well for me, as vigilant as I was my body rejected it and it had to come out before it did any serious irreversible damage. I’m ready for this next step...easing into the diet by eliminating one meal a week and replacing with a shake. This week I am up to breakfast and lunch 2 snacks of yogurt/pudding eating only a small dinner. Monday should be all liquids....easier at work all day home and the weekends are my challenge. One big incentive is my sons engagement party is the Sat before surgery...preop weight loss means a nice dress for Mamma 😉

I'm from Long Island. My surgery is not until October. Former laplander...had it removed last August. Looking forward to the next adventure, and also stressing it. (just a lot of personal stuff going on at the same time. FIL passed away MIL very sick, son getting married...dealing with engagement party and liquid diet pre-op that kind of stress) I'd love to hear how you all are doing and any advise you have for your first few days post op.

It's been a mighty long time since I've checked in here...probably over a year. I had to have my band removed last year due to a slip and other complications. It took a while but I gained back the weight I had lost I've given myself time to heal and deal with some of the other personal issues life has thrown my way. Though you can't put your life on hold continuously just to cope with other issues. It's still so important to take care of ourselves, and I often forget that allowing myself to get bogged down in other people's health and wellness issues. Even my dogs get top billing. I'm currently scheduled for bypass surgery in October. Right after my sons engagement party as a matter of fact! Party is Saturday and Monday will find me in surgery provided I make it through the liquid diet for 2 weeks and don't eat at the party but be good with my shakes and such. My father in law just recently passed away and I have been helping my husband cope with the loss as well as clearing up all the legal/medical stuff. His Mom is very sick as well...and yeah it's been a hell of a month here. One of my dogs ate a rock and he needed gastric surgery before me! They had to resection part of his intestine to get the rock out...and repair the damage so now he's recovering and I hope I can be just as brave and bounce back just as well as he seems to be doing. I think of putting the surgery off a couple more weeks to clear the hurdle of all this...and the engagement party, but that might be just me putting myself on the back burner yet again. So...the diet starts in a couple of weeks...Sept 24 is the start date, and by then I'll know if I can give this my all or if I need to push it out a couple weeks. So that's what's up and what's new on this part of Long Island NY.

Hi All!! Back on the boards these days doing some revision research....cause I am still very undecided about what to do. I had the band removed on August 9th and recovery has been a road let me tell ya! It actually was a bit more painful due to the muscle dissection to remove the port. The incisions healed nicely no infections just muscle soreness for a few weeks. Of course though with my father in law in rehab, hubby got super sick with bronchitis and brought that home along with a wicked stomach flu virus and you know I caught that in a heart beat and we have been sick since! Horrible bug really. I am back to work now after having to take another week off for that illness and honestly feeling better now. For some reason my body did not like having the band inside, it just kept rebelling against it with inflammation all over the place. It was making me so sick, and the reflux and prolapse of the band was just the final straw in a two year battle to get things to calm down. So...here I am post band removal...and wondering if doing another surgery is something to consider given all the issues I had with this one. Who knows if my body will accept being altered and rewired it didn't accept the hardware

I was always hopeful that it would pass. Only in the last month before I had the band removed was reflux an issue for me. Mostly it was just constant inflammation going on inside as my body kept trying to reject the band. I would have gone right for the bypass or the sleeve at the same time if it was an option for me, but like you I am also fearful to a degree of what to expect after. My body does not seem to take well to outside interference, didn't like the band being in there, and it even started pushing out the internal sutures that were used in the surgery to remove the band! So I wonder how it will adapt to rerouting and changing the internal process....I just want to be healthy and happy. I'm not so focused on the "weight" of the issue...though so many doctors blame weight as the reason for everything that ales you that it becomes the focus. I have been having issues with my heart since I was 17 years old and I was at a normal weight and post pregnancy is when the issues started after a heart attack during child birth. So today at 46 I have an arrhythmia that causes tachycardia in my pulse rate all the time with a normal sinus rhythm which is a good thing it means I'm not actually having a heart attack at the moment, but having a heart racing all day as if I were doing sprints makes one quite tired. Mostly they happen at night and keep or wake me up so that's not fun either. Of course the Dr.'s all say well if you lose weight this will get better...but will it? It hasn't in all these years...and I am getting older not younger...so forgive me if I don't think weight is all to blame for my health. I'm thinking of putting some questions together for the Dr. and see what kind of feed back they can provide. One question is: 1. Why would you recommend the sleeve over the bypass for me? 2. I have heard that those revising from band to sleeve do not lose as effectively as those who have never had a bariatric procedure because they are not able to make the sleeve small enough due to scar tissue. Do you find this to be a valid insight? What has your experience with patient revisions been? 3. Have you seen patients who have rejected being sleeved after the surgery? What type of rejection symptoms have been displayed? Food intolerance? (to be expected?) Inflammation of stomach/other organs? (what could be done to prevent and/or remedy this?) What other questions do you think....? It might help us both with our decision

I had my band removed about a month ago due to a prolapse and slippage. It was unfilled for over a year because of issues I was having with swallowing and pancreatitis flair. I had a very small amount of fluid added and well that didn't work out well and the band slipped and it was just time to have it removed before I had any further issues with it. I was banded for about 4 years, and it really never worked with my body. I think my body was just rejecting it from the beginning. I was sick for 2 out of the 4 years. I have to say I am feeling 100% better since having the surgery to remove the band. I am able to eat and drink without being sick for days, and the surgical site is healing very well. I am working on all the requirements for revision to the sleeve, however I am still unsure about my feelings for another surgery. Knowing how sick I was for so long...and that if I have another surgery and there are issues, there is no "fix" for it. They can't just go in and take out the equipment to make it better....this time my body has to accept the change and adapt like it didn't with the band. I'm maintaining my weight, and haven't gained a whole lot since surgery, but I know that possibility is right there....so that's why I am moving ahead to meet the requirements for revision.

Hi Liz, Ken is working tonight and Sunday. I probably won't be out near the city until the end of August we have tickets for the Lady Gaga concert at Citifield. Have a great time, and stay cool!!

Oh yes showing your face probably really helps when trying to find a match You look amazing! I'm hoping that once I get through this surgery, I'll be able to eat better and actually focus on my health and healing once and for all. I'm still not sure what revision is the best...everyone is pushing the sleeve, but you know if your going to have to do it again I would want to do what's best for me not just what's "popular"because I can see how that doesn't work for everyone just like for me the band was not the winning tool. My body is rejecting it. With all the technology and tools out there I would think that there would be a way to gather the metrics on a person and determine the type of surgery that would work for that individual over another just because it's less invasive, or less maintenance, or more popular or cost efficient than another which might be the actual golden ticket to help the patient reach their ultimate health goals. I have to go through all the medical testing to check my breathing and heart and all that stuff again...including my "mental" state...but how about diagnosing the reason for my obesity and why the band was a failure no matter how little, how much, or what foods I ate didn't eat or threw up?

Hi! You guys have some experience here! So please let me pick your brains! I was banded in 2013 lost about 60 pounds, and have gained some back due to many complications from the band and other health issues. Here I am now with a total band slip and prolapse miserable can't keep much down without feeling sick 23 out of 24 hours. Dr. has me scheduled for band removal on August 9th. I'm wondering what the recovery will be like...will I be able to get that nutrition in again because right now I am feeling just weak and tired from not being able to eat more than ice cream or shakes! I am taking my vitamins. We have also talked about having a sleeve revision in a couple of months after I go through the insurance gambit of medical testing etc. all over again. I'm not looking forward to yet another surgery...and I'm wondering if the sleeve is the way to go, or if I am going to go through all this medical testing again for approval I should just push for the bypass and get the weight off without "guessing" if the sleeve is going to work out for me or not. I'm always the one that falls in the failure percentage rates...I been using this analogy alot lately...you know if birth control pills are 98% effective to prevent pregnancy well yep I am the 2% who got pregnant while on them taking them without fail every day even after I was pregnant and Dr.'s couldn't believe it, his name is Christopher and he's now a healthy 22 year old! What is your advise? Also how painful is recovery from the band removal? I am hearing the port site muscle is sectioned and that causes some major discomfort and pain for a while....

nv_mom_27 I feel your pain with the throwing up bit. I have been having that issue for quite some time and the only things that really sit well are the BAD things. Ice cream has become my nemesis this summer. I'm not afraid of the surgery, I'm actually looking forward to it. Thinking of it as a surgical vacation of sorts as bad as that sounds! I really need a brake from all the "drama" around me and some time to recoup my health. I just feel so weak and tired all the time. I'm sure it's from not getting enough nutrients in as well as being overweight. It is my sincere hope that once this band is out that I feel better and can get that needed nutrition in to feel better and recover. Once it's done, I'm going to focus on the next step which will probably be a conversion to the sleeve which will take me a few more months to get all the medical information in order, and trying not to gain any weight back. I hear they will not approve it if weight is gained... Though I am not looking forward to yet another surgery...everyone including my primary care doctor is advocating the revision to help to lose the excess weight. I just want to feel better.

A couple of weeks ago, I went in for my regular check up with my Bariatric team. I was banded in 2013 and though initially I lost about 40 pounds, I never really saw the weight loss that many others I know have. I had issues on and off with my health, including a bout of what was diagnosed as pancreatitis last summer. It was a very stressful time in my life, my father was terminally ill and nearing the end of his journey. As a main care giver stress was very high. I was sick nearly every day with everything I ate. My band was emptied since I was having these issues and at one point so swollen I could not swallow my own saliva. I had an upper GI and all was well, no damage and no "real" reason for these issues. My father expired in July of last year, and the intensity of the on the go stress diminished though my stress itself is an ever present thing. As a mother of 5 boys one special needs, caring for my in laws one with dementia and Parkinsons, one who is now critically ill as well in and of hostpials and rehabs, along with their 40 year old highly functioning special needs adult working a full time job helping my son over come his drug addiction relapse and get back on his feet while trying to get our youngest (22) on his feet, not to mention our disabled 24 year old who just stays in his room all day playing video games and watching TV. So yeah..back to me. I had some fluid slowly put back into the band to see if I could get back on track and start losing some weight as my weight was going up, and I was not feeling well. Suffering from a badly twisted pulled and stress fractured ankle and foot this winter. (That slowed me down but didn't stop me!) I reached a point where I was doing well I though! I was actually losing some weight. I was still totally exhausted and not really able to eat everything but that was OK right? to be expected? Then came the acid reflux. It was mild enough for a pepsid to handle and I didn't want to think much of it. I guess my issue is that I am so busy doing and going that often I am hurting and I disregard it and put it in the back of my mind. If it doesn't cripple me or bring me to my knees I just keep plugging away. So the PA said I think we need a barium swallow. Hey I lost weight this month! I think NOT! I don't have time for this...radiology...and registration...nope I need to get back to work! Well she won in the end and they took me right away..and yep the band slipped and I had a huge prolapse. (FML) So what now...? I don't have symptoms or do I? OK so now that I know there is something wrong..now everything is wrong and every wince is from the band. Now I feel nauseous all the time, I'm weak I'm tired I have to throw up. In reality I probably was like this for months and just ignored it because there was just too much to do.... Now next week they are taking out the band. I am scheduled for surgery on August 9th. If I want to revise (they are suggesting the sleeve) I have to wait 3 months and re-do all the same testing and hoop jumping that I did back when I was banded in 2013. I'm not sure how I feel about a revision...I seem to fall in that "failure" percentage rate. You know birth control is 98% effective and 2% get pregnant..yeah his name is Christopher. Most people I speak to say they would revise, and yes my Dr. tells me I need to lose the weight. I have heart issues and breathing issues (no smoking for me ever) and sure another tool is great...but right now... I'm wondering what can I expect from the band removal surgery? Have you had your band removed? If so...what was your experience? Where you sick before the surgery? Keeping mostly liquids etc down? Good days/bad days? Were you in major pain in the port area after surgery to remove the band? I hear that people feel more pain in the muscle there... Did you feel less "sick" after surgery no more nausea? Were you able to eat "normally" again or were you still eating mushy liquids for a while? Did you chose to have a revision surgery? If so...what and why? I'd love to have a dynamic discussion about it, and of course as I travel through this experience I'll keep you updated with my progress.

Thanks Julie!! It feels so much like a thankless task taking care of the parents but I can also say being one as the mother of 5 can also be one. Hubby and I are that JAM generation stuck in the middle between the aging parents and the Peter Pan kids we have. You know 30 acting like 10 and never want to grow up Sadly having surgery might be a bit of a holiday for me...cause I really need the down time to refresh my mind. Physically I know it's more stress but I hope to be able to take it easy at least for a few weeks. While I'm at home I'm going to do some research, I really would like to be able to lose the weight I haven't been able to...I just am afraid to fall into that "failure" percentage again. I know that's negative thinking so I will stop that and focus on doing some research to see what happens after this heals up and insurance clears me again. They are not touching my plication so at least I will still have that advantage to work with.

Hello my friends! It's been forever since I have had a minute to post anything...and I probably wouldn't be taking this minute now if I didn't need to The long story short is my hubs and I are stuck and yes I mean stuck cause we are the only ones around taking care of his ailing parents. I want to scream...last year I took care of my father who passed away just about this time last year. Since we have been what I think of as enslaved by the other side of the family. Seriously as sick as my father was he never called me up at 8 am after I got off a 24 hour shift to take him for a shave and to gossip at the gas station with his friends. Really?! My husband is a Saint cause I would be telling him to go scratch. You have a 40 year old son at home that drives your car doesn't pay rent, and does nothing!! Yes he may be "slow" but he's capable and he's gonna step up or I am going to take a bat to him!! That will be a good excuse then when both your legs are broken! Liz you can feel me right?! OK all that said...I'm having my band removed in the next couple of weeks! I went to the Dr. yesterday and even though I'm not feeling any symptoms it appears that the band has slipped!! Last year I was sick as a dog with Pancreatitis throwing up all the time and nothing was wrong with the band. I had no fluid in it...and then in January I had an esphogram and put some fluid back in things were looking and feeling good...of course then I broke my foot and was in a brace from February to June!! Now I go in with just a touch of acid reflux and the band has slipped and a have a bad prolapse the surgeon said and they want to take it out ASAP. So...yeah..here I am. OK they take the band out...can't have a revision for at least 3-6 months they say...and honestly do I want one? I don't know. I always fall in that 1% of people. You know how they say Birth Control pills are 99% effective...? Right that one percent is where I fall. His name is Christopher and he will be 22. Same for the band if the percentage of the band works for 75% of people I fall right in that 25% of those who it fails. So my band has failed, the fluid is out again while I wait for all the pre-op testing and other fun stuff so they can remove it....thank goodness I'm not suffering at all some reflux but I'm on liquids from now until what will probably be eternity (it's OK I'm used to it by now it's one of the few things that doesn't make me feel sick.) I haven't lost any more weight...but guys...what would you do? Would you even think about a revision? Would you do the sleeve cause everyone is on the sleeve train? Would you do the gold standard and do RNY or would you call it a day leave your innards alone and just be you?

So spacegirl37 how's it going? Did you get your fill? I am in the same boat. Have had my band empty since June of last year and looking forward to getting back on track. I have gained weight and I'm feeling bloated and uncomfortable all over again. I'd like to lose this extra 36 pounds to start with...and of course 3 weeks ago I pulled all the ligaments in my foot and ankle and have been hobbling around with a walking cast! I hope a small fill will help stimulate the band and help with the hungry feelings...I'd like to get back to some kind of satiated feeling.

Hi Yadiordz I am doing OK. I would like to say that I have totally focused on my band and my eating but I can't really say that. My barium swallow showed that the esophagus was still a bit dilated so they wanted it to rest for a bit longer. I was in total agreement with that since I am not looking for any other surgeries right now. I was doing fairly well watching my intake of foods, since now after having issues with pancreatitis I really steer clear of foods that are high in any kind of fat or grease. Even red meats if eaten too often will make me feel sick so I tend to only have them once in a blue moon. I had been feeling very weak and fatigued since my cardiologist put me on a new medication to lower my heart rate and blood pressure. It's taken some time to get used to being slower...if that is a good way to define it. Wouldn't you know it though just as I started feeling a little better and getting in all my water and foods in the right way...we got nearly 2 feet of snow and I tore all the ligaments in my foot and ankle getting caught in a snow drift! So now I am in a walking boot with a cane! Not getting much of any kind of cardio in these days. I am thinking that I will just get into the gym and start doing some weights. I can lift even if I can't do much else with this leg/foot right now. How are you doing?

Looks like an upgrade was done...boy am I following too many convo's! I need to get in there and edit. Happy Valentines Day to you all!!! Hope your giving and getting lots of love xoxoxoxox!

Love love love....I just love it and reading all your posts put a big smile on my face!