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Hi I'm Jaclyn and I'm 18 years old. November 2005 my mom went to Utah to get banded. After a year and 50 lbs of weightloss I was given permission to be banded. I was 16 when I got banded Sep 21, 2006 at 236.4 lbs by Dr. McKeen with South Bay Bariatrics in Los Gatos, CA. By my 17th birthday in May I was 139 lbs with a total weight loss of 97 lbs. In September 2007 I was rebanded when my band slipped and I hadn't eaten or drank anything for 7 days. By that time I was anorexic and belemic and would have starved to death if I didn't go in. Since then I've controlled my band and am at a solid 160 lbs and no where near slipping. I've experienced the worst case scenario and and glad b/c it made me aware of the consequences. I'm going on 3 years and I'm happy and healthy =] Feel free to ask me anything, I've been through it all and am happy to answer any questions

Hello all! Words cannot express how happy I am to FINALLY :thumbup: get my surgery date. I'm a Kaiser so cal "gal" and those of you who are Kaiser members know how long the process is. Started my classes in Feb. Had my group session with the surgeons last sat (Aug 7) and just got my call yesterday. I'll be having my surgery done on Monday, November 1st! (with Dr. Zane). 11 more weeks to go (and coutning!). I'm excited and nervous and anxious and I feel like a little kid on Christmas eve. I have a million thoughts goign through my mind. I think I'll be on this forum a lot more often to read about the experience in the beginning for those of you who've had the surgery already. It really is more motivation now to get into the gym more often. I'm trying to lose as much as possible beforehand. Happy Hump day! =)

Hi - I am new to Lapbandtalk.com. I am set to meet with dr. on January 15 at KUMED. I think I have decided on lap band and not gastric bypass. Any help along the way would be great.

Bread, dry turkey, chicken strips. First fill on the 1/8, I get hungry between meals right now but if I eat a meal I get full. I will be glad when no christmas cookies or left. Strangely it seems that I could eat all the cookies I want. I hope that changes after the first fill, Haven't done bad though 41 lbs. since start of liquids in November. Good Luck everyone.

From what I have learned from my doctor, you do not "stretch your pouch" like gastric bypass patients do. What you do is move the band further down on your stomach (slippage) which makes the upper part larger. Similar but different occurrences.

I agree with Aubrie. My doc tried to push the bypass too. More money. You have to do the research and do what is right for you. I agree, the band is not for everyone. You have to follow the rules. One thing for certain, morbid obesity is a disease. Just think for a minute about any surgical procedure. If you needed back surgery you would hear a hundred horror stories if you did enough research. Who really knows why complications arise? Every person is different. I love my band! At close to 300 lbs. I could have dropped dead at age 52 with my high blood pressure and other complications from obesity. Something had to be done.

Can someone tell me if that means that I won't covered for the laopband- I just went to my seminar yesterday?? Thanks This what is under my covered benefits in my certificate booklet Obesity Covered Services for obesity include up to two nutritional counseling visits when referred by your Primary Care Physician. Prescription Drugs and any other services or supplies for the treatment of obesity are not covered. Surgical treatment of obesity is only covered for patients meeting Medical Necessity criteria, as defined by us. Precertification is required, and coverage is only provided for gastric bypass or vertically banded gastroplasty. and then under exclusions and what's not covered: Any services or supplies for the treatment of obesity, including but not limited to, weight reduction, medical care or Prescription drugs, or dietary control (except as related to covered nutritional counseling). Nutritional supplements; services, supplies and/or nutritional sustenance products (food) related to enteral feeding except when it’s the sole means of nutrition. food supplements. Services for Inpatient treatment of bulimia, anorexia or other eating disorders which consist primarily of behavior modification, diet and weight monitoring and education. Any services or supplies that involve weight reduction as the main method of treatment, including medical, psychiatric care or counseling. Weight loss programs, nutritional supplements, appetite suppressants, and supplies of a similar nature. Procedures including but not limited to liposuction, gastric balloons, jejunal bypasses, and wiring of the jaw.

Mjalways, I agree! My doctor actually recommends anyone over 100 lbs. to lost to have the bypass, but I was just scared to death of having that type of surgery and am glad is went with the band. It was actually this site that helped me make my decision. The doctor did support my band decision, but just wanted to give me the facts so I could my "my" decision wisely. He is happy with my progress so far. Going into my third year I am still thrilled.

Those are common quotes against the band. Here are some common quotes against the sleeve I found in a few minutes with Google: The stomach remaining after your sleeve gastrectomy WILL gradually stretch and permit larger meals. VSG is not reversible, and quite often, additional weight loss surgery is performed some time later after gastric sleeve. One study comparing gastric sleeve to gastric banding that shows the gastric sleeve to be about as effective as the lap band at 1 and 3 years following surgery. Less than 1000 patients with VSG have been studied and we really don't know what happens beyond 3 years! A portion of your stomach is cut out using a stapling device and then the surgeon sews over the staple line to try to prevent leaks. However, this is not fool proof. If your stomach leaks or there is a small perforation, it could cause a condition called peritonitis, which is life threatening. These metal staples stay in your body forever, much like the silicon lap band. Although thought to be safer than gastric bypass, truth be known, the safety of this procedure has NOT YET been established because it is very new. Of concern is the amount of stomach removed. Most surgeons are now removing and throwing out, 90-95 percent of the stomach and since the stomach is a critical digestive organ, this might cause some Vitamin deficiencies as well as Protein deficiencies. Vertical sleeve gastrectomy patients are told they have "fully functional stomachs" but since the stomach is now only 1-2 oz, this is highly UNLIKELY. In truth, all that is left from their stomach is 1-2 oz pouch which is the same size as a gastric bypass patient except the gastric bypass patient can have their stomach reconnected if there are problems. A percentage of patients get severe reflux... not only of acid but of bile as well. The risk of death with the gastric sleeve is likely considerably less than the bypass but higher than with the adjustable lap band. In the long term, you may be in higher risk for a herniated stomach or distention of the esophagus. Some patients have complained that the tiny part of the stomach left can "twist" Because of most of the stomach being cut away, the digestion of protein and vitamin B12 may be compromised. This is due to less stomach acid and also possibly a lower amount of "intrinsic factor" being produced. You may have to take vitamin B12 shots. - should check levels often. Unlike the lap band, the amount of restriction is not adjustable. If you need a revision, it's another risky surgery. Again, all I'm saying is that all surgery has risks, what is the right choice for one person may not be the right choice for another, and that choosing a good doctor is critical.

wow. I'm amazed (though in my line of work, i shouldn't be) at how many bad surgeons are out there. Mine is very well respected, has done tons of RNYs and Bands (he's mid 50's, the perfect age to be cutting me in the opinion of my attorney, who happens to be me)-- he put on no pressure for either procedure, even though he charges about 5k more for the bypass. This is the kind of guy who is booked ahead by almost 5 months, because he's THE guy in the Pittsburgh area... He talked to me about what kind of eater I am, and outlined the things needed for success with the band--- he said only rarely did he try and push an option that wasn't what the patient had in mind---because in his experience, most people know what is going on and what they want well before they see him. He will advise them to go the other way when he thinks they are making the wrong choice, but told me that happens less than 10% of the time for him. Glad I got my guy---this thread was making me apprehensive about tomorrow--- but my group has been in existence for quite a while, is a "center of excellence" --and has experience with the band back to US clinical trials. I've been told that even 5 years out, they've seen very few coplications, and that they are very proactive about fixing things when they do go wrong. My surgeon said that from what he has seen, that the band is the safer way to go. everyone is different, but i'm damned glad i'm in good hands, and intend on following the post op to the letter.

All else aside, for me the bottom line was this: the band is usually reversible. The sleeve, bypass, duodenal switch, vertically banded gastroplasty...not. I didn't want them to cut out my stomach, my duodenum... if I have problems with the band in a year or two or ten we'll see what wonderful new thing they have then. For now, I don't care if the sleeve would do back flips and call me "honey"...if it isn't reversible, I don't want it.

The LONG TERM issues are greater in number with banding. You can have: Esophageal damage, Esophageal dilation, Esophageal spasms, Pouch dilation, Stoma spasms, Port flips, Port infections (possible each time you get a fill), Band intolerance, Slips, Obstruction due to swelling, Erosion, Band intolerance, Scarring growing under the band causing too much restriction even with no fill, Mechanical malfunctions such as tubing being disconnected, holes, leaks, kinked tubing all requiring surgery to repair. Sleeves long term can have: The need to take B12 Vitamins, Strictures. Many food cravings do disappear with sleeves because of the removal of Ghrelin. If you check out the sleeve section of LBT you'll see many (most?) people that no longer have the cravings we used to have. Not to the same degree. I fully relate to the food addiction issue but for me it's a food obsession. We really don't go through withdrawal like a cocaine addict. We obsess over food. We think about it all the time. The difference really needs to be made because there is no effective treatment for an addiction but there is effective treatment for obsession. With an addiction you suck it up and deal with it. With an obsession you take meds and it can potentially kill your head hunger and the way you think about food all the time. This is one area where I LOVE LOVE LOVE my doc! He will give Luvox or Paxil for food obsessions. If you are really struggling he'll treat it. I have a lot more control over food obsession today than I did three years ago. But sometimes it gets hard and I take Luvox for a few weeks and that kills my head hunger. I just quit taking it a few days ago because it's under control again. I take Luvox probably 2-3 weeks maybe 2-3 times a year. When I take Luvox I become one of those people that needs to remember to eat. With no head hunger and no stomach hunger it makes life easier. When both are kicking it, life is hard. Very hard. There is actually a huge amount of information on the internet about sleeves. Thing is, you have to go to a website of a doctor that does them or the information is outdated. Long term studies just came out last summer. Many doctors have not updated their websites. I was a little apprehensive of being sleeved but now that it's done it's no big deal. I was far more aware of my band than I am of my sleeve. I just get full quickly. It's done by lap surgery just like a band. Recovery is about the same. Having been banded and sleeved I know being sleeved is so much easier. I don't have to worry about fills, unfills, restriction issues, sweet spots, getting stuck, etc. For the sleeve they remove the fundus of your stomach. That part of your stomach does two things, it is elastic so it holds a great deal of food and it produces Ghrelin. That's all it does. All the important stuff is still there. The nerves, the pyloric valve, etc. It's just smaller, that's all. With a band if you don't chew well you get stuck. I don't have to chew as much as I did with a band. We have to chew better than we did before when we inhaled food but nothing like with banding. I view the fundus of my stomach the same as I would a diseased appendix or gallbladder. It does nothing positive for me. I do not want the ability to eat a large quantity of food, I want to eat small portions without chewing to a paste and be full quickly. This does it for me. You choose not to alter your anatomy. What if you had gallbladder problems such as stones? Wouldn't you alter your anatomy to remove it? I would. The fundus of my stomach was nothing short of unhealthy because it permitted me to eat, gain weight, and be obese. And btw, you are altering your anatomy with a band. Mother Nature did not intend to put a band around your stomach and grow layers of scar tissue engulfing the band. People think that you can remove the band and your stomach is exactly like it was before banding. Not true. Sleeves are not for everyone, bands are not for everyone. Same with Bypass and DS. You have to find what works for you and go for it.

Sleeves, RNY, bypass, lap band, etc. All of these are surgery. All of these have dire risks if done improperly. All of these can work or not work. A Lap band implant is the quickest of the options. Because of this, there are a lot of doctors out there setting up high volume "band mills" geared around quick surgical turnaround. Equalize away the hack doctors jumping on the "bandwagon" and I personally believe the band is the safest of all possible surgeries long term, simply due to it being the least invasive and not going down the malabsorption path. Bottom line? Whatever WLS you choose, use the best doctor you can find. It amazes me to read about surgery decisions made solely on best possible price. Some people research the shampoo they use more than the doctor they pick.

Hi everyone, I recently saw my surgeon and was very excited to get my lap band surgery scheduled. However, while with the surgeon she actually recommended against the lap band!! I felt this would be the safer less extreme weight loss surgery and was very optimisitc that it would be the best for me. My doctor said the complication rate was much higher with the band than the gastric bypass. She said if it was her friend or family members she would not want them to have the lap band. She told me of the many complictions and of all the fills that would be needed and kinda freaked me out. She said it was up to me that she would do the surgery if that is what I decided to go with but now I am not so sure. Can anyone advise me on this? I am not sure what to think about this anymore. Other than trying to decide to go forward I am all ready to be scheduled for surgery. Thanks Dawn :thumbup:

Hello All, Does anyone have any REAL LIFE experience(s) with taking alternative plant medicines like ayahuasca or san pedro, for religious practices, after undergoing either gastric sleeve, bypass or gastric banding. I'd like to gather this information from people that have first hand experiences or maybe second hand from a friend, but i'm not asking for the opinions from those who have not these experiences. Thank you.

I am starting the process myself. Tried to last year. Insurance would not cover it, but I knew with the Company merger we would be getting a better package. Just sent an inquiry to the Insurance compnay last week. My father felt the same way. Very concerned about the surgery. The problem is he knew of 2 friends that had pretty serious complications with Gastric Bypass. I educated him on some information on the lap band and that really seemed to help. You may ask your family to log in on this web site to hear all of the sucess stories too. Most people are fearful of the unknown. Give them some references so they know it will be the best thing for you. I know when those results start kicking in, they will be so proud of you. Stick to you guns my dear. All will be wonderful!:clap2: Sincerely, Heather

I am looking for some data regarding GERD and the Rny Gastric Bypass for Post Op's. You can be a virgin stomach or a revision patient, if you are a revision, please reply in the comments as well. I am revising from Sleeve to Bypass because my Surgeon feels it will be best bet to cure my GERD. I have it extremely bad and even if it helped to make it better it would be a relief for me. Thanks in advance!

Hi Becky I am so glad that you found this thread! We will definitely keep in touch. I'm wishing you the very best on your surgery in a couple weeks and please check in to let us know how you're doing. I pray that having the revision to bypass will get you on the road to recovery and having use of your tool like you're supposed to.

I feel your pain Newbie - I'm 2 weeks out and have been fighting a horrific fungal skin infection and allergic skin reaction to the adhesives, so compliance has been the last thing on my mind. I'm not terribly moody, but I keep sneaking an extra Protein shake here and there. I'm so uncomfortable with my skin constantly itching and burning that it's almost too much to bear if I get hungry as well. I hope I don't slip my band before my first fill! The other part of my mental dilemna is that I am a band over bypass patient and I was kinda expecting to have a quick 10-20 just melt off like it did after my RNY. NOT the case thus far, which I know I need to get over it right away. I'm hoping that once all of the skin meds start working that I can really focus on my Phase 2 (soft foods) compliance and start exercising and just move forward from all of the pre-conceived notions I had what having a LapBand really means.

Hello everyone, I am very happy to find this forum. I have a appt. on 2/11 & I'm very nervous. I have been hearing horror stories about lap band. One of my close friends went to 6 different symposiums and they all say the same. She ended up having Gastric Bypass RNY. She is very happy with the results. Now she is telling me that in the beginning she was stuck on having lapband no matter what but going to the meetings made her think otherwise. Even the FDA website tells you that there is 90% complications with the lapband, especially with leakage, slipping and extreme nausea and vomiting. I am 130 pounds overweight, and I am very goal oriented to lose the weight. I have done every diet, at one point I lost 120 pounds, and gained it all and then some. I think this will be great for me but I am very scared of all the complications. If this matters...I don't have a gall bladder either, and am extremely nauseated after surgery, ( I always vomit after surgery) Please help me with my situation, and give me advice. I have picked Dr. Quilici in Burbank California, he is highly recommended, do you guys know anyone else. I appreciate your help. ROzI

Well i finally got the ok for my gastric sleeve surgery .I started this journey ,January 2010 and approved August, 4 2010 its been a long year or should i say 2yrs i was told i had arthritis in my spine and in my knees and if i lost 100 lbs it would help to ease my pain ha ha not a good joke of course i put more on because of the pain and not being able to exercise or walk so with the support of my husband and daughter i decided to give the lap band a shot. When i finnally got to meet Dr Jaward and his staff he told us about our opitsions i decided to go with the gastric sleeve because of less maitnence and less dr vistes seeing as hes in occala and im like 2 1/2 hours away im just concered thats its only been around for 5 yrs or so ( the sleeve ) ive talked to a few people that have had gastric bypass i've gone to support meetings i know this will be good for me but still a bit scared about cutting one of my organs if anyone could tell me how your sleeve is going id love to hear your storys thanks much also my pre opt is august 26th 2010 and my surgery is september 8 2010

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have a few questions. I have spent the past few months, almost a year on lapbandtalk.com forum because that was the surgery I wanted, and at the time the only one my Surgeon would perform on me. My surgeon was admit that because I have Crohns Disease the only true safe WLS surgery would be the band, or maybe an outside chance at the sleeve, but he felt best about band. Obviously at that appointment he gave me a list of stuff to get done before he would see me again, lose 18 lbs, see the food shrink, see the nutritionist, see the Diabeties dr, and all the normal WLS stuff. The Dr had told me it normally takes 6 moths to a year to complete the list, and get the ok from all the different doctors, Nutritionist and so on. I lost the 18 lbs in 10 days, and had all the doctors signed off on this within 3 weeks. When I went back to see my surgeon nobody at his office could believe I completed the check list that fast, and they put in my approval request for Band surgery. My insurance, which is good insurance, and the dr office says approves damn near everyone denied me, stating they needed more information. I gathered up all the info my surgeon told me to, it was resubmitted, and denied stating not medically necessary at this time. The surgeon then resubmitted the request, and it came back denied, Due to Crohns disease, and requested my surgeon call the med director at Blue Choice. Turns out the insurance company is worried about corrosion from the band, and with Crohns this could be really bad. My surgeons stance was that the band is really the safest way to go because if the crohns flares up they can drain the band, or even remove it if really needed. Long story longer, I got denied again, I called Blue choice Insurance myself, and asked to speak to the med director and was told they only talk to doctors, not policy holders. I have called Blue choice three and four times a week for months now, they still wont give in and let me speak to a med director. I would think as a paying policy holder I should be able to speak to the person who is making med decisions regarding my health, right? My surgeon keeps pushing too, without much luck. Last week my surgeon calls me and says come in tomorrow I need to talk to you. I go in to the office, and the girl behind the desk tells me, no charge for today, doctors orders, ok great, a free bee. Instead of taking me to a exam room they walk me to the surgeons office, and he says have a seat, at this point I'm thinking oh crap, he is gonna tell its all over and no surgery at all for me. I was amazed at what did actually say, and confused by it at the same time. The surgeon proceeds to tell me that if I agree to switch procedures he has been lead to believe that the insurance company will cover me for the sleeve. This really blows my mind! I have crohns, which is a mouth to anus disease, meaning it can show up anywhere between those two places. While my Crohns has been restricted to my Intestine, and has not been active, it is always a concern, which is why I can't have the full bypass. My Surgeon says we can most likely move forward very quickly avoiding the 6 moth wait for the sleeve due to the fact that I have been in a holding pattern for almost a year now. I want to get this done ASAP, but I also want to know what I'm walking into, so I'm going to continue to read every damn thread on this board that I can right up until surgery. I have spent the past six days reading online about the sleeve, and trying to research the sleeve with Crohns patients, but I can not find any info regarding the two of them together. Does anyone on this forum have crohns? If so how is the sleeve working for you? Has anyone heard of someone with crohns having the sleeve? Has anyone here had the band and switched to the sleeve? Would you get sleeved again if given the choice? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Hello My fellow Sleever's My name is Natasha and I am scheduled for November 26 all of my Pre-op testing is done and now it's just a waiting game. I just hope that everything goes well and is approved soon. I am 33 years old 5"2 261lbs I am married with six children in my care. My main focus for having this procedure done is because I lost my parents at a young age because of poor health habits and I am not willing to subject my children to the same pain and suffering I went through as a child. I feel confident about my choice and I am comfortable in making this life style change...

i told my brother, sister parents and 2 close friends (one had had bypass). no one else. i hear people talking about others at work (gosh-she has gained alot of weight), or other rude comments and i just didn't want to hear it if for some reason this did not work for me...gosh, this weight stuff is hard enough as it is without my entire office watching me i may one day decide to share my story because it could help others. people have noticed me eating less and my weight loss and i just say thank you. if they try to push it i tell them i am on my way somewhere or excuse myself. there are a few people in particular that try to get it out of me, one actually asked if i had bypass surgery. those types of people are not my real friends. they just want some juicy gossip to pass around. there are a few really wonderful people at the office that i may share with because i know how they are struggling and i want to help. i believe it is private info...if you want to tell the world, go for it!!! if you choose not to, that is okay too. when i hit goal i may call oprah and shout it from the mountian tops. i doubt anyone will mind i did not share with them first : )

I told everyone at first, now I wish I hadn't. I went 6 months last summer not loosing at all and everyone was asking why it wasn't working for me. It was really embarassing for people to think that I had weight loss surgery (and they all think bypass since it is the one in all the media) and I wasn't losing weight. They wanted to know what I was doing wrong and why others can lose 100 pounds in 6 months. I still hate explaining it especially since I am 15 months out and still only around 70 pounds down. I am still obese and people ask me if the surgery didn't work or what?? I should have kept my mouth closed.