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I am 51, 5'4" and weigh 220 lbs, most of my weight is right on my belly. I am a nurse and on my feet all day. I have controlled asthma, plantar fasciitis, arthritis in my ankles, yeast infections, abcesses and a bum left knee. I was skinny and athletic all my life even after 3 kids. However, at age 37, I left a bad marriage and was put on Paxil to help deal with anxiety and depression. In 6 months I ballooned to 170 lbs and then 4 years of university, while going through a 10 year expensive divorce battle, brought me up to 235 lbs. I have always been able to control my weight with diet and exercise prior to this weight gain, but nothing is working now. I have tried every type of diet and exercise program and yes, I might lose weight (one time up to 50 lbs) but immediately gain it back. Everybody in my family is obese. My mother has 12 siblings, my father 5 and everyone of them has metabolic syndrome so I know its just a matter of time. The writing is on the wall. After almost 15 years of yo-yo dieting, I have reached to point of giving up. I don't even see the point of watching what I eat and going to the gym anymore. Then after going to a surgeon who is connected to a weight loss practice, I started to get excited again. My BMI of 37 and lack of recognized comorbid conditions might not let me qualify for anything other than the band unless I am willing to pay out of pocket and even then I am not sure. I am tired of everyone telling me I look great, I carry my weight well, I could do it on my own and not have surgery etc. I attend a WLS presentation on Tuesday and can't wait.

Talk to the person who deals with the insurance companies for your surgeon. He/she should be able to tell you what your insurance company is looking for. At my first Nutrition appointment, the benefits coordinator came in to talk to me and basically told me that because my BMI was right at 40.1 with no co-morbidities, I needed to maintain my weight and not lose anything. I told her that I was getting ready to stop breastfeeding my daughter and anticipated that I would gain around 10lbs when my metabolism went back to normal. Because she is familiar with how each insurance company works, she was able to instruct the doctor and the nutritionist to both put notes in my file that stated I was currently breastfeeding and anticipated a 10lb weight gain once the baby was weened. During my 3rd nutrition visit, I told the nutritionist that I was going to wean my daughter the following week. She put another note in my file. At my next appointment, I had gained 9lbs. But since everything had been properly documented, it wasn't an issue. There are some insurance companies that will not approve your surgery if you gain weight, and even some doctors can extend your supervised weight loss if they are not satisfied with your progress and/or effort. There are also some insurance companies that base your approval on your weight after the supervised diet and some will even look at both. That is why the very first person (unless you are self-pay) that you talk to should be the benefits coordinator. Good luck.

To Honk and the others, no I don't think you are being mean spirited... I know you mean well and I appreciate your honesty. I will call my doctor's office today and let them know I honestly don't think I can do "all liquids" for the next 2 weeks and 5 or so days. Everytime I try, I fail. No one in my family feels I can do it either and they feel I shouldn't get the surgery at all. If I don't loose the weight I won't be getting the surgery. I can't understand how I WAS loosing before they TOLD ME to loose more, as soon as they said that I started gaining. Yes, my portions are big because I stay hungry. I'm on medicine that causes weight gain as well. The other night, I made it all the way up til bedtime, then I ate my grand daughter's chicken nuggets that she didn't want. (I HATE chicken nuggets) but I was so hungry I threw them in my mouth regretting only after I ate them. And Honk you are a inspiration.. you did the liquid diet so many months before surgery - that is amazing. How did you do it? I can't even get a good 1 day in without cheating. I'm going to try again today.

While the old me is still fresh in mind, I thought I'd share a list of all the little things (mostly good, a couple challenging) that make getting sleeved an unbelievable experience. First the good (really great): The numbers: I weighed 256 pounds when I decided to get sleeved (all time high was 272). Surgery weight (Nov 25th 2013) was 246. Today, I weighed in at 212. Eating: It's REALLY nice not obsessing about food. I used to wake up every morning praying that I wouldn’t overeat and then go to sleep most nights regretting what I ate. At buffets, I’d worry about how many plates I was consuming. At family style dinners, I’d worry about how big my helpings were and if I’d go for seconds. When I did manage to eat a healthy properly portioned meal, I felt completely unsatisfied. It’s been 9 weeks since surgery and I don’t believe I’ve been hungry once – seriously. Instead of lusting after food, I mostly concern myself with the Protein content and how hard it might be to digest. The food addiction is over and I feel like the monkey that’s been on my back for 39 years is gone. Clothing: My waist size went from 42 to comfortable 36. I went from 2XL to large for shirts. Over the last few months every week, I went through my closet and pulled out the clothes that were too big. I wouldn't have done this on a regular diet fearing that in a subsequent weight gain, I'd need them. I've pretty much exhausted my existing "skinny clothes" and am having to buy transition clothes -- I'm sticking to cheaper stuff for now. Clothes "fit" so much better now. It's not just the waist -- it's the thighs, butt, crotch, etc. I didn't realize how badly clothes fit when you have to start with something that fits a 42 waist. Lastly, at a size 36 I can shop at any store I want, which was not in the cards previously. Travel: I travel a lot for work. Sitting in an airline seat is soooo much easier now. I used to feel like they were oppressively small torture devices. Not saying I want one for my home recliner -- but I no longer dread stuffing myself into one. Sleeping: I used to sleep horribly, frequently waking up with headaches, and was in the process of getting used to a CPAP machine. I sleep great now with no CPAP. No more headaches either. That means I’m not tired all day and don’t have to drink 12 cups of coffee and 6 Advil’s just to function. This is probably the single best benefit so far. Comfort in my skin: Just about every activity -- walking, sitting, crossing my legs, standing, exercising, sex, drying off after a shower, going up stairs, getting dressed – is easier and more comfortable now. I really didn’t realize how taxing some of these things were prior to surgery. Every one of these things is easier (by a lot) now. Now for the challenges: Eating: It’s taking me a while to learn how to eat slowly. I’ve found that speed of eating has the highest correlation to digestibility and comfort, even more than type of food. Like a lot of obese people, I used to cram food down really quickly. That doesn’t work with the sleeve and is a habit that has to be broken. Social stuff: I haven’t told anyone but my wife a few family members about my surgery. I used to be the guy that everyone wanted to dine out with for food extravaganzas. This change has been manageable but definitely takes effort. I still go out a lot and most people are so busy shoveling food in their mouth, they barely notice what I eat. Other times, I use the “I had a late lunch/dinner” excuse as to why I’m eating like a bird. Since I’ve chosen to keep the surgery to myself, this is just a new reality. As you can tell from the above, I’m really happy with the surgery and only regret not having done it sooner. Would love to hear other peoples revelations good and otherwise, post-surgery.

I hadn't heard that Byetta would erode the band! I need to talk to my surgeon b4 I go to my diabetic doctor. I walk daily, sometimes in the morning and sometimes after work. It all depends on how I feel in the morning, I have never been a morning person and usually get up in time to get ready for work. But I always get my walk in. Once my doctor says I can lift I am going to start using my weight bench 3 times a week as well, I think he said 4-6 weeks after surgery, which means I have 2-3 weeks to go! I am hoping that I won't have to go back on the meds, it is so nice not to have to take them at all! I have some female problems so I have had the Depo shots every 3 months and that also promotes weight gain. GRRRRR. but as of this morning I am 23 pounds down. Hopefully things will work out.

Hey fellow sleevers, I've just started thinking about the fact that I am on Estrodiol for hormone replacement (total hysterectomy at 33) and also Effexor for mild depression due to hormonal changes & to help with hot flashes. BOTH of these are known to have side effect of weight gain which is no doubt why I was able to put on over 100lbs in less than a year (that's way faster than normal). So just wondering from personal experience if weight loss has still been good if on either of these or has it not even been an issue. Also have Hypothyroidism which didn't happen till after Hyster also..... Thanks for any experience....

According to WebMD : http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/antidepressants-weight-gain?page=2 Wellbutrin can cause weight LOSS. It's also used for people to quit smoking. It's well tolerated by most people and a very mild med. Honestly, this is what I'll be trying. (I'm still pre-op, but I anticipate this being an issues because I already have some mood swings that I know will likely increase after surgery) Others to consider: Effexor and Zoloft - they don't typically cause weight gain. They are also both mild meds and easily tolerated. I took Zoloft years ago, and it was helpful, but during the first 2 weeks on it, I had the WEIRDEST dreams/nightmares. But once the med was built up in my body, I was fine. One to avoid: Paxil. Seems to cause the most weight gain. Also, meds that are also used for more severe mental disorders :Lithium, Abilify, Zyprexa - these can have major side effects, effect your blood sugar and cause weight gain. Avoid these, unless you have some severe symptoms of anxiety/depression. As far as how you're feeling with snapping at people and needing your personal space, a fast-acting anti-anxiety med like Lorazepam or Alprazolam (Ativan and Xanax) are good for using as needed. They are also more likely to cause a dependence, so your MD would give you a really low dose and expect you to use it maybe 2-3x/wk AT MOST. And using these in conjunction with a daily anti-depressant will help with the side effects of starting the daily anti-depressant, and when the daily med gets built up in your system, you'll need the Lorazepam or Alprazolam less and less, until, ideally, you won't need those at all and can maintain on the daily med alone. With any anti-depressant, make sure you talk to your doctor before discontinuing. MOST meds require a tapering dose before discontinuing them. You could really put yourself through the ringer if you stop cold turkey. Hope that helps! Definitely talk to your MD about it, there's NO REASON anyone should suffer mood swings like this. Good luck to you!

I don't want to take the thread in a whole other direction so I'll try to answer short. =) All of the above. Here is what went wrong: I had a knee injury early last year which caused me to stop working out the way I loved to, so I became depressed (literally). I started eating terrible which both of which lead to the weight gain. Then I had knee surgery and was told I will never run again which caused more depression. I always had GERD since my lap band but in the past year it has gotten progressively worse. It's so bad right now I sound like a crying frog and cough like a 2 pack a day smoker and choke in my sleep. This does not help with the weight. I found out the Sleeve can make GERD worse so I went to see my surgeon via my insurance and he ordered tests to see if I did have it and if so how bad. Turns out my stomach looks like an hourglass and I do have GERD so bad I can't keep anything down, no matter what it is I'm eating. He has suggested the best offer he can give me to help me with my physical problems is to give me a bypass. I don't feel I have a choice because even though the tests did not show any issues yet but in time the GERD will lead to Barrett's or cancer, not a chance I'm willing to take. In the past few months I've gotten my attitude in order and working to get back into shape the best way I can and get off the bad foods. I'm doing good and doing everything I can to prepare myself for my revision. I kept all my weight off for nearly 3 years so I know I can do it. I just can't let depression get to me in the future like I did last time, and to stay diligent with any signs I'm having problems.

I have to agree with others who have written that the issues causing conflict don't really have to do with the WLS. You should be realistic about this...a support system is what you want it to be. Likely there would be a support group in the area you would be moving to. You can't blame anyone or any life event for your weight gain; that's something you need to be able to accept the responsibility for. There is a psychology behind maladaptive eating patterns, and seeking counseling as either a couple or by yourself would help to identify the reasons why these unhealthy relationship dynamics developed. Your information regarding the time line for qualifying for insurance coverage are accurate for some, not all insurance plans. The requirements vary by policy and insurance company. As for surgeons not wanting to accept another's surgeon's patients, this is primarily based on wanting to limit their professional liability risks. Sad but true, the bottom line there is the dollar... One consideration I want to share with you is that having a band is not always limited to just regular follow up appointments. Sometimes one can have unanticipated negative consequences...I was hospitalized for weight loss related issues, not band related medical issues. Twice since being banded I attended a regular scheduled appointment with my bariatric surgeon, and he sent me directly from his office to the ER. Imagine the logistical nightmare this situation has the potential to create... I know that many others who participate on this forum have opted to travel great distances to their surgeon...even to a foreign country. They usually have positive outcomes. I'm just not comfortable with that idea, and am better off for having my surgeon based locally. Other's mileage may vary...best wishes as you consider your options.

First off, congrats on being a new mom...second, sounds like you know what you need to do to stay at a healthy weight gain. It may sound like a lot of weight gain right now because you've been losing for so long but the reality is, your probably not going to balloon up to old weight anytime soon. Keep up a light walking workout and watch your food choices.

I can relate to the weight gain I also have done the same thing need help and support

It depends on the medication. Remind your OB that you're a bariatric patient and that you are concerned about weight gain. Wellbutrin is a popular one for its minimal impact on weight gain... However, it may not be effective for PMDD. Talk with your OB. If you don't like the side effects of the medication ask for something different. You do have a voice in your mental health care.

I am 11 months post sleever and have started to gain weight. Anyone else experience this?

I am new to the banding, I was banded on yesterday. I was very nervous and afraid. I am still in the same state of mind. I am sore and filled with gas. I started my weight gain around the time of having y child and from that moment my weight has been crazy. People still ask me am I pregnant or when is the baby due. My son is 3 and will make 4 in September, so you know thats depressing. My weight was 188 prior to surgery and I have a goal of getting to 135 - 140. My clothes don't fit properly and I hate shopping. I don't find bras that look right on me either. I made the decision to change and my change has started.

Has anyone gained weight after a miscarriage? I lost my baby on April 3, and since then, I have gained about 12 pounds. I have been watching my food and going to the gym, but the weight is not budging! It is very frustrating. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!

I just want to stress that it didn't take over night to become overweight. We all had many years of practice. So it's not going to take overnight to be thin. It's also going to take many years of practice to break that cycle, even when you DO reach your goal weight. Weightloss is a never ending battle. Weight Gain is a battle worth fighting. As for the fear of gaining the weight back because of your personal experiences with mostly bypass patients. My doc told me that after 2 years the bypass stops working because you have already reached a certain amount of weight and it can't be adjusted. After that 2 years it's up to you. The lapband can be adjusted. But I'm not saying you don't have to continue your battle. What I will say is that YOU look amazing. And I know you have worked hard and will continue to work hard. Be proud of yourself that you got this far. Don't look to far in the future because it is very scary. Take things one day at a time.

Hang in there! I know the waiting is soooooo hard. It took me a whole year to get my surgery between the requirements by my insurance company and two appeals. Don't worry too much about the extra weight gain. This is one of the most stressful processes I have ever been through so, OF COURSE, I was gonna gain. The good thing is that you will drop that extra weight fast after you get the band. I'm not saying go out and go crazy, but try not to stress too much about it. You have enough stress already. One thing I would recommend to help you pass the time is try to start making some changes already that will prepare you for after surgery. If you haven't been exercising already, start an exercise program now. Don't worry about losing weight by exercising... just do it to create the habit and figure out what you would LIKE to do for exercise. I did this prior to surgery and it was so valuable for me. It was the first time I was exercising just for the sake of exercising and not because I was obsessively watching the scale and trying to lose weight. It helped me to learn how to enjoy exercise just for how it makes me feel. Also, if you haven't been drinking at least 64 oz of Water per day, start working on making that a daily goal. And, 60-80 grams of Protein per day (or whatever your surgeon recommends). These are all things you can start doing now that will help you later, but won't make you feel hungry or deprived since you don't have your band yet. Oh, another thing I did to pass the time pre-band, is I had a friend come over and help me go through all my clothes (in my closet and old stuff I had in boxes). We went through all of it and she made me get rid of anything that I should never wear again (either too old, out of style, not flattering). And, we took the stuff to save and sorted it into boxes for 'stage 1', 'stage 2', and 'stage 3'. Stage 1 is one to two sizes below what I currently wear, stage two is the next two sizes, etc. That way, when I shrink out of my clothes, I have boxes of clothes organized and ready that I will WANT to wear. The 'stage 1' boxes sit right above my current clothes in the closet as motivation to me. The rest are in the garage so I don't feel overwhelmed w/how far I have to go. There is nothing in my closet or drawers that doesn't fit me right NOW. That is a great feeling! I'm sure you can think of some other ways to pass the time. Best of luck to you. You are in the home stretch!!!

i had gastric sleeve 10-4-17 yesterday. I was discharged today and gained 8 lbs! Is that normal? I am also having what I decribe as waves in my abdomen that can be relieved by standing up. Is that normal?

For me, it was a matter of bouncing back and forth from one to the other to the third choice, then finally moving from wanting the band to wanting the sleeve. (I have yet to have my surgery.) I decided on the sleeve after weighing how I perceived the band as temporary. I wasn't seriously committed. I think a lot of folks do the same - "if I have trouble I can have it removed." My weight gain has been progressive, and consistent for a long time. Nothing about that sounds temporary. Once I got used to the idea that my commitment needed to be a permanent choice, the decision to have the sleeve made the most sense. That, and knowing I wasn't having something artificial implanted into my body. (Have you SEEN the videos of what a band looks like inside of you after a few years? Holey crap!) I'm content the sleeve will let me live the most normal life - just as a much thinner me. Dave

For me it's exercise. A five-mile run minimizes bloat and water weight gain while functioning as a natural antidepressant (a.k.a. runner's high). Exercise also minimizes cravings for junk because your body will demand better forms of fuel.

hf2havefun, I live in Central Texas. I live in the Killeen / Harker Heights area and work in the Temple / Belton area. If anyone does have recommendations for a doctor, I'm all ears! My primary care physician of the last year hasn't listened to anything I've said. She recommended I try Weight Watchers (again). I'm only 23, but I also have been diagnosed with PCOS, one of the major symptoms of which is massive weight gain at a rapid pace. I had my son almost 3 years ago and since then have packed on the weight no matter what I do. I used to be very healthy, I worked at different local gyms for years before my pregnancy and loved working out and eating healthy, but at the weight I am now it's so frustrating to try and lose anything. I just don't have the will power to do it alone, yet I refuse to let it control my life like it has been. Sheesh, you gotta love the anonymity of the internet huh? I haven't said half this stuff to my closest friends! Thanks so much for the well wishes and advice!

I started my 6 month charting back in June. Tomorrow is my last weigh in and I am totally terrified to see what the scales say. I lost weight the first 4 months and last month had a 3lb gain. I was told not to worry about it to much because different clothing and different scales can make a world of difference when weight is involved. I have done nothing but freak out about this last weigh in. I was told if I had any weight gain they would see it as me not trying and not approve the surgery. I have busted my butt to loose weight but it's no longer coming off. Infact I am gaining weight now. It never fails I loose loose loose and then it all comes back.. It's very frustrating to know that I am putting in an hour a day at the gym and watching what I eat, but the weight is staying. Is this going to affect my approval? Please anyone tell me your experience with insurance and getting approved..

I am married and my husband has sleep apnea, so I knew what the symptoms were. I also had all of the symptoms, but was in denial. I knew in the back of my mind and in my gut that I had it. I woke up through the night, was tired all day, etc. I spoke with my pcp about it and he sent me to have a sleep study done and I was diagnosed a month ago. I know sleep with a cpap and I have had some of the symptoms go away slowly. Well especially the night time ones (don't wake up as often). I feel a little better each morning. I'm sure there are online questionaires that you can take (don't know of any sites but there are questionaires online for everything). Good luck and you really should get that taken care of, sleep apnea can lead to a lot of medical problems including weight gain.

Here's my typical reply when people ask me about band vs. vsg Also, just because the band can be removed, you have no idea what or how severely it may damage your stomach or esophagus before you are able to get it removed. I've been there, and done that. My band only lasted 8 months, and I lost additional stomach tissue during my revision because of the scar tissue from the band. I've had the band, and over a 2 year period the band is more expensive than the sleeve due to follow up appointments, fills/unfills, and the other issues with the band. With the reoperation rate of the band, it's actually way more expensive than the sleeve. Some surgeons prefer the band because it's the real money maker of the bariatric surgeries. I've had both the band and the sleeve, and my personal opinion is that the sleeve is superior over the band for several reasons. The band has the lowest and slowest loss stats, highest rate of long term complications even outdoing RNY with the exception of Vitamin deficiencies. The food restrictions alone with the band are horrific. I couldn't eat meat, any type of breads, lettuce, raw veggies, and most fruits caused major issues. The less ghrelin thing is true. Just because you fill up your little pouch with the band doesn't mean you are satisfied. That hunger is still there, and once the food slips through, you'll be hungry again, and really aren't supposed to eat because you're on a forced diet. This is a post I share often when people ask about VSG vs. Band, or VSG vs. RNY, or VSG for a revision from band vs. band to band revision. At the very bottom, you'll find some research links that I enjoyed reading for research purposes. Hope this helps. This is directly from the band manufacturer so there is no skewing facts or stats here. This is their own study. Quote: Weight Loss Surgery Risk Information | LAP-BAND? Patients can experience complications after surgery. Most complications are not serious but some may require hospitalization and/or re-operation. In the United States clinical study, with 3-year follow-up reported, 88% of the 299 patients had one or more adverse events, ranging from mild, moderate, to severe. Nausea and vomiting (51%), gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) (34%), band slippage/pouch dilatation (24%) and stoma obstruction (stomach-band outlet blockage) (14%) were the most common post-operative complications. In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. Esophageal dilatation or dysmotility (poor esophageal function) occurred in 11% of patients, the long-term effects of which are currently unknown. Constipation, diarrhea and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) occurred in 9% of the patients. In 9% of the patients, a second surgery was needed to fix a problem with the band or initial surgery. In 9% of the patients, there was an additional procedure to fix a leaking or twisted access port. The access port design has been improved. Four out of 299 patients (1.3%) had their bands erode into their stomachs. These bands needed to be removed in a second operation. Surgical techniques have evolved to reduce slippage. Surgeons with more laparoscopic experience and more experience with these procedures report fewer complications. Adverse events that were considered to be non-serious, and which occurred in less than 1% of the patients, included: esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), hiatal hernia (some stomach above the diaphragm), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), abdominal pain, hernia, incisional hernia, infection, redundant skin, dehydration, diarrhea (frequent semi-solid bowel movements), abnormal stools, constipation, flatulence (gas), dyspepsia (upset stomach), eructation (belching), cardiospasm (an obstruction of passage of food through the bottom of the esophagus), hematemsis (vomiting of blood), asthenia (fatigue), fever, chest pain, incision pain, contact dermatitis (rash), abnormal healing, edema (swelling), paresthesia (abnormal sensation of burning, prickly, or tingling), dysmenorrhea (difficult periods), hypochromic anemia (low oxygen carrying part of blood), band system leak, cholecystitis (gall stones), esophageal ulcer (sore), port displacement, port site pain, spleen injury, and wound infection. Be sure to ask your surgeon about these possible complications and any of these medical terms that you dont understand. Back to Top What are the specific risks and possible complications? Talk to your doctor about all of the following risks and complications: Ulceration Gastritis (irritated stomach tissue) Gastroesophageal reflux (regurgitation) Heartburn Gas bloat Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Dehydration Constipation Weight regain Death Laparoscopic surgery has its own set of possible problems. They include: Spleen or liver damage (sometimes requiring spleen removal) Damage to major blood vessels Lung problems Thrombosis (blood clots) Rupture of the wound Perforation of the stomach or esophagus during surgery Laparoscopic surgery is not always possible. The surgeon may need to switch to an "open" method due to some of the reasons mentioned here. This happened in about 5% of the cases in the U.S. Clinical Study. There are also problems that can occur that are directly related to the LAP-BAND? System: The band can spontaneously deflate because of leakage. That leakage can come from the band, the reservoir, or the tubing that connects them. The band can slip There can be stomach slippage The stomach pouch can enlarge The stoma (stomach outlet) can be blocked The band can erode into the stomach Obstruction of the stomach can be caused by: Food Swelling Improper placement of the band The band being over-inflated Band or stomach slippage Stomach pouch twisting Stomach pouch enlargement There have been some reports that the esophagus has stretched or dilated in some patients. This could be caused by: Improper placement of the band The band being tightened too much Stoma obstruction Binge eating Excessive vomiting Patients with a weaker esophagus may be more likely to have this problem. A weaker esophagus is one that is not good at pushing food through to your stomach. Tell your surgeon if you have difficulty swallowing. Then your surgeon can evaluate this. Weight loss with the LAP-BAND? System is typically slower and more gradual than with some other weight loss surgeries. Tightening the band too fast or too much to try to speed up weight loss should be avoided. The stomach pouch and/or esophagus can become enlarged as a result. You need to learn how to use your band as a tool that can help you reduce the amount you eat. Infection is possible. Also, the band can erode into the stomach. This can happen right after surgery or years later, although this rarely happens. Complications can cause reduced weight loss. They can also cause weight gain. Other complications can result that require more surgery to remove, reposition, or replace the band. Some patients have more nausea and vomiting than others. You should see your physician at once if vomiting persists. Rapid weight loss may lead to symptoms of: Malnutrition Anemia Related complications It is possible you may not lose much weight or any weight at all. You could also have complications related to obesity. If any complications occur, you may need to stay in the hospital longer. You may also need to return to the hospital later. A number of less serious complications can also occur. These may have little effect on how long it takes you to recover from surgery. If you have existing problems, such as diabetes, a large hiatal hernia (part of the stomach in the chest cavity), Barretts esophagus (severe, chronic inflammation of the lower esophagus), or emotional or psychological problems, you may have more complications. Your surgeon will consider how bad your symptoms are, and if you are a good candidate for the LAP-BAND? System surgery. You also have more risk of complications if you've had a surgery before in the same area. If the procedure is not done laparoscopically by an experienced surgeon, you may have more risk of complications. Anti-inflammatory drugs that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, should be used with caution. Some people need folate and vitamin B12 supplements to maintain normal homocycteine levels. Elevated homocycteine levels can increase risks to your heart and the risk of spinal birth defects. You can develop gallstones after a rapid weight loss. This can make it necessary to remove your gallbladder. There have been no reports of autoimmune disease with the use of the LAP-BAND? System. Autoimmune diseases and connective tissue disorders, though, have been reported after long-term implantation of other silicone devices. These problems can include systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma. At this time, there is no conclusive clinical evidence that supports a relationship between connective-tissue disorders and silicone implants. Long-term studies to further evaluate this possibility are still being done. You should know, though, that if autoimmune symptoms develop after the band is in place, you may need treatment. The band may also need to be removed. Talk with your surgeon about this possibility. Also, if you have symptoms of autoimmune disease now, the LAP-BAND? System may not be right for you. Back to Top Removing the LAP-BAND? System If the LAP-BAND? System has been placed laparoscopically, it may be possible to remove it the same way. This is an advantage of the LAP-BAND? System. However, an "open" procedure may be necessary to remove a band. In the U.S. Clinical Study, 60% of the bands that were removed were done laparoscopically. Surgeons report that after the band is removed, the stomach returns to essentially a normal state. At this time, there are no known reasons to suggest that the band should be replaced or removed at some point unless a complication occurs or you do not lose weight. It is difficult, though, to say whether the band will stay in place for the rest of your life. It may need to be removed or replaced at some point. Removing the device requires a surgical procedure. That procedure will have all the related risks and possible complications that come with surgery. The risk of some complications, such as erosions and infection, increase with any added procedure. LapSf Study that I swiped from MacMadame's profile LapSF Educational presentation to FACS - includes some 2 year results LapSF Two Year Study LapSF Five Year Study - abstract only LapSF Five Year Study - presentation (requires Windows to play) Literature review on the sleeve - requires $$ to get the full text unfortunately Sleeve best for over 50 crowd Video of a sleeve with lots of education discussion Video of a sleeve that is more about the operation Ghrelin levels after RnY and sleeve Ghrelin levels after band and sleeve Diabetes resolution in RnY vs. Sleeve Comparison of band to sleeve - literature review LapBandTalk Click to visit the largest Lap-Band community online! __________________

I could have written this myself. Someone I knew with a band actually had the fill taken out so she could "gorge" on a cruise. I wanted something permanent that would not allow me to fall back into old habits and continue the yo-yo of weight loss/weight gain. None of my Band friends have made goal. AND - none have maintained to the level where they stopped losing. All have gained back. And, they have all had complications such as pb'ing, swollen esphogus, stretching of the upper pouch, etc. While I am only 5 months into this, I can definitely say it's been a life changer for me. I love the restriction and the ability to eat anything I want - just much smaller proportions. Good luck with your research. We are here to help if you have specific questions.