Search the Community

1) How relatively easy it was to recover from the surgery. I was prepared for the worst because I'm always the one who has complications. My experience was smooth (so far). Yes, the first few days sucked, but it got measurably better each day. 2) How I would need to remind myself to eat. I was told that I might not be hungry after surgery, but I didn't really get what that meant. It's much easier to eat and drink regularly during work days because I pack my Snacks and lunch. It's much harder on days off when I sleep in a little later and don't have all my meals planned. 3)When you hit a stall, measure yourself. You've probably lost inches and clothing sizes. Not all loss is measured by the scale. Molly

WLS is elective surgery, and all surgeries carry risks. But, not taking any action will eventually take its toll on your health as well. You can find horror stories for any kind of WLS, and you can bet the folks who have had problems will be the most vocal. Also, gastric banding techniques, and the bands themselves, have evolved over time. Would you want to compare surgical complications for gall bladder or appendix removal between 2014 and back say, to 1940? A lot of band detractors base their opinions on outdated, archaic surgical data. In my humble opinion, the best decision you can make is to choose a WLS surgeon that is part of a circle of excellence. The lap band requires follow up care; and you want to be confident that you will have the needed support for years to come. If you do have problems, you want to be sure your surgeon and his practice will be there for YOU for years to come, to resolve any problems quickly and professionally. Also, as a lap band patient, you will have to do the required follow up visits. I have a gastric band, but I went into the surgery with my eyes open, and knew the risks. I had the band on the recommendation of my surgeon. I am satisfied with my results and my decision. I hope you will do well with whatever path you take.

I would get a second (and even third,) opinion on any kind of revision surgery. Partly due to the added complication in doing revisions, and in the wider range of underlying problems that may create the need for a revision. Different doctors have different experiences (even if they are equally "experienced") which can give them a different perspective in solving a problem. On these forums, we certainly see some come through who have hiatal hernias repaired post sleeve; there is also wide variation with amount of sleeve experience that surgeons can have, given that it has been gaining popularity rapidly, so many surgeons are not as experienced with sleeves as they are bypasses. This leaves many in the situation of not really knowing how to correct a problem that occurs with a sleeve, and instead stay within their comfort zone and revise to a bypass instead of fixing it. So, in short, you may be in a situation where some surgeons can correct the hernia fairly easily while others would have difficulty, or it may be something that no one can correct without doing the revision. We forum lackeys can't make that judgement, but that is what second opinions are for. Good luck,

Don't be too stressed that is not good for you, do as the Dr. Says and it will probably straighten out. There are always a few complications tho minor with most surgeries. I had red incisions and used the antibiotic cream, then I had itching and a rash, then I had to have an unfill, but after losing 82 lbs I would endure this all over again. God Bless you and I am praying for you to be well and get on with life after the band.

I'm on short term disability and it has been great. I did it backwards though, used my PTO for two weeks, had some complications and then applied for it. Doing it before-hand would have been much better. I have six weeks off if I need them and if I go back part time, they will cover the other half while I work my way back to full-time. It is a great relief of my mind too, I am protected at work, still have an income, and just have to focus on getting well and strong. I'd recommend you plan for 3 weeks, so you will be on puree and feeling stronger. You can always go back early if 2 is enough for you. Good luck!

I had 5 incisions and I took 7 weeks off of work. I didn't want to go back till I started to eat normal. It was easier to make meals at home and not explain why I was eating broth. Although I had no complications I still get low on energy and take naps in the day.

Most surgeons only fill a small amount at a time. IF this is your case, I would get the fill as soon as possible. It would be very rare to have any overfill complications from the first fill. You will have to be careful what/when you eat on vacation though because some foods MAY become problematic. Try to keep your stress to a minimum - most people get very tight when stressed. Good luck and enjoy your vacation! Brad

I had 2 csections. My last one was 7 weeks before being sleeved. To me, the sleeve was worse. My csections were no problem and people were shocked that I had just had a baby. But I had no complications. I just had to care for a 7 week old when I got home.

I had mini gastric bypass on 12/12/16 and I have lost almost 60 since surgery. My surgery weight was 247 lbs. I have had no complications. I think mini gastric bypass will work well for you. Weigh your options, the pros and cons.

I'm pretty sure I've made my mind up that I need to have this surgery. Please share your experience. How was surgery outside of US? Did you have complications? Weight loss? Scared but really excited. SO tired of being sick and tired because I'm too heavy. Thank you!

with the sleeve, it is very manageable to have a proper level of nutrition with that percentage removed as well as hydration. it's really only in the beginning when there is swelling that people can have issues, or if they have a complication like a stricture. I reckon that swelling would be an issue even if they cut less out.

I agree with the others, contact your surgeon and let them know. It isn't unusual to have intolerances to protein shakes early on. I couldn't stomach them for the first several weeks. I could get in my fluids though, with diligence, but they had to either be very cold or very warm, my stomach didn't like anything in between, and even with fluids I would get this intense twisting pain with every swallow, like my stomach was trying to cartwheel inside me! But after the two week mark this started to ease. I was able to water down protein water and get it in. Then I was able to thin out protein shakes with milk and get them in. I was still nauseated daily until the 8 week mark, but meds helped with that. My surgeon said this whole track wasn't unusual, I was one of those rare patients that got the side effect of stomach spasms post surgery and they usually calm down after a few weeks. He was right! By weeks 3-4 I could drink most things without pain, as long as I kept sipping rather than trying to gulp. I'm 3 months out and still can't gulp... But this is definitely a situation where you want your surgeon's office aware of how you are feeling so they can send you in for fluid infusions if you start to show signs of dehydration. Dehydration is the number 1 complication of bariatric surgery in the early weeks, plenty of people end up with hydration infusions until the swelling goes down in their tummies enough they can get their water in.

I have been sleeved since Dec 2010 and my husband since March 2011. We are relocating from Birmingham, AZ to Phoenix, AZ (actually Sun City) in 2 weeks. We have had no complications but looking for a new doctor so that we will continue our yearly check ups and make sure that our Vitamin levels are were they are suppose to be. Any suggestions? Thanks. Kelly

So, I've never tried blogging before, but ive had complications from surgery and so I decided to give blogging a try as an outlet....so here it is https://wlsjourneysite.wordpress.com

Kegel Exercises. Both of my children were born at home using midwives. A BIG part of giving birth at home is taking preventative steps to avoid complications. One of those steps was doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.. It is very easy, you can do it anywhere at any time. (I do them at red lights while driving.) There are three major benefits to having a strong pelvic floor... 1. In birth it prevents tearing when baby's head is crowning. 2. When used after birth it tightens the muscles back up which solves the incontinence problem. 3. It makes sex more pleasurable for the man and the woman. Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic which describes the Why's and How's. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises/WO00119 No need to feel embarrassed about the question. It's just a normal part of the female body.

norcal...find out what size bougie your doctor used. It might be too large and not much of your stomach was removed. Hmm. My recovery went well, too [absolutely no complications at all], but I definitely had indications of 'too much' or 'slow down' to gauge myself. I couldn't handle even a few swallows of Water, never mind gulps. My first post here [12/31/13] was about not being able to gulp/drink water at first. I agree with RJ that your stomach staple line needs to heal. Ingesting too much of anything can put tension and stretching of the swollen tissues. You don't want that. Speak to your doctor. To Ima... I sometimes do a preemptive belch when I drink liquids, even as the liquid is going down, I can (somehow) do that and I don't get that stuck-in-my-chest feeling.

I healed quickly with no complications and very little discomfort. After the initial major swelling went down I could gulp Water...not 8oz at a time or anything, but four decent sized gulps were okay. Eating was very slow and gentle. Only a little food fits in there, but it all goes in without any problems. Some folks just heal quickly. I think it depends on age, level of health, and expectations. Knock on wood! Because there are so many who've had difficult experiences with this wls. My prayers go out to them.

Aetna says if I have a band that I'd have to pay for any complications. I think they may balk at fills too. I'm working on some spreadsheets now to figure out which insurance will have me more out of pocket on average. Maybe it won't be as bad as I think. It's hard to say ... what I have now is so easy -- just little co-pays for office visits and prescriptions and this "Affinity" plan I'd have to switch to is so frigging complicated!! The other thing is, if I want complications and fills and such covered, I have to switch even if I self-pay. Which means I might as well go through UHC to start with. Maybe it would be better if my company didn't have so many choices! (And I haven't even dragged Kaiser into this -- they are a 3rd choice for insurance that my company offers.) Yeah, I know I'm being a big, whinny cry-baby and that some people have to get second mortgages to pay for their surgery and it takes them 2 years to jump through all the hoops, and some people never get it because of money, and that if I really wanted to, I could take off from work during an inconvenient time. What I'd really like to do is: start working on lifestyle changes and emotional eating now, insurance be damned, and re-evaluate in the Fall like I originally planned. I could have a BMI of under 35 by then and maybe I could try to get into the low BMI study. Or I might still be above 35 BMI and UHC might count my hypertension as a co-morbidity after all and it will all be good. The worst that can happen is that I decide, yes, I really want this surgery, and I'll have to self-pay. The reality is that I could afford to self-pay in Mexico if I really wanted to (and was willing to wait a few more years for some other stuff I want like new car and remodeled bathrooms) and I'm not one of those people who thinks all the doctors in Mexico are a bunch of hacks, either. So it's really, really tempting. Mostly the distance and dh's skepticism are what are holding me back. Plus my practical streak that says I'm crazy to consider self-pay before I've exhausted all my insurance options. I know that starting now will dramatically increase my chances of having to self-pay, but I do think that's the best option for me. I really need to deal with my eating problems NOW and not wait until Aug. It's been heck these past two months watching the scales go down (just from logging food and drinking more water) and not being happy because I'm afraid it will screw up my chances for surgery ... which I know I need in the long run. I'm putting off starting up my exercise plan because I'm afraid I'll lose even more weight, which is not good. I've even done stuff like eat a bowl of ice cream at the end of the day to get my calories up so I won't lose more weight until I can weigh in at the surgeon's office only to have my appointment get cancelled because of insurance! So I feel for the OP and may find myself in the same situation in the not too distant future.

I had surgery April 27 and I’ve been doing well no complications so far. Anyways I’m feeling hungry a lot more now but of course I still can’t eat very big portions(2-3oz at a time) I’m getting my proteins in and my water. I absolutely HATE the soft food diet and can’t wait to have real food. Anyways is eating 2-3 oz about 5-6x a day ok? I see my team on Wednesday but I’m just curious what everyone else is doing/did.

Hey there- I’m a lower BMI patient and do not meet my insurance criteria for coverage. Have decided to self pay at blossom Bariatrics. I have such fear over complications and my normal insurance not covering them bc they would be the result of an uncovered surgery. Does anyone know of any supplemental insurance coverage you can buy for this type of elective procedure?

You have the right to get a 2nd 3rd 4th opinion. Go to a different hospital if he has to go again. A lot of times they can help recommend a doctor. You could see if a GI doctor can look at him. Maybe it's something triggered by the surgery. I'm sorry he is going through all these complications

I'm having my sleeve tomorrow too. For those of you going through it too, good luck! I wish quick healing and no complications for each of you. It's going to be a great day for a reset of my life! See you all on the loser's bench!

Banded six-1/2 years ago in Monterrey, Mexico by Dr. Roberto Rumbaut. No complications. Always very easy to get in touch with my doctor's office and staff--even 6-1/2 years later, I still get amazing customer service. (For example, I needed a copy of my surgery report a month or so ago... had it within 24 hours.) No issues with follow-up care stateside... it's gotten much easier since I was first Banded. You do need to arrange that in advance, though.

I went to Dr. Ortiz and cannot recommend him enough! I didn't have any complications but my personal doctor here knew what was going on and I knew I could call on him if there was an issue that didn't allow me time to get back to Mexico. Just make sure to have anything set up BEFORE YOU GO in case something does go wrong (but honestly, the chances are slim - just have someone around "in case" )

I am a 50 year old wife, mother of 3 beautiful adult daughters, and Grammy to 2 small children (a boy and a girl) all of whom I love dearly. All of whom will miss me if this surgery doesn't work, because I am dying. I am an insuln dependent diabetic with uncontrolled numbers for over 5 years now. I have severe COPD from 35 years of smoking (I have quit in the last year) I have high blood pressure, cholesterol, and Gastroparesis (paralasis of the stomach) from my diabetes. In Sept. 2010 I had a stent put in my heart and in March 2011, I had a heart attack anyway. At 285 lbs the hardest thing to take is that I have done this to myself. If I don't take control of my life, my beautiful Grandchildren will not remember me, and I will not see them grow up. I wish I had taken these steps sooner but to be honest, after 7 years of research, I couldn't afford to pay the amount not covered by my insurance. I was referred to Dr. Nazarian by a friend, and he was the first one willing to work with me. I have had all of my counseling, testing, authorizations from my many Doctors, and I have 1 appt. left before we schedule surgery. I expect to have the actual surgery by the end of Oct. early Nov. I am now working on the lifestyle changes I need to make to be successful in my journey. I am chewing longer and slower, I am drinking alot of water, I am stopping my meal when I am full, and I am keeping a daily food diary and calorie count. The one thing I am worried about is the exercise regimen which I am not able to perform because of my COPD. I get out of breath just walking across the house. But I keep trying. Some days are better than others. At this point, I just want to make it through the band surgery with no complications. I just want another chance to become healthy again and I am committed to doing whatever it takes. I am scared but hopeful, and I would appreciate any tips and support anyone has to offer. I know I will need this Forum in the months and years ahead. My ultimate goal will be to achieve good health and be able to pay it forward to someone else in the future.