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Oh don't feel bad Tiff. I have hair all over the bathroom floor and counter and every time I wash my hair, I lose about 4 handfuls and I had not complications. You'll do fine Manatee. Just get that stinkin band out. It's the band that causes all these complications.

So, I was sitting at work today and as my shift was winding down, found myself daydreaming about VSG again. I got to thinking (and worrying myself) about post-op living and long term care. Would I require b12 shots for the rest of my life? will I ever be able to eat sugar again? what about reflux? will I have unending reflux that requires lifelong treatment? Am I putting myself at risk for complications that far surpass the initial post-op recovery stage? what am I really thinking about doing to myself?!??!?!?! As I'm thinking myself into a panic, my phone lights up for a new email and this distracts me from my thoughts. A UPS order that I placed wasn't delivered because UPS requires a signature. I have no idea why, but UPS pretty much refuses to leave packages on a first attempt. They require a signature even if the sender doesn't require a signature. It's so beyond frustrating, every time I deal with UPS, I have to call them and get into a huge argument about this. I hate it! The package in question? My fat girl pants - for girls too fat to shop in normal stores. So yeah. That pretty much cinched it for me - I need to get out of these BIG GIRL britches ASAP!! All this stress/phone calls/talking to supervisors/getting SERIOUSLY TICKED OFF is because I need my giant pants. So sad! So what if I need Nexium forever - better than needing MAIL ORDER CLOTHING!! Anyway, thought this ironic tale might give someone a needed chuckle today.

I chose to stay overnight. My surgeon gave me the option to stay or go home since I was looking very good after surgery. But I was concerned that, should there be any complications, I wouldn't have the proper care at home. And I definitely didn't want to make a return trip to the hospital. I also wanted them to be able to give me IV liquids since I was drinking probably 30cc an hour only. I was worried about dehydration. I had a private room (thank goodness) and my fiancee stayed overnight with me (they got him a rollaway bed). If you have a choice, try to stay.

It's never too late to improve the quality of your life...and I'm an older bandster with 2 wonderful grandchildren. My primary motivation to have my surgery was to avoid several additional medical conditions...but there are many benefits which I was not focused on. How nice to not need to adjust the seat in my car to comfortable get in, get out , and fit in it while driving...not to mention the feeling of a degree of increased agility after loosing 60+ pounds. Definitely do your research, attend a seminar for additional information...and decide if it is the right choice for you. Though I have experienced a couple of weight loss related medical complications since having my band placed, they are mild compared to what my weight loss is sparing me from. Best wishes to you as you "weigh" your options...

By: Michael J. Orris, D.O., M.B.A., FASMBS Many weight loss patients in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale and Tucson come to our bariatric surgery practice seeking to improve their health through surgery. Like bariatric surgery patients across the U.S., many are concerned about the cost. Insurance coverage for these procedures varies by state and provider, and many other factors are also considered. Most insurance providers, including Medicare, require patients to have thorough documentation from a doctor that says surgery is medically necessary. This includes your weight history and BMI, your obesity-related health conditions and medications, and a detailed description of how your weight affects your daily life. Companies also often expect a patient to have made dedicated efforts at weight loss before surgery. They may want to see gym membership documentation or require participation in a medically supervised weight loss program for up to 6 months. Another consideration for coverage is where a patient can have the surgery performed. Some providers require patients to have their procedures done at facilities with the highest standards and success rates. Your weight loss doctor can be a resource to help you get your surgery covered. Most practices have finance coordinators who can help you navigate the complicated insurance considerations. If you do not qualify, many practices also offer other financing options such as payment plans to help you get your health back on track. Concerning Weight Loss Surgery Candidacy Patients often want to know what qualifies a person for bariatric surgery. All patients must undergo a thorough screening from a physician to know whether surgery might work for them, but here are some factors that might make you a candidate: · What is your BMI? Obesity is measured by calculating a patient’s body mass index, or BMI. Bariatric surgery patients typically have a BMI above 40, or above 30 if they also have a medical condition related to obesity, such as diabetes. You can determine your BMI by using a BMI calculator. · Have you tried and failed with other weight loss options? Most insurance providers and reputable weight loss surgeons require that you have made a concerted effort to lose weight using more traditional methods before you undergo surgery. You should be eating a good diet and exercising regularly under the guidance of a bariatric specialist. If your doctor determines that such methods are not enough to improve your health, you may be a candidate for surgery. · Is your health at risk? If life-threatening medical conditions related to obesity are a factor, you may qualify for surgery. Diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea often result from obesity and can be relieved by bariatric surgery. If you have one of these medical concerns and think you may be a candidate for surgery, talk to a bariatric specialist.

Hi all, I am planning (hoping) to get surgery in February of next year. My current health insurance specifically excludes WLS, but I am switching plans in January and the new plan MIGHT cover the surgery (BCBSM). I started meeting with a nutritionist in August in hopes that if my new plan covers it and requires 6 months of medically managed weight loss, I would be able to use these meetings for that prerequisite. I met with the patient coordinator on Friday last week and told her that I want the surgery whether insurance covers it or not. I have been thinking about this for over 6 years and I have saved up, so I can do it. I asked her about complications and how much is included in the initial payment (one surgery center I spoke with covers up to 30 days post surgery with some type of 'bliss insurance' or something like that). She told me that they will cover up to $50k if there are complications and then 50% of any charges after that. She was very negative about me doing the surgery out of pocket. She basically said that I could put myself in financial ruin if I do it and that I need to think about my family and what could happen if there are complications. Does anyone have personal experience with this? Are there any ways to mitigate the risks of complication-related out of pocket cost? What really got me though was that she said that she has had patients who had insurance-covered WLS who are now on insurance that doesn't cover WLS come back with surgical related issues (blockages, internal hernias) and since their new insurance doesn't cover WLS, they are denied coverage for these issues. Has anyone experienced this? I am thinking that with the new health insurance policies that no longer allow denial for pre-existing conditions, this wouldn't happen, but now I'm really scared. I am definitely a candidate for surgery. 38 years old, 5'3", 275lbs I left there feeling like I was putting my whole financial future in jeopardy if I self-pay.

To the OP -- Good on you for doing your research. Although my experience with the sleeve has been textbook perfect -- I had a complication-free surgery, easy and fast recovery, complied strongly with my surgeon's pre- and post-op instructions, have lost 100 pounds and have been at or below goal for nearly 15 months now -- I NEVER try to talk anyone into this surgery. That has to be based solely your own deliberations. And you sound very competent to do your research and make an informed decision. You should factor into your decision-making the ODDS of bad things happening and the ODDS of good things happening. You should also look VERY carefully at your particular surgeon's results. And you should seek out results that have been confirmed by third parties -- not the surgeon and not the surgeon's representatives. Before making your decision, go to support groups held by surgeons in your area whom you're considering. Go to at least one (and probably more) introductory lectures by surgeons in your area, whether you're considering having surgery with any of them or not. The experience of most WLS patients is positive -- at least through the weight-losing phases. My own WLS experience has been outstandingly successful thus far (I'm almost two years post-op). The odds that your own surgery will be successful depends on the pre-op education, surgical care and post-op care you receive and, just as importantly, the ongoing education you seek out online and from your surgeon's practice. And assuming you don't have any complications (and the vast majority of patients do NOT have complications of any kind, by which I mean fewer than 1 in a hundred), the single greatest factor that will impact the results you get from WLS is your own compliance and commitment to being successful. Ultimately, half of WLS patients are successful long-term, by which I mean they lose all or most of their excess weight and maintain all or most of their weight loss. The other half of WLS patients eventually gain back more than half or even all of their excess weight loss. Keep studying, reading, asking. Consider your own risk factors -- physical, emotional, psychological, environmental. You have to determine whether what you and your surgeon's practice bring to this potential surgery will likely make you successful long-term or not. Very best wishes! P.S. One of the best things I added to the mix was my decision to see a therapist to maximize my chances of success. I still see him once a month; he's been a big help.

How could I know that I didn't have all of the information? How can a person know what they don't know? I went in for a CT scan last night. While there, the scan nurse told me that yet another patient, a gastric bypass, was scanned earlier in the day. She had lost eight stone in six weeks because something was wrong. So maybe complications are just high in my area? Let's hope so, but I doubt it. As you work for the NHS, you are always going to defend it. And no, my gallbladder is staying put. I will save up and go private. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey! I’ve been Type 1 for 40 years. Last A1C was 7.1. Hoping it improves by the next time it’s tested. Just a few days post-op, I find that I’m really sore, quite tired, and full of gas (ugh)! Worried about lows when I can’t eat much, as that makes treating more complicated. Where are you from? I’m in Michigan.

Hello! I should be getting sleeved by mid-March. I am excited and nervous. Can some of you please share two things with me: 1. What (if any) complications did you have and were they remedied? 2. Any NSV's you have had and about how long into the process you had them?

The nerves that send the signal of fullness to the brain, are located at the top of the stomach. Which is why pre band, we had to eat a HUGE amount of food to feel totally FULL! Remember the diet advice to drink a large glass of Water just before eating---it was so your food come up high enough to trigger that nerve! According to the surgeon, there are times, that just the simple placement of the band comes into enough contact with those nerves, applying pressure in the way the band is wrapped around the stomach, that it signals the brain it is full at all times, therefore you feel no hunger. Mine personally is not in that much contact, but I fully believe it has put distinct pressure on it, as I have not felt actual hunger since my second fill which was 18 months ago! If you reach a proper fill level---not too tight, and yet restricted, you can eat good Protein, hard protein, that will stay with you, slowly working through your pouch without being stuck for hours---thereby keeping in contact with those nerves. The best way my surgeon feels to acheive that perfect spot is with slow small fills, and faithfully following the bandster rules. Being too tight, or failing to eat properly causing multiple PB's causes swelling, which leads to unfills-----and makes it very difficult to get to the sweet spot. It is a team effort with your Dr. I do not starve. I do not vomit. I have had 3 true PB's ---I have made many mistakes eating, but have avoided the actual losing of it all but those 3 times. I am not dieting. I eat the same things my family eats. In a smaller portion. I do eat more than 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food. I don't measure, but know it is more than that! I make most of my meal from the protein source, then vegetables, and finally a few bites of a starchy side if we have it. Where as before, I would for instance eat the entire baked potato---loaded....now I can only fit a bite or 2 of it in, so I seldom bother. If we are celebrating a birthday, I eat a small piece of cake, but no longer even want to eat half of it. In my own case it was SO worth it! I have my life back, I am in control of my own hunger again! I would do it again in a heartbeat! Anytime you go through these forums, you have to keep in mind that while there are what seems to be a huge amount of people with issues, there is a reason! The ones without issues are not begining new threads everyday stating that they are having another problem free day! Those of us not starving are not opening our posts with the statement....Not hungry again today.... When you do have a problem you come to find help. One of the biggest advantages to the band is if you do have problems, there are ways to fix it, or work with it. Nothing has been re rerouted, and everything is in there! But the over all complication rates are very low. Most who have the surgery and go on, simply never are here. Of the 5 people I know personally in my area who are banded, none of them have problems....and none of them are here posting everyday either! It is something very worth it, if you are willing to do what it takes to work with the band and your Dr, to make it worthwhile. I would do it again in a heartbeat! Kat

I was scheduled for one night with my RNY. I had no surgery complications, but could not keep liquids down so spent an extra night. Felt great the following day! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Everyone. I am 4 day post op and today is finally the first day i am not having dry heaving. When i was in the hospital i was given ensure Protein shakes but could not get them down. The gave me the Proti-15 shakes and i was able to get those down. Now that im home i dont think the proti-15 ones are not helping me as i feel like im really light headed. I had my husband go buy me the ensures that i was given in the hospital and they are def more effective. My question is should i be drinking them? I was given them in the hospital and my dr seem to think they would be fine but so many people are saying no. They have 160 Calories, 16 grs of protein. I dont want to cause any harm to my surgery as i had complications while in surgery and i dont want to cause no side issues as my diabetes has completely gone into remission and im not taking any meds anymore. What should i do? thanks for all the help in advance

No problem! And trust me you're not alone. All these tests were making me a basket case. During my testing they thought I had barretts esophagus ended up being a mistake. I was told I had an enlarged heart, mistake, something else major happened bunch it's all a blur... Or I blocked it out. Oh they found gallstones.... Lots of them. Thanks for the compliment. I've been extremely lucky. I had one small complication which required me to stay in hospital for 4 days. Make sure you read up on the complications just to be prepared. There are many success stories here but also some very scary ones. Don't go into this blindly. Not trying to scare you just want you to be prepared.

About a year and two months ago I was perusing the card section in a local shop and I came across one that read “Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself” and I almost started to cry. I was at that point in my life where lots of people find themselves- I was morbidly obese, had a job I didn’t really life, a couple of guys who were hanger-on-ers and not really all that into me, a bunch of friends that felt like they were drains on me, and basically a life that didn’t feel like my own. I had made a promise to myself when I turned 30- that this was going to be MY year. I was going to turn myself around. I was going to loose 50 pounds before my 31st Birthday. At 6 months from my 31th Birthday I had gained 10 more pounds. After reading that card, I decided I needed help and had to do “something”. I was terrified of the bypass, but more terrified of continuing to live as I was. In the back of my mind I remembered seeing on the news an alternative procedure that didn’t involve cutting anything up. So, I started researching. And I found the band. Immediately I knew I wanted it. Needed it. Couldn’t live without it. I researched and researched and started posting those “newbie” questions that we old timers now can find a little annoying until we remember we asked them too. I got lots of positive feedback from people online. Then I decided to talk to my family. I was so scared but I knew two things- one, that I was going to have the surgery regardless of how they felt about it, and two, that I really wanted them to be supportive. And they were and have been. I’m very very lucky. So, to get to the good part- I found a surgeon I wanted to do my surgery, and was offered participation in the FDA trial for the Swedish Band. From the time initial call to the surgeon’s office to attend one of the seminars, and the day of surgery was about three weeks. Again, I am very lucky. It was one year ago that I had my band placed. As much as it is a cliché, it really was the day that changed, and saved, my life. I’m a slow looser…and that’s ok with me now. At first I spent a lot of time and energy negatively comparing myself to other bandsters. I’d spent my whole life comparing myself to other people- am I the fattest in the room? Am I fatter or skinnier than her? Do I dress like that? Does my butt look like that? I had a tough time in the beginning emotionally. Physically I healed quickly with little or no pain and no complications. Emotionally I was a mess. I stopped calling my friends, I stopped working very hard for my clients, and I retreated and withdrew from my family. I felt so different inside. Yet I still looked the same on the outside. I wasn’t loosing any weight, yet my eating was restricted. I couldn’t use food to get me through the emotional upheaval I was going through. I was so lost. Then one day I walked into my bathroom where that card is framed on the wall and thought- why am I waiting for the band to change my life? Why do I wait for other people or events to change my life? Why don’t *I* change my life? I suppose it was about 4 months after surgery that I started to feel like myself again. Only this was a new “myself” that I didn’t recognize. I went to my therapist and she helped, although not having a weight problem led me to teach her more than her teach me. But she did help me in so many ways. I started to stick up for myself. I felt worthy of being treated well for the first time since I was a little girl. I had a long and authentic conversation with my biggest client and told them if they didn’t start listening to me and my advice I was going to walk away. WHAT? I said that???? And it worked. They respected me in a whole new way. I told the guys in my life that showed up once and awhile that I was done with them. I told my friends that I was no longer in the friend-therapist business and that they needed to support me and be my friend. I lost some friends this way…but then they weren’t friends. I started to like myself. To feel confident and assured in a way I only remember feeling as a little girl. The biggest change is that I stopped trying to fix everyone else and started to fix myself. And it’s not like I’ve lost a ton of weight and found this new me. I’ve lost about 1 pound a week. I’m down -51 pounds as of this morning. I can’t begin to list everything that has changed in my life- but I want to hit some highlights. Especially to help those just starting the process or who are slow losers too. I can now run up and down the stairs. I can play with my dogs and chase after them. I can fit into the ‘regular” plus size clothes again. I can wear necklaces because I have a new neck. I can get in and out of cars without needing to grab onto something. I can fit in a movie seat without spilling onto my poor sister. I bought a little SUV with four wheel drive so that I never have to feel like I only have to take the regular road. I can create my own if I want! I am so much more compassionate of other obese people- I think not comparing myself to them and making them the opposition changed how I treat them. I volunteer more. I go out dancing. I get hit on by men. The door is opened for me. People meet my eyes. I get smiled at by strangers. I eat fruits and veggies and whole grains. My skin has improved. I have a little glow about me. I wake up in the morning so excited to see what is going to happen that day I can barely stand it. I laugh even when I’m alone. I no longer feel the weight of loneliness at the end of the day. Now I take the dogs for a walk and giggle at their silliness. I read a book or listen to a new CD. I take care of myself now. I like myself now. I have a long way to go to get to my weight goal. But I am very, very close to my other goals of creating a new life for myself. Having the band literally saved me-emotionally and physically. Megan

Well, I'm admitting to the internet world that I was banded on 7/10/6 by Dr. Jay Nirmal S. Jayaseelan, who I will refer to as Dr. Jay from now on. This took place in Dallas, TX. Only 3 family members and 2 friends know that I have had the surgery. Took off a week from work and didn't tell anyone. Just didn't want to invite any criticisms. I been at my job for almost 3 years and my coworkers have seen my struggles with my weight. I've lost up to 70 lbs since I've been at my job and have gained back 80-85 lbs. I've been overweight and struggling with my weight since the 2nd grade and I'm now 33 years old. My starting weight pre surgery is 252. The first time I applied for the surgery with my insurance over 7 months ago, I was declined and gave up. A couple of months ago, I contacted Dr. Jay's staff to see what we could do because I was considering just doing the self pay. The staff suggested that we try to resubmit the paper work and I just agreed to it. I had totally forgotten about it and one day when I was coming home, there in the mail was my approval letter. I was happy but was sure it was later going to come back that I was not really approved. Scheduled the surgery, had the surgery without any complications and now I'm 2 weeks post op wondering where I'm headed. I'm still in shock I guess, it doesn't seem like anything was done. Sure, I have the few scares and slight discomfort, but I'm still eating what I want. I'm positive that my decision was the right decision, but there still is that uncertainty.

Well, I'm admitting to the internet world that I was banded on 7/10/6 by Dr. Jay Nirmal S. Jayaseelan, who I will refer to as Dr. Jay from now on. This took place in Dallas, TX. Only 3 family members and 2 friends know that I have had the surgery. Took off a week from work and didn't tell anyone. Just didn't want to invite any criticisms. I been at my job for almost 3 years and my coworkers have seen my struggles with my weight. I've lost up to 70 lbs since I've been at my job and have gained back 80-85 lbs. I've been overweight and struggling with my weight since the 2nd grade and I'm now 33 years old. My starting weight pre surgery is 252. The first time I applied for the surgery with my insurance over 7 months ago, I was declined and gave up. A couple of months ago, I contacted Dr. Jay's staff to see what we could do because I was considering just doing the self pay. The staff suggested that we try to resubmit the paper work and I just agreed to it. I had totally forgotten about it and one day when I was coming home, there in the mail was my approval letter. I was happy but was sure it was later going to come back that I was not really approved. Scheduled the surgery, had the surgery without any complications and now I'm 2 weeks post op wondering where I'm headed. I'm still in shock I guess, it doesn't seem like anything was done. Sure, I have the few scares and slight discomfort, but I'm still eating what I want. I'm positive that my decision was the right decision, but there still is that uncertainty.

Hi everyone, my name is deb I'm 43 married with 2 kids and 2 granddaughters I live in Cheshire I'm 6 weeks post op, I had wls 10 years ago and lost 10 stones, havin putting my weight back I went back to my gp they agreed to do a revision from a vertical banded gastroplasty to a gastric bypass, there were a few complications but I think I'm finally on the better side, still in abit of pain but its alot better then it was, I've lost 20kgs but 8 of them were on my pre op diet, I've not lost any for 2 weeks and feel really disheartened I've not lost more, feels like I'm still in pain got nothing :-(

I stayed overnight, with both my first and second band, and I really needed it, everyone is different, I prefer a hospital in the event complications occur. I honestly would not feel comfortable having surgery at a surgery center, especially where the lap band has to be in a very sterile environment to prevent any infections.

Dear BansterWorld, I need help. Background: I was banded nov.30th. since then i have lost about 24 lbs (mostly in the week before/after surgery). I have a 14 cc band. I received my first fill jan 12th (1cc) and i just got my second fill tues (also 1cc). Ugh I am struggling soooooooooooo much. I've pretty much stopped losing weight. I only lost 1 lb between my first fill and my second.I have no restriction and I'm having trouble controlling myself. I KNOW I SHOULDNT' BE FREAKING OUT. MY DOCTOR IS HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS and told me I was doing okay. But I still feel worried. When I decided I wanted the surgery I wasn't aware how conservative my doctor is with fills. He is very adament about following the manufactor's directions to fill the band slowly and avoid complications. He assures me "this has all been researched extensively" and the slow fill process is what's best. OKAY I GET IT. I believe what he says but it doesn't help the impatience I feel. I am an emotional eater. I eat when I'm sad. I eat when I'm happy. I eat when I'm bored. I eat for every emotion and there's always another emotion to eat. I don't know what to do and I feel lost. I would like to hear from other emotional eaters on how they have conquered their problems with eating (especially eating too often). Today was a really bad day. I felt like I had to eat every 3 hrs and I ate some peanut butter M and M's (I hardly ever eat candy) because I felt frustrated about the situation. I JUST WANT SOME INSIGHT ON HOW PEOPLE GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY EXPERIENCED MORE SUCCESS THAN FAILURES when it came to emotional eating. Right now I feel like I've had some success, but not enough to outnumber my failures and allow me to lose weight.

Okay, I want to preface my response by saying that I am not banded, just researching the heck out of this thing right now. I was looking at the lap band complications thread and this caught my eye. I hope this helps and I hope your problem is resolved soon. There is another thread over there that is a poll regarding reflux. It seems to happen a lot to people banded for 18 months to 3 years. Also may be worth taking a look at. Keep us posted. http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f78/major-reflux-no-restriction-very-little-recent-weight-loss-stretched-pouch-39137/

@@Anna Nim I honestly wish I would had surgery when my child was younger. I would have been a much better parent, because I would have been a more active and happier parent. I say go for it. I will admit I chose the sleeve over RNY because I watched someone have complications (not WLS related) with their intestines and the way they suffered sealed it for me that I never wanted anyone to touch my intestines. The sleeve had the least risk in my opinion which is why I chose it. I was also a fairly health fat person, but when my health started to tank, it tanked fast and terrible. I'm not even sure about the long term damage. I feel like losing weight I have healed it but maybe not. I also had arthritis in one knee. Guess what since I lost weight, it never hurts anymore. I used to be so aware of that knee, all the time. It hurt all the time, it made noises, it ached. I forget it even exists now, no pain. I can kneel at church with ease.

He did. They even coded it as a surgery for acid reflux. But the insurance company says it is to fix a complication due to complications from weight loss surgery, which is not true at all. My insurance also said my doctor cannot call and do a peer to peer to fight for me, only I can do an appeal which the doctors offices think I cannot win just because of the way they are refusing everything.

Does anyone indeed do tae bo and if so, have you experienced any complications after doing so?!? Is it safe. Please let me know. Thanks!

Cat, Welcome and congrats! One thing I will say is you may still be on pain meds at that point so you will not be able to drive. I would plan for the following week. Also, that will give you time if you have complications. I did and there was no way I could go back in two weeks. Also, I am Sr. HR person with my company and a lot of companies have medical leave options if you are not yet qualified for FMLA. I had mine at 6 months. I know you are excited to have your surgery but make sure you plan for complications and contingency plans if you maybe not reacting well to the surgery. I did not tell really anyone at work, not even my manager. However, she did see my return to work note from the bariatric center.