dbrar88

One week to go!!! Can't believe it is so close, yet so far away! I have been on the liquid diet now for 3 weeks and really hasn't been all that hard. Can't wait to get sleeved and begin the new journey in my life. Sept 27th - here I come!!

I too had called his office and was told the same. I called our GI doctor and couldn't get in for an appt until the middle of Oct (that didn't include scheduling for the test). So, my other choice was Dr. Kim. I saw him last week and absolutely feel very comfortable with him and glad that I am going that route. He is in Colleyville and is also highly commendable for revisions, etc. We talked at length about my band and the long stall in weight loss. I am scheduled for a revision on Sept 27th....with a full liquid diet one month prior. That will be the hard part, but well worth it in the end! Good luck on your choice!!!

No, they will not be able to tell from blood test. You are safe.

I'm scheduled for my revision on September 27th!! Would like to lose 140....but would be thrilled to lose 120~!!!! Debra

Well, had my initial visit with Dr. Kim. I was very impressed with him and feel that this is the best decision to convert my band to a sleeve. So, since I am self pay, the wheels are in motion!! I have surgery Sept 27th!! But, the hard part before that is he wants me to do the Optifast diet for 4 weeks prior!!! Straight liquids for a month!! I will surely lose that way!! LOL!!!! Deb

After having my band for 3 years, I have finally decided after much research to visit with a physician about revising to the sleeve. My band was great the first year and a half, helping me lose 100 pounds. But, I have basically been at a standstill since. And, I wanted so much to be at a much lighter place at this point out. So, I give thanks to my band getting me to this point, but now time to move on! After reviewing physicians from San Antonio and the DFW area, I have chosen to meet with Dr. Kim. I know a few of you on here have used him. What can I expect? Are there specific questions that I need to ask that help you on your revision journey?? How long after meeting with him were you able to schedule surgery? Did you have to stay overnight in the hospital or was the procedure performed as outpatient? i was self pay with my band, and will more than likely be the same with the sleeve. I am excited to move with my life and with less weight! I thoroughly believe that if the sleeve had been much more widely used 3 years ago, I definitely would have chosen that route instead of the band. I have visitied with my band physician about the "stall" in weight loss and have been told everyone hits a plateau. Yes, I do believe that, but not for 1 1/2 years. I can get a fill now and it provides "good" restriction for about a week, and then it's back to a minimal restriction. I was concerned about pouch dilation or slippage, but they assure me that all is find and my pouch is perfect!! Thanks in advance for all your advice! I am so glad that I have found this board and people who are going through the same band issues as I have had!!! Thanks a million!!!! Deb

I am new at the possible thought of band to sleeve revision and have my first appt next week. I am assuming your "bougie" is the size of your stomach after the surgery is performed?? I guess, much like the "pouch" with the band?? What are the different sizes of "bougies" and what is the qualifications to determine such??? Thanks!! Deb

I have to go with the others and vote for the sleeve over the band!! I have had my band now for 3 years and have only lost 100 pounds which was in the first year and a half. Weight loss has been no more than 10-15 pounds since!! It has helped me keep what weight I have lost off, but I need to lose another 125 pounds!! So, I have just decided to meet with a physician about the revision and can't wait! The band was good for me, but you do have the constant issue of whether or not something will or will not go down each day. And Believe me, each day it TOTALLY different!! There are days when I can drink skim milk in the morning and then on others, there is no way in haitus that one sip is going down!! I will be glad to get the sleeve and have some consistency!!! Go with the sleeve!!

:cursing:Okay, my weight loss seems to have come to a screeching halt! I was losing an average of 10-15 lbs per month and now since January, I have barely lost 20 poinds. I will confess I was not exercising at all until I noticed the "stoppage". Now I tone and ride a recumbent bike on a regular basis. I am nowhere near my goal as I still have 150 pounds to lose (lost 75 to date). I have even started increasing my Protein intake to 3 IDS vials a day. I have set a new goal to have lost 100 pounds by the end of May, but it doesn't look like that it is going to happen. My hubby has said once I lose 100 lbs, I can get a corvette, so you see my anticipation!!!! I don't eat alot still...usually 1-2 small meals a day, plus the protein. Am I just at a lull?? Also, living here in Texas, of course we have some really HOT days. I have noticed recently that I am more "restricted" on hot days now. Has anyone else noticed the same? I sure hope it stays this way, so maybe it will help jump start my weight loss again!!!! I have had several fills and don't feel the need for one at the moment. I have good restriction, but just frustrated on the scale!!! Any suggestions?? Deb

Coming from Texas, most of our meals consist of mexican food. For those of you who have already had a fill, etc, what type of mexican food can you eat now. I am scheduled for my first fill on the 14th, and so far I have managed to eat one cheese enchilada and I am full ( compared to before where I could eat a whole plate of fajitas ). Just wondering what you can still eat --mexican food wise, as it is one of our main meals here in our household!

I went in for my first fill today (I am 30 days post-banding), and the doctor discovered my port has flipped. He was manually able to tilt it enough to do the fill, but man did it hurt!!! The needle/fill itself was nothing, but the flippin of the port was enough to make me not want to get a fill. I stuck it out, but have been very sore ever since. I asked what could have caused this and he said that it depends on how the abdominal walls lie and the port sits. He did continue to say that this is the first time he has ever seen a port flip so close to surgery. I am to go to my fill next month and see if the port is still flipped or has gone back into position. How many of you have experienced this problem and was surgery your final solution???? I will gladly do another surgery than have to go through the manual flipping again!!! D

Coming from Texas, most of our meals consist of mexican food. For those of you who have already had a fill, etc, what type of mexican food can you eat now. I am scheduled for my first fill on the 14th, and so far I have managed to eat one cheese enchilada and I am full ( compared to before where I could eat a whole plate of fajitas ). Just wondering what you can still eat --mexican food wise, as it is a meal that we eat several times a week in our household!

I drink the "bullets" on a daily basis, as well as Isopure. The bullets are called "New Whey" and they contain 42 grams of protein. They do help control your hunger, and when I feel hungry, I reach for one of these and my hunger pains stop! They are made by a company called IDS Sports and their website is : :: Innovative Delivery Systems - Welcome to IDS Sports ::. The flavors available are fruit punch, grape, orange and blue raspberry. To me, they taste like almost liquified jello. They are a semi-thick liquid. I also drink Isopure. They come in a multitude of flavors and are packed with 40 grams of protein. My doctors office recommends both products. Debra

:hungry:My dr's office advised me it will be difficult to eat eggs due to the gel like consistency. She was talking mostly about boiled eggs, but I wanted to hear from you if you have difficulty eating eggs in any fashion (overeasy, hard boiled, scrambled, poached, deviled, ).

I would only consider the lap band. I, myself, work in the medical environment and have seen on a routine basis the poor outcomes, difficulties, problems that people have had with bypass. I thought long and hard about this as well, but would never jeopordize my health or leaving my family without me due to complications from bypass, that is the reason I went with the lap band. It is reversible and not so invasive as bypass. I just had it performed on 8/16 and have already lost 20 pounds. I am up and about without any problems. I know that if I would have had the other surgery, I would not be at the stage I am at now physically. Yes, you may lose the weight more quickly, but I value my health way more than the consequences!!!

The handout I was given from my doctor has a reciprocating surgical center in San Antonio. It is the Turning Point Specialty Surgery Center. 210-293-6550. You might check them out and see about their physicians.

Dr. Smith is using the new band. He is super and what I like about him is that he has had the surgery himself (as have some of his office staff), so he knows what is it like to be overweight and also go through this surgery. My surgery only lasted one hour. I came out of anesthesia the best with this surgery compared to others I have had. I was not groggy, didn't want to sleep all day, nauseated or anything! I took my pain medicine the day of the surgery and then the nurse made me take it the next day (which I didn't need to) because we were traveling home which was 3 1/2 hours away. Other than that, that is basically the only time I have had any pain medicine. Yes, the support groups are very important and I have not been to one yet (being newly banded), but will be attending one in Sept. The psychiatrist highly recommends attending and she as at the meetings. His office has been great!!! I would recommend him to all. His website is: Lap-Band Surgeons: Dr. Adam Smith, D.O. and Dr. Craig Ferrara, D.O. - weight loss surgery doctors

My doc said no carbonation ever....including beer! The reason being is you don't have the "burping" ability like you did before the ban and the gas becomes trapped and causes extreme pain. He did say alcohol is fine such as wine, mixed drinks...as long as it is nothing carbonated. Which is good for me because I can still have my margaritas!!!

:clap2:Hello fellow bandsters! Just banded on 8/16/07 by Dr. Adam Smith of Ft Worth. Surgery went awesome and I feel really great. Still a little sore at times if I have been going all day, but otherwise, doing good! Can't "weight" to get this weight off and live like a real human being again!!!

You can take your ring to a local jeweler and what he can do is place a piece of metal along the inside bottom of your ring. It is not permanent. The metal simply is "crimped" on around both edges of the band. I have had this done in the past to a ring of mine and it worked great. There was not cutting or reconfiguring the ring and it fit!!! Plus, it can be removed with tweezers and resized again if needed. I think it cost be around $20.

Sorry, I haven't heard of this doctor, but mine was Dr. Adam Smith of Ft Worth. Although, my surgery was conducted at the Specialty Surgery Center there in Hurst!

I was banded Aug 16, 2007 by Dr. Adam Smith. So far, so good, but am ready to get something in me other than full/pureed liquids!!! Still a little sore at the port incision...especially if I am going alot all day, but feel great otherwise. All the swelling I was having in my feet daily is down to nothing!!! It's been great and not hard to follow at all. I am scheduled for my first fill on Sept 21st!