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I am new to the site and the procedure for my WLS. I was talking with friends who have had the bypass surgery and talk about the passing of gas and how lethal it is. I have a strange network around me lol. Anyways, I was wondering if any of you could shed some light on this for me. Have you noticed a distinctive difference and have you noticed a passing point (no pun intended). I work in a small office with a few others and I don't want to be clearing the office all day...

Welcome! I couldn't do bypass either. I can't wait to be banded.

Hi IM Erikka. im from corvallis oregon. Im a single mother who has suffered wiht her weight all her life. I am currently 346 lbs.....lost a lb in a week woohoooo....about a year ago I looked into bariatric surgery but was leaning towards bypass... well I chickened out of sourse and stopped thinking about it. well a few months ago during my regular councling sessions I realized that i was finally emotionally ready to have bariatric surgery and change my life and eating habbits for good. so when i started looking into the types of surgery I really was scared of the bypass idea and leaning more towards the lap band. well on the 15th of september i went to an orentation for bartiatric surgery at OHSU in Portland. That was when i was sure that I wanted the lap band. I wasnt wanting to do it for major weight loss persay... but to get healthier and be able to do activities that I use to enjoy doing like hiking, walking on the beach, or swimming without taking breaks and being winded.. or just not being able to do them at all. I dont want to die early from morbid obesity.. I want to be around for my young son's life and watch his children grow up. anyways Im doing all the paper work and pre-appointment apointments that I need to take care of... you know the physicals, and labs and what not that the surgons want. So homefully this time next year I will have had my surgery or at least have my date for surgery. Cant wait to meet you! have a great day! Erikka

I am in the process on information gathering. I've been to an information seminar. I've read everything online that I can find - good and bad. Kind'a seems like online is preaching to the choir. I can't find a lot negative. And you know, if something seems to good to be true .... I called my prospective Dr Office and did find out that they haven't had much luck getting my insurance to pay :girl_hug: although they will pay for gastric bypass. (Now that doesn't make any sense. Payfor a very expensive risky operation and not pay for a safer reversible one.) That being the case, I would be self-pay. So, there is no reason to delay any longer. I guess I will call for an appointment on Monday. I am in Sammamish and they are in Everett. Nice that it is so close.

awesome... how are you feeling? My doctor was very clear on the fact that I do not use a straw. I see in you pic. that you are sipping liquids which is good but from a straw is a no-no. From what I understand a straw allows a lot more air in. I was a big soda drinker with a straw because a straw is a good thing on NON - RNY patients because it bypasses your teeth and your teeth don't get stained as much. I do miss my straw You will be so happy to get home and relax.. the worst is over with !!!

Would like some advice. I have made the appointment for the seminar in New Jersey I currently have Medicaid United healthcare community plan my current weight is 350 Lbs bmi of about 57. Suffer from anxiety. I'm nervous that once I start the process it will happen soon. My doctor is 100 percent behind the whole bariatric surgery. I'm just nervous what if some thing goes wrong. Also if any one in nj got accepted can u tell me how long did it take for u ? Fro. The day u saw ur surgeon to the day you jad surgery.

I had my surgery on September 1st and so far have lost a little over 30 pounds (pre surgery diet included). I'm finding that with every little bit I lose I can move more freely - are you finding that yet? I think a big part of the weight loss is from being able to be more active - what you eat and the caloric intake is just part of the equation. Also - a friend of mine who had gastric bypass was putting back on a lot of weight and her doctor told her to cut out the liquid calories - ie. coffee drinks. It sounds like you're very conscientious about your caloric intake but in case this is something you've overlooked, worth cutting out or cutting back on. And one last note of encouragement - if it comes off a bit slower it will stay off longer, right?

Sliders are empty calories that you can comsume that can bypass your stomach without getting any nutritional value back. Ice cream, because it melts, alcohol, etc are some of these items.

Oh goodness. Mine started about 3 weeks post op. I was only able to drink and eat Soup. Anything that needed chewing- even puréed things would get stuck. The pain was nearly unbearable, horrible nausea, and the food would often come back up. My doctor wouldn't so a scope until his patients are 6 weeks post op. I was so frustrated with that but had no choice but to wait. At 6 weeks I called to make appt and he wanted me to go to ER to get tests done first. I went in on a Wednesday afternoon (this was 7/10 so not long ago). They did barium swallow test and gastrografin too. The barium test showed the stricture as the tablet got stuck. They also put me on fluids as I was so dehydrated my pee was brown and I had a UTI. They admitted me. I had the scope done this next morning. They found and stretched the stricture. They didn't let me go home until Friday as they wanted to make sure I could eat before I went home. So I ended up staying 2 nights which was more than I stayed for my bypass! I still deal with nausea and some vomiting when food doesn't agree but things aren't getting stuck anymore. They told me once you have a stricture you may need 2-3 scopes to totally keep it open. So far mine is doing fine with the one scope. But it's only been a few weeks. Keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't come back! Good luck to you! I hope that helps you. I don't think most people have to stay that long. Mine may have been because of UTI and dehydration too- I ended up getting 6 bags of fluids. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I want to take my nephews to the NY State Fair next August. I want to take them to Darien Lake (a big theme park). I want to be able to watch them and know I can keep up with them. I'd like to be able to jog, maybe even run, one day. I hope to have less pain and better control of my type 1 diabetes (already have success in these two areas!!!). I'd also love to be able to wear tall boots and have them fit! I want to able to move better and have more stamina. I'd like to not need oxygen at night while I sleep and to ditch my CPAP. I want to not be afraid to fly on an airplane because of the size of the seats and to not worry about offending other people because I take up "too much" room so I can think about going with family members to Disney (and to them go on rides and walk around freely!!!). I want to die of old age and not because of weight-related causes. I want to be able to go out dancing till dawn. I want to feel good enough to take classes if I want to, good enough to work full-time, good enough to know that I am not going to need to go sit in the car while out shopping with my sister. I'm 12 days out from gastric bypass surgery. I haven't stepped on a scale since the follow up appointment on day 8 post op where I was told I had lost 19 pounds so far -- weight that day was 320 pounds. Already have reduced my basal insulin rate by 33% and my correction factor improved to 1 unit of insulin per 15 grams of carb from 1 unit of insulin to 5 grams of carb (type 1 on an insulin pump). Still using U-500 insulin (concentrate), but may very soon change over to U-100 strength insulin (non-concentrated). Using less than half the amount of insulin I was using prior to surgery. Blood pressure medicine discontinued. Lasix discontinued.

That choice worked for you and if you are doing great...YAY...either way..band,bypass or sleeve..WELCOME TO THE LOSERS CORNER!!!! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Hi! I also am going through some rough spots (had the gastric bypass 10 days ago)...crying a lot wondering why I did this to myself...crying when smelling the food my family is making...but also experiencing some other issues that I wonder if you guys went through....might have pulled an inner stitch while coughing and now have to rest like I did right after surgery ....and now I am extremely itchy everywhere (think I'm allergic to the urisudiol that they put me on twice a day because I still have my gallbladder)!

Yeah, vacation may be a little bland without the martini, but I bet you'll not even be in the mood for drinking by that time. I had 3 abscesses develop 6 weeks after my revision that landed me in the hospital again for 7 days. I had drains, and antibiotics and all that fun stuff all over again. They think little microscopic bacteria was stuck in my abdomen from the leak, and they formed pockets. It was a pain in the butt, and very exhausting. I was my surgeon's first leak. Not really proud of it, but he did an amazing job saving my life. I know in my heart of hearts (after reviewing pics/xrays/video from surgery) that my stomach was damaged by the band. It really wasn't my surgeon's lack of experience or "fault".

Surgery is 3 days and a wakeup away! I am staring to think more and more about it of course. On my liquids I have lost 13.5 pounds. I have "cheated" though and the guilt is killing me. I am not hungry, stomach wise, but my mental hunger is still there. Please tell me someone understands that. I am used to eating even when I am not hungry. This battle is going to be mostly mental for me anyway. I am spending time this week making homemade Soups and pureeing them, then freezing them. I hate how much sodium store bought soups have. I am going to be making homemade popsicles today and homemade chicken broth so I should be set. I haven't had the surgery yet, obviously, but I scared to death of my first fill. My doc does mainly bypasses and sleeves but since he is an insurance provider that is where I needed to go. He does first fills at 2 weeks post op and I am worried about it. We live 3 hours one way away from the doc so I can't just come back in a few days or so if he tries and it doesn't work...especially not with gas prices :-)! The bad thing is walking around WalMart last night is I saw a lot of people just like me, morbidly obese. It is so sad to me that this surgery isn't easier for people to get if they need it. Seeing those folks renewed my wanting to do this. I want to be healthier and I want to look better :tongue2:. My hubby was helping me take off my bra last night cause it was hurting so bad on my shoulders, he saw the bruises the straps had caused and he just said, you need this surgery, you are going to feel so much better very soon. He is a sweetie, said what I needed to hear! Laura

I get tired really easy.ready to feel good again. I was a revision from lapband,but really haven't felt good since surgery

There is much confusion surround WLS surgery and WL in general. Some people think- oh WLS is easy, now you can eat what you want and not have to worry about it. That is soooo wrong. Actually, I worry about what I put in me more. Rather think about, I have to make sure what I am eating has protien, is healthy, and won't get stuck. Some, and I have even been guilty of this, think the scale is the only sign of success. What gets me and I have had this confersation with the doc, is that doctors look at BMI only. You get on the scale and they say oh you are over weight- shame, shame, you must diet. They don't look at everything- your over all health. While we know being morbidly obese is not good and leads to many healthy problems, being slightly over weight is another ball game. I weight 187 lbs, I have been in a 14 for months and now I am starting to move to 12's. While my weight isn't going down, apparently I am toning and my waist is smaller. My wedding rings are falling off my hand. My glasses slide down my nose. Heck, even my socks are big on my feet. So while I see the scale number not moving, something has to be happening because of my clothes. Some seem to think that WLS is a magic bullett and it will cure all that ails you. No way, I wish my mental fatness was cured. I still feel the part of the fat girl. I am amazed when smaller clothes fit, I still feel huge. I still crave the unhealthy. I still have to fight the demons that make me want to eat when I am not really hungry. The triggers are still there, I just have to recognize them and fight them. It's funny many people I work say nothing about my weight loss, ignore it. No one says hey you look good or gee you've lost a lot of weight. I know I must look smaller after loosing 60 lbs, but I wish people would notice. I actually like it when people ask, I like educating people on WLS. Some think it's a good thing, other think I was crazy. But, it is my decision, I made it and I believe in it. My band may mess up some day, I may have to have a revision, but for now it's working just fine and I am happy with it. My brother who is a medic, freaked when I told him. He said I was making a mistake. He worked with some one who thew up everything he eats and he hurts all the time. The band has made his life miserable. I told my brother, that isn't how the band is suppose to work, likely the dude is to tight or is trying to eat to fast and or to much. Now my brother sees what the band can do if worked properly. So, if people as- yes I had the band and this is how it works for me.

I'm pretty new to the lapband, had my surgery in early January. I chose this surgery because it's not as risky as bypass and they don't have to cut any internal organs. I am 40 and I was missing out on a lot of fun stuff with my 3 kids because I just didn't have the energy and mobility. My knees were killing me and I knew it was just a matter of time before I would have to deal with other things like blood pressure and diabetes (runs in my family). I am very happy I did it. The surgery itself took a little more out of me than I expected and it is a lot of work initially while you are waiting for restriction (when you finally have enough saline injected in your band for it to work properly and make you feel full sooner). I recommend that you read as much as you can, do the seminar etc and then decide. It's a big decision and changes your life, but I for one am glad that I did it. Good luck with your choice!

whichever surgery one gets, unless they help (the WLS tool they chose) as in changing what they eat to better quality foods and start to exercise, nothing will help..its a total life change..def a huge mental change.. too many people are thinking if they get a surgery, poof the weight will just be gone in a months time... its not like that... it takes some effort... so unless some effort is given (eating better, following dr's instructions on how to get well) the bypass, the sleeve, the ds, the band wont work..the patient must also do some work...and be honest... i chose the band to save my life. the sleeve was not covered by my insurance. the dr wanted me to have the bypass because of my high BMI when i started... i am sure he saw only doom in my future...proved him wrong...whatever you get, get it and get on with living life.

I do not think I have actually told anyone exactly why and what made me decide to have this surgery on this site - but here it is... My Aunt who has watched me struggle for so long finally asked me when I was going to stop punishing myself with food and learn to live. That is what did it for me. She and her daughter had both had gastric bypass and that is what they did - they lived emotionally and physically. It made me (and I say me personally) realize that I was going to be this way for the rest of my life if I didn't get help and I didn't want to live the rest of my life this way. Good luck to you

I've had the lapband since 2008. If you opt for a lap band my best advice is do NOT do it unless you are committed to follow ups with your doctor. If you want a maintenance free surgery, prolly go sleeve. Every time I get too busy and not follow up every 6 months, I get in to trouble. I'm currently going through the process of getting the revision to sleeve but haven't made up my mind. Glad I found this forum.

I'm confused-my usual state of mind... Are you having the bypass, or a sleeve? I applaud you for your decision to go for either one. I am 63 and have absolutely not one regret about having been sleeve. It was one of the few good decisions I've made. Welcome! Oh dear, I think I'm confused too, must have been the euphoria of a decision made. I am having a sleeve! That will teach me to read what I write before reaching for the post button! I hope to be like you Valentina and have no regrets.

I didn't want the malabsorption and I wanted a surgery where I could keep my pyloric valve. Lap Band wasn't even a option for me because I refuse to have a foreign object in me because I was scared of my body rejecting it. Plus I didn't want to deal with dumping and having to chew food to a puree for the rest of my life with gastric bypass.

Hey JBL, Congrats on your date.. I am going threw the same things as you are right now. I start my opti on mar.30th and I am in a panic over everything. One day thinking should I do this, why did I book this, am I going to regret it, is it going to hurt, I won't be able to eat anything anymore, DH putting me through about the cost, my kids saying i'm crazy, ect, ect... I just feel up and down everyday. I have been biting my nails, gained maybe 15lbs with eating everything in site that I will never eat again. Went to the Keg last friday night for my last meal there.. I know exactly what you are going through!!!! But I keep telling myself that I have to do this and it's worth every penny. Even while I am typing this my stomack is in a knot. It's the unknown, and even though we read what everyone has to say on the message board, it's still very scary. The only thing that I keep telling myself is that I can always get it removed, not like bypass, unreversable(even though I know I will never take it out unless I have too). So what you are feeling is very normal and I feel for you!!! I am so looking forward to being thin again and getting back into the clothes that I have waiting for me from 2 years ago.. so here is my:hand: hand, and we will be on this same journey together.. Maggiec_38

Okay. So it’s been just over two weeks since my surgery (March 27th) but I worry about leaks inside. My outer incisions are healing nicely. But there is a pain under my ribs on my left side and right side(mainly on my left side). Almost like a cramp. It makes it difficult to stand without help, lay on my side, or even sit a certain way. I worry mainly because most of the pain was gone on the left side(it was mainly on my right side). And since Wednesday the pain in my left side under my ribs has started to come back. I keep getting told it’s gas. I’ve tried ice packs I even started taking my pain meds again(I have been able to go without it since the one week mark) I just feel like I’ve made so much progress on being able to get up myself, getting into bed by myself, going to the bathroom alone, and so on and now all of a sudden the pains coming back making it to where I need assistance again. Some times it disappears but most of the time it hurts. Is this normal? If so any tips on how to help the pain? And one more question how long till all of the pain went away for you? I guess I just feel lazy not being able to clean my house and hate having to depend on others just to do basic things like showering or standing. My Drs assistant said it can be up to 2 months before the pain is completely gone and I just feel like that’s wrong. I wasn’t cut open just laparoscopic gastric bypass. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED! Thank you in advance and bless you and I hope you are doing well on your weight loss journey!!

anyone have a lap band over a gastric bypass..how are you doing?