Divamom

Well had my bypass surgery on 5/23/11, once inside my doctor said my lap band had adhered to my liver and my port was surrounded by adhesions so I had alittle more pain afterwards than most because of the extra work to remove the band. Thankfully, everything is fine with my liver. I am doin well and lost 17 lbs in weeks, won't weigh again till this comin Monday...I try to stay off the scale everyday and do it once a week. Things are good, I am feeling very positive about this surgery and my outcome, I also start the gym this Monday, ready to get back into the swing of things. Thanks for all your comments.

Thank you for your replies...I am so happy that the band is working for others out in band land...I wish it would have worked for me. But as the prior posts prove some surgeries work for some and not others, I am a great example of that. The first 6 months after banding went off without a hitch, 50 lbs down then that's when the band started acting crazy, I couldn't have fills, I would vomit then it became weekly, then the port turned some, just one thing after another...I won't harp on the negatives but now off the my new journey Mon the 23rd of May. Thanks for all your comments and words of support.

My insurance doesn't cover it, plus my mom had the sleeve over a year ago and now they want to change hers to bypass, I feel if I'm gonna do it again I'm going all the way.

Well after almost 3 years of hell of almost constant vomitting, discomfort and pain, my band is coming out on May 23rd and I am having gastric bypass... The new doc that I see here in FL (I was banded in CA) says 60% of his business now is removing bands and revising to either the sleeve or bypass. I wish I would have known this 3 yrs ago and I would have had bypass to begin with. Well you live and learn. So off on a new journey for me. Wish me luck. Leah

Mimi My mom is 68 and had the sleeve done at Wilford Hall in San antonio...they now want to go back in and change it to Gastric bypass...I think you should just go all the way and have bypass...I am having my Lap band out (thank God!!!!) on May 23rd and having bypass and the other person who posted is correct, Tricare will not pay for Sleeve but my doc did say he has had luck that if for some reason they get in there and are unable to do bypass for some reason and then perform the sleeve Tricare has covered it but I am not gonna take that chance since my band failed me. I don't want to get the sleeve and then a year or 2 later the doc say oh let's do the bypass...I am 40 and have lost 3 yrs of my life to the band and have only a 12 lb loss. So pissed off, not to mention the pain, discomfort and vomitting. Just be sure whatever you do...I wish I would have done bypass to begin with. Good luck!!!!!

I live in Dixon and I have to drive to Sacramento to see Dr. Aaryan Koura---he also did my surgery, but I will be moving to Tampa, FL in June 2010 and will be looking for a new dr. myself. Give him a call I adore him.

All the Kashi cereals are good and of course oatmeal made with milk

I have lost 57 lbs in 1 year.

I have to take 3 large capsules every morning---they can be opened. Put in applesauce. Make alittle hole in your applesauce then empty your capsule or add you crushed pill, cover it up with applesauce and then scoop it out with a spoon and swallow. Works for me everyday.

Love L'oreal products--use excellence most of the time but I change colors from Spring/Summer to warmer in Fall/Winter and I use Feria which is my favorite.

I only have a few things that I have problems with. Really dense breads(bagels are out), spaghetti and stringy pastas(but I can have other pasta that I can really chew well), sticky rice, and tough meats. But other than those few things I can eat just about anything but everyone is different because I love eggs. Also, all doctors are different because I eat all the things on that list from your doctor except tough meat and sticky rice, fluffy rice I can handle. So once you have your surgery you will have to find out for yourself the things that bother you. Ohhhhh I almost forgot I don't much broccoli anymore not because I can't chew it well, it now gives me too much gas (TMI).

I have the band and have since 6/16/08. I've lost 57 lbs. My mother got the sleeve 4/28/09 and has lost 40ish lbs. She had no pain from her surg. I had horrible gas pain from mine. I was in the hospital 1 day she was in 3days. Neither of us had any complications. I have to get fills, she is maintenence free. I get food stuck in my band occationally and am sick, she gets the hiccups when she eats too much. There are pros and cons to each surgery, you just have to see which one is right for you. Although sometimes I wish I had the sleeve. B ut my band is working it just takes alot of work (fills, I HAVE to work out or I don't lose., I have to chew extremely well or I will get stuck and slime and vomit.) Do your research and make the most educated decision. Good Luck to you and I will answer any questions you have.

One thing that is quick and easy and also pretty good for you and I swore by it because it tasted so much like real food that you begin to crave---Wendy's chili and just put it in your processor--it's fabulous. Also, baked potato soup.

With my Doc all you feel is the pinch of the small needle to numb the port site. When he actually uses the bigger needle, to me it feels like you have butterflies at the site. It doesn't hurt. Sometimes sfterwards I am alittle sore but not painful.