Tribecca26

Hey Guys, I am in a similar boat. Had a lap band put in Dec 2014, started at 300lbs and was able to get down to 240, I have started to gain back a little because the band just isn't working for me anymore, not to mention the torture it has put me through over the last few years. I still want to lose weight and with my medical conditions, they make it difficult for me to do so on my own. So now I'm considering reverting my band to the sleeve. I've been doing a ton of research, which includes popping back onto this site to speak to people who are going through the same. While the sleeve has a great overall effect on weight loss, it is still a scary notion to be cutting out most of your stomach! I can't put my finger on what exactly worries me the most, but the healing process post-op and quality of life after...I know losing weight will be a much healthier better quality of life, but will I be able to ever enjoy food again? I'm a 31 y/o female who enjoys the occasional dinner out and drinks with friends and the lap band has kind of ruined that for me. If that first bite you eat doesn't hit the right spot then there goes my meal, and if I'm not around my friends who know what's up it is embarrassing. How have your social lives been after the sleeve? I know you are much more limited in how much you can eat but is anyone having issues with certain kinds of foods or where food doesn't go down or comes back up or discomfort? I would like to get my life back again and lose weight and get rid of my medical problems while I'm at it. Thank you in advance for all of your advice and wisdom! -Becca

Congrats on the weight loss that's huge! I have a lap band that I'm considering switching to a sleeve and one of the things that worries me is the social aspect of my life after the sleeve. You said you've been wanting to go out more, but how has that been for you? Can you go out to restaurants and/or bars and enjoy the food and beverages at all? Are there limitations to what you can have besides for how much of it you can have? The band gave me a lot of anxiety going out and eating at restaurants because the food would sometimes get "stuck" and wouldn't go down and would sometimes come back up, so then I wouldn't be able to eat and drink anything else for a while. How has your overall eating and drinking habits changed since the procedure? Thanks so much for your advice and wisdom, it's much appreciated! -Becca

Hey, this is very inspirational! Congrats on the weight loss! I am 31 y/o female currently around 255lbs, I had a lap band procedure back in 2015 but it has given me nothing but anxiety and issues over the years, as well as about a 50lb weight loss. I'm thinking of having my band reverted to a sleeve in order to lose more weight and try and get rid of my medical problems which actually make it very hard for me to lose weight on my own. But of course, there are things about the sleeve that worry me. To start with they permanently cut out most of your stomach! I can't put my finger on what exactly worries me the most, but the healing process post-op and quality of life after...I know losing weight will be a much healthier better quality of life, but will I be able to ever enjoy food again? I'm still young and want to be able to enjoy going out with friends, how has that all been for you? Most of my friends do know I have had a bariatric procedure already, so no big surprise, I think it mostly around meeting new people, and not eating normally gives me a little anxiety. Have you had any medical problems related to your sleeve like regurg, vomitting, acid reflux? Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom! -Becca

Hey Guys, I am in a similar boat. Had a lap band put in Dec 2014, started at 300lbs and was able to get down to 240, I have started to gain back a little because the band just isn't working for me anymore, not to mention the torture it has put me through over the last few years. I still want to lose weight and with my medical conditions, they make it difficult for me to do so on my own. So now I'm considering reverting my band to the sleeve. I've been doing a ton of research, which includes popping back onto this site to speak to people who are going through the same. While the sleeve has a great overall effect on weight loss, it is still a scary notion to be cutting out most of your stomach! I can't put my finger on what exactly worries me the most, but the healing process post-op and quality of life after...I know losing weight will be a much healthier better quality of life, but will I be able to ever enjoy food again? I've suffered from severe depression for years and am being treated and seeing someone which has put me into a better state of my mind but doesn't change the fact that I still love food and flavor. I know this must sound crazy because being healthy is the most important thing... I would love to speak to some people who have had the band to sleeve adjustment if possible or anyone who has the sleeve and what their experience has been since surgery. Thank you in advance for all of your advice and wisdom!

Thanks guys... I've definitely slowed down a lot, take smaller bites and chew thoroughly but maybe I need to pay attention even more so. Appreciate the feedback!

Hello! I tend to get a little worried if something out of the ordinary happens to me, so I just want to put it out there and see if anyone has had anything similar to what im going through! I had my surgery in December, everything has been going pretty well since except for the occasional stuck episode. I got a fill on Thursday and was on liquids and soft foods till yesterday (Sunday) Everything was going down fine, no problems until last night. I had a small bite of pizza (which i haven't had issues with before) and it got stuck so it was coming back up for about an hour. It was probably the most uncomfortable I've been after something like that has happened. I was sitting up in bed after this and started feeling a tightness in my chest where the band is, and though there didn't seem to be anything left that was stuck i was burping for hours after. When I woke up this morning the tightness was still there, the burping subsided so i just made a smoothie and it went down fine but was burping the whole time drinking it, which doesn't usually happen. I burp during meals to help get it down but not as often as i am now. Is this maybe a band slip, or maybe just inflammation from the food coming up last night? I usually don't worry if that happens as much, but the pain was a little more intense this time so I wasn't sure. Since its Memorial Day, my doctors office is closed so any advice you guys may have would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

Thank you guys, i appreciate all the advice! I will def try out the protein/fruit/veggies first. And i agree, I feel like when i start feeling and seeing a difference physically it may give me that extra nudge to make the right choices and do it with more conviction. I am seeing a therapist so Im going to work on this with her a little more but since she isn't specialized or that experienced in this kind of thing i may take you up your offer @gowalking.

I just got my first fill last week. While I notice my portion sizes have decreased a lot from before the surgery, my head is just not in it yet when it comes to eating the right foods. I was def a binge eater because of depression for the last few years, always resorting to the wrong foods and a lot of them. Now Im not finding myself feeling satisfied with the small portions, and having trouble sticking to a low carb, low fat diet. Does anyone have advice for working through these changes, more so mentally? My heart is in making these changes, and making my life better and healthier otherwise I wouldn't have done this, but finding myself not committing 100% and I want to. Any advice on how to stay excited and motivated for changes in a good direction? Thanks

My surgery was 5 weeks ago, and when i walk or exercise for a certain period of time, I also get the pains by my ribs on the left side. I think its just the body getting used to the new placement of the band, obviously things were moved around a little during the surgery and think it will pass after a while. The body goes through a traumatic event between the whole pre and post diet, surgery, lack of exercise during this time, the air they put into your abdomen...im sure it all has a part in those pains.