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Hi all! I was banded back in May and am doing great! I'm just having some trouble with some carbs, i.e. baked goods, candy, etc... Once I start, I can't stop! I can go a good while without indulging, but once it happens, WHAM!! The tornado has struck!! The weird thing is, plain bread, rice, juice & sugary drink I'm ok with, and have no trouble having a bit or not having any! It's really weird! I'm afraid the lack of control might eventually lead to streching out the pouch/ causing complications if I'm not careful! Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Any advice, insight or tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi everyone! I am scheduled for surgery Dec 4th in Mexico. The price of my surgery includes follow up care, but I assume I pay for the flight (of course). My question is to those of you in Mexico, do you just follow up in the states with your general doctor, or do you make the trip back to Mexico. Has anyone gone home, then had a complication and had to fly back? Thanks for your help!! I love reading these boards. I am so excited to get my life back!! Jen

That all sounds great - I do think that is a pretty reasonable price. Dr. Domkowski that I am going with is $12,500 and Dr. Kim at Florida Hospital Celebration was around $16,750 for self pay. I, too, considered Mexico and really thought long and hard about Dr. Aceves as he has been doing WLS for so many years and is very respected in bariatric circles but in the end, I just didn't feel great about traveling to Mexico and then not being close to my surgeon if I would have complications later. Plus, I feel SUPER confident in my Dr. He is wonderful and his former patients have nothing but wonderful things to say about him, as well as the nurses from the hospital that he does his surgeries in. I believe I have to do a one-week liquid diet before my surgery but of course I will have all the ins and outs next week when I meet with him again! I am so very excited to get started. It can't get here fast enough for me. I am SO up for the challenge.......... I just can't believe where I have let myself get to....It truly affects every facet of my life, both physically and mentally. I let it interfere in everything. I have about 127 lbs. (from my highest weight) to lose to get to my goal weight of 160 - although, to be honest, I have no idea where I will actually be at that weight because it has been so many years since I saw that number. I think I will have to wait till I get closer and re-evaluate. I'm tall (5'10") so I have to keep myself from looking so much at what other people's goal weights are and know that I just can't go that low.....really I just want to be healthy and comfortable in my own skin. I'm lucky enough to not have health problems (no high blood pressure, no high cholesterol, no sleep apnea, etc...)

Hello, Im Francis and just joind this site, i came across it looking for help on hair loss, i had my surgery on Dec. 17th 2010 so i just turned 6 months post-op. i was 194lb and even though i have not checked my weight this month i was at 138lb last time i got on the scale I had my surgery done in my counrty of birth Nicaragua, I didnt have any complications at all, no pain after surgery and had no real issue with the post-op diet, i was back to work 3 weeks after surgery, dont regret having VS i am very happy with the choice i made, i have been reading some post of people having issues with people commenting on with how fast the weight is lost, it has mainly happened with family members for me and yes it is annoying to have people looking at your plate everytime you eat, having family saying after each meal i havent eaten enough and i have lost weight too fast is , i have decided not to hide the fact i have had WLS with family and friends i thought it be best so i dont get the comments "your not eating" and "whats wrong" but i still hear it sooo right now what im struggling with and has me worried is hair loss never thought i would be loosing soo much, hair comes out while showering, some more when i coumb my hair and some more during sleep i wake up and there is hair on my pillow, im trying everything im told could work for hair loss and nothing is working, hopefully it stops soon before i go bald.... beside this issue everything else has been good and just as i hoped it would be

Ok, My coworker had the gastric bypass 5yrs ago, and I mentioned that I was having the band next week. He said NOOO don't do that, I know 2 people that failed. I'm sooooo tired of people and their opinion on the lapband. I was skeptical at first but I plan on following all instructions provided by my dr. I've educated myself on ALL the complications that MAY happen.BUT I'm going into this with a positive mindset. I just wanted to vent!! Thanks for listening lol

Agree with Laura about the shot glass. Set a clock by your chair or bedside. Aim for one ounce every 15 minutes while you are awake - either Water or your Protein drink of choice. I used a 1 cup measuring cup like a little pitcher to keep refilling the shot glass. It was a lot easier for me to drink when I broke it down like that instead of facing a big glass of water. I took my pain meds for almost two weeks and I didn't have any complications. It will get better. Lynda

Hi I'm 12 days out.had some complications and had to go back in hospital. I have been home a few days but still can not get out of bed or my recliner by myself. Pain is easing up some bit still bad enough. I can't hardly drink a cup of liquid a day. How are you guys making it. Most of you sound like your doing wonderful what do I need to do?

Welcome back! I am glad you are getting your health issues sorted out -- these bodies can be complicated sometimes. I have had my gallbladder out and am waiting for a date for LB surgery. Best wishes to you -- thank you for posting!

Hi group: My name is Jackie, and I am wondering which surgery will be better for me on the long run. I am between the sleeve and the lap band. I am really scare to go with the sleeve because I am not sure what will happen to me on the long run with taken out 80% of my stomach. I heard many things, that can go wrong after you have the sleeve. I am trying to avoid further years to come complications issue w my organs. I believe the lap band will help me and I have less side effects from it. If I have complications I can always take it off, and avoid other issues. I am undecided in which surgery I should do and confused about the whole thing. Any suggestions, or please let me know what do you think about my post. I need to hear more information on this issue in order to make a good decision, Thank you group!

Well, I was going in on the 28th. But, due to a work conflict on my wife's part, we had to bump it a couple of weeks to October 12th. Not a big deal, but I still spent the better part of a couple of hours seeing if I could work out a plan to keep the 28th (drive myself, wait around the lobby for my wife to pick me up a few hours, etc). I did, however, get word from my insurance that I was approved! We were ready to go self pay if need be, but this is better. Last time, when my wife had her bypass, the hospital billed $125K for just it's part (a pre planned procedure with a two day stay and no complications. 800 (x 2) dollar morphine!!!), of which Anthem disallowed 80% or so. I wasn't looking forward to dealing with the hospital on my own without the insurance company to back me up. I know it is all a shell game between providers and insurers, but geez. My wife had an emergency gall bladder removal with an ER visit and a two day stay at a different hospital earlier last year was $35K total. I went to my one insurance required support group meeting last week. Interesting, that of 30+ people in the group, only myself and one other pre-op were going LAP-BAND®®®®. All the others , including all the post op, were sleeve or bypass. One other pre op explained she was fighting with insurance for the sleeve, though she had been approved for LAP-BAND®®®® or bypass. She was very against a foreign object in her body. She felt they all suffer from rejection and infection, no offense to the two of us going LAP-BAND®®®®. Different strokes. Cheers, Erick

I had my sg 5/28/09 and I have had some complications (port that leaked and had to be replaced) but even with all that, yes it is worth it. I am about to hit 50lbs lost and feel like I can do this now... It is work, some days are very hard, and some days you question your sanity for letting someone cut 5 holes in you to keep you from eating. But obesity is a disease and I have had it all my life, I have never been able to kick it on my own and for the first time I feel I not only can but will... Good luck to you.

Hey y'all... sorry for the late reply I don't get on here nearly as much as I did pre-banding! Yes the price is still 15,300. They accept care credit which you can apply for online. Although their interest rate is ridiculously high! I had my surgery 4/14 my highest weight was 380lb. Its been almost 4 mts I'm currently at 335lbs. Most my weight dropped off in the first 6 weeks. (That honeymoon period where I was truly on top of my diet/excercise!) Now I lose about 1-2lb a week WITHOUT much actual effort. I did plataeu at 342 for 2 weeks though. (Vacation!) I've had 2 fills. Should be on my 3rd but I skipped one last month because I went to the Bahamas. (Ps: yes the band tightens on airplanes- awful cramps!) Anyways I'm going in this Weds for my 3rd fill. I already have a bit of restriction. I eat half as much as I use to but still can eat more than I should be. As you'll read it'll take time to find your sweet spot. The short of it is: yes its expensive but its worth it. I survived it with no infections, mistakes or a padded bill. It was a flat rate for the procedure & a year of visits- no matter how often or little you schedule an appointment. And yes I would recommend them! If you're like I was and looking for particulars, here's my personal experience... My surgeon was Dr. Martinez, he's a really calm & thorough surgeon. Albeit the center can be a bit unorthodox... the director practically lives there & he had the habit of calling me at odd hours (as late as 11pm) to check if I was coming for an appointment the next day. All the staff is friendly. If you're self pay it will all go pretty quick. Basically you'll get it as soon as you want it. Only 1 week of pre op dieting, which is suppose to consist of liquids only (although they say if you must cheat eat low fat, low carb items once a day but absolutely NOTHING 12hours pre op.) Protein shakes (even slim fast ultra) is approved with their nutritionist. And yes these are the hardest weeks you'll face: the 1 week pre-op & 1st week post op. You'll do all your pre op testing right there at the center, took about 2-3hours. Keep in mind its all about the $ when you're self pay so consult your own physician also about getting the band & under going a surgery- especially if you have health conditions (namely heart issues or diabetes) because you will not get a stress test from the banding center. Stress tests are required by insurance companies becuz they help foresee any complications but self pay they're not as concerned since its on your dime. I never took blood pressure meds before but during & immediately post op my BP was off the charts- (a sometime common side effect of the trauma of surgery & also anesthesia) so much so they almost didn't send me home. Luckily they did because a transfer to a hospital & an over night stay without insurance coverage would have put me in debt! So know your health. Dr. Martinez did give me a 30day supply of BP meds to ensure I stablized ok at home & he also had me come in 1 week post op to check up. He did respond promptly to a phone call to his cellphone over that first weekend. The pain meds (liquid) did the job! They will tell you the procedure is 45mins to an hour but for me it was over 3 hours. He did fix a hiatal hernia he found for no extra charge. He says thats standard procedure if found. That was an awesome bonus becuz I have no heartburn anymore. I was there from 7am til 3pm. Was suppose to be from 7am-12pm. But they will keep you as long as they need to for no extra charges. Dr martinez is only there on Wed's so all surgeries & follow up fills -if he's your doctor, will be on a Weds. First week post op was not so bad. Yes there's some pain & definate cramping from the CO2 he puts in. The 2nd day post op was the worst for me. I couldn't sleep because the port incision was very tender. (Have help at home!) Don't let the first day fool you- you're still full of the good drugs & can't feel the full effect yet. But it IS bearable. I was not hungry for days post op. The hernia repair he explained caused the bulk of my discomfort so if you get only the band it should go smoother for you. I recommened always holding in or using a pillow or something as a splint when getting up or turning over in bed becuz the port incision is soo tender when disturbed early on. At first my scars were small & light then they darkend by week 4. But they're not huge & you keep the bandages on til your first follow up in 2 weeks. Fills: he does your first fill 6weeks post op. He doesn't bend on that rule. For me my first one was easy. Its not painful- he will numb you first & he explains what he's doing. His assistant is nice & keeps you distracted. Second fill for me was harder. I had a lot of scar tissue & he had trouble sticking it just right. Luckily you don't feel anything except pressure. He won't let you leave if you have discomfort swallowing Water. So I've never had a throw up episode. I have experienced a slight & quick stuck feeling but that was my fault from eating too quickly. Everyone is different & tolerates pain differently but personally I was back to work in 1 week & I'm a nurse. I've seen some people out 2 or even 4 weeks but unless you're lifting all day I cannot fathom the need to stay out that long. Overall the band in the begining leaves A LOT up to you. You can eat a lot of things for the first few months- soda & ice cream for instance will always go down smooth. Its empty calories so things like this you must have the discipline to resist. Please have realitic expectations! I wached youtube videos pre banding & secretly expected to drop 50lbs in 8 weeks. Not gunna happen! The people with drastic results took drastic measures. I don't work out everyday. But I workout 3-4x a week. I DO eat out but I try to make better choices. The band has helped curb my appetite for at least 6-8hours even after a small meal. I have not been able to have "seconds" since banding so it does take some of the pressure off you. I hope this helps answer your questions & relieve some anxiety because clearly from my original post I know how you all feel. My only regret is not doing it sooner! Good luck ladies & keep in touch!

So this is my first post. I've been researching and contemplating bariatric surgery for a few years now, but it's only recently that I decided to put my foot on the road and start the journey. A little background: I'm a 38 year old woman, 3 kids, and husband, cat mom (hoping to bring in a dog soon too, hehe) I've been overweight all my life. All 3 pregnancies were with gestational diabetes, but I managed without meds, and that has been the only time I've ever lost significant weight. Actually, prior to my first pregnancy, I cut out soda, and stopped relying on hamburger helper/boxed meals for dinner, and went from 255 to about 230. My weight over the years has fluctuated between 200 to 230. My biggest problem now is diabetes. I was diagnosed with type 2 a few years back. I'm on metformin, which my body doesn't handle well. In 2015, I lost my mother, who was over 300lbs and had diabetes to complications from diabetes. It has really scared me, enough that I've had anxiety issues since, and what's really pushing me to find a way to lose weight. After all my research, I'm aiming for the sleeve. I've been to my program's orientation, and met with the Nurse Practitioner. I now have loads of appointments, and a goal of losing 12 lbs by January 24. It feels like a lot, only because my timing is poor and I'm doing all this through the Christmas season. While I'd like surgery in March, I'm actually thinking May would be better since my older kids would still be in school, but my husband would be home (he's a professor) so that he can take care of my 3 year old. I could try to time it right so that it happened over his spring break too, but that's going to take the stars aligning just right, lol. Anyways, I feel like I'm taking on a whole bunch of stuff at once, and I'm not sure how to handle it all. My husband is a good man, who listens, but as he says "I'm not a therapist and other than listening, I'm not sure how to help you." I've got an appointment with a therapist, but not until January, so I'm on my own. So I guess here's my questions...how do you keep focused? I have little direction at this point, and find my confidence wavering. It's always a stressful time of year for me, and while I realize that I have to change how I handle stress, I feel a bit "thrown into the fire" by doing all this now and not say...next month, when I'd have more time to learn more ways to deal with everything. (Another back story, December goes like this: Christmas Eve, Christmas, my oldest' birthday, my youngest birthday, and 10 days later but within the 12 Days of Christmas, my middle child's birthday.) I find the site here too big so I'm not sure where to read in order to get more positive stories and other helpful information. I read a few books, but I guess I'm not ready to invest in any sort of emotional eating books. I'm counting calories and watching what I eat, and trying to exercise more, but really, that's not enough to keep me focused completely. So what other resources do you use? Sites with good articles and information, positive stories of success, etc? And finally, on a grosser note, and a rather...embarrassing question to ask, but how are bowel movements after surgery? I mean mostly on the long term, but I ask because one of the biggest factors to not just simply "losing weight with diet and exercise without the surgery" is I can't handle the thought of being on metformin for the rest of my life. Even at 1000mgs, the loose BM's are horrid and painful and interfering with my every day life (with my current primary care physician pushing for me to move up to 1500mgs despite my protests). I have this worry that I'll still be dealing with intestinal issues after surgery. So if you have had the surgery, and were on metformin, did you get off of it? If you've had intestinal issues in the past, have they continued after surgery? Sorry for the novel!

So this morning I headed down to Lahey at 0-dark-30 before the morning commuter traffic and settled in to wait...nervous as a cat, I realized, and excited at the same time. There were 3 of us. One was a woman who currently has the lap band, has had no complications in 6 years with it, but had lost 80 lb. but it was not successful to get the other 50 or 60 lb. she would like to achieve; she is wanting the by pass procedure. The other woman wanted by pass surgery too. I was thinking sleeve or band...and vacillating between the two, having done my due diligence and thought with my family history I might one day need my "absorption" of medications and nutrients to be intact and may need access to my stomach through my mouth for testing...I was correct in my self recommendation...I should not have by pass surgery, for just those reasons. I met with the dietician, and then the nurse practioner...and then a psychologist. Great experience! Wonderful team there...I felt like I was in good hands. The nurse practioner remembered me from the info session a couple weeks ago...she had noted I had asked really good questions...and noted today I had really done my homework and knew the procedures and possible complications well. I am a really good candidate for the sleeve (assuming my upper GI series does not show I have GERD or a big hiatal hernia. And if that all goes well, and assuming the surgeon makes that recommendation as well, that is the surgery I will likely have...hopefully before the end of September. I am also a good candidate for the lap band...BUT...I might not be such a low risk candidate in 10 years when I am 80, if I were to have a problem with the band requiring another surgery...so that is what I am thinking today. And all this is, of course, predicated on my insurance covering the surgery. My BMI is high enough but I don't know that I can have documented proof that I have been seriously obese for these last 5 years...because when I went to the doctor I would decline being weighed!!! So we will see. I have an appoinment in 1 mo...for the GI series and appointment with nurse practioner...and then a morn later the last week in August I meet again with the dietician and finally with the surgeon...and get a surgery date! I left really "UP" and relieved...and confident that this is the right thing for me. So whether I have the sleeve or band...I think I can do this and do well. Christine

I had my 13cc band put in June 5th, and I am very happy with it, no complications so far that have been the bands fault!! My port sight is still slightly tender, but due to the fact that I have to sit in uniform pants for 12hrs a day without much get up and out time...I think you will be very happy!

Thank you so much for posting this. Your story is inspiring for me and the timing couldn't have been better. I have been told today by my band doctor that I may have mechanical failure and I have to decide whether to remove my band. My story: I was banded 4/4/05. Initially I did very well, lost weight, felt good, no complications. About 6 months into it I starting having what the doctor told me was esophageal spasms and after several months of recurrent "spasms" that made me want to commit suicide, we discovered that they were gall bladder attacks. Since the gall bladder removal my weight loss has essentially stalled, maybe 20 lbs over 3 years then in the last 6 months or so I have gained 30! YIKES! From the time I was banded I have not been able to lay on my back for extended periods of time or sleep on my back. I wake with chest pain and pressure and I nearly always wake with a sore throat. All doctors tell me it's reflux. After 5 years of this "reflux", I started getting worried about the health of my esophagus so I contacted my band doctor. He says that some rare cases of "mechanical failure" occur where the esophagus just doesn't have the motility to deal with the device that's been implanted. We could try Nexium and if the symptoms do not improve, the only way to solve the problem is band removal. *I've done the Nexium thing before and haven't noticed any change. I'm willing to try again, but I think I'm headed for a tough decision here. It's like I'm losing a friend and I really fear gaining all of my weight back. He offered the VGS as an option, but I chose the band because I didn't want my anatomy altered. I want to cry.

In any WLS forum, you will read many stories that are scary. I contemplated surgery a year before having it done, and it was what I read in all of the forums that freaked me out. After packing on another 10 pounds, I knew I had to move forward, and I chose banded plication. I was scheduled for the bypass, but was too scared to go through with it. Also....I've known a couple of bypass people who gained a lot of weight over time, and ended up getting the band over the bypass. The downside to the band over the other surgeries, is that there is continuous adjusting & follow up. With the sleeve and bypass, the surgery & done & that's it. Yes, you still have to follow up with your doctor, and there is support, etc. but the band required fills, un-fills, etc. Even still, knowing that it can be reversed was the peace of mind I needed, going into this aggressive form of weight loss. No matter which surgery you decide to go with, eating behavior has to change. Most people have good results in the short term with all procedures. But over time, it's so easy to fall into old patterns; there isn't a surgery out there to change that. One more thing..... When reading through these forums, please keep in mind that the success stories far outweigh the complication stories. It's unfortunate that some people have had a very bad experience. Some of the ones who post about it, feel the need to warn the masses of impending doom. When making your decision, try & keep your eye on the big picture

I think there are "worrisome stats" for every procedure out there! I've had four pregnancies and three deliveries, a D&C, tubal ligation, and LASIK -- all came with risk of complication. Of course, these complication statistics should definitely be considered but we also need to consider the complication of NOT losing the weight. For me, nothing else was working and Lap-Band surgery seemed to be the only hope. They may invent something else that's even better (they already have better eye surgeries than six years ago) but I'll be glad that I got the surgery when I did. (Easy to say when I haven't had any complications, huh? ) There aren't a lot of long-term stats on the band yet so we're trusting the opinions of the developers and the doctors (some of whom have been banded themselves) when they say that the band should last the rest of lives, generally without complications. Your question, though, is one of the reasons I chose the band over other surgeries. It just seems more harmless and less likely to cause me problems later.

Hi Rhonda. It sounds like you are having pre-surgery jitters . The reality is that there are very few complications with the lap-band. Lap band is totally reversable and should you develope a serious complication (which is very rare), the band can be removed and everything goes back to the way it was. The most serious complications that I am aware of is slippage and erosion and again are not very common. There is nothing to worry about. To me the band did the opposite. My kids got their dad back. I am healthier and happier and can play with them a lot more than I could before the band. If I had kept going in the direction I was going before the band, I have no doubts I would not have been around long enough to see them grow up. Lap band and WLS is not for everyone, I understand that. Just know that if you decide its not for you, its not because you are worried about the complications. Good luck and let us know if you have any questions.:huggie:

Ask your surgeon for the CPT and ICD-9 codes for your procedure. Call Anthem and tell them you need the allowed amounts for those codes. They will be agle to give you the amounts. If there ise more than 1 CPT code, ask Anthem to explain how the multiple surgery rules will be applied. Usually it is 100% for highest fee, 50% of 2nd highest and 25$ of all others, but Anthem may have different rules. They can also give you the amount allowed for the hospital bill (if there are no complications) with the same codes, Anesthesia is more variable because the amount of time for your surgery may vary from others. Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!!

I went this am to see if I could get a fill. My surgeon is very happy with my progress and doesn't feel I need it. He does not want to see me get too tight and says I am doing a good job. I lost another 4 lbs since my last appt. 3 weeks ago. He sat and spoke with me for about 20 min. He went over all the complications from being filled too tight. He is such a nice guy it is hard to get mad. I am disappointed. I drive an hour to see him and then wait for some time to hear keep up the good work. He says that I am a good patient and I am doing it the right way. I would love to say my hunger is gone but it is not. He says that for some people the hunger does not go away ever no matter how filled they are. He comes across alot of individuals who eat around the band and make bad choices and still gain or do not lose after this surgery. I don't know what to do. I am not going to rush back there anytime soon. It takes up my whole morning. The only good part was seeing the scale go down which I knew b/c I weigh myself every morning. I hope everyone is well today and keep up the good work !!!!

The Boy didn't want me to have surgery, either. He was concerned about complications, death, and convinced that I could lose weight on my own. Ultimately, though, he knew that it was my body and my life and he's been very supportive. I asked him if he'd ever worried that I would lose all of my weight and leave him; he said that he is concerned about it now but the thought hadn't occurred to him before :thumbup: I'm really sorry that your husband isn't being supportive. As others have said, I think that reassurance is the best medicine for the problem. Good luck :biggrin:

According to your profile, Is it accurate that you had surgery in 2009 and have lost only 30lbs? And you Dr. does not want to put Fluid back in band right now...how recently was your band slip? I'm not being critical, but to respond to questions, I look for a little background and can only tell from what you have either in your post or on your profile. I've never had a band slip, or any problems or complications...but there are many here who have and will share their experiences... One thing I have read is that the Dr will empty your band untill such time he/she feels it is safe to start adjustments again. What that time frame is I am not sure.

Having the surgery and losing the weight will actually give you a better chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. I don't have first hand experience but I know plenty of people who have had success having children after surgery. I have a friend who has been trying to have a child with his wife for almost 20 years. He thought he was sterile (she has 2 kids so her stuff works). They have both had the surgery and are now pregnant and doing great. As a woman who is in the same position as you, ready to start a family, I was very worried about pregnancy after surgery. I have done a ton of research and ask my doctor about it every time I see him...literally EVERY appointment I ask him about how surgery can affect pregnancy. I have gotten so much positive notes on how much healthier pregnancy is after surgery then it would be for me at my current weight. Pregnancy is complicated and there are always a million things that can go wrong. Yes you will have to be super on top of your vitamins and making sure you are getting good nutrients from your food. However, I think anyone with past weight issues would have to be on top of not gaining too much weight and most women have trouble losing weight after having a kid. I am personally stoked to have this surgery and increase my chances of a health pregnancy. Also, you need very little additional calories to grow a baby. Especially if you are still in the overweight category. "Eating for two" or "you need to eat more for your baby" is not true. A person in the healthy weight range does not need to eat more calories in their first trimester, 340 more cals per day in their second trimester and 450 more cals a day in their 3rd trimester. If you are still considered overweight, these numbers would be even lower. At 1.5-2 years post surgery, you could easily add a couple hundred cals without screwing up your sleeve. Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

Hi there! You might want to go back to "home" page and go all the way down to the "Lap Band Complications" section and there are several threads there regarding slippage and what it feels like and solutions to fix it like getting completely unfilled and getting on liquids for a duration, etc... So, check that section out for some helpful answers... also, you might want to get a fluro done to see it on xray.. I believe that's how they tell.