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Don't give up! Get all the education you need about Bypass and I'm sure you will be more comfortable with the decision.

I was too going to get the band in the begining, but soon after I read post after post on the health hazzards I decided to go with the sleeve. So glad I did. I have no issues with my sleeve. I actually saw a picture in my surgeon's office of what band erosion looks like. Oh I'm so so glad I did the sleeve. That looked so awful and painful. He isn't doing as many bands now, but he is doing a lot of revisions. I researched the sleeve for several months ,I realized that it was the better choice of the options available. Research and discuss with your doctor the options available to you. Only you can make this discision for you. Good luck. Deb

Good read, talks about, Head Hunger too http://www.mygastricbypassstory.com/2012/03/23/battling-head-hunger-gastric-bypass-surgery/ Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

OMG any pre op two weeks liquid diet out there?!?! I'm craving food sooo bad! I'm emotional is this normal I want to eat! Even having cold feet that I will make a mistake. Any advice???? Sent from my Z963VL using the BariatricPal App

OK, so I had my very first consultation with Dr. David Ward in Morristown New Jersey he will be my surgeon. He addressed all my questions and my husbands as well. We had pretty common questions like, how long does the surgery take, healing time, what to expect, any complications that could arise, mortality rate etc. The first thing he asked me was what type of surgery was I interested in. I did not let him know right away that I wanted the sleeve. I asked what he thought would be better. He let me know that the sleeve would be better for me. Which is what I wanted to begin with. He informed me that bypass would not be in my Best interest. Also, he does not like to perform bypass surgery on smokers. I asked him how long I need to be smoke-free in order to have surgery. He said, obviously it is better to be totally smoke free but, he does understand how hard it can be. He did say that I can use nicotine replacement such as the patch he wasn't too happy about vape only because there's not too much information on it. He did recommend that I at least cut back even if I don't use the nicotine replacement. I also asked about liquid diet and what I need to do now to start preparing. He said we definitely want you to cut back calories and carbs. you will be meeting with a nutritionist who will help you with that. My husband asked when would I need to start the liquid diet the doctor informed us it would not be necessary until much much closer to surgery. He said it is not mandatory that I lose weight just not to gain any weight but it would help if I lost obviously it would make surgery go easier. So my first of three appointments with the nutritionist will be on the 26th of this month. I still need to make an appointment with a Gastro and the psychiatrist. I did ask why does it seem to vary so much as far as everyone's diets preop and wait times. He said is far as wait times go, that's the insurance requirements. Pre-op diet really depends on the individual some of us are not as heavy as others. Some of us have different issues Healthwise. That's why it varies so much from person to person. For example he already told me that he is sending me home after surgery with a blood thinning injection. Most of you probably didn't need that or won't need that. my BMI is very high (63.7) He did warn me already not to compare what I can tolerate and what's in my program to what others have. Oh on a final note, I mentioned that we have a few family events coming up and that I'd be heading into NYC and probably eating my head off. He laughed and said get it out of your system now because once the nutritionist appointment starts it becomes very serious. So that was my very first visit to a bariatric surgeon. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi I had a first appointment with my consultant who said there were some liver conditions which would make me not suitable for gastric bypass. Does anyone know what these are please? Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Craig, Im sorry to hear that you let your family get in the way of your dreams and healthy future. Maybe if you let them read all these great revision success stories maybe they will change their minds. If you read all these stories in revision from band to sleeve they are all 99.9% the same thing. No matter what the decision that yo stay with you have to remove the band or it can cause serious damage later on. i wanted the band out so bad that i was willing to pay for it myself before fighting with insurance. but thank god all went well insurance approve revision to sleeve and removal of band. i too had the band put n in 2006 did great lose 80lbs and about 2 years ago started having problems slip throwing up cant eat acid reflux gerd ect ect. January 2016 decided i had enough and went back to my doc for revision i had surgery a few days ago May 24 revised im am thrilled and doing great 3 days later im walking 2 miles cleaning driving and back to normal following protocol. (oh by the way i had gained all of my weight back.) arrgg im not to upset just as long as the scale is moving the right way im good. I wish you the best in your decision. keep us posted

If you are diabetic - they may suggest getting Gastric bypass instead of the sleeve. I don't know how they expect you to lose 100lbs on your own but there's a forum by weight loss (ie. 200+ lbs) that maybe has some info to help. Good luck!

. I am so sorry. My revision surgery was scheduled for yesterday, but insurance denied me too. I had my surgeon do a peer-to-peer phone call, and now insurance is reconsidering the decision (no answer yet). I had to request the peer-to-peer, it was not something my surgeon's office automatically offered. Just an idea if you are looking for a next step.

After RNY gastric bypass surgery, your meal volume size is so small that you will not need very much food. The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. Weight loss is achieved after surgery through volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as Protein shakes. Your taste buds may change after surgery. Food, Water, fluids and protein shakes that you had no problem consuming prior to surgery may taste different, even revulsive. So be willing to experiment until you find those that you can tolerate. Experimentation is the key. As you work through the various stages, each stage has its series of changes. Have a pill crusher/pill splitter on hand because you may find it difficult to swallow in the beginning.

So am I, looking forward to here from you on how you are doing afterwards keep me posted we can be bypass buddies recover well my friend will be praying for you!!!!

Thanks Bufflehead just so nervous about Bypass since people say it's so risky and all.... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'd been really bothered about my weight for the past few years when I struggled to find things that looked nice and felt nice that also fit.. shopping had become the most miserable thing and I was also huffing and puffing to do the things I used to love doing. I would have considered surgery as an option if I had known about the sleeve earlier.. I'd heard of gastric bypass - but the things I'd heard about it I knew weren't for me - a lifetime of tons of supplements, high incidence of dumping syndrome, lots of post op complications that can develop and so on.. And I knew I couldn't follow those rules. Finally one night when I was thoroughly frustrated because I didn't get a job I interviewed for.. I decided to randomly google about weight loss surgery.. I took the leap because for now - I don't have a job and I'm on medicaid.. and it occurred to me that when I find a job.. I might not be able to afford the co-pay they would demand and that this might be my only chance if surgery was something I wanted to consider.. so I went ahead and looked at the different types and lo and behold I found the sleeve.. It was basically everything I wanted.. less invasive and less scary than bypass.. no equipment left inside like the band.. and the rules are a little more adaptable to each person (e.g. I've been drinking with a straw since day 1 post surgery and I don't know how I'd survive without it because it helps me control better the size of the sip coming into my mouth - which is very helpful when I'm feeling super restricted) based on their needs, and the risks of complications were less.. I watched a seminar about the surgery and googled for the rest of the evening for articles - everything from blogs to medical journals. It took me about 4 hours total to decide I was going to seek a consult for sleeve surgery and I called my doctor the next day. I've never looked back Compared to others.. my decision was a lot quicker but... that's also just how I am.. I don't take a lot of time to decide things.. I weigh the facts and make a decision in a short amount of time.

Bypass wouldn't be my first choice either but if that was my only option, I would take it. If you already have acid issues, the sleeve will make your life a living hell. So do what your Dr suggests.

Welcome Grandma Jan and let us know if we can be of any help. I am 3 years post-op RNY gastric bypass surgery. This article describes my experience after the surgery. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery.pdf

I had bypass and no blue stain. Not sure what that is all about. Just remember the gas pain subsides more quickly if you get up and get moving ASAP after surgery. Also plenty of Water to flush the toxins..... Best of luck!

I having mini gastric bypass surgery and my BMI is 38 pre -opp. Sent from my SM-P550 using the BariatricPal App

What is a mini-bypass? I've heard this term before and I'm unsure of how the procedure is different than RNY or Sleeve? I can probably google it I'm just lazy lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Every insurance company is different so the only way to know if revision surgery is covered is for you to contact your insurance company directly. Unfortunately there is no set policy that we can provide confidence about. Good luck!

Hi there! I've been reading quite a bit here and other places about revising from band to sleeve. Here's my backstory: I got the realize band in 2009 - self pay unfortunately, due to a stupid anti obesity clause with my insurance policy at the time. I was relatively successful - my starting weight was 335 and I got down exactly 100 pounds over the next 2 years. I experienced regain of 45 pounds after a car accident in late 2013 and another injury a few months later. I've worked hard since then and am about 5 pounds away from my original low weight (and plan on surpassing that). The thing is, the whole time I've had the band, I've been a chronic vomiter, I get stuck ALL THE TIME (especially when I eat things I'm SUPPOSED to eat) no matter what and I never really feel full or satisfied, just uncomfortable and stuck. I always blamed myself and thought it just must be normal. But the more I read now, the more I realize that life doesn't have to be like this! I've been asked if I'd ever consider getting it removed and even the thought starts to hurl me into a panic. "I could NEVER get it removed!! I'll gain all the weight back and more and get diabetes again and a fatty liver and increase my depression and anxiety... NEVER!!" Plus I spent $25,000 on this dang thing!! But I hadn't thought much about a revision until the past couple months. The insurance I have now covers WLS. One question I have though is do you think they'd cover a revision? Especially if the band was self pay? Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol and I just found out I have 2 herniated discs (definitely related to obesity. I'm only 35, for crying out loud!) would they even ok it based on that stuff. I know no one here can say for sure. Just looking to see if any of you have had any experience with a similar situation. Thanks in advance! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

CoolCrystal, how tall are you? DH and I are trying to get pregnant. Before we started, I spoke with my doctor about the pregnancy vs. age vs. weight triangle. She told me my weight wasn't such that it would be a reason to postpone trying to get pregnant, and that especially considering my age, if I want to have a baby, I need to get started. (She wrote me a rx for prenatals that day). I'm 31, between 5'10 - 5'11, and 230 - 240. And I've had the same experience as you. When I'm bypassed is when I look bad - or poor perhaps. hair thrown up, baggy pants, hoodie, crocs... basically my "I'm way too tired to be here" look. :eek: When I'm dressed normally, I get "normal" attention.

I have the same question. I wasn't aware of a part two of the bypass. The only one I've heard of is the Duodenal Switch (I think) which has the sleeve as the first part. Since so many people had success with the sleeve procedure they started offering it as a stand alone procedure (or so I've heard).

I am not sure what surgery part two even is? Are you saying your sleeve has failed and need a revision or are you talking about plastics or what?

In case any of you wondered what to expect. Of course I wasn't going to see my surgeon, he's too busy/important (I will see him Wednesday), but I saw his nurse and then one of the resident surgeons who I hate to say, did not instill confidence whatsoever. The nurse went over everything, was able to answer all my silly questions. Assured me the doctor will do the surgery and not the resident. Actually she herself had a gastric bypass 10 years ago, and gave me some tips (the usual ones we find here on this forum). She had me sign some more papers. She didn't have the gallbladder removal, so she went back in the computer and found that, and added it. ugh. The document did list that it was a laparoscopic sleeve with 5 incisions, or (possibly open) don't recall the exact wording. She said that is on every surgery "just in case". Not like they can wake you up if they run into a problem. I was okay with that. She gave me a pre op and post op instructions 2 pager (again, the typical stuff their nutritionist gave me months ago) I asked her about washing with hibiclens the morning of. She said that isn't necessary. To shower as usual in the morning. She said they do tell patients to wear clean clothes after showering in the morning to the hospital. (not worn before). She went into detail how the operating room staff will be putting something on my body to sanitize. I'm been dreading the dye drink leak test, but the nurse said they no longer do that. I was surprised to hear that. Maybe they check it another way, forgot to ask her that. After the nurse left, one of the resident surgeons came in. He just had it all wrong. Wanted to schedule me for surgery (I was scheduled a month ago (scheduled this Wednesday). Told me the wrong surgeon's name. (another doctor in the practice). So he went on to say, that there are three resident surgeons that the bariatric surgeons work with and one of them will be with my doctor during my procedure. I truly hope it isn't him. Then off to my anesthesia pre-op. This department was running about 30 min. late. ugh. He just wanted to know all of the clearances I had, if I had any list of issues, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, a slew of things. He determined I was healthy, checked my neck range of motion,, looked in my mouth, down my throat visually. Discussed the general anesthesia protocols. I asked him how long the surgery may take as how long I'd be under. He asked what doctor I was having, and when I responded, he said, OH, one hour, he's the best. I was happy to hear that. I brought up my surgeon thick eyeglasses. He laughed and told me the surgeon eye sight is fine, besides, he said my stomach is going to be on the best high definition gigantic screen in the OR. Funny, I know what laparoscopic is, but I didn't really think about the monitor it displays on. He did say all bariatric patients go to this one area for recovery, because so many obese patients have undiagnosed sleep apnea, so they need more nurses monitoring them while coming out of anesthesia. then I was sent to the lab for one more surgical test - a blood type screen test. then I came home and put most my Post-op stuff in one place, rather than squired away in between my families food. (see photo) I think I'm ready!!!!

Some of the worse ulcers ever were at the anastomosis of a gastric bypass patient who started drinking a little wine again - 14 year post op!!!! Many others, as well. Those surgical tissues remain fragile forever, I'm thinking. Alcohol is a terrible irritant to tissue of any kind, but for surgical areas, even worse. Everyone makes their own decisions and takes their own risks, but for me, alcohol is on the "never again" list.