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What kind of problems? People generally don't get long-term complications from sleeves. It's not like RnY where people get reactive hypoglycemia and have to have part of their pancreas removed to fix it or get ulcers from the surgery that have to be treated. It's even very unlikely that the sleeve would stretch enough to require a fix. If you mean, what if I don't lose all the weight, it would depend on how little I had lost. If I was 10-20 lb more than I wanted to be, I'd lump it. If it was a significant amount, I would get some kind of intestinal bypass, either RnY or DS. I don't know which one because I haven't looked into the nitty gritty details of either. I'd probably go for a DS but I'm not sure I could eat enough fat to make it work. (I don't like greasy food.) I doubt I would put a band over it because the odds are just too high that I'd have to have yet another surgery to remove it some day and be right back where I started. Plus, the only thing a band would fix is if the sleeve had somehow stretched and was too big and you can fix that by having it tightened instead. Not to mention it rarely happens -- you really have to abuse the thing to get it to stretch. I don't know where you heard that people are putting bands over VSG. I don't know anyone who has done that -- it really hasn't been around long enough to know a lot of people who had revisions. Most VSGers will get a DS if they have inadequate weight loss because they figure they need the malabsorption after all. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

What kind of problems? People generally don't get long-term complications from sleeves. It's not like RnY where people get reactive hypoglycemia and have to have part of their pancreas removed to fix it or get ulcers from the surgery that have to be treated. It's even very unlikely that the sleeve would stretch enough to require a fix. If you mean, what if I don't lose all the weight, it would depend on how little I had lost. If I was 10-20 lb more than I wanted to be, I'd lump it. If it was a significant amount, I would get some kind of intestinal bypass, either RnY or DS. I don't know which one because I haven't looked into the nitty gritty details of either. I'd probably go for a DS but I'm not sure I could eat enough fat to make it work. (I don't like greasy food.) I doubt I would put a band over it because the odds are just too high that I'd have to have yet another surgery to remove it some day and be right back where I started. Plus, the only thing a band would fix is if the sleeve had somehow stretched and was too big and you can fix that by having it tightened instead. Not to mention it rarely happens -- you really have to abuse the thing to get it to stretch. I don't know where you heard that people are putting bands over VSG. I don't know anyone who has done that -- it really hasn't been around long enough to know a lot of people who had revisions. Most VSGers will get a DS if they have inadequate weight loss because they figure they need the malabsorption after all.

I'm due to go for my initial consultation in Derby next Monday (18th August) & I am hoping my concerns will be addressed there, but I thought I'd ask here too beforehand. I've had type II diabetes for the last 4 years (at least), managed by insulin (novomix 30 twice a day) & metformin (1000mg twice a day) since my heart attack 2 years ago. I've got on with the insulin very well so they kept me on it beyond the initially planned 6 months. Naturally I am hoping that eventually my weight will end up low enough for me come come off all diabetes medications, however my concern at the moment is eating so little post-op & knowing how much insulin to take. I've never had a hypo (luckily) so I have no experience of what it actually feels like & I live alone too so the thought of it happening is scaring me quite a lot. I'd love to hear the experiences of anyone else in the same position.

Yes I am also hypo. Have been since they did iodine when I was young. Went from hyper to hypo and been heavy ever since. I just got banded, but it seems to me it can be slower but stillpossible. Also depends what your eating habits or hangups are. Mine seem to be about portion control, so seems to be dropping pretty quick. We will see what the months bring

That seems to vary from person to person. I was told to NEVER have carbonated beverages. Reason being, the air gets in the band, expands, and can stretch the upper pouch. If you can burp, it's probably not a big deal for you. I've never been able to get out 1 single burp since my surgery so I know it would never work for me. Just like food, it's a guessing game and you just have to find what works for you. I sure wouldn't suggest trying carbonated beverages though a week after surgery. That's really pushing it. Your stomach is very touchy and reactive to the new band around it, healing, forming scar tissue from the sutures, etc. The added stress of caffeine, carbonation probably isn't in your best interest yet.

I too have underactive thyroid. My TSH is wacky right now and we are trying to regulate it. My cholesteral is also high but my FD said that there is a relationship between the two. :thumbup: I have been hypo for 20 yrs and on meds all that time. I like to think that I am pretty in tune with my conditions and body but I have never read, heard or knew the link between chol and thyroid. Anyone else know this?

I have never seen a true "foreing body reaction" to drains. This is because the drains are veny inert and are designed not to be reactive. Also, they are in for too short a time (1-3 weeks) to really cause a problem. Sometimes people have a reacion at the skin, where the drain exits. This may become very sensitive and may bleed easily - but this gets better almost immediately after the drain is removed. The more likely cause of an internal FB reaction is the sutures - especially permanent sutures. This may be cause hard lumps and tenderness over the sutures.

Make sure that whatever doctor you go to, you monitor your heart disease risk... you have to ask for a few tests that are not typical, but these are a few tests for the some of the biggest indicators of heart disease... make sure you ask for C-Reactive Protein levels and fibrinogen levels.... also, many overweight/obese people have thyroid disorder and it goes undiagnosed in many people for years.... the range levels are set too high... although recently I know they have been lowered. Your TSH should be under 2.0 to be under control, but also your other T4 and T3 levels are very important in your thyroid profile. I post this on here because I have learned the hard way that my traditional medicine doctors never tested me for any of this and when they did do thyroid screens per my several requests, they all said they were in the NORMAL RANGE, but for years it was way too sluggish and I should have been treated. I now to a naturalpath and thyroid is tightly controlled and I have a baseline for my C-Reactive protein and fibrinogen levels. Don't know if this is helpful to anyone, but I have rampid heart disease in my immediate and extended family and wish I knew this info earlier! Kammi in Everett, WA DOB 5/27/08 335/302/180 Dr. Kuri - TJ Mexico

I too am having trouble controlling my depression. I went to my family doc who changed my Celexa to Cymbalta. I also have Reactive arthritis which causes pain daily, so the Cymbalta helps with that too. I have been working (full time) with pain and dealing with the relatively new Lap Band. So I don't know if it's the combo of it all or the Lap Band. Although, the books do mention depression after bariatric surgery. Sue

SuzyB Banded April 23, 2008 Lost 25 lbs before surgery from liquid diet Nothing lost yet, just getting started Just got my 2nd fill today, which was a big one, now I think Ill have restriction. I have been rather depressed. I thought I would have lost quite a bit by now, but haven't. I also have Reactive Arthritis and have been having alot of foot pain. But my family doc changed a med for me which seems to be helping both with depression and pain. So....Im doing better and am optimistic. :biggrin2:

Hi: I had a thyroid/diabetic specialist well respected in his field and was written up in the papers and also lectured around the country and overseas. He has since retired. He diagnosed my Graves disease (hyperthyroid). After treatment, I became Hypo and was put on synthroid and remember his words. The blood tests show a range that doctors consider normal, but because of my weight he wanted me at the top of the range. He felt overweight people have a slower BMR than most. I don't lose weight quickly but I do lose weight steadily. Perhaps you should ask your doctor to consider putting you on synthroid. The drug takes up to six weeks to take affect. No harm in asking?

Thank you armywife and others. I called my new doctor and asked what I should be eating since I will be a patient. My husband is 100% supportive and was in Mexico with me and I nor he never ever saw any one about what I should eat or not or was given any written instructions. I am a reactive person, I knew I needed the band. Went and got one with out ever seeing this site. I was having complications all day when I received my band the evening before and was released at 4:15 am. Yes I knew that I shouldn't have eaten what I ate because of this board and a book that I bought. I have taken such good advice and have been doing well eating what I should. I have lost 12 lbs. with out any more waffles, ceral or "The BIG MAC." I am learning a lot from this board but as I said I am too soft hearted. Most people can blow off other people's comments but I seem not to be able to do so. So with this in mind I am not going to read any more threads from this post. I am so sorry that it has turned out this way but it is best for me until I can figure out how to let people that I don't know not to effect me. Even when they were being harsh and had done some things they shouldn't have done, made others upset and stop posting on other threads, I should be able not to let it upset me. I should have maybe looked at her post a different way and chuckled and learned. I thank the people who stuck up for me and the people who gave me support.

I went to doc today and finally - after a year - got an answer to why my port was so painful. :eek: Come to find out, I have a high waist, so - every time I bend over - it causes brusing and swelling in the port area:eek::eek:. To clarify, my port is right in the place my waist naturally bends, therefore, it causes the muscle and stuff to rub against the port causing brusing and swelling. I am so happy to find out about this. I am going to have to have the port lowered to relieve the pain, but knowing that I was not going crazy or being a hypo made me feel better. :smile: Point of the post is this: If you are having pain with your port - this is not normal - don't wait a year like I did - make your doctor LISTEN - to you - I did not do that - once I got the attention of the nurse that does the fills, she looked at me an understood the cause of my pain. I don't look forward to the possibility of another surgury - but I am so relieved to know it was not all in my head!!!!:smile: Hope this has been helpful - anyone with this difficulty - feel free to email me and I will try to give you as much info as I can. :lol::lol::redface::drool::smile2::drool::thumbup::lol::lol::ohmy::drool::eek::drool::drool:

If the doc doesn't call you back you REALLY need to consider going to an ER or urgent care. Really. Syncope can be a sign of many things, none of them should be ignored. There is a good possibility that your labs are off and you could be hypo/hyper on many levels. Be careful!!!!!!

Ideally, doctors and anesthesia providers would ask you to quit for at least 2 months and closer to 6 months prior to elective surgery. However, we all realize that this isn't realistic for everyone. You should know that you get the most benefit for reducing complications related to anesthesia if you have quit smoking 8 weeks (2 months) prior to your anesthesia. What you do beyond that is really a discussion for you and your surgeon and anesthesia provider, but whatever you do, be sure you are honest about your smoking. It really impacts how your anesthesia care is provided and can really make a difference in how you do. They know what to expect better if they know you've smoked in the last month, or week, or 24 hours, rather than lying about it. Recent smoking can make your airway more reactive, more difficult to intubate, can make you more prone to bronchospasm and laryngospasm, and can alter your oxygenation capabilities, among other things. As far as the band itself, as others have said the only real effect would be on your wound healing post op.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Well, today I officially started my journey to a better me. I had my first consult with the physician who will do my surgery. Dave went with me as we met with several others who are also contemplating the lap band (LB) procedure. We began by viewing a power-point presentation put together by Dr. Canaday himself. It told me everything I already knew but was very informative. This was an eye opener for David. He just didn’t have any awareness of obesity and it’s causes, problems or solutions; plus he knew nothing about the LB procedure. Dr. Canaday also passed around a ‘stomach’ and band so we could see how it actually looks and works. Attached to the cord was a hypo. needle that would be used to do the fills of saline as needed. Following this group meeting we then met in private w/ the dr. for only a brief moment as he asked if we had any questions. Dr. Canaday has been doing bariatric gastric bypass for a long, long time, but told us that he no longer does it because he feels it’s too invasive and dangerous (my words) and only does LB instead. I found that to be a rather remarkable thing. He talked about how safe it is and how effective it is, IF you do as you are told. After meeting w/ the dr. we met with the nurse consultant who had gastric bypass many years ago and knows all about being fat. She was great and I cried as she asked me why I wanted this surgery. I couldn’t give reasons fast enough and she couldn’t write fast enough. I had filled out a very comprehensive 6 page questionnaire about my health and diet history and Terry often referred to this as we talked. After meeting w/ Terry, the dietician was next. And of course, this was what we’d been waiting for. Wow. What an earful. She was great and explained all about the changes I would be making pre and post surgery. It all boils down to no more than 4 oz. of food at a sitting, chewing each bite 15-20 times, 2 minutes between bites, 30 full minutes to eat it all. That gives the food time to get to the stomach so I can feel the ‘full’ sensation. If I don’t do things right, I will throw it all up: eating too fast, not chewing enough, eating the wrong stuff….no carbs…that is breads, buns, pastas, potatoes, that kind of thing that has no nutritional value really. I have to take care to get in my protein. Next step is a psychological workup I have to have done. Terry gave me a list of doctors to call and circled one that they especially like to work with because she’s quick and thorough. Dave went home and called immediately to get me an appointment and I go this Friday at 8:30!! It will take about 2 ½ hours and cost me $250.00. When the doctor sends the results to the Weight Loss Clinic, they will schedule my surgery for about 2 weeks down the road. I will meet w/ the dietician one more time pre-op and she will tell me to do all liquids for 2 weeks, I believe. So that’s it for now. Looks like I may be looking at an early July banding. I am so very excited and can’t wait to get started ‘not eating.’ LOL :biggrin2::biggrin2::wink: Hospital Profile - Holzer Weight Loss Center Medically supervised weight loss program - Center for Comprehensive Weight Loss at Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Well, today I officially started my journey to a better me. I had my first consult with the physician who will do my surgery. Dave went with me as we met with several others who are also contemplating the lap band (LB) procedure. We began by viewing a power-point presentation put together by Dr. Canaday himself. It told me everything I already knew but was very informative. This was an eye opener for David. He just didn’t have any awareness of obesity and it’s causes, problems or solutions; plus he knew nothing about the LB procedure. Dr. Canaday also passed around a ‘stomach’ and band so we could see how it actually looks and works. Attached to the cord was a hypo. needle that would be used to do the fills of saline as needed. Following this group meeting we then met in private w/ the dr. for only a brief moment as he asked if we had any questions. Dr. Canaday has been doing bariatric gastric bypass for a long, long time, but told us that he no longer does it because he feels it’s too invasive and dangerous (my words) and only does LB instead. I found that to be a rather remarkable thing. He talked about how safe it is and how effective it is, IF you do as you are told. After meeting w/ the dr. we met with the nurse consultant who had gastric bypass many years ago and knows all about being fat. She was great and I cried as she asked me why I wanted this surgery. I couldn’t give reasons fast enough and she couldn’t write fast enough. I had filled out a very comprehensive 6 page questionnaire about my health and diet history and Terry often referred to this as we talked. After meeting w/ Terry, the dietician was next. And of course, this was what we’d been waiting for. Wow. What an earful. She was great and explained all about the changes I would be making pre and post surgery. It all boils down to no more than 4 oz. of food at a sitting, chewing each bite 15-20 times, 2 minutes between bites, 30 full minutes to eat it all. That gives the food time to get to the stomach so I can feel the ‘full’ sensation. If I don’t do things right, I will throw it all up: eating too fast, not chewing enough, eating the wrong stuff….no carbs…that is breads, buns, pastas, potatoes, that kind of thing that has no nutritional value really. I have to take care to get in my protein. Next step is a psychological workup I have to have done. Terry gave me a list of doctors to call and circled one that they especially like to work with because she’s quick and thorough. Dave went home and called immediately to get me an appointment and I go this Friday at 8:30!! It will take about 2 ½ hours and cost me $250.00. When the doctor sends the results to the Weight Loss Clinic, they will schedule my surgery for about 2 weeks down the road. I will meet w/ the dietician one more time pre-op and she will tell me to do all liquids for 2 weeks, I believe. So that’s it for now. Looks like I may be looking at an early July banding. I am so very excited and can’t wait to get started ‘not eating.’ LOL :biggrin2::biggrin2: Hospital Profile - Holzer Weight Loss Center Medically supervised weight loss program - Center for Comprehensive Weight Loss at Holzer Medical Center Gallipolis

I've been hypo for 2-3 years, and I still have to adjust my meds everytime i go to the doctor. I'm getting closer though! My advice, find a good endo who is very up to date...my original doctor was going to let me levels continue to be elevated b/c they were in the "range".

I am hypo since I do not have any thyroids at all due to cancer. Once your medicine is regulated which can take over a year. You will be fine in the loosing weight aspect. You have to be patient with this process and should have your blood checked every 6 weeks or so. If you are really concerned make sure you are seeing an endocrinologist(cannot spell). As for levels being different everytime you had blood work, that is what tipped off the doctors that I had a growth in thyroids. Most growths are beign(90%) of them. Good luck everyone!!! I am also in the waiting period.

I have not been banded and am in the "hurry up and wait" period. I have a hypo thyroid and have been medicated for the last 10 years. Yes it is with me for life, but as long as I stay medicated it will not cause weight gain. Have you been banded?? Are you on levoxal or the generic?? Have they regulated your meds yet?? It took years to get mine to where I was not on too much or too little. Hope this helps..Kimberly

Yes, Tess...thank God for air conditioning!!! That is great that you have some input about your schedule. You have been there for long enough, I"m sure you are well respected and hopefully they are willing to work with you. My school has been very understanding. I have one more year until I can retire with 25 years. They are letting me work flexible hours, some from home using my computer. I'm actually the reading specialist, I do mostly training for teachers, test data, etc. They are helping me get to my retirement without having to go the disability route. I"m just not able to teach full time in a classroom anymore. I REALLY miss it though. But I am thankful. I've been at the same elementary school for all my teaching career. THis last setback really caused me to not be able to walk. REally hit my left side from head to toe worse than usual. Whole body is still very weak, but can not walk. the steroids really helped. The doctor was trying to avoid the use of steroids with me, because it can reactivate some hystoplasmosis I had occur in my eye when I was a teenager. So I have center vision in only one eye. But things could be a lot worse. It's just so scary to wake up one morning with complete loss of part of your bodily functions. I'm so use to thinking whatever is wrong, if I work hard enough I can get past it and recover. It's hard to accept I have not got the full control of this one. I"m sure you know what I mean. Sorry for misspelling and typos. Some days just too much effort. YOu understand, I really do know better...ha! Hugs, Friend

My PCOS story............ written LONG ago but I copy and paste it a lot. :Angel_anim: Hey there: Kick up your feet and stay a while, as you read my PCOS story. Hello, I'm Tracy... I was first diagnosed with PCOS while undergoing infertility treatment during my early 20's. (Mid 30's now) ..... Period at age 9, Birth Control pills at age 16-18, Married at 18 no birth control, no babies... finally at age 22 I sought treatment. I was told that I had the thyroid of an 80 year old man, and that I had PCOS.. he put me on synthroid for my HYPO-thyroid, and told me that it was just my body type that caused me to have PCOS... no offer of help or anything... just to accept it. Since I had PCOS, I wasn't able to ovulate.. my periods had NEVER been regular except when on birth control pills...... Treatment didn't work: charting, pills, shots... nothing could budge my follicles to pop out any mature eggs..... so I went on with my life, childless.... then fast forward to 1999... I was surfing the net and came accross an article "Losing Weight With an underactive Thyroid" Well, this peaked my interest, and from this article they mentioned Low Carbing and Dr. Atkins..... I was like "What the HECK" is low carbing???? Well anyway, on my lunch break I went to the book store and bought Dr. A's book, I started to read, and read, and read.. and that night I threw away the nasty slim fast, and made myself a bunless cheeseburger.... I had been starving myself on Low Fat Slimfast shakes and GAINING weight....... I would cry because I was hungry and then to get on the scale and actualy GAIN weight... life just wasn't fair..... ok.... so I took dr. A's advice and decided to devote 2 weeks of my life to the diet.... I did... meat, cheese, eggs, and Water.... I started dropping weight like crazy.. 14 lbs during induction.. my husband was shocked... but as the pounds came off and the sizes went down... everyone soon became a believer. OK...... so, I was about 3-4 months into the program when I realized by looking at my weight chart that my period was starting a pattern of every 28 days... I couldn't believe it.... from the first month my cycles had reset themselves to be just like a regular person!!!! THIS WAS A MIRACLE... my cycles were SO regular that I could set a clock by them... so I suspected that I was ovulating too.... my hopes of being a mom returned.... and BAMM, a few well timed whoopee sessions and I ended up preggo... unfortunately I suffered 3 miscarriages right in a row. So here I was down 80 lbs, PCOS symptoms were non-existant, and I FINALLY saw the little pink link on a home pregnancy test all with out meds or dr's... but life was unfair and I lost 3 precious babies.... all at about 7-9 weeks... one after I even saw the Heart Beat... that one killed me, and I went into a deep depression.. and I started feeding my sadness with High Carb things... I really feel that I was sabbotaging myself..... Lots of other Life events followed... got caught up in a corporate meger/layoff... so my job of 12 years went bye, bye.. and so did my husband my best friend since age 15.... had replaced me with someone who he said was "just like me" just 10 years younger...... so ok..... divorce, heartbreak, money issues... yada, yada, yada..... life goes on! Get your butt up and live life!...... ok so time passed... I hooked up with a new guy... technically my "rebound" guy from hell.... we both started LC'ng, the wieght had returned and my periods were slipping to sporadic bursts at no particular time.... PCOS had taken it's hold again.... anyway I told him, If I start LC'ng I might end up preggo........ he didn't believe me.... but ONE month after starting to eat right again.... I ended up preggo... and now I have a son who is the light of my life! April, 2004 I rededicated my eat life to Low Carb.... it may not be for everyone.. but it is what keeps my PCOS in check and I lose weight as a side effect! Edited August 11, 2005....... my little Low Carb miracle has now turned two years old. It was funny, that during my first Low Carb journey where I had 3 misscarriages.. no one wanted to believe that a formerly infertile woman could get preggers, simply by changing her diet. I had started seeing articles in the Atkins Center magazines for open calls for women with PCOS that had noticed changes in their cycles or had gotten pregnant because of this WOE... I called and told them of my experience.. as so many had done... NOW, in 2005... every PCOS website will lead you to a Low Carb way of eating, also they've developed drugs to help with the symptoms... .I feel proud to have been "IN" on the discovery of this phenom...... you will see LOTS of women popping up pregnant all over the Low Carb Friends website, and many threads where the gals are pregnant and doing a maintenance level of LC'ng to help control the amount of weight they gain during pregnancy.... IT IS AWESOME! I feel like broadcasting to the world.... I AM FINALLY A MOM!!!!!!!!! All thanks to the Low Carb way of eating.

A friend of mine was diagnosed with reactive arthritis last year. Is your Dr. taking care of your blood pressure and Fluid retention? I know that my friend has an awful time with mobility. Ok...so that was me checking on your health. Now...are you keeping track of what you are putting in your mouth? I know that you say that you don't eat a lot but do you know how many calories you are taking in? You might want to write down all of the calories that you are eating...the amount of Protein...and the amount of carbs. Get an idea of what you are taking in so that you can discuss it with your nutritionist. I know that it's difficult for you to walk but have you considered swimming. My friend says that this is very helpful to her and alleviates a lot of her pain.

I was banded April 23, 2008. I haven't lost or gained anything since. I lost 24 lbs the weeks prior to surgery during prep time but nothing since. My doc said I may not lose during the healing period, and I might even gain after starting to eat again. I haven't been exercising very much. I have reactive arthritis and am having alot of foot and ankle pain. But I also don't eat very much at all. Ive thought that maybe Im not eating enough? What do you think? Is it common not to lose before your first fill. My first fill is tomorrow.

I had this issue really bad at my heaviest. I was on medication for it. A couple years ago I carried my eldest to bed - I'd just laid her down and boom - if I'd have been pregnant I swear my Water had broke. Pee just ran down between my legs and onto the floor. I ran to the bathroom freaking out. I didn't know what was wrong with me. My doctor tried to narrow it down. Blamed a lot of it on my thyroid condition (hypo). That seems to be the "blame catcher". Anytime something is going on weird with my period, blatter, or body it is my thyroid. That's what they tell me anyway. It seems that my 275+ frame was putting excess pressure on my bladder and causing it to spasm. I was eventually weened off of the medication. As I've lost weight I've noticed the - run like hell and unbutton your pants as you go urge has become less frequent.