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I have had unusually bad problems with GERD post-surgery. Please note that I'm still happy that I did the sleeve, however. I was always a GERD patient, but 2x Prilosec a day would take care of it for me. However post-sleeve the acid become intolerable, and I was vomiting stomach acid repeatedly 3-4 days after coming home. I can't say this has totally resolved for me, but it's calmed down to a level that for now is manageable, particularly when I got past the liquid phase of the diet and could get some food in my stomach to absorb the acid. Since getting sleeved my GP has informed me that stomach acid is the single most common reason for people getting the sleeve revised. Things that helped: * When I got to full liquids, I added low-sodium V8 to my liquids list. For some reason this helped to quiet down my stomach a bit, which led to my belief that I might have been suffering from low acid instead of high. I'm still puzzled about this; if you do some Google searching you will find that they have quite similar symptoms. Part of me thinks the increased acidity of the V8 just helped activate the Prilosec. * An old household remedy - a shot of apple cider vinegar right before bed, followed by a teaspoon of honey to soothe the flavor a bit. Please note there is, so far as I know, absolutely no scientific evidence that this does anything at all. But I started doing it the day I started feeling better, and superstition or not, I feel not desire to wake up choking again, so I keep doing it. * Once I got to mushies, eat every 2 hours. This means my calorie intake is higher than most peoples' around here (I get about 1500 calories a day), but given my weight this actually still allows for great weight loss - in 4 weeks I have lost 41 lbs. Eating small amounts regularly - which is not what's recommended by many nutritionists - has helped keep my stomach calm. My doctor promises that, as the inflammation goes down and time passes, my stomach will reduce its production of acid and this will get better. I remain hopeful. But as I said at the outset, even with the acid, I'm glad I did this. Don't disregard it as a factor though - it's a real issue that impacts many sleevers and could cause you to need a revision, so it's something you should discuss with your doctors.

Though I have not traveled for that length of time post op, a few suggestions that helped me on my relatively short sojourns were to plan ahead. I always travel with a few bottles of Water to stay properly hydrated and to help stave off hunger if it's too soon to have my next meal. Keep healthy Snacks with you in the event that you are delayed with having your next meal. Nuts travel well and don't need refrigeration. Be careful to continue to watch your portion sizes, and get some exercise as often as it is possible. The most important thing, as Cheryl shared is to revise your thinking about food; yes you will be traveling to exotic places...but is the local food really the main reason you are there? How about looking at the local customs and scenery your priorities, along with your research the priorities... Safe travels...

I went in for my revision 6/10 but due to the amount of scar tissue I wasn't able to get my sleeve. That was a disappointing conversation let me tell you. In hindsight I do appreciate my surgeons caution but at the time I was sooo not happy. Today I got the call that I've been rescheduled for 8/29!! I am excited and ready to get this done!!

Today is 100 days since surgery. I started before preop at 305 and I'm now at 240.6. I lost 23 on Preop (a full month of preop!) I've lost 41.4 in the past 100 days and I couldn't be happier! I am a Band to sleeve revision and have been unable to work out. I have yet to (knock on wood) stall it's slowed down the past two weeks but still moving!! I should be able to start the gym soon too!!. I'm only 2.2 from my New Years goal. I am so thankful for my sleeve. I wish I had gotten this 3 years ago instead of the crapband!! can not wait to see what the next 100 days brings (lol takes away really) The next 3 weeks are going to be challenging with family vising and holiday goodies but I'm in such a better place than I ever have been that I know that It won't break me! I'll try and post some pictures later on

These past five months have been nothing but hectic on my end. Trying to battle classes, work, and figuring out how I am going to pay for this next surgery, while still maintaining my sanity has been extremely difficult. At first the doctor decided that he wanted to get this surgery done as soon as possible and that he would lend me the money and I would just pay them $100 per month. Sounds nice.. but at the same time I'm already paying for the initial surgery and the port revision surgery payments each month. I agreed to it at first because I do want to get the problem fixed as soon as possible so I can get back on track, but then I just found out that I will be losing my job at the end of this month.. what else can go wrong, right? So I called back and told them that the surgery would have to wait because I can't afford to get in over my head and will have to hold off until I find a new job. After thinking a lot and talking to numerous people I came to the conclusion of why am I paying for another surgery when I was just operated on for basically no reason and when the band is obviously defective. So I decided to do something about it and had a conversation with my doctor about how this situation is not right. Turns out... there are good people in this world... he is willing to cover the cost of the surgery! I can't wait to get the new band and continue on with my journey to becoming thin. Just thought I would keep you all updated on what happened.. I scheduled the surgery for August 21st so until then... I hope all is well with everyone and happy weight loss! -Allie :cursing:

Hi all! My surgery date will either be the 20th or the 27th. I am hoping for the 27th since it will tie nicely into my paid holidays at work! I am so very excited. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier. Until this past summer, I didn't know that my insurance had made the approval process so much easier. You have to have a certain BMI or a slightly lower BMI and 2 health issues like diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol etc. No pre-surgery dietician or nutritionist, although my surgeon required 2 appointments and I am glad he did! Another big shock was that my insurance now considers the skin removal as an included surgery since it was the result of the treatment for a disease (obesity). 18 months post op, as long as the weight loss has slowed and can show a steady weight for 3 months, the removal is covered. I have the required cardiologist and pulmonologist appointments for final surgical clearance next week and I do not expect to have an issue. I'm excited and so motivated. I look like my mom, who looks like my great grandmother. Hearty stock I say. My mother had bypass 14 years ago and is still keeping it off and super healthy. She was pre-diabetic, hypertensive, etc at the time and now at 70 she only lakes a multi-vitamin. Ok, well, nice to meet the rest of the December Sleevers!!!

If you want to get SKINNY the band may not be your best option. If you eat when you are full the band may not be your best option. On the other hand if you can eat a lean quisen size portion and not eat after that.(You are not hungry) You feel you can change your eating and exercise habits. You drink eight glasses of Water a day. You leard the diffrence between head hunger and real hunger. The band is a great TOOL. It is a tool I can over eat if I want. I may PB or I may not.I know I will not get down to a size 5 but I am very happy at a size 14 and I feel better than I have ever remembered feeling in my life.I want to exercise and I want to be here to see my grandchilren grow up.As with any weight loss surgey it is up to YOU. I felt a lot better with the lapband risk vs the gastric bypass.One in 200 I do not like those odds. I was terrified of the gastric bypass surgery. I was taking 70 units of insulin and four pills a day. This band has to work. I was losing my eyes my health was going. I was so tired and sick. I feel great and my blood suger is 6.8.That is not perfect but it is a number I can LIVE with. Good luck to you.

It's difficult. I was banded in 09. I've kept off 50 lbs. but it's been a struggle. I have had fill put in and out so many times I can't remember. Ins will want to see compliance and if you gained that say you were not compliant. Many dr mine included are doing the sleeve for $10,000 all inclusive, hospital etc. with 3 yr follow . My ins is covering a revision but I have Years of compliance history even then it was denied at first. So ask your dr about private pay especially for revisions.

Seriously, I know what I need to do but I’ve lost my umph. Maybe it’s the holidays but I just can’t seem to get back into my groove of low carb, controlled eating. I know I’m eating too much food and not the best choices and I can honestly say it’s having that addictive affect on me. That can’t stop eating, all day grazing, late night snacking. Old habits are tormenting me. I know if I could just get back on track that would go away for the most part but I’m in a rut. Haven’t lost anything in 3 months. Haven’t gained either though. Losing and gaining the same 3 lbs over and over again. Just needed to vent. I know I can do this. Just feeling disappointed in my self. Banded 3/2010 Revised to sleeve 4/2017 Total loss since pre op 38lbs [emoji22]

I was just wondering if I will go through a 2nd round of hair loss with the revision surgery? I had some hair loss after the band- it wasnt that bad actually. It was like post-partum hair loss for me. But was just curious if revision-ers have to go through a 2nd round of hair loss?

Greetings to all, I am a 43 year old single man living in Staten Island, NY. I had a lap band installed on 8/16/2012 which would have been my grandmother's 101 birthday if she were alive. I chose this date because I felt she would be watching over me. Also, it was exactly 5 months after my first visit with Dr. Marina Kurian of NYU Langone Med. Center in NYC, NY. Also, the number 4 has been prominent in my life and I consider it a lucky number. 8/16/2012 are all multiples of 4. I was 320 when I went to Dr. Kurian, lost about 10 pounds on the liquid diet to prepare me for the surgery and now I am at 292. My goal is to get al least to 200 pounds if not less. I lost my wife, Tracy, on April 4, 2011 exactly 2 years and two months from our wedding day. In about 8 months I gained 60 pounds from eating and depression after she died. It was the heaviest I have ever been. I decided in February 2012, I decided I wanted to be healthy and decided on weight loss surgery because dieting failed me. I wanted a R n Y Gastric Bypass but my personal physician suggested the lap band because he had one done at NYU Langone Medical Center. Well, that's enough for now. If there is anything you want to know, feel free to email me or respond to this post. Also, feel free to check out my blog website, www.grizzlybearspeaks.com. Cordially, Rob "Grizzly Bear" Bennett

This is gonna be long winded so pull up a chair! lol My husband and I married in 1999.. in 2000 we started fertility treatments to try and get pregnant.. it was a long rough haul! About 4 months into the drugs/steroids/hormones I started putting on weight... and nothing stopped it.. the doctors kept saying *it will fall off once the treatments are stopped* Yeah that didn't happen, lol. I had a laproscopic surgery done called ovarian drilling/wedge resection, and after a few miscarriages we finally became pregnant with TWINS.. I was bed rest most of the pregnancy and still had an emergency c-section at just 24 weeks pregnant... we lost of one our babies at 12 days old... all in all I put on a lot of weight from the treatments and pregnancy and it just won't go away.. no matter what I do.. I think all the drugs and such just changed my body chemistry.. literally.. I was a size 8/10 before all this and am now in a 24.. it did the same thing to my sister.. Nothing else changed in my life.. my daily routine.. the way i cooked/ate.. nothing but the treatments.. So today i had an appointment .. mainly because our PCM has changed (military retired... it happens every 6-8 months) and the new doctors like to *meet* you before refilling your meds.. I needed my Migraine meds refilled so i got an appt! They didn't weigh me... my blood pressure was a *tad* high... he said not too much to worry about right now.. I told him my mom AND my sister have both taken meds for high blood pressure since they were in their early 20's.. I am 32 so I've managed to stay away so far.. now I am monitoring my blood pressure for him for 10 days and we'll go from there. He drew blood for thyroid, i'm assuming sugar levels and cholesterol... because as he reminded me.. it had been over a year since I had that done They also took a urine sample. I got the works today I guess! We also talked about my weight... he looked over my chart and saw my weight started going up 4 months into the fertility treatments... plateaued while I was pregnant and is basically the same as it was after the babies were born... I told him the things we cook on a regular basis (he does want me salt free for the next 2 weeks uuugh) Told him about the trials on the treadmill.. Randy will lose 20-25 pounds and I will lose 6-10 and then get nothing... SO he asked me if I would ever think about gastric bypass or lap band surgery. I told him I would be interested in lap band but I didn't the bypass was right for me... He put in a referral for the lap band so I can make an appointment and speak to a doctor.. he said since I am under 300 pounds ( i told him I weigh 238-242 that's just how it fluctuates) that he didn't think I needed the bypass either but lap band would probably work really well for me... So I'm a little anxious... Randy didn't sound too *enthralled* about it.. but that could be because he is at work? I don't know... My mom was supportive and said she would come stay for a few weeks if I decided to do it so she could help out with Nate... So we will see. It will take at least a week to get the referral letter and then I can call and make the appointment for a consult... Sammie ~Nate & Noah~

I had my gallbladder removed 6 months exactly sfter my gastric bypass due to rapid weight loss its common so if you need gallbladder removed let then do it & the recovery is only 2wks down if that & you eill feel much better. I felt all of what you are feeling plus thought i was having a heart attack all at same time, those are all symptoms of gallbladder attack so wishing you a speedy recovery..im on fb as sherri landers scheffler if you have any ?? I may be able to help with Good luck & hang in there it grts better.

my friend had bypass surgery close to 3 months ago....she claims to have lost 60 pounds...i saw her on saturday and was taken back...i saw absolutely no difference!!!!!!!!! none at all!!!!!!! in fact she looks as though she has put on weight in her chin and neck. she kept asking me if i noticed a difference...i stayed quiet and changed the subject...she kept telling me how much smaller her thighs and waist have gotten...i honestly didn't see any change...i wanted to...i tried to...but i don't see it...when i started my journey i weighed 10 more pounds then she did...after losing 60 pounds it was quite noticable...should i lie and tell her i see it??????? or just keep changing the subject...

I'll tell you what's been working for my gas after my bypass surgery in May I have been using some baby has drops and it helps. Sent from my SM-J100VPP using the BariatricPal App

I'll tell you what's been working for my gas after my bypass surgery in May I have been using some baby has drops and it helps. Sent from my SM-J100VPP using the BariatricPal App Wow. Really? Never heard of those. Where did you buy them?

@@bellabloom Well for someone going through so much u do have a good sense of humor...lol u have to or u would prolly lose your mind. I can't relate just yet still in early stages of getting bypass myself. Hang in there mama. I hope u have someone to help with your kiddos. Good luck to u an keep us posted

There are some types of medication that can cause erosion in the stomach. NSAIDS do. So depending on what type of arthritis med, it can be contraindicated in people who have had the band or bypass surgery. Our doc told us to always avoid those, and time-release type medications. (they stay in stomach too long and you get too much medication) That's why it's best to talk with your surgeon and if that isn't possible, to your prescribing doctor. There may be a different form they can prescribe, or have specific dosing instructions to give you to minimize risk of ulcerations etc.

Right?! I thought that was odd!! Their practice really goes by statistics and average excess weight loss per month to calculate this but I think it is really unrealistic for a second timer especially. When I mentioned that I was stalled he said it was too early for a stall. He's a great doctor and I really trust him but I think he may not have real life data about what goes on post-op. Thanks! My brain still can't see the loss even though everyone else does. Band to Vsg revision: 5/23/17 HW: 315+ Starting weight: 294 Surgery Day: 281 Current: 235 Goal 170

I am doing a sleeve to bypass conversion in June due to Gerd. In the beginning when I would stall I found water (or lack of) was the problem. When I was conscious of what I was drinking I realized the more I drank the more weight came off. Drink so your body can flush the fat out. See if that works.

I had my surgery 2 weeks ago and I am still a little sore but really doing well. I am doing about 10 to 20 minutes on the eliptical and some light weights. Today I am starting to eat soft foods. My weight loss has slowed way down which is fine because I lost about 19 pounds in 14 days. Before I was worried I was losing to fast because losing too fast mean gaining more back even faster. But I think I will be fine this time. I'm excited about working out again. And maybe someday I can run a mile again (one of my goals). One other thing is to train my family that my meals are very small now. Yesterday my child cooked dinner for me and tried to give my a large protion which I would have normally ate and went back for seconds. I had to remind her I don't eat that much any more. Poor thing, I think I hurt her feelings. But I ate it; NOT all of it. Just until I felt full; which was about less than half of what she served me. My dad (may he r.i.p) had gastric bypass in 2001. When he came to visit me I would try to feed him a large protion and did not understand how much he really eats. But now I do. I am so so glad I got my lap band.

I've had the band 1.9 yrs.....been throwing up for 1.5 of that time. Having the revision on 21st of MAY! So glad to hear everyone's story. This gives me hope..... ready to do it!

yean mnpls is about 3.5 hours away but they do reimburse you so that's nice...it's 50.5 cent a mile which comes out to more i paid in gas and then they pay $100 a day for food and lodging...they also pay for drinks and Snacks when you stop at a gas station and that money doesn't actually go into your $100...so pretty much i've been reimbursed more than what it cost me to travel which then took care of pretty much the whole cost of the surgery so really i will end up paying just a couple hundred dollars for the surgery so in a way it's kind of a blessing that it's further away. i don't know that she asked me why lap band over the bypass but if she had i would have told her my reasoning...so whatever your reasoning just be honest. they ask you why weight loss surgery and you just say you've tried other things...dieting...exercise...and you just need an extra tool to push you along and give you some guidance. same thing with the pysch eval...be vague but honest...you'll need to take the mmpi and another short pysch test...they're not bad...just tedious...again answer honestly...it's a statistically based test that compares you to other people just like you. mine came out that i have an addictive personality and that i don't like taking the advise of medical personel...which i found quite interesting and not exactly true but whatever...apparently i passed.

Hi tonifrdabronx I had my surgery 2/17/12, we are close in dates ! I was diagnosed with a slip 6/11/14 and my doctor removed some of the Fluid as well. He mentioned that I may need to have a revision surgery (which cost $3000) if it doesn't correct itself. My doctor knew I was terrified then he said its not that bad and there's nothing to worry. I beg the differ, especially being that I was an out of pocket payer.I am praying that it reposition itself and I will not need another surgery. I don't want anymore fill, I'm willing to work on my own so I do not have to go through this again. For the last year I have receive a fill just to turn around and receive an unfill. I think I have had four fill throughout the two and half years and had probably had 5-7 unfills. I'm wishing everyone a Happy Friday and much success throughout your journey!

In the same boat. I had my band in dec 2010. I haven't lost that much and still need to lose 50-60lb. I keep vomiting and am miserable. I spoke with my doc today about revising to the sleeve (or bypass). Which he reccomendation the sleeve for me. He actually removed ALL my fluid today (which I was not expecting). Now I am worried about gaining. I haven't gained in a bit but I haven't lost either. He said he is doing more and more band to sleeve revisions. I really hope due ton he go it to g complication my insurance will ok the procedure. I can't afford it myself and as of right now I don't qualify for it. Bmi is 35 with no comorbidities. He did say it would be slightly more risky due to the scar tissue the band has caused, but said it should be ok. Keeping my fingers crossed.