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Hi @brookeville777! Isn’t it such a crazy feeling! When do you start your pre op diet? I totally get how you feel my BMI is 59. But you just have to remember that the people who perform these surgery’s do it all week long all year and have very low rates of complications overall. The benefits outweigh the risks in my opinion. I’m sure I will be scared getting closer

I would also add in contrast sometimes the pushback I got was because of ignorance or fear for me that was based in the heartfelt, but completely wrong view of what the surgery is and its risks. At the end of the day while it may change our lives this is a pretty simple surgery with very little downtime and/or complications. Heck the only reason this isn't an outpatient surgery is because they have to make sure you can take in liquids before sending you home. I found that explaining the surgery to those naysayers got them to understand. If you are dealing with those like "TLHvsg2018" mentioned then as my nana would say "F*ck Them."

This is a great thread! Thanks for sharing your worries and experiences! I am considering this surgery because it does not remove any stomach. My sister had the DS done 3 years ago by a very renowned dr. in area. He badly messed by the shape of her stomach and I had to take her to Mayo Clinic for life-prolonging correction, but they had to remove even more. This was the only way she could survive. However, she is suffering and slowly dying of mal nourishment because her body will not absorb protein AT ALL and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Because of what she is going through, I thought maybe this procedure would be safer, but I am still worried about complications down the road. I've heard of stitches popping and the stomach herniating. I've read that reversing it (unfolding it back to size) has not been as effective as hoped because scar tissue forms. And I know, after seeing what my sister is going through, my family would never support the notion of me doing it.

Update: 4weeks Post Op - 210.6lbs (-11.8lbs from SW of 222.4lbs) Okey dokey...so 4 long weeks; 1 month post-op. What a trip. I'm coming to you from somewhat of a Negative Nancy (Disgruntled Daphne) perspective due to the dreaded 3 week stall/pox upon the land that is still with me. Sigh. I've now lost about 2.75lbs/week since surgery. No offense, but being average bites great big green ones. For those of you who are not post-op and who have not experienced a stall post-surgery, I can NOT describe the mental trauma the stall inflicts. Seriously, having a stall during regular weight loss makes you feel like gnawing off a limb just to see a drop on the scale. LOL. But having a stall after you've cut out 90% of your stomach and about 2m of intestines is EXCRUCIATING!!!! It's a mind fu*k the likes of which you've never known. It DOES feel like, this is the end of it. I will be the ONLY person on the face of the earth for whom the surgery did not work. LOL. On top of worry about that, you know, the whole calorie restriction thing that comes as part of the volume limitations in a tag-team one-two punch that adds insult to injury. Cuz I don't know about you, but I'm thinking, "FU! I've done all of this and am eating 450-500cals/day and I've lost 2.75lbs per week and nothing in over 7 days?" LOL, this is how fu*ked up my head is right now...last night, I had Bigtime Billy Badass rebellion and so I ate 1 1/8 ounces corned beef + 1 1/8 ounces corned pork + 1 1/2 oz "fried" cabbage and I felt GUILTY cuz my calories went over 550cals for the day! Let me repeat, I felt guilty for eating too much at dinner and for having the daily nuts of: 581cals; 69g protein; 29g fat; 19g carbs; 5g fiber; 14g net carbs; 3g nat occurring sugar for the day. How insane is that? ROFLMFAO!!! AND I walked for 1 hour yesterday on bursitis hips that hurt like a MOFO! *snort* *indeed* I'm whipping myself into high dudgeon and indignation. LOL. Can you tell today you should all call me Ms. Cranky McCrankypants? I don't wish for complications. But I honestly do NOT understand how every doc on The YouTube says I should be getting full on 3-4 bites (about 2Tbsp of food) at 3-4 weeks post-op and I'm like, dudes. Have you EVER had surgery? You're nuts! I can eat 1/2c - 3/4c of food COMFORTABLY! Hells I could prolly eat 3oz of dense protein right this instant. I could prolly eat 2 eggs. TWO eggs! LOL. I could tear it up!!! *le sigh* It is my fervent hope that my visit with the surgeon this week and with the RD right behind her appointment will give me the answers and tools I need to relieve me of the ginormous asshat I am currently laboring to wear. It weighs a ton, is uncomfortable, offers poor visibility and the flies are a liability. The End. kserrynotserry this couldn't have been a rainbows and unicorns thread. But this 3 week stall sucks huge green donkey dicks and if I could shoot it in the face with something I would! There. I said it. Bite me.

I was 267 and currently weigh around 177. Sleeved end of August. I think I look like I’ve lost more because I’ve put on a bunch of muscle. I will say I tracked every calorie at first but now do intuitive eating since I’ve had complications and I work out twice a day 5 days a week. But I also have Hashimoto’s so I think I’ve possibly had to work harder for the loss.

My surgeon briefly discussed smoking with me. People who smoke after weight loss surgery have an astoundingly high complication and mortality rate as compared to those who quit post-op. It is not the same mortality/morbidity rate that smokers have on average, but a much higher mortality rate specifically because of the combination of surgery + smoking. The risk is not for tobacco use in general, but smoking specifically. He reversed one patient's RNY because the patient couldn't give up smoking. How sad is that? Does "smoking" including smoking of all sorts? I wouldn't want to take the risk, personally.

It's crazy, I think no matter the surgical route, we all seem to have those potholes and detours reaching our weight goals. (I'm certainly no exception and I still have yet to reach my goal. I'll touch on that in a moment.) I haven't had any issue with my band... no leaking, no slipping, and I seem to still be in my sweet spot. I don't overeat like I did pre-band. However, I was eating more than I should for my band. My hiccup was my knee surgeries. I had been in such a groove and rhythm too! I was no stranger to knee issues... one knee underwent numerous outpatient surgeries from an accident at 9 years old. Fast forward to age 39, then I had a microfracture on what was the good knee. Six weeks later I had a knee replacement on what was the bad knee. Bring on the complications from a surgeon that made an error in placing the implant... fast forward two years to a knee replacement on the good knee (dubbed Robot Knee) and then a revision on the bad knee (dubbed FrankenKnee). Prior to the surgeries I was nearly a gym rat and worked out so much. I felt great and the weight was flying off... I had lost 164 pounds. After the surgeries, it took all my energy just achieving the most mundane daily tasks. I had such bad swelling in FrankenKnee it was shutting my muscles down and I now have some atrophy in that leg. Yay. Here I am, 2 years later and finally in a groove. I still can't ride my road or mountain bike and probably never will because I don't have enough flex for the rotation. But, you know how the saying goes... when life gives you lemon make lemonade. Now that I've learned to adapt to what I can do and stopped feeling sorry for myself, I'm back in my groove. I've got 54 pounds that I'd gained to shed... and then it's back to where I left off on my journey prior to my "detour". (I started out the year 74 pounds heavier... so 20 pound loss in 2 1/2 months is something I'm happy with!) Wouldn't it be nice if it was just a straight shot from surgery to goal? We're all strong and resilient and we can do this!!!

Asking for advice on the internet is like someone in an improv troupe asking an audience member for a suggestion to kick off a bit. When presented a with multiple options they're going to get many of the same things called out each time (Starbucks! Donald Trump! Your mother!) and they'll pick the one that's the most unique and stands out. The problem with looking for consensus advice on the internet is that it's not a valid sample and everyone replying only has experience with a sample size of one, hardly valid from a scientific or mathematical standpoint. Complicating things is that all of us have different bodies and physiologies, so even though we may display the same symptoms, the root cause could be completely different and require a different approach.

I'm sorry to hear that. I believe the average price for self pay is ~$26K and there is generally financing available, but this can vary quite a bit so it's worth asking your local providers what they charge. Alternatively there are a bunch of folks here who go to Mexico for the surgery where it can be done for much less out of pocket (the VSG is a pretty simple proceedure so complications are pretty rare). You could also see about changing your insurance during your next life changing event/enrollment peroid.

I am! I'm doing well! I had my surgery on March 12th. Everything went smoothly. Only complications I had was breathing but that's because I have asthma.

With no complications, you should be fine - just drink all your liquids, and put your feet up, and nap. The big risk is dehydration.

I had surgery with Dr. Verboonen at Bariatric Mexico earlier this month and thought I would share some thoughts and tips about having surgery in Mexico. I haven't had any complications (knock on wood), and am doing well. While I don't regret it, if I had to do it over again I would choose a different surgeon. 1. Ask about their pain management plan. I was off pain meds by my flight home two days after surgery BUT there was terrible pain management the first 36 hours or so. I woke up in serious pain. I told them I was in pain in the recovery room, and was told it was normal. After that they started ignoring me, and the staff was eating chips in the recovery room. After I started crying, they gave me an injection of something. The first night after surgery I was in so much pain I considered asking them to take me to a hospital. In retrospect, they seemed to rely solely on ketorolac (an NSAID). The language barrier really prevented a discussion of what pain meds I was being given. For me, it was not enough. I don't mean to scare you off from Mexico, but in retrospect I should have been more persistent on learning about their pain management plan. 2. Waiting and never meeting the surgeon. I was picked up at 8:30 and finished all my pre-op labs by 11:30 or so. I then waited 4 or 5 hours to have surgery, which is not really what you want when you are nervous. I was told I would have a full consultation with the surgeon, but I never met him before or after. I also never met with the anestesologist. The other doctors and staff made me feel secure and comfortable, but in retrospect it was nowhere near as advertised. 3. Immediate Aftercare. After the first night, they changed to a different recovery room. I had to walk outside of the building in a hospital gown to get to the new place, only to discover that my bed was in what I can only describe as the lobby. It was right next to the door to the street, and you had to walk through the lobby area to get to the actual rooms for the other patients. When I complained, they did say I could stay at the hotel for the night instead. But since I was traveling alone and they would have to take out the IV (raising my concerns about dehydration), I elected to stay there. 3. "Nutrition" information. I was given a one page sheet of dos and don't. It was rushed and took about five minutes as I was leaving to go to the airport. The surgery went well, which is the most important thing. But I wouldn't say it was comfortable experience.

I'm having the same problem. I had my sleeve Feb. 26th. I initially lost 13 pounds (plus 10 on the pre-op diet), and the scale hasn't moved in 2 weeks. I've had a lot of complications (severe diarrhea, bad dehydration, and now I have a bladder infection most likely from the stupid catheter they insisted I have, so the antibiotic is causing diarrhea again). My blood pressure has also been low so my surgeon had me come off my BP meds and one was a diuretic. I was thinking I was retaining water and that's why the scale hadn't budged, but when I was I needed the ER on Friday, trying to determine why I wasn't peeing anymore, the ER doc said I wasn't retaining water. i can't get the shakes down without being in severe pain so I know I'm not getting in enough calories or protein- maybe 300 calories a day. So why am I not losing? I'm sorry you're going through this too, Voltar0. You're not alone. It sucks!

My plan has liquid for a total of 2 weeks after surgery. There is a reason for this. You can do serious harm to your body, no matter how much you chew that bread. My recommendation is talk to your surgeon, NUT, and get into a therapist. Now is the time that fear alone should be discouraging you from making these choices. You could get serious complications and you are still eating bread. What happens at 6 weeks when you can easily eat bread? Get on board with a plan and get help as to why you are eating food like this.

Hi, completely new to this forum. I had my initial with the surgeon last week and now I'm going through the process to see all of the required doctors including the nutritionist which is scheduled for the end of the month. My insurance requires 4 months with the nutritionist which I kind of appreciate. Truthfully, there is so much info out there n my brain feels like it's going to explode. I'm not sure if I can do this, worried about the many possible complications, saggy skin, hair loss etc that I keep reading about. Figured I'm not the only one unsure about it, so I came here. Hopefully I'm not alone.

Hello everyone, I was banded by Dr. Yau in 2011. I've had numerous complications...still have discomfort, and I can't get any support from Slimband now. I still have my band. I would be interested in meeting and talking with others who share similar experiences. My email is: bryndayman@hotmail.com Take care, Bryn

I've had the Slimband since 2011. Dr. Yau was the surgeon. I've been having some complications, and there is nobody to go to with this anymore. If there is a class action, please notify me. Thanks! Bryn ... bryndayman@hotmail.com

I am very glad to hear that you've changed your mind about the lap band. Whenever I hear people considering it, I want to shudder because the different in complications and potential dangers is markedly higher than sleeve or bypass. You've made a much better choice. Sleeve and bypass patients lose weight at a faster rate with better long term, successful outcomes.

My mom and I both had the surgery, she felt great 3 weeks out, I didn't start feeling normal again until 3-4 months out. I didnt feel pain from the surgery, just discomfort which was mostly gas lol. That went away after a week. My complications came from me not drinking enough, its something you really have to do, even if you dont want to. I had to go back to the hospital twice for IVs, because I was very dehydrated. The room kept spinning and it was hard to get liquids down. It really is a different expience for everyone. Staying hydrated is very very important lol! Around month 4 I finally started meeting my liquid intake goals and feeling energetic, and since then, I havnt had any complications. I started around 226lbs at the time of surgery, and Im currently 108lbs. Im 5'2" and 30yrs old. Im very happy with my sleeve, Id go through those hard few months all over again if I had to, it was worth it. My quality of life has changed dramatically for the better. Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

So I’m new here but I need some help. I’m 2 weeks post gastric sleeve. I’ve been doing my best to maintain my diet requirements as far as water intake, protein shakes and blended soups. Per my doctor’s diet diet plan, I’m able to eat a sugar-free/fat free ice cream. So I went in search of it but only found a pint of low cal, low sugar ice cream. Well, without even thinking about, I ate the whole pint. At the moment, I’m only feeling gas moving around but I didn’t think I’d be able to do that. Aside from feeling like a complete failure right now, I’m worried of what can happen because I did this. Has anyone else ever done this and have you ever experienced any complications? Thank for any and all your responses!

Will be 10 yrs St. Pat's Day. Lost 90 lbs. Never had a complication. Never abused it. Went to a teaching hospital w/very experienced surgeons. Have read all the studies over the last 10 yrs. Has the worst outcomes and the most complications for all the WL surg but the complications are more minor than the others and band is only 1 that is reversible. I had to learn a lot and be very persistent. Took me longer to lose. There's no guarantee that you won't need/want a revision with any of the WL surgeries - see the other forums and read about them. I have friends who have had bands, sleeves, and by-passes who have all regained everything and given up. But I have friends who have bands, sleeves, and by-passes who are doing fine. My best advice is to pick the one that sounds best you and then work that program. It's not easy - but I'll tell you this: 1 don't have high blood pressure anymore. My cholesterol is great. No pills. No medical problems anymore. Joints don't hurt anymore. Climb stairs. Had several cosmetic surgeries and love buying great vintage clothes. Love having so many people tell me how good I look. Walking on the edge of the ocean at 66 yrs. Just pick a WL surg and then dedicate yourself to it body and soul. Best wishes.

Obesity has been officially categorized as a disease for four years now. The categorization of obesity as a disease puts more of the burden on doctors to help you lose weight, but some people are still wary of the title. Who cares what obesity is? You might wonder whether it matters whether obesity is a “disease” or not, especially if doctors have not managed to help you lose weight, except, possibly, your bariatric surgeon. But, the name actually does make a difference. It gives obesity and obesity treatment more attention. It can help remove the stigma surrounding obesity. It gives doctors a mandate to treat you. It could lead to increased medical insurance coverage for obesity treatment, from diet programs to bariatric surgery. Here is why obesity is a “disease.” Obesity meets a definition of disease comprising three criteria: "an impairment of the normal functioning of some aspect of the body;" (changes in organ function, for example) "characteristic signs and symptoms" (excess body weight, for example) "harm or morbidity” (obesity-related complications, such as diabetes and arthritis, for example) The American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society are among the respected organizations who agree that obesity is a disease. Obesity is not only a disease but an epidemic based on the number of people it affects. It affects 35% of American adults, not including the other 30% who are overweight and at risk for obesity. Nearly one out of five children are obese. Healthcare providers can take charge. One point of calling obesity a disease is to allow and even require, healthcare providers to treat it. No longer should they simply tell you to lose weight, or, worse, ignore the “condition” in the first place. Instead, they should provide care for obesity, including developing treatment plans and following up with you to discuss progress. Now there is a roadmap. Now that obesity treatment is in the realm of medical professionals, there needs to be a standard approach to treating it. The American Heart Association, along with the American College of Cardiology and The Obesity Society, have published clear guidelines for treating obesity. Identify at-risk patients and patients with obesity using BMI, and monitor them at each appointment. Enroll patients with BMI of 30 or over in a medically-supervised weight loss program (note: this is not the same as your doctor telling you to eat less and lose weight on your own!) Keep weight loss surgery in mind for patients with extreme obesity and an obesity-related condition). Weight loss surgery is a recognized treatment for obesity. The third prong of the roadmap is especially important if you are considering weight loss surgery. The recommendation to consider it when treating high-risk patients has a few effects. It reduces stigma, from primary care physicians and your other regular doctors, surrounding WLS. It increases the number of patients who may have WLS covered by insurance. It encourages patients and professionals alike to learn about WLS. No longer is weight loss surgery considered to be an extreme or fringe approach. The ASMBS states that experts who agree that bariatric surgery has a role in obesity treatment also include the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Further progress is needed. There is still much to be done in the medical arena. Healthcare professionals aside from bariatric specialists are often still in the dark about recognizing obesity and treating it. Worse, many still have stigma or bias against overweight patients, and still, engage in patient-blaming. Obesity almost certainly has genetic components along with lifestyle factors. While it may be a disease, it is also a disease that you can work to treat. Now that it has officially been recognized as a disease, let us hope that patients and healthcare professionals can work hand-in-hand, each doing their part to fight obesity.

Who cares what obesity is? You might wonder whether it matters whether obesity is a “disease” or not, especially if doctors have not managed to help you lose weight, except, possibly, your bariatric surgeon. But, the name actually does make a difference. It gives obesity and obesity treatment more attention. It can help remove the stigma surrounding obesity. It gives doctors a mandate to treat you. It could lead to increased medical insurance coverage for obesity treatment, from diet programs to bariatric surgery. Here is why obesity is a “disease.” Obesity meets a definition of disease comprising three criteria: "an impairment of the normal functioning of some aspect of the body;" (changes in organ function, for example) "characteristic signs and symptoms" (excess body weight, for example) "harm or morbidity” (obesity-related complications, such as diabetes and arthritis, for example) The American Medical Association, the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society are among the respected organizations who agree that obesity is a disease. Obesity is not only a disease but an epidemic based on the number of people it affects. It affects 35% of American adults, not including the other 30% who are overweight and at risk for obesity. Nearly one out of five children are obese. Healthcare providers can take charge. One point of calling obesity a disease is to allow and even require, healthcare providers to treat it. No longer should they simply tell you to lose weight, or, worse, ignore the “condition” in the first place. Instead, they should provide care for obesity, including developing treatment plans and following up with you to discuss progress. Now there is a roadmap. Now that obesity treatment is in the realm of medical professionals, there needs to be a standard approach to treating it. The American Heart Association, along with the American College of Cardiology and The Obesity Society, have published clear guidelines for treating obesity. Identify at-risk patients and patients with obesity using BMI, and monitor them at each appointment. Enroll patients with BMI of 30 or over in a medically-supervised weight loss program (note: this is not the same as your doctor telling you to eat less and lose weight on your own!) Keep weight loss surgery in mind for patients with extreme obesity and an obesity-related condition). Weight loss surgery is a recognized treatment for obesity. The third prong of the roadmap is especially important if you are considering weight loss surgery. The recommendation to consider it when treating high-risk patients has a few effects. It reduces stigma, from primary care physicians and your other regular doctors, surrounding WLS. It increases the number of patients who may have WLS covered by insurance. It encourages patients and professionals alike to learn about WLS. No longer is weight loss surgery considered to be an extreme or fringe approach. The ASMBS states that experts who agree that bariatric surgery has a role in obesity treatment also include the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Further progress is needed. There is still much to be done in the medical arena. Healthcare professionals aside from bariatric specialists are often still in the dark about recognizing obesity and treating it. Worse, many still have stigma or bias against overweight patients, and still, engage in patient-blaming. Obesity almost certainly has genetic components along with lifestyle factors. While it may be a disease, it is also a disease that you can work to treat. Now that it has officially been recognized as a disease, let us hope that patients and healthcare professionals can work hand-in-hand, each doing their part to fight obesity.

Hi there ASHLEIGH77. I had my ESG on February 6. The procedure was virtually painless, absolutely no complications. It is definitely a procedure that does help you feel full sooner but you will not see the same results as the traditional gastric sleeve. It depends on how much you want to lose. I had about 40-50 pounds to lose so to me it made sense not to do anything too invasive. I've lost about 12-13 pounds since my ESG and it comes off slowly but you do learn better eating behaviors that you can sustain. I hope I helped shed some light but you can ask whatever you want and I'll do my best to answer more specific questions. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I am in the research phase. I have found RESOUNDING positive reviews, and even someone I know that had tremendous complications does not regret the surgery and would do it again. I am excited but I also want to look at other view points - who isn’t happy with this? Is there a source out there for people unhappy with the results, people who have lots of regain? I don’t want to talk myself out of this but I certainly want to look at all angles. I’m also concerned about the high rates of depression after surgery, and the high divorce rates in the first 2 years. Those both concern me.