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The silicone is non-reactive, I've never heard of anyone having a reaction to it. It wouldn't be the material of choice for medical implants if that weren't the case. And just last night at a new patient seminar, someone asked about having an allergy to titanium. The doctors were surprised--evidently it's HIGHLY unusual for someone to have a reaction to titanium. But evidently Inamed makes a band without titanium in it, so if you know you have a titanium allergy there is another kind they can order for you.

I too was 5 lbs heavier post op the day i got home from the hospital. I was so depreessed, being hypothyroid as well. I felt so defeated . i knew I lost weight on 2 week pre op. To then gain weight on sf jello and popsicles. I called the drs office in tears of course. I am 5 days post op now and am scared to get on the scale again. However, I can see weight loss in my body. Still# pts hypo scale

What kind of problems? People generally don't get long-term complications from sleeves. It's not like RnY where people get reactive hypoglycemia and have to have part of their pancreas removed to fix it or get ulcers from the surgery that have to be treated. It's even very unlikely that the sleeve would stretch enough to require a fix. If you mean, what if I don't lose all the weight, it would depend on how little I had lost. If I was 10-20 lb more than I wanted to be, I'd lump it. If it was a significant amount, I would get some kind of intestinal bypass, either RnY or DS. I don't know which one because I haven't looked into the nitty gritty details of either. I'd probably go for a DS but I'm not sure I could eat enough fat to make it work. (I don't like greasy food.) I doubt I would put a band over it because the odds are just too high that I'd have to have yet another surgery to remove it some day and be right back where I started. Plus, the only thing a band would fix is if the sleeve had somehow stretched and was too big and you can fix that by having it tightened instead. Not to mention it rarely happens -- you really have to abuse the thing to get it to stretch. I don't know where you heard that people are putting bands over VSG. I don't know anyone who has done that -- it really hasn't been around long enough to know a lot of people who had revisions. Most VSGers will get a DS if they have inadequate weight loss because they figure they need the malabsorption after all.

I am been wondering about this, I am Hypo too. When I take my Lex in the morning I do take it wih 8-14 oz of Water but after sleeve will have to sip? How do you get it down witht enough water?

My PCOS story............ written LONG ago but I copy and paste it a lot. :Angel_anim: Hey there: Kick up your feet and stay a while, as you read my PCOS story. Hello, I'm Tracy... I was first diagnosed with PCOS while undergoing infertility treatment during my early 20's. (Mid 30's now) ..... Period at age 9, Birth Control pills at age 16-18, Married at 18 no birth control, no babies... finally at age 22 I sought treatment. I was told that I had the thyroid of an 80 year old man, and that I had PCOS.. he put me on synthroid for my HYPO-thyroid, and told me that it was just my body type that caused me to have PCOS... no offer of help or anything... just to accept it. Since I had PCOS, I wasn't able to ovulate.. my periods had NEVER been regular except when on birth control pills...... Treatment didn't work: charting, pills, shots... nothing could budge my follicles to pop out any mature eggs..... so I went on with my life, childless.... then fast forward to 1999... I was surfing the net and came accross an article "Losing Weight With an underactive Thyroid" Well, this peaked my interest, and from this article they mentioned Low Carbing and Dr. Atkins..... I was like "What the HECK" is low carbing???? Well anyway, on my lunch break I went to the book store and bought Dr. A's book, I started to read, and read, and read.. and that night I threw away the nasty slim fast, and made myself a bunless cheeseburger.... I had been starving myself on Low Fat Slimfast shakes and GAINING weight....... I would cry because I was hungry and then to get on the scale and actualy GAIN weight... life just wasn't fair..... ok.... so I took dr. A's advice and decided to devote 2 weeks of my life to the diet.... I did... meat, cheese, eggs, and Water.... I started dropping weight like crazy.. 14 lbs during induction.. my husband was shocked... but as the pounds came off and the sizes went down... everyone soon became a believer. OK...... so, I was about 3-4 months into the program when I realized by looking at my weight chart that my period was starting a pattern of every 28 days... I couldn't believe it.... from the first month my cycles had reset themselves to be just like a regular person!!!! THIS WAS A MIRACLE... my cycles were SO regular that I could set a clock by them... so I suspected that I was ovulating too.... my hopes of being a mom returned.... and BAMM, a few well timed whoopee sessions and I ended up preggo... unfortunately I suffered 3 miscarriages right in a row. So here I was down 80 lbs, PCOS symptoms were non-existant, and I FINALLY saw the little pink link on a home pregnancy test all with out meds or dr's... but life was unfair and I lost 3 precious babies.... all at about 7-9 weeks... one after I even saw the Heart Beat... that one killed me, and I went into a deep depression.. and I started feeding my sadness with High Carb things... I really feel that I was sabbotaging myself..... Lots of other Life events followed... got caught up in a corporate meger/layoff... so my job of 12 years went bye, bye.. and so did my husband my best friend since age 15.... had replaced me with someone who he said was "just like me" just 10 years younger...... so ok..... divorce, heartbreak, money issues... yada, yada, yada..... life goes on! Get your butt up and live life!...... ok so time passed... I hooked up with a new guy... technically my "rebound" guy from hell.... we both started LC'ng, the wieght had returned and my periods were slipping to sporadic bursts at no particular time.... PCOS had taken it's hold again.... anyway I told him, If I start LC'ng I might end up preggo........ he didn't believe me.... but ONE month after starting to eat right again.... I ended up preggo... and now I have a son who is the light of my life! April, 2004 I rededicated my eat life to Low Carb.... it may not be for everyone.. but it is what keeps my PCOS in check and I lose weight as a side effect! Edited August 11, 2005....... my little Low Carb miracle has now turned two years old. It was funny, that during my first Low Carb journey where I had 3 misscarriages.. no one wanted to believe that a formerly infertile woman could get preggers, simply by changing her diet. I had started seeing articles in the Atkins Center magazines for open calls for women with PCOS that had noticed changes in their cycles or had gotten pregnant because of this WOE... I called and told them of my experience.. as so many had done... NOW, in 2005... every PCOS website will lead you to a Low Carb way of eating, also they've developed drugs to help with the symptoms... .I feel proud to have been "IN" on the discovery of this phenom...... you will see LOTS of women popping up pregnant all over the Low Carb Friends website, and many threads where the gals are pregnant and doing a maintenance level of LC'ng to help control the amount of weight they gain during pregnancy.... IT IS AWESOME! I feel like broadcasting to the world.... I AM FINALLY A MOM!!!!!!!!! All thanks to the Low Carb way of eating.

My webpage documents my first year out only. }Have you gain any weight at all even if you manage to lose it in the 7 years? Oh boy! It is incredibly easy to gain weight. At one point, I was up 27 lbs! I worked really hard and lost it. Right now I'm up 8 lbs so I'm back to working it off again. It's way harder to lose now {Have you gotten preggo during the 7 years? No {Can you eat more then ever or do you limit your food intake? I can eat a lot if left to my own devices. I still need to use journalling to keep the weight off and to lose. I have to account for every bite. It's too easy to eat mindlessly. That's what gets me in trouble. {Do you exercise? I am extremely active. Mostly walking. 3 miles is a slow exercise day for me. {Have you had any plastic surgery? None. I've lost 140 lbs or so. I've learned to live with my wrinkles. I'm 42. {How do you feel now compare to 7 years ago body wise health wise mentally physically? Physically awesome. Health is awesome. I have some issues like osteopenia, reactive hypoglycemia and anemia but they are easily managed. To not get out of breath by simple tasks, to shop in normal stores, etc is wonderful. Body image is totally screwed up Dawn

It seems that several individuals that underwent RNY gastric bypass surgery have experienced sleepiness after eating a meal. A search on the internet seems to give a variety of reasons rather than just one. My only advise is to make sure that you are following the guidelines for daily Vitamin, Protein and Fluid requirements. This is extremely important. Next, some people experience "reactive hypoglycemia" after surgery. After consuming a meal, your blood sugars can drop suddenly. Patients may experience any of these symptoms one to three hours after a meal high in carbohydrates: hunger, feeling shaky, dizziness, sleepiness, sweating, anxiety, feeling weak, confusion, heart palpitations, fatigue, aggression, tremors, fainting, or loss of consciousness.

Hi, I found the perfect thread here! You speak my language girl. I was banded last September, lost about 20 lbs, and have been at a dead standstill. I have been trying to check back in here to lapbandtalk for some reactivation of motivation. Life just gets crazy, and I always put my eating stuff last. But I have been so much less happy by not paying attention to it. I put up a few signs around the house a couple days ago "Think about more than just this moment", so that when I am reaching for dumb foods, I think about how it is not getting me where I want to go. I have a serious problem with food allergies, and, I have been "clean" for three days now of dairy! Thats huge for me, cause I love cheese and dairyqueen. Two BIG no-nos. Next week I will be going off wheat. Thats huge too. When I first came back to lapbandtalk about a month ago, I wasn't ready for the change, but I wanted it. And today, I have 3 clean days under my belt, so hang in there! Your motivation will come, just keep reading peoples comments and give your brain time to process!

Rapid heart rate and dizziness could be a sign of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), specifically reactive hypoglycemia. Symptoms occur generally within 4 hours after a meal. When you ingest too much sugar, your now smaller stomach does not digest it properly so your intestines absorb and deposit too much of it into your blood stream. Your body compensates by releasing more insulin which makes your blood sugar drop.

I'm sure hoping it's not going to be an issue for me, Sonia. I have Sarcoidosis, which is an autoimmune disease -- very rare, where the white blood cells form granular lesions in various parts of the body (in my case, my lungs). It's possible to react to anything -- I mean, I react to hypoallergenic metals, go figure -- but the band (and other things put into people's bodies) is supposed to be non-reactive for the vast majority of people. What I seem to remember reading on the Inamed site is that it's contraindicated for people with connective tissue autoimmune diseases like Scleroderma. Here's what I found at their site. It's contraindication number 18. "You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. " My assumption -- and based on responses from surgeons I've talked to it's correct -- is that it's only some AI diseases that are the problem. I suppose it's possible that anything we do to the body can cause a flare up of an autoimmune disease, and I'm prepared for that. But it's my thought that in my case, shedding weight will make dealing with my Sarcoidosis much easier. Wish I had more information for you, Sonia. I'm interested, though, in whatever you can find out.

I adore shepherds. I had one when I was very young. I couldn't have her inside due to allergies. I have to stick to the hypo-allergenic breeds now because I firmly believe dogs belong inside. I'm doing fine - my incisions are starting to itch a bit but I think that's normal. ~Sabrina

I was diagnosed with hyper. I had to take an iodine radiation pill and go back to the endo next week to see if it is going hypo, I am also trying to get approved for the band (Insurance wanted my tyroid checked, after the six month weight loss, that is how I found out I was hyper). The endo and Dr. Snows office said I should not have an issue getting approved with a hypothyroid.

Hi Julie, My band is very reactive to stress. When my stress level goes up, my band with tighten, to the point of being too tight and throwing up at every meal. I went through a period when I wasn't following up with my dr. and when I did it was because I was so miserable. I now know the signs and will gladly pay the $40 copay to get my band where it needs to be. Awesome job on your weight loss!

Also anyone else have hypo or is anemic ? Does it affect anything ?

Growing up being the "fat friend" was never easy. There was always something I couldn't do that all my friends could. I thought that as I got older that would change. After being diagnosed with PCOS and hypo-active thyroid I realized that my being overweight wasn't because I was just "lazy" like so many people want to label me. The hormonal challenges that come with PCOS make it difficult to lose weight and many doctors have encouraged me get weight-loss surgery. They said it was has even been shown that all symptoms of PCOS can disappear with weight-loss. For someone who has struggled with their weight all their life I wanted nothing more than to have weight-loss surgery. So I looked into it.I first sought out information on gastric bypass. After sitting through meetings and talking with people who have had the surgery, even taking care of a friend who had gastric bypass, I didn't feel that was the best avenue for me. And then I saw a commercial for the lap band and was intrigued. I requested information and was totally psyched about getting the surgery. Then to my dismay when checking with my insurance I found that they don't cover anything bariatric or weight-loss related. So I had no choice but to go back to the diet scene. You hear people say over and over, "I've tried every diet there is." For me, I can honestly say that is true. From Weight Watchers to Slim Fast, Jenny Craig to Atkins and even the most obscure weight-loss antics via the Internet…I've tried them all. With some I had short term success. With others…not so much. Years went by, and on top of the PCOS and the weight challenges that brings, I now have three ruptured disks which has put on even more weight. This left me even more desperate to find a new diet I haven't tried that would get the weight off, not just quickly but for longer than a month. Enter a friend of mine who had lap band and told me about the contest. I met Andrew and found out he had the surgery so I gave him the third degree about it and made him tell me all about his experience. I expressed to him how much I would love to have the surgery but unfortunately my insurance didn't cover it and I didn't have the money to pay out-of-pocket. A few weeks later Andrew sends me an e-mail saying that the DayOne Health clinic in Chicago was having a contest giving away a free lap band surgery and he sent me the link. Knowing it would be a long shot I submitted an essay saying why I think I would be a good candidate for the surgery. Months go by and forgetting all about the contest I receive an e-mail on my birthday from Gladys at DayOne informing me I am one of twelve finalists for the free lap band surgery. I was asked to come in and interview with the doctor and staff at DayOne and was told they would be making their decision at their annual holiday party on December 3rd. My husband and I arrived to the holiday party and were anxious to hear the results. When that time came, I'm sitting there listening to Dr. Elli explain about how the contest worked and when the surgery was going to take place. When he said my name as the winner, every thought, feeling and emotion hit me all at once. I am now starting my weight-loss journey with DayOne. Even though I was ecstatic I found myself a little nervous because everything was happening so fast. In one day I found out that I won a free lap band surgery and that I was going to be having it three weeks later. Which brings me to present day, on the eve of starting my two week liquid diet. I don't find myself having the anxiety that I've been warned other people experience. In a strange way I'm kinda looking forward to it. I've spent the last week having all my favorite meals. Kinda like a seven day farewell party. Good bye old…Hello new. I know the two week liquids only diet is going to be hard but I'm ready to face it head on and do what I have to do because the end result is so worth it. Granted my zealous attitude could change on day three of my liquid diet but as of right now I choose to stay positive.

I have hypo as well. I am about 4 weeks out. About 22 lbs. just did physical and now my meds are off. Changing from 125 to 100 mcg. Doc said may or may not effect WLS. Said if i follow program should have not much of an impact. But each person is different.

I went to doc today and finally - after a year - got an answer to why my port was so painful. :eek: Come to find out, I have a high waist, so - every time I bend over - it causes brusing and swelling in the port area:eek::eek:. To clarify, my port is right in the place my waist naturally bends, therefore, it causes the muscle and stuff to rub against the port causing brusing and swelling. I am so happy to find out about this. I am going to have to have the port lowered to relieve the pain, but knowing that I was not going crazy or being a hypo made me feel better. :smile: Point of the post is this: If you are having pain with your port - this is not normal - don't wait a year like I did - make your doctor LISTEN - to you - I did not do that - once I got the attention of the nurse that does the fills, she looked at me an understood the cause of my pain. I don't look forward to the possibility of another surgury - but I am so relieved to know it was not all in my head!!!!:smile: Hope this has been helpful - anyone with this difficulty - feel free to email me and I will try to give you as much info as I can. :lol::lol::redface::drool::smile2::drool::thumbup::lol::lol::ohmy::drool::eek::drool::drool:

I was wondering when you had surgery and what type. There could be several causes. Here is an internet link. http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/bleeding-digestive-tract?page=2 So whatever the condition it needs to be examined and identified by a doctor. The fact that you had chest pains is also disturbing. The dizziness sounds like you are experiencing low blood sugar. If you were on diabetes medicine or insulin prior to surgery, it may be time to adjust down your dosage or complete eliminate the medicine. Many individuals who had gastric bypass also experience reactive hypoglycemia. But this condition normal first occurs in patients that are over 1 year post-op. https://www.ridgeviewmedical.org/services/bariatric-weight-loss/enewsletter-articles/reactive-hypoglycemia-postgastric-bypass

I have hypo-thyroidism, too, and have lost about 26 lbs since surgery 8 weeks go. I can't complain a bit. I haven't started truly working out yet either, so I don't even think about my thyroid slowing things down at all. My surgery group explained that this surgery would help rev everything up!

My doctor once told me I have reactive hypoglycemia and well that's unfortunate that it could get worse now that I've gotten wls. I've episodes pre-op for a few years and my doctors solution was "make sure you eat regularly and stay away from the triggers when you don't".

There is a good reason to avoid the RNY revision if you can - the reactive hypoglycemia and marginal ulcer (and all of the medical care limitations that stem from it) issues, but it's not the end of the world, either if that's what you need. It's a common procedure that's been done in one form or another for 140 years, so its quirks and features are well known (but I would rather avoid its quirks if I can). I would certainly get a second, and even third, opinion on it, as while the sleeve is a fairly straightforward procedure most to do these days, repairing one that isn't working correctly is not necessarily so. Most bariatric surgeons started out with the bypass, so that is their comfort zone and they often prefer to go back to the familiar when things get a bit complicated, while there are some who have gone deeper into the sleeve and specialized in it and related procedures, such as the DS, and they are more comfortable doing things that others wouldn't do. We sometimes hear on these forums that "you can't do a Nissen (fundoplication) on a sleeve as there isn't any fundus left (well, not much) yet there are some who routinely perform them. Between that and meshing, there are options, and an RNY doesn't necessarily fix the potential recurring problem, as it, too, yield a small stomach pouch that is subject to herniating. If possible, for a second opinion, I would seek out a surgeon who does the DS (duodenal switch) as that is a good proxy for one who is well experienced with dealing with sleeves, and is more comfortable with more complex procedures as well. If they recommend an RNY revision, too, then that's a pretty solid confirmation of what's appropriate for your specific case.

Fair enough. I agree, people do have to eat to live and people don't have to do heroin to live, but eating more food than our bodies need is a choice. That is correct. Unless we choose to live on Artificial Nutrients, or Some other way... As far as being over weight.. Not everyone is a addict, some have Medical Problems. Mine started at the age of 4 months ! I began to get "BLOWN UP". Only to learn later that I had a Fluid RETENTION problem. So they put me on Water pills about 2 yrs. ago, and I am still on them. Also found a extremely HYPO THYROID. I am just now getting on medication for that. So with the band, and the Meds, and control. This will work, and I will do this. Just wanted to add that I had a PARASTIC TWIN inside me, found out with the removal of the gallbladder, and exploratory. It was attached at the intestines, and if it would have been on the outside? We would have been conjoined twins. The problem was no one new about this, and I was for ever sick. As a result parents, and Grandparents were forever stuffing something in my mouth so I would get nutrition, and Vitamins, and be Healthy. Well, it didn't work ! the twin still got it all, and I still got sick. When the surgeon found it in my 30s, I was already stuffing all kinds of stuff in my mouth, because of a learned habit, and everything tasted so fantastic "ADDICTION" I believe. He was shocked, I thought I was pregnant with twins, then even still under Anesthesia, I thought he was crazy, until he brought me the pics with my name on them. I almost threw up. It was terrible. He told me I would be better now. Well he was right. I barely get sick, but the love for food was always there. What to do.... My oldest son was playing catch with a baseball, and he threw when I was not looking, and broke my nose. I can't taste anything, and can barely smell bleach. So the specialist said forget it ! ! ! That's nerve damage. So now my hang up on food is over. I'm just telling my story, but I don't have a thing for it anymore. I do believe in Food Addiction, but I also know that complex medical problems can cause anything to happen. So now I am waiting to see my surgeon next week, and see if my turtle moves. That is a big deal to me...

Hi all! I am 18 months post gastric bypass. The experience has been great and I have not had any complications. My biggest issue is reactive hypoglycemia. When I eat too much sugar and/or carbs, my blood sugar tanks about an hour after. Does anyone else struggle with this? Any tips or tricks to better manage? I know it is completely diet related.

Armour is short acting, at least the t4 part. That is why there is twice daily dosing. So you really don't have any fall back if you miss a dose. But if you were put on it due to conversion issues, then that is what you need. Or levoxyl and cytomel. But ti would be the same idea of NOT being able to miss a dose or three. In medicine, there is no one size fits all. Do they know why your TSH went that crazy? If it were me, I would want to know that before proceeding with surgery. If the cause is something that needs intensive treatment, that should be handled first. WLS can wait. Or, do you already know why you are Hypo, and you were non-compliant with your meds? For example, I had radiation on my thyroid, it no longer functions. If I stop taking my levoxyl, my pituitary will start screaming for thyroid hormones..the TSH goes up. And up, And UP. I don't know how long it would take to reach 96, that is pretty extreme. But if mine were that high, I would KNOW the cause if I were not taking my meds. I would want to be assured by my PCP or endocrinologist that I was OK for this surgery with my TSH that high. Did they do a full thyroid panel? It could be that the TSH is wonky, but your ACTUAL thyroid levels in your blood are normal.

I was worried about the procedure itself and if I could do it. I was/am worried I would fail too. Those fears are there and can help us to rise above. Stumbling block/stepping stone. I'm trying to use this thinking to help me. My biggest fear was and is still long term issues. I did a lot of research on complications in the long run. Things like vitamin deficiencies (my step mom and dad who both had rny deal with this), And reactive hypoglycemia (my dad developed this), Mostly so I could know what to look for, what to do and when possible prevent issues. Not to be an alarmist, but to be prepared and know as much as I could. Won't know everything but knowing helps me face my fears. I wish you all the best in facing those fears. You can do more than you know. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App