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I completely understand how you feel, when I had my gastric bypass surgery, my significant other was always trying to undermine my goals, my whole family ate unhealthy, I just kept telling myself that I had to do this for me and my health, the more I continued to build myself up and ignore them I became stronger, of course I had my weak days, but I would get back up, and shake it off and continue to work on myself, it worked!!!! I was 320 at the beginning of my surgery and I reached my goal of 135!!! You can do it!!!! Sent from my SM-N976V using BariatricPal mobile app

BIG NEWS IN THE BAND WORLD On October 30, 2012, a Reuters article revealed that Allergan is considering selling the Lap-Band® to another medical device company due to declining sales of the band. Not surprisingly, this news has caused some excitement in the bariatric surgery community. When I first read the article, my immediate thought was that I don't have enough information to make it the subject of an article of my own. I'm still missing a lot of information, but have plenty of opinions about it (which can come as no surprise to you), so I've decided to give you my opinions with you in this article from today’s special edition of the Bandwagon® on the Road e-newsletter. ALLERGAN PEDDLES THE BAND I have a hard time drawing any conclusions (pro or con) about the band itself based on the Reuters report. The decline in Lap-Band® sales could be the result of management or other business problems rather than due to a problem with the band itself. It's highly unlikely that Allergan will ever reveal the whole story to anyone but their team of attorneys and board of directors. So, what could this hot news story mean? As you read on, please remember: these are only personal opinions from an ex-bandster who’s fairly well-informed but not a medical professional and in no way associated with Allergan or any other medical device or other company in the world of bariatric surgery. For what it’s worth, here’s my take on the story. The US economy is in tough shape, the popularity of bariatric surgery in general is leveling off, and insurance coverage for bariatric surgery is still a challenge. Allergan is not alone in this - Johnson & Johnson must face the same challenge in marketing the Realize™ Band. The story of what's really behind all this is clouded by the reactions of the media and of band-bashers who sing the "I told you so" song because they assume (without any credible basis at this point) that Allergan's decision is related to the safety and/or efficacy of the band. SO, WHAT’S THE REAL STORY? All the other bariatric surgery procedures now performed in the USA can have serious complications and failure rates, but it's easier to point the finger of blame at a single manufacturer of a medical device than it is to blame the thousands of surgeons who are doing bariatric procedures that don't happen to use a medical device. The FDA isn't looking over the shoulders of all those surgeons the way it scrutinizes Allergan or Johnson & Johnson. When Dr. John Doe stops doing bariatric surgery and goes back to yanking out gall bladders, no one leads a parade down Main Street waving banners about the dangers of the procedures Dr. Doe was doing. Except in rare cases (such as the sad story of my original surgeon), nobody's even discussing Dr. Doe's surgical expertise or behavior. It's an example of what I call the David & Goliath Syndrome. A big company like Allergan is an easy target thanks to its size and visibility. The general public may step on Dr. Doe's fingers but otherwise will kick him to the curb in eagerness to throw rocks at Allergan. One of the hurdles facing any manufacturer of an adjustable gastric band is that it is (in my opinion) the bariatric procedure that requires the most patient education, aftercare, and support. In the 5 years since I was banded, I have encountered plenty of evidence of bariatric clinics doing a great job of that, but I've also encountered clinics that are failing at it, to the detriment of their patients. Not because they're doing something wrong, per se, but because they're directed by a surgeon (or team of surgeons) who was trained to think of surgery of any nature as an in-and-out deal. They're used to seeing the patient 3 times: a pre-op visit; in the operating room (with an unconscious patient); one post-op visit; and never again unless the patient experiences a complication that requires more surgery. That's fine when the surgery involves removing a gall bladder or a mole or a wisdom tooth, but it's a set-up for failure with band patients. The bariatric surgeon who vetted Bandwagon told me several years ago that the band manufacturers make few demands on the surgeons or clinics that buy their products because they don't want to marginalize the customers who don't follow the manufacturer's advice but have acceptable patient outcomes. Avoiding marginalization of customers is a smart business decision but a poor medical decision, and I think it's a mistake for us to view surgeons only as super-wealthy, super-powered medical demi-gods anointed by a Supreme Being and the ASMBS. They're also customers, and just like you and me when we're shopping for a new car, they're looking for a product that has reliable quality and performance at a price they can live with. They are business people who want to make money (to pay their staff, their malpractice insurance premiums, their colossal student loans, and their kids' college funds). Sure they want to practice the art (and science) of medicine, but they can't do that very well if they can't pay their bills. Finally, keep in mind that someone, somewhere is going to end up with the Lap-Band in some form. It is highly unlikely that Lap-Band® research & development, its technology and FDA approval, to say nothing of the existing customer base, will drop to the bottom of the bariatric pond and never be seen again. Both Allergan and the new owner will legally and ethically have to stand behind their product, with the details of that worked out to the last detail by teams of expensive attorneys and insurance companies. Even surgeons who stop doing band surgery to concentrate on other procedures will still have the basic skill and knowledge to provide fills and other aftercare to their band patients. Although I lost my beloved band in April 2012, I do not regret having Lap-Band® surgery and if I were starting my WLS journey today, I would ask my surgeon's opinion about the Allergan decision and also ask how (or if) it will affect his/her practice. The answers to those questions would be towards the top of a long list of questions I'd be asking before deciding to have surgery. And if I still had my band, I'd be asking my surgeon the same questions so that I could go forward with some degree of comfort (if not 100% satisfaction) that I'd have someone to turn to should I need band help in the future. I most certainly would not be rushing off to make an appointment with the Speedy Weight Loss Surgery Revision Center, or at least not until I'd done plenty of homework on the procedures offered by the quacks at Speedy. Trading in a car just because it's 2 years old has never made sense to me, and if it isn’t broke, why fix it? Although my journey from Lap-Band® to vertical sleeve gastrectomy ended up taking 6 months, I'm still nagged about it by a little doubting voice, especially when my sleeve is giving me trouble. Should I have chosen the sleeve, or not? Should I have risked the return to morbid obesity, or gamble on more surgery? There are no easy answers to questions like that. If there were a cure for obesity, I'd be first in line for it, but until that cure is invented, I'm making the best of what I've got.

Savery, believe it or not, I actually see where you are coming from on some of this. It is a legitimate question. I've been told that after banding the trick is NOT to diet. Now, that being said, it isn't license for no behavior modification. We obese folks have extremely flawed mentality when it comes to eating. We head for all the WRONG foods in the WRONG amounts. Now, when you get banded, and I mean banded with a decent restriction, a portion of that battle is removed...the WRONG AMOUNT portion. You can still eat the wrong foods and defeat the band. That's why the band takes more "work" than, say, a bypass which in many cases can physically restrict you from eating the wrong amounts AND the wrong foods (i.e., dumping syndrome, etc. and many bypass people cannot eat surgars afterwards without a lot of distress). To put it simply, if you were told you had to stand on your head and knit a sweater, that would be a daunting task. However, if you were told that you didn't have to stand on your head...just knit the sweater...it's still work, but it sure looks easier to accomplish!

I've prided myself on losing 100 lbs eating whatever I want, just a few bites. Well, after my band to sleeve revision 4 mths ago, I've only lost 22 lbs (knew I'd lose slower, started at 174). So I guess I'm gunna have to reevaluate my intake. Counting carbs would be miserable. I was on Atkins induction for 4 weeks last Feb. I would've killed my mom for a cookie I think counting calories would be a better choice for me. Occasionally I count on myfitnesspal and I'm usually under 1200. Guess I hafta stay under 1000 to take off the last 20 lbs. Those last 20 r the hardest of all. for sure. My goal is to maintain until after the holidays. Then I will take it seriously and lose the last 20. Hubby gained 40 lbs over the last 8 mths or so and he's doing the same thing (no, he hasn't had wls, just does Atkins).

I had gastric bypass in 2003 and kept weight off for about 7 years. Due to medications etc unexpected weight gain resulted. After working with doctor and nutritionist for about 2 years -- having revision surgery next week.

I'm assuming you treat a revision like the first time? I would think Prilosec would be a great way to start! My kiddo is on prevacid now and her tummy would randomly hurt on and off during the day before they started her on it.

Because when I had revision back in 2012 my BMI was 62 now I believe is like 47 or something now, and he thinks because I've been at the same weight for 6 months my body may have lost all it could with the sleeve procedure... He told me to give it my all the next 3 months and if I still cannot break the stall then we may need to explore me revising to DS... I really dont want another procedure, but I've heard good things about the DS....but ultimately the only way I will get it is with insurance approval, I had to pay out of pocket for the revision to sleeve, I honestly cant afford another procedure... So, I am going to give it my all the next couple of months and pray I can break this stall, which is now 8 months and counting

Hello. I was looking into gastric bypass surgery 2 years ago, however at the time I was 18 and felt that a permenant operation like that was not what I truly wanted. Anyway I was told briefly about Lap Banding by the specialist I saw who also does gastric bypasses and he sort of ruled it out seeing as at that time it was $15,000 CDN. I am trying to find out if there is anyway possible to cover the expenses for a LB procedure? I am not sure if there are any other Canadians on here that might know but I figured it was worth a shot. I already know that OHIP does not cover it, and I believe I was told that health benefits are also not covering it here. At any rate any help or comments are greatly appreciated. I am essentially in a state where the surgery would turn my life around as I am 20, 6'3 and either reaching or surpassing the 500lb plateau :straight...take care! Oh and I will be discussing this with my family doctor on Thursday, but I wanted to get a move on my research.

I'm having the bypass revision surgery on the 4th of February

It was the right decision! You are going to do great. Do you mind if I ask how your sister gained 100lbs post surgery? Doesn't the small stomach size make it very difficult to overeat? I don't mean to sound ignorant at all, but I'm just unaware that's all. Transitioning from lapband to bypass on June 12! HW: 402, CW: 314, GW 185

I used to work at a non-profit organization. They had a plan with a company that did cover it, but the plan excluded it. The best way they explained it to me is that my employer had the "Ford" plan and in order to have the surgery they needed the "Cadillac" plan. I petitioned my employer to ammend their plan to include this coverage (I was persuing gastric bypass at the time) and they would not do it. They were afraid it would start a "trend" in the company. I left that employer a year ago and work for our local school district and my banding was definitely covered Good luck to you as you seek your funding source...

I have had a complete unfill twice, and still managed to loose weight. The reason is that I maintained my Bandster portions, and did what little I could to exercise. Your current issues seem more to be with your faulty thinking and relationship with food. If you could revise your thinking into seeing eating as self sabotage of the progress you have made to date, and recognizing that telling yourself "NO", you will not eat out of control, it goes a long way to help you through challenging times such as you are experiencing now. It is very easy for us to become our own "self fulfilling prophecy" when the self talk messages are negative in nature. If you dispair and tell yourself you have no self control, you will be correct, because you have given yourself permission to eat to your heart's content. If you tell yourself I will empower myself to maintain my weight, and not allow my faulty thinking with regards to food to rule me, then you will overcome your feelings of helplessness. The band is a highly self empowering tool. You have been quite successful thus far. Don't throw any of that success away because of your mindset. Remember, just because you can eat more than the allowed portion does NOT mean that you should. You can do this...if you want to. Only you can determine your path by your choices.

Hiya bandtoVSG... You sound really frustrated!! can you give us any further details, starting weight sleeve, how much you want to lose etc I know it is frustrating when the scales doesn't move... have you tried to shake things upa little... drink more Water? Vary your exercise... that type of thing? There is a five day pouch test that you might be interested in. It sorta re kicks the restriction, I did it once and I found it really helpful! there are a few revisions on here who might be able to help you... hopefully they will give you some good advise.

Today I had lunch with a friend of mine...I met with her to give her a job..before we could even get to that part lunch fell apart...she suggested Taco Bell I said ok...knowing I would just have the small bowl of refried beans ( surgery was Sept 6th)....she asked how my progress was going and I said really well..and she said " it can't be that hard u barely eat anything and can sit around and lose weight"...she is a bigger gal who's mom had gastric bypass 8 years ago so I though her of all people would be supportive...I have a pretty sharp Italian temper and before i thought I said back to her..."I bust my ass 4 miles a day on my treadmill..yes ur right it does take much to fill me up but I still hafta watch what I eat and make sure it's the right foods...you were prob full 2 freaking tacos ago but choose to ignore it"...I got up and left...ok soo I do feel a little guilty abt snapping off on her like that...but I'm guessing this was a friendship that was not gonna last once i started losin weight and she did nothing for herself..such a shame we had tons of fun together

Hi! So I received the RNY gastric bypass on September 23, and just got home out the the hospital yesterday. 11 days in the hospital. I'm in a crazy amount of pain and it's really hard to do simple things like getting out of bed and going to the bathroom. My surgery journey isn't at all what I had planned. What happened was after the first surgery, on the 23, I was throwing up, weak, and other gross things. The doctors checked on me every few minutes because they were worried they were going to lose me. So they rushed me to a different hospital for surgery number 2 to fix the problem found in the c t scan. They said I was born with an abnormally shapened stomach and it has always been larger, and that the weight gain my entire life hasn't been my fault and it was a medical issue! If I hadn't of gotten the surgery they said my stomach would have crushed my spleen. So the second surgery gave me a Omega Loop to help alter routing of my insides. So many things are horrible and went wrong, and I'm really starting to think this was the wrong thing for me. I'm eighteen, and this has been an abnormally amount of anxiety in my life. I have to drop out of classes this semester and quit my job to focus complete on healing. I just needed to share my story so far and look for some encouragement. Also, I'm hungry, is that normal? I'm worried that this didn't work. I eat my puréed food plan me always feel hunger after and like I can eat more. Advice?

I finally had my first visit and the surgeon is recommending that I get the bypass while I was already heavily in the sleeve camp. He said he's not trying to talk me into it but that the bypass would be better for me since my biggest problem is eating the wrong foods. I am 57 years old and weigh well past 300. Can you give me your opinion on this topic? I'm assuming most of you will go with what you chose but if you can be objective for someone in my situation what would you advise? The other difference is that I am a cash pay patient so I believe the difference is going to be an additional 4k out of pocket to get the bypass. I keep reading good things about the sleeve but also read the bypass is the gold standard and that you lose more weight with the bypass. Is that still true? Thank you to everyone that responds.

When I originally started my journey, my heart was set on getting the sleeve surgery. It wasn't until I met with the surgeon the first time that he thought I would benefit from gastric bypass. I was a full blown diabetic at the time, who had to take insulin at night as well as meds, and had high blood pressure. The surgeon mentioned that I could go with the sleeve, however if I am not happy with my progress, I would have a sleeve to bypass revision. I only wanted to go under the knife once, so I eventually decided on bypass. Its been almost 7 months since I had surgery and I cant tell you how happy I am with the results. I was almost400pds when I started, and I am now in the 200s. I still have a long way until I meet my goals, however I am no longer diabetic by medical standards, they even took it off my medical chart. I say good luck to you in whatever journey you decide. You may want to make a list pros and cons for each, and see what you come up with. You are the one in this

You are under anesthesia longer with bypass and that may be his concern @Ruin's_Angel. Alot of High BMI patients get the sleeve. I don't think ulcers are any more of an issue with sleeve vs bypass.

In the past they would do the sleeve for morbid obese ppl to help them lose wt for their bypass... (research from the TLC 600 lb life ) anyway at the end of day if ppl don't have the food behaviors/addictions conquer neither surgeries will give you the long term results... Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G530AZ using the BariatricPal App

If eating the wrong foods and not portion control are really your issue, bypass might be a better option. Once most people heal from the sleeve you can eat almost anything.

I think whatever you decide you have to be comfortable with, my choice was and still is the sleeve. I had the choice of all 3. Band, sleeve or bypass. I was over 120lbs over weight. I didn't have a lot of the issues others have pre-op but I was headed towards diabetes and that scared me the most. I probably would be at goal by now with the bypass aka the "gold standard" but I didn't like the re-routing of my intestines and malabsorption issue. My "gold standard" is my sleeve

Get rid of the Doctor...I demanded the bypass .I have to much weight to lose to screw around!!Best thing I ever did!

They are both good procedures. I weighed 308 when I revised from band to sleeve 4 years ago and am maintaining in the 150s now. Here is what I think, if a person thinks any WLS is going to keep them from making"bad" choices over the long haul, they are likely to be disappointed. I have read that not all bypass patients "dump" and that extra help offen goes away over time. You must be committed to a lifestyle overhaul with either procedure or you risk regain. The sleeve helped me change my relationship with food for several reasons, but I think the key was the elimination of the 24/7 drive to eat, constant hunger. Years later, My hunger is now what a normal person experiences and that period of time of no hunger helped me figure out how to keep it in check and how my choices dictate my hunger drive. They each have risks, and benefits. The bypass has a much longer proven track record. I had my , probably somewhat irrational reasons for avoiding the bypass, but I guess in the end I came to "believe" that the sleeve would help me and i proceeded to make sure it did. Research, and decide which seems to fit your life better and go for it!

I joined a couple of bariatric support groups on facebook and listened to those that have gone through both procedures to help me make my decision between the sleeve and the bypass. After a lot of research I have decided to go with the bypass and here are my reasons why: 1. Sleeve is not recommended for people with heartburn and acid reflux and I have a problem with this. 2. I noticed a lot of people that have had the sleeve reported frequent stalling of weight loss as well as more frequent regain as opposed to bypass patients. 3. I also need the discipline that gastric bypass provides. Just knowing I may dump from eating something bad (whether I actually do or not) is enough to stop me from eating it. I am afraid that knowing I would be able to eat whatever I want with the sleeve is going to make me do just that, and that may lead to overeating since I have problems with portion control and eating when I am not hungry. Good luck with whatever you decide Phynale! Btw I am 392...

Hi, I haven't had a chance to update in awhile. I am doing great. Will hit my 3 month mark October 12, lost almost 50 lbs and feel awesome. I have spent the last week in the hospital with my partner who had a by-pass 2 years ago September. Last Wednesday she started throwing up blood, tons of it. Was put in ICU, they did a scope and said she had a marginal ulcer where her lower intestine connected to her pouch. Was in ICU until Monday, got 8 pints of blood and had a by-pass revision and ulcer removal on Tuesday. Now she has a blockage in her esophagus. Can't even swollow her spit. Doc thinks it is related to swelling. It has been a rough week. Makes me so grateful for my sleeve and no complications.