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The before is right after I lost my mom to complications from diabetes (kidney failure) and early onset of heart disease. Shortly after losing her I realized that I was headed for the same type of end. I actually lost a few pounds before my initial consult and then continued to lose as I worked thru my NUT and Psych visits. Then lost a bit more during the liver shrinking liquid pre-op diet. I actually dropped just below 35 bmi right before my surgery, but my insurance goes with the initial consult weigh-in. I did have co-morbidity which is how I qualified being below 40 bmi. I'm 5-3 with highest known weight of 242 (from a few years back). But in the last couple of years I seemed to settle around 216. Initial weigh-in 206. Morning of surgery 190. Now 158, so a total loss of 58 lbs since deciding on wls. I'm thrilled with the progress so far, but already doubts are kicking in about regain.

First post on this site. My sleeve surgery date is Feb. 22 in Mexico with Dr. Alvarez at Endobariatric. Anyone else going to be there then? Or can anyone vouch for him or have any negative reviews to share? I feel pretty confident from everything I've read and seen, but it always helps to get a firsthand opinion. Well, it's still the internet, so I guess I can't trust everything I read, but I assume if you're vouching for him in response to my post that you're not a paid reviewer! I'm posting because I could really use a support network -- I haven't told anyone except my boyfriend and my sister. My sister found out because I stupidly joined a support group on FB that I thought was private (it was a closed group), but FB asked her if she was interested in joining it and showed that I was already a member. She called me in a panic and I couldn't lie. I'm pretty pissed, because Lord knows who else on FB saw that I was in that group. Anyway, I'm staying off of FB and seeking support here, because it's more private. I might share that I had surgery afterward, but I just don't want uneducated accusations about taking the easy way out and extra projected anxiety about Mexican surgical complications thrown at me before surgery. I'm already anxious for this huge lifestyle change I'm about to make as it is! My starting BMI is 42.5. I'm 32 years old and from Seattle, WA. Please say "hi" if you know this surgery is the right thing for your health, but you still have some emotional anxiety around it like I do. I'll be a great cheerleader and friend for you, as well! As far as I know, no one I know has ever had weight loss surgery, so I'm totally alone in this. My boyfriend who is a nurse and was a medic in the Air Force (so has extensive American-based healthcare experience), while supportive of me getting this surgery, is upset that I am going to Mexico to do it. He refuses to research Medical Tourism or Dr. Alvarez to see how common and safe it is. He's still going with me, but he hasn't been totally supportive, so I could use some friends who won't judge my decision.

A week after surgery you was able to do solid/regular foods without complications Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm surprise you diet allows you to have solids so close post op? Whole blueberries would not have been in my plan at that point and I had a liberal plan compared to most. Did your surgeon not provide you with portion sizes/ an eating plan? you said you feel full after eating so I really don't understand why you are concerned? Most people feel no restriction until after they start solids. I felt normal after surgery too. And relieved I didn't have complications that some others did, not worried. Sounds like you are fine.

Hi! Is there anyone out there who is or has been one week post op Gastric Bypass and feel /felt completely normal? I'm not complaining and I'm not asking for complications but honestly, I'm talking no nausea, no pain, no diarrhea, no sipping of anything, no timing my eating. Everything fine! I even have an appetite!!! What the hell! No lie, today is day 9 post op and I just ate Greek yogurt with whole fresh blueberries. I ate it about an hour ago. Nothing. A little full. But fine. I was told my surgeon is a genius and that I was really lucky to have him do my surgery. Is he really that good that I feel like my stomach is still in tact? I'm not feeling any of what others are feeling. I'm a bit worried that when I heal and I'm able to eat regularly, that I'll feel safe to just eat anything and lose the control I thought I would gain from having this surgery and gain back weight!!!! Can anyone relate? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The diet is so important to avoid "fatty liver" that would give you bad complication... hang in there !

Hello Seraya!The only complication I had was Dumping Syndrome. I literally was throwing up and pooping at the same time! It was from a little bit of pizza I had two months out. Just be very careful with what you eat. Did you get a meal plan? I have all that if you need it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Omg..you look so great..I hope I can do as well as you Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App Thank you so much love ❤️ You will do that and more! This is for you! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the gastric bypass RNY (or is the r&y??) on October 5th. I unfortunately had a rare complication of internal bleeding, my incisions ripped. On top of that I have a blood disorder, factor5, which causes blood clots- had several on/around the area. The surgeon actually told my parents I had a high chance of dying. Luckily, I am still here. Had to spend multiple days in the ICU and then multiple days in the regular IP hospital. I had some delays with my progress. I started at 257. 3 months out I am 205. My doctor tells me I'm where in supposed to be. I just don't feel I am. Does anyone else have this issue? It's as if no matter what you feel it's not enough? I barely eat as is but when I do I feel like a complete pig, when in reality I'm not eating enough.. My fear right now is my mindset has turned harsh, i don't want to adopt bad eating habits or a eating disorder. Has anyone struggled with this? I also want to add my entire immediate family had had the surgery besides my youngest brother. I tend to compare myself to them. Ironically, I tried to help my mom not to compare herself to them as we are all different.... I just really want to know if I'm alone on this battle or is there someone somewhere struggling too.... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

As someone that is now 5 days out from surgery, and therefore much more experienced than you (ha ha!) I am guessing it will be several months before I feel "safe." Meaning, no longer worried everyday that some complication is right around the corner. I have not had a difficult recovery so far at all, I just worried that my age would possibly hinder my recovery but so far so good. I think we would do ourselves a favor to relax a bit and not look for trouble! I think it is natural that something this life changing will be consuming our very being for quite some time.

Hi everyone! I've been lurking on this forum for a little while so I figured it was time to introduce myself. My name is Angela and I am in the process of getting approved for a VSG. My husband is also pursuing this surgery and we hope to both be sleeved by the end of the year. We will have to space our surgeries out a little since we have a soon to be 3 year old to look after. I have type 2 diabetes which should qualify me for the surgery since my BMI is between 35 and 40. So far, I've met with the surgical PA and the NUT. I have my appointment with behavioral health scheduled as well as a follow-up with the NUT. I also have to have a sleep study consult done, which will probably be done in March. We have started implementing the changes to our diet that we need to, like not drinking with meals and trying to eliminate caffeine. I work third shift so that is going to be a tough one for me! I've also had a barium swallow and an ultrasound of my gallbladder. I don't have any reflux, but do have a few stones, so they will likely take my gallbladder out when they do the sleeve. I am a little nervous about the surgery, but mostly I am excited for the changes ahead. I've been overweight since I was a kid. I'm really tired of feeling tired and not being able to keep up with our daughter. And the later complications of diabetes scare the crap out of me. So far, I've been able to control it with diet and exercise, but my A1c has been slowly creeping up. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and to sharing this journey with you all!

Hi ladies sorry forgot to mention my age im 32. I was in hospital 2 nights. Was supposed to have in June once my waiting period finishes but my GP said to me how much will you weigh then you wait another 10 months and you could put on another 5-10kgs and that extra weight might be what kicks off all the health problems so he recommended I use my super. To be honest I was reluctant worried incase I have complications in a private hospital how will I find extra cash but everything was fine and now that my journey has already begun I think wow had I not had this in September I would still be feeling so miserable and depressed just counting down the months.

Has anyone heard of or used this physician? So you recommended? Any complications?

Many of our pleasures, passions, hobbies and interests develop during childhood and adolescence. As a child we’re a bit like an empty chalkboard – nothing has been written on it yet…a blank slate. Our parents are often the ones who first write on the chalkboard. If they like to ski, they probably brought you along. If they like music and art, they probably tried to instill a love of music and art in you as well. And kids eat it all up…eager to explore and discover their world. Every experience is new to a young child. This is not to say that you will necessarily enjoy every experience they introduce you to, but good parents create opportunities for their children to share in their passions and encourage them to develop those of their own. While it is certainly possible to develop sources of pleasure later in life, it can be much more complicated. We get stuck in our comfort zones and if some of our previous sources of pleasures fall away or never really developed – that comfort zone can become awfully small. What if your parents had few passions to share with you or worked such long hours that they had no time to share? What if your parents were not around or perhaps were not the best parents in the world? It’s also possible that you never had the opportunity to develop sources of pleasure and enjoyment for yourself. You never discovered what pushed your “happy buttons.” Alternatively, perhaps you had some “happy buttons” but can no longer participate. For example, skiing can be physically demanding and also expensive. Skiing might have been accessible at one time in your life and not as accessible in another. There are many explanations for why passions and pleasures at one time in your life don’t last throughout your lifetime. Eating is a “happy button” for everyone. For some it’s a small pleasure and for others it’s their biggest pleasure. We are genetically wired to enjoy eating. Our species would not have lasted very long if that wasn’t the case. So the desire to eat and the rewards of eating are a “built in happy button.” In modern terms, it’s an app that comes with our iBrain. We like food. We love food. But if food is one of your only “happy buttons” and you push it too often…well….we know how that story goes. Developing new happy buttons takes a great deal of work. Begin by asking yourself; “What would I like to do?” or “What could give me pleasure?” or “What used to give me pleasure that may once again?” Don’t be surprised if you draw a blank. If it was that easy you’d have a panel full of “happy buttons” to push by now. It’s understandable that skiing might not pop into your head if you’ve never been skiing before or if you’re still struggling with your weight and are questioning if you even could ski (you probably can!). Avoid that old impulse to shoot down everything that pops into your head. Reasons you CAN’T do things always seem more available than reasons you CAN. Don’t be discouraged. Remember back when you were a kid and everything was new and everything was cool? Try to recapture that spirit. Two other ideas are to consider the many hobbies and interests that your friends and family enjoy as well as to discover the many things that are going on in your community. What do your friends and family do for fun? What kinds of activities are they involved in? What events are being promoted online and in your local newspaper? Instead of trying only to think of what you might enjoy, consider investigating what’s out there. Film festivals, concerts, street fairs, talks, classes, etc. Potential new “happy buttons” abound! Generate as many ideas as you can before editing them down. Again, work diligently to avoid the impulse to immediately say “no” to any of your great ideas. It’s so easy and maybe even automatic to think of why something ISN’T for you. Let the doors of your mind be open to let it in what COULD be. With an open and curious child-like mind, the sky is the limit. I know…you’re sighing and saying things like, “It’s so hard,” or “I tried that already,” or “I’m not a “joiner”,” or maybe “I just don’t feel like it.” I understand, but consider this: OF COURSE YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!!! As adults, we rarely feel like doing things we’ve never done before. The adult brain doesn’t like the new; it prefers the familiar…the comfortable. The adult brain prefers to run on autopilot. That is exactly why we keep going to the refrigerator or ordering take-out even though we know it is precisely what we SHOULDN’T be doing. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety or feelings of self-consciousness regarding your weight you might have an extra dose of “I don’t feel like it.” Fortunately, you don’t have to feel like it. Feel the feelings and try it anyway. Have you ever not wanted to do something and were either encouraged to do it by a friend or pushed yourself to do it and found you actually enjoyed yourself? Of course you have. Because feelings are often WRONG! You’re not a fortune-teller and your initial feelings are not facts. Also consider that if you never try anything new and only do what is comfortable and familiar, you can’t possibly discover new “happy buttons.” The “new” often feels scary and uncomfortable. That does not mean that it is scary or uncomfortable or that it will remain so. When you first tried to ride a bike, your enthusiasm was likely mixed with fear and anxiety that you might crash or hurt yourself. With encouragement after a few minutes, when you figured out how to steer away from the bushes and use the brakes, that feeling of anxiety was replaced with exhilaration and pride. The big scary waterslide at the amusement park that you refused to go down the first time quickly became the same slide you wanted to go down 50 times into the evening before you had to go home. Yes, developing new “happy buttons” to replace eating isn’t easy. It can also be a little scary. You are fighting inertia and you are fighting your brain’s instinct to stick to what is safe and familiar. Comfort zones aren’t called comfort zones by coincidence! However, with consistent effort it is possible to change your thoughts and actions. You are in change of your own control panel and the buttons you put on panel. Your life is in your hands. Start experimenting, just as a child would and start pushing lots of buttons until a few become new “happy buttons.”

Eating is a great source of pleasure for many people. The pleasures of eating push our “happy buttons.” Eating is pleasurable on many levels. Many foods taste delicious, eating feels good in our mouth and belly, eating soothes our emotions, and the act of dining, especially in restaurants or other special settings, can be a wonderful experience. This isn’t just true for some people; it’s true for everyone to some degree. Unfortunately for some, eating can become a disproportionately pleasurable experience, one of a few or perhaps their only "happy button." Many of our pleasures, passions, hobbies and interests develop during childhood and adolescence. As a child we’re a bit like an empty chalkboard – nothing has been written on it yet…a blank slate. Our parents are often the ones who first write on the chalkboard. If they like to ski, they probably brought you along. If they like music and art, they probably tried to instill a love of music and art in you as well. And kids eat it all up…eager to explore and discover their world. Every experience is new to a young child. This is not to say that you will necessarily enjoy every experience they introduce you to, but good parents create opportunities for their children to share in their passions and encourage them to develop those of their own. While it is certainly possible to develop sources of pleasure later in life, it can be much more complicated. We get stuck in our comfort zones and if some of our previous sources of pleasures fall away or never really developed – that comfort zone can become awfully small. What if your parents had few passions to share with you or worked such long hours that they had no time to share? What if your parents were not around or perhaps were not the best parents in the world? It’s also possible that you never had the opportunity to develop sources of pleasure and enjoyment for yourself. You never discovered what pushed your “happy buttons.” Alternatively, perhaps you had some “happy buttons” but can no longer participate. For example, skiing can be physically demanding and also expensive. Skiing might have been accessible at one time in your life and not as accessible in another. There are many explanations for why passions and pleasures at one time in your life don’t last throughout your lifetime. Eating is a “happy button” for everyone. For some it’s a small pleasure and for others it’s their biggest pleasure. We are genetically wired to enjoy eating. Our species would not have lasted very long if that wasn’t the case. So the desire to eat and the rewards of eating are a “built in happy button.” In modern terms, it’s an app that comes with our iBrain. We like food. We love food. But if food is one of your only “happy buttons” and you push it too often…well….we know how that story goes. Developing new happy buttons takes a great deal of work. Begin by asking yourself; “What would I like to do?” or “What could give me pleasure?” or “What used to give me pleasure that may once again?” Don’t be surprised if you draw a blank. If it was that easy you’d have a panel full of “happy buttons” to push by now. It’s understandable that skiing might not pop into your head if you’ve never been skiing before or if you’re still struggling with your weight and are questioning if you even could ski (you probably can!). Avoid that old impulse to shoot down everything that pops into your head. Reasons you CAN’T do things always seem more available than reasons you CAN. Don’t be discouraged. Remember back when you were a kid and everything was new and everything was cool? Try to recapture that spirit. Two other ideas are to consider the many hobbies and interests that your friends and family enjoy as well as to discover the many things that are going on in your community. What do your friends and family do for fun? What kinds of activities are they involved in? What events are being promoted online and in your local newspaper? Instead of trying only to think of what you might enjoy, consider investigating what’s out there. Film festivals, concerts, street fairs, talks, classes, etc. Potential new “happy buttons” abound! Generate as many ideas as you can before editing them down. Again, work diligently to avoid the impulse to immediately say “no” to any of your great ideas. It’s so easy and maybe even automatic to think of why something ISN’T for you. Let the doors of your mind be open to let it in what COULD be. With an open and curious child-like mind, the sky is the limit. I know…you’re sighing and saying things like, “It’s so hard,” or “I tried that already,” or “I’m not a “joiner”,” or maybe “I just don’t feel like it.” I understand, but consider this: OF COURSE YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT!!! As adults, we rarely feel like doing things we’ve never done before. The adult brain doesn’t like the new; it prefers the familiar…the comfortable. The adult brain prefers to run on autopilot. That is exactly why we keep going to the refrigerator or ordering take-out even though we know it is precisely what we SHOULDN’T be doing. If you are struggling with depression, anxiety or feelings of self-consciousness regarding your weight you might have an extra dose of “I don’t feel like it.” Fortunately, you don’t have to feel like it. Feel the feelings and try it anyway. Have you ever not wanted to do something and were either encouraged to do it by a friend or pushed yourself to do it and found you actually enjoyed yourself? Of course you have. Because feelings are often WRONG! You’re not a fortune-teller and your initial feelings are not facts. Also consider that if you never try anything new and only do what is comfortable and familiar, you can’t possibly discover new “happy buttons.” The “new” often feels scary and uncomfortable. That does not mean that it is scary or uncomfortable or that it will remain so. When you first tried to ride a bike, your enthusiasm was likely mixed with fear and anxiety that you might crash or hurt yourself. With encouragement after a few minutes, when you figured out how to steer away from the bushes and use the brakes, that feeling of anxiety was replaced with exhilaration and pride. The big scary waterslide at the amusement park that you refused to go down the first time quickly became the same slide you wanted to go down 50 times into the evening before you had to go home. Yes, developing new “happy buttons” to replace eating isn’t easy. It can also be a little scary. You are fighting inertia and you are fighting your brain’s instinct to stick to what is safe and familiar. Comfort zones aren’t called comfort zones by coincidence! However, with consistent effort it is possible to change your thoughts and actions. You are in change of your own control panel and the buttons you put on panel. Your life is in your hands. Start experimenting, just as a child would and start pushing lots of buttons until a few become new “happy buttons.”

I'm turning 63 next week and was sleeved 5 1/2 months ago. I've never thrown up once, not even nauseous. I'd say it's been surprisingly easy once you pass the three week mark. I treated the whole thing that it was my job to get Protein and fluids in, follow the plan. Stop intake when I felt full and ate very slowly. I also did my research, selected a good surgeon and a center of excellence hospital. I have no complications and no regrets Sent from my SM-N910T using the BariatricPal App

Where do I begin? My daughter received the procedure last week - January 2017. After thoroughly researching the procedure and doctors, we settled on Weightloss Agents due to cost. Plus, I was encouraged after seeing a special segment on ABC featuring the doctor's office in Tijuana. They didn't mention the facility's name, but I assumed it was the same office as Weightloss agents. Here's a summary of our experience: 1. The pre-op instructions were only available on the website. They have a nice website, but after I paid my balance in full I had no need to check it every day. As such, I totally missed the pre-op instructions which gave important information as to my daughter's diet before the procedure. Not following the diet not only complicated her recovery but prolonged the recovery period. 2. The staff at the hospital in Tijuana spoke very little English. Only one of the nurses was bilingual but she left after her shift ended. Imagine watching your daughter do through discomfort and pain and not being able to communicate with anyone in English. To make matters worse, they seemed to have forgotten that my daughter, not I, had the procedure. After 8 hours, I was starving. The neighborhood where the clinic is located appeared unsafe. And their cafeteria did not accept cash or credit cards. Needless to say, this did not improve my mood. 3. Worst of all - My daughter was discharged after being given NO paperwork and NO prescriptions. Again, I thought this was normal since it was a nonsurgical procedure. But when my daughter arrived home, she experienced extreme nausea and vomiting. I contacted Weightloss agents and was basically told that they couldn't prescribe anything because the doctor was outside the US. The only recommendation was for over-the-counter meds which didn't work. As a result, my daughter had to go to the emergency room where she was given an IV. They prescribed to her nausea medication which worked. All of this could have been prevented if they'd give her the medication before leaving. 5. I tried calling the doctor in Tijuana and left a message. And I never received a returned call. Basically, the follow-up from this procedure is non-existent. You're on your own. 5. The post-op instructions they send are not specific to the gastric balloon - they are main for the sleeve. I had to go on the Obera website to get more thorough information. So would I recommend this place? NO. I am still positive about the procedure itself, but I cannot recommend this company due to my negative experience. If I had the chance to do it again, it would definitely be with a local doctor in the US. I get that it's cheaper here, but it was not worth the unnecessary pain and frustration experienced by myself and my daughter.

The complication rate is actually quite low. I had zero complications and reached my gw within 6 months of surgery. Most people are fine, althogh it's normal to be worried before major surgery! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had a gastric sleeve done in May 16 my insurance wouldn't pay for it so I had to pay for mine out-of-pocket also I did a lot of research and I ended up going down to Mexico and had a wonderful experience. You need to do your research but there are several good places safe and reputable that you can go. I went to the Mexico bariatric center with dr. Cabrera and Doctor Venezuela. I have since lost a hundred and thirty-two pounds and have not had a single complication and neither have any of the eight women I went down with. Sent from my SM-J320P using the BariatricPal App

Let me start with saying the band is the MOST invasive surgery, not the least because the complication rate is so high (around 50%) that you could require more surgeries...that is my definition of pretty invasive. I can can post a link to a whole host of those studies if you would like, I had to have my band removed and revised to rny. I chose rny because it is the gold standard been around for decades and proven to work. Sleeve hasn't been around for 10 years yet, so after my mistake of using the band when it was still new...wasn't gonna do that again. Also I developed acid reflux from the band and I knew the sleeve could make it worse and rny often cures it. Also I liked the extra insurance with malabsorption...most sleevers don't dump, the majority of rnyers do with the rny. I liked that it was insurance should I make bad food choice. I don't ever plan have another bariatric surgery. Both sleeve and rny require additional Vitamins. I like the Patches..easy to use and don't know they are there. Having said all this the sleeve is getting close to the 10 year mark and looking like a good alternative to rny. It was my backup if the band had done too much damage and an rny couldn't be done.

I was self pay. Had single port sleeve surgery in Mexico for $6K and they took out my gallbladder at the same time for an additional $700. 2 nights in hospital. No complications. I'm 6 weeks out and have had a smooth recovery.

I enjoy reading your posts when you come around from time to time. Hopefully you'll never experience complications with your lap-band.

I talked to my surgeon about this option and he said in the U.S. most insurances don't cover it. He also didn't recommend it, as it adds more unnecessary risk for complication by inserting a foreign object, also it can wear out, slip, be too tight, etc. So he feels it is not worth it. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

hello all! im new here and decided to reach out for support. i had surgery 11/15/16.....surgery was great, didnt have any complications nor pain. i am finding that i am super hungry! ive always been somewhat hungry but now its out of control hunger. with pangs and all. ive read a lot about head hunger...but i DO NOT think its that. i physically feel hungry...my stomach hurts. was wondering if anyone has gone thru this? where they are sure it isnt head hunger? ive been drinking Water and doing most everything im supposed to BUT i am constantly hungry PLEASE HELP!

Great question, I don't know. Maybe skin grows around them but what if one got loose. Now u have me thinking. sonkat5355 Skin definitely doesn't grow around them! Scar tissue does and they are encased. I have never once heard a story of a staple causing complications years down the road. They have been doing gastric bypass with titanium staples for decades.

I'm 5, but I had complications with my Myasthenia Gravis and when after surgery I was hospitalised for 4 months, 8 weeks of that being in icu ventilated...they then didn't want me loosing weight quickly and fed.me via nj 24hrs...I ended up with a trachy so I could talk and come off the ventilator, I'm allowed normal foods from my dietician...I'm just feeling blurrrghhhhh x Sent from my SM-G930F using the BariatricPal App