A_new_sara

4 minutes ago, genia_deanne said:

35 minutes ago, Sara Bronson said:

I flew from Cabo to Boise Idaho.. 6 hr total flight with 9 hr layover.. aside from being REALLY tired, and my drain site leaking I was totally fine.. I had a wheelchair in the airports, and all the airline staff were so understanding. Make sure you pack comfy clothes, slip on shoes, and gauze bandage dressings..

Nice! Did you fly first class or were the regular economy seats fine for you?

No, i can't afford first class, I just flew economy

I flew from Cabo to Boise Idaho.. 6 hr total flight with 9 hr layover.. aside from being REALLY tired, and my drain site leaking I was totally fine.. I had a wheelchair in the airports, and all the airline staff were so understanding. Make sure you pack comfy clothes, slip on shoes, and gauze bandage dressings..

To give a little bit of background on me, I was banded in February 2010, had ok results the first year. By the time the 2nd year came around I was already throwing up most meals, I couldn't eat anything that was not a slider food. So in order to lose weight I had to basically live off Protein Shakes or not eat which isn't sustainable. So my first year I lost 60 lb every year after that I gained and lost the same 40-lb over and over. Started researching a revision surgery to a sleeve could not get any insurance to cover it so this last July I went to Cabo Mexico and had my revision done. When they did the revision they found so much scar tissue that it took 5 hours. It was all over my liver spleen and stomach. It was a rough surgery and a rough recovery but after about 3 weeks I was okay and I started doing amazing. I started going to the gym it was really easy to eat right and put all those pieces of education on nutrition into place that I had learned while I had my lap band.. at about 4 months post-op I started throwing up often. It got to where I was throwing up dried blood, and even sometimes just liquids wouldn't stay down. So I started seeing a couple different doctors, a GI Dr did an endoscopy and discovered that I have two major strictures with stenosis and gastroparesis in between them. He referred me to do an upper GI series and I couldn't complete the test because the barium wouldn't go down. They did another Endoscopy in Boise with my bariatric surgeon's team and tried to dilate them with no luck. So they admitted me and did some IV TPN (nutrition) treatments and fluids and did another revision to a gastric bypass on Monday December 18th. I was in the hospital for 10 days because they had to do an open incision due to all the scar tissue, but honestly at this point I'm feeling really good. I'm able to drink Water and Protein with no issues whatsoever, that's something that I never could do with my sleeve until about a month in. Right now I'm just trying to learn how to navigate through the gastric bypass life because I don't know anything about it. I'm not sure what I can and can't eat ect...Once I'm on solid foods I want to find a way to get some nutrient dense food in me.

Never thought that I would be staring over but here I am. I had the gastric sleeve, hiatal hernia repair and gallbladder removal done in January 2013. Got down to 159 from 225 (I'm 5'3.5"). I never hit goal of 140. Fast forward to 2015, I started to slowly gain weight, and then I got pregnant and gain more weight. As of today, I'm up to 210. I am considering a revision to the ds or rny. I'm dealing with issues such as: pcos, prediabetic, constant heartburn, back and hip pain, decrease in energy, etc. I just want a better quality of life. I have my first NUT appointment and psychological evaluation on 1/11. Who has had a revision with a low bmi? What was your process like? Was you able to be approved through insurance?
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Hey I'm new here. My surgery is Monday (Dec 18.) I am freaking out! How did you guys keep calm?

I'm looking for some information on those who have had a revision from sleeve to bypass. I'm 5 months post-op from my vsg surgery and my stomach has severe stenosis and two strictures along with gastroparesis. They are unable to treat it with dilation so I'm going in on Monday to have a revision. I just don't know what to expect. Is there anyone out there with any advice?

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Hello I had surgery February 8th 2017
I started at 221 my highest weight ever was 233
I today weigh 134
If you have a similar date how much do you weigh today and lost ?
10 months out
22 Year’s old
87 lbs lost
And so my other opinion I want is I’m freaking out I feel I can eat a lot more and I asked if they can check my stomach to see if I stretched it but they said if there’s no medical issues they won’t
I couldn’t eat a whole bread slice before now I can eat a sandwich like things like that bother me.
Around how much can you eat if your also around like 10 months out ?

I haven't posted much about this. I'm still kind of waiting to figure out what the game plan is. Long story short, about a month ago ( 4 months post op) I started vomiting daily it's gradually turned into vomiting five or six times after EVERYTHING I eat or drink. For the last week I've been on liquids only because I have a really bad stricture at the top of my sleeve. It's not caused from my sleeve surgery, but from my lap band. When I had my revision we knew there was a whole bunch of scar tissue and he did his best to clean it up but the scar tissue has rehardened and created adhesions around my stomach that have caused two structures. The one at the top of my sleeve that has a pouch above it that sort of pools food in it, which was one of the very first things I noticed. In the beginning of this I noticed that whenever I would throw up it would be undigested food. Literally broccoli from a day before would come out like it was never even digested. I had an endoscopy last week, and an upper GI attempted. But because the stricture was so tight the barium wouldn't go through. They also discovered that below the stricture I have gastroparesis. And then at the end of my sleeve, right before my duodenum I have another stricture. I meet with the gastric surgeon on Tuesday to figure out what they're going to do to help me.

Anyone have any experience with these problems? Any advice on what they might do? If they do a dilation will they be able to do both strictures and how will that affect the part with gastroparesis?

This is the x-ray from my upper-GI. The barium (2 swallows) just sat up in the pouch, never really went through except a little bit... The part where it sort of fades out is the part with gastroparesis..

I'm curious, If anyone has had an issue - such as a stricture - after having your procedure in MX, if you live in the US, how was it handled by the hospital/facility where you received treatment at home? Did your health insurance cover the complication...did you have complication insurance that covered it...or did you have to pay out of pocket?
Also, did doctors at home give you a hard time/treat you differently because you had your procedure outside the U.S.?
Thx!

Sorry to hear that. My doctor did not even tried the barium as I was not able to even pass Water , so they did a GI and with little ballon ,they stretched the stricture. It was done under anesthesia and lasted less than 15 minutes , I felt nothing after it was done and was able able to swallow pretty mug normal right after the procedure . They recommended two more weeks of puréed food and I just started eating normal , since Monday , no more issues Thank God.... Do it worry , it is a simple procedure and you will be fine in no time ...

First they may try to fix it with an EGD, I had 5 and then rhe gastric bypass.

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On 12/1/2016 at 6:01 PM, Pipergurl said:

I am only 5 months out from gastric sleeve. I go on Tuesday for revision to gastric bypass. I'm very nervous. I had surgery in the summer so I didn't have to miss work (I'm a teacher). Unfortunately, with an hourglass stricture and a pouch above it holding my food, I am throwing up undigested food. I'm freaking out about the recovery. I only plan to take a week off of work because I'm still a newer teacher without a lot of leave. The note my doctor gave me to bring in states 2-6 weeks. Ugh! I had no pain after sleeve. They said it should be a similar recovery. It wasn't for you guys? We need our own forum for sleeve to bypass!!!

I am literall going through the exact same thing.. with the hourglass pouch/stricture.. I'm worried sick. My GI dr referred me to a general surgeon.. thoughts?

On 12/4/2017 at 6:51 PM, boliramirez said:

I am from Mexico and had RNY on october 17th 2017. I did a lot of research to choose a good doctor and found Dr. Roberto Rumbaut, he is one of top WLS doctors in Mexico... I would never consider any doctor that is not in one of the main cities in the country like, MExico City, Guadalarja or Monterrey where I had the surgery... The best hospitals in the county and obviously the best doctors are there. Even Tijuana that I know is quite popular in this forum will never be an option for me.....

Also complications do happen, I had a stricture that had nothing to do with the doctors technic or method, it was simply a scarring issue that was fixed in 20 minutes.....

I hope you get much better !

BR

How did they fix your stricture? I'm going through an issue right now with a stricture. I couldn't even finish the upper GI because the barium wouldn't pass through. The GI dr referred me to a surgeon and now I'm waiting for their call.. I'm just not sure what to expect.. any advice?

On 7/9/2016 at 9:08 PM, UnderDaSea said:

I got mine taken out already, and finally started to eat a couple of months ago. The first step for you will probably involve having the band removed.

are you all better now?

On 2/18/2016 at 3:56 PM, nikki_lesueur said:

i can totally relate to you. are you able to get liquids and food down? I have been on liquids and mushies for 18 months and loosing my mind. ive done the scope balloon dialation twice with no success. dr called today and said it is scar tissue that is left around the stomach making it almost like I still have the lapband. its just crazy. they cant just go in and remove the scar tissue, they risk damaging the stomach. so i just deal. i know your pain and fears about having children, i fear this as well. i really want one more. ugh. and ive been lap band free for 4 months. I pray we both get answers. keep in touch

I'm going through this exact thing after my revision to a sleeve. The lapband caused so much scar tissue that it's created strictures that won't even allow the barium to pass through for the upper GI they attempted.. I'm being referred to a surgeon.. unsure of what they will want to do. I feel scared and worried

I can't believe drs still do lapbands. Mine damn near killed me silently. I had no symptoms whatsoever.

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23 hours ago, dengle said:

First post, so bear with me, this may have been posted elsewhere or just showing my ignorance. I am a male, 55, 5' 6" at 315 right now. Have bad knees so exercise is a bit difficult. I was wondering if a doctor would use the balloon for a time until a certain percentage of my weight is reduced and then remove. Or is the balloon only for patients with a certain BMI? I like the temporary nature of the balloon as well as the cost being much less.

What are your thoughts? Just beginning to research this right now but also want to plan financially for this too.

Thanks!

DO NOT GET THE BAND!!! Do research.. research on here.. go to the sleeve forum for failed lapbands... patients are not successful long term with the band. you can NOT eat healthy, you can NOT get full.. you feel "stuck" or hungry. Unless you eat unhealthy slider foods. You cannot sustain a lapband long term and it damages your insides so bad. I had 100% zero symptoms of my band going wrong. I was only getting it out because I was unable to lose weight and I was tired of throwing up every meal. I had adjustments 27 times and just never could lose weight without starving myself. When I had my revision surgery, mine took 5 hours intead of one hour!! Because my lapband had done so much damage inside. I had scar tissue all over my stomach, liver, and spleen. I beg you to research!!!

12 hours ago, Apple203 said:

I totally get wanting to keep the surgery private. But, frankly, I think the cat is out of the bag for people getting WLS -- there's no way people are NOT going to suspect/know when 100 pounds melts away. I know I go there when I see it.

People have no idea I've had it. Why? Because months before my surgery I started the Keto diet, and working out. I was losing weight like crazy! I haven't changed one thing since my surgery, including my portions. Everyone assumes it's just the keto diet. (which is it, along with portion control). I've lost 65 lbs total and I go to the gym 6 days a week. It's obvious that I'm working my ass off to lose weight. So, no, people don't just "know"

On 10/22/2017 at 9:09 AM, M.A. said:

I am waiting to have gastric sleeve surgery. We agreed not to tell anyone. My husband said it was up to me who we told. At this point I don't want anyone to know. Not because I am ashamed but because it is very personal and people are judgemental.

He told his business partner that he was going to take some time off when I have surgery to look after me. We agreed he didn't need to know what kind of surgery. Turns out he told him I am having weight loss surgery and also told my mother in law. I don't like his business partner and we are not close. I hate his wife who I am sure he has told now that he knows.

my husband doesn't see what the big deal is and I feel betrayed and so hurt.

im pretty sure he told two of his friends although he denies it.

i feel like he told strangers the most personal and intimate thing about me.

advice please

Oh I'm so so sorry!! I also am not telling anyone in my personal life.. I'm sort of opposite as everyone else, and told my co workers.. we have such a close relationship I get nothing but love from here.. on the other hand, I'm not telling anyone in my family.. I would be devastated if I were you

3 hours ago, Taylor5 said:

Everyone has been really helpful to me so far. I am close to pulling the trigger on going to Mexico over Christmas for The Sleeve!!! We will be flying out of Philadelphia and into San Diego, and I am looking for others familiar with Trans Con flights especially in regards to comfort. I have herniated disks in my neck and lower back, sciatica, and Fibromyalgia. Normally I don't even travel by car for more than an hour due to pain. However, as I am self pay for the procedure, and things are not working out with my nearby facility, this seems to be my best next option - especially as I can purchase Complication Insurance that will cover me after I return home for 6 months, to have care in the US, not having to fly back to CA/MX.

I have been trying to Google as much info on airlines as possible. Am even willing to spring for business or 1st class (up to a point, can't spend more than about $3,000 total for me & my husband r/t) since the surgery cost is less in MX. I really need seats that recline, preferably have foot rests - would love ones that go totally flat, but seems they are either only out of JFK or transatlantic. Plus, any other experience you have pertaining directly to flying after being sleeved would be helpful as well, since I have no experience with that yet! Thank you!

If you fly Delta you can at least choose your seats, and I choose the exit row for the extra leg room

9 hours ago, Nataliesmom said:

I could barely walk just a few months ago at 385 pounds. I went to cooking low carb. Less then 20 carbs a day. I lost 23 pounds in 12 weeks but lost about 15 inches. I can actually walk with minimal pain.

That's exactly how I've lost my weight.. with the help of my sleeve.. I eat 20g of carbs or less a day.. down 65 lbs in three months!!!

1 hour ago, graziellabs said:

I am exhausted all the time have no energy. My sex drive has not increased yet. I am 2 months post surgery, is this still normal? I want to have energy to work out be able to not feel tired all the time. Please help!!!

my energy was zapped due to my Iron and folate being low.. I started a new multi and forced myself to do strength training and it's completly changed it! I feel like a million bucks!

On 10/21/2017 at 0:26 AM, Sparker7 said:

I'll be taking pre-filled injections of blood thinners with me to Mexico. My hematologist prescribed them for me for this procedure because I'm allergic to lovenox and the injections I can take are rarely used and not widely available. Does anyone know if I'll need any sort of documentation to bring them with me? They'll of course have my name and info on them from the pharmacy, so I didn't think I'd need anything else. A friend of mine thinks I'll need a letter from my hematologist, but that seems excessive to me. I have a history of blood clots, so it's vital that I be allowed to take this medication with me. I thought I'd check here to see if anyone else has experience and advice regarding this situation.

I took a whole bag of prescriptions with me to Mexico for my surgery. In my purse. They don't care.

On 8/31/2017 at 1:16 AM, hopingforamiracle said:

Has anyone who had reflux with the band not had it with the sleeve?

I never had reflux till I had a band the reason I had it was the band was too tight.

I was advised to have the bypass because of this.

Band was removed 2 months back but no revision to bypass due to the mess the band had made of my stomach (it had attached itself to my liver) I now need to wait to December to have the next stage.

But unsure I want the bypass now swaying towards sleeve but don't want reflux again x

I'm the opposite.. I had no reflux with the band, but have had reflux ever since my sleeve. No heartburn with it, just the Fluid coming up when I sleep...

On 10/8/2017 at 0:29 PM, timarland said:

Thanks for the quick response! Did you do a liquid diet for 2 weeks pre-surgery? I travel every week for work, so I'm not enthused about having to take shakes on planes and what not...

Sounds like you're doing great though - I'm looking forward to getting this band removed - I'm down +/- 50 lbs from my highest weight pre-band, but I'm stuck there. I can't eat most lean meats, no fibrous veggies, but if they tighten the band more, I can't eat. I've learned to eat plenty of high calorie soft foods though

I'm not excited about the surgery, but excited for something new and different.

You're going to LOVE your sleeve!!! I had the exact same story as you! Couldn't eat anything healthy which made it so hard to lose no matter how hard I tried. I've been sleeved 3 months, and have lost 50 lbs!!! Down to 181 as of today. I love it. I actually get to fell FULL!! I can eat whatever I want which has really allowed me to put all the nutritional information I've learned over the years into place! You obviously still have to make good food choices. That goes without saying. But it's amazing how easy it is to lose weight!!!

I was banded for 7.5 years, and my surgery was actually pretty rough. I has so much scar tissue all around my stomach, liver, and spleen that it ended up taking 5 hours and really had a lot of internal bleeding. My recovery was really hard but I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.