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That would be included in the speaking engagement and examples varying results and complications for people. This is not just about me but education on possibilities and pitfalls of the surgery

My bypass surgery is scheduled for July 26th and I am inches away from calling my doc and cancelling the whole thing. I am 100% self-pay and am terrified of all the complications that I see and hear about. It took a lot for me to save the 22k for the surgery. I worry that complications could send me to the poor house. I am 5'5 240 and wonder if it's worth it. Is anyone else out there getting a full bypass via self-pay?

I'm not hearing anything that is making me change my mind. R.E. Preeclampsia.. had it with my first pregnancy, when I became pregnant when I was 169lbs. I did make it full term, but induced when I started dropping protein in my urine. Baby and Mom were fine. My next 3 pregnancies all went fine with no complications, with starting weights at 180lbs, 225lbs, 245lbs. I gained 40lbs with each one, except #2 where I gained 65! Do you see a trend? After each pregnancy, I did drop the pregnancy weight gain each time, but some of that weight always made its way back after weaning, in time for the next pregnancy. I didn't develop gestational diabetes, but 10 years after the last pregnancy, I became prediabetic. What the surgery does is clean up old metabolic issues and gives you a clean slate. (At least, that's the hope.. works for some, but it's not guaranteed). What you do with that clean slate is up to you. After you get surgery, you really have to be on a "diet" the rest of your life. You can always gain weight back, the same as anyone. But, the surgery is a one-time opportunity.. and I'm SOOOOO glad my family was complete before considering going under the knife, so my clean slate can remain that way. Maybe you can talk with your doc about how risky they believe a pregnancy will be (before or after surgery).. a lone voice on the internet shouldn't necessarily sway you one way or the other, but I urge you to get as much information from your own network as possible. Many people here get the surgery so they CAN get pregnant. Without it, they are infertile. For those people, they only have one choice if they want to be parents, and I wholeheartedly support them. For you, it sounds like you have options. And if slow weight loss is discouraging enough to stop your diet attempts... it's a bit concerning to me, since postop it is nothing but dieting. What I would love to see you do, is try one of the diets again (and I can give you one if you like), work on your mind game and nutritional status.. drop a few pounds, and when you're ready, get pregnant, have your baby, and after a couple years get the surgery. Sure, you'll be a few years older, but you'll use those years to learn more about the surgery and practice healthful eating, so when you do get the operation, you'll be completely ready.

@Berry78 Yes my insurance won't cover it, so I would be paying for it on my own ($16,000). My doctor hasn't said anything regarding my weight an pregnancy. It's my personal choice, I do not want to be at risk of pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia. The problem with the diets I have tried is that If I loose, it's a small loss, which makes me frustrated and not continue with the diet. I have been loosing the same 11 pounds for so long!

Hi Jenny, I think it's common to be nervous - especially so close to your surgery date! I'm still about four months out and had anxiety all day today just thinking about mine. Did your insurance require any visits with a psychologist that you were able to discuss any of this? (My insurance requires 3 visits at a minimum.) I'm like you in that I'm an under-eater, not an over-eater. My food choices themselves just weren't the best. I know getting a grip on the "head stuff" is key so I'm trying to focus more on that than thinking too much about the surgery itself. I haven't heard of any severe complications from the surgery and most people seem to have no regrets once they're through the healing process. Best of luck to you!

Well I never though I'd say this.........but I'm actually going in for my 4th WLS surgery / procedure this week [emoji15], I'm 3 days away from it on the 21st of July 2017 [emoji106][emoji4] My weight loss journey so far....back in 2004 I weighed 136kg / 300 pounds and am 182cm / 6ft. My GP in the UK wouldn't approve SAGB on the NHS so I self funded the operation at a hospital in the South of France. Operation went well, weight loss was good, got down to 90kg / 198 pounds. However, gradually I had more and more complications with the band, slippage and erosion. Weight went up to 116kg / 255 pounds. No matter how much fluids were put in or removed from my band, my restriction was either that tight I couldn't get water down or too loose so I could eat whatever I liked. I also developed reflux and experienced frequent vomiting. I had a revision from band to sleeve in the same operation in Australia 3 years ago (2014) got down to 84kg / 144 pounds with the sleeve. My sleeve stretched over a couple of years, partly due to the poor shape of the sleeve due to the damage done by the band (after my operation my surgeon said to me that my stomach was in such bad condition it looked looked "like a dogs breakfast in there!!") and if I'm honest partly due to me falling off the wagon, eating too much junk food and drinking a serious amount of alcohol, so my weight crept back up to 103kg / 227 pound. So anyway I finally stumped up the courage to go for the full gastric bypass 1 year ago at a weight of 103kg / 227 pound. Weight loss was great, felt full quickly, no major dumping, no complications / side effects. Got down to 80kg / 176 pound then recently crept back up to 93kg / 205 pound, so now I'm having the Overstitch this week, which I hope will be my final weight loss operation ever this Friday! In hindsight I wish I'd never had the band and sleeve and gone straight for the bypass all those years ago, but still grateful for the overall weight loss to date. I must have been quite lucky with the operations, I had no infections, significant pain or gas pain, I was waking around the ward on day of the bypass, got 1.5ltr of fluids down me same day and after the TT I was doing laps of the ward on day 2! Only real issue is I've become severely anaemic this week. I'm on iron tablets and Vit B12 injects. Now when I was in the mid-80kgs I had a fair bit of excess skin and I think the weight loss and the natural getting older process had made me look older than my years, so I went in for some plastic surgery to get my self sorted out. I had upper and lower blepharoplasty (reduction of loose skin above and below my eyes, liposuction to my neck, 2 separate neck lifts (first one unsatisfactory), liposuction to remaining man boobs, stomach, hips and back. Full abdominoplasty with new belly button. Oh and a complimentary mid-face lift whilst the surgeon was in doing my lower eyes, I actually didn't ask for the mid face lift but my surgeon couldn't resist doing it once he had perfect access to the areas / structures required to hitch up the face a little. I woke up to the unexpected news about the face lift and was thrilled with the results and even happier that is was for free!! I also had a fat transfer, where they sucked some fat out of my abdominal area and had it pumped in the jowls / cheeks / nasolabial folds to fill out my face a little!!! Now I just have a little Botox and some dermal fillers as maintenance to the face. Also had a vampire facelift lol. And OMG for those of you who have had full tummy tucks, as in skin and muscles, jeez how painful is the recovery from that bad boy!! Worst of all the WLS surgeries I've had and the other cosmetic procedure. You can't sit up, you can't laugh, sneeze, burp, fart, go for number 2's, well that was my experience with the TT recovery although I recovered very well form all of the procedures with no issues at all, thank-fully [emoji106] The Tummy Tuck for me is what makes me want to stay at around 80kg, any heavier and I feel the skin on my belly stretching because of the tightened skin. I gets quite uncomfortable so I have to get it oI don't want to ruin the effects of the surgery. All in all the procedure took 3 seperate operations they were 11 hours, 5 hours and 9 hours in duration. After the 11 hour operation I ended up in ICU on a cardiac monitor with a special one to one nurse as I was at risk of an adverse cardiac even due to excessive fluid loss. The three cosmetic operations cost me over $70k. Anyway, that's my story in its entirety, I thought I'd share this information with you as I have had so much done and gone through so many procedures, so please feel free to comment and ask me any questions. Thanks John [emoji4][emoji106] PS: No judgement please lol

My employer specifically has it excluded on our health plan. My insurance company told me that I would need to talk my employer into re-negotiating their contract and removing the exclusion for future year coverage. I've seen some template letters online here and there that can be used to present to your employers HR department but this would be a long uphill battle. In these cases when your employer excludes it, it really not up to the insurance company. Good luck. I'm going RNY via self-pay and it's scary since insurance won't cover complications either, but I believe it's worth the risk.

I just turned 56. Had surgery 8/23/16 at 55. I'm down 99.5 pounds and was hobbling toward knee replacement . I had no complications after surgery. I was back at work less than a week after (I'm a desk jockey and only go into the office 2x week work from home other days). Fear is OK. But, don't let it derail you. What can I do now? I fence 4-5 hours a week, do TRX, walk, run, jump all without narcotics, which I needed before for my knee pain. Last year, Memorial Day, went with daughter 1 to University of Pittsburgh for a tour and had to quit the tour half way through (she completed it) because walking hurt too much. This year, just a few weeks ago at orientation, I didn't move the car from the hotel for the three days we were there and walked 5-7 miles daily with no adverse effects. In fact, worked out in the fitness center both nights. Think about what you will be able to do. My orthopedic surgeon is stunned by the improvement in my knees - I still don't have cartilage in places (that won't change) but I think I'll be able to put off replacement for 10 years. Before, i was hoping to make it to 59. In part, I had the VSG so I could do my knees - he didn't want to do my knees until my BMI was under 40. You've got this.

Hello all I am 61 and got my sleeve 6/5/17. I will be honest I have had no complications. The first two days was not fun but I had just had major surgery. I have no regrets. My loss is slow and I am happy with that. I am more active with more energy each day. Yes the first two weeks was exhausting but now on my fifth week I couldn't ask for more. I started at 256 and today I am at 218. Stay away from the complications forum. It will only scare you.

Im just going through the motions. Routine. It will hit me when I walk into the hospital. I bee waiting for this. Prayers to you too dear. Lord I come to you in the name of Jesus and I ask that you bless the hands of our surgeons & nurses on today. Lord guide our surgeons that it will lead to a quick recovery and no hard complications. Lord I ask that you be with all of us to give us strength through it all. In Jesus name Amen iamready4this

I had my sleeve, gall bladder removal and hernia repair 1 month before my 66th birthday.... no complications and virtually no pain, just abdominal soreness. I have lost a total of 86 pounds, 32 in the couple of months waiting for all my preop testing to be completed and the other 54 since my surgery. Like others, my only regret is not doing it sooner.

We should stay from the complications forum. The more you read about them, the more inclined you become certain that they are the "norm." Read about all of the success people are having and make that your reality. That's what I plan to do..

I didn't do this, but would recommend you meet with the new surgeon (or his/her staff), and explain the situation. They can help you figure out what to do. If you feel super strongly about this, then even if it means starting the process completely over, be willing to do it. The postop care is an ongoing relationship.. kinda like marriage. Most surgeons don't like taking patients that were operated on by another surgeon, especially if there is a complication. So make sure you are comfortable with your choice before going under the knife.

I'm getting really close. August will be the month. Wed I have my doctor appointment for clearance and my mental health check. I'm cash paying so I dont have to wait on insurance approval. I'm glad I could offer some relief. It will be OK, were all in this together. Doctors have other options for infections so I wouldn't stress too much. Just trust your Surgeon and listen to your body. Early findings are very treatable even in the rarest of complications. Sent from my LGMS550 using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm in the same place. I'm researching for a highly qualified and "lower" cost option than San Diego for a conversion from a lap band to sleeve. I've been looking as well. I've found a Doc in Dallas for $12.5 (Dallas Bariatric Center). Docs in San Diego that I'm finding are more like $23K for cash pay. I"m also a conversion (Lap Band to Sleeve) - so I'm looking at $30K in So Cal -- also, they are very secretive about their pricing out here. You have to go in and see them: So I'll share the people I know. UCSD: Dr. Horigan - absolutely the gold standard of surgeons and if you have any complications/scars and are looking for a conversion - I highly recommend. $23-30K. SCRIPPS: SD - pretty much all of the docs are $23-25k - very highly skilled and well respected. Re Mexico: I've heard really good things about Dr. Alvarez through a site called Realself - but my doc told me that generally a lot of the clean up surgeries they do are for patients who went to Mexico. So it scared me - he didn't elaborate who/how/what - and I suspect there are good and bad like in all cases.

How are you doing now, a few months out? I do hope there were no more complications!

This was a post about switching surgeons at the last minute. They had gone through everything and were waiting on insurance approval, but they found another hospital a few hours away with more surgeries per year and fewer complications and wanted advice on if they should switch and how to do it. Not sure why that merited a delete! *shrug*

Clots and pulmonary embolisms are a known complication of any surgery and anytime someone is sedentary. There are many risk factors, one of which is obesity. That is one of the reason they want you up and walking as soon and as much as possible. I am happy to hear you realized something was wrong before too long.

I wish scare tactics would not be used here when discussiing RNY. It is a perfectly safe option. As I said I have had both now, mainly because my acid was so out of control, i needed to prevent more damage to my esophagus to prevent esophagal cancer possibly down the road. When he started my bypass, he discovered a damaged spot on my esophagus that most likely would have ruptured in the near future and I would have been in deep doo doo. Luckily I have the best surgeon in California and he knew what to do to repair it before he continued with the bypass. The recovery of this RNY is not one iota different than it was for my sleeve 5 1/2 years ago. The diets are the same, the incisions on your abdomen are the same. Of course the restriction is greater because the pouch is very small. I am not blaming anything on my sleeve. i had great success with it, however, had I realized it would not cure the bad acid reflux I already had, I would have chosen RNY at that time. Although I had about 75 pounds to lose, I did not have the surgery for weight loss. 2/3 of my stomach was over my diaphragm between my lungs headed for my heart. This was a result of a fundiplication surgery I had in 1999 to repair my stomach valve damaged by acid. Many on the gastric bypass board here have chosen to have a revision from sleeve to RNY because of their severe acid. NO ONE is saying that the sleeve caused the acid. If you have severe acid reflux before the sleeve, the RNY is definitely a better option for you so that can be taken care of as well. This will prevent further acid damage to the esophagus down the road, this lreventing Barrett's Esophagus or cancer. Some people just want opinions as to why others made their decisions. That does not mean one is the right way or the other is the right way. The doctor will make that decision based on the individual patient. Part of your intestine is NOT discarded with RNY. It is simply cut and attached to your new pouch. There is no difference than having 2/3 of your stomach cut off! Please do not use scare tactics or such negativity here. WLS is a big enough decision in the first place. Some people will have complications with any surgery. Any surgery is a risk. As I said, I myself have had no complications, no pain, or any nausea with my RNY. I have a great attitude when it comes to surgery. Never scared. That is part of the reason I recover so well with no issues. It will not do any good to scare people off here. They need to go into either of these surgeries with a positive attitude and be optimistic. We are here to help, not scare them to death. Enough of the negativity and statistics.

I'll add to to my prayer list! It will go well. There at so much fewer complications with the sleeve.

I've had terrible GERD for years. I too have less than 100 pounds to loose but I have medical complications..( two hernias, one of which was giant along with gastroparesis and more) my doctor told me that the RNY was the best choice for me and that if I didn't lose and keep off the weight my hiatal hernia could return in as little as three months. I am two weeks post op and although it's a struggle, I'm glad I made this choice.

Hi all My life has been a whirlwind lately. First I was thinking about the sleeve, then my doc told me because I was previously diagnosed with Barrett's, he would not do the Sleeve. I have very bad GERD. So then I started really thinking about the bypass which sounded ok but the complications and being self-pay terrified the heck out of me. I am terrified of the getting major complications and having to pay for those out of pocket too. Anyway, I just got done with my endoscopy/colonoscopy and it turns out that I don't have Barrett's and he said that I can now consider the sleeve and hernia repair. My head is spinning and I need to make a decision this weekend since I'm supposed to have me pre-op tests for the sleeve surgery on Monday. So here is wheee I am stuck.... 1. I've been on a 1200 calorie diet for the past 3 months and have not lost anything. What's the difference between 1200 calories with a normal stomach and 1200 calories in a sleeved stomach? Will it really make a difference and help me lose ? I understand with the bypass, I can eat 1200 but absorb 800 or so as that helps. 2. Has anyone had hernia repair and still experienced acid reflux?

I don't think anyone needs to get defensive over their decision. I just think there are pros to RNY that I rarely see discussed on this site because a vast majority are sleeve patients who were fearful of the RNY or felt it was too extreme or invasive. If they felt that way, it's fine, but the truth is it's a very safe surgery that's performed without complications every single day and it's a great option for a lot of bariatric patients. Not trying to flame any drama, but someone posted a thread the other day saying their doctor recommended WLS and they had no idea where to start, so they wanted information. Within just a few posts that person was saying that it sounded like "the sleeve is the better option" and she was going to go with that one. I don't mind if she gets VSG - heck, like I said, if I woke up with a VSG instead of RNY I'd be pleased as punch. But I would hate for someone to make a decision about surgery without evaluating all of the evidence simply because of fear.

i'm doing great. it's been about 2.5 weeks. zero complications. no nausea, throwing up, anything. energy is good and i'm losing a pound a day so far. can take in plenty of fluids and i'm up to 2 miles a day walking. thanks for asking. back on topic - the reason my doctor and i chose RNY over sleeve is because of the "magic" (his word, not mine) of the malabsorption component of RNY. because restriction of food/calories has never been my problem in my lifelong struggle with weight. i've never suffered from uncontrolled hunger, incessant cravings, or food addiction. for the past 5 years, i've been able to gain a significant amount of weight keeping calories around 2,000/day and most of them very clean calories (avocado, eggs, fish were/are my mainstays). i am just genetically programmed to store fat, no matter what. so because of that, we didn't think i'd get good results with just a restrictive procedure like the sleeve. we needed the ace of spades card. recent studies are bearing this out. showing that up to 70% of the weight loss after RNY is due to the profound changes in gut microbiota (not calorie restriction). there is some change in gut microbiota with the sleeve, but not nearly as much as with RNY. https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/obesity/65603 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27440168 further - it's interesting to me that the #1 reason i see a lot of sleeve patients cite in making their decision over RNY is "i didn't like the idea of my intestines being rearranged". this is fascinating to me. mainly because i LOVE the idea of my intestines being rearranged. i'm a nerd and the science of it, and the elegance of the surgery, is just so cool. i love being the subject in my own walking science experiment! also, i don't understand the reasoning because "god" (or whatever) never intended a surgeon to slice off 80% of your stomach with laproscopic instruments under general anesthesia either. oh well, not hating, we all have our issues!

Just confirmed band to sleeve revision 8/15/2017 with Dr. Ariel Ortiz @ OCC in Tijuana Mexico. Not really nervous at all. The band surgery was a breeze for me and I have had one other surgery (non weight loss) with no complications. I seem to recover well from injury and surgery, so it doesn't scare me much. Banded 2/2009, had great success. Over 100 lbs lost, exceeded goal. Ran into trouble about a year ago with not being able to get the right adjustment and dealing with reflux. Decided the band has outlived it's life for me and I can't do it alone, so it's the sleeve for me.