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Yesterday morning: 235 and im in my TOM too! woo! my clothes are dropping off me. I was a size 24 in the stretchy jeans and now, i can wear a 18 or 20. I need new clothes and a haircut, badly. Im a little concerned though, and i hate to admit this having been smoke free for three years (after 23 years of smoking) but ive picked it back up again. I KNOW its not good. I dont know how it complicates the band, but im sure it does somehow. Also drinking a good chunk of wine a few times a week! i know these arent good. but i am riding the loaner bike now (mine got stolen the day after xmas) and walking a lot. People are noticing. When i got on the plane to come out to come to Dr St Laruent's seminar, i weighed a hundred lbs more than i do now. im only about fifty lbs since rebanding in may though. I do supplements. multivitamin is chewable centrum, bcomplex drops, chewable calcium, biotin and i take these daily. im LIKING ALL THIS very much.

Yesterday morning: 235 and im in my TOM too! woo! my clothes are dropping off me. I was a size 24 in the stretchy jeans and now, i can wear a 18 or 20. I need new clothes and a haircut, badly. Im a little concerned though, and i hate to admit this having been smoke free for three years (after 23 years of smoking) but ive picked it back up again. I KNOW its not good. I dont know how it complicates the band, but im sure it does somehow. Also drinking a good chunk of wine a few times a week! i know these arent good. but i am riding the loaner bike now (mine got stolen the day after xmas) and walking a lot. People are noticing. When i got on the plane to come out to come to Dr St Laruent's seminar, i weighed a hundred lbs more than i do now. im only about fifty lbs since rebanding in may though. I do supplements. multivitamin is chewable centrum, bcomplex drops, chewable calcium, biotin and i take these daily. im LIKING ALL THIS very much.

We share the same story as well. Overweight my entire life. I started this journey at 336.6 pounds. Day of surgery I was 325.6 pounds. I have lost a total of 25 pounds in a month (14 since surgery). You will love your sleeve and what a blessing to be doing this with your sister. Good luck with your journey and I pray for a complication-free procedure and that you and your sister recover quickly.

Actually slippage isn't mentioned in the 2013 study...these were the complications and rates..... "A high number of revision procedures were performed-proximal pouch enlargement (26%), erosion (3.4%), and port and tubing problems (21%)." Happy you are happy and I hope you stay in the 50% with no issues. I never had a slip. I had irritation, reflux and then eventually device broke. I lost as well and I felt great as well for the first 3 years. The point of my post is for people to know that if it does go bad...don't put your head in the sand. Do something...

I'm scheduled for surgery on 1/9, and I'm trying to get a handle on what kinds of complications people have been seeing. I know for the most part everyone is happy with their results even if they've had complications; I'm just wondering what minor and major issues are potentially on the horizon -- and if, in the long run, virtually everyone has some issues. Those of you who have had the band for years, please post too! Thanks much :eek:

The code for the tricare service of the sleeve is Code 43775 43775 Code definition is: LAPAROSCOPY, SURGICAL, GASTRIC RESTRICTIVE PROCEDURE; LONGITUDINAL GASTRECTOMY (IE, SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY) Number of pocedures allowed without a overide code is: 1 Tricare Benefits TRICARE covers gastric bypass, gastric stapling and gastroplasty to include vertical banded gastroplasty and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band surgery) is covered only when the beneficiary meets one of the following conditions: Is 100 pounds over ideal weight for height and bone structure and has one of these associated conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian syndrome, hypothalamic disorders or severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints Is 200 percent or more over ideal weight for height and bone structure Has had intestinal bypass or other surgery for obesity and because of complications, requires another surgery (takedown) TRICARE does not cover: Nonsurgical treatment of obesity, morbid obesity, dietary control or weight reduction Biliopancreatic bypass, gastric bubble or balloon for the treatment of morbid obesity Note for Active Duty Service Members: Bariatric surgery represents a major and permanent change in your digestive system that requires strict adherence to a specific dietary regimen that may interfere with operational deployment. A history of bariatric surgery is already a bar to military service and receiving bariatric surgery while on active duty may be grounds for separation. For more information, view the Health Affairs Policy 07-006.Should I have surgery to lose weight? Recent research indicates many patients are unable to achieve and maintain large amounts weight loss without the assistance of weight loss surgery. Along with the burden of obesity often times these patients are plagued with diseases associated with excess weight. These diseases are referred to as co-morbidities and include: hypertension diabetes sleep apnea GERD joint pain Co-morbidities may be reduced or eliminated by weight loss. The goal of the bariatric program is to provide assistance to patients who may benefit from significant weight loss and have had little success with more conservative treatment methods. Tricare Prime retirees and dependents who meet specified criteria are eligible for the bariatric surgery program. What surgeries are available? The bariatric procedures currently being performed in the program are laparoscopic gastric banding, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and open or laparoscopic gastric bypass. All procedures are very effective but differ in surgical technique, dietary modifications, lifestyle changes, medical monitoring, and risk to the patient. Each patient is unique and in consultation with the bariatric surgeon will determine the best surgical procedure. Laparoscopic Gastric Banding is the least invasive but effective weight loss procedure. It is the safest procedure. In this procedure an inflatable silicone band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. The band is tightened around the stomach by injecting saline into the adjustable band. The tightened band creates a small pouch of the upper stomach which restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold, resulting in weight loss. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is another very effective surgical weight loss procedure in which the stomach is stapled and part of the stomach is removed. The remaining portion of the stomach is called a sleeve. The sleeve remains attached to the small bowel and digestion occurs normally. The small stomach fills quickly allowing the patient a feeling of fullness, reducing the food intake resulting in weight loss. Gastric Bypass is the most invasive and most effective weight loss surgery. In this procedure the stomach size is reduced to a pouch, and the upper portion of the small bowel is bypassed. Weight loss occurs by reducing the amount of food intake into the smaller stomach and by the GI tract's reduced ability to absorb calories and nutrients. Following bypass surgery, the patient will require lifetime medical monitoring for nutritional deficiencies and supplemental Vitamins and minerals. http://www.uptodate.com http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/gastric-bypass Do I qualify for the NCA Surgical Weight Loss Program? The eligibility criteria for a consultation with one of our bariatric surgeons are as follows: BMI is a method of classifying body mass into categories used to predict morbidity and mortality. BMI is calculated as follows: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. BMI Criteria: BMI of 35 or greater with co-morbidities BMI of 40 or greater without co-morbidities We currently do not perform surgery on patients with a BMI of 50+ or >400 lbs. Calculate your BMI: http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/ [*]Active duty personnel cannot have weight loss surgery as mandated by BUMED http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcp/Patients/GenSurgery/Documents/ BARIATRIC%20SURGERY%20POLICY_20070326160507_924C6A1B.pdf [*]You must be between the ages of 20-64 years [*]We only accept patients with Tricare Prime [*]Retired military [*]Dependents of military members (Active Duty or Retired) [*]You must not be pregnant or lactating [*]Without multiple serious medical complications related or unrelated to weight How do I begin the process? The road to weight loss surgery begins with an appointment with your Primary Care Manager (PCM). Your PCM is going to play a vital role should you and he/she decide weight loss surgery is the best choice for you, and you should keep in close contact with him/her. If you meet the criteria above and have been unsuccessful with all other methods of weight management, have your PCM enter a consult to the General Surgery Clinic. On that referral, your doctor will need to include the following: your actual weight at the time of the visit, highest weight, height, BMI, and co-morbidities (other conditions caused by obesity). Also, have your PCM put in referrals for evaluations for bariatric surgery: nutrition (Wellness CL BE, 3 visits) exercise physiology (at WRAMC, Wellness CL WR) psychology You will also need orders for the following: blood work: CBC, CMP, Vit D (calcidiol/25-hydroxy) sleep apnea study (guidelines for requirement of test TBD) endoscopy (require EGD for reflux symptoms and require screening colonoscopy for age >50) If you can get all these referrals and orders now, it will help the process go more quickly and smoothly for you. Once the referral is received by the surgery clinic, it will be screened for eligibility requirements and appointment availability. If appointments are not available, the consult will be sent to the Referral Management Department and assistance will be given to locate a Bariatric Surgeon outside the Military Treatment Facility. An overview of our process For more information concerning Tricare Benefits please refer to the website below: http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/jsp/Medical/IsItCovered.do?kw=Gastric+ Bypass&topic=Men Exercise Physiology and Physical Therapy (WRAMC) 202-782-1249 Required Consults: Exercise Physiology and Physical Therapy Our Exercise Physiologist and Physical Therapist are members of the multidisciplinary team caring for you in the NCA Bariatric Surgical Weight Loss Program. Through research in their field, their expertise lies in evaluation muscle response to activity and maximizing its positive effect on the body. This information enables them to formulate exercise programs for professional athletes as well as with patients suffering from cardiac conditions, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bariatric patients with various limitations in their ability to exercise in the normal sense. In collaboration with your surgeon and other team members, they develop a customized exercise program for you. Their program will assist you in developing techniques and movements to improve your mobility and body strength. Exercise, as a requirement of the weight loss program, is a key element in achieving and maintaining long term success in managing a healthy weight. This program will assist you in incorporating exercise into your lifestyle. Services are available at WRAMC. Please call 202-782-1249 for an appointment or more information. Support Group Information NNMC-Bariatric Surgery Support Group Every Wednesday Time: 1530 Location: Conference Room A, Building 7, 4th floor POC: Behavioral Health (301) 295-0500 Stating: Support Group Status: Temporarily on hold until May 2010 or June 2010 WRAMC-Lifestyles & Viewpoints (Behavioral Health group) Wednesdays (except 2nd Wednesday of the month) Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm Location: 5th floor, Ward 53 WRAMC-Monthly Weight Loss Surgery Support Group (Nutrition Care group) 2nd Wednesday of each month Time: 4:30-6:00pm Location: Ward 73 Conference Room (Rm 7347) POC: Beth Triner 202-782-5466 DeWitt Army Hospital 1st Tuesday of each month Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm Location: Main Conference Room To sign up for Support Group please call 703-805-0604 or email Becky.Campbell@us.army.mil The February meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 9th at 4:30 Handouts Nutrition and Exercise Log Websites (PDF) Pre-op eating behaviors (PDF) Nutrition for Bariatric Surgery Presentation( PDF) Bariatric Infomation Session Presentation (PDF) Nutrition Guide-Sleeve Gastrectomy Booklet (PDF) Nutrition Appointment Numbers (PDF) February 2010 Bariatric Support Group flyer (PPT) Forms New pre-surgical assessment (PDF)

No regrets at all. One year ago, I was tipping the scales at 300 pounds and dealing with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and significant back and knee pain. I was a single dad raising my three kids following my wife's death in 2007 and I was really scared that I wasn't going to be around to see them grow up. Today, after having my surgery on July 13, 2010, I have lost about 115 pounds and all of my health issues have resolved themselves or are well on their way to clearing up. I am dating a lovely woman and my whole outlook on life has changed. Having said all that, I will also say that it has not been a complete walk in the park -- especially emotionally/psychologically. Fortunately, I have had no physical complications to speak of, but I have found the psychological aspects of the complete change in my relationship to food to be more difficult than I would have thought. I really didn't think I was an emotional eater, I thought I was just a big guy who loved to eat. What I learned after the surgery was that I ate when I was sad, lonely, angry, depressed, bored, upset etc. Suddenly, I found myself facing these emotions without my medication of choice -- food and it was not easy. In the beginning, there momentary bouts of "buyer's remorse" when I questioned whether I had really done the right thing, but, fortunately, those feelings were very fleeting. As time moved forward and more and more weight came off, It became clearer and clearer to me that I had made the right decision for me. My advise for anyone who is considering this surgery. Research, research, research - get comfortable with your doctor and the procedure and then, GO FOR IT. All the best to you, Brian

You can end up failing at any of the weight loss surgeries. You do need to be prepared to change your eating habits, but I think once you have surgery you'll be ok. It helps shift your mind. You're not gonna go through that just to fail. Plus, as a self pay, I would be even more determined. That's a lot of money. As far as complications, every surgery has potential complications and doctors are required by law to tell you about them. We all went through these doubts and fears. Just keep on keepin on. Decide you will be a success and follow the doctors orders and you will be successful! Best wishes!

Hello, I just read this and I'm hoping and praying that by now you have seen your doctor if not are feeling better. My heart goes out to you and I'm sorry you are experiencing difficulty. I'm 5 months out and still not used to the way things feel going in and I've been on antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication since having the surgery so the going is sadly not as easy for some of us. Tiff had to really tough it out for a while since she had complications. She is an inspiration because she's kept a positive attitude and was determined to emerge from it all as a success. She has and as a result has made herself available to all of us. There are many people here that care. I hope your problems resolve quickly and that you will stay connected and keep us informed.

I was sleeved on January 26, 2010 and I see that everyone mostly doesnt regret the surgery, due to their respective losses. I actually researched the sleeve and thought it would be the best decision for me because when all available WLS were described by my surgeon this particular one stuck out as the best choice for me. I have had constant nausea, which is not fun. Vomiting every other day. Unable to take in enough clear liquid to sustain myself. I definately feel weaker. I am tired after just taking a shower and dressing. Today makes 17 days out and I am down 24+ pounds, but if you think about it if I didnt have the surgery and barely took in liquids for this long I would probably be down the same weight. I really hope I can get to the place everyone else is. I also feel bad because I havent had the extreme complications that a few of you have. I am now thinking that I might have a leak, while in the hospital which by the way was a little longer than anticipated (4 days) laproscopic. I began to vomit blood. I recall vomiting on the operating table. So they kept me until I had a day without vomiting. Now I have nothing but vomiting and diarrhea. I am miserable, weak and no energy. I hope this will soon pass.:lol0:

My only regret was getting the LapBand first I am losing weight and this is a much more 'normal' lifestyle than the band was. They just had on ABC news that 99% of people with band have complications!!! I am 7 weeks out and as of today, have lost 38 pounds. I don't have the love affair with food anymore and the sleeve makes me feel very confident that I can do this! I have had a lot of therapy with food issues and regularly attend support groups. You MUST do this to tackle the reasons why you overeat!! FYI--My 83 year old grandmom had most of her stomach removed over 30 years ago due to an ulcer and her stomach is FINE!

Stacie, I'm so sorry you are having to endure a leak. I had one as well, and it was a very long road to a full recovery, BUT, I can tell you once you get passed these speed bumps, life with the sleeve is awesome. I had a leak 2 days post-op my band to sleeve revision. I had leak repair surgery, where they sutured the leaked area with heavy sutures. My lungs would not recover after the 2nd surgery so I landed in ICU on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma for 5 days with a grave prognosis for survival. Once my vitals stabilized I was woken up, and then released a couple of days later with a central line in my arm and force fed 1800 calories a day through a TPN bag and sent home with drains and an in-home health care nurse. I was only 32 at the time, with an 11 year old son, and my husband was deployed to Afghanistan and was not allowed to come home. I completely empathize with you, but what got me through all of the trials of the complications, was my sheer determination to recover and beat the odds. My mother drove to FL from TX to get my son. I was alone for over 3 weeks and not able to eat or drink anything for 22 days. Nothing passed my lips from June 2 to the 25th with the exception of 2oz of contrast Fluid used for the leak tests. I won't deny being scared, and wondering what the heck was I thinking, but I have zero regrets because I survived, and learned about myself, and my strength to endure pure hell. I know it's not everyone's mentality, but I honestly believe that a positive attitude will help you overcome these obstacles through your journey. I was hospitalized for a week, 6 weeks post-op for abscesses in my abdomen and pelvic cavity. I was dehydrated, and once again came home with drains in my abdomen for a 2-3 weeks. But, I am stronger because of it. It's been researched, and documented that positive mental status will help you recover. You can and will "WIN" if you want to. You can and will "RECOVER" if you can will yourself to believe it. That's the only thing that got me through my recovery. I had to resign from my job, and now can not find another one. My husband went through severe emotional distress due to my condition/complications while being in a war zone. BUT, here I am almost 8 months out, and firmly believe that I endured all of it, and I've won. I'm healthy, happy, and my life is full of joy because of the trials and tribulations I endured, I cherish every day more than the last. If you need to talk, vent, or cry, please feel free to contact me via Private Message feature here.

Not getting enough calories can affect your metabolism, dehydrate you, and make you feel fatigued or lack energy. I recommend that you check with your doctor as well to find out if there is a complication. I know at first I was scared to eat/drink too much because of the stomach only being able to hold 4 oz. However, on my first post-op visit, it was explained to me that liquid including the Protein drinks go straight through. It is the solids that our stomachs can only hold the 4 ounces. Since then, I have felt more comfortable drinking liquids throughout the day (always 30 minutes after eating), and I have been able to get in at least the 64 oz of liquids if not more. Also, at my doctor's office, they gave us a timeline for eating the 3 meals/2 Snacks (protein drinks) throughout the day.

Hi there, I had surgery on 2-6-17. I live in a rural environment in Alaska from April to October and in rural Texas in the winter. My Surgeon cleared me to head north 7 weeks after surgery. I was switched to a normal diet but reminded to chew well. I will be coming back for my 6 month followup in August. Then I'm pretty much clear. I will return each year for a checkup with my surgeon and NUT just so they can pat me on the back for how awesome I'm doing;-) I chose the sleeve for many reasons. Primarily because it doesn't change how my digestive system works. There are fewer complications with the sleeve and it is proving to be an awesome tool for me. I have no complications or contraindications from the surgery. It has been a life saver and like many here say, I wish I would have done it sooner. Depending on your disposition going through the surgery can be pretty emotional because there is such a life change that you must experience. And it is self induced so there is no one to blame:-). As an outdoors woman, it was not at all emotional for me. I have more time because I am not so fixated on that next unhealthy meal. My yard and garden are amazing. My walks are pleasant and pain free. I enjoy nature like I never did before. And I've only lost 33 pounds. Imagine what it will be like when I get it all off!!! I can't wait. There are always risks and it is important to be aware of them. But the risks are circumstantial compared to the guaranteed risks of continued obesity. That is what decided it for me. Heart attack today or heart burn... diabetes forever or a little acid reflux. The risk of surgery is there for everyone not just WLS and statistically your chances are pretty good. Especially if your generally healthy. I was self pay. This was great because I didn't have tons of time to second guess myself. My first appt was 1/19 and I was sleeved 2/6. I had considered surgery for many years but thought it was too drastic. I had lost 40 pounds doing low carb and started to regain AGAIN and that was it. I was tired of fighting my body. Decided to do a little fighting back and threw myself for a loop. Through the confusion my body has decided to get in step with my goals:-) Is it challenging? Sure..but I feel like I've finally been given a break. A chance at the life I always dreamed of. I didn't tell anyone but my husband and son about my surgery because I no longer wanted my weight to be the center of everything or the topic of conversation. I didn't want to talk about WLS with friends and family. I wanted to be normal for the first time in my life. Ultimately, discuss with your doctor your timeframe. They can tell you their timeline and you can make it work. Heck, I was wanting this bad enough to come to Texas in August! That's dedication!!! Take care. Hope I offer some positive words for you.

Complications can happen but generally if you follow your Surgeons instructions you should be fine. I had my surgery in Mexico so all of my follow up care is done by my PCP but honestly other than having Blood work done I haven't needed anything. I think that a Ketogenic Diet would fit Hand in Hand with the Homesteader Lifestyle. All those fresh vegetables and game meats should Help you weed most of the Sugar and Carbs out of your diet and give you the quality fats that your body needs. We will just have to ship you Avocados and Almonds lol.

I initially lumped together my reply to your response but decided to excerpt the portion about the complication. I'm hoping I didn't accidentally post the photo twice. Sometimes I mess up with this. But here goes: I have signs of superior mesentaric artery (SMA) syndrome, although it is doing ok right now - meaning I am independently eating and drinking. I have been hospitalized for an inability to eat once already, in late February. I also couldn't take in fluids. I had to have a feeding tube placed - although I didn't tolerate it for long because it didn't bypass the problem. Fortunately things improved kind of spontaneously and I have been able to eat and drink. I did get some calories through my IV, so that may have helped. Or maye it was just luck. I still show a compression of the duodenum although not a full blockage thank goodness. At the time, they were totally unable to figure out the problem. Fortunately, my weight loss surgeon caught it recently. I have been told I can lose more weight, but it has to be in a very careful, slow way. Also, I will be monitored very closely. This is a serious complication that is not a WLS complication specifically - it is a rapid weight loss complication. Rapid weight loss of any type can cause the loss of the fat pad between the SMA and the duodenum, which keeps the duodenum from being squished between the SMA and the aorta. If you read the statistics, I think it is rare enough that it's possible no one else on this site will worry about it - something like 500 cases in medical literature since it was discovered 105 yrs ago. I hesitate to share, but then of course having mentioned the words complication I should probably explain. Also, I searched and this has never been mentioned on this site according to my search. It's possible someone else may experience it - from what I read it may happen more than they think (which still makes it incredibly rare). Anyway, that is the deal. I just have to be a lot more careful than most with my weight at this point. No more rapid weight loss unless I want very, very serious ramifications. If I push it I could send this into needing one of two treatment options - "refeeding" through a feeding tube surgically implanted through the abdomen straight to the jejunum (bypassing the stomach and therefore the blockage), or surgery to reroute where the duodenum exits my tiny tummy. Neither option is good.

You are still healing, So take it easy, but certainly make sure you inform your surgeon and nutritionist. If you've got a stricture or some other mild complication, it might need to be looked into, always make sure to keep your surgeon in the loop on stuff like this.

Thank you Patti & Charlotte, When I think of my aunts, who were so much fun, and most died of complications of diabetes, it makes me know I am doing the right thing. It is so hot here, I wat to walk , but I will go to the pool instead and exercise. no time like the present. Patti

I would definately not keep this from your husband. He should be your first line of support no matter what. In my opinion it's pretty risky to have any surgery without having someone there that has your best interest at heart and also that has all the details on your medical history. Split second decisions have to be addressed sometimes and without that accessible you could be asking for complications that you just don't need. I'm not saying anything will happen but wouldn't you have more peace of mind the day of your surgery that everything is handled and not have to worry about how your going to have to handle those first few weeks where you may not be at your best. How would you explain to your husband why you're having trouble getting up and down and in and out of bed. I totally get not wanting to broadcast this(I have chosen that route myself with some family and friends) BUT you will need some help in those first few days. It's totally your choice but just think how he would feel if he was to receive a phone call that he needs to come and help you somehow and he has no idea why you couldn't confide in him. My husband knows my feelings about my privacy and is totally cool with it and says it's my decision to bring someone into the loop or not. Good luck with your decision.

I had a bypass on a Wednesday. I was grocery shopping on Saturday and back to work on Monday. I never took pain medication after leaving the hospital. Barring complications, you should be fine. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

I was readmitted to hospital 2 days after my initial discharge... Hadn't been able to tolerate liquid meds- caused nausea, vomiting and dry-heaving. On top of all this, I had the worst diarrhea 5 days post-op through day 8... My surgeon thinks it might be a new lactose allergy, so when I'm feeling better i'll test milk out again and see how well I tolerate it. With the meds (Zantac, roxicet), I found that each time after I took them, I would instantly start to dry heave (surprisingly the med actually stayed down each time... Don't know how!), I think it had something to do with the smell/taste... I've always been a gaggy person if I smell or taste something gross, but in this situation I stayed nauseous all day long, unable to get in my liquids so ended up readmitted for dehydration and to sort-out my meds plan. Haven't been able to take anything for pain now except childrens tylenol, and I'm on Prevacid solutab now instead of Zantac- something about chewables go down fine. I also have a PRN order for compazine (anti-nausea med) that is a suppository... A little gross but when you feel like crap and cannot keep anything down it definitely works fast and does the trick (plus I'm a nurse, so it doesn't gross me out too bad). I'm home now, and feeling MUCH better-- able to meet fluids and Protein goals each day, but still cannot do liquid meds (I tried again, and failed again). That being said, I still have some occasional pain but I'm just grinning and bearing it... Another complication, though I bet it's fairly common, is that I became really itchy around my incisions which were all covered with steri-strips. I also developed a warm red rash around them too- kinda bumpy, almost looks like poison ivy. It had been 9 days since surgery, so the clinic nurse had me remove the steri-strips (in case they were causing skin irritation), and apply hydrocortisone cream... While I'm really happy that all the incisions are healing nicely (doesn't look infected, it's definitely an irritation due to the adhesive) nothing has changed so far, so I'm going to call my doctor's office in the morning if it's still not better when I wake up. With all these issues it's been a rough 10 days, but I have yet to regret a thing! I know this was the right decision for me and for my future, and I am so incredibly grateful for all of the support I've received from the message boards-- you all have been so great!

When I had my consult, the Dr said he had done some together but the risks for complications are higher. The area where the band was becomes fibrous and more difficult to suture. After having a few leaks, he has stopped doing them in one procedure.

I'm having surgery April 1st with Dr. Aceves. I really do feel like I am getting the whole package with Dr. Aceves and his team! Yes... the money aspect was difficult...but having complications would also be financially devastating and I think that his level of skill will give me the best chance to come through without problems with my revision from band to sleeve. I'll look forward to hearing about your experience!

This is off the Tylenol topic but I had my gastric bypass on 12/11. I read your story and you are amazing for hanging in there so long. I am so surprised at all the stories of the 1 or 2 day stays and a little tylenol here and there. I had complications so was in ICU for 5 days for closer monitoring but went home after 8days. Now just trying to get all the water weight I came home with. I gained about 20# in the hospital. Very discouraging! All is a process and just akes time. I keep trying to remind myself that. Hope you are doing well now.

I was under the impression that a huge fill all at once placed you at way more risk of complications than did sneaking up bit by bit. And really, as much as we all might like the idea of being tight and dropping tons of weight, it doesnt work that way. You're better off losing slowly and steadily and in the long run, nobody wants more fill than they need. The more you can eat and still be losing, the better nourished you will be and also the less risk of complications you have. I also dont think I could have handled my current fill level way back when my eyes were still bigger than my stomach. I can work with it now becuase I"m used to not eating so much, I have better habits, I know what does and doesnt work with my band and eating very slowly is second nature. If I'd had this much fill early on I would have been PBing left right and centre.