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I'm sorry it hasn't worked for you. This sounds miserable. Does your surgeon have any ideas, like a revision to sleeve?

This morning I am blessed to get up and move around getting ready for my surgery. I have to be there my 6:30am, surgery starts at 9 am, so please pray for me. I will try to take some pictures during the day to share. Love all my bypass family.

I'm 5.3 and started at 264. I lost 100 pounds in 7 months and feel great. I can't tell you what would be best for you, but I can tell you why I chose the sleeve. First, I was deathly afraid of dumping. I am not a huge sugar eater but I wanted to live as normal of a life as possible. I know too many people who get deathly ill after bypass and I didn't want to explain my surgery to anyone if I turned out to be a dumper. Second, I hate swallowing pills. I knew I would start out great and eventually stop taking them. I knew that with my sleeve, I still need to ( but I don't) and I'm going to be ok. (My levels are tested every 6 months and they were great except for my D which I've always been deficient in. Dammit.) Third, malabsorption. It scared me. I didn't want to risk it. Fourth, I had three friends who sleeved a year before me and their results were great and their healing process was so much easier than the bypass people I know. For ME, the sleeve was right. I'm sure you will figure out what's best for you.

If you already have the GERD I would strongly suggest going with the Bypass. There is a chance after the hernia is fixed that it would resolve itself...and I took that chance. While other's experiences might be better than mine, and a lot of peoples GERD does resolve 5-6+ months post-op, those first couple of months are hard (hell...fire burning hell) . I'm in the process of converting to bypass at less than a month post-op. And while I'm ready to be over this GERD, I'm dreading another recovery and re-opening incisions. I think it would be much easier if I was a lot further post -op and my body was more healed so if your surgeon is willing to convert you post-op then maybe sleeve is still an option. ? Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Hello, I had the bypass 4/8, so I'm a little over 2 weeks post op and my starting weight was 342 lbs and now I'm down to 324 lbs. I'm not gonna lie its not easy but if you put in the work you will succeed. They weren't joking when they said the surgery is just a tool. My reason to have surgery was due to being diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes. I didn't want that for myself. So when I got diagnosed with that last June that was my wake up call that I needed to make some changes. I hope you decide if this is best for you because I don't have any regrets.

Hello. My name is Rebecca and I am 35 years old. I am currently going through the process of eventually having gastric bypass. I am curious to hear other people's stories. Doesn't matter if they are good or bad. I'm also curious if people freaked out a bit before the surgery meaning yes I'm going to have it, no I'm not. Thanks!!!????

Did you have slippage,hernia or band erosion in order to get revision approval?

I took 3 weeks also - no pain, but fatigue. I think I also had a slight case of the blues which sucks your energy. Lots of people go back after 1 week, but I was a band to sleeve revision, high BMI and I am guessing all that factors in.

It's definitely not a "never" thing for sleeve patients, but it is much less likely to occur in someone who's had a VSG than someone who's had a bypass. I'm sorry it's happening to you! Also, I have reactive hypoglycemia and it feels VERY much like dumping but I've had it for years...happens when I eat simple carbs.

Just got my date today. march 27th. I was going to do the bypass and te surgeon recommended the sleeve. I am worried I won't lose enough weight with the sleeve. Advice?

I dont understand insurance companies.. I had a lap band placed 7/2007 with Dr Aceves. I started out at 215 & got down to 157... It then became really difficult to eat, things got stuck. i could eat ice cream but not chicken, salad, beef..etc.. I decided to have it removed 7/2010 & my insurance covered it, i weighed 168 when I had it removed. Now 1 year later i weigh 198 lbs. My insurance is denying VSG & gastric bypass because my BMI is 37 & I have no comorbidities. i am panning to go back to Mexico in fall for VSg as a self pay.. very frustrating........ i

Hey, BariatricPal Members!We’re turning the corner from winter into spring, and it’s about time! How did the winter go for you? Did you make progress toward becoming the healthy person you want to be? Just before you look ahead to spring, take a look at this month’s BariatricPal newsletter, and spend some time on the boards for further motivation and ideas. Here is what you’ll find in the newsletter. Member Poll: Governor Chris Christie and the Lap-Band Member Spotlight: Meet cindymg! New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: Bariatric Success or Disappointment? Come Chat on BariatricPal We hope you enjoy the newsletter and then you log into BariatricPal to talk about it and everything else related to weight loss surgery. Get tips, share stories, and find inspiration on the boards, and don’t forget to tell your surgeon and support group members about BariatricPal. Thanks for your membership! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal Member Poll: Governor Chris Christie and the Lap-Band New Jersey Governor Chris Christie quietly had lap-band surgery in February of 2013. As you can read in this month’s BariatricPal newsletter, recent political events have made the topic resurface, highlighting his 100-pound loss and his current weight of 320 pounds. What do you think about the issue? He failed because his BMI of 45 keeps him in the morbidly obese category. He is doing great because of his 100-pound weight loss in a year. It’s too soon to tell. He’ll fail if he doesn’t lose any more weight or gains it back, but the surgery will be a success if he keeps losing weight. I really can’t give an opinion – I do not know anything about him or his diet, and I would not want people to judge me if they didn’t know me. Other – Read my answer in the discussion! Click here so you can mark your answer and let us know what you think in the discussion on BariatricPal! Our Latest Newsletter Sponsor: Insure Nutrition! We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Member Spotlight: Meet Cindymg! This month’s spotlight is on cindymg from Chicago. She is a 59-year-old computer consultant who says she has been dieting since high school. In those 40 years, she tried every diet program and calculates that she has probably gained and lost 2,000 pounds in yo-yo dieting. The diets seriously harmed her health as she developed diabetes, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease. When she started to lose the feeling in her feet, she knew that she would lose her feet soon if she didn’t do something drastic. After some serious investigation, cindymg chose the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) because she felt it would be effective without having the side effects of gastric bypass. Cindymg’s surgery was in May of 2013. Her starting weight was 258 pounds, and she is just under the 200-pound barrier en route to her goal weight of 175 pounds. She had no complications from surgery, and her family has been largely supportive. Her main challenges now are her excess skin and her hesitation getting rid of her oversized clothes! Since getting surgery, cindymg says that she has been able to cut her medications to one-quarter of what they were. She exercises now and feels much better “without lugging around that extra weight.” She does not get hungry, so she is saving money on food in addition to losing weight! She also notices a change in attitude. Cindymg says she now “eats to live, rather than lives to eat,” and does not feel guilty over food. The gastric sleeve feels like a permanent solution, not a temporary fix. Cindymg says BariatricPal keeps her mindful, and she enjoys reading members’ stories. She hope to provide them with advice and humor. Her advice for members struggling with weight loss is to avoid beating yourself up. Just get up and try again, and “keep coming back to the forum!” Thank you, cindymg, for being in our member spotlight! We are excited to be a part of your journey to mental and physical health, and are proud to be part of that journey. Do you have any members whom you want to see in the BariatricPal newsletter? Do you want to be featured? Let us know in the Member Spotlight Forum or by sending Alex Brecher a private message. Thank you! New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: Bariatric Success or Disappointment? A year ago, New Jersey governor Chris Christie got the lap-band. At the time of his surgery in February of 2013, Governor Christie, who stands at 5’11,” weighed over 400 pounds. Since then, NBC News reports that he has lost 90 to 100 pounds and now weighs in at 320 pounds. The speculation surrounding Governor Christie’s weight loss journey has led to opinions as divided as the political views of those who follow New Jersey politics. Critics maintain that he has failed in this weight loss effort. They point to his current BMI of 45, which places him in the morbidly obese category, and claim that he will be unable to run for president in 2016 because of his weight. Supporters point out that he appears to have lost 40 to 45 percent of his excess body weight, which is right on target for most lap-band patients in the first year after surgery. Governor Christie himself has kept relatively quiet about the issue from the beginning. He did not reveal his surgery until months had passed, and provided few details. In September, he said that he is more than halfway toward his goal, although he did not specify his current or goal weight. What do you think? Is Governor Christie’s surgery a failure? Will his weight prevent him from making a serious run for the presidency in 2016? Is he on the right track? Or, maybe it is too tough to judge because it is too soon to tell or because we, as outsiders, do not know the whole story. Let us know what you think on this thread! Come Chat on BariatricPal Where do you go when you need a pep talk, information about your weight loss surgery diet, or a celebratory high-five? The BariatricPal chatrooms, of course! In-person support groups might only be once a week or month, you need an appointment to see a doctor, and nurses are only available by phone. Family and friends are encouraging, but they might not understand what you are going through. The BariatricPal chatrooms are open 24/7, so there’s always a chance that you can find people to talk to. When you chat with BariatricPal members, there’s a good chance you can find someone who is sympathetic to productive burping, or who can suggest a WLS-compatible snack to satisfy your munchies. The chatrooms have been updated to better serve members’ needs, so come check them out! That’s it for this month’s newsletter. We hope it brightened your day after these long months of winter and gave you some inspiration to look forward to a healthy spring. Thanks for reading it, and we’ll see you on the boards!

Good luck to you. Why not try the gastric bypass and a more permanent solution especially if you are through with kids. No Dr here just wondering if bands are so 'temporary'. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was banded in 2005 and had great result with a 130 pound weight loss within a year. Over the last 5-6 years I have slowly gained weight back on. I will have my band filled and then vomit and then have Fluid taken out then gain weight over and over ugh!!! I had to have fluid taken out again last week due to not being able to keep anything down. Mind you I have not had a fill since 2014. My surgeon actually told me that he feels I should have my band removed and have a revision to gastric bypass. He feels that due to all the vomiting I am doing more harm than good, he also told me that he stopped even putting bands in over a year ago and would not recommend them. He said that it actually was never ment to be a permanent and they all will eventually need to be removed and mine is sooner than later right now. I was told even if I don't want to have the bypass I will need to have my band removed due to the excessive amount of GERD I have and it has caused Baretts Esophagus. One part of my brain says "Go for it they will already be in there to take the band out" then the other part says "You already failed one weight loss surgery". My surgeon also told me he will only do the bypass revision and due to the scaring of the band to stomach is where he needs to cut for the sleeve and he does not want to risk a leak. I go back to see him in three weeks and to tell him my choice. My best friend had the band to bypass revision and said hands down best choice she made. Sorry about the long post but was wondering if any band to bypass folks had any advise before I made my decision Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

style="margin:0;padding:0;background-color:#d8dde8;color:#5a5a5a;font:normal 13px helvetica, arial, sans-serif;position:relative;"> Hey BariatricPal Members! Happy New Year! BariatricPal wishes each of our members a happy and healthy year. We hope 2016 is a year you meet all your goals, whether they include getting weight loss surgery, hitting goal weight, or maintaining your loss. Here’s what we have in this newsletter to get you motivated and ready to go. A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How Make Those Resolutions Last All Year! So take a look through the newsletter, then spend a few minutes to set your resolutions. It may help to come to the forums to talk about your goals and whatever else is on your mind! Then you may want to head out the door for a quick walk for a great start to the New Year. Happy New Year! Sincerely, Alex Brecher Founder, BariatricPal A New Year’s Message from BariatricPal We want to wish all our members a happy and healthy New Year! We hope 2016 will be a year that sees you come closer to achieving your dreams. We hope BariatricPal will be an important part of your weight loss surgery support system as you work towards your goals, whether they are to look into weight loss surgery, lose weight, or maintain goal weight. A Quick Look Back at 2015 2015 was a busy year for BariatricPal! The forums have been blossoming. We have a weekly VIP Member Challenge going on. As a community, we hit a total weight loss of 3 million pounds! We also opened The BariatricPal Store! This had been in the works for a while, and it is a thrill to be able to support the weight loss surgery community through supplying healthy foods and supplements. Check the store often to see what’s on sale, and see our blog for the latest store news, recipes, and discounts. More to Come in 2016! We always have more projects up our sleeve. We expect 2016 to be filled with growth and exciting new developments for BariatricPal, so stay tuned! We know none of this is possible without your support, so a huge Thank You to all our members! Insure Nutrition We are always thrilled to welcome a new newsletter sponsor into the BariatricPal family, and this month, Insure Nutrition is giving us the pleasure of doing just that. Our latest sponsor, Insure Nutrition, is an online company that specializes in getting health insurance coverage for nutritional supplements. Its Post-Bariatric Surgery Nutrition products includes Premier Protein shakes in chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors and OptiSource High Protein drinks in caramel and strawberry flavors. Checking if you are eligible is easy. Insure Nutrition encourages you to use its online form to find out if you qualify. Our sponsors help make BariatricPal newsletters and other services possible. We encourage you show your thanks by considering them first for your bariatric needs. Unjury and Opurity BariatricPal is proud and excited to announce two new sponsors for our newsletters. The new sponsors are Unjury, a supplier of wonderful tasting, highest quality protein supplements, and Opurity (from the makers of UNJURY), highest purity vitamin supplements for bariatric surgery patients. Their support lets us keep BariatricPal newsletters coming to you each month. Unjury was founded by a master’s degree dietitian who has been helping patients since 1974. It is committed your health. You know the importance of getting enough protein after weight loss surgery, but you also know that meeting your protein goals can be challenging. Unjury makes your task not just easier but actually enjoyable. Product flavors include Chocolate Splendor, Chocolate Classic, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, Chicken Soup Flavor, and Unflavored. These ready-to-use protein powders come in single-serve and multi-serve containers, and contain high-quality whey protein to keep you full and nourished. Launched in 2007, Opurity is dedicated to using the purest ingredients in its supplements. Opurity Bariatric Multivitamins have two unique big advantages: First, each multivitamin requires only one tablet per day*. Second, Opurity is so dedicated to quality that it is unique in using no ingredients from China. Choose from chewable orange-berry multivitamins for gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients or for lap-band patients.Opurity also sells chewable calcium, vitamin D and folic acid/vitamin B-12 chewables. All supplements come with a 100% satisfaction guaranteed. They return policy is: “Yes you can return it.” Support from Unjury and Opurity helps us continue to bring you the services you enjoy on BariatricPal, so please support these two brands! When looking for your bariatric surgery supplements, first visit Unjury.com and Opurity.com. Purchasing from these companies helps support BariatricPal. Thanks to Unjury and Opurity for your generous sponsorship, and thanks to BariatricPal members who support our partnership! *You still need calcium and sublingual B-12. Time to Buckle Down: Here’s How It’s the New Year! That means the parties stop, the holiday treats disappear, and the stores advertise healthy foods for weight loss. Breathe a sigh of relief as the holiday food goes away! Easier to Focus There’s a good chance you slipped up a little during the holidays and need to get back on track. Even if you were perfectly disciplined, you may appreciate going back to your regular life. It’s easier stick to your everyday routine when there aren’t as many distractions. Go with a Sensible Plan For most WLS patients, a detox or fad diet isn’t the way to go. The most effective is to go back to the basics, cliché as that sounds. Focus on lean proteins and fill up on vegetables. Drink a lot of water. Eat slowly. Plan ahead. Measure your portions and log every bite. Make a Few Resolutions Remember to make them controllable, feasible, and clear. Here are some examples of better and less good resolutions. Controllable: “I will log every bite of food and stick to my 1,200 calories a day.” Not controllable: “I will lose 2 pounds every week.” You can’t control what the scale says, but you can control what and how much you eat. Feasible: “I will work out 5 days a week, leaving myself 2 days to recharge.” Not feasible: “I will work out every day.” What happens if you get sick, need a little extra sleep, or need to take a friend to the doctor? Did you fail at your resolution? Clear: “I will have fish three times a week.” Not clear: “I will eat more fish.” How do you know if you’re following your resolution if your goal is to eat “more” fish? How much is “more?” Set the Stage for Success Regardless of your specific resolutions, you’ll make more progress in your weight loss surgery journey if you set up your environment to help you succeed. Clear out your kitchen – pumpkin pie, egg nog, and Christmas cookies should be nowhere to be found. Restock it with nutritious foods you need. It should be packed with lean proteins, such as chicken, fat-free dairy products, tuna, eggs, and beans. There should be fresh vegetables and fruit, plus frozen and canned ones to do in a pinch. Round it out with some whole grains such as oatmeal, and healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil. Get your kitchen scale and measuring cups out of storage and put them in a prominent place. Check the gym schedule, get out your workout clothes, and lace up your walking shoes so you’re ready to get out the door for some exercise. There are some extra steps you can take to make progress easier this year. For example, if you’re still gathering information on weight loss surgery and trying to choose a surgeon, make a list of surgeons’ phone numbers and questions so you’re ready at a moment’s notice to make the necessary calls. Make Those Resolutions Last All Year! This year, make it easier to keep your New Year’s Resolutions with a subscription to your weight loss products from The BariatricPal Store. Choose your favorite protein bars, shakes, and smoothies, bariatric vitamins, instant meals, and great-tasting snacks. You’ll be reminded to focus on your goals every time you receive a delicious delivery from The BariatricPal Store! Just select “Subscribe and Save” on eligible products. Receive your products every 1, 2, or 3 months (your choice). Choose the quantity you want to receive. Get an automatic 10% discount on your subscription items. When your healthy meals are delivered year-round, there’s no need to go off your meal plan. You save time and can be confident of being nourished while you lose weight. That’s what we have for this newsletter. We wish you the best in your weight loss surgery journey in 2016, and hope you’ll keep sharing your goals and progress with us on the forums. Again, Happy New Year!

My surgeon is near giving up on the band completely due to the high complication rates. He does nearly (I'm told) as many band to sleeve revisions as he does bands alone.

I am going to have to get my lab band removed or revised. I am going to choose removed, as they are no longer performing the procedures around here and no one wants to mess with it if I have problems, which I have had tons. I have had mine for almost 10 years and was down to 115lbs. I have since gained 50lbs. While my insurance will pay for the removal, they may not pay for a revision to a sleeve. I have IU health plans for an insurance, and I can add my husbands insurance, which is ANthem premium, if needed. Does anyone know what the rough cost is for a revision to sleeve? What about just the sleeve portion? Anyone had any luck with IU health plans on appeal, as I am sure it will have to be appealed. I feel like I have worked so hard and put up with so much in the past ten years.

Hi to all who come after me! My story, huh? Well, I've been overweight for 20 years now, and I've tried a lot of diets, exercise programs, and have had only marginal success. Two years ago I took the next step for me and had the Lap Band Surgery. That wasn't a good experience for me at all. The "minor" reflux I had pre-surgery turned into a monster, and I was always either too tight or not tight enough... and that was in the same day. After two years of foaming, vomiting, and spitting my way through practically every meal, I decided it was time to take control of my life again. At first, I was just going to have the band removed, but when I learned about revision from band to RNY, and how common it was, I found the courage to go through with it. I had my surgery June 3rd, 2011. It has been a rough recovery, but I'm happy to say it's getting better every single day. I'm excited about my future again, and can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store for me!

Here is my bariatric study: My brother died of a heart attack at age 47, when he weighed 420 pounds. My mother died at age 67 (just three years older than I am now) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm when she weigh 320 pounds at 5'2" tall. Her mother, who was not overweight died at the age of 98, and she would have lived longer if she had not broken her hip and gotten pneumonia. Other grandparents, aunts, and uncles who were not overweight lived well into their mid-eighties and early nineties. Many of my 60 first cousins have already died of overweight-related health issues in their late forties to early sixties. My older sister weighed about 300 pounds when she graduated high school in 1968 and gained another 100 pounds after that. She got a gastric bypass 15 years ago and is still doing well at age 67 (the age Mother died). I had the sleeve at age 62 because I just do not want to be done yet. I have grandchildren that I want to see grow up. One of my younger sisters who weighed close to 400 pounds got a band three years ago. She lost enough weight to get to a size 12, got a tummy tuck, breast lift and all that - and looks awesome! She is healthier and happier than she has ever been. So, my family is my example for life-span. I know I have greatly increased my odds for a longer life with good quality of life.

Hello (so many questions from me! *blush*) I have been anemic for years. B12 deficient too. My Drs feel it's pernicious anemia. Was anyone else this way before a bypass surgery? I know Iron can be an issue after so that worries me.

There are two phases to weight loss surgery. I had RNY gastric bypass surgery and I transitioned from the Weight Loss phase to the Maintenance phase at around 7 months. But it also depends on the type of surgery. Some individuals with the sleeve generally get there in up to 2 years. And it depends on who much weight you have to lose and your own body chemistry. For those with gastric bypass, you body changes physically. After surgery, the part of your stomach that process fats and sugars has been cut away and these substances will quickly pass out of your stomach and into your intestines which does not know what to do with them. That is why your surgeon restricts your diet to eliminate or minimize these. But after several months, you intestines change and learn how to process these substances. Around this time hunger returns. It is not as strong as before surgery, but the honeymoon period is over. Anyways if you had gastric bypass, you may be transitioning into the Maintenance phase. The strategies are different between these two phases, so you must adjust accordingly. Anyways this is my impression of the Maintenance phase. http://www.breadandbutterscience.com/Surgery2.pdf

Heyyyy it's yo girl. Got my arrival time for my butt lift and thighplasty tomorrow at 7:30 a.m., then 450cc silicone implants in-office on the 15th! Thus will conclude the plastic surgery journey. Prior to bypass I had a breast reduction w/ full nipple graft breast lift and full body liposuction. Post-bypass I had bra-line excision, arm lift, tummy tuck, and soon-to-be butt and thigh lift and implants. AMA! I'm officially an expert. lmao. There's nowhere else for them to nip and tuck! $$$$$$$$$$$ He was supposed to email me my before and after tummy tuck and arm lift but he forgot. I will post them this week when I remind him at my follow-up Friday.

I had my band surgery in Sept 2003. So far based on what my doctor told me it has helped me to not gain major weight. But I have only lost 45lbs at my largest weight loss. I currently weight 302 and recently went back to working a desk-job where I have started to gain weight back. I am bipolar and have mood swings that I know effect my weight loss plan. I am on meds but they can not be the fix all. I really don't have a support mechanism. My wife..or ex-wife left me a few years ago when she had the bypass. Her personality/weight changed and she said she was fed up with me and left. I'm single now obviously but just lack the motivation and do not know how to start this up again and regain focus on what I need to do. My surgeon said I should maybe look into the Gastric Sleeve..but that just plain scares me. I know most of what I am saying here is just me venting. I'm wondering if someone else has gone thorugh or is going through this? Thanks for listening. Kevin

Hello, I had my band removed and bypass done last Thursday. Very glad to get rid of that thing. Good luck with your revision :-)

@@lovemyself Good luck! Glad you researched and came to a decision. I just had the sleeve (revision from band) on 5-25 and feel good. I'm very glad that I took action. Keep in touch.