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My primary care doc (now, former primary care doc) had never heard of the sleeve, so no matter how I tried to describe it to her, she thought it was the gastric bypass surgery. the note she sent to the bariatric doctor was not supportive as she says too many people have complications and regain weight too. She is basing that on her gastric bypass patients! Not every doctor or nurse is really educated on bariatric issues - so - it could be your SIL is not informed about this specific procedure.

I'm so sorry about your losses. That's devastating. I have a friend who had gastric bypass surgery and had several children afterwards. In fact, it made fertility easier in her case (not being obese anymore). I don't think it's the surgery, but obviously I am not a doctor. I had my son before I had WLS (I didn't need it back then) and am done having babies so I have no personal experience to draw on. Sending baby dust your way!

I'm in. SW: 240 GW: 220 by 10/31 Gastric bypass scheduled for 10/24 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I’m bypass would never have considered band & my surgeon said in 3013 they were considering taking them off market due to slippage.

Had revision from band to sleeve yesterday. Going home today. I feel amazing. Very little pain. Walked a mile and a half on the unit before I left!

I'm only 6 months post revision, so I'm not really sure if there is a honeymoon period like I heard about with the sleeve. I too have gotten below my goal and significantly lower than I ever got after VSG surgery. But I was overweight, not obese, at the time of my revision since the surgery was done for medical reasons, not for weight loss. I really don't know why I've lost so much weight, since I feel like my insides have been healed for months. I try very hard to eat healthy and I walk 5-6 miles a day. But I would be less than honest if I said I never ate sweets, snack foods etc. I haven't been actively losing weight for the past month (only lost 1.2 lbs. in the last 30 days). I think I'm actually in maintenance, which would be great if I can just keep doing what I'm doing and maintain! If it's a honeymoon, I hope it keeps going.

Mine is June 11!!! Kinda scared because I was going to have the sleeve but because of some new developments after my endoscopy the doctors feel the gastric bypass would be better for me.

I'm so glad I got my revision! I love my new stomach! She's doing great by me but she doesn't like ice cream or anything too sweet!

So my last nut class and weight management was Wednesday July 20th is haven't had my edg yet but the guy at my surgeons office says that he can put my down for August 26th then he was like I see you had your last class I said yes he was like well we will submit your paperwork to insurance and if everything goes well and I get approved they will do my bypass surgery on August 26th so now I'm freaking out on this waiting game I'm trying to stay positive I hope everything works out and I get approved I really need this surgery I've done everything to lose weight on my own since I was 6 but I've always gained double back, I suffer from high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and a bad back injury from being hit by a drunk driver which requires me to get back injections every month which don't work my bmi is 50 so I'm hopping I can get it done. Please keep me in yalls prayers and positive vibes Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

I havent been losing much at this point nor do I want to. I lost 25lb more after the revision and have been maintaining it now for a good 6 to 8 months. I have noticed that if I dont eat a normal 3 times or more a day my weight will drop. I had a crown done a week ago and havent been able to eat on that side and dropped 7 lbs in a week!!! CRAZY

It's just if/when the meds fail (which I think they are starting to) the next step is having brain surgery. The brain surgery is way worse than stomach surgery. There's lots of revisions and needing lots of more surgeries... I could potentially have wls and still need brain surgery... But time will tell.

I had my TT (muscle repair, no lipo*) on 1/10/22. Recovery was what I expected pain wise but not time wise. For some crazy reason I thought I would bounce back in a couple of weeks - NOPE! The first week I needed help doing everything (except wiping my hiney - thank God). The drains were removed on day 8 which did not come quickly enough. I haven't had any major complications, just a minor (small hematoma) that resolved on its own. I'm still a bit tender but I can now sneeze/laugh/cough without my eyes tearing up. My scar is healing ahead of schedule (per surgeon). I tried silicone tape (week 3) but it made me itch so I just massage my scar with coconut oil daily but I do forget some days. I will be having scar revision in the future but that was always part of the plan. I have a high belly button and I also had a tattoo around my belly button. Not one of my smartest moves but what can I say, I was 20 something at the time. My surgeon does not make "T" incisions due to blood supply concerns. Also, since the entire tattoo could not be removed, I didn't want a totally distorted tattoo. So my scar at this time is higher than both he and I would prefer. The scar revision is an office procedure with local anesthesia so I didn't object. I chose to "stage" my lipo after my tummy tuck. I'm scheduled for lipo on 2/28/22. Why you may ask. I'm having multiple sites done (knees, inner thighs, saddle bags, and flanks). By doing it in "stages" the lipo of the flanks can be more "aggressive" than if I had it with the TT.

Goal of the future scar revision is to move the incision under the tattoo down closer to where my underwear are and to remove more of the tattoo so that the incision looks more like a "handlebar" and less like a "grin". FYI: What's left of the tattoo is the half that was originally above my belly button so you can have some idea how much skin was removed. The tummy tuck didn't give me my 20 something stomach back but I'm happy with the results so far. The "final" result won't be apparent for several more months. Plus the lipo should help.

Tootles, I hope you can come to peace with your decision, one way or another. I have been SO pleased with mine so far. I will say that I applaud your doctor for beginning this conversation with you. Some docs have been reluctant in the past, but with the publication of a new study in March about the long-term success rates in diabetes control with surgical intervention, I think more docs will begin to come around. I don't know if your doc referenced the new study, but it was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on March 31. Basically, your chance of getting an a1c at 6.0 or below increases by 750% with gastric bypass, and nearly 500% with a gastric sleeve. This means you have a dramatically improved chance of living a normal-length life and not having heart issues, diabetic complications or even cancers at a young age. In response to your specific concerns: ".I fear that I will be that person who has horrible, life-threatening complications." This is rare. I'm glad actually I didn't know about all the complications before I jumped in with both feet! But there is no guarantee, you're right. The vast, vast majority of people recover extremely well, and even those that don't are usually glad in the long-term they made the choice. "I also fear that I won't be able to conquer the emotional attachments I have to food and will feel deprived and restricted eventually after the honeymoon stage wears off. (I'm also looking into ways to recognize and break down those emotional ties and triggers now.)" I am only 5 1/2 months out, so there is still some honeymooning going on, granted, but I've had this time to acknowledge that my body can survive very well on SO much less food than I used to stuff it with! This has been a growing experience mentally, psychologically and emotionally. I feel a lot more like the person I truly am, and less of a slave to every drive-thru I pass! I did enjoy a Starbucks with hubby today (Skinny Caramel Crunch Frapuccino- I indulged in the crunch but went sugar-free/fat free with the rest!) and it was gloriously filling! This was really a treat for me and I enjoyed it so much! I watched hubby eat a cheese danish and didn't even care. Cheese danishes used to be my kryptonite! (among 8,000 other foods!) I do have food addiction issues yet. Those are not cured. But I am reading a book now called 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food. It's great for addicts like me. Not easy, but great. I am focusing on the emotional attachments and taking notes as I read! I still have head hunger, but I'm dealing. On Sunday I dealth with my head hunger with 2 bites of white chocolate bread pudding with caramel sauce and salted pecans. I lived through it! One day at a time! "It even makes me a little sad to think that I won't if I wanted to be able to eat a huge meal on a holiday or a special occasion. The idea that the rest of my life will not be the same is both exhilarating AND frightening." Here's where I wouldn't worry at all! Your idea of what constitutes a 'huge' meal will change so dramatically after surgery. You will learn that if you want to eat some pumpkin pie or sweet potatoes or whatever, you have to leave room for it. You literally just need to plan ahead and not eat a bunch of turkey if you want to eat other things. It's just like packing a smaller suitcase so you can fit it in the overhead compartment of your flight. You just have to choose the stuff you REALLY want to take with you. Blessings on your decision!

Actually, you can revise a sleeve to bypass. They take the remaining portion of stomach and treat it as if there was no sleeve, and turn that into a pouch, and create an anastomosis to the intestine. I would imagine this might work if the leak is in the portion of stomach this sewn up and bypassed, but the surgeon can answer that question. The sleeve was originially intended to be the first surgery before a duodenal switch, not the first step of gastric bypass. They are two different procedures. To the OP, so sorry to hear this! I have heard one other person on the boards report a leak a year out, so I know it can happen. Wishing your husband a speedy recovery.

I know that for leaks, one true solution is to convert to a gastric bypass. For my surgeon, he tries several options first and if they are not successful, he concerts to a bypass which solves the problem. My surgeon also said late leaks (over one month post op) are harder to heal than one only a few days out from surgery. Personally, it sounds like your husband has been through a lot and if this is the second leak in the same spot, I would not want to put him through more treatments/hospital stays again (that could end up not working anyway) and ask for a bypass. I am not a surgeon, just how I feel knowing what the options are. I would definitely consult with a Dr to see what the best plan of action is!

It's entirely possible. Have you tried the recommended "GASTRIC SLEEVE RESET"? Here is a cut 'n' paste: Complete Five-Day Bariatric Reset Diet The Five-Day Pouch Reset is a "reset" diet for people who have had gastric bypass surgery and might be starting to regain weight. Step 1 Drink only liquids for the first two days of the five-day diet. You'll need to drink at least two litres of water in addition to low-carb protein shakes. You can drink as many shakes as you want; the point of the first 48 hours is to take a break from your eating habits. By getting all of the nutritional needs from liquids, you'll be forced to pay attention to how often you were eating, snacking or simply grazing. Remember: The goal during this phase isn't weight loss, but mentally re-setting your habits. You can't make your pouch smaller through changes in diet, but you can learn portion control. Step 2 Eat only protein the next three days. On day three, you'll eat "soft protein" such as eggs and cottage cheese. On day four, you'll eat "ground meats" -- such as meatloaf and hamburger. On day five, you'll eat "solid proteins" such as chicken breast or a piece of fish. Limit condiments, such as salsa or mayonnaise. Foods should be as dry as possible -- which will help you gauge how full you are. You're allowed to eat as much as you'd like and as often as you like, but you must stop eating 15 minutes after you start. Do not sit and eat for longer than 15 minutes at any point during the final stage of the diet. Step 3 Do not drink any liquids 30 minutes before eating or with your meals. Liquids can help push foods more quickly through your pouch, allowing you to eat more than you should. Many facets of the five-day bariatric pouch reset diet are similar to the post-op diet followed right after surgery. Tips Plan ahead because the diet restricts the types of food you can eat. Make sure you have the foods you need on hand. The goal of this diet is to make you conscious of your food choices and stop mindless eating. Warnings According to the National Institutes of Health, "bypass surgery alone is not a solution to losing weight. It can train you to eat less, but you still have to do much of the work. You will need to follow the exercise and eating guidelines that your doctor and dietitian gave you."

I know everyone goes thru stalls...I've already had a few. And, I am down 43 lbs. since my very first doc visit on March 30th when I started this journey. However, I'm not sure I'm buying the whole 'your body goes into starvation mode' excuse anymore. I know 43 is a lot, and I'm not trying to say I'm failing. I just don't understand how I can go from eating way too much food like I had been for 30 years to eating just a few bites and not lose even 1 lb. during the week. The last 2 weeks I have started walking about an hour every day in the heat and humidity. I come home from my walk soaking wet with sweat. I just don't get how I can make such a drastic change to my eating habits and exercising and stay the same from one week to the next. A friend of mine had the sleeve 2 weeks before I did and she's almost down 10 lbs more than me. She doesn't work and has time during her day to cook and prepare and exercise, but I think I'm still doing ok with working full time and taking care of the kids and their activities. I just don't see how it's physically possible NOT to lose every week. I get that we sleevers don't lose as quickly as bypass people, but it should still be something. Again, I'm very happy about losing the 43, I just thought it wouldn't be as frustrating. I know this is the new life I'm living, and not reversible, but I just am frustrated and so confused. I'm drinking my shakes, eating Protein, some carbs, but even if I have a 1/2 of a wrap, I'm not eating the whole thing plus fries anymore. I just don't get it. Can anyone explain to me how it's possible???? Thanks guys!

I believe there is an entire section devoted to revisions! I am getting sleeved 9/4, so I am no help (first WLS ever), but I have seen many going for revisions!

I know this is easier said than done, but try not to panic over bumps in the road. What looks or feels catastrophic today is probably not as bad as it seems. That’s what my mom used to say when I was growing up and despondent about something (which was often, especially during adolescence). I was strangely comforted by her words because I knew (and she frequently reminded me) that Mom had seen some pretty bad stuff in her life. It's easy to "awfulize" things when you have a pain, symptom or experience you didn't expect and can't explain. You're sure that's something's wrong. You haven't lost weight in three days, or you found hair clogging your shower drain, or you puked up your dinner. Don't let fear cloud your thinking. You will wear yourself to a frazzle if every event becomes a crisis. This applies to many aspects of your life. It's extremely difficult to make a good decision when you're in a panic. Your vomiting might be related to WLS, but it could also be the result of a garden-variety intestinal bug. Your teenaged daughter's failure to return your phone call could be because she was in a terrible car accident, or it could be because her cell-phone battery died. So ask yourself: Is this an emergency? Is it life-threatening, disabling, or just inconvenient? What will happen if I don't do something about it right now? Can I deal with this myself, or do I need help? What kind of help (medical, emotional, spiritual, financial)? Who can help me (my surgeon, therapist, best friend, minister)? Be careful how you choose your helper(s). I know you love your sister, who might tell you that everyone in her family has been sick with a bug since you saw them (and their germs) on Sunday, but she probably can’t accurately tell you whether your symptoms are related to your WLS. Is whatever you fear might be wrong really, truly the very worst thing you could hear? I’ve survived some scary and disappointing stuff during my WLS journey. I’ll probably never forget hearing my surgeon say, “Jean, your band has to go,” and “Jean, I removed your band but I wasn’t able to do your sleeve revision today because of a stricture in your esophagus.” I’ve also gotten bad news about friends who are fellow WLS patients. I mean really, really bad news, when death was reaching out its evil hands to take my friend away forever. In my own life, nothing can top losing a parent. “Jean, your mother died today,” is (so far) the worst bad news I’ve ever heard. A cancer diagnosis, the death of my husband, or the loss of my home to a tornado (entirely possible where I live) would also be mighty devastating. But if I dwelled on those possibilities, I’d spend the rest of my life in anxious misery, and I’m pretty sure that’s not what God has in mind for me. I'm not saying that your struggles aren't important. They are. But it will be easier for you to handle them if you do it with a clear mind and a calm heart. So take a deep breath. And when in doubt, call your surgeon.

I had my gastric bypass approximately 15 years ago. Something has been happening the past several months and I wanted to see if anyone else has encountered this issue. Of course I am going to get with a doctor, but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has gone through this. It's happened to me three times, and its getting worse each time. For approximately 3 hours last night I had severe stomach pain. It was extremely intense, to the point where I couldn't even stand up. It was a constant throbbing pain, I honestly felt like my stomach was about to tear open. I was also sweating profusely and burping a lot. I would have gone to the ER, but there was no way I could have driven. I felt like I was almost on the verge of passing out. The pain eventually subsided and I basically passed out for a few hours. I woke up very sore and of course exhausted. The past few times, I had thought it was due to overeating, but last night it was the opposite. I had come home from the gym, and was about to eat dinner when it started. Honestly, it actually scared me. Has anyone else been through this or has heard of anything similar?

I'm 59 and having a bypass in 3 weeks. I just have HTN and apparently now I have sleep apnea, but there is a strong family history of diabetes and heart problems. I do have issues with reflux and Barrett's esophagus so that's why I'm getting the bypass.

I am loosing it but slowly, I did have a revision and was an IV fluids for all four days so I am hoping this is it because it definetly is not the eating, lol!

I had bypass at 56 for all the reasons you listed. Good luck.

Try not to compare your rate of weight loss with others. I had RNY gastric bypass and dropped weight very quickly but then I transitioned into the maintenance phase at 7 months. Many individuals that underwent the sleeve lose weight at a much slower clip, encounter many stalls along the way but they can almost achieve the same level of weight loss over time. Many do not transition to the maintenance phase until over 2 years post-op.