The Yellow Brick Road to Weight Loss

[virtualgirl 0]

Hello everyone ~ I am new to the board as well. I am a few months into the journey and making the decision on lap band vs. sleeve. RNY is not an option in my book...the whole re-routing and malabsorption freaks me out. I started the process with Kaiser Mid-Atlantic in July and attended my first WLS class in August and first WLS seminar in September and a second one last week. Under Kaiser Mid-Atlantic and my plan, I have to go through 6 months of NUT appointments that includes 2 gastric bypass surgery classes, attend 2 WLS seminars and a host of test, plus losing 3% of current body weight. I have actually completed all of the tests and the mandatory 2 seminars. I have one more NUT session and then the referral goes before the approving board and then I get to meet with the surgeon that will be performing the surgery. At last check, the surgeon is backed up about 4 months, so I'm thinking my surgery will be in the Spring, which is okay with me. I am leaning more towards the sleeve as someone else mentioned the lap band as a foreign object, the port and the need to have the fills performed. Plus from my research and attending the seminars, it is not the best option for me as I am a big sweet eater; since I don't want RNY, hesitation towards the lap band, the sleeve seems to be the only other viable option.

I am 41 and have been fairly overweight most of life, but definitely obese/morbidly obese since my late twenties/early thirties. I have asthma (a fairly recent development) but fairly healthly for a fat girl, but I question how long will that last with a family history of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, cardiac disease and osteoarthritis (which is currently my only problem).

I am married with a 15 year son. My husband is supportive 99.5% of the time. The actual process freaks him out, but he tries really hard to give and show support. So I give him props for that.

The driving force for my decision is age and the potential for more critical health issues. So here I am on my yellow brick road towards a healthier me.

I look forward to sharing and receiving support and advice. Good luck to you all on this journey to a new, improved you.

[Becca 108]

WELCOME-Congrats on your journey to get well! As far as which surgery to get, I have not been successful with my lapband and I am having it removed and switched over to the sleeve next week. Many others on the forum have had revisions as well. One thing that I really noticed about sleeve patients is how truly happy they are. This forum is so supportive because most everyone is experiencing success. With the band, there are so many different issues that can go wrong. Plus, you have a 85% chance of having some sort of corrective surgery within ten years. I really wish I would have known about the sleeve three and 1/2 years ago when I had the band. Had I known, I would have NEVER had that thing put in my body. I will be happy to talk with you more after I have my surgery. Good luck with everything! : )

[wannalise 15]

Welcome aboard!!!! It really is a journey and it is great that you understand that already. I was with you on the bypass thing, and I am still very grateful for my choice. I have friends who have had both surgeries and when we go to birthday parties and I eat part of a piece of cake and don't feel sick from it and they end up with severe dumping, and remember why I made the choice that I did.

Take this time to prepare yourself mentally, it is really a trip mentally, and most days its very managable and amazing, but there are times especially in those first couple of months that can take an emotional toll. My boyfriend was initially unsure about me having the surgery, as he knew people who had the surgery, did not follow surgeons advice and then regained weight, but still had to deal the rest of their lives with forever altered body. He has since become my biggest cheerleader! I hope the same for you. Hang in there and keep on posting, there are some excellent supporters here, and if nothing else there will be someone who knows exactly what you are talking about.

Best of luck!

Anna

[virtualgirl 0]

Wannalise and Becca ~ thanks for the encouragement.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

Welcome!!!

I always love to see some new posters around, as our family grows we get ever tighter and tighter here

I am also a revision from band to sleeve. If I had to go over it again, I never would have even given the band a second thought to be perfectly honest. It is much too easy to cheat and way to hard to lose with it. I never found the elusive "sweet spot" that so many rave about and ended up feeling defeated and like a total failure.

Ever since being sleeved, and going in this with a whole different view than when I was banded, I know I'll be successful in the end! I'm not losing as fast as many here, but I Celebrate every pound and am enjoying the differences already! I'm fitting clothes I haven't fitted in since I was first banded, and now those same clothes are starting to fit a little loose!!! Yeah!!! Very soon I will be wearing clothes even smaller and I'm very close to my "Less than my lowest band weight" goal!!

Enjoy your time here. Everyone is always very helpful and supportive. You will likely learn more here from those of us who are already sleeved, and many others here who are at goal, than you will from your own Doctor! That is because we are the ones going through the real experience.

However, it is always best to follow your Surgeons advice if you are ever conflicted.

All the best to you, and I believe you will do excellent!!

I love my sleeve!!!

[chilo1 62]

Welcome!! You will love your sleeve and you are making the right desicion, especially having a family history of all those obesity related diseases. I am 41 like you, I have 3 children and have been sleeved nearly 5 months ago. Good luck on your journey, this forum has been a Godsend to me!

[MRSKOUBiK 27]

Welcome!

I was all about the band until I really researched the sleeve based on a comment my nut made.

I was sleeved December 20th.

[klus263 9]

Welcome. I was considering the band when I went to my first seminar. I never considered the sleeve as my insurance did not allow for it at that time. When I went in for my first consultation, he recommended the sleeved as insurance had just approved the procedure. I freaked all the way home and did some major research. The more and more I read, I knew it was the right decision for me. My husband was very supportive and he is now going through his requirements and we hope to have him sleeve in the spring.

My family history has both maternal grandparents on multiple diabetic shots daily, my mother on pills. Strokes and heart attacks on both side, knee replacement, back issues, I have mild breathing issues and non alcoholic liver disease (fatty liver disease). Since surgery, I have already stopped my diabetic pills and will have my cholestral medication reviewed in a few months.

This was the best decision, I ever did. Good luck. You will be so happy you did it.