S L.

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I had my revision on September 8th and it was better than expected. We were worried that the bad did a lot of damage and caused a lot of scaring.

My surgeon Dr. Amy Neville was very positive in what she had found during the surgery and she therefore was able to do the sleeve at the same surgery.

After a last conversation before surgery I proposed to get a bigger Bougie size to my surgeon because this statistically would have a higher likelihood to avoid GERD as well as leakage.

My surgeon agreed and suggested 44F instead of the most commonly used 32F size of Bougie. And I am glad we did. I still feel full just after a few spoons and this will not change too much over time that it would concern me. Also I do not have to loose as much as many others. So I am very happy with my decision.

The only trouble I had was extreme nausea right after surgery and for the next two days after. Now not anymore.

Pain was very manageable and I am very happy to say that I felt is was way easier than I had expected especially since I am suffering from Lupus. 

After 8 days I am feeling very well now, still not 100 % but better every day.

In this first week after surgery I have lost 7 pounds. But I told myself that I do not want to be the slave of my scale so I put it away and only plan to use it again when I am into my next smaller jean-size.

I am happy so far and do not regret for a second that I converted to a sleeve. I am super happy to have the band out for which I had paid $18,500 ..... should have bought a nice little car for that money. My health problems caused by the band had been very debilitating at times. Not only permanent pain, vomiting, damage to my esophagus muscle function and a hernia but also an increase in Asthma to the degree of permanent coughing with blood and mucus discharge. And last but not least horrific GERD. 

All of this because of my lapband. If there would be a class action law suite taking place against all lapband companies I would join !!!

I was very sick again the first 6 months of 2013 and had to start taking heavy medication again. Was confied to my bed most of the first 6 months of 2013 .... got to a weight of 254 and stated my HCG Dr. Simeon program again and lost down to 219 but am up and down in a range between 219 to 229 for the last year.

I finally could see my Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Christou in Montreal. He told me he does not support the lapband anymore and had at least 50% of patients  with problems, lots f problem. The same I have like esophagus inflammation and constant pain, reflux, stabbing shoulder pain, vomiting, breathing problem and even asthma. As well as corrosion of the band into the stomach.

So he highly suggested that I get it removed, also since I have to watch my weight anyways without the help f the band and have to have it open all the time because of my Lupus and the medication. But he is retired and only could do the surgery privately which would cost me at least another $12000.

I got his report and went to my family doctor and just got an appointment with the bariatric surgeon at the Ottawa hospital for a consultation. I really hope I get it removed as soon as possible after being told that it might take at least 2 years of waiting on the list.

 Today is the 02 of November 2011.

I got over my Lupus flare and since I had the band to be opened I gained, went up to 253 lbs.
I got my band tightened again but did not lose and decided to not go that route again.
After doing research I decided to do Doctor Simeons "Pounds and Inches" protocol.

I am down to 232 lbs and after 3 more weeks on maintenance I will go for a 2nd round
and hope to lose me next 20 pounds.

Will see how it will work.

I do not regret to have gotten the lap-band because it was the solution at the time and gave me the boost I needed to get back on my feet BUT  I will now try to regulate my weight and health with going back to healthy eating as Dr Simeons promotes through his protocol.

SO the bottom line is that the band does not work for me anymore and I have to go back by controlling my weight through changes in my diet again.

You all have a great day.

My weight history below shows my progress and on the bottom is my latest weight:

I am 175 cm / 5.74"
Jul. in 2004 - 136 kg - 299.2 (that was before my sugery)
Surgery was on 
Oct. 27 2004 - 130 kg - 286 pounds
Nov. 10 2004 - 122 kg - 268.4
Nov. 24 2004 - 117 kg - 257.4
Dec. 03 2004 - 120 kg - 264
Dec. 11 2004 - 118 kg - 259.6
Dec. 25 2004 - 116 kg - 255.2
Jan. 02 2005 - 119 kg - 261.8
Apr. 09 2005 - 109 kg - 239.8
Jun. 18 2005 - 109 kg (went up and down again)
Aug. 06 2005 - 105 kg - 231
Dec. 11 2005 - 105 kg - 231 
Dec. 31 2006 -   95 kg  - 209
Sep.04 2007  -   90 kg  - 198
Sep.27 2008  -   86 kg -  189.2 
Nov.17 2009  -   86 kg - 189.2
Jun. 21 2010 -  109 kg -  239.8
Oct.  01 2011 -  115kg   - 253
Nov.  02 - 2011  -  105kg  - 232
April 01- 2014    -  99.5 kg - 219
May  05 - 2014   - 105 kg   - 232
August 29 - 2014-             -  241

Sep 08/14       - Gastric Sleeve Surgery - revision

Sep 16/14      -  222