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Today I scheduled my initial eval with Dr. Z for the end of January. I have met him before. He did my partner's gastric bypass 15 months ago. He seems very knowledgeable and skilled. My parter only has good things to says about him.

Well, last night I went to the seminar. They mostly talked about Bypass but I knew they would. They do Bypass at that facility and LB is done out of the area at another facility. Listening to the Bypass discussion just helped me cement my decision though, so that was good. My insurance will pay for everything except co-pays and any travel expenses so that was good to find out. It was a huge block for me. I can't do the surgery unless they pay for it. I have some hoops to jump through, of course. My PCP needs to refer me to the Dietition and Psychiatry and once I've seen those 2 he needs to fill out an application to send to the surgeons. I e-mailed him this AM so I'll find out soon what he'll do. My one problem is that I've started this with him and he's leaving to go to another dept at the end of the month. I've asked him if he can keep my file just long enough to get the application done but I don't know that he can. If not, I have to hope that my new PCP goes along with what he and I started and doesn't mess this up. I also need to start a 20 week "Lifestyle and Weight Management" class. If I can get childcare, I'll start next Wednesday. The first 2 classes are in-take classes. The following 18 classes are part of an on-going class so the in-take are to document how much you weigh and get you up to speed on where the rest of the class is. She constantly has people starting and ending their sessions. The main reasons for class are to get your head on straight about the lifestyle change you're making and to help you lose the weight that the surgeons are going to require before surgery. For those of you with Kaiser {Northern CA}, it sounds like I'm being sent over to the Richmond facility. So, that's it! I guess I've started the process! I'll know better if my PCP is going to cooperate after I hear from him. Should be okay b/c he had to refer me to the seminar to begin with. It's just a matter of him being able to follow this through for me or making sure the new PCP will continue the process. I'm excited!

Oh, I am having the surgery! That is not in question. I have researched this for two years debating between bypass, band or nothing so I am not going into this lightly. I just want ... heck I don't know what I want. I have a relative that had this done about 1.5 years ago and she is bigger now than she was before. Of course, she swears she did everything the doctor said. Well, I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I know she is lying, mostly to herself if she believes that. I guess I want to know what pitfalls to watch for. I actually have a list I read every morning. So far I have follow the doctors pre-op diet to shrink the liver, the fills vary for everyone so be patient til he finds my correct fill amount, chewing my food is critical when I get to that point, no drinking 1/2 hour before or after meals, no straws. I just was looking for pointers, pitfalls, highlights, whatever you want to call them. Anyone want to add to my list?

Hi everyone! My name is Jhanette and I live in Miami FL. If you can image I'm 26years old and I haven't been to the beach in god knows how long. I just had my LAP-BAND®® surgery today 4/15/2010 and now I'm home checking out this site and reading all of these amazing stories. So here is mine. I've always been over weight since I was very young but ever since I turned 22 my weight seriously hit the roof. My highest weight was 285lbs. I started to look into the gastric bypass and was going to do it but in the end I chickened out. I was able to lose 10lbs by myself before I decided to join QWLC (Quick Weight Loss Center) and it did work! I lost 40lbs. A total of 50lbs on my own! But even though I lost that weight it was a battle to keep it off. I came to a point where I just stop losing weight and couldn't pass 240ish. So I started looking in to the LAP-BAND®® and after doing a lot of thinking and researching I finally woke up one day and set up an appt to see the doctor. It was on a Saturday that I went to strax rejuvenation in Kendall and I got approved for my surgery. 2weeks later I had my LAP-BAND®® surgery on 4/15/2010 with Dr. Michael Choi. So right now I'm super sore and but I'm feeling great! I'm truly excited about this journey and I can't wait to see what's next. Just wanted to share a long story with you cuz i was in the mood. Hope you all are doing well and losing all the weight u want. I wish you tons and tons of luck and I hope to be talking to you guys soon :tongue_smilie:

I just wanted to write a review of my surgeon, Dr Bruce Applebaum, and post it, should another person like myself from El Paso come here for advice. Initially, I came to the Sierra Providence Obesity Clinic. They gathered my paperwork, I had a visit with their in house nutritionist, and with their in house shrink. There was like a 400 question test that I had to take and bubble in, it felt like the sats, I was nervous :thumbup: There are several surgeons associated with the Sierra Providence Obesity Clinic. Dr. Applebaums name jumped out at me because he had previously performed a hernia surgery on my stepfather. After all those requirements were met, I worked with the insurance coordinator, I was pushy, I wanted my surgery ASAP, I wanted to move quickly. So, I bugged, and pushed, and called the insurance company and the clinic 3 or 4 times a day. The staff was VERY patient with me, and I knew I was being a pain. Finally, (I say finally, like it was a long time, but it was only 3 weeks) I got my approval. The same day I was scheduled to see Dr. Applebaum. Throughout those 3 weeks, I carefully researched my surgeon, I checked online references, I reached out to other patients I had found online. I looked for complaints. I also was required to attend his information seminar. I was impressed with the way that he took his time to carefully understand and answer questions of the other patients at the seminar. He LISTENED, and that has not been my common experience with Doctors in El Paso. I asked my questions, he answered, I felt that he leaned toward preferring the Gastric Bypass, but I knew I wanted the band, and he didnt PUSH me, he explained complication rates, and how the band differed from the Bypass. When I initially met Dr. Applebaum, I got a sense that he was a perfectionist, that he didnt like failure, and that he was incredibly percise. In addition to that, he was very personable, he made me feel comfortable, all of these were good things. My surgery was scheduled QUICKLY. I saw Dr. Applebaum on Thursday, and was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday of the next week. It was sort of a shock, but he expressed having faith in ME. He was impressed with my knowledge of the band, and he appreciated that I had researched, and knew what I wanted. Surgery day came along, my mother came with me. It didnt help that she was more nervous than I was :eek:. She told Dr Applebaum that he had better keep me safe (I'm 26, but still very much my mothers baby) We went through all the hoops (am I the only one who hated the hospital socks with the treads?) Surgery went well, when I woke up, my port HURT. There were painkillers, and I got a few good snoring naps in afterwards, I was provided a private room with a shower and everything. It was nice, it was comfortable. Dr. Applebaum came to check on me, sat with me, explained the importance of following the eating guidelines one more time. Looked at all my medications to determine if I could continue taking them, or if they needed to be split up, gave me a perscription for liquid Lortab, and told me that I could go home that night IF I FELT COMFORTABLE. That was a big deal to me, he didnt try to rush me, it was about me feeling up to it and okay, and I did, so I went home. Subsequent visits to his office are always plesant. Sometimes, there is a wait, however, again, to me, he is worth the wait. My first fill was under floro, subsequent fills were done in office. His staff, his nurses, all of them are more than kind and put up with my cheesy jokes. There is no judgement in his office, its just the Doctor and his staff trying to help you. So, should anyone have any questions, please feel free to forward them to me, I would be more than happy to help =) -A

If you type "compare gastric bypass and lapband surgery" in a online search, you'll see some good sites with lots of info comparing both surgeries.

I know the financial concerns are a huge factor & goodness knows I couldn't have had the band surgery if my insurance didn't pay for it BUT I think the most important factor of which weight loss surgery a person selects needs to be life & eating style. What are your biggest food issues. For instance if you are a huge ice cream or milk shake junky the band will do little to stop you from over doing it on them where bypass adds a sugar reaction component. I do understand some banded people have "dumping" reactions to sugar but not a big number. Either surgery requires much user work so our head food issues need to be worked on no matter what. It is a very tough choice, I agree with a previous poster about the seminars attend several if needed until you feel comfortable with a choice. I wish you luck!

Its Been 5 months 7 days since my surgery. I have only lost 3olbs. I still have to diet like i did before the surgery which makes it so hard. i thought if i had this surgery i didnt have to go through all the same dieting counting calories. If i knew all this i would have just went on a diet with out scars and surgery :frown:. I'm so tired and upset :cursing: i should have just went with the gastric bypass surgery and not the lapband. Now i have to go through the fills and all the bloating and all the other complications i'm going through. I'm just Tired !

I was banded knowing that if it didn't work (for whatever reason) I could be revised to a DS, RNY or VSG. In my humble opinion, if you are committed to a healthy lifestyle (including a balanced diet and consistent exercise) it is a good choice. Out of interest, why do you have a hunch that the band doesn't work very well?

Hi Hope2B, You sound just like me!! I LOVE cooking, I have a big family and I feel good just getting the pans out to feed the tribe.I have huge problems saying 'no' to myself, I too crave chocolate and crisps . I chose the band because of this not in spite of it, I couldnt face the thought of never being able to eat Christmas dinner incase I dumped or got roaring runs, of not just choosing to avoid certain foods but NEVER being able to eat them again, dont kid yourself, if you have the bypass you will be on a very very restricted diet for the rest of your life. I know me, and I know that what I CANT have is normally the thing that I want most........us girls huh, go figure! Then I thought about how miserable that would make me, and really that was it for me. I am newly banded so I cant give you the reassurance that it will get you to goal, but since 10/01/07 ( highest weight ever) I have lost 25lb and I very rarely feel hungry. Good luck with your choice and let us know how you get on. Nina x

My insurance will not cover revisions. I don't consider this a revision, I have been 7 months since my band was removed. I have had my PCP refer me..now we shall see. Hopeful at best

I’m a band to SIPS DS revision (8/8/17) I did not have Barrett’s but I was getting terrible reflux with my band. I was also getting stuck on water! I’m so glad to have my torture band removed. It is so nice eating solid food without struggle. I had also gained all my weight back plus some. Since my revision though, I’ve passed my lowest band weight. And definitely couldn’t be happier. Good luck, I hope your next journey goes smoothly!

Welcome welcome, how can we all help you? You'll find people from " newbies" clear up to seasoned veterans. .Many of us are in the process of receiving our own surgeries as I am. I have completed my requirements and am waiting for a scheduling,date for RnY bypass. If you,need a friend to talk things over within I'm almost always available. I started out in August 2015 so I have done plenty of research. I can also talk about sleeve gastrectomy if that's what you're considering. If you need an all around friend who's,lived more years than she likes to admit, post me back and we'll get started on a friendship.💜😛💙 Frustr8

I worked as an RN in a surgical ICU for years and we used to get all the open gastric bypass patients and I saw all the complications which were much more frequent years ago. After the laparoscopic method started becoming the standard, the complications dropped dramatically and I kind of started thinking about it. That was about 10 years ago and after my weight continued to rise, it was now time.

A very heavy lady at church in Maryland back in early 2000's lost a lot of weight. I think she had gastric bypass, which was not for me. I later, after moving to Florida< met a young girl who went o Mexico to have lapband surgery and she looked fantastic. So, that enticed both my daughter and I to investigate lapband surgery. The rest is history!!

Before having the lap band, I had the gastric bypass in 2003. I have had nothing but trouble with chinese food. It would stick, ball up, and it didn't matter how small of bites I took. It is extremely frustrating.

I simply called my insuarance company (BCBS of Alabama) and asked if the lap band was covered under my policy and the response I got was no. I didn't ask why or anything else as my heart dropped into my stomach and I didn't know what else to say but "ok". Could she have taken the question in terms of it being an elective thing? In other words, if my Dr. submitted it them stating health reasons, might I then be approved? I have not spoken to my Dr. about this surgery yet, I figured checking with the insurance company first was the best way to start, but maybe not. I did read on the banstersinsurance yahoo group in the database that BCBS of Alabama covered this surgery 100%.. was this just one persons experience? I am not sure what that list is really saying. I know that when I was considering gastric bypass last year I read in the Insurance coverage that 1 weight loss surgery would be covered and do not recall reading any exceptions to that. I will need to go back and dig that book out again. Do you think I would have a better chance get apporved through my Dr? Or is no basically NO and I would have to go through an appeal? Medically I think I am a candidate for this surgery. My BMI is 51, high blood pressure, father had heart attack at 50, his father died of heart attack at 60, 2 uncles on my moms side have had heart attacks and her parents have both had numerious heart bypasses. My mom, grandmother and uncle also have diabetes. Any insight on this would be great. Thanks ETA: I see in my policy under exclusions that it does not cover services for obesity. BUT in the same paragraph is goes on to say, "This exclusion does not apply to surgery for morbid obesity if medically necessary and in compliance with guidelines of the Claims Administrator." So maybe I answered my own question. I am just not sure who/what the Claims Administrator is and what the guidelines are.

I had my surgery on 6/18/09 too!! I am currently on hold right now though. I went in for my first fill on 7/15/09 and found out that my port was flipped. So now I am waiting for the insurance company to approve a "port revision" surgery. My doctor told me that when they do the new surgery they can also fill the port at the same time. I was really looking forward to getting my first fill, because I am feeling very little restriction. Good Luck to everyone!!

Ok, My coworker had the gastric bypass 5yrs ago, and I mentioned that I was having the band next week. He said NOOO don't do that, I know 2 people that failed. I'm sooooo tired of people and their opinion on the lapband. I was skeptical at first but I plan on following all instructions provided by my dr. I've educated myself on ALL the complications that MAY happen.BUT I'm going into this with a positive mindset. I just wanted to vent!! Thanks for listening lol

There are tons of revisions from band people here as a matter of fact they even have a sub-forum here. Good luck to you http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/13-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/

While I'm not a human nurse, I am a LVT (licensed veterinary technician). I work ER , 10 hours shifts. I rarely get a real break. I'm not sleeved yet, but I do have band currently (which I hope to be revising in June). That is the real hard part for me. I don't get to sit down to eat. My surgeon is like you have to sit down for at least 20 minutes to eat. It's the law. Yeah sure, when we are slammed and pets are crashing, I'll get right on that. Which is I think the problem is why I graze at work. This is something I have to work on.

Hello, everyone. This is my first post. I'm aware that stalls occur, however, I am just starting my seventh week after gastric bypass surgery on October 20, 2015. Two weeks after my surgery I stalled at 352 pounds. It took me two weeks to lose down to 348, and today when I got on the scale I weigh 351. So basically for the last month what little I've lost i've gained right back. I've been monitoring my food intake and I have not eaten more than 800 cal each day. I've gotten in most of my protein but not close to all of my water. Could you please analyze what's going on here? I started my liquid diet pre-op on October 8 at 385 pounds and I was 372 pounds on my surgery date if that helps. Thank you for your time.

Garland Mom... Will you revise to another type of surgery? Everyone Else... Some people are just more sensitive to fills (and the pressure they place on the esophagus) than others, per my (banded) surgeon. Therefore, a tiny fill can be "too tight" in that respect, but still not provide restriction. It's okay to rely on meds to control the reflux, as long as you have had everything checked and your stoma is a reasonable diameter. That's what determines a too-tight band - the size of the stoma. Your stoma should be about the size of a number two pencil.

I had bad gerd prior to gastric bypass . When I talked to my surgeon he suggested the bypass because the sleeve tends to make acid reflux worse. I did go with my surgeons suggestion sense after my surgery I have not had reflux . I would consider the bypass . It will make you a heathy person .

Thanks everyone for all you advise. I too have about 140lbs to lose so it's great to hear from someone in. Similar position. Once I had the band removed the reflux stopped immediately and I've not suffered at all since. I am due to have an endoscope in May to check for a hernia and for my surgeon to check my insides after having previous lap band surgery. I am swaying more and more each day to have the sleeve as I believe that the only complication am likely to have is the reflux reoccurring. However with the bypass I have a huge list of complications that may arise in the short and long term plus the malabsorption. I'm sure I will be filling you all in on my decision soon enough.