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I had RNY three months ago and have now lost 76# (pre and post op). These are the reasons I chose the bypass: -- Surgery has been done for 50+ years and has a long history of success. -- Is considered the gold standard of WLS. On average people lose more weight with RNY than any other WLS. -- Eliminates acid reflux. The sleeve can make this worse. -- BP instantly normal after surgery. -- "Disconnects" the hunger hormones. My hunger is nothing like it was before surgery. -- Old stomach is still intact and part of my system. I have had no complications. My recovery has been amazing. I was off my pain meds three days after coming home from the hospital. I can eat anything I want, although I don't because I don't feel good afterward. I am losing an average of 3 pounds a week. I've had no stalls.

Well I went for surger on the 30th of May. I had some complications, ended up having to be an open surgery. I have been on a liquid diet, clear fluids for a month, and then mushies for a week. Now that I am back on full foods I have changed my lifestyle. It is really crazy, we are being so much more concious of what we eat and what we cook and what we keep in our house. It has been a great transformation for me and I see this working for me in the long term. So to keep me accountable I started a food diary!!! That was so great to read, because it helps me so much, and keeps me accountable for what I eat. I actually enjoy writing down what I eat because it isn't crap anymore. And I am so exctied to look back day to day what I ate. Also because I am a nurse and work night shifts and day shifts it was really important to me to be able to see what I eat during these days. I mean nights at work, I used to binge eat because I was bored and thought I was hungry. Now seeing how little I eat or the healthy things I choose make me so happy. It also works as a great incentive. I am going away in September and will be on a beach if only for a few days, but I am gonna enjoy some tasty sea food and maybe dessert! Best thing I ever did. Thanks for posting about it. PS mine is a self made scrap paper pieces stapled togther. It looks ratehr sad but does the job! And I always right down right after I eat! Thanks again!!

When I first got this band, I was so positive and so just hopeful. Now, I'm like, great, another diet, I just have the band now. Now, all I do is worry about slips, erosions, etc. Not so much erosions, I worry about slips. I'm so happy for the people this lap-band works for. I want it to work for everyone. I don't want anyone to have problems with it. It's just with me an adequate fill = reflux, as in carry a double bagged grocery bag with me reflux. Sigh. I'm not eating too much, when I have a fill, I just can't eat but fattening foods. Jeesh, to think I got this to eat more healthy. Well, enough blogging for now. I hope some of you can relate. I sometimes feel so alone in this. Everyone is like it will work if you work it. Well, I have complications called reflux with a a fill.. How the hell am I supposed to work it when every time I get a fill I am sliming up a protein shake? AGRR. I'm really trying with this. I really am.

More and more people are being approved. I think the Insurance Companies are seeting the value to the surgery and unlike hte Gastric Bypass, it has less complications. It will be worth it. If you do not follow the required steps you will always wonder what if. All some insurenace companies require is 45 BMI. You can only try! Best of luck!

Hi Everyone, I had my GVS surgery on June 13, and all went well. I remember laying in bed waiting for surgery, and the next thing I remember is waking up in my room with it all done. I had a mild cramping in my chest, but it went away as soon as the nurses gave me meds. I remember walking down the hall soon after I woke up to insure that gas wouldn't get the best of me. The nurses kept me comfortable and gave me meds on a schedule. I also had a medicine ball for incisional pain. I never felt any incisional pain whatsoever. I walked the halls a few time the next day. I didn't have any complications at all. They wanted to let me go home on the second day, but I said that I wanted to stay one more night. It was included in the package deal, and I felt more comfortable sticking around a little longer. Today is my first day at home post op, and I have been comfortable here as well. I cleaned up the kitchen, walked a little outside, washed a load of clothes, and Sip, Sip Sipped all day... I did my Clear liquids and no problems. I didnt do everything at once, just a little at a time as I felt that I could do. I feel very blessed and very happy and to me, this experience was a cake walk... I realize everyone's experience is different, so I don't want to downplay the realities of others. My prayers are with you all that have suffered and had complications. A couple of weeks before surgery all the way to surgery date, I made sure to exercise by doing weight resistance, and aerobic activity. Not sure if it helped, but I figure getting the blood flowing in the body couldn't hurt. I feel so happy that this is done and over with, and now, I can watch myself deflate. I can't wait...

Aimee.. I am 5 7 1/2 . I had no complications. My surgery went really well I had it on a tuesday and went back to work on friday.. Call me crazy everyone else did lol... Did you have any complications? The only time I have pain in my port site is when I had my first fill my doc had a hard time finding my port ( probally to much fat) and stuck me with the needle about 50 times and a 45 mins later he finally found it he did say if he couldnt locate it he would have to do it under floro.. I hurt for a couple of days. From what I understand this is not usual only because a girl that I became friends with who had surgery the same day as me our doc only stuck her once and she was out in 5 mins... So it is not the same for everyone.... Sammee...... Carnation is like chocolate milk and I wouldnt say it is thick thick.This morning when I was drinking my carnation it took me 45 min for 8 oz how much slower can I go I am surprised the milk didnt sour on me lol... Clear Fluid goes down fine.. I didnt have any lunch or dinner because I was full I just hope tommorow this goes away if not I will call the doctor and schedule an unfill Melody.. my doc did not tell me clear liquids he just same liquids I did email him and ask him if I should just be doing clear and he said absolutly no he wanted me to have the carnation because it has the protien that I need he did tell me to try slim fast but that is way to thick yuck.. but every doctor has different requirements.. Now tommorow he has me doing mushies for 1 day and then i move to solids again.... What is your docs requirment (stages) for fills how long on mushies and when can you move to solids? Angela.... My doctor does the first initial fill 6 weeks out but he only put .5 cc in and the standard is 1.5 for the 4cc band that I have but the reason why he only puts that amout in is because he said some people only need 1 fill others need more. I met a girl at the meeting that was onle of his first patients 2 years ago and she has only 1cc in her band mind you it is a 10cc band and she has lost 175 pounds.. she was a size 32 tight and close to 400 pounds now she weighs 210 and wears a size 16 and she looks wonderful she is our inspiration at the meetings. Now my doc wants me to call him when i start to feel hungry in between meals and I can eat more than what I should that signals that it is time for another fill... He does not follow the every 6 week rule.. I am fortunate my doc has 1 day where he schedules all his fill patients and that is Tuesdays. I can walk in evcen if I have to. So i know that I amn always garenteed a fill when I need it. I started feeling hungry on thrusday of last week i called and he told me to come in aftrer work he stays open til 8... He is awesome. Also keeps in touch with his patients via email if not an emergency. We can vent to him and he will even come back with a reply whether a bad day eating or bad day in general... But thank you guys for responding to this and also the congrats on the weight lose it is greatly appreciated... Wish you luck on your journey Vickie

I went with Dr. Garcia in Tijuana and i had a wonderful time. Everyone was nice and professional and i am 6 months out no complications no extra skin, hell i havent even had a cold and i stay in Wisconsin! Good luck on navigating the site and gathering opinions. Remember to choose whats best for you. Take Care.

My journey is going great. Sorry to hear about all of the complications you had to go thru. I also have the sick feeling. Went in for my 6.week on Monday doc said I could be eating too fast or too much. I slowed down the past 2 days and have given up on my coffee and the icky blah feeling has been gone so yay for that.

A gal I know is a nutrition coach and is trying to get me to do medifast...instead of surgery? Anyone ever try it? I really have my heart set on the sleeve and know I'll just screw up another "diet" lol I know she said she didn't want to be a bummer on my decision but she's seen too many complications to WLS....

Ok - so I have completed all my pre-requisites and now all I need to do is send in my completed packet to the surgeon’s office and then wait for them to call me with a appointment. But before I even get to that, there is a section on their questionnaire that asks which procedure I would prefer: lap band or gastric bypass? When I started this journey I went into it thinking I absolutely wanted the lap band. I liked it for all of the obvious reasons (simple surgery,quick recovery time, adjustable, not permanent). But now as I have had time to think about and learn about everyone else's experiences...I am not so sure I want the lap band any more. I understand that both procedures come with risks but I feel like the lap band has more of a potential to have something go wrong down the road. I have a hard time believing that something I have installed in me at the age of 30 is going to last for the rest of my life with out any complications. I think about the lap band as a car...it needs maintenance (fills)...might need some repairs...what if it a lemon?!?!? So my other option is gastric bypass...and I know I am posting this on a pro-lapband message board so I am not sure I will get much support with this option. But I think my body chemistry might work better with the RNY. I am hypothyroid and although I am on medication for it...i still think my body suffers as a result of a synthetic metabolism. So I think the malabsorbtion of the RNY would actually help me lose the weight. Ugh, this is such a difficult decision...I have been obsessing over it for days!

I'm in my 5th year with the band, had complications (a leaky band) and opted to have it replaced with another band last year. I hit goal in 7 months from my first band placement, have been under goal for most of the last 5 + years except for a couple of months when the band was leaking. I'm back under goal now, got there within weeks of my new band being placed. The bands placed 10 years ago are also different from the bands placed 5 years ago, and again different from ones placed more recently. Like any new medical innovation, it takes years to learn and improve on it. So the longevity of the bands placed 10 plus years ago shouldn't be compared to the longevity of the ones placed now. I would keep replacing any band that 'gave out' between now and the end of my life if they were to fail, as long as I could do that. I hope every band I get will last forever, but I'm also prepared if they do not.

I guess I really lucked out because I did not have any gas pain whatsoever. I had my surgery yesterday afternoon and when I woke up I was slightly nauseous and they gave me some meds right away and I was fine. I was in no pain at all yesterday and this morning I have quite a bit of pain around my incisions because I decided not to take the morphine. I am on liquid vicodin, but am taking a very low dosage. Other than the pain around the incisions I have been just fine. I came home this morning, so I spent less than 24 hours in the hospital. I am SO happy with this surgery so far and so grateful that I have not had any complications or serious pain. I went in expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised. The most pain I have is when I go from sitting/laying to standing up. That hurts quite a bit but once I get to walking it goes away. Anyways, I know this isn't the norm, but I just thought that I would share that it's not always horrible. Just wanted to give a little hope to those of you out there that have yet to be sleeved.

I kind have been slacking on my pre op diet . Like I commit throughout the day and at the end I'm just starving and bitter about the world and cave in to a somewhat healthy alternative outside of the list of foods you can eat with the 2 week diet . Also I been smoking weed everyday still I told the psychologist on my team and he told me as long as I dont smoke at least 6 weeks post op my operation he told me it was no big deal , just watch out for munchies . Which I honestly don't really get . And my operation is oct 6 . Anyways I'm reading the forums and I see people are more anti weed and received other news from their doctors . Anyways ... Should I be concerned about complications with my surgery.

Thanks everyone! I just started drinking my first protien drink. I bought the Idopre zero carb because I don't really like creamy, milky, things and this is clear like Kool Aid. I'm not gonna lie....it is not very good but I can do it! I forgot to say how much I weight and stuff above. I am 5'7 and weigh 292 (last weigh in at the doctor anyway) I just need to keep hearing that it will be okay and I will wake up after surgery. I keep reading all these horror stories (I know I should stop but I can't help it) and it's freaking me out. Other than the diabetes (which I have had no physical complications from yet even though my BS has been over 500 before) I have no health issues.

I did adjustments when i felt i neeeded them. I listened to my body and paid attention to how much I was eating. I was in the green zone probably after my 2nd fill.. around 6 months passed (i lost most of my weight during that time) then suddenly it felt like i could eat much more. So after that i would get filled .. realise it was too tight and have to get unfilled...never got back to the green zone. My advice is listen to your body... dont have your band too tight as this will contribute to complications down the road. I believe i was successful mainly because i was using the band as a tool.. so even if i was hungry i tried to make good choices. I hope that helps. How are you feeling now?

So everything went great surgery was perfect, and I had no complications (praise God!). Let me be very honest. The first day was horrible, even into the first night. I had so much chest pain from the gas and acid reflux, its extremely painful, but would rather see you prepared. My only incision that hurt was the one where they took out my stomach. It burned but by day two I was fine. I'm excited to go home today. Yesterday I had 14oz of liquid and today I've already had 4 yes I'm tired. But walking gives me energy and it helps with moving my food and gas so very much do as much walking as you can. I wish you all the best of luck on your journies. And remember you make this tool work for you, but you must exercise abs use it the right way. I'm glad I made this decision, one of the best choices I made )

I will start a thread in the Lap-Band Complications Section as you suggested and I will link it to this post. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Hey Marie: Just got off the phone with Melissa at NYU Med. Center and she quoted me $7,600 for hospital stay but that is for a Out Patient lap band proceedure. the cost for one night hospital stay is $12,000. Now I have more to think about! I would have to have someone with me for outpatient and I'm almost thinking a stay at a NYC 4 star hotel near the hospital would cost $400 and up but much less than a hospital stay. So she quoted: Surgery: $8,000 Anesthisia: 1,721 Hospital stay pre negotiated: 12,000 Total with stay: TOTAL 1 night hospital stay: $21,721 OUT PATIENT: $17,321 Clearly this was a billing mistake Marie or you had major complications during surgery!:rolleyes2:

Hi to all., Here is my 3 week breakdown. but first just a recap .. I started this journey July 2011 started my 3 month Insurance qualifications in August at a weight of 318lbs after the 3 months i was hovering around 310lbs .. It took longer than anticipated to get the insurance approval but after 5 weeks i was approved.. I started my 2 week preop diet on Dec. 18 and by surgery date i was at 301lbs... My surgery- My Doc. is so personable and very informative ., Dr. Schrope ( Columbia NY / Valley hospital NJ) is amazing, caring and funny.. Thanks you For giving me my life back.. I was amazed at how well i did immediately after surgery., I walked around 15 min every couple hours ., didnt really use hospital pain meds that often. Dont get me wrong i did felt GAS and some stomach pains something like you feel after doing several hundred situps..But The gas pains did hit me hard at times..I was sent home the day after surgery and manage well with gas/ pain medicine.. It all seems so long ago tho because i havent had any real complications., never vomited, never had any redness around the scars., liquids were no problem / Protein either., I advanced to mooshie food fairly quickly and easily., I am introducing more solid foods and feel pretty good., I will also start cardio this weeks. I am down to 282lbs as of yesterday @ 3 weeks... any questions or comments .. just ask away... I wish you all a great journey....

My BMI was 31 and I consulted with surgeons willing to perform the VSG for me in Southern California, but they were in the $29,000 to $35,000 price range. I have PCOS but that didn't qualify for me any form of insurance coverage. After considerable research and thought I decided to go to Mexico and have the surgery with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I had a fantastic, hassle-free experience and no complications. It was $4200. The endocrinologist who recommended VSG to me to help with PCOS agreed in advance to provide follow-up care for me. I had been hesitant to go to Mexico at first, but ultimately decided that it was the most feasible choice for me. I'm one year out to the day, have met my goal weight, and have no regrets. I would definitely look into going to a reputable surgeon in Mexico if you cannot find one in the US who is willing to perform the VSG at a cost you can afford.

read up on the surgeries (all of them) to see what would be a good fit for you...remember any WLS works and none are better than the other no matter what anyone says.....WLS is a complete life (lifestyle) change and for best results, always do what the dr who operates on you advises.. unless you decide to eat better, exercise, no WLS will help.......people get one surgery, it dont work for them and off they go to another one......the person looking at oneself in the mirror is a HUGE reason a WLS can work or not work.......(granted some complication can and does happen on any WLS) but those are small risks in my opinion to gain a longer life. so if you want to be healthy and get healthy do it....but expect to do some work...

I'm glad that someone posted this issue, because it is quite pertinent to me. I was banded 2.5 years ago in the UK. Because I lived at the time quite far away from any doctor who did fills/band care I had many many complications, including a near-removal slippage and numerous fills and unfills. Despite this, I still managed to lose close to 50 pounds. After my last unfill in April, I gave my body a good rest up until a month ago, when I got filled again. So far, I have had no problems, even though my doc filled me quite a lot, and I thought I would immediately be too tight and experience those same problems again (mostly severe pbing - not on purpose!) Not so, as I learned a few important lessons in the half year I was totally unfilled: 1. THE GOLDEN RULE: know your body. I ignored so many signals that my particular body was giving me: being very tight in the mornings, which meant that I shouldn't shove some Breakfast down my throat just because I thought I needed to eat breakfast (years of mind training). Now I have a few cups of very hot coffee, wait an hour or two until my band is a little looser and have a small breakfast/lunch. I have the same problem with dinner: I'm very tight in the evenings. In the past I would try to eat Protein and cause agony as I either ate too fast, too big of chunks of meat, etc. etc. I now know that evenings are going to be difficult for me so I cut off eating no later than 6:00 p.m., and if I'm hungry later in the evening I have some Soup or sugar free jello/pudding. Please note, this works for me, other people know their bands work in different ways, but the most important thing is: know thy body, know thy band... 2. RECORDING EVERYTHING I EAT: This is a big pain, but if I don't do this (I use fitday.com) I am very liberal and imaginative with amounts/quantities of what I eat. I'm afraid that I am becoming too anal retentive by doing this, but I'd rather swap my obsession with eating, with an obsession of recording calories, carbs, etc. It is also quite eye-opening to see how much you actually eat, when you are convinced that you are eating itty bitty harmless portions or foods. Since I was pre-diabetic at some point, I really really watch my carbs, and try to stick to around 800 calories a day. Some days are easier, some more difficult but I try to be consistent. 3. ESTABLISH A LOCAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A FILL DOCTOR/SURGEON: I live in Europe and where I once lived in Poland there were no doctors at all who did this procedure, and every time I needed help I had to board a plane to London to get filled/unfilled. Obviously, this was not an ideal situation financially and when you're really ill from too tight of a fill, every moment you're not unfilled is agony. I have now moved to Vienna, Austria and have made contact with an American trained band surgeon who is 15 minutes from my house, and only does fills under x-ray. It is a huge relief to know that if I am too tight, or need some kind of an adjustment he is just a brief trip away. This is an extreme example (I know) but it is something to consider to those bandsters who go to Mexico and need to be treated by someone else in the U.S. Really think about your decision. In my case it was my only option at the time, I'm really glad I did it, but it hasn't been easy. 4. EXERCISE: Ugh, I hate it, really I do. So I'm trying to walk approx. 30 minutes a day as I can see a purpose to walking somewhere than sitting in a gym. I also bought an inflatable exercise ball that I use with various DVDs that I have bought via Amazon. This is the area where I need to see the biggest improvement. But I have noticed when I walk a lot the scale does move down if it's been a bit sluggish... My only regret is that I don't have a local (English-speaking) band community I can use for support. My husband and friends have been terrific, but I have to say that I learned all these very difficult lessons on my own. But the point is: I've learned and I'm losing again (10 pounds in 2.5 weeks). I'm so glad I kept my band. At times I thought it was my enemy... but the real enemy.. was ME! Hope this helps someone!!! (Sorry so long)

I think I agree with Paula. Unfortunately, the people I've known of that had eroded and were rebanded eroded again, even more quickly. :mad: I just don't think I'd want to take that chance the second time around. I have a friend there in the LA area who had a laparoscopic bypass with an apparently very impressive doctor. She has lost 110lbs since December and doing very well. No complications whatsoever. She is also about 60 years old. I am so very impressed with how well she's done. If you want, I can find out her doc's name as well. Whichever way you go. I sure don't envy you the decision or having to go through a second/third surgery, but I'll sure be sending good thoughts your way!!

Sorry about the complications, but it sounds like you're okay now. Wow, what a huge weight loss so quickly! Congrats and good luck on the rest of your weight loss journey. I'm in it for the long haul.

I have posted a couple of times, asking questions so that I can make a final decision. I am 100% sure that having the surgery is the best decision for my health. I think the biggest obstacle now is a lack of family support. Everyone is my family suffers with a wonderful metabolism, I on the other hand, have a rare disease that causes weight issues, as does the medication I am on for the disease. My doctors all support my decision, but I don't feel comfortable even telling my weight obsessed skinny family members. We live on a large farm, 3 generations and we share meals together (1 large, central kitchen). They eat horrible meals. When/If I tell them, I know they will appear to support my decision, but meals are going to be an issue. The relationships are complicated and so just hoping that they are supportive because they are family, is really a fallacy. I am dealing with hypercritical, judgemental and passive aggressive personalities. Advice?