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My surgery was the last surgery of the day (3:30 p.m.) this past Monday. I came out of recovery around 8:30 p.m. and I was released from the hospital Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m. I was in the hospital less than 24 hours. I also did everything they told me to and I drank Water when they brought it to me. I didn't have any complications and have been getting in all my fluids. I am Day 5 right now and feel fantastic. I still have a little pain around my incisions when I get up and when I'm walking but that is it. I was sleeved at Kaiser in Richmond, CA. They told me that a normal hospital stay is 24 hours or less. I guess it just depends on the hospital and the surgeon? Best of luck to you!!

Dr. Fernando Garcia is the doctor you should use. Between me and a friend we have referred 10 people to him in the last 15 months, all have had wonderful success and no complications. My surgery was 07/03/13 and I have lost 124 pounds, 1 pound to go. He, his assistants, the nurses, and everyone associated with him were, and have been, wonderful. I recommend him to everyone.

I agree. I'd love to find just one band patient that has had their band for 10 years without complications, another surgery, a 2nd band, or the ever popular "band issues". I was able to find 1 band patient on OH that had her band for almost 9 years, she is on her 2nd band, and now is going in for a revision to the sleeve. She just "lived" with the band issues because she thought it was a fair trade off to lose the majority of her weight. For me, it's not about doing well, or losing _____% of my excess weight. It boils down to quality of life. Not being able to eat a good, healthy balanced diet because certain foods would not go down, or the ever lovely puking on the same food I ate the day before without issue. For me, that is not a high and pleasurable quality of life. Not to mention all of the maintenance, in and out for fills and unfills trying to find the sweet spot. The stats on revisions for sleeve patients that have been documented at 5-7 years out is between 3-5% vs. 25% with the band. For me, that speaks volumes. We all know someone or several that have done well with each WLS option. Unfortunately, I know way more people that have complications or "band issues" than I know true success stories. It is a personal choice. You have to weigh all the pros and cons. Look at the big picture, and then proceed. My mom has a band, and is almost 3 years out. She pukes 2-4 times weekly. Lives on mushy, soft solids, can't eat lettuce or bread, and forget chicken. She's had over 20 fills/unfills trying to find the sweet spot, and still at almost 3 years out she has 40 pounds to goal. BUT, per the stats, she's considered a success. I just hope she doesn't screw up her stomach tissue along the way by just "dealing/living" with band issues. On the other hand, my younger brother has a band also and is about 15 months out, he's lost over 100lbs and doesn't have any of the band issues with the exception of eating certain foods. Unfortunately, he hates getting the fills at this point so he's on a forced diet because they can't get the fill right on him either. If I wanted to diet, I wouldn't have gone through WLS to begin with. Think twice, cut once.

Im not 100% sure about their reason for upper GI. But my surgeon requires it for all pts. I believe bc they want to make sure there aren't any hernia, or other problems that could complicate surgery.

Hello everyone! Mine name is Jackie. I am having my band in on March 26th by Dr. Fielding in Manhatten. Insurance approved it and I am on the stupid liquid diet and starving! I am starting to get nervous, not about the surgery itself, but about afterwards. Complications, not losing, ect.... Any advice?

Obesity has been officially categorized as a disease for four years now. The categorization of obesity as a disease puts more of the burden on doctors to help you lose weight, but some people are still wary of the title. Who cares what obesity is? You might wonder whether it matters whether obesity is a “disease” or not, especially if doctors have not managed to help you lose weight, except, possibly, your bariatric surgeon. But, the name actually does make a difference. It gives obesity and obesity treatment more attention. It can help remove the stigma surrounding obesity. It gives doctors a mandate to treat you. It could lead to increased medical insurance coverage for obesity treatment, from diet programs to bariatric surgery. Here is why obesity is a “disease.” Obesity meets a definition of disease comprising three criteria: "an impairment of the normal functioning of some aspect of the body;" (changes in organ function, for example) "characteristic signs and symptoms" (excess body weight, for example) "harm or morbidity” (obesity-related complications, such as diabetes and arthritis, for example) The American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society are among the respected organizations who agree that obesity is a disease. Obesity is not only a disease but an epidemic based on the number of people it affects. It affects 35% of American adults, not including the other 30% who are overweight and at risk for obesity. Nearly one out of five children are obese. Healthcare providers can take charge. One point of calling obesity a disease is to allow and even require, healthcare providers to treat it. No longer should they simply tell you to lose weight, or, worse, ignore the “condition” in the first place. Instead, they should provide care for obesity, including developing treatment plans and following up with you to discuss progress. Now there is a roadmap. Now that obesity treatment is in the realm of medical professionals, there needs to be a standard approach to treating it. The American Heart Association, along with the American College of Cardiology and The Obesity Society, have published clear guidelines for treating obesity. Identify at-risk patients and patients with obesity using BMI, and monitor them at each appointment. Enroll patients with BMI of 30 or over in a medically-supervised weight loss program (note: this is not the same as your doctor telling you to eat less and lose weight on your own!) Keep weight loss surgery in mind for patients with extreme obesity and an obesity-related condition). Weight loss surgery is a recognized treatment for obesity. The third prong of the roadmap is especially important if you are considering weight loss surgery. The recommendation to consider it when treating high-risk patients has a few effects. It reduces stigma, from primary care physicians and your other regular doctors, surrounding WLS. It increases the number of patients who may have WLS covered by insurance. It encourages patients and professionals alike to learn about WLS. No longer is weight loss surgery considered to be an extreme or fringe approach. The ASMBS states that experts who agree that bariatric surgery has a role in obesity treatment also include the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Further progress is needed. There is still much to be done in the medical arena. Healthcare professionals aside from bariatric specialists are often still in the dark about recognizing obesity and treating it. Worse, many still have stigma or bias against overweight patients, and still, engage in patient-blaming. Obesity almost certainly has genetic components along with lifestyle factors. While it may be a disease, it is also a disease that you can work to treat. Now that it has officially been recognized as a disease, let us hope that patients and healthcare professionals can work hand-in-hand, each doing their part to fight obesity.

congrats on your freedom, Karey!!!! best wishes for a speedy heiny recovery! I think it would be helpful for people to see where your incision opened- people are always willing to post the good results and complications are downplayed. I'm sure that despite the open area, you look FABULOUS! yea for sitting!

I have been having nausea and,vomiting since 2 weeks post op. I had a stricture that kept coming back and had to be dilated 3 times and I'm only 3months post op. I have been in and out of the hospital several,times as well. I was in the hospital 2 weeks ago for over 2 weeks. I was unable to take anything by mouth. They put a picc line in and started me on TPN (IV nutrients). Thy had to pull my picc line a week later cause it went bad. I was eating a clear/full liquid diet. Now I'm vomiting again and this time I'm having sever abdominal pain as well. I'm unable to keep much down and it all hurts even water. My surgeon has me on several medications but they aren't helping. He suggested I might have to have a revision done. Has anyone had a b anything like this? Or had a revision? Any advise would be greatly appreciated. I'm extremely weak physically and emotionally drained from all this.

Lizzie, The only thing that really requires immediate attention for a lapband is being too tight and not being able to keep liquids down. Slips, erosions and most complications are things that happen over time you don't even know they are going on. Surgery doesn't have to be the same day it can wait. My first slip I was traveling and I knew something was wrong but I couldn't get to TO so it waited a few weeks to get looked at. So don't stress over 90% of the complications they more than likely won't happen to you and won't be life threatening that is the nice thing about the band. The worst you can experience is a band too tight to keep liquids down and that becomes dangerous in several ways, dehydration etc. Heather

Keeping it to a small close group has been tough. At first I was just going to tell my hubby and parents. Then hubby decided since we were traveling from NC to Tijuana and he is from SoCal he would organize a small family reunion 'as long as we're going to be there' Of course, everyone wants to know why you're not eating anything, and not real active, so THEY have to know. Then decided I had better let the cat sitter in on it in case there were any complications and had to be gone longer. . .and SHE told just a few people, confidentially of course :-) so pretty soon everyone who was interested knew, and had an opinion - everything from 'you go girl!' to 'if you would just stick to a diet you wouldn't need it' to "Mexico? are you crazy? You're going to get mugged or something! (this is rural NC, after all)' So be confident that you are doing what is best for you, accept the support when it's offered, and let the negative just wash away unheeded. Save the energy spent wondering about who knows and what they think to concentrate on your exercise plan!

Just need to vent.... I was having some complications after my last fill in September. I couldn't eat anything without throwing it up. I went back for 2 unfills and it never got better. And don't lecture me....but I let it go for about 4 months because I was losing weight. In those 4 months, I lost 25 pounds. Yes, it was because I couldn't keep anything down, but for a while I was okay with that. The worst parts were the acid reflux at night keeping me awake and my 2 year old son asking me if I needed to throw up during our meals. He didn't need to think of his mommy like that. So I finally confessed my sins to my surgeon and he did a complete unfill. He said my stomach and esophagus are swollen and irritated and they needed a break. In 6 weeks he will start sloooooowly filling me back up with only 1 cc at a time. When I first started this crazy ride, I was eating so well, getting all my lean Protein in, eating the right portions and Snacks. But over the past couple of months, I started back on my old habits: fast food, Cookies, chips, etc. I knew the food was going to come right back up, so what did it matter what I ate? So now that I don't have the tool of the band's restriction, I can eat whatever I want and however much I want. It's disgusting actually...I will wait til no one is in the kitchen and they're all occupied in their own rooms and I will just inhale whatever food I can find. If you were to video me during one of these episodes, I would deny that monster was me. I have already gained 7 pounds since my visit to the doctor last week. I don't want to undo all the good I've done over the past year. I've lost 70 pounds and don't want to go backwards! Encouraging words? Similar experiences?

Well, a fill would be required if you are hungry all the time.. other wise maybe you don't need it. Before the fill it was just healing mostly, and you were on mushies and liquids thats why you lost more weight. Yea just make little tweeks and see if that helps. I'm more liberal on my diet than a lot of people. I want it to be realistic. I eat a good 1200 calories a day. I'm not one of those people that eats like 1 egg for Breakfast, and 1/4 cup of tuna for lunch.. and I'm losing 1-3lbs a week. It's all complicated! One week I go balls to the wall 5 days a week, INTENSE exercise and I lose a pound. Which I HATE, and makes it feel so useless when you don't lose much, and spend 6 hours in the gym. The next week, I do some walking, or an exercise video for maybe 4 days, not nearly as intense and I lose a pound or two. I'm trying to figure out the right balance. The body is just fickle I guess.

I've had my band for five years this month I've already had it revised a year ago I lost 105 pounds which was goal for me in a two year period. Maintained for a year. I gained back 50 in the last two years with my complications from my band slipping I don't regret getting it but it's frustrating going through the issues. I feel that I have had to start over but the restriction now is way different than when I had my band the first time around. I have the same band but it was repositioned from the slip. My doctor said that there's a 50% chance that my band will slip again. Frustrating.

Wow...I never expected to come to LBT today and find myself researching my bible. I love it!! It shows the power of God and the impact He has in all our lives whether your profess to know Him or not. I wished I could say I know the bible as well as you. I have to research and look for some of the answers I know in my heart to be true. We are indeed living in the NT times, but that doesn't mean there aren't truths we can learn from the OT. I don't think the OT, especially the scripture I quoted indicates wealth is important to God. It's what one chooses to do with that wealth. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Matthew was a wealthy man. Read Matthew 19:16-30 (contains a verse quoted several times here). It demonstrates how Jesus asked a rich ruler to sell all he had & follow Him....the ruler wouldn't do it. This also demonstrates that everyone should be treated equally rich/poor mighty/weak. Which does make it very say what Wheetsin experienced. Like Amy says here, it's not whether we are wealthy, but what we do with what he have....the fruit of our labor. In my family, I can honestly say we are not wealthy, but we are blessed. Yes it is complicated and not black & white. I love the solid fundamental teachings of Dr. James Dobson. I'm sure he lives a comfortable life and enjoys many luxuries I do not. He has worked hard and is reaping the fruit of his labor.....which I'm sure some of which is monetary. Does that mean that he's worked harder than me or my DH? I don't think so. I think it's all part of God's will in your life.

I had my choice of all three. By pass band or sleeve. My friends had the Rny bypass an she has gained back almost all her weight. A band friends had issues with erosion and others had the port problem. I researched and choose the sleeve. I am 5 years out on the sleeve. Started at 285 dec 2010. Now I am at 164 I got down to 130 at my lowest but looked like a skeleton with skin so I opted to adjust my goal (which I hit). I have since gained above my goal of 150. So I am back on a closely watched meal plan. I take Vits daily just as those with bypass. So there is really not a big difference in the meal or life style after. I did suffer from all the reflux, heartburn an such prior toy surgery. Haven't had any since 2 weeks out. I can eat 4-6 oz per Meal and have never had a issue. I am off all meds and I took about 8 prior to surgery. Regardless of what is Gold standard or not. In my region no one is even Doing the by pass much any more. Due to complications With the stomach that is left inside the body. I always advise research then research again and ask people in your area who have used your medical experts and staff. Get their actual feed back. Good luck. I wouldn't change my decision.

you guys are quite an impressive group! I was wondering if any of your surgeries were complicated due to scars from previous surgeries (c-sections, gallbladder, etc.)?

Hello everyone. I joined the other day and have been perusing the board ever since. I thought it was about time that I said hello. I was banded on 9/16/05 and am doing extremely well. I had outpatient surgery and was leaving the surgery center an hour and a half after having surgery. The nurses seemed rather amazed. Anyway, I've had no complications and things are progressing well. Check my signature for my weight loss results. Have a great day!

I got my lap band on August 8th and everything has been great. I had no complications, and I had a fill on Sept. . That went well, and I started having decent restriction, when (somewhat suddenly) I started having "the signs". Well, after a positive, but cheap walmart test was tossed, my husband and I spent $40 on 4 different tests, with 6 different sticks, all of them were the same. SO, then I went to the clinic out here, and they only did a urine test as well, but same deal. So, now go to see an obgyn on monday. Here's the thing, my husband and I are THRILLED, but surprised. This would be our first, and we wanted to, but I just got my band! I just lost 40 lbs. in the last year! And, you know, I asked 3 different specialists if I should get on birth control, and they all said, "no, you won't have no chance of getting pregnant" and I figured as much since my husband and I have not been using birth control for the last 2 1/2 years. I figured this was the least likeliest time possible. Like I said, I'm estatic, a bit perturbed simply because this means I'll have to unfill for the time being, but to have a baby is way more exciting for us right now, plus that's the beauty of the band, it's ajustable. I guess my confusion is how come sao suddenly? And how come the doctors rule it out so easily? (p.s. I know I'm goona get yelled at by my surgeon, I'm dreading calling her on Monday, I sure wish I had tape recorded them all saying "no, you won't get pregnant" ! Even her nurse did! Anyone else get pregnant so fast??? The doc says I could be anywhere from 2 weeks to four, that would mean we concieved 2 weeks after the band!!!!

OTR Sleever your 100% right about the types of Protein, I'm sure you already knew that, and I found an article that really explains it in detail. I thought I would share it with everyone. Thanks for setting me straight and helping me get started on the right foot. Protein supplements & Weight-loss Surgery by Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN To view a PDF version of this article, click here. When you step into a health food store or a Vitamin shop, there is often an abundance of protein supplements to choose from and sales people claiming they are “nutritionists” trying to sell you the best liquid or powder protein products on the market. There is a large assortment of protein supplementation available to consumers; however, it is essential to recognize that some supplements are of higher quality than others. For weight-loss surgery (WLS) patients, it can be very confusing if you are not aware of what to look for when it comes to protein supplementation. Why is protein important? Proteins are a part of every cell, tissue and organ in our bodies. These body proteins are constantly being broken down and replaced. The body does not store protein for later use, therefore consuming adequate high quality protein is necessary, otherwise the body will inevitably suffer. When protein intake is not adequate, the body will break down lean body mass to compensate for poor oral intake. Loss of lean body mass is inevitable for WLS patients or individuals following a very low calorie diet. To minimize that loss, sufficient high-quality protein must be consumed. When should liquid or powder protein supplements be used? Most WLS patients rely strictly on liquids during the early post-operative phase, and the majority of their calories consumed during that time are often from protein supplements. Liquid or powder protein supplements may also be used post-operatively when patients are unable to consume adequate protein from food alone. This may be due to volume restrictions or food intolerances to protein rich foods. Is there a risk of developing protein deficiency? WLS patients, who have undergone the BPD/DS, are often at a higher risk of developing protein malnutrition. However, all WLS patients, despite the procedure, who do not comply with the recommended dietary guidelines are at risk. What is the best quality liquid or powder protein supplement? Commercial protein supplements are available in many flavors, textures, tastes, mix-ability and price; however, the product’s amino acid composition is of the most importance when choosing protein supplements. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. There are nine indispensable (essential) amino acids (IAA) and 11 dispensable (nonessential) amino acids (DAA). The IAA must come from dietary intake because the body is incapable of producing these compounds. During rapid weight-loss, when protein supplements are the main source of dietary protein intake, it is essential to choose products that contain all of the IAA. Also, it is important when choosing protein supplements that they have a score of 100 on the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). This is a system that was developed as a method to evaluate protein quality. PDCAAS scores of as close to 100 as possible are desired to indicate that it contains the appropriate amount of IAA that the body needs. Protein supplements that are made from whey, casein, soy and egg whites have a PDCAA score of 100. It is important to recognize that many of these protein sources are sold as either concentrates or isolates. Isolates In general, isolates tend to have a higher concentration of protein than concentrate forms. For whey protein isolates, the filtration process removes a lot of the lactose, minerals and fat in the product; therefore, these products have very little or no lactose and often provide more protein in smaller volumes. These products may be beneficial to those patients who have lactose intolerance. Also, isolates tend to have a better mix ability and cleaner taste, therefore compliance is often better with these products. Concentrates Whey protein concentrates have a lower concentration of protein and higher concentration of lactose. Although the protein is of good quality, the percentage of protein will vary. Consumers can always view the nutrition label as well for accurate quantities of protein. How much protein does the WLS patient need? Many surgical weight-loss programs recommend between 60-80 grams of protein per day for the adjustable gastric band (AGB), vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS) requires approximately 90 grams of protein per-day to accommodate for the malabsorption associated with this procedure. These recommendations are for individuals without complications (malabsorptive procedures alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed). Those with complications will have different protein needs. The exact requirements for postoperative WLS patients with complications are not defined. It is recommended to follow-up with your surgeon and dietitian to assess protein requirements and adequate protein intake. Protein supplements and Meal Replacement shakes – they are different It is important to also recognize that there is a difference between protein supplements and meal replacement shakes (i.e. Unjury® vs. SlimFast®). Many meal replacement supplements often have a blend of soy, casein or whey protein to enhance the texture or taste of the product. Meal replacement shakes also have higher amounts of vitamin and minerals and varying amounts of carbohydrates and Fiber. One thing to consider is that meal replacement shakes are often designed to supplement a diet that includes animal and plant sources of protein. These should not be used as the sole source of protein or calories in the diet for an extended period of time. What protein supplements should be avoided? Collagen-based protein supplements are not a good source of high-quality protein and should not be used as the sole source of protein intake in WLS patients. Collagen-based protein supplements do not contain all of the indispensable amino acids that the body needs. When consuming collagen-based products as your sole source of protein, the loss of lean body mass can occur despite meeting your daily protein goals. Do WLS patients need liquid or powder protein supplements for life? As you begin to consume more food after surgery, the need for protein supplementation often declines or ceases. Relying solely on protein supplements to meet your protein needs is not recommended after the early post-operative liquid stage. Foods of high biological value are encouraged (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, etc.). WLS patients who cannot meet their protein needs from food alone may benefit from supplementation of high quality protein. What are the dangers of excessive protein intake? If you are not well hydrated, excessive protein intake may contribute to dehydration. It is also important to remember that additional protein intake, above the recommended amount, may inhibit the consumption of other important nutrients. Conclusion WLS patients are going to get the best bang for their buck when they choose supplements made from whey or soy isolate and avoid whey concentrate and collagen-based products. It is also important to remember that the use of protein supplements are typically decreased or cease throughout time as the WLS patient is able to meet daily protein goals from food of high biological value. About the Author: Kimberly Mahoney, MS, RD, LDN, is a bariatric dietitian at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago and has been working with weight-loss surgery patients for the past five years. She is currently the chair of the Bariatric Subunit of the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group through the American Dietetic Association.

This is a good thread. The games my mind has played on me is substantial. Remember, we can be our own worst enemy sometimes, and I'm betting that the life you've led prior to this has allowed you to beat yourself up on a regular basis. I'm 7 weeks out of full bypass and it's been much more difficult than I anticipated. First, I have had complications that only added to the stress but I can say that Ive had serious regrets over the last 7 weeks. Some of us out here seem to breeze through the surgery and have very few problems. Others have significant problems. The weakness, the nausea, the inability to eat, drink, swallow, taste, the mood swings, the headaches, sleeping in recliners... on an on. This has been terribly difficult but now, 7 weeks out I can finally say that it's getting better. Sure i've lost 38 pounds, but during the really rough times, that's so far down the list of things I cared about. This process isn't easy, it's definitely not the easy way out. It's life altering and we have to take it slow and make it a personal journey that we must work through without the negativity the world can sometimes throw at us. One day at a time!

Privatedancer, After I had my lap band removed I intentionally picked a different gastro specialist to do my endoscopy and my surgeon is no longer in my life. He is a great surgeon when it comes to putting in lap bands and removing them but when it comes to having complications I think it can be a whole different ballgame. So I just discussed this with my primary and got a referred to a specialist. All these people do are endoscopies. Prior to lap band removal I was put on protonix and am still on it. I don't know the relationship between that and high blood pressure but coincedentally I am on a med for that now too since lap banding. The chest pains have gone away since I've been on the protonix, I don't know if it's the removal of the band or a combination with the medication. I was told that the polyps can be caused by the protonix but they're really not a big deal. I don't have major esophagus issues. I do notice that since banding my espophagus is tighter, does that make sense. It is nothing I ever experience prior to banding and I suppose it would make sense that having a surgery like this and then removal would leave a few issues behind it. It's still difficult for me to eat something like chicken breast or something Protein and somewhat dry. It's not bad enough where I would consider having it treated right now. I suppose if my throat ends up closing up I'd so something but right now my problem doesn't sound as bad as yours. To me it's a good idea to get a different person to handle these kinds of problems because I think the original surgeon who placed our lap band will probably be a bit paranoid if we have problems because they're affraid they'd get sued or something. So that's why I chose someone who would treat me more objectively. Good luck to you hopefully there are others who can help by sharing their experiences with you too, Nancy.

Congratulations on your surgery. I hope you heal quickly with minimal complications. Stick to your post op diet and you will soon be posted weight loss!

Hi, I am from the Twin Cities and had RNY on June 25, 2013 at St. Joe's in St. Paul. I have had a wonderful, complication free experience. I just celebrated 10 months and am down 186 pounds (40 was lost pre-surgery), The lead up to surgery takes time and patience, but can be done. The life that is waiting for you on the other side of surgery is SO worth it! If you have questions, please feel free to ask. I am on this site frequently. I have recieved so much support for the people on this site and would love to pay it forward. Congratulations on taking the first step! Carol

Did your surgeon permanently remove those listed foods from your diet or for a short period? Week by week things will get better and you will eventually return to a normal routine but I understand completely. It is very hard giving up foods you like even for short periods of time. Hang in there! Glad you are doing well and recovering after the complications ❤️

My surgery is scheduled for 12/28 with Dr. Alvarez and I have also given my deposit and every week I change my mind. I read all the success stories in the forum and the one time I hear of a complication I am ready to back out. I have been battling weightloss for over 10 yrs and I am ready to get my life back, but you are not alone in your feelings. Evaluate your pros and cons then move forward, I feel very confident in the surgeon I selected.