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For an experienced surgeon it’s not that much more complicated.

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with a cold.. I completely understand! At 3 weeks post op I went to the ER with a 103 fever thinking I was having complications with my stomach.. turned out I actually had the flu. It does get better and you will get there! Lay low, stay hydrated and take it one day at a time! (( hugs )) I've had the flu the last few days and have had a hard time keeping water and protein drink down, but today am felling so much better. Those first three days were miserable and I almost went to the hospital just to get an IV. These kinds of normal life illness are much more complicated when you are only a month out from a body altering surgery. Hope everyone feels better soon!

This is good thread! I started the process for getting a sleeve, then the results of an EGD showed that I have Barrett esophagus. Due to this, the surgeon said that the sleeve is no longer an option and that I would get bypass. I was excited about the sleeve, but am worried about the bypass. He said recovery times are similar, but to me, bypass just seems like a more complicated surgery! 😩

I lost And Arnold Schwarzenegger plus an elephants heart Aug 2009 440lbs9 mo later i was 163lbs (i had complications)Dec 2018 im 220lbs and holding 

Hello everyone, I originally wasn’t planning on joining or posting on this forum, but I’ve decided I want to tell my story to help and educate others. I’m 24 years old and the gastric sleeve surgery left me with a leak one week post op. I will first explain my symptoms in order to aid others if they may experience the same as I believe we should be educated on knowing the warning signs so we don’t just shrug it off as dehydration as I did. It started of with abdominal pain and feeling light headed, at first I assumed I needed to drink more and rest. I could feel something wasn’t right as I was 100% pain and nausea free the previous days. The next day I woke up my left shoulder and neck was hurting but it went away as I stood up. I felt nauseous from the upper abdominal pain I ended up vomiting. I went to emergency and there I had a fever, my heart rate was around 120 I believe. They suspected it was gastro or dehydration so they hooked me up to iv fluids. Blood test results came back and my inflammation markers were over 300 (normal range is 0-10) I had a ct scan where they discovered I had a leak. I was transported to the hospital where I had the surgery per my surgeons request. There I had a picc line inserted and had an endoscopy. The endoscopy showed nothing, and the surgeon suggested the leak was the size of a pinhole. To keep this short and not bore anyone, this is my 7th week in hospital about to be my 8th. I was lucky as I had no abscesses, therefore requiring no surgical intervention besides the endoscopy. I’ve had multiple ct scans, blood tests. I am nil by mouth and TPN overnight. I also suffered from another complication during my stay, picc line sepsis which wasn’t fun and I had an overnight stay in icu. I’m now on 3 different antibiotics including vancomycin for the sepsis. Currently I’m allowed the bariatric diet (liquids) on day two and getting lower left back pain. It’s been a long, hard journey and everyday it’s difficult to stay positive as you think it’s never ending; but there will be an end eventually you just need to be patient and think about how strong you are for enduring this. Thank you everyone for reading.

Hey everybody! I just got re-released from the hospital today! I had some fluid in my stomach cavity that caused me to be unable to keep my liquids down. I'm doing 10x better thanks to my AMAZING surgeon who was so hands-on and helpful from the beginning! I'm so excited to see how this surgery affects my life in the near future! Complications can happen to anybody but just stay strong and it will all get better.

So....this is a GREAT question! I'm a GIANT compared to my family. They are all petite tiny little Asians. I am not only taller...and at 5'3" that's almost laughable. But my father is a fat shamer and he has not been kind. His side of the family has been large (and his sisters and cousins who are nurses have had bariatric surgery) but my immediate family is full of very thin people. My mother put me on my first diet when I was 12 and at my thinnest..I think I was this height and weighed 125 lbs. But I did tell my father. I think his first inclination was to say...JUST DIET. But realizing that I have struggled my entire life with hereditary health issues and weight - he just wants me to be healthy. So he has been as supportive as he knows how to be. IMHO, this is my journey and my journey alone. Ppl can support me or not. My husband is only afraid of complications and wants me to be comfortable. He knows at my current weight I am suffering b/c of the extra weight on my joints and b/c I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Also my job requires me to be available whether I am on vacation or even on holiday, so I did inform almost half of my company that I am having a 'surgery', and not available for the pre-op days and time in-patient. Other than that....they don't need to know.

I’m a bit over a year post op now. No regrets. Of course I was lucky in that I had no complications so that makes it a whole lot easier. I have lost over 175 pounds and gone from wearing a size 28/30 and 4xl in clothing to a size 14 in pants and a large top. There just is no denying that how people treat you is different when you are not morbidly obese, and how you move in this world is so different too. Best of luck to you and all others with their upcoming surgeries!

I never could consider it a "stall" maybe I think in a less complicated manner, maybe a little naive, but I prefer "pause" . Your body is recouping itself before it starts a renewed amount of loss. It is going to come, stop and be proud,of all you have accomplished thus far. Be proud of your body for what it can do, not constantly berate it for its imagined sins. Not only you emotionally,but your body physically just underwent major surgery. Give yourself a hug and be grateful for what has improved for,you.😝🏡🌸🌺☀

I'm self pay and don't think I'm going to be able to get away with just the sleeve. I've lost all the weight before, kept it off for over a decade and then gained it back and nothing I used to do works anymore. So, I think I will have to just go with a mini gastric bypass or regular gastric bypass. Cannot afford the $19000 that costs around here, so I will be going to Mexico. Not a huge fan of that, but, I cannot find any other way. I'm hoping that my regular health insurance will cover if I have complications from my Mexico weight loss surgery. Unfortunately it does not cover weight loss surgery.

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with a cold.. I completely understand! At 3 weeks post op I went to the ER with a 103 fever thinking I was having complications with my stomach.. turned out I actually had the flu. It does get better and you will get there! Lay low, stay hydrated and take it one day at a time! (( hugs ))

You are 2 weeks post-op. You said, "I get this awful tightness in my chest and then pain." According to my hospital discharge directions I was told to report such a condition to my surgeon's office. One of the primary concern is a blood clot in the lungs. Do you have shortness of breath? Review this link. Pulmonary Embolism Or it could be something else. Anyways let your surgeon's office know of the complication this close after surgery.

I didn't tell many people. When I told my brother and SIL, I thought they might not be fully supportive. So I armed myself with data. As a percentage, how few people my size are able to lose significant weight and keep it off. The stats on how bariatric surgery works where diets don't. How rare complications are. How much I'd thought about it and tried every other way. In the end, I know they wish I hadn't had to do it, but they understood that it was the only way forward for me. Other than that, I told 2 friends and my boss. Just not anybody's business.

While working on an appeal to the Office of Personnel Management for someone denied a conversion of an LAGB to VSG, I noticed a very significant change that may help anyone who is going to be covered in 2019 under the Federal Employees Benefit Plan (FEP). For many years their criteria for surgery used to require a TWO-YEAR history of morbid obesity. That is changing to ONE YEAR. That is a big deal and might be very important for many folks covered under the FEP plans. Here's what they say about the change: "We now provide bariatric surgery benefits for members who have a diagnosis of morbid obesity for a period of 1 year prior to surgery. Previously, the requirement was a diagnosis of morbid obesity 2 years prior to surgery. (See page 69.)" This is a important for anyone who cannot prove they meet the BMI criteria for two years regardless of whether they are (a) trying to get FEP to approve their first surgery OR (b) anyone seeking a revision / conversion for reasons other than a "complication" related to their original surgery. I'm attaching a copy of the 2019 Service Benefit Brochure and here is the link: 2019 FEP Service Benefit Plan I hope it helps. Happy Holidays to everyone! 2019_SBP_ Brochure.pdf

Oh, I talked to my surgeon's office this morning. They are just giving me phenergan for now. I didn't think to mention the poop issue because, again, I don't think about it since I don't have any discomfort at all. My hesitation about taking a stronger laxative is because I am scared a stimulant might irritate the ulcer situation... so maybe try a more conservative approach first? I guess I answered my own question with that. lol. The manual is for people without complications. Water intake has not been swell the last 3 days... again... because of the stupid stomach pain. I am working on it today, though. I got 26oz down so far and hope to get another 26 down in the next 4 hours... which will be more than I get nearly any other day. Could just all be a water intake issue. I guess tomorrow I will try Colace and go from there.

I don't know how you do it. I have one relatively minor complication and I am like MY WORLD IS ENDING, LIFE IS SO UNFAIR. And you are just plowing right along. You are my hero. lol!

Addy had an ulcer as well... you're doing great if that's the case.. 400 calories is not enough to lose weight and stay healthy.... did they give you Carafate or Protonics? Addy has a "Complications" video as well... sounds like it may help you. Friend, this is a dangerous place to be... you staying hydrated is a HUGE victory! Joe

I had my band removed as well with insurance covering it. Medical complications do meet the criteria to remove band and have another wls. Find out what the requirements are... “medical reasons for removal “ Reflux chronic acid problems upset stomach. Bad heartburn ect. You get the drift.....

Addy had bypass specifically for GERD she didn't know she had. VSG not an option and can make worse. See her "Complications" video on our YT channel. Joe

I had mine done on November 6th and I am 41... so far down 50lbs from my highest weight, and grateful. I feel lucky to have gone with the doctor I had and did not have any complications... I was tired for the first few days but really set goals to get up and walk every hour there is so much truth to the walk walk walk and sip sip sip statements made, also my surgeon used a pain block sheet which lasted a few days after surgery which I think really helped with recovery and getting moving. I 100% agree with people saying get ahead of the constipation that continues to be my nemesis! lol. Good luck with the new move and your journey!

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.

Yes, trust me, I'm actually a little on the terrified side (thanks GAD!) But I know that I am in good hands and that my thoughts are definitely making things more than they actually are. Like, don't get me wrong, it IS surgery, but it's has a low rate of serious complications.

Oh, I like this topic of the day! I've spent a lot of time thinking about PS! I'm definitely going to do plastics. I knew when I decided to have WLS that just losing the weight wouldn't be enough for me, and I'd want to look the best that I can. I had actually intended to have surgery a few weeks ago. But work travel schedule interfered with that. I won't have another break until this time next year. I already gave my boss the heads up, and I have his support to stay off the road through the holiday season next year. I agree, I am actually less unhappy about the way I look then I expected. I'm pretty damn happy with the way I look in clothes. The only thing I can't wear, but want to, are sheath or body con dresses (You totally can, which is awesome!) And actually even without clothes, it's better than I expected. It helps I'm dating someone steadily now, who is super complimentary. So I don't have the anxiety of a lot of first time seeing me naked situations. Here are the procedures I want Tummy Tuck - I want a flat stomach for the first time in my life. The sag isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but I'll be happier when it's gone. It will also allow me to wear a broader range of clothes that don't have to disguise the tummy. I'm hoping I won't have to do muscle repair, since I've never had kids. But apparently we won't know until I'm opened up. Breast Augmentation and Lift - I'm most surprised and pleased with how my boobs have ended up. I've done from DD to a C. But they're retained a nice shape. I really miss the fullness of my old breasts though. I don't mind how they look, but I dislike how they feel, if that makes sense. My implants will definitely be gummy bear, tear drop shaped. I can't stand porn star breasts, so they have to be natural looking, or I'll hate them. Arm Lift - I wasn't expecting as much flabby skin on my arms as I have. I'll need an arm lift. But I really really want it to be a minimal incision left, not the extended kind. I'm pretty anxious the surgeons will tell me to get good results I'll need a longer incision. Thigh Lift - My thighs look like old man's balls, ugh! They are also worse than I had anticipated. This is the procedure I'm most afraid of, both pain wise, and risk of complications, poor results. It is a pretty tricky procedure with a long painful recovery. Again, like my arms I really only want an inner thigh lift, without the extended incisions down my thighs. I'm also anxious to hear opinions on what type of results can be achieved with only a crescent type lift. Lipo - To go along with the body procedures. I'd especially like the fat sucked out of my back and flanks, in addition to anywhere else the Dr is willing to Hoover. Neck Lift - This I did not anticipate at all. But in selfies now, my neck is so old a crepe-y looking. So it has been added to the list ... sigh The bad news is, with all those procedures, It will most likely be 2 for the body, and then one for the neck. And probably a different surgeon for the facial (neck) work, than the body procedures. I have no idea how I'm going to get that kind of time off from traveling What is everyone else thinking?

Anyone in this age group get bad reflux post surgery? I wonder if that complication is any more or less common with us older folks. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The best relative pain guide would be how many inches of incisions do they need to do, as it is the skin that has the most nerves; the interior work like for muscle tightening would be less noticeable. So, a basic panniculectomy to cut off the excess skirt would not be greatly different than a full tummy tuck/abdominoplasty. You do want to find a surgeon who specializes in reconstruction after massive weight loss, as there can be a lot of difference between a basic mommy makeover and a person who has lost 1-200 or more pounds. They usually specialize (at least for our typical need) by patient type rather than body part, though some of the bariatric surgeons who get into plastics as a sideline for their patients will often leave the more "artistic" aspects (like breast implants or facial work) to a specialist PS, though that can sometimes be combined into one procedure if they work in a team effort. People do go to Mexico or other countries for PS as, with the bariatrics, the cost can be much less. The downside is that PS procedures have a much higher chance of mild to moderate complications - incisions that don't heal promptly, or open again, fluid build up not caught by the drains, seromas, etc. Much of this can be handled by taking selfies and email instructions on treatment, but sometimes it takes an office visit, so dealing with someone local is a big plus.