marfar7

I'd kinda like to know this also. You're getting revised at the same time, right? I'm hoping to do this, hoping my inflammation goes down in the next 2 months. I'm totally unfilled now and can feel everything I eat. I'm going on an Alaskan cruise May 7-14 and then to Ca for 2 weeks in June, so I was hoping to wait until after thats all over with so I'm not on vacation on a liquid diet! I did pretty well after my band surgery in Oct 2009, minimal pain, minimal gas. I'm just wondering if 2 procedures (removal and sleeved) make it worse or the same? I spent one night in the hospital with my band and I will also spend one night with the sleeve. At least this time I have someone to take care of me (got married last year!). I guess that also means I have to watch someone eat also! Oh well.... Hope you get some answers, cuz I'm curious also!

Everyones already said it - stick to your drs advice. You poor thing! A vacation while on a liquid diet? I postponed my band to sleeve revision till after May 14th -as I'm going on an Alaskan cruise and didn't want to be on a liquid diet. Have a nice vacation! Marci

I hope you meant 204! If you were 104, I'd seriously question your need for the sleeve! LOL

When I used Protein Powder ( for a few mths post banding 3 1/2 yrs ago), I sampled many from GNC. Didn't like any of them. The unflavored truly weren't. I found Syntrax Nectar pretty untasty (added it to puddings, Soups, mashed potatoes, etc) and reasonable in price. Here's a link to Amazon (I think it's the cheapest around) http://www.amazon.com/Syntrax-Nectar-Medical-Unflavored-1-Pound/dp/B001I1NSUY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1366053471&sr=8-2&keywords=unflavored+protein+powder Good luck! Protein that you actually like is hard to find. I never did find a Protein Shake that I liked. I held my nose and gulped them until the 4 weeks was over and never had another. Marci

Hi everyone, First post here, I'm on lapbandtalk tho. I've had my band for 3 1/2 yrs and recently it herniated (bad slip). The dr closer to me (my dr is 3 hrs away and it was an emergency) took out all of my fill and told me contact my dr. I emailed his nurse today and she said it can probly wait for 3 weeks (we have a 7 day Alaskan cruise in 3 weeks and I really don't want to go on it eating only liquids!). I talked to the insurance lady in the office and she told me I can either get a new band (plication isn't covered, which I really wanted), a sleeve, or gastirc bypass. My BMI is ony 27 now but since I'm having complications, Medicare will pay for a revision. I luv my band, however it's alot of maintenance. I have to drive 6 hrs round trip + pay $160 for every adjustment. So I'm thinking about the sleeve. But I'm scared cuz it's permanent. Would you do the sleeve again or get a new band placed? Just looking for info on how many people are happy with the sleeve. I weight 162 today and my goal is 135, so I have less than 30 lbs to goal, but I know if I completely just take out my band, I will gain all of my 104 lbs loss back. I need help. What do you think? marci

Amen! I love that too. Enjoying "normal" things that "normal" people take for granted. Like eating just 1 cookie, 1 cupcake, 1 pc of pizza, 1/2 sandwich. I'm not a perfect bander, far from perfect dieter, but I enjoy being "normal" occasionally. I also give in to my cravings. When you try to eat around them (like you're craving chocolate. You eat an apple trying to get rid of the cravings. Doesn't work. Then you eat a PBJ. Nothing. Then SF pudding. Still craving chocolate. If you have the chocolate first, you avoid all the extra calories by trying to stall the inevitable). I keep a bag of Jolly Ranchers on my bedside stand and suck on a few while watching tv at nite. And thank God whoever created Skinny Cow stuff. Their mint ice cream sandwiches are out of this world and 150 calories Marci

Jut an fyi: Fred Meyers has it's own store brand (owned by Kroger, so I'm sure Krogers also has them) has a pretty tasty low carb yogurt. Only 4 gms per container. In Feb, I gave Atkins a real try. Would've killed my mom for a cookie. My husband has no problem going off carbs but I' very cranky. Didn't cheat for 4 weeks. Didn't add yogurt or sour cream till the 3rd week however. They were too many carbs for my <20 gm allotment. 4 weeks later, I had lost 14 lbs. A month later, I've gained back 12 after resuming carbs. Thats why I hate diets. Marci

Not sure if this is helpfful or not (maybe making it easier to know the right decision for you) but I'm 3 1/2 yrs post lapband (slipped, now awaiting a revision to sleeve). I've never thrown up so much in my life. The first 2 1/2 yrs it was daily. This past year, it's weekly. I've gotten so used to it, it's part of my routine. Doesn't even bother me anymore. My mom and sister are like you, however. They just DON'T throw up. Can't imagine. You're making the right choice in getting the sleeve vs the band - especially if you're paranoid about vomiting. Marci

It's like working out with a heavy suit on - you'll lose weight initially (all water) but as soon as you take it off and drink some Water, it'll all come back on. Waste of money, IMHO... Marci

Medicare covers fill for the first year. after that, it's out of pocket. I pay $160 Marci

I'm 3 1/2 rs post lapband. A slipped band I might add. Having a revision to a sleeve soon and just learning as much as I can before (I had no idea what I was getting into with the band. I want to be informed this time around). While my portions are controlled with my band, I still feel hunger all the time. Since they take out the part of the stomach that produces Ghrelin (the hunger hormone) does that mean I'll never be hungry again? Do you force yourself to eat something even when you're not hungry? Any and all info is truly appreciated! Marci

Another plus you have to think about with the plication is that I hear that your chance of band slippage is minimal. My band is slipped now and I'm facing a revision (most likely the sleeve). I wish plication had been available in 2009. Marci

Thanks for all the replies! Wow! Seems that while I can hope to lose my hunger, there's no guarantee. I guess there's no guarantee in any WLS, so I guess I'll have to suck it up. Someone emailed me today whose dr told her that the pancreas also makes ghrelin. Great. Maybe they can take that out too? Probably couldn't live without it! Happy to be part of the sleeve board... Marci

I ordered mine online from GNC. You can probly get them at a GNC store tho. I drank maybe 1/2 of one. They're so gross. My nurse told me they tasted like Jolly Ranchers. No Jolly Ranchers I've ever tasted were like this! What a waster of $. They're pricey too. My brother in law liked them so I gave them to him Marci

Thanks so much. I've contacted her for info. Luv her blog. Read about 2/3 of it. I need all the info I can get! Marci

Congrats, sounds like you hit your spot. It was my 3rd fill that did if for me too. 1 small chicken breast made 4 meals for me. As long as your not having problems with reflux, I'd say you're just about right. Portion control is what the band is sposed to be for! Yeah! Marci

Agree. My dr also says no solids for 2 hrs before, but I don't eat at all the day of a fill for just this reason. Seems to be more accurate (at least to me, who's not an MD!) on the fill level...Good luck! Marci

I've been banded for 3 1/2 yrs now and have lost most of my weight (all but 30 lbs). My band recently slipped and was totally unfilled and now waiting for 5 weeks for a revision. Still deciding whether to get a new band or go with the sleeve. I'm leaning toward the sleeve (less maintenance, no chances of slipping). I know with nothing I will gain all my weight back. Anyhoo, my dr didn't require a pre op diet for me (not sure about the rest of his pts), jusy a lite dinner the nite before. Just wondering if anyone has no pre op diet or if it's routine with the sleeve? Since they're stapling part of the stomach, you'd think it would have to be empty. I'm hoping it's not too severe.... Marci

I had to laugh at this (I know it's truly not funny) cuz I don't think I can ever be too skinny! I've dealt with my weight all my life and have never been accused of being "too skinny". No, I don't have the desire to be rail thin or look sickly, just be a normal, healthy woman. How many of us actually pictured ourselves too skinny? I've worried about lots of stuff - never this tho. Thanks for the chuckle - really. Marci

$7500 is truly a bargain. I went in a couple months ago just to get an idea of what to expect. Was given an estimate of $8,000 just for the tt (and I don't have that much saggy skin) and an extra $3,000 for lipo of my neck/chin area (a spot thats always bugged me). I also wanted lipo on my backfat, but after hearing the dr and my husband both say I didn't really need it, I gave in and decided it wasn't for me. If I get the 2 procedures done at the same time, I can pay $9500 for both. This includes the surgical suite, anestesia, and medications. So depending on where you live (different parts of the country charge different amts - I'm in Oregon) you're getting a good deal! Good luck! It'll take a while for me to save up $10,000! Marci

I have to argue with your PA here. Last year, I started having really bad nightime reflux. I doubt if the brown icky stuff stuck to my pillow in the morning was extra food stuck - it was stomach acid. There's alot of people on this board with reflux. Not sure why it's impossible. If your food was stuck in there and couldn't go anywhere, how did you manage to eat for a couple months? Just thought I'd add that there's lots of people with bands who have acid reflux. I was 1 of them until I got some Fluid taken out. Don't mean to argue with you, btw - but with your PA.... Marci

Boy, I would've killed for some oatmeal those first weeks! LOL. Didn't get that for 4 weeks. You're one lucky lady! Marci

I do crunches 4x a week. They're fine. Won't hurt you a bit (unless you're talking about the sore muscles the day after your first or 2nd workout!) Marci

They fed you in the hospital? Real food? The day after surgery, i was given 1 oz of strawberry Protein shake. Thats it. And water. had to be on a liquid diet for 4 weeks. Thought I would eat my arm AND my leg! U definitely need to look at your post op directions a little more thoroughly. I've never heard of anyone having a regular diet right after surgery. Good luck and congrats on the loss! Marci

WTG! You're right on track. 22 lbs in less than 10 days? WOW! You're almost to 299. Bet you can't wait to see those numbers. How long has it been since you've seen them? Marci