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Has anyone had bypass surgery in this hospital? I'm eager to get it done. 57, 245, 5 9 . Been on every diet known to man up and down weight loss all my life. So frustrated with my managed care health care here. They couldn't care less about meeting my needs. Tired of the merry go round !!! Any information would be great!! Tom

I agree with the above statements due to my diabetics and history of upset stomach I choose the bypass and I do not regret it, I only wanted to have one surgury without any revisions as well as it is the gold standard , I could not risk any additional surgery , as well as time off from work so I wanted to get it right on the first go around and with insurance ever so changing I was not going to risk a denial when my insurance covered a 100%. Good luck .

There is a place called Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians. It is affiliated with St. Mark's Hospital. That is where I attended my class and am waiting for insurance approval. I also have Blue Cross Blue Shield through Wyoming. They seem to be great doctors. Four of my co-workers have had the gastric bypass done through this office and were very pleased. I am selecting Dr. McKinlay, however, there are two other doctors but Dr. McKinlay has been doing it the longest. Good luck on your journey!

Fill Centers USA - Weight Loss Surgery - Bariatric Surgery - Gastric Bypass Surgery - Lap Band Surgery Information and Support is their website, but just went and found it not working... did yesterday! oh, well, maybe down for site maintenance. Fill Centers require the provider charge: (going from memory) $299 for the first visit and includes fill $1?? maybe 125 or 150 or 199 - can't remember for all other subsequent visits and includes a fill Fluro costs like $80 extra, no matter if it's first or subsequent visit. Any time you need an 'unfill adjustment' if you notify fillcentersusa w/in a week, or 3 days, it's FREE as long as you go back w/in 3 weeks (or something like that) and if you need just a visit w/o adjustments, it's $75. I will post a thread on how my first visit with them goes. Have your friend call Highland Family Practice and see how much an adjustment is w/ Dr. Muse... maybe a better rate is used if not going thru fillcentersusa. Maybe not! He can always go thru the fillcentersusa if prices are too high. Good luck!

thanks for your response. I see this forum is about the lapband. Is their a similar forum for gastric bypass surgery?

I'm in the same boat as the previous commentors here.... I have diabetes, and was all for getting the sleeve... untill my doctor advised against it due to my reflux. He even advised me that he had two patients on tube feeding due to extrem GERD after their sleeves, and that as soon as they were well enough, he would have to do a full revision to a bypass. He also advised that the bypass would most likely help get rid of my diabetes, which given the comorbidities that go with diabetes, is a huge plus. Diabetes is the begining of a cascade of other issues like high cholesterol, kidney failure, high blood pressure, increased risk of cancer,Atherosclerosis, and so on. Diabetes was my deciding factor in getting WLS. Hope this helps you.

Since my opinion of the Realize Band's RealizeMySuccess web site is not very good, I have decided to use this web site instead. Seems a lot more active and user-friendly. I was banded and had a hiatal hernia, plus an umbilical hernia repaired on November 11, 2009. My first fill on Dec 15, 2009, Second on January 19, and third on Feb 16. I think I am a bit too tight from this one and will let them remove a CC next week. That will bring my total fill to 9 CC's, which I think will be just about right. I have been very impressed with Dr. Smith and my husband also chose Dr. Smith to do his band on January 4. Now, we hope to get much healthier and live longer to see our Grandchildren grow up. I started at 362 in my primary care physician's office in late October and today I am at 316.

Hi. I'm currently booked in to have my surgery in November 2013 with Dr Talbot. Who else out there was operated on by Dr Talbot. What was your experience? How is everything going with you post op? And if your like me and yet to be sleeved, what are your thoughts? How are you feeling?

One question I would ask your surgeon since you are an athlete is about nutrition post-surgery. My understanding of a difference between bypass and sleeve is a difference in nutrient absorption. Best of luck with your decision and thank you for your service!

Hi, I was kind of in the same situation. I have 100 lbs to lose and I am only 26. My doctor said the Vertical Sleeve would be better but Tricare doesn't cover it. He said that There's a point when the lapbanders get "stuck" and stop losing weight as they used to lose in the beginning. I don't know if that's true or not. He also said Gastric bypass could be a better option than the band but I have met a few people that after losing ALL the extra weight, they gained it back, and that scares me! So I politely said no and that my only interest was the band. Because, worse case scenario, if something goes wrong at least they can remove the band and that's it. Taking a portion of your stomach or "re-tubing" it it's more invasive and there's more room for a mistake and if in the future you want it reverse, you can't. It's a personal choice, do your research and do whatever you think will be better for yourself. Doctors are wrong sometimes, your inner voice is never wrong

hi this is my first day on this sight but I just found this and copied it for you Join Date: Jul 2003 Age: 45 Posts: 6,484 Abbreviations and What They Mean Weight-loss surgery, band-specific, and general medical terms: PB: "productive burp" -- what happens when something eaten can't go down due to restriction has to come back up NSV: Non-scale victory -- a weight-loss achievement that has little to do with numbers WLS: Weight-loss surgery MO: Morbid Obesity (or morbidly obese) BMI: Body Mass Index GBP: Gastric bypass surgery RNY: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (the most popular type of bariatric surgery) DS: Duodenal switch (another type of bariatric surgery) BP: blood pressure PCP: Primary care physician GP: General practitioner NP: Nurse practitioner PA: Physician's assistant BC: Birth control (or BCP: birth-control pills) OTC: Over the counter (i.e., non-prescription medications) NSAIDS: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (a class of painkillers--which includes ibuprofen--bandsters should try to avoid because they can add to ulcer risk). AF: "Aunt Flo" -- menstrual period GERD: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease #/#/# in signatures: weight pre-surgery/current weight/goal weight And some general abbreviations used here and elsewhere on the web, not related to banding or weight loss: LBT: LapBandTalk.com -- this wonderful place on the web! OH: Obesityhelp.com -- another support site, with message forums BIL, SIL, ILs: Brother-in-law, sister-in-law, in-laws BTW: By the way DH: darling (or dear, or danged, or use your imagination) husband DW: darling... wife DD, DS: darling... daughter, son IMHO: In my humble opinion (and its cousin, IMNSHO: in my not so humble opinion) IIRC: If I recall correctly ISO: In search of LOL: laugh out loud OMG: Oh my God OT: Off-topic ROTFLMAO: Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off! TMI: Too much information WRT: With regard to WTF: What the f...? WTG: Way to go! YMMV: Your mileage may vary

Hey Chris, Welcome!!! I live in Brissie and was banded 7 years ago in November, it is a very popular surgery in Oz but people seem to be less talkative about it, if you do some research you will find heaps of people with the band! If you have any Q's feel free to pm me and i will give you my email addy Bel

I actually posted this in another forum, but realized it would have been a better fit here, so thought I'd introduce myself. Hi there! I'm new here to the site. My name is Kari and I'm 30 years old from Michigan. I've been researching WLS for the last year and officially started this process this past January 2013. Initially, I started out thinking I was going to have the Roux en Y Gastric Bypass, however after meeting my surgeon for the first time and going over my labs, it was discovered that I am very anemic and he felt that the RNY would not be a good option for me as in the long-term it will cause me more health problems than what it's worth. I completely trust his judgment, therefore I will be going with the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy! (And in all honesty, I feel better about this choice for some reason). Thankfully we have been blessed with great health insurance through my husband's employer, and they cover the surgery, no questions asked, no pre-approval. I just have to do everything my bariatric program requires, and I'm good to go. Next week I do my psych evaluation, and the following week I will do my exercise consultation. Sometime after that I will meet with a cardiac doctor to get surgery clearance, and have another visit with my surgeon. On that day I will also get to schedule my surgery. I'm excited and nervous, and I'm sure I'll have a ton of questions along the way! My highest weight ever was 320 lbs. My starting weight for this process was 311 and my current weight is 294. I look forward to getting to know many of you here! Thanks for allowing me to introduce myself! - Kari

I am having surgery November 23rd and very nervous I know its a while away but after you book your flight its like a done deal! no turning back now! How did your surgery go? How long did it take to start feeling good? I am thinking about taking about a week off work, I hope that is going to be long enough. Thanks for writing me back Lisa

Hi Everyone, Went for my Nutritional Assessment yesterday and saw Dr. Fielding and he said while I was there might as well do my surgical consult as well!! He's just so....smooth! The Aussie accent is so sexy - ANYWAY, November 9th is my date (I have to be nicotine free for 1 month). Coincidently, November 9th is my wedding anniversary as well. So, I'm on my way! Very excited, nervous, scared... Normal I guess. Thanks to everyone on this site for all the great info - I was totally familiar with everything that was presented to me yesterday and Dr. Fielding also said I had "great questions" for him - all thanks to you guys! Maria

Hi KTK. My husband and I have had the lap band for 2 years now. We have a friend that had the Gastric Bypass a year and a half ago. She lost her first 100 lbs faster than us, however she has had many complications. We have had absolutely no complications and over time, we have lost more weight. Both surgeries are very effective however there are people that have not been successful with either one. The Lap Band and the Gastic bypass are only tools. You get out them what you put in to it. I chose the Lap band because I felt re arranging my insides was a bit much. The Lap Band is adjustable and reversable and it has worked great for both of us. Feel free to contact me if you think of any questions. I love giving the advise that helped my husband and I. We are both half the size we use to be =-). Good Luck. Once you start see the results, it become an easy life style to adapt to.

I have started the process of getting bariatric surgery. I am in month 2 of going to the nutrition meetings required by my insurance. I never really thought this would happen for me. I have been thinking of having the surgery in an abstract way for years. I always said that if I won the lottery I would do it in a heartbeat. I found out a month ago that my insurance covers the surgery if they find it medically necessary. I am type 2 diabetic, high blood pressure, higher than my doctor would like cholesterol, and I have extremely bad sciatica issues from a car accident when I was 14. It seems like every time I go to the doctor I get some new medication to add to the 13 pills I already take a day. I also have anxiety issues that I take medication for and I am currently trying to quit smoking. I know that is a lot to take one but I am a goal setter and a goal keeper. 5 years ago in 2009, I was depressed, I mean extremely depressed. My friend that I have known since I was 13 told me she worried that I was dead on the floor and my cats were eating my body. She was joking of course but, I didn't really talk to anyone for 6 months. I stopped wanting to leave my house, I had no motivation to take a bath, no motivation to do anything but lay on my couch and wish I was dead. I finally pin pointed the reason for my depression as I was stuck in a job I hated with no real way to get out because I had no high school diploma. I made a plan and a 5 year goal and a 10 year goal, I decided to get my GED at 35 and go to college. I bought books and started studying for the GED test. I came to a point where I knew I needed help because math is not my friend. I went to my local GED prep classes to get help. The process took a week to see where I was with my English and math skills. I kept taking test after test until I took the practice test and I was told that I could take the real test the following week. I passed my first try. I entered college in the fall of 2010. I will graduate next May with 2 degrees, I will graduate from the Honors Program at my school, I am a member of the Honors Society, and I have carried a 3.5 GPA the entire time I have been in school. That was my 5 year goal. To get my GED, go to college and get a degree, find a job with good insurance so I could try to get the surgery. I think I did well so far. LOL Anyway, the second phase of my ten year plan was to get into shape and get my health where it should be. I was diagnosed with diabetes at 33. Only because I had shingles for the second time in my life and I went in for a physical. Sorry this first post is so long but, I feel like if I get support now the next 7 months will fly by. I hope to have the surgery next summer. The point is that I make and keep goals. That is something I have been bad at most of my life but, I know that I must keep this goal in order to live a long and healthier life. It will also help with my favorite passtime of throwing pottery on the wheel. Its one of the talents I found while in school. I never knew I was talented or creative in anyway before I went to college and now I make beautiful art pieces with just my hands, some clay, and a kiln. It is my zen place, the one place where I am completely in the moment and not worrying about everything. It gives me peace. Now I found out that my insurance provided by my state through Medicaid expansion, because I am a poor college student that moved back in with my dad at 35 so I could concentrate on school. I do work, but I work for my school and it is part time so I get the Medicaid because I am poor. I always said if I had health insurance that covered it I would jump at the chance to get it. Well here is my chance and I am going full steam ahead with it. I will be attending my local support group that is part of the program I am working; I have been having a hard time with the exercise portion of the program though. I have long standing back issues and I really have to be careful what I do because I get this horrible burning pain that shoots down my leg sometimes just from normal walking. Plus I can't afford a gym membership right now. I did look into my local rec center and it seems they have pool exercise 3 times a week which I am going to try next week. I am not sure which surgery my surgeon will recommend for me but I am pretty sure I will ask for the bypass because of the remission of diabetes. I have been reading all about it in medical journals and I even tried to join the Cleveland Clinic study on the subject but I didn't have insurance before and they would not take me. I really am only worried about my health. I have seen what this obesity can do to a body from my mother who was 518 pounds at 53 and we had to put her into a nursing facility because she could no longer take care of herself anymore. Her story is sad, but it has a sort of happy ending in that, for her the surgery was a success and she is now living in an apartment on her own and able to take care of her own needs. Anyway, I am Naomi and I will be posting here. (If your read that whole thing I am really sorry, I tend to be long winded.)

November 1 will be 2 years for me. I am struggling in the worst way EVER!! I lost 107lbs. Went from 331 to 224. Now...Im back up to 263. So extremely disappointed in myself. NEED HELP DESPERATELY!!!!

I have decided that I want to have RYN bypass and I have set up an appointment for my free seminar 01/08. I have my primary physician behind me a 110%. I just want to know what all else you have to go through before you get your surgery date?

@Sprinkles1 hi cutie happiness is all that its cracked up to be!!☺️ wonderful bypass - wonderful success! 119 lbs gone out the window!! You are approaching weight loss finish line then you start all over w/maintenance for the rest of your healthier, happier, longer life. reaching GOAL is wonderful - then hard work continues - following the rules forever and ever and ever keeping the lbs off - i know you can/will do this keep up the great job!! kathy congrats

I had bypass on 4/23/18. My starting weight was 340lbs. I'm currently 221lbs. That's a total weight loss of 119lbs! I honestly can't tell you a time I remember being this small my entire life. I'm so happy! First goal: 250lbs [emoji818] Second goal: 225lbs [emoji818] Third goal: 199lbs ...*pending* Final goal: 160-170lbs I never worked out until this month. These last 22lbs until onederland are stubborn. I'm also doing keto and intermittent fasting. This surgery changed my life. I'm almost positive I would be closer to 400lbs by now if I didn't have this surgery. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Welcome. so again, has anyone here had lapband done through Cahaba Valley Surgical Center? they are in Alabaster. my surgeon is Dr. Vincent Gardner. just want some feedback on him. like was he a good surgeon , did you seem to care about your well being, did he give pain meds after. stuff like that. i got the impression that he is a good Christian man and i liked him but just want others who have used him opinions. thanks. my surgery date is November 30th. VERY EXCITED AND VERY, VERY SCARED!!!!!!!!!!

WOW. That is fast. I have been going to appointments since November and classes will not be done until January than I will get a surgery date. I think I would have postponed the surgery too. I'm still shock of reading your post.

Hi, VSG friends!! I know this question has been asked a million times but every one of us has different circumstances! So, here I go, and I apologize for this being kinda long to begin with! My name is Dana and I've been married 12 years to my wonderful hubby! We have 2 gorgeous girls (ages 9 & 6) who I homeschool! We've been trying to have one more baby over the last 5 years, but have been unsuccesful. I have PCOS and have been on fertility meds off and on and every time I take the meds, I gain 10 lbs. So, I started out 5 years ago weighing about 225 lbs and I now weigh 288 lbs. We've decided to leave the fertility drugs alone forever, choosing VSG instead and if we have another baby when I get healthy, we'll be overjoyed.....if I don't get pg, we'll count our blessings and move on! I had a friend ask me the other day if we were still trying to get pg. I paused before I answered her because I just didn't want to tell her about WLS!! So, I told her we weren't trying anymore, but I was going to see a dietician in January (not a lie, I am to meet my pre-op requirements!) and see if I can get some help losing weight. Ok, I don't mind telling people I'm having WLS AFTER I've already had it. It's the before part! My hubby is chairman of our church's deacon body and although our church is loving and supportive, I will be the FIRST person to have VSG or gastric bypass in our whole church, not to mention as a person who holds several leadership positions. I'm not at all sure of what reaction I'm going to get. I KNOW a few people would try to talk me out of it and tell me I just need to pray for more self-control....just a few, but I'd really rather avoid any negativity altogether! Do you agree?? If you were me, would you wait until after to tell? The other issue I have is when to tell our parents. With my in-laws, I'm not worried about them being unsupportive necessarily. They won't be thrilled, but I don't think they'd discourage me. It's more that my MIL worries and when she worries she gets horrible migraines! With my parents, it's a bit stickier. I don't have a good relationship with my parents right now. My mom tried to committ suicide for the second time a year ago and it was then that I finally realized that we've had a co-dependent relationship my whole life. I started setting healthy boundaries, my parents didn't like it, so we only see them on holidays/birthdays now. Their choice, not mine, but I decided a year ago that I would be healthy mentally and this year decided that my body needed to reflect the new health on my insides!! Anyway, what would you do? I was thinking about calling and telling both sets of parents the night before my surgery. I think they'd all be upset if we told them after the fact!! I'm having my sleep study done on January 5th, my diet consult and psych eval on January 12th, then we submit everything to my insurance company and I should have a surgery date in February! I'm so excited and feel so blessed that I have a hubby that is so incredibly supportive. I can't hardly wait to start my new life!!! Thank you to those of you who made it through all that!!

FYI: My food intakes are from BariatricPal and thus I have not experienced dumping syndromes as a gastric bypass on Aug. 28, 2020. I make it a point to drink liquid 30 minutes after eating. I went to Crackle barrel and ate the Chicken pot pie and found that I felt over filled with no dumping syndrome. I made sure what I put into my mouth was moist. Anything dry, I avoided as instructed by Dr on my post op one month appt.