Gracey

Thank goodness you didn't fall up the stairs! (That's what I would've done!!)

I really wish I'd seen this article before having the crapband surgery! Just found this posted on OH... sleep apnea). Data Sources and Study Selection - Electronic literature search of MEDLINE, Current Contents, and the Cochrane Library databases plus manual reference checks of all articles on bariatric surgery published in the English language between 1990 and 2003. Two levels of screening were used on 2738 citations. Data Extraction - A total of 136 fully extracted studies, which inluded 91 overlapping patient populations (kin studies), were included for a total of 22,094 patients. Nineteen percent of the patients were men and 72.6% were women, with a mean age of 39 years (range, 16-64 years). Sex was not reported for 1537 patients (8%). The baseline mean body mass index for 16 944 patients was 46.9 (range, 32.3-68.8). Data Synthesis - A random effects model was used in the meta-analysis. The mean (95% confidence interval) percentage of excess weight loss was: 47.5% (40.7%-54.2%) for patients who underwent gastric banding; 61.6% (56.7%-66.5%), gastric bypass; 68.2% (61.5%-74.8%), gastroplasty (VSG); and 70.1% (66.3%-73.9%), biliopancreatic diversion or duodenal switch. Operative mortality (</=30 days) in the extracted studies was 0.1% for the purely restrictive procedures, 0.5% for gastric bypass, and 1.1% for biliopancreatic diversion or duodenal switch. Conclusions - Effective weight loss was achieved in morbidly obese patients after undergoing bariatric surgery. A substantial majority of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea experienced complete resolution or improvement.

Hi Wheetsin. I was SickNTired on LBT. I too am looking at revising from this crapband to a VSG. Last year, I was approved for the LB removal and every surgery except the sleeve. My surgeon's office has confirmed that they will pay for a sleeve this year so YAY!!! Where are you in your process? My fills were never good. All my surgeons could say was that I was super sensitive. I never got to the level of fill that he wanted and more than once after a fill, I'd be up by midnight dry heaving for hours. One night, I was sick for 12 hours straight. Then when I wasn't around a fill, I'd either be able to eat a horse or be PBing like crazy. It got to the point where different friends would tell me that they were worried about me b/c I would PB so "often." So, needless to say, I've never been in love with my band! My next steps are: sleep study (yuk-never had one but heard they aren't much fun), dietician appointment, and then meet with my surgeon. It's just dawned on me that she didn't mention getting a fluoro or upper GI. While I'm using the same surgeon, wouldn't he want to make sure to know what he's getting into? Anyway, I digress. A local radio station has begun running commercials for the Realize band and it just irritates me so badly. I just yell at the radio when I hear them!!!! Anyway, welcome to VST!

Bless your heart - I just cackled SO loudly!! But congrats on being able to fit into the clothes (that you need to donate)!!!

I see light between your thighs! I was on a dance team in HS and didn't have that! That's awesome!!!!!!! Congrats on your shorts; I haven't worn shorts outside of my house for years and years.

Congratulations!!! That is so exciting!

You look great and a bit younger! FTW!

Thank you so much for posting your thoughts at 8 weeks out! I'm dragging my feet about getting revised from a crapband and reading your positive remarks is soothing on my nerves! Congrats and keep on losin'!

But you look like you're breathing just fine - flat tummy and all! I too love that blue on you. Glad you and the sibs had such a great time!

One NSV you forgot - whoever ordered those tees could tell that you were not a size with a X anywhere around it!!! Woot!

OMG your comment about MTHFR was so hilarious! Almost sprayed my drink at the screen! You are just so adorable and so refreshingly honest. I've been on VST for a bit trying to get my courage up to get converted to a sleeve. (I know, Irene, hush!!!!) I enjoy your posts so much and wish you all the success with the sprouting of wee Sprout. And btw, if anyone gives you mouth about freaking out about your tummy, you tell them to kiss MY big butt!!! Good luck; s/he will be here soon! Yay!

All I meant by asking if you were younger was that as one gets older (I'm 44), things like vanity can become less at the top of one's list. Unlike men that always have the possibility of losing hair, it's not normally something we women have to go through. I have a lot of fine hair and would also freak if I lost a lot of it. But I also know that it would come back and then I'd have a twofer - thicker hair and a thinner body! Now if I'd get offa my butt and make my shrink and pulmonary appointments....!

Chubby - I'm guessing you're also younger perhaps? Those of us that have had friends/family go through chemo see that being healthy is more important than one's hair. But I also worked with a woman who wouldn't take chemo b/c she didn't want to lose her hair and passed away eventually, unfortunately. I too am a little trepidacious about hair loss so hearing from others that Vitamins, Biotin, and Protein are integral to keeping one's hair is great news IMO. One gf that had GB just cut her hair shorter and then just let it grow as it began coming back in and was just fine. GL on your decision and just ignore those that are terse. Unfortunately, virtual anonymity can bring out the nasty at times.

Forgot to add that I have an appointment with a surgeon tomorrow about revising. Woot!

Hey Glou - glad you're feeling better! You had us skeered for a while!!!

I've just begun hearing LB radio spots on a local station. it makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs! "side effects like vomiting, band removal, whatever else they say....are rare." BS flag!

Sounds like he's insecure about your almost 100 pound weight loss to me. Are men noticing you more? Do you get compliments from others in front of him?

Stacey - I too am a LB failure in the process of looking at a revision and scared of another WLS failure. Thank you for the thread and for everyone's replies! I copy/pasted Tiffy's standard replyas backup in case my insurance denies me! May we all be successful with the sleeve!

Thanks, new_beginnings! I've been dragging my heels with more than a little apprehension about putting my faith in another WLS. I found a new, more experienced surgeon and have been filling out paperwork before having to even go into the office. Once I get off my butt and send in this novel(!), they will send into the insurance company for approval. It's nice to see others like you, Susan, Irene, Tiffy, et al having a such better experience with the VSG!! That's exactly what the nurse at my new surgeon's office said. She said that there are different surgeries because they don't all work for all. Even if I weren't going to revise, it'll be SO nice to get the crap band <stolen> out!

@CraftyChristie - thanks for the story! I am looking into revising and am a 26/28 right now after having gained back what little weight I had lost with the band. Knowing that "normal" sizes are do-able is so exciting to see. CONGRATS!!!!!

@Nichole - thanks for asking the question. That's exactly where I am right now. @Rev - " It brings back all the questions about "why can't I do this on my own?" I wholeheartedly agree plus if I couldn't make the band work (I was always sick as a dog and my stomach couldn't handle as tight of a fill as my surgeon wanted to do.) Hate my band

I feel like most of us that have had a LB deserve to be pissy!!! Have you thought about sending your story to the FDA? I think we all need to! I saw a story on some show like 20/20 and they were talking about how the FDA is looking into lowering the BMI requirement for the LB. I was shouting "nooooooo" at the TV!!! One of my friends at work used to always say that people were going to start saying I was bulimic b/c I always had to run to the RR during meals. It sucked a lot. All of my lunch friends have said to me at least once that they were worried about me, etc. Damned LB.

Great job, Irene!!! Love watching your progress!