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My doctor insisted I get the gastric bypass. She said I'd never lose enough weight with the lapband. I knew I didn't want my insides re-routed and only wanted the band as it was the least invasive procedure. Obviously I proved my doctor wrong as I lost all my excess weight. And I don't mind telling you that I am smaller than she is these days.

im having same thing done. Lap band 2009 and now gastric bypass 8/13. Best wishes and lets stay connected!

It's entirely possible. Have you tried the recommended "GASTRIC SLEEVE RESET"? Here is a cut 'n' paste: Complete Five-Day Bariatric Reset Diet The Five-Day Pouch Reset is a "reset" diet for people who have had gastric bypass surgery and might be starting to regain weight. Step 1 Drink only liquids for the first two days of the five-day diet. You'll need to drink at least two litres of water in addition to low-carb protein shakes. You can drink as many shakes as you want; the point of the first 48 hours is to take a break from your eating habits. By getting all of the nutritional needs from liquids, you'll be forced to pay attention to how often you were eating, snacking or simply grazing. Remember: The goal during this phase isn't weight loss, but mentally re-setting your habits. You can't make your pouch smaller through changes in diet, but you can learn portion control. Step 2 Eat only protein the next three days. On day three, you'll eat "soft protein" such as eggs and cottage cheese. On day four, you'll eat "ground meats" -- such as meatloaf and hamburger. On day five, you'll eat "solid proteins" such as chicken breast or a piece of fish. Limit condiments, such as salsa or mayonnaise. Foods should be as dry as possible -- which will help you gauge how full you are. You're allowed to eat as much as you'd like and as often as you like, but you must stop eating 15 minutes after you start. Do not sit and eat for longer than 15 minutes at any point during the final stage of the diet. Step 3 Do not drink any liquids 30 minutes before eating or with your meals. Liquids can help push foods more quickly through your pouch, allowing you to eat more than you should. Many facets of the five-day bariatric pouch reset diet are similar to the post-op diet followed right after surgery. Tips Plan ahead because the diet restricts the types of food you can eat. Make sure you have the foods you need on hand. The goal of this diet is to make you conscious of your food choices and stop mindless eating. Warnings According to the National Institutes of Health, "bypass surgery alone is not a solution to losing weight. It can train you to eat less, but you still have to do much of the work. You will need to follow the exercise and eating guidelines that your doctor and dietitian gave you."

IMO, a surgery that involves cutting holes in the anesthetized patient's abdomen, sticking instruments in there, moving around organs, and clamping a medical device around the stomach is invasive, so to me, both the band and the sleeve are invasive. But... the invasiveness of the sleeve is permanent. If you don't like it afterwards, you're stuck because the 75-80% of your stomach that was removed is never coming back. Neither is the sleeve adjustable. I lost my band for various reasons (mostly unrelated to the band itself). I thought the sleeve was going to be a good 2nd choice because it would elliminate my physical hunger, and it wouldn't require numerous adjustments to achieve optimal restriction, but I was wrong. Since my sleeve surgery, my physical hunger has been ferocious no matter what or how much or how often I eat, and I have to eat 8-10 times a day to keep my blood sugar under control. I've become anemic because of micronutrient malabsorption and have to take an Iron supplement every day. I've had to start taking metformin to treat my type 2 diabetes that was always controlled with diet and exercise before. I've also discovered that sleeve patients can dump just like gastric bypass patients do because the sleeve capacity is so small, food gets "dumped" into the intestines very quickly, causing me miserable discomfort from nausea, dizziness, and drenching sweats. Finally, I've discovered that sleevers can experience stuck episodes for the same reasons that bandsters do: careless eating. I've been told that I take a dim view of the sleeve since I loved my band so much. That may be true. I was sleeved on 8/16/12, so it may be too soon for me to judge anything about my sleeve. It's also true that the band isn't risk-free - but there's no such thing as a risk-free surgery of any type. The good news about my sleeve is that it's made it possible for me to lose the weight I had regained after losing my band in April. Jean

I'm sorry you are going through this, I know it's not an easy decision. But I would not let anyone pressure me into a surgery that I didn't feel 100% comfortable with. Do you know how many sleeves this surgeon has performed? It's not very common any more for Surgeons to promote the Band over the Sleeve, so it would concern me that maybe he's just not as comfortable doing the Sleeve if he hasn't done that many? Is he aware of the high # of complications and revisions from being Banded? Is there another surgeon who has equal experience, that you might consider or at least get a second opinion? Keep reading and researching til you feel comfortable with your decision, there is complication and revision threads in most of these forums if you haven't already read them. Good luck!!

actually, just to clarify, i said they don't do as MANY preventions for blood clots. the surgeon i'm currently working with has me starting flotx (sp?) (blood thinner) on the 12th and surgery is scheduled on the 19th. he didn't prescribe lovenox (sp?) but said it's a possibility, we'll have to wait and see. i don't know WHY i'm so worried about blood clots, i've never had that problem with any other surgery. i guess i'm just a worry wart because this surgery IS elective and i want to make sure i cover all bases. but dr. aceves does sound wonderful and i can't find ANYthing on the net that suggests anything to the contrary. i'm a cynic though, so if something sounds too good to be true, in my mind, it probably is. let's think about this.... he's done about 1000 VSG surgeries according to the coordinator i spoke to, only 1 death and that was from bowel complications for a bypass patient, no leaks from VSG, and a hospital that is apparently equipped with the most state of the art equipment and staffed with the best nurses you can find. and all this for.... just under $9000, which is supposedly ALL inclusive, from pre-op tests to surgery time, to hospital stay, to meds, to your own personal transportation to and from the airport. hmmmmm..... i know it sounds like i'm criticizing but i'm really not. i just think it's odd that you can't find ANY negative feedback about dr. aceves. it makes me wonder if he tells his patients to come back and flood the net with good reviews! haha! but all kidding aside... i will keep researching. by monday if i can't find anything negative or anything that tells me he's too good to be true... i think i'm going with doc aceves and almater hospital. and i do wish ALL of you the best of luck! maybe i'll see you there, who knows!!!

I think people say things like "you're not that big" because they're trying to be polite. Would you rather have them say, "OMG, it's about time you did somehting, you fatty"? WLS is something that's difficult for people who haven't had a weight problem to understand. They don't know how to react when you tell them you're having it. As you lose weight, people get so used to you having been big that they have a very warped perception of what you should look like, and a skinnier you looks "unhealthy" to them. I thought I might have a port leak and need a revision a few weeks ago, and several people asked "do you even need the band? Aren't you at or close to your goal?" I laughed and told them I needed to lose almost another 30lbs before even being on the upper end of the healthy BMI chart.

Regain is always a possibility. However, not doing something is about 100percent chance of remaining obese and all the consequences. I revised from band to sleeve 4 years ago, lost half my body weight, and remain at goal. It isn't easy, but it's possible.

Hi everyone: Mods - Feel free to move this to what you believe would be a more appropriate place as this was the closest one I could find. Anyhow....Sometime ago, I decided to start a YouTube Group (Yes Virginia, contrary to what you may have heard before, there ARE actual groups on YouTube :smile2: ). The group can be found here and the primary purpose of the group is use the power of VIDEO to do what we do on the boards - TALK LAP BAND!! Of course you can use text too, but that would kinda defeat the purpose of the group, now wouldn't it? There's also a general WLS discussion group on YouTube, which is here. And just so I don't have to repeat myself over and over again, I've taken the liberty of starting YouTube groups for Gastric Bypass & RNY as well. Those groups can be found here & here. Feel free to stop on by, check 'em out & (Above all) JOIN!!!!!!! :thumbup: Cheers :thumbup:

I'm so excited !! May 7th with Dr. Aceves. I'm having a sleeve to bypass , can't wait

I think that is a normal fear, fear of the unknown... I guess your new tummy will be the judge of what you can and can not eat, but I will say I don't eat perfect everyday some days more than I should or not what I should... don't know if I'm cursed or lucky but my tiny tummy has no issues for the most part.. everyday I still have to work at it just like before surgery but I have lost 100 lbs and I feel great. Do you have any support groups thru your doctor or in your area? Also there are support groups on Facebook and using apps like My Fitness Pal with fellow bypass friends before hand will let you see what eating after is like.

There has been quite a bit of negativity on here lately, I do agree to that. I myself have a lot of weight to lose you can see by looking at my ticker. I started at 419 lbs and I am down to 407 from being on a diet for my insurance. I haven't had the surgery yet but I plan to be banded in November. Bypass may be the decision for some but in the long run, and short run, it's a lot more dangerous than lapband. With bypass they reroute your stomach and intestines, you have dumping syndrome, you pretty much can't have suger anymore, your hair falls out, you can bleed out, mortality rates are higher, longer hospital stay, longer recovery, you can gain it all back, your insides are all cut up etc. With lapband, it controls your portions, makes you full quicker, it can be adjusted loose or tighter, shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery time, no dumping syndrome or less likely to get it, less likely to have hair fall out, you can still have sugar, less likely to have internal problems, less chance of mortality etc. If you happen to gain weight back you can go have it reajusted so you are more satisfied again, and it's a lot easier to reverse, and cheaper etc. As for working hard. You have to have willpower, exercise, and try to eat right no matter what type of surgery you have. I have seen people have bypass and gain everything back but I've also seen people with lapband gain everything back, then they go get a fill and adjusted and start losing again. The band is a tool placed inside of you to help curb your appetite, if you eat the wrong kinds of foods such as sliders (chocolate chips etc) you will get hungry quicker and probably eat too much and gain weight. If you eat foods rich in Protein they will fill up your pouch and should work considerably in making you not hungry for an extended period of time. Either way with everyone it's different. No matter which surgery you choose I wish you luck and I hope all of the negativity on the forum lately hasn't scared you off. Try to find the positive threads too, because lapband has worked for many many people some have lost over 200 lbs and are still losing! All in all there are going to be failures, and they're are going to be successes. There's always a possibility for problems too and that always needs to be in the back of your mind. If you feel something is wrong call your doc etc. You can always come on here for help, or encouragement whatever it may be. We are all here to help one another in these journeys we are taking in order to be healthier and happier. I wish you lots of luck and hope to hear more from you soon. Don't be discouraged, just keep looking up info, talk to your doctors, and keep a positive attitude. The answer will come to you.:tongue2:

Good luck with your decision..I chose the band...Oct of 2007 and I had a friend that had gastric bypass 2 weeks later...I have lost 60 + pds and she has lost 100 pds...so far...you do lose faster..however I can eat whatever the resterant or at home....serves and she sits there and drinks water because she is afraid she will get sick in public...so I think GBS is a definate quick fix to lose weight fast however I have seen co-workers gain it all back if you do not change your eating patterns... with the lapband its a tool and it helps me eat less....good luck...

I had a 2nd slip last year and the doc did a revision (first time it slipped I had a doc who didn't believe they worked even though I had lost 72 lbs in 7 months -I started at 237- so he simply emptied it without doing any imaging to see how bad it was. I agree that it isn't the same. Doesn't mean it won't work if I go back to basics. I too have gained half of it back. Saw these posts and decided it was time to start logging food and exercise. Keeps me honest because I weigh, measure and put it in writing. Good luck to you. You aren't doing this walk alone.

http://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Living-Eating-Surgery/dp/0060567228 I love this book. I bought it for my best friend when he has his bypass, and then he bought me a copy when I had my band. There are some great recipes, and helpful info in the original book, and now there is a 2nd edition.

The main issue is that if you drink while eating, the Water mixes with the food and flushes through your stomach more quickly and therefor you won't feel full as long and will be able to eat much more. It's basically a way of bypassing your restriction, making it easier for you to eat more food. Drinking before eating can allegedly fill you up and make you eat less, and therefore not get ENOUGH food, but I find that theory to be pretty much BS, because I watched my post-op leak test and saw how fast liquid moved through my stomach. It was through in a matter of seconds, so the rule of not drinking for 20+ minutes before eating just seems like a surefire way to NOT get enough liquids in. I drink right up to the time I start eating. Drinking after eating will just make you overfull and uncomfortable. If your stomach is full of food, there's nowhere for the liquid to go and it'll just sit on top of the food and possibly get backed up into your esophagus, which is NOT good. But as I said, drinking WHILE eating is the most dangerous. Because when the food mixes with liquid to become a more apple-sauce like consistently, it passes through more quickly and makes it easier to eat more, defeating the whole purpose of the restriction.

absolutely no problem deciding, zip,nada, no. Bypass has never been an option. Too many complications. Plus, I'm not on the higher end of the weight scale. 37 BMI but lots of medical issues. Plus my daughter has had and her best friend had bypass. World of difference, Plus being off work 6 weeks was not an option. Trisha

did anyone have a difficult time choosing between bypass and lapband surgery ? Why? i'm caught between the 2.my doctor says bypass is more effect long term.but the risk is more...not high,but more.:thumbup:

Hey Dana, I'm Tammy. It is great to meet someone close as well. I live just south of raleigh in Fuquay Varina. My bypass is scheduled for October 2nd. I start my 2 week liquid diet tomorrow!!!!! I'd love to keep in touch and have a buddy to go thru this with. Tammy

I had the band done 5 years ago and lost 80 lbs. In the beginning I always wanted for him to add fills and he wouldn't till I mastered it.I admire this. He takes the time to see you. I have been having problems the last year and I am getting the revision surgery to the sleeve on June 16.I found out he trained some other top band sleeve surgeons.

That is what happens to me when I eat too much now. Or like you said drink liquid with my food which has only happened once or twice. Your food doesn't have a chance to process and it has no where to go so it backs up in your esophagus. Try eating a smaller portion and obviously follow the 30/30 rule. I suffered from severe reflux prior to bypass surgery. It is a burning sensation and then your stomach acid actually backs up in your esophagus and ultimately your throat. It can keep you walking the floors for hours on end. From my understanding when they do the bypass if that is the surgery you had, there is no stomach acid. The reason they have you take something like Prilosec is to avoid a stomach ulcer which can give you that pain in your gut/chest. I also get that feeling if I have eaten a heavy food. It can be very painful. I try to stick to 1 percent cottage cheese. I tried the heavier stuff and I get that pain in my gut.

Hello all of my fellow sleevers!! Hope this post is finding you all feeling fantastic or at least better. I have had an amazing week personally although I have to say I'm feeling punky today. I started back to work on Monday and everyone at work was so happy to see me back and feeling so good. I'm very blessed to have a lot of supportive people in my life. Several people in my office have had some type of bypass or sleeve done and most of them were shocked I was back so soon and that I felt so good. I just tell them I have Frequent Surgery Miles and am tougher than a $2.00 steak!! lol I think I am just one of those lucky few who heal fairly easily and can handle the stress on my body. So anyway, Tuesday was officially my two week mark and Wednesday my first check up. I was shocked, amazed, and ecstatic that not only was I feeling super great but I lost a whopping 32 lbs!!!! Oh yeah baby!!! I knew this was going to work but I guess I just really didnt expect such great results right away. Needless to say, I'm one happy camper!! The eating thing has been hard because until yesterday, I didn't experience any hunger pains. I have been making myself "eat" drink and be merry! lol I am up to soft baby food consistency things (even baby food). Add a little seasoning and they aren't half bad. We did buy one of those individual cup mixer machines (dont know if brand names are allowed) so I'm going to try pureeing my own stuff probably next week. I'm looking forward to watching my progress along with people on here. You all are amazing and courageous!! Its not for the weak of mind thats for sure!! Carry on with your journey and hold a song in your heart. The journey is only as worthwhile as you make it!! Hugs!!

Rude!!! Heaven help us, you are anything BUT rude! Please let us know how your revision goes. I will keep you in my prayers. ladiebird, will you not have to have a revision? Pat, what the heck??? How is that you nearly passed out? Details, please!!!

Has anyone had the gastric sleeve done and then have to have the bypass revision surgery? What are the outcomes and things I should watch for. I lost 120 since June 2014. The Dr said I may lose more.... will it be as quick as the sleeve?

Thanks so much! revision is due to non stop horrible reflux. I also have gained back 40 of the 107 lbs I lost