Bettina

Duodenal Switch: How it works Restriction (Vertical Gastrectomy): The stomach is restricted by dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a banana and measures from 4-7 ounces (120-250cc) depending on the surgeon performing the procedure. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while reduing the volume. By comparison, in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, not removed, and the pylorus is excluded. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stomach can be reconnected(reversed) if necessary. If that is what you are getting, your stomach is cut through! Banding is just a "belt" around your stomach for food restriction. How much you lose is gonna be totally up to you. My sis lost 70 with the bypass but gained prob 40 lbs back. If you do what the doc says you should be fine! Take care and good luck!

Geez I hope I am in that 80% . I am waiting for a call today from the sleep apnea people, apparently I am taking off the mask (and its tiny) and shutting off the machine---while totally asleep...I am shocked when I wake up and find it lying next to me on the bed! When I am down about 50 lbs I am gonna get retested..I can't trust not snoring is a sign its gone, some people with sleep apnea don't snore. I will happily let them goo my head if it means I can put it away in the closet...yay!!

Sorry to hear about the boo-boo...but dang girl, you got a great butt!!!!

I was told that its possible to crave foods that you never craved before and that some foods you just don't want to eat anymore......did you experience any of that?? I read that people now snack...yikes I don't do that now, I certainly don't want to do it after being banded!!

That is great! I can't wait till I can say that!!

Yay to all the October Bansters...Lots of luck to all of you!!

I think if she doesn't like it, she shouldn't read it.

Neither one is fool-proof...my sis lost a lot of weight with RNY but gained a lot back too!! So she lost the weight, gained it back, and still needs to get plastic surgery for the skin flaps. But the hospital told me on Thursday that a fireman had RNY and then developed Esophagus cancer...luckily he had that piece of stomach still there inside, they took the bad parts out and took the old stomach and attached it to his neck..and is now cancer free! Malabsorption is a prob with RNY. But not so much with banding. I would go to a support group and talk to the people there...it helps to actually meet with people in person. Best wishes in your decision!!!

Dang!!

Hi Trish, I can relate, I lost several dogs over the years and cats too. Ugh my husband just can't seem to live without dogs and cats (me either but...we have 3 dogs and 2 cats...constantly) Hubby was making special dinner tonight for our male beagle, afraid he won't make it thru the winter..I dread this. My 9 yr old lost her hamster back in April...we both balled our eyes out! He was a truly unusual hamster..used to sit with me while I typed..odd I know) All our pets have "people" names because we treat them like family. My heart goes out to you and wish you the best. Parakeet huh, that is so cute, I was thinking of getting a Conjure, but I think the cats would have something to say about that! Take care!!

Yay Jack...that is what I am looking forward to. I am finding the last few days that apparently I am taking my mask off in my sleep even turning the machine off!!! Yikes not a good thing!! I was better about it in the beginning...lately ...no.

You can't have citrus until you are a month out. The Isopure is a good idea thought, nutritionist told us to use it in place of cold Water when you are making Jell-O!

Its your esophagus that opens not your band.

You might want to consider attending support group meetings. You will find everyone in the same boat as you, it helps to talk face to face with others who are going through the same thing. Good Luck!

Ditto on that!!! Anyone thinking its a get rich scheme is totally wrong! Its a live longer scheme! (and my insurance paid for all of it, so as far as trying to soak me for money...nope didn't happen!!)

Hi its been down for days...I got a message that it was disabled.

I didn't have signs or symptoms either. I was totally shocked! I talked to another doc about it. Its true that its dangerous if untreated. (no you can't die from the sleep apnea itself) I researched it too. I have much more energy now. So glad I went for the study. I hope all goes well for you...take care!

Oh boy I could write a book on this!!! They need to know if you stop breathing when you sleep, if you do going under is dangerous. So if you have sleep apnea (which I do) and you stop breathing, they put you on the machine and pump the air in for you. My number is 7...omg blows my bangs back. Sleep apnea can cause weight gain, swollen ankles (got that) and you really don't get the sleep you need! I love my mask, I have been on it for a month now...I can run up two flights of stairs now without getting out of breath..couldn't do that before!! Oh yeah and my doc wouldn't do the surgery if I refused the testing, and I have to be on the cpap mask for 2 weeks..so I am good on that. I read of a woman who had the surgery (check the memorials on ObesityHelp.com) she had her bariatric surgery --they didn't know she had sleep apnea, she stopped breathing and they didn't know---she passed away. What a shocker! Under anesthesia, you are totally relaxed -that is how they put you to sleep--so your unable to breath again as easy as non-sleep-apnea people. On the flip side, Sleep Apnea is a co-morbidity...so you should be approved for sure!! My kids call me Scuba Steve when they see me in the mask..its not a whole mask..just a little thing that goes into my nostrils...no biggie really! Take care, and best wishes to you!!

Sounds like you have a plan, feel better soon!!!

Wow, who told you that you can eat whatever you want on the band??? You are supposed to change your habits -its the whole reason for getting the band! Seriously, who told you that?:phanvan Okay I just checked and you are only 24 yrs old...still should have awesome metabolism. And, I have had French food, so I think I understand...but no doc could have told you that, could they? Not trying to argue or anything, just shocked by that statement. :biggrin1:

I put steak in the Magic Bullet.....looks like catfood...ummm yum. Seriously, it tasted good...and did look like catfood..It's whats on the menu after banding...lol...................Little Friskies anyone??

He is emotionally dislocating himself. As long as he is not abusive, you'll be okay. Everyone has to deal with things there own way...so you really can't say he has no right to behave this way. You wouldn't want him to tell you that. He needs some reassurance right now. He is scared out of his wits. In his mind, you have already left..until he sees that you are okay. Most people behave this way...we just don't always see it. He has cheated on you? He probably sees this as the big "getting ready for a date...make over... and watch out I am getting even with you" If you want it to work out with him it will. Best of luck to you with everything!!

I really do think it was for the better that you told her!! I didn't know that her father died, so I now see your initial concern. But, I find the more I talk about it at home, the more at ease everyone is. If you shut them out then they dwell and worry about the unknown. Rachel even reminded me this morning that I couldn't eat something because it would make me gain weight--lol we saw cupcakes on TV and I said yum! I started grinding up my food for practice, so they see me getting ready and they are more relaxed than they were initially. Especially with Emma losing her father--it was best you told her now--in the event that something bad did happen--which we all know won't but lets just put worse case senario out there----she would understand why it happened and that not everyone in her life just up and leaves her. (morbid i know, but it has to be said) My kids know that on the odd event that I wouldn't pull thru, I was at least doing something that was important to me. So now, I'd mention it every once in a while just to make sure that she is not worrying herself crazy. My daughter did that when I had to have back surgery...I had no clue...her teacher told me! --it was when she was 8 and I had to have back surgery-this is my 18 yr old who went thru this-I would have never even known had the teacher not called!!! Kids want to protect their parents from worry so they keep it all in. I saw it happen with my first two that is why I made sure that the youngest one knows everything and we discuss it openly. Yikes this is getting wordy now..lol. I think you made the right choice!!! Take care!

Have you heard of fire hydrant- on your hands and knees and then lift one leg at a time....that works really well. Start slow! or, sit on the edge of the couch with a big rubber ball in between your knees and squeeze....that is easy enough to start!!!