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Mine seemed a little involved as compared to some of the responses, so I guess it varies a good bit. There were questionnaires to complete before the appt. Mostly about my weight history which it was a little difficult (impossible) for me to remember all the times I have lost or gained over 10 lbs and why...because I'm 51 and have been a yo yo dieter for most of my life! At the appt I had another 457 questions on the computer (MMPI-2). My copy of the report says they used the following assessment instruments: MMPI-2, clinical interview, Shipley institute of living scale, beck depression inventory, state trait anxiety inventory, 3 factor eating questionnaire and a wt and lifestyle inventory. It all took 4 hours which included about 30-40 mins sitting in the waiting room. The psychologist said they are looking to see if you can understand the risks/benefits of surgery, have some type of support available, current or hx of addiction, etc. The surgeon let me choose from several providers in the area. I looked for someone close so if I need to see them again in the journey, I could. I don't think I will, but you never know. The article they gave me to read before the appt recommend asking the psychologist what they thought might a challenge for me after we talked, etc. The article also recommended asking for a copy of their report. I asked about the challenges and she said she thought I was a good candidate for WLS. Said, in general, people sometimes struggle if they have complications or if they did not fully understand the dietary restrictions/requirements. Fair enough. She offered to send me a copy of the report. It came in the mail about 2 weeks later. It seemed to be a good reflection of what we talked about at the appt. I guess it's human nature to worry a little about a "psychological" evaluation, but dont sweat it.

I am ready to schedule with dr Corvala. Has anyone had any short or long term complications after surgery using him? I am starting to get cold feet. Thanks for your help and advice.

all surgeons are different in what they require preop.. some are much more strict then others. I personally think my doctor has a nice in even line... My pre op consist of giving up any drinks with carbonation and to drink a protein shake for breakfast and lunch and have a no carb meal for dinner. this is to help shrink the liver. the smaller the liver the lower the risk for complications during surgery. my sisters surgeon had her on an all liquid diet for the two weeks prior and that was all she could have.. so basically that is .. I go to my pre op tomorrow so I will update you on anything i might have missed. i only know the stuff i know because my husband had his pre op last week, but i was not at the whole thing so i cant be sure he told me EVERYTHING ha ha good luck

I think the traveling part would be fine if your doctor is ok with it. I agree though that with the limited food choices you will have at that time a cruise may not be the best option. I am in Texas and going to San Diego next week. I cannot wait for the 70 degree temps there! If you do book a trip it might be good to get something refundable or purchase the insurance that allows you to cancel. Just in case you don't feel up to going or in the super rare case you have a complication.

Hi Jane, I'm sorry you've had trouble and been abandoned by your surgeon. You might want to go to the complications threads. I know there were several going about stretched pouches. If I remember correctly, the solution is to unfill and go back to liquids and mushies for awhile. Anyway, check it out. Also you can start a new thread on the subject in that section if you want. I checked out Amazon for Dr Oritz's book and it's available. However, it costs twice as much on Amazon uk. I'm in Canada and sometimes when I want something from the US that I want to carry across the border rather than have it mailed and have to pay duty on it, I'll get it sent to the hotel I'm staying at. You might want to order from the US site a bit before you come over and have it waiting for you. I also saw another book about banding when I looked. You might want to check that out, too. However, all that being said, I find that LBT is an incredible source of information. We even have a band surgeon, Dr. C, who will answer questions. Read, explore and ask questions. All the best to you, I hope you get your band working well.

Approval went through and I finally have a date. It's going to be a little complicated because my hubsband will be away and I have to travel by myself to have my surgery. Thanks goodness I have good friends to help with kids and it may be more relaxing recovering in a hotel for a couple days. The only downside is that I have to tell more people than I origionally wanted to. I'm so excited to have this done. I start pre-op diet monday!!

Awe hunny I'm so sorry for your endometriosis struggles!! Be glad you have time on your side though and please heed my advice, when you can... start your fertility journey!!! Do not wait!!!!! It can take some intending parents 6 months to get pregnant and it can take 5 years or even more!! If you try and try and decide on adoption that can take another 1-3 years to get a baby. I sort of always assumed "they have a pill for that" type thing and here we are encroaching on the dangerous stage of 35 plus and still struggling to have a child. Not to mention the Financials. Just for perspective IVF starts at 15K in Michigan here and only goes up. It's also not a guarantee you will invest and end up with a baby! Not trying to discourage you I just wish hubby and I would have started our journey a few years prior. I wish someone would have warned me. I thought I could lose weight on my own and save money for IVF but life got in the way and we achieved neither. It will be at least another year before we can even safely do an egg retrieval due to the sleeve so I'll be 35 at the youngest having a baby which starts becoming high risk and high chance of mental defects for the baby. So please stay strong, be positive but start talking! It never hurts to get a game plan with a fertility specialist even if it's for the future! There are great options too like gestational surrogates!! It's pricey but sometimes best for women who have serious conditions such as yours! We can chat here or you can PM me if you would like to speak more fertility related. We had been trying for an altruistic gestational surrogate but due to finances and other complications we still can't swing it so all things baby are on hold while I do the sleeve and we save $$. I also need the mental break. We may decide to adopt but I was adopted so it was not what I was hoping for... Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App Thank you! I'm 7 weeks post op so we will see what the next year brings - hopefully good things for both of us! I have put off treatment like lupron because of the devastating effects on fertility. It's me constantly wondering what the right thing to do is. Fortunately, I am young but know I have to make a serious decision by 30. I wish you all the best with your WLS and fertility - adoption may not be your first choice but you'd still be a great Mom. Congrats on being 7 weeks!!! How did everything go for you?? Also what is Lepran? I've not heard of that. It sounds like you at least know your time frame. My husband is so sweet and supportive. Says he would love to have a child or adopt or would be perfectly happy with us and our pets!! Me? Not so much... I want my baby girl!! Thank you so much for your sweetness!! I lean more towards adoption every day but I just worry so bad of them emotional turmoil for our child but at least I could empathize having been through it too. We shall see!! What state do you live in? Michigan here. Just curious Sent from my SM-N910P using the BariatricPal App

I am also 1 year banded, lost 8 kg at first, had 5 fillings, have the same complications and gained all the weight back. I also dont know what to do. Am 59, feeling 100.

All: I hear your concerns and very much support your choice of which surgery is best for you, as only you can decide what is best for your body. While my surgeon was equally partial to both surgeries, I really liked the idea of great weight and rapid weight loss with bypass, but didn't like the idea of being completely rerouted internally. However, instead of gastric bypass, I really wish I had known about VBG or the gastric sleeve as both of these procedures produce great weight loss with less complications than bypass. I am by no means trying to sway you into a surgical procedure, only stating that I myself only thought there were two bariatric options (being bypass and lapband) and wish I had known there were other options that were combination restrictive/malabsorptive. Bottom line: learn about as many options as you can and make the decision that is best for YOU, regardless of what the surgeon wants/pushes.

Thanks, everyone! I am not viewing this as a quickfix for sure. I have researched wls for over 5 years and did not like all the complications with rny and lapband. The sleeve seems like a good fit for me and I am tired of not being able to do it myself. I guess having gotten this big is like not cleaning your house til it looks like one of those on hoarders: you don't know where to start, so you start small and end up getting one room looking beautiful. You feel proud of your accomplishment (for me it was when I lost 90 lbs in 09-10). However, YOU and everyone else sees all the other rooms and you feel let down because there is so much left to do. And 90% of people judge you on what's left, and not that one accomplishment you have already achieved. It's a struggle and I am grateful I found this site!

Hello folks, I can't tell you how much I appreciate this forum. Without this forum, I can't imagine that I'd be embarking on this surgery. As a child, I was normal weight. However, many members of my extended family were overweight with some having diabetes. In my early 20s I started gaining weight and have never stopped. As I approach 50 I'm obese, have very high blood sugar (and will definitely become Type 2 Diabetic), high cholesterol, severe sleep apnea, etc. I've done Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, Phentermine, exercise, Pritikin, and a lot more. A few years ago I looked into the Lap Band and decided against it. The post-band lifestyle and complications were more than I was willing to live with. Gastric Bypass was too severe and not really appropriate for someone with my BMI. A few months ago I found out about VSG and it appears to be the answer to my dreams. My problem has always been binge eating - once I start I can't stop. VSG seems to be the tool that can help me stop. After a lot of investigation I'm pretty sure I'll be going with Dr. Lavin in Louisiana. I'm self pay and he is much cheaper than the doctors in California where I live. Also, he seems to be very highly rated. Anyway - I'm in the very early stages and I'll keep those interested posted via this thread. -Jordan

Hey, awhile back there was a post from a hubby worried about his wife. She had surgery at Darnall and had complications. Not sure how things turned out or what exactly happened though? I tried to post the link so you could read the posts, but not sure how to do it. So if you want to read it the member's name is worried husband and you can check out his posts. I know how frustrating it is dealing with the process, good luck to you & I hope the process goes smoothly for you.

It sure sounds like your body is trying to get rid of your port, and if it also goes to work on your band, your complications will get even worse. Like Carolinagirl, my life is more important than my weight loss surgery, and I'd go to the emergency room and call my bariatric surgeon immediately. Please don't think that your only choices are to live skinny with open abdominal wounds or live fat without your port and/or band. Once the port complications are dealt with, you may be able to revise to a different bariatric surgery procedure that doesn't involve implants. Good luck! Jean

https://obesitynewstoday.com/bariatric-surgery-reversibility/ "In addition to reducing the size of the stomach, the gastric bypass also rearranges the digestive system, which is why it is usually not reversible." https://www.realself.com/question/gastric-bypass-reversible "Gastric Bypass surgery is considered a permanent operation but can be reversed for medical problems only. The risks of a reversal are extremely high." So, "potentially" reversible, but reversing is almost never done due to complications. The band can be removed, the sleeve, your pouch can and will stretch out, but the bypass, the restriction plus the rerouting of your intestines, this surgery should not be considered "reversible" as a justification for getting it.

The VSG surgery is not new. VSGs used to be done years ago as the first surgical procedure for very heavy patients who needed a gastric bypass, but weren't good medical risks for the more complicated gastric bypass operation. Doctors went in and did a sleeve, which helped a heavier patient lose enough weight and get healthy enough that he/she could qualify (medically) for a bypass. And lo and behold, many of the patients did so well on the sleeve alone that they didn't need / want a bypass. After all, the sleeve doesn't have the big malabsorptive issues that bypasses do. And remember that bypasses are considered "the gold standard" of all WLS surgeries. And thus "the sleeve" was added to the menu of WLS surgeries. (There are now nearly a dozen different WLS procedures, including mini-bypass, duodenal switch, etc. Google is your friend if you want to learn about all of the WLS procedures.) And decades before all of this, VSG surgery was performed on people who had stomach illnesses that required removal of most of their stomachs due to terrible ulcers, stomach cancer, and other ailments. There's tons of research on those patients. Again, Google is your friend. In fact, Google is always your friend. While you're there, check out all the more recent long-term studies of VSG success. As you alluded to in your OP, the lapband has turned out to be problematic for many patients. The deal is that the lap band was never intended to become a permanent installation. If you know anything about medical devices, you know that foreign objects in the body often fail and cause problems. Again, Google is your friend. I think that a good medical analogy for VSG surgery are surgeries done to remove tumors, bone spurs, cancers, gall bladders, appendix(es?), ovaries/uteruses, tonsils, etc. Although we may need to monitor the body thereafter or take some supplements, nothing artificial or mechanical is put into the body to replace those organs. I also think that any sleeved patients who don't bother taking all their prescribed supplemental Vitamins, minerals, antacids, etc. or who don't get their annual blood panels done after having VSG surgery are not taking responsibility for their health.

A surgeon discussed this at our last support group meeting. He said that while by-passes are "technically" reversible, it's still another major surgery, it can have complications just like any other, and there may be a lot of scar tissue on the portions of the stomach that you'd like to rejoin. It is a very major undertaking and really shouldn't be considered one of the "pros" of bypass.

I did a huge amount of research before making my decision and one of the main reasons I went for a gastric bypass is that if you get complications you can reverse the operation as nothing is taken away. With a sleeve you remove most of the stomach so once it’s done it’s done. I found very few advantages to the sleeve and the Acid Reflux is a major reason why it soon became a no go for me. Another big factor is if you have diabetes a sleeve doesn’t really change that much, where a bypass can reduce it hugely or in some cases eliminate it completely. That is a huge reason to seriously consider a bypass over a sleeve. I am not trying to say that everyone should have a bypass, but every day I read more and more people who say Sleeve to bypass for me. Something seems wrong about that. I think you are right James, it seems to be on trend right now, which is extremely worrying. I get the feeling that most people get told what to have, rather than make there own decision based on evidence. I bet if the patients are told with a sleeve is final or with a bypass it’s reversible if you have complications, most would go for a bypass. Anyway rant over 🤣🤣

I guess I haven't even thought about not being successful at this. I have thought about complications, trusting my judgement, and if this is the right choice. But I have had this confidence that if I did do this that it would work. I attribute this to the therapy I do.

Dr, Alvarez is a wonderful surgeon and I would choose him again over anyone. I never had any issues at all and his staff treated us like royalty. No complications at all.

Admitted @ 730am for 10 am surgery on Thurs, Discharged by 2pm Fri. RNYGB, no complications or vomiting, able to keep fluids down and void (urine/gas). I also walked a good bit post-op evening, as well as the next morning. HW 280 CW 267 SW 274 (8/24/17) GW 150

Hello! My surgery is January 18th. My surgeon only requires a 1 week preop diet to shrink the liver. I wanted to be sure I did my part in helping to decrease complications and allow my self room for error and started a week early (Now I regret it! LOL). I am now on day 7. This diet is hard! However, not impossible. My real issue is that I've only lost like 3 pounds on this diet. In fact, one day my weight went up 1/2 a pound. I'm concerned that my liver may not be shrinking because I'm not losing a lot of weight. I have not cheated and actually thought I was doing great. Has anyone else not lost a significant amount of weight on the preop diet? I would have expected to be down at least 5 pounds by now. I'm also concerned with how it will be post op. If I'm not really losing weight on the preop liquid diet, will I even lose weight with my sleeve? I'm well aware that the sleeve is just a tool and I need to work my tool but I'm doing my part now and not seeing results. So many mixed emotions and concern.

Thank you both. I will give the slushy idea a try. I do tolerate popsicles pretty well, they just take forever to consume (and let's face it, no sugar free popsicle is as good as an Otter Pop :-( ) I bought some sugar free jelly belly syrups and some silicone ice pop molds that I have working in the freezer right now, can certainly use those. I haven't noticed that warm drinks are any better than room temp, and it seems to be variable as to whether cold vs room temp liquids are better tolerated. Sometimes it's one, sometimes it's the other. Bizarre... Thanks for the support. While this is definitely a complication to be addressed, I certainly don't want to give anyone the impression that it's a horrible experience or an insurmountable problem. I'm able to eat solids and drink fluids (just not as much as I need). I read the posts about complications with leaks, etc. and the misery they cause, and this just isn't even in the same ballpark...

I was sleeved April 15, 2014 and I was terrified all the way up until I woke up in the recovery room post-op. But I felt the fear and just kept moving thru the stages anyway. Now, 5 days post-op I can say whole-heartedly that all my fears were unfounded. The surgery is literally a blink of your eye, you go in they give you something to relax and the next thing you remember is waking up in recovery. Recovery phase in the hospital is different for everybody but I believe that attitude is everything. Once you wake up shake the cobwebs off of you assess what your body is feeling. Ask for pain meds or nausea meds if you need them and then grab your IV pole and get to walking around the nurses station as quickly as your able. The quicker and more often you're up moving the better you will feel and the quicker you can move thru the phases needed to be discharged. It is a major surgery, but one that thousands of people have gone thru and survived. And that almost all..even those who had complications...have said on this board that they would do again. You've made the right decision. Now, feel the fear and do it anyway. Good luck with your surgery! See you on the losing side! Evelyn

My doctor said surgery was day one. I was scheduled for a 11:00 surgery which due to complications from the 10:00 surgery I was pushed out to 4:30. Buy the time they got me to my room all I did was sleep until day 2.

Absolutely zero regrets. I was a band to sleeve revision. It was the best thing I ever did. I had horrible complications, extensive recovery, and I would do it all over again to be living this life that I have today. I'm 15 months post revision and loving life.