lillian.b.white

I don't call that slow! Great job! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You look great! Wonderful job!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi there! I've been reading quite a bit here and other places about revising from band to sleeve. Here's my backstory: I got the realize band in 2009 - self pay unfortunately, due to a stupid anti obesity clause with my insurance policy at the time. I was relatively successful - my starting weight was 335 and I got down exactly 100 pounds over the next 2 years. I experienced regain of 45 pounds after a car accident in late 2013 and another injury a few months later. I've worked hard since then and am about 5 pounds away from my original low weight (and plan on surpassing that). The thing is, the whole time I've had the band, I've been a chronic vomiter, I get stuck ALL THE TIME (especially when I eat things I'm SUPPOSED to eat) no matter what and I never really feel full or satisfied, just uncomfortable and stuck. I always blamed myself and thought it just must be normal. But the more I read now, the more I realize that life doesn't have to be like this! I've been asked if I'd ever consider getting it removed and even the thought starts to hurl me into a panic. "I could NEVER get it removed!! I'll gain all the weight back and more and get diabetes again and a fatty liver and increase my depression and anxiety... NEVER!!" Plus I spent $25,000 on this dang thing!! But I hadn't thought much about a revision until the past couple months. The insurance I have now covers WLS. One question I have though is do you think they'd cover a revision? Especially if the band was self pay? Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol and I just found out I have 2 herniated discs (definitely related to obesity. I'm only 35, for crying out loud!) would they even ok it based on that stuff. I know no one here can say for sure. Just looking to see if any of you have had any experience with a similar situation. Thanks in advance! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That stinks that you have to self pay. Do you know how much it will cost? I don't know you, but I'm sure you'll do well with the sleeve. I feel like having kinda gone through this already, you can learn from any mistakes you may have previously made and that will help your success. Plus, it seems like in a LOT of cases, it's the band that's failed, not the patient. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted! You'll be in my thoughts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm not sleeved yet (got banded in 2009, considering a revision to sleeve), but these are some awesome sources!! Thank you so much for sharing! I've just bookmarked them for the future. I might even try some of them now! They actually sound really yummy (and pretty darn simple)! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for everyone's insight!! It's comforting to know that others have had similar experiences! As amlpn asked, what exactly ISt the full feeling like with a sleeve? Is it more like the way you felt pre surgery? I've read from a lot of people that it's completely different from the stuck feeling the band seems to give a lot of people, but what does it feel like? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So Inspiring!! Great work! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wonderful!! Congrats! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's awesome! I originally lost 100 pounds over the course of two years after lap band surgery in 2009. I was in a pretty bad car accident at the end of 2013 and that led to a downward spiral of regaining 45 pounds. I'm happy to say that over the past few years, I've been able to drop most of that weight and only have 8 pounds left until I'm back at my low weight (and plan on going much further beyond that)! But it'd be wonderful to join a group of people who have been through it all before! Thank you!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great work!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You look great! And more importantly, you look like you FEEL great! Wonderful progress! Keep it up! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You look wonderful! Looking happy and healthy! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've actually asked chiropractors and some physical therapists about waist training belts and the consensus is that they can actually cause your abdominal and back muscles to weaken. From what I've heard from professionals I know and trust, waist trainers are a pretty bad idea, in general. Couple that with not being able to work out, and it sounds like a possible recipe for disaster. Just wanted to pass on the knowledge I've obtained. Good luck with surgery!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Great to hear!! I hope your euphoria continues as long as possible! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

7 years out. Lost 100 pounds in the first 2 1/2 years, got into a car accident and gained 20, had nerve damage and gained another 25. It's taken about 2 1/2-3 years, but I've lost most of it. I'm 12 pounds away from my lowest and hopefully I'll go further. You can still do this! It's never over until we're six feet under! It ain't easy, but it's doable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Glad you're doing well!! I hope the relaxation and sense of wellbeing continues! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I feel you, believe me! It's a HUUUUUGE adjustment!! We've had food to turn to whenever we're sad, mad, happy, you name it! And now all of a sudden, that security isn't there for us anymore. (well, that's how it was/is with me. I won't speak for you!) And surgery was a big step! I remember feeling some regret in the beginning because I was feeling guilty that I couldn't do it all by myself without the aide of surgery. But you know what? It's still hard work! There IS no "easy way" to lose weight! So we still totally rule! (I know we've had different procedures, but we're all in the same boat) I think it's a great idea to see a therapist. I think we all (human beings in general) could benefit from a good therapist in our lives! Do you have good support groups where you had your surgery? If not, maybe you could find one in your area. I know how hard it is in the beginning, but I'm nearly 100% sure it will get better. I know hearing that might not help, but I hope knowing you're not alone does. Take care of yourself first and foremost and hang in there! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Absolutely beautiful in both pics!! But you are definitely getting smaller! Great work so far!! I originally lost 100 pounds (I had lap band in 2009), but due to various things (a car accident, nerve pain due to spinal injuries, stress, depression, yadda, yadda, yadda...), I gained 45 pounds over the course of a year (2014). Since then I've been trying to lose it. It's been a hard road, but I'm now only 10 pounds away from my original low of 235 (At surgery, I started at 335). I'm thinking of having my band converted to a sleeve because I'm close to 10 years post op and bands only last so long (though I foolishly didn't realize that at the time I self paid for the damn surgery). Anyway, my point is, I never really realized just how much smaller I was at my lowest until I gained weight and looked back at pictures... I was like, "DAAAAANG!!!! I looked GEEEEWWWWDDDDDDD!!" This time around, I'm trying my best to notice my changes. I have a feeling once I get rid of all this extra skin, it will be a bit easier to really feel the difference. But for now, I'm still grateful that I no longer have diabetes or a fatty liver and I'm off all medications (including depression and anxiety meds) except birth control and I fit in seats and I have more energy and I'm immensely happier! Enjoy your changes! You all look wonderful!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You look great! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Woohoo!! Congrats! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Amazing!!!! Congrats and great work!! I can't wait till I'm there! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've always weighed myself naked, ever since I was a kid. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Keep yourself moisturized and hydrated. Strength building exercises are good to help fill you out (in a fit way) so there's not as much excess skin. It may also shrink back a tiny bit if given time. How much excess weight do you have to lose? That's also a factor (obviously). Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey y'all! I started researching WLS options back in 2000 when I started college. I've been fat my entire life. I've never been below 200 in my adult life. I researched for a while, but didn't go through with it at the time because my parents were a bit nervous about it and I was busy with school. A few years later, I had gained more weight and started looking into it again. I started seeing a doctor and going through the motions (documenting that I've tried dieting for at least 6 months). It was at that time that the company I worked for switched insurance plans on me. Well this new plan had an obesity clause in it that refused to cover anything related to obesity and weight loss. Talk about discrimination!! So that threw my surgery plans right out the window. The years went on and so did the weight. I got up to 335 lbs!! A great aunt of mine ended up passing away (she was about 90 - lived a wonderful life!) and there was a meeting for her "beneficiaries." Well this was total news to me. I went to the meeting and found out she found a way to put away a small fortune. She had no children and gave all nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great GREAT nieces and nephews divided portions of it. The amount she gave me just so happened to be pretty much the exact amount that a lap band cost in my area at the time. I took that as a sign and went with it. Unfortunately in Massachusetts, they won't (well, wouldn't at the time) let people self pay for some reason, so I ended up going to Connecticut for it. In January (or early February? So long ago now) 2009, I had my lap band placed. I went for follow up visits regularly for the first 8 months or so, but grew tired of making the 2 1/2 or more hour journey, so I just stopped going eventually (stupid, I know). I had some pretty good results (if slightly slow). I hit the 100 pound loss in January/February 2011. I was over the moon! Later that year, I ended up going back to school. I still worked full time, so with two full time schedules, I kind of ran out of time and energy for the gym (which I had previously been doing really well with), and forget about meal prep! I ended up gaining about 20 lbs during that year (it was only a year of schooling). In 2012 I started working at a dental office and went on a juice cleanse for a month with one of the dentists and lost about 15 pounds. Then I ended up taking a job at a chiropractic office in 2013. I was doing well keeping the weight off (and not so well trying to take more off). Then I was in a car accident (Head on collision with a drunk driver). I hurt my back pretty badly and was unable to move much for a while. To top it off, the accident was in November, right before seasonal depression sets in. I ended up gaining 20 pounds. Finally when I was feeling better and weather was warming up, I decided to start couch to 5K. I lost a few pounds over the next couple months. Then all of a sudden, I started feeling this extreme, constant nerve pain that went from my back all the way down to my foot. The doctors didn't know what was going on and I ended up dealing with that for 4 months before they decided I needed a cortisone injection in my spine. That finally did the trick, but by this time, I had gotten up to 280! I was terrified! All this work to get the weight off and I gained nearly half of it back with two injuries in the course of a year!! Since then I've been working on it, but I've only just recently really started working on my binge disorder. I've been able to slowly take some weight back off. Well, last month that same nerve pain came back! I was determined not to gain weight this time. Well, at this point I'm pretty much bed ridden (the doctors didn't want to do an MRI because it had only been 4 weeks. Then I started losing feeling in my leg/foot and feeling constant pins and needles, so they booked an MRI right quick. {It's scheduled for Tuesday!}), but I'm tracking my food intake and consistently losing, even though I pretty much can't move at all. As of this morning, I'm down to 246.6! Only 11.6 pounds away from my original low weight, and I plan to surpass it this time! I've done a lot of internal work on myself lately and think I've got the binging under control now! Anyway, I've recently been thinking about converting to the sleeve. I'm worried about long time risks of keeping the band in. I now have an insurance that covers WLS (AND post weight loss abdominoplasty!! That will be my ultimate reward! My loose skin already causes some irritating problems), so I've decided that after this nerve stuff is over, I'm going to schedule a physical with my new doctor and discuss the possibilities of doing the ole switcheroo! I don't consider myself a band failure. I'm still making it work for me, as long as I'm doing the right things. But I have heard the typical shelf life of a lap band is about 10 years and I've had mine for 8.5 already. I don't want to just take it out and be totally done because I'm dreadfully afraid of gaining everything back, but I do get occasional port pain and I can't lay on my stomach on a firm surface because some of the equipment in there really digs in and hurts. I like the idea of the sleeve because you don't have bulky foreign objects inside of you, but you're also not rerouting your intestines. It seems like a happy medium! [emoji4] Phew! I didn't mean for this to be quite so long! But that's my Story and I'm sticking to it!! Oh and there's not a day where I don't thank my great aunt for leaving me that money. Even though I wish I didn't have to spend it in the first place and my insurance should have covered it, I truly feel like it saved my life. I had diabetes, fatty liver disease, couldn't move well, couldn't fit into some seats (airplane seats were suuuuper uncomfortable and almost impossible!). Life was becoming unbearable. I look back at pictures from then and it looks like I'm about to explode! I'm forever grateful!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Holy cow, you look fantastic!! Great job so far! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk