kareyquilts

I think you are all very brave. I know the healing and beginning of the process is going to be tough. I just need to feel confident that my life can be fairly normal and that I can be healthy if I go ahead and have the sleeve. I exercise a lot and want to have energy to live my life. I also worry about health problems in the future where I might require more calories. I guess you can always get them through liquids? It's reassuring to learn of your experiences. Thanks for sharing them!

Lellow: Congratulations! I hope you know how lucky you are to have your surgery in Australia and get to stay in the hospital for 4 days! Here for some it's a say day out procedure. I was lucky, I got to stay overnight and was kicked out at 6:00 am for the next victim! You're going to love your new body!

Susan: So glad your home and all is well. Glad the tumors are benign and all is well. Appreciate your sharing your experiences. Keep healingQ

I had silicone, still love them!

Glad you made it home safely and all is going well! Thanks for allowing us on your journey. I'm rooting for you!

Congratulations! You're almost there! Get the wedge pillow and a toliet riser. You'll be very glad that you did. Also, hopefully you have some one that will be with you and help you for the first days. You'll need help getting up and down, etc. Get some funny movies and just plan on chilling! Wishing you the best!

Frangi: You're awfully quit what have you decided?

Isn't it easier to detect breast cancer if the implant is behind the muscle?

Congratulations! Thanks for the details of your experience. It's really helpful. Glad you're feeling well. Do you know if all sleeve patients are on Nexum? Is it a permanent thing?

Susan: I'm glad that you made it through both surgeries! Sounds like your doc is very thorough. No leaks is a good thing. So sorry about your nausea, it sucks to be nauseous. Hopefully will resolve soon! Thinking of you and wishing you the best!

I have had a lapband for almost 3 years. During that time, I have lost 120 pounds. Last summer my band slipped and was replaced in the same surgery. I had a miserable 4 months of pbing and vomiting before I finally realized that the problems weren't me and something was wrong with my band (I'm a slow learner). Since getting my new band I have had a lot of nausea. ALOT! It doesn't seem that the new band had ever reallly worked well, but I have had some restriction and been able to maintain my weight. I just found out Wednesday that my band has slipped again! All the fluid has been taken out of the band and I find that my appetite has really picked up. I'm so afraid of gaining weight back. My doctor has suggested the vertical gastric sleeve and I am seriously considering it. It seems like a drastic move, but the anxiety of gaining weight is very strong. I'm wondering if those that have had the band removed have been able to maintain and or lose weight, if they had an alternative surgery or they wish they had had an alternative surgery? I would appreciate any and all feedback. My doctor is willing to do the revision for free. Just not sure what is the best thing to do. Thanks!

Esmeralda: My band has to come out and I will still have to pay the hospital, etc. just like I did this summer. Unfortunately, my lapband has been a very expensive propostion for my family.

Dr. Pleatman: Is that what you charge when you have to remove a lap band also? Doesn't the company that makes the lap band do anything for the patient when their band fails? Is this why my doc says he'll do the surgery for "free?" I did check out your website and I was impressed. Also watched a video on U Tube where you are demonstrating a sleeve procedure. It was very interesting. If I had complications you would be a long ways from me, but it sounds tempting.

Sherry: So sorry for your loss. I know how you are feeling. I have been having anxiety attacks, especially when I slip up! I really like the book U on a Diet by Oz Mehmet, because it is upbeat and has a lot of ideas to help you feel full. Here is one thought: He says to go on the GPS diet. When you make a wrong turn, does the GPS berate you? No, it simply says, at the next available place, make a U turn. We need to get rid of the all or nothing thinking. If we're not perfect, we make a correction and keep on going in the right direction. That is all any human being can do. I'm sorry your doctor has not called you, but who needs a doc like that? Don't let anyone take away your power and tell you that you WILL gain your weight back. That can be like a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might gain some weight back while your learning to maintain your weight in a non-lapband manner. It feels different and there is bound to be a learning curve. If you decide that it's too difficult and you can afford it, consider the gastric sleeve as an option. Daniel Cottam in Salt Lake is doing the operation. Look into it on the internet and think about it. You have the power, you can get a different surgery or you can determine that you will do it without surgical intervention. Join an online support group for weight loss. There are many of them out there, check them out and see what feels helpful and comfortable. There are no easy answers, if there were, half the population wouldn't be struggling with their weight! I wish you the very best. Please keep in touch. Esmeralda: My doctor feels some responsiblity for my slipped band, so he is offering to do the surgery for free. He is a good man. I will still have to pay all the other fees, hospital, assistant surgeon, etc. It will still cost about $10,000 should I choose to have the sleeve.

You're going to love the flatlands!

Susan: Will be thinking of you today! I'm sure all will be good. Bless you!

Good luck Elisabeth, you'll be in my prayers!

Yellow: I'm sending positive vibes your way! Wishing you the best. Good luck!

Wow! You've got some skinny going on! It's going to keep looking better and better. Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Susan: What kind of protien powder are you using. My nausea is getting worse. I don't think I'm going to be able to wait another month to see if my lap band is back into position. I'm going to have to make a decision soon. I am really leaning towars getting the sleeve vs going solo.

Susan: Glad you're not starving. I have contacted Dr. Aceves office. Not sure if I'll use him or my doc, but I'm going to be watching your journey carefully. I'm very excited for you. Wishing you the best.

Dr. Pleatman: I just looked at your website. I'm wondering how important you think experience is in performing the sleeve surgery. There are people on LBT that say that a doc needs to have done 250 sleeve procedures before you let them operate on you. What do you think about this? How common are leaks? What should I really be asking my surgeon before I let him do the surgery? I would really appreciate your perspective. Thanks!

Dr.Pleatman: Thanks for your opinion. I am strongly leaning towards the sleeve. It's frustrating because all around me, family and friends and even some of my doctors think I can do it without a replacement surgery. They make it seem like I am copping out to want the sleeve. I'm very nervous about the amount of stomach they take out, but love the no appetite and restriction part of it. Glad there are options.

Godschild: How did you find a counselor? Do you think you need one that specializes in eating disorders?

Thanks for the link. Good luck with your weight loss journey!