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hello everyone, Im from Corvallis, and having my surgery November 13th,2009 at OHSU...very nervous but grateful I didn't give up when turned down the first time for surgery due to depression.

I already have malabsorption issues with metabolic disorder. My PCP felt vsg was best with my other health issues and the surgeon thought it was the best option for my body. The initial doctor I met with at Magee said Bypass as I have struggled with eating disorder since I was a young girl. She thought the dumping with the bypass would help with emotional eating. I did a lot of reading. I went back and forth and finally committed to the vsg. I watched a ton of YouTube videos lol If you feel good about the bypass go for it! They are all tools and we have the power to make them work! Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

My highest weight was sometime around November of last year, and was 415 pounds. I was 402.5 when I started the 2 day fast prior to the surgery. I'm stuck at 366 for a month now, but had my 2nd fill today. I'm feeling hopeful. I lost all of that weight in the first month. I have to stay away from fried chicken. See ya Colonel. Rob

I started with the lap band in 2008 which is how the GERD started. I revised to the Sleeve in 2010 thinking it would help, not knowing back then it would get worse. It has progressively gotten so bad over the years my reflux is out of control. I take tons of medications and now including cough pills, syrups, drops, I regurgitate in my sleep... etc. My insurance has just recently approved me for another revision to the Rny Gastric Bypass (thank GOD). I do try to put the word out not to take that chance, who wants to be revised so many times? It's either revision for me or future Barrett's or esophageal cancer. Guess which one I chose?

for sure it is not easy and every day I have to make choices - sometimes every hour. I ate because of stress. I have had a whole lot of it - especially in the past 6 years. First, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. A week later they discovered pancreatic cancer. On top of all that, he is a type 1 diabetic. The pancreatic cancer was in its early stages so they were able to do a whipple procedure and that got rid of the cancer. But because they removed part of his pancreas he now has episodes of dangerously low blood sugars (20 - 30). It is really stressful to wake up in the middle of the night and realize that I need to act fast to get his blood sugar back up or he might die. Also, he is now undergoing chemo for the leukemia. For a long time I ate to try to soothe the stress. It didn't do me any good at all. I dieted over and over again with very little success, but over the 6 years of 'dieting' I developed a heart condition, had a stent placed, high blood pressure and really, really insulin resistant type 2 diabetes. I never meant to make it sound like it is easy - it is not. But over the past 6 years I have learned how tough I am. Now, for the first time in my life I actually have insurance that will cover my surgery so I decided that now that I have this 'tool' of gastric bypass to help me out I can and will use that toughness to help myself get to a healthier place. There are some things in life that I will never be able to control, but I am bound and determined that my choices to eat healthier and to exercise won't be one of them.

Hi all, First time posting but these forums have been a wonderful resource over the past few months. I'm just introducing myself to this forum. I got approved last week by my insurance, which is Oxford, for the bypass and will be meeting first week of May with my surgeon to set the operation date. I believe the operation will be somewhere near the end of May. It's been quite a journey to get to this point, as all of you know, and feeling excited, anxious and a bit nervous for the next steps (pre-op dieting, op, post-op recovery & diet, etc.). Looking forward to all of your good thoughts and glad to be a part of this community. Ben

So I am still at the approval stage of VSG. I am 33 yr old mother of 2 beautiful girls and married to the love of my life. I have been overweight since I was a teenager and have been up and down since then. I had originally gone to the seminar planning on doing lap band surgery. I had not really heard about VSG until that day. I left the seminar knowing that the sleeve was what I wanted and the lap band was definitely not right for me. I met with my surgeon and he thinks I am a great canidate for the sleeve. I have done a ton of research since then and I am positive this is what I want. That being said I still have fears. I am scared that I will not get approved. I am terrified that I will fail with this also. Most of all I do no know what it is like to be thin. I am also scared to be hopeful that I could lose weight and keep it off. Also will I have excess skin on my arms and legs. I am expecting the tummy to have excess skin especialy where I have developed the baby pooch after my last child. I was keeping it pretty quiet that I was planning on doing WLS. I have recently told my boss and a few of my co-workers. My overweight friends are excited for me. My thin friends keep offering to diet with me or go to the gym instead of doing the surgery. My husband has been supportive, but keeps hearing horror stories about bypass surgery. I keep telling him that this is competely different surgery. I know there are still risks. I still have not told my dad and I do not plan to until after the surgery. Sorry to be so long winded, but it is nice to talk to people that have been through this or are going through this too. I am so excited to see so many people doing well after this surgery.

I'm not familiar with the SADI, but the traditional DS (what I have, I've lost over 400lbs) has two anastomoses, bypassing more of the intestines. Obviously, this causes more malabsorption. My common channel, where I absorb, is 150cm. With the Loop DS, there is one anastomosis, and less malabsorption. It really depends on what works for you. There are few DS surgeons, but that's because few people are thoroughly educated about, it's benefits, etc.

I got the results from my EGD and some additional testing they did as a result (Gastric Emptying) and I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis though I'm not 'presenting' with the more severe symptoms... (Yet?) I was originally slated for the sleeve. My doctor said he is still leaning towards the sleeve but it's important that I understand that if the portion of my stomach that is left is not functioning properly I would have to then have the sleeve converted to a bypass, probably within weeks of the initial surgery. Scared. Worried. Feeling like my shot at a real life change just got really complicated if not shut down... Anyone else hit this particular hurdle?

Most people experience a lull in loss around week 3-5 from what I have read. This is due to healing, your body having to readjust to solids, constipation (as you mentioned) etc. Just keep doing what you are supposed to be doing and have faith. It WILL work if you don't decide to start "testing" your band to see if things you aren't supposed to have will go through anyway and if you don't give up! Just be patient. The band does not work the way RNY/gastric bypass does. It gives a much slower weight loss. The lull in loss at week 3 is why my surgeon does not do the Optifast pre-op he said. The body gets kind of shocked by the reintroduction of solids.

Hi everyone, I'm hoping I can get some good advice here. I was banded on 8/14; went for my first fill on 9/24 (3 cc's in 10 cc band). Today I am still very hungry and feeling very little restriction. I called my doc's office to schedule another fill. I was told that I could not get another fill until after November 19th (90 days post op). The first appt. available was 12/4! :biggrin: Does this sound right at all? In reading the boards, it seems most docs will give another fill if the patient requires it. I'm getting a little discouraged, although I am down 30 pounds since surgery date. Any advice would be appreciated. ML sw 295 cw 270 (?? - haven't weighed in 3 weeks; don't want to get discouraged)

I was wondering if he gave me the bypass instructions versus the lapband, but I guess that is what they recommend, 3 weeks of clear liquids. I'm curious to see how many bandsters have stayed on clears for a full 3 weeks? It does say, in my postop literature, that I may have milkshakes, just not too many! LOL. Thanks for the replies! Kelli

I had no clue sleeve was more popular than RNY. I hadn't even heard of sleeve prior to my first consult. "gastric bypass" seemed to be a common term. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you for your replies. I was always so against bypass for me. But I'm actually leaning towards it as of now. Crazy. I'm excited regardless. A new journey :-) Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

Well for all you San Diegeans . . . tonight (4-7) is Dr. Mueller's office support group meeting which is open to anyone. It's both bypass and lapband people . . . but a good group. I don't know the address of it . . . just know where it is behind Mary Birch hospital . . . across from the parking garage - the Rehab building . . . but you could call Dr. Mueller's office for the phone number for information!

Hi Everyone, Went for my Nutritional Assessment yesterday and saw Dr. Fielding and he said while I was there might as well do my surgical consult as well!! He's just so....smooth! The Aussie accent is so sexy - ANYWAY, November 9th is my date (I have to be nicotine free for 1 month). Coincidently, November 9th is my wedding anniversary as well. So, I'm on my way! Very excited, nervous, scared... Normal I guess. Thanks to everyone on this site for all the great info - I was totally familiar with everything that was presented to me yesterday and Dr. Fielding also said I had "great questions" for him - all thanks to you guys! Maria

Thanks Lellow! Your good wishes must have made it to the scale's ears! LOL!! I was actually expecting a gain and I lost! Last week: 189.1 This week: 188.7 Total Loss: -0.4 I'll take it! :tt2: I'm a little confused by some of you who have had great losses of a lb or more and you're disappointed but "taking it anyway." Those are GREAT losses! Average is supposed to be 1-2lbs a week. So you are right there with your weekly loss. This is NOT bypass where you lose 10-20lbs a week and have most of your weight gone in 6 months. It's really self-defeating to be speaking of a great loss like it's nothing and you feel you should have done better for yourself. You need to be positive with your losses. How many of us couldn't lose at all or very little before surgery? Or keep it off? How many of us would have started gaining at the holidays and would STILL be gaining? Probably most of us. I keep hearing how people did gain during the holidays but now they've lost that plus some since! That would never have happened before surgery! We've GOT to stop beating ourselves up! We've got to start celebrating ourselves and our achievements, not beating our heads against the wall b/c we didn't lose as much as we wanted too. Or calling ourselves losers or lazy for only managing to get on the treadmill 2x in a week instead of 7x. I bet 2x is way more than we'd done before surgery! We've got to stop talking down to ourselves and start talking ourselves up! Just my opinion! :crying:

Hi everyone, I just wanted to post to see if there might be anyone out there that has had a revision done and gone through Kaiser Fontana? I was banded back in November 2002 (self-pay) and have just now started the process to get a revision done by Kaiser in Fontana. I have already had my Upper GI and Dr. Fedorka reviewed it and determined that I am a good candidate for the revision in one surgery after I complete the Options classes and the other requirements. It would be nice if all Kaiser's had the same requirements for WLS and it seems that Kaiser Fontana seems to take the longest. Kirstyn

Hey mommy! Congrats on your upcoming surgery! I will be willing to answer any questions you might have. I have been through a lot with my band, and I would really like to give you some personal experience that you might find useful. Dr. Koura has a support group but I don’t really attend. It tends to be fuller of his gastric bypass patients. While I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just not helpful to anything I’m really going through. Best wishes!!

Is it true that once you have been banded, if you change jobs and must get another medical insurance plan, the insurance companies will not cover you? They do not cover patients that have had lap band surgery. Also, is this also true if you have bypass surgery?

Hi, For years now i've been sure that weight loss surgery wasn't my answer ... and yet, here I am, starting to seriously consider it and wanting to learn more to help with making the decision. I've met with a surgeon and he has suggested both the gastric sleeve and bypass are options; and explained that I would lose a bit more with the bypass which he would usually recommend at my weight (although not necessarily) ... so now this is another decision to make as far as which way to go before i see him again. For me, I know that while the food and exercise aspect of weight gain and loss have been a very unhealthy relationship for the last 40 years (mid-40's now) it's my thinking that has been the main impact on this journey and subsequent weight loss sabotage. I've always struggled with using food as a coping tool for most things; from dealing with emotions, to distractions, to trying to cope with the impacts of various traumatic experiences. Now after a life time of morbid obesity, my body clings to the weight when I do start losing and I regain so fast it seems like I just blink (although i know it's more than this really). Increasing health issues, and a desire to live a healthier more active and fulfilling life have led me to where i am now .... as well as an increasing number of medical professionals saying that while i might lose the weight without surgery they think it's unlikely I would keep it off. Some of the things that are impacting my decision are I guess the usual questions of what it would be like to not have food to turn to in the same way; wondering how to replace food with other alternatives for coping and wondering how it will impact my life when until now eating has been such a big part of it. Right now, i'm taking some time to focus on working on finding other coping tools aspect of things so that if i go forward I give myself the best chance of success possible. As part of that I'm working with a therapist, reading what i can find that might be helpful and open to other suggestions. I know that for this to work, I need to work on the mental side of things ..... and that in turn will help with being able to do the rest. I'm also in the position of not really having much support to make this journey; so another reason finding online support and people to talk this through with is really important because I keep seeing how it is so much better to do this with the support of others. Currently i'm leaning towards the sleeve, and as well as working on the mental side of things trying to work out whether it would be good to spend some time losing weight prior to surgery or not; the dietician seemed to think that if i did that i might get discouraged and not have the incentive following surgery that i'd need ....... and that if i was going to lose it, i would have already. I'd be interested hearing how others have gone forward with this as far as losing weight prior to surgery (apart from the two weeks prior) or not .... As well as any other suggestions or information; and I think just knowing that there are others going through similar things will help Very glad to have found this site and look forward to taking part I think my current head space is a mixture of being terrified and hopeful all wrapped in one!

I will be 1 year out in July 2013.. Had surgery in Mexico with Dr Garcia.. Yes I did have issues but have lost over 70lbs.. This is the smallest I have ever been.. It feels so good to buy clothes ! I still have issues with reflux, I take 1 prolosec in am & 1 in pm.. My insurance has covered all my after care, including 2 hospital stays for a C Diff infection. Also I still struggle with food. Sometimes difficult to eat with the reflux. One of my docs wanted to convert my sleeve to a bypass but I dont want to do anymore surgery.. I was suposed to have another EGD last Fall with a monitor placed for 2 days but I didnt want to do anything at that time.. My C Diff finally went away in December. Ok, so Im actually going to try & attach pics.. One is of me & my son from October 2011, I probably weighed 185.. The other 2 were taken a few days ago at 129 lbs! I never liked to take pics before so it feels weird to take them now.. Good luck to all in their weight loss journey!!

My family has definately benefited since I had the band put on November 21, 2007. My 15 year old son decided that if I couldn't drink sodas that he wouldn't and he could really down them before. My 18 year old daughter who stuggles with her weight is watching what she eats and my 12 year old son has become more active. My husband hasn't changed alot of his habits but I know the food coming into the house is alot more healthy than it was before the banding. Rarely any fried food, lots less carbs and alot more fresh vegies. :clap2: Starting weight 246 11/21/06 Today 211

Hi I had the full gastric bypass 8 years ago . I lost 255lbs . Anyways, I had one child pre op who is now 14. And 14 years later I am now pregnant again . I still can't eat large meals . And after pasta my sugar reads 5.8 for pre diabetes . Even when I was 450lbs I never had any medical issues whatsoever . So it's a bit nerve wrecking for me. I'm also afraid of the glucose test, I heard it could kill bariatric patients . Anyone else have anything similar ?

If you want sleeve then stick to your guns. Seems like they have to re-write anyway. Bypass and sleeve are 2 very different procedures.