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That was a huge cheat... fat, carbs and sugar. Don't do it again or you may wake up from surgery bandless. It's been known to happen. Breaking ketosis like that will also make your appetite come back like crazy, making the next week more miserable. The time it takes to shrink you liver depends on how fatty it was to begin with, and that depends on your weight and your genetics. There are some perfectly skinny people out there who naturally have fatty livers. If the liver is still too fatty by the time the surgeon gets in there, it will be too dangerous to use the retractor on it without risk of damage. Starving it of carbs and sugars makes it tighten up and the retractor is less likely to damage it. Livers bleed like crazy if you nick em, and so it is a potentially serious complication the surgeon won't risk.

I planned on taking 2 weeks off, and if I didn't have complications that wound up keeping me out an additional 2 weeks, I'd have been fine with returning to work after 2 weeks. Of course I think it depends on the type of work you do. I'm at a desk all day, and sitting was a little uncomfortable at first. Getting in and out of cars can be uncomfortable for some. In my case, I wasn't able to get into my car until the 3 week mark I think without pain. I got fatigued easily the first few days out of the hospital, but it didn't stop me from doing things around the house and going for walks outside.

I am about 8 1/2 months out and can eat a lot. I could actually eat more than I do. But I have a set plan and I really try to stick with it. I am getting from 1000-1200 calories per day, less than 50 carbs, and 80-100 grams of Protein. My weight loss has slowed way down, but I am about 10 pounds from goal. Still, I am losing, just a pound every week or so. I'm good with that. I do allow myself to partake naturally at luncheons, business meetings, family gatherings, special occassions. I have pizza once a week and eat all that I can - which is one piece! Rest of the time, I stick to the plan. I'm so grateful. Surgery went well. No complications. Lost lots of weight. Can tolerate most foods. How lucky is all that??

This should be covered as a post op procedure. I had a complication after surgery once and it was covered as post op. Call your doctor and don't worry. He will fix it.

Let's see... here are some things to consider. Here's my story. I had a band for 3 years. I was successful until my band slipped and I had serious enough complications that my quality of life wasn't too good and I started regaining weight. Once that I happened I also had to admit to myself that the band was farily unpleasant even when I was losing weight. I hated the feeling of food sitting at the top of my stomach and I had frequent sliming and stuck food issues. But I had just kind of been in denial about all my issues because my weight loss was good. I fought for insurance coverage for revision for over a year so I had lots of time to do research. My insurance would cover a new band but not a revision to anything else. It was a long, soul-destroying process - no point in detailing here . For a revision, I was willing to go anywhere in the country or Mexico and I spent a lot of time reading boards and researching stats. I also found out about the sleeve and spent lots of time researching it and bypass. I also went to an OH conference, met with several surgeons, did phone consults, you name it. I even watched video of all of the surgeons I was considering doing the procedure. I admit it, I'm a compulsive researcher. Surgeons - in Washington I felt the best choice was Dr. Billing at Puget Sound Surgical. He's done more sleeves than other surgeons in the area. He's pioneered a technique he refers to as a "lap-sleeve". He's always interested in learning and sharpening his skills - I found him to be both confident and caring without the arrogance that afflicts so many surgeons. Dr. Billing removed my lap band in October of 2009. Because of the insurance issues we didn't convert at the same time. He would have but his preference was to wait because he was concerned about damage to my stomach and giving it time to flatten back out and heal before doing the sleeve. The only two other surgeons I was willing to go to were Dr. Cirangle in SF and Dr. Aceves in Mexico. In June I did end up going to Dr. Aceves. I had a scheduling issue and had to have my surgery during a specific week. I also lost my legal case and had to self-pay. Dr. Aceves and his staff were fantastic and I appreciated have 3 full days of care in the hospital. Late this summer I developed a serious hernia. My abdominal wall was separated from my sternum to below my belly button. My primary care doc actually sent me to Dr. Billing who did the repair surgery three weeks ago. Other surgeons could have been kinda pissy in this situation - after I, he didn't do my sleeve. But he understood why I had to go to Dr. Aceves and was more than happy to help me. Once again, he was great, I trusted the surgical decisions he made, and I'm doing well. (He also told me my sleeve looked great and took a picture of it for me while he was in there - nice since he wasn't the surgeon who did it). Bypass or sleeve for revision: I did a huge compilation of research on revisions as part of my legal case. You can read my summary. The bottom line is that a sleeve is an appopriate revision for a failed lap band patient. Dr. Billing believes that sleeve will overtake bypass and may completely replace lap band surgery in the next 5-10 years just because the outcomes are so good. He said something really interesting to me a week ago when I had a follow-up. He told me that his sleeve patients, even his revisions, are far and away his happiest patients. They feel great, they have little to no complications and they seem to have little or no difficultiy maintaining their weight loss. http://vsgappeal.blogspot.com/2010/07/summary-appeal-letter-studies-and.html In my case I had regained my lap band weight loss and was back at 236 when I had my surgery in June. I'm already down to 174. I really didn't expect to lose that quickly. What really amazes me about my old band vs. the sleeve is that it's not just about limiting my volume. I don't know whether it's the grehlin being gone or just how quickly the satiety switch gets set off in a smaller stomach but I just don't really crave food or want to eat to fullness. When I first started eating solids I ate too much a few times and it was really uncomfortable. I backed off a bit so I wouldn't get to that point but it's really more than that. I just feel find and completely uninterested in food after a few bites so it's very easy to stop before my little sleeve is packed full. Somehow the sleeve changed how I feel about food - what I want to eat and when I feel like pushing the plate away. I haven't heard anyone I know say that about their gastric bypass. I also was uncomfortable with the other health issues of bypass like dumping and malnutrition. Another suggestion about surgeons: I've met most of the surgeons in the Seattle area who do weight loss surgeries. I think most are good doctors and are well intentioned. But every surgeon's opinion is colored by their own experience. They have what they do well, they have their comfort zones, and some are more willing than others to push beyond them. Sleeve is new and some surgeons are just now starting to look it it. Others, like Cirangle and Billing, have been doing them awhile and feel confident in the technique and in the successes their seeing with their patients. Dr. Lauter has done some sleeves but not a huge amount. He seemed like a great guy to me but it's worth considering that if he's most comfortable with bypass then that's what he's most likely to suggest to his patients. And it stands to reason that he would. All in all I'd say my research shows the sleeve to be as good and in some ways a better revision option than bypass. I prefer Dr. Billing to other local surgeons and would suggest meeting with him if you have the time to come up north. Even if you don't go with him it's good to have another medical opinion. Take care. I'm sure whatever you decide will be right for you. Happy to answer any questions you might have. At just about 6 months in to my revision I'm no expert but I can certainly share my own experiences so far.

Hi all, Wanted to drop an update on here. I've run in to some more complications post-op than I'd like. I'm that low percentage of patients who apparently have issues. When I actually had my operation, my stomach pouch leaked, so they did a revision on the spot, which basically just means they stapled more off. This resulted in an even smaller pouch than the standard RnY patient. It also meant some very deep stitches to keep everything from moving around. So, post-op, the stitches (which were sealed in place on the surface with staples) were the source of tremendous amounts of pain. I have a high pain tolerance, and hydrocodone wasn't even touching my pain. I ended up going back in, they ran some labs, gave me IV fluids, took the staples out, and told me to continue to lie low, it should heal on its own. After a few more days of my pain being at a 12 on a 10 scale, it did finally get better. Then, earlier this week, I started having an issue with the pureed food I was eating just sitting in my stomach. The only way I could move it was to throw it up. This was happening with food and liquid/water. So I went back in again, and after an upper GI, they determined my stomach was very, very slow to empty. Now I'm waiting for 2 weeks to have them go in with a scope and balloon open my connection from my pouch to my intestine. In the meantime, I'm back on a liquid diet. So, I guess my update isn't really that positive, but there it is. My weight continues to fall off. I'm down 36 pounds from surgery just over 4 weeks ago, and soooo close to being below 300 for the first time in I don't know how long. Those are positive. But I'd really like to be semi-normal now...

Hi there I had my surgery at Barix in Ypsilanti, MI (my fills will be done at their Holland, MI office, which is much closer for me) My Dr. is Dr. Shramm, and I am really happy with him and the whole Barix setup. Surgeries are also done in the town where I live, but the doctor doing them has only 1 year experience, and Dr Shramm was my friend's doctor 4 years ago. Also, bariatric/LB surgery is ALL they do at Barix (Ypsi is just outside Detroit) so I felt that any potential complication would be in good hands. My insurance requires an overnight stay, and I was glad they did (although I didn't get much rest with the respiratory therapist and nurses coming in every 2 hours!) I was on full liquids for 3 weeks after, then blended foods for 2 weeks, then go to "soft foods" (what you could chew without teeth :eyebrows: ) then regular food. I am supposed to not lift anything over 5 lbs for 3 - 4 weeks, stay out of the pool for 6 weeks, and walk 30 min a day or more from day 1 (I did my first "walk" at Kohls the day after surgery - probably not the best idea) I did go back to work on day 8 - I'm a massage therapist and saw just 1 client - and have had no pain, but did feel very tired for the first 2 weeks. I really had to look down and see the "ruffles" on my tummy (surgistrips, starting to come off) to remember I had something so major done. I'd love to hear your experience with fills, choices of food, and weight loss. I am down about 18 lbs 3 weeks after surgery, and back working pretty much full time (4 or so clients a day, up to 3 days a week) Also, if you had surgistrips, and they have come off - HOW do you get the adhesive off!?? :help:

I am becoming increasingly annoyed by older people on this site. Though it is not the intention of some posters, many people come off very condescending in their responses. I am twenty three, my way of life is different than someone who is in their late thirties and forties. My relationship with things like alcohol is different. If someone posts that they just turned twenty one or are about to turn twenty one, I am not going to berate them because of their desire to be a normal twenty year old. I will let them know the complications and that certain things will not work with having surgery. Support. Not tell them they are an alcoholic and have a problem. My rant got a bit specific but is anyone else having these problems/frustrations?

Anjela I'm sorry to hear all that! Hopefully your body will be okay soon and will accept the new change it has. Wow I never take for granted that so far (knock on wood) I'm healthy w/o any complications but I don't blame you, I would it be discourage as well. But keep it up! Keep doing the right thing w/in the circumstances. Sending prayers to you, hang in there

I'm so sorry to hear about your complications. I, too, was sleeved on April 18th. I'm actually feeling really well. I have been walking 3 times a day from 30 minutes to an hour. It has been a lifesaver with the gas pain. Wishing my fellow sleevers a speedy recovery!

Can't believe its already been a week. I did end up having a complication. I was bleeding from the staple line and my blood pressure got to 60/40. They went back in about 5 hours later and repaired it. I needed two blood transfusions. And spent a few unexpected nights in icu. The scariest part was that I had no pre existing conditions I was just overweight. I'm 28. so it really can happen to anyone. I pray that the rest of my recovery is uneventful. hope all is well with everyone else

Glad you are here to get support. Keep posting and reading...a lot of great people here willing to listen and empathize and provide a hand. Hon, if I had answers on how to not be hungry dunng the preop diet, I never would have needed VSG surgery. HA HA It is hard, torture really but worth every single moment of misery you may endure. Preop diet is for your own protection so during surgery you do not have any complications. Reduce the fatty liver and all. Continue to be strong...you can do this! Also, I highly recommend you read under General Sleeve Surgery Discussions the thread about what will you need for surgery. I personally like for post op, a heating pad, G2 gatorade to sip on (do not want to get dehydrated), decaf peppermint tea, chicken Soup (strain out chicken/noodles and diluted) and wear loose clothing. Found that if I did not refrigerate my drinks, they were easier to sip on. Good luck on upcoming surgery and keep us posted to your progress.

Last minute fears are normal. I had a lot of "what if?" thoughts as well. I think I remember reading the stomach cancer post you are referring, but cannot remember all the details. I think that it was not related to vsg, but people who had cancer, so not sure if the correlation could be drawn between the two since we had normal stomachs without disease to begin with...I just cannot remember. As for long term consequences. My family has a history of diabetes, both overweight and healthy weight individuals, so I might not have missed the boat on that. There are also numerous cancers that have killed many (grandparents, great aunts and uncles, cousins) in my family and I'm probably not safe from those either. I guess I just felt in my situation it's a crapshoot. I might as well live as healthy as I can in the time I have on this earth...not saying that I'll do anything to intentionally hurt my health, I personally just felt after my research on the vsg, the pro's outweighed the possible cons. I'm very happy that the surgery is not reversible. I don't ever want to gain all of my weight back. Good luck on your decision. I couldn't have done this if I had MAJOR concerns, but although I had fears of having complications, everything else was settled in my mind. I felt if I made it through the possible complication's phase (although many on here have had them and done just fine as well), I'd live a much healthier, longer life than without the surgery. Good luck coming to a decision you can live with!

Oh Melinda...I'm so sorry that you've had complications. I'm 16 months post banded and have had much success. Posts like yours worry me that things can just as easily go wrong for me as well. I see that you mention that you had no warning or other complcations. Did you get regular follow up with the surgeon's office? I don't know what I'll do if my band goes south. It saved me and I can't imagine not having it. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and if you revise to another WLS.

Hey, A week ago I got a gastric sleeve like the first 4 days I was in a lot of pain. I have a low tolerance for pain, the gas pain was sharp and made me miserable and the surgical incision spots were sore. When I look at my stomach I think it looks more ugly then it looked before. I feel hideous and feel like I’m not gonna get results because all I’m doing is drinking water and sip on a protein shake and take my vitamins. I’ve already been tempted to eat unhealthy foods. The other day I chewed some chicken but I spit it out because I’m not trying to cause myself complications. I guess I’m just venting I also feel weird in the sense that I’m waiting to see myself skinny. Is it normal to feel like? How did y’all feel your first few weeks. Did you have doubts were u happy were u tempted to eat crap? Did u eat it how did you feel?

Hi Deb, I speak from experience - it does get better! After my complications and I went back to work I would carry some deli ham slice wrapped around a string cheese for lunch. I had to make myself eat it and could never finish half of it. Then one day I realized that I had eaten the whole thing! From then on each day was an improvement. Last night I ate about 9 shrimp and 2 deviled eggs. Hang in there! Just take one day at a time; at least try to get enough fluids in so that you dont get dehydrated and cause more problems; and let your tummy heal at it's own pace. It will decide to get with the program! Keeping you in my thoughts.

Hello Straber, I'm happy you are doing well now. It's sad to hear of stories such as yours. More so when the complications occur and the surgery happened to be performed abroad or outside of the US. I understand what you mean about not having a local doctor to help you. I, on the other hand did have my procedure performed in Monterrey, Mexico by a great surgeon. A patient that I met on the day of pre-ops had complications after her surgery, which was performed right after mine. She had breathing problems coming out of anesthesia, she vomitted alot, had horrible gas pains and went home in excruciating pain, weeks later discovered an infection at her port site. Her infection remained for a few months. She phoned our doc. He sent a prescription to her for antibiotics and followed up with her weekly. She finally healed. Recently, she made an appt with a local doc to have her first fill. To her dismay, the doc discovered that her port flipped. They tried an "L" shaped needle to get to the port, but to no avail. After spending $299.00 for an eval with no fill, she contacted the doctor about her flipped port. The doc was more than happy to revise or correct the flipped port at no extra charge. She only had to pay for the flight. Since then she's alive and well and with a fill. She's still losing. She's happy and her problems were addressed by a doctor who cared. So yes I do understand that complications can occur but we have to do our research on our docs before we use them.

I'm from Illinois, just south of Chicago. My medical mess is a little different, but then I guess everyone's is, right? For starters, I have a blood clotting disorder called Antiphospholipid Syndrome. I've had multiple pulmonary emboli since I was 23, and have been on coumadin since then. About two years ago, I thought I had laryngitis. Well, it was a little more complicated than that. I have left vocal cord paralysis, and was unable to speak for 18 months. They were unable to find the cause at that time, but I had an implant inserted into the paralyzed cord. During pre-surg testing, they found some abnormalities with my EKG, and I had to be seen by several specialists before I could get released for surgery. I just wanted to speak again! After that, I held off on seeing any more doctors until the fall. I was just sick of them, and needed a break while my throat healed. When I finally followed up on the abnormal EKG, they found enlarged lymph nodes in my chest, and during a sleep study, they found that I had obstructive sleep apnea and that I also desaturated while lying flat. A subsequent f/u with a pulmonologist and 3 angiograms and many nuclear scans later, they diagnosed me with pulmonary hypertension secondary to sarcoidosis. I'm on oxygen all the time now, and I'm also taking meds for right heart failure. It's no wonder I'm such a risk for surgery with all of this. And there is more that I haven't even included. I used to work as a CNA before I had to quit in 2003, and I've been on SS disability since then. At that time, I hoped to be approved for WLS of some kind and to get my health back on track. Now, my only goal is to increase the quality of life that I do have left, and to actually live instead of the pathetic excuse for life that I've been creating in the last 3 years. There are times that I want to just throw a tantrum about how unfair it is that I was "blessed" with all of this. Faith is not a part of my life. It isn't that I don't believe, I'm just not in a good place for that right now. Either way, my relationship with my higher power is and will always be a personal one, and I don't seek that kind of fellowship here. I'm just hoping to learn more about Lap Banding from a patient's perspective. I've already been to a seminar, and I know the stats, etc. Di

I have an appointment with the PA at my surgeon's office tomorrow. I'm 7 weeks post-op as of tomorrow as well. I do not have any fill at this point. I'm consistently losing (average of 2.25 lbs per week, not including the liquid diet phase). I can definitely eat more than I could immediately post-op but overall I am fairly satisfied with small amounts of food. For example, 2 eggs and half a slice of toast, 1/2 cup cottage cheese and 4 saltines with Peanut Butter on them, 2 oz chicken breast and a few green Beans. It seems to me that the less Fluid in the band, the less complications people experience, so I would like to take a conservative route on fills. I know the PA agrees with that. I feel comfortable with not getting a fill tomorrow, but I'd like opinions from more experienced bandsters please. My overall weight loss since I began my pre-op diet (10 days prior to surgery) is 30.8 lbs in 8 weeks. Edited to add that sometimes I am hungry 2-3 hrs after eating but other times i can go 5 hrs or more. What I usually do is eat a small amount when I'm hungry 2-3 hrs after eating but after that I usually go a longer time without hunger so overall my daily intake averages out.

I had to wait 14 weeks for my first fill due to medical complications, and had only 3 cc's put in as I've had some restriction since having my band placed. After 2 fills, I'm only at 3.5cc's. My surgeon did not want to increase the restriction at all as I am scheduled for surgery this week. At this rate, I believe 4cc's will be the most restriction I want to have. Since my second fill, my level of restriction has increased significantly.

I am getting extremely frustrated. Please let me know if this experience is unique to me. I am 2 weeks post op, and I have not lost any weight in the second week. I know there is a 3 week stall is it possible to have a stall in the second week. I am not getting consistent information from the surgeon about my nutritional requirements and I am concerned because I am not feeling restricted on liquids and maybe I am over doing it. I was not having regrets, but I am starting to now. Also, I am able to start purees tomorrow and not sure what I can and cant have. I have another weird situation. My primary care doctor is the director of a nutritional and weight loss program. I got cleared for surgery by his nutritionist, however she does not specialize in bariatrics. Now I need a nutritionist that does specialize in bariatrics, and the one recommended by the surgeons office says she cant treat me because I did not do the initial evaluation with her. I am at a loss because I don't know what I should and should not be doing. My surgery was uncomplicated, however getting information I need to be a success has been very complicated. My doctor's office has given me contradicting information both pre and post op, and I am beyond frustrated and in tears. I want to be a success but all I see is failure in my future. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

So I was banded yesterday, now I'm going through the motions ("HOLY HELL WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?!"). Either my gas pains haven't started yet, or they passed without much complication. My biggest problem is the deep muscle pain. This pain is ridiculous. My pain meds are helping, but only slightly. It's extremely hard to sleep, because I am a tummy sleeper and I just can't get comfortable on my back. Did any of you use a heating pad? I'm just not sure if it is better to use heat or ice.

I was sleeved on Aug 26 and returning Sept 10 exactly two weeks later. I'm doing extremely well. No complication. Good fluid intake. No pain. I'm really excited to get back to my normal.

This is the first week of my new banded lifestyle. All liquids, it was tough getting 40 grams of protiens and a total of 64 oz of liquids but I did it! I am determined to get this weight off my body. I have a family history of diabetes and strokes. I had 2 cousins die of stroke related complications one just 3 week younger than me. With 2 fused discs and 2 rods and screws in my back losing weight is even more of a necessity. My weight toped out an 294lbs prior to my pre surgery diet and after one week of being banded I now weight 269lbs (170lbs is my goal). I have a long way to go but I am encouraged with my own progress and from the threads I read on this site, you all are very encouraging. I no the Best is Yet to Come. Thanks Dadymon

BBCooks: I am a Physician Assistant and did much research before I took this "big" step. I found the consequences of morbid obesity were much worse than the less than 1% complication risk of lap band surgery. I TRULY understand the concern of failure...the battlefield truly is the mind in this! I am 6 days post op and have already lost 17lbs. I do realize that the weight loss will slow down but will happily take whatever I can get for the jump start and this is great motivation. I have also set goals up that I can meet too feel like I am not failing or "messing up" again! It's truly all about choices....make the choice that you are VERY important and you want to choose a good quality of life! God Bless you!!! Melody