oldoneyoungagain

I don't get off work until 9 PM so I'm up until 2-3 sometimes 4 in the morning. Really don't have anything better to do and enjoy this forum. Congrats on your weight loss, you're doing terrific.

"Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate. So if you're trying to hydrate, drinking regular coffee or tea is not the best choice. Caffeine can also hurt your stomach pouch if you drink it in large amounts, so cut back on caffeine or, if you can, eliminate it entirely." taken from Weightloss Surgery for Dummies. If you stop, maybe at one, then you might be okay. But that "one" can be an issue, one didn't hurt me so I'll have another, etc. etc. Of course it is your choice, its your body.

My doctor says no caffine, unfortunately ice tea also has caffine so decaf only in both. Now about the cola products whether diet or regular these also contain caffine but there is another reason why you cannot have it. What happens when you shake pop and then open it? It sorta fizzes out because the carbonation has to have room to expand. The same thing can happen in your pouch, it can cause the pouch to expand. The caffine causes ulcers. So if you are having this surgery to get healthy I would suggest to rethink your addictions as you may end up in even worse shape than being overweight.

Trust me you have medication before you go into the operating room which they will give you through your IV. After that you probably won't care and probably will become sleepy and dose off and on. This is standard procedure. Once you go into the operating room and on the table you will be put to sleep almost immediately as the surgeon doesn't want to dilly dally around. You'll be just fine.

I was banded in 2010, never had a problem except with the WL Clinic so went to a new one in 2013. They found the band had slipped and had it out 5/23/13. The surgeon left it up to me whether the sleeve or bypass, so I asked which one he would recommend. He said the bypass, reasoning is because of the success rate of (they say cure and I say remission) of diabetes. The sleeve has some good results but because you can continue to eat carbs and sweets, etc. it isn't as successful. All my research also says bypass is the gold standard and the most researched. So I'm having bypass but finishing up by three months weight management, so hopefully I'll have it in September. Of course the decision is yours, but do you really want to go yet through another surgery if the sleeve doesn't work, it is even newer than the band, so not much research coming in on the success rate or complications. Those are my thoughts though.

Welcome aboard the RNYtalk forum, great place and very informative. Hope everything is going well for you. I'm trying to maintain my loss with the lapband as it got removed in May. I don't want to regain any just to have to take it off when I get bypass. That is to be announced, hopefully September. Shouldn't have much more to go through, one dietatian visit and a four hour course of the do's and don'ts, then submission to insurance. Know where Kearney is at, have been through the town a number of times. Keep us posted how you are doing, you on your way to a newer you.

samistains keep us posted how you are doing, even though I know a number of people who have had bypass around the KC area, don't have very many that post on the Kansas City forum. It won't be long before you are on the loser's bench.

ArmyOfMe you are in very good hands with Dr. Hoehn in fact all three doctors are fantastic. I actually see Dr. Brice Hamilton and who will be doing by bypass. I'm a Kansas girl and know Junction City/Manhattan area quite well. Born in Herington and actually raised in Ramona. Eventually married a man from Onaga. Welcome aboard RNYtalk this is a great source and a great group.

I've always said that if you are talking about me then you must not have anyone else to talk about. Tiny look at this as a positive. These people are showing they are concerned and care about you. It is when people don't take notice that you mean nothing to them and those are the ones I wouldn't even want in my life or even associate with.

I'm not totally sure but if you are using FMLA, which falls under federal guidelines, and of course this is a medical issue do believe your HR has to protect your privacy regarding any health issues. So if they are the only ones that know about your leave and what is for and it gets leaked, they could be in a world of hurt if you wanted to push it. I do know where I work they cannot say anything more than you are ill and I'm not sure they can even say that. But they do go that far.

Another band going to bypass. Will say I also had a small hitial hernia and the surgeon repaired it when doing the band, so don't know what the problem is having a hitial hernia as long as it gets repaired. But wish I had researched the band more because I would have gone with RNY instead of the band which is one the cardiologist recommended and suggested I have done. A lot of well known hospitals are no longer offering lapband because of complications arising now. The day I had my band removed, my surgeon was removing two more. Just an FYI.

Even though I'm one of the oldest on the forum, your statement about your mother hit home. If my mother were still here she would have asked the same question of me. Your answer was great, I might have added "Mom, does it look like dieting these last 17 years has helped me? It looks obvious I need something more that will let me succeed to make me healthier and keep me that way". "I think mother you want that for me also." By the way yo-yo dieting is the most unhealthy thing for your body and that is what we do so we do need something that helps us keep the weight off in order for our bodies to be healthier. As far as telling other people that would be up to you. You'll get positive support and negative support. But you do have the best support already, your husband and all of us here on this forum. Good luck.

With God in your corner, by now you are recovering and the new you has begun. Its like being born again. Way to go.

Heck I feel that way every morning and I haven't had surgery yet! You'll start feeling better as your energy level improves. Keep up the protein and fluids, first as foremost.

I have two more things to complete, one more visit with the dietatian, 4 hour orientation (do's, don'ts, expectation, and list of foods to have and have not) then they will submit insurance for approval and hopefully surgery can be scheduled for sometime in September. Since I'm on Medicare approval won't be an issue, just making sure all the i's are dotted, and all the t's are crossed.

I totally agree with what you are saying that it has been around the longest, and I wish I would have done that first. It was my cardiologist that suggested the lapband when I suggested Weight Watchers. Believe he did that for #1 my age 67 at the time, #2 heart condition, #3 lung involvement and if it had to be reversed it could be. Instead the three years I had the band (which I never had a problem until it was discovered it slipped) I lost the necessary weight (50 lbs) that now I can get through the RNY surgery, with probably minor problems. When the band was removed I threw PVCs (very irregular heart beat) and my blood pressure dropped but at my age now 71 they expect that. None of my five doctors seem concerned. I might add had the band not slipped I wouldn't be doing RNY especially now that I am older, but have another 40 lbs to go and would like to get off the insulin pump and some if not all 21 other medications I have to take.

First time for the lapband I had to have pulmonary clearance, cardiology clearance, psych clearance, six months of weight management with PCP, had to attend the seminar (actually was to see a dietatian but they were not picky so went to the one associated with my PCP). Had labs, but didn't have to have a chest x-ray and that could have been because I was only there for less then 8 hours and went home. RNY has a longer stay and could be hospital requirements for a chest x-ray. Now since they have removed the band (had an endoscopy to see if the band had erroded and/or slipped) so done, three months of weight management with PCP last one was today, three visits with the dietatian (theirs) one more to go, 4 hour orientation class to be announced, clearance again from the cardiologist and pulmonologist was done, and another psych clearance was done. I'm sure another set of labs they haven't said anything about chest x-ray yet. I attended a seminar but did that on my own, as had seen the surgeon regarding my lapband. All insurances have different requirements, as well as the doctors have a few of their own. But this was pretty much the basics that I have to do twice now. Not much variance between the two even though it was two difference WL centers.

Vicki Welcome don't know how many will reply who have had sleeve to bypass revision as haven't seen much chatting for a month. If you go to Forum on the upper left hand side and select Forums Home then scoll to the main heading called "main gastric bypass surgery forums" scoll down in that area to sub heading "Band to Gastric Bypass Revisions" and click on that, yes I know you are talking the sleeve. Once that populates scoll down and there is a forum Sleeve to Gastric Bypass revisions or something close to that. I noticed though most who have had this done are either communating in other forums now or not at all. There is nothing recent but there is some information, or stories that might be helpful. Hopefully someone who has had this done will respond who can answer any questions you might help. All use the search button as missmachine just posted "revision from sleeve to bypass". Hope this helps.

Welcome Missmachine. don't know how many will reply who have had sleeve to bypass revision as haven't seen much chatting for a month. If you go to Forum on the upper left hand side and select Forums Home then scoll to the main heading called "main gastric bypass surgery forums" scoll down in that area to sub heading "Band to Gastric Bypass Revisions" and click on that, yes I know you are talking the sleeve. Once that populates scoll down and there is a forum Sleeve to Gastric Bypass revisions or something to close to that. I noticed though most who have had this done are either communating in other forums now or not at all. There is nothing recent but there is some information, or stories that might be helpful. Hopefully someone who has had this done will respond who can answer any questions you might help. Hope this helps.

Totally agree with you. Some insurances though will pay for a removal of the loose skin in the tummy area if you have problems with rash, actually it is usually yeast infection that develops. But I would think as you do, it shouldn't be about how you look but the road to a healthy you. Looks don't kill, but being overweight will.

Don't know what the doctor is talking about "shoulder blade". I've had pain behind my left shoulder blade and doctor thought I was having a heat attack. Had a heart cath all was good. Switched doctors because it continued, come to find out I had dystolic dysfunction causing pulmonary hypertension excerise induced. Thus this led to having a lap band. Had to take the weight off to give the heart and lungs more room. Only lost 50 lbs with the band but even this helped with the shoulder blade issue, but damage has been done to the heart which isn't going to go away with weight loss, but the extra fat won't be an issue allowing the heart to have the room it needs. Still have another 50 lbs but now doing it because of diabetes and relieving some of the hypertension. Hopefully this will eliminate the insulin, and some of the medications I have to take, which totals 23 pills per day and insulin through a pump 24/7.

Just had the band out wasn't fortunate enough to have the revision at the same time. Dr won't do them together, his excuse, he wants the stomach to heal. So jumping through hoops again but only for three months. Hoping for surgery in September. The amazing thing about removal surgery, didn't even fill the pain prescription, I really didn't have any pain but sure have some nasty scars. Just a tender area where there isn't a scar but it is going away slowly. Will be posting more when I have the bypass. Trying not to be too ansy about it or lets say after the surgery is done. I'm a pro with surgeries it is what comes after.

I had the band out in May. They asked if I wanted something to relax me basically told them I was fine. Two hours late into the operating room at 3PM, got on the small table, they then gave me a shot through the IV to relax, still haven't figured that out, I was very calm. They put the oxygen mask on for a few minutes and then the anesthesiologist got a vial which was the drug that put me out and out I went. I woke up in recovery at 4 PM and it was on, ate ice chips, got dressed, went to the bathroom and was out the door into the car by 4:45 PM. When I had the band put in I didn't want to wake up, didn't have any problem this last time. The only thing that bothers me is what type of pain I'll wake up with. I've had a lot of surgeries and the only one that was extremely painful was breast reduction. Everything else was a piece of cake. My concern is the soreness that I'm still having from having the band removed and how much the new surgery will agravate it. It still has to be pretty tender. getting a little better but think that will be the area that bothers me most. Going to sleep is easy, waking up can be difficult because you like sleeping, then others wake right up like nothing happened. I think it is the anestestic that is given. And when you do wake up you will be loaded with pain medications. For some this surgery is easy for other a little more difficult. You all will be surprised once it is over. Don't think it is as bad as you are all thinking it will be.

Totally agree with you regarding the diabetes. My surgeon recommended the RNY because of my diabetes and I just went on the Omnipod. Of course I have other health problems, which it will help also. In the seminar I attended, the medical field is looking into doing RNY for those people who have type II diabetes but not that much overweight, or morbidly obese. So, think this is a lot better decision compared to the lap band (I had, it failed) and the sleeve. Good luck.

I honestly don't think we can win for losing. We are trying to make ourselves healthy by taking our weight off which creates the high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart problems and the list goes on. Now if we have/would develop this, behind our backs the thoughts, snide remarks "she/he wouldn't have these problems if they would take weight off". Off comes the weight, we develop a cough, sinsus infections (which by the way blood pressure medications can cause sinusitis), flu and it is because we lost too much weight, we're too skinny, or the surgery itself is too blame . I don't care if they are professionals or friends, until they walk in our shoes they will never get it. My favorite saying is "you can't argue with stupid".