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Hello Everyone. I started tbe gastric sleeve journey in Dec. March will be month 3 for me. My insurance requires a 3 month doctor supervised weight management program. I am extremely nervous regarding complications with surgery and long term complications. In Dec., my weight was 249, today it is 244. I am 5'3" and in good health. My mother is over weight and a diabetic which is why I began this journey. My husband is supportive. I have not told anyone outside of my husband and my sister. Not only am I afraid of the surgery but I feel as if I don't need the surgery because I don't have health problems right now. Has anyone else experienced these feelings and if yes how do you overcome these fellings? My Doc has been helpful in answering my questions but my mind is saying "He has to answer your questions because he and the hospital will get money for you agreeing to have surgery and for no other reason. " Thanks for your help, Happy Teacher

I'm really hoping that your last statement of regretting your surgery is something you can look back on in a year and say "yes, at the time that was true, but no more"! Once all these crazy complications and hurdles are passed (!), I'm hopeful this will be a good decision for the rest of your life. You just have to find a way to make it through each challenging day right now, so you can get to that happy place.

Hello all, I found this site and joined now that I am serious looking into getting the band. Little about myself: I am 6'4" 354 lbs at the age of 33. I guess you can say I hide my weight well since I am so tall and some would look at me and say I don't need it. But for the last 5 years I have tried every diet (WW, Atkins, South Beach, went to a NUT, etc.) I had the most success with the South Beach and lost about 12 lbs. in the first phase, but really stalled after that. The big issues is keeping it off for good which is the issue and my heaviest weight was 371 lbs. I need to change for not only me, but my daughter and wife who I love so much that I fear leaving them way too early in life. Size and the complications that go with it run in my fathers side of the family and I witnessed his father pass away because he refused to do anything about it. It scares me that my Dad is settling in to his fathers old ways. I want to make the change and I think the band is the best options for me after doing tons of research and I attend a conference in a few days for the surgical group that I am interested in having this done with. Well, I am on the path to a better me. Talk to you all soon with many questions and will keep you updated on my status.:rolleyes2:

You are 2 weeks post-op. You said, "I get this awful tightness in my chest and then pain." According to my hospital discharge directions I was told to report such a condition to my surgeon's office. One of the primary concern is a blood clot in the lungs. Do you have shortness of breath? Review this link. Pulmonary Embolism Or it could be something else. Anyways let your surgeon's office know of the complication this close after surgery.

You guys are terrific so much knowledge. Big smiles! I am healing after some surgical complications and I’m averaging about 120 each day as per my MD. He also states 30 is a max in a meal - so of course this means I wake up in the middle of the night and have a protein shake with a handful of antibiotics! Fun times

Even at 290 pounds, I have never had an issue with my sex drive. My main concern is how long I have to weight after surgery to have sex. And is there certain things that can't be done do to having the band. I don't want any complications due to hanky panky:unsure:

I am finally scheduled for surgery on February 8th. Now that this is really happening, I have all sorts of things going through my mind. I am mostly upbeat and excited about this change in my life. I am thrilled with the prospect of the positive changes in my life. There are some negatives in there and I just thought I'd get some of them down in words so maybe I can put them behind me. Fears: I'm afraid I will die. I'm afraid that I won't be find the right diet for me post-op. I'm afraid I'll have band complications. I'm afraid I will still have intense urges to eat sweets in large quantities. I'm afraid that I won't lose weight very fast and that people will judge me. I'm a religious person and I know that all of these things are things that I need to put in God's hands and trust Him. I guess I should put down my hopes as well. I have hope that I will become a normal-sized person again. I have hope that I will have renewed energy and vitality in my life. I have hope that I'll become a more involved mother and wife and that I will be able to use my new energy to serve and bless others' lives. I have hope that I will feel pretty again. I haven't felt pretty in so long. I have hope that once I have succeeded in this journey that I can help others along as well. Thanks for reading. Any reassurances are welcome.

I was sleeved 9/28 and my birthday was yesterday. I have researched for years any thought I was prepared for everything but I was still honestly surprised at how rough the first few weeks were mentally. I haven't had any complications and have been able to drink ok, but still not getting in near as much water in as I should. Today is also the first day I have been able to get to 60 grams of protein as well. Overall things truly have improved daily and it does get easier. I will say losing about 22 pounds in the two weeks since surgery and the one week preop has been great. I hope you were able to still find a way to enjoy your birthday and try to remember you will have many more birthdays due to having surgery to get healthy.

Hi, Just wanted to add my voice to the others telling you that you are not alone. My surgery date is 3 days away, March 20, and I am bouncing off the walls. It is so difficult to concentrate on anything, like work, for example (which is what I should be doing now, instead of being on these boards :nervous) . The only things I have found that help are trying to concentrate on positives. I am lucky, there is a bandster support group in my area and I went Thursday night. It is a small group, but 2 of them were banded in Mexcio, as I am going to be, and they were very reassuring. Everyone but me is already banded and the lowest weight loss was 58 pounds! I still have fears, about the surgery, about going to Mexico to have it done, about the $$$$$, that it won't work for me, worried about complications.....but I am forcing myself to think of the positives.....hopefully my type 2 diabetes will go into remission and I can lose a bunch of the meds I am currently taking. And, yes, looking and feeling better and smaller size clothing. Already with the preop diet I have gotten in jeans I wasn't able to button a few weeks ago, and yesterday I tried on another smaller pair of jeans, and although I could not possibly go out in them yet because they were so tight, I actually did get them buttoned and zipped (I couldn't breathe, but I will be able to after another 10 or so pounds:llama: ) . That helped my jitters alot. Somewhere, another person with an upcoming surgery posted about being restless and asking for advice what to do about it.....I never saw any suggestions, but if anyone has any, it would certainly help. Right now, I am obsessed with reading these boards (the positive ones, I try to stay away from the negative ones right now, just before surgery). So, that's my 2 cents. I know it is normal to be nervous just before the surgery, but it isn't much fun. Maybe we could try "holding" our sweaty palms together??? :phanvan P.S. The dancing llama is for our wonderful boy llama, Chip.

Okay so my curiousity got the better of me and I emailed his office. I fully expected a member of his staff to answer that email as opposed to him and was delighted to see that he responded directly. I can tell from his email that he was a bit on the defense as he may have thought that I was saying he didn't know anything. So I've since emailed him back with an apology if he misunderstood my intention in the question... What I asked: "in my consult I believe he told me that they do not need to use sutures when doing the Midband. Can you please tell me if I am recalling this correctly? The reason I ask is with futher research and talking to other Lapband patients (not of his) they informed me that their surgeons were rather adament about using sutures to hold the Band in place. I know not doing sutures is a fairly new practice for him. Could you please tell me why again that he does not do these. And are having sutures an option if this is something that I felt strongly about?" His response: "You heard correctly. With the MIDband, according to the manufacturer, and Dr. Frerer, who personally has placed over 5000 bands (1000 Swedish Bands, 1500 Lapbands, the rest MIDbands), anterior plication stitches are NOT necessary. Therefore, I do not place these stitches when I place these bands. They don't seem to do any good, at least not with the design of the MIDband. Dr. Patrick Yau, perhaps the most experienced Canadian bariatric lapband surgeon (Toronto) also places MIDbands, although he is trained in Inamed bands, Swedish bands and MIDbands. There are six adjustable gastric band companies whose products are available for us to place in Canada. If I place a Swedish band (used in Europe and around the world for years, just approved in the USA Sept 28th, will be marketed this January on TV etc), then I will place anterior plication stitches, per the manufacturer's recommendation. I am trained to place lapbands, but I need to be proctored for two cases before I can place these on my own. I have chosen not to pursue this at this time, as I see no advantage of this band over the Swedish band or the MIDband. Remember, virtually all of the USA patients have lapBANDs®. Their products are different than the ones that I use. Not better, not worse, just different . until a few months ago, USA surgeons could ONLY use one product. how could they possibly comment effectively on another band that they have no experience with? Further, most USA surgeons have only done the lapband since 2001, and not the 1990s like the Europeon surgeons. To answer the latter part of your question. I prefer placing the MIDband at present, and if that is the band we go with, then I will NOT place any plication sutures. If we place a Swedish band, then, per the manufacturer's instructions, we will place anterior plication stitches. That is the choice. The price is the same with both of these. I am comfortable placing both of these. I think that the weight loss will be the same with both of these. The MIDband people suggest that there may be less complications with their band, and that it is softer (it feels softer, with no rigid parts) and that their patients report that the band is more comfortable. How can they say this? In France, bands are covered as part of their 'MSP'. Some patients with failed bands from other companies may have had a MIDband placed later, and reported on the differences. I am impressed by how easily it is to place. I was most impressed by the technical skills of Dr. Frerer. If he thought stitching was necessary and useful, he would do it. " There you have it. I am comfortable with his response and with him as a surgeon in general and will continue my persuit of the band in his capable hands. (sorry for the bad formatting, I was just copy pasting from my email)

I do regret how my body is acting now, didn't plan to have a PICC LINE and on Total ParenteI Nutrition 12 hours a day, but that is far from permanent. I am still a lot smaller than I was a year ago, lost somewhere between 50-60 pounds since my RnY 4 months ago, and never will I be ungrateful for the surgery and surgeon that made it som I am so much happier than I was before it happened. I just had a rare complication to it all, but between my 2 surgeons and myself, we are a team to get me better and I believe it will be happening, just a bump on my road to health.

I have heard this as well. I got pregnant 5 months after surgery. I gave birth completely naturally without any complications or drugs at a birthing center. I didn't even get Tylenol! I got up and walked out with my baby girl 4 hours after giving birth and felt great. Labored in a tub got out and delivered on a bed. They did consider me high risk because I had a very healthy pregnancy. No issues and in range for all test while pregnant. YOU will have to educate THEM. They know nothing about bariatrics. I went prepared with papers and research on what I needed to do and what MY plan was to have a healthy pregnancy. Boost your healthy Snacks and do your homework and you can do it. Don't let anyone tell you you can't have the birth you want because you simply can't eat as much at once. Best of luck to you and congrats!!!!

There are a lot of people on here who post about why ther choice is the gold standard, the best, etc. What I’ve gathered is most people who follow their plans have success and few complications with either surgery. My surgeon recommends the sleeve unless people have GERD. I think I would have been happy with either, and the sleeve was the right choice for me. It’s really a matter of personal preference. If your surgeon isn’t guiding you, you may want a second opinion just to get more information to help you decide.

Why?! Because someone so soon out of surgery can't possible know about regrets? I don't believe in them. I may be early out therefore not in the clear yet but even if I get a leak or some other complication I'll deal with it. In a year you will see this thread again and I will ask... You were saying? I don't know you and I think your attitude is wonderful for now. I am one of those that paid big time for this and still have complications after 17 months.. I wish this on no one, ever. You may think that you have it all sewed up because you are handling things right now, but you don't say that you will just deal with it...I worked my ass off for this sleeve and almost died for it. But I would never make the statement that I would just deal with whatever comes. To be honest. You don't know what will come or what won't because it is your trip, no one else. I think if someone feels pain they have a right to say if they need to. some just need to say it and hear it is okay. No one ever thinks that it will be them that has the real difficulties. I rolled the dice and won the lottery of 14 surgeries, coma and a hell of a lot more. Rant all you want. But for me I Celebrate the easy victories everyone has because no one is really ready for the opposite. not even you hun!

Welcome to TRICARE, your Military Health Plan Tri-care has change its policy New TRICARE Policy Adds Weight-Loss Options (Article 2) A recent change in TRICARE policy now provides coverage for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band® surgery), opening new avenues of treatment for those fighting morbid obesity. This policy change is retroactive to Feb. 1, 2007. If you’ve had Lap-Band surgery since Feb. 1, 2007, and qualify under the new policy guidelines outlined below, you may submit a claim for reimbursement or, if you submitted a claim and it was denied, you may appeal the denial. Lap-Band surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that can help you shed excess body weight. The Lap-Band shrinks your stomach and restricts how much food you can eat at one time. You are eligible for Lap-Band surgery if you meet any one of the following conditions: You are 100 pounds over the ideal weight for height and bone structure and have one of these associated medical conditions: Diabetes mellitus Hypertension Cholecystitis Narcolepsy Pickwickian syndrome (or other severe respiratory disease) Hypothalamic disorder Severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints You are 200 percent or more of the ideal weight for height and bone structure. An associated medical condition is not required for this category. You have had an intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, require a second surgery (a takedown). For more information about Lap-Band surgery, talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of the procedure. Gastric Bypass TRICARE covers gastric bypass, gastric stapling and gastroplasty to include vertical banded gastroplasty and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band surgery) is covered only when the beneficiary meets one of the following conditions: Is 100 pounds over ideal weight for height and bone structure and has one of these associated conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian syndrome, hypothalamic disorders or severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints Is 200 percent or more over ideal weight for height and bone structure Has had intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and because of complications, requires another surgery (takedown)

I am banded and at home, oh how good that feels. I was banded on Monday (Dec 28th) and was supposed to come home the same day, but ended up staying overnight, I arrived home Tuesday afternoon, very tied, as I did not get any sleep in hospital and only got 3 hours the night before. I slept so soundly last night, I took the pain med prescription the Dr. gave me just before going to bed and it just knocked me out - wonderful! I’d like to document my experience, in case it helps others who have not been banded and this may prompt questions for you ask your surgeon, the nurses etc. I’ll start with my last day of regular eating (Saturday 26 Dec). I cooked our favorite dinner of extra jumbo shrimp, tossed with red peppers, garlic and pasta. I felt a bit like a condemned man, having his last meal! The next day was the clear liquids diet, (the day prior to surgery) which went fine. I had my last drink of water at 11:00 p.m. and went to bed. After 3 hours I woke and could not get off to sleep, so got up, took a shower, dressed. Dear Husband [DH] and I left home at 4:00 a.m. and headed to the hospital. We arrived there at 5:00, an hour early, but as I thought my surgeon had all his patients arrive at the same time I did not mind being early, hoping to be first in line. Well some of the other patients had the same idea – I was the 4th to arrive. My Dr. would be doing 6 surgeries that day. I had a 2 hour wait in the general waiting area, as there was not a room ready; at 7:00 a.m. we were moved into a room and I changed into the hospital gown, got into bed and had my vitals taken. Hours passed and no one had stopped by to tell us anything; by mid-day DH went to the nurse’s station to find out how things were progressing. DH was told I would be next to go to the holding area, where I would meet with my Dr. and the anesthesiologist. We continued our wait. My Mouth is so dry, now 12 hours without a slip of water and both DH and I are getting stiff from hospital chairs and the bed. At 1:00 p.m. my Dr. comes in and says things are backed up, as so many doctors are performing surgeries today (not sure why other doctor’s surgeries would affect me!), he says as it is getting late he will book a room for me and have me stay overnight. I have two dogs and had arranged for a friend to let them out in the morning and early afternoon, thinking I would be home by late afternoon and now I would not, so DH had to leave to see to our babies and as it is a 100 mile round trip from the hospital to our house, we agreed he would just come back the next day. This was hard, knowing he would not be there for me, but it seemed the best thing to do. The things I brought to the hospital – lip balm, dressing gown, glasses etc. had to be locked away at the nurse’s station or go home with my husband, as they could not be left while I am having surgery, I have them locked up, so I can have my stuff when I come to. Now I have nothing – no husband or anything else just a backless hospital gown! At 2:00 p.m. they start my I.V. – I think, it can’t be long now. I walk up and down the corridor pushing my I.V. on wheels because I am so utterly bored, I can’t read as my glasses and reading material are locked up. I see one of the other Lap-Band patience, who has had her surgery and is being walked around be her husband. They are amazed that I am whizzing around be myself, not realizing I am still waiting for my surgery! I see another patience, who arrived an hour after me and she too has had her surgery – what is going on!!!!! I go to the nurse’s station and discover I have been bump to the sixth position – now I am mad! I watch Oprah and the 5:00 news – now nearly 13 hours since I arrived at the hospital! Finally a nurse comes in to wheel me to the ‘holding area’. He is sweet and sympathetic and thinks it is awful the way I have been bumped to the end of the line. In the holding area I am hooked up to the monitors and compression things are put on my legs. My Dr. stops by, I don’t say anything about how frustrated I am – I don’t want to make the man who will be plunging a knife into me mad! The anesthesiologist stops by, we exchange information and then, about 6:30 I am wheeled into the op room. Just time to look around the room and see the shot go into my IV line and that’s it – lights out for me. DH tells me, he got a call from my doctor at 7:30 to say all went well and that there were no complications. I woke up in the recovery room at 8:45, feeling as if I had just woken from a lovely dream. Funny, but the first sensation I had was how cozy my feet felt, (they had been cold all day) and now they were warm and fuzzy – I must have sheepskin slippers on! Later I saw it was only that ‘egg-crate foam’ wrapped around my feet. The next sensation was my tummy area (between my boobs and bellybutton), yes it hurt, but no more than I would have expected. It felt as if I had a lump or heavy weight inside my chest. I could feel the incisions, more on the right side than the left – I guess that is where the port is sitting. I transferred my thoughts back to my cozy feet! I asked the recovery room nurse if I should get up and start walking, she replied, “they will have you up walking all night when you get to your room”. After monitoring me for a while (I was impressed that it seemed to be a 1 nurse/1 patient ratio) I was wheeled to a room on the ninth floor, this is the cardiology floor – I guess they just had a spare room going. I was transferred from the wheeling bed to the room bed, they turned me on my left side, as the nurses pulled the bed transferring thingy from under me – this was painful, but when they rolled me to the right side it was agony as they yanked and pulled on that thing. By the time I was settled it was 10:00 p.m. and the nurse asked if I would like something to drink. It had now been 23 hours without even a sip of water passing my lips! To me that was torture, not even the airlines can do that to you now!!!! I had some apple juice and some water, totally forgetting that I was to take just tiny sips! I hope I did not stretch my new tummy as soon as the thing was made!!! Then the nurse asked if I would like a meal! That’s when I remembered my tiny tummy and the reason I was there – I had to tell the nurse I was on a clear liquid diet. I also told her I should be up walking, she said, “no, you go to sleep”. I said again that the recovery nurse said I should be walking, to which she replied, that’s downstairs, you are on the heart floor now and we don’t walk”. Well I have been sitting too long writing this, so will continue my story tomorrow - I need to walk now.

You have increased risk of pulmonary compromise postoperative when you have sleep apnea. The pulmonologist went over this with me pre sleep study. My surgeon told me they didn't want an undetected sleep apnea to not be treated and cause complications post op. At the very least I would ask their reasonsing. And then promptly check with your pulmonary physician. Surgeons operate and that is their expertise. Check what they give as reasoning with the physician who manages your Cpap- pulmonary.

Hello Pat! Your story sounds so much like mine---almost identical! I to have lost a lot of weight and gained it back pretty quickly because I never totally stuck anything. My last attempt also being weight watchers. I am currently waiting for approval for surgery but losing weight by eating low carb (I have done this before and it really worked---just another thing I didn't stick it out). My bff's sister and one of her friends both had gastric bypass and have had severe complications (one is now 98 pounds and on a feeding tube and in a wheelchair and the other has had 2 other surgeries because of complications and she just got RnY in Sept '07) I have made up my mind that I am not going to let food control my life---not one more day! On 6/16/08 I had enough and took control and started exercising and watching what I eat. I have lost almost 20 pounds and even though the past 2 weeks I haven't really seen a loss, its not going to stop me. I will do it this time WITH or WITHOUT the band. My biggest problem is that when I get off of a diet its all or nothing...and mostly its ALL, which has caused me to gain it all back everytime. I think if I am banded it will prevent me the big binge eating that I have done in the past. I wish you the best, keep hanging out here and you will learn so much from everyone---the good and the bad. I have made some good friends on here and have learned so much about being banded.

maybe i just need to vent, if so I apologize in advance. If Im doing something wrong someone please set me straight. Im 5 weeks post op today, & since about the 2nd week post op Ive done nothing but yo-yo up & down or stay at the same weight. Granted, I was sidelined with a UTI from the catheter in the hospital & took Cipro for 10 days, which I was told would make me retain water. I lost a few more pounds after it got out of my system but since then its been lose 2, gain 1.5, lose .5, gain 1 lb. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Im getting my protein in (75-100g per my program) getting my fluids in & walking everyday for at least 30 mins. Only thing I could be doing wrong is weighing myself too often. somedays I do it everyday, some days I will skip a day or so. I havent had my monthly since pre-op too. That was last week in august. I had to discontine by birth control pills when I started by liver shrink diet & I didnt have one the whole month of September. I feel great, i still feel like I made the right choice, Ive had zero complications, Im eating normal foods, being good, no or little sugar, no breads, mostly just good lean proteins & fluids. Am I expecting to much too soon? Just seems like with all Im doing I should see more results....thanks for taking the time to read my vent. Hoping it changes soon!

You can look up BPD/DS..Right now, I have a gastric stricture. Not one dr has concluded this yet, but extensive research I have done for last week has led me to this conclusion. Newbies in the honeymoon stage hate me. Think I'm being negative...no, being realistic. Do you think my bariatric surgeon told me all of the possible complications - of course not, this is what he does for a living. Luckily, he is a good surgeon so I hope he didn't make my opening too small. Praying for last hour, as it took me, not the three doctors I've seen, to diagnose myself. Even an experienced nurse in a Bariatric Surgeon's office said I was anorexic and needed a good dietician. I am not anorexic! How did I get so fat? And struggle to keep the weight off for 7 years, and suddenly develop anorexia...total nonsense. I am literally getting unable to eat, it nauseates me and I can hardly swallow. My bowels are shutting down.. But I know hospitals can screw up. God, this is overwhelming. So, I'm praying and claiming, I'm right, I'm getting to the right Bariatric Surgeon or right ER doctor, etc. Praying I have no complications from the correction, dilation of the stricture. I may have to have multiple dilations. I may develop a bleed during dilation. Hope you get the drift how complicated this is. Please don't take this the wrong way, but if I asked, May I ask what a DS is, you are not a good candidate for DS. You can fight serious health complications, requiring many hospitalizations, or even death. May not happen, but may. And you cannot be revised from DS, If surgery is available, any responsible surgeon wouldn't do it If you can't lose the weight at this point, get intensive therapy before making such a lifetime commitment. From your pic you don't look that old. This is for the rest of your life!!! Bariatric practices are going to tell you about all of the successes, not the failures. I would be considered a huge success, maintained my weight for 7 years, and now losing....how exciting....wrong...I may be dying. Praying for Divine Intervention. I'm not ready to check out yet.

Apparently LapBandTalk is wondering where all of it's former members went and why us "old timers" no longer post. So far the first 4 pages, to my surprise have been "I'm doing great, lost my weight and enjoying my new body" type posts. I was the first bust thy bubble with complications. I figured those who had bands prior to VSG would at least enjoy the read if not want to share your story to prevent another poor soul from going through what we have. I did NOT go looking for this thread of LBT, they sent an email out asking where some of the "Old Timers" were and I figured perhaps some of you who used to post there may have changed your email address but would still LOVE the chance to be honest with what the band did to you and your body http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/126044-any-old-timers-still-around/page__st__60#entry1584321 is the link. Enjoy!

Hi, I've been to Monterey on a several trips. I've had surgery twice with Dr. Rumbaut. He uses a hospital which is chosen by the US Secret Service for a US president to be taken to in case of a medical emergency in Monterey. Bush has frequented Monterey several times for conferences. In fact the president had just left Monterey on my last visit and the Secret Service was taking down phone lines that had been installed in the ER if needed. They have an air filter system in the OR which is the best in Mexico and probably half of the hospitals in the US. They do heart and kidney transplants , trauma etc. I tell you this because I personally want to have the best care and facility available if needed. Instead of metal instruments and cheaper materials which may not be properly disinfected by the hospitals or clinic--San Jose hospital uses mostly disposables. This costs more money. They use IV drug anesthesia for bands instead of Gas anesthesia because they want the patient awake and moving after the procedure and also poses less complications such as nausea and other side effects. This costs more money. This is not a small clinic but a well established hospital with excellent care. This costs more money. And then you have Dr. Rumbaut who is banded himself, has banded more patients and longer than any other Surgeon in North America and has probably mentored more Mexican and US surgeons then any other. I can go on but you catch the drift. You pay for what you get. . I understand if you are closer to Tijuana or Mexacali because they have some good surgeons and costs and flight time can be a deciding influence. But if you are in need of a top notch facility /Surgeon either because of your morbidity factors, location in the US or wanting the most experienced I would choose Dr. Rumbaut. Joanne in Seattle

First, congrats! A number of ladies experience increased fertility with weight loss, despite how much we hate it when our docs tell us weight is a factor or no matter how many times we've been told we have a number of female issues. Somehow, with the weight loss, the body gets back on track and it surprises a lot of ladies. As you can see from all of the surprise pregnancy posts you'll find here! I was two years out when I got pregnant but still had a very limited capacity. I could eat one scrambled egg with cheese and one turkey sausage link in a meal and feel stuffed. As my pregnancy has progressed my capacity has increased as well as my appetite, so while it's still a bit of a challenge to consume enough, I'm doing alright. My situation was complicated by nausea. If I ate any meat, I'd get sick. I'm already lactose intolerant and while it's supposed to improve during pregnancy mine got worse - to the point where putting a tiny bit of butter on toast would make me ill. My Protein shakes were totally off limits for several months, too. So I really do understand the concerns you're having. The solution is to go back to the way things were in the beginning, when you forced yourself to eat around the clock to hit a nutritional goal. It means choosing your meals carefully so that you can get a well balanced meal in a tiny portion. It also means trying your darnedest to get back on those shakes and make them stick. I have been able to drink mine again for the last few weeks and I feel MUCH better and have more energy since I was able to do that. And I really can eat more in a sitting now. Your stomach should relax as you get further along and the hormones are really increased. That helps a lot. When you say your stomach hurts are you talking about cramping and nausea? Is it hurting after dairy? I first developed lactose intolerance with my twin pregnancy and the first clue was really uncomfortable stomach cramping after anything dairy based. I would definitely bring this, and the fact that you've had WLS to your OB's attention ASAP. I am on two different prenatals, additional Calcium, B12 shots and a special Iron supplement to keep my levels up. I am only just now, five months in, getting enough nutrition that my labs come back in good shape. While it's been a particular challenge for me, try your hardest to shelve concerns about weight gain. I was so freaked out a few months ago because I had already put on seventeen pounds. But here I am, 24.5 weeks out and I'm only up 15 pounds - somewhere along the way I lost a couple of pounds. And it's all baby (okay...baby and boobs, but I'm not complaining about that part!) and I really do realize that I'm going to do just fine losing this weight afterward. The biggest concern is making sure the baby is getting enough, and you sound like you're already working to help this issue. My doc told me and I believe it - the baby will suck every bit of energy and nutrition from my body and leave me tired, nauseated and run down before it will go without. So if you're at least trying, even when it's not easy, you should do just fine. So, try the shakes again. Try to set a timer to eat small, regular, protein and calcium rich meals. Eat as much of what you're able to eat as you can, within reason, of course. Foods that are really good for protein, besides meat are lentils (lentil Soup saved me when I couldn't eat any meat a few months ago), cottage cheese, seitan (if you like it), and of course Beans always help, too. Good luck, ~Cheri

My Sister says I was reborn on February 22, 2011. Haha it's cute! Well I'm still feeling pain, fear that every little thing is a leak or some other complication and A LOT of regrets. I still wonder what I was thinking and why I'd put myself through this. I keep thinking about long term & how my life as I've known it for the last 26 years is gone. Everything I've known about eating...gone. But here are some numbers that I keep thinking of to try to make myself feel better & look forward to healing so that I can work out & try to take advantage of this opportunity I've been given. Highest weight ever : 305 Highest weight recorded @ kaiser: 286 Goal weight set by surgeon for surgery: 255 Weight on day of surgery: 248 Today's weight(1 week out): 238 That's good right? Right!

The easiest way for me to break down the surgeries for you is: RNY and DS both malabsorptive. DS is the most complicated, and most drastic with a true switch in how your body metabolizes food, fat, calories. High fat intake is necessary, and the Vitamin regimen is on average of 20-30 Vitamins per day, and this is not an exaggeration. RNY had too many long term complications, and far too many people looking for revisions due to stoma or pouch stretching and high incidence regain. DS was a no go for me. You could not pay me to have that surgery. Sorry, but the malabsorptive rate on DS is far too much for me to accept. I know it's a great surgery for some, but honestly I figured if I couldn't lose and maintain with a restrictive only procedure then I didn't need to be having WLS to begin with. All of the others you've listed are, would not be an option for me, nor did I do tons of research on them. The mini GB is a waste of money. So many people have revised to the full GB because of lack of weight loss. RNY with ring or band is just wasteful and most end up revising, most good surgeons won't In my blog, you'll find my reasons for choosing VSG over RNY for my revision. Google : DS long term complications and vitamin regimen Check out obesityhelp.com and look at the revision board, and RNY board so you can get a good view of other people's experiences. I know more people with complications with RNY and DS than I care to count. Also for me, I found great comfort in doing research on gastrectomies performed for stomach cancer and ulcer patients. Gastrectomies have been performed for over 30 years, and I found a lot of people living very full, healthy, with either most or all of their stomachs gone. The sleeve has actually been performed as the first stage of the DS for around 20 years. It was actually started as the first step for patients with BMIs over 60 as a safety precaution to get them down to a safer weight to either revise to DS or RNY later after losing some weight. The techniques have now been standardized after the first studies came out showing a higher incidence of slight regain (10-20% bounce back) was seen when bigger bougies were used in the stand alone procedures. When the standard size dropped from 50-60fr to 32-40fr bougies, the numbers for complications, weight regain, hunger returning, all decreased. The bougie is the measuring tool they slide down your throat that the surgeon uses to guide the stapler while dissecting the fundus away from the "sleeved" portion of the stomach. The VSG became a noted successful stand alone procedure when those same super morbidly obese patients didn't need the 2nd stage surgery to DS or RNY. Results were that good, that they started offering to lower end BMI patients, and it's since gained in popularity. New research results will be out next summer from 2 of the pioneers of VSG. Dr. Cirangle and Dr. Jossart. I could seriously go on and go on. And don't want to overwhelm you. I think being informed is great, but make sure you get the good, bad and long term ugly on all of the options. The vitamin regimen, and personal friends in real life I have that have dealt with RNY kept me from having it. Neither the DS or RNY fit my lifestyle, and I wasn't willing to have a surgery that would not last a lifetime since I had already had one that failed me miserably.