Search the Community

Hey guys! I am new to this forum. First let me say that it is so inspiring to see how supportive y'all are with each other. I am so excited to get this surgery and feel some support from other people going through the same thing. I'm 23. I got the lap band 3 years ago. At this point the sleeve hadnt been approved yet. And before surgery I was 250. After surgery I really got on the bandwagon, but I just couldn't lose the weight. I struggled with trying to eat constantly. I threw up constantly. Even Protein that I was supposed to eat, I couldn't get down. It was depressing. It was enbarassing. I couldn't go out to eat without staying in the bathroom throwing up all my food. It was awful. I got down to 230 and that's where I stayed. After 2 years my stomach started growing over my band and I had to get all the Fluid taken outta my band and I've gained all my weight back and more. I am now today July 4th at 265 and these past few months have been the most depressing of my life. One night last month I laid awake at night and couldn't stop thinking about getting weight loss surgery again. I considered bypass but that's just too major for me and idk about having children after that. The sleeve sounds perfect! I really hate the band. I hate throwing up constantly and being on the bathroom at all social occasions cause I can't get food down. Are there any quirks I need to know about? Foods that make you sick or what happens if you eat too fast? I'm waiting to hear back on my insurance but Im pretty sure they're going to approve it. I've already called and asked. So I'm very excited!! And I can't wait! I just hope I don't have to do the 6 month criteria. I look forward to the support from y'all and I'm excited to start this journey!

Hey All, So today was my first day home after having Gastric Bypass on Wednesday, 1/30. All day my stomach has been gurgling and I ended up slowly running to the bathroom with an upset stomach and lots of gas several times. At first I was excited not to be backed up from all the pain meds, but it’s happened all day now. Is it normal to poop 6-8 times so soon after surgery? Is it a reaction to a new medication/vitamin or something I’m drinking? Any ideas?

hello today sept,26th. some nurse from yale university call me this morning trying to convince me to have the bypass surgery. she lied an said it wouldn,t help my diabetes. i guess she thought i was gullable to fall for her crap.it took me 6 months to get here,because she stated my bmi was too high, saying she recomended the bypass i said no,my insurance don,t require bmi. just that it,s medically necesary, from my pcp. so i call them back to say someone call my house talking about i have to have the bypass, the lady on the phone say,s it,s my choice. she says it happens all the time.i almost cried. but i gotten everything straighten out. sorry for the long reply had to vent. good luck everyone on your journey.

I'm 65 and I am trying to have it done. I went to a Gastric Bypass & Banding support group meeting at CMMC in Jackson, MS on 12-11-2007. I'm waiting on the Medicare "Seal of Excelents" for CMMC. They said it should be any day now. Other than that, nothing new. Don

I Have UHC and was approved, first request. I had to see a whole bunch of doctors before my surgeon sent in for authorization. My surgeons office knew before hand, from experience, if it was going to be a problem. I had the insurance language that WLS was excluded unless morbid obese. Hope this helps. Back in November, I called our insurance...United Healthcare. (We have the Choice Plus coverage.) I was told that my UHC plan would cover 100% of my surgery. I even asked if there were any prerequisites. The only one was morbid obesity, which I fit! My first doctors appointment was December 7 with a Dr in the UHC Network. I got there, signed in. The insurance lady called me back, told me she spoke to someone with UHC and that my insurance didn't cover any weight loss surgery. I went to the parking garage, cried my eyes out, and then called UHC. Spoke to someone that said yes, indeed, it did cover the surgery. I was so excited that I took my cell phone back into the office. The insurance lady talked to the UHC rep on my cell phone. Anyway, the dr's office asked for a fax of the coverage. We waited...and waited...and waited. I called back, to which this whole cycle restarted. Yes it is covered. No, it's not. I never got to even see the doctor that day. Devastated, I called, very angrily, and wanted answers. I spoke to someone that told me to have the dr.s office fax a "prerequisite" letter to UHC, stating WHY I needed the surgery. She said my plan did cover the surgery and any surgery for weight loss, under the morbid obesity section. The reason the customer care reps kept saying no was because it always said "Need additional informatiuon." Has anyone else has this kind of luck with United Healthcare? That day, the doctors office, to which I am not even a patient, faxed a letter stating I needed the lap band, due to morbid obesity. We are still waiting to see whether it's going to be accepted or denied. I will tell you that the surgery code # was put into my plan and it was covered. This is all just so devastating to me! The insurance lady @ the dr.s office told me a rep called her from UHC today, but really didn't know whether or not the surgery was covered. Said she would have to refer it over to the UHC nurse case worker. SERIOUSLY? How hard can it be to know whether or not this surgery is covered? I am really down at this point. The lap band feels years away~ :(Just wondering if anyone else has had this kind of luck, with a good outcome from UHC?

I'm so happy I found this post! Firstly, because I too 'weighed' (haha) the good and bad with the band and bypass. For me, bypass flat out terrified me! I'm sure there are bypass patients who are happy with their choice and dislike the idea of the band, that's the way it is. My mom got banded in February of this year. Being a born-again Christian, she struggled with the thought of WLS because many people feel it's not natural or necessary. My mom chose to tell only her closest friends (either in the church or at work) and they support her 100%. I do believe God gives surgeons and doctors the abilities and skill to help His people. I am now waiting to hear back from my insurance to see if LapBand surgery will be covered. If and when I get my surgery, I don't feel obligated to tell the world if I don't want to. At this point, I don't talk to certain people about it because they will just try and discourage me and tell me what a bad decision I'm making, I can do it on my own if I just try, etc. But on the other hand, the one person who I thought would not like the idea of WLS is my number 1 supporter! I am 23 and have been overweight since elementary school... I'm ready to start my new healthy life! I would say pray about it. That's what my mom did through her whole pre-op experience. I have to take my advice and start praying about it as well, cause as it gets closer I'm getting more nervous and I want to be at peace about it come surgery day! I hope everything goes well for you!! And congrats to the post op patients on being successful and positive! It's inspiring.

I posted back in August about my surgery getting canceled because of a covid surge in my area. I was devastated and facing losing my insurance. As luck would have it, I got to keep my insurance another month and was rescheduled for tomorrow. I have been trying really hard not to get my hopes up, but I just had my pre-op appointment and so far everything is a go. I’m crossing every appendage I have that tomorrow goes off without a hitch. I’m supposed to check in at the hospital at 10 am.

Jake, Thanks for your suggestion because I know I needed to hear it. When people ask me about what the hardest part to having a Lap Band I tell lthem it's the tinkering with it that gets old. Filling, overfilling, taking it out, etc. I still am glad that I did it though and the problems it has are not near as bad as being twice my body weight brought. A friend of mine who had gastric bypass told me that while I would leave behind the problems that the weight brought me, I'd be taking on new ones. That was the best advice I ever got before surgery and the most true. Hope you do well with yours. Mine is doing some better. Been taking the Prilosec and holding down food again. It's hard work to be this thin LOL

the long term results (i say long term, but really 5 years out) are about the same amount of weight loss. with bypass, you lose faster than with the band, but you can easily regain all of that weight by stretching out your new pouch. with the band, it is adjustable and removable. you HAVE to learn a new way of eating with it that you don't have to learn really with the bypass. the weight loss is slower (1-2 pounds per week) but it's the healthier way to lose in my opinion, plus, it gives your skin a little bit of time to catch up with you. you still might have loose skin, but hopefully you won't look like a deflated bag like most bypasser's eventually look like. plus, you can can get nutrients with the band. there will be things you cannot eat with the bypass, and you will be on suppliments for life, as you can no longer absorb nutrients from food. you have to do what is right for you, but what was right for me was the band. good luck in whatever you choose.

Hi all, this is a good post. I, too, am a God following chic! But a white southern gal that has been raised in a christian home ! I will definitely have to check into that christian post that was listed on the the reply above. I have struggled with this as well, mainly because I have been praying so much about this. In December, I was listening to KLOVE (christian radio station) and they had a guest on the show by the name of Lysa Terkeurst (author) and she has written several books etc....but what caught my attention is the fact that she had just written her book "Made To Crave" that speaks about peoples' addictions to things, but in HER case --weight issues. To hear her talk about her struggles I felt as if she had just crawled into by brain and took my very thoughts and yearly trials and put it to paper. I KNEW God had led me to listen to that station that day. So... I got her book and followed her 6 week webcast that was (like the book) so full of God's word. Very good scriptures to read regarding issues that we battle. So full of truths!! It seems as though, since I have been into this book, I have had an even harder time getting back on my weight loss track, eating healthy, etc.... and I know it's just the devil throwing darts my way. Then I feel guilty for not allowing this to help me. I felt like it's the way I needed to go, but was having such a hard time. I had always been against having WLS and also was too scared. I have followed Weight Watchers for many years now where I have had good losses, only to start bingeing (why, why, why??? I just don't know why) and gain back. I have managed to keep 15 off. (really 45 off total since I once lost some weight on a low carb diet....but gains and losses followed year after year). Anyway, my mom is the one who suggested that I should look into this. She sees me in tears over this weight issue so many times and knows that I have battled it since my childhood. We know at least 7 people who have been banded and lost a lot of weight and would not trade it for anything. Only one person I know of now, can't eat much of anything, but after reading these posts, I really think her band is too tight. The rest are doing well. Most of those that I know go to the same church as me and I have not heard any negative words from anyone there about it. I would not consider it.....I was following Weight Watchers and keeping on going to the gym.....BUT finally my curiosity peaked and I started asking questions about it and found that some of my fears were not as bad as I thought they would be. I have been totally encouraged on these forums and I now know I want and NEED to be banded. I have to wait a few months with new insurance coming through my work, but at least that gives me even more time to read the success stories and get even more mentally ready for this. Like others on this forum, the bypass surgery scares me WAY too bad to ever do it, plus I don't want to give up all sweets FOREVER. I would be knocked into severe depression if that happened. Anyway, many blessings to all of you and may you have much success in your journey.

the sleeve is an easier, less complicated surgery and some surgeons are more comfortable doing that one. If you want bypass and she won't do it, you can always go to another surgeon. Yes - there's a greater risk of complications with a bypass, but the risk of major complications with either surgery is pretty low. I've been hanging around on bariatric surgery sites for around seven years, and yes - although some bypass patients need iron infusions because they don't absorb enough iron from oral tablets, I would say that's definitely not the majority. I went with bypass because it has a longer history and I had GERD. I've had no issues with it and have been very happy with my decision.

You will be fine. Had bypass last Wednesday and it really hasn't been bad. Praying for you and quick recovery!

Congratulations. I haven't had my surgery yet, but I'm hoping for November or December. My stats are close to yours and reading this makes me even more excited!!!

Different surgeons have different preferences and recommendations. Some of them only perform one type of WLS. You have the right to get a second opinion from another surgeon, and go with a different surgeon who will perform a bypass.

Gastric bypass causes your body to not absorb all of the calories in the food that is eaten. Your colon has like finger-like appendages called villi that grab food and hold it against the wall of the intestine until it can be absorbed. When a portion of the intestines is bypassed, then calories do not get absorbed. It takes the body about two years to grow enough new villi so that all of the calories in food can be absorbed again. Then an average of 20 pounds is gained during the third year after surgery. To stop the weight loss you have to eat less calories. The honeymoon is over and there is no more free ride. There is no pouch reset. Everything you eat will get absorbed now. Two years is where counting calories and following a diet is the only way to stop regain. Many people regain half of the lost weight by year five. Some regain all of it. Start fighting it now, it will not stop on its own.

The three most important elements after 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. It is also important to get in about 30 minutes of walking each day or equivalent exercise. During the first few weeks after surgery, many patients find that they cannot meet the daily goals. This is because their body is in a major heal mode. Just keep trying to achieve these goals and over the course of a few weeks you should be able to get there. There can be several causes that can rob you of energy. A lack of vitamin B12. Dehydration from not drinking enough fluids. Adverse side effects of pain medication. And many others. But the focus should be on protein, fluids and Vitamins.

my surgeon kinda did the same thing. at first I thought his motives were purely financial as well, but the more we discussed I realized it was because I wanted hard core fast results, abd the bypass is geared for just that. I think he brought it up to make me question myself so i would know whether or not I trully wanted the band, and was dedicated to work for it. Your doc is taking your life into their hands, they have to play devil's advocate, for two reasons. 1. so you can't sue them later and 2. so you know exactly what your getting into. I was doubting my choice about 24 hrs before surgery too. Just trust yourself and all will be fine! good luck!!!

I just went to the doctor and asked him this question...And he said sleeve patients loose about 77% of there excess weight..were full gastral bypass patients loose approx 80% of there original excess weight..I've never had the band so I'm not sure of there outcomes...My question is what stops us from loosing 100% of our excess weight? My eye is on the prize ! No one is telling me that I can't loose 100 %..

The surgeon in the US did the band. My insurance paid. I had problems and my insurance wouldn't pay. I went to Mexico for removal of the band and the sleeve. My doctor in the US cared for me after the sleeve. He is the one who did the upper GI, told me only about fifty percent cut away. He will resleeve but the cash price for the resleeve or sleeve is 17,000 in the US. The original surgeon for the sleeve is talking mini bypass. Sorry for the confusion.

Hi all! My surgery date will either be the 20th or the 27th. I am hoping for the 27th since it will tie nicely into my paid holidays at work! I am so very excited. My only regret is that I didn't do this earlier. Until this past summer, I didn't know that my insurance had made the approval process so much easier. You have to have a certain BMI or a slightly lower BMI and 2 health issues like diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol etc. No pre-surgery dietician or nutritionist, although my surgeon required 2 appointments and I am glad he did! Another big shock was that my insurance now considers the skin removal as an included surgery since it was the result of the treatment for a disease (obesity). 18 months post op, as long as the weight loss has slowed and can show a steady weight for 3 months, the removal is covered. I have the required cardiologist and pulmonologist appointments for final surgical clearance next week and I do not expect to have an issue. I'm excited and so motivated. I look like my mom, who looks like my great grandmother. Hearty stock I say. My mother had bypass 14 years ago and is still keeping it off and super healthy. She was pre-diabetic, hypertensive, etc at the time and now at 70 she only lakes a multi-vitamin. Ok, well, nice to meet the rest of the December Sleevers!!!

Hi Anissa! Congrats, you're almost there! Where are you having your surgery? I've definitely had similar thoughts-- especially ones about "not waking up." My boyfriend actually had gastric bypass 2 years ago and I asked him how he dealt with those thoughts. He said "the way I saw it, I was already dying." It's morbid I know, but it made me feel better somehow. This isn't something small, it's not something you're doing lightly or flippantly. You're doing it to get a new life really, and I don't think anyone would be angry at you for that.

My one month mark was the 25th. I feel good now aside from some lower level bloating. Bloating and pressure seem to be a theme for me. I had a lot of pressure from the gas immediately after surgery and it lasted for more than a week. I had some serious challenges immediately after surgery, my sister-in-law got married July 6, I had a two day job interview on July 8 and 9 - and someone was always looking to take me to a meal!!! But, I talked to my nutritionist before everything and she really helped navigate me through it. Though my surgeon instructed me to transition from liquid to pureed foods three to seven days after surgery, he told me to talk to the nutritionist and it was she who helped me to figure out what to do when my options were few. Her advice boiled down to pick soft, healthy foods like fish and the inside of a baked potato (preferably sweet) then chew, chew and chew some more. I'm grateful to have an excellent team. This week I attended my first support group. My team groups all bariatric patients together so I met a young woman who had surgery the same day, but she had bypass. It was nice to meet the participants, especially the fellow bandsters, but I didn't feel really stimulated during the session and not particularly engaged. Maybe because it was my first. I'll try it a few more times before I make a decision. Really glad I found this site. You guys are way livelier than the ones in my support group.

I was wondering if any NJ area Banders would be interested in doing the Tri-State Tough Mudder in Englishtown, NJ this November. Check it out @ ToughMudder.com. Its an awesome event for and even more Awesome cause. Anyone interested in joining me, let me know! Ive done 2 so far and its by far one of the best post band things I have conquered!

I've been reading all sorts of different reasons for the hair loss. I am expecting to have my surgery in November 2010. I'm a bit nervous because I have a full head of thick, beautiful, long hair right now. This scares the hell out of me. :confused: It's funny because the surgery doesn't scare me a bit. I have researched everything and read everything so that I am very comfortable. But this hair loss has got my heart racing.:mad0: For the inside of me.... I have been reading and learning that it is hormones or the anesthesia or nutritional deficiency. If it's hormones I'm thinking of using a Natural hormone supplement made from plants for the first year to balance my hormones. I also plan to take my Vitamins which have an 85% absorption rate so that should help with any nutritional deficiency. (Absorption rate is important) Eating sushi and anything high Protein. Also, Biotin nettle root extract, silica and nioxin supplements. As for the anesthesia the only thing I can think of to help with that is to flush it out. Am I right in thinking this? Using Fiber, lots of Water, getting a colon cleansing, and eating beets. Look I've gotta fight this hair loss ... For the outside of me I'm thinking that I can fight it with; Nioxin shampoo and conditioner Hair Plus shampoo and conditioner ooKisa shampoo and conditioner Infusium 23 leave in condirtioner A low maintenance hairstyle like corn rows or a wig. Any other tips on how you were able to slow down or eliminate the hair loss?

I'm type 2 also and before surgery was taking 2000mg Metphormine, a Januvia and 45mg Actos and still uncontrolled. I was headed for insulin next. Since surgery on August 15th I'm off of all of them except the Actos. I just saw my GP last week and my A1C was great so he lowered the Actos to 30mg. I'm very happy but have worked to keep it this way. I also eat very low carb and check my BS levels every day. I was also told I would be better off with the Bypass because of my diabetes and am happy to prove them wrong! :bolt: