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I'm getting my surgery date next week. Last step us my final labs tomorrow. Dates in October I'm told. All the sudden I'm terrified, I heard of 1% and leaks, complications,....,im a single mom I cannot afford any complications! I can't even get life insurance let alone one that would pay for elective surgery complications:( I have read all the success stories but now I'm wondering if I should find the stories of people in the complications group? I don't know it will change my mind but maybe I'm not as prepared as I thought I was! I haven't heard anything bad in any of my support groups??

I guess I don't see what you would gain about reading about complications. My surgeon thoroughly reviewed all the possible complications and risks of surgery with me prior to surgery as part of informed consent. We know the odds going in. I don't want to say "just put on a happy face." I did my living will before surgery, just in case. I'm a realist. Of course there's a chance that something could go wrong. But the chance of everything being fine is SO MUCH greater. I wish you the best. Focus on what you stand to gain, which is enormous. That's my advice.

I had second thoughts five years ago when i first sought out surgery. I Was unhappy with my weight, but didn't feel strong enough that I needed such a drastic, permanent change. In reality... I just wasn't ready and I'm glad I backed out then. Other factors (wasn't a fan of the surgeon at the time) helped, but after now having done surgery, I knew I wouldn't have be ready for these changes then. I had bypass in April. Regarding down the road complications...i took a long hard look at family history, knock on wood-- we're a fairly healthy bunch. No one in my family relies in nsaids, sure it may change for me but at least I know it's unlikely. Re nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption... If I do my part and take my supplements and follow up with blood work as prescribed it shoulnt be an issue. And so far I don't dump, it could change but the'fear' of the unpleasant side effects keeps me on track. Just think of all the complications remaining overweight/obese can add in your life. (Diabetes runs rampant in my family...i wanted to avoid it at all costs) Your situation is a bit different since you have to wrap your head around a whole new surgery. Second thoughts are normal though... Only do what you are ready for. Maybe just follow the supervised diet for a few months and make a decision at the end of it?? Good luck! Ugh sorry, didn't realize this was the men only board.

The incision on your left side is usually the biggest one, where they put in the camera. Barring any other complications, the pain there is typical, and mine lasted about 3 weeks before it was completely gone. When you cough, try covering your stomach with a pillow and holding onto it for support. Of course, I'm no doctor, and since you had complications, you may want to just put a call into your doc's office to be sure.

I am a doctor Kuri patient. I had the fortunate pleasure of being banned in October 2007. I have since lost 70lb and I've only had one fill with Dr. Maese in Dallas. I had no complications with my surgery and Dr. Kuri is wonderful. He's not only experienced in what he does......he's compassionate and cares about his patients. Best of luck with your surgery and success.

I had my surgery in Nashville, TN at Baptist Hospital. My surgeon requires 1 day, if any complications then you have to stay 2 nights. I'm feeling great today!

Do you "need" to tell your whole family? Can you tell the members you are closest to? I told my mom, knowing she would be against it. She really hasn't said anything bad. She definitely lets me know there are other ways to do it. Insert George Castanza's mom on Seinfeld :Oh my, you are breaking my heart. Just go on a diet, will ya?!: It is a personal choice on who to tell. If you know it will be touchy, approach the subject in a serious, yet calm manner and arm yourself with facts. When they spew out other options like diet and exercise, show them the rate of how unsuccessful those things are for overweight people. Show the low complication rates for VSG. Information is power in this situation. And stand your ground. If it become confrontational, back out or change the subject (or leave). You do not need to defend your reasoning for wanting to be healthy!!

Hi and Welcome That's awesome that you don't have to reschedule! I also started with researching the lapband... On lapbandtalk I think I got to page 50 of 75+ pages in the Complications subforum before I just stopped reading... I wanted to read the bad stuff, not just the omgsquee-i-lost-all-the-weight posts. I also didn't like the way people on LBT were quick to jump on others that said their bands gave them problems... they made it seem like it was always "your fault" and couldn't possibly be their beloved bands. :001_wub: I've read way too much to believe that's the case for all the problems. Well grats and goodluck! I look forward to reading more about your journey! Hopefully my own surgery won't be far behind.

Hi guys. This is just me being nosey. I like to visit the american pages (if you don't mind) its really interesting how things seem to be a bit different as far as banding goes. We have the NHS - where (SOME) overweight people can get their banding done free - although you need to wait a very long time (and the list is getting longer) - usually about 2 years and if anything goes wrong with your banding - its fixed free. I think you may need to pay for extra fills though. I got mine done privately - unfortunatley had to pay, but I couldn't wait any longer. When I went to visit the doc on 23rd May, I was in for 20 minutes and accepted straight away. I didn't have a complicated history and the doc could have fitted me in the following week if I wanted!! I have seen the dietician and had my bloods checked, but that was it. I see a lot of listing on yours with dates of certain appointments you need to go to before surgery. Can someone explain to me the process you need to go through and how long does it take. Does everyone have to pay in the US? N xx Happy 4th July by the way. :thumbup:

Don, your note struck a chord with me as I am also 5'11" and weighed 282 when I started my preop diet. I'm now a little over 2 weeks post op and already down 21 pounds. I too was very apprehensive about the surgery, but now I realize that I spent all that time worrying for nothing. The surgery went smoothly and I had no complications or problems whatever. I didn't need to use any of the pain meds I was sent home with and I was back at work in four days. Like Oregondaisy, I only wish I had done this sooner. Best of Luck to you on your surgery.

i am terrified of complications or death

I am feeling very unhappy. My Lap band is coming out on 9/21 after 12 years. I really loved it after losing 110 lbs. and being thin for 10 years. But I have had complications with pain and GERD for the last 2 years and the band was opened. I have gained all my weight back plus more. The band will be removed. I feel awful after being so fit and healthy for 10 years and having it taken away. I have to wait 3 months for my conversion and my surgeon is not certain if I will have sleeve or bypass. He believes I may have a motility issue. I hear weight loss after conversion is slower. I'm so worried and discouraged. I feel like going through this surgery and then the motility tests and the conversion surgery are going to be very traumatic and take forever. I know I may sound ungrateful but I have been suffering terribly with this quick weight gain in 2 years. The quality of my life has been horrible. I've had two back surgeries and I am on a ton of medication due to being so obese. I guess I am looking for anyone who has been in my position who can help make this psychology easier for me. I just need a pep talk to get me through the rest of this waiting and all the surgeries and pre op testing. Thanks. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello... I understand both ways. It can be scary either way because its a surgery but for myself it took me three years to decide on the lapband. The Lapband can be reversed if complications make it necessary but the Gastric Bypass is not, knowing this made the Lapband my choice.

Agree you are making a wise choice by sticking to your diet plan and not adding the fruit. Point of diet is to shrink liver so your surgeon has better access to your stomach with out any complications like a laceration. Sorry to tell you that IMO the preop diet does not get any better. I suffered horribly but never cheated. Worth every second of gut wrenching hunger during those long days and nights. Little did my stomach know that its days were numbered. Countdown to a new you. Good luck!

It is interesting but I don't find it surprising. I think getting to a certain level of overweight is in itself an eating disorder. When you eat to comfort yourself or when you eat past the point of fullness or when you eat 'til your morbidly obese an starting to have co-morbidities is an eating disorder. IMHO...and having a lap band placed is not going to end it for some of us. I am hoping and praying that I won't be one of those people. It is just like those that have GB and regain the weight. This weight issue is very, very complicated and I really don't think it will ever be cured or truly understood. I wish the best for the OP and I hope you are able to come to grips with your situation. You truly do look great. Go and enjoy yourself to the best of your ability and as I type that I know sometimes it is much easier said than done.

There are 8,030 members of this forum. Granted not all are active members, but with the sheer number of people that are banded and post you ARE going to hear about some complications. The percentage of complications with the lapband is actually very low.....and even slips, erosion, etc...are treatable. I really weighed the risk of a complication against the GARAUNTEE that I would have health related issues if I didnt lose this weight. For me it was a no brainer....I already had borderline high BP, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol...all obesity related. I was pretty much the highest risk possible for heart disease. I am already on the road to better health. I no longer take BP meds (BP now 120/72!). I have cut my Metformin dose for Insulin Resistance. My last bloodwork showed my cholesterol has dropped to only borderline high. I wish I had done this sooner! Huge bonus is being able to fit in Misses size 16 right now and be able to wear cute clothes again, and looking so much better!

I am so excited for you! I had the EXACT SAME FEAR! I thought on my surgery date that I wouldn't believe it was real until I woke up and was told that I had surgery. I was afraid I'd get rejected for some reason before surgery or wake up from surgery without being sleeved because of some fluke complication. I felt like I was being teased with surgery until it actually happened. And guess what? I woke up sleeved! I am sure you are going to be fine!! I understand your fear. I had it and everything worked out. I am so glad you have a supportive family and friends too. It will make everything so much better for you. Best wishes and good luck to you today! Via con dios!

Stock up the fridge and send mommy home. You may not be cleared to drive but you can go out for a walk and you should be able to get around your house by yourself. I am single and live alone. I was bored silly after 1 week. Taking a daily walk outside was the highlight of my day. It was easy. If you aren't experiencing any pain or complications you'll be fine.

My surgery is scheduled for June 30. I've been going to the monthly support group my surgeon's office runs, and tonight was the May session. The surgeon showed up this time, and he asked if anyone had any questions. So I asked him if he had any advice to keep me from freaking out and backing out of the surgery because I was starting to get nervous. He said Xanax (kind of joking but not really). But then he asked the group if anyone was happy they had the surgery. The entire room (maybe 40+ ppl?) all nodded, raised their hands, etc. to indicate that they were all happy. I couldn't believe the outpouring of support I got from the folks in that room. Many people spoke up during the session about their experiences and why, although feeling scared is normal, doing it will be the best thing I could do for myself long-term. I had several people give me their names and numbers to call anytime. It took me over 30 minutes to leave after the session was over. I'm telling you this story because each person in there had a different experience, have different family dynamics,maybe a sleeve or maybe bypass, slightly different outcomes, some had complications, various amounts of time since the surgery - from 3 DAYS to 5+ years. Each one did not regret doing the surgery. I had a cousin that kept asking me if I was sure if I really needed the surgery, was there no other way, etc. She told me that if anything happened to me that she'd be devastated. I finally had to tell her to stop it, I've done the research, I know what I'm doing (that's the logical part of me talking) and that if she really loved me, she'd support me. She hasn't given me a guilt trip since and has been completely supportive. I've had similar experiences with other people, too. I'm sorry I'm so long-winded. Just know that you made this decision for a reason(s). Good luck!

prayers are with you for no complications.

August 22, 2006..I remember that day like it was yesterday. I arrived at the hospital so happy so excited so full of joy and ready to prove my doctor WRONG. You see my pre-op weight was 416lbs and the surgeon wanted me to undergo a gastric bypass or a duodenal switch (which I don't think they do anymore) because my BMI was so high. But at that time I was only 20 years old no serious medical issues and my mother didn't want me to have either of those surgeries so lapband it was. Moreover, my bariatric doctor made it very clear that I wasn't going to lose any weight and in two years I'd be back for a gastric bypass. Fast forward a few years and I was making tremendous progress. I'll never forget when I walked into Dr. Prachand's office in August 2008 for my two year post-op appt and I was down 138 lbs. And he looked at me with a smile and said "well Liqui you proved me wrong" that was the best feeling I ever felt. I was on a mission..I had a point to prove. Needless to say a few years went by and the weight slowly stop coming off...I was getting discouraged...I was losing my motivation and I had to switch doctors (I started a job and my health insurance changed). In 2011, I started seeing a new bariatric doctor (who I'm stilling seeing today) and it was like starting all over again at the time I had gained some weight back and I was about 310. At my first appointment with Dr. Mihil he told me to tell him my journey to this point...although he had my huge file in front of him. I told him my story anyway and he said "so let's start campaign prove Dr. Prachand wrong again." I laughed through my tears of disappointment and agreed. He proceed to say "I don't know Prachand personally but I want you to succeed because he wrote everywhere in your file. Placed band despite better judgement." When I tell you that doctor was AGAINST the band he was AGAINST the band and if I'm not mistaken he doesn't place them anymore at all. Moreover, my motivation started to come back I was checking in regular with the new doctor, losing weight, then BAM in 2013 I found out I was pregnant with TWINS. I was sooooo happy and excited yet sad because I knew I was going to gain weight. Well needless to say I gained more weight than I and the doctor expected. During my pregnancy I gained 73lbs I was mortified. I delivered my twins 4weeks early so I can't imagine how much more weight I would've gained if I carried them full term lol. My babies were born completely healthy but I was left with almost 60lbs of weight to loss. I avoided the bariatric doctor for two years...I kept saying "I wanna loss the weight before I go see him." I hadn't seen him since I was 4 months pregnant and he removed all my Fluid from my band. Then one day a few months ago I realized that I wasn't going to lose the weight on my own (which is why I needed weight loss surgery in the first place). And I finally made in appointment to go see him. I felt like a dead man walking.. I weighed in at 359. Which I was okay with considering I was 374lbs post babies. So I had lost weight but I still wasn't where I started. I was sitting in the room so nervous I thought the doctor was going to chew me out for waiting two years to see him and gaining so much weigh. He came in the room, gave me a hug and asked to see the babies. I just started to cry. I felt like I let him down. But he reminded me that "you're doing this for YOU and now those babies not me." That visit was such a breath of fresh air until he tried to give me a fill and to our surprise my port has flipped around. We played around with it for a while but no luck he couldn't get the fluid in. Another doctor came in and tried to give me a fill as well... No luck So I left that day with no fill but gained my sense of hope back. I have an appointment in the 26th of this month. And we're going to try it again or discuss possibly going in for a revision surgery which I really don't want. But I know something has to be done because right now I have no fluid in my band and feel no restrictions. I know everyone feels differently about the band and although weight wise I'm not were I want to be I'm still pretty happy with it because I haven't had as many complications like I hear about from the other WLS. And when I have fluid in my band it works of course with exercise and eating right. Moreover, I just really hope at my next appointment they can find the top of my port and give me a fill. Has anyone had a lap band revision surgery? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

So, I've never tried blogging before, but ive had complications from surgery and so I decided to give blogging a try as an outlet....so here it is https://wlsjourneysite.wordpress.com

Yes, I did. I felt good and it was nice to go home where someone wasn't poking and prodding me every hour. I had my surgery at 11:00 am on Monday and they started the discharge process on Tuesday about 3:00 pm. I left the hospital by about 6:00 pm. I think this is fairly common unless you have complications.

There will be a day when parents aren't always accepting and supportive. I finally told my parents about the VSG and the possibilities last week. They reacted in different ways. One reaction - Research and make sure you know what you're getting into. Well duh! Another reaction was that my mom sent an email on how to cheaply lose weight the "old fashion" way Another was unexpected - an email from my aunt telling me about all these people who she knows has died or major complications. The upside is that I've been able to see that my boyfriend is there for me and will be with me along the way, as he's always said he would.

I'm going back to work tomorrow. I am 11 days post op and am definitely ready both physically and mentally Your not really going to know until the time comes but if there are no complications, you should be fine and I say go it. Skip the lifting for awhile though. Good luck with everything