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Hi! Was your friend’s revision from a band to RNY? If so, did your friend have her revision in one or two surgeries? I have Kaiser and I hope it’s done in one surgery She had her sleeve a year and a half ago, but the acid reflux was doing terrible things to her. She had her revision last week on the 24th and has had a few complications, now she has a picque line and will have a nurse come to her house daily. Her process has actually scared me. The Dr isn't sure if she has some sort of blockage and may need another surgery. Damn

Okay so I had heard numbers somewhat similar to this. I’ve suffered GERD from my earliest memories. I had GERD in grade school and had to sleep upright all during pregnancy. In fact, if I wasn’t careful, I’d bend over to tie my shoes and almost gag on the acid coming up (not pregnant, just on a normal day) Sleeping on 2 pillows was always a must for me because of the GERD. I’ve been on PPIs for years and years and years. If I’d bought stock in Pepcid complete, I’d be rich by now just on what I’ve spent through the years. My father also suffers GERD and actually has Barrett’s. Imagine my surprise when I was scoped and zero, nada, zilch Barrett’s (or any other kind of complication) from over 40 years GERD. Heck, I was halfway resigned to the fact that I was going to be forced to have RNY despite my wish for VGS. My surgeon told me about these same numbers and I went with sleeve because there was a 2 out of 3 chance it would get better, and the other chance I’d have to have a revision down the line. So far..... fingers crossed...... it has improved somewhat. There are times when it bothers me—usually when I’ve overeaten, or eaten AND drank red wine. Lol, I’ve only done that twice and neither time was it a good idea. Also, if I skip my PPI for more than 2 days I can feel it starting to bother me, but now that I’ve lost over 75 pounds, it’s soooooo much more manageable. I would definitely say that while VGS definitely did NOT cure my GERD, It definitely did not get worse and is better than it was. Not sure if that’s because of better diet, or losing a crap ton of weight, or the surgery. 🤷‍♀️

Hi, Stayed 4 nights in the hospital (minor complications with my bladder). I got home and saw I gained 2 pounds since starting my pre-op diet last week! I had the RNY. I know there are some people the surgery doesn’t work, and I’m freaking out a tad! If it matters I started at at 305 and am now close to 308! I’m following the diet to the letter! I had a hernia repair too, as well as the removal of my nissen. Thanks!

Gotta ask your team. That is a really long flight. I developed a blood clot, even though I did everything right and started walking right away. Many surgeons do not recommend long car trips for flights for at least 2 months after major abdominal surgery. If you happen to be going out of the country you also need to think about where you would get help if a complication happened.

It helped early on. Did not change the subsequent complications but helped with swelling and pain. I knew the complication rate was as high as 75 percent but thought I was going to b in that 25 percent. Thankful my PS was available and close for follow ups!

Wow 4 days you must be going crazy to get out. So sorry about the complications are you having trouble urinating? I struggled the first 24 hours but it was the Dilaudid for me.

Hi Y’all! I’m four days out and still in the hospital. Overall I’m doing well, but was having slight complications with my bladder so I’ve stayed to be on the safe side. Really excited to start this journey, and thankful for everybody and their support.

Hello All! I'm glad to see that there are a few of us having this conversation. I just remet with the surgeon yesterday to discuss a lap-band revision. And I'm experiencing the same insurance issues that DeeTee mentioned. I've had my band for almost 11 years (hard to believe). Basically, my surgeon is treating me like a new patient for surgical purposes. I have to show six months of weight loss supervision, go through a bunch of tests, see the psychologist, talk to the dietician, and so on, and so on. Last time I basically started in July had had the surgery in September. I talked to the surgeon about switching to either the sleeve or the bypass. His recommendation, since I don't have diabetes, was to go with the sleeve. I'd done the research ahead of time and had come to this decision, but it was nice to at least hear the surgeon supporting my basic decision. Like Banded in AZ, I also have experienced esophageal problems, specifically esophageal dilation. Honestly, I didn't know that was even a complication. Admittedly, I had been a bad bander and hadn't had an adjustment in quite some time. The surgeon actually gave me an adjustment yesterday, which was weird, and he took out quite a bit of liquid. Apparently, food was just sitting in my esophagus and slowing getting squeezed through the band for years. I'm also the first to admit that I feel like some kind of band failure. It's like one of the docs in the practice always says, they don't have a lap-band for your brain. I learned how to eat around the band so quickly. Combine that with most of my favorite foods seem to be mushy to begin with, and it just set me up for band problems. Part of me still thinks I should give the lap-band a chance, but then it's been 11 years. My surgeons don't even perform that many lap-bands anymore because of how bad the outcomes research is now. As for those of you who have made the switch, has weight loss been "easier" with the sleeve? I'm primarily worried about long-term weight loss, stretching, and GERD. What are people's experiences? Jason

This passage really speaks to me. I have one and only 1 good friend who isn’t at least obese and most of mine are in the “severe to morbidly obese” category. For that reason, I really didn’t tell any of them about this until literally 2 weeks before surgery (the day I got my confirmation of date) The only people I told ahead of time were my coworkers because I had to change out so many shifts due to all the the pre-op appointments and procedures (it took me almost 8 months from start to surgery day due to all the complications and additional testing that had to be done). Quite simply, I just didn’t want to deal with these kinds of issues from telling my obese friends because this was my decision for my health and—to me— it was independent of my friendship with them. Now I did let a lot of them know my surgery date so they wouldn’t get their feelings hurt that I’d done something so “risky” without letting them know to pray for/think of me that day. I had mixed responses from “you aren’t unhealthy or even all that fat” to “what can I do for you right after surgery?” Not gonna lie.... I don’t hang out with many of them as much as before because I don’t go out and eat really anymore. Also I think some of them don’t understand fully how I truly have lost most interest in food. How could they? They’ve not had their digestive tracts modified so they can’t know. I think that eventually things will get more to a normal point, but I’m still not even 6 months post sleeve. Anyway, I also had an extremely difficult time setting a goal and I’m not sure if the modified one I have is realistic or not. Prior to starting this process I was willing to settle for being 175/size 14. I’m 5’7”, 50 years old and have a fairly average frame (big-ish legs and thighs, but it is what it is) For some reason, I always thought 175 was “the best I could ever hope for” After I started into the 8 month process and did more research and talked to more people in support groups (I became a support group junkie) I realized that I was going to more than likely lose under 175 based off of the math for EBW loss and my weight then. Right before surgery I changed my goal weight to 155, which is at the very upper range of “normal” BMI. I basically chose that number because it put me right at the border of normal/overweight. Now as I’ve progressed through these almost 6 months, I’m thinking I might want to shoot for 145. I was 135-ish all through high school and college (with one glorious semester when I ran a lot and got down to 125) As of this morning, I’m at 177.6, so I absolutely know I’m going to blow way past goal #1. In retrospect, I had gotten so used to being so fat for so long that it seemed ludicrous to initially choose a goal in a “normal” BMI, but you know what???? I’ve decided I’m worth taking the chance and going for the 145.

I had zero complications. But I was careful about which surgeon and which facility I chose and that made all the difference. So your question would elicit different answers from different individuals because everybody is different, has different health issues to start with, etc.

Don't do this. Don't look for the complications hon. We're all different. Work harder on making damn sure you pick the right facility out of country...cuz that's gonna be more important!!

Im going abroad for my VSG surgery and im worried about what will happen if anything goes wrong after and i have to go back under the knife. What was your experiences pls Did you bleed etc? Please help Sent from my SM-J530F using BariatricPal mobile app

Dunno hon. It depends on your condition and insurance. But you're doing the right thing. The first thing to do is find your new doctor and have them order the tests that will determine if you have stretched your tool and what your options are. They will also look to see if you have any other complications such as hernias, fistulas, stretched stomas, etc. Then they will advise. But while there, you should ask for a referral to an RD (bariatric) and a bariatric counselor and start working on changing behaviors. Cuz a new surgery is fine...but if you don't change your behaviors long term, then you will be back in the same situation. But having said that, there are MANY people who have lost their regain and who maintain today. Hang in there. All is not hopeless!!

I have had an incredibly smooth process so far with very little complications. This week I began to notice a sudden drop in apetite. Has anyone else had these fluctuations? My hunger post surgery has been low but this week its non existant. On the plus side I am losing more weight but I would like to feel normal again. I guess we all have good and bad days.

This is really a brilliant observation and guidance!!! All of our tools "mature" that means we all experience the ability to eat more over time. It's partly why Dr. Weiner on YouTube warns about the myth of "everything in moderation" because the crap food most of us ate is toxic to our systems and a few bites of pizza will turn into 3 pieces by 3-5years out! So it's best to learn new eating habits/relationships with healthy food and realize what true portions look and feel like to us while we're in that first 18mo honeymoon period. Now like Tea said, many of us had larger capacity tums after surgery. I know my surgeon gave me a larger pouch and a shorter malabsorption. From the start I could easily down 4oz of water or more! Never had one moment difficulty with any full liquid or soft food (or any food). I was a liquid pro! I'm now 4lbs from my Goal #3 and on my forever diet. And make no mistake, it is a diet. But all animals have a "diet" so I don't look on this as a bad thing. But I actively gave up eating as a hedonistic free-for-all event when I decided to have surgery. I plan my day, weigh, measure, and log my food every day. I weight every day. I exercise every day. I monitor my fluid every day. This is part of my job. And it's become easy peasy and second nature to do this. I find comfort in it. I'm sorry for your complications that kept him from performing the expected surgery. But as many said before, you can get considerable help from the surgery. You have to find out the specifics of it though as @RickM already wisely counseled! You really can't expect to be loosy goosey with your food and "sorta" eat healthy. You must really apply yourself until you know what your new "tool" will and won't help with and until you know if you have any leeway or if you will just simply need to work a little harder. I have to work harder. I'm on a hormone blocker for cancer remission that puts me in super menopause (so super hormone imbalance) + hypothyroid. But I've still lost about 155lbs in the lasts 2 years. So it's possible. I'm 5'4" and weighed 287lbs when I started changing my life for the better. ((hugs)) Hang in there!

Hi yall! Its post op day 3 for me. My surgery went well with no complications and no additional fixes needed. I stayed in the hospital two days. The second day was mostly at my request since I live almost 2 hours away and couldn't drink much. I kept having the so full of water feeling like you'd burst since I got out of surgery. Seemed like a lot of the pain I felt was from gases stuck by my ribs. It was very painful and would come in waves. But they kept me comfortable with pain meds when I requested it. Last night out of no where my mouth started watering bad like before you throw up and before that it was so dry. It felt like whatever that watery episode was cleared my way of left over gases and I could finally drink more then an oz in 4hrs. I've gotten my oz's up today and drank one 11oz protein shake. Im slowly trying to build up. I'm not sure how much I'm suppose to drink in one sitting at the hospital it was no more then 5oz in an hr. Now that I'm home is it the same or am I allowed more... I forgot to ask the doc. I just dont wanna hurt myself or overfill my stomach. Anywho hope everyone else is doing well! Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Don't mourn over the foods. You will get them again - later. And when you do, YOU will be controlling them instead of THEM controlling you! Of course there are things you should never have again - for health and to reduce the risk of complications, but for the rest of it, just say, "I will have that again - just not now." Wishing you the best tomorrow!

You guys are terrific so much knowledge. Big smiles! I am healing after some surgical complications and I’m averaging about 120 each day as per my MD. He also states 30 is a max in a meal - so of course this means I wake up in the middle of the night and have a protein shake with a handful of antibiotics! Fun times

In your shoes, what I would really want to know is just how malabsorptive he made it, as that influences both how you supplement in the future, and how you need to eat to lose the weight, as both will likely be somewhat different than with the mainstream procedures like the RNY or DS. The old purely malabsorptive procedures like the JIB worked fairly well, but had a lot of nutritional complications which is why they were abandoned. The RNY went the other way being primarily restrictive and works well with only moderate nutritional consequences from its mild malabsorption, but weight maintenance is only so-so. The BPD/DS hits something of a sweet spot in being moderately malabsorptive with a similar level of nutritional quirks and a more moderate restriction. The old Scopinaro was more malabsorptive and had more problems than the typical DS (that usually had about a 50cm common channel, compared to 100+ for the BPD/DS). One of the general rules-of-thumb that we discussed in the DS world is that with the DS, the sleeve (restriction) gets the weight off, while the switch (the malabsorption) keeps it off. The implication of all of this (from an amateur/non doctor perspective) is that if there is enough malabsorption to effectively take the weight off by itself (a la the old JIB or Scopinaro) then there can be excessive nutritional problems, or if the malabsorption is moderate enough to not cause significant nutritional problems, the weight loss may be marginal. I would assume (hope) that this is the case with what your surgeon did, and that you will have to work harder at the loss part of the equation, but will have typical DS/distal RNY nutritional quirks to work around. This is something that you really need to understand in working with your surgeon in the coming follow up visits. Good luck!

OVER THE YEARS there's evidence of way too many issues and complications and negative feedback on the band so many doctors won't even offer it anymore. I'm going for the bypass because I want something that will be permanent and will change my life.

Did he just not do any stomach reduction at all, or did he make a pouch type structure like a traditional RNY gastric bypass? If he made a pouch, even a larger one, and connected it well downstream to provide DS-like malabsorption, that would be what is known as a distal RNY, which is rarely done, but is a cousin to the traditional RNY which is primarily a restrictive procedure with a minimal amount of malabsorption added. Another possibility is that he did a DS type of intestinal routing but with a large stomach pouch similar to an RNY, and this would be a Scopinaro procedure, which was a precursor to the standard or traditional BPD DS and was rarely done in the US. Another possibility from your description is something like the old jejunolileal bypass which was a purely malabsorptive procedure done in the 60's and 70's that kept the stomach intact along with the duodenum and some portion of the small intestine but bypassed the majority of it, reconnecting things down near the colon. It was abandoned owing to a lot of complications though he may have done some less malabsorbing variation. It was mostly replaced with the now traditional RNY gastric bypass. I'm sorry that you didn't get what you were expecting, but you should be able to make this work. It is important, however, that you get a clear understanding of what exactly he did (get a copy of the surgical report for your records) so that you, and any doctor who may need to work on you in the future for whatever reason, has a good understanding of how your insides now work.

Hello Deegirl31[emoji870] Yes it's absolutely normal!!! Especially after a previous bad experience with infection! Just keep reminding yourself how safe this surgery is and due to previous complications, extra precautions should be taken by both you and your surgical team. If I were you, I won't cancel or reschedule as your anxiety is normal and protective. Keep watching/reading successful surgeries and recoveries should help ease your mind. PS: Our names are very similar and your surgery date is a day before mine! I'll be watching, praying and cheering you on as you go before me. Cheers to seeing you on the other side soon[emoji112][emoji112][emoji112][emoji112] Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Folks, don’t worry. I know you want it all gone now...I did , too...but it will happen! I am 5”6”. I was 209 at my consult. I was approved by my insurance companies and given my checklists (all the boring poke/prod stuff). They scheduled me for 3 months later and I set about doing all the stuff they’d scheduled. All they told me was DON’T GAIN ANY WEIGHT OR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL DECLINE SURGERY! Okay. Got it. So, I got super vigilant and began LOSING weight. I showed up for surgery weighing 180 lbs with a BMI of exactly 30... apparently, the OTHER number where MY INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL DECLINE! Uh, wait...you’ve got to explain this stuff upfront! (However, since I had a complication, my Doctor got it approved on that day and off we went.) Anyway, this is the long way of saying, I had my surgery at 30 BMI! I kept and continue to keep copious notes on my weight loss. Initially I lost 8-10 pounds per month. Then it slowed to 5-6 pounds. I hit my goal very quickly but then I decided that was my Doctor’s goal. MY goal was 35 pounds lighter. So I kept going. Now I look back and think how the time flew and what I’ve accomplished. But, in the moment, I thought it was taking forever! Don’t spend time worrying about how quickly it will happen. It’s different for everyone. Comparison is fruitless. It gets you nowhere and it robs energy you could be using to make sure you get where you want to be! i wish all of you the very best.

I think my goal will be safe BMI. Thanks for the chart! That would be about 150 for me. Also, a very big goal is getting a report that says I no longer have a fatty liver. That really, really bothers me. Livers and Kidneys are important and I want good "grades" for my organs. Tomorrow, the interventionists are coming to my house. Those are friends who think I should not have surgery. They think I look just beautiful and fine and I should accept myself the way I am. Now, I am going to explain that this is not about just wearing smaller clothes, it is about getting rid of the fat around and in my liver, getting healthy. Health is the reason I work so hard in the gym and walking. However, that is just not how they think. Its only about looks. I wish they could relate their illnesses to their weight and what they consume. One of them is my shopping buddy who is 40 or 50 pounds overweight, has diabetes, smokes and almost lost her foot last year due to complications from PAD and diabetes. I love her and I spent a lot of time helping her during her recovery. I also want to do this for her, to show her by example, and not to be enabler for either of us. I won't go shopping with her, or eating out now. I think she is sad, and worried I won't be there for her.

I'm 7 months post-op sleeve and 54 years old. I never had a single problem or complication. I had GERD for many years prior to the surgery and now I don't have it at all. I don't have Sleep Apnea anymore. I don't have High Blood Pressure anymore. I've lost a fair amount of weight and have another 6-12 months of losing to do.