peacheeie

Surgery went well! Only had to stay over 1 night, had a great experience overall. I'm a little sore but not as sore as I was with the sleeve. How is everything going?

Yea!!!! Me too! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am...surgery at 7...said I was first patient. My nerves are shot and I'm scared but overall I'm excited!!???? had to do only 1 week liquids...I'm over it...just sat here while my family had pizza!! Needless to say, I have support to some degree, but I had to move back home for personal reasons. I guess no matter how old you are, your parents will always be your parents and their house, their rules!! Good luck, it's going to be fine!! Prayers for a speedy recovery, Dee

I'm having bypass sept 2 (yea) and remember from my sleeve surgery how difficult it was getting in and out of bed. I saw some wedges on Amazon but kind of $$$$. Any suggestions? Thanks

Pure protein is good too but I caved in and bought the cream sickle from my doctors office....pretty good!!!

Mine is 7 days and day 1 is today!!!!! Any suggestions?

I'm so happy to hear such positive stories here!! I will be having bypass September 2nd!! Had lap band 2007 and sleeve surgery January 2015....sleeve sucked, NO restriction, lost 15 prior to surgery, it's all back!! My sleeve was made bigger due to scar tissue from band. Scared about bypass and this being my 3rd surgery, but I have complete trust in my surgeon (this time) and hope to get these last 45 lbs off. Any advice would be welcomed. Ty

I am also in the same boat as you....but my surgery is the end of September. Had band in2007 did great. Went in September for a simple 'port repair" doctor removed my band. I literally gained 50 lbs from sept to jan 9th when this doctor didactic partial sleeve Gastrectomy...what is s that????anyway, have only lost 15-18 lbs. I went back to my original doctor who did the band and wished I had stayed with him. They were treating me like I was at fault. I know it falls on me but I never had any, zero restriction. After going through all the tests, again, I do have a larger stomach and that contributes to it. Doctor is doing the bypass and I'm a little freaked out. I trust him completely but the re routing stuff is what scares me. I'll keep y fingers. Please keep me posted on your journey! I'm praying for a smooth recovery and success for you

I had my sleeve revised to a mini bypass on Thursday. Physically I'm doing fine but it's been hard on me emotionally. Do a lot of research !! Think long and hard and decide what is best for you ! im really scared and have really been soaking it up over the last few days. I'm doing all the appointments I need to do but really, I have about 25 lbs to loose all together so do I do this with 25 to loose or do I do it myself?? But then again, if I could lose 25 lbs on my own I would never be looking into surgery...so confused

How are you doing? I was just told today after my endoscopy that my sleeve that was done jan 9th is wayyyyy larger than it should be and that's why I'm not loosing (20 lbs in 4 mos)!! New doctor said he would have to do a bypass because my sleeve is so "hacked" that it would be too risky to do a "sleeve over sleeve" surgery. I'm just beginning to soak up this news so please any insight would be so helpful!! Hope the pain gets better soon

Wow!!! What an inspiration you are!!!! Thank you for posting that...helps me keep focused:)

well....unfortunately, it may mean another surgery (not happy)!!! I went for a second opinion because I thought something was not right...I know it's completely different than the band and I get that...I just had reasons other than restriction to be honest with you. New doctor said my leak test looked good but I definitely have a larger stomach than normal. He ordered an endoscopy because it could be due to scar tissue from the band and maybe 1st doc couldn't get in there completely to remove it. I do not want to have a bypass so until my endoscopy next week, I'm following my plan, exercising and eating good. From what I understand, having a stall does happen and there are some wonderful and positive stories on this site so don't get discouraged...we must keep our heads up and fight this battle!!!! PM me if you would like:)

I'm with all of you as well!!!! I will be 14 weeks post op tomorrow....I have gained and lost the same 3 pounds for about 6 weeks now!!! I am exercising and truly limit my calories to about 900/daily. Having an endoscopy next week to check out scar tissue & it has been confirmed that my sleeve is larger than a typical sleeve. I will cross that bridge when I come to it but I truly have not felt any restriction and could eat a piece of pizza 8 weeks out with no problems!! What has your doctors said when they see the scale is staying the same? Mine says "don't loose focus, stay on track, it will happen" I hear his voice every other day when I get on the scale and it's not moving!!! Let me know what your next steps are????

you are not alone! I will be 4 months post op sleeve on May 9th and have only lost 20. Lbs. I have gained and lost the same 3 lbs for about 6 weeks now. I never felt any restriction since day 1 so I have been researching my surgery. I went back to my original doctor who did my band in 2007 (very successful) and would have gone back too him in a heartbeat if insurance did not dictate who I went too. Band removed in sept 2014, sleeved in jan 2015...went back to original doctor who looked at my leak test and said my sleeve was bigger than normal...great!!! Said it could have been due to scar tissue so I'm having an endoscopy next week to see. Right now I have a BMI of 33 with HBP and rheumatoid arthritis. Doctor said if he could make the stomach the correct size he will but depending on scar tissue he may have to do a bypass! I too am having a difficult time with re routing my insides and am scared to death!! Please keep me posted on your journey as I will with mine...good luck and don't beat yourself up...words I try to live by!!!

I feel great...too great! I have pretty much zero restriction. I know with my band, if I ate too much, it came up. Not normal in any way but I'm trying to find that happy balance. This is so much more of a normal way of life and I love that aspect of it but I thought I would have some kind of restriction. I have not lost an ounce in weeks. I'm back to exercising also. It's been really disappointing but I'm trying not to let it get the best of me

OK...any input would be great!! Long story short, band removed 9/19 due to erosion, CIGNA insurance, paperwork submitted 10/23 for "band to sleeve revision", called CIGNA on 10/24 and was told that "all my paperwork is in the hands of the medical director and they did not request any more information"! I was told I should have a decision tomorrow..here is my question...anyone think its strange to NOT have them ask for any more information? I am happy, yes, but I do know my BMI is at 33 with a few issues (HPB, RA, digenerative disk disease). Has anyone had this happen too them where they are not quite at the required BMI number & revised with issues? Im thinking they are looking at my paperwork and saying that Im not heavy enough so "denied" or I have so many issues and it is a revision that they look at it and say "approved"!! I know, I know...time will tell and I guess we just live in a world where one tends to freak out because its not complicated enough!! Any insight would be great! Thanks, its going to be a long 24 hours!!

Hey Lori....bayshore hospital in holmdel. Apparently I had so much scar tissue that the sleeve could not be the normal size. I'm going to request the pathology report tomorrow to see how much actually was removed.

I'm right there with you guys! Had my sleeve jan 9th and have not lost anything in almost 4 weeks! Saw a 2nd doctor, sleeve is larger than a normal sleeve so I'm having an endoscopy to see how bad the scar tissue really is....if it's not bad, he said he would go in and sleeve me properly, if not, he touched briefly on a bypass!! The question is insurance.....I'm not heavy enough to justify a bypass but he may be able to call it a revision/repair. I'm so confused and seriously feel like a failure. Some girls at my work know I went I for this and the day I came back to work, they looked at me like wow but not in a good way. One girl was sleeved and lost 100 lbs in about a year...she pulled me aside and seriously asked if everything was ok then she gave me her doctors number!! I've worked so hard and the scale is not moving. Has anyone actually submitted to their insurance after finding out they had a failed sleeve? Any magic words? Thanks guys...I appreciate the support...I never thought after this sleeve I would be stalled 3 months post????

Hi...I too had the same issue! Band out in sept, sleeved in January...major fight with CIGNA...denied 3x's even after 2 peer to peers. Hold onto hope and talk, really talk to your doctor. Wording is key with insurances...trust me! I did have a hernia though. I too had scar tissue and therefore my sleeve is larger than the normal 15%. I only have 50 lbs to loose and in 3 months have lost about 20...loss is very slow and I am frustrated but I am working my sleeve and I will not let it work me!! I am not sure if waiting would have improved the scar tissue and allowed the standard size sleeve so look into that and ask (just an opinion from my personal experience) IM me if you would like too Dee

Hi.....your post grabbed my interest. I just found out that my sleeve is larger also. I had mine done jan 9th and knew since day 1 it was bigger. I went for a 2nd opinion Monday and the doctor said it looked good but yes, it was larger than the normal sleeve. He said it could have been that the surgeon could not cut it completely due to scar tissue from a band removed 4 months prior so he wants to send me for an endoscopy to make sure. I've been told I am jumping the gun and that I should take some time and work at my exercise and food program. This confirmed larger stomach is still new news for me so I'm taking some time to absorb and I go see the surgeon who did the sleeve today. I have not lost a pound since my last appointment 3 weeks ago and I'm going to flat out ask him why my stomach is larger than normal. What happened when you confronted your surgeon about the larger stomach? What did they say and where are you now? Thanks

Hi all!! Ok, Short, sweet and to the point, I had a band for 7 years, no problems until port needed to be revised. Band removed (much to my surprise)! After band was removed, I gained 50 lbs!! sleeve surgery in January....I have felt HARDLY ANY restriction and kept remembering right before I went in for the sleeve, I looked at the surgeon and said "a banana sized stomach"? he looked at me and said "yes, and if you need another band in the future we can do that"....this is when I was being wheeled into surgery! This comment has been on my mind for 3 months and the fact that I really feel no restriction has really had me wondering so I went to another surgeon with my reports, tests, etc. told me in his opinion, my stomach is larger than normal and that's most likely why I have not felt restriction. I have to go for an endoscopy to look at the scar tissue...depending on the results, he may be able to make my sleeve smaller OR if there is too much scar tissue, he may have to do a bypass. I'm really freaked out by this news and I truly do not want to go through this again plus, insurance will not likely pay for another surgery. I honestly am just researching bypass now since it could be an option for me. The surgeon today did not in any way bash or put down my doctor that did the sleeve, in fact, he said it looked good! And, he said that the scar tissue could have been why my stomach was left larger. I forgot to mention that since January 9th, I have lost about 20 lbs...that's it! I'm exercising, drinking my water, doing my protein and just started eating normal food...if that's what you call it! I'm just looking for some advice, words of wisdom from anyone who has been in my shoes. Thanks so much Dee

Your are absolutely correct and I remind myself of that everyday...I am thankful for being healthy enough to really focus on my routine and my program. It was a "gut feeling" when my surgeon had said before surgery that if I needed a lap band down the road, that would be an option. Those words have stayed with me and prob was not the wisest of things to tell your patient before being wheeled into sleeve surgery!!! I fought the insurance company for months to get this surgery and there are so many other factors that happened so that is why I feel betrayed and let down. Thank you for your opinions and I truly appreciate everyone's thoughts....that's why I posted...ty????

That's good to hear. I'm happy for you and I wish my surgeon had discussed this with me. I feel so let down and I'm mad I may have to go through all this red tape again. Unfortunately, insurance most likely won't pay for another surgery and self pay is not an option at this point. My new doctor (which is the one who did my band 7 years ago) will be taking care of me from now on. I, for some reason, was meant to go through this journey. I have not figured that out yet because this information is still so new for me and I'm still absorbing the fact that I was not given what I paid for or what I was told I was getting. I feel betrayed. my next step is to have the endoscopy done so we can see if there is actual scar tissue that would have kept the surgeon from giving me a smaller stomach. If there is not, I will at that time take it up with him but for now, I have to just absorb this fact and trust me it is not an easy one.

Wow! Thank you for this fantastic information! I know I am not alone and I know it has only been 2 months. My doctor keeps saying do not loose faith and don't get discouraged but I think it's only human to know in your heart that your being compliant and not budging on the damm scale! I do remember the band taking its time and it took me years to find the "sweet spot". I have my operative reports but tomorrow I am going to request the actual X-ray so I can show another doctor. I'm just hoping I don't have to go through this again!! The fact that I didn't have a lot to loose and before being wheeled in for the actual surgery I looked at my surgeon and said "a banana size stomach?" He said "yes and if you decide in the future you would like a band, we can do that" I was half in the bag and remember saying "no band, that's why I'm here now" that has always been in the back of my mind and after seeing my X-ray during the leak test I saw it was round....looked like a bag of coins with a tie around the top!! And on top of that, I have had hardly any restriction, no pain and the weight loss is around 20 lbs! I'm just disappointed and am going to another surgeon to see what he has to say.

I am so happy to find this convo and I'm right there with you, unfortunately:( I was sleeved on 1/9 and total, including pre surgery, have lost about 20 lbs!!! Now, I had the band out in September (went in for port revision, woke up to hear it was out due to infection) gained 50 lbs had sleeve and have had practically ZERO restriction, ZERO when I eat!!! I have no lost, in fact I too gained about 1 pound, in the last 3 weeks. I have a copy of my operative report and not once does it give the size of the stomach that was removed. All it says is that the specimen was passed off! My leak test showed a round pouch, not a banana size so I have always questioned what was done. Other things on the report have used the work gastric reconstruction & 40 boule. I really wonder what was done, even though I have asked about 5 times, I get the same answer. I am walking, doing my shakes and limiting my hourly intake as per my doctor, to about 3 ounces. I could just keep eating and eating if I don't walk away...that is the little restriction I feel. Had a slice of pizza, not one issue. I work with people that will tell me the pain they get if they overeat is so obvious...really? I'm so discouraged and truly wonder if my stomach is bigger because I didn't have a lot to loose?? Thoughts? Anyone? I need to know I'm not the only one!

Erenee....you and I are so on the same page, it's funny but it's not...lol! I have both my OR report after the sleeve and the OR report on the swallow test the following day. Not to sound stupid, but what particular words am I looking for? I saw the picture during my leak test and it was shaped like a round blog of coins....prob does it make sense but it reminds me when you have a scratch off lottery ticket and not reveals a "sac of cash w/a string tied around it" !!! I have also heard that restriction comes in time...wth??? Any new information?