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WLS is elective surgery, and all surgeries carry risks. But, not taking any action will eventually take its toll on your health as well. You can find horror stories for any kind of WLS, and you can bet the folks who have had problems will be the most vocal. Also, gastric banding techniques, and the bands themselves, have evolved over time. Would you want to compare surgical complications for gall bladder or appendix removal between 2014 and back say, to 1940? A lot of band detractors base their opinions on outdated, archaic surgical data. In my humble opinion, the best decision you can make is to choose a WLS surgeon that is part of a circle of excellence. The lap band requires follow up care; and you want to be confident that you will have the needed support for years to come. If you do have problems, you want to be sure your surgeon and his practice will be there for YOU for years to come, to resolve any problems quickly and professionally. Also, as a lap band patient, you will have to do the required follow up visits. I have a gastric band, but I went into the surgery with my eyes open, and knew the risks. I had the band on the recommendation of my surgeon. I am satisfied with my results and my decision. I hope you will do well with whatever path you take.

I wouldn't. I live in Canada and our healthcare system pays for this treatment for obesity. Also, the news here are quick to point out the people who have come back with complications. Now, our healthcare system does pay... but I had to wait 2 years. It's a first come first serve system. Waiting can be anywhere from 6 months to 7 years + depending on where you live in our country.

I am getting sleeved on the 21st of April. I am self pay in mexico. I have kaiser insurance but don't qualify for the sleeve. Does anyone know if I get home and have complications are they likely to cover it? What about follow up visits with my regular US doc. I am afraid to call and ask because I don't want them to know if they don't have too. thanks stacey

I choose the Lap Band because of all the positive information I found on it. I love my band, I have been banded now since 3/31/09 I can not see my port nor can i barely feel it... I really think what the previous poster said refers more per persons body... and im a size 10/12 so thats pretty good. My port also has never hurt a lot of people complain of that... and i have had no complications, no PBing and i can eat what i want in moderation... It really is a personal decision.. i have heard the realize band is a newer band??? In my opinion they all do the same job so pick whatever:D

I'm 8 months post op 85 lbs gone total. No complications...not even nausea. I just felt like I had done hundreds of sit up the first few days after surgery. Word of advice. Stay away from slider/bad for you foods!

Thanks. It has been very rough. Looking forward to hopefully keeping down food after the revision. But, honestly, nervous about another surgery with more potential risks/complications. I am praying everything goes well for us both!

I think it’s important to stick to the plan that was provided by your team. You’re still healing and you don’t want to risk anything and have complications. It can be frustrating to see other people eat ahead of you on a different plan than yours even if you had similar surgeries and surgery dates. Hang in there, you can do it

Do NOT have surgery until your are ready!!! It is a big decision that you must be comfortable with and there is always a risk of complications with any surgery. That being said I had my Lapband surgery on MAR16, 2009 and I have lost 74# since starting the presurgery diet. It was the best decision I have ever made. I had done WW and also lost over 50# on a physician supervised diet but could not keep the weight off. I have high blood pressure and also arthritis in one knee. I needed to lose the weight to become more healthy. I feel 10 years younger and have so much more energy. It is a tool and you still have to work at it but you can achieve success with the lapband.

I was a train wreak. Took an ambien the night before and still couldn't sleep so got up and cleaned the house in slow-motion. The next morning waiting for the procedure I really wanted to leave. I'd had surgery before in situations when I had no choice. Back surgery and a c-section. This felt so different in that I didn't have to do it. I could continue living - a crappy life - but I could. In the end my sister said the most simple and beautiful thing, "You need your power back." She's right, I've given up so much being overweight and unhealthy. What will you get back? Hang onto that as you prepare for surgery. Keep the biggest possible picture in mind. I had a rough start with a couple of random - not gonna happen to you - complications and even with that it was all okay. I'm only a week post-op so I don't want to come across as a vet when I'm not. Just trying to let you know your feelings are normal and show you have the good sense to be worried. Chances are very very slim that you will have complications - and even if you do you and your medical team will get you through them. Is someone with you to keep you from dwelling? Hope this helps. I'm on pain killers still so I may sound a little nutty. PM me if you need support!

Congrats I had my Surgery Sept. 17th Wed. and I had a complication of severe high blood pressure. I was in the ICU for a night and then transferred to the floor for another night. Doing better now but I had a lot of pain just after surgery. (Not sure morphine agrees with me.) Home now for a couple of days. trying to get my Water intake and starting on Protein shakes.... both are hard. I too have sleep apnea but had no issues in that area. The most unexpected thing after surgery (besides the high BP): was the upper GI before they start you on Clear liquids. I thought it would be a scope... it was not. I stood infront of an xray and drank the worst tasting liquid I have ever had.... Best piece of advice: Walk walk walk... I think that helped me and still helps me as much as anything. I did this from day one in the ICU and still get in several walks.. 5-8 times back and forth in my house per day... today I plan to tackle the front steps when the kids get home from school. (I don't want to tackle 13 uneven stairs with no handrail when I am home alone.)

Glad to hear things went well. Your doc listened to you. It took me 7 months to convince my doc something was wrong. I wasn't staying restricted. I knew I had a leak but he wouldn't listen. Finally after getting very assertive he did the test, and sure enough, right in his face!! So the band is leaking and my port was fixed last June and it never healed right. So i still continue to have port site pain. I can't lift like a heavy load of laundry..so in 4 days i am having it removed and getting the sleeve. Would I do it again, YES! I understand complications are part of surgery but when you doc fails to listen to you that's not your fault. I gained all my weight back plus 10 pounds. Talk about sad...but like you said, you have to stay strong and pull yourself up and start again...found myself a new surgeon who i absolutely love and talked to patients who had him for a surgeon. Not one bad word..same hospital, different surgeon. how awkward was that. My body and I will decide who does that cutting!!! One time my surgeon didn't know how many CC's i had when I asked him. I walked out of there and slammed the door. This is not over with. When i am done with my surgery i am going to the hospital and having a chat with a rep. Patients have rights too and they need to know they have Chief of Surgery that is very difficult and is not doing his job. One time I told him I had yogurt for Breakfast and his next question was, what did you have for breakfast. OH MY GOSH!! HELLO!!! So thank god I can move on and have someone who will listen to me. So that's my story. Again, not bashing the band, just the doc!!! have a good day and keep up the good work. Renee

I would love to find others on FB that has had the surgery, my only problem is, only a small handful of people know about my surgery, and I cant risk it getting out to some family members on FB, so i have not spoke openely on FB about it, some day i hope i will be able to do that..its just complicated in why i can not speak about my surgery to some family..

My ore surgery weight was 252 now 208 had complications so on puréed diet have a picc line and getting tpn

Just an update for my wife phoenix79, all is well and she had a textbook sleeve operation. The Dr said she had the perfect anatomy for a sleeve surgery which I think translates into a successful post op experience. I think we will get to go home from hospital tomorrow. This is a much better experience then my sleeve, exactly 1 year ago. Two days in ICU and the 2 more days recovery from small complications before allowed to go home. Thanks for wishing my wife well.

Hi - Good Luck tomorrow! I'm sure you will do GREAT! I have nothing but positive things to say about Dr. Gadaletta and the practice so I'm sure Dr. Gellman is great as well. I"m about 3 weeks out and doing pretty good. I've lost almost 30 pounds and really have had no other complications (except gas pain the beginning.) I am getting sick of just liquids - but it is all part of process. Let me know how everything goes!

Do the positives out way the negatives? That's what I keep asking myself. Stress can cause corresponding pains / aches. I'm nervous too, but to remain the same unable to run, and keep up with the little ones, in my case my nieces ( I suffer from infertility, from PCOS) and you could potentially get diabetes, suffer a heart art k or worse. The odds of death or complications are minimal. The odds of the other comorbidities are greater. Maybe you can also talk to your surgeon to help you decide. Do you have a date yet? Mine is September 14, next Monday. I'm nervous too. I thinks it's natural.

Medically (I am not yet a clinitian only a student) but according to my proffesors and all of the information I have learned, caffeing in any form (pills, coffee, tea) is both a stimulant and a diauretic. It causes the lower esophageal spincther (LES) to relax (its the gateway that allows food to go from the esopagous to the stomach, without allowing it to go back into the esophagous, including keeping the acid from going up, the stomach linning is well equiped, under general conditions to be safe from this acid but the esophagous is not), all this being said if that sphinter relaxes when it should not it causes acid reflus, which can lead to many complications. The main reason that it should be avoid specially right after surgery is not so much that since you will be taking antiacids (prilosec, nexium and the like) for the very least two months (most studies recommend at least 6months) this types of medicines lower the stomach pH and also help keep the LES closed when needed. But the main reason like people said above is the dehydration, most of us with a complete stomach have a very difficult time consuming the recommended 64 oz of fluids a say, with a small stomach specially at first that is almost impossible. even though most of the consumed Caffeine gets absorved in the small intestine, it can also irritate the newly injured (any surgery is seem by the body as an injury) stomach. This is going to be very difficult for me since I need my caffeine! but the way I look at it is, I need my health more and this will not be forever (but at least for the first few months). Good luck!

I had surgery on the 27 of May, and came home from hospital 8lbs heavier! But, I know that was do to the fluids they were giving me. I am sticking to everything by the book and I lost the 8lbs and now from my preop weight I am down 3 lbs. Not the numbers I want to See either. I just feel that this is the easy part, when I actually start eating semi solids it's going to be even harder. I have been jounaling my food/liquid intake and I barely hit 500 cal. A day. Barely get 60 g of Protein. I get my first restriction on the 7/8 . So far so good, haven't had any complications. It is fustration to know I have been on liquids for 14 days and only be down 3 lbs. I know, I know...We just need to use patience, and heal and not worry if it is not on our own timetable. Still new to website, so I am looking for some friends....:-) Chrissy

My doctor here in the States agreed to do the followup labs and referred me to a dietician (who was very little help). I had no sutures or staples to remove so no real post-op care. I had no complications but would have gone to the ER if I had. I asked trivial questions on this forum (like when does burping stop) and for more serious questions I emailed my surgeon's office and got an answer the same day.

if you don't have any complications, and if you have a desk job you may be ready to go back after that first week. but have a plan in place just in case. you know the saying - plan for the worst, hope for the best? I took 4 weeks of FMLA with the understanding that if everything went well I would go back to work after my one week appointment. I ended up taking until my one month check up of shorter days, just to make it easier to adapt to the new diet and changes.

Starting weight: 283 Height: 5'8" Starting BMI: 43 Goal: 150ish. I'd be happy with higher if I thought I looked and felt good. I guess it depends on where my body feels comfortable. I have been overweight all of my adult life and really, as long as I can remember. I feel like I've been on some sort of diet forever. The first diet I can remember is at the age of 16, my mother sent me to Weight Watchers. I've been on Jenny Craig, Richard Simmons. I've taken Redux and just about any over the counter "dietary supplement" known to man. I've been able to lose weight with these things but I've never been able to keep the weight off and the pounds usually bring a few friends back with them. It's really amazing when I look in the mirror. I don't think I look that bad, but when I see photos of myself I am shocked at how big I look. I'm ashamed of what I look like. I am looking foreward to the day when I have the lap band as a tool to help me keep on track. I was born with a condition known as congenital hip dysplasia (my hips weren't formed right and were dislocated). I'm told that I'm lucky to be able to walk, but I had a good doctor as a child and with many surgeries, I'm whole again. It's hard for me to participate in high impact exercise, but I walk, ride bicyle, swim and try to keep active. I enjoy reading and music. My favorite author is Stephen King. My husband and I own a travel trailer and do a lot of camping in the summer time. That keeps me active with walking and bicycling. I had my surgical consult on 1/14/05 and am currently waiting for insurance approval for adjustable gastric banding. 2/3/05 I got word that my insurance approved me for the lap band. Hooray!. 2/9/05 I've scheduled all my pre-op testing and dietician appointments. They tell me my surgery is scheduled for 4/4/05!. WOW. This is happening faster than I thought. The nurse from the office had told me yesterday that 4/4/05 was a possible date but didn't tell me they were going to schedule it. 02/11/05 I got a letter from my doctor's office and from the hospital advising me that my surgery has been scheduled for 4/4/05. What a way to notify someone. Well, at least it's official. Now the waiting game begins. I'm trying to follow the post banding diet so it won't come as such a shock for me post operatively. I'm "in training" so to speak. I think I find the no drinking with my meals and trying to time my fluid intake around my meals the hardest. 2/23/05 I had my first appointment with the office nurse who does most of the follow ups. She was doing my lap band teaching. All the pre-op, actual operative and post op advice I understood and was prepared for except for one thing. She told me to start eating with a baby spoon and a pickle fork so that I could get accustomed to small bites. I don't even know what a pickle fork is!. Is this something I'll have to do forever? I can't find anywhere on the forums where anyone has been advised this except for other patients of Dr. Duckett. I guess this will just become part of my "in training" whether I feel good about it or not. How am I gonna explain those utensils to my co-workers since I've tried to keep the whole surgery from them to begin with? 2/26/05 Had my consultation with the dietician today. It took 2 hours! Who knew it would take 2 hours to go over food? She made me feel very comfortable and she gave me a lot of hand-outs on the different types of diets should I ever stray. There's even examples of menu's. Although, that's exactly what I've been researching ever since I decided the lap band was for me. I felt very informed going in and very confidant going out. OH, and one more thing. I weighed myself today. I'm down to 272.5!. That's 9lbs gone since I've started trying to follow the lap band diet after my consultation with Dr. Duckett. WooHoo! 3/2/05 I found this on a post tonight and thought that it spoke volumes for my situation. I wanted to save it in case I forgot all the reasons I chose lap band. Once in awhile, someone will come around asking for the reasons why I chose the Band, so I'll compile my reasons here: More natural rate of weight loss: * Minimal sagging skin * No "window of opportunity" * Plenty of time to develop better eating/living habits, including exercise Least invasive surgery: * Lower rate of complications or death * Complications are easier to manage * Quicker recovery time; less painful * No cutting/rearranging of body parts * No changing the natural digestive process * No necessity of taking vitamins or supplements; I can get all I need from food Most innovative technique: * Adjustable for permanent weight-loss aid * Removable, should something more effective become available * "Cool" factor Generous but effective learning curve: * Better eating habits must be adopted from day one - no coasting * Has been labeled as "thinking person's WLS" * No punitive "dumping syndrome"; may eat like a normal person * Ability to drink normally and get in enough water * Safety-net effect; may put weight loss on hold to concentrate on other matters without gaining I never seriously considered RNY. When I heard about the Band, it was like a light bulb going on for me. By the way, I weighed myself again. 270.5! Another 2lbs gone. I don't want to get in the habit of weighing myself more than once a week, but I couldn't help myself, and I stepped on. 3/18/05 I had the upper GI and venous doppler studies today. Man, I felt like I was playing twister on that x-ray table for the upper GI. It was like, "turn left, more left, turn right, more right, now on your stomach, bend your knee, roll over." Venous doppler was a piece of cake other than the goo they use for the ultrasound. It was kind of hard to get all of it off. I haven't lost any more weight, but on the bright side, I haven't gained either. Once I'm banded, my portions will be significantly less and with the liquid diet required, I'm sure I'll get moving again. 4/2/05 I've been on the full liquid diet since 3/30/05. Sometimes I feel like I'm being tortured. I dream about food. Is that sick or what? I feel really sorry for those individuals who have to do this for longer than the 5 days I'm required to follow it. 4/6/05 I'm home and banded. I read about this gas pain, but geez it really is the worst. I'm not nauseated or anything. But the pressure in my chest and upper abdomen feels like I'm having a heart attack sometimes. I try to walk it off, but last night it was even hard to breathe. I'm trying to sip my water and eat a little at a time, but really I'm not hungry. I'm only eating out of fear that I'll get run down and not feel well if I don't. 4/8/05 Feeling better today. I've been up and about the house. The only discomfort I've had is from moving too quickly. I do have an odd sensation of bloatedness. It seems like I have it all the time. I'm trying to learn the language of the band but it's hard when everything feels like different levels of full at this point, even when I'm only consuming liquids. 4/16/05 Feeling back to my old self for the most part. I'm up and around, even starting to feel hungry. I have 2 more days of full liquids then I can move onto pureed. I can honestly say I'm really looking foreward to that as I'm getting tired of soup! I plan on going back to work on 4/18/05 and although I am physically ready, I would like more time off. Who doesn't like being home and relaxing? 4/25/05 Gee, the last week has gone by so fast, I haven't had time to blink let alone update or post. My husband's grandmother passed away on 4/18/05 so, we had to leave for Texas on very short notice. I've been on mushies and let me tell you, traveling on mushies is a difficult task. Especially to Texas where there is GREAT Tex-Mex food available. My husband's family doesn't know I had surgery, so I had to make do. I had some cold cuts, chewed really well and some very well cooked roast beef (also very well chewed). I didn't have any problems with them, other than some extra gas, but I didn't push it and tried to stay with very soft, mushy or even foods that boardered on liquids for the duration of the trip. I got on the scale today, and I've lost 3 more pounds! WOW! I never thought I would because truthfully, I didn't think I was getting enough calories in and I definately wasn't drinking enough. I've also been fortunate enough to have some sort of cold or bronchitis and haven't been feeling up to eating or drinking. I guess, I must have done something right! This journey is so unique. 5/3/05 I had read other member's NSV's but I didn't really realize the significance of them until this morning. I had dressed for work in slacks that zipped on the side. They were loose, but I didn't realize how loose they were until...I had to tinkle and when I went into the bathroom I pulled my pants down. I had absentmindedly thought that I was wearing elastic waistband pants! They came down without any problem and as I sat there, I started laughing, my husband thought I was crazy laughing there on the toilet. This has been on my mind all day and I had to share it because I've read everyone's weight loss in the first few weeks and I felt that my own weight loss was a little slower than others. (I know, we're not supposed to compare ourselves, but it's hard not to) I had resigned myself to being a slow loser. I must be losing inches and because I hadn't measured myself, I'll never know exactly how many inches I've lost. Oh well, I can feel it in my clothes and the way I move. 5/23/05 Just a quick update. Feeling good. The weight is slowly going down. 250.5 today. I think it's been 2 years since I've weighed that. Over the weekend, I cheated a little and had some Doritos. Not a lot, just maybe an ounce or 2. Just the same, shouldn't have had them. Well it's just 1 day along the road. "one day at a time" 6/5/05 I've been 248 for about a week now, just didn't update. Hope to see some more loss soon. I haven't had a fill, so I don't really have much restriction. I follow the diet and I do feel satisfied for about 3 hours. I can't say that I'm hungry a lot or "starving" or anything. Still trying hard to get all my water in every day. 6/10/05 I weighed myself today. 244.5! I've been out of town for work and I've been eating all my meals out. I feel I've made mostly good choices, a lot of grilled chicken salads though. I do log everything I eat in a program I have for my PDA, it's called Balancelog. It's O.K., although I'm sure no program's perfect. I've been staying about 1200 cal or less. :-P once in a great while I'm over, but not by much. I've also been doing better with the water because it's been so hot here. 7/18/05 I haven't updated in a while because I've been stuck for about a month. In fact, after my last post, I gained 4 lbs and had to lose them again. I've been more active with exercising and I've been doing well with my eating habits, but still I was stuck. So...I scheduled a fill. I had to convince the doctor's office nurse first, but I did it. Today was my first fill. It wasn't so bad. The doctor did it under fluoro at the hospital where I had my surgery. BUT, I'm filled to 2.8 or "just under 2.8" according to the doctor. That seems like a lot. I watched the passage of barium through the band and it went through, albeit slowly. The doctor reminded me several times to take it slow and to call anytime, day or night if I have spitting or problems. I'm a little scared. I've been on clear liquids since the fill this morning and haven't had any problems getting those down. I guess I'm just nervous. I've never had a PB and I don't want to. 7/29/05 Oh my God! Yesterday I thought I was going to die. Or at least I wished I had for a time. I've still been on mushies. The doctor told me to take it slow after that fill and I've been ever faithful to those orders mostly out of fear. I had very finely shredded tuna salad and one of those breakstone's creamed cottage cheese with fruit for lunch. It went down fine and I took my time. I had eaten both of those items before and wasn't worried. About an hour and a half afterwards, the pain started. It felt like something was stuck. I started to walk around. I even took a couple sips of water, which I know doesn't usually help but I have found it's kind of instinct. When that didn't work, I kept walking. I walked for nearly a half hour straight, sometimes leaning over a sink hoping and wishing I'd vomit for the pain to go away. I finished my work and got in my car. By this time, an hour had passed and the pain was so bad I could hardly breathe. I called my DH who called the surgeon and told me to get to the ER to be checked. The ER is an hour from my home and I was more than a half hour from my home! That drive home was the most painful torture I have ever experienced. The pain only seemed to get worse and worse. Then, about 2 miles from my house, I felt a "pop" and suddenly the pain and pressure was gone. When I got home, DH and I decided to go to the ER anyway mostly because we were scared. I had never experienced anything this extreme (nor do I again, thank you). The doc checked my band under fluoro and to my amazement, the 2.8cc he said he put in is now down to 2cc and everything is moving just fine, band has not moved. What happened to the 0.8cc? And, what the hell was all that pain? 8/13/05 Gosh how time flies. I didn't really realize that I hadn't updated my profile since "BLACK THURSDAY". I've come to the conclusion that the pain on 7/28 was probably some solid food that I hadn't chewed well enough that had gotten stuck. My Dr. thought maybe I had eaten too fast or swallowed too much air in the process, both viable possibilities. No matter what the cause, I WILL be chewing better and eating slower. I did mushies for a day or 2 after that then continued on soft foods for another week before going back to regular food. I'm doing fine now. I was amazed to find that I can still eat bread, rice, red meat, etc. I really haven't found anything that doesn't go down...yet. I haven't lost any more weight. I'm still at 234.5, but that's o.k. I feel great. I've been kind of bad at getting my water in the last couple of weeks, my work schedule has been weird. I'll get back on track and I'm sure my weight will get moving again. 8/22/05 Been doing O.K. Weighed on Friday. I'm at 232 lbs. I'm doing about a pound a week. I'm very happy with that. I'm in a size 18 comfortably right now. Today, I had to try three pairs of pants to find one that fit well enough to wear to work. The others were so big I looked bad. What can I say, I'm too cheap to buy all new just yet. I think I'm going to have to break down and buy a couple of outfits. I've been telling myself that as I got fat, I also gathered plenty of clothes that got me there. Well, I think I skipped a size or two because I can't find many in size 18 in my closet. Darn, shopping will be such a pain I'm sure. I look back and remember that when I started this journey in January and in the pic below I was in a size 24. In January that size 24 was rather snug. 9/13/05 Feeling pretty good about my weight loss. Still doing the 1-1.5lb loss per week. Went to my monthly support group meeting last night. I realized how lucky I am to be losing steady and to be going along so well. I haven't PB'd, just that "stuck" episode. I tolerate any food I put into my mouth and I have followed my rules pretty well. I try to make good choices most of the time, but I do allow myself treats. I think that's what keeps me happy and on track. I am satisfied with smaller amounts of the things I love. This is exactly what I wanted. I can eat what I want, in moderation and still lose weight. I do track my nutritional and caloric intake nearly daily (I may take a day or 2 off on a weekend, but rarely). And, I don't cheat on that log...I track everything the best that I can. I admit I could be doing better with my exercise. 228lbs. 9/22/05 Although, I generally weigh myself on Friday or Saturday I thought I'd post today because I have plans for the weekend and thought maybe I'd be too busy to post later. The last time I weighed myself I was 225lbs. That's a total of 57lbs gone. I can't say it enough...I am so pleased with my surgery and my weight loss so far. I can't even remember the last time I weighed that. I think it was more than 10 years ago to be honest. I don't feel deprived. I have more energy. My self confidance has gone up. How could it not? So many people have noticed the loss and are making comments. Lap band was the best thing I have ever done for myself and I would do it again in an instant. 10/5/05 Well, I can no longer boast that I have never PB'd. I am not proud of that fact, but here goes...Today at work I started to have that now familiar epigastric pain. I had clam chowder for lunch with a small salad and a breadstick. None of those items were new to me, so I had no fears whatsoever. About an hour after I ate, the pain started. This time I even started to sweat. I figured that I wasn't going to put up with this so...(bulemics beware) I went to the bathroom and put my finger down my throat in hopes to feel better. I only brought up mucous. This only temporarily relieved my pain, so I did this same routine 3 more times. One of those, I did bring up some undigested food. This has not been a pleasant banded day. I'm still uncomfortable, but unless I can't stand the pain I'm not doing it again. I guess it's a jello night. 10/24/05 After the last update, I went to the ER and was kept overnight for dehydration because I couldn't keep anything down. Dr. Duckett took out 1cc from my band the next day. I've been really careful ever since mostly staying with soft foods. I did have a salad over the weekend and felt pretty confidant about it. Today I PB'd again. It was the best PB I've had if that's possible. The pain started, I walked, up it came. All in all it lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. If they were all like that, I would consider it a blessing. Not that I really want them. But that torture of 7/28/05 and 10/5/05 made me want to die. I'm gonna cut this update short because I'm a little sore. I'm down to 223 lbs which is good considering my band is looser than before. 11/24/05. Wow, I forgot to check my profile and hadn't realized how llong it had been. I can remember that time like it was yesterday. I feel like the whole month of October and most of November has been brutal torture for me. I had to keep going back to liquids for one thing or another and I sincerely developed a fear of food. On 11/14/05 when it felt like I was gonna get that pain again I called the doctor's office. I didn't go into a full blown attack, but it was distracting to say the least. I felt like I was eating papaya enzyme tabs like candy in hopes to help digest whatever was the problem (although really how could tomato soup and a bit of tuna salad do that?) Dr. Duckett insisted on seeing me. On 11/17/05 I saw him and he felt that what I was having was esophogeal spasms. I suppose they may have originally been started by something getting stuck, but he felt they were caused by increased stress in my life (which I've been having A LOT of). He gave me a prescription for Valium to help calm those muscles down which I'm only supposed to take when I feel the spasms coming. So far, no more really intense ones since 10/24/05 and 10/25/05 but I fear that and would avoid that with everything in me. I've been doing much better ever since. I do have a little bit of reflux, but I think that may be from eating too late at night. I'm down to 216.5 lbs and very happy with that. I cleaned out my closet and got rid of all of the clothes that were hanging on me. That's a good feeling. 12/28/05 Well, I didn't make it to my unofficial goal of "onederland" by the end of the year but that's O.K. I've lost 69 pounds and am very happy with that. Especially considering the last three months worth of trials I've had, I'm very very happy. October started with a hospitalization for pain and inability to keep liquids down that turned out to be esophageal spasms. November was more of the same then turned into reflux that went on and on which convinced me that my band was slipped. After a long struggle with that reflux, I finally called the doctor who (I think mostly to ease my mind) checked my band under fluoro. All was well. I think he thinks I'm a nervous freak-he told my husband that once my mind was eased I should be just fine. Now, my struggle is HOLIDAY TREATS. I haven't really gained any, but I'm truly shocked. Those darn cookies will be the death of me. 2006 will be good for me. My band is in place, once I'm away from the posessed cookies that call my name I'll be fine with my choices and "onederland" here I come. Only 14 lbs to go. 1/20/05 I've been hesitant to update. Not because I'm not losing weight or anything. I've just been down in the dumps about banding. There have even been times I wish I had the damn thing out of my body. I am SICK and TIRED of having these episodes where I have pain and pressure that goes on and on. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've had it for a whole day in varying degrees. I don't have a clue what causes it. I keep track of everything I eat and NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING that I eat is consistent enough to figure out what causes this. Because the pain comes about an hour to an hour and a half AFTER I've eaten I can't say whether it's because I've eaten too fast or not chewed well enough. All I can say is that I try to pay attention at each meal, mostly out of fear. I'm averaging one of these "spasms" about once every two weeks. The doctor says it's consistent with esophageal spasms. Well, FIX IT! I'm tired of having them. I'm losing weight, but not necessarily the right way. Basically I'm starving. I'll eat normally for a week or two, then WHAMO! smasm and then it's nothing to eat for a day (or 2) but maybe tea then slowly work back up to solid foods again. 211lbs 1/30/06 Here I am, still suffering to a certain extent. A couple days after that last entry, I got fed up with the poor answer from my band surgeon to "seek counseling". I started considering the possibility that maybe these attacks were not related to my band. I saw a doctor for a second opinion and found out that I have gall stones. All of these months, at least since October, I have been suffering with gall bladder attacks. I am scheduled to have my gall bladder removed on 2/2/06. These last few weeks I have not felt well, I constantly have a sick taste in my mouth. It's kind of what I thought was reflux before. Now, I'm wondering if I had reflux at all and not some weird bile overload or even infection from the gall bladder. Who knows? I sincerely hope this gall bladder surgery solves my problems. If not, I may just have the band removed. I am tired of being sick and I'm tired of being in pain. 207 lbs 2/5/06 Well, where do I begin? I had the gall bladder surgery. They say that part went fine. Somehow during the surgery they dislocated my artificial hip. Yes, they dislocated my hip. My abdomen is sore from the gall bladder surgery. Generally, I feel better than I did before although I really don't have much of an appetite. The problem is my hip. I am not to bear any weight on it. It's been 3 years since I've dislocated it. I was doing so well. I feel really low, as if I've started all over again with my hip. I hobble around with my walker and my a$$ is really sore from sitting all the time. Weight loss is really not a priority right now, but it's amazing that when you feel so bad or are in pain it really doesn't matter. 3/24/06 Well, I'm fully recovered from the gall bladder surgery. I'm still in physical therapy for my hip. They tell me that the muscles are really weak. I'm planning on going back to work on 3/27, so I hope they're strong enough for that. Other than a little bit of pain that comes and goes, I guess I'll have to go on. I've come to the realization that all of the problems I've had since October, probably even the "black Thursday" mentioned in July 2005 was a gall bladder attack. All of those experiences were variations of the same. Any vomiting I had was only mucous and came as a last resort to relieve the pressure associated with the pain. Although I couldn't testify, I believe I have NEVER had a true PB. Is that possible? At almost 1 year out, to never PB? I would have taken a PB or 2 over the torture of those months. OH Well. Now that I can eat, I do. I'm stuck at 211lbs. Yes, I gained a couple since the gall bladder surgery, but I'm not terribly sad about it. Not happy, but not really depressed or anything. I can eat, Happy. I gained, sad. I think it's also because I'm working out with weights to strengthen muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. It's only 4lbs. I'll eventually get it off. I hope. 4/9/06 I know this is a LONG first entry for a journal, but I wanted to put my entire OH profile on here. I'm told that there's a possibility I may lose it. So...I figured I'd have it on 2 sites. What's the chances of both of them losing it? Anyway, I'm still bouncing between 210 and 211 lbs. I'm thinking that I may be experiencing my first ever real plateau. Even when I've dieted whenever my weight even slowed down I'd give up and return to my prior eating. I've been exercising more, trying to strengthen those weak hip muscles. I have had a bit of Easter candy, but I don't think enough to stall me this long. I'm sure with patience I'll break it, eventually.

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.

I'm an ex-smoker of cigarettes, and I encourage you to quit. I'm sure you've heard plenty of lectures, so I'll spare you. As Mickey said, lots of surgeons will test you for nicotine to make sure you've quit. It will slow down your recovery and make you way more susceptible to post-op complications, like blood clots - which could easily kill you, even MONTHS after surgery. Try to embrace this change for a new, healthy lifestyle by giving it up completely. But if you can't do that long-term, you simply HAVE to give it up in the short term for this surgery. Try the e-cigs if you reallllly have to have a cigar a month (or much longer, if you can) post-op. You'll really do yourself a favor if you quit, tho. (maybe this did turn into a QUIT SMOKING lecture, after all. sorry bout that! lol) They do make nicotine-free e-cigs. The testing they do to make sure you've quit is looking for nicotine, so that might work if you absolutely have to have something to puff on. Good luck!

I like that last statement. So true! Congratulations on your weight loss!! That's amazing. My negative side always seems to take over. I'm not scared of the surgery. I've had several before. I know it is more the complications after if they happen because I'm self pay and I think. "oh Lord, what is something happens and no one will take care of me because I can't afford it and insurance won't pay because they didn't pay for the surgery to begin with.??"... That kind of thinking consumes me. Thank you though. Getting these positive comments helps me so much!! I love this forum and love reading all of the success stories of the people who have made it. God Bless!

Its rough after surgery. It is a complicated regiment of food volume, food types, complications, liquid volumes, Vitamin spacing, exercise, etc. It took me 6 months to reach my happy state.