Search the Community

Once I'd made my decision to pursue bariatric surgery I was discouraged with the series of doctor appointments, lab tests, psych evals and support group meetings that I perceived as obstacles to my goal. I made an excel spread sheet of all my appointments which turned out to be three pages long by my surgery date. However, after a short period of time I realized the benefits all these "hoops" provided. I was 50 years old and had a tip-to-tail physical, all on the dime of my insurance company. I had time to learn about nutrition and to educate the people in my life what I was about to undertake. I talked extensively with friends who had undergone gastric bypass and lap bands over the last 7 years and found that I was given an opportunity to be more involved with my path to health then they ever were. Many tell me that they regret NOT having the "prep" time that was required of me. I took charge of my health and lost 50 lbs on my own prior to surgery which reinforced, for me, that the sleeve is a TOOL . . . it is not a miracle or magic wand to slimness, but simply a tool that will help me maintain my weightloss once I reach my goal. I still have to put in the "work" with or without the sleeve. I have absolutely no regrets having the sleeve surgery (2 months ago) and am truly grateful that I had to journey past all the challenges and obstacles along the way.

I am SO glad that I didn't get the LapBand. I think that the sleeve is going to give me much greater results! I didn't like the fact that the band can erode your stomach. What a pain to have to go in for fills/unfills too. I also don't like the fact that it seems like there are a whole lot of band to sleeve revisions. I have a friend who has the band and she has done well. I am happy for her and she works the band well. I just don't think it is for me.

Hey ya'll - I'm doing some spring cleaning and came across the binder of information from the Kaiser Choices class I took pre-surgery. It contains info about gastric surgery in general (sleeve, bypass, and lapband), nutrition, psychological stuff, etc. It's a 3" binder chock full of all kinds of info. I'm almost a year out and don't need it anymore, so if you're contemplating surgery and don't have access to the educational classes, it's all yours. It's a big binder, so it might cost a bit to ship but if you're local (Long Beach/LA area), I'm down to meet you somewhere to give it to you. Let me know if you're interested!

I started out at 232 and between the liquid diet and then the gastric bypass, I went to 210. Now I’m 5 weeks post op and haven’t lost a pound since week 3. This can’t be it, right?!

I'm almost 3 weeks out since my Gastric Bypass, I lost 17 pounds the first week. The second week I lost one pound!! Now the scale isn't budging. Is this normal? I'm doing everything I should, walking, protein, vitamins. Not sure what the deal is.

I'll tell anyone and I really don't care if they don't like it or agree with my decision. I cant live a lie or keep secrets, and why should I? I'm saving my own life, it's as simple as that. I've certainly tried to loose the weight without the surgery but I haven't been able to keep it off. Plus, I've thought about having WLS many times but never really believed I could or would. And then one day a coworker told me he had bypass years ago, out of the blue. He was very matter of fact about the whole thing. I respected his openness. It inspired me to believe I could do it as well. I hope someday I might inspire someone the same way.

You are going to be so happy, because this is going to work. I am 5'1" and was 246. Not quite as high as you, but close enough. You might want to check out The World According to Eggface. She was 5'2" and 300+ pounds. She is a bypass patient, but she gave me hope that us obese petite people can be complete successes. My doctor wanted me to get bypass because of my high BMI, but I think the sleeve is the better choice. We lose just fine and are healthier without the malabsorbtion.

Greetings Gastric Sleevers! My name is Jay. I am 45 years old and I have been Morbidly Obese my entire Life. Here is my story. I had a Work Physical in December 2006. When I stepped on the scale I weighed 326lbs. That was the most Obese I had ever been, and enough was enough. I had had it. I needed to do something drastic to stop the weight gain. I decided to have a Lab Band. At the time I didnt want to have any physical changes to my body, and people were having very good weight loss success on the Band. In February of 2007, I had my surgery. From February 2007 to September 2007 the band worked great!!! I weighed in at 207lbs. I was extremely happy!!! But sometime in September the tubing to the band developed a kink and then the tubing cracked and the band was worthless. March of 2008 I underwent my second surgery, this time it was a port and tubing replacement. Everything seemed fine until I went in for my first fill. When they tried to fill the band they werent able to. The tubing was kinked again!!! Are you F'ing kidding me? I had enough and was just going to do my best on what the surgeon had put in the band ( I think it was 9cc's). It wasnt enough, I started to gradually put on weight. In 2012 I had enough again. I went in to have the band filled under X-Ray Fluroscopy. For whatever reason the band took in 15 cc's The band I had was only supposed to hold 12. Needless to say the band was closed off, and I couldnt eat or drink anything. Two days later I had emergency surgery to release the band. The surgery went well, but the Surgeon didnt replace the band. When I went in for a fill they put in the Max CC's of 12. Guess what? No restriction. Yup in was stretched out so much it was ineffective again! I had had enough with the Lap Band, it was nothing but a big giant headache for me. I decided to have a Gastric Sleeve in 2015. I had my surgery on June 24th 2015. The day of the surgery I weighed in at 275lbs. Today is September 11th and I am down to 240lbs. I am very happy with my Sleeve, but the adjustment to the new diet was very hard for me. I am doing 3 Protein shakes a day and I added 1 KETO OS drink a day to my diet. It has made a huge difference. My energy levels are through the roof and I feel absolutely Fantastic!!! The weight is coming off twice as fast for me ( from 2 pounds a week to 4) I took the time to research this product and it is the best decision I have made in a long time. Check it out for yourself: http://C7W6R4.pruvitnow.com

I don't have any advice but my step mon is gong through the same thing, she gained 80 pounds, she was looking into doing the band but someone told her to talk to her doctor about a revision? Idk.. Sorry not helpful

Hi, I'm very glad to find the forum. I'm getting ready to get my band installed, but the surgery date hasn't been scheduled yet. One of my co-worker is also getting the surgery done, except her doctor recommended gastric bypass. She is trying to convince me that lab band surgery does not suppress appetite so it is very hard to lose weight via this type of surgery. She had a friend who did the lab band surgery last August and only lost 8 pounds so far (for about 6 months). She strong recommends me to do the bypass as well. My question is that after the lab band surgery, when you crave for sweets and carbohydrates again, will just 2 or 3 bites of the sweets satisfy you? In another word, even if you sneak on some sweets, you will not be able to eat as much as before, right? Does the band makes it much easier to lose weight than any other non-surgical methods (diet drugs: Xenical, Hoodia, Diet system 6, Jenny Craig etc)? Thanks. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

OK, I will tell you my story....Both my parents had gastric bypass when it was still experimental, about 30 years ago. Things were great with them (although they have both gained part of their weight back). Recently my dad had to have surgery for colon cancer. Due to the way his gastric bypass was done, they needed to reverse the previous bypass and do a gastric sleeve. He had that surgery on May 17th of this year. He was in the hospital for a week, and came home, looking and feeling pretty good. Within 2 days of him being home, he lost energy, became white as a sheet, and was not himself. He only wanted to sleep and take his pain pills. I finally convinced my mom to take him to the ER after he had been home a week. Well, his sleeve had SEVERAL leaks and he had a septic infection. He was in ICU for 9 days, and so far has been in the hospital for over 3 weeks. He has had over 15 surgeries in that time, and still scheduled for at least 3 more, and will be in the hospital another 2-3 weeks. His bill is OVER $1,000,000 right now and the end is not in sight yet. I DO NOT recommend the sleeve! This has been a horrible experience for my family and my dad almost died several times. I am SO glad that I have my band. Yes, the weight loss is slower, but the complications are no where near what my poor father has been going through. I have had my band since 12/22/11, and so far lost 50 lbs, I would not trade my slower weight loss for the complications that my dad is going through EVER! please make an informed decision. I wish my dad would not have gotten the sleeve and they did the band instead for him, he would have avoided all of these complications!!!!

hi i too am new but have been reading on here for about a month. my doctor found a surgeon that would do it and there discussing things and talking to my insurance company. they dont jnow yet if i should get lapband or gastric bypass because my bmi is so high..60 :ohmy:. i hope to get to know those of you starting your journey as well.

I am a few days from surgery and have the same worries. I love good food. I have eaten countless meals in exotic places in every corner of the world and hope to do it all again (in small bites). I could be a producer for Anthony Bourdain. If it wasnt' for the sleeve procedure I wouldn't have considered bariatric surgery. My wife had a bypass 10 years ago and I would not have opted for that will all the dumping and such. I am banking on the idea that this surgery will get me to a better place and help me maintain a new balance for the rest of my life. As for my preceding existance....It was a Hell of a ride. Every pound has a story. Time to turn the page. We are going to be OK

Ok...where to start lol...for all of you that have had this surgery I commend you. If I can get through this, hell I can get through anything. Hands down worst pain ever experienced would have a baby 10 times over lol... Suppose to have gastric bypass but I had to much scar tissue and they opted for the sleeve. Doc said internally they were hard on me as I had some muscles that did not cooperate and he had to beat me up inside more then normal. Loved my doctor, super great bedside manor. Im highly emotional have had to lil break downs. Im guessing lack of sleep, no food, so much pain and damn uncomfortable. This too shall pass just cry it out, you will feel better. This is a long rd a head and i know i will have doubts and freak outs but come with the territory. If this pain subsides i will manage. Stay strong, stay focused we sid this for a reason and knowone said it would be easy. Believe in yourself, you got this!!! Thank god for forums and ppl sharing, would not have done it with out all the info xo [ATTACH]12658[/ATTACH]

At my support groups they have talked about this book: The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric ... of the eating programs for Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and Duodenal Switch k: I was told it is available on amazon, I want to buy it soon!

Okay I had to get my port revised on Monday and my doc said he put 5cc's in there (have 11cc band), on Monday I didn't eat had liquids on Tuesday I ate more than I thought I should have, but from Wednesday and like right now, I don't have an appetite and I notice I go a long time without eating so I try to eat a cheese stick or apple sauce if i'm not all that hungry but I know I have to eat. My QUESTION ISSSS....do sometimes your fill take a long time to set in? I was just wondering:redface:

Someone suggested that I post my list of questions that I brought to my consultation. Some are redundant, sorry about that. I hope this helps and please add your questions too. ABOUT THE DOCTOR: How many gastric banding procedures have you done? Is he a board certified surgeon? What types of complications has this doctor personally encountered during lap band surgery and recovery and life with band? Is there a difference among the two different adjustable gastric bands? Do you have other Lap-Band® patients that I can talk to? Do you have a video or presentation that I can watch that shows the surgery? Do you specialize in the Lap-Band® or do you perform other procedures as well? Do you perform other gastric band procedures? What is the Realize band, pros/cons of each? What are the short term issues? What are the long term issues? What is the doctor's policy when a complication occurs during a procedure? (ie: does he discuss options with family or immediately convert to bypass or other WLS). What qualifications does this doctor have regarding the specific brand of band that will be used? (Lap-Band System, by Allergan or Realize Band by Ethicon/Johnson&Johnson) ABOUT THE PROCEDURE: Lap Band vs Realize? What is the “scarless surgery?” Do you perform the procedure on an outpatient basis or will it require an overnight stay in the hospital? What kind of anesthesia will I be getting? Will an anesthesiologist be present during the entire procedure Is the surgery being done at a surgery center or at a hospital? How will you protect me from infection/staff infection during the procedure? What types of complications has this doctor personally encountered during lap band surgery? PREPARING FOR SURGERY: What tests do I have to have prior to surgery? Will I need to have a special diet before surgery? Will you notify my primary care doctor about the procedure? Do you need any of my medical records prior to surgery? AFTER SURGERY CARE AND FOLLOW UP When can I resume taking medications? How soon after surgery do you want to see me for a follow up visit? How do does the doctor determine whether or not my band will need to be adjusted? Is there a direct line in case of Emergencies? When should I have my first adjustment/ fill? What will I need to have prepared when I get home in way of food items? When can I resume exercise? How will I manage my pain after surgery? How will I have to change my eating habits after surgery? How much weight should I expect to lose in the first month? FRIENDS AND FAMILY What help can you give me to help educate my family and friends so that they can also support me? LIFE AFTER BAND: How do adjustments work and how often will I need adjustments during the first year? Ongoing? How often will I have to see the doctor over the next year and at what cost? How is it better than other forms of bariatric surgeries like Gastric c Bypass and Gastric Sleeve? What is the expected weight loss? How much time will be required for losing weight? Is there possibly a better weight surgery for me?

Thanks for the quick response, mountainmomma. I've discussed this with my doctor twice and he thinks that I am a perfect candidate for lap band. As bypass has the side effect on mal-nutrition, he thinks that it would have too serious of impact on my future life. It's just that my coworker keeps telling me that I should switch.

It’s the holiday season, and that probably means gifts. A good gift should be personal. It should show your love and support. It might not cost much, but it can be very meaningful. No worries if you’re stuck when thinking about bariatric-friendly gifts. Help is on the way! Here are BariatricPal’s ideas for a WLS gift list. Gift Card to The BariatricPal Store Gift cards are all the rage. They avoid the possibility of giving an unwanted gift and forcing the recipient to go through the hassle of the returns process. You could opt for a generic gift card to one of the mass merchandisers, but why not get one that’s a little more personal? A gift card to The BariatricPal Store may be the answer. It’s good on any product in the BariatricPal store, from high-protein pretzels to single-serve packets of low-carb oatmeal and pasta to bariatric vitamins. Weight loss surgery patients can stay nourished and save time using The BariatricPal Store. Oh, and by the way…it’s a great last-minute gift. It’s delivered electronically so the recipient gets it instantly. A Comfort Basket Everyone can use a little extra comfort after weight loss surgery. A comfort basket can be a great gift, and it’s even better because you can customize it with special treats for the recipient. Here are a few ideas. A cute blanket because some weight loss surgery patients get cold as they lose weight. Some gourmet protein soup, broth, or bouillon to stay hydrated and get warm. Some recipe cards with high-protein, low-carb healthy recipes…and maybe some of the ingredients that go into those recipes. A nice bath soap to encourage the recipient to just…relax. Some bariatric treats like sugar-free cheesecake or all-natural turkey jerky. Product Subscriptions from The BariatricPal Store Once you become a bariatric surgery patient, you’re no longer a great candidate to be a member of a Wine of the Month, Chocolate of the Month, or Cookie of the Month Clubs. So how can your friends and family give you a gift that you’ll remember all year long? Try a subscription at The BariatricPal Store! When you sign someone up for Subscribe and Save, the order automatically ships to their door every 1, 2, or 3 months. You can have The BariatricPal Store bill your credit card. It’ll keep going until you cancel it, so there’s no need to remember to pay a bill or order the next delivery. The recipient will think of you every time they receive a great-tasting batch of bariatric chocolate cake, or a time-saving variety pack of hot and cold breakfasts. Gym Membership for Two This kills so many birds with one stone. It is a gift that says, “I love you so much that I’m willing to go to the gym so we can be healthy together.” It gives you the chance to get fit, and it comes with a built-in motivator: a workout buddy. Say goodbye to excuses when both of you have a gym membership. You can’t let that money go to waste. And when you work out together, you can push each other, encourage each other, gain a little more respect for each other, and, yes, even have fun together. That’s a great gift! The BariatricPal Big Book Pre-op or post-op, and band, bypass, or sleeve, there’s a Big Book on Weight Loss Surgery that’s right for you. The big books have tips, hacks, and recipes for every stage of the weight loss surgery journey, from choosing a surgeon to moving into maintenance. Order a hard copy for curling up near the fireplace on a cool evening, or get an electronic version so you can read the Big Book whenever you want. I.O.U’s Remember back in grade school when you’d make a coupon book for Father’s Day? You might have included things like washing the car, mowing the lawn, or making lunch. Those things may not seem too special, but here’s a hint that they were: your dad may have kept those coupons around for decades. Well, you can create something just as special now. What about some of these coupons? A workout together at the gym, in a group fitness class, or outdoors. A meal that you cook together, so both of you can understand what it’s like to count protein, measure every bite, and put together healthy meals. An afternoon shopping for clothes…which is so much more fun when you can fit into them after losing weight. (For a pre-op patient) Help cleaning out the unhealthy foods from the kitchen, and restocking it with healthy foods. Each of these coupons says, “I like spending time with you. I want to share my world with you, and I am so thankful for your interest.” We hope these ideas are helpful and make your holiday season easier. If you have any gift ideas, please share them in the comments section!

My doctor (I haven't had the surgery yet but plan on beginning of Dec) makes all his sleeve and bypass patient take nexium for 6 months. He says patients who fail to take the Nexium may experience nausea, reflux and swelling which may lead to difficulty in eating. He also said that if you are a smoker you may have to take it longer so I definitely recommend getting on some sort of PPI. HOpe you feel better soon

You have very good reasons for having the surgery & questions & doubts about progressing are common. It’s surgery. It changes your digestive system. There is a period of healing & recovery. To be successful for the long term, you will have to make changes to how, what & why you eat & your relationship with food. The months post surgery give you time to work through all of this & certainly therapy, as @SleeverSk suggested, can be very helpful. The surgery also gives you time to develop better eating habits & routines like being more mindful. Will you forget & take a too big sip or bite or eat too quickly? Yes it will happen but your body soon tells you & you’re usually extra careful after the experience. Often all you’ll experience is just discomfort but occasionally foamies or vomiting. Complications after surgery aren’t common and many are related to pre existing conditions or predispositions. The risks are lower for bariatric surgeries than many other common surgeries. I used to control almost all my reflux with dietary choices before surgery (no spicy, fatty or rich food, little carbonation & reduced caffeine) which is why I had sleeve. I still have reflux but it is different & I need meds every day which I didn’t before. I hate taking tablets & often forget. Multi vitamins always make me nauseous but my bloods are good & I don’t need to take them anymore though some sleevers still do. Just depends on your diet & absorption for us. But it is a necessity after bypass as malabsorption of calories (& therefore nutrients) is how it contributes to your weight loss. Dumping can occur with bypass (about 40% chance I think) but if you discover you have it it is simply a matter of avoiding fats or sugars as they are the usual culprits. Some even find they can eat small amounts as time passes. You can also have it with a sleeve but it is less common (30%??). The average weight loss with sleeve & bypass is about the same 65% +/- of the weight you have to lose to put you in a healthier weight range. Some lose more some lose less. Make a list of your questions to discuss with your surgeon. They’re best placed to answer them in relation to your specific needs, health status/issues & weight loss/gain history. All the best whichever surgery you have.

I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. Prior to surgery I sweated profusely. Even when the temperatures approached 32 degrees F, I would drive around with the car window open. When I worked outdoors, I would come in and my shirt was totally soaked. After surgery, this condition went away. I no longer sweat profusely. But on the flip side, I do feel the cold, the chill in my bones. Thank God someone invented hand warmers for when I shovel snow in the wintertime.

@@StephieG I'm an 8.5 year RNY Gastric Bypass Post-Op. Just sent you a private message.

Nobody has been tracking the results of the sleeve as a WLS that long yet. Give it a bit more time. I'm not certain but when I was researching I think someone posted a five year study - you might do some searching and see if you can find anything on VST about it. Regain is possible with any surgery. The big benefit the sleeve has over bypass (what most people are probably thinking of when they talk about regain) is that there isn't a honeymoon phase or window where loss is easiest. Once you're sleeved and healed, your capacity only increases a small amount. Unlike a short window where malabsoption is guaranteed, or a pouch that is likely to stretch (or a band that requires fills and unfills, for that matter), your sleeve is going to restrict you immediately after surgery and for the rest of your life. I am two years out and maintaining beautifully. I'm currently pregnant and while I have hormone bloat and the start of a rounded tummy, I'm not having a problem with weight gain (nothing more than I'd expect at this point) despite the fact that my capacity is increased now that I'm pregnant. All surgeries come with the risk of regain. Using the sleeve like a diet that will someday end is the biggest cause of regain I've seen - people just stop being diligent at goal and fall into denial about bad habits, ones they didn't fix while losing in the first place. That said, I have seen very few regain posts in the three years I've been here. I've seen plenty of "I got out of control over the holidays and gained a few but took it off quickly" posts, though. If you weigh daily in maintenance and actually learn how to eat like a healthy, normal person during the first few months post surgery, there is no reason you can't reach goal and maintain for life. ~Cheri

UTGal99, he did not. He began to say and then my mom said she had the Gastric Bypass done a long time ago becuase of our Family health. He said well I would need a diary of everything you eat the time weight and amount and I need blood work but I strongly believe this can be changed with good eating and working out. I brought in all the diets and workout plans I had been on since elementary school and he really had nothing to say. So I found a new doctor which I see in a month. I am preparing myself for a long battle.