Rene' S

Hello,
As of Feb 18th, I was 4 years out from surgery. Surgery went well, except for about 2 weeks after surgery I had sever GERD. The doctors weren't sure what was causing it other than I went from the Lap Band to Sleeve. It lasted about 2 weeks and then there after never had a issue until just recently. I was taking 1 Prilosec a day and now bumped it to 2x a day. Since that was not really working, I tried Pepcid and that has not worked that I can tell. I do have an appointment next week with my bariatric doctor and Im thinking they are going to order a upper GI. Im just wondering if anyone has experience this being this far out from surgery. I thought with being 4 years out that I wouldn't have this issue. Im scared to death that they won't figure it out and they will try to transition me to full bypass.
Thank you,

I take Nexium (technically the generic esomeprazole). I get 42 capsules for about $15 at costco, less if it's on sale. I generally take the OTC dose. My doc says to up my dose to 1 capsule twice per day for about a week if I get breakthrough symptoms. It doesn't happen often so that $15 lasts me up to 6 weeks.
Theoretically, if I had to take 2 capsules a day indefinitely: $15 for 21 days Broken down, that's about $0.71 per day or about $20/month I haven't looked at Prilosec/omeprazole pricing, but I would think it's a similar cost (possibly even lower because it's been OTC longer).
When my symptoms were at their worst, I took a round of Dexilant. Had to get prior authorization from the insurance just to get it. I can honestly tell you that I didn't notice that it was much better than the standard OTC Prilosec and/or Nexium.

Hello,
As of 01/01/2020 my insurance will no longer cover Prilosec as a prescription because its over the counter. Pricing it out to by it over the counter, I would need to take out of second mortgage. I cant take Protonix . Just wondering what other rx's people are taking after surgery. The Prilosec is working thus far for me.

Well, i, as well as many others are as a rule on here, so anytime you feel like talking, here we are. No matter how prepared you feel you are, Bariatrics still hold surprises and You Do Learn As You Go. But when I feel bewildered there are always veterans who have helped me get through whatever was bothering ME! And I do believe you'll end up just fine!😝👍

Much better these days, thank you for asking. It was a rough month or so. My anxiety is pretty much gone. I never had experienced anything like that before, you feel helpless. All the chest issues were I believe extreme Gerd. I have that under control with a prilosec a day. Now I just have to figure out how to manage all my aches and pains. I was on anti inflammatory meds prior to surgery and then was taken off. I was cleared to take them again I just have not, was a bit worried but its to the point I cant exercise much and weigh loss has pretty much stopped

Hi everyone! I used to post on here pretty regularly, but I have not updated any of my information in a really long time. As of today, I am just about 14 months post VSG. I currently weight 173 pounds after starting at 241 pounds, My personal goal is to weight under 169, so that is my immediate goal right now. I have been stalled at around 176 for the past few months, but that stall was my own fault. I wasn't tracking my food and I was eating a lot of junk. When I start grazing, it is pretty amazing how quickly my calories can add up! The past few weeks I have really tried to pay attention to whether I was eating because I was hungry, or because I was bored, stressed, etc. Now since I am back to tracking, I have dropped 3 pounds, and I also feel so much better.
One of the things that I have really noticed is how I tend to eat more according to my emotions, and I have really made an effort to work on that. I have been trying to replace food with exercise, and I think that has helped tremendously. I played soccer in HS and college, so exercise has been a HUGE part of my life. I am not sure why I let that slip the past few months, but I did. So adding the stresses of my personal life and the grazing in the kitchen, it is easy to understand why my weight stayed at 176 for so long. And speaking of my personal life, y'all...it has been a sh*t show! LoL sorry for the language, but that is the best way to describe it. At the very end of October, my dad went to the doctor for a physical because he had been feeling tired. Two weeks later, he was gone. He had stage 4 liver cancer that had spread all over his body. Soon after he died, we found out that he had abnormal blood results for at least 2 years, and his primary care doctor never ordered additional testing. It was a hard pill to swallow. I have also had issues in my 6-year relationship, and I am at a point where I don't know how much more I can take. I have stayed for our daughter, but I feel so unappreciated. Perhaps that makes me selfish, but I feel like I am just "convenient" for my significant other, and that is the extent of our relationship. We basically live like roommates, we don't sleep in the same bed, nothing physical goes on between us, he hardly speaks to me...we have become roommates and we have been like this for more than a year. But I cook, clean, and take care of the kids...so I feel like he has no issues with the way we live. It just makes me sad, I am really struggling with it right now.
Anyhow, I hope everyone is doing well! I am so glad that I had the VSG. I am surprised at how much I am able to eat, yet I love that I am satisfied so with much less food. It was the best decision I could make!

Hello,
Long story short, I had the band to sleeve conversion on 02/18/19. All went well and then last week Monday two week check up and again all ok. Then Tuesday I had a hard time breathing and chest pains. Dr told me to go to the ER to rule out blood clots, etc, all checked out ok. My Surgeon on Thursday bumped up my Prilosec to x2 a day since I didn't feel much better by Thursday. It has helped a bit but still have a bit of the tightness and breathing issues. I am scared to eat, that making eating it will make it worst but having soft foods for the most part. Not sure if stomach is still healing/swollen. Someone said it can take up to four to six week for the Prilosec to take full effect.
I guess I'm just wondering will it get better or is this my new normal? I am having some regrets on what I did even though at this point I cant change it. I have never had anxiety in my life but since Wednesday I think I have it in overdrive . I just don't know where to go at this point.
Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful at this point.

This post is really for the folks who are considering the sleeve, wondering if it will "work" for them, if they should take the leap...
This post is for the folks who just returned home from surgery or are several weeks out..the people who are starting to feel discouraged...didn't realize it would be so "hard".
And, this post is for the folks that have a bit to go before they reach that goal they set thinking the weight they REALLY want to be is unattainable!
First, the sleeve alone will not "work" for you unless you are willing to WORK with it! It's a tool not a cure. And, yes, it is often hard, especially in the beginning when you are creating new, successful solutions to combat old habits that got you where you used to be stuck. But, the very best things in life come from pushing through the hard moments. If you give up before you get to the top of the mountain, you don't get to enjoy the beautiful view. Trust me, it's spectacular when you get here. DO NOT GIVE UP!
Now, about that goal weight...if you are anything like me, you've lost and gained so many times you've become used to failure. You almost expect it. So maybe you set your goal weight at a number that seemed pretty reasonable. Attainable, even, right? And, perhaps, you told yourself that if you got anywhere near it, you'd be happy because, for goodness sake, it's soooo much better than where you started! It's a definite win! I did that. I let my pre-sleeve experience shape my goal. But that wasn't the number I truly wanted. Initially, I just didn't believe that I could ever get back to my teenage and 20's modeling weight. I mean, I'm a woman in my 50's! That could never happen, right?! So, I shot for 5 pounds over the top of the weight chart for my height.
Guess what happened as I was working my way down the scale, working my program, building strong/healthy eating habits, changing my relationship with food? I hit that goal! Then I shattered it! Then I continued on, logging every morsel of food I put in my body, every darn day!
I'm not even a full year out of surgery. But by working with my sleeve and using this tool to it's fullest potential, I weigh LESS than I did as a slim teenager! I'm 2 sizes smaller than my busiest period as a model in my 20's!
This tool requires sacrifice. But, you are only sacrificing the things that were dragging your body down in the first place. In fact, I look at it as finally showing ourselves the respect we've deserved all along.
You are so worth it. You absolutely deserve be healthy. Life is so much easier mentally and physically when you shed the weight that you are carrying.
It becomes easier every single day! Then the months fly by and it becomes routine. All of a sudden you realize your whole life is brighter, healthier, EASIER!
I put everything into getting where I am right now. I truly believe if you give it everything, the sleeve will give you your life back!
You absolutely deserve this! You are absolutely worth this! Don't let anyone make you feel/think differently!!!!
PS....Log everything every day! That's a game changer. Load an app (I use LOSEIT). Log everything. Never stop logging!
Love to all!

I am having my lap-band removed and having sleeve done. What is the average hospital stay? Thanks
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I think we might have found some of my issues. I had a EGD and upper GI and it looks like I have esophageal motility issues. Basically when I eat my esophagus is not moving the food down to the stomach. Therefore its just sits there in the esophagus causing issues. They have me on a soft diet eating more frequently. I do feel better than I did, so hopefully I'm over the hump. They didn't directly say it but wondering if this was related to having the Lap Band on for a long time.

Hello,
Long story short, I had the band to sleeve conversion on 02/18/19. All went well and then last week Monday two week check up and again all ok. Then Tuesday I had a hard time breathing and chest pains. Dr told me to go to the ER to rule out blood clots, etc, all checked out ok. My Surgeon on Thursday bumped up my Prilosec to x2 a day since I didn't feel much better by Thursday. It has helped a bit but still have a bit of the tightness and breathing issues. I am scared to eat, that making eating it will make it worst but having soft foods for the most part. Not sure if stomach is still healing/swollen. Someone said it can take up to four to six week for the Prilosec to take full effect.
I guess I'm just wondering will it get better or is this my new normal? I am having some regrets on what I did even though at this point I cant change it. I have never had anxiety in my life but since Wednesday I think I have it in overdrive . I just don't know where to go at this point.
Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful at this point.

Be patient with yourself ,for nothing in nature blooms all year. But to the best of your ability, be a sunflower, on even the darkest days you will stand tall and reach for the sun. And and new defination for FAIL.....FIRST ATTEMPT but I'M LEARNING.... rather softens the pain, doesn't it? And no matter the speed or slowness of this weight loss journey, we will all end up winners.

I think it'll get better for you. Your body's just been through a lot and it takes a while to transition. Hang in there.

Hello,
Long story short, I had the band to sleeve conversion on 02/18/19. All went well and then last week Monday two week check up and again all ok. Then Tuesday I had a hard time breathing and chest pains. Dr told me to go to the ER to rule out blood clots, etc, all checked out ok. My Surgeon on Thursday bumped up my Prilosec to x2 a day since I didn't feel much better by Thursday. It has helped a bit but still have a bit of the tightness and breathing issues. I am scared to eat, that making eating it will make it worst but having soft foods for the most part. Not sure if stomach is still healing/swollen. Someone said it can take up to four to six week for the Prilosec to take full effect.
I guess I'm just wondering will it get better or is this my new normal? I am having some regrets on what I did even though at this point I cant change it. I have never had anxiety in my life but since Wednesday I think I have it in overdrive . I just don't know where to go at this point.
Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful at this point.

Hello,
I am in your same boat x2 I originally had band place in 2005. Then revised in 2014, however it failed me again. Converted to sleeve on 02/18/2019. Hope it goes well for both of us post lap banders.

Hello,
I had surgery on 02/18/2018 and was released later on Thursday. I am the purred stage and did well on Friday Yesterday I had some purred chicken with purred potatoes. I'm not sure if I ate to much or I didn't puree enough but about a 1/2 hour after I ate, I could tell the food was stuck. I drank a warm beverage and that seem to move things down. Felt ok this am and went to eat some purred eggs, I have the stuck feeling again just not as bad. I tried drinking another warm beverage but just burping now.
I assuming I aggravated my pouch. Any suggestions what else I need to do other than wait it out??
Thanks,

February 18th! Good luck February peeps

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Just curious, I have seen some periodic posts about people going from sleeve to full bypass. Anyone one know the main reasons? Complications? No weight loss with the sleeve? I'm converting from the lap band to sleeve. I'm hoping this is it for me, no more surgeries.

t-7 days until surgery. Hope this week goes fast.

I had lapband in 2005. Lived with it, miserably, for almost 5 and had it removed in late 2009. My surgeon offered to convert me to a sleeve at that time, but I wasn't ready for something like that.
By 2017, I had gained all of my weight back (thankfully, it didn't bring too many friends with it). A friend of mine had been sleeved and really encouraged me to look into it. Her experience was very similar to mine: banded first, etc. and she had done very well with the sleeve. So, after a lot of soul searching, I committed to being sleeved. That's not to say that I didn't have any reservations and wasn't nervous. I was. In fact, I cried as they were positioning me on the surgical table and strapping me down, etc. I just couldn't believe that I had let myself get to the point that I had to make permanent changes to my anatomy in order to get control over my weight.
I had to go through all the same pre-op stuff with the sleeve that I did with the band. I breezed right through it with the attitude "I've done this before, I can do it again". My recovery from the sleeve surgery was a little harder than the band surgery, but I was also 13 years OLDER. Once I got past the first week, I honestly felt really good after the sleeve. Maybe a little fatigued in those first few weeks, but no pain or anything. Learning what I can/cannot eat has been a little more challenging with the sleeve because I could tolerate anything with the band. The sleeve feels much more restrictive than I ever felt with the band and I don't eat a lot of bread (not because I CAN'T, but if I do then I can't eat much of anything else) and dry meats aren't my friend.
Now that I'm 10 months out, I feel great. Feel so much better than I did with the band.

I call bullish!t on that! I had a band for twelve years. Lost 30 pounds total before it broke. Walked around in pain for a decade. I finally starved myself from 235 to 160.
I got remarried and bloomed back up around 209 by 2018.
On January 23rd, 2018, I started the process for a Band to Sleeve revision.
My date was set for May 17th. Between January and May, I got to 180.
I came home from surgery with extra Fluid putting me at 187.
Nearly 8 months later I am maintaining 131 consistently. Size 6 jeans (or 4, depending on brand). Small/Medium tops.
Bikinis!!!!
I’m 54 and look better, weigh less, measure smaller than when I was a model in my teens and 20’s!!!
The band didn’t do this.
The sleeve and following the eating plan I’m supposed to to stay healthy with the sleeve did it! (Except that bit of ice cream yesterday...because I’m a human and I’m well under goal...already!)
THE VERY BEST TO YOU!
Don’t compare yourself/your journey to others. Let others inspire you and show you what’s possible but don’t be discouraged if your pace is different. Follow the plan and it will happen. Pinkie swear!

Agree with above poster, you need to have a good conversation with your doctor to help decide which is best for you.
I can only offer my own experience. I have been banded and I have been sleeved.
I was banded in 2005. I did well at first, but when my gallbladder took a crap and my doctor didn't diagnose it properly, I was in absolute misery and afraid to eat for about 6 months. Ultimately, I lost 85 lbs with the band. I gained a little back towards the end, but maybe 20 lbs. Thankfully not all of it. I was never able to tolerate a fill in my band and after I switched surgeons, I learned that my original surgeon placed the band too high on the stomach. After the gallbladder thing, I had ongoing reflux and slept nearly sitting up for the rest of my time banded. I lived that way, miserably, for almost 5 years until my surgeon's only answer was to just take the darn thing out. I got a copy of my op report during my sleeve pre-op process. The surgeon reported that my band slipped. I suspect it happened with the gallbladder issue because I was never the same after all that vomiting.
I lived without the band for 8 years and did fairly well maintaining my weight, overweight, but at least not morbidly obese. In late 2013, I had some major life changing events and looking back, I was doing some comfort eating and binge eating. I gained ALL of my weight back. I just couldn't seem to get back on track, so last year I had the sleeve done. I don't regret it. I feel "normal" and after about 10 months, I've lost 72lbs. My weight loss has been much slower with the sleeve, but they tell me it's because my body's been through this with the band. To get to my ultimate weight loss goal I have about 45 to go, but honestly, I'd just be happy to get under 200lbs and that's only 20 lbs away! Aside from the initial recovery, I feel great. I never feel deprived. The only time I feel bad is if I've overdone it a bit. Then, I'm uncomfortable for a while until the food passes. I have a little bit of nighttime reflux, but it's nothing like with the band. My gastroenterologist says I have a small hiatal hernia, which we'll talk about addressing at my next appointment.
I don't necessarily regret having the band, but it did mess me up a bit. I was thankful that it helped me lose weight. In exchange, I was rather miserable with it for years and it left me with a lot of scarring that made my sleeve surgery more complicated. I don't regret having the sleeve at all, but I will admit to having a little bit of remorse that I can no longer use food as a comfort. I've been forced to find better coping mechanisms, which isn't a bad thing. For the first time in my life, I feel like I have more control over food and my weight. I have HOPE for a future without dealing with morbid obesity.
Best of luck to you!

Hi All,

Newbie here😀. Wanna share my journey in getting sleeved & how its turning out so far.

Am 40 Yrs old. Gained weight in last 2 years (from 320 lbs to 427lbs) due to severe depression & alcohol abuse. Suffering from Anxiety & panic attacks. So with courage from my wife & family went & sought help in June 2018. Quit Drinking in Sep. Have been sober since. Was smoking till Dec 28th 2018. Not much. May be 5-6 V light slim cigarettes a day. Have had hypertension for last 10 yrs. No Sugar. No diabetes. No Cholesterol issues as well.

Got admitted on 29th Dec. Had my Laparoscopic Sleeve done on the 30th of Dec. Got discharged from Hospital on the 1st of Jan 2019. It was a wonderful homecoming.

Have been recommended a liquid diet by the team for 3 months.

I asked the team if i could swim as even prior to getting sleeved i used to swim 2 times daily. Surprisingly they okeyed me to swim and did Water proof dressings for the stitches which we replace after disinfecting every day after i swim. Its been a week today since the surgery. I have been swimming for 3 days regularly now. I feel soooooo different.

Sorry for the long first post. More to follow. Glad to be a part off this great community.

It really varies on the surgeon and how you’re progressing but average to me is 2 nights 3 days, that was my stay. For me I needed that.

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. I’m so happy that I did it 😉

I am having my lap-band removed and having sleeve done. What is the average hospital stay? Thanks
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