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Newbie to the site but pro of the process...

kimbeerly

Member
Hi, I am new to this site but I had a band in 2005 and a Revision to Bypass in 2008. I have had some complications and failures and successes. I can help with all kinds of questions.
Good luck to everyone currently in the process.
 
Hi kimbereely welcome to this room
sounds like you've been through alot yourself, can you tell a big difference since having the revision surgery. Does that mean you switched and had the "bariartric surgery and the lap band removed??? You sure loss the pounds "congratulations on that"
everybody say's you get your energy level back once you heal from surgery, is that due to not being allowed sugar and carbs and eating mostly protein? I would love to have more energy. I know that once i am no longer a diabetic after the surgery that itself should improve my energy level. Care to share more about your journey to rough patches and what caused you to re=do surgery? My son told me he wants lap band he weighs over 400 pounds the our primary dr said she recommeds gastric bypass over the band due to his size. I am seeing my surgeon on the 4th i want gastric bypass, have done all my pre-op test. I told my son let me finish this journey i have started and see how by body does and if you see what i am allowed to eat and think you can stick to the regiment then we will go through process for him too. He's 29 and has ocd issues & other health issues but his obesity is the most dangerous thing about his health especially with him being young.
Have a good day hope you enjoy this room, i found so many answers from this site and met so many wonderful people.
Have a good day
donna
 
What were your complications and why? Why the revision ? Did you lose weight before your first surgery? What can you tell me that you have learned to make the process go smoother? My first visit with doctor is June 14th, Im thinking about the sleeve but will of course follow his reccomendations.
 
Starting with the Band - the biggest question everyone has

Hi everyone, thank you so much for your responses.

So many people ask me all the time what happened with the Band? When I first got the band which was 2003 not 2005 need to change profile, it was the latest and greatest, it had only been approved for 6 months and it was the way everone was going. I had no problems with the surgery other than I started my monthy cycle and was bloated so they kept me an extra day. Six months later I had a glabladder attack and had it removed, they said it was very common.
With the band I lost about 30 lbs total, and it seemed like i was always choking or spitting up something, if you haven't had it yet you will understand this soon. I didn't like to go out to eat for fear that I would choke on something. It almost seemed like the things that they told me to eat are what made me choke the worst i.e. Chicken. Anything dry pretty much did it.
Eventually it was just easier to eat what would easily slide down the band. Wouldn't you know that was things like fried food, greasy stuff, Chocolate, ice cream... you get the idea. So I gained back what I lost plus a bit. I had several fills which were no big deal but made the choking worse. Durning the 5 years life just happened and I stayed fat.
When I decided to have a revision I went to several Dr's and was told a bunch of different things. Insurance woun't pay, if you couldn't make the band work what makes you think the bypass will? I recomend finding a Dr you like mine was great, but I hear now he is a big shot and not as easy to talk to. I loved one of his other Dr's any way.
So as far as the band goes, in my opinion it might be easier for people that are not as big or only want to lose a small amount of weight. For anyone who is really up there I recomend the Bypass. I am basing this on my experience and my friends that have gone through weight loss surgery as well. The way heavy people think about food is just different. I am not sure a thin person will ever understand. My dad also had an unsuccessful band and had a revision. I have several friends that have a band and while they did lose some weight, they are still heavy people.
I will answer anything just ask.
Kim
I am going to reply to the other questions seperately
 
Hi Donna,
My energy is through the roof. I was pretty active before but now no one can keep up. I think alot of it is the protein I notice a difference if I am low on protein.
I posted about my band seperate because I get so many questions on it.
For your son I am with the Dr. Bypass is the way to go. I wish I hadn't wasted that 5 years with the band. I would not change a day with the bypass. I even had 2 hernia's as complications that put me in the hospital for a week each.
I was 33 when I had the band.
I would suggest that the two of you do it together as much as possible, there is nothing like having someone that knows what you are going through and that helps keeps you moving in the right direction. It is kind of competitive.
With my bypass I got down to a size 14 and was super happy, then i was looking through the Victoria Secret catalog and there was nothing a size 14. I had always wanted something from there. I decided that would never do and decided to go into high gear. I had kinda been stuck at the same place for several months. My nice Dr said increase your activity get that heart rate up there.
I got a WII and ended up doing cardio Boxing starting with 15 min Mon-Fri I always took the weekend off. Very quickly I was doing 25-30 minutes per day and ended up doing advanced for 40 minutes, it was addicting. Anyway I started losing and never looked back weighing in at about 120 now for 2 years. Oh and just for a cherry on top. I don't exercise anymore EVER. I lose to much if I do.
I know anyone can do it. You jsut have to find that one thing that inspires you.
Now people tell me all the time there is no way that can be the same person.
Kim
 
kimbeerly so glad to hear your story. I had the rny in 2003 and in208 till now I am pretty much stuck at 200 lbs. It is starting to fluctuate beween 197 and 200. I follow all the pouch rules and after talking with my Dr. he has explained that a medication I take causes weight gain. guess I should be thankful that I am not gaining any weight. I know I am within 37 lbs of my goal weight I look in the mirror a d all I see is old fat woman. I di have and esteem problem surrounding my weight and I don't havethe money to go out and buy new clothes. would love to hear fro you patti
 
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