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Today, BariatricPal celebrates its 11th birthday! I am very proud of this accomplishment and of our dedicated BariatricPal members who have made the last 11 years possible. How It All Started I got the lap-band and came home from the hospital on July 2th 2003. Almost immediately, I went online to find out the answers to some of my questions and to share experiences with other weight loss surgery patients. To my dismay, I could not find an online social site that met my needs. The very next day, I started LapBandTalk.com with the goal of providing a welcoming community for lap-band patients and potential patients to provide support, encouragement, and advice to each other. The Evolution of BariatricPal LapBandTalk.com took off, and I eventually started VerticalSleeveTalk.com for gastric sleeve pre and post-op patients, RNYTalk.com for gastric bypass pre and post-op patients, and SleevePlicationTalk.com for sleeve plication pre and post-op patients. In 2013, 10 years after the launch of LapBandTalk.com, I decided to merge the boards into BariatricPal.com. This single community retains the welcoming environment of the individual boards, but has a stronger voice in advocating for weight loss surgery as a way to fight obesity. We Hit Post Number 3.5 Million! BariatricPal is still growing. Our community includes hundreds of thousands of members and 7 million monthly site visits. Our most recent milestone is an impressive 3.5 millionth post, which we hit on July 10! Don’t forget that the lucky poster who made post number 3.5 million will receive a free copy of my latest book: The Big Book on Bariatric Surgery: Living Your Best Life After Weight Loss Surgery. Thank you for your continued support. Without your participation and feedback, BariatricPal would not be the top site that it is today. I am truly grateful for all that you do. Sincerely, Alex

The vertical gastric sleeve surgery is what actually got me to consider weight loss surgery to begin with, after my husband had been bringing it up for 2 years prior. The weight loss is supposedly faster, but tapers off sooner than gastric bypass. I was going to have VSG myself until the surgeon did my EDG and said it wasn't an option for me (I have an unusually shaped stomach). So for the first 4 months on this journey I spent all my time over at gastricsleeve.com and it was an awesome forum with wonderful people. Highly recommend checking it out.

I think a big reason people on weight loss forums are at goal weight is because they have remained cognizant of the weight loss process and because they feel like they contribute to the forums as a person who, for whatever reason, has been successful. I'll be honest, if I started gaining weight I probably wouldn't post on here a lot because I wouldn't be thinking about my weight (or trying not to) and I'd be ashamed. As for the keys to success, I think in the long term the biggest is to do what works for you, which takes some trial and error. I was never a rule-follower. I drank with straws, I always drink with my meals, I didn't pay a lot of attention to Protein, I eat crackers, I had chocolate a few months after surgery and a few sips of champagne to be polite 3 weeks after surgery. I almost never sit down and eat an actual meal, I mostly eat when I feel hungry and I snack a lot. I used to be big on sweets, but while they often make me feel sick, I really don't have any big cravings for them anymore. When I am somewhere with sweets, I just don't eat any. The one thing I found consistently is that when I sweets, I absolutely gain weight. If I stay away from them, I have a lot more flexibility in my diet. I weigh myself everyday and write the number in a little calendar. I don't workout a lot anymore because I have found I can be lazy and maintain at goal. I think the one thing that has worked for me is the daily weigh-in. Last November I woke up after Halloween at 137, which is 8 pounds over my goal and the most I had weighed since hitting goal. It took me until January to get back to goal, but it was a good lesson that had I not been weighing myself everyday I would have had a lot more than 8 pounds to lose. When surgery is over and your stomach is healed, it comes down to what you can do for the rest of your life. I was not willing to be thirsty during meals for the rest of my life, I wasn't willing to workout every single day for the rest of my life, and I'm not willing to be fat. Somewhere in the middle there is a compromise with myself that has allowed me to be where I want to be and also be happy and live a life that doesn't completely revolve around my weight.

Hi, I have not been on this website in a long time. I was banded, in Mexico, 4 years ago and I am now looking to have a tummy tuck done. I had a consultation yesterday with a Plastic Surgeon and although he seemed to know what he was doing and had great pictures to show....he has never done a tummy tuck on a band patient. He has done plenty on gastric bypass patients, which to me is not the same. He told me that he does have experience with Chemotherapy ports and assured me that he could handle it. I also ask him if "minimal lipo" was included in the price of the tummy tuck and he said that he doesn't do the lipo during the surgery and if I wanted lipo done I would have to come and have it done before or after and it would cost and additional $3900. I have read plenty of stories from other patients that they received minimal lipo to scult and contour their bodies. So this bothered me that I was going to have to pay an additional fee for this. He told me that I would need an extended tummy tuck and the price is $10,000. I just figured if I was paying that much I wanted to make sure that my body was not going to look oddly shaped afterwards. So, my question to all you is do you have experience with any plastic surgeons in the PA area or even surrounding states.....but I think that it must be a reasonable distance. I live in Central PA....so I am smack in the middle and it is three hours to pittsburgh and three hours to philly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. As I said, the doctor was very nice and I liked him.....but I am a little concerned about my port (I don't have a doctor to follow up with if something goes wrong since I had mine done in Mexico) and I also think that the minimal lipo should be included in with the price of the tummy tuck. Maybe I did not make myself clear when I ask the question. I wasn't talking about a procedure...I was talking about the contouring. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I just had to have an esophageal manometry completed to assess for swallowing and GERD. It was very traumatic for me! OMG I can't even explain! Has anyone else had this test? If the pressure in the esophagus comes back too high then I can't have the sleeve. I'll have to switch to the bypass which I don't want. Thoughts? Input? Dawnie_doo

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 meal 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. It is common for your taste buds to change after surgery. Many experience problems drinking protein shakes. You do not have to like protein shakes only tolerate them. There are many varieties of protein shakes available today. Experiment until you can find one you can tolerate. Whatever Protein shake you settle on it should be low on sugar and high on protein.

@RSM all my docs had a list of my medicines pre-op i take a lot of pills AM then a lot more PM a couple of meds are "horse pills" absorption problems aren't applicable to the sleeve. (covering my assss to say usually not) but there shouldn't be a problem. malabsorption (msp) is usually referred to in gastric bypass surgery. good luck kathy

I guess it would hit your intestines too fast since the liquid will immediately wash the food out of your stomach (because the pyloric valve has been bypassed. There's just a hole there now that goes into the intestines). But the only things I can think of that would make you sick because of that is sugar (for people who dump, anyway) and alcohol. Although I'm not a doctor, so... I've read and heard that's it's more because when the food washes out of your stomach right away, you get hungry again. If it sits in there for awhile, you don't.

If you are looking for a post op vitamin it depends on what surgery you have. For example, a bypass patient may have different vitamin requirements than a sleeve patient. Your surgeon should recommend the one you will need.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give advice regarding how having WLS affected your kids? I have a 3yo girl and 5mo old boy. I'm having gastric bypass later this month. I wonder about what to tell my 3yo. I wonder about how they will handle the surgery itself and not seeing them for 2+ days. I wonder about how the first few weeks will affect them as they watch me recover from surgery and the changes I will be going through. And I wonder about how this will affect them down the road psychologically, watching me eat different from everyone else and hearing me talk about it as they grow up. Any advice from those who have gone through this with young kids would be greatly appreciated!

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 took my thyroid meds the day after surgery, that pill is tiny. I could also take my PPI capsule five days after surgery. Ask your doc, some things you may need to cut in half or sprinkle in applesauce, but others may be just fine to take as they are. Extended release meds are problematic for bypassers.

Hi Everyone - Progress Update.... Banded by Kevin Dolan in November 2008. Nearly 5 1/2 months later and I have a 21kg weight loss. Gone from 122kg to 101kg.... NEARLY double numbers. Roll on weight loss.

This is an article from the Amerian Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Updated_Position_Statement_on_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.pdf This is an article I found on another site: The VSG is the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Sleeve, a newer type of WLS in which most (approximately 85%, depending on the surgeon and patient) of the stomach is permanently removed, leaving a slender "sleeve" of stomach about the size of a Sharpie marker, with normal connections between esophagus and stomach and stomach and small intestine. At one time, it was performed most commonly as the easier, less-invasive first stage of a two-stage procedure (the second stage being a Duodenal Switch, for example) on super-super obese people (BMI above 60) who were not physically in good enough shape for a RNY. After losing the first 100 or more pounds post-VSG, the patients were then fit enough to go through the second surgery to lose the rest of their excess weight. Presently, it's also done as a stand-alone WLS procedure on people who have less weight to lose, and the surgeons are finding that many people with high BMIs like mine lose all the weight they need even without a second surgery. The sleeve, like a RNY pouch, cuts gherelin production (which suppresses physical sensations of hunger), but unlike the RNY pouch, it still produces stomach acids so that meds (including anti-inflammatories) can still be taken normally once the sleeve has healed post-op. The VSG procedure is strictly restrictive, like the LapBand, rather than restrictive and malabsorbtive, like RNY, so calories and nutrients are better absorbed during digestion. Nutritional supplements are still necessary, however - I have to take the same Multivitamins, Calcium, Iron, B12, etc. as RNY patients, although I could get my calcium as carbonate rather than citrate (I don't - I use the same calcium citrate products as everyone else here on TT). The surgery is irreversible, unlike the LapBand, but has a better weight loss rate than LapBand - more like RNY. Most insurance companies don't cover VSG yet because they still consider it "investigational", but it tends to have a lower complication rate because it's a simpler procedure and many WLS surgeons believe it will eventually be widely performed. Through my own research, I have found some information which would be helpful to those considering WLS. This is neither authored by nor endorsed by the owners of this forum but is simply the gathering in one place some useful information I personally have come across. Let's look at an overview of the major WLS options out there: http://www.thinnertimes.com/weight-l...omparison.html http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html Restrictive versus Malabsorptive Surgery There are a number of weight loss surgery procedures available to treat obesity. Bariatric surgery has two primary approaches to achieve weight loss, and treatment typically emphasizes either the restrictive or malabsorptive approach or a combination of the two. Restrictive Weight Loss Surgery This type of bariatric surgery involves closing off parts of the stomach to make it smaller, thus decreasing the amount of food that can be eaten. The LAP-BAND?, Vertical Sleeve gastrectomy and Vertical Banded Gastroplasty procedures are restrictive types of bariatric surgery. LAP-BAND? Surgery The Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band procedure, more commonly known as LAP-BAND? surgery, is growing in popularity. This restrictive procedure involves using a Silastic? band to create a smaller stomach pouch, causing patients to become full after eating a minimal amount of food. Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) The Vertical Banded Gastroplasty weight loss surgery procedure creates a smaller stomach pouch by stapling off a section of the stomach, then using a band to restrict the passage of food out of the pouch. After stomach stapling, the patient is unable to consume large amounts of food in one sitting. Once the food leaves the pouch, it goes through the normal digestive tract. Malabsorptive Weight Loss Surgery This weight loss surgery approach entails altering the digestive system to decrease the body's ability to absorb calories. The Biliopancreatic Diversion and Extended (Distal) Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedures are malabsorptive types of bariatric surgery. Biliopancreatic Diversion (BPD) Biliopancreatic Diversion involves first creating a reduced stomach pouch and then diverting the digestive juices in the small intestine. The first part of the small intestine, where most of the calories are normally absorbed, is bypassed. That section, which contains the bile and pancreatic juices, is reattached to the small intestine much further down. There is a variation of this procedure called Biliopancreatic Diversion with "Duodenal Switch." This operation utilizes a larger stomach "sleeve" and leaves the beginning of the duodenum attached, but is otherwise very similar to standard BPD. Extended (Distal) Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP-E) This weight loss surgery procedure is a variation of the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass operation. It differs in that a somewhat larger stomach pouch is created, but a significantly longer section of the small intestine is bypassed. There is less emphasis on restricting food intake quantity and more on inhibiting the body's ability to absorb calories. The Combined Approach - Restrictive and Malabsorptive Surgery The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure is a combination operation in which stomach restriction and a partial bypass of the small intestine work in tandem as one of the most effective treatments for severe obesity. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass The most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the United States is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. This operation involves severely restricting the size of the stomach and altering the small intestine so that caloric absorption is inhibited. Open versus Laparoscopic Surgery There are also varying techniques that can be used during bariatric surgery procedures. The two techniques are laparoscopic and open bariatric surgery. Open Bariatric Surgery While laparoscopic bariatric surgery can be performed through several small incisions in the stomach area, open bariatric surgery requires one larger incision that begins directly below the patient's breastbone and ends just above the navel. While both the open and laparoscopic procedures produce similar long term results, open bariatric surgery is associated with a longer recovery period. Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery As opposed to "open" bariatric surgery, laparoscopic bariatric surgery involves making several small incisions and performing the operation by video camera. A laparoscope, the device used to capture the video, is inserted through an abdominal incision. This provides the bariatric surgeon a magnified view inside the abdomen, allowing the operation to be performed using special surgical instruments and a television monitor. The long-term results for laparoscopic bariatric surgery and gastric bypass surgery should be similar to those for open procedures. The advantages of the laparoscopic approach include less post-operative pain, a shorter recovery period, and less extensive scarring. The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure (also called Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastrectomy, Greater Curvature Gastrectomy, Parietal Gastrectomy, Gastric Reduction, Logitudinal Gastrectomy and even Vertical Gastroplasty) is performed by more and more surgeons worldwide. The earliest forms of this procedure were conceived of by Dr. Jamieson in Australia (Long Vertical Gastroplasty, Obesity Surgery 1993)- and by Dr. Johnston in England in 1996 (Magenstrasse and Mill operation- Obesity Surgery 2003). Dr Gagner in New York, refined the operation to include gastrectomy(removal of stomach) and offered it to high risk patients in 2001. Several surgeons worldwide have adopted the procedure and have offered it to low BMI and low risk patients as an alternative to laparoscopic banding of the stomach. It generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten by removing 85% or more of the stomach without bypassing the intestines or causing any gastrointestinal malabsorption. It is a purely restrictive operation. It is currently indicated as an alternative to the Lap-Band? procedure for low weight individuals and as a safe option for higher weight individuals. Anatomy This procedure generates weight loss solely through gastric restriction (reduced stomach volume). The stomach is restricted by stapling and dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a very slim banana and measures from 1-5 ounces (30-150cc), depending on the surgeon performing the procedure. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while drastically reducing the volume. By comparison, in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, not removed, and the pylorus is excluded. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stomach can be reconnected (reversed) if necessary. Note that there is no intestinal bypass with this procedure, only stomach reduction. The lack of an intestinal bypass avoids potentially costly, long term complications such as marginal ulcers, Vitamin deficiencies and intestinal obstructions. Comparison to prior Gastroplasties (stomach stapling of the 70-80s) The Vertical Gastrectomy is a significant improvement over prior gastroplasty procedures for a number of reasons: 1) Rather than creating a pouch with silastic rings or polypropylene mesh, the VG actually resects or removes the majority of the stomach. The portion of the stomach which is removed is responsible for secreting Ghrelin, which is a hormone that is responsible for appetite and hunger. By removing this portion of the stomach rather than leaving it in-place, the level of Ghrelin is reduced to near zero, actually causing loss of or a reduction in appetite (Obesity Surgery, 15, 1024-1029, 2005). Currently, it is not known if Ghrelin levels increase again after one to two years. Patients do report that some hunger and cravings do slowly return. An excellent study by Dr. Himpens in Belgium(Obesity Surgery 2006) demonstrated that the cravings in a VSG patient 3 years after surgery are much less than in LapBand patients and this probably accounts for the superior weight loss. 2) The removed section of the stomach is actually the portion that ?stretches? the most. The long vertical tube shaped stomach that remains is the portion least likely to expand over time and it creates significant resistance to volumes of food. Remember, resistance is greatest the smaller the diameter and the longer the channel. Not only is appetite reduced, but very small amounts of food generate early and lasting satiety(fullness). 3) Finally, by not having silastic rings or mesh wrapped around the stomach, the problems which are associated with these items are eliminated (infection, obstruction, erosion, and the need for synthetic materials). An additional discussion based on choice of procedures is below. Alternative to a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass The Vertical Gastrectomy is a reasonable alternative to a Roux en Y Gastric Bypass for a number of reasons Because there is no intestinal bypass, the risk of malabsorptive complications such as vitamin deficiency and Protein deficiency is minimal. There is no risk of marginal ulcer which occurs in over 2% of Roux en Y Gastric Bypass patients. The pylorus is preserved so dumping syndrome does not occur or is minimal. There is no intestinal obstruction since there is no intestinal bypass. It is relatively easy to modify to an alternative procedure should weight loss be inadequate or weight regain occur. The limited two year and 6 year weight loss data available to date is superior to current Banding and comparable to Gastric Bypass weight loss data(see Lee, Jossart, Cirangle Surgical Endoscopy 2007). First stage of a Duodenal Switch In 2001, Dr. Gagner performed the VSG laparoscopically in a group of very high BMI patients to try to reduce the overall risk of weight loss surgery. This was considered the ?first stage? of the Duodenal Switch procedure. Once a patient?s BMI goes above 60kg/m2, it is increasingly difficult to safely perform a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or a Duodenal Switch using the laparoscopic approach. Morbidly obese patients who undergo the laparoscopic approach do better overall in their recovery, while minimizing pain and wound complications, when compared to patients who undergo large, open incisions for surgery (Annals of Surgery, 234 (3): pp 279-291, 2001). In addition, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass tends to yield inadequate weight loss for patients with a BMI greater than 55kg/m2 (Annals of Surgery, 231(4): pp 524-528. The Duodenal Switch is very effective for high BMI patients but unfortunately it can also be quite risky and may be safer if done open in these patients. The solution was to ?stage? the procedure for the high BMI patients. The VSG is a reasonable solution to this problem. It can usually be done laparoscopically even in patients weighing over 500 pounds. The stomach restriction that occurs allows these patients to lose more than 100 pounds. This dramatic weight loss allows significant improvement in health and resolution of associated medical problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea, and therefore effectively ?downstages? a patient to a lower risk group. Once the patients BMI is lower (35-40) they can return to the operating room for the ?second stage? of the procedure, which can either be the Duodenal Switch, Roux?en-Y gastric bypass or even a Lap-Band?. Current, but limited, data for this ?two stage? approach indicate adequate weight loss and fewer complications. Vertical Gastrectomy as an only stage procedure for Low BMI patients(alternative to Lap-Band?and Gastric Bypass) The Vertical Gastrectomy has proven to be quite safe and quite effective for individuals with a BMI in lower ranges. The following points are based on review of existing reports: Dr. Johnston in England, 10% of his patients did fail to achieve a BMI below 35 at 5 years and these tended to be the heavier individuals. The same ones we would expect to go through a second stage as noted above. The lower BMI patients had good weight loss (Obesity Surgery 2003). In San Francisco, Dr Lee, Jossart and Cirangle initiated this procedure for high risk and high BMI patients in 2002. The results have been very impressive. In more than 700 patients, there were no deaths, no conversions to open and a leak rate of less than 1%. The two year weight loss results are similar to the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass and the Duodenal Switch (81-86% Excess Weight Loss). Results comparing the first 216 patients are published in Surgical Endoscopy.. Earlier results were also presented at the American College of Surgeons National Meeting at a Plenary Session in October 2004 and can be found here: www.facs.org/education/gs2004/gs33lee.pdf. Dr Himpens and colleagues in Brussels have published 3 year results comparing 40 Lap-Band? patients to 40 Laparoscopic VSG patients. The VSG patients had a superior excess weight loss of 57% compared to 41% for the Lap-Band? group (Obesity Surgery, 16, 1450-1456, 2006). Low BMI individuals who should consider this procedure include: Those who are concerned about the potential long term side effects of an intestinal bypass such as intestinal obstruction, ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency. Those who are considering a Lap-Band? but are concerned about a foreign body or worried about frequent adjustments or finding a band adjustment physician. Those who have other medical problems that prevent them from having weight loss surgery such as anemia, Crohn?s disease, extensive prior surgery, severe asthma requiring frequent steroid use, and other complex medical conditions. People who need to take anti-inflammatory medications may also want to consider the Vertical Gastrectomy. Unlike the gastric bypass where these medications are associated with a very high incidence of ulcer, the VSG does not seem to have the same issues. Also, Lap-Band ? patients are at higher risks for complications from NSAID use. All surgical weight loss procedures have certain risks, complications and benefits. The ultimate result from weight loss surgery is dependent on the patients risk, how much education they receive from their surgeon, commitment to diet, establishing an exercise routine and the surgeons experience. Advantages and Disadvantages of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Advantages Reduces stomach capacity but tends to allow the stomach to function normally so most food items can be consumed, albeit in small amounts. Eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces the hormones that stimulates hunger (Ghrelin). Dumping syndrome is avoided or minimized because the pylorus is preserved. Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring. By avoiding the intestinal bypass, almost eliminates the chance of intestinal obstruction (blockage), marginal ulcers, anemia, osteoporosis, protein deficiency and vitamin deficiency. Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI > 55 kg/m2). Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 30-50 kg/m2). Appealing option for people who are concerned about the complications of intestinal bypass procedures or who have existing anemia, Crohn?s disease and numerous other conditions that make them too high risk for intestinal bypass procedures. Appealing option for people who are concerned about the foreign body aspect of Banding procedures. Can be done laparoscopically in patients weighing over 500 pounds, thereby providing all the advantages of minimally invasive surgery: fewer wound and lung problems, less pain, and faster recovery. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Disadvantages Potential for inadequate weight loss or weight regain. While this is true for all procedures, it is theoretically more possible with procedures that do not have an intestinal bypass. Higher BMI patients will most likely need to have a second stage procedure later to help lose the rest of the weight. Remember, two stages may ultimately be safer and more effective than one operation for high BMI patients. This is an active point of discussion for bariatric surgeons. Soft calories such as ice cream, milk shakes, etc can be absorbed and may slow weight loss. This procedure does involve stomach stapling and therefore leaks and other complications related to stapling may occur. Because the stomach is removed, it is not reversible. It can be converted to almost any other weight loss procedure. Considered investigational by some surgeons and insurance companies. Much of the above information was garnered from information from Laparoscopic Associates of San Francisco. The following links provide additional important information you may want to consider in your research: http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bariat...ion_sleeve.pdf http://www.iabsobesitysurgery.com/Me...eDietGuide.pdf http://www.cornellweightlosssurgery....astrectomy.pdf Happy Re-Birthday to Me - One Year Out, 244 Pounds Down Post-Op! Aviator's Log Book

Leatha I had great restriction and had erosion. I lost 11 lbs in October, found out my band was eroded in November. My restriction was better then it ever was in September and OCtober. Have an endo for your own peace of mind, it is worth the money I'm glad you are being the responsible bandster, having your band unfilled is wise. Glad you went to your Dr. and aretaking care of things.

Hello Connie. I'm 52 I just started my Journey. My first appointment was Fed 9 2017, I go back March 9. I am having the Roux En- York Gastric Bypass. Hope fully sometimes in Aug. Congrats to you.

I'm another failed band converted to mini-gastric bypass. It's early days for me but I second / third the previous posters. Bands are so finicky. Plus if you go bypass it is theoretically reversible if you're worried about changing your anatomy. Sent from my SM-G930F using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi there I had the band in dec 2010....i just wanted to say my on the job health ins denied me but my medicare paid soooooo i know lots and lots who have had bypass and it covered so my guess is it very well might.....i have lost 70 lbs cant see to get going ,maybe start from scratch and see if that helps.....

I have a lot of other health issues and I think the first dr was going for the band because it is something that could be reversed if need be. He does all of the surgeries. I somehow seemed to get him on call when I ended up back in the hospital a couple of times. He did a friend of mines sleeve and her husbands bypass and they have done fine. My dr just kept telling me to have patience because he felt like my hernia repair was a little tight and needed time to loosen but I felt like it must be a stricture. I even told him a couple of weeks ago things were tightening up again and he kind of acted like that couldn't be the case. I am so thankful for the first dr. He is the only one that is listening to me these days! He is being pro-active at this point and even admitting that none of them appreciated the fact that it could have been a stricture so early in the game. You know I lost some weight prior to the surgery and the rest after. I also had a 3 week stall.

I was leaning toward the sleeve but after talking with the surgeon have decided on bypass. My surgery is scheduled for 12/1 and I can hardly wait. I have some medical comorbidities that have been getting worse in the past 7 months. I just want to be out of pain and get my life back.

One of the things my surgeon wanted me to do was to have a meal with a person that had had the surgeries I was considering. It was my homework assignment. Ironically, I had done that before seeing her. I had dinner with a guy 3 months out from the sleeve and one year out from the bypass. Granted the time they were postop made a huge difference, but it definitely swung me toward the bypass. He could eat a cup of food, was more compliant than the sleeve and seemed happier. I'm also basing this on the knowledge of the individuals too....I don't know but maybe it could be enlightening for you somehow.....

Good Morning All.... I had my bypass on May 5th, so tomorrow morning I will be exactly one week out. It has definitely been a week of ups and downs (although mainly ups). Surgery went better and quicker than expected as I also had a large hernia repaired at the same time. I also was released from the hospital a day earlier than I had expected. So things were looking great! Thursday was great but Friday was my day from hell. Everything hurt so bad, and I felt that I could barely move. By Sunday I felt like I was back on the upswing. I was able to walk my block outside without having to stop and catch my breath. I could stand up without feeling like my stomach was dropping to my feet and I was able to enjoy a wonderful mother's day with my family. This morning was the first morning I didn't struggle to roll over in bed or have pain sitting up to get out of bed. So I think I'm starting off my week great. Just one problem...... I still have not gone to the bathroom since surgery. Is this normal? I know I have only had liquids, and am peeing regularly. I am a little concerned as before surgery I took Milalax every morning with my coffee. Maybe I should start taking it again?? Any advice? (btw, down 10 pounds since surgery and 34 pounds total! )

Since most of us are off restriction on what we can do... does anyone wanna do a November exercise challenge? Like I hope to do 3000 steps on the wii fit 5 days a week for November. Which would total 60,000 steps. Anyone wanna join me? BTW I can do that in 30 minutes max. So it's a total of 600 minutes for a month, 10 hours. teri

Hey welcome I'm 30, im 2 months post opp gastric bypass , took me about a year and a half to get surgery. i live in Canada and would be glad to answer any questions you might have. You can message me privately too

I’m 4 weeks post bypass and I feel like when I drink water it causes me pain. Almost feels like a terrible gas pain or a hunger pang. But it takes a few minutes to go away. It’s interfering with my hydration. I’m not sure why or what to do. Anyone go through this? Any advice?