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Veggestyle, I think your doctor was reacting out of ignorance of the band. She is thinking that you're considering RNY, which indeed has significant risks long term. The pouch-stretching she talks about doesn't happen in the same way with the band, and it's by no means a "drastic" procedure inappropriate for "someone so young." Is she aware that the band can be removed with virtually no ill consequences if there are problems? This is not the case with RNY. My doctor was similarly concerned when I first broached the subject with her four years ago. Though I wasn't young I was healthy, and she felt I shouldn't take the risks inherent in bypass surgery. I agree! I told her about the lap-band and she's changed her thinking now, recommending it to other patients struggling with morbid obesity. Give your doctor the patient handbook from Inamed. See if she still feels the same way.

Hello, Before your doctor does the surgery they can request a fluoroscopy study. When they do this they will insert contrast into your band while you are under x-ray and then they will be able to see where exactly the leak is. It can be common to have a leak in the port or the tubing connection. The leak/whole I had actually was on the band itself. I have seen three surgeons and none of the three have seen a leak in this spot. Depending on where the leak is at will depend on the type or surgery needed. If the leak is in the tubing/port then it can be pretty simple, if it is beyond the connection point in the tubing or on the band then the entire band, tubing and port need to be replaced. I hope that this makes sense. Of course depending on where the leak is at will impact the cost. By doing the fluoroscopy you will know where exactly the leak is and be able to plan better. Also, if the entire device needs to be replaced you may decide to convert to a VSG, etc. I had looked at revising to a VSG, but in the end decided no VSG and I didn't get a new band in either. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me.

Through a total lifestyle change, and the band, I was able to lose from 297lbs down to 114. It can be done, and in the same sort of time frame as someone who has had a gastric bypass (there are a few different types, RNY and DS I think) From what I understand you can have children after a gastric bypass, just like the band. There are pluses and minuses to both surgeries, and really it just comes down to what is the best fit for you, and your lifestyle (or the lifestyle you think you can live with) Obesity Help (ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options.) is a great place to search out the other surgery types. I live in Oz, so I am of no help at all on the supervised diet thing, sorry! Good luck.

Hey folks, She probably won't be here for a few days, but Rachele is having a LapBand-to-DS Revison today. She did great with the band at first, but then had complications. She tried to make it all work, but decided that enough was enough and that it was time to move on. For those who are not aware, the DS is the most extensive of the usually performed weight loss surgeries, but has much greater success rates than the others. (Yin and Yang and all that.) The surgery itself requires a much more experienced surgeon and there are not really many DS surgeons in the country. When she is finished with the surgery, there is a long recovery period, with rapid initial weight loss...about 30% of excess weight is gone in the first couple of months, and by six months post-op, it's closer to 50% of excess weight loss. There are lifelong malabsorption issues and routine labs must be done and Vitamins and supplements MUST be taken religiously. The payoff is about a 75-80% excess weight loss, maintained over five to ten years post-op (maybe longer) and a 99% cure rate for type II diabetes. More info is available here: http://duodenalswitch.com/ Anyway, you can see Rachele's before and after LapBand photos in her profile and, if you are so inclined, I think you can send a PM or something through there as well. Sue

Hi All, I am so new to this. I am scheduled for surgery on the 5th of June :clap2: (Lap Band). I have been reading this site and came across allot of slang, I would like to know what some of this stuff means, i.e., PB.... Whats that? I am sooooo looking forward to this surgery and getting healthy. I have hypertension, diabetes high cholesterol and GERD. I feel like crap all the time. If someone could help me out that would be great. I love this site!!!! It has been sooooo informative and helpful in my choice as far as bypass or banding. My sister had the bypass and has gained 40lbs so far and on her way to more. I am 5'11" and weigh 285lbs. I'm 45 years old and live in Tampa Florida. I have a grand baby on the way and want to be around for his or her life. I know if I don't do something now I will miss that opportunity and that is something I don't want to miss. I'm a little scared of all the changes that life has in store for me. I know this will not be an easy adjustment but its something I have to do to survive. I'm just so glad to have this opportunity. Well, enough of my babbling. Got to run for now, hope to hear from someone out there..... Thanks for your time.... Steve <!-- / message --><!-- edit note -->

If it is the same one I saw before it was some ladies who had a bypass and then replaced their eating addictions with other addictions, I belive one was alcohol and another one was sex.

Hey everyone I just wanted to share that I had the gastric bypass one week ago today and so far so good! I think the preop diet really helped me to prepare for this. The surgery went very well and I didn't need much pain meds in the hospital. I made myself get up and walk and was released the next morning. I had bloating and gas as expected but not too bad. I really want to thank the Methodist Hospital Bariatric Program (Sacramento, CA) and my surgeon Ruby Gatschet for such a smooth process. I referred to my postop eating booklet once I got home and have lost 4lbs so far. I am looking forward to progressing in the booklet and changing my life to better my health.

60 Sandy: i have had gerd or years. At my first consult the doc told me with the sleeve gerd can get really bad 4 to 5 years out. Then after an EGD at my last consult, he saw the hernia I had on the pic of the EGD and seemed to think for me I would be fine with the sleeve. I do not have heartburn that much anymore and have about 75 lbs to loose. So im praying he is correct. Im 58 and do not want to have any revision down the line.

It is perfectly to be nervous this close to surgery. You are anxious to have it done since it is so close, and also nervous because it is an unknown for you at this point. You know your life is about to change and it will be forever. I wrote down the exact reasons I had the surgery in case afterwards I was having a case of regret. Putting it all in writing also helped put my mind at ease that I was making the right choice. I was a revision lap band to sleeve on 10/25/13 and I have not had any problems at all including pain from the CO2 gas and nausea. Good luck to all with your upcoming surgeries.

I hate to be a downer but I have a sleeve complication and so wish I could go back and undo it, I tell people to be very very weary and that surgery is much more dangerous then some make it out to be. I've written my story a dozen times but it basically boils down to a sleeve in 2012, now in 2014 I have not had any solid food since surgery and I've been on liquid Vicodin on and off for over a year and a half just to get enough fluids down to stay out of the hospital. I'm now scheduled for a revision just to try to stop the constant pain. I've been admitted to the hospital a dozen times and been in the ER at least once a month for iv fluids and pain medicine for food getting stuck. I have severe esophageal spasms and the beginning signs of achalasia which basically means the sphincter that helps you swallow isn't functioning correctly and untreated that can lead to cancer. I try to be positive on the forums because I know complications are rare but I wish someone had told me prior to doing this how much of a risk complications have. I'd be overweight for the rest of my life and totally be happy if I could just stop the pain. All I can say is buyer's beware, this is not guaranteed to work and this one decision can ruin your life...be very very very sure before you take the chance. I was a happy and relatively healthy (besides a few comorbities) nursing student and now I'm 21, am just barely staying afloat in school and my health is pretty miserable which affects my whole life and will continue to affect my whole life until it gets under control. This is not what I signed up for and I would go back and stop myself from making the worst decision of my entire life any day of the week. Hopefully the revision fixes things and I'm being as hopeful as possible. I'm not trying to scare anyone here, just telling my story and hopefully I'm making sure you are 100% positive you are ready to take this leap because once it's done, there is no going back.

My bypassed stomach became extremely bloated putting me at risk of rupture and/or perforation. I had to have a procedure to relieve the pressure. My doc said she had only seen it once before. There where complications with the procedure and I am still in a lot of pain.

I started the journey last month and when I met my surgeon he said "what are you thinking?" And I said "sleeve." He just nodded. He didn't tell me why that works for me and now after hearing stories I feel like bypass would be better. I have an issue with sweets and I feel that bypass would help me control it. Its almost like I physically need to feel sick if I eat too much sugar for my body to tell me to stop. Yes I know its a mental game as well. But I feel that I should at least go back to the surgeon and see why he thinks the sleeve is right for me or maybe he thinks the bypass is good too.

I am just starting this process, with my visit to the dietician next Friday 6/13/14. While at church on Sunday, I was talking to a friend who had bypass 4 years ago. I was telling her that I had decided to go with the Lap Band. She immediately began telling me that it was a bad choice. She was telling me that I was too big and that I wouldn't loose enough weight. I tried explaining to her that I wasn't looking for the quick fix. I am looking for a lifestyle change. She continued telling me about people she knew and their horror stories. I had to take some time to really think about what she said. Then I thought, to ask you all! Please help!!

I accepted the moment I made the decision to have my bypass (7/1/13) that I would also have a certain amount of plastic surgery after (5/21/15). I began this journey 2 years ago at almost 320 lbs. I got down to 195 and stalled. I held onto that weight and was thrilled for 8 months. I was so much happier and healthier. I was also working towards my skin removal. I knew I needed it, with or without insurance approval I was getting it done. My wonderful surgeon recommended that I not only get a panniculectomy (skin removal from the belly button down) but also an abdominoplasty (belly button up with the muscle repair) and circumferential lower body lift (360 degrees skin and fat removal). It is not uncommon for insurance companies to cover a panniculectomy when you can prove there is a medical need but the rest is very unlikely to unheard of. My doc felt with my situation he could make a good case so we went for it. We documented infection after infection and submitted a ton of photos. They came back with a yes to 2 of the 3 procedures. My surgeons office worked up a quote for my share of the third procedure plus a little light lipo under the chin and bra line. It was a no brainer for me, I had to make it happen. Before my surgery my doctor predicted he would be able to remove 8 lbs at most of extra skin and tissue. When I woke up he informed me it was closer to 15 (14.8lbs). Tonight I am 5 weeks post-op and I would do it again. I have had no major complications however I am still in a fair amount of pain and discomfort, especially at the end of the day. I have had a disappointing libido response but I am hoping that's because I am still healing. I am down to 178 lbs and I love the way I'm looking so far. I feel confident that at 8-12 weeks post op when I am released to really exercise, I will finally reach my goal weight of 165. We are all different and this weight loss effects each of our bodies very differently. I think it's important that you are happy with your own personal choices and who you have become. Christy

sweetie if you can't keep down any liquids then you may be obstructed and in trouble....get on the phone with your docs office and do what you need to do to be heard amanda obstructed postop had successful revision

I highly recommend this book for help on the eating issues. There are guides for what you should eat and when after surgery as well as recipes. Very helpful in understanding things as well. Amazon.com: Before & After, Revised Edition: Living and Eating Well After Weight-Loss Surgery (9780061242854): Susan Maria Leach: books I was banded on 9-4-09 and still can not eat more than 3 oz at any time. I am to get my first fill on 10-21, but not sure I want one!

I was scheduled for gastric bypass but my intestine was too short so the surgeon did the sleeve. I m not losing as fast as I would like I had it in October 2018. Down a little more than 33 lbs. but not wrinkling up either. 😁

Good Morning All.... I had my bypass on May 5th, so tomorrow morning I will be exactly one week out. It has definitely been a week of ups and downs (although mainly ups). Surgery went better and quicker than expected as I also had a large hernia repaired at the same time. I also was released from the hospital a day earlier than I had expected. So things were looking great! Thursday was great but Friday was my day from hell. Everything hurt so bad, and I felt that I could barely move. By Sunday I felt like I was back on the upswing. I was able to walk my block outside without having to stop and catch my breath. I could stand up without feeling like my stomach was dropping to my feet and I was able to enjoy a wonderful mother's day with my family. This morning was the first morning I didn't struggle to roll over in bed or have pain sitting up to get out of bed. So I think I'm starting off my week great. Just one problem...... I still have not gone to the bathroom since surgery. Is this normal? I know I have only had liquids, and am peeing regularly. I am a little concerned as before surgery I took Milalax every morning with my coffee. Maybe I should start taking it again?? Any advice? (btw, down 10 pounds since surgery and 34 pounds total! )

What led me to weight loss surgery isn't what led most people here. I didn't (don't) have food addictions, etc. I had medically induced obesity due to auto immune disease and long term corticosteroid use. So, I got a Lap Band in 2013, and lost about one hundred and forty pounds. I never got to a "normal" weight. It's like I reached a new set point and stopped losing. I pretty much maintained that for about five years or so and then I developed GERD. As @Tomo said, the GERD associated with Lap Bands/Sleeves doesn't respond to meds and there's always a gnawing, hungry sort of sensation that makes you feel like you always need something in your stomach to stop the torment going on in there, and that led me to eating slider foods, because they felt the best to my GERD tormented stomach. So I regained maybe ten pounds during my GERD period. Then in 2021 I had the band removed, then I lost the ten pounds that I had gained, because the GERD eased up a bit and I was able to eat healthier fruits and veggies that my Band wouldn't tolerate before and kicked the carbs to the curb. I'm currently almost 7 weeks post op RNY revision and I've lost twenty-nine pounds. So the scale is finally moving after years of being stuck. I feel like I didn't regain weight even after my band was removed due to a change in eating habits and behaviors that I adopted when I got my Lap Band. I maintained those, and yes it was easier after my Band was removed because I could eat healthier again. My Band wouldn't tolerate fibrous, healthy veggies most of the time. So I would say maintaining success in the long term relies on a change of behaviors and eating habits. One other thing that I think helps a lot of people maintain success is lifetime tracking of calories/macros.

Actually, my surgeon says that the Gastric Bypass (or RNY) is reversible. It's an involved surgery, not often done, but it is possible to undo it and return the patient to almost presurgery status. The sleeve truly is irreversible. At least in it's current form. If the Gastric plication turns out to be effective, then the sleeve could possibly be reversible too.

I am not sure about the "lower class" but it could be jealously because we have to actually put in more work than they do. They may feel like they took the easier way out. Plus, there are a lot of doctors that try to paint such an ugly picture of the band to convince them not to get it. I know my sister's doctor kept trying to convince her to do the Gastric Bypass but she stuck to her wants. Some of us are still able to eat some of our favorite foods vs. them getting sick (some of us do too). We have the option of going to get adjustments vs. them streching their stomach back out over the years. I know we can strech our pouch too but if we follow the rules and get our adjustments we don't have to worry about that.

No no no.You are just going through the same thing a lot of us felt when we were healed! Now is of course the critical decision making time.Do you want to succeed or not?How do I get back on track and stay there?Was all the suffering I've gone through for nothing and if I dont beat this now,then what?What is our options really as you cna revise to another surgery but that is no guarantee for success either. We can all eat a lot of carbs.And if we eat carbs with Protein we can even eat more protein,well I can.When I eat dense protein only,I can only eat a small portion so that should be where you start again. Protein first.What I do when I fall totally off plan,I reset.Which means this for me.For 3 days,I eat protein only.For meals,for Snacks.And I dont limit my meals to 3 but I snack on protein when I want to.By day 3 you dont feel like eating the snacks anymore and then you are ready to incorporate veggies again,and after 3 days of protein only,to me the veggies seems like heaven..lol I doubt your sleeve has stretched already at 4 months out.You've just fallen into bad habits and thank goodness your tummy will still restrict you if you eat your Proteins first. Call it a carb detox.Its tough but you can make up your own rules and your own plan and then you decide to stick to it.Take responsibility for what you eat one meal at a time.You can do this! I often read this thread of "what have you eaten today,sleevers?" and then I wonder what they would say if I would post what I ate that day?Failure!Not true.We are human and sometimes have to learn hard lessons.Now seems to be yours.Mine was at 5 months out. You can get back on track,you dont have to eat what you can eat,just because you can.This can be in your control.I can really relate to how you feel.Took me quite a while before I stopped being mad for even being able to eat all the junk I could until I gave myself a good talking to and decide to beat the flab for once and for all. So,I'll be waiting for your post that says...back on plan and feeling great!

Please do! My husband had a lap band placed June 2008, he lost almost 100 lbs with it and then gained it all back. He is set to have the band removed 3/24 and then wait 2-3 months to get the gastric sleeve. I am looking to learn more from everyone so that I may be the best support for him! Please let us know how the revision goes

I told my family and close friends before surgery. There was naturally a lot of shocked reactions and concern over the safety of the surgery (especially since I was going to Mexico). But everyone supported my decision once I calmed their fears. I even got several "good luck with your surgery" sentiments in Christmas cards. Postop, it took about 40 pounds before people started noticing my weightloss. I see 10-12 different clients everyday and every one of them had comments and/or questions about my appearance. When they asked how I was losing weight I told them I had surgery and answered any questions they had. Most people know about Lapband and bypass, so it was nice to be able to educate them about VSG, as well as my Mexico surgery experience. I simply was not comfortable letting everyone think I did this just with diet and exercise. Although that is a big part of it, I know my weightloss would not have been possible without surgery. And like SuzeMuze, I feel hiding it does perpetuate the stigma surrounding obesity and WLS. For me the questions and comments lasted about 9 months. By then, several hundred people knew about my surgery and everyone was getting used to seeing me thin so the questions slowed down. As for the feedback, almost everyone has been supportive and thrilled for me. Some people throw out "you're too thin", "when are you going to stop losing" "You're skinnier than me, b***h", etc. But all with good intentions and friendly banter. I only had two truly negative comments...one from a gal that was jealous and is a confrontational b***h anyways, and one from a girl who is terrified of doctors and surgery in general. In both cases, the other people in the room jumped to my defense and I never even had to say a thing in response to their comments. And those comments are more than balanced out by the three people that have had WLS themselves as a result of hearing about my experience. We are all doing great! You just need to figure out what you feel comfortable with as far as to tell or not to tell. And you're right, you will encounter a LOT of questions once you start losing. After reading about other's experiences with telling about their surgeries, I realize how lucky I am to have such loving family and friends and to live in such a non-judgemental, supportive community. I really feel sorry for anyone that has negative, petty people in their lives that have made them feel like they need to hide their surgery. Good luck with what you decide and with your surgery!

Try not to give to much stock to these people. They will never fully understand what it means to go through the journeys we all have. To a large extent even those who support us and try to understand never full will. I have been lucky in that not too many people have really said much to me about how it is "taking the easy way out:" For those who have I spend time to educate them on facts. Being 260 lbs overweight the chances of me dying before I was 40 was extremely high. Traditional diets had failed. If I had found a traditional diet somewhere along the line that would work, statistically the chance of losing all of that 260 lbs and keeping it off for at least 5 years is less than 1%. Granted, there are some who are able to do it (like Jared from subway), but if you look at how they did it, they usually didn't have traditional jobs and spend four to six hours or more a day working out and moving. Far too often this is just not a feasible way to live when you have school, work, children, or many other responsibilities. The odds improve greatly when your weight loss is aided by one of the surgeries. For the sleeve that percentage of those that lose it and keep it off for 5 years is about 75% and with gastric bypass i know that percentage is closer to 85%. I emphasis that it was a TOOL not a solution. My body's hormones and insulin levels were fighting every attempt I made to lose weight making it far more difficult than a normal person with normal hormone levels so I needed something to get my body out of the way of its self. Then as far as an easy way out ask them to tell you what sounds easy about, going with liquids only for two weeks until you are irritable and just want to die, only to have someone punch six holes in your stomach to mangle your stomach and intestines turning you into a Frankenstein of sorts. From there spend 3 or more days in a hospital dependent on pain medication to be able to move around that first week. Finally, once you are home you only can sip liquid, slowly add baby food, and eventually after six months may be able to take in a cup of food six times a day. All during this time you are in constant threat of dehydration, malnutrition, reliant on Vitamins every day for the rest of your life. This is all if everything goes perfectly with the surgery and don't get me started on if it doesn't. I bet you can imagine. It all sounds horrible, but the pain and heartache of dealing with all of this is nothing compared with the pain of not being able to walk down a flight of stairs, or play with your children, or even take a walk. Now on top of it, I have to deal with an @$$hole like you who has no clue what they are talking about. I did this to save my life. My life needed a drastic change and to do so quickly, safely, and effectively, with the greatest chance for success, this was the tool I chose. That is typically what I have told the few who have brought up the easy way out scenario. I know why so many people choose not to tell others and I can agree with your reasoning. I personally chose to tell everyone because it keeps me accountable and gives me a stronger drive and determination to succeed. The choice to tell is very personal and there is no right or wrong answer. To anything we do in life there will always be detractors. I just urge you all to not just get upset and walk away. I urge you to get upset and fight back with the facts. It is a lot harder to argue with. As always, if I can help you out in any way with advice, guidance, or just a shoulder to cry on. I am here for you all.