Search the Community

The money-hungry Vegas doctors said you might not need a fill for a year! I recently inquired locally (Vegas) about weight reduction surgery. The doctors here require you to first attend their seminar. About 200 people showed up, and we learned the two techniques they offer: LapBand vs. surgical bypass. They gave the pros & cons on both surgeries. They didn't try selling one surgery over the other, but as far as fills, they said some people need them while others can go as long as a year. They never mentioned you might need one 6 weeks post surgery. Meanwhile, my friend had her band placed in October. She's lost 60 pounds and is just now wanting a fill. That's a good five months for her, while I've heard others needing them after only 6 weeks. Also, she told me there's a P.A. that flies to Vegas and does fills here. But he doesn't do the fluoroscopy because he goes right to your hotel room (or my house, I suppose.) He charges $200. I guess it's worth the trip to Mexico. Thanks for the info. May I ask.... how much has everyone lost? And when were your bands placed? Thanks!

When you get to solids, you will feel it. liquids, some purees go right through. Doh. I just realized this was a Bypass question. Sorry! Is full the same as the sleeve? I get pressure near my esophagus, and my nose starts running like crazy or I try to burp and I can't. I measure everything too because one bite too many is horrible. >.<

Hello. It's been a long time since I came on this site or posted. I am scared to death to write this post, as I already know what many of you will say and I also know most of the answers. I'm so scared of all of you because everyone has success stories and I am a complete, dire failure. I had my revision from band to GB last June. I have a lot of emotional problems that are being treated with many medications and weekly therapy. My really good therapist has little experience in WLS or food addiction. We've tried to communicate my issues, but seriously, each time I go in there is a new legitimate crisis that must be addressed first. She speaks about using EMDR to combat my complete refusal to follow my WLS program. But that has yet to be done. I'm completely and profoundly ashamed of myself and it has made me ditch the whole GB life that I was absolutely excited about in the beginning. You're all such a success, even the ones who struggle are doing laps around me. Please don't beat me up for being such a failure, I do that every day. My highest weight was 372. I put myself on a diet before even applying for WLS and lost 35 pounds. I had the bypass in June a week before my Father died of cancer. I tried so hard. After surgery I lost 35 more pounds, leaving me at 300. And in the deepest shame, I must admit that I only lost 8 pounds since my WLS a year ago. I have never gained, just maintained. At first, I was totally committed, then more crises occurred and I slowly let go of the rules. I know, it's awful. I began to eat a little larger meals at dinner and did not eat all day. It's like torture pushing food into my mouth in the morning. I made egg muffins, did them for a while but gave up. I had a hard time eating at all. Food did not appeal to me. I was doing my Protein and Vitamins religiously, oddly still am. My bloodwork was perfect. If you knew me and my life experiences, you would wonder why I didn't kill myself. But I am. I let go. My stomach never rejected extra food or made me sick. I had hoped I would dump on sugar or something, but that never happened. I began to eat a little sugar and that escalated to more and more. My stomach must be very large as it holds a standard adult meal. I always held in more food than those of you here on the forum. It was suggested that I eat three meals a day and two or three Snacks. I also drink a lot, even pop. By all accounts I should have blown up by now. I did damage and did not care. I don't really care what I eat. You know the destructive thinking of not caring even though you know it is only killing you. I'm super messed up. I'm a very honest person to others but not to myself. Yes, I hate myself, sometimes. I don't even care (or so I force myself to believe) if I ever lose weight. But honestly, I wish I could get it straight in my head that that is the path I chose with such enthusiasm. I was diagnosed with severe asthma and put on supplemental oxygen, in and out of the house. Yes, I felt sorry for myself. I have two replaced knees that prevent me from walking well or far. I had to use a walker to get around and do my job. It sucked. But, having lost the weight I did, I was taken off the oxygen, and with a lot of work, began to walk on my own, though not well. I want to go to PT so bad. I lost my job a long time ago (which has taken a mean toll on me) I was denied unemployment, took them to court and am awaiting the judge's decision. If I am denied again, I will request yet another hearing. My husband has been taking care of us on a $9.00 dollar an hour job. The past few months we have been surviving on all the cheapest food, which does not offer much nutrition at all. We are so poor, we sold everything we owned on craigslist for pennies. My husband cooks all our meals, but doesn't really support a WLS diet. I hate to say that he doesn't support my necessary diet. Not cruelly, but just not "think" of it. Especially since I'll eat anything. I can't stand long enough to cook. I tried to sit on a bench to cook, but my legs ended up hurting more. I do the housework I can, and try to walk the supermarket when I can. Good, healthy food is more expensive than we could afford. I'm still managing to get all the protein I can. But financially, we are screwed. Back to my failure to desire to get back on my diet...I want to care, but my mental health has deteriorated so much I can't. Even my psychiatrist feels for me but I've been on most of the meds that there are no more options. He is worried, as am I. I've looked for groups in my area, found and tried a few, but people don't get bariatric surgery. I was in groups of anorexics, etc. I just don't fit. Like I don't fit here, but I'm reluctantly reaching out. I have a dual diagnosis of severe mental illness and obesity. Its hard to fit in when the two are inter connected and I don't understand how to manage the two. But no weight loss after an entire year is an emergency in my opinion. I'm so hard on myself. I drink so much Water that I float, take in enough supplemental protein and take my prescribed vitamins. I just can't seem to get in a regimen again. I can't even believe I'm sharing this deeply personal and shameful post to you. Keep in mind my dual diagnosis, it is very, very hard for me to care about myself. Even with therapy. I don't regret the surgery at all, as I'm hoping with all my heart that I will make this happen. I'm a survivor. But coasting on no weight loss or gain is not good enough. I did not have this surgery to only fail. But I did. Please don't berate me. I'd just like to see how you successful people would respond to such a post. And, no, there is no easy answer. I need help.

Paperwork submitted and am waiting for the insurance approval. I am penciled in for December 23 for my gastric bypass in Pittsburgh. Less than 30 days and counting!!!

That is good to hear. I have also followed everything to a t. Need a revised letter saying I have clearance. Can't get a response from her. I will keep calling. Want everything ready by last last appointment . Thanks for all who responded.

Be patient...this works! Everyone appears to go through the 3 week stall. I stalled then for almost 2 weeks...I was SO pissed! Then I stalled again around 3 months...but miraculously I dropped a whole pants size that time. I haven't been losing super fast, but I've lost almost as much as my husband, who had bypass nearly 3 months before I had my sleeve done. My doctor always says...this is a marathon - not a sprint.

ETA: I just noticed that this is in the bypass forum. It came up in my Omaha search results and I posted before noticing. New here. I’m having vsg with Dr McBride at UNMC on April 6.

I'm not banded yet so I can't say that I know lap band does work but look all the people on this forum and how successful they have been whether they lost 40 pounds or 100+ pounds, that's something. My surgeon told me out of the three surgeries, lap band would not help me lose as much weight as say, gastric bypass or the sleeve. However, after floating around these boards I know that is up to ME. If I want to lose 100 pounds+ with the band, it can be done if I'm willing to do the work. I am also young (22) and my surgeon said nothing to me about being so young and probably being unsuccessful. He actually was more optimistic that I was so young, after all we have all the time in the world to make this work for us! If you're that concerned that it can't be done, check newtoy4kt on YouTube. (check out bandedwendy's channel also!) They were what pushed me to my final decision of lap band. Whatever you choose, good luck!

Yes, I had a revision from band to sleeve. Couldn't stand my band.

I'm 15 months post gastric sleeve. Before surgery, I had bad acid reflux. I've been on Protonix since surgery. Over the last several weeks, nausea, vomiting, can't eat solid food, pain, GERD is awful. Got dehydrated, hospital 4 days; endoscopy revealed no stricture, but erosions, scar tissue and bad GERD. Now I am not very pleased that I am most likely facing a revision to gastric bypass. I never knew that with GERD it might be better to have the bypass instead of the sleeve.

One of the reseasons I am getting a revision from vsg to rny is because I developed severe GERD.

When will I be thin?!?!? I joke, I joke . I guess I'd be most interested in the differences in recovery and post op diet between your sleeve and the RNY. Also any particular complications you are at an increased risk for since you're a revision. How many revisions has he performed? How often does he see strictures? What supplements will you need post-op? What does he expect your weekly weight loss to be? Is this the same surgeon that did your sleeve or are you going with someone new? Good luck!!!! HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 204.2

I've had my band for five years this month I've already had it revised a year ago I lost 105 pounds which was goal for me in a two year period. Maintained for a year. I gained back 50 in the last two years with my complications from my band slipping I don't regret getting it but it's frustrating going through the issues. I feel that I have had to start over but the restriction now is way different than when I had my band the first time around. I have the same band but it was repositioned from the slip. My doctor said that there's a 50% chance that my band will slip again. Frustrating.

To everyone who has responded to my post so fast with all the wonderful tips, I greatly thank you. It means so much that people I don't even personally know (heck I don't even know your real names lol) would take the time out to stop and help me with a problem I am having. I am going to take this one day at a time, and hey, I only have 9 more days until I can get to pureed foods. I'm sure that while everyone else is eating, I'll be fine with my chicken (or what ever I am having that night). I have an aunt that went through the same thing, I am going to call her and see if she and I can get together and her help me out while I am going through all of this, not just phase 1 but throughout the whole thing. She had the Bypass a few years ago, so she does know what I am going through. That idea come from my mom and from you restless monkey, thank you so much. I guess I am going to get a little bit more walking daily which is a good thing. Who knows I may be able to talk my husband into going to the store and getting me some dumb bells so I can start using them for my arms. And maybe get me some ankle weights for when I walk. I do feel alot better know that I am not the only one that has felt this way and I am not just some grumpy bitter person. This is normal. Like I said in my earlier post. I may not see it now, but, I know that when it all is said and done and I look at myself in a full length mirror and like what I see, I will know that it was all worth it. So, again, thanks to everyone for their responses.

I also had my surgeries (band and then revision to sleeve) done by a very experienced doc in the Dallas metroplex - self pay both times. I wish I hadn't wasted all that money on the band, but the sleeve wasn't available when I first started out. Just glad I was able to make the switch. Being a self-pay you should be able to book your date whenever there's an opening, or pick your date if done far enough in advance. Good luck!

Just agreed my date today - 10 April so only a couple of weeks to go and so I must start the preop diet in a couple of days. My surgeon has offered me sleeve or bypass. Hadn't really considered bypass before and don't know whether I should now. I do have a sweet tooth and can binge on sweet things. I don't know if the surgeon suggested it for that reason. I do know he favours the bypass, though has done many sleeves to and says it is my choice and that he won't make it for me. I so identify with the previous post listing the things I'm scared off and now I have to choose bypass or sleeve too. Aarrghh!

Mine 2. With my band in 2009, I had NO pre-op diet at all. Was told to eat a lite dinner the nite before. With my revision (same surgeon), I was told liquids for 24 hrs, and clears past 5 pm the nite before. Good luck!

Would like some feed back...am I the only revision from band to sleeve who's Dr doesn't require a liquid diet pre-op?

I guess I'm confused at your story -- you said you've already had gastric bypass? I thought that was the most radical of surgeries. Or, perhaps I'm missing something and those more experienced will have a better idea of what you are referring to. WELCOME to VST regardless.

I was also confused on what to do. I was 319 before I had my lap band. And I love my sweets. But I have a couple of friends who had Gastric Bypass done and I knew it was not for me. I dont know if that is the same thing you are looking into or not. But I know for me the band was the best choice. I am losing slowely now. But I have had no complications and feel better then ever. I just did not want to have to deal with all the side effects and complications that can come from the other surgery. But it is a very important decision. Good luck to you on what ever you choose.

on the table. I had pneumonia and ended up in the hospital for 8 days and went home on oxygen. When I finally healed Well it has been 4 years since surgery. I technically have lost 8lbs, but I can go up and down that much daily my whole life. I originally had the inamed band put in and when I woke up in recovery it has been my worste nightmare since. The band was too small and I had to have surgery #2. #2 was the VG band. I woke up this time in ICU after aspirating I thought things would be better. After my first fill the doctor left the practice (good ridence I was done with his arrogance any way), but the doctor that took over for him had virtually no experience in fills. So fill number 2 she had me sit on a table with the needle in my gut and drink Water as she added and subtracted until I could get water down. LOL I felt like a side show act and when I left had no restriction, but have had ravenous hunger every since. I decided I was not going back to that practice even if they paid me to do so. Three years go by with no sucess and every time I would start a meal I would PB, and sometimes flat out vomit. I would always party after the puke and be able to eat as much as I ever have, until my shoulder hurt. Fast forward 3 years and my primary care doctor recommended me to UC bariatric group. I had to pay an up front fee and then they began taking my insurance. I had the flouro upper gi done and they said everything looked fine but I have a small hernia. The diagnosis was lets fill it. I went back multiple months with fills happening each time with little to no restrictions. I have approximately 9.5 cc in a 10 cc band. About 9 mos ago my appointment for a fill was canceled and I have never rescheduled it. I can eat like a horse, (ie... full burrito bowl from Chipotle with a bag of chips) I can guzzle diet coke, water, eat bread, steak, pretty much anything I want. I no longer have the PB every since I started getting it filled again, but no restriction. I am at my wits end. I spent a lifetime of dieting with no sucess, and when I finally go for help it almost kills me and the tool does nothing but make me more hungry than I ever was before. So the only way to lose weight is diet and exercise, and the tool is no help, so why have it? I am depressed all the time now and medicate for that. I am not sure what to do, gastric bypass is probably not an option because I had the band and I am sure insurance will say no. Any Ideas?:tt2::smile2:

It sucks to be one of the few people the band doesn't work for, and it sucks when every tells you it is your fault. I'm sure you beat yourself up about it enough. I would give up on the band now too. But, I also agree that bypass is still an option for you. It is very different from the band and so may be the "right" surgery for you. I feel so bad for you to have gone through so much and still be struggling - we all know the pain of feeling like our weight is out of control. (((((HUGS)))))

HI EVERYONE, My husband and myself had our operations at the same time ...I don't know what we were thinking : ) We could'nt take care of each other... I had researched the inamed band for a couple of months before the operations. We went to meetings etc. It seemed to be so much better than the gastric bypass ,no disrespect to those who have had that done ...I am just a sissy less evasive etc. My husband and I are self employed without insurance . Well we figured we would have less health problems without being obese etc. And maybe an insurance company would consider us as customers instead of obese and denied insurance wow how rude. Well I went in first because I wanted this operation so bad (and my husband was a little nervous) I had the operation it was great I woke up just fine no nausea nothing ,I went in five or ten min. after waking up to kiss my husband before his surgery,Then he went in came out with no problems . I thought this was a breeze ,I felt a little tight in my chest but that was it. I had iv's hooked up etc. I had not attempted to drink sip anything yet. later on that evening the iv was done and it was time for me to try and sip some water and take my liquid meds whewwwwwwwww that was it. I began vomiting it was horrible ,The doctor came in and injected me with some anti -nausea meds. it worked untill I tryed to sip some more water and meds about a hour after the shot ...more vomiting and oh my gosh my chest felt like someone was hitting me with a sledge hammer ...well this went on for Four Days imagine that well I did'nt get any meds or water down during that time nor did I get to take my thyroid meds. the whole time ....I could'nt stop vomiting even a drip from an ice cube would make me vomit ....for crying out loud the doctor said I was vomiting up my own saliva ....violently vomiting it got to a point where I could barely breath...the doctor took me in for emergency surgery I was vomiting into my lung and had to have that vacumed out.....I feel like such a Failure.. My husband has done just Great I am so proud of him! Okay I am a little jealious it did'nt work for me.....But still proud of him : ) The only thing we could think of was I was under alot of stress we had a death in the family two days before surgery ,my grandfather died at 98 years old and i took care of him .......maybe I should have waited? thanks for reading Sheri

OMG how awful! Im so sorry. I hope you are feeling better. Are you now thinking of doing the gastric bypass?

I just have to chime in and clear something up.. if you were told that the band limits the amount of food you can eat, well thats not exactly true. Gastric bypass limits the amount of food because your little pouch can only hold so much and if you over eat you will throw it up. The band can in a sense work like this.. but only when you are to your 'sweet spot' (the place where you eat the correct amount and you feel full and are losing 1-2 lbs per week) even then however you can still over eat.. there is something called eating around the band.. you can eat constantly or graze or drink liquid calories and still take in too many calories.. its amazing how fast those little buggers add up. with the band you still have to eat very small portions. count calories and in a sense diet.. now this is hard in the beginning because you will still feel hungry at times until you get the proper tightness.. the tightening of the band is actually more to make you feel full and make you feel full longer.. it does not actually limit the amount you can eat as a general rule.. (however for some people it can) I was banded 5 days before you and believe me I know right where you are. I lost 18 lbs quickly in the beginning and for the last month and a half its been like pulling teeth to get the scale to move at all. I even gained a lb back before my first fill. we have to remember however that this is a marathon and not a sprint. I know it gets exciting when the lbs fly off in the beginning and you feel like "yes" I am getting free! my advice.. and this is what I am doing for myself.. get on www.livestrong.com and set your self up with a diary, calorie counter, and exercise log. its all free on there and its easy to use. this will keep you accountable. 2nd look up progress pics on this site and look at the amazing results of those who kept going and didnt give in.. it will make you want it more.. and lastly.. inspire yourself.. set some realistic goals and go for it!! I bought 2 pairs of jeans 2 more sizes down. and set a goal for christmas.. do what ever it takes to keep going.. and lastly.. try to remember that people on this site are trying to help one another.. banded or not. :sad_smile: