Jodi620

Thanks, everyone. I postponed my follow-up appointment. I’ve been dealing with an awful lot of bloating. My surgeon doesn’t seem concerned — apparently, it’s normal after 17 years of my digestive tract not having much to process at one time, and now suddenly I’m eating more. It’s been almost a month, and honestly, it’s been almost unbearable. I literally ballooned up 20 pounds, all in my tummy — I looked pregnant. I’ve been so uncomfortable and can’t bend enough to do normal exercise. Every bite or sip made my belly swell up, with constant burping and terrible gas. Gas-X did very little; eating small meals didn’t help much; walking, yoga, exercise, mint tea, and a low-FODMAP diet didn’t do much either. In the end, “Olly Beat the Bloat” pills and time have helped a great deal. I’m not going to make any decisions until I know my system is working properly. I’m giving it until the end of the month, which will mark a full month since the unfill. I had also gotten off track with my thyroid meds and hormone replacement during all this, (which likely contributed to some of the issues). But I’ve been back on track for three weeks now. My original surgeon really scared me about gastric bypass when he was promoting the lap band. Plus, I have friends who’ve had bypass and didn’t do well. But hearing stories from folks here has me leaning more toward the bypass. Still, I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’m already at a normal weight. Where will this change leave me? Will I lose more weight or just maintain or will I gain? It sounds like a completely different ballgame with the bypass, and I still have questions for my surgeon. Hearing from people who have first hand experience helps a ton!

I have had the lap band for 17 years with great success. I lost 100% of my excess weight within the first year and I have kept it off. 246 to 123 at 5'4". The Lap Band is absolutely not for everyone and it hasn't been easy but having been overweight from a toddler to my 30's when I had the surgery, I would still choose the discomfort and restriction. I understand not everyone would feel that way. But recently I started feeling discomfort below the band and having digestive pain, gas, constipation and diarrhea. My surgeon emptied the band three weeks ago. I feel 100% better. Still can't eat like I did pre band. Dealing with bloating which is apparently normal having had the band restrict my digestion for so long. I have gained 15 pounds in the 2-3 weeks since he emptied it, which already puts me at just the low end of overweight. I haven't tried increasing exercise and working with what I have but I think that will obviously help to take off a couple of the regained pounds. The surgeon doesn't recommend adjusting the band anymore. And even though I feel good at the moment, he doesn't recommend keeping it in place. He suggests revision to bypass. He said that since I have the band now and have experienced reflux in the past, there is as much as a 40% chance of reflux with the sleeve. I am wary about bypass both because it is so invasive and I know a handful of people who have had bypass with poor weight loss results. I am just educating myself on the sleeve. I would love to hear from former lap band patients who had good results with weight loss but had to have revision due to issues. What was the difference in the way you felt and could eat? Did you regain or lose weight? What was the transition and lifestyle adjustment like? My doctor is leaving it completely up to me...keep the band, go to bypass and he said because of my success with the band, he could probably be convinced to do a sleeve for me. That would be my first choice except for the possibility of severe reflux. Hoping there is someone out the with experience and insight.