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I had my lap band placed on November 29, 2007 in Mexicali, Mexico. I am from Yakima, Washington and need to find a someone close to do the fills. I find that there are some surgeons that will not see other surgeons patients. I have the newer J&J brand band. Can anyone help?

I have suffered from depression for 14 years since my divorce. On and off medication through the years. I am three months post op for gastric bypass. Down total of 75 lbs. I am currently off my cymbalta and feeling better than I ever have in my life. Hope it continues.

I'm hoping for November surgery - either just before Thanksgiving (so I use fewer sick days) or just before Veteran's Day (that's a paid holiday for me). But I gotta be honest - I go to the initial seminar thingy on Thursday. I am REALLY just beginning, and my hopes for a timeline might not be realistic. I do know that. But a girl can hope.

I have not had my surgery yet, but I do fear the scar tissue issues as my body does seem to build a lot of excessive scar tissue lately. I have one skin that give me daily pain from a fall with a bad scrape, where I now have massive scar tissue adhesions all down my shin that limit my walking. I also have one arm I can no longer do blood tests in as each test has formed massive scar clots like mini-tumors at every pin prick. Will likely have to get a vein graft one day to keep flow to my hand. So I am a bit paranoid to have any kind of major surgery, in case it ends up causing strictures, etc. I am leaning more towards the bypass at the moment, but am still undecided. I have a long wait for mine -- likely wont be until the early spring so lots of time for research etc. Hope you find the answers you need, and that you have success with whatever new surgery you go to.

Are you getting the sleeve, bypass or a revision or would you like to talk about anything else? I'm understanding, my friend is getting a revision on the 24th and we've been focusing on other topics for now. These group can be the support you need...

Not sure why but I have read countless studies about alcoholism being a direct correlation of weight loss surgery patients.. I know of two people that have had surgeries (one had the sleeve and one had bypass) that are struggling with the use of alcohol and I fear that I could potentially be on the verge.. Has anyone else struggled with this? I also wonder why there is even a connection???

Having bypass in February? We are starting a closed/secret group on Facebook and would LOVE to have you join us. 2 years ago I had a sleeve done, but due to complications they are revising me from sleeve to bypass. I had an AMAZING group on Facebook that all had the same surgery that month. We were going through the same things whether it was venting one day, sharing milestones, and made lasting friendships! Since it's a secret group there is some hoops to go through to get added (sorry, Facebook makes it harder) The good thing is that it's completely secret meaning none of your friends can know see posts or ever know you're in it This makes it a safe place for us because I know for some it's not something they want to share. Here's how to join: 1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/lanaepetersen and send me a friend request 2. I will accept the friend request, then send you an invite to the group. 3. After you are added to the group I'll unfriend

I went to a weight loss seminar "prescribed" by the doctor I've chosen for lap band surgery. He gave a lot of good information about the band, the process, what to expect and how the band is a tool. He said not to gain any weight before the surgery because he wouldn't think you're serious about weight loss. It is a lifestyle change. After the seminar his nurse took information and made appointments. When she got to me she said "oh i'm not sure you're insurance will cover you". I told her I was going self pay and she asked if I wanted to try to go thru my insurance, I said no because i'm affraid I will go thru the process and be declined. She made my appointment for my first visit with the doctor on October 27 :Banane47: . All I need to bring besides their paper work is a letter from my doctor that says I'm fit for surgery. I've made my appointment with my doctor to meet with her on October 24th. Once I meet with the lap band doctor, he will schedule my surgery. I'm excited looks like I will be getting banded in November!!! :Banane44: i love all these banana guys :Banane48:

I realize this is a personal decision, I honestly do not know what route to go... I think BP better long term results, but it seems so drastic and I really worry about dumping syndrome and complications as well as my ability to really follow better eating habits.... I think having negative consequences of dumping might help with that, but wonder if I would decide to live with the pain just to satisfy my craving...... the sleeve seems like a more natural way to continue with life..... my doctor at first thought sleeve but the more we talk think the bypass offer me a little bit of extra help.... people use to die from this procedure and I realize that's not the case now but it scares the crap out of me... I know I want surgery I just don't know which 1 to choose... they're successes and failures with each I know it is my own choices.... socially I'd like to be able to drink a beer on occasion if I want to you know, I don't want to be on a date order something and take two bites eat like a bird either, but normal kids size person would be good I just don't know what to expect.... I have a friend who had bypass and she's great results but would have done sleeve but insurance would not pay for that, her mom had it also it is have the dumping effects but not as great results.... very stressful choice and it's a lot of money either way I go.....thx for thoughts between two surgeries

It is quite a bit, but I don't know how many weeks you are at or what surgery you had. I could kind of see that much if you are VSG (different sized sleeves variation) and if you ate the refried beans first. But not if you ate the eggs first. If gastric bypass, one egg was max for me at a sitting during that time. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am with @djmohr. It does get easier after surgery. (I had bypass so I cannot speak to whether the rule applies to VSG or not.) I struggled with the stopping before more than I did anything else. That one took time. I don't generally wait a whole 30 minutes though and I have seen this rule vary from 5 or 10 minutes to 30. I do the best I can on this one. I don't drink during eating. I have enough trouble getting in the right food that I can't waste the space. I have had a tiny rescue sip (as I have seen it called) when needed and then I just set an alarm on my phone for 30 minutes after I finish eating and don't drink until it goes off. Learning how to balance all this takes time. Try not to let it stress you out. These things all seem overwhelming in the beginning but some of it (most of it) just becomes habit eventually and you don't even realize you are doing it. Good luck with your surgery! Great job on the diet cokes! I promise you that is MUCH harder than the no drinking while eating thing! If you can quit diet cokes, you can DEFINITELY do the rest of this stuff!

Hi I just wanted to reply to your post because you have just given me the same assurance I needed. I met with my surgeon yesterday. Before I saw him, I was sure that I wanted the sleeve. He advised that I have the Gastric Bypass to get the best results addressing my Diabetes, High BP, Cholesteral and sleep Apnea. Now reading your post that you are off all of your meds... WOW, that is awesome and I am so happy that I ran across your post. HAPPY DANCE!!

Went to the Dr last week. Have to lose 36 lbs before surgery. Lost 17 in the last month! I can't get off work in October, so I'm looking toward the end of October or beginning of November. Doc said there should be no problem having surgery on Oct. 30! Just have to lose 19 more pesky pounds...

Hi! My name is Joanne, this is my story: I decided back in March of this year(2014) to have the roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery after struggling all my life with weight issues. I am 66 years of age and am finally going to try and be healthy. Life has not treated me so kind child abuse and a strict upbringing. As soon as I could I got married and got out of the house but of course that marriage ended in disaster and divorce after 2 1/2 years. Then the 2nd marriage and 2 kids and another divorce. Then yep, the 3rd marriage by this time life has taken it's toll and I am now in my 50's this marriage was a total disaster! It ended leaving me a widow. I was born and raised in Pa. and by now was ready to leave that state so I moved to Tampa, Fl. My whole life changed! I am now in a relationship with Jim and we are planning to get married next year. I now have a fairly stable life and can devote the time and attention to ME for a change so I can get healthy. When I started this journey I could barely walk a half block with a cane (hip problems), standing at the kitchen sink for more than 10 mins was torture (back problems), I had trouble doing everyday household chores. My Doctor is Jason Radecke at the Sebastian weight Loss and surgery in Sebastian, Fl and I can't say enough good things about him. Every Dr. in the world should be like him, he really truly cares about his patients. I wasn't too happy back in March when I was told because I had Wellcare *** medicare I would have to have 6 months of visits under my belt before I could have my surgery, not to mention because of heart disease in my family I had to see an cardiologist which led me to a heart catherization and beta blocker meds. Then came the psychiatrist that had to approve me, then the pulmonary because of sleep aphnea of course now they require an endoscopy so that was done just before surgery. Ok, now lets get to the surgery itself. My surgery was done just this past November 20 at 9:30 am at the Sebastian River Medical Center. Everyone there was super nice! I was supposed to be there for 3 days but came home after 2 because I was doing so well. I couldn't sleep in the bed it was very uncomfortable for me so I slept in the chair. I was out of bed within hours after surgery and walked the hall. My Dr. was surprised to see me sitting in the chair using my laptop when he came in to see me in the morning. Painful, yes! Luckily I can tolerate pain very well (after all most of my life was some kind of pain). I did not have the gas pains other people told me they had or any nausea (to this day). I am still on a full liquid diet but hope that changes soon when I see the Dr. it will be 4 weeks since I had any food. It's all been liquids. Luckily my daughter made us our Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 8th just before I started the pre- surgery liquids. I was so happy, I lost 15 lbs in the 10 days before surgery. Now I am not so happy, because they pushed iv's etc when I can home I had put it all back on. Now I am struggling to get that 15 lbs off and anxious to start losing some real weight. I was kind of discouraged by this but I guess I have to be realistic and it's only been 10 days since surgery. I didn't expect to lose 50 lbs already but putting the 15 lbs. back on was not encouraging. So as you see I'm just starting my journey. Soon I will be on pureed and I am looking forward to it, finally FOOD! I do not have an appetite but unfortunately my taste buds haven't died. This is a big change for me Food was always there to comfort me now I don't have it. Did I tell you I am an emotional eater? Food has played an important part in life since childhood now I have to find a way to eat to live and not live to eat, big challenge for me! If anybody reads this blog please write back and let me now about you and your journey. Joanne

There are lots of people here that are having or had a band to bypass revision. There is actually a forum on here just for those patients.

I'll be 64 on October 1 & just had my sleeve four days ago. I wish I could have had this done many, many years ago, but I had to wait for medicine to get to where I needed it to be. As a nurse I was just never comfortable with the malabsorption aspects of gastric bypass & I was excited to find out about the VSG & that my insurance covers it. I researched the surgeons covered by my insurance & made the call. My doctor is particularly strict & I have followed his instructions from my first consult on April 25. From the time I left his office that day I was on a high protein/low carb diet until 2 weeks prior to surgery when I went on a modified clear liquid diet of 4 Protein shakes & all the Clear liquids I wanted a day. I had also done a 1-week "trial" of the clear liquids back in June to see how I tolerated it. I took that 3+ months to wean myself off of caffeine & carbonated drinks by having a little less each day until I was off & can honestly say I haven't missed them. My starting weight at that first consult was 303 pounds & the day before surgery I was 259! A loss of 44 pounds in just under 4 months! I do weigh myself daily on my Withings WS-30 digital wireless scale but I don't obsess about the numbers. As expected, I did gain "Water weight" in the hospital & went up to 264.9 pounds. But, today, on post-op day 4, I'm down to 263.6. I never expected to be able to lose the 10% of my weight pre-op as I've always been one who not only gains back what I lose but have a very difficult time losing in the first place. I am continuing to follow my surgeon's instructions to the letter because it sure has worked so far.

I just found this website today. How terrific! I started going to the support group at the hospital I had my surgery at, but all the other participants had gatric bypass, and it is SO different from the band. I am really happy to find a community of people that are going through the same thing! I had my surgery on 8/18/10, so it has been 6 months since surgery, and I have lost 40 pounds so far. My clinic is fantastic, but I have found that they are quite conservative about fills. A friend of my that goes to a different clinic (she is three years post op) has a way more restrictive fill level than mine is. I haven't had a fill for two months now (I have lost enough now that I can definitely tell I am due for a fill again), and she has told me that she can barely eat anything for weeks after she has a fill. Is anyone else having this experience?

Hi everyone i have enjoyed reading so many posts, thought I should introduce myself. I got a band put in 2009, weight 260lbs. It worked pretty well, and I held a weight I was happy with, 175lbs, for some time. Then, a cancer diagnosis and imminent chemo led me to have it emptied. Ended up not having chemo, just surgery, so began the process of getting filled about three years ago. By this time I lived two hours away from my surgeon, by plane. So, after fill after fill he realised the port was broken and leaking - a faulty batch. Two years ago, port replacement. But I have never hit that ‘sweet spot’ again. I now have no restriction at all, but a fill leaves me with chronic shoulder pain, with no taste or other symptoms of reflux. Two years of this, plus an internal port abscess, and I have given up. My weight is up to 230, and it is time for action. Those lovely 175-lb-body-clothes are crying out for me!! So, 14 December, RNY surgery of the Fobi Pouch variety. Bit nervous - the surgeon does these only with open surgery, not laparoscopic. So 6 days in hospital. Anyone here have open surgery so you can tell me a bit about the recovery? I have some nervousness!! xx

I am scheduled for conversion from Band to Bypass with gallbladder removal on 5/21/18. I am very nervous but really want to move forward with the surgery. I'm looking for others who are scheduled around the same time. -Amy

How things can change in a week! A week ago on Friday I learned that my chosen doctor was not a participating provider with my insurance company, even though my first phone calls told me he was. I felt that I was back at square one, and all the poking and prodding that I went through for the pre testing would be wasted. I called the surgeon's office, and they told me they would "look into it" and get back to me. I never heard from them. I decided to call the case management department of my insurance company. The nurse they put me in touch with was wonderful. She listened to me and researched who exactly was covered and participating. She gave me phone numbers and contact names. I was put in touch with Orange Regional Hospital in MIddletown, NY. They have been nothing short of amazing and wonderful. The care coordinators have worked closely with me to get all of the information transferred, and to set up the remainder of the appointments. I actually have a tentative surgery date set for July 18! I can't believe it! Right now I am going back and forth trying to decide between the sleeve or the bypass. I thought I was ok with my decision to do the sleeve, but the new surgeon made some good points, and I have started doing more research. My support group feels that the sleeve is the best, but I'm not sure anymore. I'm hearing people are hungry all the time after surgery. I'm thinking that this may be more psychological....my body is so used to eating (and in my case eating too much!), is it just craving what it can't have? I know the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, does that really make a huge difference? One of my most favorite things to do is to go out to dinner, especially at the end of the week. I guess this can still happen, the shrimp cocktail will become the meal, not the appetizer. I can't stand the way I look, and I don't believe I'm making a hasty decision. I have researched and soul searched. This is the right thing to do. I worry I'm not emotionally strong enough to stick to all the life changes I need to make. I want to be healthy. I want to look better. I want to have energy. I want to be able to shop at Victoria's Secret, instead of being told "we don't carry larger sizes here". I want to find outfits I love, not just things that "will do". I want to develop a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food. It sounds easy enough. I guess it's like smoking though. I used that as a crutch for years. The cigarettes were there for me during stressful times. I will have to learn a new way of thinking, and new ways of socializing and relaxing.

My insurance had the same requirement but I was able to bypass it. Luckily, I've had the same PCP for 20 years and he had already seen my numerous attempts.

Welcome!! I was banded back on April 5, 2011. So far I am down 50lbs. And I have to say this was the best decision I have ever made in my life. I have no regrets, so far. I chose the band verses any other bariatric surgery because it is one with the least complications and it is removable! Plus you lose the weight at a more healthy pace than lets say gastric bypass. I also have 3 children and they are my world. My mother died at 48 from complications from obesity. When I hit 30 I realized I was very close to ending up like my mother. I was pre diabetic and hypertensive. I refuse to die at a young age. I did not want to leave my family that young. My mothers death tore apart our family. I am now at a healthy blood sugar level and have good blood pressure again. I am now 31 and have a better prospect for my life than I did a year ago. I still have about 120lbs to go before I hit my goal weight but I have no doubt I will make it. Good luck on your research! This is a fantastic forum to get any info you need. I have been addicted since I first found it. Great support system here! Karrie

You sound quite young since you are depending on what mom and dad are saying about the surgery. I on the other hand am old enough to know better, I am 58. Before we left New York I was okayed for gastric bypass and did not want that but the band and after going through all the hoops and testing was okayed but backed out at the last minute just before we moved to AZ. I thought at that time that it would be easy to get approval out here when I started working and could get the band. Well, it took another 2 1/2 years before I could get the approval for the band and my Dr. specifically said that gastric was not the answer for me but the band would be better. The Dr. was so right and I am thrilled to be in the position of not being on a diet and at almost 3 years of being at goal, I feel like a million dollars. Go with your heart and the Dr's advice on what is best for you and do it. I wish I had done this when I was young instead of doing the yo yo dieting thing for my whole life. Good luck in your decision and just keep a positive attitude in whatever choice you make.

Hey. I looked at your profile and saw that I was only a few months older than you. I can understand how parents can have a big role as a support system, but it is your life. If your mom was supportive of you getting gastric bypass, then she should be OK with you getting the band. Maybe it's because you've backed out of WLS before, and she wants to make sure you're serious about it. My parents aren't thrilled about the surgery, but they understand my weight struggle. My dad has brain cancer, so understandably my WLS surgery and journey aren't much of a priority and is on the back burner in my family. I will be doing this mostly on my own. It might be hard, but it's doable. Just try to explain to your mom how you've tried Weight Watchers 2 times before, and it didn't work. The band has you lose weight the "real way", but you have assistance and something to fall back on so you don't fail along the way. It doesn't do the weight loss for you- you do it on your own.

And yes, weight loss is quicker with the sleeve over the band. When I went in my doc says I am losing like a bypass patient, guess they lose a bit quicker than sleeves she says. Woo hoo!