NancySmiles

EXACTLY!!!! Wish I could convince the patients of this!!! Thanks for agreeing with what I have always learned from my training and surgeons!!

click on the link for a surprise: http://web.icq.com/friendship/swf/0,,16961_rs,00.swf

That's the FIRST I have heard of that! Maybe I missed something but how does your VitD being off affect your craving for sweets? I just started taking VitD a few months ago cuz mine was low. When do you crave carbs? When it is Low or High....??? Maybe I need to research this a little more.... Thanks!! Nancy:biggrin0:

I will tell you now that they didn't have the sleeve option when I had my band in 2004.....BUT if they did, i would have had the sleeve in a heartbeat!!! Don't get me wrong....I lost 112 lbs with the band, the first 2 years and felt great. Then I had a slip....had it replaced with another band....stupid me!....and then had a leak.... The surgeon, who I work for, said enough is enough how about a sleeve. So here I am 5 years later with a sleeve which I have had for a year. BUT....I am gaining weight. I was so used to not being able to eat so many things with the band because of things getting stuck, reflux at night, having to vomit when things would not stay down...etc....! After the sleeve I got spoled because I could eat all those things that I had problems with....but what am I doing? I am eating junk!!! Don't worry....I am working on getting back on track! All of these success stories prove I finally have the right tool to halp me lose all of my weight! Nancy

I am a year post op. I must admit I do not exercise....or at least very little. I have started a new eating program, so I hope that will kick it in. I don't want to gain all my weight back that I lost with the band. Guess I am just being bad.....but worse than I think I am. Or because I work for the Bariatric Surgeon I could have "bariatric burnout" !!! Thanks for listening! Nancy:sad0:

:thumbup:Hey Tracy!! I am glad to see that you decided on the sleeve.....you will not be sorry!!! I do not regret it at all....except the fact that I LET myself gain some weight back....it's my own fault and I know what I need to do....so I am going to put all I have into trying to get back on track and get to where I was when I had the sleeve!!! Good luck with your new tool!!! Nancy

That DOES make sense!! I find that when I DO eat the right things...I stay fuller longer as you said. I just need to get back in the healthy habits again!! Thanks Elisabeth!!:scared0:

I guess I cannot tell a lie....I have been getting back into some very old BAD habits.....carbs...etc....so it's my own fault. But I am always hungry....which I thought was supposed to go away with the sleeve??? And I work for the surgeon who did my surgery....so maybe I have "bariatric burnout" !!!

Not exercising....and grazing.... I lost 112 with the band before the revision and I hate to gain it back.....I just want to start losing again so it looks like I need to get busy!!!

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

And no more fills.....being poked....too much fill....too little fill....what a relief! How are all the revisions doing with weight loss now that you can eat things you couldn't with the band? I am at a total standstill....I lost 15 imediately after the revision, but have gained it back and not losing anymore. Is anyone else experiencing this? Nancy

putting a heating pad or warm compress on it helps alot....just watch for signs of infection....but do give your surgeon a call to be safe.

I had the band and lost 112 pounds with it; but because of a slip and a leak, I was converted to a sleeve. Sure, there is no follow up with the sleeve, no fills, no foods getting stuck, etc. But if you are not going to follw your diet with the lap-band, you won't follow it with the sleeve. I am gaining weight now with the sleeve because I have been able to eat all the things I had problems with when I had the band. Of course, I am eating the wrong things....but it's cuz I CAN....and some days I wish I had the band back so that I COULD get a fill, believe it or not. THe sleeve is permanent....the band is still reversible and adjustable. I love having the sleeve but I also loved having the band. You can make it work, no matter what surgery you have....it's all up to you. And I am determined to get the sleeve to work for me too!!!

Please add to this list the website links for your surgeon's, hospital's, lap band support group, lap band groups, post-op info, resources, food, etc. There are so many out there and we can get an ongoing list started which would help us all tremendously! Help keep the list growing. TIA!!! www.macombbariatrics.com (St. John Hospital - Office in St. Clair Shores, MI)

Need all of your help here - I am composing a list, just as "giveyouthemoon" had started, for the pre-op patients in our support group. Can anyone think of ANYTHING else you wished you would have had on hand when you got home from surgery??? With the help of my DH, I was VERY prepared before I went in; but there were still a few things I had to send him out to the store to buy. Any ideas??? Thanks!!! Nancy* :cry :think

I'll take a stab at it... 1. Are you eating 3 small meals and 3 Snacks and spacing your meals apart? Or are you leaving a long gap between meals? Sounds to me like you may need a fill..... 2. The pressure could be the overeating.....but if you think it might be gas from the refried beans, you CAN use OTC meds like Gaviscon, Phazyme, GasX and if there is no relief, I would call the doc. 3. It's a proven fact that after sleeping all night, the area around the band is more swollen from lying down...and once you get moving and wait a couple hours....you should be able to eat. I have the same problem...and so do MANY MANY others.... Also you should not be drinking anything HOT....can be warm...but not hot....causes the same thing... Hope this helps! Nancy

If yu are having ANY doubts in your mind......Read this!!! Getting banded was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family!!! What people forget is that the band is just a "TOOL"......YOU have to make it work!!! You MUST follow up REGULARLY with your surgeon. You MUST attend Support Group Meetings. You MUST follow up with the Dietitian when you feel yourself slipping back into old bad habits. I am the Lap-Band Program Director at my surgeon's office and I'm also a patient. I had the band surgery 2 yrs ago and I am doing fine!!! It never ceases to amaze me and anger me when I see patients who have had the surgery and never come back...and yet they call and say that "the band is not working for me".....that is so wrong! The band is only as good as it's owner!!! I will tell you right now....if you do not intend to follow up regularly, follow a diet, Exercise, attend the support group meetings, and most importantly, change your eating habits and your lifestyle - DO NOT HAVE THE LAP-BAND SURGERY!!! It only works as good as YOU make it work!!! Hope that helps! Remember the Triangle....DIET + EXERCISE + SURGERY ..... without one of these you cannot succeed! Nancy __________________

Getting banded was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family!!! What people forget is that the band is just a "TOOL"......YOU have to make it work!!! You MUST follow up REGULARLY with your surgeon. You MUST attend Support Group Meetings. You MUST follow up with the Dietitian wwhen you feel yourself slipping into bad habits. I am the Lap-Band Program Director at my surgeon's office and I m also a patient. I had the band surgery 2 yrs ago and I am doing fine!!! It never ceases to amaze me and anger me when I see patients who have had the surgery and never come back...and yet they call and say that "the band is not working for me".....that is so wrong! The band is only as good as it's owner!!! I will tell you right now....if you do not intend to follow up regularly, follow the diet, attend the support group meetings, and most importantly, change your eating habits and your lifestyle - DO NOT HAVE THE LAP-BAND SURGERY!!! It only works as good as YOU make it work!!! Hope that helps! Nancy

I am the Lap-Band Program Director at our office and HAP will cover the surgery only if it is done at a HAP facility. Our hospital takes HAP patients; but HAP will only pay for bariatric surgery at their hospital. Any other surgery is usually ok.

Thanks Shelly !!! I haven't been on much but thinking the same thing....getting a .1 or .2 fill....makes sense! Hope you're doing better! Nancy