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Mine was done outpatient but I spent most of the night in recovery with them trying to get the pain under control and making sure everything was okay. I think how long you stay is less about pain and more about whether or not you're showing symptoms of complications. It's actually better for your recovery to leave earlier. You're less likely to get a post op infection with a shorter stay in the hospital because you're less likely to get exposed to someone with an infectious disease. They do their best but it still happens. It's one of the reasons why, if you're not sick, they get you out of there after a surgery as quickly as they can. If you talk to them about pain and go in, ask about an injected NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflamitory - like ibuprofen but way stronger). They gave me one and I think it helped more than any of the other pain meds and helped get things under control so the dilauded and tylenol actually helped.

I'm 59. I had the band for 10 years. It was removed 2 weeks ago after a year of complications. It is a device and devices do not last. Read up on everything you can - all the stats on Bands. Educate yourself. I am looking into the Sleeve as an option, not another Band. You could check Facebook - Failed Lap-Bands and Realize Bands to ask any questions of members. Friendly and supportive group like this one. Good luck!

I'm 59. I had the band for 10 years. It was removed 2 weeks ago after a year of complications. It is a device and devices do not last. Read up on everything you can - all the stats on Bands. Educate yourself. I am looking into the Sleeve as an option, not another Band. You could check Facebook - Failed Lap-Bands and Realize Bands to ask any questions of members. Friendly and supportive group like this one. Good luck!

I'm 59. I had the band for 10 years. It was removed 2 weeks ago after a year of complications. It is a device and devices do not last. Read up on everything you can - all the stats on Bands. Educate yourself. I am looking into the Sleeve as an option, not another Band. You could check Faceb. Failed Lap-Bands and Realize Bands to ask any questions of members. Friendly and supportive group like this one. Good luck!

I am 40 and am 5 weeks post-op. No complications so far (besides, like everyone else, trying to pass a stone where you shouldn't). Just had my 1 month post op appt earlier today and doc says I'm doing well, I feel excellent, energetic, and have had tons of NSV's in a really short period of time. To the original poster - my 1 week post op appt was a post surgery class that included about 10 other people that were also 1 week post op- I would say at least 7 or 8 out of those 11 people were 40+. I wouldn't worry too much about the age thing.

Hi Krissy, I guess I'm not sure how to answer your poll. Both are risky IMO, being that RnY is far more complicated than the VS. Then again, an operation being performed by someone who is not that experienced in it is rather risky as well. I wouldn't give you my opinion on either. I always go for experience in anything regarding my health and my life. That said, all good surgeons start somewhere. If I were you I'd ask lots of questions and ask him if you could talk to any of his VS patients and see how they are faring. If he has performed a great deal of RnY, then likely he's a good surgeon. Do a background check on him and find out. This surgery does take a little bit of technique. All sleeves are not created equal. Wishing you much success as you sort this out. Remember too, you're the one who has to live with the surgery, so you should ultimately go for what you really want, whatever that may be.

I had my surgery at Silver Cross - great doctors! I too have BCBS and my surgery was covered as were the mandatory pulmonolgist, psychologist, etc. Have you attended one of the meetings yet, if so which doctor will you have Dr. Joyce or Dr. Lahmann? I have had no complications and have absolutely NO regrets- best of luck to you.

Thank you for letting me know, it is good to know that there were no complications. Good wishes and lemon flowers aromas your way!

I haven't had a baby yet, but I am pregnant now after being told for the last 6 years I couldn't have children. My doctor doesn't usually do an unfill, but he did have to take out 1.5 cc's because my band tightened so much I was unable to eat and lost about 10 pounds in a month period. Since having my band loosened I have gained back 5 pounds in the last 3 weeks, which is what I needed to do. Now I'm on course for the typical 1 pound a week. I feel my port no differently than I did before I was pregnant, but I'm only 15 1/2 weeks at the moment. I will be able to have a natural birth, barring any complications (that won't be band related). The band should not affect my pregnancy at all. Because I plan on breastfeeding, I will not get my band tightened up immediately because I will require an additional 500 calories a day. I can answer more questions the further along I get.

If you asked me a few weeks ago if I was nervous I would have said YES. So why now, less than 48 hours until surgery, am I mellow? Of course I don't want to die or have any complications, but I am so relaxed it's creepy. My biggest concern seems to be if I should take a book or magazines. I'm staying 2 nights. Hubby took time off work and freezer is packed. I already bought my "food", got my meds ready and did laundry. Maybe I'm just ready? Knowing me I'll probably get super nervous the morning of,lol! Either way, I thought I'd be more emotional.

I am so sorry to hear of your complications and all that you've been through. I am glad you are receiving the care and treatment you desperately needed, and sending you prayers and positive healing vibes and hoping you are on the mend. You are a very strong person for all that you've been thru! Please keep us updated!

I'm doing great. It was not as bad as I thought. They moved my date to May 17th because the woman who was before me had complications. So since the 17th I have lost 6pounds. Not bad.

@@GreenEyes604 You just never know. My friend had the lapband. She lost a lot of weight, took her 5 yrs. Well, she had surgery for something else. Even though she advised of her lap band, for some reason, something went wrong in the operation room. Her esophogus is messed up and they had to deflate her band. She has gained half the weight back and still cannot put the band back on until her esophogus heals which is taking forever. Because of that reason, and because there are many nurses and CNAs still not familar with the sleeve surgery and all the complications that can come with it if directions are not followed, I think the bracelet is a good idea. Not to mention, there are many average people out of the healthcare field that are clueless when it comes to the sleeve. I know it would suck to wear one, but the idea is a proactive one.

I had no problems at all securing care, blood panels, prescriptions for Vitamins, etc. The real concern is if you have a serious complication post op. No doctor or ER is going to be permitted to refuse you care if there were a life-threatening emergency BUT your insurance could refuse to cover the complications. That said...I'd have to really search here to find a case where that happened. Maybe someone with that kind of experience will chime in. My surgeon (Dr. Aceves) did my tests for me before I left, and the only reason I'd do another swallow would be if I had a complication and suspected a stricture or something. Depending on your relationship with your PCP, you might want to disclose that you're having surgery before you do, but that's up to you. I go to military hospitals and clinics and count myself lucky if they can say my name properly. I wouldn't bother telling my doctor anything because they wouldn't remember and likely wouldn't even note it in my file. Hopefully you have better care than that. ~Cheri

Every insurance company has different requirements. I have an out of state BCBS (illinios) and my employer is Catholic Health Initiatives and they have a program called carewise. Through them I had to have six months of phone nutrition calls with a documented end weight from primary doctor at end of six months. I also had a RN case manager. Basically, we talked about any diagnosis I had, concerns, changes I needed to make to prepare for surgery. I lost maybe 10 pounds then regained bc I hurt my back and was literally in bed for a time. So in the end I weighed 3 pounds less then when I started. They were fine with that. I struggled with years being insulin dependent and very metabolically resistant even when I ate low carb. I also had to have a psych review, primary doctor review. The entire process went fast even though initially I thought six months would take forever. I am glad it took that long gave me plenty of time to weigh my options and do lots of research on complications and lifestyle changes. I started the process May of 2012 and had surgery Jan 24 2013. I can say trying to eat smaller portions, with baby spoons and all that is tough prior to surgery and for the most part I didnt do it just knew I would have changes to be made after surgery. I have had no issues since surgery. Good Luck

i Wasn’t never high BMI but had lap band in Mexico and gave me complication só removed band on 12/15 and had sleeve just wondering if anyone else have this lower BMI and if you still loose after sleeve surgery?

I was terrified of the surgery. I was shaking and wanting to run away. I had many excuses that made a lot of sense to me. But I did it anyways. I am so thankful also. I didn't have to do a leak test the next day and I have had no complications at all. You will be so thankful and proud of yourself when it's done an over and you will learn healthier eating habits to live by. you will be so skinny at the end of the trail. I would do it again in a heart beat.

LAP-BAND,laparoscopic banding,bariatric surgery,obesity Tracy's FAQ LAP-BAND: Surgery Technique Weight-Loss Surgeries Compared You could also join his egroup and talk to lots of other patients. It's really a great group. Dr. Aceves is the VP of the Mexican Bariatric Assoc., and the Secretary of the International Bariatric Assoc. Both those positions are voted on by members so he is even respected by US docs. Things that you want to look for are issues such as... does your doc do surgery in a clinic or hospital? Mexico is not the same as the US, if you were to have a complication in a clinic and needed to be transported to a hospital it is not as easy as calling 911 and they are there in minutes. It's a whole different ballgame. I preferred to be in a fully equipped hospital with an ER, ICU, CCU, PICU, OR, etc. What kinds of procedures does the doc do? Does he ONLY do banding? Banding is the easiest of all procedures. I chose Aceves because he can do the tricky stuff, the bypass to band revisions, sleeve, etc. Many docs won't touch the hard stuff. How close do you want to be to the border? Some have a preference, some do not. I wanted to be close to the border. Just my personal opinion but I think the best two docs in Mexico from my research are Rumbaut and Aceves. They are who others refer to for the more complicated procedures. They both work out of a hospital, they don't do assembly line surgery, they both open the patient, place the band, and close the patient unlike other docs who have the asst. surgeon do most of the work. They are both well respected in the Mexican medical community, they both train US docs in banding, they are both safe surgeons. When people talk about how many bands someone has done, keep in mind that many times the docs strive to do 10 procedures a day. They have the Asst. Surgeon do most of the work, they spend about 15 minutes in OR with the patient, the asst. does everything else. Personally, I wouldn't want to be the 10th OR patient in the day. Rumbaut and Aceves limit their surgeries to 4-5 daily because they are doing the entire procedure. Lots of things to think about and consider when going to Mexico. It can be a very safe experience, but research is essential.

Yeah I am still around. Other than some random posts on my activity page. I go through the forums to see if there is anything I feel passionate about, enough to post on but life is crazy right now. All the kids are in sports, I'm coaching, work, gym, chores, LIFE! Plus I have had a bad cold for a week now. But my journey is still going strong. Still loosing. And no complications How are you doing?

If you have a high BMI w/ or w/o complications they will cover it. If you have low BMI with a co-morbidity, they will also cover it. With a BMI of 38, you'll be fine . Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today is my first journal entry. I have been wanting to start one up but hadn't really looked into it. Well anyway, today is Friday, December 28, 2007. Only three more days til the new year and my new insurance will kick in. I have been very impatient because I just want to get the process started. I want a confirmation whether I can get banded or not. I have always been impatient but that is another story. Let me go back a few weeks to the seminar that I went to. On December 17th I went to a weight loss seminar at St. Francis Hospital in Federal Way. I wanted to get the seminar over with since it was kind of inconvienent. I was very happy that I went though. It really made me see what the potential can be if I do things properly. I teared up when a lady pulled out her pants from her highest weight. It was a dramatic change. There were three people, one from three different surgeries. It was cool to see the before and after photos. I liked to hear their stories and hear what they went through. One lady said that she went onto forums and went to some support groups a long time before her surgery. I think that is a great idea and want to do the same. I really liked the surgeon, Dr. Srikanth. I think that is how it is spelled. Anyway, he was really funny. He kept joking around but you could tell that he liked what he does. He was really knowledgable too. From reading the forums he does sound strict when it comes to diet, but I like that he seems to really care about how you are doing and wants to see you a lot after surgery. The seminar really started a fire in me to get this going. I have all the paperwork filled out and plan on sending it in on Jan. 2nd. I can't do it before since my insurance company changed and I don't technically have a account number until the first. I know that I am covered though. It still depends on them approving it but I am definately at an appropriate BMI and am starting to have some health issues. I had some chest pains a few weeks ago and the doctors are still baffled why but they are ruling things out. We now know it wasn't my heart but it may mean stomache problems. I hope that doesn't complicate my surgery. Boy do I need to cut my nails... It is hard to type... I today with end my current weight. At the doctor's office on Wednesday I was 310 lbs.

I had second thoughts five years ago when i first sought out surgery. I Was unhappy with my weight, but didn't feel strong enough that I needed such a drastic, permanent change. In reality... I just wasn't ready and I'm glad I backed out then. Other factors (wasn't a fan of the surgeon at the time) helped, but after now having done surgery, I knew I wouldn't have be ready for these changes then. I had bypass in April. Regarding down the road complications...i took a long hard look at family history, knock on wood-- we're a fairly healthy bunch. No one in my family relies in nsaids, sure it may change for me but at least I know it's unlikely. Re nutritional deficiencies due to malabsorption... If I do my part and take my supplements and follow up with blood work as prescribed it shoulnt be an issue. And so far I don't dump, it could change but the'fear' of the unpleasant side effects keeps me on track. Just think of all the complications remaining overweight/obese can add in your life. (Diabetes runs rampant in my family...i wanted to avoid it at all costs) Your situation is a bit different since you have to wrap your head around a whole new surgery. Second thoughts are normal though... Only do what you are ready for. Maybe just follow the supervised diet for a few months and make a decision at the end of it?? Good luck! Ugh sorry, didn't realize this was the men only board.

I am freshly 24 and have been overweight for as long as i can remember. I belong to a family of emotional eaters! I'm sure that many of you know exactly what I am talking about when I say those words! Bad day? Ice Cream! Good say? Ice Cream! Holidays and birthdays are planned solely with food in mind! I have told myself over the years that I am happy with who I am and what I look like, but as the years pass I realize this just isn't the case! Diets never work, and a life style change is in order! I finally made the decision that surgery is what it will take for me to be successful in losing and keeping the weight off. Earlier this year I started doing lots of research on weight loss surgeries and found that the only one my insurance covered was Gastric Bypass. Thinking it was the logical option i went ahead and started the process of getting it done. In July my mom and I attended a seminar that is required to get the ball rolling. I started the 6 months of dieting and seeing a nutritionist weekly that my insurance requires for approval. 1 month into dieting my gallbladder had to be removed because of a stone. When this was done everything changed!! The doctor that performed the removal found an interesting surprise when he got inside! (He also nicked something and I spent a week in the hospital for a bile leak!!) My intestines never rotated when i was a baby, so large is on one side of my belly and small on the other! How did I not know this after being alive for 24 years!!! So the gastric bypass just seemed like more complications going into it than I was comfortable with! Now here is where it gets interesting! During my stay in the hospital a doctor from the same office was filling in for mine and stopped by to check on me. In my family we call this one a "god thing" because this man just so happened to be a weight loss surgeon and was working with a hospital, that is actually closer to my home, on a low cost plan for the sleeve procedure! He explained more about my intestines and how the sleeve would just be more practical! Lots of research, phone calls, and doctors appointments later and I am so very close to being able to have this surgery. The only problem is, and it's a pretty big one, I can't find a co-signer who has enough good credit for me to get the full amount needed! I feel like i have worked so hard to get to this point, I have lost 10 pounds on the diet that the doc suggested I be on to soften my liver! I know that I need this surgery, but there have been so many set backs on this journey that I am starting to wonder if this is just not meant to be! I am so sorry this has been an extremely long post, but I needed to get it all out and hope that someone has some words of encouragement!! Thank you for reading!

1 day before I start my PreOp liquid Diet 7 days Until my Trip 10 days Until my Surgery 9-5-09 Life has a funny way of working?. People unexpectedly pop into your life that you never thought you would see again? I feel happier these days, even more confident then I have in years? Not afraid to be who I am? excited to think of who I will become? food Funeral For as long as I can remember you were there. You comforted me when I was sad, lonely, bored, depressed. You held my hand when I was happy; you were by my side when I was in love. You laid next to me when I was heartbroken. You saw me through my worse, You rewarded me through my best. But now its time to let you go, and put my dependency for you to rest. I don?t need you as much as you think I do. I will not be weak, I will not give into your temptation The only cravings I will desire is to love myself The only hungry I will feel is the hunger for success and self assurance I will no longer look at you as a temporary solution to a complicated emotion Rather a tool that gives me energy to live a productive life full of devotion I say farewell to the lonely days that I filled my mouth with meaningless garbage The evenings where I embraced that second or third helping. To those nights where I tossed and turned uncomfortably extended looking at the ceiling emotionally suspended. I don?t hate you, but I cant count on you to feed my emotions. I cant count on you to fill the voids that should be filled with motivation, and determination The cracks and crevices that should flow with desire and inspiration. I don?t want to WANT you I want to NEED you To give me the energy I need to persevere to enjoy life with out this addiction, And to finally see clear?.

FORGIVE THE LENGTHY MESSAGE. NEED TO GIVE CONTEXT I am wondering if any one experienced this my starting weight was 139kg before surgery on the 15th of January 2023 on day of surgery it was 131kg 2 weeks post-op i was stalled for 8weeks which was not a bother to me at the time i healed quite quickly with no complications and was moved to solids within 3 weeks by the dietitian too. between January and April i lost some weight down to 111kg Since april i have not lost anything. I have gained and lost 3-4 kg since April till date which is September 6th 2023 I do everything many people say on every platform which had never been a challenge namely Monitor what i eat: I eat between 88 - 1200 calories I have more protein than anything eggs, lean meat, chicken, fish, shrimps carbs are mostly bulgur wheat. which i have sparingly 2ce a month. Plantain i have daily to balance my protein intake but not as much as protein. I prob have more grams of protein a day and that includes protein water. I work out 4-5 days a week for up to 1:30 - 2:00 hours each day In April i worked out more 4 days a week 2ce a day 2day time cardio 1:30 hours night time strength training. no weights heavier than 25kg i take my vitamins biotin and all recommended as well as powdered collagen Recent bloods shows everything within normal range. I am going into my 5th month and i am still 111kg Since April. My dietitian is numb on what is going on, the nurse recommended liquid collagen ( which makes no sense) and have said hormones.... but hormones cannot affect this 5months straight. I did bloods to check my thyroids and it showed elevated parathyroid (no idea what that means)..... not gotten an explanation as my vitamin levels and calcium levels are normal my nails are very soft and brittle and my hair falls like the weather ( only blessed to have a full head of hair but cant say it is helpful soon) No ...... the clothes i wore in April are still the same September. measurements are the same..... the only win i am getting from this is that my knee and ankle dont hurt as much when i workout. i dont burn out as i used to and i work out more than i used to before which was walking up to 50k-70ksteps a day. I have never been one who drank alcohol and havent started post surgery. I have never been one who ate junk food like crisps, tacos, burgers. I have not been diagnosed diabetic nor with PCOS i noticed when i had no carbs in my diet i lost fast but when i introduced carbs as suggested by the dietitian everything came on hold I NEED SOME SIGN THAT I AM NOT IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OR A LONG DREAM!!! Cos it feels pointless having done the surgery not to be an effective tool Anyone in a similar predicament before