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Very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I'm not too thrilled about the number of patients that had to revise to the RNY or the amount of reflux... but again, we're only talking about 26 patients.

Hello! First of all I'd like to say that even though this is my first post, I've received a lot of advice and encouragement from many of you here so thank you! I had my laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery on December 2nd, 2014 and I'm happy to say I've had an amazing recovery! I started my journey at 5'6 weighing 265lbs at my heaviest, 256lbs on surgery date and 10 days post op am now at 240lbs ????????I stopped taking my pain meds about 4 days after surgery, I can sleep in whatever position I want, I've been trying pureed foods and have never felt nausea, haven't vomited or felt uncomfortably full. I'm feeling great....but Just a couple of hours ago I fell down the steps...only 5 steps, but I hurt my bum and my elbow, and of course I'm concerned about my insides, I just had major surgery a few days ago. I feel ok, my incisions look fine and everything seems normal but I'm still a little nervous. Will be calling my surgeons office tomorrow to see what she says. Did anyone ever go through something like this? Should I be more worried? Help. ????

I am scheduled for a sleeve revision from the band December 16th. Yay! My question is, will it be easier for me to start an exercise plan before my surgery or will it not matter because I cant exercise for a while after anyways.....yes I know all exercise is healthy, but what can you still even do post op....and when? Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App

I'm so sorry. Good luck, I can't imagine having to have 2 surgeries so close together. Will this revision be covered under NHS, without a major wait?

Yesterday was the start of a new journey for me. A client/gastric bypass paitent asked...." When do you stop being a patient and start being a normal person again?" My first answer is that you are always a patient. From a Dr point of view that may be correct. There are many out there that either the band does not take in thier body or eventually some need to have it taken out. I hold a stand so that thes people may have some support to make sure they need no other surgeries, My Life Is My Message. I no longer hold any liquid inside my band, making my stomech normal again. My goal is to maintain my wieght, Concur any new stuggels with this journey. If this can help one person out there, Its worth every step. A great thanks to all of the supportive people out there. Remember One Step At A Time! Be patient with your self. Most of all LOVE YOU! BE YOU! Tiffany C

I had a vsg in 2012 and initially lost 75lbs before finding out i was pregnant. Something about metabolism changing and birth control not being enough. I have gained all but 20lbs back. I am wanting to have revision surgery to bypass. Do you know of anyone who had a bypass but failed in the first year? Two years? I dont have to be skinny. I just want to be healthier.

Oh my KeeWee. I am so sorry. I really hope they can control your reflux with medication. Will be thinking of you and wishing you well. Please keep us posted. (((Hugs))) Ps - You may want to do an internet search on the Linx procedure for gastric reflux - may be a long shot - but possibly an alternative to bypass if you can find a surgeon on your area who is certified and if your insurance will approve it. Don't know if they are doing it in sleeve patients or not.

My sister in law's brother had a bypass and he lost about 100 lbs but after two years gained it all back.. I believed he stretched his pouch because at gatherings you couldn't tell he had anything done by the way he eats.. In addition he drinks a lot.. I it possible to stretch your pouch..

I just had rny last week and I just turned 27, so happy with my decision. My doc really recommended sleeve and said if years later I hadn’t lost enough I could revision to bypass. Im hoping for one and done! So I went with bypass due to heart burn issues. Hw-378 Sw- 363 (2/27/18)

I'm not super young. I'm 27. I couldn't be happier with my bypass. I am 3 months out and 70lbs down. Sent from my Z981 using BariatricPal mobile app

Let me share this story with you Stacy.... In 2002--I tried marriage again. I met a Woman in church and I was head over hills with her. Getting to the sad part--I was a Gym fanatic and didnt know much about my meals and how to do them and eat right. So my weight loss was so small. So after feeling defeated in 2004--I saw that the medicare insurance had made "Obesity" a desease. That'swhen I first considered the lap band. I called up a few Doctors--got opinions. Then my weight was a yoyo thing. This month--I was 260....next month--240 and so on...Anyway--you would expect the love of your life--your spouse to support you. I got excepted and was about to start my tests and so on. My wife at the time told me..."Why are you doing this? I said because I can't seem to maintain the weight and I need releif. She said...you can have that surgery--but you will be at the hospital all alone. I will not come there to see you or pick you up.The lap band is killing people. I told her--it's the bypass that has the high risk. She ignored me and like the Man I "was"--I stopped what I was doing. I worked out and got down to 218. Oh yes--fit andtrim--but guess what?? Sick as he**. I had lose too much--too fast and too much muscle. I gained it all back with interest. The reason I was given of why she "really"didn't support me...My dear wife said she needed to keep me fat--she knew that other Women would want me if I got smaller. The on top of it all--she would call me sick, poor and a few other names when we were in the privacy of our bedroom.Our walls were paper thin. My kids--asked me---"Daddy why is "Miss Phyllis mad at you for losing weight? My kids now are only 11 and 9...I am a single dad--thank God she is not their Mom. Then one day--I saw her ex-husband...I am asking--God please forgive me....This Man was all of 500 pounds--at least. My wife (now ex-wife) was all of a size 8 during 2004. Something strange hit her in 2005---called age 40. She went to a size 10, 12, 14, 16 and after we split--a big 18 to 20. Yes--just like that. Her old habit of sleeping right after a meal caught up to her...She went to the Doctor and cried about having a thyroid problem and would he start her on thyroid meds...he refused. Then she tried this pill and that pill for that magical cure...I still even though I was having issues--I stayed exercising and never stopped until the Hurricane(Katrina). I moved and decided--273 wasn't my deal...Again now that I am in the 238 area...I am thankful again for the lapband. My dream is to visit a few friends down on the gulf coast--maybe Christmas or Jan-08. It will be a shock them all--at who I am...

I just thought I'd pass on some information I have. Today at 1:30pm Eastern time they are showing a live Lapband surgery if anyone is interested in watching it. I can't wait to see it myself. Oh ya, you might want to go to the site a little early because you might have to download there video watcher thingy. http://www.or-live.com/ If you go into their archives they also have many bypass surgeries.

Hi all, I am really looking for some support. How is the lap band working for you. Why did you choose the lap band, rather than gastric bypass. I am trying to make a decision, and not sure which one is right for me. Plese give me your feed back, your successes, and failures. Thanks in advance!!!

I don't know if the band is becoming a thing of the past or not. I only know one person whose been banded, which is my cousin and she has done wonderful with hers. It's been about a year since her surgery and she says that it's the best choice she's ever made. She's lost over 75lbs (over 100 if you count her pre-op diet). But she works at it, she has made the progress she has because she knows how to use her tool, and she works at it. I also know several people whose had the bypass (I don't personally know anyone whose had the sleeve..I may be the first in my group). Those who have had the bypass has also done amazing! You know the one thing I've learned since starting to research WLS and the different kinds of WLS is how it's a tool, it's not a fix. You have to work with it! Change your life style, make healthier choices, workout, get out there and move! You just can't sit back and do nothing, and expect long term, ever lasting results. Yes you may have results at first, but eventually things balance out and you can and WILL gain back weight if you don't WORK at it! I am so happy to know this, because probably like many people, and lord knows our society, I thought at one time that WLS was a cure, a fix, the easy way out. I know I know, but I've learned that..that is not the case and I'm thankful for that!

Did you all hear that Carnie Wilson is going to get the lap band??? She had gastric bypass years ago and lost a ton of weight, then got pregnant and has gained a lot back and now is going to have the lap band. I didn't know this was possible. I guess it will tighten her bypass?? interesting...http://omg.yahoo.com/news/carnie-wilson-undergoes-second-weight-loss-surgery-191200074.html

I had heartburn, every time I had spicy food, chocolate or soda. Since losing the weight, I can eat spicy food but I have not had soda. My chocolate intake is more of a dark chocolate now. I have not had any heartburn. If I eat too much, I get a foamy feeling in my throat. If you are looking to lose 120 lbs. It is possible with both the Sleeve and Bypass. What is your current weight if you don't mind asking.

Can someone help me add my revision from lapband to bypass on my bio. Also need to know how to add the additional ticker. Things have changed here a lot since 2007! I also have not found any chat rooms - did they get rid of them? Thanks for your help for this tech-challenged member.

Tanya, My port is all topsy turvy. Not really flipped but definitely impossible to access in the normal office visit. I have to get flouro everytime and the doctor sees no reason to do port revision surgery because of it at this point. I actually am happy I get the flouro everytime. I get to see the position of everything and that it is still all fine and that makes me feel more secure. Let us know how the next visit goes. Teresa

I've had my band for almost 3 1/2 yrs. Altho I'm having problem with mine currently (it's slipped), I never want it taken out. May have to have revision surgery tho. This time I'm going to ask about the plication being added to it so it doesn't slip again. I don't think it was available when I had mine put in. I always wonder just how "permanent" the band is also, since the longest a person can have it now is like 12 yrs (thats when they started being routinely done). Good luck in your research! Marci

Just wanted to pass something by you when I had my port revised I had local and deep sedation in other words I was semi alert but I heard when my doctor was giving the fill the other doctor who was a resident said # look at that needle it must be three inches long imagine that going into to you# should I say something to my doctor or just let it go I was kind of upset by it. let me know

Thank you so much for posting your blog. I am in the exact same position. I am absolutely terrified of the fact that I can pretty much eat whatever I want and I too know that before my first fill (June 9th) the scale will have gone up a couple pounds. It is such a mental thing with me and why I chose to eat the way I do. That is part of the reason why I wanted to let the whole world know about my surgery and pretty much did. I have told everyone at work, my family, friends, etc. My thinking was that if I told everyone then I would be held accountable for choices and behaviors that I make with food. Also, people who I spend time with will understand and want to help me succeed but motivating me to make good food choices. Now I am not sure that was such a good idea. I am a cash patient. Spending over 10k out of pocket for this surgery so my husband is also looking at where the the money is going (so to speak). Now I am getting asked every other day what the scale says and I am only 4 weeks post-op! I lost 19lbs since the pre-op diet, I fear that I have set a precedence for dramatic results in a short time. Not everyone understands the difference between the types of surgeries available for weight loss so most of my friends and co-workers are looking for me to be skinny by the end of summer! Yeah - right!! I guess my next task is educating everyone on the differences between the lap-band and gastric bypass procedure. It sounds as if we were banded around the same time and i look forward to reading about your progress. Good luck and God bless!! You are in good company!!

Today is 3/21/06. I am trying to have patience as I go through the process of getting a band. I started this process more than a month ago! I had thought on and off over the past 2 yrs about seriously having WLS, but chickened out because all I had ever heard about was the gastric bypass surgery and I didn't want to go that route unless I had to. Last Nov. 05 I heard about the adjustible lap band procedure and looked online to get more information about it. Then the holiday hit and life got crazy and so my weight got put on the back burner for a bit. The beginning of Feb. I called my Dr. here in Mora and asked her to refer me to a hospital that did the adjustible lap band procedure and she referred me to Abbott. The next day, a nurse from Abbott's bariatric unit called me (Joanie Callahan) and gave me some tips on how I can get the process going along quickly. I needed to visit with a dietician, have an up to date mammogram (done 9/05 ), an up to date pap and exam (needed to do that after 3/7) a visit with a physcologist, and attend a meeting at abbott. The next one was 2/25 so I signed up for that class. I made an appt. with a dietician for 2/13, but he forgot about our appt so I had to go in again on 2/14. He was very nice and apologetic about it. I made an appt to visit with a shrink, but the first available date wasn't until 3/14 so my plans to get this done asap were put on hold a bit longer. Craig and I went to the informational meeting on the 25th and I knew it was defiitely what I wanted to have done. I came home and filled out the paperwork and sent it back the next day. On the same day that my appt was with the shrink (Dr. Caven) I got a call from Abbott saying that my insurance had approved the procedure so they wanted to set up an appt. to meet with the surgeon. Woo Hoo! That date was set for 3/29 with Dr. Schlosser. I'll have to drive myself down there and back but figure I may as well get use to it and just do it! Yesterday, I started a cardiac diet that I had done last summer and had good results with it. My beginning weight is 280 pds. The heaviest I had ever been in my life and never want to go any higher than that. My ideal weight is 157 at the high end and I would be extremely happy if I made it to that goal 120 pds - its doable. Out of curiosity I weighed myself this morning because I could tell that I wasn't as puffy as I was the day before and I was down 4.5 pds. I know that its is mostly water weight - I retain alot of fluids and will be so happy when that isn't an issue anymore. My plan is to do this diet this week and next (its a 3 day diet) and then when I meet with the surgeon hopefully I"ll be able to schedule surgery and start on the liquid protein diet. Thats all for now.....

Today is 3/21/06. I am trying to have patience as I go through the process of getting a band. I started this process more than a month ago! I had thought on and off over the past 2 yrs about seriously having WLS, but chickened out because all I had ever heard about was the gastric bypass surgery and I didn't want to go that route unless I had to. Last Nov. 05 I heard about the adjustible lap band procedure and looked online to get more information about it. Then the holiday hit and life got crazy and so my weight got put on the back burner for a bit. The beginning of Feb. I called my Dr. here in Mora and asked her to refer me to a hospital that did the adjustible lap band procedure and she referred me to Abbott. The next day, a nurse from Abbott's bariatric unit called me (Joanie Callahan) and gave me some tips on how I can get the process going along quickly. I needed to visit with a dietician, have an up to date mammogram (done 9/05 ), an up to date pap and exam (needed to do that after 3/7) a visit with a physcologist, and attend a meeting at abbott. The next one was 2/25 so I signed up for that class. I made an appt. with a dietician for 2/13, but he forgot about our appt so I had to go in again on 2/14. He was very nice and apologetic about it. I made an appt to visit with a shrink, but the first available date wasn't until 3/14 so my plans to get this done asap were put on hold a bit longer. Craig and I went to the informational meeting on the 25th and I knew it was defiitely what I wanted to have done. I came home and filled out the paperwork and sent it back the next day. On the same day that my appt was with the shrink (Dr. Caven) I got a call from Abbott saying that my insurance had approved the procedure so they wanted to set up an appt. to meet with the surgeon. Woo Hoo! That date was set for 3/29 with Dr. Schlosser. I'll have to drive myself down there and back but figure I may as well get use to it and just do it! Yesterday, I started a cardiac diet that I had done last summer and had good results with it. My beginning weight is 280 pds. The heaviest I had ever been in my life and never want to go any higher than that. My ideal weight is 157 at the high end and I would be extremely happy if I made it to that goal 120 pds - its doable. Out of curiosity I weighed myself this morning because I could tell that I wasn't as puffy as I was the day before and I was down 4.5 pds. I know that its is mostly water weight - I retain alot of fluids and will be so happy when that isn't an issue anymore. My plan is to do this diet this week and next (its a 3 day diet) and then when I meet with the surgeon hopefully I"ll be able to schedule surgery and start on the liquid protein diet. Thats all for now.....

Omg, I felt the way you feel, exactly. I flip-flopped on getting the Gastric Bypass for SEVEN YEARS. I was afraid of everything about it, and so doubted whether or not it was the right choice for me. At one point, I dropped out of my pre-op program for two years, thinking, "I can do this myself"---well, I ended up gaining even more weight to get to my highest weight of 373 pounds. Then, my insurance (Medicare) finally approved the Sleeve last year and it seemed like a better fit for me, so I started looking into having surgery again. My surgeon then informed me that his surgery of choice for me was the Sleeve. I still didn't seem to be able to commit to losing the 40 pounds they wanted me to lose beforehand. Also, my surgeon told me I had to quit smoking and stay quitted for a full year before he would operate on me. Then somehow it all clicked into place. I quit smoking for that year and am still quitted. After years of waffling, one day at the doc's office his nurse told me if I could lose 15 pounds in 5 weeks they could finally schedule me. So I got on it and ended up losing 27 pounds. I ate lean Protein and veggies and salads, Lean Cuisines, lots of green tea. And I found that by cutting out all those unhealthy carbs I was eating I was rid of cravings for them---at LAST. So ---I got my date and went for it. I had my Sleeve on September 9th of 2014. I've lost 66 pounds since then, am just over 4 months out. It was a little tough in the beginning but totally doable. I had no pain. I was only in hospital for a day. Everything went well for me. Then, I did everything they told me to do and it worked. I am SO glad I finally did it. It was all the garbage in my head that prevented me from going forward, until I got sick of my own stuff and just went past it. I suffer from depression and have to take plenty of meds too. That didn't affect anything about the surgery. The surgery not only is shrinking me down physically, it has made me a better person now that I'm not preoccupied with food. I used and abused food---and for all the wrong reasons. Today all those issues are totally gone, and I'm living my life the way it is meant to be lived. I wish I had done this sooner, but I don't regret the past and all my waffling. For some reason, I think I had to go through that to finally be ready. Everyone is different and has their own path. Please don't hesitate. It'll be the best thing you've ever done for yourself. Good Luck!

Hello, I had the lap band in 2008 and lost 63 pounds. I began to have problems (I.e. vomiting, erosion of the band) and had it removed. Gained back all that I lost and more. In 2020 I had the sleeve and 7.5 months later I have lost 80 pounds and still going. When having a revision my Dr explained that you will lose slower. Let me know if you have any other questions.