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I just asked my surgeon this question yesturday!!! His answer was "it's worse with the bypass patients, so be glad it's not that bad" So my assumption from that statement is yes, it's here to stay. I can tell you that it get's a little better as you go along, mine isn't nearly as loud now. Liquids do it to me worse than solids, but it sounds like a drain gurgling to me lol

I was approved through Anthem BCBS. My coverage required a 6 month supervised diet, but since I was a revision the requirement was waived (as would my BMI have been, but unfortunately I was unbanded long enough that my BMI went back up.) Psych approval was also required. If you're anxious, just get a copy of the rider from your employer. They will have contract changes (riders) on file, surely. You can also compare it to your SPD. ETA: I also had to do the nutritional class, which for my surgeon is a combo of pre-op education, nutrition, and physical therapy - with a test at the end. So given that I was a revision, psy approval and education class were my only real requirements. Oh, and my surgery had to be done at a full blown hospital (vs. a surgery clinic), and required an overnight stay (which my surgeon does anyway).

A final update for this thread: I had my gastric bypass on Feb 21! Check in went smoothly. I changed into my hospital gown, got my IV inserted, and was given a number of medications to take before being moved to a waiting area where I got onto a gurney. The various members of the surgery team came by to introduce themselves and check on various things. Finally, the anesthesiologist came by and gave me "something to relax" via my IV port. A minute later, I was being wheeled into the hallway, and that's the last thing I remember until waking up in my hospital room. I never saw the inside of the OR, and I have no memory of the recovery area afterward, either. The surgery itself took much longer than anticipated, about 6 hours. I was fine and safe the whole time, but the surgeon ran into some issues with my small intestine and a small abdominal mass (sent to pathology and was benign) that required additional steps. Because of this, I was surprised to wake up in my hospital room and discover it was already 9pm when my surgery began at 1pm! My poor mom had been so worried because we thought it would take maybe 3 hours max. The nurses checked on me several times that night. I was able to get up to use the toilet on my own, and the only real challenge was the IV pole having to be dragged along. I was very fortunate that I ended up with no roommate. It wasn't technically a private room, but no one else was assigned to it while I was there. In the morning, my surgeon came by and explained what had happened during surgery. He was concerned because some of the stitches ended up under more pressure than he considered optimal, so he wanted me to do a swallow test before I could have anything by mouth, including water. They got me in for that and it turned out okay, so about an hour after returning to my room, I was brought a bottle of water and a cup of red sugar free jello. I have to say, it was nice to have water because my throat was dry, but I really didn't care about eating. I did because they told me to, and I know at this point I hadn't had a single thing in my belly for over 40 hours, but I just didn't care. I felt zero hunger. But I at the jello, and later they brought me a popsicle, another jello, and a chicken broth. I ate it all over the course of about an hour. It was fine, but again, I just ate it because they told me to. Because I got such a late start on fluids after surgery, they kept me an additional night, just to be sure. But on Friday morning around 9am, I was discharged. I had a protein shake when I got home and worked all day on fluids. I was tired and a little sore, but my pain had been minimal enough that I was only on Tylenol. It worked well enough that I only had a few moments of real pain, mostly when shifting position that required the use of abdominal muscles. I was fortunate to have someone staying with me for the first few nights home, and my parents kept my kids (ages 12 and 15) with them for the first week so I wouldn't have to worry about all their activities and food. It took a few days to discover what worked best for me, which ended up being hot tea (decaf and herbal) instead of flavored waters as I'd been having pre-op. For the first week, I've met my 64oz fluid and 60g protein goals most days, but as time has gone on, I've become completely turned off anything with artificial sweetener and every protein shake except Syntrax Nectar Natural, which I can still manage. I definitely wasted a lot of money on shakes I won't be drinking, but I'm glad I had them for the 2 week pre-op diet and to take the pressure off finding things to try when I got home. Yesterday, I was allowed to start soft protein foods. So far, I've had tuna salad (2 Tbsp), refried beans with a sprinkle of melted cheese (1/4 cup), and 1 poached egg. No issues with anything so far. Tonight I will be cooking some haddock with pesto for dinner. I go in for my 2 week post-op appointment with my surgeon next Tuesday and hope by then my weight will be a little lower. I lost 15 lbs on the 2 week pre-op diet, but my weight was higher by about 5lbs when I got home from the hospital thanks to the fluids and swelling, and I'm only just back to where I was the day I went to the hospital. Still, 15lbs in three weeks isn't bad. As for other incidentals, I have been taking Benefiber daily in my morning tea and it really has helped. I had the first BM (very loose and not a lot) before leaving the hospital on day 2, and have managed to go at least every other day since, and daily the last couple of days, so I'm very grateful for that. My energy levels have been decent, but it's only today that I feel like I don't need a noon nap. Going without caffeine has been a struggle, but I'm getting used to it. After all the wait, I'm so glad to have this behind me and be able to focus on a healthy future!

You are an inspiration to me. I had the Lapband for 3 years and had nothing but trouble from the start. I had it removed this past May and im having the gastric bypass next month. I also suffer from pcos. I hope this surgery is different . I don't want to feel like a failure. People do not say good things when they hear you are having a second surgery. So I'm glad to hat there are others our here like me. And I'm super happy to see your success. You look amazing! Sent from my 0PM92 using the BariatricPal App

I have my first initial intake appointment 12/17/15. I have read that if you are on aspirin therapy (I have 2 small holes in heart) that you can't have bypass. Then if you have reflux, the sleeve could make it worse. I know I have to talk to doctor and see what he says, but am I doomed in not being able to have surgery due to these issues? Anyone have bypass and on aspirin therapy? Any insight you have would be greatly appreciated!

It wasn't bad at all. They spray something on your throat before you sleep. They found an ulcer. Sucks bc now my surgery got pushed back Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Due to my acid reflex, they will be doing the gastric bypass and not sleeve Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am scheduled for a sleeve revision from the band December 16th. Yay! My question is, will it be easier for me to start an exercise plan before my surgery or will it not matter because I cant exercise for a while after anyways.....yes I know all exercise is healthy, but what can you still even do post op....and when? Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App

I think the thing to remember too is that small losses of weight can make big changes to health. We all want to lose all our excess weight but remember that as far as your problem with your spine goes, you wont have to lose ALL of your excess weight to improve your health. So there's no need to jump into a bypass if it worries you simply for that reason. there's every likelihood that even if you were one who didnt lose all your excess weight, you can still improve your health and quality of life with the 50% loss and not jeoapardise nutrition in the process. But you CAN lose it all. It just takes reasonable - not ridiculous - work and commitment.

I would ideally like to lose about 150 pounds (though 100 would be just fine, too). My doctor is just fine with me getting the lap band, but wanted me to understand that it's going to take more time to lose the weight initially. However, five years out lap band and bypass patients look about the same. You should make your decision for YOU. Weigh the pros and cons of both and then decide. If you work at it, the weight is going to come off with either option.

Hi Chentel, Im new here too so I dont have a ton of experience.But I had a similar experience except I went in thinking of the bypass and my surgeon talked me into lap band! I have very severe IBS and he felt the Bypass would make it worse.He told me that I could expect to lose about 75 lbs and I think he was aiming low so if I lose more I'll be ecstatic! My girlfriend who was going thru the same process,same surgeon asked about lap band and he recommended bypass as she has about 120lbs to lose & really no health conditions.........so I guess it depends & I think it's a personel choice.Do what you feel comfortable doing. A co-worker who is a RN & also had bypass told me they are both a tool & it all depends how you use it....one is not necessarily better than the other......I also know of others who have lost 100lbs or more on lapband.....I think it may just be a little more work?? Good Luck......hope it helps!!:smile2:

all your feelings are normal they get better everyday... im having revision on 4/6 dr. ewing in NJ

Hi and congrats! I had my bypass on 03/11 and I am still figuring it out slowly. They cut the nerves when they do this to us so, it takes a long time to really feel anything again. Once you start eating actual food, just go slow and see how your pouch feels. Mine is weird because, five minutes after a bite goes down and I think I can do another, I'm all of a sudden SURE I cant do one more bite! It's a learning process for sure. Also, they say this will even change because the scar tissue will loosen over time and it won't be so tight like it is now forever so, we just gotta roll wit it! Good luck and keep up the good work!

Good morning CynthiaK. I watched all of his videos and he gets great reviews!!!! If I were you, I may think of taking a shuttle to the airport and then one home as well. That is if you don't find someone else to take you. My insurance covers the sleeve, but makes me go through a 3 month medically supervised diet program. I started that on Friday, so by early May we will submit my paperwork to BCBS Federal and once we get approval, we will schedual the surgery. We always go to teh beach in early June so I am trying to figure out when to have it, before or after. I feel we are making the right decision. Did you consider the Gastric bypass? I did, but, something about my intestines being re-routed is terrifying to me. I know it is the best in terms of success but, I don't like the possible side effects of the malabsorption..etc.....Do you have any co-morbidities? Well, I think you should go to your party and have some fun! How is the weather in TX? Cold and rainy up here in Nashville. Have a wonderful day!!!!! H

I am almost 4yrs out and started gaining at 2.5 years out. DOS I was 346 my lowest 210 never even got to goal. On September 30,2013 I was back to 257. I had a revision done on September 30,2013. I hope with the revision I can make it to goal. You have to really want to change forever and I didn't. After 2 years I could eat everything. I tried to get back on track but my pouch was so stretched it was hard. I will keep you I'my prayers.

ps - yes I understand the difference between GS and GB and the fact that bypass is the gold standard, especially when it comes to diabetes resolution.

I had mine on Monday. Been pretty good thus far. Post op care is good and that is helpful in recovery. Some swelling but walking well. I have a revision from lapband to rny. So happy with this New Journey.

its hard if your family doesnt understand, i can relate. my family are all trying to talk me out of the lap band or the bypass. they harp on my weight but tell me that i need to exercise more and make better choices. ive been there and done that. i go through stages where i exercise all of the time but i never lose the weight. part of it is because i snack throughout the day mostly when i have the day off. i am trying to work on that though. back to getting support. i am choosing not to tell my family that i may be having this surgery, i know that they will try to talk me out of it and i dont want to hear it, you have to really think this through and try to get support in other ways, for example support groups, this website, try to talk to other banders. at first my husband didnt support me but now he's coming around, he has his moments that he thinks that i cant do it but other days that he says if this is what i want than its up to me. it is hard when you dont have support!!!!!!

You guys, listen, you just got banded... 2.5 weeks post op... or 4 weeks post op.... calm down.. your body is still healing and you're not going to lose much and you might even plateau for a few weeks. Dont' automatically start blaming the band and saying "i paid this much and it better work".. give it a few months... give your body time to heal. A lot of people will lose a lot on those dumb liquid diets pre-band, and then gain some or not lose anymore when they actually start eating food.. don't become anorexic over it or panic over it. I didn't get good restriction until my third fill. I still lost weight, but I was doing the south beach diet before I got good restriction. The best advice I can give is to go get those fills as soon as you can. Don't wait. My doctor told me every 3-4 weeks and you better believe I was there by the 3rd week. Now I have perfect restriction and have even cancelled my last two fills because I didn't need them. I'm consistently dropping 8-10 lbs a month, which is a good amount to lose. Remember, we didn't get the bypass here.. we got the band. If you are losing 1-2 lbs a week you are doing awesome. But even plateaus are good because it tells your body you've accepted the weight loss.

I want the bypass done. I don't know how to look up someone that has a lawsuit. I'm just at a loss..

Bypass complications Preparing for surgery Revisions from band to bypass I would like to be able to find all the threads relating to a topic in one place

I just want to second some of the other people's advice here with my story. My family doctor suggested gastric bypass to me, he hasn't had a lot of patients do weight loss surgery. He did have one recent one who had the Roux en y gastric bypass and had success. I told him later that I thought the gastric band looked good to me. He researched it, called me in to the office and told me that was the way to go - less risk, slower weight loss (safer), no malabsorbtion, and the same results as gastric bypass 5 years out statistically. I think he'll be recommending the band, rather than bypass to other patients now. The only disadvantage where I live is that gastric bypass is covered by provincial insurance and banding is not - self pay unless you have really good private insurance. Anyway, when I seen costs - bypass costs more than banding - perhaps your surgeon is steering you to the more profitable surgery for him/her. I'd check that info you're getting because it doesn't match with what I've seen. I don't get the part about the band not being permanent - it will still be there indefinately. It has the advantage of being reversable, but I can't even imagine choosing that. I felt I needed the surgery because I know I would regain the weight otherwise. Only you can judge what might work best for you, but I have no regrets about choosing the band for me. I could eat more at a meal than many others around me, so I figured portion control would be a big help. And I do love my sweets too - just have to keep them portion controlled too.

I love my sleeve. I know several people that had the bypass and had lots of problems including having surgery again due to complications. I had my surgery July 26th and have lost 50 lbs, which is the same amount of weight my bypass friends had at this point after their surgery.

I am not telling some people that I am being sleeved and I have been trying to figure out what to tell people. I wanted to tell them I am having some kind of surgery to explain the incision holes, time off work needed, and the inability to push/pull and lift things for a while. I also don't want them to thing I have cancer. Is there any surgery where they would have to cut part of your stomach? I have heard many gastric bypass patients say their intestines were dead as an excuse. Any help would be great! Thanks!

No, my uncle had the gastric bypass about a year before I had the sleeve. Yes, he dropped weight very quickly but it actually just made him look more sickly until things evened out. But the worst is that he was always getting sick because he had to deal with dumping syndrome. It is possible to dump if you have the sleeve (I do, for diet pepsi) but it won't happen as often or with as many different things. The prospect of becoming that sick so often is not something I'd want. He's gaining weight back anyway as do so many have the rny. If you're worried about how fast you lose weight, then maybe look into the duodenal switch if that's possible. But honestly, you will lose with the sleeve. So if you're worried about whether you'll lose weight, don't.

No way! I've taken care of too many bypass patients with way too many problems. I'm happy to say everything is going smoothly, and I'm so excited about my weight loss!