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Ok, I was banded November 2006 at 300 lbs and lost 80 lbs. Well here I am now up to 290 and it is just depressing. I feel no restriction but yet the doctor says im completely filled to the max. I'm really interested in getting the sleeve because I've heard a lot of good things about it versus the band. I was self pay for the lapband and am getting married so will probably try to see if my husbands insurance will cover the revision since I was self pay. Anyone know anything about insurance companies and revisions? He has aetna insurance. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I agree with you, There is not a lot of information and support for people maintaining or have weight gain. Most vets disappear from the forums because it's mostly new people. It's hard to see people struggle with a major weight gain. I know this is not easy from my own experience. You may not want to hear some of this. But, I'm saying it because I care. The work does not end after goal. Don't let this gain become 100+ pounds back. Are you willing to change, work and do things that are not convenient or comfortable? Suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. (1) As you progress out from sleeve surgery your restriction is less. You will be able to eat more food. (2) Stretching is rare. Very few revisions are done. You can make an appointment with your surgeon to see if you stretched your sleeve. Ask your dietician/surgeons office for help getting your diet back on track. (3) Many people confuse stretching for the the ability to eat more and grazing food throughout the day (combinations of health and unhealthy foods) Any of us can eat around our surgery. Eating more calories is causing the weight gain. (4) Pouch reset is a fancy way of saying getting back on track. Pouch reset is the old diet progression (liquid ,soft foods then real food stage) If you find this too restrictive try a different approach that is realistically sustainable for you long term. Contact your dietician or research diet options. (5) . Portion control/surgery restriction will only take you so far. To set your body back into weight loss mode is to know how many calories you are eating. You can use a food app. It makes it easier. Click the link below. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android&hl=en

I thought I was doing so well. I had my surgery in December and got down to 263 lbs. I am up to 266 now and have been up / down for almost a month now. I am MAXXED OUT in my fill. I am manic depressive. Please, nobody make fun of me because it isn't my fault I have this. The meds that I take give me massive sugar cravings. That's how I gained all this weight in the first place. The sugar is the easier item to slip through the band. I do very well during the day, then at night I become almost insane with needing to consume sugar. One med I take occasionally makes me sleepwalk/eat at night. I know that I need to see my doctor and I will on Monday, he's been away on holidays for two weeks now. I feel very distraught over this, I feel like I will never lose the weight. I beat myself over and over again in the head for eating like a pig. The band is great, but if I would have known THEN what I know NOW, I would have opted for gastric bypass because of the dumping syndrome. :thumbup:

My surgeon told me that by the end of summer, 9 months after sleeve surgery, I would be done losing weight. I'm just wondering if anyone understands this. Is this bc my metabolism will be used to my low calories? I still have about 40 lbs to lose yikes! Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

Nobody has the right to be "mad" over your decision .... the dr "wanting " you to have the bypass versus a sleeve... keep one thing in mind this is YOUR choice and YOUR decision it's YOUR body and YOUR life .... make your own decision don't allow others to decide how YOUR life should be

hi lisa,my name is peggy and i get my preop teaching on jan 12 and begin my preop liquid diet. i am scared...not of the surgery, but that i am making the wrong decision by not getting a bypass. i have a lot to lose but am relatively healthy. i hope we both are successful and enjoy a healthy,happy future. good luck!:shades_smile:

Maybe she was mad at herself for referring patients for gastric bypass when she could have sent them to get a band. Or maybe she was mad that her insurance won't cover a band for herself.

I just wish that I could clone my PCP he is the best thing since..........oh well you all get my meaning. I went to see him yesterday for other issues and I was telling him how if my insurance ever decided to pay for wls I was going to have the banding done. He gave me a big hug and a kiss on the forehead and said that he thought it was the best decision I could ever do. He said that he is so glad insurance is fineally paying for something other then bypass. He has the same feeling about the later outcomes of bypass surgeries. Some people have no issues and more people have major ones. He said that he had recently been researching it for another patient and had no clue that was something I was already looking into. So with that stated....I do have to apologize for how you were treated(seem to do that alot to patients cuz some drs left their mannors in the toilet when they got up that morning) but remember there are a whole lot of great family physicians that will support you through it all. Keep up the great work with the weight loss.

Question??? I'm at the beginning of this journey...i have a meeting with my pcp next Friday and hope/pray she'll help me get going on this... I've been researching everything because i want to know up front what is ahead...and i'm ready to make changes.....i had a question on diet coke...i typically have one each day with lunch...am i to believe that diet cokes go away and are not allowed once your banded??? At all??? I am ok with making changes..i'm ready....but honestly i often thought i could give up food before my diet coke.:w00t: My girlfriend had a bypass a year ago, and she couldnt have diet coke at the beginning..but slowly introduced it back a few months after surgery... The other thing i have come to like the sugar free or lite Cranberry juice - is that ok? Finally, coffee..i usually have a cup in the morning with sugar free sweetner - yes? or no? I know i will get info on the do's and don'ts...but please bear with me..i'm trying to get my head in the right place beforehand so that i dont feel deprivation which always leads to me feeling cranky! lol:biggrin2: Thank you for your help - its truly appreciated!

there is a very famous opera singer who had bypass surgery and my mom said it did not affect her singing...i will find out who she is...maybe it's you? my mom is in new york and always goes to the opera..seaview

"Among all patients, the rates of 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year<SUP> </SUP>mortality were 2.0%, 2.8%, and 4.6%, respectively. Advancing<SUP> </SUP>age and male sex were associated with early death after bariatric<SUP> </SUP>surgery (Table 2), with the highest rates of early mortality<SUP> </SUP>identified among older men. Overall, men were much more likely<SUP> </SUP>to die after bariatric surgery than women (3.7% vs 1.5%, 4.8%<SUP> </SUP>vs 2.1%, and 7.5% vs 3.7% for men and women at 30 days, 90 days,<SUP> </SUP>and 1 year, respectively; P<.001 for all time points). Mortality<SUP> </SUP>rates were greater for those aged 65 years or older (n = 1517)<SUP> </SUP>compared with younger patients (4.8% vs 1.7%, 6.9% vs 2.3%,<SUP> </SUP>and 11.1% vs 3.9% at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year, respectively;<SUP> </SUP>P<.001 for all time points). We found no differences in early<SUP> </SUP>mortality rates between patients who had primary vs revision<SUP> </SUP>surgery (2.0% vs 1.5%, 2.8% vs 2.2%, and 4.6% vs 4.3% at 30<SUP> </SUP>days, 90 days, and 1 year, respectively; all P>.10" "Patients undergoing procedures by surgeons with lower volume<SUP> </SUP>of bariatric procedures (less than the median of surgical volume<SUP> </SUP>among Medicare beneficiaries between 1997-2003) had a higher<SUP> </SUP>rate of mortality than those with at least median experience<SUP> </SUP>(3.3% vs 2.0%; P<.001). Patients aged 65 years or older had<SUP> </SUP>much higher rates of early death when undergoing surgery by<SUP> </SUP>surgeons within the lowest quartile of volume (Table 4) compared<SUP> </SUP>with those in the highest quartile (9% vs 1.1% at 30 days and<SUP> </SUP>13.8% vs 1.1% at 90 days; P<.001). Surgeons in the highest<SUP> </SUP>quartile of bariatric procedure volume had similar rates of<SUP> </SUP>early mortality in both younger and older patients (1.8% 90-day<SUP> </SUP>mortality in patients <65 years and 1.1% mortality in patients<SUP> </SUP>65 years; P = .40). The higher overall rates of death<SUP> </SUP>among older patients were attributable in part to a higher proportion<SUP> </SUP>(36%) of older patients undergoing surgery by surgeons within<SUP> </SUP>the lowest quartile of bariatric surgery volume compared with<SUP> </SUP>younger patients. The odds of a 90-day death were 1.6 times<SUP> </SUP>higher for patients of surgeons with lower volume (less than<SUP> </SUP>the median) after adjusting for age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity<SUP> </SUP>Index score (95% CI, 1.3-2.0).<SUP> "</SUP> <SUP></SUP> <SUP>"</SUP>The hazard ratio for death (Figure) at any time after the procedure<SUP> </SUP>was 2.3 times greater for patients aged 65 years or older compared<SUP> </SUP>with younger patients (95% CI, 2.0-2.7), with 9.5% 5-year mortality<SUP> </SUP>in younger patients compared with 21.6% mortality in the older<SUP> </SUP>cohort (P<.001). The odds of 90-day death did not change<SUP> </SUP>significantly based on the year the procedure was performed,<SUP> </SUP>even after controlling for patient age, sex, and Charlson Comorbidity<SUP> </SUP>Index score (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9-1.0).<SUP> "</SUP>

Hello and welcome! Also -- congratulations!! How exciting it must be to be at that stage of seeing the weight peel off, and past the point of initial recovery, and past the point of choosing which surgery to get. I noticed that you chose to go with the sleeve as opposed to the Roux-y surgery. I think that's where I'm likely to begin, myself. I have bounced around, investigating what they call a SADI-s / Loop / SIPS surgery which has an extra component with the intestine beneath the sleeve, often done as a revision of the sleeve for those who regain weight or aren't satisfied with their results. It SEEMS to have fewer side effects than the Roux-y (full gastric) but I just don't know. I've also been given a fair amount of advice suggesting I try to find an expert to do the duodenal switch (DS) due to my BMI being in the high 50s/low 60s. I'm certainly willing to try to go that route but as someone else said -- there is usually a LOT of back and forth before committing to surgery and I'm almost 7 months into the program I'm at with my current surgeon. How long would it take me, realistically, to get this far again? WLS is such a difficult and scary commitment, and then getting on here BEFORE having a surgery has filled my brain with so many more complicated options. Its kind of hard for me to commit to big decisions and sometimes I wonder if learning more and more is making matters harder for me. I love to feel in control of what's happening with my body and try to inspect EVERY detail such as to avoid any regrets -- but sometimes staring at the water for too long makes one less likely to jump in, doesn't it? But you've DONE it! I think the sleeve is a great option and respect your choice, and am so happy that it has gone smoothly thus far. It could just be my perception, but most of the men I've seen post about their surgeries seem to indeed have a bit more gentle recovery, with fewer complications. I've seen a lot of folks caution me (this forum and others) about whether I'd be satisfied with the degree of weight loss if I were to go with a base sleeve, Roux-y, or SADI-s. This makes me really appreciate where you talked about that dark spiral and maxing out at 407. I say this as someone who feels like I understand pretty dang well what you're talking about because my max weight was 435! Being 'down' to 366 feels a heck of a lot better by comparison, and I got this far by myself, so maybe I don't need to be as concerned about satisfaction with the numbers as I do making sure I'm comfortable with the process of surgery to help me continue my weight loss journey. Please keep us in the loop as you continue on to your goal! Also - congratulations to the rest of you posting here who are inches from your goal weight or have already made it there!! No matter what surgery (or surgeries) helped you get there, you DID IT! Definitely an inspirational group of people here!

The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

Hi, I'm Laura and I had my RnY revision surgery August 6, 2010. From that date until last year when I left my husband, I had lost a total of 140lbs. BUT, I. The last year I have gained 31 lbs, have totally disregarded my post op diet and am totally disgusted with myself. I want to get back on track, but I am lacking the proverbial "kick in the ass"!! Lol. I live near Cornwall ON Canada. Maybe we could be support for each other?

Hello I'm 3 days post op had band to bypass. I went home the very nice day. I stopped needing my pains after 2 days. I think I'm doing pretty good. If you have any questions please ask Sent from my SM-G900V using BariatricPal mobile app

Wow! Your everything sure has a lot of stuff in it! JK those are all legitimate questions & things we all worry about pre-op. Some things to take into consideration is your starting weight & your age. The more you have to loose, the more excess skin you will have. If you are older, it might be harder for you to tone things up. The main thing is finding an exercise thing you can stick with! For me that has been Pilates. But even after doing Pilates 369 times I still have bat wings. I have always had a “poofy” stomach no matter how much I weigh, even at 100 pounds in my early 20’s. I would love to have a tummy tuck, but someone would have to die for that to happen so I will go without one. My daughter has that implant thing in her arm. She had a bypass just over 3 years ago (when she was 22) & has lost over 150. She has done great. I had a bypass to correct a failed surgery I had 12 years prior to control GERD that had failed. Because of this I have to take a Previcid for the rest of my life. As long as I don’t over eat (more then 3oz) & I don’t have spicy food the GERD stays under control. Today we ate lunch at a new place. But my husband & I both got heartburn! So we won’t be eating there again!

I think we all have those thoughts to some extent. I was a band to bypass revision and oh the mental conversations I had with myself in the days before the bypass. I mean, I failed a band, why will this work???? But it DOES work (and you will be bitchy! Be prepared). You're worried, you're taking this seriously, you're concerned about the future...all good signs that you'll do great!

SUrgery: revision from band to sleeve with Dr Aceves, Mexicali on Monday this week. Arrived in MX SUnday night. Driver was amazing and the hotel was VERY NICE. Me and my man had tacos the night before and they were delicious. I took a valium to help me sleep / relax and slept ok. Monday morning, pick up at 7am. Got to the hospital and took care of adminsitrative items. Got into a gown. They frist sent me to xray (I didn't get my tests the day before like we planned). Then back to my private room to wait. Next, someone came to take my blood. Then I saw the anesthesiologist. He spent about 20 minutes with me talking about my surgery experiences. They decided to to an epidural, but not use morphine because it makes me sick. Dr Aceves came in after a while and talked to me for over 1/2 an hour. He really cares about his patients and his work - it shows. It was the most relaxing surgery event I have ever been a part of. About 45 minutes before surgery, I get the happy pill. Looks like xanax, but i'm not sure. I get very relaxed and wait for them to call me up for my turn. All this time I am in my private room, reading, watching TV, talking - very relaxed. I had an urge to have a BM and urinate a few minutes before they came to get me (yay!) so I was completely empty when my turn was up. I remember walking to the OR, looking up at someone putting an IV in me and then it was lights out. According to my report, they put in the epidural after I went to sleep, pumped in anti nausea meds right away, hooked up some propofol, and then pushed the narcotic pain blocker. The revision and sleeve took less than 2 hours. THey pushed some Zofran when they were done to ease any possible nausea, and I was on my way to recovery room. I was in recevery for almost 3 hours - a little longer than normal, but I always have hard time coming out of anesthesia. I remember being wheeled to my room and seeing my man there. No nausea, just tired. Slept on and off during the day, but couldn't really get up to go to the bathroom because the epidural made my legs wobbly. From what I remember, I did get up a couple of times. I swished with Biotene and used a lot of chapstick to keep the dry mouth away. My pain was never too out of control. When I started to feel bad, someone would bring a sublingual pill or give me another hit from the epidural (which I had until the day I was released). Pain management was EXCELLENT. I was never in an unbearable amount of pain. I loved the epidural shots, but I would avoid asking for it because I couldn't walk for a couple hours after they gave it to me. I didn't have a catheter, so no problems with urination. I had to get up and go the old fashioned way. The first day after, I wiped down with some baby wipes and put on pj pants for comfort. Walked around as much as I could. After the 2nd day, the real pain was localized to the drain area. I swear I could feel it inside me. It was not excrutiating, just a weird awareness. The second day they brought the die test, and then fluids to drink. The third day, I did the xray leak test and they took the drain out. They knew teh drain was going to be uncomfortable, so they gave me a hit of the epidural first. I felt the drain coming out (sucked, but not the worst thing ever) because the epidural was taking 15 minutes or so to really settle in. But, I was able to sleep after they took it out and concentrate on healing. After the drain was out and I woke up from the shot, I took a better shower and changed into a clean set of PJ's. Mnay walks through the day. Tried to go out and see the sun a fe times. Walked down to the farmacia to get some extra nexium MUPS. Also had a little diahrea on this day, but it went away after 3 hours. Good to know the pipes were still working :-) On my release date, I had a sublingual pill, had my epidural cath taken out, removed my IV, and took the ride to the border. During the whole stay Dr Aceves visited the patients 3-5 times perday, along with the anestesiologist. They were truly remarkable. On the last day the Dr asked if I would like to stay for another day to relax, but I had to decline. Even though I was sore from the pain, I almost felt like I had been in a spa - I was so relaxed!!!! Usual questions: Was there pain? Yes - but the staff was so good at pain management. My pain was all about the drain and drain site. I found it terribly uncomfortable. But I was never in a lot of pain. Epidural? Yes, please! I would recommend it to anyone - unless they are pumping morphine, that can make you very nauseous. Naseous? Not once - it was a miracle!!!! I have always vomitted with anesthesia, but these guys really knew what they were doing to control it. Mexicali? Awesome! I live close to TJ and know a lot about that city. I was so surprised by how much smaller, cleaner and less crowded Mexicali was. Fantastic esperience. Dr Aceves? Simply the best. I have had several surgeries in my day and he is the best surgeon so far. great bed side manner, and very skilled with the revision. My old lap band port sight doesn't even have a bruise - the guy knows what he is doing. Worth the money? Yep. Now that I am home, I still take a sublingual painpill in the morning that lasts about 6 hours. More drain area pain... I will then use a heating pad in the afternoon to get me through to bed time when I will take another sublingual to ease the pain so I can sleep. I am getting better every day (more mobile) and I should be off the meds in the next day or so. The weirdest thing right now is that I literally spend every waking minute of my life sipping a drink. I start at 7:00am and continue until 6:00pm. I am still coming up a little short, but I don't want to tempt acid reflux, so I stop drinking a couple hours before bed. The sweetness of the Isopure is getting to me, but I gutting my way through it. I usually only drink Water and iced tea with no sweetener or lemon - the flavored drinks are killing me! I am sure there is a lot I missed because of a groggy head. But my overall impression was that they did a great job, I was as comfortable as possible, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Now, I can't wait to be done with these 2 weeks so I can feel a little more normal. I have made a promise to myself not to weigh in for a month. I am still super bloated from the surgery and can't wear regular pants. Good luck to all of you on your journey! Lara

Hey Crishell! My 2 year anniversary is Jan 11th. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I am about 8 lbs from my initial goal of 180 and am in my initial goal size of a 12 after my high of 330 lbs and a size 28. I had a tummy tuck in October and am feeling pretty good, although I definately got off track over the holidays! I've revised my goal for the new year and am now trying to get to 165 and a size 10 by July when I hope to have a thigh lift and finish my lower body lift. I'm 5'11, so at that point I will be on maintenance. I can't say enough good things about my band, and hope all my Jan'07 friends feel the same! ~Lori

Hey guys. So, some of you know and some don't but I have had complications since surgery, which was August 13th. It boils down to my lower esophagus is very narrow. I have a difficult time getting anything that is not liquid down and I am constantly feeling nauseous. As a result, I have had 3 stents placed and botox injected into my esophagus as well as numerous other tests and hospital stays. I began feeling nauseous again about 2 weeks ago and have been in contact with the GI dr following my case. I just got off the phone with him and he wants to do another dialation or stent placement tomorrow or Thursday. He also wants me to discuss with my surgeon the possibility of converting my sleeve to a bypass (which my surgeon and his team have discussed briefly in the past.) I guess I'm just venting and want to feel better. If anyone has any advice or have heard of converting to a bypass, please let me know. Thanks.

Sugar free pudding cup and sugar free popsicles are my life savers HW 242, SW 236- (Bypass 12/20/17) GW#1- 199 [emoji736] (2/11/18) GW#2- 180 [emoji736] (4/2/18) GW#3- 160 CW 172 5’6”

I had been banded in 2009 as well. Had it out Jan.2017. Then had the bypass May 22, 2017. At this time I really feel no different. I am very glad I did the bypass. I have had no dumping and feel great. Weight is very slow coming off but I'm in for the long haul. SO glad the band is out! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi everyone, My VSG surgery is scheduled for Nov. 11 and I'm so excited! I just finished my pre-op "classes" - I guess it really hit me that I'll be on multivitamins for the rest of my life. Perhaps I should have done a little more research on it, but I thought multivitamins were temporary for sleevers because there isn't the same malabsorption like the bypass. My surgery center recommends a multivitamin with iron (2x/day), B12 (1x/day), Calcium (2x/day) and a vitamin D3 (1x/day). That's a lot! And I can't take them all at once because it affects the absorption. And I can't take them all at once because it affects the absorption. Will I ever be able to pare it down to maybe a single multivitamin a day? I currently take a multi everyday, so that's not a big deal for me, but that's just so many pills to remember.

I came to the conclusion that I am a food addict after reading several books These books also tell one how to deal with the addiction. Boiled down to the basics: one must avoid trigger foods just as an alcoholic must abstain from alcohol. The usual trigger foods are are sugar, flour. white potatoes, rice, and processed food. "Processed food" is anything in a bag or box in the center aisles of the supermarket. Shop the exterior aisles where one finds fresh produce, meats, poultry, dairy, and frozen vegetables. There is a withdrawal period that is uncomfortable, but after a couple of weeks the cravings for the trigger foods diminish. Unless one of the trigger foods is sitting right In front of me, I no longer have difficulty avoiding them. I have lost 93 lbs by cutting out these things, 70 lbs prior to RNy revision surgery and another 23 lbs to date post surgery, I recommend these books Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman Weight Loss Surgery Does Not Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton Why Diets Fail (Because you're Addicted to Sugar) by Nicole Avena & John Talbott