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I had my bypass 7 days ago. I couldn’t help myself I ate some crispy bread with my soft white cheese... I’m worried about having a leakage. Does anyone know what causes them and if what I’m doing is ok or I’m hurting myself?

Hey you guys, thanks for the additional information. Sorry for the delay in responding - am moving so packing - blah. Kindle - I contacted dr. Ponce de leon a few days ago and someone named Trudi (I think) responded to me. She is travelling right now and will get back to me in a few days. Her picture is on their website so I am assuming that is direct rather than a 3rd company. I really like the OCC from what I have read and seen about it. I filled out their form and they emailed me that it is 6,500. So that is like almost 3 grand more than Dr. Ponce de Leon. From what I can tell, they are both very good surgeons, so I am leaning toward the lower cost. If I thought the lower priced one was a bad set up then I would not consider it. If there is any reason I should NOT go with Dr. PDL then please let me know. Patricia - I just checked specializedbariatrics.com which jenn also mentioned and their price is 4,200. So I am going to compare reps, packages and the like. Thanks for letting me know that they detail extra costs. The worst thing is to be in another country and discover all kinds of hidden costs. I have been there so many times and I have learned to ask the prices and extra possible costs in advance. Learningtotwinkle, please let us know how it goes. I wonder why yours is 5500 and they are quoting 3700 on this forum? Did you schedule a while back? Kitlass - good to hear. I just found that my insurance company MIGHT approve a bypass afterall but not the sleeve. I don't want a bypass. I hear the sleeve is the much better option for quality of life post surgery. I am going to look to see if I can have the sleeve and if it doesn't resolve the diabetes, then get the bypass later. I am contacting Ready4Achange too. (If I skipped over anyone - totally sorry. I read each response and am very grateful for you all taking the time to reply to me with such detailed information).

http://nypost.com/2013/09/19/obese-toddler-has-gastric-bypass-surgery/ Sent from my iPhone using VST

I know I am not the only one with a sweet tooth out there. What are you guys doing to curve or satisfy your sweet cravings post bypass without destroying your diet. I do have trouble with dumping and have had several episodes, if I tried to push the sweets limit. I do eat fruits and that helps sometimes, but sometimes I have an uncontrollable urge for CHOCOLATE! I have also found fiber one bars that are oats and chocolate 140 calories. That's not too bad right? But I sure you guys have discovered so other things I haven't thought of so lets hear it?

What doctor did everyone have document skin issues and stuff like that for insurance purposes? PCP, PS, Gastric Bypass surgeon?

Last week was absolutely awful, but this week is so amazing. I had no idea how I was going to stop the cravings and control myself, but I went through the sugar withdrawals and I'm on the other side. I feel like I have more energy, I'm happier, I'm more alert and less foggy headed. I feel great. Tell me, do I feel like this after bypass too? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello out there! I am expecting to get banded this summer. Has anyone gone through Dr. Dent in Ottawa (Ontario, Canada) for the recomendation to Dr. Graber in Utica (New York, USA)? Also, Dr. Dent is recommending the RNY bypass, but I would really prefer the Lap Band from all I've read. It seems a little less invasive and leaves you with a slightly more normal lifestyle. (From what I understand bypass, never any caffiene or alcohol, but with lap band a glass of wine occasionally is ok and coffee is tolerable for many). Any comments would be appreciated!

The stomach ulcer surgery is closer to the RNY but without the intestinal bypass. Apparently ulcer tend to happen closer to th pylorus. You can look up billroth I and ii

Hello. I am newly banded (only as of 2 weeks) so I'm not sure what I can tell you. However, I realized early on that feeling "full" is not SUPPOSED to happen...even without the band. It means you ate too much. Feeling satisfied and not being hungry in between meals (like every 4 to 5 hours) is the goal. That's just my opinion. I have yet to feel FULL like I used to when I used to stuff my face and clean my plate, but I also don't feel hungry between meals. I'm happy with that. I would also discuss your concerns with your doctor. As for a different procedure, I would suggest the sleeve over the bypass. I did a lot of research on the sleeve because I was considering getting that done (before insurance told me it wasn't covered) and it's safer than the bypass. Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

My husband and I are having gastric bypass. My surgery is scheduled for May 3r (hooray) my husband is waiting till January 1 (insurance deductible reasons). He doesn't want to tell anyone, I don't care who knows, I think people will guess anyway. Just curious who you all told?? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Bubbles: Love the name by the way. I self paid for my surgery. I did lots of research about both the banding and bypass and decided the bypass was just too radical for me. If you are looking for a good doctor then contact Inamed directly and they can give you a list of surgeons in your area. The other option is to see if someone on this site is from your neck of the woods and get some feedback from them. I went to Mexico for my surgery. I am using a US surgeon for my follow up care. IF you go the Mexico route then please set up a surgeon for your follow up care close to home before getting the surgery. I can give you my follow up docs info if you like. He is in Ventura, California. I didn't notice where you are located before responding to this post. Good luck on your search for the surgeon.

Yup, I do the same thing. I have already had 2fills for a total of 3 ml in a VG band and no restriction yet. I eat what I want and as much as I want. Whether it is sabotage or my "last dinner," I eat way too much. I sometimes wonder if I should have gotten the gastric bypass instead but I am hanging in there and waiting until I hit my "sweet spot." I do, however, weigh myself at home daily so that helps to keep me in check than not weighing myself. Maybe you should try that?

Some patients after gastric bypass will suffer from Iron deficiency anemia and may require iron supplementation. If you suffer from this, it would not be a good idea to donate blood. If your blood levels are normal it is not a problem to donate . Hope this helps ?

I was reading the plication a little while ago whilst researching what I could do regarding my failed sleeve. I read and was told that it is great for a sleeve revision. I look forward to reading your continued success. Well done

I am scheduled for bypass on 9/16/13. I am so totally thrilled to be approved. However, I feel like an emotional basket case. I am crying at the drop of a hat! Is it possible that the wall I have built around myself with food is already crumbling? Has anyone else gone through this pre surgery?

Yes I did, and Yes I am. Band has been removed, maintaining that loss, and working toward the bypass. Haven't much more to complete and then insurance submitted. Then surgery date to be announced. Actually looking forward to it. Maybe I'll be able to eliminate fifteen + medications, or at least some of them.

I had a slipped lap band that had to come out and my surgeon said it was easier to revise to a RNY than a sleeve. Also I had GERD before my band, and the bypass is supposed to help alleviate GERD, where the sleeve sometimes causes it in some people. Also I had developed a "touch" of diabetes, and the bypass really helps with that. I went off metformin right before the surgery and now, only two months later, my hemoglobin A1C is normal!

So I haven’t had the surgery yet (scheduled for 2/19). But I chose the rny bypass option for several reasons. I am pre-diabetic and this will for the most part reverse that. it is considered the golden standard and my doc says most patients lose more with the option. Another big thing for me was “dumping syndrome”. I know not everyone gets it but I think it would help me in the future to stay on track just in case I got weak and thought I wanted something I shouldn’t be having. I also like the fact that if worse comes to worse, this can be somewhat reversed. Anyways, those are some of my reasons. Hope it helps some.

Hello, everybody. I haven't been checking in here enough lately I see. I am glad to see those of us still here. I have had an interesting second year. On the positive side, I had a hernia repair and a tummy tuck in June of last year and an arm lift and a breast lift in October. I am very pleased with the outcome. On a not so postive side, I continually have problems with reflux at night so that I can no longer eat after 4 or drink after 6 at night or I will be up all night. Ingesting reflux has given me pneumonia once already. It continues to get worse and I have been totally unfilled since last September. Luckily, I have continued to lose minute amounts of weight per month - at least not gain. But my diet is mostly liquid or soft foods. My ticker below reflects my current position. I have had an upper GI and and endoscopy in the last month and when I saw my bariatric doctor this week, we looked at the films together. I have pouch dilation without band slippage and scar tissue between the band and stomach which is why I have restriction despite the band being empty. Bottom line - band has to come out. I can either have a band placed back in with no guarantee it won't happen again or convert to gastric bypass. I think I have decided to get the GB. That said, do I regret getting the band? Hell no. It has been hard work for two years and no easy road. I have had reflux almost the entire journey. I never could really eat the types of food others could. Dense Proteins were a problem for me. I had constant follow up care at the doctor's. I followed band rules. I will get a surgery date when I get back from a trip to Pennsylvania next week. It's not my ideal choice but a better one none the less for me. I don't want to lose but 10-15 more pounds and would be happy to stay where I am for the rest of my life. BUT, I have a history of not being able to keep it off so I will have the surgery.

My thought would be that the stitches are probably pulling and causing that pain. I have port discomfort on and off all of the time. Sometimes I don't even know it's there... otherdays it feels sore, other days there is sharp pains kind of like what you are describing when I move a certain way or if I touch it. I actually went in for a fill after my port revision surgery and after x rays they found my port had flipped again. The doctor scheduled an adjustment under floro where he was going to try to manually flip the port and give me an adjustment... well that day my port had flipped back!! I think all you can really do is just let your doctor know the symptoms you are having. I'm a little discouraged about what can be done to fix my port issue. but I've just come to accept it. It's kind of sad. I thought that any issue could be resolved... especially after the port revision... but it just hasn't been the case for me. I would however still do it all over again at this point. I feel better than I have in years. I just recently really started missing being able to eat a burger or a whole peice of pizza:rolleyes:. But it has been worth the sacrifices. Good luck and take care ~Martina

I'm surprised that with only 90 pounds to lose you'd be qualified for gastric bypass. That aside, you are the one who has to live with your choice. Either one, you can make bad choices with your eating and "eat around" the procedure and fail to lose. MANY people lose 100 pounds or more with lap band. There are plenty of them on here. And is a growing percentage oef GB patients who "eat around" their surgery and later get the lap band. I've already lost 53 pounds and I don't seem to be skidding to a halt, and I know of many, many other patients who have lost at least this much and are still steadily losing...and many of them want to lose more than 90 pounds. There are complications with both procedures. Gastric bypass has more deaths immediately following surgery (apparently leaks of the surgically reduced pouch can be a serious problem if that happens) and there is a fairly common occurrence of malnutrion because of the malabsorption GB causes(that's what the "bypass" part is -- they reduce the length of your intestine to reduce how much you absorb from the food you eat). Lap bands can erode into the stomach (pretty rare) and the band can slip (you will read some here who have had this experience but not very common) and I have read where some have problems with their port being tilted, though I've never read any explanation of why that might have happened. Gastric bypass has one "side effect" that I wasn't willing to accept. It's called dumping syndrome. From what I understand, if you eat sweets or very fatty food, it can cause something akin to the worst diahhrea you could imagine and you dump everything in your digestive tract .... undigested food, partially digested food and whatever else is in your colon at the time. I also got the impression that you have very little warning that this is about to happen. I didn't want that as even a possibility. I can see where if you weiged 400 pounds or even more than it would seem less of an issue. What it comes down to, bottom line, is are you willing to make the changes either procedure requires? They are not all the same. With the LB you can pretty much eat normally, just in much smaller quantities. GB may cause faster weight loss in the beginning, but everything I've read says that at the 3 year mark, the loss percentages are pretty even. I gave up fried foods (not that I ate a lot of fried stuff because the grease upset my stomach). I don't eat much bread and then it's in the form of whole grain crackers. Once a month, I do eat a small slice of the birthday cake at work. The main adjustment (which would be the same with GB) is reduced quantity. With GB, that inability to eat larger amounts is there from the start; with LB you'll need to get a few fills before you truly feel the kind of restriction you want. GB has a much longer recovery time. Most (not all) LB patients need only a few days to return to their routines and LB is outpatient surgery almost all the time. GB requires a hospital stay. If you choose the GB route, be 100% sure because it is NOT reversible. LB is as the band can be removed if need be. This is a big deal breaker for indecisive people. I'll admit, it would have been nice to lose faster like the GB patients, but I'm more than satisfied with what I chose.

I had the lap band and had revision to a sleeve. Before you make your decision, read the complications section of this board. You can also read the stories of why people got revision to a sleeve on the sleeve section of the board. The band can slip, erode, the port can flip, some people do not have good weight loss with the band, some people get horrible reflux, some people can't seem to get the right fill. that means a lot of fills and unfills. With the sleeve, they make you a smaller stomach and you have restriction right from surgery. It's a big decision so you should know everything there is to know about all weight loss surgeries.

I know other OPs that take Flinstones, but it seems like you have to supplement with other vitamins. I like the ones that I take because, besides calcium, its got it all, plus some. Like I said, I take at bedtime. I get nauseous with vitamins unless I take at night. These are perfect. And you can't beat the price for an actual Bariatric Vitamin. This is the description from the website. It doesn't specify to eat with food. It also specifies that it is easy to digest and absorb. Product description: ProCare Health Bariatric once-a-day Multivitamin 30ct. capsule The ONLY complete once daily multivitamin in the industry! Our vitamin is designed to specifically meet the health needs of those who have undergone bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass, vertical sleeve, Roux-en-Y and Duodenal Switch. This formula was developed in cooperation with Doctors, Dieticians and Nutritionists to make this the most complete once-a-day vitamin in the industry! It is designed to be convenient, small, easy to digest and absorb and cost effect. Convenient. Unlike other products on the market today, which require you to take 3 to 4 tablets per day, ProCare Health’s Bariatric Nutritional Supplement gives you all of the ASMBS and your Doctor’s recommended daily nutrients in a once daily easy to swallow capsule. Affordable. Our competitive pricing makes ProCare Health’s Bariatric Nutritional Supplement affordable to everyone. Over 45% less than other leading brands.

Are you sleeve or bypass? I may be wrong here- but shouldn't we be keeping to 1/2 cup of food per meal? I'm bypass, maybe that is why? I'm 6 weeks out as well and can't eat more than that physically. I'm so scared of stretching that little pouch! Lol

Hi Shrinkingmeme, That darn Lap Band!! My hubby had his for 13 years,which was in the year of 2000. He did lose 100#'s but he is a Large man. He started out at 520#'s so we had expected a lot more of a loss. When he went in for his fill the nurse damaged his port. First let me say his Dr at the time said he wasn't strong enough for the RNY which was what he wanted and needed. She also used a VANGAURD BAND ( he was the first man in Oregon to get one) it was a BIG lap band. So he never lost any more weight and it came to be that he couldn't eat or drink and hold anything down. The VA sent him to a Dr in Coos Bay Oregon to empty his band. Then he tried to refill it but couldn't. He was scheduled for a revision to the RNY. When they got in there the band had eroded into his liver and he had to much scar tissue to be able to do the RNY. They did remove his band and his Gallbladder. He told him that after he healed for 3 months they could go back in for the RNY. Well he developed abcesses bad He was so sick he almost died. He was sick for 9 months and 3 of them he doesn't even remember!! Fast forward to him trying to get the Dr in Coos Bay to get the RNY well he told us he wouldn't do the surgery because he was such a problem child, but he referred him to OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE they told him they would do it if he got his A1C down below 8. And lose 20#'s. Well I don't know if you are familiar with Diabetes but if his blood sugar is down his weight is up so he just couldn't get it done. So we went to Mexico June 3 when that Dr opened him up his whole right side was solid scar tissue from his band and other surgery so they did the Sleeve on him. He isn't losing his weight easily for sure. He has lost 60#'s now. I had the RNY and lost all of my weight in 6 months which was 124#'s. I think people should be compensated or at least Dr's should have to make it right!!! I have heard that the FDA may be pulling them off the market and there are a lot of Dr's that don't even do them anymore. It makes me so mad that so many people have suffered because of the Lap Band!! Good luck on your Journey's!!