Who'sThere

Hot momma! Way to go! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I totally get being open with strangers and guarded with people close to you if it's something you want to talk about but also don't want public. Forums like this can be therapy. I shared something very private on a pregnancy forum. A former friend (because she obviously never was a real friend) actually snooped and searched that forum to read my posts and was angry that I shared something with strangers that I didn't share with her. She didn't understand why I wouldn't talk to her about it then judged me very harshly for it with her limited knowledge of the situation. To make a very long story shorter, our friendship of over a decade was basically over. We are still friendly as we work together, but the friendship is gone. I'm not sad....anymore. I'm not saying your friend was snooping. She totally could've stumbled upon it and is curious. I'm just saying that I completely understand that sharing some things with strangers can be much easier than sharing with friends. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

@@blizair09, thanks for your kind words. I have to say, I love my job. I teach at a school that has less than 400 students, grades Pre-k through 8. I have 67 students for math. I teach 5th grade in the morning and 4th grade in the afternoon. I truly love what I do. We do have some teachers who drive an hour to come in from the closest thing we have to a city to teach. I wouldn't want to be at any other school. I drive 25 minutes myself past 3 schools at which I could teach, but no thanks. What do you do now? P.S. I checked out your pic a little closer after reading several of your posts/replies. You are a hottie I would so hit on if I wasn't taken, you weren't taken, and you weren't gay. Lol. Just sayin'... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

In general, I am a very open person. I was very open about my Lapband, and I didn't receive any negative feedback from anyone who mattered. I did have a couple of people advise me (out of true concern) not to let myself get malnourished. (These were sisters whose aunt had the surgery and let herself become very ill by eating too little and the wrong things. They were positive about it, but wanted me to learn from her mistakes.) This time around, I have told a few people but not as many. I think part of it is shame that I need another WLS. Eventually everyone I work with will know and my kids (students) will know because I will have to be out of work. I am very close with my students because I like to build relationships with them. My philosophy is that they will learn more from me if they see me as an adult that truly cares about them as a person. They return the care. If I'm out for a doctor's appointment or a sick day, they worry about me. (Also, I teach two grades at a small school and have the same kids for 2 years, so that lends itself to a special closeness.) I will be matter of fact with them and let them know I'm working on being a healthier person. They already know about my Lapband because they see me throw up several times a week. (If they don't see it, they still know when I take a trash can and run for the closet.) So, my surgery won't very a secret. However, I don't think it's something that I will share with acquaintances on social media or anything like that. If anyone asks, I won't lie, but I don't think I'll broadcast it. For some reason, people seem to be so proud of those who lose weight without surgery, even if they take diet pills or supplements or whatever. Those people are somehow more worthy of praise because they did it "themselves" while WLS is still seen as an easier route or cheating. Whatever. I know I won't change that mindset, so I won't even bother. This is for me and my family anyway, not for anyone else. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I'm allergic to all seafood/shellfish... but this looks like a great way to get back on track Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I would say my band failure is 25/75. I'd say 25% the band's fault because it has never been right after having it deflated while I was pregnant. I had a complete unfill and I had hyperemesis. I threw up all day every day. I have and EGD friday, but my guess is it slipped. I thinks it's 75% my fault because instead of coming here for support earlier (where I realized what had likely happened) I just learned to eat around my band so that I could eat. I ate whatever I could get down, even if it was ice cream or chips or whatever. In any case, I'm still glad I had my band. I lost 65 pounds I would never have lost otherwise. I have a child I wouldn't have otherwise. Also, even though I have failed long term, I feel I can take what I've learned from this and apply it when I have my revision. I won't wait to get help when I have trouble, and if the scale starts to find its way upward, I will regroup and buckle back down. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I have LapBand currently. I'm revising to RNY due to regain and complications with my band. I chose RNY over VSG because my surgeon feels it is a safer conversion. This has to do with where the staple line will be in RNY vs VSG. For VSG the staple line would go through an already damaged part of my stomach. The RNY staple line will be in a part of my stomach not affected by my band. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

You will find a partner and enjoy amazing sex... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I wouldn't say it's normal, but you can throw up. It's painful. I had hyperemesis with my pregnancy and should've had an unfilled sooner. It was awful! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Your partner enjoys also? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I'm revising from band to sleeve in two weeks. If you didn't have the band, please don't make broad statements about why I need this revision. I didn't "abuse the band". It injured me and continues to do so. I had my band for more than six years- I thought it would be in place forever. Unfortunately, my body has decided that enough is enough. My esophagus is worn out from working hard to get food through the restriction. It has nothing to do with eating around the band or drinking milkshakes. I did what was asked-I continued care with my surgeon, I saw the dietitian and exercise physiologist, and ate as required for six years. I lost a lot of weight but once things started going bad, none of that mattered. I did my due diligence and researched before I was banded in 2010. I resent your implication that I did this to myself. You have your theories about why the band doesn't work, but you need to be careful when you make blanket statements. Yes, it's dropped in usage but it isn't just because everyone abused it or ate around it-the problem is with the device itself. OP-I'm revising because I can no longer eat food and have it go through without sitting in the back of my throat. My last upper GI showed that the barium didn't clear the band for almost five minutes. My band now sits empty, ready for revision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I don't think she meant any offense. Never did she say all band patients were like that. I think what she said is true for a number of people, but she didn't say it was for everyone. I think she was offering her input as you are. No two people have the same story. Your experience is yours. The OP asked a question, she gave her response as what she had been told, not to attack or offend any of us with bands. Easy now. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I'm sorry to read this, but know you aren't alone. Sending you a PM.

Did I miss the fun? Do I need to submit a resume to be considered for the panel of judges???

I can't respond for everyone, but here's my story. I started at 283 in July 2009 with the band. I got down to 218 and maintained between 223-228 until I got pregnant in 2012. Although I was still very overweight, I was happy with my band and much healthier. I would've been satisfied and would've had the band again just for that weightloss. During my pregnancy, I didn't gain much. I got up to 244 thanks to preeclampsia. I had hyperemesis during my pregnancy, and I had to have a complete unfil. My daughter came early, so she was in NICU for 58 days. I stayed with her the entire time. Between being hospitalized before her birth until she came home, I lived at the hospital for over 2 months. By the time we came home, I was back to my prepregnancy weight. I tried to get fills again and could only tolerate 1/2 of the fill I was at before I got pregnant. (I had 5ccs in a 10cc band; now I have 2.5ccs) Ever since the fills started again, I have not been able to get to a good spot. I still can't get food down until the late afternoon 3-4 days a week. My thyroid has also taken a crap. I gained back up to 270. My thyroid levels are not stable. I am constantly having to increase my meds. I am bordering close to diabetes, and I've been back on the diet rollercoaster (but with little success losing, so not much to gain back) and my endo says enough is enough, and I need surgery. I had not been to my surgeon in over 2 years because I didn't see the point since I wasn't needing a fill. Come to find out, my band may have slipped while it was unfilled, so that could very well have been causing my issues. In any case, I'm now on the road to revision to RNY. My surgeon feels it's a safer revision due to the location of the band and where these two surgeries require staple lines. So..that's my very long story as to why I will be having a revision... Mine doesn't either. His patients have not been as successful with the Band as with the sleeve and RNY.

Just found out my surgeon requires a minimum of a 2 night hospital stay after RNY. Now, to make plans for the toddler. ...

I'm following. Also, for OP, I think someone else asked, but I'm gonna ask again. lol Did you have an EGD before your revision? If so, did they not see the problems before hand? I ask because I have my EGD this coming Friday. I'm hoping to learn whether I will have 1 or 2 operations to convert and to what degree my band is messed up. I will be so disappointed if my EGD looks good then they open me up and find more problems and can't do my RNY at the same time they remove the band.

I'm interested to follow this. I'm beginning the process to revise from my band. My surgeon said I could do either, but in his experience RNY was safer post band. He explained on a model of a stomach where the band sits and how the staple line for the sleeve goes directly through where the band was and said that makes it more likely to leak. He showed where the cuts are made for the RNY and how they are below the part affected by the band. Also, I didn't know this until my support group meeting just this week, but the hunger part that is cut away with the sleeve does grow back eventually. Crazy, huh? I was hoping for the sleeve because it seemed less involved, but I trust my surgeon completely so if he recommends RNY, RNY it is for me. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I'm following. I've had the band since 2009 and am having revision to RNY. I lost 65# with the band and stayed there or pretty close for about 4 years. I had a complete unfilled during my pregnancy and after that have not been able to tolerate much fill. Also, my Hashimotos decided to basically kill my thyroid. So, I've put on all my weight except 15#. I go next week for my EGD to see how soon I'll be converted and whether it will be one surgery or two. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

So, I am seeing the surgeon tomorrow about a revision to either sleeve or bypass. I think with either I will likely lose a lot of weight, and I'm worried already about the excess skin. I didn't worry before my first surgery because hubs and I didn't have sex very often at all. I figured if I looked ok in clothes, it would all be okay. I didn't plan on being with anyone else. Long story short, hubs and I had sex exactly twice since my lapband in 2009. However, I'm in a different relationship now. I have asked my boyfriend of 2.5 years to give me his serious opinions on how he will feel about the excess skin I will probably have. I even sent him some pics to consider. Our relationship is long distance and we never see each other any less than 6 weeks between visits. So, he will not have the chance to gradually get used to the skin. It will be a big transition between visits. He admits the visual might be tough to get used to, but he says he loves me for me and it will be okay. My question is have any of you had any issues with skin affecting your sex life. Also, do you have any lingerie tips or anything like that for concealing the skin? I've not had a revision, and I'm already worried about feeling sexy in my skin. I'm accustomed to feeling sexy even in my large body. I'm just no so sure about a thin but saggy body.

Sex may not be the best and end all of intimacy, but I would argue that if there isn't any physical affection, there is, indeed, a loss of intimacy. When you aren't intimate in that way, you lose closeness in other areas. That has been my experience anyway. It doesn't have to he intercourse, but real kisses, a pat on the butt, even holding hands can be a way to show affection. When all that is gone, I don't hold much hope for intimacy in any other fashion. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

That's a good point. I asked him when we met if he was attracted to larger women or what. He swears he doesn't really have a type, that he can find any woman attractive depending on attitude. The mother of his boys is small-ish. I don't think me being small will be an issue. We do talk about everything...intensely. Both us us had marraiges that dies due to lack of communication. Also, being long distance, we have to talk about everything because we aren't there to experience it. (We have discussed that the distance is sometimes a blessing because we talk so much--sometimes for hours luke teenagers. Our relationship can't be built on the purely physical because we aren't physically together enough for that.) I have thought about his attitude about food, and I am very glad that he has a healthy attitude about it. He tries to eat well, and he is normal sized. My husband, on the other hand, has also always been big and I'm not going to say wasn't supportive of my need for a lifestyle change, but he just didn't participate with me. I've dieted before and him have me pick him up a large pizza (my favorite food...all for himself) while he knew I was trying to diet. My boyfriend wouldn't do that. First, he would not eat a whole pizza, but also he would be more sensitive. I hope I'm overthrowing the skin thing. I just feel like it will be a bigger issue than normal because of the time in between when we get to see each other. People who see each other every day get used to the changes as they occur, but when you don't see someone for 8-10 (or even 12 sometimes!) weeks at a time, it might be more of a shock. Hopefully, he will just be happy to finally get some, lol, so it won't matter. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

My endo suggests I have a revision to sleeve or bypass from my band. I am pretty sure insurance will approve a revision pretty easily as I have regained almost all my weight. My question is this: My insurance requires a 6 month preop diet. (I did that with the band.) Will that requirement stand for a revision, or does the fact that I have a band serve as my medically supervised weightloss attempt?

Very good points! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

I was thin until puberty. It was then that I started packing on pounds. I was a size 16 captain of the cheerleaders. My mom cooked healthy due to my dad's heart condition, and I worked out every single day. When I stopped eating that healthy and working out when I went to college, the result was a size 24/26 20-something. I was diagnosed with PCOS pretty soon after I got married as I had never been to a gyno before that. Looking back, the signs were all there. 11 is certainly old enough to start the weight gain. It's worth checking out. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Haha...I have a large selection of lingerie, and it includes a couple of baby dolls. Of course, all those will hopefully be too big before long. Paramedic, if you enjoyed that, try adoreme.com. lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App