Search the Community

Okay, I'm supposed to be sleeping, but I am so addicted to you guys. I'm the new erosion on the block, and I have to tell you, as devastating as this is, I got 97.5 pounds out of it. By the time I have my band removed it will probably be at least an even 100 - that's my new goal. lol Anyway - I don't know yet if I will choose to be rebanded. I am waiting for more info on the re-erosion rates. The one response I got wasn't good (she eroded again her second time), and two other posters quote increased percentages - one 50%, the other "4 times likely" which would be 4-12%. I'm going to have to agree with Jessie Ahroni on grads that no one really knows the stats on rebanding. However, the literature from Inamed does state that revisions have a higher percentage of erosion, and I would consider a rebanding a revision. If I knew then what I know now - would I still have done it? ABSOLUTELY!! Will I do it again? At this point, it doesn't look likely. But I will have to wait at least six months before I could be rebanded, if I choose to do so, so we'll see how it goes. I love my band - it did everything I had hoped for. It sucks for me that I have this complication, but I rolled the dice and this is what I got. I'm not angry, or bitter. Sad, devastated, yes. But I knew the risks, and my results have been worth it. I've learned a lot about myself and my eating disorder. Hopefully that'll help me out when I'm back out there on my own. Good luck with your decision!

Oooohhh... I am going to be soooo careful with that... My sister had the RNY gastric bypass a year and a half ago and in the beginning she would always hand what was left on her plate (almost all of it) when we would go out to eat. I stopped going to eat with her as it was hard to fight the weight with two dinner plates in front of me and then to watch her literally melt as I was inhaling her leftovers was almost heartbreaking. She can eat more now and we can go out to eat as we used to but I am always going to remember how that felt for me. Congrats on the weight-loss Ihvbzs sounds like you are doing an awesome job with your new tool! Darcy

Hi Tina and Welcome! I too have been overweight for as long as I can remember, I looked into the bypass until my neighboor suddenly was looking thinner and thinner everytime I saw her. I finally asked her what she had been doing to lose all her weight and she was the one who told me about the band. From that moment on I was addicted to finding out as much info as I possilby could. Checking the internet and picking her brain I knew this was the surgery for me. I'm so happy with my choice. I have been banded for 11 weeks and have lost 29 pounds of this morning with minimal effort. It has changed my life! This is a great site with loads of information and experienced bandsters. Everyone here is so supportive. I had my surgery doen in Mexico because my insurance would not cover the band and I did not want to waste precious time trying to fight it so I self payed. I sold my most precious possession, my mustang convertible GT which I know once I lose this weight I will want that car back to cruise around town in my new skinny body but oh well, it was so worth it . I would of never been able to do it otherwise. The sacrafices we make for being thin! Good Luck in your decision...

I was set on the sleeve and after my first appointment with the Bariatrician, they suggested I change to bypass because I had severe gerd. They were worried that if I had the sleeve, they would have no where to go with PPi meds. Then after doing more research, I was thrilled with the idea knowing how much weight I wanted to lose. I started at 310 and I am currently 158, down 152lbs. Best thing I ever did. I have had no complications.

I am close to 14 months post op RNY. I initially went into this dead set on the sleeve. I had just heard about it and had done a lot of research. I liked that my intestines wouldn't be rerouted and the unused portion of the stomach would be removed. The approval process for my insurance was lengthy, and during that prolonged period though, I began to have second thoughts. I was offered the choice of either procedure so the end decision would be entirely my own. Some of the reasons I had for the change of heart was that I was 54 at the time. I'd lost and gained weight my entire life. I really believed that this was my last chance to "get it right." My metabolism was already slower than someone younger. I'd learned (although it's not true in every case) that with the sleeve you might lose weight slower than with RNY. I wanted the weight off as fast as possible. I wanted to take as much advantage of the coveted "golden period" of rapid weight loss as I could. Now I know there are many sleevers who lost their weight just as fast or faster, but in my personal case the RNY seemed a better fit. I was coming across a lot of posts from people who had gotten the sleeve, but were later revised to the RNY due to GERD issues. That really scared me. If there was the slightest chance of needing a revision after the sleeve, I just wasn't willing to risk it. Again, there are a lot of sleevers who never encountered this issue. I liked the idea of the "possibility" of dumping as a fail safe to help keep me on the straight and narrow. I had a wicked sweet tooth. Of course there are many people who have never dumped after RNY, myself included, but I still use the possibility of it happening as an extra incentive. It works very well for me. I didn't know anyone who'd had the sleeve, but I knew two who'd had the RNY. One gained her weight back and the other didn't. Both had theirs years before me and it afforded me an up close and personal example of how much I would be personally responsible for my eventual success or failure. As much as it's "said" that WLS is only a tool, it's still hard to imagine yourself as a post op when you're a pre op. Watching them gave me that personal access. One kept to a healthy lifestyle and exercised. The other went back, almost immediately, to her bad habits. The former kept her weight off and the latter didn't. Which brings me to my final tilt from sleeve to RNY. Initially the idea of being able to eat anything I wanted only in smaller portions, was a big draw. But in the end I knew myself too well. I was a junk food addict, and even in smaller portions, a bad thing is still a bad thing. I chose to make a complete break from those bad choices, and felt that the RNY was the only way I could achieve it. There just wasn't enough research on the sleeve yet to satisfy me either. And let me stress again, that this decision was made for me only, my circumstances and my lifestyle. It is not meant to sully the sleeve in any way. Regrets - not a single one! I'm nearly 14 months out, and reached my goal of 130 back in April. I've never been happier or fitter in my life, and have been maintaining easily. I still track my weight and exercise daily, forever reminding myself that I could easily gain it back if I start to slack. It's a powerful motivator. I did completely rid myself of bad habits. Since surgery I no longer drink soda, or eat fast food. Aside from the occasional Protein drink, I only drink Water. I don't eat bread, rice, Pasta, and red meat. I don't add salt to anything. My cravings are pretty much non existent. I'm 55 and feel like I'm in my 20's! I would do this again in a New York minute! Best decision I ever made! Best of luck to you on your journey, wherever it takes you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Chose bypass because I did not want to risk having Acid reflux. Only had it when pregnant but knew I never wanted to have to deal with that again. I am super happy with my choice. I have never had any dumping or other issues although I have never actually tried anything with sugar yet. Haven't had bread, pasta or rice either but assume they would not bother me. I just don't feel a need to have them.

I have not had surgery yet...I actually just had my first consultation this morning. I'm just wondering if everyone who has had(or will have) gastric bypass has told their friends and family? And do you regret the decision you made about telling or not telling? Has anyone you've told been unsupportive?

My husband and I had the RNY Gastric Bypass on October 18th. Feeling pretty good on postop day 3. Trying to stuff in our Water, Protein and the tablespoons of puréed food we can start. We never thought it would be this hard to eat! Lol! We'll keep plugging along! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I know three people who have the gastric bypass and they are all still considered to be obese. So, I thought why would I subject myself a more complicated procurers, unless it was my only option. I am using the sleeve as a tool to help me lose weight. Ultimately whatever surgery I chose I am going to have to diet and exercise the rest of my life period. Maybe, you can join a gastric bypass forum and get more information on the surgery and the outcomes.

There are TONS of threads on this forum with this topic, so if you want even MORE information, do a search on the site. Searching from a web browser is easier, in my opinion. My first thought was to go with the bypass. As you mention, it has a great track record. When I got my sleeve, just over two years ago, there wasn't much information about long-term success, so that had me concerned. But I always felt my issue was the over-eating. I usually ate healthy meals, I just ate a large portion. I was also a big grazer. The bottom line, for me, is I loved the feeling of being full. To me, the sleeve just made sense. Remove 85% of my stomach so I cannot eat as much. Get that full feeling sooner so I don't consume as many calories. Sure, over the next two years or so, it is going to stretch a bit, but only a tiny bit. When I asked my surgeon about it, he likened it to a new wallet. At first, it is nice and tight, but over time, it will stretch a bit, but nothing like what the bypass can do. With the bypass, the stretchy part remains so it is possible to stretch that pouch back to a much larger size. That is not possible with the sleeve. I did not want the malnutrition issues, either. Plus, the bowel obstruction issues, I think, are more common than reported because only the serious cases get reported. I have talked to many GBP patients who have this issue. No thanks. For me, the sleeve has been exactly what I wanted. I am over 2 years out and still have excellent restriction. I do still graze, but no where near like what it used to be. Far more controlled. I still like the feeling of being full and the sleeve gives that to me. I have lost all of my excess weight (yes ... 100%) and live a much healthier lifestyle now. There is nothing I cannot eat or do. I just returned from a cruise where, as you may know, I was surrounded by food. I was able to partake and enjoy it all like a "normal" person. Truth be told, I actually lost 3 pounds, if you can imagine that. (needless to say, walked a lot on our shore excursions and was at the on-board gym almost everyday) I think the sleeve will become the new "Gold Standard". Keep researching and asking questions. Good luck!

In my case I chose Sleeve Surgery BUT because I have "Chronic-GERD" (is how the surgeon described it) he said there's no way I'll be able to tolerate, Sleeve Surgery will only make it worse,so Gastric Bypass it is for me!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

In Canada where I live we are not given the choice the doctors once in decide what's best. The will do the bypass over the sleeve due to the fact that for if in the future it becomes medically necessary they are able to reattach the stomach. That is the reasoning in all my meetings I have had. I have yet to receive my date for surgery but I have done 2 preliminary meetings and I go again on the 18th of this month and if my Iron levels are where they need to be I will get an appointment with the anesthesiologist in prep for surgery. Excited and terrified all in one.

I have been going through the process of preparing for a bypass. The literature that my doctor gave me says most people lose one third of their total body weight after the surgery. That would put me at 200 pounds and I really want to lose more than that. how many of you have lost more than one third of your body weight and are your results typical?

First off my heart goes out to you with such an extensive medical history, and chronic extreme pain. I can't imagine how agonizing it must be on a daily basis. There are so many contributing factors to your symptoms that's it's hard to say if a revision to a RNY would bring about the results you're hoping for. It's going to be a blind risk either way, with no guarantee of improvement. But I will say this. There are some who chose the sleeve and then started suffering severe GERD/reflux issues afterwards, who then revised to the RNY and experienced a marked improvement. I had never even known it was a possibility myself until reading the posts here. It's part of the reason why I switched my decision from sleeve to RNY myself. Which I'll be getting in a short while. Let me stress that GERD doesn't happen to everyone, but when it's *you*, I know you'd do anything to get away from its devastating effects. It is not a pleasant way to live. I hope whatever you decide in the end that it brings you the answer you are seeking. Good luck!

I’d be ringing my surgeon & requesting/demanding an appointment @timetoshine. Five months without any checks seems crazy to me. I’d had several appointments by then. Make a list of questions to ask them like your exhaustion, sickness, small portions. Out of curiosity how big are your portions? Are you eating slowly, taking small bites? Eating too much, too quickly & foods that are too coarse are renown for upsetting your tummy e.g. the foamies & then brining up what you ate. Keeping foods moist with sauces & gravies can help. Is there a reason you haven’t had your B12 shot yet or just life being too busy? I’d get that soon too as it will help with your exhaustion. Establish a routine with your daily med taking. It is essential not to miss your vitamins with bypass because of the malabsorption issues. Dense foods can cause issues for people. Chicken breast & steak tend to be the more difficult ones. How do you go with other cuts of meat like minced beef or minced chicken? Chicken thighs are more tender than breast too. Do you have a dietician? I’d ask them for some suggestions as to what you can eat to get more protein in. I relied a lot on high protein yoghurt & yoghurt drinks/ smoothies to push my protein up. It can take some people longer than others for everything to settle & to work out all your new tummy/digestive system’s quirks.

@@anjelikaj H.pylori is treatable and may delay surgery but I don't know why it would prevent you from having it. I would talk to the surgeon and see what "probably" means. Don't hesitate to get a 2nd opinion if you really don't want bypass.

One dr told me it was almost the same surgery....however, my surgeon wants me to have bypass bc my bad acid reflux....he didn’t say anything about Nissen fundoplication (my husband had it...for AR not sleeve for weight loss) I wasn’t going to have bypass (I told myself) but I actually feel peace about it. My surgery is on the 31st...

That sounds horrible, I had reflux for about 6-7 months non stop with the lap band I could barely take it anymore. I did not have reflux prior to the lapband. I am concerned about the reflux I have now and converting to the sleeve. Have you ever heard of the linx system? I talked to a surgeon about it already. It may prevent you from having to convert to bypass due to reflux. Awesome on reaching your goal. I have done all the tests you have done. I had a scope, gastric emptying, manometry, and today I did an upper GI. They do see I am refluxing on the upper GI. All other tests came back normal. I hope it just may be a hiatal hernia that is to small to see because there is currently no real explanation for it. Best of luck!

How much do you have to lose? I weighted 251 on the day of surgery and now 14 months later I am at 75 lbs lost. I might had done gastric bypass if I had the money, but I think the sleeve has pretty much the same loss as the band. Go to a different Doctor and get what you want. My doctor told me I would lose all my weight with gastric bypass and about 50% excess weight with band so I am passed that and still going so I think you should check out a nice Doctor. I used Dr Spivak in Houston and he has been great. Cheri

It was hard to face reality a year and a half ago, they I was just shy of 250 lbs and had to do something to stop it before I hit 300. The first year I must say was the honeymoon period with my band. I felt like I hardly had to work at losing weight, it just fell off. It was wonderful and exciting. Then bang- my one year aniversary hit and my weight loss came to a streeching halt- the band's fault- nope mine. The first year, was easy because my weight was high and I was eating far less that what it takes to keep that weight. I couldn't eat as much as normal- so I lost weight. As the weight came off, I hit the titration point- I had finally lost down to the amount that my eating was matched. Now, I have to face reality, I can keep going with what I am doing and stay in the same zone. I can, make changes- eat even less and or add exercise. The thing is, at this point, it's not going to be so easy. Now I must really work at it. I, also, must deal with weakness in myself, that I never really got rid of. Stress makes me want to eat. Last night as I lay watching TV with the hubs (Ziva's last episode on NCIS) I started thing, boy I want a snack. The thing was I wasn't hungry. I didn't need to eat anything. However, I gave into the weakness and went and got a bowl of ice cream. It slapped me in the head as I sat the empty bowl down in the sink, that I had just done something I would have done pre-band. That was not good- I have to nip that in the bud now. Will it be easy, no, but I must do it to maintain and to further succeed on my journey. I know what I must do, I know what I need to do, yet I have not done it for months. Now, it's time to pull on the big girl panties and make some difficult choices and changes. It's time to face the music, because the reality it, if I go back to old way I will gain back all I have lost. The reality is I must, for my health, for my future, for my peace of mind- I must make these changes. Is it my band failing me, no, it is myself and my human weakness trying the make me fail. But, here is the thing- I have the power to stop it, to change it, to change it now before it goes to far. Yeah, I may have lost even more if I would have gone with the sleeve or bypass, but I likely would have run into the same stumbling block at some point. I hope I can do this!

You didn't fail and shouldn't feel bad about what's happened, the procedure failed you and not the other way around. :-) I've had a rough experience with the sleeve, started out @ 347, was down to 331 the day of surgery and couldn't get under 314 for months. Even now I can't manage to break 300 and it's been almost 6 months since surgery. I didn't tell anyone I was having WLS except my daughter and a very few close friends- 2. Even so, I've been embarressed by the miserable failure I feel my surgery has been and wish nobody knew. Who wants to have weight loss surgery and still be fat?! lol Because of complications with the sleeve, it has been recommended to me to have gastric bypass as a second step or even duodenal switch. My head is still swimming and I haven't made a decision but I can tell you this much- if I decided to go through another procedure, I wouldn't tell anyone. When you feel like a failure the first time after all the hard work, positivity and high expectations, it can make you super wary to talk about it the second time. Good for you for making the right decision for you and taking control back of your weight loss journey!

You may want to run this by your surgeon's office. Generally when we leave the hospital we are given discharge directions. One of the items on the sheets is called "When to Call Your Physician". On mine item number 6 reads: "Chest pain, rapid heartbeat and/or dizziness." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Since your physician discussed leak, I did an internet search and found the following: Anastomotic Leak After Gastric Bypass Surgery Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each person. They can include: * Fast heart rate * Fever * Chills * Stomach pain * Chest pain * Shortness of breath (rapid breathing or difficulty breathing) * Fluid leaking from an incision site * Nausea and vomiting * Pain in the left shoulder area * Low blood pressure * Less urine * General feeling of discomfort (malaise) The symptoms of anastomotic leaking after gastric bypass surgery may look like other health conditions. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Yeah on mine, James M. it said " vomiting of a prolonged period" well I called my Bariatric Clinic in such a case, was told by one of their Nurse Practioners I was delusional, I knew dang well there was NOTHING WRONG with me and to stop bothering them. Oh I have not called them again, I will be 10 months on Friday next and I don't believe I should still have frequent episodes of emesis My local community hospital, knicknamed "the BandAid station" is even worse, sad to say. They are not sure WTF to do with me, maybe they hope for constipation, fever, headaches and other "easy peasy "things, something within their competences. But a bypass patient, like a purple- spotted giraffe, interesting to look at, but what DO YOU. REALLY DO WITH one?👈👩👉

Yeah, I read about this! How amazing, what an awesome thing that could be if they could just cure drug addiction so simply! And it would certain sort out the obesity that results just from plain bad habits to that that occurs from a true food addiction. I mean a lot of people get fatter over time due to poor food choices and lack of exercise, not from uncontrollable addiction to food. But those are the people that generally lose well without a lap band! If we're here on this forum reading this, we're probably all addicts to some degree. That's the beauty of the band though - maybe we wont all be having revision surgery in 10 years, we'll be lining up to have the band removed and get our heads fixed.

Connie, Comparing to the time with the band the sleeve is wonderful for me.It took me 3 months to adapt to eating very tiny,very tasty portions of food.I am satisfied and happy.I feel better when I eat very very little. And I have lost 55 pounds even without doing regular exercise (play squash once or twice a week)With the band I had to diet and exercise like a maniac all the time.Not one pound came off by itself.Not one! The band is a bad idea as far as I am concerned,a temporary cure for a permanent problem. Hope you can get your revision approved. xxo