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there was a post recently where a woman said she shifted her band because she lifted "something heavy" "too early" and had complications. if it is a matter of a little pain for a day or two, that I can live with.

You may find that surgery is the only thing that will really help you be able to get down and stay down at a reasonable weight, given your starting weight. Are you wondering whether LapBand is the right choice vs. RNY or some other type of WLS, or more whether surgery vs. no surgery? It's a very personal choice. I like that the band is, in general, safer. If you have complications and/or hate it, you can have it removed. Best wishes on making your decision.

I'm so sorry shrinhadink! Maybe bypass isn't as bad as you think, if it's your only option. A friend at work who had my surgeon and looks terrific had bypass last year. I thought she had the VSG but she said she couldn't (no details given). She's lost 85 pound since last Oct. w/ no complications. She looks fantastic! Don't be discouraged, Hun. Just keep reading real life stories and keep informed!

The one thing that is guaranteed to take you life at some point is your weight. It may not be tomorrow, or in a few years, but it WILL steal years off of your life. I was at a seminar this week (went with a family member) and the new STATs on the sleeve are amazing. The surgery itself is safer than having your gallbladder removed. The complication rates are extremely low. The anesthesia risk is there, of course, but it would be if you were getting your wisdom teeth removed or having a c-section, etc. You are allowed to be scared, of course, everyone is at some point in this process. You have to make sure you are 100% confident in your surgeon, talk the anesthesiologist too (you may have to request that). Follow your pre-op and post op instructions to the letter. This might be considered to be an "elective" surgery, but realistically is is not. You need this to gain control over your life. To be healthy and to remain healthy for your boys. (((hugs))) You are going to do great!

OK, first of all...breathe! This is not the end of your life as you know it, just a change. Yes it is a major change, yes it will be very different, but the foods you love are not leaving the planet. They really aren't. So...let that sink in firstly then we can talk about the emotional aspects of eating. I honestly didn't think I was an emotional eater. I didn't think food was that important to me but after surgery during week 2 of liquids I had a couple of melt downs just because I couldn't eat the food i wanted to eat right that minute...I stayed true to my diet but had actual tears over the foods I couldn't eat right then...which I later gave myself a mental smackdown for but I have to own those feelings. After particularly stressful events I would eat more than I should for dinner, not always unhealthy stuff, just way more of it than I should. I am an emotional eater. I am watching for triggers now and distracting myself but like you before, food was the center of my life. I still have to plan my meals in order to stick to my healthy plan, not planning for me is planning to fail so I have to do it and stick to it and then I am fine...gives me that control. One thing I do want to address however that I wish someone would have told me before the band is that the band will not make you eat less. You have to choose to eat less. You have to measure it out and know you are not getting seconds. You have to do that. The band will make it so that your appetit is surpressed for a longer period of time than it would hav been before when you eat 4 oz of meat and 6 oz of veggies. That's all. It's not about restricting what you can and can't eat, it won't stop you from eating until you are in pain, and if you can't get that under control before surgery you are looking at slips and erosion complications that can be very serious. I would honestly try really hard to measure out your portions and be done...not as small as you will post band...but practice limiting yourself right now. Distract yourself when you feel the emotional hunger come on, try to recognize what those triggers might be for you, at the very least journal everything you are eating now so you can be truly honest with yourself about what your current habits are, and what things will need to change. I beleive the band was the best thing I have ever done for myself and I am seeing a lot of success and it is a lot easier to just eat my one yogurt for Breakfast and be done but it does nothing for me when I have an emotional attack that makes me want to eat. I have to wrangle that stray thought in myself and battle with that. The band can't help me with that. chocolate will go down just fine, as will other snack foods that I just have to choose not to eat. There are still daily and hourly choices invlolved with being successful. I wish you every bit of luck and happiness on your journey. It is worth the effort I can promise you that, but it's really all up to you. The band is just a tool that dims the appetite, that is all. Just know that going in and put your expectations in the right place and you will do great!

I am also deciding between sleeve and bypass. (Don't want a mini since they aren't common in the US). I'm pretty set on the sleeve because it can be converted later if necessary. The bypass is one and done, but what if it is more than I need? The sleeve has a pretty good weight loss to complication ratio, and I am willing to entertain the notion of a revision later. The RYN bypass is definitely "one and done". I wouldn't entertain a revision later from that. Good luck!

Sandy, Prayers and good thoughts going out to you! Do they know why you got infected or is it just "one of those things that happen sometimes"? I know I worried about my drain site for a while because it kept draining for a few days. My doc actually put a wound care bandage on mine and told me to leave it on for 3 days after he pulled the drain (which I had for 8 days post-op). Also, I'm praying that the breast image was just a shadow. If not, then thank goodness for this mild complication if it leads to early detection of a problem! (((Sandy))) Good luck and best wishes for fast healing!!

My surgery is November 20th and I can't wait! I feel like my life is on hold until then. I have a wonderful husband and a great life but I hate the way that I look and I'll let it limit me so much. I want to start letting myself fully enjoy life, and be happy with myself. I of course have my fears......complications.....regain....failure...will it work for me? But I have never doubted this is what I need to do since I made the decision to have surgery. I'm 3 weeks I will be starting my 1 week liquid preop diet! I wouldn't mind skipping that part! Lol..but it will all be worth it.

I have been diagnosed with Lupus (SLE), and have a Realize band. I also have had psoriasis for many years. My physicians, specifically my PCP and surgeon knew of these diagnoses prior to my surgery. I've not experienced any complications or exacerbation with either of these medical conditions post band surgery which could be attributed to either diagnosis. I was never informed that the band would be contraindicated for someone with either of these diagnoses. I also don't see the logic why the band would be contraindicated. I would like to know more about this topic...as an aspect of lupus treatment does involve lowering the body's autoimmune responses.

Hi folks, well I have done all the preliminary visits and will finally meet iwth the doctor. It i a 3 hr appt that I have been told will end with my date being set. The process was a little backwards as I have not even had a consultation with the doctor, I had to see the psychairist and nutrionist before I could get to see the doctor. I am nervous, but so excited. It has taken me a long time to get to this point in my life where I am ready to do it. My husband, although very supportive, is not thrilled about me having surgery and a friends husband just (within the last 2 wks) had surgery and had many complications including 2 days in ICU, so that has really made him not happy. but enough about what is flying through my head, any suggestions on questions I should ask? Thanks for listening and being here Bonnie

I think it's outpatient if you don't have complications??

I have had my lapband since 2005. My starting weight was 230, my lowest weight was 174 (lasted about a month) and now I am at 265! My band is unfilled because I never felt full. I just felt pain when I ate (unless it was soft foods or liquids)...this was no way to live. I had a unfill and found out my port is tilted (most painful adjustment ever!!). I really want to lose weight and live a fuller life! I have been researching the sleeve and am hoping it will work for me! Any help with these questions is MUCH appreciated! -I read a lot of people saying sleeve doesnt work after having a lapband :/ is this true? I am SO scared of making a wrong choice -Is it possible to have a band and sleeve? -Why do more surgeons not offer the "net" around the stomach to help prevent stretching? -Weight loss aside; are you able to drink a small amount of alcohol (like a glass or two of wine)? -Do you feel like you get enough energy from what you eat? -Do you find yourself craving carbs or did the sleeve help kill that “I gotta have some bread and butter!!!”. Because even when I stuff myself with other foods, I still have that mental “but you didn’t have what you really wanted” feeling. -Since this is removing some of the stomach, do you feel like some surgeons are better than others? Like it’s an art? I am curious why some people fail and some succeed. Could it be the surgeons don’t remove enough stomach or do it wrong? I also ask this because I would consider going out of state (not out of country for a surgeon more experienced with lapband to sleeve. -Do you believe WLS is like breast implants, where you should prepare yourself that you may need to have “maintenance” done on it? Whether that be revision or additional surgery to correct complications? I explained to my boyfriend I always knew it was a possibility that I may need my band fixed or removed because I saw many patients with slips and port issues. -Can someone have the sleeve done 2x if they gain weight back? -My lapband surgeon is charging 22k for band removal to sleeve. Expensive! I already paid 19k out of pocket for my lapband, and it didn't work out. And I REALLY did try. This would be a 41k investment-- sigh. Many of my question stem from my fail with my lapband. Thank you for everyones replies... I have read this site over for days and finally wanted to post!

The man was from infection at the incision site And the lady was complications from the surgery

You do not need to lie to the pscyh. Just be honest and you will be fine. I do not think this is that unusual and a lot of us experience this. I am kind of the same way, I certainly saw myself in my mind much much thinner than I was and so when I looked in the mirror it made me sad. I do not think it is denial just the way it is. It is not a mental illness of any definition, I know I dragged out my DSM-IV-TR to verify this. I told my psych that I wanted to look in the mirror and have what I see match how I felt about myself inside. I also said I wanted to be healthy and be there for my family and I knew this was not a quick fix and shared what I knew about the side effects and long term effect and the expectations I had. I passed with no problem. Generally the psych is not trying to fail you, they are sincerely trying to make sure you do not have other serious mental illness that would be adversely affected by GBS like bi-polar or major depression and if so to make sure you are taking the necessary precautions and under the care of a professional. Also they want to make sure you won't commit suicide after due to mental issues not discovered and that you have realistic expectations of the surgery. Some psych evals require a test and some do not. Mine was just an hour interview and it was no big deal. Be honest and open and if you have explored this thouroughly and know yourself and about the surgery then you will have no problem passing. reading through this board will inform you greatly on complications etc, plus do more research on it if you have not done so already and you'll do fine. Remember many many people a day pass their psych evals so they can not be that hard. Do not stress! By the way I am a mental health therapist, I just am not a psychologist and have not done these evals, just speaking from personal experience here. Hope this helps at all.

I agree with you, you would best stop reading ANY posts that have any negative content because in your state, you just get more anxious when reading them. Avoid the complications posts, just read the positive stuff. I have not seen ANY EVIDENCE (research, proof) that what that poster said about gastrectomies and adenocarcinoma is true, and believe me, I have read LOTS of research about the sleeve. If I told you the earth was flat, would you become worried? Or would you laugh? I hope you would laugh, or at least smile. It would just be my statement. Who am I, not any expert on the shape of the earth. So don't believe what you read just because someone wrote it. It might also help you to get a book of positive affirmations and read them daily. How about the dog suggestion I made earlier? What do you think about that?

Hi everyone! I am scheduled for surgery Dec 4th in Mexico. The price of my surgery includes follow up care, but I assume I pay for the flight (of course). My question is to those of you in Mexico, do you just follow up in the states with your general doctor, or do you make the trip back to Mexico. Has anyone gone home, then had a complication and had to fly back? Thanks for your help!! I love reading these boards. I am so excited to get my life back!! Jen

My experience with maintenance is that you can't just put the brakes on when you want to. Stopping losing weight is a project unto itself. And the way to do that is NOT to drink milkshakes, but to gradually build up to eating more healthy food -- probably more Protein, more veggies / fruits and more whole grains. That will likely mean a greater volume of food. And with our smaller tummies, that takes time to build up to. And regarding whether you're too thin -- I think that's a question for your medical team to assess. That includes an assessment of how "skinny-fat" you are, i.e., your muscle mass. Are you losing too much muscle? If you've lost too much muscle, are you strength training to build that back up? (That will add pounds, but the kind that make you look good.) I would NEVER have imagined at 5'5" and 235 pounds that I'd ever want to stop losing weight. I'm not as light as you (I weighed 143.4 pounds this morning). But I've lost the last 7 pounds during the last 3 months while trying to stop losing weight. It's starting to even out. But boy oh boy is it more complicated than I thought it would be. The point to WLS was to become healthy, not to be the skinniest person in the room. (Maybe that's over the top, but I'll just say it "out loud.")

I had my sleeve done just over a year ago and took no pain meds after the 2d day. Had surgery Friday, stopped pain meds on Sunday. I was able to drink with no problems and moved through the food progression pain and trouble free. I had no problems with reflux or GERD and need not PPI meds at all since surgery. Good luck in your journey and here's to a pain free, complication free, trouble free sugery and recovery.

I had revision almost 3 months ago and just recently moved to more dense protein. I run, cycle, and train a lot. Pre op sleeve I had lost 100 lbs with my lap band. Had complications and started my revision at 168. I now weigh anywhere between 134 and 138. I feel like I eat all day and I'm hungry all day. I average 800-1100 calories a day with 80-100 g of protein and low carbs. If I eat too late, when I wake up, I feel a stretching sensation/pain in my stomach. Does anyone feel this way? Does anyone feel like they eat all day? My portions are appropriate as I'm eating 2-4 oz at a time. I'm feeling lost, hungry, and like I just eat all the time. Please share your insights! Also I made the popcorn mistake by eating too mucch felt nasty and got rid of all popcorn in my house.

@jamiep5 -- My surgery is June 9th. My doctor didn't even offer the band -- he says he hardly ever does that surgery any more as the weight loss from it statistically isn't significant and it has so many complications. Because i have pretty severe reflux, he said the bypass is really my only option. I'm not worried about that though -- I want to do what has the best success record and that's bypass. Wishing you all the best!

That is good news!! Thank you! I'm waiting for insurance, should be any day! I love that we have all this support! I have a friend that had her VSG June 2011 made it to her goal of 90 lbs lost June 2012. She looks wonderful!!! She was the model patient, came home after surgery only took pain meds the first couple days home. Then healed great, stayed on the diet perfectly, walked daily and she looks beautiful!! She is the one that recommended I switch from the band to VSG. We even have the same insurance and the same surgan. We are in the Sacramento CA area. So fingers crossed I will have the same great story and outcome!!! One mistake I made was going on the complication forum.... Scary!!! Now I'm starting to second guess my disition. From the gallbladder problems to the leaks. So I will talk to my Doctor, I wanted to know the percentage of people that have any of these complications. These numbers that you posted have really helped me!!! :-) thanks!!!!

Doctors don't publish their complication rates, but a good one will tell you about the complications they have managed. For the bad guys, you can check for malpractice suits and complaints on your physician's state license board website.

You're not alone in feeling that way. I have gone through questioning every little thing, being almost TOO addicted to these boards. However, I recently posted a question that received three pages worth of responses. I simply asked, did anyone have a normal recovery? The responses were overwhelming. Several people smartly pointed out that not many post saying, "having a normal boring day feeling like myself!" when of course the bad stories stay in your brain. No one can answer for you whether it's right or not, but if you want additional perspective to balance out what really are the less common complication stories, I'd check out this thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/47767-anyone-have-a-relatively-easy-recovery-story/

I am so glad your doing well! If pain was the complication then my prayers were answered now the journey begins! Next month I will be joining you. So we can grip laugh cry but more important lose weigh and get healthy together!

Not only speak to your surgeon about it, but have a back-up plan as well. If you aren't feeling up to the travel or if there is a complication, be prepared.