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If you had a competent Dr they would know that when you are burning fat in your body your Cholesterol spikes temporarily. It is a "complication" of weight loss. Burning fat releases fat into your blood stream. You don't know if you have elevated Cholesterol until you have hit maintenance. Also all this talk about hearts in here. Unfortunately, if you are genetically pre-disposed to having a bad heart, no diet is going to save you. Drugs might prolong your life, but how you eat will be placebo effect at best.

Hi, I did the procedure on a Friday 9AM by afternoon I was home. My husband drove me back. That afternoon I took a nap. Saturday I went for a walk around the block. Monday I was back at work, I have a desk job. Some days I took a nap when I came home, I did feel a little tired maybe due to the low calorie consumption. The day after the procedure I had a little pain in my neck muscles from the endoscopy, Gas pain for another 2 days that faded with walking. The diet is similar to the sleeve but the stages are much shorter. One day liquid diet before the procedure. 2 days clear liquid after the procedure, then full liquids (shakes) for 2 weeks. Week 3 is pureed protein, Week 4-5 add soft vegetables and some fruit and week 6 add some carbs (optional) I do follow up with a nutritionist, by appointment or phone call. This procedure is not as restrictive as the sleeve that is why the expectation is less weight loss than the sleeve. But it depends on your starting BMI . I believe age can be a factor too. I hardly exercise so maybe that is why they predicted this low percentage. The surgeon should give you a better prediction. There is a 1% risk of complication in this procedure comparing to over 10% with the sleeve. There is no cutting so I don't think leakage comes into play. I am over 6 week post procedure and I feel great. I lost 18lbs and I feel very energetic. I don't have issues with any food. Just chicken I have to eat slower. No nausea no vomiting no gerd, no stitches. I log my food and my weight on a daily basis, I am on around 1000 calories per day (the goal for me is 1150) . I try to take vitamins on a daily basis. I am constipated, but I was before the procedure,(I take Iron pills) Besides feeling uncomfortable if I overeat, I don't feel anything. .

You need to start to follow your pre-op plan immediately. The main purpose of it is to reduce the size of your liver so the surgeon can move it aside to access your stomach. If you don't comply there is a chance the surgeon won't be able to complete your surgery or non-compliance can lead to increased risk of complications. Try not to panic. Take a deep breath and know that your surgeon will be doing everything s/he can do to keep you safe. Trust in the process and commit to follow all instructions going forward from today. You can do this!

I had a major complication. I know it's very rare, but I had the unfortunate experience of bleeding of my spleen. I was sleeved on July 19th at OCC. Here's the facts: I woke up after the surgery and felt fine. Pain was relatively insignificant. However, the evening of surgery, I experienced more pain and thought it was just gas and decided to walk the floor most of the night in hopes to relieve what I thought was gas pain. My fellow "sleepers" were discharged the next morning, but I clearly was not ambulatory. A Dr. finally came to see what was going on, only to give me some unknown injection. I felt better within an hour and was taken back to the hotel. Fast forward. Approximately two weeks post surgery, I experienced a debilitating pain in the abdomen and spread to my shoulder. I was taken by Ambulance to my local hospital. While in the ambulance, I realized how bad I was. My blood pressure was so low they had to put an IV in each are in hopes to increase my blood pressure. The hospital ER ordered at CT scan. It showed my spleen was surrounded by blood. It was not actively bleeding at the time, but it must have been bleeding for some time. The Radiologist report indicated spleen showed small laceration. The sleeve stitches and staples were not affected. I was in the ER for a night, and spent two other nights in the ICU. I was that I'll. The fourth night I stayed in normal hospital room. I was discharged from hospital, but later returned with Pneumonia. Good times! There is no way someone can convince me that my spleen was injured by blunt trauma post surgery. It did not happen. It had to be caused as a result of complication of surgery. So, yes I regret my decision to get sleeved. I put myself in this predicament. As I write this, I can say this is the first time since surgery that I have not experienced pain. So, again, I believed this spleen complication due to surgery is very rare, but it does happen. I can vouge for this. Besides putting my health at risk, just think of the $ I spent on U.S hospital? Insane!

I had my surgery at Cedar Sinaid on June 16th I had a revision from VGB to RNY managed to keep off the weight for 18 years the last two years I got out of control and had major complications from the first surgery. I live in Simi Valley. Aka_ET HW-220 Pre-op 194.3 RNY SD June 16th 2017 CW-172 GW-140 HT 5' 3" [emoji120][emoji878][emoji1272] "You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit"

How do you know which type of weight loss surgery (WLS) is best for you? Part 1 of this series explored some of the factors to consider; here are a few more! Reversibility Each Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) type is designed to be permanent. However, the Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB) is fully reversible if necessary since the surgeon can remove the band from around your stomach. The Gastric Bypass (RNY) can be reversed, although the procedure is more complicated. The Gastric Sleeve (VSG) is absolutely irreversible since it involves removing most of your stomach from your body. Because of its reversibility, the AGB may be the choice for some younger patients or for those who do not want to take a dramatic step that affects their actual body parts. Invasiveness and Recovery The AGB is least invasive and has the shortest recovery time. It can even be an outpatient procedure, and you could get back to work in a week. This might be the only realistic option if you have very little sick leave available or you do not want to tell work colleagues about your surgery. The RNY and VSG are inpatient and require longer recovery times Safety: Complications and Side Effects Some risks of the AGB are band slippage or leakage, or erosion of the band. You could have vomiting or reflux if your band is displaced or filled too tight. Since the band can be removed, most of the complications can be stopped by emptying or removing the band. The VSG has a higher rate of complications than the band. They can include leakage at the suture site. Nearly a quarter of RNY patients have complications of some sort, with more serious ones including staple line separation or leaks. You might opt for the AGB if you have a lower BMI without many health issues, or you might be more willing to take on RNY risks if your BMI is higher and you are more concerned about obesity-related issues such as diabetes. The risk for nutritional deficiencies is higher with RNY and VSG. You can greatly lower your risk by taking the appropriate nutritional supplements, but you need to be prepared to take your bariatric vitamins for life. The effects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies can include osteoporosis, anemia, and nerve damage. A Sweet Tooth and Dumping Syndrome What are you looking to get out of your WLS? If all you need is help with portion control, AGB may be for you. It only helps with portion control, and it is up to you to make healthy food choices. On the other hand, the gastric bypass is best if you are looking for a tool to help you avoid sweets. That is because of the malabsorptive nature of RNY. With RNY, your food passes through the lower part of your small intestine with less digestion than it would before surgery. Sugars that get to your small intestine can give you symptoms of dumping syndrome, including weakness, extreme fullness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Foods that cause dumping syndrome tend to be sugary and high-carb foods, such as candy, soft drinks, cakes, and pastries. Dairy and alcohol can also cause problems. Most patients who get RNY have dumping syndrome at some point. Dumping syndrome can be beneficial because it gives you extra motivation to eat right – you know that if you grab that brownie, you may be headed for hours of misery! That can be a good reason to choose RNY. However, if the thought of dumping syndrome scares you, RNY is not for you! There are many factors to consider as you choose your WLS type, but keep in mind that the decision is individual. You need to choose the WLS type that will work for you, even if it is not the one that worked for someone else. The decision is something to make after one or more serious conversations with your surgeon.

Reversibility Each Weight Loss Surgery (WLS) type is designed to be permanent. However, the Adjustable Gastric Band (AGB) is fully reversible if necessary since the surgeon can remove the band from around your stomach. The Gastric Bypass (RNY) can be reversed, although the procedure is more complicated. The Gastric Sleeve (VSG) is absolutely irreversible since it involves removing most of your stomach from your body. Because of its reversibility, the AGB may be the choice for some younger patients or for those who do not want to take a dramatic step that affects their actual body parts. Invasiveness and Recovery The AGB is least invasive and has the shortest recovery time. It can even be an outpatient procedure, and you could get back to work in a week. This might be the only realistic option if you have very little sick leave available or you do not want to tell work colleagues about your surgery. The RNY and VSG are inpatient and require longer recovery times Safety: Complications and Side Effects Some risks of the AGB are band slippage or leakage, or erosion of the band. You could have vomiting or reflux if your band is displaced or filled too tight. Since the band can be removed, most of the complications can be stopped by emptying or removing the band. The VSG has a higher rate of complications than the band. They can include leakage at the suture site. Nearly a quarter of RNY patients have complications of some sort, with more serious ones including staple line separation or leaks. You might opt for the AGB if you have a lower BMI without many health issues, or you might be more willing to take on RNY risks if your BMI is higher and you are more concerned about obesity-related issues such as diabetes. The risk for nutritional deficiencies is higher with RNY and VSG. You can greatly lower your risk by taking the appropriate nutritional supplements, but you need to be prepared to take your bariatric vitamins for life. The effects of vitamin and mineral deficiencies can include osteoporosis, anemia, and nerve damage. A Sweet Tooth and Dumping Syndrome What are you looking to get out of your WLS? If all you need is help with portion control, AGB may be for you. It only helps with portion control, and it is up to you to make healthy food choices. On the other hand, the gastric bypass is best if you are looking for a tool to help you avoid sweets. That is because of the malabsorptive nature of RNY. With RNY, your food passes through the lower part of your small intestine with less digestion than it would before surgery. Sugars that get to your small intestine can give you symptoms of dumping syndrome, including weakness, extreme fullness, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Foods that cause dumping syndrome tend to be sugary and high-carb foods, such as candy, soft drinks, cakes, and pastries. Dairy and alcohol can also cause problems. Most patients who get RNY have dumping syndrome at some point. Dumping syndrome can be beneficial because it gives you extra motivation to eat right – you know that if you grab that brownie, you may be headed for hours of misery! That can be a good reason to choose RNY. However, if the thought of dumping syndrome scares you, RNY is not for you! There are many factors to consider as you choose your WLS type, but keep in mind that the decision is individual. You need to choose the WLS type that will work for you, even if it is not the one that worked for someone else. The decision is something to make after one or more serious conversations with your surgeon.

Intercostal muscle pull is normally caused by excessive twisting of the trunk. So I think you are right when you called it a Non-Surgical Complication! Random Oddity. After surgery my body was very, very tender. I slept on a water bed and getting up out of bed was sheer terror because I experienced shooting pain in the process.

They will always do a clotting test before surgery. And I was fine on that day. It was when they put me back on anticoagulants two days later that things went bad. But they also had to "over sew" my staple line, so I think it was a combination of things. Do NOT let my story discourage you. Complications are rare, and the benefits of the surgery far outweigh the risks!

So sorry to read this! This is my main concern on not having the surgery. I have very thin blood and every procedure I have had in the past, I would not stop bleeding. Is it possible in your history to have had a blood coagulation test done prior to surgery. This scares me because I would be on self pay and cold not afford a cash complication like that

Just thought I'd post an update. As I wrote last week, I was rushed back into emergency surgery after being home from my VSG on 9 August. I had bled into my abdomen, causing extreme pain and low blood counts. Two transfusions and a week later, and I'm doing much better. I'm still in the hospital, but if all goes according to plan, I get to go home tomorrow. The culprit for my post-op bleed was a too-high dose of Lovenox (blood thinner). I have a genetic blood clotting disorder and a history of near-fatal pulmonary embolism, so my hematologist took a very aggressive approach to anticoagulation post-surgery. Obviously, it was too aggressive. I've been on a lower dose for about 5 days, and all seems stable. I still have to transition to my regular blood thinner (Coumadin), but I'm hopeful I can do that at home. In spite of all of this, I have no regrets about this surgery. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thanks for the support!

All about the end result!! It is tough but is necessary for the surgeon to perform the surgery without complications. 6 months from now you will be wearing smaller clothes and feel great about yourself!! SW: 481 CW: 425 GW: 230 Sleeved 8/9/2017

By now you probably see that you're not alone. I'm just two weeks out and have the WTF did I do moments at least once a day. I think part of the problem is that I don't feel normal, and I no longer know what normal is. I'm having to eat differently and my body is healing from some pretty traumatic surgery. I am able to get my protein from eggs, cottage cheese, fortified milk, ricotta, etc. I have to lay off the protein drinks for my own sanity. But I hate that no matter how slowly I eat it, I sometimes can't finish one egg. I really wish I could fast-forward about 3 months. I have to say that I do feel better after reading some posts on this website, and I try to stay away from the ones about complications so that I don't start imagining things! Think of all the hard things you've done in your life and you've survived. This is just another mountain, and you're not alone.

I healed beautifully from surgery. Two weeks out, feeling great...then it hit me. I have an intercostal muscle pull! Rib pain hurts!!! I have NO IDEA how it happened. It just went, BAM! Goes from my spine all the way around to my side. I went to the doctor, barely able to move. They sent me to the ER immediately to double-check it wasn't a lung puncture issue or blood clot, since I was hunched over in so much pain and so tender to the touch. After bloodwork, a CTscan and Xrays of my chest, I was cleared that yes, this was what I told them I thought it was! I appreciated their precaution either way. So, now I'm dealing with this. Getting over surgery was easier than this rib pull. My goodness, has this been kicking my rear! They say 3-6 weeks. Surgery only knocked me out for a week. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, so I did both.

I had my surgery in Tijuana, Mexico with Dr. Illan. I worked with Bill Yanez of BariatricPal MX and he answered all of my questions. He is an adult and anyone you speak to at BariatricPal MX are adults. Payment is handled through a credit card or Wells Fargo. You can ask Mr. Yanez for more information on that. However, you first must fill out an extensive Health Questionnaire and be approved. Then, if you are approved, you give a deposit (I paid $500) in order to schedule and guarantee your surgery date. And you will have a certain amount of time to pay the balance, depending on how far out your surgery date is. I believe full payment is due one to two weeks before your surgery. As far as primary doctors, each one will react differently to your getting the surgery in Mexico. But...how I looked at it is like this: I'm paying you to be MY primary doctor...if you don't like it, I will simply fire you and get someone else who will give me the care that I need. For me, I asked my endocrinologist to continue care, because she is the one who suggested I get surgery. And her care was simply giving me blood tests at three month intervals. She agreed to do that for me. Other than blood tests, I have not needed any extra care for my surgery. Should any complications arise once you get home, there are different insurance companies that do different things. I would check out your particular company to see what they say. However, I have seen on many forums that if you go to the ER, they cannot deny you treatment, irregardless of where you had a surgery. Also, there is insurance you can purchase, I believe, that will give you coverage for an amount of time after surgery. I would call Bill Yanez and ask him all of your questions. He is very attentive and will listen to your every concern. You can also talk to, Skype with, and email Dr. Illan with any questions and concerns.

Kristi, I just had VSG surgery in Tijuana 3 weeks ago, and understand your concerns. This was a very big decision to make that I researched well. I went back and forth many times before deciding to go with Dr. Verboonen. I was looking for someone who was very experienced and had good reviews. I also talked to a distant relative who had the same procedure with this doctor a couple of years prior and she told me that her only regret was not doing it years earlier. Before making the decision, I read all of the information on Dr. Verboonen’s website and talked with his patient coordinator, Sheri, who was available to answer all of my questions. I was required to submit my health information via questionnaire to get approval and then paid a $675 deposit to schedule my surgery. The total cost (except airfare) was $4500. It included transportation from San Diego, 2 nights in the clinic with a family member and the 3rd night (last night) stay in a nicer hotel. I couldn’t find anywhere in the US for anywhere close to this price. I arrived and had surgery the same day that I flew in. Before surgery, they did blood work, an EKG and an X-ray. It was a busy day, I believe there were 7 patients that received surgery that day. They have lots of staff that seems to have the process down well. I met with the doctor and other health care workers prior to surgery but was busy enough going through the process I didn’t think of many questions or have time to get too nervous. I am not going to lie, it was not the medical environment that I was expecting compared to hospitals in the U.S., but I would do it again. It is more of a clinic environment that is located in the heart of Tijuana. The buildings are older, the doors have magnetic locks for safety, but it was clean. I had never been to Tijuana before so it was a little bit of a shock to me. The recovery/pre-op room and operating room are directly next to each other. As I was waiting to go in, there was someone in a bed in the same small room that just came out and another in the operating room. Like I said, this was a busy day and people were being rotated into the procedure one after another. The first 2 days after surgery were the roughest for me. My stomach was sore and I think I woke up every 15 minutes the first night. The hospital bed I stayed in wasn’t the most comfortable but I don’t think many are. One thing that helped a little was getting up and walking as soon as possible to try and get rid of some of the gas that is used to inflate the stomach for surgery. I didn’t feel like doing much the second day but felt quite a bit better by the third day. This was the day we could have a popsicle for the first time and it never tasted so good. Before leaving I had to take 2 leak tests that both came back clear. Since leaving, I haven’t had any complications so far. I am now 3 weeks out and just starting to be able to eat mashed potatoes and applesauce in addition to broth. I have noticed that it doesn’t take much food or drink to feel full. I know it is going to take dedication and commitment to reach my goal weight but I feel like this is going to be a huge help in getting me there. I am looking forward to connecting with and hearing from others who are going through the same journey. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for the replies. Would anyone share how payment is handled and how much extra cash should be taken? I realize some of my questions can be answered by speaking with a representative from the surgeons office, weight loss agent, patient coordinator? Just who ARE all these different people anyway! Scrolling around I found a post regarding weight loss agents and how you think your speaking to a professional adult but instead it may be a teen ager hired to take phone calls and give information out? Another question (should I start a new thread since my questions skip around so much!) How did your primary Dr here in the US react to your decision to fly to Mexico for this surgery? Not the decision to have bariatric surgery but the decision to have it in Mexico? Were you reassured you would have continued care and their support and care should any complications arise? Thanks again everyone for your answers!

Hi there, I'm at 365lbs, 33 years old. 5 ft 3. So I have about 200 lbs to lose. I'm getting sleeved September 20th. I chose the sleeve over the bypass ONLY because of how many more complications the bypass can have. There's only about a 10% difference in excess weight loss between the two, and the sleeve has minimal complications associated with it. So for me, I'd rather have the extra 20 lbs that I can work off myself, than a lifetime of possible complications. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

I was in hospital 4 days 1 day extra cause of complications from hernia surgery and could keep liquids down. When I left on 4th day I could have driven and was not on any pain meds. I think it depends on the type of incision - i had laparoscopic surgery. Make sure u have your protein shakes and vitamins and first 2 weeks of food - not much you'll need but applesauce cottage cheese that kind of stuff - so u can just concentrate on healing and walking and eating the first couple of weeks.

Hello all- I had RNY on 7/31 and have been doing great! This past week has been miserable and I actually called the after hours number for advice. The resident told me they were contacting the doctors and I'd hear back. Anyways, the past week after eating solids very slowly and chewing it up to applesauce consistency, I have been having the worst pain between my breasts as if it is getting caught. Although painful, I can deal with that. About half of the time I am very nauseous and then throw up clear slimy stuff and then feel better. Right before the vomiting I literally can not spit spitting. It wasn't happening with drinking, but after the last vomit episode, i feel the pain with liquids. I am at loss of what to do. I can't wait to hear from the Bariatric team on their thoughts.

One of the nurses at my surgeon's office said something about having to be below 500 to have the surgery but the surgeon never mentioned it. He said the emphasis was on following the liver shrinking diet, which I did, and lost 19 before surgery day, but still over 500. No complications.

I know there has been a lot of discussion around hospitals and surgeons; can you please share who you had complete your surgery, hospital and how you found them? I am helping a friend find a surgeon as his insurance will not cover it. I have had the surgery 2 years ago but was able to be covered by insurance so much less complicated.

No, I did not eat solid food earlier than recommended. I followed my surgeon's plan and did not have any complications.

My understanding this that since it its done via the esophagus, it technically is not a surgery but a procedure. The procedure is $16,000 but if a complication arises I would have to be admitted and am assuming would not be covered by insurance. That is the part that concerns me.

So I was denied twice to have my sleeve surgery after my band was removed in June due to complications/slippage. My surgeon was on the phone with the insurance surgeon and apparently they were arguing - I already hit the lifetime limit of one surgery 13 years ago, and technically had TWO surgeries (removal) that were paid for and they wouldn't revise me. Band out. 25 lbs immediately gained. Wow, WOW it felt SO GOOD to eat and not have things stuck. it was like a physical addiction to chew and swallow without puking. But, holy crap I'm gaining. I've slowed down finally, am walking every day but not losing. Still a battle. My sleep apnea is back, so I'm about to go get evaluated for a CPAP. I'm up 2 sizes, where I never thought I would be again. I'm up 60 lbs from my lowest with the band. Not really a success story anymore. I'm hanging on for dear life because there is one more chance for the sleeve. I spoke to my husband and in November I'm going to enroll in my own healthcare through my employer. Praying to god nothing bad happens...I have a new local doctor who I've already consulted with, and his surgical coordinator, and they're getting me in the first week of November as a new patient so that I will satisfy the three months of medical supervision, and that as of Jan 1 we can schedule surgery for Feb or March as long as I've lost weight. I'm struggling now, but practicing by logging every day, eating slow when I can remember. Every week I'm getting better at avoiding triggers, being consistent, but my late day eating ruins the entire day of doing well. My goal is to get my sh!t under control - better control - so that the habits are there and the sleeve just accelerates it. I am at the mercy of my hunger some days, it is so frustrating. But I am having "good" days here and there, changes in attitude and understanding. Just needed to talk. I feel like November is forever away and January doesn't exist...love reading all of your stories!! Keeping me going.