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Hey DL I have been post op for 8 yrs & sometimes I refrain from sharing my experiences because for some, the bad and ugly is not acceptable. I have had a great run but for the past 2 yrs have struggled, some due to lack of discipline & some due to a dialated anastamosis. I will be having a revision on August 20th & have joined this group to hopefully learn new things from great people like you that always have good, sound and positive advice!

My surgery is Monday too.. I'm a revision from sleeve to bypass due to some complications I had from my vsg I in July. I'm scheduled for 7:30 Monday morning. Good luck to you! I hear the recoveries are similar so I can tell you that the first couple of days are kind of hard because you can't drink, and you're in pain from the gas pain in your chest so just take a hot pad and make sure you relax and use your pain medicine Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I did once when I first can home because of my own dehydration, but I have known a lot of people to not be able to or just not have the feeling to as well. I have always had a sensitive stomach so I always get nauseous. My mother-in-law has the bypass and she can't actually vomit. It just depends on the body, some do some dont.

Hi Everyone, I am new to this, so forgive me! I got Gastric Bypass one week ago on 4/24 and I'm feeling to put it nicely (like sh*t)! Everything is a struggle for me. I move and I feel like I'm going to tear something or hurt myself. Eating (liquids) and drinking (more liquids) is so frustrating and I'm over it! I've also already ended up in the hospital for severe dehydration and that was a mess! I'm usually the happiest person and this surgery has literally taken every ounce of happiness out of me. I've been going through all of this alone besides the support of my amazing boss and friends. I think the most challenging thing is really though dealing with myself mentally. I feel super all over the place emotionally and I have only told a handful of people that I got surgery (because the few people that matter who I told completely judged me negatively). I feel like in the 6 day span that I have spent in my apartment I have felt every emotion that there is to feel and I'm stressed by it. I'm going to my surgeon in a few days and I'm dreading it because the nasty patients always tell me "why are you getting surgery you don't need it". Little do people know I'm taking this incredibly draining journey to better myself and my health. It's not about me not weighing 300+lbs. I have a hate for myself and my weight that I want to do something about, so WLS was my solution. On a positive note I have lost 20 lbs. already! Woohoo! Is anyone else having a lot of emotions and whatnot after surgery?! I feel straight up alone right now and I feel very judged by people every time I tell someone I got WLS. Feel free to say hi I'm super friendly and stuck at home for another week! Also attached a picture! That's what I looked like a few weeks ago! About me: Name: Taylor Procedure: Gastric Bypass 04/24/17 Location: NYC (land of the beautiful thin people) HW: 240 CW: 215 GW: 115 Unmarried single fur mother of three.

Hi Aivey! Congrats on your baby. Well the band looks like it's more hazardous to your health, most insurances will not hesitate to revise you from band to whatever so if you choose which is most likely the VSG or the RNY. I doubt that you will have to wait a six-month diet prior to surgery. It all depends on your insurance too. I suggest to go ahead and speak to your surgeon and get the ball rolling Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Rose, I would go back to |Therapy for the depression and regretting having the sleeve. Im sure at your age dear it seems like forever that you are having to hold things down as you are. But in fact you are setting the base for your future for a healthier life, Not just for your body inside and out but for your Mental state as well. Please do not regret this surgery. I just came out of Gastric bypass October 3rd myself. I was like 2 lbs smaller then you when I started this and now im down to 230 pounds. Im glad you chose the sleeve over the band. I had the band and boy did it ever fail. Your not much taller then I am either and our goals are the same for the weight. So please, seek out the theropy that will work the best for you, keep your head up and continue your weight loss. Use your book (phases) as your bible and your work out place as your church and be faith full to yourself.

Well, I think it depends on what you're exactly looking for...Personally, I'm leaning towards the band (ins pays for both, but I'm praying for band approval). I'm 35 years old (bmi 45.5) and looking to POSSIBLY have one more child. The research I've seen on line stated that there's LESS likelyhood of a problem pregnancy w/the band since it can be adjusted for the nutritional needs of the mom and fetus. Also, since the weight loss isn't as fast as w/the bypass, I'm hoping less chance of loose skin too. I also know it's less envasive and less time I have to recover. I have 3 year old that I can't keep up with now, plus being out of commission for a 4-6 weeks +, I can't really have that. :preggers:

I am currently in the same boat as you! My band failed in December, had to have emergency surgery to take it out. After going form 223 down to my lowest of 145 I have now crept back up to 172! I am so frustrated and I have seen a doc for revision to sleeve, my insurance won't pay for it however because I am also not considered "obese"! I will probably be self pay, but Im frustrated with the insurance as it was a failure and I should qualify for coverage of revision! LMK how you make out!

My RNY was on the 19th of September and the Doctor has me crushing all pills until the 19th of October. I can hardly wait to bypass the foul tasting ground up meds. I've been mixing with unsweetened Applesauce or Oikos Triple Zero Yogurt

Hi i just had grastic bypass surgery on Tuesday is it normal not to go to the bathroom since Monday night I've been peeing perfectly fine but that's it and my stomach feels bloated and my other question is can someone please give me idea's on puree foods what to eat because i feel like stuff is turning my stomach idk if it's because i haven't been to the bathroom in so long Please Help Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you so much! I have learned so much the last couple of days. I may be having my revision on June 13th. My gosh it is going so fast. I am excited to not have to deal with all the issues that my band has given me. Thanks again for the information

I just spoke to Optum today. The requirements are related to UHC and your employer's insurance contract criteria. I called 3 weeks ago, and was told it could take up to three weeks before I received a call back. *Additional items may be identified by your BRS Case Manager, based on your situation. The medical centers and programs within Bariatric Resource Services are independent contractors who render care and Morbid Obesity Surgery Requirements*: AGE You must be between the ages of 18-65 years BMI Your body mass index (BMI) must be at least 35-39.9 with at least one obesity-related medical condition (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea) or over 40. You can calculate your BMI at: http://www.myoptumhe.../BMI Calculator NETWORK You must use a Bariatric Resource Service (BRS) Center of Excellence. If one is greater than 50 miles from your home, you may use an in-network provider. DIET You are required to complete a 6 month physician supervised diet, prior to surgery. This means that you have worked with a provider (any licensed physician, nutritionist or Registered Dietician) and had a minimum of one visit per month for 6 months. During each visit, the provider must document your current weight, what diet regimen you are following and what type and amount of exercise you are performing. Diet must have been completed within the last two years. If you went to Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig, please provide a copy of all the stamps for 6 months AND at least two physician office visit notes showing appointment date, your weight and that you were participating in Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. Please use the form that has been provided to you to record these visits. PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION You must complete a psychological evaluation within 12 months of your surgery date. Contact United Behavioral Health at the number located on the back of your member ID card. PROCEDURES ALLOWED Roux-en-Y, Lap band, Duodenal Switch and Gastric Sleeve are all covered procedures under your plan. SECOND PROCEDURE This benefit is limited to one procedure per lifetime while covered under the plan, unless there are complications relating to the initial surgery. A clinical review will be necessary. I am submitting for revision from band to sleeve and was told that the doctor could submit early if complications were found from the band. She told me that if they submit the review board has 15 days to respond and it normally does not take that long. I believe that after everything is sent in for a normal review, they have 30 days to respond, but most everyone I know has received a reply in 15 days or less.. The Optum rep told me she would follow up with me in two months but normally, she follows up at 4 months to check in and remind you of the rest of tests needed by your insurance company. The Optum rep also told me that they go by the BMI first submitted. So if you are submitted with a BMI of 35 and one approved omorbitdity and lose weight, you will still be approved. Hope this helps.

Success with weight loss is dependent on getting the upper hand with your relationship with food. There is a psychology behind eating patterns which have taken WLS patients into the realm of obesity. Though I am not a physician, I do feel that you would benefit to see a nutritionist to devise a healthier eating plan. As a psychology professional, I can say that the other part to your equation is to reign in on your choices of food, and accept that we must adjust our beliefs about food. We must revise our thinking to "eat to live" rather than "live to eat" if we want long term success with weight loss and maintenance. I have found it useful to use sipping Water or other no calorie drinks and distraction to keep my thoughts away from feelings of hunger. And I also use "self talk" and ask myself prior to eating anything which I know I should not have, do I really want this, or would I prefer to continue to move towards my weight loss goal? The band is around your stomach, not your mind. You have an incredibly self empowering tool to use for weight loss... Best wishes....

if you dont your eating habits with the sleeve or bypass, you wont lose weight either you have to help yourself for any wls (to work).

Absolutely, all the time. The band is NOT a cure all, cure everything for everyone. Two friends of mine got rid of their bands and got the sleeve. Just as the gastric bypass doesn't work for everyone, neither does the band, but it IS reversible. It is a huge consideration.

From the little bit of research I've done on revision surgery from band to sleeve, you can still fail with a sleeve if you don't make proper choices in food. Go to the bottom of this page and click on VerticleSleeveTalk.com. There is a subsection just on band to sleeve revision. Just like band, sleeve surgery is not an obesity cure, it is still up to the individual to make the proper choices to make the band and/or sleeve work.

This is really up to your surgeon and your individual situation. There was one person posting recently on one of these forums who had a sleeve done instead of a bypass due to the extent of their fatty liver, despite being compliant with their pre-op diet (which somewhat reinforces the point that I have heard from several sources that there is only so much that a couple weeks of dieting can do for this problem.) Some docs are more sensitive to this than others - my doc doesn't do any pre-op dieting other than the typical day before surgery thing and doesn't have any issue with working around fatty livers (it's what he does for a living); other docs may be more troubled with it. YMMV. All you can do is to follow his directions as best that you can - let him know that you had some problems and why, and let him be the judge on it.

My doc used to do band removal and then wait for healing and do sleeve. Now if at all possible he does the removal of the band and the sleeve in the same surgery. He said it seems easier on the patient then 2 surgeries and he can usually get the band out pretty fast. My surgery was 3 hours. There is no way I was going to have it in two surgeries. I was only wiling for them to do their best to do the revision in one. And thankfully that is how it went.

awesome thanks!.. yeah, i'm trying to look at the actual policy online now. I'm going to try and push it hard so I can get it done quick. I don't want to wait.... I think with him not being able to access the port to my lap band, he told me that I can either have surgery to go in and replace that or he can see about doing the revision (he has to look at my xrays of the band first)... I'll know more on the 27th. I'm thinking since I have gained weight.... He can't even access the port.... and lap band slippage...it may make it a lot easier for him to get the approval from the insurance just do the revision. I just hope they don't make me go through all the hoopla. I can't see having all these complications and then having to turn around and do the 3 month doctor supervised diet.

@@Rovobay We share(d) a LOT in common! I too was 324 pounds pre surgery. I was 39 years old. Had been fat most of my life. Had successfully lost weight on atkins diet, going from 310 down to 225....just to gain it all back and then some... Because I ate too much and didn't do much of anything in the form of exercise/physical activity. And I really hadn't come to the point of "Wake Up!"...this is gonna kill me if I don't do something different. Mother with diabetes, father ( not obese at all ) died at 70 of a heart attack....sisters both with obesity related issues....you get the picture. I decided enough was enough in January of 2009, spoke with my PCP (Primary care physician) and HE was the one who suggested Weightloss surgery, specifically, LAPBAND for me. He suggested a WLS surgeon in my area and I went to a seminar in Feb of 2009, then met with the surgeon's office staff and surgeon. At the time, I believe my options were only RNY or Lapband at his practice. I listened to the options and discussed with him my eating habits, and WE decided Lapband would probably be a good choice for me. I got banded in Sept 2009, and feel the band has been almost exactly as promised for me. By that, I mean after it gets properly adjusted for the individual, it does help me eat less! I used to eat TWO big plates of food at a time, at least....then be hungry and ready to eat again in a couple of hours. I used to be winded and out of breath climbing a single flight of stairs. Now, after losing 130+ pounds, I can do anything I desire. 100 mile bike rides, Half marathons, you name it. It really is a new lease on life! So for those who say you CAN'T lose a LOT of weight with lapband, I disagree...not true in my experience. And there are PLENTY of folks who've lost as much or MUCH more than I have. But I personally know of people who've had the band and are bigger 5 years post op, than they were prior to surgery. Nothing is perfect for everyone. I often attend WLS surgery support group meetings where we have band, sleeve, RnY patients, and even some revision patients. Every surgery has its success stories, and those who haven't quite met their expectations....for whatever reason. The one thing I always leave those meetings thinking about, when I hear patients who've stopped losing, and many start regaining weight, is at least mine is adjustable..... Just something to think about. Best wishes on your decision, whatever road you choose.

It also means that the Dr may be quite happy to revise from a laparoscopic procedure to an open procedure if they discover that your liver is in fact too big. You on the other hand may not be so happy when you wake up and discover that you have a much bigger scar than you anticipated and probably a lot more postop pain and a more difficult recovery.

Why do you attribute the GERD to the surgery? Bypass is actually a treatment for GERD.

I wholehearterdly agree with the others who say find another doc. Please... I watched a show a few months ago where they gave a man who weighed 900 pounds a gastric bypass (and he's doing great)!!! So I think it's outrageous that your doc would require that you lose 50 pounds.

It's now been 10 months since my RNY gastric bypass surgery. Zero complications, zero struggles and a lot of weight gone! I started out at 306 and as of this morning I am 176! WOW!! I am 5'9 so that puts me just 11 pound short of goal. If anyone has any questions regarding RNY surgery just ask. Its not as scary as you've been led to believe.