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My thought would be that the stitches are probably pulling and causing that pain. I have port discomfort on and off all of the time. Sometimes I don't even know it's there... otherdays it feels sore, other days there is sharp pains kind of like what you are describing when I move a certain way or if I touch it. I actually went in for a fill after my port revision surgery and after x rays they found my port had flipped again. The doctor scheduled an adjustment under floro where he was going to try to manually flip the port and give me an adjustment... well that day my port had flipped back!! I think all you can really do is just let your doctor know the symptoms you are having. I'm a little discouraged about what can be done to fix my port issue. but I've just come to accept it. It's kind of sad. I thought that any issue could be resolved... especially after the port revision... but it just hasn't been the case for me. I would however still do it all over again at this point. I feel better than I have in years. I just recently really started missing being able to eat a burger or a whole peice of pizza:rolleyes:. But it has been worth the sacrifices. Good luck and take care ~Martina

I also had horrible scarring and adhesions. My surgeon was going to do a revision but once he got in there he felt it would be better to let my stomach heal and return to a semi-normal shape. I had to weight four months for the Sleeve surgery. I had the band for 9 years though, and apparently the damage was extensive. I am also surprised they still do the Lap-Bands, and surprised anyone would want it.

I am six weeks out of revision surgery (January 29th) and down 55 pounds at this point (way more weight than I ever lost with lap band). I saw my surgeon for a one month follow up last week and am amazed at the amount of damage that was done to my stomach by the band. He told me that the band had adhered to my stomach and was eroding through. He said there were small holes throughout my stomach where the band had attached itself. He was able to fix everything in one surgery (thank god...no way I could have done two surgeries) and I have been on the mend for a month and a half. What is amazing is that I had no symptoms of anything that could be wrong. No fever, reflux, etc. The only time I suspected anything is when I would go for fills and the band would be unfilled and I could actually feel it pulling my stomach (worst feeling ever).

So I hit 1 year post op last month. Here is my story. Right before my 30th birthday I decided that enough was enough. I had been on the waiting list with my ex-husbands insurance for gastric bypass, then we divorced and I lost my spot anyway. I had lost aprox. 60 pounds on my own after the divorce through lifestyle changes, mainly cutting soda (a huge addiction to me at the time) and being more active, these small changes helped a lot because of the extreme sedentary life I lived during my stint as a house wife (with no kids). After losing the 60 pounds I got down to about 215 but jumped back up to 235 pretty quick. My ideal weight -I thought- was about 200 maybe 195 and I knew that I couldn't drop any more weight on my own, after all the 60 was tough, and I gained half of it back. I knew that I had to figure out how to get surgery. The reason I was on a waiting list to begin with is because I am young, with no health problems other than my weight and the insurance I had only approved 40+bmi with no comorbidities. I was always around 38 or 39 bmi. So I had it! I started looking and found surgery options in Mexico for around $4500-$6000. Mind you I was a 29 year old college student with a $12/hour job, newly divorced, living with my mother because I had nothing to my name. So November 2012 I decided I would save the money and do it! I got my income tax for around $2000 and worked 50 hours a week at my regular job and got a part time graveyard $8/hour security job in a bad neighborhood in a shopping center (I guarded a parking lot in the dark!). It was all worth it! I finally found a Dr. (Juan Garcia) and a US company to book everything through (Ready4AChange) and booked my trip! The total cost of everything including my airfare was almost exactly $5000. April 15th. I made it to Mexico. Flew into San Diego and the driver picked me up from the airport (even took me to walmart) then took me across the border to Tijuana and to the Marriott. It was a very nice hotel. I met 3 other people who were with the same company having surgery with me the next day (there were 5 or 6 of us total).We bonded ate dinner that night together and all rode together to the hospital in the morning. Even though there were a few of us, we all got wonderful treatment like we were the only patients. Only the 5 of us were in the wing our rooms were on and we all knew what rooms we were in incase we felt up to talking after surgery. We were in the hospital for 3 days and I don't really remember much except the last day. They keep you very nicely doped up so the pain is totally manageable and give you everything you need right away so you can just doze all day! Day 3 in the hospital we were all up and walking and I bugged the nurses enough that they let us take out IVs outside to the patio and get some sunshine We went back to the hotel on Day 4, I think. Stayed in the hotel with room service bringing all the broth and popsicles we wanted. The Dr came the next day to the hotel and tended our dressings and answered any last questions we had before leaving. After 5 days we got driven back to the airport at the time we needed to get to our flights and went home. It all happened with out a hitch, for the most part. The surgery was wonderful. I wasn't nervous or hesitant at all. The Drs and nurses were amazed I was alone, after all I was a 20-something woman all alone in another country about to have life changing surgery! My support group was intact at home, but I wanted to do it alone. So now its been 1 year. I still throw up 2-3 times a week because I don't know when to stop eating, and I get chest pains almost every meal. I am glad that I have these bad side effects because I eat too much and need to learn!! If I am good then they don't happen, so they are my fault totally. I have lost 87 pounds since surgery and a total of 130 pounds from my heaviest weight. I wear a size 5 pants now and work out a few times a week (could be more, but I am working on that). My eating habits are SO GOOD now compared to what they were and I love to cook now. I try to eat fish three times a week, tuna for lunch one day, salmon for dinner, and another fish for dinner. I also try to have one night of chicken for dinner every week. I try to eat out only 1-2 times per week. I am getting scared because I think for the first time I have gained weight since surgery, I think I have gained a couple pounds while I was sick for the last couple months (hurt leg then broken tooth ouch!) and didn't work out. I can eat a lot more now that I think I should and I think after finals are over next week I will go on a liquid diet for a few days to try to shrink my tummy back down. I can eat more of certain things and then when I eat dense, protein rich foods (like chicken and tuna) I get full really fast! Last night I ate a whole bagel with cream cheese, then about an hour (maybe 1.5 hours) later I ate ANOTHER ONE! I had micro vomits after and even threw up in my sleep (still trying to control the acid reflux). So my only issues one year out is that I feel like my stomach is stretching, I have severe acid reflux (that can be controlled if I remembered to take a darn pill), and I very badly need a tummy tuck! I would do this all over again in a heart beat. I feel so much more alive and vital and HAPPY since my surgery, and I was not depressed nor did I have low self esteem or problems having fun before, but this is like more than I can describe a million times better way to live than how I was before. I feel so bad for people who think they cant afford it, or are too scared to try the surgery. Living 100 lighter makes life easier! Everything is cheaper, clothes, groceries, eating out. Everything is easier, taking the stairs in a parking garage or at the library is done with out a thought (except that I don't want to wait for the slow elevator), I don't worry about things I sit or stand on will break, I want to go on roller coasters at parks. I want everyone who ever lived a day as "morbidly obese" to live one day in my shoes and realize that for $5000 (I have seen less these days too!) your life can be so different. I was in a size 24, now I am in a size 5. If I got a tummy tuck I could probably be in a 3, and I could wear a bikini (I have lots of skin on my lower abdomen that keeps me from wearing one now). The money might seem like a big hurdle, it took me almost 6 months to save and I got almost half in income tax. But it was worth the extra work, every day. Its worth it to do anything you can to save that money! BTW, it took me almost 9 months after the surgery to get out of debt that the surgery put me in....but again...TOTALLY WORTH ALL OF IT!! I think that is my total story, sorry for the long winded-ness. I have never told it all on a forum and thought that maybe I should add to the information out there, after all I met one of my dearest and best friends on a bariatric surgery site, found out about my surgeon, and found all my confidence and information on a site like this one

Hello I am in hopes that someone out there can help me with this In 2004 I was diagnosed with Paranoid Depression and have been on anti Depressants for that since then. In 2006 and at 313pounds I had Gastric Bypass surgery my lowest weight was 167 and slowly I began to gain weight til I hit 280 I am now losing weight again down to 268 but I have had to retire from my job driving school bus for 11 years I have been diagnosed with Fibomialgia and I have arthritis in every joint including my neck. The dr. has has to switch my depression meds because my pain was over taking my anti depression meds. This is my Question there are so many meds out there that gastric bypass patients like me cannot take and the dr has no idea what to give me. I feel like I am screamming and nobody will hear or help me. What can I do and any advise on what I can take. I have tried OTC Patches OTC rubs. All anyone says is take Tylonal

I was a 30 year smoker. I quit about a year and a half before my surgery. I still want to smoke, all the time. I don't, but I honestly do. I have a friend who had bypass, and she claims it kept her weight down. I believe it, I gained 50 lbs after I stopped smoking. I am hopeful I will continue to remain smoke free. I have found a freedom I never really understood, until now. But...if it's a donut or a cig, I'm probably going to go for the cigarette. lol Just being honest.

Help Center -Department of Managed Care This I my appeal letter to ask that you reconsider and approve the Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery that was denied by Anthem Blue Cross because they consider the procedure investigational. I believe this surgery is exactly the tool I need to improve my health and the quality of the rest of my life. I have been told by several of Anthem Blue Cross customer service representatives that 43775 is a covered procedure and that as long as my HMO approved they would pay for the surgery. This is not what I am being told now. I have been getting the runaround on this for two months. I received a letter from my HMO dated 2/6/10(copy enclosed) stating this is not a denial of service but Anthem considers this procedure experimental and has to go to the Utilization Dept for a decision. The number to call this department was on the letter. I called this Dept. a minimum of 5 times and was told they don’t know what I am talking about, this dept. doesn’t handle HMO. So I call my HMO and they say “oh you have to appeal” so I send my appeal letter to Anthem on 2/16 and wait the 30 days for a decision. On the 28th day they inform me that I cannot appeal because I haven’t been denied, oh and the people in the Utilization Dept. don’t know that their department handles this?? So they send it back to the Utilization Dept and now I have officially been denied. This part of this process has taken two months, very frustrating. I. PATIENT BACKGROUND My name is Jeani Xxxxxxx and I am insured under group plan xxxxxxxxxx. My member ID # xxxxxxxxxxxxx. I am now 59 years old. I am 5/5 tall and at this time I weigh 233 lbs. I am seeking approval for weight loss surgery. I have been overweight to one degree or another since I was a young child and was advised by my pediatrician to diet at age 10. I have made numerous efforts at weight loss throughout my teenage years and adult life. I dieted frequently as a teenager and young adult. Numerous times I have lost 40-80 pounds or more but eventually the weight returns. Weight loss programs I tried include juice fasts, traditional calorie counting on quite a few occasions, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Nurti-system, the Atkins diet, Cabbage soup, Mayo Clinic diet, the Zone, gym membership, lap swimming, weight training, water aerobics, walking programs, various buddy-system diets and individual, self hypnosis, ”Think yourself Thin” “ Think yourself Thin Automatically, tape you listen to in the car” Dexatrim, Metabalite, Hoodia, Green Tea Extract, and numerous other fad diets. In all cases I lost weight but each time the weight crept back, usually with a little more. Eventually I realized that traditional dieting seemed to actually cause weight gain due to increased hunger that seems to occur after significant weight loss. I believe science is only now beginning to understand the reasons for this phenomenon which is consistently reported by clinically obese people. Studies also show that genetics plays a larger role than once thought and there are morbidly obese people in my family as well as slim people. My co-morbidities include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low good cholesterol, have had abnormal EKGs, borderline diabetes, and osteoarthritis in my hip, which my doctor said weight loss would help significantly. I have also had sever back pain most of my life. I take hydrochlorothiazide and verapamil for high blood pressure which is effective. I take medicine, Niacin for high triglycerides. I have a family history of cancer as well as strokes, heart disease and severe arthritis. I take nabumetone almost daily and ibuprofen to help with severe leg pain related to arthritis in my hip. I have taken ibuprofin for back pain that i have had most of my life even when I was not overweight. I believe I will need NSAIDS even after WLS which is why I need the sleeve as this is the only WLS that you can still take anti-inflammatory medications. I buy over the counter ibuprofen as I can get 500-200mg pills for $10.00 which last over 6 months, whereas when getting prescription I only get 30 -800 milligrams for a co-payment of $10 which only last a month. My excess weight and other health issues makes everyday activities difficult including housework, shopping, standing, walking significant distances, working and recreation. It effectively makes my world smaller limiting the number of things I can do each day. I have lived with obesity for years and strongly wish to change this aspect of my life. I fear the consequences of my high triglycerides especially considering the family history i have of heart disease. Many members of my family died of heart attack and stroke. I was stunned to learn that my weight is in the obese category but heartened to learn of this newer treatment with fewer side effects and shorter recovery. I am highly motivated to succeed with VSG and understand that food intake will be significantly limited for the rest of my life and that I must continue to exercise to be successful. Before I found out about the arthritis, which is the result of a subtle fracture at some point in my life that affected the curvature and angle of my right hip bone (this was found by an MRI that was done after pain medication didn’t help and physical therapy made the pain worst), I used to walk a minimum of 30-60 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Since this pain in my leg as a result of the hip arthritis I no longer can do that and I am afraid that the weight will just continue to creep up on me. My particular problem is in volume eating. I eat good food, lots of chicken and turkey, lots of fruits and vegetables, the thing is I am always hungry and I eat until I am full. Having a smaller stomach and feeling full sooner seems like exactly the kind of help I need. I had given up on traditional dieting as it always resulted in failure and am pleased to have found the VSG surgical option which appears to be the only tool offering a realistic possibility of lifelong weight control for me. I believe VSG is the best surgery for me because it offers restriction like the lap-band and the RNY but without the malabsorption of the RNY. The RNY is not an option because I very much need regular doses of nabumetone and ibuprofen for the leg pain related to my hip pain and even once I lose the weight believe I will still need ibuprofen for my back pain which I have suffered with most of my adult life. Tylenol is not effective for me. I am allergic to codeine, vicodin, any pain medication of that type I cannot take. Narcotic pain relievers make my head seem fuzzy but do not help with pain. I have the same concern about the lap band. I also understand that as many as 27 percent of lap band patients require band removal and weight loss is often unsatisfactory (I think the number is even higher now). Most importantly, the VSG removal of a large portion of the stomach removes many of the cells that produce the hormone ghrelin which is known to cause hunger and appetite. The RNY and lap band don’t have this advantage. At age 59 I am concerned about the side effects of the RNY and do not want to spend 6 or more months with dumping syndrome and feeling rotten. I also worry about the ability to take and absorb other medications I might need in the future as I age. The VSG appears to offer the fastest recovery, weight loss similar to the RNY and the least amount of side effects. One recent publication, “The Best Bariatric Operation for Older Patients “ by Drs Lee, Cirangle, Taller, Feng and Jossart, 2005, concludes that “These data suggest that the best bariatric operation for older patients may be the laparoscopic VG because it achieves the greatest weight loss with the shortest operative time and the fewest complications”. I have investigated this procedure very thoroughly including attending support groups and talking with others who have had it. I have completed most of the preoperative testing and strongly believe this is the best procedure for my circumstances II. THE VSG SHOULD NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED INVESTIGATIONAL The only stated reason for denying approval for the VSG is that it is investigational and …” current available medical studies do not show that this service improves health outcomes, is as good as or better than standard alternatives, or shows improvement outside the research setting”. It is respectfully submitted that this conclusion is incorrect. The conclusion ignores the 36 studies now available on the effectiveness of VSG which indicate that excess weight loss is similar to the RNY and that complications from surgery are actually lower than RNY. It also ignores the fact that the VSG is now widely performed and is routine for many bariatric surgeons and has long been performed outside the research setting. Anthem’s policy on Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity is set forth in a document with an effective date of April 22, 2009. This document reviews the various forms of bariatric surgery and explains when weight loss surgery is considered medically necessary. VSG is excluded from ever being medically necessary because it is designated as investigational and that “…there is insufficient convincing evidence in the peer reviewed medical literature, in terms of safety, to support the use of …sleeve gastrectomy…other than biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch, in individuals with clinically severe obesity.”. Nevertheless, the lap band and Realize band procedures are approved as medically necessary in this same document based upon what appears to be two three year studies involving 219 and 352 patients respectively. There is now a considerable body of data and studies supporting the safety and effectiveness of the VSG as a primary procedure for weight loss. The June 2009 Supplement to Bariatric Times reporting on the Second International Consensus Summit on Sleeve Gastrectomy (available at www.bariatrictimes.com) includes 10 papers pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of the VSG presented by leading bariatric surgeons. In Reducing Risk in Bariatric Surgery: Rational for Sleeve Gastrectomy, Dr. Eric J. DeMaria concludes that “A growing body of evidence suggests sleeve gastrectomy may be an appropriate primary bariatric surgical procedure primarily due to low risk and ease of surgical revision when required.” In the paper presented by Drs Jossart and Cirangle, four years of data showed a 68% excess weight loss by VSG patients, a figure not largely different than RNY patients of the same time range. Most significantly, in Debates and Consensus: a Summary by Dr. Michael Gagner, important questions concerning the VSG were debated and conclusions reached by the 400 conference participants. Question 6 was as follows: “Question 6: In your opinion, is there currently enough published data to support the sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure to treat morbid obesity on par with adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass? Several groups presented cohorts of patients with follow-up periods of 4 to 8 years the day before. Jossart and colleagues in San Francisco presented eight years’ experience including 1,200 cases, whereas at more than four years, weight loss resulted in a similar curve to gastric bypass. At higher BMI (greater than 55kg/m2) a plateau of nearly 40kg/m2 demanded a second stage, but below a BMI of 55, the operation was terrific. Schauer and colleagues assessed the literature from 35 reports, studied more than 3,000 published sleeve gastrectomy cases, and found an extremely low mortality rate (near 0.12%). Results have shown excellent weight loss and co morbidity reduction that is comparable to or exceeds other bariatric operations and that the sleeve gastrectomy is safe and efficacious. Himpens of Belgium analyzed his patients from 2001 through 2002(sic) to attain six-year follow-up. Sixty-five percent of 46 patients were considered a “success” (%EWL greater than 50 ) at two years. At six years the success rate was maintained at 59 percent. Weiner from Frankfurt and MacMahon of Leeds, who started in 2000, also had similar results. *** Certainly, the audience thought there was enough evidence published to support the sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure to treat morbid obesity on par with adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a yes vote of 77 percent. This is perhaps the strongest contribution to this second consensus conference.” A review article entitled “Systematic Review of Sleeve Gastrectomy as Staging and Primary Bariatric Procedure” was recently posted on the web site of the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons dated May 26, 2009. The authors are Drs Brethaur and Schaur and Jeffrey Hammel M.S. of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Thirty-six studies involving 2570 patients who had the VSG procedure were analyzed. Their conclusion was: “From the current evidence, including 36 studies and 2570 patients, LSG is an effective weight loss procedure that can be performed safely as a first stage or primary procedure. From this large volume of case series data, a matched cohort analysis and 2 randomized trials, LSG results in excellent weight loss and co-morbidity reductions that exceeds , or is comparable to, that of other accepted bariatric procedures. The postoperative major complication rates and mortality rates have been acceptably low. Long-term data are limited but the 3- and 5- year follow up data have demonstrated the durability of the SG procedure. “ To date ten thousand patients have had the VSG surgery with good success. Many are going to Mexico or other foreign countries because their insurers refuse to pay for the VSG even though it is less expensive than the RNY procedure, the so called “gold standard” of weight loss surgery which takes several hours and requires a hospital stay of 3 or 4 days. The VSG can be completed in one hour by a skilled surgeon and most patients stay only one night in the hospital. While there is certainly follow up care, the repeated fill and unfill procedures required by gastric banding are unneeded for the VSG. Nutritional supplements are much less of a problem than with the RNY. Many insurance companies are recognizing the value and cost effectiveness of the VSG and have approved the VSG for at least some patients, including BSBC Federal, Tri-west Tri-care Prime, United Healthcare, the Veterans Administration, Aetna, Blue Care Network HMO, Healthnet, Anthem BC of Connecticut, Definity Health/United Healthcare, PPO, Empire Blue Cross Anthem, and UHC. The VSG sleeve gastrectomy is now routinely offered by Kaiser Permanente to all patients that qualify for Weight Loss Surgery and would not do so if this surgery was not proven to work. I don’t think it is fair that if you have five people, one with Kaiser, one with United, one with Aetna, one with Cigna and me with Anthem Blue Cross of California, the other four will be offered the sleeve and I will not. The California Department of Insurance has recognized that VSG is widely accepted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a standard procedure at medical centers for excellence. In Decision #EI09-9645 the physician reviewers reversed the health plan’s denial of the patient’s VSG request and concluded that VSG was the most appropriate option for the patient. The same conclusion was also reached in EI06-5882 though the patient had significantly more co-morbidities. That decision noted the important fact that the VSG is nothing more than the first part of the duodenal switch operation which includes the second step of intestinal modification and as such, the VSG portion has been performed for many years as part of the DS procedure. Some patients have the VSG first as part of a two stage procedure and find that they do not need the second stage. Thus, the VSG is not as new and investigational as Anthem’s conclusions seem to imply. Anthem does cover the DS procedure which includes the VSG as one part. According to an article published in the Detroit Free Press on August 17, 2009, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, in conjunction with the University of Michigan, has been compiling a large detailed data base on bariatric surgery in order to improve surgical outcomes and provide cost savings. In three years of data collection, it appears that the VSG now accounts for as much as 12% of all bariatric procedures. This percentage indicates that the procedure is far beyond investigational status. This data base indicates that 10,000 VSG procedures are known to have been performed. My Anthem group policy excludes investigational procedures and defines that term as procedures: “ 1) that have progressed to limited use on humans, but which are not generally accepted as proven and effective procedures within the organized medical community; or 2) that do not have final approval from the appropriate governmental regulatory body; or 3) that are not supported by scientific evidence which permits conclusions concerning the effect of the service, drug or device on health outcomes; or 4) that do not improve the health outcome of the patient treated; or 5) that are not as beneficial as any established alternative; or 6) whose results outside the investigational setting cannot be demonstrated or duplicated; or 7) that are not generally approved or used by Physicians in the medical community. It appears that the VSG, based upon the articles cited above, has been performed on thousands of patients, has been accepted by a consensus of participating members of an international conference devoted to this subject, is widely accepted by the ASMBS, does not require FDA or similar government approval, is in fact supported by at least 36 studies analyzed by highly respected physicians, is as effective as the RNY and more effective than gastric banding in terms of percentage of excess weight loss, has fewer complications than the RNY, has as good or better reduction of co morbidities as other procedures, and has results that are similar in studies by both United States and foreign physicians. The VSG therefore no longer falls within the definition of investigational procedures excluded from coverage. The conclusions stated in the previously cited Anthem Policy on Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity are simply no longer correct and that policy should be updated to include VSG coverage or disregarded. With the VSG patients lose about 68% of excess weight and lower BMI patients like me often do much better. Weight loss will most certainly help my back and hip pain and improve ability to exercise. High triglycerides, high blood pressure, and borderline diabetes are corrected in about 76 percent of WLS cases and I am hoping for this result. It is therefore highly likely that my health will be improved by this procedure and I respectfully ask for your reversal of this denial. I am a mother and soon to be a Grandmother and I want to improve the quality of my life so that I will be healthier and able to help raise my grandchildren and be able to take an active role in their life.Thank you for your review of this matter. I greatly appreciate the fact that the state of California has a procedure to help insured patients who find themselves in disagreement with their insurance companies. I strongly believe this decision will greatly affect the quality of the rest of my life. Thank you for your time. I eagerly await your decision regarding this. I can be reached as indicated below if further information is needed. Enclosed is a copy of my denial letter from Anthem Blue Cross My HMO is Healthcare Partners Primary Care Provider is xxxxxxxxxxxxx Gastric Surgeon xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sports Medicine xxxxxxxxxxxx who ordered MRI and diagnosed arthritis Cardiologist xxxxxxxxxxxxx did my last EKG and stress test All these doctors agree Weight Loss Surgery is a good option for me. Respectfully yours, Jeani Anderson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (xxx) xxx-xxxx Work info: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx CA 91101 (xxx)xxx-xxxx ext. 244

Thanks! Oh and something you might find interesting. Gastric bypass patients still have to deal with the ghrelin hormone because their digestive system is rerouted but the stomach stays intact. It is not uncommon for a gastric bypass patient to end up getting a band. I've been doing a lot of reading up on the vertical sleeve, which does remove the stomach, and have discovered that about a year or so after the stomach is removed, the body figures out how to start producing that ghrelin again...and it is not uncommon for a VS patient to get a band at some point. .

Well, I generally eat most of my dinners out - and usually many of my lunches when I get them. It was a learning curve as a newbie. Occasionally I would go out and try to eat more than my band would let me, and that was uncomfortable. Now if I don't stop myself before I'm anywhere near full (I usually do now) then I get hiccups and that's my signal that the meal is just about over. I no longer try to get past that signal (but I tried as a newbie Bandster, and the band almost always won!) Whereas before I'd have at least part of appetizer, an entree, a couple of drinks (and sometimes a dessert, though not usually) - now I have an appetizer and a mixed drink or glass of wine (sometimes, maybe even part of a second glass). That usually does it. I often order my appetizer as an entree - no one makes a big deal of it. I don't inform casual acquaintances or new dates (if I remember what those are) of my surgery in most cases, and all they think is that I'm kind of a light eater or trying to watch my weight. I was so concerned about my social life that my surgeon thought the band was a better choice than the RnY bypass for me. I was clear with him, about my lifestyle. (Disclaimer: But as a single female - I sometimes feel that having lost more weight and having done it faster with a bypass, could have probably more positively affected my social life, but hey - hindsight is 20/20 and I've just resigned myself to slow baby steps to losing this weight.) Basically, I did want to be able to eat a decent range of things (only less quantity of them) and to be able to have a social drink or so. My surgeon felt the LapBand better assured me of the possibilty to enjoy a full social life with eating/drinking opportunities. So as someone who goes to restaurants daily, I've yet to absolutely not be able to find something to eat or have something made for me. It just hasn't been as big of a deal as I feared. I skip the bread basket and I do my almost all my drinking before my meal - other than that, I'm just eating a lot less. It's really not a big issue, overall. Good Luck to you. Happy Band (and Life) Journeys To All...

Yay Congrats Barb on your revision!!! I'm glad to see you are doing good Get plenty of rest, walk and sip the water. Wishing you well!

Hi, I have just joined these forums and this is my first time posting, I hope I don;t do anything wrong! On 14th May 2014 I was given a Sleeve by Dr Mannur at Homerton Hospital, London, UK. Prior to the pre op diet I weighed 34 Stone 4lb at the age of 25 and things were desperate, I was hugely struggling with day to day life. I followed the 'Milk Diet' for 31 days and on the day of Surgery I weighed exactly 31 stone. I had great success with the sleeve and before too long I weighed 21 stone 4 lb and I was happy. I went away to America on a holiday and over indulged on the bad things. I thought it was ok as I would get back into the swing of things when I got home, but I didn't. My weight crept back up to 29 stone and I felt hopeless. I knew it was time for change so sorted my head out and got back into the swing of things. The weight was coming back off and I joined Slimming World for the extra support. Then, in 2017 my surgeon told me that he wanted to perform a DS on me. I was against that as I had read up about it and personally didn't feel comfortable. He then suggested a Bypass which I agreed to. I had the surgery last week (17th April 2018) and on the day of surgery I weighed 24 stone. I had a different surgeon this time, Dr John Loy. My big question is what will my diet be like in 6 weeks time when I am back on solid food? I find plenty of information from people that have had a Sleeve or Bypass - but not both! I am hugely excited for my future, but I want to prepare myself for my new life and exactly what it will be like. Thank you for any help you can provide and sorry for the long post!

I will be having gastric bypass on July 3. I started my program in Feb 2019, but have battled weight issues my whole life. I am excited and anxious about my upcoming date. I cannot imagine weighing less than I do now. At 42 years old, I've been morbidly obese my entire adult life and obese my entire life. So many thoughts run through my head about this surgery, but I tell myself to take it one baby step at a time. My program only requires 2 days liquid diet, so I don't even start that til July 1. Would love to keep in contact with you and our other July siblings [emoji16] Good luck to all of us! Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello... Lap banders. I need help. I was banded in November of 08. I was doing great. At 24 months I had lost 110 pounds.( I was 20 pounds from my goal.) I have not changed anything. I go in for annual check ups on my band. In November (2010) I was fine. In January I noticed I had gained 8 pounds. I attributed it to the cheating I did around the holidays. I cheat every year. So that was not different. In February I gained more weight. So I started went back to square 1. Food Journaling, Asking myself am I hungry??? My husband had Gastric Bypass In Semtember 2010. He started night eating. I moved to another room. If the food was there I would snack. Long story short...March I had a Flouroscope done. I have a dialation. I was told I need to do three weeks of liquids. I have started and stopped. I just cant handle liquids...NO matter how hard I try while still having to cook for my family. The question is what to do next...What do I do next to see if I have a slippage. I do not want to gain anymore weight. I just had a muscle milk light for dinner. What should I do next. I used True results for my surgery. I only see the P.A. in the office. They do not have doctors in the office. They basically watch your weight loss. My family doctor takes care of my blood work for me. Has anyone else had this dialation issue??? Do I ask to have my dialation surgically repaired.?? I made such progress while using my band as a tool....Now I feel stuck... Any help would be appreciated...Sincerely....a sad and frustrated bandster....

How was you’re recovery process going from the sleeve to bypass? In a few weeks I will be doing a revision of my sleeve to bypass due to a hiatal hernia and acid reflux. I’m curious to know if the recovery after the surgery is worse, the same or easier the second time around. I’m also interested in knowing how your insurance covered the revision. My policy has an exclusion and I’m concerned I will be denied coverage.

no I had no idea until I went for my first fill, my doc sent me to the ER for X-ray then called an we scheduled the surgery for two days later. I just went back last week for my second fill ( he put 2 cc in at the port revision) and it went like a dream

They usually say that the lapband allows you to lose 70% of your excess weight and the rest is "up to you". Meaning you have to exercise and really work to get that last 30% off. For me this was more or less true. I am 5lbs from my goal and stuck, and I know that I have to really exercise to build muscle to get it off. I think you can do it if you are patient and keep going in for your fills (as you lose, your stomach loses too and you need to "top off" your band)so you keep losing. One or two pounds a week is normal and safe, but it takes a long time, and a lot of patience. IT CAN BE DONE. I've never had the stomach flu, so I can't answer that question, although I guess you could go to a closer emergency room for an un-fill if you needed it. I have arthritis in my back and losing the weight has helped a ton. I also have a tempurpedic mattress which I recommend highly for back pain sufferers. The lapband is a much healthier way to live than the bypass anyway. There are ways to cheat through your band (eating sweets and foods like ice cream that slide right through the band) but being thin is better than anything you could eat. So why cheat? Good luck on your journey!

Although my insurance has approved my surgery, I have these very same thoughts every single day, with one exception; I was originally interested in gastric bypass. I try to mentally work through these negative thoughts each time they enter my head, and fortunately, as my surgery nears, the thoughts are much easier to push aside because I know definitively this is what I want to do. I may not be successful with the band, but I am going to work my hardest to follow the rules. If I am not successful, it will not be the first time I have failed, and I will evaluate what went wrong and move on to Plan B. However, there are many individuals who have been successful with the band, and I am hopeful that I will be able to join their group, too. My surgeon says that band will work for me, and I trust he has the experience to make the best decision with the facts I have provided. Research shows the odds are in our favor. I'm confident we can do this, but I think it's only natural that we have doubts because of our past histories.

I was wondering the people who was revised from the lapband to gastric sleeve did you still have to do the 6 month weight lost management to be approved? I'm having sooooo many complications with my lapband and I'm hoping I don't have to wait 6 months. I need this band out asap.

66 lbs so far. No complications and super happy [emoji2] HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 180 [emoji736] (4/2/18) GW#3- 160 CW 175 5’6”

My Dr. Here in Southern California is Dr. Michael Sedrak and he does A LOT of revisions he's in Corona at life back medical. Call him

Ok, I read a very interesting website that talked about how we absorb B-12. Essentially, our recommended daily intake is 3.5mcg. Most foods that are good sources of B-12 have this amount in one or two servings. There are two methods the body utilizes to digest/absorb B-12. One is the normal way, where "intrinsic factor" (a chemical created in the stomach) attaches to B-12, and ushers the B-12 out of the small intestine, into the blood stream. The second way is a "passive system", which doesn't require intrinsic factor. B-12 just slips out into the bloodstream by itself. BUT, this passive system is VERY inefficient, and so only 1/100th of the B-12 makes it into the blood. We sleevers, we had the portion of the stomach removed that makes intrinsic factor. So the first method doesn't work anymore. The second method works, but look at the numbers. If a serving of B-12 food has 3.5mcg, but you only absorb 100th of it, then you'd have to eat 100 servings of that food to meet your daily goal. Excess B-12 is stored in the liver, and if your liver is full, it can provide your B-12 needs for 5 or 10 years. Since your blood work is showing dropping levels, it may mean your liver isn't full anymore, so the supplements become more important. There is no proof the patch works, so don't count that in your figuring out how much B-12 your body is getting. Your pill has 1000mcg, so you are absorbing about 10mcg a day. But, that's statistically, and we don't know if the particular supplement you take is as easily absorbed as the ones used in the studies. So it's possible, you aren't even getting 10mcg. The shot, however, is the surefire way that you are getting this supplement, since it bypasses the digestive system completely. If your liver is running low, it could take a while before the shot fills it back up enough to reflect in a much higher number in your blood. Since your blood value did go up, the shot is definitely doing its job. http://www.b12-vitamin.com/intrinsic-factor/ Here's the website:

Im officially 5 months post op!! Down 70+ lbs with 40 to gooooooo. But i don't think I want to lose another 40 anymore Maybe another 15 or 20... Wanted to drop a few pics...Sorry they are sideways!!! I don't know how to fix SW 253.6 CW 182.4 GW 135-140 (40-45 MORE lbs to go more) Revised goal weight 160-165 (20-25 more lbs to go) Pic #1 is me last night before i went out #2 me last month 4 months post op. At the amusement park with my fam #3 is me and my puffy face on my bday last year. my aha moment that something had to change #4 me and another night out pre surgery #5 me again on my birthday full body

Why did you have a revision done? Just curious I wonder sometimes if I need to have one done. 17 years out. Sent from my LG-G710 using BariatricPal mobile app

First of all, I thought yall was a word!! LOL (I am a Texas girl too...) Secondly, I do nails in a salon, I talk alot and actually I find that when I am excited about something, it is really hard to NOT tell.....however, I am selective about who I tell. I completely agree about being honest, and if it hadnt been for one of my clients telling me about her experience with RNY I wouldnt have been researching this surgery either. And my sister and my dad both had bypass! Go figure! I have told alot of people, and then there are quite a few that I havent told. One of my clients, for example, has a cousin that was supposed to have RNY and I asked her if she had had it done yet. Her response was surprisingly negative! She commented about how she would NEVER have that done because everybody she knows that has had it done looks to be about 75 years old in the face!! gasp!! Needless to say, she is NOT one of the people that I told. I think I will use Tiffany's line in response to people like that! So, be honest....but be selective about who and when you tell.....follow your gut!

It's been quite a process but, I've finally been given a date for my revision surgery! June 6th they told me today. Zoiks, saw the nutritionist at 8am this morning and within hours after her telling me she gives her approval I got the call. June 6th is the date so far, just need to get a medical surgery approval letter from my PCP and approval from the insurance company. Preop work May 21st and off I go. I'm excited and nervous which I know is natural. Still a scary thought having my inner works re-worked but, I know it's the best choice for me. I did well with my lapband until the dang thing slipped TWICE! So I know I can do this and the proper way to eat etc. I'm so looking forward to losing these extra love handles and getting to a healthier me. Thank you for your support and friendship here and I look forward to our continued journies together. Crossing my fingers for all the paperwork to go as it has to