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I found out after my mother passed that at some point she has a gastrectomy done as well. There is absolutely no one left alive that had any idea the procedure was ever performed. No one knows why, or when, so she would have had to have had it done during her short stint in the army before she got injured. That means that she had it for 25 years before she passed away. She never had any complications and was always thin. When I think back on it I never even remember her ever saying she was hungry, even though she cooked all the time. Her passing had nothing to do with her surgery. As a matter of fact, me finding out about her gastrectomy was the long term info I needed to make my decision.

My eval doctor ask me what's the worse thing about lapband surgery. The answer is death during surgery and complications. He asked me if I had tried other weight loss diets. He also wanted me to explain the surgery technique on how they install the band and where do I think its located. Try and use Youtube for lapband procedures for more information. It was 2 hours long and I got thre 15 minutes early and a 75 questionaire needed to be filled out prior to exam. Best wishes

I went to Mexico and it was the best decision I could have made, BMI 37. The surgeon was an excellent skilled surgeon and I have had no complications at all, care was also top notch. Mexico is very safe and the price is under $5000.00. Look further into mexico if price is a concern for you, no worries and it will be life changing for you.

radink, my sister had the Bypass surgery. She lost a lot of weight fast but it left her with a lot of sagging skin and unfortunately, her insurance refuses to approve the surgery to have the excess removed. Due to other complications/issues, she was nearly 450 lbs when she had the surgery and now down to about 250 but I would say a good 35 is skin. If you choose GBP, make sure your insurance company will approve the surgery for the tummy tuck and removal of the excess skin. You lose much slower with the band but I believe that gives your skin more time to shrink naturally (not to say there won't be some excess).

No, never! I was on liquids for 2 weeks, then on purees for 2 weeks, then Soft/Mushy for 2 weeks, then finally on solids. Even though I was sick of liquids, I stuck to the program, as I did not want to have any leaks, sepsis, peritonitis and major complications. The first 4-6 weeks post op are crucial for the baby stomach to heal. After 6 months, the stomach is healed, but before that time, it is really important to follow your surgeon's instructions diligently. Yes, calling your surgeon and talking about it is important. Just to be sure. Good luck.

The most common thing I hear from people preparing for WLS is that they are afraid. Usually, despite the assurance that they know the surgery is extremely safe, they still have cold feet. My solution to the problem is recognize that it is normal to be afraid of any surgery, whether its a cavity repair (dental), appendectomy, or a heart transplant. I on the other hand, am way more afraid of what may happen to me at BMI of 50! Working in the hospital and seeing what happens to these people is frightening. Trust me, whatever you think is the worst complication imaginable from the lap-band surgery (which is extradordinarily rare) is way BETTER than seeing what these patients go through. <o></o> If you have an unhealthy BMI, you can look forward to: <o></o> Dying younger (almost a guarantee that WLS takes off years from your life, if you don’t believe me, PM me and I’ll tell you about a Harvard study correlating BMI vs death, extremely scary). 2)Diabetes and all of its ugly consequences on other organ systems 3)Hypertension 4)Heart problems 5)Stroke 6)weight-bearing joint problems Etc. etc etc.. the list goes on and on. <o> </o> So if you’re afraid of surgery, realize the reason you are doing this procedure and that the relative risk from a serious adverse reaction is low, compared to the risk you would be taking by not getting the surgery. <o></o> The choice is clear. I was petrified of surgery. But the weeks leading up to it, I pictured myself as a 45 year-old man on 9 medications and finally dying of a heart attack (probable). Then, I tried to think about the 45 year old (healthy) on 0 medication with a slipped band (holy sh*t, this is nothing compared to the other me). Good luck, and its ok to be afraid. But try to be afraid for the right and probable reasons. <o> </o>

In the initial group info session (early Jan 08) Dr. T adv they have had 2 patients die and neither were due to the weight loss surgery or complications related to the same ~ natural causes, etc. He moved to CT 7/05 and has been practicing since so that's a great rate! Has anyone had direct contact with Dr. T's new surgeon? I was at the info session the day he started and have my f/up in early April with him. Just wondering how he was.

My band is driving me nuts at the moment. I do have an added complication of MS which is making my muscles sluggish, brief outline. had band and built up to a fill of 5.5ml in a 11ml band. Ok then couldnt keep food down, repeat this process until I am now at 2ml in my band (nothing really) since March. All was good until this last 2-3 weeks when my band will allow me to eat in the day but come evening it wont stay down. I have tried being really careful with my diet and at the moment it consists of 1st thing a Malted drink to start the day 10am rice pudding pot size of yoghurt 12am a bowl of smooth Soup Mid afternoon a small snack Evening mash, veg and gravy (no meat at the mo) All day fine then dinner comes up. Been careful not to eat to much too. I do have the odd day that I can eat fine too even in the evening. I cant help but think that its down to my muscles and MS not having the strength to push food through and my MS is playing up at the moment. I am gonna see my doc but anyone else get this. I cant think that it is slippage because I can eat pretty well during the day with not problems at all. I have lost weight again too,now at lowest I have been (good but not how I would like to). any comments or suggestions welcome. I am over soup:redface: Jo

my surgeon is one of the most respected surgeons in Ohio. he's the reason i chose to drive 4 hours to his office and hosptial for my surgery. i met him during my initial consultation and liked him on the spot. i saw him for a few minutes before my surgery and then never saw him again. i thought for SURE he'd check up on me in the hospital but he didn't. i thought for sure i'd see him for my first post-op appointment but i didn't. i admit, i was a little pissed off. after all the money i spent, i expected to see my surgeon. then i thought about it. his job is to perform the surgery to the best of his ability... not necessarily post-op care unless there are complications. i wanted HIM to perform my surgery... and he does a lot of surgeries a week... he just doesn't have time to do the follow-up care. but, he does answer all his emails himself and they're usually answered within 24 hours. i've had some scary episodes that i needed his advice on and he WAS there when i needed him. he surrounds himself with the best office staff too. so, i was upset in the beginning about not seeing him post-op but now i understand that he needs to continue to do what he does best... surgery!

Like pretty much everything else in your life, the holidays are a whole new ballgame after weight loss surgery. Your weight loss surgery diet is strict. It doesn’t include fatty foods and sugary desserts. Going off your weight loss surgery diet can stall weight loss and also cause complications. You could be prone to dumping syndrome if you have the gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, and lap-banders can face obstructions and acid reflux with the wrong foods or too much. If you let your guard down for the rest of November and December, you can find yourself slipping off of your diet and feeling pretty unhealthy. But by keeping your eyes open and planning ahead, you can keep yourself on track and get through the holiday season feeling proud of yourself. Watch Carefully to Avoid Extra Calories Calories show up everywhere at this time of year. Sometimes they don’t even seem that bad, but they add up quickly. Have a bite here and a handful there without paying much attention, and you might be disappointed when you weigh in on New Year’s Day. Don’t let calories slip into your diet. First, be aware of the extra calories that are around. They can include any of the following. Lunch or dinner out when a friend or family member comes to town. Chocolate truffles on the secretary’s desk or the break room at work. Cookies from well-meaning friends and family who want you to taste-test their creations. Sweetened, pumpkin-spice coffee instead of calorie-free regular coffee. Food court fare when you’re holiday shopping at the mall. Holiday parties, potlucks, and dinners. Stick to Your Good WLS Habits The first line of defense is to stick to your regular good everyday weight loss surgery habits. Log every bite of food you take to keep from getting in hundreds of extra calories from sneaking in a taste here and there. Even if you have to estimate the calories in some of your food, especially if you eat out or at a party, you can keep more discipline if you log your food. Also, think about your other healthy habits. Keep drinking water between meals. And, protein is still all-important. Make sure you have some at each meal and snack. Focusing on finding lean protein can keep you focused when you’re faced with all kinds of other unhealthy choices. Arm Yourself Against Temptation If you’re starving and you’re face-to-face with a basket of chocolate-covered pretzels, you might opt for the sugary, high-carb snack. Unless that is, you have your own weapon. Keep some high-protein and low-calorie choices with you at all times so you never need to go for the junk food in desperation. We have many health snack options at the BariatricPal Store! Take them with you to work, or in your car, purse, or pocket. You can have them if you’re stuck in traffic or at the mall at mealtimes. Almonds packed in 1-ounce portions. Beef jerky (not fatty beef sticks). Apples Cheese sticks Roasted soybeans or garbanzo beans Tuna pouch Work around Your Cravings You don’t need to deprive yourself completely at holiday time. If there’s a particular taste you want, there’s a good chance you can satisfy your craving with a healthier alternative. For example, you can have lean ham and turkey breast instead of brisket and turkey with the skin on it. Roast green beans with onions, rosemary, and balsamic vinegar instead of having green bean casserole, bake sweet potatoes instead of having candied ones, and puree cauliflower or carrot instead of making mashed potatoes. Use the same strategy for desserts. Go for sugar-free cocoa mix instead of chocolate fudge when you’re craving chocolate. Munch on plain popcorn while your friends are passing around the caramel corn. For breakfast, make high-protein oatmeal pumpkin pancakes instead of regular pumpkin pancakes. Plan for a Few Treats Almost everyone has a few holiday treats that are irresistible. There may be some family recipe that you’ve had at every Christmas for as long as you can remember, or maybe a coworker brings in her cinnamon rolls made from a secret recipe. Whatever it is, you feel as though the holidays are incomplete without it. There’s no reason not to plan for one or two key treats. Just be sure you plan for them and stick to a single serving. Savor it, and concentrate on the flavors and on the memories and feelings it brings up. Then get right back on your regular diet. There are a couple of reasons why some weight loss surgery patients might be better off skipping even the occasional special holiday treat. First, don’t start if you’re not sure you can stop. If you’re not confident that you can stick to a single serving, it’s best not to start eating. Second, some weight loss surgery patients can’t tolerate all kinds of junk food. Fried and doughy foods are risky for lap-band patients, since they can obstruct the band. Gastric bypass and vertical sleeve gastrectomy patients are at risk for dumping syndrome from eating too much sugar or fat at once. And, no weight loss surgery patient should eat too much, since that can stretch the pouch or sleeve. The holiday season is a happy time, but it’s a struggle if you’re trying to lose weight and get healthy. You can prevent it from sneaking up on you and interfering with your weight loss by staying alert and having a plan.

I am a singer, and I had sleeve with a hiatal hernia repair on September 18th and I had a very hard time taking deep breaths for about 5 days. I was back teaching choir and voice lessons a week later and felt no pain, but I was actually practicing my diaphragmatic deep breathing every hour I was awake, so that could have helped. My doctor is of the opinion that I healed faster than most because I actively engage my diaphragm every day, and that helped speed things along, but I definitely think the wiser thing is to schedule your surgery later just to avoid the possibility of complication. Best of luck to you in both your surgery and your concert

Any problems? Well of course. There have been several studies and I think it is around 5% total complications rate with the band at 5 years. No one can really tell you which surgery is best for you. It really is an individual thing. People can really only tell you how the different surgeries work and what the upside or downside to them might be. In reality the doctor has probably already took these things into consideration, if he has asked you about your eating habits and such. I had lapband because it was the only choice available for me, but if I could have had Gastric Sleeve, I probably would have went that direction. Mainly, because I am self pay regardless, and after the first year I have to pay for aftercare, or god forbid any problems. Since you have Insurance paying for it, you should be able to look at the pros and cons of both and decide which one you like best.

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through. I was sleeved on 1/16/2013 as well and thankfully did not have any complications. You are in my thoughts and prayers! If it is still not healing, I hope they will culture the area and get you on the right antibiotics if you are not on them already!

Did your surgeon give you a meal plan? 13 days out from RNY I was still on full liquids. I started puréed foods in week 4 and remained on puréed foods until week 8. Every surgeon is different, but I would be very concerned that you are pushing too much into your new pouch before it has a chance to heal in the hopes of feeling full. You should not feel hunger at this point at all. You could literally survive for several weeks on nothing but liquids. I know that probably isn't what you want to hear but it is the truth. If your doctor gave you a food plan you must follow it, if he/she didn't. Call them immediately and get one. I would hate to see you have a serious complication because you are pushing too far too fast. Oh, and you do need Protein. Applesauce is not worthless but must be eaten with the right other foods. My puréed diet included a balanced approach which actually included applesauce. Your doctor needs to provide you with specific instructions. Call them a sap.

First off, I'm sorry to hear about your son's cancer, but very glad to hear that it was successfully removed. Slips are horrible from what I hear, and once you have one, you're risks for another triple. As for the sleeve vs. RNY, I can't tell you what to choose, but do not allow a surgeon to bully you into a surgical decision that you do not want to have. I chose the sleeve revision instead of RNY for many reasons. I did not want to deal with malabsorption, or nutritional/vitamin deficiencies. Plus, if you check out obesityhelp.com, on the revision board and RNY board, you will find soooooooooooooo many RNY patients seeking a revision because of regain, stricture, and/or other complications. Malabsorption doesn't last forever, our bodies adjust to it, and then the weight loss slows significantly, and most regain because pouches and stomas stretch. The sleeve and band are like night and day. There is no maintenance with the sleeve, you have instant restriction. No malabsorption, and can eat anything and everything you want just in smaller portions. I'm 6 months out from my band to sleeve revision, and have lost over 100 pounds in that time period. I'm 8 pounds away from my initial goal weight of 150 pounds. If I needed a malabsorptive procedure to be successful, I would go with the DS instead of RNY. The sleeve is the first stage of DS, and I knew a restrictive procedure would work for me.

Hi Miker1, I had my sleeve done in Montreal in November and I had all of the same fears you mention in your post, with of course my largest fear being death and leaving my two young children behind. I went into the surgery at almost 300lbs and I am 5'8", so my BMI was 44. I did mine privately in Montreal and I only spent 1 night in the clinic and was then moved to a hotel where I had round the clock nursing care for another 2 days. Everything went very well and so far no major issues. I also found out after my surgery that I had severe sleep apnea that I was completely unaware of and despite that everything went well and no complications with the anesthetic. I am currently 3 months out and have lost 70lbs as of yesterday. No one can predict what your outcome will look like, and nor do I have an understanding of what your comorbidities are and what type of risk factors you have, however, just know that I was petrified as well and deeply concerned about the surgery even up until then brought me into the OR and yet everything worked out just fine. It's natural to be scared because it's such a big decision. So far I have had no regrets and am extremely happy I did this - for myself and for my children with whom I am more involved with now because I can move better and because I am happier. Where are you having your surgery done?

I first contemplated bypass surgery. In the end, the decision maker for me was the complications rate. Bypass surgery has a 10% complications rate that includes some serious complications like malnutrition and death. The lap band has only .01% complication rate and those complications are usually fairly minor (slippage, which can sometimes be corrected by going back to a liquid diet, for example). Then, the recovery rate for bypass is a couple of weeks at best and can take longer. Lap band is nothing near that. While you may be tender, experience gas, etc., you can return to your normal life within days. I had surgery on Tuesday and went back to work on Friday -- yes, I have a sit-down job, but I'm betting you probably do too. With bypass, eating sweets can trigger dumping syndrome, which I hear can be pretty awful. I ate a bite of birthday cake yesterday, frosting and all, and it didn't make a bit of difference. And one other thing is that lap band is aiming for 1-2 pounds per week weight loss, which isn't crzy fast and is less likely to leave you with a lot of loose skin; not so for bypass surgery. So now you know what helped me make my decision.

OAKY I have been looking for a plateau buster I will try this out. I have been banded for a 14 months no complications at all but have found a way to fool the band while eating. I could not eat any bread, cake ect.. at first. But then after a short while about four or five months of PBING I figured out to dip my toast in coffee or my cake in milk and it would right down and could eat as much as I wanted. starting weight 342 weight now 280 to 292 back in forth I do workout some try to go on 3 to4 miles runs/walks. have got about 9cc in vg band. biggest problem DRINKING WHILE EATING I KNOW ITS WRONG any ideas on this drinking while eating? thanks in advacned for your reply..

Sorry to hear...and Thanks for the response.....myself, and other people here are always concerned about possible complications and reasons for them.....

this topic has me wondering...how long did y'all stay in the hospital (those of you without complications)? I am curious if it varies greatly depending on insurance coverage, doctor, etc.

You sound so normal it's scary! Lol! Like you, I had the same fears and trepidations. One day after I lost a whole nights sleep worrying about all the negatives that "might" happen, I just dropped to my knees and gave it all to God. I told Him point blank that this was in His hands and if He saw fit to see me through or not, that I would respect His decision. My mind has been at peace ever since. I know not everyone has these convictions, but it worked for me. Something else that someone told me before surgery has also helped...... "You're 98% more likely to get in a car wreck any day of the week, than you are to have complications or die from this surgery!" Breathe deep, write down everything you can about the surgery that you can think of or that you have read or learned in your research. Write down the good, the bad and the ugly and keep your mind open!!! Do not let fear sway you to thinking negatively, and I think you will find that the good FAR outweighs the bad! I'm 10 days post-op and feel FANTASTIC!!! I would do it again in a heartbeat and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you might have, or simply lend a quiet ear if you need to vent or get things off your chest! Welcome to the family!! Christal

Great to hear you had no complications. It sounds like you are doing well. Congratulations!

Congrats on your approval I got my approval the same date, and my surgery is scheduled for August 7, I go for my lab work on August 2, and I'm so excited my health has been so affected by this excess weight, I'm so ready to get healthy again, i've been told as long as we do everything our surgeon tells us we should have minimal complications, so I am going to be sure and follow all instructions to a t, keep me posted on your progress and best of luck......Michelle <holmmi>

I would think you'd be pretty well healed by August, barring any complications.

You will be a rock star. You'll black out for a bit, wake up on lovely meds and you won't even remember it. I had so much anxiety. 4 months and I only regret not exercising more...my eating is so under control and feel great. I had no complications and could have gone home same day. Mild pain, was off IV the day after...up and walking. Drinking was weird, but it all went in comfortably. Just gradually ate more ang here I am. Sw 202 cw 170 after 4 months