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This is from Tiffykins........she has the best research. Hope this helps. The first links are other VSG patients that are further out. Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 2 Years on January 15, 2010 9:11 pm Diligence-is-always-required Stalls-Happen Update-from-a-2-Year-Post-Op-VSGer 2-year-surgiversary-and-feeling Two-and-one-half-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-YALL Just-Passed-My-2-Year-Surgiversary questions-for-post-ops-2-years-out-or-more 2-years-out-food-amount-info anyone-2-years-out Happy-2-year-anniversary-to-me 2-years-post-op-TODAY 2-5-Years-After-a-VSG Everday-life-at-2-5-years-out 2-1-2-year-update Has-it-really-been-2-years 2-1-2-year-update Two-Year-Surgiversary 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Two-year-surgiversary 2-and-1-2-years-later 2-years-since-my-surgery-any-advice-on-face-lift 2-year-post-op-pics Two-Years-Before-amp-After-Pic 2-year-update-portrait-of-a-heavyweight-a-bit-late Thought-you-might-enjoy-an-update-with-a-few-pics Busybusymom-is-back-2-years-post-op TWO-YEARS-BABY Any-old-timers-still-lurking-the-boards Long-term Sleeve Experiences - 3 Years on June 8, 2009 10:43 pm Three years out Three and a half years after Vertical Gastrectomy My Story A quick 2 year and 3 year VSG update Third Year Surgiversay Not always easy but always worth it Very Discouraged 3 years out Links for researching the VSG on March 15, 2009 11:18 pm Here are some links I've collected when I was researching the sleevehttp://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/Updated_Position_Statement_on_Sleeve_Gastrectomy.p df. - includes reports of early studies LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately (Totally worth the money) Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review I used this website a lot. I paid for some of the full articles that grabbed my attention based on the abstracts. There are several articles that you can comb through that interest you. Once you read an abstract, on the right hand side of the page, there are other related articles listed that you may find interesting. SpringerLink - All Content Items SSAT - SSAT 2008 Annual Meeting Abstracts - Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy for Morbid Obesity: a Report of a Five-Year Experience with 750 Patients</b> Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) In Morbid Obesity: Review https://www.highbeam.com/reg/reg1.as....html&full=yes This was recommended to me for post-op options for meals, and just a guide. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853?ie=UTF8&tag=mybiglife-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061242853]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/][/ame] [ame=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061242853/]Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: Books[/ame] This one is cool because it shows a significant decrease in ghrelin with VSG patients vs. RNY patients. Weight loss, appetite suppression, and changes in ... [Ann Surg. 2008] - PubMed result Abstract on diabetes/glucose/insulin regulation with VSG vs. RNY stating that at 3 months out with the patients studied, RNY and VSG had no marked difference in improved lab results with their glucose showing that rerouting is not always necessary for resolution of this particula co-morbidity. Improvement in glucose metabolism after bariatric ... [Ann Surg. 2009] - PubMed result Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: an innovative new tool in the battle against the obesity epidemic in Canada Edit to add: If my insurance would not have come through with my revision, I would have traveled to Mexico, and my choice in surgeon was also Dr. Aceves as a revision surgeon. There are a lot of really great surgeons in Mexico and the U.S. it really all depends on your comfort level, and what you want and need from a program.

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?

Congratulations teshadb! So glad you are finally able to get your revision. I'm hoping to have my surgery in June. I have scheduled the majority of my preop testing for the next few weeks including the nutritionist so I can get on a preop diet. I also spoke to my HR department today and let them know that I will be having surgery. Everything is moving very fast, but I'm excited and ready to get going.

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

HI I went to a seminar for a surgeon in Pinehurst as well as the one in cary and I was way more pleased with Dr. Enoch's staff in Cary. They have a support group once a month in Raleigh at Rex Hospital. I found the doc in Pinehurst to be more into Gastric Bypass. There's also a difference in the quality of the band dr. Enochs uses. It's a lot better. We got to see the difference between both at the last support group. My sister had surgery year ago in Georgia and she's had great success so I've decided to do the same. Good luck to you. I'm scheduled for Friday August 22,2008. I'll keep in touch thru this site to update.

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

I had gastric bypass over a month ago and my surgery went great. No pain, no gas, no nausea no nothing but I have a little problem.. I get hungry. I know some people don’t get hungry, others feel a little hunger but I get hungry HUNGRY! I feel almost the same hunger pangs that I used to get before I had my surgery yet that doesn’t bother me too much because when I do eat I can only have a few bites before restriction takes over regardless of how hungry I feel. With that being said, my issue is how long it takes my stomach to send me the message that I’m full. So let me explain.. I get hungry, I eat, I feel the restriction, I stop. I’m still hungry but I can’t eat anymore. 15min later after I’ve finished eating is that my fullness comes in and it’s like a weed brownie but Instead of getting higher and higher I get fuller and fuller and fuller until I feel like I will burst. I hate when this happens and the only way to control it is if I stop eating while I still feel like I’m starving and walk away from my food and even then it’s not guaranteed. Does this happen to anyone else? It happens with any and everything broth, soup mash, solids. Yo-Yo Girl from New York City

I was banded in 2003 in TJ. At my highest weight of 310 (I am 5'7"). The band worked great for me - I lost a total of 170 lbs and went from a size 32 to a 6. I got some plastics done (TT, BA, Lipo and face lift) Really loved my new body and most importantly I was no longer obsessed with food. I ran a marathon, started swimming and walking. This continued for 6 years! Then I lost my saiety - and was able to eat more and more. I tried to stay with the program but it wasn't working. Went back to TJ and OCC says - stretched pouch. Took out all my fill (gained 10 lbs) got a bit of fill back - nothing. We did this 3 times - resulting in a total of 30 lbs...plus a few more I managed to pack on...I started beating myself up - why couldn't I do this..I had been so successful. My clothes didn't fit..my tummy tuck hurt...Holy Heck fire...Back I went to OCC and we talked about revisions - Plication seems to be my best bet - lower BMI - didn't want to cut anything out..So I start the second leg of this journey on July 1st- hopefully I will lose the 38 lbs to get back to my lowest weight and use this new tool to help guide me back to where I want to be..

Im 5 "9 also and according to my doctor should be 150. The thinnest ive ever been as an adult was 185 and i still thought i was fat, but looking at pictues of me at 185 i looked great! I had a bypass 12 days ago and have lost 18 lbs im now 207 and am going to try my hardest to get to 150!!

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.

I'm hoping to find out what I can expect when I get this surgery and really just learn all I can. I haven't chosen a doctor as yet, but I'm pretty sure who it will be. Last year my daughter had the gastric bypass done and she looks great. She has been very encouraging and even said that she would accompany me to doctor's visits, ect. I'm really at the very beginning of this and the only thing that I've done was make up my mind that I am definitely going to get the surgery.

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!

Aloha! I'm misty, and I'm a mom of 6. I chose to have the RNY gastric bypass and I am also still in the beginning stages of my journey! Happy to follow urs as well. I can't wait to hear more from u and see how ur doing. This is so exciting! People choosing to take the time to care themselves.... Just awesome! I look forward to getting to know ya!

Welcome. I am a band to sleeve revision. You will find a ton of us on here. From my personal expereince, it was the best decision I have ever made! Check out the forum that is for Band to Sleeve revisions. It is about half way down the page. I did not have any problems thus far with my sleeve. You can read my profile to read about my expereince with the band. Anything that could go wrong did. Just PM me if you have any questions that come to mind. Nichole

Hi everyone, I hope im doing this right. I've decided to join and get some support. I had lapband surgery on 4-18,and I have lost 11 pounds since the surgery. I started with a physician (not the surgeon) weight loss program for three months as directed by my insurance company. I lost about 10 pounds on it. After the three months, I went to see the surgeon, Dr. John Baker, prior to my surgery date. He put me on protein shakes for two weeks prior to the surgery and I lost 15 pounds. The day befor surgery, I did clear liquids and lost a few more pounds, so i'm looking at about a 30 lb loss since February. It was recommended that I have gastric bypass for the amount of weight I have to lose, but I was totally against it. These past 12 days have been interesting. My core has been especially tender, but im walking 40 minutes per day as the doctor instructed. I am on sugar free, fat free full liquids. On Thursday I can advance to soft diet and I am excited. I am almost ready to come off of my BP meds ALREADY!!!!!!

Well, it's 9:43pm 6/20 and I just arrived in Dallas in prep for surgery. I have a pre-op visit in the morning, paperwork at the hospital in the afternoon and then surgery Wednesday. What has surprised me the last few days is the emotional roller coaster I have been going through. This is a revision albeit from 13 years ago- but I am feeling really scared. I have to be honest, I went on blind faith back then from that Dr. about the procedure and believed pretty much what he told me. I was in my early twenties and pretty naive. I guess since I have done a tremendous amount of research this time around both on the procedure and the surgeon that you would think I would feel at ease. Maybe its going several hundred miles where I will not know anybody as I go through this process. Part of me has a fear that something will go wrong. For the first time in my life I finally did a living will and a will which I just finished last week. I guess some people can talk about death pretty easily and matter of fact. I am not married, don't have any kids- but I do have horses, a handicapped dog and 3 cats that depend on me. They have become my "kids" if you will. I guess going through this whole process has been a little difficult. I feel stupid when I get all teared up. This morning when I was getting ready to drop my handicapped dog off with a friend, I had a mini-melt down. So, me and my dog Mattie sat on the couch and cuddled for a bit. I guess she sensed something was up. I guess it just sux to not have any family or loved ones who can little more than offer me a "good luck" bone. Don't get me wrong, I have good friends, but they all have their own families and their own commitments. And, I hate to burden people and so to be fair sometimes people don't know the weight I carry on some of these things and I don't mean the physical kind as much as the emotional. Partly because I know there isn't much they can do anyways... I just hope I don't break down tomorrow at the Dr's office because they are gonna think I'm nuts. They might be in the middle of talking about something totally casual and I can just see it now, the Water works start flowing..... Well, let's hope to getting through tomorrow without any waterworks.

Got the Lap Band in 2002. I lost 30lbs but in 2005, the port became separated from the tube. Not one doctor would help me get it fixed. I finally found a doctor that was willing to repair it. He decided to convert me to a VSG. I had surgery this morning. During surgery, the doctor decided there was way too much scar tissue to convert today. While operating, my stomach tore! Fortunately, it was the section of the stomach that is to be removed for VSG. The doctor decided to proceed with the conversion and I am recovering now. I feel very lucky and relieved that it turned out the way it did. I could have not been so lucky and want to thank everyone involved for their great care.

Any of you had the bypass after having the sleeve?

Hi Samcl1, Yes doing ok thanks, 6 months out and 4.5 stone lost so far. Still have hunger, which is unusal for bypass, but had it since day 1 of surgery. Have dumped a few times on small amounts of fat and carbs, but other than that feeling so much better and no regrets :-)

I am 47 and 3 kids and I cant wait I see primary today to get clearance letter signed and full work up tomorrow psych eval and herat dr just praying insurance covers I was going to have gastric bypass many years ago but decided to wait to have my kids so they have that all documented and here I am 15 years later still fighting this dreadful weight now I am in menopause and its so hard to loose this weight I have done every diet known loose 50 80 pds and came right back awful I am praying I get approved I have spoken with nurses at the insurances discussing through the past year how I desperate I needed this surgery so I pray they approve me.

I had my gastric bypass on March 22nd. The surgeons and other people say I should be re-introducing soft foods into my system. Some days I can eat pudding Jello yogurt....and some days even broiled/grilled chicken. However for like 2-3 days I haven't been able to eat anything. I'm barely even drinking Water. I force myself to so as not to become dehydrated. Before the surgery, I was on a partial liquid diet and I drank glucose controlled Boost and Glucerna shakes. Do y'all think it would be ok for me to resume drinking them just to get some type of nutrients in my system? Even the Protein shakes come back up sometimes and the water based ones are just gross. I went from weight 403 to 377 in 3 weeks. I don't see a difference but I feel it in the way my clothes fit [ATTACH]36[/ATTACH]