Maraki

This isn't something to bring, but something to do. If you are a coffee, tea, cola, or Mtn. Dew drinker (that is, you use caffeine), decaffeinate yourself BEFORE surgery. This is easiest to do over a few days - either cut back on how many cups of your caffeinatated beverage gradually, or change the mix of caff/decaf in your coffeepot.
Caffeine withdrawal can give you a wicked headache that pain meds often don't touch, and can make nausea postop worse.

So I have found myself in somewhat of a dilemma that I could have never imagined six months ago. I had my six-month follow-up appointment with my surgeon after having the sleeve done in April. Needless to say I have worked really hard and have lost 88 pounds from my highest weight during the last 7 months. I have met my surgeons goal but I have not met my own personal goal as of yet, but I am still working diligently on that. Overall I am a pretty private person, and aside from my bariatric pal friends, only my mom and husband know about my surgery. I have gotten lots of questions at work and from friends, but have managed to keep my decision to have surgery private. This is where my dilemma comes in.....
When I started at my highest weight, I felt ashamed about having surgery to lose weight. Even though I know now this is a totally incorrect way of thinking, I struggle somewhat with admitting now that I have had surgery since I have kept it private all this time. I don't want people to feel lied to, even though this was a very personal decision for me.
So upon going to my follow-up visit with my surgeon, he proceeds to tell me how amazed he is with how great I look, and how successful I have been. He then says he wants to have before and after pictures of me to feature on their Facebook page, and to include in their seminar for future bariatric patients as one of their success stories. So my dilemma is I have kept my decision to have surgery private to this point and don't want to come across as a liar, but now that I have put in the hard work and feel successful I am proud of my accomplishments. On one hand I want to oblige the office and be included in their success stories because of all of the hard work and effort I have put in, and I do feel proud of myself. On the other hand I know how quickly social media travels, and I don't want to look like I have just been lying to everyone all this time. I considered submitting pictures and just blocking out my face, but then I don't really feel like I am owning my accomplishments.
I know this post is probably extremely confusing and I find myself going back-and-forth a lot. I would love others feedback or input if you have been in the situation, or of what you would do if you were in my situation. Also thank you to all of you BP veterans who take time to post and give responses to questions for those of us who are still going through the beginnings of our journeys. Your knowledge and wisdom has been invaluable for me through my journey.

Not sure of the number since I am staying off the scale. But, wanted to share surgery day and today.
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Congrats and good luck!
29 days post revision op.
54 years old
21 pounds down

I was on liquid for a few days
Then soft food like yogurt and cream Soups.< /p>
Day 8 I had cheese and apples and my life is great.
I can eat Protein Bars and ground turkey.
I am supposed to get 60-85 grams of Protein and 60 oz minimum Water daily but I'm never hungry so it's a challenge.
I drink a Protein Shake in the morning with my Vitamins and meds.
I don't miss anything I am committed to getting healthy and living a more active lifestyle.
You are so fortunate to be having this surgery in time to raise your family in a health conscious way.
You need to be careful and no heavy lifting for the first 2 weeks.
I wish you the best.
It is wonderful NOT to be hungry.
Did you know the lap band actually increases hunger? Wicked huh?

Good luck with your conversion.
I had my band removed and at the same time I had the gastric bypass surgery 28 days ago.
I am down 20 pounds.
So far so good ...
My surgery was laparoscopic.
I had 2 band surgeries prior.
So I have 7 sort of stab wounds.
I had zero pain except for a little gas in my jaw. I was up and walking immediately after surgery and only needed one night in the hospital.
They gave me a scrip for Oxy but I only needed one Tylenol for the 90 minute car ride home.
The incisions were a 1 on the pain scale. Lower belly ache about a 2.5.
Best of all I can swallow pills with Water and have no blockage!
No burping or spitting no heartburn or reflux.
I am now eating fruits and veggies which the band did not allow.
Best wishes,
Terry

Live in Wisconsin, insurance is through my wife in Illinois, Blue Cross!

51 and this band is misery....got a tentative date for December 28!You guys make me feel hopeful!

I had my band in 2009. Got it removed on 10/29 and Dr did bypass the same day. So glad it was done at one time. Doing well. Most of pain was from port site not bypass area. Weird. Onto soft foods already and doing great. Down 21 lbs at Dr visit 2 weeks post op. I wish you well.

What state are you in??? I had to go through hoops and more hoops and a second round of six months of appointments and tests to finally get a date for band removal and gastric bypass in one day

72 hrs post surgery and far less pain now, only taking paracetamol at night. Still lethargic from anaesthetic but will go back to work Monday. Trying to stick to Protein Shakes and Soup as more solid food doesn't seem to sit right yet. All in all the band removal has been very straight forward and far less painful than I thought.

Hello ALL!! I have not been on here in forever I hope everyone is well. I had bypass on May 27th (so not quite 6 months ago) and things have been going good. I've been losing slow but steady. I've had no complications and feel great. I'll try and post a pic of my progress so far. The before pic was taken in Dec. Of 2014 and the during is a few days ago! I'm down 86 pounds and still have about another 75 to go!

I can't believe it! Tomorrow is my surgery day! I absolutely cannot wait to get this over with!

Im 50 also! I just had my band out a few days ago, it was a b___ h! I threw up after i woke up for 24 hours, i had to spend the night! But im feeling better now, and will be bypassed in 2 months.

It has been a little over one year since my surgery and I have lost over 120 pounds. I'm enjoying every day of my life just to see me go from over 300 pounds to under 200 pounds is amazing. The best choice in my life health problems are disappearing or getting better.

I have lost 97 since surgery plus 7 before, for a total of 104. Three lbs from goal!

Hi Maraki Im 50 and had the band put in Nov 09 it was great for a while, I lost only 30 pounds with it but since i wasnt that big to start with i was happy enough. But then i gained it back...i ate sliders and crap because i coulnt eat a piece of chicken and a salad. So now its out and my bypass will get me to goal (id like to loose 60 pounds) the port removal pain was the worse but it only took a few days to calm down ... i had it out Thursday morning and its Sunday night now and im feeling almost normal. Tomorrow is my first day back to work so well see how my day goes!

My revision is 2 surgeries, first band removal then i need 2 months to heal before he will bypass me, so unless I chicken out bypass will be around Christmas time!

Had my band out last Thursday and planning on bypass in December.....still feeling sore, I have a big divit where my port was.....hope its a swelling issue because right now it looks like someone took a big spoonful out of me!

Any who want my whole story can look me up, I am thetig. I had three band surgeries in 2009 and finally in July of 09 all was well. From July 2009 until July 2015 when I was told that my band had slipped I had lost 80 pounds. I had never reached my goal but was very happy with how much I had lost. My BMI was pretty normal so once all of the adjustment was removed from the band I was able to eat a lot again ( I missed my Band) and I gained 20 pounds which was enough for my BMI to be at the right place! Having already had the endoscopy to show the band was slipped I was off and running waiting for a date for the revision.
Well here I am two and half weeks post op and I am feeling good! All the liquids suck but it is necessary! I am down 20 pounds already so that means I am ready to start into a new faze of life.
Please do not be afraid of the revision! I am doing well at age 62. No hunger at all just BRAIN HUNGER! LOL! Please feel free to ask questions!

congratulations

Surgery on Mon. 12th, stayed until Wed.(standard for my doc) may have been something in the IV but I didn't push my pain med button at all; they took it out that first night. I was pretty out of it all day Mon. but was up walking by 9 pm. I went back to work on Fri. My issue was nausea, I would open my eyes and my tummy turned. Doc had me take a pain pill half hour before my follow up for drain removal. That's the only one out of the bottle. Wishing you a painless recovery.

After years of battling with the Lapband, and after months and months of battling with doctors and the insurance company, I am excited to announce that I have finally been APPROVED for my revision from Lapband to Gastric Bypass! My pre-op appointment is December 3rd, and my surgery date is December 7th!! I am thoroughly ecstatic and so nervous!!!

I have waited 3 years to have weight loss surgery and at 530 in the morning I will be arriving at the hospital for gastric bypass. It's been quite and whirlwind. I'm so nervous. Not about the surgery or the pain but I'm just anxious and feeling like something is going to go wrong and they won't be able to do the surgery. I know this is crazy but it seems to good to be true? Just ready for my life back!! Anyone else have the unrealistic fears ?

1) Never once had a second thought. I waited a year, and surgery day couldn't come fast enough. No regrets.
2) I decided from the start that I would only tell a select few. My family and a couple of friends. I have no regrets on this issue either, but then I'm a very private person. There is no right or wrong answer on this.
I've lost a vast amount of weight over the years, and of course, gained it back. So I don't think it's too shocking to see me do it again. The shock will factor in as I keep it off long term. ????
There was no keeping secret that I was having a lot of medical issues and pain leading up to my surgery. A lot of them have cleared up since surgery, and people are happy for me. I didn't specify type of surgery, nor was I required to. People at work have respected that decision so far and not pried further. I've received a lot of compliments on my weight loss so far, but I never specify the amount lost. I only answer by saying I was having health issues that I couldn't ignore.