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I had not heard about this concept for appetite control, but in a couple of weeks I will be having surgery to have a spinal cord stimulator implanted to help control severe leg pain coming from vertebrae L1-L2. The method is the same as you described. The device emits a signal of its own to interfere with the pain signals the affected nerve is sending to the brain. It is interesting that this process is being explored for appetite control. It would still be surgery. I will have two 4" incisions: one over my spine at L1-L2 and one over my right hip to implant the device in a pocket made under the skin. I am glad that the research is out there for finding options to removing a majority of one's stomach. I am glad to have my sleeve, but this would have been an interesting option, too.

I had a neurostimulator in my spine for 10 years and just had it removed in November. Mine was an older device that did not have rechargeable capability and given I had lost over 100lbs it was literally sticking out of my lower back, I got it stuck in the slats of a chair once didn't know it and tried to stand up. Ouch!!! Anyway, I wanted to respond because this device literally gave me back my life. I had severe nerve pain running down my leg following lumbar fusion surgery. We tried everything for 5 years and finally they offered me the neurostimulator solution. The first time we turned it on in the operating room it felt magical. The pain was gone and it felt like tiny littles champagne bubbles running up and down my spine and my leg. They work! It only makes sense that they could somehow use it to resolve the feelings of hunger. I do believe in order for long term success a person would still have to deal with head hunger, cravings and the underlying food addiction issues. I know even days or weeks after my RNY, I had head hunger that would make me want to go eat a cheeseburger. I had to learn how to deal with it. Obviously the same diet and exercise will be important as well right? Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

You can call your insurance company and ask. I have been doing that because my surgeons office claim they were going to send the paper work over week before last then last week and they still have yet to receive it. So my surgeons office is playing with my emotions. I would call your insurance company they will be glad to tell you.

I can't believe my surgery will be here in 6 days. This week has been so emotional for me. Little nervous but very excited all in one. Anyone else going through these same emotions???

Ive been using sf torani for 2 weeks almost daily in my morning protein smoothie and had no problems here.

This is my 1st post on a blog. I had my sleeve procedure on August 19th. Last week I got on the scale for the 1st time since my 1 week follow up and it showed I had lost 50 lbs. I have been avoiding the scale due to fear. So since I conquered it I decided to check again today. Well I gained 4 lbs. How does this happen? I have been eating the same and now I am very disappointed. Has anyone had this happen?

No. I'm going private though so booked in to see a consultant in a week. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I have PCOS too! I started having regular cycles about a year ago. I had lost some weight and Boom, they started coming. I still deal with all the other symptoms and I am actually going to an endocrinologist at the end of the months to see if she can straighten out my hormones. I sing as well and I was able to perform 2 weeks after surgery. Good luck!

This is my first time back to work and ordering with everyone. I felt really good being able to join in and not feel like I am so restricted. I just chose healthy and ate a small portion. We can get back to normal. This was a huge salad. I will be 7 weeks tomorrow. This is what I ordered Grilled Chick Salad w/ff feta This is what I ate from that. It took 35 min to eat.

i will be 4 weeks post op on saturday and im down 44 lbs. Im sooo loving my sleeve!

I was allowed pills per my surgeon at 1 month (he preferred them split in two) but I now take my vitamins, Tylenol, and my PPI in pill form every day, no issues and no problems. Been doing it since the 1 month point and I'm 6 months next week!

Im just going threw a stall i know. It will pass. I feel smaller if that helps any

Thanks so much for the welcome PattyGee!!!! My surgeon is Dr. Macaron in Middlebury. I'll have my surgery at St. Mary's Hospital. I did actually talk to Oxford a few weeks back and they told me that as long as they get everything they need and don't need to go back and fourth with the dr's office getting things, then its a pretty quick turnaround. I don't think i'll relax till I get the go ahead from the insurance and get a surgery date!!!! If all goes well maybe by August????

I had gastric sleeve surgery on 11/18/16. I was 238 on surgery date and I'm 179 now. Periodically, I've had symptoms that seem like a stricture. Somewhat randomly, I'll feel like food gets stuck at the bottom of my throat, and I get nausea and feel really full after only one bite of food. This started happening about 6 weeks post-op, and I called my surgeon and they recommended I go back to softer foods, and come in if it didn't get better. Well, it got better, so I didn't worry about it. However, it has recurred a few times a month since then but only for a few hours or a day or two at a time, then it goes away. In the last few days, I've felt like a heaviness or lump in the bottom of my throat. For example, I have to take several pill tablets every morning, and when I swallow the pills, it feels like they can get stuck at the bottom of my throat until I wash them down with water. Same with food of any type (With the exception of hard candy which is just sugar crystals). Since a stricture is scar tissue, I can't imagine it makes sense that it would be episodic, but I'm wondering if anyone has had these symptoms or knows what they could be.

Mine has slowed way down also. I am at my "sweet spot" and don't think I need a fill - my portions are good, I am staying "full" so I am not quite sure what is going on. When I look at the big picture my weightloss average is right where it is supposed to be - 1-2lbs/week, but geez I want more I just upped my exercise routine this week so hopefully I will see results soon. I was hoping to be at 130lb by my year anniversary but at this point it doesn't look like it will happen - So I reset my goals to be in the 150's for my year checkup with the doctor (June 30th). I do have to say that although my weightloss has slowed down I am so HAPPY with my results.

Jacqui - WOO HOOO for you!!! Congrats that it went so easy. I was in WAY pain after my surgery and it took about a week to feel right. You go on with your bad self, girl!!!!

My surgery was 2/9/12 and at about 3 months, my hair started falling out even th0 I took an extra vitamin and biotin everyday. Alot fell out, I mean alot, even tho I had really thick hair to begin with. Then about two weeks ago, I went and got it cut. She took off much more than I asked for, but what do you know- it basically stopped falling out! It is still a lot thinner than I am used to but, I am hoping it will grow back.

4 weeks to prep for surgery.. Thank god so happyyyyyyy

Where do I start. I guess to just jump in with a robust HELLO! I'm 57, weigh 341# and have been gaining weight steadily for the last 2 years. Lots of factors: closed business of 30 years, moved for first time in 30 years, a series of 2 HORRIBLE, stressful jobs (have a great one now) and finally a fall in April of 2008 (I actually tripped over a speed bump in the parking lot of costco while trying to walk and get my membership card out at the same time). I landed almost entirely on my right knee cap. Didn't break it, but might as well have for all the pain and damage it caused. Flash forward to November 2008. We've farted around with PT etc. and nothing is helping. I suggest a bilateral MRI, we get it done and WOW, both knees are completely shot with osteoarthritis! I mean I qualify for bi-lateral total knee replacements. I hadn't really had any symptoms before the fall. Now I'm barely ambulatory and just getting washed up, much less showered feels like an Olympic event. So the suggestion of finding the time to get to the pool, undress, walk/dog paddle, play around and then get out of a wet suit that's 2 sizes too small, dry all the parts I have to dry with a hair dryer that aren't hairy, powder all those dry places so they don't start a fungal farm, struggle back into my clothes (it's so much fun pulling clothes on over the damp parts you didn't/couldn't get dry:o), limp out to the car and drive back to work where the only way to get to my office is up 7 steps to the loading dock, take the freight elevator to the kitchen, walk through the kitchen, back down 7 more stairs and then 3 more on the way to my non-handicapped accessible office (or take 3 flights of stairs up from the parking lot). So after another night of sleeplessness, I woke up and decided to have the lap band procedure. Wait:omg_smile: you're thinking now, that I've got my body parts mixed up! It turns out that to get new knees, the docs like to have you loose weight first. Apparently if they give you new knees that are supposed to last 20+ years and you loose weight, the implants get loose. Yikes! There goes the warrenty. So in two weeks I get a series of 5 weekly injections in both knees of artificial lubricant that is supposed to reduce inflammation and pain so that I can become more mobile and perhaps loose weight. Well, I know I can't loose weight with knees that don't hurt. I've tried for years. I need help. So here I am! I have 4 children, two bio-daughters who are almost 28 and 30, and two about to turn 11 and 12 that we adopted when they were 3 and 3 1/3 from China. I'd REALLY like to be around when they adopt their own children from China (which they've both said they'd like to do! My Mom was 72 when we made our second trip the China to get our son, and she got so many compliments from the Chinese people on how wonderful she looked for someone of her years. She's my inspiration. If she can do it with two new knees, I can too. Oh, I forgot. Both little kids want very much to visit China. I told them when I could walk to Margaret's house, we'd go. Margaret lives 3 1/2 miles away. I'm feeling like it's all within reach today, and yesterday I was ready to curl up in bed and order delivery food until I died in my sleep. Everything seemed so hopeless. I'm living in Grand Rapids, MI now. Anyone have any experiences, good or bad with docs, hospitals, surgery and support care in GR? I'm also curious, I'd read a little blib somewhere that there were "life-time" negative consequences to the lap band proceedure. Anyone know what that's about? Hugs to all you wonderful folks. Kathy, AKA WiredSimon (the breed of dog in my avatar is a Standard Wirehaired Dachshund, with his fur untrimmed)

I have Bipolar 11, and take Riperidone which when i first started made me gain 20 lbs in 3 weeks!!! I kid you not! I had had my gastric bypass July 2009 and had lost 60 lbs by Nobember then i had to be put on Risperidone and it basically reversed the whole surgery. So i go in for lapband surgery next Friday now that i am almost weened from it. Abilify is a weight gainer but not as bad a risperidone. Here is a link to a study about Abilify and other of the same kind of bipolar meds. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/business/28psych.html?_r=1&

None of us lose at a constant or steady rate. Stalls are a normal, natural, and necessary part of the process of losing weight. Just follow your program. Focus on getting in all of your Protein and fluids, take your Vitamins and supplements as directed, exercise, and stay off the scale. Embrace the Stall! http://BariatricPal.com/index.php?/topic/351046-Embrace-the-Stall

Sounds like you doing good....I was only getting 30 oz a day in at a week out....doing more each day....the Popsicles help with getting in it....and I was a burper too....but it felt so good to do it....that has slowed down now....everything gets better with each day!

Congratulations and best of luck with your new baby! Sounds like you are due for some sleepless nights in the next weeks. Welcome to this site. You are in the right place. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

I'm 3 weeks out, and I still have REALLY bad gurgling in my stomach. Nothing painful or anything, just loud and embarrassing lol!

First time and hoping the last time for me! I got a fill a week ago, that is finally giving me some restriction. I can feel that when I eat certain foods, they do not go down as smoothly as before, so I have been extremely conscious of making sure to eat small bites and chewing well. Well, today I was in a rush and took a piece of roast beef for lunch with some veggies. I just took a bite and the doorbell rang. I got up to answer the door, and I swallowed way too fast, and it was not pretty! I had those horrible pains in my chest and back, a little sliming, and then finally after 10 minutes, I threw up a little bit, and it was over. I kept taking deep breaths and walking around until it was over. Whew!! It was awful! I've consisntently read about these episodes, and never truly understand the feeling until now! The one good thing out of all of this, was that it was the UPS man at the door bringing me a package that contained some new clothes that are 3 sizes smaller than what I have worn! So at least I got to smile a bit after it was all over!