2.5 months out with Sleeve (x-post)

Thank you!!!  I sure hope you continue to do well low-carbing it!!

You look awesome. I just revised to sleeve 2 weeks ago and so far I love it. I was pretty fortunate that I had dilation and then and EGD discovered that I had a slipped band. I was not in any pain. I actually thought it was time for a fill when I started getting hungry more often. My band was so fickle but it just became a way of life. Like many others, sometimes the band would be loose and sometimes tight. Slimming was normal. It feels so good not to have any of that. I had surgery just two weeks ago and am already down 20 lbs. This really is what I thought the band was going to be all about. I lost 65 lbs with the band and FOUGHT for every pound lost. I can't wait to be 2.5 months out and record my progress. I hit wonderland a few days ago and it is AWESOME.

That's so great!!!  I know what you mean by being glad that the band is out.  It IS very nice to have a predictable day, for once.  I never worry IF I can eat, I just plan out what I WILL eat.    I wish you much success with your sleeve!

Hi Melly!  I have to make a decision soon.  I have a slipped band.  I didn't have much trouble with it before.  I ate a piece of bread that got stuck 2 years out, and had an unfill, then I never really got back to the sweet spot.  My doc changed the nurse that did the fills during all of this and the new lady was very conservative.  She was always afriad that she was going to make my band slip.  Well, it did anyway back in November.  The band hasn't really worked that well since the first unfill.  I have slowly gained back 50 of the 110 that I lost with the band over the last two years.

I went to a seminar at a new doc.  Old doc is now out of network.  He thinks I should reposition the band and use the tool I have.  I would like to do this if it will work.  However, I am worried it may slip again.  Any info you could give me to inform me, I would appreciate. 

How long were you in the hospital?  Did you have a lot of pain?  How long were you off work? These are just a few of my questions.  I also worry that it is a relatively new procedure, so there is little data on long-term effects.  Do you have any info about that?  Sorry to ask so many questions.  I just want to be as informed as I can, and I want to make the right decision.

Thanks, Melly, and congratulations on the success.  You look marvelous!

Hi there Sally! 

I am sorry to hear about your multiple slips.  UGH.  I know how heartbreaking it can be, and how easy it is to feel like a failure at this.  Let me preface this by saying that this is MY story.  There are others on this board that have been very successful, even after a slip.

For me, my first surgeon never placed the band correctly.  I didn't know that, of course.  I had 3 fills and was very well restricted.  I was losing weight slow, but that's my body, unfortunately.  About 1.5 years out my life got VERY stressful.  Dissolving marriage, crisis in my personal finances, etc.  My stress level was very high, so when I started having reflux and trouble eating, I figured it was just the inevetible tightness when I was very upset. 

Even with taking some saline out, this did not resolve.  I had a new surgeon to take care of me at this point, and he diagnosed a slip.  I had to have surgery to reposition the band.  This surgeon (my current one) is excellent and he sutured the band in very well and took my fills very slow.  Between the complete unfill, surgery and the YEAR it took to get my restriction back, I had regained 50 pounds.  I battled and lost about 20 of that, by working my patooty off.  Seriously...I fought for every single pound. 

My band wasn't filled very full, I had 3.5 CC's in my 10 CC band, but it started being extremely fickle.  My band was always fickle, but it was truly getting ridiculous.  I found that almost daily, I would end up not being able to eat healthy lean meats or veggies.  It didn't matter how moist and small the bites were, it just gave me pain and sat in my pouch.  I didn't slime or PB that often, but at this point I gave up.  I was 4 years out from my original surgery and almost 2 years out from my revision.  I had turned to slider foods and just stayed frustrated.  I went in to see my surgeon to get some saline out.  I talked to him about how my restriction fluctuated so much that it was impossible to plan out and stay on a good diet. 

He said that he knew I had gave it my best and would see if I could get a revision.  Neither one of us thought my insurance would approve the request, but they did.    When he did the revision, he confirmed that my band was not slipped and that there wasn't a huge amount of scar tissue (most likely because he got a lot of it when he repositioned the band).  It's just a case of the band not getting along with my physiology.  Happens to a lot of people.  He doesn't even think the band will be offered 5-10 years from now. 

I really love my sleeve.  I have to work just as hard with my sleeve as I did my band, but the huge difference is I know I can eat what I plan out.  So, it's up to me to plan out healthy. low-carb foods for the day.  Good luck to you!!

 Thanks for the info, Melly.  Just to clarify, I have only had the one band slip.  I did have a couple of unfills because of being too tight though.  I don't regret getting the band.  It worked for me, but it did not take my to my goal.    I hate the thought of having two surguries, if my band slips again.  

Does the doc think you will make it all the way to your goal with the sleeve?  They never promised me 100% loss of my excess weight.  They just said 80-100 pounds, which I surpassed a little at 110.  I have regained 50, but if I can get the same 80-100 pounds if they reposition the band, I will be at goal since I am starting at a lower weight than I did the first time.  I just don't want to fail!  

I don't know why the sleeve and the staples frighten me a little.  I need to hear more stories from you sleevesters!  I am sorry, but bandsters sounds much cooler than sleevesters!  LOL.

Thanks again, and best wishes for your continued success! 

LOL Well, we call ourselves Sleevers or Sleeve Sisters. 

My surgeon said that in a year, I should lose 60% of my excess weight.  Then he promptly told me what his goal was for me, and that was to lose 100% of my excess weight. 

Honestly, I am not sure if my body will EVER, EVER get down to the numbers he is going off of.  (BMI charts), but my goal will be no longer overweight in my eyes.  My perspective changes, so I don't know what the number will be.  So, I am starting with getting down to 150. 

I was also a bit uneasy about the staple lines, etc....but I came through just fine.  I am very glad I did it!!