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Tiffykins - thanks for your reply. THe surgeon I'm using in Arizona (Scottsdale) has an excelletn reputation - I just need to find out how many sleeves she has done. Yes you are correct $25K is ALOT ALOT of money but my quality of life should also improve ALOT - that's the way I look at it. One reason I go back and forth on the sleeve vs. bypass is the data they have on the bypass is significant but not as much on the sleeve - but the sleeve sure seems to have a lot of positive going on for it. I meet with my surgeon next week and hopefully I can find out how many sleeves she has done and what her recommendation is for me. Thanks again for yoru reply - the support on this site is fantastic.

Hello everyone,my name is Veronika and I was wondering has anyone had the RNY gastric bypass?

I having mini gastric bypass surgery and my BMI is 38 pre -opp. Sent from my SM-P550 using the BariatricPal App

Te operaron o estas haciendo la dieta antes de operarte? Cuál operación te vas hacer VSG o bypass? Sent from my SM-G900H using the BariatricPal App

What is a mini-bypass? I've heard this term before and I'm unsure of how the procedure is different than RNY or Sleeve? I can probably google it I'm just lazy lol Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

They said the insurance company codes it as the bypass.. It's enough to confuse the patient tho

My surgery is in Tuesday. There are quite a few women who have been very successful at my old job (on COBRA) so I'm still covered. My sister had the sleeve not too long ago and from what my mom says she doesn't sound like she has lost weight and may need surgery for scarring. She's been having issues with it. She lives in the Middle East. My doctor does less lap band now than the other procedures but is well known for all of these surgeries, so I'm not worried about that. He still is going to do the lap band for me, he says less are asking for the lap band. Just getting nervous about the negative things I see out there about complications. Oh and my mom had a gastric bypass years ago and now has osteoporosis since she doesn't absorb Calcium. I've got a small area of osteopenia of my lower spine which I'm taking calcium supplements and picked up upper body weights. I broke my knee 3 years ago and had to stop Impact exercise which stimulates bone growth. I swim, ride my bike a few miles and go to the gym. I just need not to be hungry. I've been eating less theses past few months also. Anyway. Just nervous. I'll do anything not to throw up that's the worst thing in the world for me. I know I can follow the instructions on how to eat what to eat and exercise. I'm a RN also.

My insurance had many requirements one which was a 6 month dietitian requirement to ensure I knew how to eat the right foods. I went thru so much testing and have finalized everything. I'm scheduled for November 28th. I just got approved last week. It's a long journey and you need to be ready for a life change. Go through everything you need to. I found out during the process that I had severe sleep apnea. I had no idea. Just knew I felt horrible all the time. Good luck with the process.

I am new also, and am hoping to have surgery in november.

I am very frustrated today. I went in for my consult at Weight Loss Surgical Center in KC last November in which they checked to see if my insurance would pay and I received a phone call saying they would pay but it had to be done at an acute care facility which they did not have but were in the process of building one. Fast forward to a month ago and I called to check on the facility and if it was completed & they had just done their 2nd surgery there so the ball starts rolling again....get phone call to set up another consult OR pre-op visit. I was on the fence whether to do it or not and after joining this group and reading the success stories I am 110% committed so left 2 messages to set up pre-op consult and the person that gets insurance clearance had been calling me WEEKLY to update me on Tricare's requirements that were being met each week SO I think as soon as the facility meets Tricare's requirement I am a go....NOPE....now I'm told that my BMI is under 40 and I do not have the 2 co-morbidities to qualify. WHAT!?!?! Talk about popping someone's bubble fast that was ready to get this going..........so now I wait as they try to gain clearance from Tricare. Why would they tell me last year that they would defniitely pay for it and now possibly NOT? They had the same requirements last year that they do today. Very disappointed & upset. Anyone else have to deal with Tricare? Do they pay for your fills as well? I have a $1,000.00 family deductible which I met last year from being in the hospital twice and if I could have had this done before Oct 1st I would not have had to pay a dime! But my health is worth the $1000.00 at least and I just want to do this and I think if I'm denied I will really fall in to a deeper depression...I don't want to have to eat until my BMI is over 40 to get the surgery so I may be left of my own. I lost 84# once before but its all back and then some. They think my thyroid issues will count so they are going to run it by Tricare. Thanks for letting me vent and if anyone has Tricare just wondering how they were getting them to pay for your surgery!

Hello friends i got my surgery date for my bypass surgery for november 27th they gave me a 3 week liver shrink diet to do but it doesnt look bad!! Praying i can do it Sent from my LG-M210 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yesterday was the start of a new journey for me. A client/gastric bypass paitent asked...." When do you stop being a patient and start being a normal person again?" My first answer is that you are always a patient. From a Dr point of view that may be correct. There are many out there that either the band does not take in thier body or eventually some need to have it taken out. I hold a stand so that thes people may have some support to make sure they need no other surgeries, My Life Is My Message. I no longer hold any liquid inside my band, making my stomech normal again. My goal is to maintain my wieght, Concur any new stuggels with this journey. If this can help one person out there, Its worth every step. A great thanks to all of the supportive people out there. Remember One Step At A Time! Be patient with your self. Most of all LOVE YOU! BE YOU! Tiffany C

Let me share this story with you Stacy.... In 2002--I tried marriage again. I met a Woman in church and I was head over hills with her. Getting to the sad part--I was a Gym fanatic and didnt know much about my meals and how to do them and eat right. So my weight loss was so small. So after feeling defeated in 2004--I saw that the medicare insurance had made "Obesity" a desease. That'swhen I first considered the lap band. I called up a few Doctors--got opinions. Then my weight was a yoyo thing. This month--I was 260....next month--240 and so on...Anyway--you would expect the love of your life--your spouse to support you. I got excepted and was about to start my tests and so on. My wife at the time told me..."Why are you doing this? I said because I can't seem to maintain the weight and I need releif. She said...you can have that surgery--but you will be at the hospital all alone. I will not come there to see you or pick you up.The lap band is killing people. I told her--it's the bypass that has the high risk. She ignored me and like the Man I "was"--I stopped what I was doing. I worked out and got down to 218. Oh yes--fit andtrim--but guess what?? Sick as he**. I had lose too much--too fast and too much muscle. I gained it all back with interest. The reason I was given of why she "really"didn't support me...My dear wife said she needed to keep me fat--she knew that other Women would want me if I got smaller. The on top of it all--she would call me sick, poor and a few other names when we were in the privacy of our bedroom.Our walls were paper thin. My kids--asked me---"Daddy why is "Miss Phyllis mad at you for losing weight? My kids now are only 11 and 9...I am a single dad--thank God she is not their Mom. Then one day--I saw her ex-husband...I am asking--God please forgive me....This Man was all of 500 pounds--at least. My wife (now ex-wife) was all of a size 8 during 2004. Something strange hit her in 2005---called age 40. She went to a size 10, 12, 14, 16 and after we split--a big 18 to 20. Yes--just like that. Her old habit of sleeping right after a meal caught up to her...She went to the Doctor and cried about having a thyroid problem and would he start her on thyroid meds...he refused. Then she tried this pill and that pill for that magical cure...I still even though I was having issues--I stayed exercising and never stopped until the Hurricane(Katrina). I moved and decided--273 wasn't my deal...Again now that I am in the 238 area...I am thankful again for the lapband. My dream is to visit a few friends down on the gulf coast--maybe Christmas or Jan-08. It will be a shock them all--at who I am...

Hi all, I am really looking for some support. How is the lap band working for you. Why did you choose the lap band, rather than gastric bypass. I am trying to make a decision, and not sure which one is right for me. Plese give me your feed back, your successes, and failures. Thanks in advance!!!

I'm going thorugh a six month...started in November and finish in April, surgery scheduled May 11th. 12 months does seem like a lot and I thought 6 months was bad.

Hello lovely! We have *almost* the same stats, I'm 32, 5'3", and 220 lbs I had the lapband, went down to 127, it flipped, almost killed me, and had it taken out. Gained all the weight back. I was between the sleeve and the RNY, my surgeon recommended the sleeve also for the relatively lower BMI and because the band *worked* for me (both restrictive and not malabsorptive) However, when I told him I USED the band to throw up, and that I only lost weight because of that not because of *restriction* and feeling full, belt the bypass is better for me, so the pouch won't dilate. Also, the bypass is better for gerd and I used to wake up in the middle of the night choking with the band because of GERD. I'm going now for the mini bypass (one anastomosis bypass) in Jan. Hope this helps? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Don't know. She has two kids. She was around 500 lbs when she was in a car accident at like 25. She was bedridden and gained the remainder of the weight. It looks like she has gotten a bypass,but they have not gotten that far into the show yet.

I'll have to buy regular clothes all along but I wabted to have a few special outfits for milestones. Not rolling in money these days so I'm looking at seasons...don't want to buy a really nice summer outfit that will fit me around November...or a holiday outfit I can wear next June (in Texas). So just asking for some experiences so I can make a more educated guess.

I got sleeved on November 8th. By my two week post-op visit, I had lost 21 pounds. I started stage 4 of my diet plan and I feel that during my 3rd week I haven't lost as fast. I keep panicing thinking oh my, maybe my sleeve isn't working anymore, maybe I stretched it out, etc...it is a horrible feeling but I am trying not to get discouraged and keep telling myself that everyone is different. Thanks for this post. It is comforting to know that others go thru the same thing. Highest weight = 271 surgery date 11/8= 266 2 weeks = 245 3 weeks = 242

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie here and new to the process. I have my first consult appt with the surgeon at Sinai hospital of Baltimore, dr Li. I am leaning heavily towards gastric bypass vs my other options. Just looking for some advice, a pen pal, and some insight into the process. Thanks so much

Hi all! I'm new to the forum and am considering VSG.....I have thought about surgery for years, but have been afraid---surgery scares the heck out of me, but the future seems rather bleak if I don't get this weight off...........the big 5-0 is coming up soon, and it's unsettling.......with health concerns, I don't see getting to a healthy weight happening w/o surgery. I had a sister and a friend who had the bypass a number of years ago, and that just isn't for me. A friend had lapband, and I would prefer not to deal with the adjustments for maintenance. I went to the informational session last night, and meet with the surgeon next week. The procedure is covered 100% and need to go through a 3 month period before the surgery to meet with NUT & Psy.....will find out next week what hoops I have to jump through...........I know one will be my PCP.......I'm not sure if he will be supportive..... Thankfully, my husband of 29 years is onboard with this. Has anyone had Cigna, and were they good to deal with for this process? Thanks for all the helpful info posted on the forum. :wub:

Well, thanks for your responses. I really want to make the right decision. I have met my Dr and he has a very nice bed side manner. I felt very comfortable with him. He has ALOT of expericence with lapriscopic surgeries. He's done more bypass surgeries then lap-band, but he said he's been trained through Inamed for banding procedure and if im lucky my insurance will cover the whole procedure. He also said that they use the new band from Inamed i think it's the VG band? My BMI is 70 and he said that would work the best for me. I really have to lose this weight. Im in alot of physical pain and ive been heavy most of my life. I never lose hope, but im counting on this to be the tool i need to get me through the tough times. So if you all have anything to add i would love to hear from ya! Thanks! P.S. I have e-mailed my Dr's office and asked if i can speak to some of his lap-band patients. Thanks for the advice PENNI!

There are tons of studies - and you can access most medical journals on-line, now. Someone started a "Links" thread. I posted a few of the search engines for Medical Journals on that. People are always biased toward what is most familiar to them - and for now, for most people in the US, that means bypass... Take Care!

Hi, I live in Mesquite, Texas (a 'burb of Dallas). I'm investigating the entire lapband process. I've been referred to Dr. Richard Anderson at the Surgery Center of Dallas. Has anyone used him? Can anyone tell me anything about him? I admit, I'm not thrilled at the concept of "going under the knife," even if it is a minor procedure. I've looked into gastric bypass in the past and have seen several doctors, but after only a 30 minute or less talk with them, they've all told me the usual "you're fat, go home, lose weight," and don't want to remotely help me. I'm absolutely terrified I'm going to be told the same thing. I've had 2 of my doctors tell me lately, that unless I do the lapband or gastric bypass, I am going to die. I do NOT know how to talk to new doctors any longer without getting really angry at their attitudes. PLEASE ... any help would be appreciated. I am disabled, but not because of my weight, although I *do* know that losing weight would help with my medical conditions. I'm absolutely desperate at this point as diets do NOT work for me, no matter how strictly I follow them. BTW, traveling to another city for this procedure, regardless of whether it's Waco, Ft. Worth, Houston or wherever, is close to impossible due to my disabilities. It NEEDS to be Dallas. Any advice and help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Laura