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I'm a sleeve. four1/2 year’s out. I maintain in the 130's. I give myself a ten-pound bounce range. when the scale moves up, I go back eating my bariatric food plan to stay in range. I'm in maintenance phase. I eat mainly clean, I do indulge occasionally. My third year, my weight got up to 147. (still a BMI 24.5 normal range) had to dial in my diet to lose the weight. I'm back in the 130's My two cents on regains. Weight gain can happen with any type of bariatric surgery. Some factors in regain: Complications from surgery Medical issues and medications pregnancy/menopause Not weighing yourself regularly Getting complaisant as the years pass You will reach a point that you noticeably can feel less restriction with the sleeve (it has not stretched) Just because you can consume more food, does not mean you should. Its important not to go over your calories and macros for the day. Stretching is rare. Get it diagnosed by your surgeon for a revision Eating around your surgery. Grazing is consistently eating sever small meals of healthy and unhealthy foods. The total will be over your calories and macros. It’s as if you never had surgery. You can eat 3000+calories. YOU WILL GAIN WEIGHT Ask for help if you have a gain (surgeons office, dietician and counselling) - Easier to lose a 20 pound gain than a 40, 60, 80, 100+

That's a normal fear. I prayed and prayed for two weeks before the surgery for a skillful surgeon, for no complications, no leaks, no infections, etc. When I woke up in recovery I remember saying, "I'm alive, I made it" and the nurses assuring me I was okay. Just try to focus on how wonderful you're going to feel and how many more years of life you're going to have because you'll be at a healthy weight. Take care.

Also chiming is, easy surgery, no complications whatsoever

Hi Suffolkgirl19 and anyone else still interested in this thread, Well I ended up having the band removed whilst pregnant (roughly 15 weeks ago) which was not an easy decision to make. I became so ill from lack of food AND WATER that it felt the only option. I had the band emptied in my first trimester of pregnancy which I believe caused the band to drop or move position, the last thing I remember eating was one cracker with cheese on it and a handful of grapes and then the next couple of weeks were a joke. I was admitted to hospital and put on a drip at one point, another point the reflux was so severe I was bringing up blood due to over gagging. Food was a definite no no and liquids were hit and miss hence the hospital stay. The stickiness or tightness did start to subside a little after a couple of weeks though and I could tolerate liquids. It was this point that I was prescribed weird milkshake things to help aid me in my pregnancy and ensure I was getting the right nutrients etc for the baby. I became very down though and felt so guilty at my decisions and the impact it was now having on my unborn child, I think I was pretty depressed with it all to be fair. At this time I was offered surgery to remove the band (now costing the NHS along with the hospital stays etc) which like I said earlier was a difficult decision to make however I was so scared I might become blocked again or have further complications later in my pregnancy that it felt the safest option at the time. They give a five week window of lower risk for operation during pregnancy so I didn't have long to think or to actually have the surgery it was all a bit of a whirlwind. I think the thought of carrying out my pregnancy on milkshakes alone helped make my decision too as morning sickness wants what it wants and it certainly didn't want some thick powdery milkshake and didn't tend to stay down anyway. Anyway I had the surgery and quite simply it is the best thing I have done! Baby is due anytime now and I don't feel my weight has piled on despite craving constant dairy throughout. In fact I lost so much in my first trimester that I feel once I have given birth I will be better off than when I fell pregnant. I know I shouldn't be so negative as there are so many happy and successful banders out there. I appreciate that it works differently for everyone and also people have different expectations too which can be a major influence on how you adjust to the band. I just know that I had problems throughout and when I did get something stuck or had a bad time with it I felt incredibly lonely and scared and it always tends to be at its worst in the middle of the night so want people to know that you are not alone. I think my surgeon was fantastic, my after care was fantastic and on the right person the surgery itself is fantastic....just not for me. I feel free and safe now and love that my body is back to how it used to be. One thing the experience has shown me is that I actually don't mind my size, sure I am still probably two stone overweight but having the removal was the best decision I have ever made and I will never again complain about yoyo dieting or the constant weight struggle I have! I am looking forward to it, ha! If anyone ever asked me for advice on having a band fitted now I would say take the £5K and invest in a life coach, or a high end counsellor to support through changing their behaviours and habits, or time off work to attend some remote fat camp, or all of the above....I don't know.....throw all the money into people who can help change embedded habits for good and give the kick start needed. I wish I had just paid someone to lock me in a room for a couple of months and forced me to work out and eat well until I reached my 'target' then I would have sought support to change my thought processes. I'm not even saying throwing money at it is necessarily the option but I think I would have had better results than what I have now. I guess I am writing this as is one person reads this thread and it helps make them make a better informed decision then it was worth it. Suffolkgirl19 I really feel your pain and don't even know what to suggest, I guess finding support in your new body and ways to deal with it when things don't go to plan? It's hard because sometimes you can do everything 'right' and still find your body doesn't want to intake any food or drink. Please get in touch if it helps you though as I know it can feel pretty shitty at times. xxx

So, not complicated at all, huh?

Orlando Area! I went with Dr. Shillingford..I have not had any complications thus far!

I actually ate solid food 3 days after surgery with no complications. About a week after surgery I had chicken and turkey. Went for my check up and they told me to go back to liquid diet for 4 more days........ whatever I did. Lost over 70 pounds in 7 weeks since surgery so far.

I’ve been reading about complications a lot lately and it is scary. I am 2 weeks post op. I have to put that stuff out of my mind.

Our @Matt Z is, unfortunately, very knowledgeable about this complication. "The Band had become totally encapsulated in scar tissue, it took my surgeon and her team more than 3 times longer to remove the band than what's normal. My 3-4 hour surgery, lasted over 6 hours. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't revise. The band is gone. My insides have been rearranged. And I'm working my way down to my goal. One day at a time. " --https://www.bariatricpal.com/profile/120901-matt-z/

Nothing is off limits to me on my plan, but if it's high in sugar or generally not good for you, then of course I am supposed to eat very little of that. That being said, I am still on the soft foods phase of my plan, and a couple of days ago I tried a few of these lightly crunchy mini 'crepes' with goat cheese I got from Lidl. I chewed them up until they were mush and only ate like 5 or 6 of them (they are super TINY), and I've not had any issues, thankfully. I just really wanted to try them and see what they were like, so I only had a few. I don't tend to stray towards the bad foods as much anymore as well, though I did have a craving for Kinder chocolate after seeing my hubby have a bite the other day. I asked for a literal lick from the chocolate, and that satisfied me just fine, lol. I can only eat just a few bites of anything as it is, so I just haven't really been inclined to eat anything junky/not-good-for-me since I'm already struggling to get in enough protein as is. On top of that, I don't want to cause any complications with my stomach either. My motto now going forward though is.. Eat healthy MOST of the time, but I won't deprive myself of occasional treats or naughty foods, or I know I will slip back into bad habits. When people tell me 'no', I naturally gravitate towards wanting to do the 'forbidden' thing I'm not supposed to do.

I had no complications. But, I sure as hell (especially self-pay) wouldn't get any WLS without having an EGD and a barium swallow to make sure that I don't have undiagnosed GERD/Reflux or any esophageal issues. That's like making a huge change to your body on a blind bet. Yikes!

Had mine 12/14. I’ve had 3 laparoscopic surgeries now and this one was the easiest! Be sure to start walking AS SOON AS YOU CAN after surgery. Like within an hour or two. It will help you start healing and lessen complications. I’ve had no vomiting or issues with eating and drinking. I feel the same, I just eat a lot less. I’ve lost 38 lbs so far and feel great. No regrets whatsoever. I haven’t lost my hair yet so I may feel differently if that happens[emoji23]. Just be sure to go a reputable hospital with a surgeon with a good rating. Good luck- wish you the best! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Have you had a very large, very satisfying poop? Chances are you are backed up...but you can never be sure in this situation. You are probably far enough out that surgical gas is not the cause, but your intestines are "whack" for a while. And can cause great pain and cramping. But that can also be from other surgical reasons too. Call your doc. Generally if you can eat and drink and keep things down and keep well hydrated and don't have to medicate with opiods to control the pain it's a normal thing for the biggest percentage of folks. But there are complications...

I was sleeved on 12/11/18 and have had no problems, no complications, no leaks, no infection, no pain --- it's all been smooth sailing. Good luck on your surgery.

I had mini gastric bypass(which is better and safer than R n Y) with DR LIZA POMPA@ LIMARP in Tijuana. I am a nurse and did much homework to finally choose her! And it was an awesome experience! I had my surgery December 19 weighing in at 258 pounds and today I weighed 216 and half and had no complications from my surgery at all. It cost me $8000 and it’s the best money I ever spent. She is the surgeon of an INTERNATIONAL CENTER of EXCELLENCE in BARIATRIC SURGERY in Tijuana. https://www.limarp.com/en

57 years old. I was a revision so doc was concerned about scar tissue. But, I felt fine the evening of surgery. Could have gone home, but wasn't allowed to. My friend came to visit me in the hospital in morning and the doc said I could go home so we walked to the parking lot and she drove me home. Hub had no time to make it to the hospital. Other than constipation (affects a lot of us), absolutely no complications. No hair loss and I'm 6 months out. 60 pounds down. So happy I decided to do this. Viz

Aggi- that is awesome news. Congratulations on your results and NO complications! WOO HOO! Notmyname - very true... I guess I haven’t looked at it that way! That’s so true - I bet more often than not that ppl are out enjoying their new health; not posting on forums! thanks for the link green! I had no hair thinning/breakage after after my gallbladder surgery. No thin brittle nails either. I have always had long thick hair and nails but I want to be mentally prepared for that trade off (if it happens). Hopefully I’ll get lucky this time too!

Remember, most people will post if they're having problems, they won't post if everything is going well. So, there are always going to be more posts about problems. And don't compare your previous bills to what you might need to do self-pay. Those numbers are basically invented. Nobody pays those. Sure, self pay for any complications would be high, but not nearly as high as what they "bill" insurance - that's just a dance the hospitals do with insurance.

I had no complications. I'm 62yo. Stayed in hospital less than 24hrs, no pain, just discomfort. Recovered very fast after surgery. Noobs and butt are gone. Hair is still there. But I'm full of energy, feel happy and health problems are gone.

Ok well any complications (if they happen at all) try going through your primary physician/emergent care (just keep surgeon looped in of course) so health insurance covers it. Play them smart. [emoji738]

I’ve been seeing posts about people having sepsis and being hospitalized for months. Just basing off my past experience I’m thinking those cases would easily be hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am just getting to a place financially where something like that would totally destroy me. I’m trying to buy a house and I would definitely have to file bankruptcy If I racked up some huge self pay bill for a complication. Basically I’m thinking worst-case scenario. But you guys have helped me get some perspective.

No - sorry! I didn’t end up having to pay that balance but they did send me a copy of the bill. When I saw those numbers I was astonished. That’s what got me worrying about being self pay with complications for this procedure.

Awesome! Thank you Healthy for sharing. This is making me feel MUCH better. I have been in the hospital twice before and both became extremely complicated situations. My hospital bill (8 day stay) for my gallbladder removal was $108,000. The other occasion I had to be life flighted out of state to give birth to twins. That bill was over $200,000. If something like that happens to me this time it would financially devastate me. Hopefully all goes well. I am in desperate need of a breast reduction and want to get off of pain meds for my back. I will keep thinking positive!!!!

Pain was managed with medications. I bounced back from surgery quickly. No complications.

Hi, My journey has been relatively easy. Yours may differ of course. I would focus on your particular surgeons results rather than a smattering of random complications you may never see.