VDLT

Too soon in what way? Are you mentally ready for it? Have you done your research and know what you are getting into? Have you planned for any help you might need upon your return? Do you have the ability to take the time off from work during the holidays? I know I was ready a couple of weeks before I had surgery but I had talked to my surgeon months prior and was not ready then from a mental standpoint and had some scheduling to do with my family. Whether it is too soon will depend on you.

Thanks everyone, this is very helpful!

Thanks everyone! I am going to try the coconut oil in my hair and face will also be trying the baking soda and peroxide with toothpaste for teeth whitening and see how it goes

@@jhclikesshopping@gmail.com Thanks so much! To clarify you have that per meal so say 2 oz Protein and 1 oz veggie for lunch then again for dinner? I am 5 and a half weeks out and don't really know if I am eating too much. Thanks for sharing.

Can you guys share your guidelines? I was not given guidelines as to how much to eat per meal and I have no clue if I am eating too much. Do you go by weight or volume, how much per meal, does it depend on the actual food? Thank you in advance!

I will be the voice of dissent here. We have a sleep number and we are not fans. My husband really hates it. The middle foam "support" sinks and the whole thing seems to squished. At my biggest on this bed I was around 195 and my husband is around 180. I would think it would support better. I don't know if having moved it twice affected it (I made sure to package it well) but it also seems to lose air and the motor is acting a bit funky.

I just hit 5 weeks and have been stalled for two whole weeks. Your weight loss seems great at two weeks straight of 5 pound loses. I could eat way more than I do and that worries me so know you are not the only one struggling. I would love a bit more restriction.

I was able to score the Premier at Walgreens during a buy one get one half off about a month ago, so worth keeping an eye out.

There are some old FAQs as stickies that I read when I first joined. Maybe just add on? There are also suggestions of what to add on those threads... http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/205249-frequently-asked-questions/

I had my revision last month after 14 years with the band. My esophagous was dilated as well and I think that is fairly common due to the pressure the band places. I had an unfill two years before my revision due to other issues and regained a lot of weight but my band removal and sleeve were performed in one procedure. Some here have had a two step procedure though. I would encourage you to read those posts and then contact your insurance and search out other surgeons in your area and get another opinion.

My surgeons office offers a group open to everyone. I attend regularly. You can find the info at JawadMD.com. We meet at the Orlando Health Cancer Center downtown. Hope to see you there! Thank you so much! I went to the info session there and liked them but ended up going to my original surgeon because I have always had a relationship with the office through the years. I would love to join as it is really close to my home. If you could post or message me as to the next meeting and whether I need to contact them to say I would like to join I would be very grateful! Edited to add that I found the info. Thanks so much. Hope to meet you and others soon

@@CowgirlJane I can understand how you feel. While a newbie here I was a band vet for a long time back in the spotlight days (if anyone even knows what that was!) I know what it's like to give an answer I know from a decade of experience to be true (banded for 14 years) and have it disregarded. All it taught me was to pick and choose what I answered in past forums. As for your relevance, I want you to know that one of your posts was the final push I needed to go ahead with my conversion. I will be forever grateful and want you to know what a difference your involvement has been for me and I am sure others.

Sorry you are hurting. Breakups are always difficult despite the circumstances. You have received great advice here. I will only add that after two bad breakups the evenings were particularly difficult so talk to some friends and put them on duty to keep you company even if it is over text. Sending you hugs.

I was self pay for band in 2001 and did well with weight loss at the beginning. Had some fills and unfills around 2009 and after that never felt right. Was too tight and did not eat well. Had imaging studies in 2011that showed esophagitis, gastritis, and a hiatal hernia. I had terrible shoulder pain and heartburn almost daily. Finally had the band emptied in 2013 but still have symptoms. Had a surgeon send in a letter in 2011 but was denied. I never got a copy of the denial. I want to try again but I have not been at a 35 bmi for two years. Anyone approved due to medical necessity for similar circumstances? Also my preferred surgeon is not at a center of excellence and I really want him to do my surgery. I have thought about self pay but am scared that if I develop complications since I have had band for 14 years that insurance will not cover the complications. Thank you for your thoughts!

I am glad to be rid of the band after suffering with it for over a decade. I would have removed even if I had not had the sleeve. Glad I had the sleeve though. Four weeks out today and not really hungry. I have been able to stick to my limited diet without issues and have lost 18 pounds in 4 weeks.

Fantastic progress! Congratulations!

I have been using bariatric advantage and order from their website. My doc required a multi which is what I get from them and a sublingual b12 which I got at Walgreens and they both actually taste pretty good.

Congratulations on your approval! I was banded in 2001 and did pretty well for several years. I had a series of aggressive fills and unfills, developed several gastro issues and horrible left shoulder pain daily. I finally got unfilled in 2011 because I could not take it anymore. I gained all my weight back. I just got revised to sleeve on October 1st, 2015 after 14 years of band struggles. You are not the only one!

Hello all, I am three weeks out from my conversion. I still have a bit of pain in my belly button incision when I stand up straight. My main concern is the largest incision. I still have quite a bit of pain there and there is a lump behind it that almost feels like my port is still there! My surgeon says the lump is inflammation and that it will go away. How long did your big incision hurt? I know they had to pull the band, port, and stomach out of there, I just want to make sure I am not off track....

@@chimboree26 Thank you so much! This makes me feel better. I had no pain medications since discharge the date after surgery. The big incision still hurts a bit (I will be 4 weeks out on Thursday). I also have a hard lump under that incision that felt like my port was in there! I freaked out about that for a couple of days but now it has moved. Congratulations on your weightloss, your progress is great!

I know I am less than a month out from my sleeve, but I was banded for 14 years and had a fill for 10+ of those years. I am amazed how fast you are all losing with the sleeve! I know it seems slow to some of you but the amounts you guys are quoting at 4 and 6 months seem staggering to me! I am guessing since it comes off quickly at the beginning then slows down that is what is getting some folks frustrated, but honestly, all the stats I see on this thread seem fantastic to me. I found a great app called happy scale that I really like and might help some of you. It averages weight if you want it to or uses your actual weight but it gives you a graph showing you a smooth trajectory of your loss, sets up mini goals etc. Worth a shot.

Glad to read this. I was incredibly sad earlier this week. I didn't take any meds after the hospital because they weren't really working. Glad to hear there is a reason. Plus I got my period early for some reason so I guess that played part too...

Hello I went from band to sleeve on 10/1. I am 42, married, no kids. My stats are really similar to some of you. 5 ft tall, started at 195, currently at 178. Would love to join

The short answer and the one that will probably keep you from advancing too fast is this: your stomach is healing. Removing such a large part of it by cutting it and stapling it is traumatic to your body. It is swollen and pissed off. You need to be kind to it and eat through the stages. While really swollen only liquids so that it doesn't push. You don't want your stomach churning at this point trying to digest food when it is still recouperating from the physiological changes. Hope that helps.

Love the shoes! I have always worn heels and have what we affectionately call "the wall" with shelves of shoes. The trick to starting out is to have a bit of platform in the front versus a thin surface like yours. Those hurt more and the platform, even the smallest of platforms in the front, helps a ton for stability and comfort. Just a little suggestion for newbies