Search the Community

Hello, My name is Ann and I am considering Lap-band. I work in the healthcare industry and have seen a lot of patients that have gone though with bypass surgery. I have seen the great successes and the not so successful. In my department alone, there have been over 10 people that have had the surgery. And in other areas as well. I ran into a nurse that I see often and she had te lap band. It really turned me on o the alternative. I think this may just be the fit for me. I am a full time worker as a radiology technologist, wife and mother of two beautiful girls Emma and Grace. I just want so much to be able to keep up with them and be a part of their life. I am tired of shooping in what I call the fat girl section only to come home empty handed because noth fit or looked right. I have tried time and time again with Weight watchers, whch I have had minor success with, but after having Emma...I weigh more now than I did before I gave birth to her. UGH!! I have taken up Zumba and love it. I know I can do it, I just have to make up my mind and go for it. I hope to find support and answers to questions on this site and forums. I look forward to "meeting" many of you. Thanks for reading. Take care. BTW - I am 5'3, and 265 lbs...

I started my journey to get approved for roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery through Oklahoma Soonercare (Medicaid) insurance two years ago. It has been a lot of paperwork, a lot of doctor visits, nutritionist visits and dieting to get that final approval! I received that phone call I had been waiting for last week! I now have a preop visit with the actual surgeon in March 2014. I am happy to share how I got approval thru Soonercare to anyone interested! It's not easy but can be done!

:rolleyes2: I had my surgery November 5 2007. I have since only had 2 fills. The first one was 5 weeks ago. At the time my Dr. said he put in 2 cc's. I had no restriction at all. Last night I went in for another fill. He said he was going to add 1 cc. I asked to verify how much was put in the time before. He said he would check by withdrawing the Fluid before adding more. So when he took it out there was only 1cc. He asked are you sure we put in 2 cc's last time? I said yes and then he verified that with my chart. I asked, well what happened to the other cc? He said he wasn't sure! He gave me a fill and now I have a total of 3cc's. Supposibly! Each time I have gotten a fill I am asked to sit up and take a gulp of Water. He asks me if I can tell a difference. Well I can't! However he doesn't want to be more aggresive. What exactly is the feeling I should be experiencing in order to know if I need a more aggresive fill at the time of my dr. visit? :tt2:

When you have bypassed surgery everything needs to be counted. I was a long time. Ww person but if your metabolism is below the average it makes a bit of a difference. My resting metabolism is 1400. The average person is up to 2000 to 3000. So when losers ng 1 pound it’s a difference of a minimum of 500 calories. So for me eating even 1000 calories a day it make it next to impossible to loose.

HI everyone I am new to ths site but not new to the band. I was banded back in 2001 but struggled and did not realy lose weight due to constant vomiting etc. I was following the band rules but still had major problems until i was diagnosed with ms that had affected my ability to swallow. gradually with the help of specialist nutritionists/speech pathologists we have worked out how to adapt the usual band rules and finally I am moving in the right direction. I feel like a born again bandster- if that makes sense. now since november I have lost 54.5 pounds!! I don't have anyfluid in the band at the moment but i'm hoping that I will be allowed to try a small fill again soon- i see my surgeon in a weeks time!!

Hello everyone, my name is Free. I had gastric bypass surgery April 6th. So far I've lost 31lbs & I'm feeling pretty good. My surgery was actually a revision from lapband surgery that I had back in 2009. My band slipped and I had it removed back in February. It's good to be able to join this group. Glad to meet, share and support you all on this journey. Good luck and congrats to you all.

Why did you choose gastric by pass instead of sleeve? I'm having revision to sleeve, just curious about why you chose bypass

Hi everyone, I am Shari and i'm new here i live in Roseville Ca, i went to the orientation back in april 2009 and i just wasn't ready to do it. I am now, i just called the Bariatric center in Richmond and they are re activating me, so to expect a call from Robin in the next week or so. I am so excited and so nervous, they want me to go to my Dr's off and get my weight recorded, i guess that is their way of telling me to start losing? LOL.. I am looking for some postive feedback on the band, the last time i had my heart set on gastric bypass but after reading about it, i just feel the band is a better choice. So i would love to hear from you all about your experiences and would you do it again?? Thank you so much.....

Hello and welcome! This is a great place to be for information and support. Yes, I would do it again. No question about it. Have you checked with your insurance company to see what their requrirements are? Part of their request for you to see your doctor is to get you started on any pre-approval programs you might need. The sooner you get them started, the sooner you get them done. Whether you decide on bypass or band, the requirements and tests needed are generally the same. What questions do you have?

Ok, so I had my surgery in November of 2008. I just wanted to share my experience with this whole ordeal. I lost most of my weight within the first six months (mainly due to all the vomiting that I was doing). I also gained new health problems. GERD is my main concern. I had hair loss. My teeth are rotting. My finger nails have become extremely brittle and thin. The night coughs are a new problem to add to my list. Another concern of mine is that every time that I went in for an adjustment, I would see a different doctor and they would give me different information. One doctor would say I needed 7 ccs of saline while others said 6 and others 5. I have no idea how many ccs my band needs. They are the doctors, they should be telling me. Anyways, I have horrible night coughs (started in January of this year). I haven't had asthma in over 15 years!!! Then this year...WHAM...I had an asthma attack due to the night coughs!!! My last adjustment I had 6ccs and requested they take out 2. I haven't had coughs but I can eat whatever I want! So I went back to fill me up to 5 ccs. The night coughs started again. Wheezing every night!!! So I had all Fluid completely removed from my band. I'm dieting on my own now. After my surgery I thought I would have been given instructions for after care...NEGATIVE!!! I had to research everything for myself using the internet and through trial and error on what foods I can or cannot eat!!! I'm very disappointed with the service that I had received from my surgery center. I called 1-800-GET-THIN and ended up at the Beverly Hills center for Top Surgeons. Three months after my surgery, my doctor was fired!!! Also, the Omidi brothers that own Top Surgeons in Beverly Hills, had their medical licenses suspended and revoked!!! You can google them for yourselves!!! Dr. Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi. Overall, I would NOT recommend the lap band surgery for ANYONE. If you want to lose weight, just do it with pure diet and exercise. Now if I have done something wrong with my lap band experience, please advise. I haven't met anyone that has had a weight loss success from the lap band. If you have had a success story, please do share!!! I didn't pay 15k to have this stupid implant in me for nothing.

@babygirl901... Thank you very much! @lolipop.... Congratulations on your up and coming surgery! your surgery date is one you will never forget.... And you should find a special way to Celebrate that date every year. It is a rebirth! I can't wait to hear how every thing goes for you. Are you having open bypass or laparoscopic? When you wake up don't be afraid to ask for something for pain....but remember its only temporary pain and the outcome is your reward. The first few months will take an emotional toll on you because you are retraining your brain on how to eat differently for the rest of your life. Don't be afraid to cry, and lean on people for support. If you don't already have one lined up.... I recommend follow up with a therapist/counselor for the first year to help with all the emotional and physical changes that lie ahead. No one told me this stuff when I went into surgery and I wish I had a mentor that did. I thought I would get thin and all would be right in the world.....but with gastric bypass comes a lot of hard work.....working on yourself! I look forward to getting to know you by the way:) My name is Jenn

Hi everyone! I am new here.... So trying to get used to navigating.... My name is Jenn and I am 29 years old. I had gastric bypass surgery in Buffalo NY on May 8 2008..... So just a little over 4 years ago. I lost 200lbs in all, but had a slight bounce back...... So my current totally weight loss is 170lbs. I am really satisfied with me decision even though I do suffer from some long term setbacks (which I am sure I will seek advice in other forums). I am married to a caring and loving man for 6.5 years now. He met me at my biggest weight.... And saw me for who I was then. We have a gorgeous daughter together that will be 6 yrs old next month in July. I actually gave birth to her at my heaviest! She is my best accomplishment ever! She is the reason I had this surgery....so I can live a long life. I am also enrolled in online classes with University of Phoenix. I have two classes left and will have earned my Bachelors in Management. I started school only after my surgery as well. That was a huge goal after gastric bypass. I feel like this surgery saved my life.... Not only physically , but mentally too. I look forward to making new friends as I peruse around and join some discussions!

I had my surgery April 20th I was in pre-op room next thing I know they said Richiele...and I thought ok here we go for surgery and they said no you are done! I said are you kidding? I have no memory of any of it. I stayed 3 days. I was in for my birthday. I also had my own room my husband stayed with me and helped me with going to the bathroom and walking. But I do not remember anything except what my husband says. I had the gastric bypass. The thing I hate most was I a big Water person now it taste like perfume to me. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

Hi I thought I would introduce myself. Im Melinda 41 and live in London uk. I had my Sleeve done on the 8th February 2011 at the Hommerton Hospital In Hackney. I was first referred there by my diabetic doctor 14 momths previous to surgery. Having diabetes that was steadily getting worse, high blood pressure, high cholestrol wls was considered the best option for me. I went to my first appointment thinking of having a gastric band, they soon said no to that, and suggested I have the Gastric Bypass. So my starting weight was 17and a half stone. and at 4ft 11inches my bmi was 44, if i remember rightly. Before surgery I got down to 16 stones. I had complications during my surgery hence why I ended up having a Gastric Sleeve instead of a Bypass, they had a struggle to keep me alive, due to me having pnemonia. My post op period was herrendous, i had to have further surgery, and am still currently having breathing problems. I see the hospital every two weeks, and my doctors once a week. But I am now 6 weeks down the line and am feeling so much better than i did I am nearly me again, minus 33lbs lol... I no longer take blood pressure tablets, its normal for the first time in 16 yrs lol. But I am still due to my surgeons advice only on stage 2 of eating, ie mushy food, and I am still struggling with pain, am off to see my surgeon later today so hoping he can give me some advice. Anyway think ive kinda waffled abit now so will sign off for now.

Afterward, meaning after you have healed, for the most part, unless you are eating you will not have any different feelings, nor abilities than you have now. The ability to do more things will increase as your weight decreases. Your port and tubing do not just flop around freely inside you. They stitch the port, tightly into muscle, which holds it securely, and the tube simply runs from it, to the band,and you do not have sensation of it being there at all. I am quite close to my goal weight and I must still push firmly to feel my port. I ride motorcycles with my husband, as well as 4 wheelers, ride horses, haul firewood, jump on a trampoline, swim, wrestle with my grandbabies on the floor, use a variety of exercise equipment (not nearly as much as I should tho!)....heck the list could go on forever! I do a lot of these things thanks to the band, I was too heavy to do them before. The problem with stats when it comes to this surgery is the fact that they are operating on some seriously obese people. I am talking Super obesity, of over 500 pounds at times, and when you begin looking at that type of weight the health issues are monumental, and death is more common due to blood clots following surgery as they are not often mobile....but once the surgery is done, it is reported as a surgical statistic. This was a simple surgery for me, and I was very close to your weight. I was up and walking within hours, and back to my normal life in a week. We were remodeling a home with my Daughter at the time, and I was back to weilding a paintbrush and making Home Depot runs within that week. I am able to eat all foods. There are a few I opt not to eat....but that is a personal choice. I eat much much less than I did before, I am now in control of the food as opposed to the food being in control of me. I chose banding over bypass for several reasons. #1 being I am a cancer survivor and if I ever need to increase nutritional intake I can. #2. I had serious fears of my insides being cut and rerouted and removed. #3. I do not do well with deprivation. Being told I could NOT eat sweets was a deal breaker! I wanted to have a piece of birthday cake with my grandkids on their special days. So banding was the ideal choice for me, I eat that small piece of cake and am good, no longer wanting to eat the entire cake!!! The choice was an easy one for me. I do understand it is a very personal choice for everyone. I hope you do take into consideration the risks associated with obesity as compared to the risks associated with lap band surgery. At the risk of sounding like a mastercard commercial, getting your life back is priceless......being able to run, and sit in any chair, climb any ladder, fit on all amusement park rides----and not stand out in the crowd because of my size----those and a host of other reasons make me happy every day I chose to override my fears and be banded. I hope you come to peace with a decision soon. Did your wife go to the seminar with you? They can be super informative! Kat

I've had 4 friends who have had gastric bypass surgery. While all are losing weight they've all had some form of malabsorbtion issues post-op and have to take alot of liquid Vitamins and stuff. One also has problems where she will just suddenly throw up for no reason. They were all laid up for almost a month after surgery and 3 required open not laproscopic due to their size. I took a serious look at gastric bypass but in the end the mortality rate scared me. Also another thing I did was find a message board for gastric bypass. I was looking around one day and found a Memoriam page after having made some posts there. It was a list of all the people who had died who had posted there. There were alot of names on that list. I looked up their posts and saw the hope and comments like "I can't wait for my surgery and my new life!"..... then a few days later there would be an admin message "this person passed due to xxxxx" after surgery. There is no comparing the two procedures. I've had some people say "well bypass is reversable". No it's not. They can hook the plumbing back up but it is NEVER the same imo. With the lapband it's completely reversible and they're not rearranging anything. It's a much much much safer procedure. I'm on day 6 post-op and feel great. By comparison if I was post-op for bypass I'd just be getting out of the hospital today and would have 4-5 weeks of hometime before going back to work (what they told me). Instead I'll be back to work on Monday. Like I said no comparison. Just follow the doctors directions, get on your feet and walk as soon as after surgery as possible to prevent DVT and drink plenty of fluids as tolerated. If you do what they tell you to you'll be find and the risk of the unknown will be greatly reduced. Yes it's an elective surgery but I view it as medically necessary. Cormorbid conditions WILL kill you eventually. This surgery can stop those conditions in their tracks and set you on the right course for your life. ErikMesa :regular_smile:

Jason...I had my lapband done in Mexico...Puerto Vallarta as my insurance would not cover the surgery in the US. That was in Feb 06. It went well and I was loving the weightloss...got down to 155 from 200 the first year. In Sept 07 I had an incident with something getting really stuck in my band. At 3pm I ate a blond brownie from Whole Foods and I knew the minute I swallowed it I had not chewed it well enough. It was extremely chewy...it got stuck and from then until 11pm that evening I was miserable. I had alot of sliming and throwing up and I tried to assist it going through the band with lots of liquids.........all of which bounced back. At 11pm it finally went through. After that I had problem after problem. It got to the point where I could only drink liquids, protien shakes, creamy soups and things like Cheetos that you could chew up into a paste before swallowing. No solid food. In November I went in to the Dr in the US who was doing my fills and had all the fluid removed from the band. Still not able to eat and steadily loosing weight. At the first of the year I was down to 135. Due to my health insurance having a 3000 deductible...I waited for my husband to start his new job that had a 1000 deductible. I went in for a endoscope in March and the Dr found the the band and some of the tubing had eroded into my stomach and it was going to have to be surgically removed the following week. I had that surgery in April and am finally back to normal. At the time of the surgery my weight was down to 118...way to skinny for my bone structure. I am back to real food and have gained 2 lbs. I am eating sensibly...I learned alot about chewing food properly from the band and I am on my way to trying to gain back about 20 lbs...sensibly. I just want to say.......if something gets stuck...let it be...it will pass through eventually and then never try that food again. Stay away from bread...shrimp, fibrous meat and always chew your food at least 20 times before swallowing. I am grateful for having the surgery and for the weight loss but more so for learning how to chew. No more chomp, chomp, swallow. Best of luck with your band. I don't mean to scare you but erosion is something that can happen. My US doctor has done 900 bands and never seen one that eroded like mine...I think he said erosion is something that can happen...1 in about 1500.

I was banded on August 2nd, 2013 by Dr. Ginsburg. My journey started in November of 2012, with lots of hoops to jump through, but it was well worth it. The hardest part right now is getting a good night's sleep. I just can't get comfortable. Pretty sure it is my port sight that is keeping me up. Hurts to turn or bend. Doing ok with my liquid diet. Can't wait for the mushy's. Trying to not drink my protein shake to fast or too slow.

(((HUGS))) It wouldn't be normal if you weren't at least a little nervous! It shows that you understand the risks and the lifestyle change that comes with the sleeve. You are in control here. You do NOT have to have the sleeve surgery if you choose not to. My surgeon used to like to say that patients can change their mind up until the point they get knocked out! LOL! If you have any major concerns or questions, make sure they are addressed to your satisfaction before you have surgery. Call your surgeon's office and ask to speak with someone about any questions you have. But... if you are just having pre-surgery jitters, think about all the reasons you are choosing to do the surgery. If you could lose weight and get healthy on your own without a powerful tool like the sleeve, you would have! You are doing this to improve your quality of life and to help you reach a number of goals that might feel just out of reach right now. I honestly believe the sleeve is BEST tool for treating morbid obesity. It's so simple and elegant. No intestinal re-routing. No worries on long-term malabsorbtion. You will simply have a small stomach that will support you in eating light for the rest of your life. The stats for weight loss are similar to gastric bypass, but without the bypass. Surgery is a risk, yes... but morbidy obesity is also a major risk. You've made a great choice, in my opinion, in picking the best tool science has to offer right now to get you to a healthy weight. The pain... well, everyone is different. I had some pain for a couple of weeks, and some only have pain for a few days. Many lucky ones, like Reet, even say they never have much pain at all! In the grand scheme of things, the pain is quite fleeting. You'll get some great drugs to help you through the first few days. As you start losing weight, and the pain disappears, you'll be so glad that you do this. The being "put to sleep" part sort of creeped me out too. I've had more than one surgery in my life, so I knew what to expect... but it still made me nervous. In reality, it feels like the blink of an eye. The doctor tells you he is starting the meds, and the next thing you know you are opening your eyes in the recovery room. It really doesn't feel scary when you are there. They even give patients anti-anxiety drugs before wheeling you back to surgery. My surgeon called it "I don't care juice". It really helps to take the edge off of any anxiety you have. Be honest about your anxiety! The hospital staff can help you to be comfortable and calm. They are very used to assisting patients who are scared of surgery, so don't suffer in silence. They can offer you reassurance, and also some nice anti-anxiety drugs! You can do this!! Today is the start of something WONDERFUL for you. Sending you prayers!

I will be banded on March 12, 2010 during Spring Break, as I am currently in school for my RN. I have been an LPN since 2005 and decided to take the plunge and finish up my education and in the process suffered a herniated L4 disk on November 6, 2009. My doc told me that I had some major life style changes to make if I was going to be able to practice as an RN and #1 I need to drop 100 pounds. I was not in shock, I knew what he was going to say before he ever opened his mouth and I immediately began talking to people about other options besides another fad diet. That is where my journey actually began, finally coming to grips with the idea that I was powerless over my weight and that no matter how many diets I have been on in my lifetime that I needed some help. During the summer I took a nutrition class and actually dropped 40 pounds by eating healthy and exercising to only gain it back, plus some during the fall semester and let me tell you I am truly at wits end. I am very thankful to my physician for being honest and candid, but at the same time I wanted to scream at him for telling me to lose weight but also putting me on an activity restriction d/t my herniated disc. I finally have the feeling back in my left leg and have been cleared for walking only. I have been able to manage getting through college and only have one more semester left. I just hope that everything goes well with my pre-op diet and the surgery. I am 10 weeks out from surgery, and it sure seems like a lifetime away, but I am sure it will be here sooner than I think. I am really glad to have found this online support group and forum, so far what I've read has been very encouraging and I hope to add to the discussion.

Ok...where to start. I have been big all my life, but when I was young I was an athletic kind of big. I played sports from the time I was 8 until I blew my knee out during softball season my junior year of high school. By then I had played softball annually, field hockey for a couple years and basketball. I was my current height (6') by the time I was 14. Which for a chick...is freaking tall. I'm from a family of giants. I have a horrible family history with regards to obesity. Grandfather died at 48 from a heart attack. My uncle had gastric bypass but failed it. Lost 150 in a short time, but put it all back and then some. He has stretched his stomach out and eats all the things he shouldn't eat. My dad is overweight, but not by much. My other uncle is the biggest I have ever seen him. My youngest cousin is bigger than I ever was at that age. It's a horrible up hill battle that I have been fighting for decades now. Ok, now for the funny fat chick to kick in. I'm tired of shopping at "Lane Giant" as I am want to call it. I hate putting on a dress because it makes me feel like I am wearing something I picked up from a tent and awning store. It's crap. I'm constantly afraid of starting forest fires with the thigh chaffing I rock. The folds of skin? Over it. The stares, rude comments...over it. Being overlooked or ignored and having people act surprised when they walk into me...really? I'm huge...how can you NOT see me?im tired of being invisible. Of being unworthy. Of not mattering simply because of my appearance. So I looked into this in 2001 when I lived in Mass. Insurance denied me despite doing everything they said to. I looked into gastric bypass again in 2008 while living n Greenville, SC. No deal with the insurance again. So I gave up. Ate myself into an oblivion...stayed in a bad marriage far too long. Generally just hated life. Now I am doing the insurance approval marathon. I live in Florida now and I'm doing everything that my insurance company said to. I have been assured by the program coordinator that it's a done deal. I have the comorbities that I didn't have back then. I'm also heavier than I have been in a long time. I am in week 3 of a 16 week Weight management program. This is required by my insurance. I meet my surgeon next Tuesday. I have a cardiologist appointment on Thursday of this week. And I will find out next week who else my surgeon wants clearance from. Here's some stats...I'm 33, 6' tall and I weigh 320. I'm looking to get down to 170. That puts me into a normal BMI. And I want a little normalcy in my life right now. I'm sick of carrying this burden. And I'm really tired of the push back I am getting about choosing the sleeve. I know I don't look like I'm as heavy as the scale says I am, it doesn't change the reality of my situation. Tentatively according to my coordinator, I should have a surgery date for the first or second week i November. I'm nervous but not too bad. I hope to make some friends here and get the support I need and we all need to traverse this life changing decision. ***i have attached a sort of before pic to show what I am starting with.

Ya even my surgeon calls it the bypass he says its in the same family Sent from my SM-G925W8 using the BariatricPal App

He has done around 300 now. My Surgeon spent almost a year doing them in Alabama at UNA, also he has done the gastric bypasses in the past as well he is very experience and a good surgeon. As a scrub tech I spent some time in his OR and I know I'm in good hands.

Hi! New here and am confused. I have recently had epigastric hernia surgery which let to me seriously considering weight loss surgery. I have been to a seminar where both gastric bypass and lapband was presented without pushing one over the other. I have visited my general physician to get his input and to start my supervised perioid that my insurance requires. I am 5' 7.5" and weigh 283. I meet my insurance BMI requirements without other health problems but I do have asthma, mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure,and dysautonomia. My general physician strongly believes in lapband and does not want me to have lapband. I have been researching and I see other forums that are not specific to bypass or lapband where everyone doesn't like lapband. I have had 1 friend do bypass and do very well. I have had 1 friend do lapband and has not had a good experience. I have a 3rd friend who has had lapband within the past year and so far so good. I go back to the surgeon on the 20th to start whatever I need to with him. I have my husband's complete support. So I am here to learn more and make that decision. Can you help?

Hi Britt--I think it is awsome that you have chosen to take this journey at such a young age. I wish the band had been around when I was your age! I think it will be a pretty easy surgery for someone so young and probably otherwise healthy--the younger you are, the faster you heal, so try not to worry.. I had mine done as same-day surgery at a surgery center--not even in the hospital, and it was a breeze as surgeries go( I have had four knee surgeries that were all much harder)! You will be so happy once it is all over and you can start your new life. I was banded on November 30, and have already lost 45 pounds(I lost 10 before the surgery on my pre-op diet). I am so thrilled! Today, I had trouble finding something to wear because all my clothes are so big on me--I am down 2 pants sizes--it's incredible. I can tell you that if you start a regular exercise program after your surgery, things will be much easier for you. I never used to exercise, but now, I work out almost every day and am loving it. I am losing inches as well as pounds, and the whole shape of my body is changing--it's awsome! So, good luck with your surgery, and I will be saying a little prayer for you on Tuesday!