Cleo's Mom

@@cute1

This is why I say all weight loss surgery is a crap shoot. You never know until you've had it what YOUR results will be or what complications you many have. I hope you have success with your resleeve.

@@losinghope15

My suggestion to you is to call your surgeon's office and get copies of everything - all of your pre-and post op tests - most especially each operative report - every time they cut you open. Create your own timeline of when and what happened. Keep copies of all your overdue bills and your financial situation, including losing your job. You might need this for future litigation should it come to that. You've been in misery for 8 months and this is unacceptable, IMO.

I think the suggestion to call various agencies is a good one. Start with SS disability and then try the other ones suggested. food banks, churches, etc.. all good ideas.

You shouldn't have to put up with the pain and the financial problems both. Seek help and good luck.

Your post is a reminder that complication might only happen in 1% but if you're that 1% statistics don't matter.

I'm just going to go ahead and say this. For some reason there has been a slight influx of people who either are not getting weight loss surgery or who have had it in the U.S. who come on to the Mexican sub-forum and try to either pass shade on the thought of going to Mexico or try to spread fear by implying it's not safe. This really needs to stop.

Everybody freaks out over a death. This is understandable. However, what people fail to realize is that people can and do die during the most seemingly simple of surgeries. Death is always a risk in any surgery. It's a low risk but it is a risk. If you feel you can't have the surgery even though the risk is low then there's no need for you to come on this board and speak about your fears or misconstrue the risks based on your fear of having the surgery or fear of where the surgery took place.

My understanding is that all forums on here are open to all members who are free to post their opinions as you are yours.

Neither I nor anyone else posted fears or misconstrued risks. I simply stated what I would do and I stand by my statement. People are free to have their surgeries anywhere they wish, as am I.

Cleos mom:good point! there are different levels of hospitals in every country. In the US, we have trauma centers,.etc... Mexico also seems to have large, small, specialized hospitals.

I have spoken to many people who had surgery in Mexico and learned a lot about the level of care, standards and quality medical care. It varies like anywhere else. Research is so important.

My mom had a stroke and the surgeon said that every minute waiting for treatment was crucial to her life. They call it Time =Brain.

A well equipped hospital has a CT scan and an MRI and personnel to handle most complications.

I am spending more time researching hospitals than surgeons. Fortunately Finding a real good surgeon in Mexico is not that difficult.

You are smart to do your research an you are right that every minute count in an emergency.

If I were having this surgery I would want it in a hospital that could handle any emergency that would arise post-surgically and not have to be transported to another facility. Every minute counts in an emergency and I wouldn't care how close another facility was.

For me saving money isn't worth risking your life.

@@JanetPRN

My husband also had fundoplication surgery about 33 years ago to control his chronic heartburn. He had no muscle at the base of his esophagus. Back then it was a large incision (not laproscopic). The surgery was unsuccessful. He continued to have heartburn, started on PPI's and then developed Barrett's and then esophageal cancer from which he died.

@@craigcu

Having Barrett's was definitely a precursor to my husband developing esophageal cancer. No, he did not have WLS but did have the fundoplication surgery. The "wait and see" approach with the yearly endoscopies was clearly a failure. Because he had no dysplasia one year to esophageal cancer the next. They removed his esophagus, pulled up his stomach, he had no lymph node involvement, so the prognosis was good. Eleven months later it was in his liver and terminal. They have made progress in treating Barrett's now and if I had it I would undergo any treatment to remove it, including surgery to remove the Barrett's portion of my esophagus. Good luck to you.

I've had barretts for years, been treated for it with acid blockers. Now planning for the sleeve and my doctors are cautious (one doc wont do it, another will). I know how to keep up with the barretts and watch for progression and take steps (had an ablatement already).

Does a sleeve increase GERD risk/acid production? Or is it same level of aci production, just smaller pouch to contain the acid?

Be very cautious with Barrett's. Personally, I would not have the sleeve with Barrett's. My husband had Barrett's esophagus (did not have WLS), took acid blockers (PPI's) and had yearly endoscopies and went from one year with no dysplasia to esophageal cancer the next and died two years later despite being caught early and given a good prognosis. Esophageal cancer is a very difficult cancer to treat. His treatment was to remove his esophagus and pull up his stomach to create a new one. Can that be done with the sleeve? Ask your surgeon that question.

There's a reason some surgeons won't do the sleeve on patients with Barrett's esophagus.

@@Band07

I am so glad things went well. I have been following your posts about your difficulties with both the lap band and the sleeve. I hope the MGB works out for you.

I think your experience underlines the fact that no WLS is perfect and each carries its own risks and results. And the results for one person are not necessarily the results of someone else. The complications forums certainly prove that. You decided to get the sleeve because of all those who said it was "great" and your experience was that it wasn't.

Good luck to you and I hope you have much success and will let us know.

So glad to read all these messages and see I am not alone. I was banded in 2011, lost 50 pounds, but have now gained 40 back. Someone else posted a link to this article, and for the first time in more than a year I have hope again! This doc explains how the band works and doesn't, and I realize Ihave been counting on it for the wrong thing. It is not supposed to stop me from eating too much; rather, it should help me stop when I've eaten a small amount. It's not about restriction like I thought. No wonder my constant cycle of fills and unfills hasn't worked. Anyway, worth a read, I finally feel empowered again. http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-eating/lap-band-not-restriction/lap-band-and-restriction.html

While the band might not be about restriction it certainly NEVER, and I mean NEVER dimmed by appetite or reduced it in any way. The physiology of satiety is when the stomach is stretched (from eating) it sends signals to the brain that it is full and you've reached satiety. The amount of food it takes to reach this point varies from person to person.

When I ate with the band I was always still hungry - like the bottom part of my stomach was saying "feed me" but I couldn't eat more because it would have caused pressure or pain.

So, for me the band was the worst of both worlds - still hungry but couldn't eat. And of the 75 pounds I lost, only 15 were from the band. I lost the 60 prior to and right after the band with all the dieting and month of liquids only.

Research shows that it is not very effective for long term weight loss. It is even promoted as allowing for a loss of up to 50% of EXCESS weight. So, if you weigh 300 pounds and should weigh150, then it will allow you to lose 75 pounds - you would be at 225 and still be obese.

There is a reason why some surgeons no longer do lap bands. You have to ask yourself why.

@@Erica Brownlee

He is just going to do the bypass with no reason? No further testing done? Nothing? Aren't you concerned about this? Did you ask any questions or get a copy of your sleeve operative report?

My surgeon said no NSAIDs for life. Said they can cause ulcers and thin the lining of the stomach. Since I have chronic and acute back problems and arthritis for which Tylenol is ineffective, that would be a problem for me.

I'm happy to finally find people who understand the struggles! I have attended support groups, but most patients now have the sleeve.

I had my LapBand surgery about 7 years ago. I had a really difficult time though out the first year trying to find my "sweet spot", once I did, I was golden. I lost about 50-60 lbs without any (real) trouble. I was pretty tight, but learned to adjust my life. I reached about 10 lbs of my goal weight when things started going wrong. I hadn't had an adjustment in over 2 years, but all of the sudden, I couldn't eat, hardly drink...

I had a complete un-fill and after some testing, my Dr. diagnosed gallstones, and I had my gallbladder removed. I gained about 25 lbs in those few months before I could get another real fill. So frustrating. Also, when my band was completely empty, I had incredible gas, ALL the time.

Now, about 1.5 year later, I can't get a good restriction. When the band is relatively tight, I suffer with reflux (NEVER had any kind of hearburn in my life) and I can barely eat anything. Of course my weight is good... Last night I had to sleep sitting up, and still can hardly drink Water. I have been back and forth over the past few months with adjustments (at $175 each). I know I have to go back in, but then my weight will go up again. I exercise, and try to eat well, but it's like my body sucks up the calories and won't let go.

Because I'm having such difficulty now, I'm concerned about damage to my esophagus, and what did I see about cancer from GERD!? I'm not interested in the sleeve or a different procedure. I could really use some advice and support. I never have regretted my decision to have surgery, but I worry now about long term effects or permanent damage to my body.

You are right to be concerned about the long term affects of GERD and esophageal cancer. I know because my husband (who didn't have WLS) suffered from GERD, developed Barrett's esophagus which was being monitored yearly and went from NO dysplasia to esophageal cancer the next year. Though caught early (they removed his esophagus) and given an optimistic prognosis, it was in his liver 11 months later and he died the next year at a young age.

If you have GERD the sleeve can make it worse. They suggest RNY for those with GERD and it seems to resolve the issue.

It seems like you are too tight. I have always said that regardless of which WLS you have - eating should not be painful. Didn't we go through this to get healthier? We shouldn't have to have pain when eating or not be able to drink Water or sleep sitting up. That is not a healthy lifestyle regardless of the weight loss.

Btw, I had the band put in in 2008, unfilled in 2009 and have hated it every single day. It has never done one thing for me, including helping me to lose weight. But I am not ready for a revision of any kind. Too many problems with each of them.

I think you should get an unfill, let yourself heal for awhile and not worry about the weight at this point and then maybe have some testing done to see what is going on with your band - and upper GI and endoscopy perhaps.

Good luck

I'm the 4th in my family and I know of someone else.

Just finished watching the series finale of Justified. Bittersweet as most of them are.

Agreed. I cried.

I am a big fan of Walton Goggins from back when he was on The Shield, then Sons of Anarchy and then Justified. He is an amazing actor.

What is Justified about? Is it on Netflix? It sounds like a guy's type of show, but I have no idea what it's about at all.

I am always looking for a good series.

It's about U.S. Deputy Marshall Raylan Givens, his nemesis Boyd Crowder and the girl Ava - all of whom grew up together in Harlan County, Kentucky and a whole host of other partners in crime.

Not sure if it's on Netflix. The series finale just ended last night.

Just finished watching the series finale of Justified. Bittersweet as most of them are.

Oh my..... This is a long and very hard slog. I'm finally achieving weight loss but the band is waaaaaaaaay too tight. I realise now. I hiccup, burp, have reflux at night (sometimes vomit and can't make the bathroom.....awful) I have pain when I eat the smallest amount of well chewed food and I have a constant cough, day and night now. After my fill, 8 ish weeks ago, I had a bad few weeks. It settled down and now, it's so bad for me. I go back to the clinic on 22nd April. It would suit me to have the band emptied and removed. That's how bad I feel. Have I lost weight....sure I have. Who wouldn't on the amount I can get down. I can't wait to have the adjustment. I just want to drink a pint of Water...... All at once and enjoy a light ham salad for a meal and maybe a Protein shake or some Meal Replacement supplement. Please tell me that we can reach the green zone without all that I describe above. I'm exhausted with it.

Please keep in mind in your band journey that eating should NEVER be painful (unless you are eating something soon after post op surgery you shouldn't). We all got this surgery as a tool to help us lose weight. The band (and all WLS) should allow you to eat the healthy foods in the right amount.

What you are describing is a horror and you need to see your surgeon ASAP for an unfill. If he can't see you - go to the ER. You could get seriously dehydrated.

Additionally, keeping a tight band is one of the reasons, IMO, for band failure - it causes erosion, GERD, esophageal dilation, etc..

Please get the help you need NOW.

I agree with those who say that we have a LOT to learn yet about the human body with regard to obesity. I don't believe that all naturally thin people eat little (and healthy) and exercise a lot. Many thin people stay thin/normal weight by smoking, too. While I do believe food is a big factor, I also believe that much of obesity is genetic. So, until they figure out that factor there is WLS.

I also agree with the fat cell theory - that you have them at birth or develop them during pregnancy (another bonus for us women!!) and once there they can shrink but not disappear (unless through liposuction as the poster said) always ready to be filled.

I also believe in the set point weight - that your body desires to get to a weight it is comfortable with - where you struggle trying to lose beyond it.

But everyone has their own unique experiences with weight, weight loss and metabolism.

@@JustWatchMe

Your post touched me. While reading it I think of how many of us who are or were obese beat ourselves up all the time. Some think they don't deserve anything. They settle for jerks in relationships. They don't take care of their health. They don't go out much. They think of themselves as fat, lazy, lacking willpower. It's a vicious cycle.

No matter what size you are - you matter. And you deserve happiness. And you deserve to be rid of the toxic people in your life. That is a very important lesson I learned a long time ago. If people don't treat you the way you deserve to be treated - they're gone. Life is too short to waste energy on them.

Each time you move forward with a life changing event - you will get stronger. And you will feel better. It takes time but it will happen.

You deserve joy in your life - whatever form it takes. Accept it. Joy and happiness are not about a size or weight. You are stronger than that.

Good luck.

I

I consider myself very lucky. I'd never advise any one to have surgery because I guess you never really know what is going to transpire. For me getting the band was the perfect decision but we are all different. I am so sorry for everything you have gone through. And you, too, Shel. There is still so much we are learning about the vagus nerve and about our bodies in general. Last year a new tendon was discovered in the human knee. What? How many hundreds of years of cadaver anatomy and knee replacements, etc., and they just discovered a new tendon now? It's small but still. Geez. We have a long way to go in many respects. Hopefully science and medicine will provide new options for weight loss but meanwhile I count my lucky stars for my band. So happy with my experience so far, although I'm only a year and a half out. I don't do tight, though, and won't.

I think much of the future of medicine will be in gene therapy and we are a long way from that. I think conditions like cancer, alzheimers, parkinsons, autism and the autoimmune diseases will likely require gene therapy for prevention or cure. So, too, I think will obesity, which is a disease.

I envision a (far away) future where people will say - "What? they used to cut out 80% of your stomach or reroute your stomach to lose weight? So glad they don't have to do that now".

@@Cleo's Mom thanks! How do I go about getting the copy? I live 5 hours away from where I had my surgery?

Just call your surgeon and say you want a copy of your operative report and all pre and post op test results, including upper GI's etc.

Depending on your surgeon there may be a fee but you have a right to see all of this.

My philosophy is - if the doctor sees it, I see it, so I have an accordion folder filled with all my test results. It has served me very well, especially since I go back and forth between two hospital systems depending on what I am having done and they can't see each other's tests, etc...

I would see a new doctor if I were you. My original surgeon lied to me and said he put a 10cc band in and when I got the operative report and went to see a different surgeon he told me it was a 4cc. Explains why I had so many problems when the first (idiot) surgeon filled me with 3cc quickly after surgery. You might be very surprised to find out what's in your operative report. I was.

@@Erica Brownlee

I think the suggestions of going for a second opinion are good. However, before you do please get copies of all your tests, especially your operative report. You may be surprised at what you find. Doctors don't tell you everything. The operative report will.

@@parisshel

I think the most important thing you said is that when one falls on the wrong side of statistics, the statistics don't matter.

That is why I say all WLS is a crap shoot. If they are all 99% successful with no complications and you are in the 1% - it hardly matters, does it? And there are no guarantees which one you'll be.

@@JamieLogical

That is a part of the equation many leave out. Your metabolism is affected by how active your are, how old you are, how much you weigh, by how many years of yo-yo dieting you engaged in as well as genetics.

@@Band07

Thanks for the information. Good luck to you with your surgery. You sure have been through a lot.