hefftynetty

I have been approved for the VSG surgery and I am not sure what to do? My surgeon told me the band is "just not working" for me. I had a dilated pouch and it needs to be fixed with surgery, but he thinks I should just take it out and he says that VSG would be better for me! It makes me nervous due to the scar tissue I have from the 3 previous lap band surgeries I have had (original, removal and replacement), the risk is a little higher. I wrote on the VSG Forum too, just trying to get as much info and advide as I can!

I have to have my band removed and my surgeon advised the sleeve. He is going to plead a case to my insurance, St. Mary's, and see if they will approve the surgery. My question is if anyone has this insurance, and had this revision if they were approved for it. I am so excited and it will be a few days before I hear anything so I thought I would just put it out there and see if anyone had any info! Thank you so much!

My doctor suggested the Premier Protein from Costco! I was skeptical, because I HATE the taste of protein, I can not even stand the Kelloggs stuff with only 10 grams of protein. Anyway these are 30 grams of protein, 160 cals and about 2 net carbs, 3 grams fat. they taste a bit like Slim Fast without the after taste! I love them, I add ice sometimes and blend and it seems like a lot of drink! Very good stuff, I notice today they also have bars but I am not a fan of bars!

I have been unfilled for about 2 months now, after two Upper GI's showing my enlarged esophagus. My last appt I thought I was going to get a fill and they informed me I have to have surgery to fix the problem or it will never work the same. I go Tuesday to talk to my surgeon, I can not wait, I am tired of not feeling that restriction anymore! Good Luck, I hope yours goes down, having surgery again sucks, but I am hoping it is a fresh start for me to start losing again, since I have been about the same weight for 2 years now!

I have posted that I have to have a revision surgery to fix my dilation (Revision Surgery for dilated esophagus). I had my second child almost two years ago, and ever since then I have been able to eat anything. I started getting fills very aggressively and we finally realized that something was wrong. Had the Upper GI and found that I was stretched. They took all of my fill out of 4 cc band, on liquids for a week, unfilled for 4 weeks was the plan. Had another upper GI, was still a little stretched so no fill again, had to wait another 3 weeks. Went to get my fill, so excited, and NO fill. The nurse said the DR said my pouch was stretched up over my band. So now I have to go talk to the surgeon on Tuesday to see what my options are, but regardless I have to have surgery for this to ever work again! I hope being on liquids really helps you and gets your pouch back down, because I do not wish this on anyone!

5Jacks: Good luck with the eating thing, I can eat anything I want, it is like I do not even have the band. They told me I would be unfilled for 4 weeks, had upper GI and they still would not give me a fill, she told me to wait until 3 more weeks, I was so excited when I went to get my fill, because I miss that feeling of restriction. That is when she finally told me the DR looked at my films and decided something had to be done, so STILL no fill! I have not gained any weight though, I told the nurse it was because I could eat this much all along (since I had my second child anyway). I thought my appt to see the surgeon was yesterday but it is not until next Tuesday. I am beyond stressed and all I want to do is eat, it is ridiculous! I hope everything goes okay for you!

wasabubblebutt: I would love to have the sleeve instead of this god forsaken band. I called my insurance awhile ago about it (before I knew I was having this problem) and they said they only cover 1 WLS per lifetime. I have had my band taken out before, about 1 month after the first time I had it in due to complications. When I went back 6 months late they covered it due to the problems and I was offered Gastric but I was too scared. I wonder if they go in there this time and they have to take it out if I can do the sleeve, I go see my surgeon tomorrow so I am going to ask these questions. There is no way to do this self pay as I just got laid off my job of 9 years!

I went to the doctor last week and I was expecting a fill after being unfilled for several weeks! The nurse told me that my pouch was twisted up over my band and it is still dilated so I have to have a revision surgery to move my band back up over the stretched pouch. Just wondering if anyone has ever had this done, I am worried they are going to have to take it out. I go talk to the surgeon on Tuesday and then set a date for surgery! A little nervous but excited, if I keep my band this is a new start, I have been at this same weight for 2 years now!

yesterday: B: Venti Carmel Macchiato (bad) L: Sandwich(ham, cheese, mustard) S: Apple D: 2 Baked Chicken Legs, 1 cup Rice-a-Roni, broccoli Today: B: Venti Carmel Macchiato (bad again) L: McDonalds chicken snack wrap, small fries S: nectarine and sugar free chocolate pudding cup D: will be pork lettuce wraps I am TRYING to not eat too much being without a fill! For some reason I have lost 5 lbs since Monday, I do not see how! I have lost and gained the same 5 pounds since my daughter was born 21 MONTHS ago!

I need to start being accountable for what I am eating so I am going to start logging what I eat! Right now I am completely unfilled due to my pouch and esophogus stretched (I have 2 more weeks of being unfilled):wub: B: Slim Fast L: 6 Chicken Wings S: nectarine and sugar free pudding cup D: (will be) 3oz steak and veggie I want to stay under 1000 cals but I do not know what this adds up to, I will have to look it up!

I am going through this right now as well. I have a dilated pouch and esophagus. They removed all of my fill about 5 weeks ago after I had an Upper GI to detect this. Last week I went again to see if it shrunk back down, as I can tell it has and I was told I can have another fill if it does, I go on Wed for my fill appt so I hope it has shrunk enough. My symptoms were not losing (not gaining either) but being able to eat whatever and however much I wanted. In the month of no fill, I lost 2 pounds, so that just told my doctor for sure I could eat way more than I should be able to. After Wed, I am hoping to get back on track, she said she is going to fill me slowly which sucks, but maybe it will help me to get back on track and not overeat with my band. I will write again to let you know if I get a fill. Oh yeah, she told me to drink protein shakes for the first week and then eat just protein. I did not do this, I am a binge eater and I ate like a pig, but still must not of eaten like I use to cuz I did lose the 2 pounds!! Anyway, I told her I read on here that you are suppise to drink liquids for a month to shrink your stomach and she said that is not true, just releasing the pressure around your pouch allows the stretched section to go back down under the band and then you can start fresh. Well I will stop rambling on, hopes this helps.

I had surgery January 06. I was losing great at 2.6 cc in 4cc band before I got pregnant, now she says I am at 3.4cc and I still NEVER feel satisfied, I know what it feels like because I was doing great before I was pregnant. I would a cup or less 3 times a day, felt great, losing weight, all was grand! Now I cannot stay satisfied, I make myself only eat a cup of food, protein mostly and then by the time I get home I could eat my arm! I make bad decisions at night because I am then so upset this is not working. I have upped my exercise and I feel great about that, now I just need my band to get in sync. She said lots of people stretch their pouch! Also she said I could have slipped, which would require surgery, I am okay with that, whatever helps me get back on track! I am constantly toying with what diet I should do, I did this to help me eat better and help with portions, I eat good but the portions at dinner are bad, I eat what I ate before I was banded! Sorry for the rambling on!

So I went and saw the nurse today, because I got a fill 10 days ago and it does not feel like it. Anyway, she said if it is stretched (I go for and Upper GI Monday), she takes all the fluid out for a month and then we re-start fills. Has anyone done this and did it help kick up the weight loss again? Even if you have not done it have you heard of it or have any thoughts on it. Thank you so much!

I was just thinking about doing low carb for probalby the 10th time. I am hoping being banded is going to help me stay with it. Do you low carbers count calories as well, do you try and stay within the 800-1200 range we should be staying with? Thanks for the help!