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Last year (lapband slipped, was totally unfilled) before my revision, I ate numerous bags of these little beauties. Don't think I ever ate a whole bag in 1 sitting but a handful every nite only takes a few days to empty a bag. Add to that Starburst Jelly Beans and u have a recipe for disaster. Thank God now that I've been sleeved for 6 mths I can have maybe 6 of em and be satisfied. I can eat 1 cookie at a time also. Hubby gets angry when I bring this stuff into the house cuz he can't stop at one. He has to eat the whole bag. Ur choc/pb cookies sound amazing. Maybe I'll try it out. Usually about 8 pm I'm hungry and I'll have 1/2 an apple with almond butter on it and thats usually good enuf to help my sweet tooth.

It sounds like fills are a heap more complicated in the states than here LOL. I go into my doctor's office, have my fill and am back out in 5 mins generally. I'm not charged by the doctor, nor by his office. He doesn't do flouro - I'm not even sure what it is to be honest? But he's never missed and I've been very happy with the results thus far. I've not had to pay for an unfill either. I'm assuming that it's so different because its relatively new in the US? My surgeon has been doing it for over 7 years now and works with the group here that has done all the research for banding. From my understanding (and often, I don't understand lol), gastric bypass is pretty much unheard of here, as its just not done - banding is always the first choice.

Alright, I am having my lap band to gastric sleeve revision on November 20th. I would love if those that have already had the revision or the gastric sleeve to help me out. What do I need to do/purchase in order to be fully prepared? What Vitamins do I need? What Protein shakes/powders, etc? What items should I take to the hospital? What other advice would you give me? What did you wish someone had told you before you had surgery? Any and all help, opinions, and advice are welcomed.

I'm sure there are some really good ones out there, I just don't personally know of any I don't think. There is the "egg face" one with all of the recipes if that is what you are looking for. Or there is one if you search "I'mPercfect Life" on facebook....it is gastric bypass and fitness related more than recipes/ideas, etc. That's all I really know of off hand other than personal blogs like the one I have that I have used to document my journey. Were you looking for something specific?

I smoked for 5 years and quit 2 years ago cold turkey on my 200th try...I was told the dr would absolutely not do sleeve or bypass if you smoked only lapband..it also can cause an ulcer/ gastritis(isn't fun I had a bad case for 6months)..I personally know how hard it is but I also know I wouldn't even think of the surgery if I still smoked..I know your looking for a legit answer but it will take weeks /months for your stomach to remotely heal so you wont be able to smoke that whole time anyway

Hey everyone, I'm just getting starting on this process. I am going to the informational seminar this next Thursday at Riverbend. I would like to know how everyone decided to go with the Lap Band procedure instead of the Gastric Bypass? Do they go over all of this information with you at the Informational Seminar? Thanks, Stacy.

The quickest story I can offer is that of my 94-year-old mother. I don't get to see her that often, because she lives some distance away, in a town that is not readily accessible by airport. The last time I saw her was about 15 months ago, 2 days before the surgery that was going to remove my lap band, repair the significant damage caused by the band, and perform a gastric Bypass. This was a very "iffy" surgery. There were LOTS of problems caused by the band, and there was some serious question as to whether I would make it through the surgery unscathed. (NOTE: I'm not "band-bashing" here, the circumstances under which I saw my mother last were quite traumatic for us all.) I went out to visit my Mom right before the surgery because I wasn't all that sure I would see her again. As it turned out, my surgeon was brilliant, and I came through fine. But my recovery was many months long, and I was unable to get out to visit her. I was able to go out to see her earlier this month, on her 94th birthday. I was almost exactly 100 pounds lighter than I was when she had last seen me. I arrived at her house a little later in the day than I had planned, so she was napping in her recliner in the living room (as any respectable 94 year-old SHOULD be doing in the afternoon!). Her front door was locked, but I had a key, so I quietly entered her house, went into the living room, gave her a kiss on the cheek to wake her up. I stood in front of her as she slowly came back to reality. It was AMAZING, and quite joyful, to see the look on her face, and to see the tears roll down her cheeks. She just sat there and cried for about 10 minutes. It was quite wonderful for both of us. Of course, I had to endure 3 days of her parading me around to her pals. And some of them had Alzheimers, and kept drifting in and out of knowng who I was, but it was a fun and special few days. I glad I could give that gift to my Mother. She knows her son is happy, healthy, and lookin' "purdy good", and there is no better gift that a child can give a parent than that. HH

That is what I always though and it is listed as a contra indication on the lapband site. I have noticed lately however that a few members on this group do have Lupus and have been banded. As to whether or not they are successful and whether or not the band has caused any of their lupus symptoms to worsen I don't know. I would do lots of research, speak to the band Dr and then speak to your immunologist as well. You don't want to do anything that would make your Lupus worse. You may find that in your situation it would be better to have a gastric sleeve or bypass. See what the experts say.

Hello Everyone, I am feeling conflicted about getting the LAP-BAND® instead of the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass. Let me tell you what recently happened to my 66 yr old sister (BMI 36 or 37) regarding her recently diagnosed Type II diabetes and ongoing GERD. She had been prediabetic for several years but maintaining a constant fasting # of 117 and her A1c's (??) were always within a good range. She went through a bariatric program in AZ and had a surgery date scheduled for the LAP-BAND® on May 12, 2010. She did her preop on May 5th and had her 1st surgeon visit on May 6th at which time she found out the results of her fasting preop blood work. Unfortunately she finally crossed the line into diabetes with a 130, whereas just 2 months earlier she was a 117! She had a 2 hr glucose tolerance test the next day to verify and started the medication May 10th. Her surgeon now refuses to do a LAP-BAND® on her and said that she now definitely needed the GBP due to her Type II diabetes. She said even if my sister were still prediabetic, she would have still recommended the GBP due to her severe GERD. Her Dr said she has been doing these surgeries for so long (she's also on some board of bariatric surgeons) that she now knows that mostly all Type II diabetics or those with severe GERD who get the LAP-BAND® continue to struggle with both, whereas her Type II diabetic patients who get the GBP actually get it reversed to the point where medication is no longer required! She also said those with severe GERD do much better with the GBP and it very often gets totally resolved. After much discussion with her family, she became comfortable with GBP now being her best option and is now in a waiting mode for her insurance to approve the GBP instead of the LAP-BAND®. I can't help to now question my own decision to have the LAP-BAND® instead of GBP since I have severe GERD too. I also have a hiatal hernia that my surgeon is going to repair at the same time but there is a poll here on another thread where the majority of Lap Banders who voted, continue to have GERD! My sister doesn't even have a hiatal hernia with her GERD. BTW, my BMI is 36 and I was denied by insurance so now I have to appeal it which gives me more time to sort this out for myself. The bad news is that my surgeon's practice does Lap Bands only, so if I want to switch to the GBP I would have to enter another program and start all over again. I need to hear from others any comments or experiences you may have had like my sister's but your surgeon still allowed the LAP-BAND® and your diabetes and GERD resolved or didn't resolve??? So sorry for the long post! Priscilla PS. My 44 yr old niece in VA who is in excellent health but needed to lose over 90 lbs just had a GBP on May 10th instead of the LAP-BAND® on the advice of her surgeon because he said he has found that his patients that have over 70lbs to lose (I have 60 to lose, I'm only 4'10") are much more successful with the Laproscopic Gastric Bypass.

Not a nurse, just a regular "Joe" here, lol. I originally had the band, and had it done in the US. My insurance didn't cover it, but I had received a small inheritance that just covered the cost of the surgery. When my band started giving me problems, I knew I had to have it out and revise to the sleeve. I had spent a great deal of time on the forums, doing research and felt very comfortable in my decision to go to Mexico. Price wise, it just made sense. And, when doing my research, I actually found most of the surgeons were just as well trained and experienced, if not more so, than many of the US ones. As far as the risks, everyone has to be realistic about this, it doesn't matter what type of surgery you are having, there are going to be risks. This isn't minor surgery we are talking about. What is important is that you do your research, talk to actual patients of the surgeons you are considering and weigh the risks against the benefits. For me, I knew there were risks for complications, but, statistically speaking, they are rare. I was borderline diabetic, my weight was causing additional stress to my back problems to where just walking was becoming difficult, and there was a strong history of heart disease in my family. My chances of death to complications from obesity far outweighed the risks of surgery. To me, it was a no-brainer, I needed the surgery. In terms of when a doctor loses a patient, well, here are my thoughts. It saddens me when that happens, it is awful for the family, and everyone involved. However, I think if you honestly look at it realistically, there aren't many surgeons who have been in the business for any period of time that haven't lost a patient. And, no, I am not just referring to weight loss surgeons, I mean surgeons in general. It is a fact of life, complications happen, deaths happen. We don't like to talk about it, but they do. When a surgeon loses a patient during heart surgery, gall bladder removal, cancer surgery or any other type of surgery, people don't freak out about it like they do with weight loss surgery. They don't all converge on a forum and discuss it, etc. They don't demand to know all the details, etc. To me, it is like they are oblivious to the fact that the same complications and risk that can occur with general surgery also exist with weight loss surgery, and are shocked when they discover they do. I am not saying we should ignore it when a weight loss surgeon loses a patient, or turn our heads the other way. I am just saying we need to go into this with our eyes wide open and understand the real risks involved. Do your research. Don't accept everything you read on a forum as fact, because let's face it, we all know one piece of misinformation can be put out there, then everyone else runs with it in a panic and the next thing you know, things are blown way out of proportion and nobody really knows the truth or who to believe. Call the surgeon directly. Speak with his patients who have already had surgery with him/her. Ask for their complication rates. Google them. Then, make your choice based on your own research, knowing you have learned everything you can, you have weighed the risks against the benefits and are confident you have made the best choice for you.

thanks everyone. just wanted to make sure it was standard operating procedure (no pun intended). i originally planned on bypass surgery, and there was a litany of pre-op tests, but i guess that's because it's a more involved procedure. thanks a lot!

Hi! I was just given my surg. date in 4 weeks. As part of the pre-op I had to have an endoscopy. I did not have any symptoms, this was done as part of the prelims for surg. I just received a call from my doc and was told that I have Barrett's esophogus and that I should not have the sleeve but opt for the bypass instead. Has anyone heard of this or dealt with a similar problem. I am reading alot about those of you that have the haital hernia,but haven't seen anything about Barrett's. Thanks for helping out!

That is good to hear. I have also followed everything to a t. Need a revised letter saying I have clearance. Can't get a response from her. I will keep calling. Want everything ready by last last appointment . Thanks for all who responded.

It's a pretty normal reaction. I remember in college, I joined a Christian fellowship and there was a time we had a 3-weeks fast. It did a number on the brain during the first week. That's how the brain works. It floods you with pleasant memories from tasty meals, in a bid to get you to eat. The brain has set your metabolism and 'weight'. Reducing food triggers the brain to try and restore equilibrium. It's much more than saying "food addiction". It's hard-wiring by the brain that must be bypassed or overcome. That is why many people regain on diets. The brain is sometimes one's biggest adversary.. Hang in there Sent from my SM-N900P using BariatricPal mobile app

Pati- You've lost FIFTY inches!?! Awesome! Do you think that you would have done that without the band? Have you made permenant lifestyle changes? Do you ever want to pull those clothes out again...or have you already burned them? With each reward comes risk. The actual amount of removed bands is less than 1-3%, according to the information I have from the hospital in Minnesota. And that's including older 1st generation bands which aren't as effective. The technology and quality of the equipment and procedure has exponentially improved in the past two years as the insurance companies have started to cover the procedure. If you were a candidate for this surgery...than you know that your health before Band was a MUCH higher risk than any complications you've seen here. Obesity -related death is about ready to supercede heart/lung conditions, cancer....it if hasn't already surpassed it. The band does have risks....but FAR LESS than any bypass, and EVEN LESS THAN DOING NOTHING. You have a 100% chance of dying someday...this was meant to improve your chances of a longer, healthier life. Here's the other truth....nobody has time to waste during this time of year. So the majority of notes posted are when stuff sucks and you need some support. NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!!! Hey...in a way, it's like a bra! Of course I'm not one to wear one, but my wife would attest to the fact that the ugliest bras she owns are the best because they have the most support. So....maybe our posts look a little scary when we need the most support!!! Ok it's a strectch...but I've never used a bra analogy before! Hang in there! Find the positive things that you've gained from this experience! God Bless! Jon

I am going in Aug 5 for a revision from a GS to a DS with Dr Jawad.

Most of time time the first two weeks following bypass is: Week 1 - Clear liquids only SF Jello, broth, Water, crystal lite, watered down apple juice, SF Popsicles Week 2 - full liquids and clear liquids- same as above plus creamed Soups, yogurt, Protein shakes (no more watered down Apple juice) Week 3 - the will move you to puréed if all goes well. You should ask your surgeon for his/her food plan because they all seem to differ but they should give you some idea of exactly what to eat when. In terms of meds, you should try to get yourself the liquid versions for the first 3 months or chewable if you can. Otherwise you will be crushing anything that is bigger around than a pencil eraser. This improves over time but those first 3 months it is pretty swollen in there. I don't use a blender because I buy Premier Protein ready made shakes instead of all the powders. When I had the puréed stage I used either my food processor or I had a nutrition bullet. I have since given that nutri bullet away. The best of luck to you! I hope all goes well.

I'm getting the band in Tuesday but I'm ready so many people are getting switched over to the sleeve. My doctor does less bands and more sleeves now. I'm concerned about not absorbing Calcium as I have some osteopenia. My mom had gastric bypass years ago and can't absorb calcium and has osteoporosis. My sister recently has had issues with her sleeve she needs surgery for scar tissue. Too much info out there. Me being a R N doesn't help. Are people happy with their bands? Why did you choose the band? Anyone recently get banded and why that choice?

Is there anyone out there that got sleeved with a relatively low BMI? I’d dropped to exactly 30 the morning of surgery. Had it been lower it would have been called off. Can I expect to loose my weight as quickly as others, given complete compliance (which I have maintained to the letter), or will it take me longer because I have less to lose. Has anyone else been through this? SW 180 CW 171 (14 days post op) GW 140

His words to me were “you need a revision to get rid of the GERD. I’m sending over a request for insurance approval.” This was July 1st. He wanted to have me in for revision before August. My surgeon is definitely a non-nonsense kind of person so I’m positive that he’ll be sending over an appeal as well.

I have my pre op appointment in a couple days. They are shooting for April 30 or May 1 for surgery. I am very aware that this is going to be a lot of work. I am hearing all these stories of weight gain after bypass surgery that I am so afraid I will be one of the statistics that do gain it back. As many of you all know the feeling of diets not working, I can't help but keep asking myself what will make this any different? I know me getting the sleeve is different then bypass, but I am still very scared. Any advice would be so appreciated.

I called my surgeon’s office today because he submitted for a VSG to RYGB and was told it was denied because they want me to do 6months of supervised weight loss. I just had my VSG in December 2019! plus, their reason isn’t even listed under the revision surgery section in the handbook. Since then I’ve developed a new hiatal hernia, GERD to my mid esophagus and esophagitis. Of course I’ll file an appeal but I’m just frustrated. I’m sick of only getting 4-5hrs of sleep a night because the chest pain from the GERD is so bad it wakes me up. Im sick of taking the max allowed PPIs on top of 8-12 tums a day, and Thorazine for the hiccups causes by the GERD. I sent my surgeon a message asking for another prescription because I can’t take it anymore. I'm jus so frustrated. I just don’t want to be in pain anymore.

I had my gastric bypass 10 days ago and I have had nothing but struggle. Day 3 postoperative I started with a fever was discharged on day 5 and vomiting everything I drink and everything I ate on postoperative 7/8 and 9 days. My abdomen has been very itchy no matter what I wear what lotion I put on or what soap I use. I have lost 12 pounds since surgery.

After seeing my surgeon about getting a sleeve revision (had my band removed 12/10) I was told I would need to lose 25# before he would schedule surgery. So...after I got mad, and cried a bit...I put on my big girl panties and got serious! He wanted me to eat meat and veggies...no sugars, grains, or dairy AND 1200 calories a day. Well, I am doing that...sort of. I cut all sugars and processed carbs out of my diet. I did keep the dairy (mostly cheese and half and half in my coffee) and I'm averaging closer to 1500 calories... BUT.... I lost 5 pounds this week!! I changed my ticker for my FIRST goal...lose 25#...then I'll start on the next goal! Happy Monday Everyone!

When the 20s got baggy, I went to my closet where I had multiple wardrobes in different sizes. When the 18s got too big, I started on the 16s. At that point I started cleaning out and bagging up. Then I was in 14s, then 12s, which were the smallest size I had. I kept a few tops that were passable, and two skirts that I could pin at the waist. The rest was taken to Goodwill or consignment. At Goodwill I found several pair of higher end name brand capris and pants in size 10. I've been this size for 2 months now (7 months since surgery). I have 2 pr of 8s that are still too tight. I have yet to go clothes shopping. I don't know if this is the size I will be or if I will drop another size. I am afraid to start culling through the looser size 10s. Until you are in the actual predicament, it is impossible to know how that feels, though encouragement is well intentioned and mostly appreciated. So many of us have wired ourselves to negative internal dialogue and the anticipation of failure. This sounds completely nuts, but I feel that I have had some success, but failed to even reach my revised goal. Hoarding or holding on to clothes is both crutch and security. Now my size 10s are feeling like failure. It isn't the specific number printed on the tag. It's that I have been able to cleanse my closet and psyche with each size change. Now that it isn't changing, it feels very different.