peacheeie

You are not alone...I am about 8 weeks also (1/9) and have questioned my sleeve since I started with puréed foods! I understand how you feel. I was just at my doctor last week and asked point blank. I have all my or reports and I rarely feel restriction. I will be honest and say that yes, I have tested the sleeve (not wise) and nailed a regular piece of pizza with NO problems!! I had the band for 7 years and was so used to having restriction and I did well with it. I do love the fact that I have more freedom but in8 weeks, plus 1 pre op, I'm down 20 lbs. I only had 50 to loose but I too feel like a failure. I'm at the point where I'm about to go to another surgeon with all my reports and see what they have to say. I'm not loosing hope though but everyone I have know has been incredibly successful with the sleeve, however they have had at least, at least 100 lbs to loose. I asked my doctor and he said it would be slow with me and told me to lower my intake...really???? I'm stuck on the scale and I seriously eat, in total, about 1 cup of food, if that per day. When do you go see your doctor?

Hi guys, here. Am band to sleeve revision on jan 9th. Have not been loosing a lot, but in all honesty, I only have 50 to loose. 20 lbs from pre surgery to today but still with anything I have not felt a lot of restriction. I've been confused and actually wondering if the surgery was done leaving me with 15%of my stomach. I'm wondering if they left me more since I didn't have a lot to loose. I am discouraged to say the least and I see my surgeon tomorrow. I am going to ask in a nice way but really, I want to know. My leak swallow test showed a round stomach like the size of a baseball...there was no banana shaped anything. I hope to get answers tomorrow because if I went through all this and it's not what I wanted that would suck

Hi everyone! First, I want to thank you all for your input and posts, it really means a lot to hear thoughts from friends that have been down this road:) I did have my appointment yesterday and all my questions were answered. Fortunately, the hospital system where I had my surgery has an online portal where you can look up any report, blood work, etc. I had a cop of my OR report with me. Ok, first, the round pouch was due to the lab band that was removed in September. The shape is different and I'm glad there are others out there like me!! Eating pizza was stupid and the look on my surgeons face was not a good one! He told me that since I only had a small amount of weight to loose, it would go slower but do not loose focus. He said he knows how easy it is to get discouraged, but do not loose focus, told me to ever push the envelope or sleeve again and DO NOT LOOSE FOCUS!!! I was also told that wording was a factor due to insurance...I was denied the revision because I was not heavy enough. It is not a plication and my stomach is at 15%....however the OR report does not indicate any percentage of stomach...should it?? I had my lab band removed in September. I went in for a simple replacement of my port and woke up to hear they had to take it out due to infection underneath the tubing. I was shocked and upset however I look at is as a blessing. I was very thin, sallow, tired and malnourished. I gained 50 lbs in 4 months and was miserable but everyone told me my eyes looked brighter and I looked healthier. I was so focused on the weight gain I did not notice it at the time but I look at pictures and realize it was true. Even today, 20 lbs thinner, I feel so incredibly healthier. It has been a long haul and the last thing I want to do is to have issues with my sleeve...etc leak!! Pizza was not good and will never again for a looooong time...lol. It is completely different from the band and I lived with that for 7 years so I got real used to being able to cheat it if I wanted. It's a totally different feeling and one that I'm trying to get used to and I will. With all the wonderful insight you all have to offer its amazing and I thank you all again for your posts. I hope what my dr told me makes sense, if not please let me know your thoughts and anything else I may need to look into????

Hi all! As silly as this sounds, this was listed on my post operative report after the swallow test day after sleeve surgery. Is this basically a term for the sleeve surgery or something different? The reason I ask is because while in the hospital, every time the nurses would change shifts, they would present saying "this patient had something different". I've asked my doctor and he said I have a banana sized stomach...really? I pretty much have zero, zero restriction and now I'm concerned. Only had 50 lbs to loose after band removal and am down 20in 3 months...any info would be useful...I go again to see doctor on weds. Thanks

I don't know and if I had thought of it, I would have asked the radiologist what he thought when I did the swallow test. It was his notes that said reconstruction surgery, the actual surgeon wrote partial sleeve Gastrectomy. Just confused

Oh no! I have not had any reflux issues at all but boy I sure did with the band. That's so great and you should be proud of yourself!!! I'm slow and steady

I'm going to be a slow looser too!!! I don't feel any restriction so to speak! I ate a half a sandwich no problem!!! Wth?? I know 6 weeks out not the best idea but since day 1 I have not felt restriction. I know coming from the band I'm not used to freedom but right now, as silly as it seems, I wonder if anything was even done...lol

That's wonderful!!! Food tastes so good after the liquid phase....amazing what 3 ounces can do...lol!

Ok, this may sound strange, but my pain is on my right side!! I had the band removed 3 months prior to having the sleeve (sleeved on 1/9). I feel the pain everyday and am hoping I didn't mess anything up...I'm still on puréed foods and really have been pretty compliant with my diet so I don't know what this is. I have no other pain or discomfort and I go see the doctor next week but maybe this is common??? Thanks

Hi!! Congratulations!! I'm doing well...slow, but good. I had about 40-50lbs to loose and so far, including per op diet, I have lost about 20. It seems to be like 1 lb per week and I voiced my concern about this to my doctor. He said I was pretty much on schedule for someone who didn't have to loose a lot. Of course, I think leak or something wrongs but according to them I'm good. The pain in my stomach is still there but on my right side...weird. I'm onto puréed foods and still have an issue getting all my protein in....I did hear about the nectar protein which you can buy at vitamin shop...pretty good way of getting protein and tasty. How is your pain?

So, I was approved (yea, huge fight) and I'm going in jan 9th!!!! I work in n the health care field and honestly, I don't feel it's anyone's business but who I want to include. My boss is a huge gossip, they talk about me anyway sine I've gained 50 lbs in 3 months ( band removal) and if I tell them, I tell them but I don't think I HAVE to in order to have 3 weeks off. When the band came out I said it was a hernia....now I'm thinking I'll tell them it needs to be revised? Any thoughts???? Thx

Hang in there. I have CIGNA and I was approved with a BMI of 35 and 1 cormobilities. You can do it

First of all, anything is,possible...trust me. My story is very similar to yours although I really didn't have any issues with the band. My doc said that the band failed me, I did not fail the band! Lost about 100 lbs starting in 2007. It took many fills and tweeking to get me to my sweet spot. Found it and worked with it. In the summer my port started shifting so I went in for a port replacement and woke up with the entire band being removed due to erosion!!!! I was shocked, sad and feel like someone took the only thing that had ever worked for me in 30 years away just like that, snap!! I immediately began the revision proceed but with a BMI of 26, there was no way. I tried, I truly did to keep the weight off but at 50 lbs additional and 2 co mortalities I was approved for the sleeve. Had it done 1 week ago from tonight and it was the best thing ever. I have CIGNA and I had a tough time, but other people have had smooth sailing with CIGNA...I just can't figure them out. Make sure you find out if your ins will only cover 1 bariatric proceedure a lifetime. Sleeve is fantastic so far

Chapstick is the #1 thing!!! Phone charger and other than that, hospital provides everything. Just had my surgery on the 9th, home on the 11th and doing well. Painful but getting up to walk is key. 24 hours later I actually gave myself a wash up. It felt nice but nothing like coming home and being in your own bed, shower, etc! It's so worth it and you won't remember too much about that day....my sister had text me and I text her back that I was at the movies!!! She was a little concerned but started laughing cause I had hit my morephine button!! You will do fine, just remember the chapstick

Your so gonna do great and I'm 2days after you!!!

Getting ready...Friday!!! Doing the pre op and it's tough....I do get one meal a day but the protein shakes are already killing me

ABSOLUTELY!!! Sounds great and I would love a surgery buddy!! I'm finding myself going a little food crazy...I believe this time of year doesn't help either!!! Your lucky, my deductible is 3000! How is your diet before? Mines only a week and not just fasting

I work for a large company however, our HR dept is off site at an 800 number!! I have a facility administrator and a charge nurse but that's it....they all have big mouths. When I had my first surgery I was only out for a week and took PTO and provided them with all necessary doctors notes, BUT this is state disability and everyone would know my business, including some of the patients cause they ALL talk! Maybe I should call 800 human resources?

Oh crap...I'm in nj

I was approved, I was approved!!! Date set now for jan 9th!! I would have loved it before years end cause I have met all my deductibles, but I would pay double I'm just so happy to have a new beginning in my sights...again!!!!

I was stating with my surgon because I loved him, and his offices staff, what I agreed to a normal tweaking of the port became a full blown operation of taking the entire band out, sending me home to heal and come back and do another surgery but They submitted for a sleeve, wait for it, wait, my BMI was 26 so CIGNA basically laughed. Since then (sept 19) I have climed up in weight and am now a 35 BMI...I have all my document ion but am afraid they are going to look and Say, oh kbow not. her again ..any help would be great. Thanks Dee

Oh my, the type-o's from my previous post are pitiful....sorry, new iPad! I do like my surgeon and if I didn't I would have been gone a long time ago. I believe he is great at what he does but like every bariatric office I have been too, it looks like they are short staffed. I just am confused as to this process...if I had had the revision done at the time of band removal, I would not have to jump through all the hoops and start at the very beginning. Then again, I hear about the scar tissue and I get it. I don't believe it falls under a revision or replacement if it's already been taken out!

You are going to do great!!! So jealous!!! Prayers for a smooth recovery heading your way! Let me know how it goes!!! Dee

Ty Ty Ty! I have spoken to CIGNA and they said it was denied (2x time) due to the fact that I have no documentation on a weight loss program, 3 months of recorded weights, nutritional appt, psyc etc. all the criteria needed from the word GO! I already started moving ahead on my own because I just don't feel like they are pushing for me. If I needed to do this stuff I would have done more in these last 2 months than I have. Apparently I have a surgery date of dec 5th....yea, I'm sure

I'm very confused because I'm going though this as well....page 3 of CIGNA's policy states nothing in the paragraph regarding re operation or replacement surgery. I have been denied 2x's for (1) a sleeve and (2) another lap band due to lack of documentation and this was after my band was removed due to "erosion" on 9/19. I am so confused as to why and what I need to do....CIGNA says they need everything like I was starting this journey from scratch, my surgeon says no because it's a replacement, however CIGNA says there is nothing documented from surgeon that it's a replacement...wtf????!!! BMI is climbing, have numerous co mortalities etc. getting 2 completely different stories...just feel like surgeon is dropping the ball...how do you submit for approval and not have all your documentation? I should have been going to nutrition classes, psyc, etc and they just keep saying for me to wait...Never been so confused in all my life....some posts that have CIGNA say they didn't need the 3 months, some do...how is this possible??