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It might be your pylora...with this operation your digestive system works pretty much as it did before. The pyloric valve works and release food into your small intestines. You have a very new and tender stomach, and you can feel things more at first. All that gurgling as your new tummy gets used to things. For the first six weeks, it is a time for healing, and you're doing great with your liquids. It's great that you had no complications. Best of luck. Do what your doctor says, and you will be fine. Welcome to the losers bench.

Slojo- some tips. Bring a book or laptop to the clinic. I was last on the surgery list so I sat in the waiting room for a long time. They gave you a wifi code and I regretted not having my laptop. Another thing... all of us patients were so tired and we were just waiting, so we finally asked them if we could sleep in one of the rooms. They were really nice and told us yes. (It was after everyone had their IV) so those of us waiting got to sleep until our surgery, or until they needed the bed for someone coming from surgery. Sleeping made time pass so much quicker. they do surgeries with the lowest BMI and least complicated first, then down the line to more complicated. I was getting band over bypass and my first surgery was done open chest, so that is why I was last. It was a fun experience and I loved their family atmosphere. I have to say I actually liked the experience better than what I had in the states.

Keep in mind that the people who get banded and are doing fine don't tend to post here...but the ones who are experiencing complications or problems are posting. So what you see here is a skewed picture of the experience. There is s a 'sticky' at the top of the General Lapband Discussion forum called something like "Share your Scar Stages" and it's full of pictures. We were all nervous before surgery...and for a few days after when we were dealing with the pain. But we're all here to talk about it and happily getting on with the business of losing weight! :Banane43:

Hi- just to let you know, I have been out going on 2 years with absolutely no complications. Just kind of a slower paced loss- the band should have gone around my head! But I am working through the emotional stuff that is the basis for my overeating and the band is definitely doing its job!

Although I have prepared for the surgery: watched the films, went to meetings, had all my test completed, etc. I am still a little scared. I guess going under the knife is just scary. And when I read of some of the complications in the forums, it just makes me wonder if I am making the right decision. Does anyone have a photo of the scars? Is the entrance to the band to have a refill visible? Just need a little pep talk and encouragement. :nervous

I understand your concerns. I talked with my surgeon, because after reading lots of information, I had decided that I did not want the smaller bougie sizes. I was anxious about an increased risk of strictures, possible osteoporosis from overly rapid weight loss, GERD, and difficulty eating some foods. He laughed when I told him that I did not want a stomach the size of a Bic pen. (He had not seen the photos comparing bougie sizes to pens and markers until I brought them to my appointment.) Anyway, my surgeon said that he typically uses a 40f to reduce the risk of those problems (although he was willing to change that if I wanted him to)--but what he also explained to me in a diagram, is that the bougie is used to determine the size of the upper portion of the sleeve, but that you still have a small "pouch" type area at the bottom that is larger than the bougie size itself. He said that there is a lot of surgeon judgement that affects how this area at the bottom of the sleeve is measured/shaped, and the amount of food it will contain. So even though the bougie size is important and causes you to feel restriction when you eat, the bougie size alone is not the only thing that determines the stomach's capacity. Some surgeons use the smaller bougie sizes in hopes of improving weight loss/reducing the risk of regain. Those things are important to me and I would love to be thin, but at 54, I am equally concerned with overall quality of life issues. For me, a 40f was a reasonable choice that would reduce my anxiety about possible problems. It's possible that at some point, I could wish he had gone smaller, but at 10 weeks, I am satisfied that my surgeon did a good job. I am eating small, but satisfying amounts of food. I haven't had any problems with reflux/acid (and I'm not taking a PPI). I'm losing satisfactorily--and would lose more if I were exercising more. I advanced my diet slowly, and thankfully, I haven't found any foods that I can't eat comfortably. I don't think it is unreasonable to be concerned about aging issues. For me to get adequate Fluid intake, I have to pay attention/work diligently to drink 64 oz a day. Alzheimer's runs in my family--and watching my mother last week made me very much aware that she would not be able to "sip sip sip" all day. At this point, she's doing well to know when she needs to go to the bathroom. It may be that some aging people with gastrectomies do very well, but I don't think there is enough research for us to know how this may affect those of us who develop problems with dementia/Alzheimer's. I had to make a judgement call. Is it better for me to be slim and be able to enjoy the years immediately before me, while taking the real risk that it may complicate nutrition/hydration problems if I develop Alzheimer's as I age...or is it better for me to stay fat and miserable now, so that I can insure my ability to eat and drink at some point when I am older and may not even know my name? For me, it was an easy choice. Let me LIVE now, and if I have to be rehydrated with IV fluids when I'm older because I can't remember to drink fluids, then so be it.

I know a girl on here who recently went out of state to have hers done is she ended up with some complications and NO one locally wanted to treat her. See if you can get the surgeon to make a co agreement with some one locally to see you in the case of emergency and for fills, ect.. It was ugly for her in Dec.. She was in pain and had to fly in pain to another state. She said she would never do that again.

I'm going to 2nd that -- this was the best choice for me. Do I consider it successful, even though I'm not at goal? Absolutely. And I'll get to goal eventually. For me, not having a "window of opportunity" was key. The band is still here, even if I wander off track. The key is that in wandering off track, I no longer gain back everything I lost and then some, because I just can't eat large quantities of food -- the worst I can do is make poor food choices. Of course, part of my decision was because I had one friend and one acquaintance who regained their weight a few years after their initial RNY. And the complications with RNY are very scary. Of course, there must still be a lot of successful RNY patients out there, or it wouldn't be so popular. Have you considered a duodenal switch (DS) or gastric sleeve? Those are a couple other surgeries I hear people talking about on here as alternatives to banding or RNY.

I've known 6 people that have had RNY. Four have gained back over half their weight. One is a new RNY patient (under a year out) and is doing very good. The sixth is a girl I worked with that threw up so much from overeating after her RNY that she has torn her esophogas to shreds. It was a no-brainer for me, less downtime and less complications from surgery. However, WLS is a very personal choice and while I can only go from personal exp, I know there have been MANY success stories from other surgeries. Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck. :purplebananna:

Why? Are you looking for justification? To answer your question.....No, never. Followed my instructions to a T. If anything, I transitioned through my stages even slower than allowed. I had no desire to put myself at risk for a complication. No food on the planet was worth the risk of hurting myself after spending all that $$$. Didn't matter if I was hungry or craving something or just wanted to have "real" food. Following the plan was just part of the mental commitment I made when I decided to have surgery.

Follow your surgeon's instructions. The guidelines they have in place are for a reason and it is to minimize complications that are known to occur. Birth control (ALL forms) carry the risk of blood clots. Introduce another risk factor such as surgery and the risks increase substantially. Best wishes to you and good luck on your surgery.

You didn't fail and shouldn't feel bad about what's happened, the procedure failed you and not the other way around. :-) I've had a rough experience with the sleeve, started out @ 347, was down to 331 the day of surgery and couldn't get under 314 for months. Even now I can't manage to break 300 and it's been almost 6 months since surgery. I didn't tell anyone I was having WLS except my daughter and a very few close friends- 2. Even so, I've been embarressed by the miserable failure I feel my surgery has been and wish nobody knew. Who wants to have weight loss surgery and still be fat?! lol Because of complications with the sleeve, it has been recommended to me to have gastric bypass as a second step or even duodenal switch. My head is still swimming and I haven't made a decision but I can tell you this much- if I decided to go through another procedure, I wouldn't tell anyone. When you feel like a failure the first time after all the hard work, positivity and high expectations, it can make you super wary to talk about it the second time. Good for you for making the right decision for you and taking control back of your weight loss journey!

Hi all! I just went for my 10 week appt. I am down 52 pounds! I have had no complications, and I am feeling great. Hope everyone is feeling great and ready to take off some pounds this July!

I made it. I am home and eating/drinking some chicken broth. I had a couple of complications-not with the band though. I had a hernia and that was repaired. The also I had a hole in my diaphram. Mt DR says that was probably cause bt a auto wrech i had last year. I have to return to have that repaired.

This is the first time on the site! I'm actually checking on this for my daughter who is 19 - I could also use the surgery, but my concern is for her right now. I'm pretty sure my blue/cross ppo doesn't cover it, although I will call them on Monday. From what I'm reading, this seems to be a complicated process on trying to get the insurance to cover it. Do you suggest starting with a seminar to find a Dr? or with insurance? I'm in Michigan and haven't even made a call yet. Help!! :thumbup: Thanks for listening!

I have definitely been going through this same soul-searching...and also discussing it in sessions with my therapist...I, too, am not 100% postive the surgery is the right thing for me, but at this time in my life and with my current issues, I am finally beginning to see that I need some kind of drastic change...and while I am worried about possible complications and the physical issues with having a sleeve for a stomach, I am also very much concerned about the emotional aspects...I have anxiety issues (one of the reasons I over eat), and I am wondering what it will feel like not to have that comfort when I am feeling anxious...also, a large part of my social life and family interaction centers around food and the enjoyment of eating...I am wondering how I will feel when I cannot fully participate...will I feel more like a "freak" than I do now? I have been at times in my life severely depressed, so much so that I have had to take leave from work...I worry that somehow this choice of WLS will lead to another bout of severe depression...I definitely can empathize with your dilemma...I consider myself a spiritual person, and I have prayed a lot lately about this...I believe that WLS is what I am being lead to as an option, but of course I am not sure...it's requiring a big leap of faith on my part...

I would just talk to your surgeon. If your just sitting barring you have no complications I don't see why you can't go back after a week.

Congratulations on being able to have the WL surgery you prefer! Now you have time to prepare yourself. This message board is a very good venue to explore and ask what you may about the sleeve. I was in the hospital for 4 nights. I left the evening of the 5th day. I hadn't any serious complication just was given a blood transfusion. Most people are in the hospital approx. 3 days and a few have actually gone home the same day...(something I can't personally fathom).

I'm hoping the group wisdom can reassure me here.... I have a site to the left of my port that started today being super, super swollen. I had surgery on March 4th, so this is about a month later, and I have not had this issue previously. It is raised like a hard lump and around it is tender. I have had complications with the incision over my port (it opened when they took out the staples) and am very nervous, so I saw a member of my surgical team today. The surgeon was not worried about the swelling at all and thought it was an inflammatory response just to the tube from the silicon ring to the port. The surgeon examined my incision which is slowly healing and felt it was still infection-free, which is good news. I have an apt to see him again in three weeks. For reference my port is at the bottom of my sternum, about 1/3 of the way down from my bra line to my belly button. I am kind of freaking out about this, it hurts and is so swollen! The surgeon told me not to worry but I am very worried. An ideas? Can anyone help me feel better? Or do you want to tell me you had something similar and it was a disaster, ha ha? (ok not really ha ha...) Part of the freaking is that I am supposed to travel to the USA (I am in Canada) this Saturday for two weeks, and I really don't want to have a problem while away from home... Thanks!

Or go back to the medicine. You know the chances of complications, the issues associated with anethesia, the post op complications and the risk vs reward of this procedure. I don't know if your like me but if you are, just ask to be informed. know your lab values, ask what your d-dimer is etc. Knowing the medicine can be a blessing in that you really do know if everything is going ok. course the flip side is, if its not, you will know too. Knowing the complications you also know how to prevent most of them right? Walk, Insp. spirometer etc. You know what to do to decrease the chances of complications. If you need someone to talk to PM me. I work 24's so whenever. =) You will do great though!! I can feel it!

My Dr does overfill the band but that didnt sit well with me. Luckily I finally got restriction at 8.8 in my 9 band because even though they told me it wouldnt be a problem to overfill the band, just the increase of chance of complications from that isnt something I would have done.

I'm sorry that you have had complications and I will pray that your upcoming surgery will correct everything successfully! Sending hugs!!

The LAP-BAND®®® surgery was the first surgery I had since I was 3 (48 years ago). I did pretty well and I've done well with the band. I was told in May (right before surgery) that I had a cataract in the right eye and surgery was required. I didn't want to have two surgeries back to back, so I scheduled this for October. I had my cataract surgery on my right eye on Tuesday. I felt fantastic afterwards, but have had some complications. I had astigmatism and lens correction in addition to the cataract surgery, and while my vision is better I have flashing and other issues I'm told are will require a second surgery for retina issues. My lesson is never to take anything related to your health for granted -- joints, heart, AND VISION. I've been sailing along for years seeing with contacts without a problem. I took a lot of things for granted and I learn day by day its not as simple as it seems. To top it off I can't do any kind of exercise this week and with the additional surgery next week I also can't exercise a week after that. That is hard for me as I'm used to a lot of cardio and weights and this is a setback -- weight -wise. It is what it is, I guess. I'll follow instructions and be a model patient and do everything I can to ensure my eye is good. Thanks for "listening".

Sorry hit send by accident Feel very successful! I started at 297, lost 14 preop and am now down a total of 118# I now weigh 179! I am less than 20# from my goal of 160. I am delighted and would do it over in a heartbeat! My husband has a consultation thurs. that is how happy I am. No complications and my sleeve tolerates everything. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was sleeved 8/31/12 by Dr Aceves. I've lost 55# since surgery and I feel incredible! Not a single complication, Still can't eat more than 2 oz of meat in a meal and I like it that way. :wub: Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! But I'm glad I don't have to LOL