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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

So, I continue to research issues with the band, and I'm sure a lot of you have come across references to the European and Canadian move away from banding. Europe claims to be years ahead in long term studies of lap bands, and that doctors in the US are not listening to them. There is concern that there are more complications as time goes on, and of course efficacy. Have you had a discussion with your surgeons on this, and what do they say?

It is normal to be nervous about the surgery. After all, it is a major surgery. Stuff can happen unfortunately. However, you need to research your options and make up your own mind. Only YOU can make that decision. Research not only the operations, but also your surgeon. My sister is a nurse and a nursing instructor. She is dead set against ALL weight loss surgeries because of the risks of complications. She went ballistic when I was just talking about some friends who were having weight loss surgery and was not even thinking of it myself. Well, any surgery has risk, so that doesn't hold Water with me. Personally, I had a friend who had the lap band surgery by one of the best surgeons in the area he lived in. Almost 3 years after the surgery, he had to have the lap band removed because it had eroded and caused an infection so bad that the top of his stomach (the pouch) had swollen to the size of a baseball and turned white. Since the removal, he continues to have issues. Recently, he found out that his stomach is DEAD - it does not function normally. They scoped him and found that his stomach has a LOT of undigested food in it (they could tell him everything he has been eating). Apparently during one of his surgeries (I am guessing the first one), the vagas nerve was somehow damaged and therefore his stomach will no longer contract. He has seen 2 different specialists in recent weeks and they are not sure how to correct the problem yet. I had never considered the lap band - partially because of his experience, but also because of many other reports of unsuccessful lap band surgeries. I also did not like the fact that a foreign piece of plastic would be placed in my body. But again, this is just me. You need to decide for yourself what surgery you want. Once you make up your mind, do not let anyone else change your mind. Your kids are probably reacting the way they are because they are scared of losing you since they love you so much. I don't know how old they are, but perhaps explaining to them that this is a tool that will help your diet work for you permanently this time will help. The sleeve really is just a tool. It's a tool that many of us need because we don't have the ability/willpower (or whatever you want to call it) to make the needed changes ourselves without help.

Starting weight: 283 Height: 5'8" Starting BMI: 43 Goal: 150ish. I'd be happy with higher if I thought I looked and felt good. I guess it depends on where my body feels comfortable. I have been overweight all of my adult life and really, as long as I can remember. I feel like I've been on some sort of diet forever. The first diet I can remember is at the age of 16, my mother sent me to Weight Watchers. I've been on Jenny Craig, Richard Simmons. I've taken Redux and just about any over the counter "dietary supplement" known to man. I've been able to lose weight with these things but I've never been able to keep the weight off and the pounds usually bring a few friends back with them. It's really amazing when I look in the mirror. I don't think I look that bad, but when I see photos of myself I am shocked at how big I look. I'm ashamed of what I look like. I am looking foreward to the day when I have the lap band as a tool to help me keep on track. I was born with a condition known as congenital hip dysplasia (my hips weren't formed right and were dislocated). I'm told that I'm lucky to be able to walk, but I had a good doctor as a child and with many surgeries, I'm whole again. It's hard for me to participate in high impact exercise, but I walk, ride bicyle, swim and try to keep active. I enjoy reading and music. My favorite author is Stephen King. My husband and I own a travel trailer and do a lot of camping in the summer time. That keeps me active with walking and bicycling. I had my surgical consult on 1/14/05 and am currently waiting for insurance approval for adjustable gastric banding. 2/3/05 I got word that my insurance approved me for the lap band. Hooray!. 2/9/05 I've scheduled all my pre-op testing and dietician appointments. They tell me my surgery is scheduled for 4/4/05!. WOW. This is happening faster than I thought. The nurse from the office had told me yesterday that 4/4/05 was a possible date but didn't tell me they were going to schedule it. 02/11/05 I got a letter from my doctor's office and from the hospital advising me that my surgery has been scheduled for 4/4/05. What a way to notify someone. Well, at least it's official. Now the waiting game begins. I'm trying to follow the post banding diet so it won't come as such a shock for me post operatively. I'm "in training" so to speak. I think I find the no drinking with my meals and trying to time my fluid intake around my meals the hardest. 2/23/05 I had my first appointment with the office nurse who does most of the follow ups. She was doing my lap band teaching. All the pre-op, actual operative and post op advice I understood and was prepared for except for one thing. She told me to start eating with a baby spoon and a pickle fork so that I could get accustomed to small bites. I don't even know what a pickle fork is!. Is this something I'll have to do forever? I can't find anywhere on the forums where anyone has been advised this except for other patients of Dr. Duckett. I guess this will just become part of my "in training" whether I feel good about it or not. How am I gonna explain those utensils to my co-workers since I've tried to keep the whole surgery from them to begin with? 2/26/05 Had my consultation with the dietician today. It took 2 hours! Who knew it would take 2 hours to go over food? She made me feel very comfortable and she gave me a lot of hand-outs on the different types of diets should I ever stray. There's even examples of menu's. Although, that's exactly what I've been researching ever since I decided the lap band was for me. I felt very informed going in and very confidant going out. OH, and one more thing. I weighed myself today. I'm down to 272.5!. That's 9lbs gone since I've started trying to follow the lap band diet after my consultation with Dr. Duckett. WooHoo! 3/2/05 I found this on a post tonight and thought that it spoke volumes for my situation. I wanted to save it in case I forgot all the reasons I chose lap band. Once in awhile, someone will come around asking for the reasons why I chose the Band, so I'll compile my reasons here: More natural rate of weight loss: * Minimal sagging skin * No "window of opportunity" * Plenty of time to develop better eating/living habits, including exercise Least invasive surgery: * Lower rate of complications or death * Complications are easier to manage * Quicker recovery time; less painful * No cutting/rearranging of body parts * No changing the natural digestive process * No necessity of taking vitamins or supplements; I can get all I need from food Most innovative technique: * Adjustable for permanent weight-loss aid * Removable, should something more effective become available * "Cool" factor Generous but effective learning curve: * Better eating habits must be adopted from day one - no coasting * Has been labeled as "thinking person's WLS" * No punitive "dumping syndrome"; may eat like a normal person * Ability to drink normally and get in enough water * Safety-net effect; may put weight loss on hold to concentrate on other matters without gaining I never seriously considered RNY. When I heard about the Band, it was like a light bulb going on for me. By the way, I weighed myself again. 270.5! Another 2lbs gone. I don't want to get in the habit of weighing myself more than once a week, but I couldn't help myself, and I stepped on. 3/18/05 I had the upper GI and venous doppler studies today. Man, I felt like I was playing twister on that x-ray table for the upper GI. It was like, "turn left, more left, turn right, more right, now on your stomach, bend your knee, roll over." Venous doppler was a piece of cake other than the goo they use for the ultrasound. It was kind of hard to get all of it off. I haven't lost any more weight, but on the bright side, I haven't gained either. Once I'm banded, my portions will be significantly less and with the liquid diet required, I'm sure I'll get moving again. 4/2/05 I've been on the full liquid diet since 3/30/05. Sometimes I feel like I'm being tortured. I dream about food. Is that sick or what? I feel really sorry for those individuals who have to do this for longer than the 5 days I'm required to follow it. 4/6/05 I'm home and banded. I read about this gas pain, but geez it really is the worst. I'm not nauseated or anything. But the pressure in my chest and upper abdomen feels like I'm having a heart attack sometimes. I try to walk it off, but last night it was even hard to breathe. I'm trying to sip my water and eat a little at a time, but really I'm not hungry. I'm only eating out of fear that I'll get run down and not feel well if I don't. 4/8/05 Feeling better today. I've been up and about the house. The only discomfort I've had is from moving too quickly. I do have an odd sensation of bloatedness. It seems like I have it all the time. I'm trying to learn the language of the band but it's hard when everything feels like different levels of full at this point, even when I'm only consuming liquids. 4/16/05 Feeling back to my old self for the most part. I'm up and around, even starting to feel hungry. I have 2 more days of full liquids then I can move onto pureed. I can honestly say I'm really looking foreward to that as I'm getting tired of soup! I plan on going back to work on 4/18/05 and although I am physically ready, I would like more time off. Who doesn't like being home and relaxing? 4/25/05 Gee, the last week has gone by so fast, I haven't had time to blink let alone update or post. My husband's grandmother passed away on 4/18/05 so, we had to leave for Texas on very short notice. I've been on mushies and let me tell you, traveling on mushies is a difficult task. Especially to Texas where there is GREAT Tex-Mex food available. My husband's family doesn't know I had surgery, so I had to make do. I had some cold cuts, chewed really well and some very well cooked roast beef (also very well chewed). I didn't have any problems with them, other than some extra gas, but I didn't push it and tried to stay with very soft, mushy or even foods that boardered on liquids for the duration of the trip. I got on the scale today, and I've lost 3 more pounds! WOW! I never thought I would because truthfully, I didn't think I was getting enough calories in and I definately wasn't drinking enough. I've also been fortunate enough to have some sort of cold or bronchitis and haven't been feeling up to eating or drinking. I guess, I must have done something right! This journey is so unique. 5/3/05 I had read other member's NSV's but I didn't really realize the significance of them until this morning. I had dressed for work in slacks that zipped on the side. They were loose, but I didn't realize how loose they were until...I had to tinkle and when I went into the bathroom I pulled my pants down. I had absentmindedly thought that I was wearing elastic waistband pants! They came down without any problem and as I sat there, I started laughing, my husband thought I was crazy laughing there on the toilet. This has been on my mind all day and I had to share it because I've read everyone's weight loss in the first few weeks and I felt that my own weight loss was a little slower than others. (I know, we're not supposed to compare ourselves, but it's hard not to) I had resigned myself to being a slow loser. I must be losing inches and because I hadn't measured myself, I'll never know exactly how many inches I've lost. Oh well, I can feel it in my clothes and the way I move. 5/23/05 Just a quick update. Feeling good. The weight is slowly going down. 250.5 today. I think it's been 2 years since I've weighed that. Over the weekend, I cheated a little and had some Doritos. Not a lot, just maybe an ounce or 2. Just the same, shouldn't have had them. Well it's just 1 day along the road. "one day at a time" 6/5/05 I've been 248 for about a week now, just didn't update. Hope to see some more loss soon. I haven't had a fill, so I don't really have much restriction. I follow the diet and I do feel satisfied for about 3 hours. I can't say that I'm hungry a lot or "starving" or anything. Still trying hard to get all my water in every day. 6/10/05 I weighed myself today. 244.5! I've been out of town for work and I've been eating all my meals out. I feel I've made mostly good choices, a lot of grilled chicken salads though. I do log everything I eat in a program I have for my PDA, it's called Balancelog. It's O.K., although I'm sure no program's perfect. I've been staying about 1200 cal or less. :-P once in a great while I'm over, but not by much. I've also been doing better with the water because it's been so hot here. 7/18/05 I haven't updated in a while because I've been stuck for about a month. In fact, after my last post, I gained 4 lbs and had to lose them again. I've been more active with exercising and I've been doing well with my eating habits, but still I was stuck. So...I scheduled a fill. I had to convince the doctor's office nurse first, but I did it. Today was my first fill. It wasn't so bad. The doctor did it under fluoro at the hospital where I had my surgery. BUT, I'm filled to 2.8 or "just under 2.8" according to the doctor. That seems like a lot. I watched the passage of barium through the band and it went through, albeit slowly. The doctor reminded me several times to take it slow and to call anytime, day or night if I have spitting or problems. I'm a little scared. I've been on clear liquids since the fill this morning and haven't had any problems getting those down. I guess I'm just nervous. I've never had a PB and I don't want to. 7/29/05 Oh my God! Yesterday I thought I was going to die. Or at least I wished I had for a time. I've still been on mushies. The doctor told me to take it slow after that fill and I've been ever faithful to those orders mostly out of fear. I had very finely shredded tuna salad and one of those breakstone's creamed cottage cheese with fruit for lunch. It went down fine and I took my time. I had eaten both of those items before and wasn't worried. About an hour and a half afterwards, the pain started. It felt like something was stuck. I started to walk around. I even took a couple sips of water, which I know doesn't usually help but I have found it's kind of instinct. When that didn't work, I kept walking. I walked for nearly a half hour straight, sometimes leaning over a sink hoping and wishing I'd vomit for the pain to go away. I finished my work and got in my car. By this time, an hour had passed and the pain was so bad I could hardly breathe. I called my DH who called the surgeon and told me to get to the ER to be checked. The ER is an hour from my home and I was more than a half hour from my home! That drive home was the most painful torture I have ever experienced. The pain only seemed to get worse and worse. Then, about 2 miles from my house, I felt a "pop" and suddenly the pain and pressure was gone. When I got home, DH and I decided to go to the ER anyway mostly because we were scared. I had never experienced anything this extreme (nor do I again, thank you). The doc checked my band under fluoro and to my amazement, the 2.8cc he said he put in is now down to 2cc and everything is moving just fine, band has not moved. What happened to the 0.8cc? And, what the hell was all that pain? 8/13/05 Gosh how time flies. I didn't really realize that I hadn't updated my profile since "BLACK THURSDAY". I've come to the conclusion that the pain on 7/28 was probably some solid food that I hadn't chewed well enough that had gotten stuck. My Dr. thought maybe I had eaten too fast or swallowed too much air in the process, both viable possibilities. No matter what the cause, I WILL be chewing better and eating slower. I did mushies for a day or 2 after that then continued on soft foods for another week before going back to regular food. I'm doing fine now. I was amazed to find that I can still eat bread, rice, red meat, etc. I really haven't found anything that doesn't go down...yet. I haven't lost any more weight. I'm still at 234.5, but that's o.k. I feel great. I've been kind of bad at getting my water in the last couple of weeks, my work schedule has been weird. I'll get back on track and I'm sure my weight will get moving again. 8/22/05 Been doing O.K. Weighed on Friday. I'm at 232 lbs. I'm doing about a pound a week. I'm very happy with that. I'm in a size 18 comfortably right now. Today, I had to try three pairs of pants to find one that fit well enough to wear to work. The others were so big I looked bad. What can I say, I'm too cheap to buy all new just yet. I think I'm going to have to break down and buy a couple of outfits. I've been telling myself that as I got fat, I also gathered plenty of clothes that got me there. Well, I think I skipped a size or two because I can't find many in size 18 in my closet. Darn, shopping will be such a pain I'm sure. I look back and remember that when I started this journey in January and in the pic below I was in a size 24. In January that size 24 was rather snug. 9/13/05 Feeling pretty good about my weight loss. Still doing the 1-1.5lb loss per week. Went to my monthly support group meeting last night. I realized how lucky I am to be losing steady and to be going along so well. I haven't PB'd, just that "stuck" episode. I tolerate any food I put into my mouth and I have followed my rules pretty well. I try to make good choices most of the time, but I do allow myself treats. I think that's what keeps me happy and on track. I am satisfied with smaller amounts of the things I love. This is exactly what I wanted. I can eat what I want, in moderation and still lose weight. I do track my nutritional and caloric intake nearly daily (I may take a day or 2 off on a weekend, but rarely). And, I don't cheat on that log...I track everything the best that I can. I admit I could be doing better with my exercise. 228lbs. 9/22/05 Although, I generally weigh myself on Friday or Saturday I thought I'd post today because I have plans for the weekend and thought maybe I'd be too busy to post later. The last time I weighed myself I was 225lbs. That's a total of 57lbs gone. I can't say it enough...I am so pleased with my surgery and my weight loss so far. I can't even remember the last time I weighed that. I think it was more than 10 years ago to be honest. I don't feel deprived. I have more energy. My self confidance has gone up. How could it not? So many people have noticed the loss and are making comments. Lap band was the best thing I have ever done for myself and I would do it again in an instant. 10/5/05 Well, I can no longer boast that I have never PB'd. I am not proud of that fact, but here goes...Today at work I started to have that now familiar epigastric pain. I had clam chowder for lunch with a small salad and a breadstick. None of those items were new to me, so I had no fears whatsoever. About an hour after I ate, the pain started. This time I even started to sweat. I figured that I wasn't going to put up with this so...(bulemics beware) I went to the bathroom and put my finger down my throat in hopes to feel better. I only brought up mucous. This only temporarily relieved my pain, so I did this same routine 3 more times. One of those, I did bring up some undigested food. This has not been a pleasant banded day. I'm still uncomfortable, but unless I can't stand the pain I'm not doing it again. I guess it's a jello night. 10/24/05 After the last update, I went to the ER and was kept overnight for dehydration because I couldn't keep anything down. Dr. Duckett took out 1cc from my band the next day. I've been really careful ever since mostly staying with soft foods. I did have a salad over the weekend and felt pretty confidant about it. Today I PB'd again. It was the best PB I've had if that's possible. The pain started, I walked, up it came. All in all it lasted about 10 or 15 minutes. If they were all like that, I would consider it a blessing. Not that I really want them. But that torture of 7/28/05 and 10/5/05 made me want to die. I'm gonna cut this update short because I'm a little sore. I'm down to 223 lbs which is good considering my band is looser than before. 11/24/05. Wow, I forgot to check my profile and hadn't realized how llong it had been. I can remember that time like it was yesterday. I feel like the whole month of October and most of November has been brutal torture for me. I had to keep going back to liquids for one thing or another and I sincerely developed a fear of food. On 11/14/05 when it felt like I was gonna get that pain again I called the doctor's office. I didn't go into a full blown attack, but it was distracting to say the least. I felt like I was eating papaya enzyme tabs like candy in hopes to help digest whatever was the problem (although really how could tomato soup and a bit of tuna salad do that?) Dr. Duckett insisted on seeing me. On 11/17/05 I saw him and he felt that what I was having was esophogeal spasms. I suppose they may have originally been started by something getting stuck, but he felt they were caused by increased stress in my life (which I've been having A LOT of). He gave me a prescription for Valium to help calm those muscles down which I'm only supposed to take when I feel the spasms coming. So far, no more really intense ones since 10/24/05 and 10/25/05 but I fear that and would avoid that with everything in me. I've been doing much better ever since. I do have a little bit of reflux, but I think that may be from eating too late at night. I'm down to 216.5 lbs and very happy with that. I cleaned out my closet and got rid of all of the clothes that were hanging on me. That's a good feeling. 12/28/05 Well, I didn't make it to my unofficial goal of "onederland" by the end of the year but that's O.K. I've lost 69 pounds and am very happy with that. Especially considering the last three months worth of trials I've had, I'm very very happy. October started with a hospitalization for pain and inability to keep liquids down that turned out to be esophageal spasms. November was more of the same then turned into reflux that went on and on which convinced me that my band was slipped. After a long struggle with that reflux, I finally called the doctor who (I think mostly to ease my mind) checked my band under fluoro. All was well. I think he thinks I'm a nervous freak-he told my husband that once my mind was eased I should be just fine. Now, my struggle is HOLIDAY TREATS. I haven't really gained any, but I'm truly shocked. Those darn cookies will be the death of me. 2006 will be good for me. My band is in place, once I'm away from the posessed cookies that call my name I'll be fine with my choices and "onederland" here I come. Only 14 lbs to go. 1/20/05 I've been hesitant to update. Not because I'm not losing weight or anything. I've just been down in the dumps about banding. There have even been times I wish I had the damn thing out of my body. I am SICK and TIRED of having these episodes where I have pain and pressure that goes on and on. I'm not exaggerating when I say I've had it for a whole day in varying degrees. I don't have a clue what causes it. I keep track of everything I eat and NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING that I eat is consistent enough to figure out what causes this. Because the pain comes about an hour to an hour and a half AFTER I've eaten I can't say whether it's because I've eaten too fast or not chewed well enough. All I can say is that I try to pay attention at each meal, mostly out of fear. I'm averaging one of these "spasms" about once every two weeks. The doctor says it's consistent with esophageal spasms. Well, FIX IT! I'm tired of having them. I'm losing weight, but not necessarily the right way. Basically I'm starving. I'll eat normally for a week or two, then WHAMO! smasm and then it's nothing to eat for a day (or 2) but maybe tea then slowly work back up to solid foods again. 211lbs 1/30/06 Here I am, still suffering to a certain extent. A couple days after that last entry, I got fed up with the poor answer from my band surgeon to "seek counseling". I started considering the possibility that maybe these attacks were not related to my band. I saw a doctor for a second opinion and found out that I have gall stones. All of these months, at least since October, I have been suffering with gall bladder attacks. I am scheduled to have my gall bladder removed on 2/2/06. These last few weeks I have not felt well, I constantly have a sick taste in my mouth. It's kind of what I thought was reflux before. Now, I'm wondering if I had reflux at all and not some weird bile overload or even infection from the gall bladder. Who knows? I sincerely hope this gall bladder surgery solves my problems. If not, I may just have the band removed. I am tired of being sick and I'm tired of being in pain. 207 lbs 2/5/06 Well, where do I begin? I had the gall bladder surgery. They say that part went fine. Somehow during the surgery they dislocated my artificial hip. Yes, they dislocated my hip. My abdomen is sore from the gall bladder surgery. Generally, I feel better than I did before although I really don't have much of an appetite. The problem is my hip. I am not to bear any weight on it. It's been 3 years since I've dislocated it. I was doing so well. I feel really low, as if I've started all over again with my hip. I hobble around with my walker and my a$$ is really sore from sitting all the time. Weight loss is really not a priority right now, but it's amazing that when you feel so bad or are in pain it really doesn't matter. 3/24/06 Well, I'm fully recovered from the gall bladder surgery. I'm still in physical therapy for my hip. They tell me that the muscles are really weak. I'm planning on going back to work on 3/27, so I hope they're strong enough for that. Other than a little bit of pain that comes and goes, I guess I'll have to go on. I've come to the realization that all of the problems I've had since October, probably even the "black Thursday" mentioned in July 2005 was a gall bladder attack. All of those experiences were variations of the same. Any vomiting I had was only mucous and came as a last resort to relieve the pressure associated with the pain. Although I couldn't testify, I believe I have NEVER had a true PB. Is that possible? At almost 1 year out, to never PB? I would have taken a PB or 2 over the torture of those months. OH Well. Now that I can eat, I do. I'm stuck at 211lbs. Yes, I gained a couple since the gall bladder surgery, but I'm not terribly sad about it. Not happy, but not really depressed or anything. I can eat, Happy. I gained, sad. I think it's also because I'm working out with weights to strengthen muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. It's only 4lbs. I'll eventually get it off. I hope. 4/9/06 I know this is a LONG first entry for a journal, but I wanted to put my entire OH profile on here. I'm told that there's a possibility I may lose it. So...I figured I'd have it on 2 sites. What's the chances of both of them losing it? Anyway, I'm still bouncing between 210 and 211 lbs. I'm thinking that I may be experiencing my first ever real plateau. Even when I've dieted whenever my weight even slowed down I'd give up and return to my prior eating. I've been exercising more, trying to strengthen those weak hip muscles. I have had a bit of Easter candy, but I don't think enough to stall me this long. I'm sure with patience I'll break it, eventually.

Gosh, it is a scary thought to have such a complication. When I think about it, it isn't the physical stuff that scares me- it's the emotional stuff...like- how would I live without my band now that I know what it feels like to have food just be food and not a coping mechanism. I know my body is strong and would heal itself...but my emotions would be a wreck. But we all have to remember that we have to trust ourselves and know that strength got us to the point where we could make a choice to get banded in the first place. Strength carried us through the awful liquid phases and through the soreness and the terrors that we had when we couldn't use food as an emotional crutch. It is strength that has gotten us to where ever it is we are now... And, God forbid, any of us encounter complications along our way...our strength and friendship will help heal the wounds. This is what I tell myself when I get scared. Megan

Friday, June 19, 2009 Sugery's Done, New Life's Begun Surgery went well. The Dr. fixed a hiatal hernia (common with overweight people) which should fix my GERD (gastroesophogeal reflux). That'll be one less pill right there. However, with laparoscopic surgery air gets put into the abdominal cavity. Every time I take a sip of liquid and I swallow some air goes into my stomach which pushes on the air outside the stomach which presses some nerve in the diaphram that sends referred pain to the shoulders. I should absorb that air in a few days. My stomach's a little sore, but so far, there are very few repercussions to me physically. I'm only allowed to drink clear liquids for the first 5-7 days, and believe me, that's all I can handle. I can't garden for a few weeks or take a bath or go swimming. There's a port under the skin that the Dr. will use to adjust my lap band (think inflatable doughnut.) He'll put a needle through that port to blow up the ring as my stomach shrinks and the band loosens. If I have complications, the band can be removed. I am quite mobile, I can walk as much as I want, I just can't do anything strenuous that might move the band out of place. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. I was very at peace before the surgery that I was doing the right thing and that God was with me. I'm excited and scared about this new life but I know God is walking with me through it all.

Sleeved Oct 24th & have had few complications.... since day 2 post op, I am now severely anemic. Definitely have been trying to up my protein intake to the recommended 60-65g daily. Have to avoid any unnecessary hair loss & want to know how many mg of Biotin is recommended daily post surgery for bariatric patients? Also, if anything else worked for you, please pass info this way. Thnx

2 years ago I had RNY, and at the beginning of this summer I had lost 150 lbs. I am at goal. June 30 I had my panni and he took another 3.5 lbs of skin. I am very happy with it. It does take longer to heal than I had expected. After surgery they immediately had the compression brace on and am still wearing it almost 24/7. i gained some water weight (up to 131 from 117) but am now down to 126. my biggest fear is I will continue to gain if I dont get back on my walking/jogging routine soon. i had to have a section of my incision reopened due to a tiny complication, so I am having to pack an open 3" foe a month until it heals, so the major walking is off the table and "strolls" just arent cutting it weightloss wise. Good luck on your journey. I am very happy with my results. Now I wish I could do my arms and thighs.

Here is another company with the type of insurance policy I'm referring to and there are several other companies that offer this coverage. What put me onto this is that Dr. Kelley who is a bariatric surgeon in Tijuana does VSG surgery sometimes at Hospital Angeles and other places in the TJ area offers Medical Tourism insurance as part of his package for an extra 250 dollars. It seems to me that it would be money well spent to have this coverage in case I get back to the u.s. and develop vsg related complications. I have a feeling my primary and secondary health insurance companies in the u.s currectly covering me would give me a hard time about paying for any complications related to an elective vsg. i would have better piece of mind having surgery in tijuana if I had a policy like this to cover large unforseen medical bills due to vsg complications when i get back to the u.s. https://www2.sevencorners.com/medical-tourism-insurance/ MEDICAL TOURISM INSURANCE Why Buy Medical Tourism Insurance? Whatever the reason you decide to pursue Medical Tourism, complications are always a possibility. When a medical procedure is performed abroad, there is normally no insurance coverage to protect you if you have complications. Bordercross WorldwideSM medical tourism insurance is the first plan to help with the needs of a medical tourist. Our plan protects you for medical complications and provides travel assistance services. Maximum Trip Length: 60 days Bordercross Worldwide Key Highlights: Medical Complications Up to $50,000 Trip Cancellation Up to $40,000 for you and your traveling companion for travel accommodations, including non-refundable expenses paid to the medical facility scheduled to perform the procedure, in the event you need to cancel your trip prior to your scheduled departure date Medical Coverage Up to $50,000 for acute illness and injuries for you and your traveling companion, which may arise on your medical tour Medical Evacuation Up to $100,000 Coverage Available for medical procedures performed outside the United States Travel Assistance Services Included- Available 24/7/365 Underwritten by Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London. Virtual ID cards available immediately after purchase. View the Bordercross WorldwideSM Brochure for details, restrictions and the schedule of benefits. View the Bordercross WorldwideSM Program Summary for full details and restrictions.

what caused me to look into this elective insurance option is I noticed that Dr. Kelley in Tijuana offers the cover for $250 but I later found out it only covers complications during surgery or while you are recovering in Mexico. It does not cover complications when you return to the U.S. I'm signed up with Corvala at Hospital Angeles. They said that they have looked hard for insurance to cover post op complications but haven't been able to identify any policies that would make sense for patients. That caused me to look at my own health insurance policy fine print. I am fortunate to be covered by two health plans but neither covers bariatric surgery. The first plan is silent as to whether it would cover post bariatric surgery complications. The second plan does cover post surgery complications for elective surgery but I had to dig through the fine print to find it and the insurance company rep I spoke to orignally gave me the wrong answer over the phone and I had to correct her leading to her eventually agreeing with me. If you are going to have elective bariatric surgery and are under a health plan you may want to check to see if your plan will cover post op complications(i.e. leaks or strictures) from elective surgery. If it doesn't cover post op complications and you are one of the unlucky ones that develops complications it could obviously lead to very large out of pocket medica bills.

If you choose to look for the rain cloud in everything, you can find it. I am also one of the people to whom a complication will occur if possible. I went in for a quick procedure on Arpil 6. Doc said if mid -week, I'd be back to work the next day. Procedure on Friday, feeling weird by Sunday, Monday night fevere of 103.8. Tuesday at the ER. Turns out, a simsple catheter went to a bladder infection to a major blood infection (sepsis) that fast. While a UTI is common after a catehter, it is uncommon for it to go into sepsis. No one's fault, listed as a possible complication of the overall procedure I had done. Just had to happen to me. This was NOT band related. Bands are meant to be in place forever, the fact that some are not doesn't really matter at this point. Your GF has a band, she should use it to the best of her ability and deal with complications if they crop up. There is no sense in agonizing over what could happen. Do appropriate aftercare, see her surgeon once a year at the least, and have everything checked. If something doesn't feel right, she should call and be seen. That is what it boils down to. iV Fluid retention wii be gone in a few days. Hope she is feeling better soon!