gloinva

I wondered much the same things as you. As of June 20th I am sleeved! yeah! I had both the band out and revision in one surgery. They also had to fix my previously fixed hiatal hernia. (Fixed the first time with my band) I think it came undone partially because of all the heaving the band caused. Tomorrow will be my 1 week appt. and hopefully they will take out this blasted port. Something I didn't have to bother with in sleeve surgery. It's just plain yucky! I feel like this is probably the nastiest part of this surgery over last one. That and the fact that I wasn't lactose intolerant before surgery OR on the preop diet (2 weeks even though I lost 85 lbs with the band and kept off 70 of it. ) so now I'm taking lactaid with all my full liquids part of the diet. But this revelation came as several violent attacks before I realized what it was. So needless to say the next additional 8 days on full liquids isn't something I'm looking forward to. Getting my head around the pre-op diet was also something I had to work on, and still battling the band issues too. My surgeon here in VA did both surgeries. He said there was a lot of scar tissue from the band removal (it was in for 3years 21 days.) something I was worried about but my UGI looked good, no leaks! My additional good news or is it? Is that everything is either too sweet or too salty now. My tastes have surely changed. Not sure if this goes back to normal after awhile or what. But I'm on the sleeve journey. Looking forward to soft mushies 8 days and counting!

I THINK YOUR RIGHT ON THAT POINT. I'VE POSTED MY STORY ON HERE IN SEVERAL AREAS. BAND TO SLEEVE IS ON 6/20, I'M SO HAPPY I CAN'T TELL YOU.

Hi Smarty, I posted many of the same questions on here about a month ago and never did get answers. I also had the band put in 5/2008 and lost an initial 90 lbs. But the last 2 years my allergies have been worse and besides being plagued with reflux when my band had restriction, I would (watch out TMI) throw up mucus all night from the sinus drainage. Sometimes during the day when it wouldn't allow my food to go down blocking my stoma. I kept off the weight for 2 1/2 years and over the last 6 months have put back on about 15 lbs. So I know how frustrating this band can be. I'm on my liver shrinking diet now with surgery scheduled for 6/20 to get a sleeve when my band is taken out. All in one surgery. I'm worried about any damage all the throwing up has caused my esophagus, reflux and the many bouts with esophagitus I've had over the years. I'm asking if they will scope my throat while in there. And of course worried about any damage all this time and throwing up has caused my stomach where the band is. I was self pay with the band and am again self pay with the VSG and band removal. When I had my band put in I had hoped any additional surgeries would have been cosmetic but all my savings is going into getting this blasted band out of me. I too am post hysterectomy and have just been diagnosed with a hypothyroid (mild cause so far) so I am concerned how this will all affect my weight loss with the sleeve. I'm assuming it will be a constant thoughtful way of eating and exercising to get the rest of my eight off and keep it off. Although I have gained a little of my weight back getting any of it off even with the liver shrinking diet is slow to nill. (Thinking it's the thyroid here that's the problem) But I know that without this sleeve I will surely gain it all back so I'm accepting this TOOL to help me get healthier. I hope this helps you some, and good luck with your decision. Gloria

Thanks for the explanation anoynurse, it helps to understand the post op diets. Gloria

Hope your feeling better today, I'll be having the band out and sleeve in on the 20th in one shot. Hope there will be no leaks in my future. I am always itchy it seems after pain meds, sometimes that can last a little longer than 24 hours for me. I start my liver shrinking diet tomorrow. Here's to looking forward to the other side. Gloria

Hi All, Well as a very unhappy bander who had a sleeve surgery date (6/20) Passed nutritionist appt.. pysc evailuation, and was waiting to take the sleeve class tomorrow I received frustrating news today. First, I am self pay, I was self pay in 2008 when I had my band put in. Used the same Dr. here in VA who was to do my sleeve. The call I had today was to tell me that Blis, the co. for self pay catastrophic insurance ( part of my surgery fee now may not approve revision to the sleeve because of all the complications that can occur). My stats are below but I have kept off most all of the 85 lbs. (all but 12-15) in the 3 years I have had my band. Despite all the problems this band has given me. So my BMI is lower than someone who will be a new VSG patient. I have no major health issues, no diabeties, no history of clots, no HBP, I really am healthier than when I had the band surgery. The revisions my DR. has done from band to sleeve have all been paid by health insurance. They have not done a self pay revision. His results are good from what I can tell and he is a Blis participating DR. My question is have any of you had this issue? Scrapping up the $ again was no small feat but now to hear they may not approve it means I might have to sign away permission to pay any and all possible complication costs if he will still do the surgery. Or just have my band out and nothing further done, which scares me of further weight gain. Despite my constant gerd, esophageal spasms. and not being able to eat solid foods well, I need this restriction!

Well, Good news Blis Ok'ed me after all for the band revision surgery to sleeve today. So I won't have to sign all my rights away after all to have the surgery. Though I am still self pay the Blis coverage will still be in effect for this surgery. YAY! After all I've been through with this band I was worried to have this hanging over my head and possibly change my surgery plans. Now to just take the class I missed due to this upset and I'm on for being sleeved June 20th!!!!!!!

PS Apparently Blis covers first time surgery but not revisions. I could understand if I hadn't been successful with the band but I did well with the weight loss. They site the chances of stricture as high with the sleeve, but that would be for any sleeve right not just revisions from banding? Does anyone have figures on complication rates?

I'm new here and have my band revision surgery scheduled for June 20th. I of course can't wait to get this thing out of me and get some relief from the reflux and the sinus drainage that backs up my throat at night. I do have a few questions I haven't found answered here so far and hope you kind people might weigh in (pun intended) on some possible answers. !. Are any of you still plagued by mucus drainage backing up at night from your stomach up and out? Either when you have a cold or it's sinus season (which for me has been quite long each fall and spring)? My surgeon says this may still be an issue for me but hopefully not as bad as with the band. 2. My nutritionist thinks since my allergies seem heightened right now that I may be slightly allergic to whey, which is making my mucous thicker aggravating the issue. She said to stay off milk products for 2 week to see. Since my band is giving me issues I have been drinking milk for Protein and drinking RTD Meal Replacements with whey. I have stopped the milk /whey products and it does seem to help. My question is since soy is not a good protein for post op diet but whey seems to aggravate the mucus issue what can I substitute for the whey protein during the clear and liquid stages? I hope that with the band out the mucus won't be as big an issue and I can do the whey but if the sleeve is swollen from the revision surgery I may still have this issue. Any other allergy sufferers out there that are band to sleevers? 3. After reading about the hopefully less hunger sensations I'm hoping to be one of the the no hunger folks. But head hunger is an issue with most of us who ate ourselves into needing WLS for a solution. I've passed my second psych evaluation (first was with lap band), I lost 85 pounds with the band in 2 1/2 years but in the last 6 - 8 months I've gained back 18. Some of this is band issues, fills, unfills, etc. but I have to admit there is a part that is from depression over the band issues, constant reflux, esophagitis, and slidder foods as comfort foods. I'm so afraid the head hunger will still be an issue. Have any of you had to deal with the head demon just as bad as before the sleeve? If so how have you dealt with it? This being my second WLS, I want it to be my last, the band failed me and has probably caused some damage to my esophagus and then there is the scar tissue. But I want the sleeve to be my long term answer. 4. Last question: Who still replies on Protein drinks for nutrition after the post op surgery recovery? And how far out are you? I appreciate your answers and think this forum is great, such a kind group of folks. Thank you all for having this out here for us all. Gloria

I too just received a date for band revision 6/20, and can't wait to get this out of me! I lost 85 lbs with my band initially but in the last 8 months have gained 18 back. Partially due to the the liquids I seem to be living on and slidder foods because most healthy foods come back up at night. My allergies seem to have gotten so bad in the last 2 years that when they hit the mucus seems to block my band and it all comes back up. Especially at night. My surgeon says this can sometimes be a problem with the sleeve also but is usually not as severe. Also the acid reflux i have dealt with has been constant. I just hope there is not major damage to my esophagus. Hoping the gain stops and I can get back to the loosing. I'd like to get the 18 off plus another 30-35 with the sleeve. But really just to stop gaining and get a healthy throat back would be great. Are you worried about the band out and revision all at once? After 3 years of my band being in I'm afraid of the scarring and having them dig out the port. Gloria

I'm new to the vsg forum but not to the band forum. Yes, another bander to revise to a sleeve! June 20th is my date for surgery. I have had such esophagus issues I can't wait till this band is out of me too. Glad your doing well with your sleeve but I'm curious what damage you have to the esophagus? Acid scaring from reflux, stretching or what. I'm so worried about my own, I hope they will scope mine when they do my sleeve to check it out. I'm again self pay like with my band, so I'm afraid to ask them to do more due to cost, but I'm concerned since I've had such reflux for 2 + years of the 3 I've had the band. And the additional sinus drainage from allergies makes sleeping at night without gagging a major pain. Gloria

Well gals, I found out the Boniva I was taking caused the most severe kind of Esophagitis in me. My Lap Band Dr. said my GP should never had me take this. I'm currently taking a liquid ulcer medication to help me heal, this could take 4-8 weeks. I had lost my voice for the first week. Eating only liquid, cold Protein drinks. It was so painful, and still continues to be very unpleasant. So if anyone out there is considering taking the oral versions of Fosomax, Boniva or the like do yourself a BIG favor and don't. Once I am healed, I'll pursue the venous method for the once yearly medication, after my next bone scan. I'm so lucky that my band had not slipped when I threw up blood. Or at least we don't think it slipped, I'll be having a floro later to check it out, but no slippage symptoms. Gloria

Hi, I guess no one has responded here yet. I had surgery 5/29/08 and have lost 68 lbs. so far. I had osteoporosis diagnosed before my lapband and took fosomax which resulted in jaw pain so I quit taking it. After my lap band surgery my GP Dr. scolded me for going off it and changed me to Boniva. I've been taking it for a year now. But just recently since I had my last fill (I feel good restriction) but when I have taken my Boniva in the last 2 month I have developed esophagitis and today I had some blood in my mucus PBing. I took my Boniva this am. So now I'm not sure if I'm too tight or it's the Boniva iritating me. Last month it lasted for almost a week after I took it, then got better. Sorry this is so long but I logged on here to see if anyone else has had this problem. My search didn't pull up much.

Thanks for the response, I'm 51 and not it wasn't brought on by activity, the only thing in common with the first time it happened, was that I hadn't eaten. But this one was really more severe. After reading up on esophageal spasm it sounds really alot like that. And the retired neuro surgeon who checked my pulse said that sounded alot like a spasm because my pulse was steady. I had no radiating pain only just in the center lowerbreast bone area where I feel band stuckness. If that's a word. I don't really have heartburn since the LB Dr. fixed my hernia at the time I was banded. I'm trying to get in to see the LB Dr. himself and not his assistant. Just worries me it will happen again.

On Friday on my way to a meeting I experienced for the 2nd time a sudden pain in the area just under my center breastbone that had me feeling clammy and like I was going to throw up. The week before I had watched my grandbabbies and thought for a momment I had their flu. But it got worse and lasted about 30 minutes. A retired DR. took my pulse and said it was steady, and thought that since I hadn't eaten maybe that was it. You see early that morning I had taken my Boniva and you can't drink or eat for an hour afterward. It didn't feel stuck but like the pain was coming from the banding area. I had had this once in my Lap Band Dr.s office once when I hadn't eaten because of my early appt. and being weighed but it wasn't so bad and the Nurse practioner wasn't worried. I since had had my band filled slightly and they said all looked fine with the flouroscope. Sorry for the long story here but has anyone had something like this. I'm not sure who to see my GP or my LB Dr., also I was a self pay so if it's a complication with my band it's on me. I do little pbing, had surgery May 29, 2008 and have lost 50 lbs. Oh and the Dr who took my pulse said there was a condition of upper stomach contractions that with the empty stomach could have been the problem something that starts with an L?

Had my gall bladder out already, not reflux I'll check esophageal spasm.

Well I sought out this forum to answer this exact question. I'm 4 weeks out from banding and do not receive my first fill until July 10th. And I'm both physically starving and emotionally starving. I lost 17 lbs. at my 2 week post op check up and was relieved that I held at that weight at my 4 week check up this week. I'm able to eat way more than 1 cup, at this point and I'm worried that I may have stretched out my stomach already. My Dr. said that very often the first fill will not last very long so I'm not very optimistic about it today. Or that I'll not gain weight by the time I get the fill. Help! Have any one here stretched out their pouch before the first fill.