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Hey there... I had Dr. Leport... He was very nice and made sure I was well taken care of.... I had some complications after surgery and Dr. Leport was there every am checking up on me... Totally recommend the group and Leport!!! Oh yeah I had surgery 7/7/14!!!

I know four people who have the LapBand. Each lost huge amounts of weight, but hated going in for fills. Three had complications (port infections requiring replacement). One got married and had all the Fluid removed and did not go back for a year and regained 90 of the 100 pounds he lost. The other two also grew weary of fills and stopped after maintaining weight loss for three years and have both regained a significant amount of weight. The final person did well and has no significant weight gain, but has slippage and erosion and is need of removal. Three of the people are now going through the process of revisions to the sleeve. All were afraid of going so drastically but all said they wished they had gone for the sleeve. There is also a man in my support group who has had his band for 8 years, he lost 160lbs but it is now creeping up and he is also going for a revision. It was the my wife, four friends/neighbors and this forum who helped me make the decision to get sleeved. I too was set on the band because it was reversible and less intrusive. My wife wanted me to have a more get it and forget it type surgery that did not require multiple fills. I was sleeved and I am now 65lbs lighter and shrinking after being sleeved on 2/19. My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary next month, and she said this is the best gift I could ever give her. Good luck to you on your journey no matter what you decide. Sent from my iPad using VST

Well, this is something squarely in my wheelhouse! Maybe I can help. You should first check your short-term disability policy (ask HR for a copy), because some of them have a 5- or 7-day elimination period, which is the number of days you have to be out before the benefit starts. So if the first week is not payable, it makes no sense to file a claim for just one week. The amount of time off you need depends on the type of work you do. If you have a physical job (lots of standing, walking, lifting/carrying greater than 10 pounds), then your doctor will probably recommend you take more time off and the claim will be approved. If your job is mostly sitting at a desk, your doctor will have to give specific reasons for your inability to work. Depending on your procedure, most doctors already have a set number of weeks they will sign off on for recovery. Either way, you aren't tied to the initial number of weeks you requested: you can always return to work sooner if you feel well enough, or you can apply for more time off if there were complications.

My doctor, had a complication on my surgery day, the patient before me was a super morbidly obese person and she had some problems.. She's fine by the way, but I still had my surgery by a competent doctor whom I trusted, complications happen, chances are they won't happen to you. But this is life and its not prefect and no amount of money or research can change that. By the way my surgery was in the USA, This is life! and the benefits far outweighed the risks for me, because I was morbidly obese and would of suffered much more severe complications

I have a few questions for those who have gone through this or are going through this. First one is, why did you choose the sleeve or bypass over the other? I was thinking originally of getting the sleeve done, as dumping syndrome scares me as does the thought of them rerouting my intestines. That being said, I do sometimes get bad heartburn, (not enough where I need to take any medication or anything, but enough to be annoying) and I'm worried about GERD afterwards, and I have heard that, while both are effective, the Bypass has slightly better results so far. So just wondering what people's thoughts were on it. I'm 28 years old, mother of a one year old and my husband is super supportive about anything. my CW is 344 at 5'8.5'' Figured I'd get some last minute advice before I talk to the surgeon and see what his thoughts were as well. I don't have any major complications, I did have an Arrhythmia two years ago but after quitting my insane job, it's gone. VERY mild sleep apnea. The Dr's office says normally our insurance requires 6months of recorded weight loss attempts but since my BMI is over 50, it will probably be like 3 months. (I'm hoping that's the latest, as we had wanted to plan on trying for baby #2 next August-ish, and I know they like you to be 18 months out beforehand, and we have a wedding that my husband will be best man of Early June.) we have our first meeting with the weight loss center's doctor (not our surgeon, but our surgeon recommended this) and dietician tomorrow.) The last question is, I'm going to my first consultation/dietician class tomorrow morning, are there any questions you would have liked to have asked early on of your first consultations? Thanks in advance!

Hi. I had massive complications after my sleeve and was in hospital for over 4 months from October 2011 to Feb 12. Another additional bonus was I lost the vast majority of my hair. By January this year it had all gone. I started taking biotin in Feb (I was nil by mouth before then) and took 1 per day. My hair grew back enough to stop wearing wigs by early June. I believe the biotin played a huge part in the regrowth and highly recommend it.

Hi everyone, I am coming to ask all who has been sleeved if my fears are irrational or not normal. did you have these same fears? I am so scared of not waking up after surgery I am scared the surgery wont work. I am scared I will wake up and for whatever reason, come to find out the docs had to stop surgery and I am not sleeved. I am scared that after going thru surgery, my body will just have a major freak out and I will have a heart attack and die or that my body wont like the changed and just give out. I have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (heart arrhythmia that causes the heart to quiver instead of beat. It can cause blood to pool in the atria of the heart which rises my chance of stroke by 5 fold. I have an "attack" about once a year. otherwise im fine). my cardiologist has cleared me for surgery. I have zero other health issues. I am 28, and very healthy. im just obese with my a-fib. I have never smoked and my last alcoholic drink I had was when I was 19. (not one word of a lie). for a big person I have oretty good stamina when it comes to exercise also. my cardiologist wrote a clearance letter for my surgeons and anesthesiologists. in the letter is says : "Aliesha's chances for serious perioperative cardiac complication is 1% and her Lee Index for a serious post operative cardiac complication is 0.4% equivalent to low" I know that pretty much sums up that I should be ok for surgery, but I cant help now that surgery is 2 weeks away, be absolutely terrified. TERRIFIED. I just want to live a life where I am healthy, lighter, and free from this prison. But I have to ask..........what is the risk? is it worth it?? Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you.

I made the band decision for a couple of reasons, all personal: 1. When jets head coach rex Ryan got the band and Chris Christie followed (let's leave politics out of this please) it made me wonder why recreate the wheel- these two individuals have access to the best and the brightest and ultimately chose the band so to me that said something; 2. I am only looking to loose 100 pounds. I have noticed that some sleevers look too thin- almost sickly. It was also a concern of my wife in not looking too thin. 3. Worried about the higher incidences of serious complications immediately following gastric sleeve survey versus what I perceive to be minor annoyances of band life in general; 4. Easier to eat 3 meals a day than 4 with the sleeve. Also worried about if I was sleeved and started exercising heavily with weight loss, would I be more prone to dehydration problems (I live in the Deep South- high heat and humidity); 5. Alzheimer's runs in my family and if I get it down the line, it could be dangerous for myself and caregivers in taking care of me- where with the band I could just have it removed at that point. 6. If the band doesn't work by the end of year 2 I will just suck it up and go with a revision to a sleeve. What amazes me the most is no matter how many years of research I did concerning both surgeries, I never could get enough info about which one was better. Thus, I had to make my final decision on the criteria above and choose the procedure that best matched those self-imposed criteria.

I know a few people who work with my husband who were back on the job within a week. They are "computer nerds" so the most taxing thing they lift is a reference book on C++ ???? so I think it sounds reasonable IF you don't have complications, although you might want to make it light duty and let the head "nerd" carry the reference books! ????

No regrets here, except that I didn't do this surgery sooner. 3.5 months post op, 52 lbs down, no complications, no pain, and co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease) all under control. Maybe the difference is that I did this to save my life -- and my feet (I was heading toward diabetic neuropathy, and future foot problems). That I feel and look better than I have in years is such a bonus. And, oh darn, going to need a whole new wardrobe! As far as food addiction, I'll always have that. For me, food was the weapon I used to beat myself up. Maybe I am just still in the "honeymoon" period, but I'm dealing with it okay. Turning my food addiction into exercise addiction, isn't a bad thing. I also read a lot of books by other WLS patients and incorporate their suggestions into my life. If that stops working, I'll reach out for professional help. Good luck on your journey. It's going to be amazing!

I was banded in 2010. 8 days ago I got my band removed and had a sleeve. Since the band didn't remove any anatomy, it didn't change my hormones, PCOS actually improved! After sleeve, it's hot flash city!!! I lost 100 originally, but gained from complications....almost back to 100 down!! SW:327 CW:239 GW:155 Heather in Texas

You said weight but not height/bmi That's a big factor I have Aetna. And less pre complications with my health than you and got qualified! I am 19 days post op. Get excited, you'll get it done. ????

I also have FFL and happened to stumble on this thread. I tried getting pregnant for about 4 years finally did but it was a scary pregnancy with the worries about clotting, high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes. One of my main reasons for getting the surgery is to hopefully have another baby with less complications and stress. I was comforted that my surgeon knew exactly what FFL was when I mentioned it but he didn't mention any extra medication. Should I bring it back up?? Sent from my LG-H820 using the BariatricPal App

I'd be a lot more afraid of NOT having the surgery than having it. I hesitate to say this, but you're more likely to die from obesity complications than you are from the surgery. These surgeries are much safer than they were years ago - mortality rate is very low - even lower than hip replacement surgeries, which they do all the time. I was heavier than you are (although fortunately, I didn't have any co-morbidities), but I knew it for me it was either have the surgery or die from my massive weight (I was well over 300 lbs). Having that surgery probably gave me an extra 10 years of life. I'm much healthier today in my 60s than I ever was in my 30s and 40s.

I am waiting patiently lol for your next youtube video. I am so excited for you about your trip and so sorry about all your complications. You look great!

I was told when I was pregnant that the reason women can eat more during their pregnancies and during their cycles is due to the hormones. They relax the stomach, sleeve or no. So when you're PMSing (or pregnant, or breastfeeding) you can eat more. I encounter this issue every month and only manage to stay on top of things by throwing calorie counts by the wayside and eating as much Protein as I can hold while forcing myself to step away from the carbs. Because that's what every hormonal woman really wants: wine with a side of carbs. Your capacity IS going to increase. It's natural and normal and it's the reason that focusing on good habits is absolutely critical. I can eat so much more now than at one year out it's crazy. Sure, if I make the right choices I can still feel stuffed right around 4-7 ounces of food, especially if the first 3 ounces I eat are dense protein. But if I choose to eat the junk? Ain't nothin' stoppin' that crap from sliding through and I can sip soda and eat a damn bucket full of popcorn if I want to, so I have to make the choice not to do it. Further complicating the carb/junk/slider thing is that those foods make you want MORE of those foods, feeding into a cycle that will almost certainly end in regain if you don't nip it immediately. My advice is to focus less on quantity during hormonal times and more on quality. Eat as many hardboiled eggs and carrot sticks as you want, and I promise you won't experience heartache on the scale later. ~Cheri

If I were you I would continually remind myself that WLS is a relatively very safe procedure that you get to go into as a planned procedure. Think of all the possible risks and complications that will come with all the procedures and surgeries you will most likely need and have no choice but to do if you do nothing about your weight.

When I had the surgery, I was 41, 6'1", HW of 505, CW 490, surgery day weight of 460. I had sleep apnea, prehypertension and a BMI of ~60. I also had to take blood thinning injections post-surgery. I also had bypass surgery (which has a higher risk of complications). So you and I are/were in roughly the same ballpark. I came through the surgery fine. Definitely sore. But it drastically improved my life and I would make the same decision in a heartbeat. Heck, I was able to look down today and see my toes, instead of them being covered by stomach. I've gotten to experience stepping on a scale and having the first number be a 2. I am approaching the nine-month mark and I weigh 295 and wear 2xl/3xl shirts (I'm like a 2.5xl at this point, I was a solid 6xl pre-surgery). Do you have risk factors? Yeah. But here is what I noticed from that list: you don't have a major condition that will obviously cause complications (like some disease that makes it difficult for your blood to clot or something like that). Do you have a higher potential for complications than someone who only weighed 400 pounds? Yeah. But its a generalized risk, not a specific risk. My recommendation, if you are still interested in the surgery, is to determine right now that you are going to follow your surgeon's post-surgery advice to the letter. If you need 28 days of injections, decide right now that you will do all 28 days. Whatever meds or vitamins he tells you take, take them. Commit right now, "I am not going to disobey my surgeon in a way that increases my risks." You cannot eliminate the risks entirely and if I am being honest, those risks will come to mind when you are being wheeled around on the gurney. You have no guarantees about what the other side of the surgery will look like and feel like. And you will wake up from the surgery in pain. But if you decide that you will do everything you can control to minimize the risks, I think you will be happy with a decision to have the surgery.

I have gallstones so I asked my surgeon how I could tell if I am having pain from rny complications or gallbladder pain. He said Gallbladder pain is on the right side radiating outward and pain related to rny surgery is felt primarily on the left. Hope you feel well soon!

What a great post! I've had pretty good luck with the band. I've lost over 80 lbs since I was banded 2 years ago. I recently was rebanded because of a complication. I'm hoping starting from scratch will give me a jumpstart so I can loose another 40 lbs. Exercise has definitely been key for me. I have recently gone back to work, and find it hard to fit the gym in now. Once my doc gives the ok, I'm going to try and do my daughter's Wiifit @ night. The band is a "tool"... I do know a lot of people who have not lost a lot of weight after being banded. You have to be in the mindset to eat right and exercise. It only limits the amount you eat, not what you eat. It's very easy to cheat around it. Knowing your triggers, and staying away from them are key too. good luck!

First of all I am proud to be a member of this site. It is wonderful to hear the stories of those who have been banded and those in pre-band status. It helps to read forums about the successes and the concerns, the achievements and the lessons learned. However, I wanted to reach out to those whose journey to Lap Band was slightly different. You see, My journey began at birth. I was born with a defect that was not treated until July 10th but caused me many issues throughout life. I was never an overweight child or teenager. I stayed active and in shape BUT I was sick. As a baby, I couldn't digest most formulas and I had a hard time with breast milk. Ended up with PET milk and karo syrup. As a young child, I had multiple stomach viruses. At the age of eight, I learned that falling asleep after I ate lead to choking in my sleep later on. This was chalked up to having a weak lid (whatever that means) and bad family history. During my college years, I began to develop ulcers. I was placed on a daily regiment of Protonix and sent home. By 30, I was experiencing fatigue, slight hair loss, and pain whenever I ate certain foods. At 31, I had enough and I requested to be sent to a specialist. I had an Upper GI which confirmed the presence of a hiatal hernia. One I was born with. Told that I could live with it and sent on my way. At 32, the list of foods I was unable to digest without pain was growing by leaps and bounds: NO fruit, no raw vegetables, no cakes, no desserts, nothing with tomato paste, no spicy foods, limited greasy foods, no carbonated drinks, no alcohol. I virtually had to watch almost everything I ate. I was in pain when I ate and pain when I wasn't eating. My vitamin levels where awful and my immune system not the best. I was exercising but not losing weight. I was surviving off of starch. I met with the specialist who performed and EGD - or scope on my stomach. Afterwards, He said he understood why I was in pain. The hernia had went from small to moderate size, Gastritis, GERD, reflux, and signs of Sleep Apnea. My stomach was a hot mess. All relating to the fact that my Hernia was never treated and 33 years later the damage was evident. My part in it all: Im sure I sped the process along with my awful College eating habits - aka eating when I had a chance and not getting anything remotely close to proper rest.) I remember sitting through my Pre Surgery Informational Class shaking my leg because I was in so much pain: I had just ate chicken and mashed potatoes and cole slaw. Yes I know: not the best - but anything I ate caused me pain. Well, the doctor sat down and discussed my options with me. LapBand seemed the best option. As of July 15th, I feel so much better. I actually rest when I sleep now. My thoughts are clearer. Outside of the pain of surgery, My stomach feels much better. I did start the protein shakes a month before my surgery. Two shakes and one meal for four weeks, which greatly helped with the abdominal pain and agitation. Two weeks before surgery, I had a protein shake every 3 hours and water in between. NO food. Yes I lose 24 lbs before surgery: though I was not very thrilled during the process. My doctor informed my loved ones that not only where things better than he anticipated during surgery, but my surgery went well and everything looked good. I wanted to share this story with those who are experiencing the same issues. Please note that your journey may be slightly different: It may not have started with the desire to lose weight or high blood pressure or diabetes or bad cholesterol, BUT I want you to know You are NOT alone. Many adults suffer from Hernias they know nothing about. They are not aware of the symptoms and just think they have stomach viruses and ulcers. If you are living on Maalox or Pepto or Mylanta: I am talking to you. If Nexium and Protonix are not working: I am talking to you. PLEASE get checked out. Have your children checked out. What seems like a small problem may lead to very bad complications later on in life. There is a better way of life available to you. I am and aim to continue being a witness to this fact. Thank you for reading this. Good luck on your Journey. Most importantly, Love yourself ALWAYS.

Darn digital scales...... Nope not I, after the hell of two bands this was the golden ticket for me....I had a coworker with duodenal switch and she either had a bad surgeon or just rotten luck. She ended up on TPN feedings off and on for a very very long time. Not to mention she had other issues that were over looked during a psych eval. The RNY has been the gold standard of WLS . The surgeons are performing different malabsorbtive techniques with RNY now as to not have the horrific complications of malnutrition and Vit deficiencies. Still there are risks with any major surgery, you have to feel you have chosen the right procedure for you. Watch out for the "mills" many WLS MD's are doing the surgery then only see you for one year. If you needed a revision or had an issue you are SOL with those MD's . Researching these surgeries is very educational. I for one researched the heck out of the band and I ended up here with RNY and wished I chose it first.......

wow 18 pounds already! thats amazing. Im getting really nervous about my surgery on the 18 of this month. I worry because I have Barrets esaphugus (caused by reflux) I already have some pain from this condition. They say it should help having the surgery cause it will force me to change my eating habits and I will lose the 75 pounds I need to lose. The more I read on this sight the more scared I get. Reading about the complications people have and such! I hope your pain in your chest goes away soon!! Take care and keep me updated on your recovery and progress.

I was sleeved on June 7 at 230 pounds size 18. I have loss 50 pounds, today at 180 size 12. Happy as can be, no complications at all.

I'm going through the process of having a revision surgery. I lost 20 pounds with the lapband but I had complications. My surgeon told me that he can not perform the revision if my BMI was lower than 35. Long story short, I had to gained all my weight back and start from 0 in order to qualify for a revision surgery. I'm at 35.5 BMI right now and I have several health problems. My insurance and surgeon require documented lap-band complications and compliance with follow-up Lapband appointments (for the Lapband removal part), at least 35 BMI and 1 comorbidity, 6 months diet, pschy evaluation, documented active methods of weight loss (gym memberships, etc), 1 surgeon visit and 1 NUT visit. I'm submitting to insurance this week. I'm going to a center of excellence so their requirements are super strict. Every surgeon is different and I hope you can find one that help you through this process, good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App