William 2010

I was sleeved on June 2nd, the best decision ever. I have lost 50+ pounds since then. I am a band to sleeve conversion so total over the past four years I am down 85+ lbs. I started 375 four years ago, was 340 at surgery and am now at my lowest of 289. I hiked 14 miles last Tuesday, 9 miles on Wednesday, and 8 miles on Friday when we stayed at a camp up north. I feel amazing. Best I have ever felt. Here's the thing...my scale hasen't moved below 289 (fluctuates between 292 and 290) since about August. No matter what, I am not moving below 290. I was losing when I was eating 800-1000 calories, as soon as they jumped me up to 1200-1400 it completely stopped. The funny thing is that this happened to me when I had the band about 2 years ago. I went hardcore with the working out and dieting and dropped down to 291 with the band before complications. But no matter what I did, as soon as I hit 290 my scale would not move. Solid three months of working out/eating right and no movement in the scale. I'm really at a loss for what to do next. Obviously I am going to meet with my nutritionist/exercise physiologist, but anyone ever experience this? It almost seems like my body just does not want to move from this 290 area even though I definitely have more to lose. My diet is healthy, high in protein, low in carb. 2-4 ounces at a time. Let's put it this way, I am doing exactly what my nutritionist wants me to do. Frustrated, but staying strong. Let me give you a little more detail. My wife and I had twins (mostly my wife had the twins on July 17th. So as you can imagine I live and sleep 3-4 hours at a time during the day and at night. I am tired, but coffee keeps me going. No stress in my life. Thoughts?

I had a band to sleeve revision that went flawlessly. I thank God that I did not have any band complications, such as excessive scaring. My surgery was June 2nd. HW 375 Post-band weight 338 SW 332 CW 305 I see a lot of people talk about stalling out, but please realize this is normal. It's how our bodies "catch up" to what is going on. Stall's are healthy for our bodies, they suck, don't get me wrong. Try going to a monthly support group and the people there will be very open about this stuff. I am currently in one (a support group and a stall Also, I know it is all psychological. Seeing that scale go up sucks, especially after all this...BUT, let your body do what it needs. Sit back, relax, and don't rush this. If you gain weight, it is not actual fat. It is simply Water weight your body is retaining. I know whenever my body retains water and I go up 3-4 pounds, I am about to drop weight. It's just how my body works, before I go down in the scale I retain water for a few days. Then it drops off. Take a deep breath and just ride this out.

Quick Note: please don't post stuff like "you can't predict what will happen", "everyone's different." That's not what I'm asking. I want to know of any known issues or long term side effects of the sleeve surgery that people are often blinded to because of the euphoria of weightloss and being thin.

Hello everyone, I am having my sleeve surgery this Monday, June 2nd. Really looking forward to it. If you have not seen my other posts, I am going from the band to sleeve. I'm actually more excited to get the band removed than the sleeve but both are very exciting. I have done soooo much research and am 100% confident with my decision. However, one thing I am interested in is hearing from people who have had the sleeve for 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, 15 years plus. I am 31 and will have the sleeve for a the rest of my life, but I seem to hear very little from people who have had the sleeve for a long period. Most are from people who have had the sleeve 2 years and under. My main concern is this, are there any long term complications that come about with the sleeve that doctors and other medical providers don't like to share? Let's face it, they run a business and bad news is bad business. We all know the issues with the band. I can speek for that, and this is one of the reasons I am asking. The problem with the band is that you could be fine for a year, but then suddenly you have sever discomfort whether its while your sleeping, at work, or on vacation in some remote location. As long as I am doing what I'm supposed to be doing with the sleeve, will there be any unexpected complications with the sleeve like experienced with the band?

I can relate to a lot of these issues. I never had an issue with the port (sounds like sloppy surgery on the doctors side), but I have definitely had some issues. Got the lap band about 4 years ago at 375lbs. Lost maybe 35lbs from the band and another 50lbs from hard work, dedication, and about 1 ½ hours in the gym daily bringing me to 290. A lady in my doctor’s office (she is no longer working there) was giving me blind fills (they normally place us under the xray to see how we swallow and if we are too tight). Obviously I was too tight, had bad acid reflux one night, some went into my lungs. My doctor unfilled me a bit, I then went to NY for a month (I live in NC). Stomach was irritated and band slipped, went to ER in NY where they took all Fluid out. Went back home to my doctor, they had me unfilled for 4 months. Ravenous hunger and a little depression ensued and I gained weight back and plateaued at 324. Had a few other issues similar to the above where the band would get irritated causing pain/discomfort. The take away is that the band stopped working, I am still at 324 and about to have my info submitted to insurance for a revision to the sleeve. A more recent complication is where I said enough was enough with the band. The band can often cause pressure in the stomach/esophagus area causing acid reflux. I never have heartburn, but one night it appears I had “silent” acid reflux which cause swelling in the back of my tongue and voice box. The swelling was very weird, at times I would be sleeping and how I was breathing would irritate it and I would wake up with that area quivering/shaking (this has since gone away). I get the lump in my throat feeling ever so often. Doctor put me on protonix temporarily to reduce acid and allow stomach irritation to go down. I went to a throat doctor who looked at the swelling in my throat and said to stay on the protonix and allow about three months for the swelling in my throat to go down (it takes some time for it to heal I guess), but the swelling was consistent with acid reflux flare up’s that get into the throat. I said above that I will be submitting to insurance for the sleeve, but I am still considering gastric bypass. Just not sure which is the better option for me.

I understand what your saying. Here's the thing, my doctor is fine with me doing the sleeve or the bypass. He says I am a candidate for both and he supports me with either decision. Granted I am dealing with some issues related to having the band, but I have been diagnosed with no actual issues. These are just concerns I have because I have read about so many different experiences that people have had here in these forums and I want their input. As of right now the sleeve has been determined by myself and my doctor. Nothing I said above has not been said to my doctor. The request is going to insurance next week. I'm just in the last days here where I need to finalize whether the insurance request will state sleeve or bypass.

Hi all, I having been lurking through these forums for some time, but now have a few questions. I will try to give a quick recap of my history and then get to my questions. I will post this in a few different areas of the forum so you may see it in other places. I got the lap band about 4 years ago at 375lbs. Lost maybe 35lbs from the band and another 50lbs from hard work, dedication, and about 1 ½ hours in the gym daily bringing me to 290. A lady in my doctor’s office (she is no longer working there) was giving me blind fills (they normally place us under the xray to see how we swallow and if we are too tight). Obviously I was too tight, had bad acid reflux one night, some went into my lungs. My doctor unfilled me a bit, I then went to NY for a month (I live in NC). Stomach was irritated and band slipped, went to ER in NY where they took all Fluid out. Went back home to my doctor, they had me unfilled for 4 months. Ravenous hunger and a little depression ensued and I gained weight back and plateaued at 324. Had a few other issues similar to the above where the band would get irritated causing pain/discomfort. The take away is that the band stopped working, I am still at 324 and about to have my info submitted to insurance for a revision to the sleeve. A more recent complication is where I said enough was enough with the band. The band can often cause pressure in the stomach/esophagus area causing acid reflux. I never have heartburn, but one night it appears I had “silent” acid reflux which cause swelling in the back of my tongue and voice box. The swelling was very weird, at times I would be sleeping and how I was breathing would irritate it and I would wake up with that area quivering/shaking (this has since gone away). I get the lump in my throat feeling ever so often. Doctor put me on protonix temporarily to reduce acid and allow stomach irritation to go down. I went to a throat doctor who looked at the swelling in my throat and said to stay on the protonix and allow about three months for the swelling in my throat to go down (it takes some time for it to heal I guess), but the swelling was consistent with acid reflux flare up’s that get into the throat. So here are some questions and concerns: 1.If I didn’t lose much with band, is the sleeve the best option? I would feel like all hope is lost if I went through with the sleeve surgery and lost 30lbs and nothing more. I would be heart broken. I am very active and very dedicated, not lazy by any means, but to go through this again and not have the surgery meet me half way would be difficult to deal with. I eat healthy and exercise, people in the weight loss office can’t even believe I weigh 324lb because I don’t look it. I have a high muscle mass, but none of that helps when it’s hiding under fat. 2.I’m concerned that if I have acid issues now (never have in the past other than a couple instances of late eating and band being too tight as stated above) is the sleeve the best option? The gastric bypass literally bypasses any acid reflux issues, but the doctor has not said I have acid reflux issues. Could the protonix be masking any symptoms that could come back post-surgery? Doctor also said I could go either way, sleeve or bypass. He said that because I was “successful” with the band that the sleeve would be a good option, but it was up to me. He supports me in whatever I decide. 3.Will the lump in my throat go away? I attribute this to the band as I have heard similar stuff from those who have been banded. One woman said anytime food passed through the band into the stomach it would spasm. It could also be from the swelling in my throat. Just curious is anyone ever had a “lump in throat” that went away after having the band removed. 4.For a while I thought I had anxiety. I had tightness in my chest, lump in my throat, tightness in my throat, etc… I started getting anxious thinking I had anxiety; I’ve never been that type of person. Then I had this idea that it might be the band. As soon as he took out the fill from the band the tightness in my chest went away. I still get tightness in my throat/lump in my throat which I know can be attributed to anxiety, but the throat doctor also said that I have the swelling in my voice box/throat/back of tongue. So I’m thinking that is the reason for the tightness. Anyone ever deal with this or something similar? Here is a good explanation of this: http://www.doctoroz....-lump-my-throat . As a side note, the doctor wanted to fill the band to check for a port leak and when he did, almost immediately, the tightness in my chest and throat came back. So if anyone who reads this is dealing with a similar thing, do not worry. Talk to your doctor. 5.Because it is common for those with band-to-sleeve surgery to not experience the weight loss as those who get the sleeve first, might the bypass be a wiser choice for me? I’m not asking you to predict my future, just your thoughts on the matter. Why would you choose sleeve over bypass? Etc… This will be it for now, but as we discuss I will definitely have more questions. Thank you all for your help. I do appreciate any feedback and input you might have. I have twins coming in July, will have surgery before and I want to get the best option for me. Just worried I might have the same results with the sleeve as I did with the band. The band did not meet me half way.

Hi all, I having been lurking through these forums for some time, but now have a few questions. I will try to give a quick recap of my history and then get to my questions. I will post this in a few different areas of the forum so you may see it in other places. I got the lap band about 4 years ago at 375lbs. Lost maybe 35lbs from the band and another 50lbs from hard work, dedication, and about 1 ½ hours in the gym daily bringing me to 290. A lady in my doctor’s office (she is no longer working there) was giving me blind fills (they normally place us under the xray to see how we swallow and if we are too tight). Obviously I was too tight, had bad acid reflux one night, some went into my lungs. My doctor unfilled me a bit, I then went to NY for a month (I live in NC). Stomach was irritated and band slipped, went to ER in NY where they took all Fluid out. Went back home to my doctor, they had me unfilled for 4 months. Ravenous hunger and a little depression ensued and I gained weight back and plateaued at 324. Had a few other issues similar to the above where the band would get irritated causing pain/discomfort. The take away is that the band stopped working, I am still at 324 and about to have my info submitted to insurance for a revision to the sleeve. A more recent complication is where I said enough was enough with the band. The band can often cause pressure in the stomach/esophagus area causing acid reflux. I never have heartburn, but one night it appears I had “silent” acid reflux which cause swelling in the back of my tongue and voice box. The swelling was very weird, at times I would be sleeping and how I was breathing would irritate it and I would wake up with that area quivering/shaking (this has since gone away). I get the lump in my throat feeling ever so often. Doctor put me on protonix temporarily to reduce acid and allow stomach irritation to go down. I went to a throat doctor who looked at the swelling in my throat and said to stay on the protonix and allow about three months for the swelling in my throat to go down (it takes some time for it to heal I guess), but the swelling was consistent with acid reflux flare up’s that get into the throat. So here are some questions and concerns: If I didn’t lose much with band, is the sleeve the best option? I would feel like all hope is lost if I went through with the sleeve surgery and lost 30lbs and nothing more. I would be heart broken. I am very active and very dedicated, not lazy by any means, but to go through this again and not have the surgery meet me half way would be difficult to deal with. I eat healthy and exercise, people in the weight loss office can’t even believe I weigh 324lb because I don’t look it. I have a high muscle mass, but none of that helps when it’s hiding under fat J I’m concerned that if I have acid issues now (never have in the past other than a couple instances of late eating and band being too tight as stated above) is the sleeve the best option? The gastric bypass literally bypasses any acid reflux issues, but the doctor has not said I have acid reflux issues. Could the protonix be masking any symptoms that could come back post-surgery? Doctor also said I could go either way, sleeve or bypass. He said that because I was “successful” with the band that the sleeve would be a good option, but it was up to me. He supports me in whatever I decide. Will the lump in my throat go away? I attribute this to the band as I have heard similar stuff from those who have been banded. One woman said anytime food passed through the band into the stomach it would spasm. It could also be from the swelling in my throat. Just curious is anyone ever had a “lump in throat” that went away after having the band removed. For a while I thought I had anxiety. I had tightness in my chest, lump in my throat, tightness in my throat, etc… I started getting anxious thinking I had anxiety; I’ve never been that type of person. Then I had this idea that it might be the band. As soon as he took out the fill from the band the tightness in my chest went away. I still get tightness in my throat/lump in my throat which I know can be attributed to anxiety, but the throat doctor also said that I have the swelling in my voice box/throat/back of tongue. So I’m thinking that is the reason for the tightness. Anyone ever deal with this or something similar? Here is a good explanation of this: http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/jonathan-e-aviv-md-facs/i-have-lump-my-throat . As a side note, the doctor wanted to fill the band to check for a port leak and when he did, almost immediately, the tightness in my chest and throat came back. So if anyone who reads this is dealing with a similar thing, do not worry. Talk to your doctor. Because it is common for those with band-to-sleeve surgery to not experience the weight loss as those who get the sleeve first, might the bypass be a wiser choice for me? I’m not asking you to predict my future, just your thoughts on the matter. Why would you choose sleeve over bypass? Etc… This will be it for now, but as we discuss I will definitely have more questions. Thank you all for your help. I do appreciate any feedback and input you might have. I have twins coming in July, will have surgery before and I want to get the best option for me. Just worried I might have the same results with the sleeve as I did with the band. The band did not meet me half way.

My pre-op diet begins September 6th and my surgery is September 20th. I love smoothies and Soups so the liquid diet is not that big of an issue for me. Plus, I eat a lot of soup in the fall months, so this is all perfect timing. I will mainly be doing smoothies, soups, SF posicles, and the like. My doctor said I can take soups that are chunky and puree them, as long as they are low in calorie and fat and have no chunks that the body would have to break down and digest.

Hi everyone, I personally have stuck with what is available at GNC. I have some issues with trusting larger stores and the quality of the products they carry, so I stay with GNC. I currently have the Isopure and the GNC Amp. I use the Isopure Vanilla to mix with my morning smoothies because on its own, it does not taste that great, but mixing with juice and fruit really helps to mask the taste while giving me the nutrients I need. I use the GNC Amp chocolate and cookies and cream for dinner. Pay attention to the servings when you look at the nutritional ingredientes. GNC Amp shows the nutrition info for three scoops where Isopure shows it for only one scoop and they are comparable. With these two, I really have no interest in any other protein mixes. Hope this helps!