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I`m in so much pain with the band I can`t stand it. I think it`s too tight right now so I may go in and get a slight unfill but then I`m afraid I`ll gain weight. I`ve got the slimies and the foamies and the constant pain when I eat but then sometimes I get through `the wall`and I can eat almost anything. It`s very inconsistant and it`s not even working for me right now. After initial success I haven`t lost any weight in the last couple of months despite the restriction. I`ve been reading about the sleeve and it sounds perfect. There are a couple of questions though. I read somewhere that not everyone gets to goal with the sleeve. Is that right?. (Sorry, my question mark is not working right now. Consider that big accented e my question mark.) Also, this thing about the reduced ghrelin. Isn`t ghrelin necessary for other functions in the body?. So are there disadvantages that come with a reduction in ghrelin?. Anybody know?. And price is an issue as well. If someone could tell me the price for band to sleeve revision I would appreciate it. I need to know how much I have to save up. :thumbup: Thanks

Gastric bypass

How true is it that those who underwent revision from Lap band to RNY loose weight slower than "virgin" RYN patients?

food and Feelings: The Importance of Making the Connection By: Louisa Latela, MSW,LCSW I had been asked to speak to a Post-Op WLS support group a couple of years ago... around the time that gastric bypass/ weight loss surgery was just starting to become “popular.” As a psychotherapist who has been working with persons struggling with weight issues for more than 17 years, I was astounded when I spoke to this support group and realized that many bariatric patients have never made the connection between food and feelings. The first woman to speak said she had become obsessed with having to be a size 0. She was in a size two and would not buy any type of clothing that was larger than that and was actively trying to get to that 0. She was exercising compulsively. Another woman reported that she was drinking more and acting out sexually. One participant said she “had it all”: great husband, great kids, a job she loved and all the money she could want, yet she had never been so unhappy. She was starting to eat chocolate again. Yet another member said she was so nervous, she did not know what to do with herself. When she got home at night she would be watching TV and get up and walk to the kitchen, open up the refrigerator door, then dose it and go hack to the TV She would do this several times every night. Other people expressed great fear of what life would be like as a thinner person. I started to explain to them that I believe we are all born these perfect little psychic bundles of love. We are who we are in each moment, expressing our truth with freedom and innocence. If we’re happy we laugh, sad we cry, hungry we eat, full we stop. It doesn’t occur to us to not be real about who and what we are and how we feel Then as we age we start to get sometimes very subtle and sometimes very overt messages that who we are is not ok - that it is not safe to express our truth. This can come from getting messages like “big boys don’t cry,” “oh, that doesn’t hurt,” “that was a stupid thing to say,” or maybe you heard your parents arguing and asked your mother what was wrong and she said “nothing is wrong everything is just fine,” and you start to think, “It didn’t feel fine to me. It felt like there was some anger, like something between my parents was really off;” but your mother who to this point you’ve believed tobe the expert about life said everything was ok. Then you start to think, “Something must be wrong with the way I think or perceive things.” You learn to not trust your instincts. Then one day someone comes along and asks, “What color is the sky?” and you think, “Well, I think it is blue, but I don’t know if what I think is right. The last time I cut my finger, it hurt and I cried. I was told that it didn’t hurt that bad, and I shouldn’t cry. I don’t know. Maybe the sky is purple or green.” And when we are unable to express our truth, it creates a great deal of anxiety. Often, families teach children to manage feelings like anxiety with food. When we are focused on food, we learn that we do not have to be present to the current situation, nor do we feel the pain of not being able to trust and/or express ourselves. Food eventually becomes a reliable coping mechanism, a comfort zone that allows us to ignore and disconnect from what is real. Weight loss surgery patients who take the time to understand how and why they became morbidly obese and make the connection between food and feelings may make sturdier lifestyle changes that support long term weight loss. In the past two months I have had four people call my office who were 2-3 years post op. They were all starting to gain their weight back (anywhere from 25-65 pounds) and were desperate to understand why and learn what they could do to change it. None of these people had sought out any psychological counseling either before or after their surgery. They all thought, “It will just work because I won’t be hungry and my stomach can’t handle enough food to make me get fat again.” Unfortunately this was not the case. They had very little insight as to how they were using food to manage the intensity of their emotions. One way to start to understand the role compulsive eating has played in your life, is to be aware of when your thoughts turn to food when you are not physically hungry, and ask yourself; “What would I be doing right now if I wasn’t thinking about food?” It is in these moments that it is very helpful to journal. It doesn’t have to be in a fancy book, it can just be on a piece of scrap paper. The purpose here is to start to make you conscious of when you may be eating for reasons other than physical hunger. Before you can change a behavior you must first become aware of it. Write down anything that comes to mind. Try not to filter what you are writing. If you don’t know what you would be doing or what you are feeling write about what “not knowing” feels like, and ask yourself “what kind of nurturing do I need right now?” I believe that compulsive eating is always an attempt to self nurture and that self love and compassion is the foundation upon which a successful recovery program must be built. People who are in the process of losing weight and attempting to change their lifestyle may be hard on themselves. Any small deviation from their meal plan may be looked at as a failure, triggering feelings of anger, depression and shame. They may be trying hard to cope, but the shame that follows this kind of self talk can intensify the feelings of hopelessness and lead one to give up on oneself entirely. It is in these moments that we all need to tell ourselves the same thing we would tell a child or loved one. Would we tell them they are a failure because they did not follow their meal plan? If we wouldn’t say it to them, then why would we say it to ourselves? It is in these moments that we must be extra kind and compassionate with ourselves. It is a time when we really need to give ourselves an emotional hug, and think about the idea that we are doing the thing that we least want to do (that is eat in a way that does not support good health). That we have done this is an indication that this behavior feels safer than sitting with some uncomfortable feelings. Sometimes we all struggle to love ourselves enough to believe that we are worth the effort of hanging in there with ourselves as we attempt to make behavioral changes that will support us living a healthier life. Know that food is not good or bad, it just manipulates the energy in our bodies. Notice when and what you are eating and ask yourself; “Will this food support good health for me? How will I feel physically about 20 minutes after I am done eating this? How will I feel emotionally?” It has often been said that our lives are a manifestation of our intentions. Think about what that might mean in your life as you observe the way you eat. Is the way that you are eating and self caretaking an indication that your core intention for your life is something like: “It is my intention to have a healthy, joyful, abundant life” or is it something else? Just notice and think about what you would like the intention for your life to be. That to which we put our attention, expands. As I mentioned earlier, it is not uncommon for people to express great fear and concern regarding what will life be like as a thin person. How will I handle attention from the opposite sex? What will I do with all the extra time and energy I will have when I am eating for good health and energy? What will I do without the protection of my excess weight? As people travel down the road to recovery from morbid obesity, they are sometimes surprised to find out that they are not so much afraid of failure, but of success. Uncovering feelings of unworthiness, asking, “Who am I to be successful and — have a big life?” When actually they need to learn to ask the question, “Who am I not to be? What gives me the right to not have a fabulous life?” It isnot uncommon for people touse excess weight as a way of putting distance between themselves and others. When this is the case, one must learn to be assertive and set appropriate boundaries, and at the same time, risk being vulnerable and experience emotional intimacy. It is important to acknowledge and process any of these feelings that might surface, because if ignored, they could trigger intense feelings of depression, a common co-morbidity for bariatric patients, and fear which can sabotage your success. I believe that depression is an energy that is “depressed,” that it is a sign that there is something in one’s psyche or soul that wants to be expressed but has not had such an opportunity. (This is in no way meant to say that people who suffer from clinical depression need not consult with a physician and take meds as directed). When this oft times creative urge or passion tries to surface and it gets stuffed back down, a person often experiences this phenomenon as depression. As a bariatric patient one must start to explore what it is that excites them, what is it that sparks their interest, what triggers feelings of passion and excitement? Allow yourself to follow your passions. Allow yourself to play. Playing is a vitally important “nutrient” for the well being of our mind, body and spirit. It truly nurtures one’s soul. It is important to understand that feelings are just energy in your body. They, like food, are not good or bad or right or wrong. You do not have to react to your feelings. You can breathe into them and just notice them. Eventually you will begin to understand how to change your feelings as you become aware of your core beliefs and self talk. We are taught in this society that we always have to “feel good” and if we begin to feel angry, sad, anxious, etc., we must do something to stop the feeling; but, what is truly healing is to embrace the feeling, and just sit with it. It will eventually soften, and then you can move through it. When you start to truly “listen to yourself;” you will know what actions you must take in order to live a life that supports your highest good. I am writing this article because I feel so passionately about the need to get this information out to the weight loss surgery population to help them understand that surgery is only the first step. Please, if you have had, or are considering having this surgery, be sure to set yourself up with a good aftercare plan that includes individual psychological and nutritional counseling/support, realistic exercise instruction, follow up with a primary care physician familiar with weight loss surgery and group support. Surgery is not a magic cure. There is both emotional and physical work to be done in order to live a life free from compulsive eating. But IT CAN BE DONE!! Copyright 2004 DDB Media LLC www.wlslifestyles.com All rights reserved. Used with permission. If you have any questions or comments about this article or are making the connections between food and feelings I would love to hear from you. You can visit my website at www.louisalatela.com, email me at louisa@louisalatela.com, or call me at 856.429.9799.

I think you have a point here, lap band "problems" are mainly due to not having restriction, bad aftercare, can't afford fills, being unfilled from being too tight etc...MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BAND that is a FACT....for being annoying if things aren't right. However, what I found and by those with the Sleeve, that have ISSUES just deal with it, or have their GI docs to deal with all of their reflux issues and heartburn and nausea...and honestly after someone gets the Sleeve they really don't have to deal with their surgeon any longer...Surgeons are cutters... However, they have to constantly "DEAL" with long term lap banders and their "reflux issues" because when the band is damaged --ONLY the lap band surgeon can treat and manage reflux by either unfilling the band, or surgically fixing the pouch or a revision surgery... There ARE MANY Sleevers that have reflux issues...MANY...in fact surgeons suggest those who have issues with refux from the band are advised to NOT get the Sleeve, the Bypass is recommended if they are considering a revision from the Band. I have a few Sleeve friends that told me that don't have any reflux or dumping syndrome...but some say they get this the further out they get... The biggest complaint that I see with my friends that revise from Band to Sleeve is that you have re-learn the restriction and they have tighter restriction with the band than the Sleeve...however they also say they can eat better with the Sleeve -- but ALMOST ALL say they still get hungry.... I am not too quick to do the Sleeve because my older sister had the stomach stapling surgery 20 years ago. (SIMILAR TO THE SLEEVE) restrictive only..she's never really been hospitalized or had any dangerous life threatening complications, -- HOWEVER, I've seen her suffer from stomach pain EVERY SINGLE DAY for many years, not enough for hosptiization, but enough to be annoying and she vomits often, and she fears those staples will cause some issue eventually, which that had --she had a revision surgery 8 years ago..but still did not lose enough weight... Also she still have a "little" restriction, but not enough for weight loss and she gained all her weight back years ago..and if she wants to lose weight she has to diet and exercise because there is nothing she can do at this point. That's my fear with the Sleeve, after about 2-3 years, the Sleeve stomach WILL STRETCH double it's size in capacity and you really can't do anything after the Sleeve stretch but revise to the Bypass or DS or get reSleeved which I hear is very dangerous since many don't have enough stomach left to do anything, but the stomach will stretch too much for it to help with weight loss. I guess it's a personal decision on which direction someone takes...NO weight loss surgery is perfect...BELIEVE ME...I wanted to revise to the SLeeve...even tho I did not want to get my stomach removed...but I really did not see a benefit and I DO NOT want dumping syndrome the rest of my life...to each his own.

I did *lots* of research for my revision and all led me to Dr. Aceves. I think I'm making a great choice as well as I've heard and read nothing but good things about him and the hospital. I'm just worried that I'll fail the sleeve like I failed the band. Fingers are crossed and I have a goal that I WILL get to! I haven't been to Mexico since I was banded so I'm itching to go back ..... we used to go every year while growing up and I so miss it! Pretty sad I have to schedule a surgery to go! Hahahaa

If you are looking for a post op vitamin it depends on what surgery you have. For example, a bypass patient may have different vitamin requirements than a sleeve patient. Your surgeon should recommend the one you will need.

My revision surgery is October 25

I have a second band, but my problem was the first band had a leak. My doc wanted to revise to a sleeve when he took out the defective band, but my insurance refused to pay. In fact, it took almost four months for them to agree to put in a replacement band and not just remove the leaky one. As for revision after a slip, google for academic quality articles on what to do after a band slippage. You may find that slips are more frequent in a second band if it happened with the first. Also, research the statistics on the sleeve, then find out what your insurance will pay with regard to revision. This should give you enough information to make a decision.

Hi Don't know if this is in the right area or not. I hope I get some feedback. I had sleeve done 2yrs ago and glad I did. I have had problems with reflux before sleeve and still have it. If I don't take Nexium it is horrible. I also have anti-acid liquid and also degas (I can burp like a man lol). Had a barium swallow and endoscopy. Great news is no scaring on oesophagus and sleeve is in good nick. Bad news is I have a hiatus hernia (knew already) and it has brought some of my stomach above diaphragm. Surgeon said that he will need to do 2 surgeries - a cadioplasty to fix hernia and stomach and a RNY to help with the reflux. I had been getting too accepting the RNY but having another surgery as well is rather overwhelming. I am going back next week with any questions I have. Surgery is booked for 22nd August and it will be a long one. Have to admit he makes me laugh as he is very honest and upfront, something I appreciate in a surgeon. So my question is - has anyone gone through this? or even heard of it?

@@candacer If you search success stories on this site you will likely get alot of information. I was 51 when I had RNY gastric bypass. I chose bypass over sleeve because I suffered from GERD and RNY is know to cure it. I also had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and stage 3 kidney disease. I am 5'10" and at my heaviest weight was 315 lbs. I lost a 152lbs in 18 months and reached my goal this past march. I went from a size 26 to a size 8/10. Best of all I no longer have GERD, sleep apnea, high BP or high cholesterol. My diabetes has been in remission since the day I had surgery and my stage 3 kidney disease has been in remission since 3 months post op. For me, having this surgery was the best thing I ever did. I had no complications and I believe that is because I followed doctors orders to the letter. I was scared when i started mostly because of all the required change but once I started the process i kept my goals top of mind and they literally drove me. Best of luck to you!

I was considering the sleeve or rny and through my research I also decided on the bypass. I only know one person personally who had a sleeve to rny revision (my cousin). It's just not for me... I strongly believe any of them will work if you work em' and what's right for me may not be right for you. I do hear a lot about the reflux problems so if you already have heartburn that would really put me off. Goodluck on whatever you decide.

I had my original rny in 2005 went from 322 to 180 started to gain some weight back total 45 pounds when in for revision consult at the end of August had to have a endoscopy in mid September and was approved for revision two weeks later My surgery was last Thursday went pretty well just very sore but getting around very well my only real issue is not beening able to sleep longer than two hours at a time not very hungrey had broth the last two days and down 14 pounds already which is really worrying me kind of a lot of weight in 4 days but will be seeing my doctor Thursday have to really force myself to eat broth and Water since my pouch is only one ounce praying all goes well this time around. Sent from my SM-G935P using the BariatricPal App

I have been having nausea and,vomiting since 2 weeks post op. I had a stricture that kept coming back and had to be dilated 3 times and I'm only 3months post op. I have been in and out of the hospital several,times as well. I was in the hospital 2 weeks ago for over 2 weeks. I was unable to take anything by mouth. They put a picc line in and started me on TPN (IV nutrients). Thy had to pull my picc line a week later cause it went bad. I was eating a clear/full liquid diet. Now I'm vomiting again and this time I'm having sever abdominal pain as well. I'm unable to keep much down and it all hurts even water. My surgeon has me on several medications but they aren't helping. He suggested I might have to have a revision done. Has anyone had a b anything like this? Or had a revision? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I'm extremely weak physically and emotionally drained from all this.

Congrats! Steady awesome loss, good for you! You look great HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 175 CW 183 5’6”

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery when I was 64. I am now 3 years post-op. This is my before and after photo at the 6 month mark.

A few more questions. You said you had a gastric bypass. Was it a Roex-en-Y or a sleeve or an Omega loop. I know next to nothing about an Omega Loop other than it is popular in Australia and their meal plan and Vitamin requirements are really, really strange. Your profile shows you as a female. Is this a mistake? I only mention this because of Water retention issues that are sometimes experienced by females. Do you have any co-morbidity problems that cause you to take prescription medicine that might interfere with weight loss? Did you experience any bad side effects from the surgery?

Hello all. Scheduled for gastric bypass on December 14th (pending insurance approval). My new surgeon is Dr. Kini and having the procedure done at st. Luke Roosevelt Hospital.

I'm quite the baker, but thankfully I prefer the act of giving away baked goods rather than eating them myself. I might have a spoonful of dough on a particularly tasty recipe, but that's about it. My sister, on the other hand... well let's just say she's eaten more dough than actual Cookies. (She's now had a bypass and is doing better!)

Being a nurse made me certain I did not want a bypass!!! I don't know if other than that being an RN influenced my decision... just tired of being fat and tired...

One thing most of these replies had in common was that everybody was afraid of becoming a stereotype. I am a CST and for sure, I always felt like I didn't fit up at the table. Like some of you, I have seen what biscuits can do to a belly, back, bones, feet, and oh the hernias that I have seen in larger patients! The ulcers, the hardend vessels and plaque removals, oh and the bypasses.....Like you, I just didn't want to be one. Knowing all about general surgery, staples and roux en y surgeries (which aren't just done for weight reduction) I was terrified of the risks. Lap Band, while rather new to me is the best choice I have made. No regrets, no depression and no struggles with food. No cravings and little hunger. I feel blessed! Congrats to you who feel the same. I was back at work within 5 business days. My only issue is trying to get in the H20 while being scrubbed most of the day. Any suggestions?

Got the dreaded call today. UGI showing my esophagus is in trouble due to dilation and other issues with stretched pouch, then, to complicate matters my new insurance does not cover the bariatric programs in my local town where I got my lap band and I have transferred care to the new insurance bariatric program 400 miles away. I have an appointment with the new doctor in 3 weeks. The call today came from the new clinic letting me know that the band needed to come out and revision to sleeve will be done 6 months after band removal. I did not want to hear either one of these news. So, I understand the 6 month wait due to scar tissue caused by the band and time to allow healing. My question and concern is undergoing 2 surgeries, what are my chances of getting approval for the sleeve after lap band removal? What I am hoping to hear is that revision approval (if there is such a code) includes band removal and sleeve after the six months. What I am unfortunately expecting to hear is that both removal and sleeve are two separate approvals. What if I don't meet insurance requirements to qualify for the sleeve after removal is my biggest fear! I've been successful with my weight loss and the band, however, will my BMI meet the requirements after band removal? Will I need to gain weight to meet the BMI requirements? I will be devastated if I end up with no weight loss tool of any kind. Just with a few times that I had complete unfills of the band, I started gaining weight quickly. Anyone have any ideas how all this works? All insurances companies are different and I will contact mine to get more information, but, I am afraid I will end up with nothing. Jake

Going to have my bypass on 9/4 an worried about pain afterwards...you sound encouraging

I am from Boise and I am considering the lap band in Mexico. I had a friend who had Gastric bypass in Canada and did wonderful. Then I had a another friend who had the same surgery in Boise Idaho and has had problems ever since and will continue to do so for the rest of her life. She even had to have a reversal in a Seattle Washington hospital. She was lucky that he would even take her as a patient. I think it all depends on how the persons body handles it. Right now though, I am looking around, taking notes and getting ready for my surgery when I find the right one. Heck, I don't even qualify in the states.. My BMI is 36. I do qualify in Mexico.

that is what made my decision as to get the sleeve instead of RNY..i have a friend that had it done and at first she had nothing but problems but now several years later is much better but still..when i realized that the band wasnt for me i knew i didnt want anything bypassed and thats what lead me to the sleeve..i have yet to have it done as i am jumping through the isurance hoops but soon i will be on the losers bench