Search the Community

I'm scheduled to have a revision from a sleeve to a mini gastric bypass in 5 weeks. I am way more scared than the first surgery. I think in part because I know what to expect post op (I had an awful recovery last time). Has anyone else felt like this before their revision?

Anyone else headed to TJ for Dr Ortiz this week? I was sleeved by him last November but have not lost any weight. Because I had a revision from a band he thinks I had too much scar tissue to get a small enough sleeve. So, I am going back. He said this is ony the 2nd time he has had this problem. and, NO cost to me.

My lapband was removed in April and I am getting the gastric bypass on 12/21. I ended up with reflux and a small hernia from the band. I feel better since the removal, but I do not want to risk more issues by getting the sleeve. My bmi is around 39 now, but it was above 40 when I started the process. I am happy with my choice to get revision surgery. I'm getting closer to the date and I have a few nerves like everyone else. I think I would regret backing out at this point in the future, so I'm going to go forward to improve my overall health. Good luck with making your final choice.

Thought I'd share this too. It's from a chef on Discovery Channel. 88 Calorie Brownies November 30, 2007 Yes, these are for real! They are the creation of Chef Devin Alexander, a master at turning sinful treats into healthier fare. The bestselling author is also a host of her own show on Discovery Healthy Channel. Devin’s 88 Calorie Brownies Ingredients 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional) 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (semi-sweet) Butter-flavored cooking spray Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8×8 inch non-stick cake pan with spray. In a medium mixing bowl, using a sturdy whisk or spatula, mix the applesauce, vanilla, egg whites and sugar until they are well combined. Add the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, and salt. Stir the mixture until it is just combined and no lumps remain. Pour it into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the chips evenly over the top. Bake the brownies for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry (a few crumbs are okay). Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and allow them to cool 5 minutes. Cut into 12 equal brownies. Makes 12 (1 brownie) servings. Each brownie has: 88 calories, 2 g Protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat, less than 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 g Fiber, 133 mg sodium Traditional Double Chocolate Brownies have: 260 calories, 3 g protein, 37 g carbohydrates, 12 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 15 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 165 mg sodium

I so believe that you're right about this. The two-stage process is the way to go. Sleeve and then DS *IF* necessary. Like I said before, the more research I do into this (and I don't just mean reading what is said here - independent research, both pro and against the sleeve) I see it as the way to go. I was reading some info on the sleeve - and it was an anti-sleeve report - the cons of the sleeve were still better than the ones for the band! This won't be true for everyone, but I'd rather take out a portion of my body that isn't working, rather than put a device that could cause issues on a body part that isn't working right anyway. I wants me a sleeve! :thumbup: bypass just scares the bajeebus outta me. I don't know why, per se, but it just does. I think part of the issue is that I've heard about so many people stretching their pouch out to be the size of a regular stomach - now you have 2 stomachs?! One that you've stretched out and another just flopping around in you??? Yikes!

I was banded Oct 1, 2008. The complications started the day of surgery when a nurse held my ankles and made me reach above my head, grab the bedrails and pull my butt into the hospital bed. I had a shredding pain spread across my abdomen. No big deal they said, hit the pain pump. The next morning I woke up to an enormous bruise that was about 7" wide by 10" long across my abdomen under my port site sutures. I was scared. . .But was reassured that nothing was wrong with me. Fast forward 10 days, suture removal, the bruising has now spread to my side and down even further my abdomen. The port site suture could not be removed because of swelling. The nurse dug around in one of my lap sites to remove sutures, and she couldn't get them out. YAY. 2 weeks later, I had cottage cheese consistency, old blood spewing from the lap site, it's now the size of a lima bean, and I see all the way to the pink layers of my abdomen, right through the fat. The infection is now tunnelling through my tummy. YAY YAY. They didn't seem too concerned, just keep it clean. Okay, off I go, 6 weeks later, the little hole is now getting smaller, it closes one day, but to my surprise there was something growing behind it. LOVELY. Prescription of Levaquin should resolve that. . . I quit having restriction around Thanksgiving with a total of 2.5cc in my "band", in the tubing really. Was told to just stick to the diet, and to remember I am ahead of the game with 25lbs gone. December rolls around, not restriction, can eat more than I should, trying to be good. Called office about not having restriction, am told that it may take 25+ fills to get restriction and I need to accept it. REALLY? I'll throw out this and it maybe TMI for some. But, our sex life suffered substantially because the port area was so sensitive, sex was sometimes impossible. . . Even though my husband is the most understanding, loving, and supportive husband in the universe, I hated feeling that we could not be intimate because I hurt so badly. Okay, now fast forward end of Jan. Lost 1 pound in 2 months, YAY. I have a lot pain in my port area especially about my monthly cycle. Told surgeon, he looks dumbfounded. Manipulates the port for 15-20 minutes, I get 1cc finally. Thought I had restriction, yeah, not really. February, port pain is becoming more and more noticeable. And when I say pain, I mean pain level 6-8 on a daily basis. I go in for a fill even though they don't want to give me one, and he can't get to the port after 20 minutes of gouging around in my abdomen. It's swelling, bruising... I ask about the bleeding, and they finally agree to test me for R5 factor, reaction to Heparin. I am NEGATIVE. I received 5cc of heparin over a 30 hour hospital stay. Okay, March 3rd, went in for a fill under fluoro, yep port is flipped, he digs on me for another 20 minutes, 5 different sticks, and can't get it under fluoro. I'm devastated. . . I ask him "why do I hurt everyday?" his reply " I honestly don't know ". . . Hmmmm this is not good. 6 days later, I show up for another attempt under fluoro even though they tell me it is to be done the next week. He agrees to try again, I get to radiology, and he says " have I accessed the port since repositioning it?" Ummm I was just here 6 days ago, and NO you haven't repositioned my port. He chuckled and said "oh dear, I've forgotten your chart." The fluoro table is at a 25degree angle, he manipulates the port and is able to give me 1cc, and tells me "see ya in 60 days". . . And off he went. I left feeling like I was just ridden hard and put up wet. It was horrific. . . I called a week later and spoke with his nurse who proceeded to tell me " you haven't been happy since the beginning" I argued and said " No I haven't been happy since I have been ignored, and brushed off, and having complications that are trivialized by you and your husband." I told her I wanted my chart, and it took me driving down there and waiting an hour and a half to get my measley chart. She proceeded to tell me " you should of had gastric bypass like I told you". LOVELY. I am not sure if I would of been successful with the band, but I know that I am so glad that I am getting the revision. The PB, sliming,getting stuck on crystal light was just too much for me to tolerate. I followed the rules, I worked my butt off for that 1lb loss between Thanksgiving and January 22nd. I truly feel like I was set up for failure by my surgeon, and I am so grateful to have the approval that I need to have the band removed and revision to the sleeve in June. I was one of those ecstatic band patients until I had problems. Couple that with lack of concern and aftercare from my surgeon, I don't regret my choice for the band initially, I am sad it took me this long to get the hell away from my original surgeon.

Evry person is diff but my surgeon was very clear that if I had acid pre surgery he want to do a bypass and not a sleeve. I didn't have any presurgrru ever

No, I had my surgery at Parker Adventist and haven't gone to the support groups yet because I am in the middle of marching band season with my daughter. My life becomes mine again in November. I will save the clothes and happy to pass them on to you; I'll let you know when they stop fitting which I am hoping is soon. I am stalled right now and trying not to be frustrated. As you can tell I only recently found this forum and it's been a wealth of information since I feel like crap most of the time and quite often wonder why I even did this.

Everyone a little different, I was drinking pretty good after getting out of hospital, more than sipping. This is not like bypass surgery, you still have a stomach the size of a medium to large banana. Just don't drink more than 30 minutes before eating, so you can eat, during meals so you don't fill up on liquids, and not to soon after to prevent washing the food through the system before minerals and vitamins absorbed since you are taking in so little after surgery and for next 4 to 6 weeks.

Band broke after 10 years went from 12stone to 16stone had op cant lose weight 16.3 spent £6000 feel a failure had abroad need help support wish got another band gutted Heather from Scotland op in latvia too expensive here Sent from my SM-G960F using BariatricPal mobile app

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 20, now 35. I have every symptom there is including anovulation, infertility, depression, obesity, facial hair, high blood pressure, etc. I have been on metformin for years and tae provera to induce periods. I took injectable meds and have been blessed with my twins. I had a failed lap band surgery 5 years ago cause it slipped. I have gained more weight since then and am waitlisted for WLS, not sure if I will have the sleeve or gastric bypass. I know I don't want to become diabetic (on both sides of my family) and I have never been able to loose and keep off weight.

I chose the sleeve over the band for all of the reasons listed above, and then some. My late mother-in-law had stomach cancer and had a stomach gastrectomy for that. She was left with even less capacity than I have, yet she still managed to eat and to take medications with it. I also have a sister in law who has had THREE Gastric Bypass surgeries, and we had a very frank, involved discussion of her complications and revisions. Not for me. Lastly, a former co-worker had the early stomach stapling surgery. Watching her eating habits and problems convinced me I'd rather be fat than have those issues. When I finally went for the seminar, I was initially going for the LB, but the doctor said one thing that convinced me completely. He said that those with the sleeve can only eat so much, period. Even for someone whose main problem was sweet addiction (like me), the sleeve is a better choice because it restricts how much of any food one can eat. I was sold, right then and there. 5 months and 81 pounds later, I'm very happy with my sleeve! Good luck with your decision.

Since you're a guy, not sure if you only want dudes to answer, but as a woman, this was my routine. During the year after sleeve surgery, prior to plastics, my routine was a 3 mile run every single day either around 10am or 2pm. Monday through Wednesday I also went to the gym and I did 2-3 hours of boxing, bjj, and MMA. I never really got into lifting weights- I don't enjoy it and I found that lifting while losing just keeps me from getting thin. Totally against everything everyone says, I know, but I was only able to hit goal when I lost some muscle. I am fine being smaller with less muscle, so I focused on cardio because I knew it would get me to the lower weight I wanted. After plastics I was limited in what I could do for roughly a year or so (I had 3 surgeries- 1 every 3-4 months). I made a point to powerwalk everyday and then when I was healed enough between procedures I ran and continued going to boxing class. I hit goal in April after which point I was still stuck recovering from plastics until about June. I powerwalked most days just to maintain. I started gaining a little in October (25 months out from sleeve surgery) so I got back to running 3 miles every single day. I was back to my goal weight range by November and then I chilled a little on the working out. Now at 28 months out from surgery I've been lazy and haven't run in probably 3 weeks. I just watch what I eat and I maintain within 1-2 pounds of my goal weight. If I start to gain, my butt starts to go for runs, and then I get back to normal. So, my suggestion would be to exercise as much as you can tolerate until you get to goal- after that, do what makes you happy. I run now more because it makes me less cranky than because it does anything for my weight.

I had a botched sleeve in October 2017 and couldn't reliably hold down anything (including water) for the next 6 months until it was converted to bypass by a new surgeon. I am now able to eat again and feel so much better. Unfortunately my weight loss prematurely slowed and stopped due to getting almost zero calories for so long then finally hoarding calories when it had them again. But my situation was pretty unique so hopefully that will not be the case with you at all!

I had one in my 20s, it wasn't too bad. I had a lower body lift this past November and it was 10 times worse. I am only now starting to feel like me again. But the reward is well worth it on both! I now want a thigh lift but I am sure insurance won't pay. A girl can dream...

Is there a difference between bypass and sleeve? My surgeon said bypass patients lose the most first year, but sleeve catches up in year two. Sent from my KFTBWI using the BariatricPal App

I often visit the Main Chat Room of ObesityHelp. The site has great information and its chat room gets a lot of traffic. Recently more and more pre-op and newbie Bandsters have mentioned that they feel like the O.H. ChatRoom is "Anti-Band." I have no problem with a primarily-RnY Chat Room (I have more in common with someone who had RnY than I do with someone who has never had any WLS) but I admit that as more Bandsters come in, I do hear more anti-Band or ignorant-about-the-Band statements. So I spend time with chat room visitors, giving authentic band info. Well, I've taken more flack in the last couple of weeks from the Bypassives - which is what I call the rabid fanatics who insist that any surgery other than a bypass type is worthless - who have given me heck for standing up for the LapBand. Well get this. Our own Dr.Pleatman (whose rather ambivalent feelings about the LapBand has been well documented here :rolleyes ) was in the Chat Room earlier tonight. Basically, those in the chat room were privy to hearing a WLS surgeon who grudgingly performs some bands, to enumerate why he doesn't care for the bands. (Gee, who is it who is paying this doc to do their bands when it's obvious he has no faith in LapBanding? He seems like a very competant surgeon, frankly, but if he prefers RnY bypass, why doesn't he just perform all bypasses, like many other WLS docs only do? I never understood that. Maybe those pesky LapBands are good business, eh?) Anyway, a Pre-Op visitor came in and asked the surgeon - "I'm torn between the LapBand and the RnY. Any suggestions on questions I should ask my doctor?" And Pleatman said Oh, great. Just what they wanted to hear. I do respect his opinion, but talk about fuel for a fire. Oh well, the Bypassives were so excited to hear that. It made their day. However, they didn't get to enjoy the moment long. See us poor, misinformed LapBanders :mad: were thankfully upstaged by Dr. P making a comment that doctors who only perform Open Surgeries (like Open RnY) are doing it because they aren't well trained on Laproscopic technique. WHEW! Did the sparks fly when he said that! I just sit back and watch them argue amongst themselves on that one. :guess See next to the "Bypass is better than band" constant refrain, another great ObesityHelp ChatRoom rivalry is the "Open Surgery is better than Lap Surgery" debate. Man, do they get fired up about that argument. :phanvan I don't get it - why can't everyone just be happy about their surgery? I respect all Weight Loss Surgeries - and if one didn't work, I'm glad there are other choices. But there are always those who like to argue that their way is the only way. But in between bickering, there is genuine concern and positivity towards Weight Loss Surgery. Sometimes though, It's like a Soap Opera - but in real-time and via the Internet. That's why I call it "As The World (of ObesityHelp) Turns..."

I know someone who had a gastric bypass several years ago who did this. She had been overweight all her life, had a husband who loved her unconditionally, 2 beautiful little girls and a great life. She lost 150lbs and it was like she relived her teenage years all over again- she started dressing provocatively, hanging out in bars, sleeping with younger men, all of which eventually caused her to lose her marriage and her children. Her husband got full custody, although the oldest one stayed with mom from about age 16 on and followed many of her patterns. That girl is now in jail and I 100% believe this would not have occurred had she not acted like that after her bypass. Her husband told me that his lawyer brought up some statistical information during their divorce hearing and he said the the divorce rate for gastric bypass patients is 70%, as opposed to 50% for the general population.

I had a mini gastric bypass on Monday 16th March. Had a rough recovery in hospital after the biggest of my port wounds bled Tuesday night. My surgeon cleaned the blood that pooled under the skin and replaced my staples. I'm horribly bruised and swollen. I'm still struggling to lie down, get comfy or sleep and ny clips are itchy as hell. My question is, how normal is it to want to cry your eyes out after? It's not a pain thing. I am sore and uncomfortable but the crying comes on suddenly and is uncontrollable sometimes. It's been every day since i got home Thursday. I get that I've been through a traumatic experience but anyone else find themselves crying like a baby for no reason?

I know here lately I've posted and sounded down and maybe I am, I've got a lot going on in my life. Tonight I was watching an episode of I think it's titled "my 600 lb life and where are they now", well I live with my mom and have lived with her for the past year for several reasons, one she's 74 and needs me but for the main reason, I can't find a job and I need her as much as she needs me because I can't make ends meet on my alimony alone since my divorce 2 yrs ago and live by myself. Well, while watching this show I could really relate to these people who had had gastric bypass and their eating issues so I paused the DVR and said to my mom "you know I really need help with my eating issues". Just yesterday or last night I posted on here that I crave something sweet after meals and it is an awful feeling and I didn't know how to deal with it. Her reply was harsh, guess I wasn't ready to hear it and wanted her support. She basically said to deal with it. My feelings to the issue is, this is a real sickness, people are addicted to food as some are addicted to alcohol or drugs. I need to learn how to channel those feelings of wanting to eat at non-eating times to something else. I am paying for my own health ins and it costs a lot over $500/mo for me and my deductible is $2500 and I've had to stop going to my psychiatrist because each visit was going towards my deductible and I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket. I'm crushed, I've been a patient of his for 7 yrs. I did find a psychologist here where I live but she keeps pushing me to do things that cost me, like hobbies and although that is fine and dandy I can't afford it. Now lets talk about exercise: Mom says tonight "I'll pay for a membership to a gym if you'll go", great I say but she doesn't understand that I can barely walk around the block here at home before I have to walk in the door and take a pain pill to kill the pain in my knee that I've had 2 surgeries on. I just feel like she doesn't understand or I feel all alone in this right now. Yes, I've come out of the closet yesterday on here that I'm Bipolar, I take meds for it and they leave me hungover the next day so I usually sleep in till 10:30 and cause insomnia so I'm up till the wee hrs of the night/morning going to bed and the one drug that knocks me out causes some weight gain and cravings but its the only thing that will put me to sleep at night and control my moods. Going back to my psychiatrist, he kept a close eye on me and my bipolar and all my meds, now my reg dr handles all my meds. I have a feeling some of this is mild depression going on, but I just don't have the money to make an appt with my old dr right now. sheesh. My Lap Band dr has me come in once a month for fills and that has been costing me over $100 a time, I'm up to my eyeballs in medical bills. No wonder my hair is falling out. Going back to exercise, I tried to do a Burpee, omg, I couldn't even accomplish that, couldn't squat because of my knee. I thought I was going to have to call the fire dept to get me up. Thanks for listening. Donna

I am having a T.O.R.e procedure on the 6th. I was wondering if anyone here has had one or even heard of it (lol). Any advice would be helpful!! I had my bypass 11 years ago and made some bad choices which led me here.

I am very happy with the sleeve. There is nothing I learned afterward that I wished I'd known before. PROS: less invasive/drastic of a surgery, not as many absorption problems CONS: you lose more weight with bypass

For those who haven't been following my story............... I was diagnosed with an eroded band in November of 2011 and had it removed in March of 2012. I had to wait for six months before revising to the gastric sleeve as my surgeon wanted to wait for me to heal completely and do medical tests before confirming that I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. I have complete those tests and he was satisfied that I could have the sleeve. We also found that I had developed another hiatal hernia (the first one was repaired when I had my lap band surgery). My predetermination request for the sleeve surgery was denied. They stated that I needed to complete a six month weight loss program in order for them to consider my request. I asked my surgeon's insurance coordinator to appeal based on the reasoning that this was a repeat surgery for a lap band that had medically failed me and that I shouldn't have to complete the six month medically supervised weight loss program. She filed an appeal but no where in the letter did it address the six month weight loss program so of course they denied me again stating that we still hadn't submitted the records they had requested. Frustrated beyond belief, I took the initiative to write my own appeal letter. I used language from the BCBS-AL bariatric policy regarding repeat surgeries and their rationale for requiring the six month weight loss program and explained how I had met that rationale just by having a lap band for four years and that my waiting for six months before revising to another surgery was not conducive to improving my health. I just got off the phone with BCBS-AL and they have approved my surgery!!!!!! I am actually shocked that I succeeded in my appeal. I fully expected them to deny me and had already started the medically supervised six month weight loss program in preparation for that denial (and have lost 10 lbs over a six week period which is nice). I'm excited, relieved and nervous! I've been through this before so I don't know why but I am. I was very successful with my lap band (losing 94 lbs). I remember how wonderful it felt to be thin and feel good about myself and how I looked and not to be in pain anymore from carrying around all this extra weight (yes I packed the pounds back on after my band was removed). I can't wait to be there again! Yeah me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope all goes well guys had my RNY BYPASS over 6 months ago best decision ever