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I went into my Doctor last week and then in for an Upper GI, only to find out that my band had slipped.  I was terrified of not having anything and gaining weight.  I didn't think I had any other option given that my Lap Band was self pay since my insurance at that time wouldn't cover the surgery.  After my Doctors assistant did some in depth calling to my new insurance, she found out that they would pay to have the band removed and an alternative procedure.  She said that the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy would be my other option. Would love to hear opinions on the vertical sleeve gastrectomy and how others have done with that procedure. What was your recovery time and did you have to stay in the hospital for a day?

Thanks!

Went in for my second fill since the first one didn't seem to do anything.  This was the first time that I bled from the poke.  It stopped right away though.  I got a bruise this time too.  I lost 3.6 more pounds.  I was afraid that maybe I had gained...but I didn't!

Question...the past couple of days it seems like I am having heartburn.  I don't know if it's from the coffee I drank today or if it's something else.  Still...I am having a hard time gauging my fills.  How do I know when it's enough saline?  My doc says that I am doing good at it...but I can't help but feel that maybe what I am experiencing during the fill is not really what I should be looking for.  Any advice would be appreciated.

Just trying to keep a positive attitude until I go in again for a fill on Thursday!  I will say that I am happy about having measured myself yesterday.  Was a bit surprised!  I have lost 4.5 inches off of my waist.  Didn't do any other measuring...but was happy with that!

I'm getting on OH much less.  Been battling with what I think is Chronic Fatigue.  I really don't know what is going on.  I go a couple weeks with feeling well, and then I get the same sore throat, swollen glands and low grade fever.  I am dealing with the sore throat right now.  I am so tired of getting sick!  I have been taking my vitamins etc. like I should...just think it all boils down to Chronic Fatigue/Adrenal Fatigue.  I am supposed to hear from my doctor tomorrow so that we can discuss what I need to do.

Looking forward to my fill though, and have gotten several compliments from people I haven't seen for awhile regarding my weight loss.

I had my first Fill today.  I was all nervous about going, and imagining all these horrible things.  It was actually my Doctors Physicians Assistant that did my Fill, and I actually loved the guy.  So funny and really made you feel comfortable.

I can't believe that I didn't even feel the needle go in.  The only thing that I felt was a little sting from the stuff that he put on the site to help clean it.  I was amazed!!  I am going to have him do it from now on! 

He ended up putting 1.9cc in today, and told me if I needed more...to just give him a call and I could go back in.

Whew!!!  I am glad it went without any glitches!!!

I haven't been on in awhile.  Maybe I am avoiding it because I have had a difficult 2 weeks!  When I first got on OH I remember reading blogs where people were having a lot of difficulty sticking to things.  I used to tell myself that I never would let myself slide.  Well.......I am in that catagory now.

I am a sugar addict and have had the worst 2 weeks ever!!!  It started off slowly the first week and just allowing myself to still eat sugar has left me exactly where I was afraid of going.  I now feel like I am powerless when it comes to cutting the sweets out.

I know that ice cream is a real trigger for me.  Before the band, there were times when I used to get a quart of ice cream and eat it in the evenings.  It is definitely a comfort food for me, and that was the only thing that seemed to relieve the chaos in my head.  It's the only time that I ever take time to eat something slow.  It has been a huge obstacle ever since my Bulimic days!! 

I had been doing good the first 2 weeks...not really craving any sweets really.  I guess that first little piece of candy just threw me into the addiction once again. Then shortly after that it was "Maybe if I just got the TINY 1/2 c. of coffee ice cream" that would be okay.  Now, 3 times I have gotten 2 TINY 1/2 c. of coffee ice cream intending to keep one for another day, only to eat them both in one night!!!

I have been doing good about getting my protein in (or maybe not), so I thought...but if anyone has any suggestions on how to get me turned back around in the right direction, I could use the support.  I have gained 1 pound, and am really surprised that it's not more than that.  However, I know that the fat is getting in there! 

I do go in on Thursday to get my first Fill, but I know that the fill is not going to solve my problem!!!  Has anyone ever taken a vitamin supplement that helps cravings for sugar?

So I called my doctor yesterday to ask a few questions and was able to get in earlier than what I was told by someone else who worked there.  Now...I get my first fill on Thursday February 11th.  That eases some of the anxious feelings!

I am doing pretty good with my eating.  I occasionally have had some sweets...but not too much as it sometimes makes me feel sick!  I had a Sugar Free hard candy this afternoon and decided to have 2 more.  Well...talk about irritable bowel.  OMG!  At least that will keep me from eating too much sugar.  I try and stay away from it, but when you are a sugar addict...it's really hard.  So far...So good!  I am hoping to slowly cut it out of my diet or keep it to a tiny minimum.  If it seems to be hampering my weight loss...then I will have to try and cut it out completely!!

I have also been having a hard time with drinking all my water.  I need a big water bottle and haven't gotten one yet. 

Still trying to incorporate my exercise...but my treadmill will be making the move from my garage, upstairs to my apt. this weekend!  YEAH!!!

OK...Had to post so that I am accountable for myself.

I have had a little bit of a hard time the last couple of days!  I really have no restriction at all and have strayed off my path a bit.  Yesterday I broke down and ate a tiny size cup of coffee ice cream.  This morning I ate a thin slice of Banana Bread.  The banana bread went down a little slow, and I told myself I just can't do this again.  I think that I am restricting too many things...but I am not sure.  Sometimes I think I forget to eat because that's what I am used to doing...but other times I just grab something real quick and don't give myself the time I need to eat it slow.  I am feeling really hungry most of the time, and it concerns me that I have 3 more weeks to go before I get my first fill.  IS THIS BANDSTER HELL???  I am really really worried.  Plus...the 20 pounds I lost worries me.  I think it really came off too fast because of getting Strep Throat 5 days after surgery.  My appetite was sooooo low.  I got on the scale today and saw that I gained 2 pounds.  Poo....I hope the rest stays off. 

Would love some words of encouragement!!

Okay, I am 2 weeks Post Op now.  Starting to feel the restriction from the swelling disappearing!!  OMG!  Panic mode will be here soon!  I am eating a little more than what I did when I first started out...so it scares me.  I still hit a point at which my stomach says "enough", but have made the mistake of eating a bit too fast and not getting that feeling until it's too late.  Granted, I am not eating anywhere near the amount of food to call it overeating...but it still scares me!!

To top that off...I went to schedule my first Fill, and found out that my doctor is taking a vacation that week.  That means that now I have to wait 3 weeks instead of 2 weeks for that first Fill!!!  I am so upset!!  Patience is the ONE thing that I am thin on!!  This guy has takes more vacations than any doctor I know!

Hoping that I can get through this week okay, and keeping my fingers crossed for the 2 weeks after!

Just finally got the chance to get online to report on how my surgery went.  Everything moved so quickly once I got wheeled back to my room.  My mom and daughter came back for about 1/2 before they had to take me into the operating room.  Once I was in the room on the table they started to prepare me, and the next thing you know I wake up in recovery.  I don't even remember them telling me that they were injecting the anesthesia.  That kind of bothered me...but all went well. 

I actually felt pretty good for the first 12 hours after surgery.  Of coarse they wanted me to do the Spirometer every so often which made me cough.  That hurt to cough and even laugh!  After the anesthesia wore off is when I started getting miserable.  Like people have said in past blogs...you never realize all the muscles that it affects when you have surgery.  For a person who can tolerate pain pretty well...the pain was a little over threshold for me.  Thank god it's almost completely gone today.  Sleeping was the most difficult part to tackle, as I alway lay on my stomach.  Not going to be doing that for awhile.  I did the liquids for the first and second day.  Now I am doing low fat vanilla pudding, popcicles, and Baby Cereal.  YES...baby cereal.    It's really good.  Just mix it with skim milk and put a little splenda in it and it's great!  I have not felt that hungry at all, but I am sure once the swelling goes down...I may start feeling hungry!

Another thing that everyone was right about was the incision where the port was put.   That port incision is really tender!!  The others feel okay...just itchy.

I too had those moments of "what in the name of la di da, did I do".  But now I am doing good and don't regret it at all.

Thanks for all of your support!  I will be adding my before photos in the next couple of days.

Am scheduled to get my Lap Band on Jan. 11th and have been going through tons of posts...good and bad.  WOW...it's really overwhelming!!  I sure don't want to be one of the few that this doesn't work for!!  What are the chances of erosion of the belt?  How does this effect people emotionally....??? no one talks about that, only about having lost the weight.  Wish there were more people that could just be honest and tell everyone how they have coped with it.  Maybe they should have a forum about "Coping emotionally to the Lap Band".  I think there are people out there that have had the surgery even with a huge sweet tooth.  How in the world are they coping without the sugar?  What about compulsive overeaters...how are they coping emotionally?  Please...help me out here...I need honest takers on this one~