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I had lap band surgery 4.5 years ago. I'm hoping to revise to the sleeve. But in the past I was always hot. Probably since I've lost weight, I won't even think about wearing shorts unless it's more than 75 out. I am cold a lot. I still am hot in the summer, but I'm definitely colder than I used to be

First I just want to say this: It is NO ONE'S BUSINESS what you do with your life. Period, end of story! You owe your co-workers NO explanation!!! You don't have to justify why you are going to be off. When I had my surgery, I planned on telling none of my co-workers. Unfortunately I accidently cc: the other supervisor in my department, so she ended up finding out, which has turned out to be a blessing. She has been surprisingly very encouraging. The rest of my department do not know. The day before surgery when I left, I sent an email out to explain I was going to be out for a few days for personal reasons. I only sent the email because I am a supervisor and felt it would be responsible to at least notify them I would be absent (although they could see it for themselves on the calendar). This is your business, no one else's!! I work with a bunch of nosey, catty women too and I do not feed into that mentality. Let them speculate all they want...hell they're going to do it anyways! I'm about six weeks post surgery and the rumors are already starting and to be honest, it amuses me. One girl straight up asked the other supervisor if I had gastric bypass b/c of my weight loss so far. I had lost 50 lbs prior to the surgery too...so it's funny to hear all the scenarios they are tossing around. Don't let co-workers attitudes/speculation/nosiness at all affect this wonderful thing you are doing with your life! This is a gift and you should Celebrate the journey you are about to begin.

Overall, I think most studies show there's a 5-15% re-surgical rate with the band. That includes port revisions, leaky tubes, erosions, dilations etc. It is a little higher than the other three WLS techniques. Here's a video that makes a lot of sense by a well known bariatrics surgeon. How he helps his patients decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VmvWFu79Ik#t=99

At my support groups they have talked about this book: The Emotional First Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life after Bariatric ... of the eating programs for Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and Duodenal Switch k: I was told it is available on amazon, I want to buy it soon!

Aaaargh, I wrote you a long message and it got deleted Here we go again. I'm so sorry you have been through such a long and frustrating ordeal!! I am glad you have found your way here though as it's a very supportive environment and there are always plenty of people ready to jump in and answer your questions. I want to try to answer some of your food questions. I'll share with you what my guidelines are that I've been given if you are interested. This is how our nutrition goals have been explained to me. Protein needs to be the #1 focus because we can eat so little that if we don't focus on it, we don't get enough. Protein is super important to everyone but especially to us because it builds muscle (which burns fat and cals), and it helps trick the body out of starvation mode when we are eating so low calorie, so that our body doesn't hang onto everything. Getting 65-75g of protein a day is the goal. Also getting your min 64 oz of Water a day is important. On my plan, the first 6 weeks before full solid food, each meal is to be 90% protein and 10% complex carbs from fruits and veggies. At 6 weeks when getting onto solid food, it can be more like 75% protein and 25% complex carbs. Simple carbs from breads, pastas, etc are not recommended especially during the losing phase - but most people do eat them once they are maintaining their weight... or once they can't take it anymore hehe. With the sleeve nothing is off limits, but you are just supposed to try to keep your focus on the right protein rich foods and let other things be occasional. Salads - they put that on our list of things to stay away from. Not because there's anything wrong with it, but because it doesn't provide too much nutrition for us, lettuce is mostly water and also hard for the system to digest. They told us when we want salad, stick to spinach leaves, but focus more on the stuff goin ON the salad, and make a protein like chicken, shrimp, or beef a main part of the salad. Again everything in moderation :thumbup: As for what to expect out of your weight loss - it's anyone's guess. Our bodies are so different. There is a whole sub-forum on here for band to sleeve revisions, so maybe in there some people with similar experiences could give you a better idea... but my educated guess would be that you will lost at least that extra 20 lbs, but it may be slow because your body has been through such an ordeal and may really need time to adjust and to "believe" and let go of the fat that is stored. Be patient and dilligent in your food choices right now until you get to a place where you are comfortable. Hope this helps!!

A selection of quotes I've actually said that are indeed strange: "No, they did not remove my entire stomach. Just most of it." "No, I didn't have the bypass. I had the less complicated weight loss surgery." As if I could perform it myself or something. "No, I'm not starving. I feel great!" "I disagree. I eat more than a squirrel." "Yes, I used to be quite large." Takes out driver's license to prove it. Why would someone lie about being fat? food arrives at the table. "Can I get a to-go box, please?" "Yes, I really am full. I know I'm taking most of it to go." "No, I didn't just eat before coming to the restaurant." "Yes, bowel movements still work the same way." "Yes, I miss my manboobs." OK, the last one I never said.

Hello I was banded Aug/09. I have Barrett's esophagus as result from the band. I got the band out in 2015 when I had to get my gallbladder removed. I gain more weight then I ever have. So September 18 is my surgery date for RNY. I struggled so long with this weight and I need to do something about it. The sleeve was first choice until I heard so many people talk about heart burn well I already have it bad so bypass it is. Good luck with your decision. You have to do what's right for you. Sent from my SM-G900V using BariatricPal mobile app

Here are some of my comments. Nothing here shows anything about your individual insurance company. I explained how SOME insurance co's work and repeatedly suggested you read your own policy and verify for yourself. >>Then perhaps a six month medically supervised diet. Some have to try to lose weight, others MUST lose a certain amount of weight such as 5% of your excess weight.<< >>Not every insurance company covers banding, some will only pay for bypass (for example). Some will only pay for banding up to a certain BMI and then if you are larger than their stated BMI they won't pay for anything other than bypass.<< >>If your policy requires a six month medically supervised diet ...<< >>Some insurance co's are amazingly stupid and anything over a BMI of 50 they will only pay for bypass ...<< >>... but that's what they do often times ...<< Nope, nothing in there about blaming BC/BS of CA for anything. Just how SOME ins co's do things.

Not near California but Hello and welcome. Also, your profile says your surgery is lap band. Are you doing a revision??

Hey, Janell I hope all goes well with your surgery and that your weight loss journey will be a steady one. Yes, I've read and researched the lap band, yes, you will lose at at slower rate, but it's better for you. Alot of people who were banded really like it. Some get inpatient, but they finally realize that although the weight loss is slow, they are still losing. This method really teaches you discipline and to eat the right foods so that your health improves. I personally, think I will do well with the band because of those reasons. Now, with the gastric bypass, I know two co-workers who have had it. They are happy they made the decision to have the surgery and don't regret anything. They've lost alot of weight and right now, their weight has tapered off. If they want to lose anymore, they'd have to exercise regularly and eat healthjier. They even gained 10-15 pounds back. So you see, GB is not a cure-all, just a tool, like the lapband. They won't or shouldn't, of couse, gain all the weight back, but should watch what their eating and exercise. I've read negative and well as positive things about both GB and the lapband, but I do know it's ultimately my decision on which procedure is best for me.

I was reading somewhere on this board that someone said they purchased their band directly from the manufacturer and then OHIP (I think they said OHIP) paid for the surgery. I can't remember who said it but I'm postive I read it somewhere. Maybe it wasn't even on this board (I've been doing so much research that I can't remember where I've been!!). Has anyone heard of this? I need to have this surgery and I am trying to find the most cost efficient way to get it done as we are a low income family. I know that money/cost is an issue for alot of people. I don't mind paying for it (provided we get the loan that we've requested) but if I can find a better way that I could afford it, that would be awesome! It just blows me away that the government won't pay for the lapband even though the risks are much lower than gastric bypass. What..is there no fat people in parliment that would understand why we need this covered on our provincial health plans? Nah, they can afford to pay for it...considering how well they can squander away our tax dollars. Sorry for the rant. Just in that kind of mood! Ticks me off!:girl_hug: ~Dawn~ :D

Those nectars were brutal when mixed with water. The only one i liked was the cappucino and i mixed it with milk. I still have some samples if anyone wants them. (maybe 7 or 8). I just gave up on them and bought the atkins mocha latte from walmart since i am post op and can only drink about half of one at a time. Also, I premixed a serving of the powder in the morning one day for work and put it in the company fridge for work. I wanted to bypass having to bring my milk and powder in seperate containers. By the time i had it for lunch it had this funky Protein wang. I never made the same mistake. I now eat the ready made or eat as soon as i mix.

Here's what put my mind at ease. You need to ask yourself how healthy you are right now (besides the obesity). If you're a relatively healthy person, then your chances of dieing on the table are very very slim...keep in mind this is an 'outpatient procedure' at many hospitals. Yes, things happen, but the mortality rate mainly involves those that were already 'dieing' and unhealthy and took the risk. The docs I picked here are known for taking on the cases that the other hospitals won't do (I had three Centers of Excellence here to pick from) like revisions, the super obese, etc., so their mortality rate was a little higher, but all their deaths were people that were already very ill. Now all that said, I was so excited to get my band, but anyone who tells you they weren't at least a little nervous is crazy...it's normal to get 'cold feet'. Hang in there; you'll do great! -BG

(post revised 1-28-08) I was banded 5-23-07 and am down about 61 pounds. I am 56.

I am still pre-op. I will hopefully be having gastric bypass in late June of this year. My first introduction to Joel Salatin was in the book The Omnivore's Dilemma, and it (as well as Nina Planck's book Real food) got me interested in reading and learning a lot more about pastured animals vs conventional, etc. I had already been growing and eating from an organic garden for 15+ years so it was the next step to improve the meats I was getting. Then, when I did Atkins a few years back I started paying attention more to the fats specifically, and really shunning processed food. It made sense that the fat from pastured beef, chicken and pork were much healthier than the factory farmed stuff. Over the last 5-6 years I have read a ton of books on food. Back to what type of diet, it's true that there is not one-size-fits-all and that is primarily due to our individual genetics. however, it's been proven that many of our genes can be silent, and then turned on by environmental factors, whether this be true chemicals, or just huge amounts of sugar. My ex and 2 of my kids can overeat sugar and never gain much weight. But I and one of my kids are quite different. I live in western Maryland and the farm where I get my eggs, milk, etc is in PA but it's not that far for me. btw, @@Kindle, I'm a vet too. The farmer I deal with uses medication for humane purposes when needed for sick animals, but pulls them out of the production line. I'm strictly small animal, though, for work.

Banded in 2008, removed in September 2019. Bypass done January 8. 2020. Highest weight 260 (pre band), Lowest weight 190, weight at removal 225, weight at start of bypass procedure 228, current weight 202. It is slow, but it is moving!! Sent from my SM-G930R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

One individual in our Bariatric Support Group Meeting had a band to RNY gastric bypass surgery revision because his band was wearing away into his stomach and the condition became life threatening.

the meetings are every second wednesday of the month at 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the hospital cafeteria. I like Dr. Dock but I haven't known him long. I work out at the Beavercreek YMCA. I am just getting started there, I do mostly water workouts. The whirlpool is nice too! I am due for my first fill on Dec. 1st. I had to postpone it from earlier this month due to my father having a heart attack and triple bypass surgery. He is home now and is doing well so I will try to get back into a routine.

I got the big book about gastric bypass from the store on here and it has a ton of info that I found helpful. Good luck!

Hello! 8 months post op gastric bypass here! I have a question for ya guys. Did you get to a point where you are hungry every 2-3 hours? It seems really odd to me, but lately I've really been feeling the need to eat every few hours. I have not changed anything in my diet recently. What do ya'll think?

Hello there, Longtime lurker, first time poster here!🖐️ I had my stomach stapled (vbg) in 2003. Went from 320 lbs to 189, I don't remember in how long. But I was never comfortable eating, threw up most of the time(due to in part no education pre-op whatsoever back then, but also as it turns out a stricture). could not tolerate meats of any kind and soon after realizing how easy it was for me to tolerate "sliders", I started gaining weight. So over 15 years I gained back up to 276 lbs. I started being ok with myself, started buying cute clothes( well as much as I could) and stopped dieting. Over the years I developed fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis and a few other choice chronic conditions, so I decided it's time for me to get serious about my health(without dieting) and my biggest concern at the time was the ridiculous acid reflux, that would sometimes wake me up by rushing into my nose!! And I had started developing more severe symptoms that resembled gastritis . Anyways, a year ago I started seeing a gastroenterologist, who after further exploration discovered the stricture and budding gastritis. He told me right then that the position of my stricture is not going to be helped by dilatation, and my only way is a revision. Of course, 1- I did not think insurance would pay for it, so out of the question. 2- I did not want to have any more "elective" surgeries. 3- I had just started being ok with myself and advocating for big people, remember? So, I chose to do a dilatation and my doctor was willing to try. Did NOT work! Big surprise! My doctor made an appointment with a revision bariatric surgeon, without consulting me. Gotta love how things work out! Anyways, long story short...er😉, here I am jumping through insurance hoops to get approved for a revision to rny bypass. My question is, in people's experience, did the fibro pain get any better after weight loss? Thanks for bearing with me through the long post and thank you, all for the vast wealth of information on this website!

I live in Central Texas and my surgeon was Dr. David Provost at Baylor Scott and White in Temple. He is a bariatric surgery pioneer in TX and has been doing bariatric surgery for many years. After meeting him and checking his credentials (I am a nurse practitioner so I investigate every health care provider I see 🙄) I felt very comfortable with him and had absolutely no post op complications. I had the sleeve in May 2018 since I never had any significant reflux. I think the reflux is the main reason people get conversion since you don't want to be on prilosec long term and you don't want chronic inflammation of your esophagus. There are a couple of others on here in maintenance who had the sleeve converted to bypass and have done very well so hopefully one of them will respond.

I guess I'm different in that I am hoping for the full two weeks. My wife was off 4 weeks with the bypass. Part of my recent problem is this is the first time I've had a job that confines me to my desk, but its a very stresfull one. We have lots of turnover, and every experienced employee is extra valuable right now, they will welcome me back after the two weeks, and I could use the rest even without the surgery.

I'm 8 weeks Post-Op Gastric Bypass... it was a struggle at first. Day 1 of surgery my doctor didn't staple my pouch all and left a quater sized hole, leaving me to bleed and throw up blood every hour on the hour. Day 2 go back under to fix problem. Day 6 released from hospital... don't remeber anything until after 3 weeks of surgey. So much pain, so much hate for what I did to myself. I wanted to end life... Week 5 horrible pain in the upper abdomen, trip to the er, ABSCESS, infection from blood left by the doctor on outside of the pouch. Day 1 drainage surgery, bag stunk so bad! Ugly green color it was horrible. . Day 7 drainage bag removed, released from hospital, no more infection... Week 8 solid foods... nothing solid stays down. I don't know anyone who has gastric bypass that I can turn to for help or to talk about stuff with, its hard I feel so alone because my parents (I'm 29yrs old) they dont understand what's going on or what I'm going through... which is why I became a member here.

Hi Everyone I just wanted to give you all a quick update on my progress. I'm 31 days post-op from my VSG to MGB revision. I'm down 23 pounds since surgery & 29 pounds since pre-op diet(3 day plain yogurt &water). I think I'm making excellent progress considering I'm a revision patient. In speaking with dr. Ponce de leon before surgery, he decided that a 300cm bypass would work best for me considering my lifelong battle with Obesity and my previous WLS failure. I'm so glad that he did a longer bypass! After years of struggle, I feel like I'm finally going to reach my goal weight. I also started back working out last week. I would like to do it first thing in the morning, but my daily bowel movements start at 6am. I make multiple trips to the restroom. It's usually over by 730am. I'm usually safe to go the gym around 9am. BM's don't hurt(no cramping), but they do stink bad and they have the potential to travel to other rooms and linger in the air is you don't contain it with some Poo pourri. Thanks to another poster, I was able to make my own poo pourri. It works just as great! Other than that, I'm doing fine. I get lethargic from time to time, but that's normal for me. The only thing I miss is being able to gulp down Water. I truly love water. I will try to keep you all updated on my progress from time to time. I've been a part of different WLS forums for years and I hate it when people disappear after their surgery. I hope my story helps someone in their 1st surgery or Revision surgery journey.