TexasT

I had my band for almost 4 yrs and was able to have all the following done in one surgery: 1. band removed 2. gall bladder removed 3. adhesions removed 4. hiatal herna repaired 5. sleeve done The only complication I had, as I mentioned above in another post, was a post-op hematoma where my port had been. This is fairly common and for most people the blood just resorbs back into the body and it causes no problems. Other than the hernia, I didn't have any damage to my stomach, so was able to do this all at once. If you've had a lot of damage to your stomach tissue then most docs will want to do it in two surgeries from what I've read.

I can answer a couple of your questions. Yes, there should be a time when you'll be able to sleep all night without waking up. That was one of the miracle things that happened with me when I was on a C-PAP a few years ago. Also, yes, you should be able to be weaned off the machine once you lose weight. I was able to get off the machine when I got to around 170/lbs. That was a joyous time, as the mask is not exactly conducive to smooching, etc. in bed with the hubby - ha! It kept me alive -yes - but it's not the sexiest thing to wear to bed. I much prefer Victoria's Secret... Just go slow and steady with the weight loss, and with medical supervision someday you most likely can end your affair with Mr. CPAP. Good luck!

My situation was different as I was a revision from band to sleeve, but my revision cost was $5000. Plus I had my gall bladder removed at the same time, which my insurance paid for, so the OR and anesthesia costs were covered by insurance. Dr. Barker also did my lap band, and I did NOT have to have a sleep study or psych evaluation before it. I did have to have a cardaic clearance from a cardiologist though before both surgeries. I know you need to get an idea of the cost, but please don't base your decision solely on price. Dr. Barker is an excellent surgeon and VERY experienced with all types of weight loss surgeries. We're lucky in the Dallas area that we have quite a few experienced bariatric surgeons to choose from. There is no reason to go to someone that hasn't done hundreds or even thousands of procedures if you live in our area. Be very choosy and ask lots of questions when making your choice.

I have BCBS of Alabama and they don't cover any type of WLS. I was self-pay so I didn't have to do that procedure. Each BCBS group is different.

I also can't handle watching shows like that any more. "Man VS Food" is another one like that. When I see it I just think "how can his body hold all that food???". It's disgusting and I really see no point to it. What's the big deal with eating so much food that you almost make yourself get sick, and why do people want to watch someone do that to themselves?

If you really want to give your ego a boost and you've already lost most of your weight - go shop at Chico's! Their sizes go from a 0 - 3. I used to squeeze into their size 3 (16/18 in regular sizes), but am now in a size 1 top and .5 bottom. That gave me a kick just to say it - "yes, I'm wearing a size .5 pants right now!" - ha! Clothes sizes are so dependent on the brand that it's important not to get TOO hung up on them. As long as you feel good about how you look and are healthy that's the most important thing. But that said - the skirt I'm wearing in one of my new pic posts is a 6 - and I NEVER thought I'd be able to wear a 6 again in my life. I would have been happy at a size 10 after being so big in the past. So I'm really enjoying trying on new clothes now and exploring fashion again.

I had implants 30 yrs ago, the incisions are under my breasts in the breast fold. There was loss of sensation near the incision but not in the nipples. So I would think that if you don't have the type where they do the incision in the areola this won't be an issue.

I'm a year post-revision, and if I push on the area where the port used to be it's a bit tender. But I wouldn't say it hurts at all just on a daily, normal basis. When the doc puts IN the port, he sews it in there to stay. When we have it out, it can do a lot of damage to the tissues in that area of the abdomen and cause soreness for awhile. It does get better with time, so hang in there!

Dr. Barker in the Dallas area did both my WLS. He charged me $5000 for the revision (I was self-pay for this portion), but I also had my gall bladder removed which my insurance paid for. He is a VERY experienced surgeon and I highly recommend him.

I also used to use a C-PAP with severe apnea. I had the lapband first and was able to get off the C-PAP within a few months of losing weight with the band. So I have full confidence that you'll be able to wean off of it as you lose weight with your doc's assistance.

I don't really remember since I was asleep (ha!), but my hubby said the actual surgery took about an hour.

I had my band removed, sleeve done, gall bladder removed, adhesions removed, and hiatal hernia repaired all in one surgery. After 2 C-sections, a hysterectomy, band surgery, and then this - I guess you could call me experienced with abdominal surgery (+ 4 other surgeries elsewhere). The revsion surgery was not the worst I've had and I was able to work part-time at a desk job from home a few days post-op. I think at 6 wks you would feel fine enough to go to a wedding, as long as you are not one of the people carrying things and setting things up. You should just show up to look good as the mother of the groom and enjoy the day. You would most likely be on soft foods at the time, so I'm sure you could find something you could eat if they serve a meal. It all depends on your specific situation though. If you feel like you are typically a little slower to recover from surgery or if you feel the band complications you've had will be a major bother, then you might ought to wait until after the wedding. You don't want to be sore or very tired at such a wonderful occasion. As mentioned above, make sure your doc is experienced with revisions and not just lap-bands. It really does make a difference. Best wishes on your decision! PS - since there are no huge plastic contraptions snaking around in our bodies anymore, I don't see how the VSG can cause problems like the band does. I love mine!

Here's what I had done in one surgery: band removed, VSG, gall bladder removed, adhesions removed, hiatal hernia repaired. So it CAN be done.

Yes, I did. I had my band removed, the sleeve done, a hiatal hernia repaired, adhesions removed, and gall bladder removed all at once. I don't really remember how long the surgery was - I was asleep :P ! But the recovery was no worse than getting the band, I just had more "holes" this time around. So it CAN be done. It was nice because I was self-pay for WLS, but my insurance pd for the other procedures, so I was able to save money on the revision.

You've made the decision ever to have a revision. I had a band for almost 4 yrs and went through the same things you did. If you look at my past posts, and especially those of Tiffykins, then'll you find plenty of information of what to expect now once you're sleeved. And there are many more on here in our situation - just search "revision" or look at more of the past posts in this thread and there is plenty of information already available. Best wishes on your surgery -

I'm at 11 months post-op and mine has finally seemed to stop shedding. As I said in another thread though, all my new growth looks to be gray, which is a whole new can of worms!!

I just wanted to clarify something regarding what I said above about having sex even when you're not in the mood. I never once "faked it" with my hubby. At that time in my life, I didn't care if I EVER had sex again. My husband was aware of my libido issues, so he knew that when I did it, it was because I loved him and wanted him to feel that fulfillment, even if I wasn't "into it" so to speak. This was something I told him I was doing to try and help save our marriage. I also believe it's kind of like when people say if you smile more often you'll eventually feel happy for real. If I had just stopped having sex at that point in our relationship then I feel the marriage would have been over many years ago. I know I wouldn't have put up with it if I had been him. That's just one way to block someone out of your life, which eventually leads to no communication. I was 47 when I started on the testosterone cream, so I would ask your doc about it for sure. It's so amazing I took my doc a bouquet of flowers the next time I saw her just to thank her for giving me back such an important part of my life. Now I'm about ready for the last rugrat (he's almost 19 and not in college) to move out of the house so we can have it all to ourselves and not worry about getting "caught"...

I'm not sure how old you are, but you sound EXACTLY like I was in my mid 30's. My PMS got so bad that I eventually went on an antidepressant. Tried several and Zoloft worked for me. Unfortunately, they also decrease your libido. I had a full hysterectomy at age 41, so that screwed up my hormones too. Then I met a wonderful female gyn doc who prescribed me testosterone cream. Now I have an amazing libido and my sex life is fantastic. And I've been with the same guy for 30 yrs now. But even without the meds, I made a conscious decision one day to NOT deny my husband sex anymore. This was a couple of years before my hysterectomy. We were going through a tough time and thinking about a divorce. Sex was a hot topic and I felt the same way you do now. But I thought, let's just see what happens if I just go ahead and have sex when he wants it, even if I'm not in the mood. I believe this was critical in saving my marriage and helping us work through other issues. It took far more energy to have that conflict about sex than to just do it and be done with it and make him happy. It was a quick and painless solution to a common problem. I did it out of love for my husband and don't feel like I "gave in" or gave up any of my rights as a woman. Now the shoe's on the other foot - I have a higher sex drive than the hubby - and he does it for me when HE'S not in the mood. It sounds like you have other issues going on too that meds may not be able to help though. My husband has moments of insecurity because I look so much better now, but I just do my best to reassure him that I still love him and have no intention of even thinking about leaving him. Distancing yourself will only make things worse and will do nothing to try and save the relationship. But I understand that it's hard to be intimate physically and mentally with someone that is suspicious and jealous. I'm not sure why you're tired. Have you had blood work done recently? You may be low in Iron or B Vitamins. I take a B12 supplement daily and I think it really helps my energy, in addition to my mult-Vitamin.

I'm 49 and had a boob job 30 yrs ago, when I was young and skinny and flat as a pancake. When I gained weight I gained everywhere and my boobs got even bigger. Now, at my age and with all my weight lost, they are not flat, but the fullness I enjoyed when I was fat is gone. And of course, the skin is now so loose that they look like 2 deflated balloons if I lean all the way over at the waist. NOT a pretty sight! Mostly because I just need to get new ones because of how old they are, but also because I need a bit larger size to fill out my skin, I'm planning on getting them replaced later this year when my daughter graduates from college and we're not helping with tuition and rent anymore (that's right, I'm keeping a positive attitude that she'll be able to get a job with majors in History and Sociology - ha!). If I were younger, the skin might have shrunk back more, but at this point it ain't gonna happen. So by next fall I'll be boob - a - licious again! I may do something about the loose skin on my neck in a few years - right now it doesn't bother me too much.

I know it's easy for me to say from where I am, but it's really none of her business. You should just tell her you're sorry she can't be supportive of your decision, but that you've done your homework and feel this is your best choice to improve your health and make sure you'll be around to grow old with her son. Then just turn a deaf ear. People that have never been obese have a hard time understanding why we would want to take what they consider drastic measures to lose weight. If she's overweight also, she may feel that she would never have this opportunity herself so why should you get to benefit from it, and this is her way of saying so (though she would never admit it to herself).

That's exactly what my doc said - when I felt like it, go for it!