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I had my gastric bypass on Aug 21st and am feeling awful. I can't get in all of the liquids, Protein, or vitamins! I am ALWAYS tired and am now wondering what did I do to myself? Has anyone else felt this way? Please help me. SD:8/21/13

Before having the lap band, I had the gastric bypass in 2003. I have had nothing but trouble with chinese food. It would stick, ball up, and it didn't matter how small of bites I took. It is extremely frustrating.

I've had my surgery almost a month ago and I haven't lost any hair. I don't know if it will happen later on, but so far, everything is fine. I haven't changed much at all except for losing weight and not eating a lot. I know of a woman who used to teach my sister, who got the gastric bypass. She lost some of her hair, but it has grown back. If you do lose hair, I doubt it will do much damage. I believe you will keep most of your dreads.

Last Tuesday I emailed my surgeon to let him know that I didn't want to wait and see what the band is going to do, I want to revise to a sleeve. He called me back on Friday and said they would submit the paperwork to my insurance company to get approval. This takes 2-3 weeks and then we can schedule a surgery date. This also puts me in the middle of vacation time hell at work - as my department is very small only one person at a time is allowed to schedule time off. For the months of July and August every available day has already been taken so it looks like I'll need to wait until Sept for surgery. This wouldn't be a bad thing except that with an unfilled band I am STARVING all the time. My stomach actually growls.....I haven't heard that in over four years and it freaks me out! I've put on a solid 3 lbs this week but I am determined to get a grip and not totally screw myself up over the next 12 weeks.....wish me luck!

Here's what put my mind at ease. You need to ask yourself how healthy you are right now (besides the obesity). If you're a relatively healthy person, then your chances of dieing on the table are very very slim...keep in mind this is an 'outpatient procedure' at many hospitals. Yes, things happen, but the mortality rate mainly involves those that were already 'dieing' and unhealthy and took the risk. The docs I picked here are known for taking on the cases that the other hospitals won't do (I had three Centers of Excellence here to pick from) like revisions, the super obese, etc., so their mortality rate was a little higher, but all their deaths were people that were already very ill. Now all that said, I was so excited to get my band, but anyone who tells you they weren't at least a little nervous is crazy...it's normal to get 'cold feet'. Hang in there; you'll do great! -BG

The Lap-Band is adjustable and is customized to be a tight as best for YOU! The sleeve is "one size fits all" and there's no turning back. While the Lap-Band is meant to be for life as well, it can certainly be removed if complications arise (which is quite rare). Also, REALLY look at the long-term data -- same percentage of weight loss with the Lap-Band, Sleeve, and Bypass over 3 years. Why would you not go with the option that doesn't reroute your organs? As for the fill process with the Lap-Band, it is not something to discount the surgery. If you can't handle getting fills, if that's too *inconvenient*, then perhaps you are not ready for a weight loss surgery. There will be many changes in your life, regardless of which surgical option you choose, and getting to a doc a few times for a fill is the LEAST of them! You will still have to have regular visits to your surgeon with the sleeve as well. Follow-up appointments are part of any surgery. Please educate yourself on all the options and their LONG TERM results!

Can't you have 1 piece of dark choc a day? The people I know that had bypass usually allow themselves that.

I never realized or read how hard the first few days were going to be. The gas hurts, it hurts to walk. I can't stand straight up. I'm running a low grade fever, they said to increase my fluids which I have been. I'm not having any trouble getting my protein or clear fluids down. It's just the constant pain in my abdomen! How long does it last?

Some friends of ours just stopped by to visit. I should never have told them I had Lap Band. Her mom had it done and she throws up and gags all the time and can only eat soft foods like mashed potatoes. She's 3 YEARS post op but she always, always gets her band over filled that way she can't eat. Now they just keep telling me how I'm going to be sick all the time and yadda, yadda. I keep trying to explain to them that she's probably sick all the time b/c she's overfilled. She also drinks cokes, uses a straw and fills up on melted ice cream b/c that's the only thing that will go down. They are so discouraging:( They said I should have gotten Gastric Bypass instead- Uh no that's too invasive.

Can anyone recommend a good Vitamin that does not contain Iron? I have been taking 2 Flintstones Chewables a day and I am so constipated I can't function. I take Miralax daily and even drink Smooth Move tea every few days but I just can't get un-constipated. I stopped the Vitamins 2 days ago and have been on the hunt for one without iron in it but I can't seem to find one for those of us who have had gastric bypass. I am fine with gummies, chewables, or anything I can take (3.5 weeks post op). I know there has to be something out there!

I read that Gastric Bypass patients lose an average of 75% of their excess body weight. At the time of surgery, I weighed 346 and my ideal body weight by BMI is approximately 190 pounds. So, that means I am carrying an excess weight of 156 pounds. 75% of 156 pounds is 117 pounds. So that means if I lost 75% of my excess weight, I would be a relatively svelt 229 pounds. Crunching the numbers is interesting. 229 seems like an impossibly long way off but I'm only going to take it day by day.

I had gallstones 7 months after my bypass. At my surgery (which was open) my surgeon palpitated my gallbladder checking for grit - but I was all clear, so he didn’t remove it. I had given him pre-surgery go-ahead to do so. I had reached my goal weight - but rapid weight loss is correlated with gallstones, so it is a known possibility. I have also never heard of an increased oancreatitis risk...

You and your family will not regret the decision you have made. I struggled for a few years over having the gastric bypass. Even though I am fresh out of surgery having it on September 2nd,between my preoperative dieting and my surgery I have lost 42 lbs and already starting to feel a lot better. Good luck on your journey and I am here if you need someone to talk to ????

I went to Dr. Ameri. His office is in Stoneham Ma and the surgery is done at Winchester Hospital. He is wonderful. He has an open forum meeting/support group on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 7-9pm at the Jenks Center in Winchester Ma. It is definately worth going to. His next meeting is for pre-Op/and imediate Post-op and is on 2/12/08. He does both Bypass and Banding. You should check it out.

Hello All- I had surgery 7/29..today was my first day at work ( 6 days post op) and I went prepared. Had 4 oz of slim fast for Breakfast, 1/2 Jello mid morning, about 24 oz of Water through out the day, 6 oz of cream of broccoli (blended and strained) and then a popsicle...When I a finish eating this stuff I am full but an hour or two hours later, I AM STILL STARVING! What am I doing wrong?? :confused2: My boss-who had gastric bypass 5 years ago...told me that I may be ready for phase 2 (mushies). I DO NOT want hurt myself by starting on mushies too early so I will stick with my liquids. Another concern is that I am losing 2 pounds a day..that can't be normal, right? Am I not drinking or eating enough? What am I doing wrong? Please help.

Hi everyone - new member here. I have been researching lapband surgery for a couple of weeks now. Been considering some kind of bariatric surgery for a couple of years now, but after watching the people at work who have had gastric bypass and all the problems they have had I was scared to do it. After reading about the lapband, I feel comfortable with this method. I am going to the free info seminar next Thu in Houston. I talked to our HR lady who had gastric bypass 4 years ago and she said our insurance (Anthem BC/BS PPO) was good about approving people as long as they meet the requirements (which I do). I will be 49 in January, I am 5' 2" and I weigh 100 pounds more than I did before I had kids (my oldest turns 23 on Christmas Eve). I have been yo-yo dieting for the last 20 years and I am sick of it and tired of being hungry all the time and a slave to my hunger. I am so impressed with all the support and information on this forum!

Hello all!!!! I was curious if anyone has lost weight in their hands after gastric bypass? I have very chubby hands (friends refer to them as cabbage patch hands lol)

Greetings & Salutations, I've been overweight my whole life and now just before my 41st birthday I've finally decided to take control and do something. My first consultation is coming up in a couple weeks but I'm really not sure whether to get banded or have the bypass surgery. I was leaning towards the band because I can get back to work faster, I really can't afford to be off for more than a week and a half, two weeks max. I've been hearing a lot of people say they were able to be back in two weeks, if that's true then I'm just not sure what the right decision is.

My understanding from the doc is that revising to bypass is not ideal for much weight loss. If you have reflux that is something else to consider however.

I am having my gastric bypass on the 25th. My pre-op at the doctor's office and hospital is this Thursday. I am more anxious about the pre-op than I am the actual surgery. This will be my 7th surgery, I have already had 5 lumbar surgeries and spinal cord stimulator implanted in my back. I am more worried about the fear of the unknown since I have never had an abdominal surgery before. Not sure what to expect.

Hi Cindy I am in Denver area as well. I had my bypass on January 21 2014 and I have lost 79 pounds. I feel great but at a point that I can eat much more than I think I should and struggling with that. I would love to answer an questions that you have and wish you luck in your journy. I am looking for a pal that I can talk to too help thru these ruff Patches that I am having

Oh Yea revision done on Monday

My surgeon like many in South Fla no longer does the band. Too many are saying the revision rates are higher then the success rates. Thus, the band requires far more maintenance then the sleeve.

FYI, if interested: Excuse its length, but here's the email blast I received of today's ASMBS' Connect: News topics of the week re: obesity and WLS. You might find some articles of interest to you. They sent: The following is a summary/brief analysis of the obesity and surgery stories making news this week: Company Seeks FDA Approval for Balloon System for Obesity… Retinopathy Stable After Bariatric Surgery…Sleeve Gastrectomy vs. Medical Management for Diabetes… UK May Seen Huge Increase in Bariatric Surgery… New Clues on How Metabolic Surgery Affects Diabetes…Sharon Osbourne Felt Like a Cheat After Surgery… Obesity Worse Than Smoking… Childhood Obesity Drops in NYC… Stigma Around Obesity Persists… Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in the News… ReShape Submits Dual Balloon System Application to FDA (Bariatric News) ReShape Medical is seeking FDA approval for the ReShape Integrated Dual Balloon System, "the first and only dual balloon for non-surgical weight loss designed for people with a BMI 30-40." According to the company, the system is the first device to meet its primary effectiveness endpoints in a U.S. randomized, sham-controlled pivotal trial. Dr. Jaime Ponce, Principal Investigator in the so-called REDUCE trial, commented, “Meeting the primary endpoints is an important accomplishment, as it convincingly demonstrates the superiority of the ReShape procedure over diet and exercise alone. The ReShape procedure offers a new alternative to help patients kick-start weight loss and learn new behaviours. We are excited about what this new treatment option may do for millions of people needing to lose excess weight.” The device has been available in the E.U. since December 2011. ReShape Medical anticipates a launch in the U.S. in mid-to-late 2015. No Change in Retinopathy in Diabetes 2 Years After Surgery (Medscape) Results from the STAMPEDE trial presented at the American Diabetes Association 2014 Scientific Sessions show no change in diabetic retinopathy for patients two years after bariatric surgery. Lead author Dr. Rishi P. Singh commented that he was “pleasantly reassured” that there wasn’t a higher incidence or significant progression of the disease after surgery. He said the results demonstrate that regular eye exams are still important for this patient population. "This is the first time that a prospective, randomized clinical trial has shown that intensive medical management vs gastric bypass doesn't appear to increase the retinopathy incidence or progression, nor does it increase the rate of vision loss or changes in intraocular blood pressure (a sign of glaucoma)," he added. Dr. Bruce Wolfe, bariatric surgeon at Oregon Health and Science University, commented on the results saying, "The induction of remission or improvement in diabetes control is positive for the patient, but drawing conclusions about the many-year process of diabetic complications of diabetic neuropathy or diabetic retinopathy is premature." Additionally, he added that patients who are informed that their diabetes has gone into remission after they have had bariatric surgery may think, "I don't need to go to these eye assessments anymore," but that would be too hasty, he stressed. Better Long-term Diabetes Outcomes with Sleeve Gastrectomy vs. Medical Management (Healio) Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy helped adults with type 2 diabetes achieve better blood glucose control than standard care alone, according to research presented at the joint meeting of the International Congress of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society. To determine long-term outcomes of diabetes in patients with sleeve gastrectomy vs. medical care alone, investigators reviewed medical records of veterans with type 2 diabetes, ages 18 to 80, undergoing the surgery at a VA medical center in a major metropolitan area. Two years of data from the charts of 30 patients treated with surgery were compared to 23 control patients. All patients had received medical treatment and been part of the MOVE national weight management program designed by the VA National Center for Health before being offered surgery. Significant improvements in BMI and HbA1c were seen in patients with surgery at one year, with improvements sustained through the end of two years; BMI decreased from 46 to 34 and HbA1c from 7.25% to 5.98%. These kinds of outcomes were not witnessed in patients without surgery during the study. At study completion, 76% of patients with surgery were able to discontinue or reduce their diabetes medications, compared with 26% of patients receiving medical treatment only. Thousands More to Get Obesity Ops on the NHS: NICE Calls for Huge Increase in Surgery - But Even Obesity Charities Condemn It (Daily Mail) New draft guidance from the U.K.’s National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) suggests that people with obesity who have type 2 diabetes should be assessed for bariatric surgery under the country’s National Health Service (NHS). At present weight loss surgery is given to patients on the NHS who have morbid obesity with a BMI score of over 40 or to those who have a BMI over 35 and who have another serious health condition - such as type 2 diabetes. But now Nice is suggesting that people with a BMI score of 30 to 35 should be considered for an assessment for surgery under the NHS if they have been diagnosed within the last 10 years. This could mean hundreds of thousands more patients could be considered for treatment. The draft guideline also recommends that people who have undergone bariatric surgery under the NHS should have a "follow up care package" for at least two years after their operation. However, opponents of the guidelines say it is wrong of Nice to recommend that the NHS offer operations costing £5,000 when the agency faces a £30billion deficit. Scientists Discover Clues Why Weight-loss Surgery Cures Diabetes (Medical Xpress) A study published in the journal Endocrinology found the actions of specialized cells in the intestine that secrete a cocktail of powerful hormones when we eat may help bring us a step closer to understanding why gastric bypass surgery "cures diabetes in most patients." The research team showed that gut hormone cells previously thought to contain just one hormone, had up to six hormones including the hunger hormone ghrelin. Study team leader Dr. Craig Smith, a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Cell Physiology at University of Manchester, commented, “Understanding the messages the gut sends out when we eat food and when things go wrong, as is the case in diabetes, is our next challenge and hopefully one that will result in the development of drugs which could be used instead of surgery to cure obesity and prevent diabetes.” Sharon Osbourne Opens Up About Feeling Like a ‘Cheat’ After Gastric Bypass Surgery (NY Daily News) In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Sharon Osbourne commented that she has “secret shame” about having bariatric surgery in 1999. "I felt (like) such a cheat when I had that band on my stomach,” she said. "People are saying, 'You look wonderful! I'd go, 'Thank you, I just have to leave and vomit.'" Osbourne had the gastric band removed in 2006 and says she controls her weight through the low-carb Atkins diet, but admitted she struggles because she is still a food addict. Obesity in the News… Extreme Obesity Cuts Lifespan More than Smoking: Study (Reuters, CBSNews.com, Voice of America) Extensive media coverage of the “largest-ever study of the effect of extreme obesity on mortality,” which showed the “most extreme cases” may shorten a person's lifespan more than smoking. Scientists at the National Cancer Institute found people who suffered from severe obesity died 6.5 to 13.7 years earlier than people of healthy weight. A data review was conducted of 20 large studies from U.S., Sweden and Australian, which included 9,564 adults with extreme obesity and 304,011 of normal weight. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes were mostly responsible for an increased risk of dying “at any given time” when BMI rose to levels of extreme obesity. The study was published in the journal PLOS Medicine. Severe Childhood Obesity Shows a Decline in New York City (Reuters) The prevalence of severe obesity among school children in New York City was down by almost 10% in the 2010-11 school year compared to the 2006-07. Earlier research had shown a decline in overall obesity among NYC public school children, but the prevalence of severe obesity had not been studied. The new study, published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, shows NYC rates “buck national trends.” Height and weight measurements were recorded for 947,765 children attending public schools in kindergarten through eighth grade. Severe obesity fell from 6.3% of the children in the 2006-07 school year to 5.7% in 2010-11. The change represents a 9.5% decrease. The prevalence of severe obesity was highest among boys, minorities and poor children. Additionally, while prevalence declined in every group, the greatest decrease was among white students and wealthy students. Many Obese Women Face Stigma Every Day, Study Finds (HealthDay) A new study found women who were overweight or suffered from obesity were likely to be faced with frequent, daily insults and humiliation from strangers, family and friends. Researchers recruited 50 women who were asked to log their “weight-stigmatizing” events in a diary during the course of a week. A total of 1,077 occurrences were reported including physical barriers (84%), nasty comments from others (74%), being stared at (72%) and others making negative assumptions (72%). Each woman experienced an average of three negative events over a seven-day period. Researchers found BMI was “the most significant factor associated with all forms of stigma except that caused by interpersonal relationships.” Ted Kyle, advocacy advisor for The Obesity Society, felt the study was limited due to the size and lack of data from other groups including males and other ethnic groups as most participates were white. He commented, “Most everybody struggles with some kind of health issue but obesity is something you wear on the outside.” The study was published recently in the Journal of Health Psychology.

Hi Sandra, My sister had gastric bypass last year in November. Her daughter had the lap band in Feb. Same surgeon did both procedures. My sister almost died from complications - in a coma for a few days and weeks of recovery. My niece had the procedure on Friday and went back to work on Monday. My sister has lost 85 lbs in one year My niece has lost 135 lbs in 10 months. For me the lap band is a no-brainer. Why go through major surgery, have an irreversible procedure and face the greatly increased risk when there's a better alternative? The surgeon feels the same way and does not do gastric bypass anymore. I want to emphasize that the surgeon (American) was excellent as was the hospital. My sister's complications were just one of the inherent risks. If the surgeon hadn't been so good my sister would not have survived. My insurance will not pay for this surgeon to do my lap band (says it's experimental) so I'm off to Mexico to have it done.