Band to Sleeve and other questions!

[al1234 4]

I lost trust with respect to bariatric doctors. There is an article that supports what may happen to you after getting banded.

With that being said the lap band was suppose to be so great and look. So when they offered the sleeve , lol absolutely not so in 4-5 years from now when all hell brakes loose with the sleeve what next?

So I hired a nutritionist , trainer, and chiropractor. All of those people are covered under my insurance. I'm going to do it a different kind of way. I know people with the sleeve who have gained all their weight back.

[drewr 1]

Just one question, how did you find a trainer, who take medical insurance?

[al1234 4]

BCBS a program for their members.

[drewr 1]

Thank you

[bandproblems 10]

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.

I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of Soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.

The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.

My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.

I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.

I will keep you updated.

[bandproblems 10]

Well, my band was removed after almost exactly 4 years and 120 lbs weight loss. Since the insurance did not cover the conversion I decided to do just the removal.

I had the surgery last Wednesday around 8 am and was back home around 1 pm. I only ate some Soup that day and a few chips. It was an amazing feeling being able to actually eat a cup of soup and having it go down without having to vomit it all out again.

The next day I already ate some solids. The third day a regular Breakfast and lunch. Amazing.

My stomach and belly were pretty sore for the first 3 days, especially when sitting down, getting up and eating. I also had a lot of issues using the restroom (urinary and bowel retention are very common after anesthesia) but it is getting back to almost normal.

I realize I will probably gain some weight back but I will try to keep it to 10-15 lbs. I plan on continuing eating only half portions in restaurants and no more than 6-8 oz at home. Hopefully my willpower will be enough. I definitely do not want to get anywhere close to my old weight.

I will keep you updated.

It have gained 5 or 6 pounds in the last 2 weeks but that is o.k.

I is just so much joy being able to eat real food again after years of misery. I realize I will need to control my food intake but even if I eat half portions from what is commonly served it is probably still twice of what I used to eat with my band and the restriction. I am not sure if the enlarged esophagus caused less of the food and nutrients to be absorbed but eventually the food must have ended up in the stomach. I went from maybe 2 bowel movements per week to daily which indicates more food. Many friends and colleagues have commented that I look so much better (happier) even though they do not know about my procedure.

[iamshazza 41]

Sounds like you are doing alright that's good. I'm sure adjusting is hard...

I'm starting the process to see if I can get the band out and revision to sleeve. My first appointment is today. I've only ever lost at most about 55 pounds with the band. Currently I'm down about 40 pounds from my original pre-band weight.

I've had so many issues over the last several months and the last 2.5 weeks was the about all I could take. I was in a lot of pain because my band became irritated and I guess swollen and so I was too tight. Just BOOM for no apparent reason one morning I woke up and couldn't keep anything down. I had to go in TWICE in 2 days to have Fluid out of the band. Everything hurt including liquids, but at least I was able to get it down. It took close to a week and now I'm back to being able to eat again and I've felt hunger for the first time in the last 2 weeks.

So normally the cycle would just start again. Fill, unfill, fill, unfill, fill....I'm over the game. Even though this whole revision surgery is scary to me. I'm just going to see what happens if I don't get a fill. If I don't start gaining weight because I don't have enough restriction. It will take about 3 months to go through the program - which insurance requires me to do. So it will be into the new year before I'm finished. Then they will have to re-check to see if anything with my insurance changed from this year. As it stands I have to do the program, show supervised or unsupervised WL efforts and then they will decide if they will cover the revision. My BMI is still plenty high. So I hope they will cover it. If not...then I will just stick with the band and see what happens. I know if I have it out and no revision it will be a disaster.

[al1234 4]

I know the feeling I'm free of that thing and on my way back to great health. I have a dietician , trainer, and my will. This is much better. I don't want any other weight loss operation only to find out in 4 years that too was a mistake. I'm over it. I'm a size 12 dress loose 14 pant 5'8 and trying to get to A size 8 dress 10 loose pant.