Lap Band removal surgery tomorrow...Encouragment Please!

[crustymouse23 4]

Hello!

Tomorrow I scheduled to get my lap band removed due to my dilated esophagus (it's double the size). My lowest was about 155 and right now I'm 170. I've managed to maintain my weight for the past 1.5 years and I was told that I was a "special" case because normally people who cant eat and dilated esophagus gain A LOT of weight, so it's great I've maintained. Like most who hear the news of their lap band removal, my heart dropped and could not stop thinking of the weight gain ESPECIALLY after learning I can't have the sleeve done until AFTER 1 year. Ugghhhh... My goal is to go on Belviq and pray I maintain while my esophagus shrinks.. Any pointers? suggestions? recipes...?

Some encouragement would be great right now!

[jstachic 61]

best of luck to you,speedy recovery

[crustymouse23 4]

best of luck to you,speedy recovery

Thank you!!

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

Bypass.

[Nana_Eba 6]

Don't worry you gonna be fine, today is my 1st sleeve anniversary I went through same procedure I had lap band for almost 3 years lost some little weight in the beginning then after couple of months nothing I was only gaining weight over the years until I decided to remove this horrible bottom I put in my stomach I converted to sleeve I was 250 pounds now I am 158 after 1 year. I feel like a new person now and u will feel the same trust me but major key for success that U MUST COMMIT TO THE PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTH, that's my only advise to u so ur body heals perfectly. If u committed to the program u will see magic results. Good luck and happy sleeve ????

[crustymouse23 4]

Bypass.

???

[crustymouse23 4]

Don't worry you gonna be fine, today is my 1st sleeve anniversary I went through same procedure I had lap band for almost 3 years lost some little weight in the beginning then after couple of months nothing I was only gaining weight over the years until I decided to remove this horrible bottom I put in my stomach I converted to sleeve I was 250 pounds now I am 158 after 1 year. I feel like a new person now and u will feel the same trust me but major key for success that U MUST COMMIT TO THE PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST 6 MONTH, that's my only advise to u so ur body heals perfectly. If u committed to the program u will see magic results. Good luck and happy sleeve ????

thank you very much!!! I can't get the sleeve for a year. Oh man, I'm definitely not looking forward to this.

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

A year???Dont worry time will go by fast...

[crustymouse23 4]

A year???Dont worry time will go by fast...

Thank you!! I know months are starting to feel like weeks now.

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

You are in preparation stage....:-)

[Nana_Eba 6]

After a year u will realize that this is the best thing happens to u in life...

[crustymouse23 4]

After a year u will realize that this is the best thing happens to u in life...

thank you!!!!

[NoMoBand 278]

After 5 years with band, I discovered that I had a dilated esophagus leading to revision. I was lucky enough that I didn't have extreme surgical scars or adhesions and the doctor was able to do both band removal and sleeve in one surgery.

Just the fact that you have been successful at maintaining your weight speaks volumes. You are obviously active with exercising and keeping the correct diet. Continue what you are doing after removal and you will be fine. Unless, there is a medical reason, I'll bet that your doctor will probably do the sleeve before 1 year. Most doctors will wait 3 - 6 months of healing from the band removal before sleeving. I'm a little surprised that you have to wait 1 year. I would ask more about the wait.

As far as my esophagus and healing, I am 7 months out and all my post-op appointments have gone well. Things must have gone back to normal with my esophagus because before discovering the dilated esophagus with band, I was able to eat much more with my band and doctor tells me that my esophagus was functioning as a 2nd stomach. 1/2 cup of anything that I eat is all I can handle, thus, I think my esophagus no longer is functioning as a 2nd stomach.

Some words of encouragement: Should you have to wait 1 year out, the wait will be worth it! I know that I repeat myself on most of my posts, but, here goes again, there is a HUGE difference between band and sleeve. The sleeve lifestyle is so much better, IMO. Hang in there, you will do fine. jake

[crustymouse23 4]

After 5 years with band, I discovered that I had a dilated esophagus leading to revision. I was lucky enough that I didn't have extreme surgical scars or adhesions and the doctor was able to do both band removal and sleeve in one surgery.

Just the fact that you have been successful at maintaining your weight speaks volumes. You are obviously active with exercising and keeping the correct diet. Continue what you are doing after removal and you will be fine. Unless, there is a medical reason, I'll bet that your doctor will probably do the sleeve before 1 year. Most doctors will wait 3 - 6 months of healing from the band removal before sleeving. I'm a little surprised that you have to wait 1 year. I would ask more about the wait.

As far as my esophagus and healing, I am 7 months out and all my post-op appointments have gone well. Things must have gone back to normal with my esophagus because before discovering the dilated esophagus with band, I was able to eat much more with my band and doctor tells me that my esophagus was functioning as a 2nd stomach. 1/2 cup of anything that I eat is all I can handle, thus, I think my esophagus no longer is functioning as a 2nd stomach.

Some words of encouragement: Should you have to wait 1 year out, the wait will be worth it! I know that I repeat myself on most of my posts, but, here goes again, there is a HUGE difference between band and sleeve. The sleeve lifestyle is so much better, IMO. Hang in there, you will do fine. jake

Jake, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your encouraging words!! I know it's going to be a tough year without the band, but it will be okay! In the beginning when he told me the band had to come out, I was completely devastated. The day of the surgery he finally answered my question directly in regards to getting a conversion... He said it doesn't matter if I gain, maintain the same weight etc, he would still do the sleeve on me regardless. This made me super happy and motivated me to keep trying to maintain atleast! I've heard way to many stories of people being denied a conversion after the removal but kaiser is different. It's the surgeon who makes the call. I did tell him the morning of I would be back in 6 months to check on my esophagus. His response was basically the same, sure come back and we'll check it out... But It won't matter. I'll still wait the year. SOB!!!! Oh well... What's a year for a life time of change? ????

[titan05 174]

I had my done same day- great decision as it works way better than the band