SoCalDixieGal

Read an article the other day that they have pulled the band from the market in India. Surgeons there have found it to have too many complications and poor results.

I wish I saved the link, but didn't and can't find it again. It's very recent too. However, here are a few interesting ones. The first is law suits about 1-800-Get-Thin clinics and the other reference a study on complications. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/08/business/la-fi-lap-band-20120208 http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half-patients-complications/story?id=13187452 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/obesity-lap-bands-may-cause-more-complications-than-weight-loss.html

The doctor that did my band surgery quoted me $21k to do the revision. I'm in Orange County, CA so it's a bit pricier here. I was going ahead until I started researching Mexico. Selected an extremely highly certified surgeon and now doing it for less than half of that. From what I've researched it's 1 - 2 days hospital. My dr is keeping me in hospital for 1 night then 4 nights local hotel for daily followup. Bit more followup than a non revision.

Much depends on if you have complications from the band as well as how long you've had the band. I'm hoping to do mine in one step (had it a bit over 5 years so fingers crossed). I have had the fill removed and have to go on a liquid diet for 2 weeks prior. My dr. says this is to minimize any inflammation in the stomach.

Gotacha, and I totally get what you're saying about the fear of regaining. I had my band about 5 years ago, but didn't do well. Didn't have any real complications but just didn't do well. Either too restricted or too loose so it just hasn't been the right tool. Lost a total of 50 lbs. 30 in the first year then 2 years for the other 20, then began to regain. I'm now only 20lbs below what I started. Sigh. I was going to go back to the dr. that did my band (also Orange County) and pay for this surgery (about $21k) but then after reading all these boards started looking into heading a bit south. You might just want to look into going south and being self pay. I feel like it's giving me control over my experience and I get to pick a doctor out instead of insurance choosing one for me. It's definitely an option and one that doesn't require a year of hoops. My surgery is 2/11 and I'm finding so far that the pre-op instructions as well as post are more conservative than my local dr. Interesting.

Welcome! I noticed in the Weight Loss Specific section just above this one, if you click on the 200+ lb to lose section, there's a thread specific to this topic. Looks like it was started by someone at a BMI of 70. I didn't go through all of it, but you'll probably find a lot of information there. Best of luck to you!

I'm back on the soapbox . . . fat discrimination is alive and well. When national news is made when a celebrity gains or loses a few pounds it will never go away. Weight is talked about cavalierly on all fronts. Newscasters, celebrities, etc. All of a sudden they are a "SUCCESS" if they've lost weight. Congratulated if it's a lost, castrated if they gain. And, we all sit there and accept it. Magazines sell when they feature headlines about weight loss. We buy those magazines, we click on the news stories and the world shows it's obsession. Moms talk about their weight and how fat they are in front of their kids, and on and on. . . . We've created a society that enables this discrimination. Now, I'll step off my soap box.

I get their point. Studies show that after care including NUT followup increases success. However, I totally also get what you're saying. There are some folks who are so clueless about nutrition that I don't understand how they can have this surgery without knowing those things first (man, I hope that woman was still in the pre-stage!) Also, keep in mind they are tracking the success of their patients for their own studies and clinical numbers. Personally, I didn't do any of the nutritional classes after my band surgery. I know what to do, I just have always had trouble in the execution category! If you have a handle on the nutrition side of things and are comfortable going it solo, then do what you're comfortable with!

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I'm revising from band to sleeve in one operation. Is the one dr saying it has to be two step because they need to previous complication to heal? Most everyone on these boards who has had a revision has done it in one step.

I've completely stopped reading the comment section in the press. The anonymous nature of the comments enables people to truly be hateful. And it's the same horrible people saying the same thing over and over again.

I'm going alone (2/11 date with Dr. Ariel Ortiz & staying at the Marriott). I obsess over the little things . . .e.g. we have lifting restrictions after surgery so picking up my suitcase in the hotel room? Pack light! Super light, and use a rolling suitcase. I live in Southern Cali so I'm lucky in that a good friend is driving me down to the airport where they'll pick me up to head across the border. She's also picking me up afterwards. I actually like the idea of going solo. I don't have to worry or focus on anyone else - just me!

Good luck and congratulations! Last time I had abdominal surgery someone made a comment to me along the lines of "it was just laproscopic, it shouldn't really hurt." I just looked at them and said, "yeah, you try being stabbed in the stomach 3 - 5 times and tell me how you feel!" I haven't had sleeve yet but was banded 5 years ago. It will hurt for a while as you recover. As you stand, move around you're using those muscles they went through. Every day will get better though! Glad you're home and doing great! Keep on moving.

I've also read a lot of the forum posts and from what I can gather there may be foods that you might not be able to tolerate well after the surgery. However, for others they can eat anything but in much smaller quantities. It seems that the more successful longer term sleevers make healthy choices, but don't eliminate any one particular food. That's our "old" diet mentality and we know how successful that is! You won't be able to sit down to a huge plate of Pasta (one of my favorites as well). But it's likely you may be able to have some in the future. But, at least for the first several months that is off the table. Personally, I like the idea of getting rid of the huge piles of junky foods and replacing them withe small quantities of very high quality food. Besides if you eat one lovely homemade ravioli and are completely full, how is that any different than shoveling in a dozen of them to be full? How often do we truly savor and taste the food we eat today? As to the complications - you already have complications from being obese and they aren't going away, but will get worse. You are facing possible complications versus real current complications.

I'm going to do a chemical peel. I'm a band to sleeve conversion and they keep you a few days longer to check for complications. That being said, I know I'll be bored after the first few days. So, chemical peel. Also, since I'm taking the time off to recover from VSG it's good timing to recover from this as well.

Congratulations on the healthier you! You've definitely got our support!

I gotta agree with the last few posts. Only you had the surgery but you're both going to be adjusting. For years you both enjoyed big meals together. In some senses you both enabled each other to overeat. That relationship has just been dramatically changed. I wonder a lot about how relationships change when both people in that relationship are overweight and only one of them loses a significant amount of weight. It has to be a big impact. It's likely that as you lose weight he's going to go through many phases of anger, jealousy, and may feel that you won't love him when you're thin and he's still overweight. food is such a part of relationships, celebrations, culture and has been defined as "love" for so many. He's probably thinking that you missed out on that dinner so he's showing his love by recreating it for you. The advice Cheri gave about eating in the long term is great and I hope to incorporate the same approach. Definitely not in the recovery period, but in the long term it's really great advice. Best of luck to you both!

I'm going down on Sunday to the hotel so I don't have to drive down at the wrong side of dawn. Surgery Monday and actually doing a chemical peel on Wednesday while you're having your surgery. Won't go home until Saturday since I'm sleeve revision.

My take on the family and boyfriend is fear. Not fear for you but fear that they will now be fat alone. It makes them look at themselves differently. Their eating and overweight buddy is gone. This is for you and not them. It's likely they will be jealous of you during your journey. As to the shakes, Premier Protein is one of the best I've found pre made. And, I love the Syntrax nectar line. Great for when you're sick of milky shakes. I also buy vanilla whey Protein powder and make my own with frozen fruit, Water, yogurt and a good blender.

The border at Tijuana is one of the busiest in the country. It's not likely your husband will want to deal with it more than the round trip. There's really no need to bring your own Snacks. The food there is pretty great. I do know that California prohibits fruits and vegetables to be brought into the state. Don't think there's a limit about going into Mexico. I'm actually driving down from about an hour north and parking at the airport and having them get me. Mostly as I just don't want to take my car to Mexico and won't be driving anywhere once there. Figure the airport parking is about the same as the hotel parking and a lot safer.

I make my own Greek style yogurt and while I don't know the exact nutritional content, it saves me tons of money on those little containers! I purchase tubs of regular or low fat plain yogurt. Line a mesh colander with coffee filters (could use cheese cloth), place this lined colander over a bowl and dump in the yogurt. You need at least an inch between the colander and the bottom of the bowl. Place the bowl in the frig and every few hours drain off the liquid that's accumulated. I like mine extra thick so after 6 - 8 hours or so I place an inverted saucer with something a bit heavy on top to help squeeze out more liquid. Transfer to a storage container and you've now got yourself a super thick yogurt. If I do the plate trick it's nearly a cream cheese texture.

That is wonderful! I fly several times a month and am looking forward to the time when I take up less space! Was actually going to go to Hawaii on vacation but instead using that time for surgery! Hoping that when I do finally book a trip the Hawaii, I'll feel great about a week at the beach.

If it's Dr. Ariel Ortiz then yep! I'm there on Monday, Feb 11th

I've seen pre-ops all over the board. Mine had a choice of three different ones, but as a band conversion I was told liquid only for 2 weeks prior to surgery. A HUGE part of me is saying, heck, you need to lose 11 lbs and 2 weeks of liquid will take care of that - so why worry now? But, I've also seen Dr's that said a sleeve conversion doesn't require 2 weeks of liquids. So, going to lose 11 lbs in the next month and try my best to stick to the liquids, but have a business trip in there so if I can lose a few pounds before that and slip up one or two meals, I'm not going to beat myself up.

I'm also the queen of snack size plastic baggies. Just looking forward to that actually being enough!

found this online, let's see how well it posts: PHYSICAL HUNGER Comes on gradually, intensifies as caloric tank gets depleted Physical signs include stomach growling, gnawing, empty feeling that may escalate to light-headedness and lack of energy Would like to eat but not desperate Not linked to emotions, places, situations or activities Desire for food is not necessarily for one specific kind Stop when physically full HEAD HUNGER No physical signs (though we desperately search for them - was that a stomach growl or just gas?) Comes on quickly, suddenly; you realize how much you want to eat Unable to recognize fullness easily Often involves desire or craving for a specific food Often paired with strong emotions, places, situations or activities Strong, intense urge