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I posted this under "My story" but maybe this will save someone searching for a surgeon some misery if they read this here first. Unfortunately, I have Dr Milton Owens as my Dr at Chapman Medical Center in Orange, CA. He NEVER remembers who I am OR my history, he is rude and downright mean. I also think he is a sadist who wants to make me suffer for asking legitimate questions about my healthcare. He is dismissive, arrogant etc. Some examples of screwed up things he has said/done: ~Once I cheated (post op) and ate doritos and I was very afraid that I would tear something or who knows what. I called to ask for advice (i.e. to throw up, slam Water...whatever) He said "If you are going to eat doritos why did you bother having the surgery?" ~I asked for a SECOND fill because I was having ZERO restriction, was always hungry and had waited 2 weeks already. He said, "Whats wrong with being hungry? You are not starving. The average person could survive on their fat stores for about a month, for you it would be even longer." ~I got an OVERFILL from him once and was in so much misery I called within 24 hours to get an unfill. As a cash patient, I was really hoping to take advantage of his alleged "24 hour FREE return visit for complications" but he said since it was a Saturday I still had to pay $200. He also said "If I called a plumber after hours it would cost $200 n hour, if I called an attorney it would be $350 an hour. I thought I was doing you a FAVOR." ~When I make appointments with him he refuses to see me 2 doors over in his practices office for $200, but forces me to make my appointments in the office that he shares with the hospital for an additional $126 a visit. Lastly, on one occasion when I asked him if he thought I should have more of a fill due to non restriction, he unfilled me then refilled me to almost maximum capacity. I was sweating and bubbling and gagging and he kept making me drink water to show me what "too much fill" was. I hate this man but so far have not been able to find anyone else who will take a cash patient for just fills. (I got divorced and lost my health insurance) but PLEASE do not subject yourself to this horrible, maybe evil ass of a human being. My whole lapband experience has been hell, and Im trapped. Don't be like me!!!

Hello to all my Bronx neighbors. I live in the Bronx, my surgeon's office is in the Bronx too but he is affiliated with st Lawrence hospital in bronxville which is where I had my surgery 6/5/13. As if a month ago, I've lost 30lbs and can't wait to find out in a week or so how much more I've lost when I see my dr Miguel silva. He is great and his office is at Astor ave by eastchester rd. A friend of mine had hers with dr. Camacho and no complications. Good luck and keep in touch.

I'm not sure how many people agree with how I did this. I got all of the statistical facts on what 'could happen'. I really tried to avoid 'complications' and 'removal' part of this forum till after my surgery. I had read some, and they made me nervous and worried.. and I had already decided 100% I WAS getting this surgery, I will not become bed-ridden and dead at an early age because of morbid obesity.. So.. I read all the support forums, the before & after pics, the happy yay-goodness stuff.. to keep me pumped. I did educate myself on the risks, and complications.. but I didn't read problem testimonials on it until April 17th. Reading them now, I'm not as scared.. because I'm not letting it affect my decision to get the band. Good luck with your 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

Well, it has been a year. I have lost 50 pounds slowly and steadily and have gone from a tight size 18 to a 12!!! And a 1X to a L!!!:clap2: I have had minimal complications. Lots of pbs, but I am used to them and really know how to avoid them. I just have times where I am not paying attention enough to how I am eating. I also tighten up with stress and airplane travel. Every time we fly somewhere I know the next day is liquids, soft foods if I'm lucky! I have been suffering from some pretty severe heartburn and reflux but my Dr. has me on some good meds for it. And again, I know how to avoid it and I really need to start paying attention (I know- I already said that. Repetition is learning.). My arthritis in both hips and one of my knees is GONE. I have energy I never knew before, which is good because I have a darling 22 month old son who is a complete spaz (I say that lovingly). GUYS FLIRT WITH ME THAT ARE NOT MY HUSBAND. Has this been easy?? No. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat and for twice what I paid. This is the longest time I have been on a continuous, consistent weight loss path and even though it may take another year, I will reach my goal. I never would have gotten through this year without the support of the people on this board. NEWBIES LISTEN UP- this is a great crew and you can get good advice 24/7. Know that no one has a flawless ride with the band but the bumps are worth it!! Thanks guys!! Love you all:kiss2:

All of the weight loss surgeries have complications. Most of the complications with lap band have more to do with keeping a too-tight fill than with the lap band itself. Most slips, ongoing vomiting etc are related to keeping the band too tight. That's something that you have some control over. We should always be trying to work with the least amount of fill possible that keeps us from being hungry but doesn't have us barfing or having reflux or any other problems. I didn't really consider the sleeve. It would have met my main criteria for surgery, which was that I didn't want any malabsorptive procedures (bypass, DS). But I also liked the fact that the band does not permanently alter your anatomy, and I liked the adjustability factor. I hope to be pregnant in a couple of years, and I like the fact that my band can be loosened to allow a little more food for a pregnancy. With the sleeve, what you get is what you get. The sleeve can stretch out, just like the pouch in a RnY. I like knowing I'm not just "stuck" with whatever food restriction the sleeve leaves me. Good luck with your decision making.

Shell and Girlie~ As a little bit of a relief to yourself ask your doctor or dietician or nutritionist what their leak percentage has been or was last year. I'm thinking it will help you settle a bit . I got a bit anxious about that and when I asked I was relieved, although I did still have a little anxiety about it but not as much as I would have if I didn't know what my hospitals percentage of leaks was. In two years doing thousands and thousands of surgeries there was one leak total. With a second one that was marked as possible leak. That's very low for two years. I'm thinking you will both be VERY suprised with the minimal pain as I expected ALOT, I mean ALOT, and was shocked to realize there wasn't nearly the pain of imagined, more of a discomfort. Following surgery never hesitate to call your Bariatric Doctors office for any concerns or questions, I def did lol. I was at high risk for infection and complications because I also have Lupus and surprisingly things really worked out great. I am now five months out and lost over 100 pounds SINCE DAY OF SURGERY! Your guys are going to do fantastic! And to be honest as all hell, those that have high stress and anxiety really succeed at this because we tend to follow the rules of the sleeve to the T because we worry about complications. So, we actually benifit from our anxiety :-). You both are going to do fantastic!

Hi Danyielle! What's your BMI? I would still try your insurance company, the worse thing that can happen is they say no. It's worth the wait. My BMI was only 38 so my insurance company wouldn't cover anything. I found out about a clinical study that Columbia University in NYC was doing for people who had a BMI between 30-40. I had to shell out(charge) $12,000 before surgery, that includes three months after care and fills. Believe me, I wish I had that $12,000 to buy myself new clothes when I reach my goal weight. I've heard great things about Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, Mexico and his staff but remember , you'll probably have to find someone to do your fills here in the U.S.. What if there are complications after, you might have to go back to Mexico. Whatever you decide, I wish you good luck! Take care!

Shelley~ So glad to hear your managing your anxiety and stress levels and working on mentally preparing yourself, family and friends. I am just about five months out now and truly realize how much I let my anxiety get the best of me, and take over me prior to surgery. Now that I look back I smirk at myself and say "really Kyle? All that fuss and look at yourself now and how strong you are", then I flip the mirror off. Lol. Shelley, there's no such thing as over preparing yourself, so stay strong and continue to do what your doing and when it's said and done with you may actually say to yourself there is such thing as over preparing yourself and look back and do the same thing I do. I myself have even had a minor complication with my surgery and it's still nothing like I thought it would be. Just for making this decision to have surgery it makes you am amazing, strong person and it will make you such a happier person and your life will be rainbows and butterflies after I can't wait to hear when your date is a really look forward to your surgery and success updates!

I don't think I ever believed WLS would help so reversible was appealing to me. I was pretty floored when it did work. If I had it all to do over again I'd get as sleeve without a doubt. It's essentially like a band with perfect restriction all the time. No fills, unfills, restriction issues, slips, erosion, port pain, port flips, etc. I wish I would have done as you are and considered the option of a sleeve before surgery. BTW, **after** the initial 30 days of the procedure complications drop dramatically for sleeves over bands. Your risk for problems is much less with sleeves vs. bands, virtually no follow up care, etc.

Question for everyone that has gone to mexico for surgery. What do you do for any follow up visits? What do you do if you have any complications when you get home? Any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks Joe

I also struggled with sleeve vs bypass. The best thing you can do for yourself is research the reasons you doctor discussed with you. Then research any other pros and cons from a strictly medical perspective. I suggest you ignore opinions and preferences of other patients until after you've evaluated the objective medical facts. Patients may have strong feelings about certain procedures. I've seen "surgery wars" on many message boards. The surgeon I selected because of his sleeve experience recommended I have a bypass be it roux-en-y or duodenal switch. Like you, I believed the sleeve would be less complicated over time. However, after research I could not deny the reasoning behind this recommendation was sound. With my underlying medical conditions the sleeve would most likely have required a revision within ten years. I only wanted to do this once. Two days before surgery I agreed to a roux-en-y gastric bypass. I should have agreed to the more drastic duodenal switch. Despite knowing the surgeon was on point, I could not bring myself to go there. NO Regrets! I'm glad I studied all angles even though I went middle of the road instead of with what MAY have been best. My decision suits my comfort level. That was in 2009. Today I still struggle with ups and downs but overall I'm maintaining. Back then Gap & Old Navy had nothing for me. Now I float between the vanity sized 0/2/4 made for us amplely proprtioned American women . No revision needed but I will always struggle. Best wishes for every you decide. [emoji106] MSW

Thank you so much for the many constructive and helpful responses. To clarify my worries, here it is distilling them to two points of greatest concern: Ability to incorporate good fats into a post-gastric-sleeve diet The foundation of my current diet (that I would be happy to keep for the rest of my life) consists of lots of vegetables, moderate amounts of high-quality protein, and the inclusion of a good amount of healthy fats (avocado, EVOO, butter, animal fats from pastured, organically raised animals). This is supposed to help the body adapt to regularly burning fat (whether from the diet or from our own fat stores), and to much more easily reach satiety and control hunger, in addition to the various documented nutritional benefits of these fats. I read over and over again about directives to keep post-bariatric diets very low fat for the rest of the life of the patient. Also various posts from patients about not being able to tolerate fats and struggling with digestive issues. How much of a problem is this universally (realizing and respecting that everyone's body, digestive system, and hormonal balance are different)? Ability to do fasting and support periodic zero-protein day(s) I have started to incorporate time-restricted eating (16/8) with great success and starting on my first 36-hour fast over the weekend. I have not only had great results on the scale, but starting to see amazing physiologic benefits outside of simply lowering my body weight. I definitely would want to have the ability to have a longer (3 day?) fast once in a while to trigger autophagy and reap some of the other benefits related to insulin and metabolic issues. I realize that for a period following surgery I would have to be adhering to the physician-prescribed diet aimed to maximize healing and avoid complications. But what is the situation six months or a year down the line? Can I incorporate fasting then, or am I eternally tethered to a 70g-minimum-per-day protein intake that I cannot violate without risking my health? Your help and insight are appreciated!

Each person has their own "negatives". I personally had an extensive, exhausting and mentally/physically draining recovery because I was a revision patient with major complications. The negatives for me were: 1) Trying to sip enough early out seemed impossible 2) Taste buds changing 3) Developing a whey protein intolerance and mild lactose intolerance post-op 4) Lack of energy early out, but it was temporary Of course, the positives far outweigh the negatives especially since everything I experienced was over within a few weeks to couple of months, and I have a very normal, active, fun social life. There are plenty of us out here that "get WLS" there's others that don't. Unfortunately, the sleeve only does so much. I still have to be mindful of what I put in my mouth. I can still suck down a 3000 calorie milkshake if I wanted to so the point is making a permanent, and lifelong commitment to better food choices, and to honestly change your relationship with food. The sleeve makes this process much easier. Every WLS has failures even the heavily touted Platinum standard Duodenal Switch. I've read several stories of regain, or DS'ers not getting to goal, and their surgery is far more drastic than even RNY. I take 4 vitamins a day. That's it, nothing major, 2 multis, 2 calcium citrate. Make it a habit, it's really not that big of a deal. To address some of your concerns: 1. Death - huge I know. Ask your surgeon their mortality stats. If it's more than 1% get a new surgeon, and find out the details. 2. A Leak - also very risky. Same as above 3. My head hunger issues will be brought out huge. Start working on it now, get a new coping mechanism in place before surgery, therapy is a great tool especially if you can find someone that works with bariatric patients, along with support group meetings and using online support groups, find a buddy that has surgery around the same time to share ups and downs, get a mentor that you trust, and can talk you off the ledge when you're wanting to take a dive in the pool of caramely goodness of Girl Scout Samoa cookies. 4. My "food to cope" tool will be gone! Same as above 5. possible acid reflux... what's worse being fat or popping a Prilosec or Nexium to prevent reflux? 6. Gaining the weight back Establishing better habits, measuring portions, staying within your caloric intake guidelines is the best options to avoid gain. It's easy to gain weight, I won't lie, but for me, it's still super easy to lose it by following the rules. 7. not really losing anything that's pretty rare, I've read plenty of slow losers, but you have control of how you lose weight. Some do it differently than I did and that's okay, some do not want to give up carbs, I did because I knew I'd lose fast and hard. That's the path I chose, and I couldn't be happier with how I did it. Some have metabolic issues that slow weight loss down, and that has to be taken into consideration as well as activity level, and each individuals needs. One thing you have to remember is that the VSG is not some miracle that is going to cure it all. They operate on our stomachs, not our brains. So, getting ahead of the curve by establishing some good habits NOW will go a long way post-op. Eating slower, chewing your food more, sit your utensil down in between bites, do not drink with your meal, eat protein first, stretch your meal out to at least 20 minutes. Don't sit in front of the TV to eat, focus on what you are putting in your mouth/body and see how your body responds. Best wishes! ! !

Hey guys I had a couple of questions 1) I was already approved so why do I have to see the doc again? 2)what happens at your last pre op appointment? 3) when do you get your surgery date? 4) should I already start my pre op diet now? 5) how many people didn't have to do a 2 week diet? 6) did you have any complications? And if so what? 7) how long were u out of work? 8) how long after the surgery can u have sex? 9) what do I need for the hospital? 10)how many people had children after rny? And does it help boost fertility? 11)what vitamins do I need to buy? 12)what did u find most helpful after surgery? 13) did u do it alone? Or was somethere to help u during the day?

I don't think anyone on this board has heard of someone dying as a result of the surgery. Even complications can be dealt with - just make sure you follow doctors orders and call the doc right away if you have any bad symptoms (fever, pain, etc). Good luck! lara

Thanks everyone!! I'm very excited about the surgery, but a little scared that I might die... I just keep telling myself that if I don't do the surgery I will die soon anyway. It's really nice to know that others have done it secretly. @Foxbins... I've been thinking about the same thing.. just to leave letters in my house, just in case... I listed my 2 bffs as my emergency contacts, so they will know if something goes wrong.. I'm lucky about my surgery though... the country I live in is pretty cheap to do the surgery (Korea) and the doctor has cleared it so that I can stay in the hospital for 5 nights after my surgery, before I fly home to my city (I wouldn't be able to fly for 3 days anyway, cuz of a law in this country)... I want to stay a bit longer too, just to make sure there are no complications... I have severe asthma, so the surgery is a little more risky. One outpatient surgical hospital rejected me cuz they said I should do the surgery in a major hospital so that a pulmonologist can be there for the surgery just in case... so I took the doctor's recommendation and found a major university hospital that will do it. Yay!! Less than 3 weeks to go!!

Find a new doctor who isn't so arrogant and ignorant. The U.S. does not have a monopoly on quality health care. In fact, my Mexico surgeon had more experience, better credentials and a lower complication rate than the 6 U.S. surgeons I looked at. I had no complications postop and my surgeon's office was available for postop consult and questions 7 days/week. My PCP was fine with doing my followup bloodwork and would have supported me through any problems if they occurred. My OB/Gyn was also totally on board and volunteered to do bloodwork if I needed. She even got the name and contact info for my surgeon to pass on to other patients who's insurance doesn't cover WLS. I saw a gastroenterologist for an unrelated issue 2 months postop and he didn't have a problem with me having had surgery in Mexico, either. Routine follow up can be done by your PCP, but maybe ask her to check around with other bariatric specialists in case you do have any complications. Make sure you pick a surgeon that is available postop and willing to answer any questions your PCP may have.

A few things to know about lap band surgery. If you have severe allergies, know that it complicates everything. I threw up every day due to mucous covering my hole. I eventually had to have the band opened completely due to this problem. I was throwing up, not eating much and still not losing weight. Carbonated drinks helped. (they say you are not supposed to drink carbonated drinks, but it was the only thing that got me through) Everyone is different; how your body reacts to the lap band will be an individual process. It is possible that you will lose your weight very quickly, then again it is also possible that you lose it very slowly. You are still in control of how much you eat. The lap band is not magic, although it does help. The thing I could eat the easiest was ice cream. So I had to ask myself... Did I go through all this pain and money (I paid out of my own pocket) to fail because I at too much ice cream? Wear a compression garment after surgery.(like a girdle) I had my surgery on a Wednesday and went back to work on Monday. (I had a sit down job) I would not have been able to do this without the compression garment. If I had to do it over again, I would have done the by-pass.

Had my bypass on 4/20/18. Two weeks later sharp pain on lower left side. Was admitted to hospital with an abscess on my bowel. Had to stay back to stage 1 liquids. It's been 5 weeks now and still vomiting from most solids. Had an endoscopy last week. Everything looked good except some irritation, probably from throwing up everyday. I'm on heavy antacids and testing what makes me throw up. I can't do meats except Turkey, nothing fried, no breads, no eggs..... Has anyone experienced food allergies post-op?

Omg, I am so sorry to hear about your terrifying experience. I'm hoping you are on the mend...When did you know something was wrong? (Im also a healthcare professional, and sxd for surgery in MX...different surgeon.) Leaks are rare, but they do happen, and I want to know what the warning signs are, if any? Do you know if there's any way this could've been prevented, or is it just (like u said before) bad luck? From a clinical standpoint, I've been researching leaks, causes, effects, treatment, etc... I dont pray, but I am sending positive vibes in your direction. I hope your recovery is swift, and FULL! Hoping you can rock that sleeve with no further complications, and I wish you health and happiness

She mentioned her surgeon in a previous post. The lesson for everyone is that while leaks can be just bad luck - they happen - but different surgeons have different stats and complications. Find out what your surgeon is claiming to be his experience and results! That in no way is a comment against this surgeon as I don't know his stats. It could happen anywhere, I am just saying why not choose a doc that has best results with low complications - I am thinking it improves the odds. I am so glad you are on the mend. It is a nightmare scenario, but the blessing is that you will recover and go on to losing weight and regaining your health. Thank you for sharing your story!

I am really going to try not to sound mean here..I am very concerned because 150 sleeves is not very many when we are talking about human lives here. My surgeon has performed 1,000s with a low complication rate. I think it is important that people who are looking into surgery should ask this question. I realize doctors have to start somewhere. In fact, a doctor who is entering the field performed my surgery, but my dr. that has the 1,000s under his belt was in the OR with the resident and monitored the whole procedure. I fortunately did not have complications. I realize even dr.s with more experience have problems occasionally as well, but we all know with experience comes wisdom ...in theory the more you do something, the more you should be experienced in the procedure. I hope you are healing and feeling better. Your experience can guide the newbies to make good decisions for their own health down the road! Ask the questions that we sometimes forget to ask. Thank you for sharing!

It is very medically necessary to follow the post op diet to a T! Your doctor wouldn't give the post op instructions if you could really have solids within days or even weeks after a surgery like this. You chewed it up well and nothing happened? What if something would've happened... Is it worth the chance of SERIOUS complications? I would think not.

I like that last statement. So true! Congratulations on your weight loss!! That's amazing. My negative side always seems to take over. I'm not scared of the surgery. I've had several before. I know it is more the complications after if they happen because I'm self pay and I think. "oh Lord, what is something happens and no one will take care of me because I can't afford it and insurance won't pay because they didn't pay for the surgery to begin with.??"... That kind of thinking consumes me. Thank you though. Getting these positive comments helps me so much!! I love this forum and love reading all of the success stories of the people who have made it. God Bless!