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I think if the pharmacy doesn't have records, I will pick years 2001 and 2003 to add to '05, 07, 08, 09 and 10. Thanks, I'm not ready to throw in the towel, by any means. When you finally get to the place where you are fed up with the weight and summon up the courage to make a surgery your decision... you sure don't want not going to the Dr. one year four years ago to get in the way! thanks all.

Hello - I am a danish woman, trying to loose weight. ME: 36 years old BMI: "only" 33 Comorbidities of my weight: sleep apnea High bloodpressure Lower back problems are getting worse for every pound overweight (scoliosis/ Ishias problems) Father diabetes 2, both mother and father are medicatet for hight bloodpressure. Sister underwent a Gastric Bypass en roux with a BMI of 40 with great succes :rose: I have tried almost every diet on earth, undergoing lifestyle changes, have been in therapy, have spent a lot of money on al kinds of thing.Iron, Calcium and Proteins, that I am digesting.:confused2: Futhermore it seems that a sleeve operation is having a lower mortality rate and fewer post complications?:confused: One of the reasons why I am overweight is the earlier use og sugar as a coping strategy for everything. I have worked through most of this - but see it as somekind of a dependency even if I do not use it as much as before. And this is not good with the sleeve? :eek: Does anyone in this forum have eny experiences with. If some of my earlier eating habits are due to cognitive habits, lower ghrelin secretion will not help me? Or?:confused1: All you comments are welcome - my brain is exploding I already know, that my BMI is low (but high enough to die earlier), and I am mostly considering an operation because og my health issues. Just a few words, please?:angel:

I never really was an emotional eater, or had any compulsive tendencies, but I was a volume eater. It was nothing for me to eat an entire large pizza by myself, or eat an entire box of mac-n-cheese. I loved food, and I loved that absolutely stuffed, unbutton my pants feeling. Now, I hate it if I take one too many bites. Gastrectomies have been performed decades upon decades for people with ulcerative conditions, or stomach cancer. I researched gastrectomies outside of weight loss surgery, and found 1000s of people living very normal, fully-functioning lives with most if not all of their stomachs removed. Yes, there are people that have had to have their entire stomachs removed, and a new stomach reconstructed out of intestinal tissue. They do need to take different medication, and food supplements to help with digestion, but they are not taking 20 vitamins a day to battle malabsorption. The VSG has studies out for 5+ years showing great success as long as the surgeon uses a small bougie (which is the measuring tool they use to staple off and remove the stomach from the body). 32fr to 40fr is the standard measurement for bougie sizes. The fundus (big stretchy part of the stomach) should be removed from the body for it to be called a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. If they don't remove the organ, there is no "ectomy" performed. I could give you the laundry list of complications and weight regain stats for all my "real life" friends that have had RNY, but it would take me forever. I won't deny that RNY is a good surgery for some, but the stats were just too alarming for me to choose that procedure. Plus, I had the band before, and the band gives you a pouch just like RNY. Well, let me just say that pouches suck. They are not natural, my body rebelled against the pouch, and I knew that I wanted a normal functioning stomach with my pyloric valve intact. If they are talking about hiatal hernias, they are common in obese patients and usually repaired during surgery. If your surgeon chooses to perform an upper GI, that would be diagnosed before surgery. It's "not common" to the surgery, it's common among obese patients. I did not have any type of hernias. Since you are in Denmark, I would highly suggest talking to your surgeon about being prescribed an acid reducer. This helps protect your staple line, and can help decrease false hunger caused by acid reflux that sometimes occurs post-sleeve. Here in the US, most sleeve patients are put on an acid reducer such as Nexium, Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid for 3-6 months post-op. I'm still on my acid reducer (also called PPI - proton pump inhibitor) at 16 months out because I love not ever being hungry, and I don't want to deal with any acid issues even though I didn't have any pre-op. If you have other questions, please feel free to message me.

The dietician with tell you all about Portion Control and how to judge things using your fist, a deck of cards and a pair of dice. Counting calories is simple. Just do it online using Calorie Counter, Diet Tracking, food Journal, Nutrition Facts at The Daily Plate or FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal. For the sake of argument, this is probably your supervised diet, not your pre-op. Good luck and keep your head up.

I am very frustrated today. I went in for my consult at Weight Loss Surgical Center in KC last November in which they checked to see if my insurance would pay and I received a phone call saying they would pay but it had to be done at an acute care facility which they did not have but were in the process of building one. Fast forward to a month ago and I called to check on the facility and if it was completed & they had just done their 2nd surgery there so the ball starts rolling again....get phone call to set up another consult OR pre-op visit. I was on the fence whether to do it or not and after joining this group and reading the success stories I am 110% committed so left 2 messages to set up pre-op consult and the person that gets insurance clearance had been calling me WEEKLY to update me on Tricare's requirements that were being met each week SO I think as soon as the facility meets Tricare's requirement I am a go....NOPE....now I'm told that my BMI is under 40 and I do not have the 2 co-morbidities to qualify. WHAT!?!?! Talk about popping someone's bubble fast that was ready to get this going..........so now I wait as they try to gain clearance from Tricare. Why would they tell me last year that they would defniitely pay for it and now possibly NOT? They had the same requirements last year that they do today. Very disappointed & upset. Anyone else have to deal with Tricare? Do they pay for your fills as well? I have a $1,000.00 family deductible which I met last year from being in the hospital twice and if I could have had this done before Oct 1st I would not have had to pay a dime! But my health is worth the $1000.00 at least and I just want to do this and I think if I'm denied I will really fall in to a deeper depression...I don't want to have to eat until my BMI is over 40 to get the surgery so I may be left of my own. I lost 84# once before but its all back and then some. They think my thyroid issues will count so they are going to run it by Tricare. Thanks for letting me vent and if anyone has Tricare just wondering how they were getting them to pay for your surgery!

I have heard a lot of people saying that after their complications they gained the weight back. My question is how? Are they not eating right and exercising? Or is it just automatic that since the band has gone bad you will gain the weight back? I’m just curious if the band helps me loose all the weight wont eating right and exercising help me keep it off not matter what complications may occur with the band later on down the line?

YEAH! I got more answers - I am so gratefull All your inputs really helps me! In Denmark this procedure is almost unknown - it is only used very seldom. Most of sleeve-procedures on danes is done abroad Thank you for your respond, Tiffany! "RNY just wasn't an option because of the regain stats" The statistics shows that weight regain RNY is more likely to happen? That is very interesting - if I have understood it correct? That was the main reason why, I would consider a Bypass. I know that there is a lot complications already now. How will it look in 30 years? :-( "I can tell you that studies show only 30% of RNY patients "dump" on sugar meaning that it's no guarantee that you'll get sick if you eat sweets." That is an important argument for not believing, that this will "cure" your cravings. So it is not as beneficial in this way - only the malabsorbtion works "better". But unfortunately also on important Vitamins and minerals. "and all of them have either gained back 75% of their weight" WHAT? Thats a lot!!! The surgery sites claims, that only 20-30% will have the weight regain. "and are now seeking revisions, or have had major complications with vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, bowel obstructions, strictures, pouch and esophageal dilation, and a whole slew of other issues." That really helps with my decision. I think that we perhaps are not so up to date in Denmark, because the boom in operations startet only 2 years ago. So we havent seen all the difficulties yet. Well a lot of people is writing about Hernia - does anyone know, if hernia is less common in VSG-operations? "Least amount of long term complications" As far as I can read in the journals, they do not have enough results yet to know how it will work on long term? But it is so LOGICAL to me that it will have far less complications "no rerouting" Yes, I am not religious - but it is easier for me to have my stomach reduced instead of changing the way the digestive system works. I can better accept the "halfway-just-as-before-procedure-with-a-small-stomach" "no blind stomach left behind that can't be easily scoped yet can still develop cancer and ulcers." Are the taking the rest of the stomach out of the body in a VSG? Some say that they just staple it? I wanted to ask my surgeon this. If it is left in the body, will it still produce Ghrelin? I feel a little stupid, but I have treally tried to find as many informations - so I am so glad, I found this site. "None of the surgeries cure cravings, head hunger, or emotional eating." No, you need to have gotten the brain in order first. I almost have - but I know, that when I am stressed or sad, it could trick this, if I am not cafeful and monitor my feelings and hunger for the rest of my life. But I have worked with this a lot more than others. (I am also writing these things to myself, to be "aware" - thinking out loud) "I've done extremely well with the sleeve, and live a perfectly normal little life" I am so glad to hear that! It really makes me believe that it can help me too. Just enough to get into the healthy section "We have to form new habits, and work on our own issues." I am speculating - how many have had their cognitive emotional in check before an operation - and how many are working along with the issues - after the operation. THANK YOU SO MUCH! ------------------------------------------------------------- And thank you Stacy160 - if you are thinking the same as Tiffany, it just backs up, what she is saying . And with my "low" BMI, the risk of bypass is not worth it. As far as I have read, the mortality-risk of a bypass is 5 times higher than a sleeve. Thank you. You are backing me up! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you for your message, Cheri :-) "if you don't have as much weight to lose, why risk the lifelong nutritional deficiencies of the bypass?" That is just what I am thinking. But in the danish forum everyone is supporting the bypass-thinking Because it is the thing, that works. And because 95% of them had that operation. So I needed to read other stories, to make my desicion. But a lot of new reseach has shown, that the two operation, have almost the same results. But I can not seem to find the medical documentation... "The portion of the stomach they leave behind is the least stretchy part of the stomach and is far less likely to stretch than the bypass pouch. It will stretch a little over time, but not anywhere near what it was prior to surgery." That I didnt know - I am so glad to read this! That calms me a lot. Not that I will try to strech it. But I didnt wanted to waste money and health on an operation, that didnt work much. "If you wouldn't mind posting information about your potential surgeons on a new thread, it would be very helpful to some of us living overseas. I'm currently in Germany and flew all the way to Mexico for my surgery because I couldn't find a surgeon very experienced with VSG in my area. If you're in contact with a few that do VSG in Europe, you should post their names and information so that other folks can have them as an option as well." Mexico is a long way from home.... I would be happy to do that. I found two surgeons i Belgium, but they mostly recommend and perform Bypass, but have experience in Sleeve as well. There is also a center in Northern Germany wch are very popular in Denmark, they perform a lot of sleeve operations as well. And I found a great (I think) surgeon in Grecce. He is educated i Denmark, where I am from, and have worked in Sweden for many years. There is also a center in Stockholm, who have a fantastic 3 year follow up with psychologist, dieticians, hotline, and a workshop - all included in the price. But I will try to find the right place to post the operation. But what is "Experienced"? How many operations is that. Thank you Cheri

For me, RNY just wasn't an option because of the regain stats, and long term complications from friends that I know in real life. I can tell you that studies show only 30% of RNY patients "dump" on sugar meaning that it's no guarantee that you'll get sick if you eat sweets. Out of the 8 friends I have that have had RNY, only 2 of them dump on sugars/fats, and all of them have either gained back 75% of their weight, and are now seeking revisions, or have had major complications with vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, bowel obstructions, strictures, pouch and esophageal dilation, and a whole slew of other issues. Are some of the complications directly related to their compliance level, YES, but some of them have struggled from the beginning. For me, I chose the sleeve because it made the most sense. Least amount of long term complications, no rerouting, zero food or medication restrictions, no blind stomach left behind that can't be easily scoped yet can still develop cancer and ulcers. None of the surgeries cure cravings, head hunger, or emotional eating. That part of the journey is all on you, and you have to be willing to battle those issues along with the assistance of whichever surgery you choose. I've done extremely well with the sleeve, and live a perfectly normal little life eating anything and everything I choose, I enjoy a balanced diet, and really enjoy not worrying about foods that might make me sick, or if I've taken all my Vitamins. I do take a high quality adult mulit-Vitamin and a sublingual b12. I took multis before surgery because it's recommended for women my age. You'll be able to "eat" around any of the surgeries. They operate on our stomachs, not our brains. We have to form new habits, and work on our own issues.

Take a deep breath and RELAX! We all find things to stress about prior to surgery, even when we're incredibly excited and ready to make the changes necessary to succeed. If your procrastination is going to cause your surgery to be cancelled, then perhaps you aren't quite mentally there yet. It takes a while to make such a big decision. This surgery will change your life, and while most of the changes are wonderful, postive ones, there are some negative sides, too. It's work. Eating right, working on your emotional triggers, dealing with the changes in your life - these things are work, and can be a little scary. In my opinion you really need to sit down and think. Are you ready for this? Are you stalling because of natural fears of surgery, and of change? Is there a bigger issue at play here? There's absolutely nothing wrong with pushing your date back until you have your head in the right place. If you're not ready, the recovery will be harder for you. Every ache, every pain, every hassle of post op life will seem like a huge problem to you, instead of the minor nuisance it really is. Complications can happen. Be sure you trust your surgeon. If you've done your research and feel comfortable, then you're just having natural worries before surgery. If you don't know much about your surgeon or you don't entirely trust him/her, then perhaps you need to find someone else to work on you. I know that I definitely worried about complications. I was very scared, even with a fantastic doctor like Dr. Aceves (who has a great track record). It's normal to worry. I don't know the ins and outs of your particular insurance policy. The fact is, once you choose to have the surgery if you do have complications they can choose not to pay whether or not the bills for your preop were submitted to them. They're going to know you had the surgery at some point. I doubt they're going to raise your rates over this, though. If anything, your rates might drop if you don't have as many health risks after you lose some weight. I had a smooth recovery. There is nothing I regret about this surgery. Well...I do miss the hunger sometimes. I wish I wanted to eat. And I'm a slow loser - "only" 45 pounds in three months. But I've never lost more than 30 pounds on any diet before - even the ones that dragged on for four or five months. I've never been able to control my diabetes with diet and exercise before. There are a lot of huge benefits. I was only uncomfortable post op for about five days. I'd gladly trade five days of pain pills and discomfort for 45 pounds - and 45 pounds is just the start of my journey. People that have endured leaks and horrible complications still come out a few months later LOVING their sleeves. This surgery is well worth it. It was worth every penny that I self-paid, and every second of discomfort. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Get your head in the right place. If it's the right time for you, move forward and get this surgery done and over with. Trust me, you'll love it once you're on the loser's bench. ~Cheri

I have completed 8 day on my preop diet and have only lost 3 lbs. I have cheated once, having 2 pieces of chese and that was it. I really think I should be further than this and am worried I wont be able to have the surgery because my liver will be too large. I see the doctor tomorrow, wo I will find out then I am sure. I am also concerned that if I cant lose weight now, how am I going to lose it when I start eating real food again. How much do people usually lose on the preop?

WOW!!!! I'm gobsmacked. Cannot believe that you are basing this decision on how many scars you may or may not have. On the one side the op should seriously improve your health, your longevity, your fitness and definitely the way you look but you are prepared to throw that away because of the possibility of a couple of scars. Are you hoping to become a bikini model or something once you lose weight? If you are then you will probably need a tummy tuck and that would give you further scars! Plus they use this thing these days called airbrushing. Seriously how often are you going to be getting your stomach out and do you really think scars would be worse than fat??? Most people have 4 - 5 holes at the time of the surgery. 3 - 4 of these are tiny poke holes approx 1cm long. They are often situated under the bust where they are not seen and they fade so much that they are hardly noticeable. If you have a tendency for your scars to become keloid then obviously they would be more noticeable. The biggest scar is the one where your port goes and this can be in various places. It fades to a fine line which again is not really noticeable. I know everyone is different but I don't think you should be jeopardising your future health over this. You should base your choice of surgeon on experience , aftercare etc. If the more experienced surgeon does the surgery with 5 holes that to me would be the better choice than the less experienced surgeon that uses 1.

Hi Butterfly, I simply missed this message because I was in Mexicali on the Hospital bed recovering from my band to sleeve revision. The fact is the band is not for everyone. I was one of them. It's so easy to say, well you have to work your band... well excuse me... and how did the band work for me??? Better yet, WHEN did the band even help me at all? No, I lost all the weight I did post op all on my own, period and end of story. Once I realized I'd gone through a surgery for no reason I just let it take me down a road I'd rather sooner forget!!! I'm three days post op sleeve now, and so far so good. I feel great. Was it worth it? Well being as I'm so fresh and new I'm liking it. I still have a lot to look forward to, and in great hopes that this time, this surgery will give me the assistance in all I was looking for with that band thingy (that now sits in my suitcase... lmao -- what good it's doing there now right???) All the best!! It's not an easy decision to make. It took me a year to come to the conclusion that I still needed help and had to finally make that plunge. Glad I'm on the other side now though! :scared0:

My husband was born in Mexico and we used to go a lot. We will not travel there now. It is really dangerous. Last time we went we were stopped twice by cops for no reason except to give them money. as an american/blonde blue eyes I was treated very weirdly in our 4star hotel which was a Mex American hotel in Monterrey. Bit took me by surprise bc I have even traveled w GF in Mexico and always was treated so nicely. One night was especially frightening as i truly sensed a man who delivered food to my room was contemplating attacking me. I thought fast and tricked him out of my room and called front desk as he was pounding on my door. So recently we needed to return for wedding and we chickened out and lost 600.00. While there for wedding 1friend was pulled over and held at gunpoint by drug person. It was mistaken identity and finally they let him go. I bow we all want to lose our weight but it is my opinion that we should pay bigger prices and stay home. Risk of leak and murder/kidnapping too great for me.

I was wondering. Does the band get more loose as you lose weight or does it get tighter?

Ok, so I am on day 10 of the liquid pre-op diet. I had lost 15 lbs. as of yesterday. Today, when I weighed, I had gained a pound!! How in the world could this happen?!?!?! I have been eating (drinking) the same things through this entire pre-op diet. If anything, I have started eating less as the days go on. I have gotten tired of my limited choices. Does anyone have any suggestions on what could be going on? I am being banded on Monday!!

Hello all, I have what may be an odd-ball question. I've read a bunch of posts on the forum and I feel that I pretty much fit right in there with a lot of the folks so I'll not bore you with the details. I will just leave it at this; I can relate to most of the posts about abandoned child-hoods, been fat since I've been walking, binge eating, can't stop thinking about food when I see it, seeing my reflection in the bottom of the cookie jar, fast food addictions, all that stuff. Anyway, a little back ground to my question, I've trained Judo for 2.5 years (lost 45 lbs) and I've been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for 6 months (lost ~20 lbs) but I am still over 330lbs. I struggle just getting through the 15 minute warm-ups, and rolling 20 minutes at the end of class is awful for me. I truly love this stuff, and I do not want to give it up, but I am getting very discouraged because of the limitations of having all these rolls of fat are causing. My question: Would the impact from throws or the straining to execute sweeps affect the band; would I still be able to play Judo/BJJ if I had a lapband? I talked to a surgical group here and I got conflicting answers from the presenters. I think its because the doctors don't really understand what Judo or BJJ is all about. Seems like when they hear the words "jiu-jitsu" or "judo" they lump it into the "All_Things_Karate" category. It is like night and day from that kind of stuff. Thinking it may clear things up, I tried to explain that Jiu-Jitsu and Judo have much more in common with college wrestling, there is a lot of impact hitting the floor after going over someones shoulder. There is the impact from throws, stress from straining to establish better positions on the ground, and trauma from struggling while being smashed under the weight of another person. After explaining it, the doctor said, "I see, well, (pause) I believe all the punching and kicking would be great aerobic exercise. Any more questions?" Ugggggggg.... I know some of the positions like knee-on-belly or double leg take downs are pretty harsh to your torso. Also, the higher flying Judo throws like seoi nage or seoi goshi cause a lot of trama and impact so I am wondering if the lap band would break or slip or something during those techniques? Are there any Judo, BJJ, or MMA guys/gals in here that have had the lap band surgery? If so, what has been your experience?

That's great! I started at 270 and am now 250... I have an appointment with the hospital and surgeon Friday! I have to weigh in so they can make sure I lost the weight the asked me to! I am Sad that I have to start my liquid diet on Easter Day!! Hah boooo But I am going to schedule myself to work and skip Easter this year!

Hi Though I am not a full veg like you, I try to make my diet as animal free as possible. Having said that I live in Korea making it almost impossible to cut out all animal parts etc. Losing weight with the band can however be possible for you. Look up recipes and stuff that consist of animal free products and use them after being banded. To be honest many bandsters cant eat many animal products like eggs, meat etc. Therefore some people almost each like a veg. A problem that might be for you is that sometimes bandsters cant eat many carbs like rice bread etc. However everyone is different. I try to list recipes on my blog for bandsters of all kinds ( veg, vegan, carnivore etc) on my blog. If you want to read the experience of a veg trying to survive in Korea then check it out. If you want some advice on some good recipes that will suit your needs and the band please let me know :smile:

The reason for the pre-op diet is to lose weight and hopefully shrink the liver somewhat since it has to be moved around for the band to be placed. It depends on what the doctor wants you to do.

It's very normal to be a little up in the air, though, if you're doubting this WLS as well, you may want to take some time to really decide what you want before you go through with it. It seems like you're looking for the "easy" surgery, which doesn't exist, honestly. I can't say I considered any other type of WLS besides the band; and honestly it isn't as hard as it seems. You eat right, you exercise, you drink your water, and the scale usually cooperates. While with gastric many say the weight does fly off, you still have to follow the same principles: eat right, drink your water, and exercise. It's not going to just come off without hard effort on your part. You didn't put all of your weight on overnight and it's not going to come off overnight, no matter what type of surgery you choose. Gastric still requires work on your part as well. All of the surgeries are tools, not quick fixes.

I'm scheduled for my lap band surgery on October 5th. I actually backed out of gastric bypass in June. I am wondering if its normal to be back and forth between the 2 surgeries. Im so confused. I feel like I want the band for the right reason, and I want the gastric bypass for the wrong reasons. I love the fact that with the bypass the weight just flies off, but I know that the risks are greater. I know that with the band, it will be a lot of work on my part. Please, someone tell me its normal to feel up in the air. :blushing:

I need please some information about the first two weeks after surgery. I don't know yet if I'm going alone or with my husband. I'm a little scarry but very... very excited. How much weight we can loose in the first two weeks?.. Is painfull? How long is gonna take to go back to work??. Thank you guys!:thumbup:

Hi Everyone, My name is Sara and I am new to this site, I am going through Kaiser Richmond and I live in Sacramento. I have completed all the pre-surgical appts and I am finally 6 lbs below Dr. Fisher's goal weight. My appt with the case manager is Oct 4th, so I'm hoping for an Oct surgery date. Anyone thats been through the appt with the case manager there and has any advice I would greatly appreciate it. From what I've heard she isn't the easiest women on earth to deal with. Are any of you going to the Point West Support Group tomorrow?

do you have co-morbidities? If so, I would reeapeal. If not, kaiser has other really great weight loss programs you could look into. they have a medical weight management class (where to do meal supplements and so on) that is supposed to be really great. Just because they say you can't have surgery doesn't mean you can't lose weight.... it just may be in a different kind of program. Plus, if you try their other programs and your body does not respond, that gives them more reason to approve you for weight loss surgery as well.

I don't know if you read my post last week. After my go around with Kaiser.I not sure what do. For days I have been myself to just forget the whole thing just try again on own. Now I am starting to get my fight back on.. I am not sure which way to go, fight the under 40 BMI with my HP,HC fatty liver, or gain some weight plus put weights in clothes. What do you think is the best route? NIH Requirements for Weight Loss Surgery The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is considered one of the world's foremost medical research centers. The NIH has set patient criteria for weight loss surgery which states that eligible patients should have a BMI of 40 or higher (morbidly obese) or a BMI of at least 35 with co-morbidities (obesity related health conditions) such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, high cholesterol, or hypertension (high blood pressure) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Eligible patients must also have attempted and failed at previous weight loss efforts and need to pass a psychiatric evaluation to be recommended for weight loss surgery.