Search the Community

There's nothing better than seeing a new bandster flying through this with no complications! Congrads to you and good luck on this wild ride!

Hi everyone, I was revised from sleeve to RNY March 16th due to complications and severe case of GERDS and sadly I'm really regretting I'd rather had kept suffering from previous complications... I have yet to eat anything that I can keep down.... Not to mention my weight loss is at a complete halt for over a month no matter how much I work out....and I'm completely disappointed in both of these surgeries and wish I never had surgery I'm still over 200lbs.... Sent from my LG-D850 using the BariatricPal App

Try not to google and self-diagnose. It will give you anxiety. Anything medical complications should be diagnosed by your Dr. I didn’t feel satisfied until real food stage. You are right, liquids to soft foods don’t stay in your pouch long. Are you getting your 60 to 100 grams of protein? Are you logging in a food app or tracking it by hand from food labels? Protein is going to help with hunger.

I talked to my doctor Tuesday morning and he said it was okay, and not enough to harm anything or cause complications. So I had my surgery yesterday at 2:30 and I came out with flying colors! I feel good, in a little pain but not anything that I cannot tolerate. So @@pmanley, no need for your rude comment. This page is for encouragement, not smartass remarks.

Well I finally did it, took me over 10 yrs to commit, but I decided on the Gastric sleeve last October and took the steps necessary to make the surgery a reality! I have had a slow start, because I had some complications found in surgery, but was taken care of during my sleeve surgery. I have lost 10 lbs so far and hope when I am cleared for exercise that I will loose a little more quickly ???? I started at 242 in October and the day of my surgery weighed 205. I am now 195 and very excited to be under 200???? I hope to find others that were sleeved around the same time and can't wait to share stories and get ideas from each other!! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

My name is Lisa, I am 29 and from Maryland. I have battled my weight my whole life, but especially struggled in the last 12 years. My highest weight ever was 270 lbs, but I am currently 250 lbs at 5'10". In muy early 20's I was able to get down to 180lbs, but in a very unhealthy manner, using diet pills and horrible eating habits. In the past 8 years I have yo-yo'd my way to my highest weight last year, then went to a physician assisted weight loss with phentermine last year and got down to 235. That only worked for a few months, though I took it for a full year. I have since developed high blood pressure and my doc advised me to stop taking the phentermine if I stopped losing weight. I have a friend who got the sleeve last year, it was the first I had heard of it. I had heard of gastric bypass and the lap band and knew people who had had those procedures. Neither seem appealing to me. The bypass seems way to invasive and the lap band I know someone who had repeated complications and dumping syndrome. I have though about it somewhat secretly for a year, and have recently started really discussing it with my husband and doing heavy research with my insurance and with my work. One big concern is the lifting restrictions I work in health care and there really is no form of "light duty" in my line of work, but luckily I have short term disability. I also keep having second thoughts about not being to eat what I want for the rest of my life, but then I think that just shows my addiction that I am scared to not be able to eat crappy food. My husband has said he will support my decision, but I also don't know what I want to tell others. I almost feel embarrassed to tell friends and coworkers, like I failed all other weight loss pathways. I have never felt that way myself toward others who have there surgery, because it really is a big commitment to weight loss and healthy eating. But there is still a part of me that wishes I could handle it without surgery, but my history shows that I can't. So I guess my main questions to those who have had VSG are: 1- Have you had and major complications from the surgery? 2- How long were you on restrictions from lifting? 3- How long were you in the hospital after surgery? 4- What did you tell friends and coworkers? 5- Do you have any regrets about having the surgery? Thanks for any support you can lend to me! :-)

Oct. 6,2016 I weighed in at 179. I'm 5'6". BMI OF 29. I'm diabetic and have high blood pressure. I was having complications due to diabetic neuropathy in my stomach. Before it could get to the point of needing a pacemaker I made the decision to have gastric sleeve surgery. This would illuminate or reduce the severity of my diabetes. I've only lost 20 lbs in 3 months time. I'm disappointed as I still have 20 lbs left to lose and can't seem to lose any more. I'm also losing a ton of hair. Can someone out there tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'm also exercising like never before. Sent from my LG-K550 using the BariatricPal App

You are braver then I. I'm starving but I don't want any complications. I am able to move to pureed foods on Friday and I'm frightened! Haha. But excited. Anyway - I'm sorry you had your first "stuck" episode but you live and learn, right? Just stay on your liquids and don't push it. I feel like this part is the part where we need to really learn self control.

Thanks for your response. This particular complication causes a lack of restriction because food goes up into the enlarged estopogus. I have read from studies that this is hard to fix once it has dilated one time, it can go back but tends to enlarge easily.

Hi, I live in Northern Arizona. I have made it to a seminar, and have decided on getting surgery, just not sure which one or where yet. I am leaning more towards Lap Band, but have been considering the Sleeve also. I have been hearing horror stories about Lap Band, but also have heard some really good things. With the Sleeve it seems that after surgery there is less restriction, less hunger, and fewer complications, but I guess it depends on who you talk to. which is why I am glad I found this site, it will be nice to get to talk to some people who have had this done. The other decision I am torn on is where to get it done. In Mexico it is so much cheaper, but my husband has some concerns about my safety as far as getting it done in Mexico. Anyone have any experience with this? Is just as safe?

Michelle, I can't offer any suggestions on Mexico but there are plenty of people on here who have gone to Mexico and had wonderful experiences. I defer to them and their experience. As for being fearful, here's my take. horror stories about Lap Band There are thousands upon thousands of people who never, ever go to any internet forum and post their comments and stories. People who have bad experiences are often the FIRST ones to find a place to vent. I've read a lot of stuff but no "horror" stories. Yes, some stories of complications (a few who have had their bands slip; a few ports getting flipped) but nothing horrific. The risk of complications with lap band is statistically 0.1%; with bypass it is .10%. That's a big difference. Mechelle voiced a very common concern: Scared it wont work. Most of us have had that fear. After alll, just how many diets have we been on where we didn't lose and gave up or lost a lot of pounds and then "fell off the wagon" and gained it all back with a few extra for good measure? I will tell you that I personally haven't been able to lose more than 30 pounds without falling off the wagon in quite a few years. But I'm down 52 and really haven't even thought about eating some of the crap I used to. Now, that doesn't mean I haven't eaten a little bit of birthday cake (a very little bit, just enough to get the taste) and I've snitched a few fries when I made them for my granddaughter who lives with me but I most definitely haven't gone crazy. This is a lifestyle that comes with enforcement. Your band, once you reach your sweet spot, will keep you from overeating. Yes, you will still have to make good choices, but you will have help. There are bypass patients who have eaten around their bypass surgery and regained some if not all of their weight AND GOTTEN A LAP BAND AFTER. You can eat around any surgery. "Slider foods" like ice cream and stuff has a lot of calories and can get you in a heap of trouble. But guess what? Same problem with other WLS. There is no magic in this. You have to be willing to make the lifestyle changes ... and if you choose the band, you will have a great tool. I can say that because I have the band. I can't say more than I have about bypass because I didn't have that; I've only done my research comparing the band (my choice) with GB. And I know next to nothing about the sleeve so I can't say anything definite about that.

I support fanship of either team, so Welcome! I know what you mean, I grew up in a Chargers family down in San Diego. After going away to school and then moving to Seattle after graduation, I grew into a Seahawks fan! My Dad, who passed away 17 years ago due to complications from obesity and heart disease, loved to hate the Seahawks. But I know he would be happy for me about their season this year Go Seahawks:-D

So all the people who got sleeved jan 8 th how is it going? How much did you lose ? Any complications etc? What's your exp so far regarding the surgery ? Any regrets ?

You can Google it it is where there is one connection instead of 2 being made it is very similar to a regular gastric bypass but less complications and an easier procedure Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App

FWIW, I had a VSG at 55 years old. I have asthma and severe osteoarthritis of my knees (bone on bone, need them both replaced.) My starting BMI was 48.1 in April 2016 before my first visit with my surgeon. My current BMI is 29.9. I'm down 102 pounds and I look 10 years younger. I no longer need as much medicine for my asthma (I will always need some as it is triggered by pollen related allergies) and I no longer need narcotics for knee pain. In fact, I am a competitive fencer (en garde) and fence 5 hours a week. The biggest complication that affected my life was the fact that my primary care doc for 20 years before I had surgery said I just wasn't trying hard enough to lose weight. I've had no significant complications, other than some rashes now due to excess skin. My consult with plastics is on October 20. I don't see a downside.

I have to say the 30% hospitalization rate has me very concerned. I’m 66, and have started the process for RNY, which I will have probably in February or March 2018. My only fear is some late onset complication that will reduce my quality of life.

Hi there! I was banded by Dr. Tersigni too. We stayed at the Mill Casino - I think it's about the same rate. Reminder, if you a self pay, save all your receipts for milage and hotel and of course ALL your medical receipts for taxes. My surgery was a wonderful experience, no complications. Wonderful staff - AJ is awesome and can tell you anything about Protein and fitness. I highly recommend them. I am down 70lbs. I am on my 4th fill. I think one more fill and I will fine the perfect spot. I am so much happier being 70lbs lighter and could not do it without the band. People keep calling me skinny even at 225 lbs. I would say about about 55 more lbs to go, my doctor says 180 would be good for me, but I kind of want to get down to 160. I am running out of clothes. Good luck with your sucess!

Aetna says if I have a band that I'd have to pay for any complications. I think they may balk at fills too. I'm working on some spreadsheets now to figure out which insurance will have me more out of pocket on average. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think. It's hard to say ... what I have now is so easy -- just little co-pays for office visits and prescriptions and this "Affinity" plan I'd have to switch to is so frigging complicated!! The other thing is, if I want complications and fills and such covered, I have to switch even if I self-pay. Which means I might as well go through UHC to start with. Maybe it would be better if my company didn't have so many choices! (And I haven't even dragged Kaiser into this -- they are a 3rd choice for insurance that my company offers.) Yeah, I know I'm being a big, whinny cry-baby and that some people have to get second mortgages to pay for their surgery and it takes them 2 years to jump through all the hoops, and some people never get it because of money, and that if I really wanted to, I could take off from work during an inconvenient time. What I'd really like to do is: start working on lifestyle changes and emotional eating now, insurance be damned, and re-evaluate in the Fall like I originally planned. I could have a BMI of under 35 by then and maybe I could try to get into the low BMI study. Or I might still be above 35 BMI and UHC might count my hypertension as a co-morbidity after all and it will all be good. The worst that can happen is that I decide, yes, I really want this surgery, and I'll have to self-pay. The reality is that I could afford to self-pay in Mexico if I really wanted to (and was willing to wait a few more years for some other stuff I want like new car and remodeled bathrooms) and I'm not one of those people who thinks all the doctors in Mexico are a bunch of hacks, either. So it's really, really tempting. Mostly the distance and dh's skepticism are what are holding me back. Plus my practical streak that says I'm crazy to consider self-pay before I've exhausted all my insurance options. I know that starting now will dramatically increase my chances of having to self-pay, but I do think that's the best option for me. I really need to deal with my eating problems NOW and not wait until Aug. It's been heck these past two months watching the scales go down (just from logging food and drinking more water) and not being happy because I'm afraid it will screw up my chances for surgery ... which I know I need in the long run. I'm putting off starting up my exercise plan because I'm afraid I'll lose even more weight, which is not good. I've even done stuff like eat a bowl of ice cream at the end of the day to get my calories up so I won't lose more weight until I can weigh in at the surgeon's office only to have my appointment get cancelled because of insurance! So I feel for the OP and may find myself in the same situation in the not too distant future.

I've decided to get Sleeved because at 33 years of age, my BMI is 60 and I have degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees as well as high blood pressure. My family has a long history of heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and arthritis. My grandmother passed at age 62 in 2001 (a week before Christmas) due to obesity-related complications. I used to be a track and field athlete and a weightlifter (when I was in high school). I've looked into the gastric sleeve surgery and I know this is what I need in order to regain my health so I can live a healthier, longer life. I live in NY and have Straight Medicaid, which requires 3 months of NUT visits and from what the surgeon told me that I may get sleeved in either September or October of this year. I wasn't told how much I needed to lose, but I heard it was minimum 10% of your body weight. I've tried everything from Slim Fast to Kashi GoLean and taking diet supplements. I'm more than ready for a change in my life. I know what lies ahead for me, and I know my path to wellness won't be easy.

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone used Dr. Marc Neff as their surgeon? What were your experiences with him? Did u have any complications, etc.,? Thanks!

Hi,,, Wow... I would say totally not normal... I will get a stomach pain once in a while and each time I know its from eating tooo fast and not chewing enough, but I have never actually vomitted or became so ill from eating that I thought I would be sick, never had that at all. To me it does sound like a complication that you should pursue with your doctor and hopefully it can be fixed.. Wishing you the best, and hoping the doc can figure it out, possibly something very minor!! Take are & good luck

Well all I am 1 year and almost 1 month post op. I am 3 lbs from loosing one hundred pounds, and I am feeling wonderful. However not so wonderful when I eat just about anything really. I can eat and within minutes to an hour I feel so sick that I gag and vomit on most occasions. I had complications in the begining and I am concerned that they are going to be long term if permanent complications. I am still only able to eat very little which is great, but that very little makes me feel like I have been hit by a Mack Truck and it sits and hurts until it comes back up. I hate that I am still going through so much, but you know what I look at the plus side of it. I am reaching my goal and I am loving the new me!!! Did you or are you having these problems??

Did the insurance company say anything about not covering you for complications (if any) when you choose to go to Mexico rather than wait for the insurance company? I have Aetna and am in the process of being approved. Lots of i's to dot and t's to cross before you are sure of the approval. The co pay is nearly as much as going to Mexico so am very tempted to just do that. The aftercare insurance thing is all that is stopping me.

So I was sleeved on Jan 9th with no complications,except a little burning feeling in one of,my incision scars. But my question is how do I know when my stomach is full. Not getting any signs and scared I am gonna over eat. I am getting my proteins, vitamins and water in and am only down 8lbs since the 9th. Been on a 8 labs weight loss for almost a week. Is this normal, because I am feeling frustrated. Amy helpful hints would be much appreciated, thanks so much!

So far I have had an amazing journey. I am down 75lbs and I have never been so active in my life. N complications to date. I did take a PPI for the heart burn and I have 3 in my RX and then I will stop to see if I still require it or not. I find the psychological side of getting the sleeve the most difficult but I am slowly working my way through it. Best of luck in your journey