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

In a heartbeat! Im only 5weeks post op, had some small complications (STILL have a little nausea, the di di's quite often, trouble with fluid/protein intake). But, I was on a runaway train as far as my health was concerned. I lost over 75 lbs. twice and gained it back + some within 2 years . No regrets here!! Although, I feel I must tell you this on a side note. I researched this surgery for about a month, and also my mom had a bypass about 6 years ago. I thought I knew enough. I really didn't though! I never thought about crazy complications. I don't know how I would feel if I ended up with a serious complication. I didn't even consider it. Now that I have talked to people that did deal with complications, I don't know how I would have dealt with it...Please be sure you do your research. This surgery does change your life and you need to know what to expect. That being said, this has been an amazing journey, and the start line is just behind me lol

I hope you folks don't go into this with the attitude that you're likely to fail. This is a relatively simple surgery with very few complications and a high success rate. You have to pick your surgeon carefully (do a little research), and follow his postop instructions and in a year you'll be a new you. You don't hear from most of the thousands of people who have successful WLS. Try to go into this with an attitude that you WILL succeed, and you will.

I don't normally post on this site anymore but for some reason came over today and saw your post. I had a lap band for 3 years and did great with my weight loss but not without struggle. I constantly got food stuck and ended up sliming or vomiting. It was difficult to eat lean Proteins but all the bad "slider" foods were easy to get down. I also found I could eat around the band - if I ate slowly and chewed well I could eat more if I really wanted to. All that being said I was doing well and was down 80 pounds, not too far from goal when my band slipped. I tried for months to get it working again and then learned about the sleeve. In the time it took me to fight my insurance company to remove the band, I started gaining weight. But last June I was finally sleeved. I've been losing about 10 pounds a month and the sleeve is everything I thought the band would be and much more. I have no complications at all. I can eat anything in small amounts and when I'm full I'm full - no eating for 3 or more hours. I also don't get hungry any more because when you're sleeve the hormon grehlin isn't produced any more. I also lost my taste for sweets. Tonight I ate 5 bites of steak, some steamed veggies, 3 bites of mashed potato and I was done. It all went down easily but I completely lost interest in eating as soon as I was full. With the band, I could just has easily ended up in the bathroom leaning over the toilet bowl spitting up mucuus and bits of beef. I'm not trying to gross you out, I just wish I'd known about the sleeve before I was banded. All in all I feel like my thin friends do. I'm mostly interested in healthy foods, eat until I'm satisfied, and set the rest aside. Once I went with my boys to get an ice cream cone and halfway through realized it didn't taste good any more. I just threw it away. Never in my life have I thrown away dessert. At any rate, I know the band works well for many people but it didn't for me and the statistics show that up to 60% of people with the band suffer complications in the first 5 years. If you can, it might be worth also considering the sleeve.

I have Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Texas and WLS is excluded. The insurance company stated they would NOT cover ANY complications post-op, regardless of what they are. I, too, have to cross my fingers and hope for the best. Otherwise, I will be stuck with a HUGE bill...and I do mean HUGE!!! Good luck to you.

Mother's Day was wonderful! I have the best family in the world!! After church yesterday, we all trapesed over to my skinny in-laws house and stayed there the rest of the day. I was feeling really fat (Husband took me out to dinner at my favorite restaurant), and I was noticing how the top part of my stomach was rubbing against my top. Gross. But I've felt a shift in my attitude...I am not defeated by this fat, because i know in a year it won't be like this. I called my mom for Mother's Day and caught up on everything at home (1,000 miles away) and then I dropped the bomb about what I am "thinking" about doing. I didn't tell her that my barium test is tomorrow, my phsych evaluation is next week and my preop appt is right around the corneer. She was really shocked that I would do something so drastic...and she said, "Wouldn't it be aweful if you died on the table doing something like this?" (NOT saying that I haven't thought about that)...but she was extremely reserved and skeptical of the whole idea of this surgery. When I told my skinny sister on Friday she said, "OH, I hate to think about you living your life unable to enjoy stuffing at Thanksgiving, a piece of pizza...those kinds of things." She has never felt the shame of walking up to a sink in a public restroom and never looking at herself in the mirror because the reflection is not something you want to be reminded of. I know that this surgery is a huge step and that I will give up alot of things that I enjoy now. I know that I am biting off a whole lot more than I can chew. But, food--to me--has been chains,.... holding me inside, keeping me back, stealing my health, draining my energy, feeling like a slave, losing my confidence. This step is declaring war and changing my relationship with food. I am putting a boundary on a toxic relationship with food and saying---THIS is how far you can come! I am taking my life back sooner than later! And, yeah...I AM scared to death that I could "die on the table" and with a beautiful six-year old daughter there is nothing that would justify that or say that it was "worth it". If I die on the table, or from complications from surgery it would NEVER be worth Jasmine losing a mommy!! So, I'm just kind of discouraged today. AND I started the pill again, so hormones are a little whacked.... Tomorrow is the barium swallow. Woo-Hoo! I wonder how that will taste. :oP BUT I'm APPROVED!!! I talked to my husband about all of this and he said that you take risks driving to work every day on 66. That this is something that he supports me 100% on and that "we are doing this" and you'll never regret it. That's what I needed. I know I'm 33 and I don't need permission....but I want supportive family. It means alot to me that this huge step would be backed up by them. NOW I can completely understand not telling ANYONE until it's over.....sometimes it just kind of drags you down. But then I met my husband online---and moved 1,000 miles away to have my dream life now. Sometimes you just know in your heart what is right for you--even when other's would NEVER do it in a million years. I've just given this whole thing to God...there are alot of tests and things yet to go....if I'm not supposed to do it, I'm just praying that He makes it impossible for me to do it. God is in control and I can rest assured in that.

I joined Weight Watchers on December 30, 2012 after being banded on October 25, 2010 mainly for the support system of people all in it for the same reason! I had lost 85 lbs put on about 20 lbs because I was letting life's complications get in my way and then feeling sorry for myself or resentful that this(weight) was yet another struggle I had. Weight Watchers may not be for you BUT do try to find something or someone to help you puzzle out your feelings, emotions & actions. Good luck!!!

Amazingly it was not that scary. I had full confidence in the surgeon and hospital staff. I was discharged from the hospital today. Surgery took care of the obstruction. Surgery was laparoscopic and it really was not that painful afterwards. I was in the hospital for two nights. The lesson I learned is to be sure to go to the emergency room if you ever suspect a bowel obstruction. Taking care of it early is key. It turns out that the complicating factor was that I ate too much high-Fiber food too quickly. My instructions upon returning home were to follow a high-fiber, low-cholesterol, low-fact, low-salt diet, which is what I have been following anyway. Even with this complication, getting gastric bypass was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I remain grateful for the privilege of having this surgery.

So I've been reading posts on this forum for months now and am just getting around to setting up an account. I am currently scheduled for surgery on March 15th with Drs. Cabrera and Valenzuela at Mi Doctor Hospital in Tijuana, MX through Mexico Bariatrics. I am mostly nervous right now because I am planning to travel alone and it doesn't help that I have a pretty unsupportive family. My mother has told me I'm selfish for not thinking about the fact that I could die from having this surgery and my beautiful 22 mth old baby girl would have to grow up without her mother (I'm a single mother). My dad has told me I just need to exercise and that weight loss surgery is crazy and the easy way out. My sister doesnt think it makes sense for me to go to Mexico for surgery and especially not by myself but I don't have much of a choice. No one is available to go with me and my insurance will not cover it in the states. At this point, I really just need a bit of encouragement, guidance, prayers, a buddy, something! What should I pack? Has anyone had surgery with these docs? Any complications? I'm planning to travel in on Thursday. Scheduled for surgery on Friday. Return home on Monday. Back to work on Wednesday. Is that enough time? I can't take off work any longer than that right now. Will I be able to hug/lift my daughter after surgery? What is post op recovery like? Anything in particular I need to be prepared for traveling alone....this is my first time ever going out of the country. \

Had my band placed in June of 2013.lost about 50 pounds ( pre and post ) . Had a complication as the tubing came apart from the port so had that fixed in October and then to top it off I had a hysterextomy in November . Was doing great after that .. Have good restriction was off home and losing again. Now the post holidays , I put on some weigh as I wasnt exercising like I had been . Today I weighed at 248 my original weight was 289. Just gel like I keep yoyoing . I did just join the gym so can't use weather as excuse and am committed to doing this . I am going to do my pre op diet for This week and see if a jump start will help me mentally and physically . Any input would be great . That diet is two shakes a day and one meal of Protein and cooked veg . I know it was tough to do before so praying that I can do this!!

This is a question that ONLY your doctor can really answer. The quick answer is NO because the reason for the liquid diet is for your stomach to heal with the band around it. If the healing is not done correctly, you are more at risk for band slips and complications. Call you doctor before making any diet changes that you are not scheduled for.

It is kind of a long story. Shortened version is I was contemplating having my band removed due to complications. I kind of freaked out at the thought of actually losing my band so I recommitted HARD CORE. I have PCOS, so sugar and carbs are a HUGE no no. So I radicaly changed my diet... and started following the band rules best I could with a wonky band. (I just had surgery last week to repair a hiatal hernia and reposition it). I measure measure measure. I stop when my portion is done. I cut out carbs and sugar as best I could. I eat real food, and stay away from processed as much as possible. I went back to a Protein shakes for Breakfast. I started swimming for exercise since a foot injury restricted my options. Typical day: Breakfast: Either Protein Drink, or Chobani yogurt w/Kashi Go Lean Crunch mixed in. Lunch: Left overs usually from dinner. Taco salad is my favorite lunch. (chopped spinach, seasoned ground turkey, mango salsa, cheese) Dinner: 4 oz of protein (Salmon & scallops are favorites) with 1/2 cup green veggies. Asparagus is my favorite. I try and avoid snacking... but if i do get a little hunger I snack on string cheese, or a skinned apple with Peanut Butter, or a few almonds or pistachios. I have been on liquids for almost 2 weeks since I just had surgery last week... so that has helped too. My best advice is really stick to the rules! It is hard. Head hunger is a nasty nasty b***h. I hate her. I fight head hunger A LOT. I just keep living day by day and hoping that if I can string enough good days together I will get there. My journey has been long with a lot of ups and downs. I am looking forward to getting fills and restriction back. I can get my first fill in 3 more weeks. I hope I can keep losing during this restriction free time.

Thank you so much for responding! I feel better already. If you don't mind me asking, were your complications similar to mine, throwing up all the time? What was it that finally changed their mind? Although I'm not doing this purely for the purpose of losing weight (symptom alleviation is first for me), did you find it was easy to lose weight once you had it revised? Are the side effects of the RNY better to deal with? It sounds like the VBG was a disaster for lots of people, and I'll bet many of them just suffer in silence. I'm glad to find someone who can relate. Looking forward to hearing from you!

I was in your shoes last week, I was still skeptical but went with it. I am just so happy now that I did. The diet sounds way may complicated than it turns out to be. As for me I just make sure I get everything in and it is working out well. You will find your routine as the post above stated and it really is actually fun....sort of... to watch yourself develop a new eating pattern with really very little stress and a ton of happiness. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Recovery is not as quickly this time. I have trouble sleeping, feel kind of restless but pretty beaten. Had some cramps a few hours ago that lasted half an hour or so. I have to test out what I can eat a few days out and what not. Protein drinks seem ok, the protein pudding might have been too heavy. Will try that again in a few days. I'm still scared of complications. I'll be glad when the first month or so will be over.

If and when my insurance ever approves me, I've been told by the surgeon there is a STRONG probability I will end up with an open surgery for my gastric bypass. Reason? Scarring. I have had two hiatal hernia repairs and he feels there may be too much scarring to do laparoscopically. However, I won't know which is done until I wake up from surgery. Surgeon told me probably a 6 to 8 inch scar, which, at this point, doesn't bother me..I'm past the days of wearing a bikini! Has anyone else been "opened up" for the bypass and how was the healing process? Did you have any complications due to this form of surgery? How long of a hospital stay is needed? Does it take longer to start eating foods other than liquid? Any advice you could pass along? Thank you in advance to anyone who can help with these questions.

Thank you so very much, I feel a little bit lonely going through this, I'm probably one of the few people that haven't told anyone (other than my husband) that I had the surgery, I already see amazing results and I'm super duper happy, but it hasn't been easy, your absolutely right, the no complications so far have been a blessing, I just don't know anyone that has had the surgery so it makes it a bit hard to know what to expect

My tips for the liquid diet are just to remember why you are doing it...The doctor told me it was to shrink the liver so he would have room to do his work. This is not just another diet...I looked at it as a way to help my doctor do a good job on my body. I envisioned him trying to move all my fat and innards around trying to staple the right areas. Graphic but it helped me stay strictly on the Protein drinks like my life depended on it and a successful, complication-free surgery and recovery depended on it. Do it for YOU.

no complications just sore I just had the revision done June 13 so far 11 pounds gone more than likely water weight buy I'll take it. I went back under in hopes of becoming a mother next year

A majority of the people who have the surgery are trouble free. The loudest of us are those few who are suffering post surgical complications. You are gonna do great!!!

@@cadegirl Dr. Lavin was awesome! I've had no complications or problems. My incisions are small and healing nicely. Everyone at Crescent City Surgical Center was very nice and attentive. My husband said Dr. Lavin was very friendly and answered any questions talking with him and my family after surgery while I was in recovery. I know it can be nerve wrecking but id recommend anyone to use Dr. Lavin. I know one other person who had him as a surgeon who is 8 months out and she is doing great. My mom had the surgery in Slidell with another member of his group and she is almost a year out and doing great! Overall I'm very happy with the whole practice. I'd say you are in good hands! Good luck and have fun loosing weight. It feels awesome!

Thanks for your concern. She is doing slightly better, but still having challenges keeping again but liquids down. She has been able to drink small amounts of Protein shakes. But any attempt to eat anything more solid has failed. I spoke to the advocacy service offered by my employer. They are going to try to help but I got the feeling that they would try what we have already done ourselves. My wife is pursuing the option to have the same surgeon put in a larger band, but our insurance requires pre-authorization to replace the band. That could take 48 hours if the insurance expedites the request. I don't know what we will do if the insurance denies the claim. I would love to have a second opinion but no one is willing or able to see her soon enough. That has been frustrating. It seems like there is a Band (Pun intended) of Doctors that don't want to review a fellow surgeons opinion, prognosis, work. I haven't shared this before but my wife's dad had the Lap-band surgery with this same surgeon. Her dad has not had any complications or problems. His surgery was 2 years ago. I think that is part of the reason she is comfortable with the idea of him doing the surgery again. I have not found any complaints about this surgeon anywhere. Does anyone know a better way to research a surgeons history? I have just been searching the Internet.

You mentioned: I think if my Wife told the surgeon she wanted surgery, he would schedule it ASAP. Admittedly, I know very little about the lap band. Honestly, it seem like your wife is being irresponsible on this, and as long as the scale is moving, even if it means an (IV feeding tube) she is willing to keep the band a little longer in hopes of getting to goal weight, even if it means a horrible complication?. Also, when searching for a new lap band surgeon you have to be persistent, you have to let them know that your wife is suffering, and usually if you tell them the issue, the receptionist or nurse will schedule you for an appointment, but it may be hard at this point, because your wife's surgeon IS WILLING TO HELP BY REMOVING THE BAND or replacing it with a larger band. If you and your wife is not willing to protect her health and get that band out ASAP, there is nothing this board can do for you, and if your wife suffer horrible complications, I doubt you will have any type of malpractice lawsuit because your wife is responsible for her complications by not doing anything about her issues, and not agreeing to remove the band (in a timely manner). Actually her surgeon IS trying to help her in this situation and your wife is refusing to get the band out, thinking the band will loosen, and she apparently is liking the rapid weight lost. That band IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY LOOSER, losing 20 pounds will loosen the band, your wife has lost 70, if it was going to loosen, it would have done so by now. She will cause damage to her esophagus and body over time because she will constantly vomit, and have obstruction and swelling until she has to get it removed in an emergency. The lap band IS the safest operation, when it is done properly and the patient acts responsibly, Revising to the Sleeve or Bypass will not guarantee her to be complication free, if the band is installed right, it is safer.

I am trying to decided between the LB and the VSG. After the seminar last night, I'm leaning toward the VSG. It just looks more natural or something. No foreign object in your body but not as extreme as the regular gastric bypass or Roux en Y. It just seems as you are shrinking your stomach to be the size it should have been all along. Am I wrong? Does it give you any nutrition issues? What about leaks or long term complications after surgery etc?

Hi Paxie, Some surgeons only offer and promote what they can preform. It does not mean they are not excellent but they have a vested interest in keeping you as a patient Money. Please do your research first. dsfacts.com is a great site. There are 2 surgeons in Mexico on that list neither of which offer discounts. Some times you get what you pay for. I am not implying anything negative just check out all your options. It's your life. Get all of the information you can. With that said. I revised from RNY to DS Dec. 2012. I was considered a light weight (which seems unreal) at 240 and 5'6" and 39 BMI. I now have a BMI that fluctuates between 19 - 20 DS is a very complicated surgery. After care is a life long commitment to supplements and eating high Protein and fat. Not doing so is not an option. But it is a very effective WLS. I am happy with my choice. Make your carefully. Best, Whit