Where Do I Fit In?

[Katie713 423]

Deb....glad to hear you're in the healing mode. So glad I didn't get the band, never heard of the sleeve procedure until I was referred to the bariatric program with Kaiser. Kaiser doesn't even do lapband anymore. I know deep in my heart the sleeve is right for me and that I can reach a healthy weight with this tool.

[lessofmeismore 1,405]

Welcome aboard Deb! My thoughts and prayers are with you on your journey! I'm glad you found this forum!

[DebInAZ 76]

Welcome aboard Deb! My thoughts and prayers are with you on your journey! I'm glad you found this forum!

Thanks for the warm welcome

[DebInAZ 76]

Deb....glad to hear you're in the healing mode. So glad I didn't get the band, never heard of the sleeve procedure until I was referred to the bariatric program with Kaiser. Kaiser doesn't even do lapband anymore. I know deep in my heart the sleeve is right for me and that I can reach a healthy weight with this tool.

I can not imagine why they still offer in most places this awful band...It was supposed to be a forever thing, but in most cases its not. I don't know anyone who is happy with it. Thanks for your encouraging words Katie713

[Katie713 423]

Deb...how are you feeling since surgery? When you had your band were you still feeling restriction, and what is the reason you decided to do a revision to sleeve, were there obvious complications you were aware of or did you find out only after your intended revision surgery?

Hope you recover quickly and move forward with your new healthy lifestyle changes. I am very happy that Kaiser required a 12 week program and we were expected to lose 10% of our body weight before surgery would be approved. We had classes once a week (a group of about 25) one week with the behavioral therapist and a week with the nutritionist, back and forth. We had tons of educational material and were put on calorie restriction and required food logs. This helped set the tone for WLS and to get in the mode of monitoring what we took in. For 4 weeks I was on 1400-1600 calories, then 4 weeks on 1200-1400, and 1200 afterward. I delayed surgery for personal reasons, so stayed on 1200 calories for 3 additional months after our classes finished up. It wasn't that hard...I found that if I ate plenty of salad with my regular meals and a huge navel orange at lunch, I felt really full without all the calories. I can hardly believe how little I can eat now with the sleeve, but I am eating quality food - lots of fish and veggies, dairy and Protein shakes and Protein Bars like Atkins because they are low carb and delicious.

Have you had time to think about what strategy you will use during this time before your revision?

[DebInAZ 76]

I feel great since surgery, my band was in for 7yrs. about a year and a half ago my band failed, which I know now that it eroded, since then I have had no restriction and unfortunately gained my weight back. Man it came back fast, when your body is used to a small amt of calories and then you give it more....well you know what I mean. I also discovered this year that I have diabetes, so far diet controlled and I also have HTN. I started looking into getting this band fixed about 6months ago when I just felt awful all the time and my stomach was always tight and I constantly had a bloated feeling I knew something wasn't right, that's when I found out about the gastric sleeve. I am a nurse and never heard of it?? so I started to research the sleeve and decided that it was for me. I decided on my Dr. and then sched. the revision. My Dr. is Jose Rodriguez out of Juarez,MX. When he got in there he found that my erosion was only to the outside of my stomach...BUT!! I had a lot of inflammation, mucus filled my abdominal cavity and the outside of my stomach was mushy, so he could not go forward with the sleeve. When I woke up and he told me I was very lucky that they had discovered this as it could have been disastrous, and that he felt that my body had rejected the band from the beginning, also I have to wait 6months for the revision. I was devastated! first of all that was my worst nightmare that I would wake up without the sleeve and then to realize how lucky I was to be alive after what he told me. My lifestyle has already changed for the better, I feel good and that' s a blessing, also since finding out about the diabetes I have cut out all simple sugars and my diabetes so far is in control, I haven't lost any weight to speak of I go down 5lbs and then just go back up 5lbs. such a roller coaster, I am trying to take control of my calorie intake and take off a few pds before my surgery in December. I stayed in control of my weight when I had restriction with the band so that's why I have gravitated to the sleeve and believe the idea of removing the band and getting the sleeve virtually saved my life. Oh by the way I'm from Calif. originally, I was born in San Diego, was raised in Fullerton, then raised my family in the Lake Arrowhead area for 25yrs., then in 2000 moved to the white mountains in beautiful Arizona.....Keep in touch...Deb

[DebInAZ 76]

I want to put a shout out to any local yokals here in the great state of Arizona to contact me, I would love to hear from you, be able to talk to and get to know sleevers and revisionistas here! anyone?

[Katie713 423]

I'm an L.A. girl - born and raised in So Cal....but I love Arizona...so beautiful.

Glad you are doing well since surgery and getting your diabetes under control. I'm sure you will have a much better outcome with your sleeve. The restriction is sooooo great. I feel full easily and it keeps me in check.