Search the Community

I agree - see if you can help your husband get more information about the surgery. Mine was dead set against gastric bypass, but when he saw how lapband works, he was okay with it. Now he loves it! :cool2:

I have been thinking about Lap Band for several years, but can't seem to convince my husband that it is safe. He freaks out each time I mention it. I have an aunt that had the gastric bypass and has done very well. And he has seen this, but is still very closed minded to the surgery. I have signed up for an seminar and am hopin he will attend with me. Any suggestions? Also, I have BC/BS of Texas. I have inquired in the past about coverage. They told me if it was medically needed, it would be covered. I have checked and a local doctor with high recommendations is a provider. Is there anything that I need to do with my primary doc to start documentation. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

:eek: I am new to this site too, Andrea. 47 - year old female, married, two teenage boys. I am scheduled to go to an "Informational Meeting" with a doctor here in Buffalo on January 6th. I have been on a waiting list for one year just to get into this meeting. I guess after that, it goes quickly. I canceled gastric bypass surgery for last summer - just couldn't do it. I feel as though the lap band is a better tool for weight loss. I wish you the best of luck!! This seems like a wonderful site for support and information. Hope to hear about your progress! Mary

I just started my 2 weeks liquid diet and my surgery is April 23rd. Question? My friend had bypass done in February and she told me that was ate hard boiled egg whites (no yolk) throughout the 2 week liquid diet. She said her surgery was fine and the doctor said everything looked good. Has anyone else tried egg whites or other alternatives?

Hi everyone, I am new and super scared for surgery. I have so many fears such as being allergic to general anesthesia and having crazy complications. I have never had surgery before and it seems that weird things always happen to me. I am having Dr. Chae preform my surgery. He did the lap band on my mom and my friend 5 years ago. He also did my friends mom's gastric bypass. All three are still successful today. Has anyone had a sleeve done by him? How was it? Complications? I am going through Kaiser. I hear he is awesome, but I would like to connect with some people sleeved by him. I'm 27, 5'5 and 306lbs. Due to be sleeved in November.

I just had my pre-op appointment with my Dr....they are moving sleeve patients to outpatient surgery, but there's a chance that my bypass will have to be rescheduled....I'm going to be so devastated!!!! I've even had 3 Covid shots!!!! Sent from my SM-G998U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi! I have started the Optifast on November 7th and my surgery is on Wednesday November 21st. I can't get through a day without eating more than what I am supposed to. I am not doing bad as I am not eating junk food but I am not supposed to eat at all, just Opti. I am so hungry I can't think of anything but food. Has anyone else had this problem? Can anybody help?

Hi Lisa - Im hoping we can work together on this ebcause i just read your story and let me tell you a little about my story -- lap band 9/2005 02/06 - slip 03/06 - re band throught the past 5 years I have STRUGGLED and the ONLY time i lost weight was when the bad was so tight I barely could drink Water. One day I would be able to eat yogurt, the next day it would get stuck -- it was this way constantly and Id never know what i coul or couldnt eat unless i tried - so in teh end I have a band with 1/2 fill so i can eat normally but it defeats the purpose of even having TWO surgeries because here I am weighig in 10lbs les then my 1st surgery and 10 more then my second.... Just went to the Dr. yesterday and he suggested I look into the bypass revision. He made it sound really good but he also didnt leave out the fact that because it is a revision - the risks are automatically higher for compications. I sit here wondering if my body had this many compications with a simple band who will ti react to a bypass? Maybe I will do great with bypass and i will finally see results Ive been striving to see forever what is I am the 15% that thigs go drastically wrong My job now covers this revision - if I waitr health care might change ................................... I too dont know what to do! Complications? What kind of complications? Like is its "dumbing" more often.. k I can handle that.. If its leakge... that can cause death.. IDK I wish I could survey 100 ppl who had this themself! Help for us both What ever we decide , we r not alone! Lisa (yes im lisa as well)

I couldn't agree more with Donna & Susan - get another opinion! In my case the slip was repaired with a new band right away. That this doctor is refusing to even consider that possibility is just infuriating to me. You've been through so much, and I know how hard every day is when your band is slipped, but try to find another doctor who is band friendly so that you can get an unbiased opinion. You can always tell them to give you a bypass if they get in there and decide that you can't be rebanded because of excess scar tissue. (((HUGS)))

I have had my band since 9/23/05, I have lost 20 pounds with my band already. If you follow the bandster rules you will lose weight. There several studies out on the web where the band and the bypass or compared. Eventually a banded person will lose the same amount of weight it will just take longer. You can defeat the band, you can defeat the bypass. There are some bypass patients that are now banded over their bypass because they had started gaining their weight back. It is all in how you want to approach the band, embrace it and do the best you can to follow the rules or struggle with it...same with bypass.

Hello Well I have finally decided to go for the Lap Band ( yeah me) I have been comparing the Lap band and the bypass and pretty much decided the lap band. So I have officially started my journey. I met my surgeon and he called and verified my insurance benefits, the only thing Im worried about is if I have to be on a supervised diet for 6 months because that’s one of the requirements ( Im hoping there is a way around that). I have to go visit my PCP to get the "ok" from her which I think will be no problem then on to my prerequisites for the lap band surgery which involves the pysch eval, etc. Im so ready for this weight loss tool because I have been on every diet you can imagine and always seem to fail. I do understand you have to change your eating habits so the band can work for you. I’m so ready for this, I’m ready to become healthy, happier, and able to do more without my weight holding me down. Well I have finally decided to go for the Lap Band ( yeah me)

I'm going to my first appointment on Wednesday to FINALLY start the process to have surgery. I know that there is no definitive answer and everyone is different, but I was curious about how much weight I could expect to lose within the first 5 months? I'm only asking because I'm going to be in a wedding in November of next year and I'm not sure what is going to happen with my dress. Sent from my SM-G930V using the BariatricPal App

There have been lots of posts that discuss why we chose VSG over other procedures, so you might want to do a little light reading of the site for additional info. However, my reasoning was pretty basic. I decided against the band because I didn't want a foreign object installed in me that had to be tended to constantly (filling and unfilling) and as the years have progressed, more and more people are having complications from their lapband and having it removed/having a revision surgery to another option like sleeve or bypass. I didn't choose bypass because of similar reasons to yours. After doing a lot of research, I could see that the sleeve appeared to be less intrusive to my digestive system (no re-routing of the system, thus malabsorption problems are not typical). While short term complications are slightly higher than the band, long term the fact seems to be that there are less complications. There are other reasons, but these are probably the most obvious ones.

I hear ya!!!! Mine is November 17th!!

Hi my name is Raychel and I am new to this group. I had the bypass done on June 13th and I was wondering if anybody else had it done around the same time, so we could share our experiences and stories together. HW-320 SW-293 CW-267 Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using BariatricPal mobile app

Most things I’ve read said it’s less risk than bypass and more risk than lap-band. I like the idea that if necessary I can move into a full bypass down the road if something comes up or it’s not quite as successful as I need. I’m hoping for September surgery. Thank you!

I have RA as well, and years of prednisone and the inability to move caused huge weight gain. Research and anecdotal evidence showed RA pts who had bypass showed signs of remission. So, I had it and have been symptom free since March 23!! Good job!!! I'm down from 283 to 160, almost to goal! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Any November Banders with Dr. Bagnato???

I FINALLY got up enough nerve to call and schedule an appointment for a consult! My consult will be April 9th, 2007 a 4:00. I hope I don't chicken out and cancel:phanvan !! I called 3-26-07, I was hoping that I could do a phone consult, but Marilyn said he will only do consults over the phone with out of state patients...boooooo! When I told my husband, he was okay with it. I think he just wants me to be happy. My children too. My oldest son said he thinks I should go for it because it will make me happier! Their support is awesome! I have been talking about having it done for a long time(years and years). I chickened out about four years ago. I was going to have the gastric bypass. My insurance even said they would cover 100 percent, I would just have to pay the $50.00 co-pay! Oh well, I chickened out and now I am going i to talk to Dr. K about the lapband and my insurance will not pay for anything now, so I will be self paying(I hate the sound of that). One week away from the consult, I log onto the website every chance I get to read, read, read. This site is so inspiring and infomative. I don't want to chicken out this time, so I am looking for all the support I can get!!

The first time I heard about lapband surgery was from a dear sweet lady named Theresa passing through my life--leaving behind in her wake--a hope that things could change for me. I did look up the surgery then--but my insurance didn't cover any part of it--and self pay in this area was so high--it was unthinkable for me--even with the changes I now know it brings. So--a few months later--I was on the path to gastric bypass--which my insurance does cover--ever more nervous and getting more frightened as I heard first one then many side affects/risks--which I had to decide if I was willing to take for the drastic change I needed to make in my life if I was to live to see my small children grow. My history with surgeries and complications being as it was--I was VERY sceptical of the numbers I was given--I know that some of it was just to filter the serious from those who were not--but 1/50 was a number that really made me uneasy--as the other times in my life the numbers game showed my in my favor i.e. 1/500 or 1/300--and I still ended up being that 1 percent with complications. I know we all go through a tremedous amount of inner turmoil in making decisions that can affect the length and scope of our lives. Many thoughts and fears, hopes, and dreams. I was no different-- and I had hit that moment in my life where It was do something--or be lost to myself. I am sure that if I had gotten through it--I might have had another of those moments...we all come to our own crossroads--this was mine. I decided to look up the lap band procedure one more time. This time--I really started digging--and comparing for me--which one would give me what I needed most--as well as be affordable for us. Comparing what I could--researching where I could--I looked more deeply into all of it--obsessively (my husband's word). I finally found a dr with terrific credentials at a more affordable rate for me to handle--which I needed if I was going to self pay-(another story there believe me). I had more than a week of sleepless nights (not unusual for me anyway) thinking of the hope--and the chance lap band could give me--and finally told my husband--this is it. He said to give him some time--so we could figure out the finance part of it--lol problem there is once I came to the conclusion that this was it--there was really no stopping me-- I gave him 4 days--then called and booked my appt for 2 weeks out. He had that long to figure out how we could pay for it. When I told him that I booked the appt--he laughed--he thought I was kidding. I had never been more serious. Healthy and young still at 30--even at my weight--I was starting to have more issues with joints, and been warned of pre-diabetes--I could see the road ahead of me with out some action. I had dieted and lost 60, 80 lbs more than once--only to have them return and bring friends--over and over for the past decade or more. I have been heavy since the onset of puberty-- progressively more so at I get older--I just couldn't let it keep happening--this is where it had to stop. I started the liquid liver shrinking diet the day I booked the appt-- and promptly lost all control--like some switch was flicked in my brain or something--eating a bag of doritos-and whatever else I could get my hands on that day and the next. I finally got a hold on myself the third day and managed to stick to the pre-op diet losing 12.5lbs by the day before my surgery. I spent every one of those days researching on the yahoo boards-- asking questions of all of the post banded people who woould answer and reading every post along the way--finding that others often asked questions I hadn't thought of yet--but was glad to know the answers to. When I got to TJ--I was nervous--but exceedingly well informed on what to expect, and everything went very smoothly. I met up with 3 other women having the surgery and their support--I had also arranged to bring with me a very dear person for support. So we all shared info and stories and got to know one another through that first day while we all went to pre-op testing and checked into the hotel for the night before surgery (included 3 nights in the price for the surgery), we all got to enjoy a really super "last supper" as we thought then at a restaurant called 'los arcos' MMMMMMMM yummy! and we met with the surgeon and his team for question time and basically for them to explain more on what to expect. I found it funny almost to learn that I had already gleaned in my research most of what they had to say--and after meeting with them and finding out what order the surgeries for the next day would be in--we were free to do as we pleased--in this case--we all met in the restaurant of the hotel to chat some more--I found myself being able to field a lot of the questions that some of the others still had--ironicly enough. (told you I am obsessive--lol) The next day--we had surgery and everything went very quicly--I woke up after surgery to some nausea--and sipped some water and slept a lot. The next day--I walked to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription and then it was off to the airport to fly home. My friend made sure to get a wheelchair for me--which I didn't think I needed but by the time we got across the airport I was thankful for--and I was pre-boarded on the plane for the 2 hr flight home. I spent the evening at home-- resting as much as possible. The next day--I drove my friend the 7 hours home, and spent the rest of the week with my daughters (2 and 4) up at her house--chasing littles and visitiing with family. Drinking fluids--Not so easy since everytime my family gathers-- there is a barbeque--lol. I progressed well for the first six weeks--my appetite returning with a vengeance after the first week--and struggling to eat like a bandster should and not always winning the battle. By 6 weeks out--I was SOOOO ready for my first fill--1.5cc--I was disappointed in myself because I had only managed to lose 10lbs (actually 20 but with no restriction--gained 10 of it back by the first fill) but determined that this was going to work. I had very little restriction still--but forwarned is forearmed--I knew there was a possibility that it would take 3 or more fills to get there--that was part of my choice in picking the band--and that I REALLY needed to work on my patience--gee wonder why that was so hard--I know that it took years to get to this point--what made me think I could change it all overnight? So, as soon as a second fill was allowed I was there! I managed to lose 3 lbs between my first and 2nd fills. But after that second one--I felt the restriction--not immediately--it actually kicked into high gear about a week later--and by this third fill I got--I had lost another 15 lbs! Now I am losing steadily and happily. I have continued to live on the support boards, and exercising (yes--you guessed it--almost obsessively--mostly walking 4x a week for at least an hour) So that is my story--basically anyhow-I left out the depression I was going through before, and the bandster blues after as I mourned food, (and wanting to throw my hubby from the 2nd floor window because he just didn't understand what I was going through--bandster rage--it passed--lol)--he never knew that part until yesterday--you should have seen the look on his face when I laughingly told him he narrowly missed a few broken bones at the least.(it really was a true ally mcbeal moment) -I am sure there are people making the same decision I had to make here on this board--and others in other places on a daily basis--I can only say--ASK QUESTIONS! Be proactive--don't settle for what you can get if you really want something else. You are worthy, and smart and should be proud of yourselves for making a choice to take your life into your own hands and make it happier and healthier and longer than ever. I, for one, would not go back for an instant! If anyone wants to ask questions--please feel free to email me I am by far not the most experienced person on the board--but I am here:). Whatever your choice--it is YOUR choice--and you make the best of it. I wish everyone well in their journey--and reasearch. Hugs, shrina 7/12/05 Dr. Kuri 274/226/125-150 3 fills Dr. McKeen 2.4cc currently

Congratulations I'm so nervous about the pain schedule for my operation the 27th of November Sent from my SM-N920P using BariatricPal mobile app

So today will probably be my last entry on this web site since my surgeon Dr Baggs and I decided the Gastric Bybass would be the best option for me. I started this journey on Sept 27 and started at 221. I weighed 205.2 when I met with Dr Baggs and he was wonderful. He has a great since of humor and he did my appointment and my daughters together since she came in with me on my appt (2 for 1) how's that for taking care of us. My daughter is having the sleeve, so I will still check this site from time to time to help her with her journey. I am excited to be going through this with my daugher, we attended orientation together, our surgeon appt and have psch appts on the same day and Dr Baggs even said it's a possibility for us to have surgery on the same day. We are both 4 lbs from our surgery goal! The sleeve is the best decision for my daughter, however with my struggles the Gastric Bypass gives me the best chances. Good luck and much success to all you sleevers, I hope my journey will be as successful. Amber, I am right there with you throughout the entire process and always - Love you - Mom

I have read that article before lol. That was actually the article that made my mind up to have the surgery in the first place. It seemed to say that the sleeve and bypass were more effective than the lap band, but to me it looked like both the sleeve and bypass were effective with the sleeve having less complications. That was why I choose the sleeve. But I am still second guessing myself like the OP. Sorry if I hijacked this thread OP. It is hard to find people who understand PCOS and weight loss and insulin resistance and I get really excited when I do because I really want to make the right choice.