Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Considering surgery...



Recommended Posts

Hello. I've looked into the surgery about a year ago, did some research & got a little worried about the side effects and decided not to do it. I've again thought about doing it and did some more research. I was hoping to get some detailed input from recent and long-term banders. Any complications? Concerns? Frustrations? Suggestions? I'm hoping to maybe get the surgery done in October. How long before that do I need to meet with the doctor and start working with my insurance? Any information would be greatly appreciated! :smile: Thanks and congrats to all you banders that are doing great! :tongue2:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest ZenGarden

Complications: absolutely none. I never needed any pain meds whatsoever and even drove myself home from the hospital the following. I've never experienced all the vomiting and reflux that others have, but everyone is unique.

Frustrations: slow weight loss and lack of restriction. I'm 14 months post-op and only down 62 pounds. I still struggle with adequate restriction and have had seven fills so far. I work out three times per week and barely eat anything, but again - everyone is different and so far, my weight loss has been very slow, and very random.

PS - my final thought: if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone with VBG or DS instead.

Best of luck to you. My best advice is to do all the research you can (as did I), but all the research in the world won't matter until you have surgery and experience things on your own. Only after surgery will you see how well your body reacts to weight loss.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Leslie2Lose

Hi Hinman! Depending on your insurance carrier, you may want to go ahead and contact them and your doctor. Some carriers require six month diets, psych evaluations, and other hoops to jump through. Mine (BCBS FEP) didn't require any of that.

I am a "newbie". I was banded on April 10th and am down 34 pounds. My port flipped sometime after surgery and I have to have another surgery to fix it. I haven't been able to have a fill yet due to my flipped port. That being said, I still love my band and would have the surgery again. I know that it isn't a quick fix. I didn't expect to have surgery and six months later be down 100 pounds. I haven't been sick at all and still have some restriction, even with the band alone.

Everyone is different. Some people are slow losers and some lose rapidly. I think it depends on your body, your metabolism and what you put into it. All three play a factor in success.

I like the fact I can still eat what I want in moderation. I do follow the bandster rules, Protein, fruits/veggies, then all the other...but I can still have a cookie if I want one. We just have to chew, chew, chew. Eating one cookie or a couple of chips isn't what made me fat - eating half the box or half the bag is. With other types of WL surgeries you can't eat certain foods or you WILL get sick.

Do your research. I'd definately contact your doctor and insurance carrier to get the ball rolling. It may take you between now and then to get everything in order. Hopefully you'll be lucky and it won't.

Good luck to you and I hope all works out well for you.

Edited by Leslie2Lose

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Start your appts now. Insurance usually draws things out to go slower so the sooner the better. Wishing you lots of luck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×