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Im' 2 weeks 4 days post op. I eat whatever I want with no problems. However, I puree them as instructed. I also don't eat any bread, Pasta, patatoes or corn. I get plenty of flavor with all the variety but everything is pureed. I will start soft food in 2 days. I also feel that I could eat regular food but I know that this surgery was expensive, my life is important and not following the directions could cause not only short term but possibly long term complications. Give your body a chance to heal, you are worth it! The weight will come off focus more on your Water thats also very important. Good luck!

Oh Amie I am so excited for you! What an exciting year!!! And if that baby can hold on one day longer it could share my birthday!! I know one of my biggest motivating factors in revising my complete flop of a band to a sleeve (aside from its many complications) is my desire to be a more active and parent! Congratulations on your sleeve, your marriage (shameful that we have to put significance on it being legal, but so exciting all the same) and even more so, the beginning of your family! Such an exciting time! Look forward to watching your progress!!!

I too had a drain. I had a fair bit of oozing, so the drain collected it all nicely. I'd rather have the inconvenience of the drain, than a serious Fluid build up internally ... Better out than in, Shrek's mantra Had my drain for 3 days, also. Was glad to have it taken out, and did not suffer any complications.

Hey Hallen! My revision was the 26th! No complications. Just got back from Mexico late last night. The last hour in the car was murder! How is your liquid diet going? Have you had broth? I never thought broth could be so heavenly! I actually have been enjoying the herbal tea and broth best, which is weird cause I'm usually a sweets person. Haven't really felt like jello or juice yet.

I too am low bmi (just under 35) and just starting this search. physical & seminar scheduled for next week. Family history of diabetes and high blood pressure (not here yet). Considering Mexico since going self-pay but that thought is scaring the hell out of me. 1. I hear alot of good things about doctors in Mexico -- but would like to hear who you didn't like and why? 2. Also, do they have BMI restrictions like the states? 3. Considering combining with a vacation - but how long before I can go back to work? I can't take off more than 2 weeks. I'm a secretary, so non-strenuous. 4. I am a "high pre-diabetic", anything I can do to ensure I go up 5 points for the test? If so I could be approved for a local surgeon and insurance coverage. 5. Anybody that had complications with Mexico surgery - does US insurance ever cover complications? (How long does the drain stay in?) I know I have alot of questions but very anxious to get things going. Still sorting through the forum but working two jobs doesn't leave alot of free time.

This is what you get with a bored 911 Emergency Medical Dispatcher when there are no calls going on - I'm digging through way old threads and gonna bump some because I love this site but there's only so much new stuff on here to occupy my time so I gotta go diggin......so bumpity bump bump 1. What is your first name? CandySmoocherrrrrrrr 2. How long have you been banded? 5 months 3. How much weight have you lost? 10 lbs and I've had to fight for it so I'm proud!! 4. What was your favorite food pre-banding? 5. What is your favorite food now? 6. Are there any foods you can't or don't eat? Mozzerella sticks - they scare the crap out of me - and now I'm staying away from cheesburgers since the I Puked On Myself Thread. 7. What is your favorite snack food? Why is this one all about food? LOL 8. Has your SO changed towards you in any way since you were banded? Ok these questions are too complicated for my simple little mind. Was just lookin to pass some time. 9. What are some of the things you can do now that you couldn't do before? 10. Do you have any pets? What kind? I have a 9 year old basset/beagle named Tucker - he is the light of my life even though he mostly sleeps. 11. What would your dream vacation be if you could go anywhere you wanted? A private secluded spa resort on a huge lake with my own private jacuzzi and male massusse 12. If you won a million dollars, what would be the first thing you would do with it? Buy some land and start building a dream cabin on a lake! 13. What are your favorite books to read? Trashy romance novels, true stories, & murder/mystery 14. What is your favorite TV program? My Name Is Earl - finally a true sitcom to laugh at

I did in Jan. I did have a minor complication. I came through the surgery ok and was doing fine when a couple of hours later I had a sudden drop in BP. They did an ultrasound and thought that there could be a bleed somewhere so they took me back into surgery and also gave me 4 units of blood. No major issues found in 2nd surgery. I have since spoken to the Doc and he says that the trocar probably damaged a minor blood vessel in the stomach layers - a complication that could have happened with any surgery. I was in hospital for 5 nights and did feel like I had been hit by a bus. On day 5 I developed mild asthma, I couldn’t wait to get home. Felt very weird for the first couple of weeks. Head was fuzzy and I felt like I had a hair in my throat. Possibly Ketosis combined with an ear issue! I have lost all the weight that I regained when my band stopped working and now feel fab. I weigh 50kg. The bypass is so much better than the band. My diet is much healthier, when I’m full I feel it in my stomach not in my throat and chest and I can go out and eat and not spend the night in the bathroom throwing up because 1 bite went down wrong. I don’t have any food issues, I can eat just about anything. I do have to be careful with sugar, too much gives me the shakes, palpitations and leaves me feeling generally awful - this is a good thing.

I was thinking of the sleeve, but since its nor reverseable I got a bit scared. The sleeve is more cost effective then the band. However, with the sleeve doing my research I've read more complications. Such as leakage, dumping, and etc. I'm confused. Help? Anyone had problems?

I understand the appeal of the band. Originally it seemed less drastic to me. But as I researched further and became more aware of the serious complications that some have with the band the sleeve began to appeal to me more. I also saw many doctors no longer perform or recommend the band surgery. Also at some point the band has to come out. Then what? I don't know about your dieting history, but I could get it all together and lose weight for a while, but I could never get all the way to goal and then I could never keep the weight off. I had a problem that needed a PERMANENT solution. With the sleeve you are "one and done," but the band is a life time commitment to adjustments, fills and eventually replacement. Wishing you all the best as you continue your research and decide what is best for you. Good for you for making steps to lose weight and get healthier whichever you decide!

I think complications with the band is higher. I've even read that some bariatric doctors are no longer doing the band, but have went with going with the sleeve and bypass only. Read the complications in the band forum. In two days my sister converts from band to sleeve. Slippage, scar tissue and erosion are just a few band complications. Also trying to find that "sweet spot" where your fill is perfect can take years. It did for her. You have to research and then research some more. Then at the end of the day, go with what you feel is right for you.

My doctor says it stays in forever, unless there is a complication.

I went to the doctor for a check up. I had the lap band with plication surgery done about 15 months ago. He said that apparently the upper part of my stomach below where the band was put is messed up in some way.. It wasnt sewn or its enlarged or something like that I am not exactly sure. The doctor said this could explain some of the problems I have been having.. Does anyone know what he might be talking about? He told me to see the doctor for an endoscopy and that he would need that information to move further on this. I dont know what this is about he said the upper part of my stomach is enlarged or something anyone know anything about this?

This has been my true test lately. Dh has a serious injury with complications that is requiring him to be off work for a year and is on his 4th surgery tomorrow (with6 more to go). I have been craving lifting free weights more than anything. Not eating, drinking, or smoking. I need to feel my muscles work hard and then I feel immensely better. I am so happy I did not automatically turn to Ben and Jerrys!

You should really just drink more protein then and maybe not go so hard with the nuts and regular food because you have staples in there and your body is still healing you don't want to cause a serious complication for yourself

Hi. I was banded Oct 29, 2010. Dr. George Woodman is my surgeon. He has a remarkable team. I have had no complications from surgery at all. I have had very few side effects. I returned to work when I was 3 days post-op...much to Dr.'s dismay. I am looking forward to a new lifestyle. One that doesn't revolve around food and being what I like to call a foodie. My journey began w/a starting weight of 293.5 lbs. That was June 29, 2010. That day changed my life. I am now at 235 and have hit a plateau. I have had one fill and wanted to do it without a fill. I fell back into old patterns. Started nibbling here and there mindlessly. Going back to dr tomorrow. Will probably fill. Anyhow, I'm way off track. I just wanted to say how happy I am to have found this sight. It is reassuring to see people w/similar issues and be able to talk about them. My family tries to understand, but they don't. Sometimes it takes being there to fully understand. Look forward to seeing what all is on here. Have a great day!!

what caused me to look into this elective insurance option is I noticed that Dr. Kelley in Tijuana offers the cover for $250 but I later found out it only covers complications during surgery or while you are recovering in Mexico. It does not cover complications when you return to the U.S. I'm signed up with Corvala at Hospital Angeles. They said that they have looked hard for insurance to cover post op complications but haven't been able to identify any policies that would make sense for patients. That caused me to look at my own health insurance policy fine print. I am fortunate to be covered by two health plans but neither covers bariatric surgery. The first plan is silent as to whether it would cover post bariatric surgery complications. The second plan does cover post surgery complications for elective surgery but I had to dig through the fine print to find it and the insurance company rep I spoke to orignally gave me the wrong answer over the phone and I had to correct her leading to her eventually agreeing with me. If you are going to have elective bariatric surgery and are under a health plan you may want to check to see if your plan will cover post op complications(i.e. leaks or strictures) from elective surgery. If it doesn't cover post op complications and you are one of the unlucky ones that develops complications it could obviously lead to very large out of pocket medica bills.

Here is another company with the type of insurance policy I'm referring to and there are several other companies that offer this coverage. What put me onto this is that Dr. Kelley who is a bariatric surgeon in Tijuana does VSG surgery sometimes at Hospital Angeles and other places in the TJ area offers Medical Tourism insurance as part of his package for an extra 250 dollars. It seems to me that it would be money well spent to have this coverage in case I get back to the u.s. and develop vsg related complications. I have a feeling my primary and secondary health insurance companies in the u.s currectly covering me would give me a hard time about paying for any complications related to an elective vsg. i would have better piece of mind having surgery in tijuana if I had a policy like this to cover large unforseen medical bills due to vsg complications when i get back to the u.s. https://www2.sevencorners.com/medical-tourism-insurance/ MEDICAL TOURISM INSURANCE Why Buy Medical Tourism Insurance? Whatever the reason you decide to pursue Medical Tourism, complications are always a possibility. When a medical procedure is performed abroad, there is normally no insurance coverage to protect you if you have complications. Bordercross WorldwideSM medical tourism insurance is the first plan to help with the needs of a medical tourist. Our plan protects you for medical complications and provides travel assistance services. Maximum Trip Length: 60 days Bordercross Worldwide Key Highlights: Medical Complications Up to $50,000 Trip Cancellation Up to $40,000 for you and your traveling companion for travel accommodations, including non-refundable expenses paid to the medical facility scheduled to perform the procedure, in the event you need to cancel your trip prior to your scheduled departure date Medical Coverage Up to $50,000 for acute illness and injuries for you and your traveling companion, which may arise on your medical tour Medical Evacuation Up to $100,000 Coverage Available for medical procedures performed outside the United States Travel Assistance Services Included- Available 24/7/365 Underwritten by Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Virtual ID cards available immediately after purchase. View the Bordercross WorldwideSM Brochure for details, restrictions and the schedule of benefits. View the Bordercross WorldwideSM Program Summary for full details and restrictions.

Part of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver to reduce the chances of complications during surgery. If you're not worried about complications, don't bother with the pre-op diet.

It is rly hard, some days are easier some days are tough but it does rly help you after your surgery. Also it's about shrinking your liver for less chance of complications for surgery:) keep going, try and stay positive, you can do it!

I can't recommend one or the other but here are my thoughts: Advice for those researching Lapband: Ask what your doctor's experience is with removing lap bands. How long can I expect to keep my band before it needs to be removed? (Bands are being removed anywhere between 2 years out and onwards. I personally know of only 3 people who have had their bands 5+ years and one of those is on band #2.) What long term negative effects have your patients experienced with Lapband? Lapband is a high pressure system. The band creates a great deal of pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter. The esophagus, in attempting to move food into the pouch, puts tremendous pressure on the LES, as well. Over time this causes damage and the sphincter fails to open. This creates a feeling of being "stuck" but your food hasn't even made it to the pouch. This situation is becoming more and more common in the banded population and causes permanent long term damage that cannot be reversed. This is what is called "difficulty swallowing" on the disclosure. It's actually band induced achalasia. Often on the various wls forums or social media groups, people will speak of random tightness, difficulty with swallowing yogurt, liquids, etc, regurgitation of meals despite cutting their food, chewing thouroghly and eating only 1/2 cup meals. What's your practice's re operation %? (Re operation following Lapband is upwards of 50%) any claims of lower % might mean your doctors patients are seeking help elsewhere when problems arise. How many of your Lapband patients have reached goal weight? (Average EW loss is in the 40-60% range...if you have 100 lb to lose, you can expect to lose 40-60 lb.) What do you consider compliance? -attendance at support meetings? -weighing, measuring, logging food intake? -adherence to a particular diet? -steady weight loss? -monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual band check ups? -what is the protocol for fills? (Many doctors consider failure to lose 1-2 lb per week noncompliance despite their patients claiming to adhere to a strict protocol.) I hear a lot about certain complications such as: achalasia, gastroparesis, adhesions of stomach to liver, erosion, band slips, band tightening without a recent fill. What's your experience with these issues. (More and more banded patients are experiencing these complications starting as early as 1 year post op and as long as 9-10 years out.) Will you band someone with autoimmune disorders? (This is a mixed bag...my personal experience is that having a foreign object in my body exacerbated my IBS) Do you screen for contraindications using EGD, esophageal manometry and upper GI? (These tests should be done to evaluate your ability to tolerate banding) If I have a hiatal hernia, what procedure do you use to repair it? What type of sutures do you use? (Nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures are never used in conjunction with bariatric surgery to repair existing hiatal hernia). As a final warning, recently there have been increasing reports of cardiac issues following banding...irregular heartbeat, arrhythmias, palpitations, etc. The heart and the esophagus lie sued by side in the chest. The vagus nerve(controls heart rate, breathing and GI tract) is also in the same area. Food retained in the esophagus puts pressure on the nerve and heart. This is not good. I'm posting this because although I lost over 100 lb while I had my band, I now have permanent esophageal damage, cardiac problems and I'm on additional medications to manage the complications caused by my band. I was compliant with diet and lifestyle changes. Part of the problem was that my hiatal hernia was repaired using a nissen fundoplication and pledgeted sutures. Also, upon removing my band it was found to be placed very high on the stomach. I didn't have esophageal manometry testing prior to my band placement. (My band doctor was recently named as one of Seattle's Best Bariatric Surgeons for 2013.) 3 years later I had 0% motility when tested. I never had swallowing problems before banding. I still have difficulty with many foods. Bands are a money maker for doctors who are still implanting them. They get paid to put them in, fill them, empty them and remove them, then revise their patients. Many reputable medical institutions will no longer implant a band and many who still do, consider it a short term device and remove within 2-3 years then revise to gastric sleeve before permanent damage is done. I thought the band was least invasive. I have 15 incisions on my belly I didn't have when I started this. 3 surgeries, dozens of diagnostic, invasive tests, $150,000 later and I don't have a WL tool. I have a cardiac condition I didn't have, esophageal dilation and achalasia + 3 new meds costing me $150/month out of pocket. Do your research and be open to hearing the "negative" along with the positive...it might save you from years of suffering.

Hi all I am totally freaking out! My surgery is one week away and i am so tempted to cancel. I am really scared and nervous. I am not new to WLS, i had the band for 6 years, had complications and had it removed 12 months ago, so i have been through this process before and have an idea of what to expect kind of. I keep asking myself the following... - Cant i just continue Optifast to loose weight. - what will happen 20 years down the track. - is it necessary since i am not that big and i hold my weight well - why go through this and get loose skin when my body is not that flabby now. - will this cause me to have no social life as eating is a form of social and cultural get togethers. - my hair is already falling out.... will i be bald. And so much more. Ive researched for months and still can't imagine how much I will be able to eat n drink. Please help... i am seriously tempted to cancel my surgery as i am petrified that ill end up with complications that I had with my band 6 years out. Did anyone else go through this so close to surgery?

I was told I'm clear to do whatever I wanted after 6 weeks. Unless I had complication which I didn't. Start off slow and work your way up. HW: 331 SW: 11/26/12 319lbs CW: 219 05/26/13 GW: 157

I'm 5yrs out from Realize Banding. Right after surgery, I was in so much pain, they had to keep me in hosp. for a day. It was supposed to be an outpatient procedure. I think the pain originated from the port being sewn to my tummy muscle. My band was installed with no fill in it. I wonder why your new band is "too tight'? I'm pretty sure it's common practice to install the bands empty, though I don't know-know. Have you had any fills yet? My experience: A too-tight fill results in those awful hacking night coughs, bad burning acidy tummy & esophogus that could result in ulcers, vomiting (usually a mucus plug comes out & not much more), and no weight loss. It's important to get Fluid out asap if your band is filled too tight to prevent other medical complications like I've had.

I cannot even imagine losing 70 lbs and keeping it off! Im a bit concerned about adverse and long term effects. Glad to see 3 years out you are doing well. Did you have any post surg complications? Nausuea? Were you on birth control pills around sugery time? I am on them just to regulate period . Due to clotting concerns they want to take me off before and after. Hoping losing weight helps regulate me!

I am excited and nervous I complete my last part Of my insurance necessity's Today and then I just have to wait for a surgery date. I had my band placed back in October 2008 and have been having complications with it and weight gain since The end of 2011. I now have my two insurance to help cover all costs! Can someone please let me know if they had lots of nausea with the band and if you have more or less with the sleeve???? Tell me your stories about what the biggest differences please I crave information!!!!