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I was denied by Tricare Prime west region (triwest) for gastric bypass. I am OVER 100 lbs overweight and a bmi of 42 with NO comorbidities. I plan on appealing but what can be my fighting arguement since i have no documented health problems, no diabetes no hbp etc.. ? I do not want to give up, do i have to finally get to the point of becoming diabetic for them to approve me? Iam disappointed, but if anyone can give me any pointers or tips about how to make my appeal It will GREATLY be appreciated. Also, does triwest automatically go by the medium body frame on the metlife chart? Or can my surgeon simply state iam small framed, if so i meet the 200% over requirement...(small framed)

I had gastric bypass on July 16th and then an emergency back surgery August 4th. The reason I am posting this because I have no energy. I mean none. I can hardly walk from my living room down the hall and to my bedroom. I don't know what I am doing wrong, or what the problem is. People keep telling me I had 2 major surgeries almost 2 weeks apart and it's going to take time, but I'm sick of hearing that. Could that really be the reason? Or an I low on a vitamin? Am I not getting enough protein? I can't live my life like this. Tonight my family went out to celebrate my brother n laws birthday and I could barley keep my head off the table. Ugh.

I don’t know how much I lost per month (after mini gastric bypass) but I lost 100 lbs in less than a year. The key is to eat the right food, small portion sizes, don’t drink your calories, and consume MORE than 64 oz of water a day. I also abstain from artificial sweeteners as they have no nutritional value and I think they impair weight loss as they cause you to crave sugar.

I am eight days out of the revision surgery but I would still sometimes feel hungry in the evening. Is this normal or not? I drink about 70g of premier protein shake each day. When I feel hungry, after drinking two sips of protein shake, it kind of relieve my hunger. I feel worried that I would still want to eat? How does everyone else feel? I have lost 10 pounds since surgery but did not lose any weight in 2 days. I don't know if I am doing something wrong.

Dumping most often occurs following gastric bypass surgery. After eating sugar, you can get pain, diarrhea, sweating, fast heart rate..it is usually not associated with banding, but would call your doctor if it persists

Dr Aceves did my band to sleeve revision about a year ago. Glad you did so wonderfully. Like you I had very little pain and couldn't believe it was so uneventful. I don't mind flying but was really surprised that it was only 3 days after surgery and I felt no pain on the flight and it was from San Diego to FL with a 3 hour layover in Dallas. Good Luck on your journey.

Tomorrow's the big day

Hi, I have had 3 Lapband slips and my doctor is recommending me for a revision to VSG. I just found out that he won't remove the lapband and revise to VSG in one surgery. He does it in two. I can't afford to have 2 separate surgeries. Does anyone know if there are any doctors in the Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg area who will do the Lapband to VSG all on the same day. Please let me know.

Good Morning Sleevers!! I have a question regarding the ability to eat without effort 4 oz. of food. I feel that I can easily eat more but, stop myself at that point. My surgery date was 9 Feb 15, so, I am about 2 1/2 weeks out. I started soft foods 1 week after surgery (fish, tuna, green beans). I guess each Surgeon is different. My surgery was completely pain-free and, though I am off work for 6 weeks, I could have gone to work the same week. I am losing fine (hit a stall now but, not too worried) but I am concerned that if I am able to eat so much now, in a month I will be eating a much larger portion. Also, it takes me about 5-10 minutes to eat meal. I have forced myself to slow down to minimum of 20 minutes. I can drink 32 oz of Water in about 5-10 minutes too. I can't eat salads yet. Sorry for the long post!! My actual question is: Are you or were you able to eat so much 2 1/2 weeks out or, is this due to my having a revision? Let me give an sample of a days worth of food: 1st meal: Protein shake 11 oz. mixed in my decaf coffee about 10 oz. 30 minutes later: water, water, water 2nd meal: 1 scrambled egg with 1 oz. of chicken and laughing cow wedge water 3rd Meal: 4 oz. grilled chicken breast w laughing cow wedge or chicken salad w light mayo 30 minutes later: water, water, water 32-40 oz. 4th Meal: 4 oz. grilled chicken breast, 4 green Beans water w Crystal Lite 5th meal: Protein Shake or string cheese with 1 slice of budding turkey wrapped around water, water, water

Sliders are empty calories that you can comsume that can bypass your stomach without getting any nutritional value back. Ice cream, because it melts, alcohol, etc are some of these items.

I had my revision from band to bypass in one procedure less than 2 weeks ago. I already feel ready for vacation! Everyone heals differently, just don't get a set date in your head for feeling 100%, as you may disappoint yourself. You will be ready to go by vacation time!

Well I am 5 days post op and tho it's true everyday gets a little better than the day before, I am so scared. I fear that I have made a mistake, I fear that something really bad is going to happen and I am selfish for subjecting my babies to this. Let me give y'all a little background....surgery was Monday 1/14, starting weight when I began pre-op diet was 278 at surgery 260....however I had a revision surgery from a lap band which had been already removed 11/2011 d/t slippage during pregnancy, but with it my weight dropped to 175. So Monday I check in for surgery and I am nervous, mainly because I was scared of the impending post surgical gas pain :-/ the docs came in and reassured me, slipped me something to relax me and I'm off to the operating room. Next thing I know I'm waking up, pain in my belly and shoulders pretty bad but mostly because they had me flat. Next thing I see is my surgeon telling me that I have had complications d/t old scar tissue and I bled out during surgery which required me to have several blood transfusions, I had a central line and was being whisked to ICU...oh and I would need to have another surgery on Wednesday to repair my hiatal hernia that was "wide open". It hurt to cry but I did, my husband was home with my babies so I was alone. Too weak to pick up my phone and call or text anyone. I've never been that weak before. The ICU nurses wouldn't let me get out of bed which I heard helps profoundly with the trapped gas pain...& I swear my pca pump wasn't working ( idk really lol) and I kept having to pee!! Every movement to lift up on the Bedpan was agonizing & tbh I didn't even care that some dribbled up my back. Then the respiratory therapist kept coming and giving me breathing treatments that force my lungs open...and I know the reasoning behind this but to do this while hurting and with an already dry mouth is nothing to right home about. The next the day they got me out of bed...and told me my blood pressure drops really low when I stand, understandable with blood loss...and they put me in a wheelchair for my swallow test. Let me tell u...omg horrible. The gastrograffin they make u drink is simply horrendous...and they had me standing in pain, dizzy trying to drink this stuff and in my mind I'm saying..."this is going to hurt to chug this". Don't worry it didnt it just taste retched and the dry heaves aren't the funnest. So yay I passed my swallow test! Back to ICU to start drinking...I took one tiny sip when I got back just to moisten my mouth and I was done. After several more blood draws I was told I would be moved to a regular room. Soo off to my room I went, the nurses and cnas there were very pleasant...they kept trying to push me to drink but it was hard cause I had no desire to do so, all I wanted to do was sleep. I promise I have never been so weak before in my life. I drank maybe 1/10 of a 20oz water bottle and started to feel my heart race, began breathing hard like I had come from the gym and passes back out. Around 4am the nurse came in and asked me...did u know you were having surgery today..I started to cry again, I had hoped they forgot :-(. I guess I was so scared of hurting more than I already did. Later on they came and got me for surgery...I was crying and the nurses kept asking what was wrong. Finally the surgeon came told me don't worry "anything bad would have already happened", then back to surgery I went. This time when I woke tho I didn't feel quite so miserable. :-). After another swallow study I was cleared to drink and began clear liquids. For the first time in a very long time I don't automatically reflux what I drink. Amen!! They kept me another night in the hospital to watch me, gave me several iron transfusions and calcium transfusions thru my central line....so many more lab tests. I got up and walked when I could because I was still so weak. They also came and did a venous ultrasound to make sure I didn't have any blood clots. The next day I was able to eat a Popsicle and my broth....baby steps:-) I'm not physically hungry at all but the mental hunger makes my belly growl whenever I see Joe's Crab Shack commercials:-). So I was finally released Thursday night, I have my jp drain in place which is causing ALOT of anxiety to me over it's removal. I will cross that bridge when I get there. Friday I rested, tried to play with my baby as much as I could before I got tired. I tried a protein shake and only got about 20grams in...but I did take my vitamins and tried to sip water all day. However....I have been running low grade fevers still, this was present in the hospital also but they told me as long as it doesn't go over 101 or I have other symptoms of infection that it is ok...I constantly feel my heart beating in my chest...my normal hr is about 45 and now it's in the 90's could be pain related. I'm still weak, and weirdest of all is whenever I fall asleep I keep having crazy vivid dreams....and in some of them I am like stealing French fries or other madness lol...I know how silly it must sound but it is what it is. I have been sleeping in my recliner because it hurts to lay flat, I tried this evening but no go. I'm hopeful for the future, but scared of being that small percent that all the bad stuff happens to. I sit here now praying for a better tommorow, for energy & health. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Glad to hear your story. I am going to Mexico next month for my revision. I have not had the issues you had with your band, simply because about 4 years ago I had all the Fluid taken out. After fighting with fills, vomiting, etc. for 3 years, I just gave up. It sounds like you have been through hell. Hoping I don't have the thing embedded in my stomach. I have no pain or anything, so we'll see. Please keep updating your progress. I have a month to go, and am interested in your journey. I am taking a month off work (I'm self employed), so hoping that will be enough to heal before working again.

Hello everyone, I realize there are several threads comparing the band to the sleeve, but I am still trying to find more information from people who were unsuccessful with the band and have had the revision done for a significant amount of time. I have been morbidly obese since childhood and was banded in 2008. I lost a significant amount of weight in the first 2 years but have gained half back in 4 years since then. I am so tired of the constant obsession and shame I experience regarding my weight and food. I just wish there was some way that I would be able to better control this struggle and live a more healthy and productive life. With the band, even when it was filled to 7-8 cc, the dieting has always been much harder than I have been able to live with long-term. If I am really putting full effort into religiously controlling my intake, the band seems to lessen my hunger to a moderate degree. However, I was surprised at how subtle the feeling of restriction is with the band, and I am still able to eat large portions in one sitting without any difficulty. Right now I just need to do something drastic about my weight, either suffer through more strict dieting with the band or possibly revise to the sleeve. What I am wondering is how much of an advantage does the sleeve give you compared to the band in controlling the urge to overeat? I know that the process of surgery, with liquid diets and the novelty of a different procedure, would cause me to lose a lot of weight initially. What I want to seriously consider is whether the long-term weight management efficacy of sleeve compared to band makes this revision surgery worthwhile. Does the sleeve give you much better restriction than the band? Does the reduction of ghrelin make the constant desire to eat much more controllable? Does lowering the weight "set-point", which a surgeon I spoke with claims occurs with sleeve and bypass but not band, really help you? I would greatly appreciate hearing all thoughts and experiences.

I had a gastric bypass 4 years ago. This evening i noticed on of my piercings missing from my cheek. I found the ball but swollowed the post. about 1/2 in long. will it pass or do i need to go to the ER? thank you for your help

Yes! I just had my band to bypass and when I got home and weighed myself and was 5lbs heavier but was reassured it was iv fluid. It took about 2 days to lose don't worry!

I am having the same issue i had a defective lap band that embedded n my stomach tissue so i was revised to a gastric bypass to help with the severe acid reflux. Had my surgery 1/23/17 and have only lost 22lbs.

Have you considered gastric bypass? Does your surgeon think that would be a better option than a sleeve, which has a high incidence of acid reflux? I would think doctors would want to minimize GERD in achalasia patients.

We don't look at revision as a "type" of surgery. You "revise" from one surgery to another surgery. We plan on adding a feature in the near future which will allow you to list all your WLS surgeries on your profile. In the interim, members should select the latest surgery type they revised to.

I agree that revising from one surgery to another can be quite difficult. You really need a master surgeon when dealing with a revision to DS. Once the surgeon completes the revision, you're left with a DS. Technically your first surgery was an RNY and you revised to a DS. Please correct me if I'm not understanding you. I'm familiar with all the surgeons on your list. They're the best of the best when it comes to DS.

It would be good to start looking at it as a type of surgery Alex Brecher. The biggest issue with a RNY to DS revision is that it IS the most complicated of all revisions and is only done by a handful of surgeons in the US. You can't go to just any revision surgeon. Just because a surgeon says that they do revisions, does not automatically mean that they can do THIS surgery. It is VERY IMPORTANT for individuals thinking about this revision to get an experienced surgeon. And, like I said, there are only a handful... Dr. Keshishian, located in California Dr. Rabkin, located in California Dr. Simper, located in Utah Dr. Elariny, located in Virginia Dr. Roslin, located in New York Dr. Buchwald, located in Minnesota

Hi! I also am going through some rough spots (had the gastric bypass 10 days ago)...crying a lot wondering why I did this to myself...crying when smelling the food my family is making...but also experiencing some other issues that I wonder if you guys went through....might have pulled an inner stitch while coughing and now have to rest like I did right after surgery ....and now I am extremely itchy everywhere (think I'm allergic to the urisudiol that they put me on twice a day because I still have my gallbladder)!

I think the "newbie" label is related to how long you've been on the forums and how many posts you've made, not how far along you are in the WLS process. Not sure there's anything you can do to change it, but maybe one of the moderators can chime in. Good luck with your revision! I hope the sleeve works out better for you.

Does anyone else here have doubts about the surgery? I have no doubt that I want to lose 80 to 100 pounds. I have already lost about 100, although gradually over about ten years. Now I am sixty, see how the extra weight affects my knees and I'm scared. I've been scheduled for surgery two times before and backed out. Why? I don't wish to offend anyone who did a RnY. My surgeon says it is the gold standard of weight loss. And I have read about many stories of folks who opted for the gastric sleeve only to go back for the RNY. If I had WLS it's going to be the RnY. I'm not afraid of the reocvery when my new stomach heals. I can handle pain and struggle. I am not at all anxious about needing to eat small portions forever, avoid sguar -- which never crosses my lips now! and hasn't for years. I don't want my large intestine to be bypassed and for my body to be subjected to malabsorption of nutrition. I don't mind taking supplements for the malabsorption. B-12, calcium, multivitamin, Vitamin D -- I've been taking these for ayear to ready for the surgery. I've been eating the pre=op diet for about a year, too, which means two protein shakes, four ounces of protein and one cup veggies so of course I've lost a lot of weight this year. And I don't care about food all that much and I care about it less now than ever. And I want to be slim, for my health, for my knees, so I live a long time. But I have Type I diabetes, so the surgery will not cure it. And my biggest problem, and I don't expect to find any sympathy here because everyone here is readying for surgery or has had it . .. but it just doesn't seem right to me to bypass my large intestine forever, to subject my body to malabsorption of nutrients for the rest of my life. It seems wrong, like playing God. So today I called my surgery case manager to cancel -- she did not return my call. I called my surgeon's scheduler to cancel and she was off today. Are these signs? I want to lose weight but I don't want to have a RnY. I suspect many who chose the gastric sleeve had similar concerns, they did not wish to permanently bypass their large intestine and the sleeve seems less invasive and leaves the basic nutritional system intact. But the Sleeve is often switched to the RnY, right? Anyone else feel as I do? I want to be slender but I don't think I can accept permanent malabsorption of nutrition.

Hello everyone. My name is Michelle and this is my first post on here. I am really excited to get to meet some other people to share my thoughts as I go through this life long journey. If everything goes as planned I will be having gastric bypass surgery in October. It seems like such a long time away but I know it will be here before I know it. My surgeon is Robert Richard of Gainesville GA. I am currently going on my 3rd nutritional visit out of 6, for my insurance company. I have already seen the psychologist and he cleared me. He said I was pleasant and that I had a clear grasp of everything that was expected before and after the surgery. I am looking for a friend to talk to, someone who is maybe going through pre-op or someone who has gone through surgery who could give me some insight on what to expect. Bye for now, I can't wait to meet some wonderful people on here.