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I am very recently post op. My surgeon sent my PCP a very detailed letter on how to care for me for the rest of my life. He stipulated certain things like what vitamins I should be taking and when, what sort of long term effects I may experience and any disorders that may occur due to certain complications. I am not sure how many other surgeons do this, but if you can call your surgeon's office, you can request that they send documentation and any long term care instructions to a primary care doctor or other practitioner you have been following up with. I would also ask them about the side effects you are having. I would highly suggest having your doctor also send copies of your medical records in the event they are not a part of your chart at your new doctor's office.

yes - you want someone who has done a truckload of these things. Body contouring surgery on massive weight loss patients is a complicated subspecialty, so you want someone who does this all the time - preferably someone who specializes in this area - or barring that, at least someone who does A LOT of them (like maybe half their case load). Check realself.com for ideas. It's a site where people rate their doctors and discuss their experiences. It's all kinds of doctors, not just plastic surgeons -- although the majority of the reviews seem to be on plastic surgeons.

Anyone have their sleeve surgery scheduled for next month? I will be traveling from the MidWest to have mine at Blossom Bariatrics in Las Vegas on 10/9 😤 Also will be my first time in Vegas! Starting the pre-op diet next Thursday and I have to admit...I'm just feeling like having a food funeral for all of my favorite meals. Scared I will develop complications and be super far away from my surgeon/medical team. At the same time, I am SO excited to have this tool to get ahold of my life! I would love to keep in contact with some fellow October newbies.....

I'm scheduled for my sleeve at BB on 10/9! I have a friend who had hers done there in Feb of this year. Said the experience was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. I was skeptical too. So far, they have been super easy to work with. I also did the fast track program. The only thing I'm nervous about is the flight home and not having easy access to my surgeon if there are any complications. Please share your progress/experience with me as I'm looking to find friends who have also been sleeved here! <3

Had surgery at 9am and was out by noon the next day. No complications from my RNY. I'm in the US, so think it's a max of 2 nights assuming no comps.

Mikkey asking this question on a mainly US based site won’t give you true answers. Their health insurance is different and therefore no of nights in hospital would be different. In Aus most Drs will tell you between 3 and 4 nights for RNY. I ended up staying in 5 nights as I had a complication

Hi All! I’m scheduled for a VSG to Loop DS revision next Thursday 9/26/19 with Dr. Walter Medlin In UT. I had VSG in SD with Dr. Takata In 2013, insurance covered it. It was successful and without complications. Pre VSG I was 297+... at my lowest I was at 180, With time and two pregnancies I lost restriction and gained. I was able to lose weight after both pregnancies but was not able to maintain it, or return to the post VSG pre pregnancy low. Despite maintaining a medium level of activity (depending on the week spin class/ triathlons/ 5ks/ 18-30 mi relaxed bike rides on the weekends/ lots of walking), I hovered around 235, now with low activity I’m at 250. I’m in my 2 week preop diet for the revision which is just as tough as I remember it the first time, maybe more. Little nervous for this surgery-more than I remember being for the VSG. This time I’m going in self pay. Confident in my decision but nervous about the immediate aftermath, toilette issues/ rate of loss/ nutrient deficiencies- the usual. Dr doesn’t plan to touch the sleeve, unless any problems are seen in the EDG. I’m loading up on vitamins and supplements now To get ahead of any deficiencies caused by malabsorption in the long run. Dr will determine Common Channel length at time of surgery at the moment it looks like it will be ~300 cm. Has anyone else had Dr. Medlin for their revision? Any tips for immediately after surgery? I’ll be flying back to SD the following Saturday-Anyone have to fly 2 days after surgery? Tips on flying post op, any general post op tips for this specific Bariatric surgery would be appreciated. I plan on updating this thread as I go along, and hope others might find it helpful in their research too. Thanks!

Let me start by saying I would do it all over again. It’s been 2 1/2 months and it is hard for me to remember with emotion the recovery. What I can tell you is it was ugly. I know this doctor I trust this doctor the procedure has a 50 to 75% complication rate. I believe if I followed my doctor’s instructions I would be in that magical 25 to 50%. it was my third and final PS Surgury time 5.5 hours with 2.5 lbs of skin tissue removed. Plus a touch of fat not included in skin weight. I went home that day. I followed all instructions. 2 drains for about 20 days. but noticed a wound separation after 1 week. Hard to keep the groin still. I mean a person has to get up. Use the toilet and such. Urine did not help. A female can use a funnel or a female urine device... A hole opened that was 3 inches by 1.5 inches and a couple inches deep at its largest. It could not be closed with stitches or glue. Multiple MD visits and an ER visit. Packed it with saline gauze it closed at 7 weeks. It was scary I freaked. So compression gear was out because of chaffing I developed 2 areas of fluid build up and one became infected I took oral antibiotics for 8 weeks. My MD placed a small hole so that side could drain and another whole would not open along the incision. It was super uncomfortable it wasn’t painful but super uncomfortable. hot and hard an weeping It freaked me out. I missed like 6 weeks of work but did a small bit from home. Thank goodness I trusted the MD. Here is the thing - no skin hitting me when I bike or run It is pretty awesome. Nothing t rearrange. I have lost of what gained when home and on a high protein diet. My age - 46 could have placed at a higher risk. I think though mostly I was just unlucky. Now though I am pleased. Plus my health nsurance covered the ER visit.

People have died or had horrible complications having their tonsils out (remember the Jahi McMath case?). I also seem to remember some case from a few years ago of someone dying after having their wisdom teeth extracted. But how often does that happen? Almost never. Same with weight loss surgery. The morbidity rate on gastric bypass is 0.3%, and it's even less with the sleeve. So you have a 99.7% or greater chance of pulling through just fine. Horrible complications are very rare, too. It only seems like they're more common than really are because people post about them. They're looking for advice and support. People who have never had a problem don't typically broadcast that fact. So you're getting a very skewed perception. Even minor complications aren't all that common. I had a stricture. Very minor and an easy fix. It happens to about 5% of bypass patients, making it one of the most common complications. I'd hardly call something that happens to 5% of us "common", but there you have it. Complications - minor or otherwise - just aren't all that common. I read those horror stories before I had surgery, too, and they scared the crap out of me. I finally just stopped, realizing that stuff like that almost never happens. My advice is to do the same. Focus on all the success stories instead, as they are INFINITELY more common!!

Complications aren't common and that ones that are are typically fixable and not nearly as dramatic as whatever happened to that woman. I had some complications (ulcer/hernia) and some others in this thread did, as well, but I guarantee that none of us would ever say we regret it! I thought I did while I was going through the issues, but they were fixable and not-so-terrible in hindsight. Don't be afraid - this is life-changing and well worth it!!

Usually there's other underlying issues before surgery like ulcers and previous surgery and stuff but as above complications are very minimal at best I think it was like 1% with bypass! Its good to do your research though and be prepared!

I’ve been reading everything I can get my hand on in preparation for my bypass surgery that i should be getting a date for before end of the month. Most of you are so supportive and enthusiastic that it just makes the waiting hard. Until I read a post by a lady that had complications. And when I say complications that is an under statement. She ended up in the hospital over 257 days. Five surgeries. I am now hoping I have made the right choice. I have to lose weight. My health depends on it. I want to lose weight even more. But I don’t want to die either. I need some of your enthusiasm to get me back on track. My daughter (who is 38) says not to worry so much because every surgery known to man has at least one bad story behind it. I agree with that but could just a little if your wisdom to get me re-centered. Thanks to anyone who can help me.

Hi @veisor, Sure........I've went back and forth and for the most part was Pro-sleeve..Back in April of 2019 my surgeon recommended bypass but said sleeve would be okay and my PCP said sleeve....The sleeve seemed easier, less complications. sure there was the increased acid relux risk with sleeve but I've never had that so not a risk for me. But for me, someone who is overweight not from overeating but from pcos and other things, somone who diets and can't lose a pound, i needed the true metabolic change that the bypass brings. Also....in the pre op stuff they did discover i had acid reflux, although it never presented itself to me. additionally, my bmi is 50...so I want the proven long term results that the bypass brings. If you know of anyone or follow these boards, for some reason many people gettting the sleeve gain the weight back or have to have a revision. Not everyone, mind you..but a lot. My pre-op psychologist said it best. Whatever surgery you decide on, you have to believe it's the one for you or it won't work. She said don't get the sleeve with any doubts in your mind. Don't get the bypass with any doubts in your mind.

I'm still pre-surgery...hopefully will have a date in october......I've went back and forth too and for the most part was Pro-sleeve. seemed easier, less complications. sure there was the increased acid relux but I've never had that so not a risk for me. But for me, someone who is overweight not from overeating but from pcos and other things, somone who diets and can't lose a pound, i needed the true metabolic change that the bypass brings. Also....in the pre op stuff they did discover i had acid reflux, although it never presented itself to me. additionally, my bmi is 50...so I want the proven long term results that the bypass brings. If you know of anyone or follow these boards, for some reason many people gettting the sleeve gain the weight back or have to have a revision. Not everyone, mind you..but a lot. My pre-op psychologist said it best. Whatever surgery you decide on, you have to believe it's the one for you or it won't work. Dont' get the sleeve with any doubts in your mind. Don't get the bypass with any doubts in your mind. 🙂 Good luck!!!

Congrats on your surgery date. October 14th, right? The best things about WLS ? Getting my health and life back. Overcoming my old behaviors/reasons for obesity and making peace with the person I was in the past. Finding my true self again and discovering that I’m an adrenaline junkie. Worst or hardest part? Weight loss is work. It took time to learn the basics, get past food stages and stalls. I had a gain my third year and worked it back down. I can’t say it was negative. Just part of the process. I’m fortunate, my pain was well managed. I bounced back from surgery quickly. No complications and maintaining five years out.

Gastric sleeve Surgery is December 2015. Lost 115 pounds, No problems until Tuesday. Stomach was off, no appetite, Wednesday some pain, Thursday severe pain, friday went to dr. Ct scan shows sleeve has Herniated into esophagus. As I breathe the diaphragm is constricting the sleeve and my scar tissue. The er gave me iv fluids, prescription for caraphate and said see a GI asap for scope.i am to stay on liquid doctor until then. My doctor retired so I have to find a new bariatric doctor. Any one have any experience with this issue? Use the Nicholson clinic in Dallas? Any help or ideas? Sent from my SM-G935R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

I never thought getting 80% of your stomach removed and thrown in the trash any less invasive, although many people seem to think that. As for the bypass, it's been done for years and years and they have lots of longitudinal data on it. Techniques have improved substantially over the years to get around some of the issues they used to have. There are more complication risks than with the sleeve - but not by much. And as with the sleeve, most are minor. Other than a stricture, which happens to about 5% of bypass patients (making it one of the most common complications, I might add - although I'm not sure I'd consider something that happened to 5% of people "common"), I've never had any problems. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. And yes, type 2 diabetics tend to fare better with it. As for substantial weight loss, there are people who have had enormous success with both surgeries - but you get a bit more of a tail wind with the bypass due to the malabsorption the first 1-2 years (malabsorption of calories eventually stops - but malabsorption of vitamins does not - you have to supplement for the rest of your life. Of course, they're now requiring that of sleeve patients, too) I had GERD pre-surgery so it was a no brainer for me. But I would have leaned toward the bypass regardless because it's been around longer. At the time I had surgery, VSG was just becoming popular, and I had a fear of it being "Lapband II". It's proven itself since then (as in, it's not "Lapband II"), but I still have no regrets that I went with the bypass.

Good luck. I pray that everything goes smoothly & there will be no complications.

I love your pics and you are doing so well. Such an inspiration. Yummy food pics. I hope you continue to heal from complication. Peace.

👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 22 MONTHS POST VSG/ 2 MONTHS POST RNY CONVERSION 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 ❤❤❤❤❤ weight unknown: on a trip ❤❤❤❤❤ I suspect my weight is in the 150s still as I can see/feel it in my skin but i will not be near a scale for at least another week. Not worried about it. Updates: Developed a stricture and had a dilatation to fix it. No big deal 👏 Cannot eat mechanically separated poultry (turkey sausage, chicken deli meat, etc) my body rejects it. Mostly maintaining despite conversion/complications 🙌 Life is basically back to normal so... Selfies and food pics (boring because variety was halted for bit)

I worried about this as well and am currently looking at medical tourism complication insurance. I found this company but am continuing to research it. It does give me some peace of mind as I'm not sure if my insurance would cover complications related to a procedure that they don't cover. But I also am not too worried, as complications are extremely rare! https://www.globalprotectivesolutions.com/individual-and-companion-travel-accident/

complications aren't that common, and usually when you have them, they're pretty minor. I had strictures at four weeks out and eight weeks out (they almost always happen during the first three months post-surgery). Easy fix - and also, they happen to about 5% of RNY patients, making them one of the most common complications. I'd hardly call something that happens to 5% of patients "common", but that should give you an idea of how common complications are - basically, they're not. I think it seems like they're a lot more common than they are in reality because people post about them. People who have never had complications don't usually broadcast that fact, whereas people who *do* have complications sometimes post to get advice or support for dealing with them. as to your other concern, I had my RNY at age 55. Yes, I'm more wrinkled than I was when I weighed over 300 lbs, but I think I look my age now (I had plastic surgery for my body, but not my face - again, I think I just look like your average 60-year-old now. Before, I always looked young for my age)

Hi: I am 1 month pre-op RNY and I’m nervously excited. I’m not too scared about the surgery part as I DO expect to wake up. But I am scared about complications. I have read enough on here and elsewhere to know that bad things can happen. I’m worried about how I am going to feel afterwards. Not so much the surgery pain because I have had surgery before. I’m more worried about fatigue and possible sadness. I’m worried about what I will eat when regular food is reintroduced. I read what people eat and not much of it is what I like. It seems the healthy things that I like are off limits. I don’t eat a lot of protein but I do like protein shakes so I expect that they will be a part of my life forever which is ok. I also hear that tastes change so maybe I will start to like things that sound awful to me now... I’m slightly worried about how my appearance will be regarding mainly my face. I’m 55 and I’m not wrinkled much right now probably because my chubby face helps. I have had said chubby face for 20 years so I don’t know what my middle aged face looks like at a normal weight. Last time I was thin, I didn’t have wrinkles. Lol. What a kick it will be to be a healthy weight and have an unrecognizable face! Lol I am not too concerned about loose skin because most of my weight is in the belly and that looks pretty bad right now so it will just look a different kind of bad. And there are always plastics... I’m hoping getting this stuff off of my chest will help me and maybe others would like to get these things off of their chests, too. Thanks

I will be having my gastric sleeve converted to the RNY hopefully, in December. I was told by my provider that they never had to get the authorization up front with Medicare. She said they submitted the letter of medical necessity with the claim when they filed and they never had any problems. I believe that Medicare has guidelines you must follow in order for them to cover my procedure. The problem is I'm not overweight, but I'm being revised due to spontaneous reflux. Everything I eat the majority of it comes back up. I definitely have the medical necessity. In my doctor's notes he states that I am malnourished and not receiving the nutrients I need to sustain life. So, basically if I don't have the procedure I'm not going to live a lot longer. My BC/BS of AL will not cover it because I had the original procedure out of the country and didn't follow insurance guidelines that are typical for WLS. I had other insurance at the time I had the surgery. The surgery was done probably 10 years before I became effective with BC/BS of AL. I've contacted Medicare to see if they would cover and was told yes if medically necessary. Since the self pay is a lot, I want to feel warm and cozy on the idea of the surgery being covered by Medicare. Has anyone had the revision due to complications only and Medicare cover? Thanks!

I didn’t know what to title this. My surgery was April 29th, I ended up in the ER the day after my release from the hospital with pneumonia, critically low potassium and acute UTI. I was also diagnosed with esophageal dysphasia. Because of that my follow up appointments got thrown off course. I had two appointments close together. The second appointment he had me go for a upper gi fluoroscopy and endoscopy. Which found stoma stricture, Schatzki ring, sliding hiatal hernia and ulcers. TBH after the endoscopy I didn’t want to schedule my next follow up appointment. And the doctor hadn’t said when. It should have been 2-3 months post-op but it’s almost 4 1/2 months. I see my surgeon on Thursday and because I need medical transportation it turns into practically an all day affair. I am actually dreading this appointment. He is a great surgeon but my communication skills, especially when I’m fatigued are sorely lacking. I’m at a loss what to say since I feel like I can’t do anything right. While yes my weight has gone down (rather slow) and I think I’ve hit around 53lb loss - I haven’t been able to progress in certain things and have to keep my calories very low otherwise I stall. Due to the esophageal dysphasia I’m not drinking a lot of water. I haven’t attempted purées again and should probably even be into regular foods by now. The most I’ve been able to manage is yogurt mixed with protein powder for breakfast (sometimes a shake) cottage cheese, BariatricPal protein soup (if I have any) juice flavor protein mixes, and sometimes soft boiled egg but I get kind of sick from it so not too often. It’s more an allergy thing with that. My surgeon never really said anything after the endoscopy. I read on the results that he balloon dilated the stricture which it seems to me he did it too much at once and I don’t feel better. The fluoroscopy showed it at 3mm and he dilated 10mm and assumed it was ok because the scope passed? I find it perplexing. And maybe they think the other issues too minor? I don’t. I don’t want to be stuck on proton pump inhibitors. They cause constipation and are not safe long term for things like magnesium, bone density etc. which I have enough bone density loss as is. I told My gastroenterologist about new issues with this of course they said talk to the surgeon and also my PCP. I’ve been having crushing chest pain. And weird strong spasms below my ribs on the left side. Of course I forgot to mention it to my PCP I was too annoyed by her attitude when I caught her up on the surgery and everything after it (she was on maternity leave a few months) well that’s a long story I won’t bore anyone with. My gastroenterologist scheduled me for a colonoscopy the end of this month to rule out possible colitis (a ct scan result said colitis) I was supposed to have had it before my RNY but it didn’t work out that way. I’m not sure how I’ll manage prep. They gave me a prescription for one that is less to drink but I’m allergic to it. Ill have to do clear liquids two days prior to the colonoscopy. Does clear protein count as a clear liquid or do I not have protein? I’ve had colonoscopies before but this is my first after RNY. Also. I have endometriosis and it’s possible he won’t see the problem in the colonoscopy since that won’t show up if it’s on the outside. I worry it won’t answer the problems there. As for endometriosis. I saw my uro/gyn because of hemorrhagic cysts on my one remaining ovary. Which also has endometriosis on it. I guess it’s time to have it out now and I’m scheduled for that October 14th. Which means .............. menopause. But I’m hoping it will ease the endometriosis and pcos symptoms. He had removed my other ovary that was covered with endometriosis during other procedures he was doing at the time. I’m too chicken to ask him about an issue with one of the other procedures he did. Just like my follow up with my bariatric surgeon. I’m at a loss what to say and when I’m exhausted I lose my words. Also doesn’t help that I speak to several people before he enters the room. I feel like they expect me to be cured of all my ailments after surgery, even my pcp had that attitude but with lifelong chronic illness it doesn’t work that way. In fact I knew things likely would get worse for me but this was my last chance at a tool to fight my out of control weight gain. You can only eat so little calories without help of some kind. My surgery wasn’t reliant on comorbidities since my BMI was 40. I have them. But most wont just go away with weight loss. But it doesn’t mean I regret the surgery. (My pcp had the attitude of why did I have it if it didn’t help those things ... well I was already at least 208lbs and BMI 40 (height 5’) like isn’t that enough of a reason? Im sorry I just wrote a very long rant. My memory is so terrible I don’t remember when my last two appointments were and what was discussed at the last one. I don’t think they even mentioned my bloodwork. All I know is that was when he scheduled the tests. Now I’m following up on that. I almost don’t even want to go. I feel like I won’t be able to explain anything. And honestly surgeons just want to hear that you lost a huge amount of weight and that you’re doing great not “it’s complicated. “