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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!

I go for my first consultation tomorrow. I have been a sponge and taking in everything I could read on gastric bypass. Today I called my insurance just to find out what the pre-qualifiers are. I was shocked to find out that there are none and if the surgeon sends in the paperwork and they approve it then I can be qualified for surgery immediately. Everything I have read suggests insurance companies want periods of diet and other prequalifiers....is this possible that an insurance company can be that easy and literally allow the decision to be yours and your surgeons!? Any comments are welcome. Thanks...and great forum! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I started out at 387 and at the time of surgery I was at 341. Seven months later I weigh 330. So I have lost 111 pounds and I am 5 pounds away from my goal. My surgeon is very impressed and has told me that the amount of weight I have lost compares more to a gastric bypass patient. They are going to feature me on their weight loss web site. Wow too bad I'm not good looking lol.

has anyone on here had the Mini gastric bypass instead of the lap-band? If so what is it like compared to what people say the lap-band is like?

Let's see, I added several things to make shakes more palatable!! You can use SF/FF pudding (use very little, it WILL thicken!!!), peanut butter, and fresh fruit. You can use the DaVinci or Torani SF syrups---they helped me a lot!!!! They have some new flavors of the SF/FF coffee creamers out for the holidays. Hersheys makes a SF chocolate syrup, for like chocolate milk, or ice cream topping, it is pretty good, and easy to use for shakes. You can use orange juice concentrate, for an Orange Julius type of drink. It is not a pleasant diet...and in some ways it gets harder, but other ways it will get easier. The taste may never be something you can enjoy...sorry. But the cravings for carbs, and sugars will ease as you get into the diet by several days. And the simplicity of it, will eventually be a good thing. But the thing that finally kicked in and made all the pre-op and post op dieting worth while was seeing the weight dropping--quickly!!! In the meantime, stay busy doing things, and just take your shake with you, and begin practicing the sipping as opposed to guzzling it just to get it finished ( I remember thinking that would help!!), sip and as wierd as it sounds, after the drink breath out with your mouth open (if you are home and alone...publicly it might not be too good of an idea!!), it will ease the aftertaste of some of the drinks. You can also especially at this point use a straw if that is the only way you can drink them, and put the straw further back on your tongue, bypassing some of the sweet tasting tastebuds on your tongue. Soon all this will be a mere memory, and you will be doing what you can to help someone else through it. Tis hard, but oh so worth it!!! Hang in there!!! Welcome to LBT!!! Kat

I have noticed, this, too. I once had a physician ask me if I was having any intestinal difficulty after my bariatric surgery, I looked at her funny and said no, She said, "Well, I asked because it's very common with surgery." I said, I have a sleeve gastrectomy, not a bypass. She had never heard of it. And VSG patients have stomachs, not pouches! Bothers the heck out of me, too when folks get it wrong.

Please promise me that if I ever start a discussion about this surgery with my mother again that you will find me and b...h-slap me.....cause I would totally deserve it. Why does my mother feel compelled to tell me about the two people that she knows who had gastric bypass years and years ago that drank chocolate shakes 3 times a day and never lost any weight? Not once..but OVER and OVER again. She is totally supportive....which is great...but I only told her because I knew she would be upset if I didn't. I really don't want a running commentary on my life choices or really any conversation at all about this. Is my a$$ really so big that we need to discuss it for hours at a time with all my family? Can we just please discuss anything else? I have researched this surgery for like a year...so I really don't need your "expert" advise about what some lady told you that her friend's neighbor's son's girlfriend did to lose weight.....pretty sure it was surgery but might have just been one of those liquid diet things...but she looks great! Groan.

For me I could not lose all of it on my own my highest weight was 480 I got town to 430 on my own . Could not get past 430. Every time I did I shot back up to 430 . I got tired of going up and down with my weight .i use to weigh 220 . I was hit head on in 91 and shot up to 484 fast . So getting in the gym was very hard to do . I chose the lap band first mainly cause insurance , and it went good . I lost 100 pounds on it but it was slipping and well the removed it in 3 months of putting it in . They put it back in cause I was scared of the by pass but I did not lose any weight after they stuck it back and it was slipping agin . So I went in to see dr suh and we revised it to the sleeve I am just 3 weeks out I had surg on may 30 I have lost close to 30 pounds so far . I seem to be constipated but I don't eat much . I had bad heart burn a week after surg and I had to end up mixing the Pepcid with nexium twice a day and it seems to work . Other then that I am not hungry . I just start cardio at the gym a week ago . But I am excited I was scared but I was getting to the point where I was walking worse everything was getting harder to do . And I just got tired I can do it on my own and keep it off . I think this is a great tool to get you down so you can maintain and feel better it takes work .. The surg is not a walk in the park but it was worth it for me . I am trying to get to 220 back where I was and hope I will keep it off with the new life style I am moving into .

Welcome! Your lap band might be just the thing, but if you end up revising to a VSG, I don't think you will be sorry. I'm almost three years out, and love mine!

I just got my band on April 17. I had a LOT of gas pressure. I picked the brain of a friend of mine who'd had gastric bypass 8 years ago. She said the 'itol' sweeteners gave her the worst gas. Sure enough the 'no sugar added' popsicles I'd been having had sorbitol. i stopped eating them and have felt much better. Now I just think I'm having gall bladder issues. Oh, the back pain. : ( Pre-op weight - 226# Weight 2 days ago - 211#

I think you can do a plication as a revision of a bypass or a sleeve. Maybe that would be better than a band.

Oh god, there just is no way around this. So if you can ignore the fact that some ppl are hypercritical about using straws, my suggestion is to use one. If you can bypass most of your tongue it does help to minimize the flavor. It will taste like crap regardless, but it may help. Pinch your nose while drinking it may help as well. Perhaps have a really strong odor in the room (like coffee) as a distractor as well). It's all about sensation overload or minimization after all lol. I have no clue what flavors they come in, not like any of them is enjoyable ahhaha. Sorry that you have to go through it all (I wish they would just give us gtubes and tube feed us for these procedures personally lol)

I'm in the same boat as you.. not much of a sweet addict, but I am still leaning more towards the bypass anyways Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I am almost done with all my requirements and will hopefully have a surgery date in June or early July. I had my mind set on the sleeve this entire time, but in reading some of the posts I am second guessing myself. Maybe go with bypass??? I am a terrible grazer and sweet addict once I get going. From what I have read, the bypass may be more of a reinforcement to help me get over these behaviors. I just am leary of rerouting my intestines if it's not necessary. Smh....anybody have any advice either way to help me make this decision? Thanks guys!! Sent from my K010 using the BariatricPal App Sent from my KFFOWI using the BariatricPal App

I would tell your PCP that you appreciate her advice but that the final decision on whether to have band or bypass should be *yours*...not hers. Control freak doctors are a PiTA. .

Hi, all. I've finally reached my breaking point. I've done the Weight Watchers thing and regained the weight (more than once). I'm sure a lot of you know that old, sad story. My brother had gastric bypass; no way am I going there, but I've had my initial appointments/counseling about banding. I'm not sure whether to tell a lot of people. I'm inclined to not go there; I hate the judgmental looks/snarky comments. Funny, though, I did tell my boss, who is also a friend. When I did, her eyes lit up; she's considering it, too. I know my future holds diabetes, hypetension...I want to get a handle on it now while I'm still just a cranky, but fairly healthy, middle-aged woman rather than becoming a sick, feeble, bitter old woman. I'll have to self-pay. I'm not quite "fat" enough, and it seems silly to eat even more to reach the magic 40 BMI. Plus my insurance only does bypass, not banding. So, I'm a newby and looking forward to the advice and support I can get from y'all. I have one question for those of you who've done it and are into the normal eating part of it. How do you manage the work-related food functions and lunches w/ the office gang? How did you get over the "clean plate club" mentality? OK, that's two questions, but you know what I mean. Thanks. Kat

Hi, I am six days post op and feeling okay (except a little dizzy). I still have over a week of liquid diet let per doctor's plan--- but getting so sick of the sweet protein shake options. I have ordered a bunch of protein soups. Hope everyone one in August is doing well!

I researched my options and I didn't think I had a 6 month evaluation. Well I do I feel defeated I have weight watchers and switched to two liquid diets to get my liver ready. I guess my question is how did you pass the time and stay positive with your decisions?? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using the BariatricPal App

I am brand new to this process. I haven't attended any meetings or seminars...but I had a question about having thyroid issues and having this surgery...My PCP has mentioned gastric bypass before and we've talked about it, but it was waaaay too invasive for me to follow through with...and I haven't really discussed the LP procedure with him. I've got an appt. w/ him soon though to start the discussing process. Has anyone been denied due to having thyroid issues?

after 100 lb weight loss, I wanted new picture for drivers license talked to clerk about my wt loss and WLS - he told me he had gastric bypass 5 years ago (small world)- and except for about 5-10 lbs he sometimes teeters with, he's doing great (water, Protein et al - doing terrific) - he lost 170 lbs and he looked great even though clerk didn't have the sleeve, its nice to see someone "long term" post WLS - continue to be successful i have heard some people do gain all their weight back, i guess that can happen to any of us (not to me of course!!! ) he called other clerk over, showed my old license to her - they both couldn't believe it was me!!! If i do say so myself ( and I do!!!) my new picture is pretty darn good - all modesty aside i DO look great - feel great too

I have been reading other people's blogs and am happy for every single one of you who have posted pictures of you rafting, hiking or cycling yourselves to a new you. I'm also incredibly jealous because that will never be me. The spirit is more than willing, but the body just isn't able. For sure I'm going to be able to do more things than I have been able in years but my success will be more moderate: I will be able to walk to the store two days in a row. I will be able to walk two days in a row. :biggrin: What I find frustrating is the people at the clinic don't seem to get it. I appear to be a misfit among the misfits of society. I keep being assured that my life will change so much, which I don't doubt, but I wonder if they have any clue of what my life is like? Will the band magically let me hold a pencil long enough to write a letter? Will I be able to play my violin or harp again? The psych lady I met yesterday was all impressed how I seemed to know my body much better than the average person and that learning the rules of the band would be a breeze for me. The truth is that for years, one small lapse in thought and I've popped something in my mouth that will lead to hours of gut wrenching pain or my eyes swelling shut. Push myself too hard and I'm bedridden for days. She seemed really nice and wanting to help while we chatted for our 35 minute hour, but she specialises in anorexia, bulemia and overeating... I wonder if she knows much about people who've grown old before their time. Then again, it was the first session... I'm hoping that a few more sessions will get us all on the same page. I'm really looking forward to working with the chiropractor they have on staff. Ontario's major failing in health care is that if it can't find something specifically wrong, it won't fix it or expend the energy to see what can be done for you. When one of the foremost rhumatologists in Toronto tells you "wow, your life must suck, but there's nothing I can do about it" you tend to lose heart. I've not been able to afford private physiotherapy, massage therapy or the chiropractic care I probably could use, so I've gone without. I didn't want to risk getting addicted to a therapy I couldn't do long term. How dumb is that? So apparently for the next year or so I'm being offered unlimited access to this guy. After me, they may want to revise that policy. Usually I'm not so much of a whiner... I promise I'll be more upbeat next time. In the meantime, keep posting the canoeing pictures. Even though I can't do it myself, that doesn't mean I don't like seeing others have fun.:sad:

I thought this was a really great FAQ that answers a few more questions beyond the usual what is a band/how is it adjusted type of question. Also, interestingly, the doctor talks about the causes and repair of erosion, slippage, and pouch dilation. This docter says erosion has to do with the way the band is stitched to your stomach. If that's true, it might explain why erosion is more likely to happen with some surgeons than with others. Just a thought. liquids. That said, average weight loss is 50% of excess weight at 5 years. But this includes all patients, including those who have lost little or no weight. How is the Band adjusted? The Band is tightened by accessing the port with a needle. This is most commonly done in the office. Some surgeons do it at the hospital under x-ray guidance, but this is generally not necessary, and makes the procedure much more expensive. For patients with very thick abdominal walls, it may be more difficult to find the port. In our office we have an ultrasound machine which makes it possible to access most ports without need for x-ray. Can I adjust my own Band? In theory, yes. But the answer is NO. NO. NO :confused: (you just know somebody has tried this at home) Why do I have to take Vitamins? The LapBand operation is purely restrictive, so technically you don't need to take vitamins if you are eating a healthy diet. On the other hand, by definition you are eating a hypo-caloric diet, one which will cause you to lose weight. Because of this, we worry that you won't get all the vitamins and minerals you need. This is the main reason we ask you to take vitamins after the surgery. What about the gallbladder? We don't remove the gallbladder unless you already have gallstones that are causing symptoms. Weight loss is slow and natural, so the risk of gallstones is not sufficiently elevated as to make gallbladder removal worth doing. Can the Band be rejected by my body? The Band is made of silicone rubber, and cannot be rejected. Of course it can become infected and require removal, but this is not the same as being rejected like a transplanted organ. What happens after I lose my weight? The Band causes you to lose weight by restricting your caloric intake to less than your caloric expenditure. As you lose weight, your calorie requirements diminish. Once intake matches expenditure, you stop losing weight. How long does the Band stay in? The Band stays in forever. If it is removed you will regain all the weight you lost. What is a slipped Band, and what causes it? There are two types of slippage; anterior and posterior. This refers to whether the front or back side of the stomach slips. There is something else called concentric pouch dilation, but this is not the same as slippage. Slippage or prolapse is when the stomach slides up through the Band, making the pouch bigger. If this happens the Band usually becomes too tight, and patients experience symptoms of reflux (heartburn) as well as nausea and vomiting. This is because the amount of stomach being “squeezed” by the Band is increased, thereby obstructing the Band. There are several causes. Posterior slippage was more common when the Band was placed by the “perigastric” technique. With this technique the back side of the stomach was free to slide up through the Band. These days most surgeons use the “pars flaccida” technique, which was developed to prevent posterior slippage, and has more or less eliminated the incidence of this problem. Anterior slippage is when the front of the stomach slips up through the Band. We try to prevent this by suturing the stomach below the Band to the stomach above the Band, “locking” the Band in place in the right spot. In spite of this, slippage still occurs. It can happen because we haven't placed enough stitches, or they haven't been placed in the right place. Slippage can also occur if patients eat too much and vomit frequently. How is a slipped Band diagnosed? Fortunately, this is very easy. Often the diagnosis is made based on the history alone. A patient who has been going along fine, with no problems, and then suddenly develops reflux symptoms or symptoms of a too-tight Band will most likely have a slipped Band. The diagnosis is easily confirmed with an x-ray and barium swallow examination. Endoscopy is rarely necessary. How is a slipped Band fixed? A slipped Band needs to be fixed with an operation. The Band has to be dissected out, all the sutures removed, and the position of the stomach made right. Some surgeons remove the Band and place it back through a new tunnel. Others just straighten things out and re-suture the stomach over the Band. What happens if the Band slips again? That's a tough one. One could certainly try to fix the slip again, but my personal view is that, for whatever reason, the Band is just not working for that particular patient, and ought to be removed. What is a Band erosion? This is when the Band actually erodes into the stomach. It is a more serious problem, and generally requires removal of the Band. Band erosion is thought to be related to placing too many sutures (or too tight sutures) at the time of Band implantation. Surprisingly, Band erosion is often unnoticed. Occasionally the port will become infected if bacteria track along the catheter out to the port. Other times patients will stop losing weight. Diagnosis often requires an endoscopy. What is concentric pouch dilation? This is technically not the same as slippage. In this case the pouch just seems to be enlarged. Sometimes partial emptying of the Band may help with this. What is esophageal dilation? This is when the esophagus enlarges over time, and is probably related to either too tight a Band, or possibly improper placement of the Band around the junction of the esophagus and stomach. This requires loosening or removal of the Band. What happens if my Band has to be removed because of complications or failure to lose weight? One option, of course, is to give up on weight loss surgery. Another option is to convert to another procedure such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This can be done at the same time the Band is removed, and is generally done laparoscopically. If you have questions that have not been answered by this FAQ, please send them to me and I will try to answer them for you. Mark A Pleatman MD 43494 Woodward Ave. #202 Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48302 Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Phone: (248) 334-5444 Fax: (248) 334-5484 Email: pleatman@laparoscopy.com

I started with the lap band in 2008 which is how the GERD started. I revised to the Sleeve in 2010 thinking it would help, not knowing back then it would get worse. It has progressively gotten so bad over the years my reflux is out of control. I take tons of medications and now including cough pills, syrups, drops, I regurgitate in my sleep... etc. My insurance has just recently approved me for another revision to the Rny Gastric Bypass (thank GOD). I do try to put the word out not to take that chance, who wants to be revised so many times? It's either revision for me or future Barrett's or esophageal cancer. Guess which one I chose?

I think stress makes you gain weight. My job is very stressful and I gained a lot of weight over a very short period of time. My eating habits did not change so I can only think it was the stress. I was converted from band to bypass 4/3. My surgeon was able to do it in one surgery which was the only thing I was stressing about prior to surgery. She warned me ahead do time that often there is so much scar tissue that she cannot safely do the bypass. You have to heal and they do it at a later time. My insurance has a dollar cap on bariatric procedures so if I did not get it converted in one surgery I was not going to be able to have a second due to costs. After all the worry she was able to do it but the surgery was very long. It took better than 4 hours. Do not worry about the weight gain and try to desires as you are able. I go for a walk or listen to music or read to help with the stress. Good luck to you!! Jennie

After being on diet after diet and losing and gaining back hundreds of pounds my decision was based on what I could personally live with. I wasn't comfortable with bypass or the sleeve because of the anatomical changes that seemed far drastic than the band. It took me a long time to decide on WLS as the right choice because I knew when I put my mind to it, I could lose the weight and get back in the "normal" BMI range. The problem is, it didn't last long. I could never stay at any particular weight for any length of time. The physical deprivation after a period of time and the powerlessness I felt when I was gaining and couldn't stop myself was more than I was willing to bear. The band for me seemed like the best choice because it would physically help me control the amount I was eating if I could control the type of food I was choosing to consume. I was willing to do my part. The lap band to me personally seemed the least drastic to me and the only one I was willing to consider.