nanalisa46

I have gained and lost weight for the past 25 years. I tried it all: Diet pills, HCG, weight watchers, Nutrisystem, you name it I tried it. Last year I decided I wanted to check into the lapband after a friend had success with it. Went to a seminar in June 2012 and made my decision 2 weeks later. My insurance did not cover the surgery so I went through True Results. They had me checked for a hiatal hernia which was covered by insurance and I paid just for the lapband. I started my preop diet for 2 weeks and lost 6 lbs. I was banded with plication on August 13, 2012 weighing 199 lbs. At my 2 week preop visit I had only lost 7 lbs. I had my my first fill in October and a second fill in November before Thanksgiving. Not really any restriction from those two fills. Around the first of January 2013 I started having really bad stomach pains. I would throw up every time I ate dense Protein. Anytime I hate the pain was horrible. I called my surgeons office and the response I got was "if it hurts that bad go to the ER." Well that really pissed me off. I finally got in to see the surgeon who checked me through fluoroscope X-ray. Everything in place. Mind you I didn't get to talk to him in an exam room. There was about 8 people on the other side of the door who heard everything we were saying. He said my body was most likely rejecting the band. He said we could remove it and do the sleeve. And it could be done in one surgery. Then he asked if I was using insurance. When I stated I was going to try since I was having complications, he then states we needed to do it in 2 surgeries. That raised a HUGE red flag with me. When I went to check out his insurance coordinator whispered to me to get a second opinion! That was really worrisome. And the fact that I had only lost a total of 22lbs bothered me greatly. So I went to see my PCP and she recommended a surgeon who she had worked with for a long time. I called their office and explained my problem. They told me there was $900 assumption fee the surgeon charges. I was willing to pay it. At that time we did not set up any appointments. Imagine my surprise when I got a call early the next morning from their office. The surgeon wanted to see me and he was waiving the fee! I went in the following week on February 19th and was so glad I did. I absolutely loved the staff, nurses and surgeon. I had a long talk with him and explained all my problems. He was very sympathetic and made me feel at ease. After my talk with him I met with his nurse/scheduler and we scheduled my nutrition&education class, pre-op visits, surgery and post op visit. The nutrition&education class was 5 hours long and was very informative. Never had that with my lapband surgery. We got a binder full of information and samples of Vitamins, Protein drinks. I did a one week preop diet and had my revision on March 7th. The hospital and nurses were wonderful. The rooms looked more like hotel rooms with a hospital bed. Everything went well. I was up walking the halls that evening. I had my barium swallow the next morning and had no leaks. Got down my 8 oz of Fluid and was out of the hospital by 12:15. So here I am 12 days post op and wish I would have gotten the sleeve to begin with and asked my PCP's advice on surgeons. I have my 2 week follow up tomorrow. If anyone has any reservations about the sleeve, don't. I can't tell you how great it feels not to have stomach pains, not to throw up not to mention having a wonderful surgeon who cares about his patients. If you have reservations about your current surgeon and don't feel you are getting the care you need, seek out another one. Had I went with the first surgeon again I think I would have been very unhappy. He is in it for the money and nothing else. Something else my current surgeon said was that he doesn't do lapbands anymore unless that was all the patients insurance would pay for. And that he has seen so many removals due to complications in the past year. So if I would have saw him first I would have never had the lapband, would have had only 1 sugery and I would be at goal now. I am a self pay for the revision to sleeve and believe me it was worth every dollar.

Glad to know I am not the only one who has stalled. I was sleeved March 7th and lost 13 lbs by my 2 week follow up. I haven't lost an ounce since last week. Started my puréed foods last Friday, getting my protein and water in and walking a lot. I told myself I'm not getting discouraged. It will come off.

It's nice being sleeved and not throwing up like I did with the band. And I only had mine 7 months. You will be much happier with the sleeve. Best Wishes to you!

I was just wondering the same thing. Before being revised to sleeve I broke them in 3 pieces.

Thanks! My current surgeon is actually in Bryan. Its about an hour from Houston depending on what part of town you live in. His name is Dr. John Mason. I just love him. I weighed 183 the day of my surgery. I don't think your weight matters if you are doing revision. Which doctor at True Results did you use? I can give you Dr. Mason's number if you'd like. I couldn't have asked for a better surgeon.

Hi there! I'm feeling great. Down 10 lbs in 2 weeks. Started phase 2 yesterday and I'm not liking food right now. Not hungry at all. Will you be going to any of the support group meetings? I plan on going April 2. Don't you just love Dr. Mason?

I live in Bellville, Tx and was sleeved my Dr. Mason on March 7th.

I am 8 days post op. I have restless leg syndrome. Before surgery I had no problems taking my Requip for it. Now it makes me sick when I take it. Anyone else have this problem? I am going to see my PCP next week to alert her of the problem.

Surgery went well. Band was removed and plication undone. For those of you doing revisions you don't have to worry about much pain. At least I didn't. Just uncomfortable and a little gas. I walked the halls for 10 minutes and it started getting better. So thus far I am doing great! Good luck to the rest of you who are having revisions.

I went from lapband to sleeve revision on March 7th. I have been doing my walking, getting in my protein and getting most of my other liquids and sipping lots of water. But I am so exhausted. I haven't taken pain meds since yesterday as I am only in pain a little, mostly just uncomfortable. I know i had major surgery and its probably normal. Anyone else feeling the same?

Have you tried unflavored or vanilla protein with the Crystal Light Fruit Punch? I've found it's. a nice change from just plain favors. You can use water or milk.

My surgery is at 7:30 in the morning. I'm so nervous but so ready to get this band removed!

Thanks!

Thanks! I'll post as soon as I can.

It does make you throw up a lot. I don't have to heal first. I'm getting sleeved at the same time. Thankfully I won't have to go through another surgery.

I am getting sleeved also. Thanks!

Anyone had the band with plication revising to sleeve? That is what I had done in August 2012. Being sleeved tomorrow. I'm so nervous that I'm nauseous!

I'm being sleeved tomorrow. The nurses who did the education and nutrition class I attended told us to use toddler sippy cups if we have problems with sipping liquids, which i do. I bought some of the 1 oz medicine cups for my liquids and will use the sippy cups for water only.

Anyone ever post on the lapband talk forum in the lapband complications section? Is it just me or do you get rudeness from people when you post about complications? Almost like whatever reason you are having problems it's your own fault? I have kept my mouth shut and not responded to the rude ones but its getting old and I'm finding that each time it happens I want to get downright nasty back!

I went to another surgeon today for a second opinion. It's like night and day from my previous surgeon. I am having my lapband and plication removed and getting sleeved on March 7th. I am only required to go to the education class next week and do the preop diet for one week. The surgeon stated that he also thinks my body is rejecting the lapband. He also said I will be much happier with the sleeve. I am so glad I don't have to go through two surgeries just to get a revision to sleeve.

I hope I'm one of the successful ones too. Why are you revising? Are you nervous? I am. I was thinking about it so much today that I made my self nauseated. It is not even the actual surgery that makes me nervous. It's the thought of the damn IV's. they always have such a hard time getting them in that my arm gets bruised.

I have had stomach pain, nausea and just not feeling well. I can't eat anything but soft foods but anytime food hits my stomach the pain is horrible. My new surgeon said my body is rejecting the lap band. It is seeing it as a foreign object and doesn't want it in there. It started getting really bad about 3 months after the surgery although I did have the pains before then. They just got worse.