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I spent the afternoon watching the DS surgery on you tube it looks so complicated ....... Sent from my N9132 using the BariatricPal App

I am going through Richmond Kaiser. Each location is different in the process. I went to orientation 10/21 and my surgery is scheduled for 1/9. It could have been 12/19 but my husband was Scheduled for 12/21 and it was too close together for us logistically. We had to do the orientation, meet the surgeon, clear psych and meet our goal weight. (About 15 lbs to lose). If you aren't sticking to their diet plan or losing weight they make you take additional classes. Once surgery is scheduled you have two pre surgery classes. All relatively painless. Prepped us well. My hubby is 9 days post op. No complications and down 20 lbs already. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Lovely! How is your recovery going? I'm sorry to hear about your complication, that sounds very painful. Do you have any tips or advice? And yes I would love to connect! It is always good to have a support system of people who truly know what you are going through. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Hello! I am also in Sacramento and was sleeved on Dec 9, 2016! I had a complication of a twisted stomach so ended up spending 6 nights in the hospital at Sutter. I would love to connect and share our progress! Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Prayers from texas! You will be healthy and strong, hope that there are no complications and minimal pain. God Bless.???? Sent from my SM-G550T using the BariatricPal App

I had a lot of issues right after surgery due to some complications. I was drinking/eating basically nothing! There were quite a few days were I was lucky to get in 12 ounces of Water and I can tell you that I was extremely dizzy and was almost admitted back into the hospital. Up your water and that should help .

If you're unsure you should really talk to your surgeon. It's a personal choice based on your circumstances and surgeon recommendations. That being said, I personally would not go with the band. The people who do not have issues long term seem to be the exception, not the rule. All WLS will only succeed with compliance to your plan, however I've heard too many horror stories about the band and listened to my surgeon when he said that they are phasing them out almost everywhere due to the complications (most not related to compliance, like having the material fuse to liver and organs and slipping/erosion.) the sheer amount of revisions and maintenance necessary was enough to tip the scales for me as well. On top of that I know people who have struggled to get a revision to bypass or sleeve because insurance does not want to cover a second surgery. I'm not knocking anyone who chooses the band, these are my personal opinions and personal recommendations from my surgeon who does not band people any longer for ethical reasons. Good luck in whatever you choose!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@Lulu_RNY, congratulations on your recent surgery . The initial surgical process was not the issue it was the post-op support surrounding complications. I'm glad things have changed for the better. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Lap band has many possible complications, if there is a choice to be made choose between bypass and sleeve not the band. Bypass is for someone looking to loose 100 lbs and sleeve if you are looking to loose 60 or 80. Sent from my SM-G550T using the BariatricPal App

Absolutely no regrets. No complaints, no complications. Ok maybe one.... I do miss an occasional mojito... But my size six butt somehow makes it through!

Much of what you are feeling is happening because of the significant change in hormones, it will get better with time. That being said, you should not be having significant pain at this stage. Most people are completely off pain medications within a few days post op. What kind of pain are you having at this point? You might be having a complication such as a stricture. Have you called your surgeons office?

There's a difference between a business contract and a marriage. For example you don't sleep in bed with your boss and have kids as soon as you sign a contract. I feel sorry for the woman who fall victim to some of you manipulating ass men! Y'all stick up for each other like some Girl Scouts. Children are a blessing not "complications " God I hope y'all ain't breeding. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Marriage is just a contract; contracts get broken all the time. What do you think divorce is? Also, relationships can be ended by either party. You don't need the other person's consent to end it. Having children complicates it, but in the end if you want to leave, you can leave. (Just expect a huge load of cr4p dealing with the children aspect of it, legally...)

@@Vinasu, very interesting. I guess it depends on the individual because losing the weight is great, it's the lifetime lifestyle is the kicker. Can a person who has had the RNY surgery still have dumping syndrome 20 years or more out? I need to do further research on long term complications if any for that surgery. Just my 2 cents...

I had my Lap Band put in 13 years ago by one of the most experienced band surgeons of the time. I did lose a decent amount of weight with it (around 140 lbs!) and for a while I loved the band. However, I've been living unfilled for several years now because of a band slippage, and subsequently regained 70 lbs. or so. I am excited about getting the band removed, because I am tired of the problems it has caused, but so scared about the sleeve revision. I am scared of suffering any more problems - because I have indeed SUFFERED a lot from the band. My port site has always been tender (it was worst when I was at my lowest weight since there was less "padding"), so I had pain from that on a daily basis for most of the time I had the band. While I was pregnant, it was extremely painful at times but in a weird way the stretching of the pregnancy seemed to break up some scar tissue and now it doesn't hurt as much. I have reflux at night even with the band unfilled. I have pain and a sense of fullness in my chest at times from the band. Back when the band was filled, I had so many episodes of food getting stuck - sometimes resulting in hours of pain as I waited for the food to pass. I am grateful that the band is reversible. I am grateful that, while the complications have been unpleasant, at least they can be fixed and won't kill me. I know I am better off than some of the pioneers of weight loss surgery who suffered much worse complications and even died. But, still, I am disappointed it turned out this way. Back when I got the band, I did a LOT of research. I read journal articles about the Australian experience with the band, since it was available in Australia for some time before it came to America. At the time, the information coming out of Australia made the band look good as a viable long term option. I was part of some support group email lists where most people seemed to be doing well and complications were rare. Yet, in spite of all that reassurance, now we know that the lap band operation turns out badly for most people who have it. That's why I have a hard time trusting that the sleeve is any better. I see the sleeve has a lot of positive stories and data, but so did the band back when I had it done. A part of me wants to tell my surgeon I have decided to cancel the sleeve plan and just want her to take the band out. And yet, there is a part of me that feels like I should take the chance on the sleeve. Realistically, I know I will never lose that much weight again on my own without some help - statistically, that just doesn't happen for the vast majority of fat people. I know obesity kills. I know that IF the sleeve goes well and IF I lose weight again, I will be a much happier and healthier person. It's just that if the sleeve doesn't go well, I'm afraid that it could ruin my life. The one good thing about the band is that at least it IS something that can be taken out. So often on bariatric sites, I see people focused only on weight loss. My experience with the band has taught me that quality of life means a lot more to me than pounds lost. I would be happier living as a normal fat person than suffering any more bariatric surgery complications. In a way, it will be kind of a relief to me if the surgeon decides she can't do the sleeve and just takes the band out since then the decision will be out of my hands. However, deep down, I still have hope that maybe I will be as fortunate as some of the happy sleeve people on here. I hope to update all of you about how it goes once I feel up to it. Prayers and positive thoughts are definitely appreciated if you are so inclined.

Yeah...that "inny" navel/belly button. You'd be amazed at the flecks of crud we find deep in there. But to everyone, no need to feel embarrassed, for whatever you've got has already been seen in the OR: there's nothing new under the sun. [Though, one time, I had to remove a good size crystal ball from... a woman's 'secret garden'. Yes. That was a first!!] RE: Shaving...mostly now, patients should not do their own shave, to decrease the risk of nicks and infection. Your doctor will advise; but usually, not recommended for the patient to do. Catheters: Since most of the cases don't last that long, urinary catheters are not inserted if they have you urinate just before taking you to the OR. But again, surgeon preference, and what they feel is your specific need. If you might be a complicated case, and/or will take longer, then, yes.

@@PrettyThick1 I feel you, I had my band for 8 years, honestly looking back at it I hated it since the beginning. I couldn't eat healthy foods like chicken and other things unless they were drenched in sauce. I felt like a failure and finally I developed horrible heart burn and had to get t emptied few times I kept gaining weight I said I had to do something about it. It was a hard decision to make but I did revise to RNY this year, I am 7 months out and even though I had complications I am so much more happier now and I don't miss my band at all. I am down 87 lbs this year and 42 more till goal. I know some people did well with the band but I was not one of them, just wish I did the revision many many years ago. Hope you find what you are looking for, talk to your surgeon about your options. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi All, I've been a member of this site since March 2016, but have spent most of last year doing research on all 3 surgeries: sleeve, bypass, and lap-band. I'm in the home stretch of this journey. I have only 1 more NUT visit to go. I knew I didn't want the lap-band because I didn't want the foreign object and corrosion. I wanted the sleeve because the procedure seemed not as bad to use a bougie, run the stapler and "over-sew" the . I didn't think of doing the bypass because it seemed really complicated, scary and and mortality rate seemed high to me. I only said this because since I've made the decision to do WLS,two people have told me that they knew someone who didn't make it through the RNY surgery. And, this freaked me out. Earlier this year, I went to 3 surgeons. The first surgeon suggested I have the RNY because I have mild GERD and I eat sweets, the second surgeon suggests I have the Sleeve and he's great (this is the surgeon I've been going to for the past 5 months.) he says to have the sleeve because my BMI isn't that high, and the third surgeon recommends the RNY because the dumping will keep me in check and I have mild GERD. Saying all of this leads me to the reason for switching surgeons. I'm deciding to switch surgeons for 2 reasons: I'll need $250 in order to submit my paperwork to the insurance. I knew this in the beginning, but my money is getting tight, so I won't be able to do it, maybe I can wait until tax time. The second reason is because I do not like how the front office operates. They are hardly available to answer my calls, return emails, etc. And, if they can't answer the phone's now, they probably won't answer them when it comes time for the surgery. I've put up with this for so long, I'm just tired of it now...I prefer to have the Sleeve surgery, but 2 doctor's recommended the RNY. The first surgeon is just out of the question. Too much is going on at that facility. I'm so confused. I need to know everything will be ok. Sorry to ramble...I'm nervous about switching from the sleeve to the RNY. I'm in GA: I'm going with Dr. Hart at John's Creek. He suggests RNY. I'm HT: 5'4, HW: 240, CW: 215, age: 37

The scale will move... I had complications with my revision so I didn't lose anything for a month because of all of the IVs etc. just concentrate on doing what you need to do and to heal after surgery, the weight will come off. I am 7 months out and down 72 lbs + 15 lbs loss more before surgery. I thought I would be that person that will not lose but my dr is saying I am making great progress, I do go through stalls very often and it gets frustrating... I am learning to just concentrate on doing what I need to do and being patient, the scale moves eventually. Keep up good work! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I've heard of the Lap Band having more complications and failure than it succeeding. I actually know of a few people who have had the band, and every single one of them have either gotten it removed, or gained back their weight. The sleeve is a lot more successful. Of course, any weight loss surgery can fail if you continue with bad eating habits. It's just less likely to regain bad eating habits with the sleeve or bypass.

I had severe complications my first year. Vomiting and nauseous 24/7 after i transitioned to a regular diet after the first 2 months. I had to beg for a second opinion. He refused to refer me to the doctor i requested. I saw his partner who diagnosed me with bile Reflux immediately after doing an upper endoscopy. How the original surgeon missed that is beyond me. I had every system listed. The dr moved 4 hours away so i transfered care to a gastroenterologist. My GI gave me a script for Dicyclomine 10mg as needed. As soon as i start feeling pain that feels like a knife in my stomach i take 1 capsule. Within 5 minutes i feel like a millon bucks! The medicine doesnt have any side effects. I dont get sleepy etc with it. The pain gets so bad i cant stand up straight. I also take Prilosec 20mg and amitriptyline 10mg. My first year i was in and out of the hospial and ER for dehydration and other issues. I went from 300 pounds down to 158. Have to admit it is pretty exciting going from a size 26-28 down to a 10-12 pant and small - medium tops. I bought J Jill and Talbot swing jackets in a size 6 and 8. I am pretty excited about all the different styles i can wear tody. Hope his helped!

I had one very minor complication. 1-day post-op they took me off the morphine drip and switched me to Norco syrup. Thir policy is to not discharge until they know you can tolerate oral pain medicine. A minute after I took it, I vomited bloody foam. This freaked out the nurse, but my surgeon didn't seem phased by it. Because of the blood, they took me off blood thinner injections for the day, discontinued my liquid diet to ice chips only, and switched me to a Tylenol syrup and watched me for another day. Then the next day they put me back on liquids and blood thinners and had to wait for those numbers to come back to normal. So, my one-night hospital stay turned into a 3-night/4-day hospital stay. The irony is I never once needed the Tylenol syrup once I was home.

This debate is up there with straws. Seems a lot of doctors and nutrition classes haves differing opinions. My doc in particular was not concerned about me chewing gum or using straws, though the straw part caused a discussion in my room between surgeon/heart failure specialist and the nurses. The docs won. As for the gum, he did not have a problem but said to make positive it is not swallowed, which could caused complications. Bottom line, follow whatever guidelines your doctor puts down. If you have questions that we're not covered, discuss it with him/her. Sent from my SM-G928V using the BariatricPal App

My 12 year old daughter has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease it is a very disabling disease. She has had 5 surgeries to keep her moving. This pass surgery was very hard on me to care for her because I was unable to move her the way I needed to because of my weight! I got sleeved to be able to get healthier to take care of my daughter. I am one week post op and can already see changes, the first couple of days I was regrettful because of some complications but it was quickly taking care of. Today I am greatful for the opportunity and the ability to make the health decisions that I did. Best of luck!! Sleeved 12-19-16 Dana

Congratulations on your surgery day! Praying you have a speedy recovery and no complications! God bless you and keep us posted.