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Thank you very much for all those who responded. It really made me feel better getting this support, even if only online. I have some good news. In a moment of desperation, I gave the bariatric group of the public health system in my city a call, not expecting much. I left the coordinator there a voice message explaining my situation. She got back to me a day later asking me to go to my GP and ask him for a referral to the group so that they could take me on as a patient! I can then decide then with the bariatric surgeon(s) that will see me what to do with the band. Monitoring it and keeping it in. Taking it out. Revising to another surgery, etc... I was so excited I couldn't believe my ears!!! I expected them to turn me away like they had done when I first moved here 7 years ago. Back then, they asked me to go back to my original surgeon as they only looked after their own patients! I suspect that with the high failure rate of the band, they realized it would just be unethical to turn patients who had done it elsewhere away when some of the band complications can be deadly. In all cases, I have an appointment with my GP in 10 days to ask him for a referral to the group. I really can't wait and for the first time in years feel like I will finally get the care and support I need. Given how things work here in the public health system, it may take a few months though before I am seen by the bariatric group, but better later than never I guess! On the negative side, I seem to have developed a chronic bad breath problem that I never knew about. My mom who has been staying with me for the last two weeks noticed it. No matter how much I brush my teeth, eat or not eat, it seems to be there. I suspect I have had this for some time without knowing it as I live on my own. I am pretty sure it's related to the band.

I too had problems deciding on whether to go with the sleeve or the bypass and ended up deciding on the sleeve. I was not comfortable at the time of my surgery (1/21/2019) to rearrange my internals for WLS when the research that I had done, along with the information that I had discussed with my doctor has educated me that both surgery's have a very high success rate and doctors are now finding that performing the Gastric Sleeve is effective without needed to complete a total Bypass... there are also less risks and complications involved with the Sleeve. Currently I have not had any reflux issues, which I have had in the past... not everyone's journey is the same.. so I feel that while listening to other people's stories is helpful., ultimately you need to make a choice that you are comfortable with... one thing that people often forget is this is also a life style change.. not just a quick fix.. my stomach is smaller but once it's healed I can go back to eating anything I want.. if that's a person's mentality then I feel you're setting yourself up for failure long term. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Do you know this persons medical history? All of the conditions behind the complications? Is it the same surgeon? Complications can arise from any surgery. Keep in mind if you get a sleeve and you already have reflux or similar issues you could be facing a needed revision if your problem worsens anyways. It may be more prudent to listen to the surgeon and opt for bypass now than undergo two operations. You likely would need new approval but that does not necessarily mean a longer wait once you have insurance approval to change the form, but a longer wait is worth it to make sure you get the needed surgery. You need to get the surgery you are comfortable with but why base a decision on a friend of a friend situation and let that influence your health and medical decisions?

I'm near the end of my journey to get the gastric sleeve. I should have learned my date by now, so probably any day now. My Dr initially wanted to do duodenal switch and if not the gastric bypass, because I have recent history with pain in my stomach, controlled with ppi's. I told him I would not consider either, only gastric sleeve. Now I'm having second thoughts. I'm scared of the gastric bypass due to a friends friend dying from complications. I do have a small hiatal hernia they need to repair. I'm afraid IF I decided to go with the gastric bypass, I will have to wait longer. I'm wondering if insurance would need another approval to do the GB? It say approval states the GS. Any help appreciated!

I'm not in the UK, but I too struggled with choosing between bypass and sleeve. I thought I wanted bypass because I didn't feel it was as "permanent" as cutting out half your stomach with the sleeve. It's reversible in a sense. But when I met with my psychiatrist and primary doctor, they both suggested sleeve for me instead because they felt that bypass was too "radical" and complicated and a much bigger deal surgery-wise. That's how I ended up changing my mind and choosing sleeve. I'm six weeks post-op and very happy with my choice.

Had sleevectomy Jan. 9 and was admitted back into hospital on Jan. 21 for a blood clot in one of the veins in my stomach. So glad I ignored the nurse at my surgeon’s office who said my severe pain was probably just lactose intolerance or gas pain! I got my butt to the ER because I couldn’t stand the pain anymore! Trust your instincts people! Also remember the risk of complications is REAL and keep up with your water intake. I’m finally getting out of hospital today after 4 days and certainly hope I never have to go through this again!

That sounds like a pretty good deal. I know there are some great surgeons in Mexico, but if there's a complication, I would rather deal with a surgeon in the US where there is real accountability. It might be worth the extra money over having it done in Mexico. I was lucky enough to get my procedure covered under insurance, but if I didn't I would probably consider something like this or Blossom in Las Vegas over Mexico.

If you are in the US go to Dr. Shillingford in boca Raton. Flat fee of $10,500 covers everything and he and the nurses/hospital were awesome. He is trying to keep people from going to Mexico because of complications and got this special discount rate. Very highly recommended and rated

Sorry for all your complications and wishing you smooth sailing going forward on your journey😊

Thank you. We decided to fly to reduce travel time. We will be seeing a lot of family so I'll get my first experiences where social events involve a lot of food. This will be tough! I suppose I'm most worried about possible having post-op complications while away from home. I suppose the good news is that if I can do it, I'll feel more "normal" and back into the swing of things. I hope at least!

I had my surgery 11/1 and developed an ulcer, had to have my gallbladder out, and developed a hernia and IT IS STILL WORTH IT. I can't imagine any complication that would not be worth dealing with in order to lose this weight. PS: I am all healed up now. They will test you in the OR for leaks; my surgeon tested my pouch 3 times. So extremely rare to have a leak, and it is fixable. There's pretty much nothing they can't fix. There was a few moments where I felt like it was "unfair" these things happened to me and I was exasperated at having to deal with it... but losing the weight conquers all.

I'm going to post my (almost) 3 month success. I have conquered a brutally painful post-op ulcer. A gallbladder removal where it had to be peeled off my liver from having embedded itself into it. And a hernia repair where my intestinal junction had started to separate. All in the last 2.5 months. I am healed up completely now (still a week from exercise post-gallbladder) and ON TRACK LIKE A NORMAL PATIENT. Suck it, unjust medical complications! And I am officially my lowest adult weight since 2013. 63lbs down since September. 53lbs down since 11/1 surgery. And that's my mini-success.

Did you have success with the band? Or taking it out due to complications?

Try to see their side. You are asking them to see it from your perspective, so it is only fair that you try to see it from theirs. What are the reasons they may be against your Weight Loss Surgery, and how can you address them? In many cases, their concerns are legitimately about your well-being, and things you should consider if you have not already. They may worry that: You will not hit your goal weight this time since they’ve seen disappointment before. You will suffer complications from surgery. You will regret having a permanent Sometimes, their concerns are selfish but still worth discussing. They may worry that: You’ll stop feeling attracted to them. You will pressure them to give up their own favorite foods while you eat healthily. They will feel left out. You will not want to spend time with them. Reassure them. Address their concerns directly. Explain why you feel the surgery is safe, and how much research you have done to learn about it as well as find a surgeon. Tell them why you think Weight Loss Surgery will work for you even if previous diets have not. Let them know that you need to do this for yourself, not for them and that this will not change the way you feel about them – you will still love your SO, and respect your parents, for example. Tell them how you see yourself spending time with them after surgery, so they can be comfortable. Write it down and practice. Starting the conversation can be the scariest part of telling them. Before you bring up the subject, write down what you plan to say. This is a good exercise for you to do anyway since it encourages you to think through all of the doubts around Weight Loss Surgery. Writing it down and practicing can make it easier for the words to come when you decide to bring it up. Include them in your plans. Often, your spouse and parents, and others who care about you, just want to help. They may be afraid if they do not how to help. When you talk to them, let them know how important they are to you, both in life in general and in this important period of your life. If you tell them specifically what they can do to support you, they may feel more at ease with your decision and more confident in their roles. You might ask them to: Pick up your children from school when you are recovering from surgery. Go with you to the store to pick out protein powders and measuring cups and spoons. Ask you each night how you are doing. Cook healthy meals with you. Prepare for anything. The conversation may be as difficult and unfulfilling as you feared. Or, your SO, parents or other loved ones may be surprisingly supportive once they realize that you have done your research and are serious about making the lifestyle changes needed for success. They may even be interested in getting healthy with you and ask for your help and support in exchange for theirs. Stay strong and independent. As much as you long for your SO and other loved ones to support you wholeheartedly, it may not happen. Try not to let it get you down, though. If you are sure about what you want, go for it, with or without them. They will come around sooner or later, and if not, you may be better off without their negative influence. Letting them know that you have made up your mind regardless of their support may actually convince them to help you since there is no point in standing in your way. Stay independent in the sense that you realize that you do not need them. Your success does not depend on their approval, and you are not doomed to fail if they stand in your way. Get the support you need from others as you move forward.

Gah! So exciting that we have more dates!!! So, who's first up so far? I think I saw someone with an early Feb date... I have my final pre-op meeting with my surgeon on Tuesday. Hoping to confirm a date then (though likely it will be the 15th). I want to postpone and ask for a morning time if he hasn't got me in the morning slot, though -- to reduce the likelihood of complications due to fatigue. Sent from my CPH1719 using BariatricPal mobile app

Just hit 6 months and had my 6 month follow up. I’m down 40% of my excess weight (now clue where that number comes from?) and got a certificate for losing over 100lbs (since starting the program, not just post op). They said I was the poster child for the surgery, but I’m not sure why? I see people on Instagram who are crushing it with their weight loss and fitness routines... and certainly wouldn’t place myself in that club. Eating out is a chore! Usually I’ll try to convince my husband that we should agree on a dish and split it. Most places are cool with this, just make sure to tip like you ordered two meals. I did start to lose hair around month 5. Luckily my hair is thick, so I’ve been able to get by without drastic measures so far. Constipation is a real drag. It’s the only complication I deal with. I just got them to up my stool softener med to twice a day. Hopefully that helps. Also- they prescribed miralax, which I didn’t think my insurance would cover OTC meds, but they did... and it’s saving me a bundle!

Ha -- yeah, she did also say that losing weight can be very motivating/positive. Kind of a catch 22. Her concern was more straight after surgery/if there are complications. She said something along the lines of "So, imagine you've had surgery, and you're five days post-op. What are you going to do when you're struggling to keep anything down and you feel absolutely miserable?" I guess it was just about having those support systems in place... and really thinking about what that will be like before it happens. From reading a few posts and things, it seems like some people have very intense. visceral reactions straight after surgery. They feel like "Oh fudgesticks, this was a complete mistake" and they really, really struggle. Fighting through feelings like that is freaking hard, so, I mean, I get it... there's no guarantees that any of us won't wake up thinking that this has been the worst decision ever. And I guess it's just about being prepared for that possibility? That's my speculation, anyway.

There are good surgeons all over the world and you can get a great surgery in many countries. The issue is follow up. If you have a complication sometime down the road, do you have a doctor near you that can care for you and understands the procedure you had?? I know of plenty of people who went to Mexico for their surgery and it's worked out great. The sleeve is a pretty simple procedure as far as the actual surgery is concerned, so it might be something doable abroad--just do your homework so you sure you're working a doctor and hospital with a good reputation and lots of experience. However, when you start getting into more complicated procedures like a duodenal switch, I wouldn't go far from home.

Very good questions, thank you - it helps me solidify my plans. The kids will be to and from school themselves on the bus - and they are fine being home alone from when they get in at 3.15pm until my husband gets home at 4.30pm. They are 12 and 11 now and very mature. This will not be new or stressful for them as they already do this 2 days a week as I get home later than my husband on those days. If my husband isn't willing to bring me home, I have at least 4 friends who know the situation and will be able to bring me home. The hospital is only 20 minutes away. I plan to either take an Uber to the hospital, or have a friend take me - if my husband is not prepared to do that. I am not very worried about this - he is very into preserving his reputation and looking good to the outside world, so I think he will want to transport me there and back or we wouldn't look like the perfect family, you know? If there are complications, I would call an ambulance or he would take me to the ER. He wouldn't want anything to happen to me - he does care about me a lot. The relationship is a bit one sided these days, LOL. I don't have any family here - they are all back in Ireland. If I don't disclose the location, I will leave a post-it, as you say. I will also call after the op - once it's done there's nothing he can do. I'm not a great liar, though, so I don't think I could invent another surgery. He would end up being at the hospital with me all concerned and they'd be talking about sleeve while he's thinking gallbladder or whatever. That's my luck. TBH, he's averse to and suspicious of doctors and any kind of medical procedures really - probably because of his drinking - so he'd be just as likely to try to talk me out of any surgery.

Questions: Who will be watching your children while you are in the hospital? How will you be getting home from the hospital after surgery? What if there are complications? Are you relying on an alternate family member? Will the hospital.release you to a cab after surgery? Ultimately, is it prudent for your husband/co-parent **not** to know your surgery location? Could you leave a Post-It on the fridge on your way out, just in case? If you are this adverse to telling him, can you make up a plausible alternate surgery, and just avoid the whole situation?

I am home now! My surgery went well, no immediate complications, and I was only in for about 40 minutes or so. My first two days were misery, and I just slept a lot, but today is my third day, so I was able to head home now that I can eat small amounts and such. My belly hurts still, b ut not too bad, and when I sip, my stomach and throat 'gurgles' quite a bit which is annoying, but I'm told it is a common thing and will subside with some time. I also get some pressure and pain when burping and especially with hiccuping. Otherwise, everything seems alright overall!

I was sleeved 8/16/18. I've been super lucky with no complications whatsoever. No nausea, no vomiting. I've tolerated every food I've tried. I am shedding hair a bit but that has happened to me with every surgery I've had, not just WLS. I have lost 69 from my HW and 50.3 since surgery (today is my 5 month surgiversary). I'm very happy with my progress.

Nerves are cut during surgery so you may not feel proper restriction for a few months. Because of this, it is critical to not advance your diet too soon, eat too much, or seek out a full feeling. Instead, you should weigh your food so you don’t overeat, as it could lead to post-op complications.

I had the sleeve in August of 2018. I've had no complications. I will echo the others; I wish I had done this sooner. It's been an amazing transformation - I'm down almost 70 lbs from my surgery weight in 5 months! I'm wearing clothing sizes I haven't worn since high school. I can walk all day without getting winded or sore feet. The sleeve is far superior to the band, in my opinion. Fewer complications, less risk of needing future surgeries. Also, in order to get adjustments made to the band, you have to have a needle the size of a thumbtack stuck through your skin into the port in your abdomen.. that doesn't sound fun to me.

I feel the same way, CaribeRidge. I'm terrified, to be totally honest. Not the most positive thing to say, but the truth, nevertheless. Logically, it's a good gamble for me, the surgery, but I've never been much of a gambler. Even in Vegas, I stick to penny and nickel slots because risking a lot makes me feel sick. (Do they even still have penny slots?) I'm also a nurse, so I think about and see complications more than I do success. Right now, I'm trying to remember the reasons logical me decided this was a good idea. With the Barrett's I was just diagnosed with, it's an even better idea, but still... *eyes the high roller table nervously*