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Yes, I can't wait either!! I think emotional health is just as important as physical. I think that it's terrible that we are judged based on our weight alone. I have had lots of people tell me it's what's on the inside that counts but that's really not how a lot of people feel...I've been treated differently, looked at differently, and even had family members make jokes about my weight to my face. I'm 37 and wish that the sleeve had been available yrs ago. I decided a few months ago that I wasn't even going to try anymore. So many times I've lost weight ... So many times, I've gained all back plus some! I was done!!! Then my hubby mentioned that a lady at his work had the bypass done and had lost over 100 lbs. That maybe we should look into it. Of course, I'm not interested in the bypass but the sleeve, yes. So here I am...making friends with people I have so much incommon with. There's not many that I know that I can freely talk about this with. My wonderful sister-in-law completely understands so she's a source of encouragement for me. My hubby too. But it's awesome to come into this forum w people that have had the surgery or are in the beginnings of their journey.

The Band CAN be done over a bypass. I have 2 friends here in town I know personally that have done it and are being successfull with it. I also have seen a dozen or so here on LBT that have discussed they were banded over the RNY. This site is so large it is sometimes difficult to find a small subset of people as you are discussing. If you don't get responses from enough people that have done this send me a PM and I'll ask my local friends if they would be willing to log on and respond. Good Luck no matter what path you choose!

I have the same thoughts. I'm being banded on 10/19. I wonder if I'm doing the right thing? Will this work? Can I live with it? Etc. I think if we didn't have doubts we wouldn't really be prepared. We have to remember that it's a tool - albiet a good tool - we still have to diet. Unlike bypass, we will have to work to loose weight. However, when I diet what ruins it for me is succumbing to comfort food - LOTS of comfort foot. With the band in the sweet spot that everyone talks about huge quantities of comfort food will not be possible. That's part of what worries me. But it will work - because I'll make it work.

We don't have pouches.....we've got sleeves, whereas gastric bypass patients have stomach pouches with simple stomas. The 5-day pouch reset was thought up by a quasi-journalist who regained several years after her bypass surgery. It is designed for bypass folks, not sleeved people. You can certainly complete a pouch reset with your sleeve. However, it will be ineffective without a permanent lifestyle change. To bust your stall, start doing the things that resulted in your 90+ pound post-op weight loss. Stop doing the things that have resulted in your current stall/plateau. Good luck to you. You got this.

New Progress Pics!! Well, here I am. Back to post what's going on with me at a little over four months post-op. At this point, I sort of have a love-hate relationship with my sleeve. I love my sleeve when people make comments to me such as yesterday, when one of my co-workers said to me: "Kourtney, you are going to blow away, you're getting so skinny!" I'm really not that skinny; I weighed 174.2 at my last weigh-in. But it was still nice to hear, and put a smile on my face. I have finally gotten to the point where people are really starting to notice the weight loss, which is interesting, because I've probably only lost 8-10 pounds since my last post, but literally only one person at work had commented on my weight loss at that time. Now it's like the flood gates have opened... One person commented that I've lost the weight so fast, to which I was able to accurately answer: "No, actually I haven't, just nobody noticed for a really long time!" But it must seem like it, because just in the last two weeks, I have probably had five or six people ask me if I had lost weight, how much, and how. This is where I have been fibbing. I kept my surgery a secret at work. I was working as a contractor, so had the luxury of just taking a month off between contracts with no explanation. So that's what I did. I took the month of May off, and didn't tell anyone what I was doing. Partly because I didn't want to go through the hassle of having to get cleared to come back to work by the Employee Health department due to the lifting restriction. But also partly because I work with someone who is very open about having had Gastric Bypass surgery, and people are not-so-nice about it behind her back, and even make comments to her like "Should you be eating that?" I didn't want that. So I've been telling people that I've lost 30 pounds (I've actually lost closer to 60). I've been telling them that I've been focusing on eating smaller portions, increasing protein, and that I've started running. All true. But at the same time I feel a little ashamed for lying. Worse still, I saw a friend a couple of weeks ago that I haven't seen since I moved to Florida. She was, of course wowed by my weight loss. And she is someone who has also struggled with her weight, someone who I vowed that I would tell about it when the time came. But then I chickened out! What's wrong with me??? I've actually thought about emailing her and telling her the truth, because the guilt is getting to me. So I sort of hate that my sleeve has made me into a liar. On the other hand, I love my sleeve when I get to go shopping in my closet! I love pulling out all of the clothes that haven't fit me in years, and wearing them! It's like getting brand new clothes. I also have a new obsession with Poshmark. It's a virtual consignment store. I've been selling all of my old size 16's that don't fit me anymore, and I've been buying size 10's. They don't quite fit yet, but they're close. Diet-wise there are still things I can't eat. Grilled fish, for example. I tried again the other night, and it just does not stay down. I ate it with some red-curry noodles (because tuna-noodle casserole had stayed down beautifully, so I thought there may be something to the fish-sauce-noodle combo) and then was really uncomfortable for about 30 minutes before it finally came back up. Interestingly, I tried the rice noodles the next day with chicken (because my husband had heated them up, and they smelled so good) and they came up again. So it very well may have been the very glutenous noodles. But I'm playing it safe, and avoiding all fish (except tuna-noodle casserole). So I hate that my sleeve has taken away some things that I used to really enjoy. But at the same time, I love that it has given me the control to just have a little bit of the things that I can tolerate, and that I still love. Self control is something I was severely lacking pre-sleeve, so I'm thrilled to have it. Overall, getting my sleeve is still the best $10,000 dollars I have ever spent.

I am making my final decision this weekend between Sleeve and Bypass. Those of you post-sleeve, did the weight loss help relieve High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Diabetes, and/or sleep Apnea for any of you? Do any of you experience dumping with your sleeve? Thanks from a newbie,

I'm sorry if my blog made you worry, Violet. That wasn't my intention. There are complications with any surgery, no matter how "minor" or "non-invasive," and if you google "x surgery complications" I'm sure there are lots of horror stories, but there are also many many positive experiences that we don't hear about because those people are busy living their lives. Please don't let my blog scare you out of doing something if you feel it's the best thing for you. I know people who have had gastric bypass and didn't succeed, too. I think it is a combination of restriction from the band, dedication to a healthy lifestyle, and sometimes a bit of luck that causes people to succeed. I think you will do fine because you realize this. You're already doing so well! I guess the whole point of my blog was just to complain a little about how one television show can influence someone's opinion so strongly.

Good luck to you, I am also 2.5 hours away from my surgery site, I am trying to coordinate my appointments also. I did do some of them locally so see if your hospital, surgeon, will allow that. I don't have a surgery date yet, I am hoping they will submit to insurance after I go in November 5th. Joan

If you are diabetic - they may suggest getting Gastric bypass instead of the sleeve. I don't know how they expect you to lose 100lbs on your own but there's a forum by weight loss (ie. 200+ lbs) that maybe has some info to help. Good luck!

I am gonna start by saying that I am scheduled for surgery in November. I have been in the process of getting the lap band for about six months. The surgery had to be put off till November because when I got my EKG it came back abnormal and they sent me to a Cardiologist. They found out it was because I was severely anemic so I have to take care of that before surgery. So my surgeon decided instead of the liquid diet for two weeks I could join Physicians weight loss for about 2 and half to three months because it would shrink my liver to do their diet till my surgery. I have meal replacement shakes, bars, and soups 3 to 6 times a day. I take minerals and vitamins and also appetite suppressants every day and I have one meal a day which consists of one piece of either chicken or fish plain and vegetables. I wont lie..the food isn't great but after 6 days I went back up there to weigh in and i lost 23 pounds. IN 6 DAYS!! The reason I am writing this thread is to suggest it for anybody who has hit a plateau or who has to lose a certain amount of weight in a short period of time. I feel so great. Plus I am taking care of my anemia. I found out it was caused by my PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) which I already knew I had. I have started on birth control and iron. After 6 days I feel like a new woman. I am still going forward with the surgery because I believe in it and I know it will help me keep the weight off. Its not just a temporary solution. I am not saying Physicians weight loss is just temporary, however its not something I think you would want to do forever. Mostly because of the price. Well I hope this helped someone.

I just have a question about your food addiction................. If you know you are a food addict, what is that food, and since being banded, have you abstained from your addiction? My addiction is FAST FOOD and I haven't eaten it since November 2005. Do I miss it? Because of my weight loss results not at all. When I smell the grease, I know that I am still addicted. I want to just lick it but to start this journey all over again and relearn the meaning of food and how important it is to eat healthy to be successful, no thank you. I have a new lease on life and I have finally figured out how important it is to EAT TO LIVE AND NOT LIVE TO EAT................... I only wish that it didn't take me 35+ years to figure that one out. My new ADDICTION? Staying physically fit. Everytime I see a vein popping out of my arm while exercising or my thigh muscle protruding while doing squats or lunges it is such an exhileration for me. I even quit smoking December 25, 2006. Josephine Banded November 10, 2005 251/142 (- 109) No Fills Maintaining since July 25, 2006

Hey I was banded yesterday by Dr. Sim's in Waco, TX I had surgery at 7:30AM and I was in recovery around 9:00AM and went to my room at providence around 9:30AM. I never knew what hit me once in surgery. However I can say that I really hurt today and my stomach is just growling big time too! But I only desire the liquid diet at the moment. I did find out that if your not having the gastric bypass then things at the hospital are different than it states in the Patient Manual at least it was for me. I was really disappointed. The 4th floor is not just for Bariatric/Lap Band patients it is for all having surgery. Whe you have the foot pumps on well good luck when having to get them off to go to the bathroom. I was not able to bed forward so I had to wait on someone to come and help me and well after an hour of waiting last night to go to the bathroom and yes the dam was ready to break someone finally came in to help me. I was told if you had bariatric surgery not the lap band then you get 2 nurses and 2 assistants per patient if you had the lap band you get who ever you can get. Now Dr. Sims was vary nice and professional I seen him 3 times before going home. He seems to be a very nice person and I was glad to have had him as my Dr. I cannot wait for my first fill. I passed the fast food resturant test this evening while waiting for my perscription at be filled at Walmart my hubby and I went and sat down in McDonalds he ate a fish sandwich and I just sat there, trust me I had no desire to eat it much less smell it. Well good luck with your up coming surgery. Sharon

You know what is so funny lol...after I read your blog about what your mom said, I spent the entire night looking up youtube videos and posts about the negative effects of wls...one of which with somebody that died, and the persons family member that died is really trying hard to talk people out of getting it...a lot of the comments though were geared toward the person probably not doing what they were supposed to, and that they were a success so they don't know what they are talking about. I am getting mixed signals everywhere I turn.. My mom had gastric bypass over 10 years ago and kept her 100 pounds that she lost OFF..so obviously she is totally % FOR me getting the lap band...because she had complications, and this is safer...shes my biggest supporter..my whole family and boyfriend is. We know people too that had gastric bypass and the lap band done and it didn't work for them at all...they lost some and then gained it back..so I think for some people who aren't all in it, yeah thats exactly why it doesn't work for them...but it doesn't mean I'm not having second thoughts...because I am...even though I'm still doing every single thing I need to do...I'm just one step away...but after reading that blog I just got terrified and then reading all of the other awful things..I think it will be worth it in the long run. I see soo many people on here and all over who have had so much success with it and its changed their lives...so why wouldn't it work for me when I'm % in it, and I've already lost 30 pounds on my own?

I found this the other day and I think it will be very helpful to me, and I hope to those here. https://www.obesitycoverage.com/the-big-gastric-bypass-diet-guide/

Hi everyone! I’m about a month away from my gastric bypass surgery and I have started to do some research on the vitamins and other medications I will be taking after surgery I’m regards to headaches and pain I usually take Advil, but due to the risk of ulcers after surgery I cannot take it anymore. I find Tylenol doesn’t work for me and I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what they use to manage headaches and pain that won’t do any harm. Thanks all!

I’ve been an ibuprofen user my whole life. I had to switch after my bypass. I take the liquid Tylenol if something is really hurting, like cramps or a headache. It has been an adjustment for sure.

Dr. Malley did my surgery on November 2, 2006. I am self - pay and did not have to deal with insurance or much of the staff. The staff that I have come into contact with have been fine. I had my surgery at "The Doctor's Hospital" located on College Blvd. Very nice hospital. The night nurse was a little nasty, but the the day/afternoon nurse was sweet. Dr. Malley is very quite when I see him. I expect that out of a surgeon. I've worked with doctors for 10 years now and that is just they way they are. Good Luck! Let me know if I can help in any way.

You should look into the sleeve. The bypass is serious stuff. The band works great - but if you don't get a handle on your issues with food, you may have complications - especially if you are an emotional eater! Sure there are ways to go around the band to get what you want with food - but is that the reason you get the band in the first place?? The most healthy outlook about the band is this: The band provides 50% assistance in weight loss. You provide the other 50% by sticking to the plan and not eating things that go against the band, causing distended pouch, esophagus issues and slippage. I speak from experience and I know, first hand, that all my problems with the band that I am going through right now (I am scheduled for band removal) are as a direct result of my food intake and not paying attention. Yea, I am disappointed in myself - but if I had it to do over again.....I would learn as much as possible prior to band about food/band, I would get treatment for food issues (too many people don't like to admit this one) and I would join a HEAHTLY support group, not one that everyone sits around talking about ways to "get around the band".... I wish you luck. The band truly does work - but you have to do your part...seriously. Don't get lax! Take it seriously - and I also heard there is a new band coming out in June that will replace the old one. Look into it. My message speaks of my experience ONLY. Take what you want and leave the rest. Just remember....never stop trying... the band should be your friend and not your enemy.

Tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of my life. This journey of mines has been going on for years in my head. I have listened to so many people say that you do not need the lap-band surgery. All you need is a really good excerise program and a great nutritionist. Well damn it I tried all of that and I am tired of the yo-y syndrom that I fall into every year. I had to come to a place where I was sick and tire of being sick and tired of feeling fatigued all the time. I have been to several seminars but the beginning of October 2007 I got real serious about getting a new out look on life. I attended my last seminar of Oct 4 2007 , my first pre surgical appointment, and pyche evaluation on October 16 2007. On October 29 I was told that I was approved for surgery on November 21 2007.( I have the best insurance) I was 363lbs on November 7th 2007, Then on my birthday NOvember 16th I went to weigh in after being on the liver shrinking diet for a week and was 350.3lbs(13 lbs lost). Today I am sitting around excited and nervous all at the same time. I have to be at the hospital @ 6am and my surgery is @ 7:30am., So I will have to get up after 4am to make sure I am there on time. I am late for everything, all the time. I pray that this will soon be the end of that. Well the next time you all here from me I would have had my surgery. Prayers are welcomed and wish me all the best. I am gonna need you guys to help me reach my goals. See ya till next time. Pre-surgical journal. 11/20/2007 @ 9:20pm (Tuesday night) P.S I will be home on thanksgiving day Did I plan that or what. I am so serious about this and this should prove it. :clap2:

This subject came up at an eating/behavior class! The dietician said that if you are eating enough protein ... the usual cause for hair loss with weightloss surgery patients is... not enough fat in the diet!!! It will cause you hair to become dry, brittle, and fall out!! It may take some time to reverse this process. It is rare that a dietician says "eat more fat"- but she recommends eat more "good fats". (not more fries). She said that this is more common with gastric bypass, but is showing up a lot with lap-banders now too!! I hate to say it ... but try to add more fats into your diet....nuts, olive oil, fish oils etc. and , you may see a great improvement.GOOD LUCK.

I'm sorry it was November 4 2014 when I had the surgery

You posted this same message on another thread and a couple of us posted some follow-up questions. It's not completely clear which surgery you had, since you mention Gastric Bypass in your first sentence, but then you later mention having your lap-band removed and revised to sleeve? When you say you can eat 2-3 cups per meal, what kinds of food are you eating and how long is it actually taking you to consume that much?

I have an acquaintance who had a bypass 5yrs ago. He said he eats all the time even gets up in the night to eat. Does anyone else have this experience? I'm confused. :-\

I feel like I am the first Gastric Bypass failure. I lost weight before I could eat solid food and I have gained back 2 pounds since. I rarely feel full...I know I have to work at losing weight but I was hoping the sleeve would be a tool that helped. Honestly I sometimes think I am the placebo test patient, they removed my lapband but did they forget I wanted the sleeve when they were in there? Being able to eat as much as I did before ( and some days I do) makes me feel horrible. I know "hunger" is in my head but I was hoping the sleeve would make it easier for me to feel full. Every time I read that people can consume a cup of food at some meals ( like that is a lot) makes me nuts, I can easily eat 2 - 3 cups at a meal ( if not more!) Am I the ONLY one?