Search the Community

prayers are with you for no complications.

I would also do some research regarding the recall of lap bands by the FDA in recent months. I just felt the complications from the band made it not an option for me and chose the band

Thanks to you all!! I know that ultimately it will be my decision, but it doesn't hurt to get feedback from others. I am continuing my research and hopefully, I will make the right decision. The more I read and watch, I notice so many complications from the band. I also read about so many people going from the band to the sleeve........ Thanks again guys! Off to more researching!

Well I have always been headed in the right direction on the journey to get the sleeve, but so far everything has been so difficult. So many hoops to jump through then each of those hoops came with more hoops and complications and difficulties. Well I went to my nutrition class and nutritionist consult over the past 2 days and finally found people that want to work with me. When I told them I live 5 hours away they said I didn't have to do the support group class before surgery, and just to call or email one of them and they will get me down there in as few visits as possible. The Nutritionist said that I can stay in touch with her through email instead of coming in for appointments.....I am so happy I could cry. All I have to do now is get my sleep study then I have my consult with my surgeon and they give me my surgery date!

Hi. I had my surgery in Charlotte on Nov. 11. I believe Dr. Voellinger is part of the same group as my surgeon. It's called Carolina's Weight Loss Surgery. Dr. Roc Bauman did my bypass at CMC Northeast. Where does your doctor do his surgery? If I'm correct he either does his at CMC University or downtown at Mercy Hospital. The pre-op experience was very complete and and staff was wonderful. I've heard that all the surgeons in this group are excellent. My surgery went well, with no complications. I've saw Dr. Bauman at 1 week and 4 weeks post op. I saw the nutritionist at 2 weeks out. I will meet with the nutritionist once a month for a full year. I'll see Dr. Bauman at 3,6,9 and 12 months. As far as my success, so far so good....... I've lost 34lbs so far. I feel really good with the exception of some constipation. I'm now adding new foods everyday or so, and am tolerating them well. I'd love to hear from you. Good luck.

I'm pretty sure the answer is going to be no, but thought I'd ask anyway. Due to delays by the psych office in faxing over my report, and then the surgeon's office in submitting to insurance, my surgery has been delayed until mid-June at least. I am supposed to go visit my sister at the end of June, and due to a job change and other factors, there is no other time for that visit this summer. Long story but I really do have to go visit her. We will be driving and it's about 12 hours in the car. If I stop every hour to walk around is this even do-able at all? Always assuming there are no surgical complications of course. Otherwise, I have to delay surgery until September. I know that's the most responsible thing to do, but I was so counting on getting started losing weight this summer, not spending another summer miserably hot and sweaty due to chafing, and not having the energy to do much outside. I cannot afford to fly (my kids are going too). I may have to do all the driving, or my oldest son might come along and split it with me, but either way I would stop hourly to prevent any clots.

I have never had any complications. If something tugs or pulls, it usually goes away pretty quickly. Now, it seems for the last week, my port has been hurting me. Either a tugging sensation, or just a sharp pain. Any ideas on what's causing this or more importantly - how do I made it stop? Thanks for your help.

i definitely recommend the sleeve, i have it and i love it!!! recovery is much faster and i haven?t had any type of complications.....plus of course i went with the best doctor in Mexico, Dr. Aceves.

Hi all. I had my sleeve surgery on 8/13. I've had no real complications (minus constipation). I did hit a major stall (17 days) about 10 days post op. Since then I've lost about another 4lbs, making for a total of 23lbs lost in 5 1/2 weeks. I'm stalled again. I did have a surgeon's appointment and before I even brought up the stalls he said he wanted to mention something to me. He asked if I had been diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome. I said no and he said that when he saw inside of my body my fat distribution was consistent with those with Metabolic Syndrome and said he has no doubt that I would have been diagnosed soon without surgery. I asked him what that even meant. He said I would probably lose weight more slowly because it was resilient fat that did NOT want to come off, but once it came off the other fat would start "melting off". When I got home I looked up Metabolic Syndrome. I do sometimes have high blood pressure if I eat high sodium foods, but have never had high blood sugar or triglycerides or any other risk factor. Wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with this and how slow is slow on weight loss? I don't want to make an excuse for slow weight loss or all these stalls and get complacent. Is it possible this surgery will fail because of this? I'm so nervous now and have a million questions I never thought to ask.

Just 22 more LOOOONG days until I'm finally banded. My thoughts are racing around in my head. I'm freaking a bit today, I'm nervous, and I am so anxious to get this over with. I'm ready to start my pre-op diet, this way I know I am doing something to prepare for surgery. I've been reading a lot on the "complications" board, and I have to be honest, It freaks me out a bit. I think the most thing I worry about is erosion. I read on one of the boards that 25% of banding patients will have to have thier band replaced or removed. Thats a pretty high number. But, i guess I'm hoping I'm the 75% that wont have to have anything done. I'm just nervous about everything, I think the not knowing is scary. I know a lot about the band, but everyone is different, how will I handle th band? Will I be an accessive PBer? Will I not lose weight? Will I be a failure? Will I , Will I , will I? The list goes on and on. I just don't want this surgery to be another "diet" attempt. I am so sick of failing at every diet. I always do so good, I lose 20, 30, and even 70 lbs, and everyone goes on and on how great I look, then its like I wake up one morning and gain it ALL back. Why? I still haven't figured that out. Its like I eat one thing and I put on 20 lbs. I swear, I can gain 10 lbs in a night, and I'm NOT lieing. I've done it, I swear it. I hope this time next year, I can reflect on my journey and say this was the BEST decision I had ever made. I hope to say I have lost 70 lbs, or 60, or even 50. Scale this morning 229.2 (I'm about to throw the scale away, I promise.)

I had one as well. Three actually. The first put in on the surgery table while I was out. They removed it while I was still in icu, but dealing with complications. So needless to say a new one went in. After 24 hours tried it again without that one, again had to insert a new one. They are not uncomfortable to have in. Felt like to me it helped me ease into recovery a bit better. Having new ones inserted when you are not knocked our was a little painful. Good luck to you!

But I'm terrified. I'm definitely a rule breaker (hence the slipped band 3 1/2 yrs later from frequent vomiting. Never did learn how to eat slowly). My band had a minor slip last year, my dr took out 1/2 of my fill and it worked. no more reflux, so he decided to leave it alone. In the last year I gained 21 lbs. I HATE dieting, why I got the band in the first place. So I've been on the fence for months whether I wanted to just go ahead and revise it even tho I had no symptoms. This past Friday nite, I started having stomach pain. Not bad, just bothersome. Monday nite (after having constant pain for 3 days) it got unbearable and I ended up in the hospital. My band was herniated (a bad slip). They unfilled my 6cc and told me I'd need a revision. My band dr is 3 hrs away, so I haven't been seen by him yet. I called the insurance girl at my drs office and asked if revision would be covered under my Medicare. It is, even tho my bmi is now 27 cuz it's a complication. They don't cover plication, however, which is what I wanted with my band - to improve my chances of future slips. She talked a little about the sleeve (which is also covered) and said most band patients convert to the sleeve. Like I said, I haven't even talked to my dr about it yet so I'm not sure what he's gunna say, but I started doing research on the sleeve today. I loved my band. Helped me to lsoe 104 lbs. But it's so much maintenance - always going 6 hrs round trip for fills/unfills/tweaking and alot of money involved (Medicare only pays for fills for the first year) and worries about slipping. The sleeve doesn't require maintenance, does it? How long do you spend in the hospital? Is it like gastric bypass where over the years your stomach can stretch back out? Whats the difference between GB and the sleeve? Any and all info is greatly appreciated!! Even tho I'm only about 28 lbs from my 135 goal, I know I'd gain back every lb that I've lost if I don't have a tool to work with. I proved that this past year with less than optimal restriction. I never did learn how to eat healthy - the band just stopped me from eating too much. Thanks! Marci

I think about surgery day. It's weird, but I worry more about surviving the surgery itself than the actual complications you can have from it....I feel guilty sometimes, like I could leave my kids motherless because I want to be thin again...but my nut told me I deserve this and death is rare...I have decided to believe her. I don't even want to worry about it. I push it to the back of my mind most days. Sometimes it comes creeping up though.... Also, I am worried about what I will be like coming out of anesthesia. Like, I guess we get either super chatty,tired, or cry...when I had my wisdom teeth out years ago I was told I cried...I hope I follow suit again lol....because I don't remember....I think it would be less embarassing to cry. I watch too many youtube videos lol....I cheated on my diet yesterday! I ate three Andes mint chocolates oh my and one today...I fed the rest to mykids so wouldnt be tempted...I have three kids so they each got like three a piece..... I was doing so well smh. I think it liquifies too and will be out of my system and not cause my liver to enlarge lol.....man I miss real food....but getting on the scale this morning and seeing 200.4 made me tear up. I am almost afraid to get on the scale tomorrow. Onederland is a huge milestone and to be under 200 is significant for me...I never imagined in a million years I would be over 200lbs.... or eat a whole box of mac and cheese in one sitting either but here I am lol....striving to be a better me

I wasn't really allowed to walk after surgery in the hospital (screwup and misunderstanding from the nurses) but ended up back in the hospital 2 days after release with pneumonia (caused by not walking and moving around much go figure). But when I was in that weekend, I watched the clock and at least once every hour, I got up and walked 2-3 laps around the floor (2 nurses stations). And I sat up in a chair a lot instead of staying in bed. Once I was home at least 3 times a day I got up and walked about halfway down the street and back, adding a little more distance most days. I don't think you should try to set a distance goal but maybe a time goal and the number of times a day. Then just do what feels ok. I think your body will tell you to stop if you try to do too much. Best wishes on the surgery and GET UP AND WALK (from someone who had complications because I wasn't allowed to).

Hey, I had my hernia repaired during surgery. I had a few complications the first four months couldn't keep nothing down. I don't think it had anything to do with the hernia. Don't worry all will be okay. Congrats on getting your sleeve soon and joining the losers bench! Woo hoo!

:rolleyes2: Well, I should have started this blog 2 years ago when I was banded, but alas, I didn't. I was banded March 31, 2006. I started @ 250#, lowest point has been 188, back up to 206. I had some issues w/ my band about 8 months ago or so. Something got stuck which started the awful PB cycle, swelling etc...anyway, it got to the point where anything I ate was coming back up. So I had some fluid removed. I really don't remember how much was taken out but I went down to 1.8 cc on a 10 cc medium band. So....here I am about 8 months later and almost 20# heavier because I DIDNT follow the band guidelines. I got lazy. I have to really stop and think.. OK I went through this major surgery to get healthy and now what am I doing! So, I went back to Dr. Snow last week and got a fill to 2.1 cc. So far so good. Feeling the restriction, no complications. Today is Super Bowl Sunday and my fill was on Wednesday. So, in 5 days I'm down 3 pounds. I am happy. I am again getting on track. I am going to start blogging regularly (hopefully) just as an accountability measure for myself and to have emotional release. Also, because if anyone chooses to read this blog I want to have a positive impact on someone else who has been banded. Being overweight is torture for the mind, body and soul. I am not a vain person. I just want to be healthy. So, the journey begins again..........Stay tuned!

I had two weeks of a low-carb, high-Protein diet pre-op -- but NOT liquid. There isn't anything magic about liquids pre-op, at least not to my surgeon and dietician. I did great and my surgeon has an exceptionally low complication rate overall.

My surgeon told me it was ok to travel after three weeks. You don't want to travel before that in case you have complications from surgery

1. First of all, don't let their opinions make you falter. Yes, some people DO fail. However, most of the time that can be traced back to them getting back into bad eating habits... i.e fast food, drinking soda again, eating cake, cookies, ice cream, and massive amounts of bread and pasta. And statistically ANY surgery can cause nerve damage not just weight loss surgery. It depends a lot on your own body, how many other prior surgeries you've had, if you have nerve disorders like different types of neuralgia, Fibromyalgia, etc. 2. I read up on statistics when deciding on my surgery and Gastric Bypass has a 0.14% chance of mortality in the operating room (essentially 1 in every 1000 people), 1% in the first 30 days and 6% in five years. However, you have to think about the fact that many of us have been overweight for a very long time and it takes a toll on our bodies which is likely the reason for the 6%. Some people just waited too long to do anything about it. Avoid NSAIDS like the plague though because once you have Gastric Bypass that causes massive bleeding and you'll land yourself in the hospital. No ibuprofen or asprin for you! (though you likely already know this lol) And I TOTALLY understand the facial pain! I have TN (trigeminal neuralgia) and it was misdiagnosed for YEARS which means it didn't get the proper treatment and led to it getting worse and worse until I was in constant pain for MONTHS! I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't talk because of the sheer amount of pain I was in and I would cry myself dry. I was exhausted, in agony, miserable and desperate to find an end to the pain. I would literally go to work and cry while I worked. I had brain surgery in 2017 and it had a similar mortality rate to the GB surgery and had some other rare complications and even some common ones. I was at peace with whatever happened. If I was one of the rare 1 in 1000 that died then it'd be an end to the pain, if I was one of the other 999 people then I had a 95% chance that the surgery would work for me and a 5% chance that it'd do nothing to help me. Even then, I knew it was just a temporary solution since TN has no cure. And it did work. For two years. The pain came back last year, but the surgery is amazing in the fact that it's kept the most debilitating type 1 pain away. I have atypical TN (which is apparently rare) and have had both type 1 and type 2 pain. I had the surgery because the type 1 pain is like being stabbed repeatedly in the face with a scalding hot poker where it twists and twists and twists and then repeats. When I have flares I only suffer from the type 2 pains now and hope that the type 1 never comes back! Also, I haven't had a flare since August! I hope that everything goes well for you in your surgery and I hope they can eventually figure out what's causing your other health issues so that you can get the necessary treatment without those issues getting worse. I wish you the best!

Tikvah i can answer that i was prescribed the machine and i tried using it or a long time the problem was it kept waking me up when it smashed on my face when i would move. I kept trying though eventually i was told even if i wore it for half the night while i tried was better than nothing. Besides mine was covered by insurance but not all are and there not exxpensive but not cheap either. I no longer need to use it anymore after surgery but i also understand why the surgeon wants the sleep study done cause depending on the severity it can cause complications while on Operating table

They only give you so many pain meds, and then ween you off because even though they are via i.v. they can upset your stomach...but my stomache was fine. The pharmacy won't deliver, and I have no help to get me meds. My daughter knew of another pharmacy that will deliver, so the surgeon's office called them in, but they never brought them..though they told me they were. Now I have to wait til tomorrow for antinausea meds...and I can barely hold anything down without feeling sick. The complications were that my blood pressure was dropping, heart rate going up. Unbearable pain!!! And, yes, this amount of pain is normal. I had to be in the hospital for 4 days...and could have stayed another day-today, even. They wanted to boot me on day 2!!!! Effing crazy! The nurses also did not want to boost me in the bed...nor when they left me lay in the hall in a bad position on a gernie while waiting for another scan to look for leaks. I have bad asthma and my lungs were still part collapsed from the vent--which happens to everyone...but which affects an asthmatic more. After the scan, they techs left me lay for 2 hours in the hallway in supine position. All my effort of breathing went out the window and I lost a day of recovery. No one seemed to care about that, except my surgeon who said she would try and make sure I had a normal day and that my pain meds were not missed. Almost seemed like half the nurses were bothered that I wanted the door closed as I tried to ambulate to the rest room. One made a comment that I would chew her head off if she didn't close the door. When I first got to my room, there was a woman there getting discharged, who had visitors, who would not shut the hell up. I was in so much pain, and the staff would not make her have respect. I finally said that I asked for a private room because of my PTSD, which they knew about, and that if I was a soldier, that PTSD would be cared for, too. Finally, only then, did they clear out the other bed, and not fill it unless a trauma victim needed it. The nurses the first few days were mean! I felt no caring or kindness toward me until the very end of day 2...like 3rd shift...Marie was her name. The surgeon did tell me that the surgery went very well and that I am her star patient...said I was "in shape" and they knew it by how my body tolerated everything in surgery. I never thought I'd hear that about fat-ole-me..but it's true...trying to eat healthy, and exercising a few times a day--which amounts to walking, made a huge difference. They gave me a nurse who will come to my house a couple times a week just to look at my incisions and take my vitals. I asked the woman to help me with the shower, and she said no. What's the point!? She also was repeating herself, did not listen to my directions, and annoyed me in general...knocking over my little cup of protein shake as she leaned on my pillows to get something...ridiculous. She did not offer to get my meds from somewhere for me, either. That is what i need help with. I recommend to everyone here, that you severely exhaust ALL alternatives to losing weight before taking on this massive tearing up of your guts! Heed my words, because though some people are darn lucky to not feel much...you may be one of the one's who suffer endlessly, like me. See if you can find another way. My son has been home for 2 hours and is trashing the kitchen, already...already I have to yell at him...which is making me feel sad and cry.

Hi, I'm waiting on my insurance to approve my band to RNY revision. They have approved my port revision (three months ago - which I had to wait on pre-existing condition clause) until now to have. I was banded April 11, 2008 by Dr. John Bagnato, Albany GA. Assessment day I was at 271, with a pre-op diet I went into Surgery at 259 pounds. By my first fill I was down about twenty pounds - or perhaps I should say attempt at a first fill - my port had flipped. So I had to schedule revision surgery, which I had in July. I think lost an average of 15 pounds a month. I found out right after my revision surgery my husband was having an affair - emotionally I was a wreck but I think it gave me a push. By November I was down to 214 (my lowest weight). I worked out, followed all the rules - strictly and even ran in a 5k. My marriage continued to deteriorate and by December I asked for a divorce. We separated in February. I ended up moving to my hometown in Florida (four hours away) in March. It never dawned on me the impact of moving to another state would have on my health due to my band. I ended up getting sick and had to get an unfill a few months after moving to Florida. I went back to Georgia for one fill which I had to have removed due to esophagous spasms. When my divorce was final in October 2009 I lost my benefits. I quit my job when I left and it took me four months to find a job (and it didn't offer benefits). But with two small children to feed I didn't feel I had much choice. So no doctor, no follow-up. I tried to find a doctor in Florida to see me, closer than four hours away. No one would take me. I tried everything. I finally found a doctor in Pensacola that would see me. He was able to put in 1cc (I have a 10cc band) in November 2010. I went back in March for my second fill and he couldn't access my port. By the way my port is in my chest, stitched to my left breast muscle). He said it has to be moved. We filed the insurance and they denied me due to pre-existing condition (June 2010 is when my insurance took effect, so I had to wait until June 2011 for anything related to my band). In May I started having port pains and reflux issued - I had an upper GI done. I have mobility issues in my esophogus and some erosion...so I'm told that the band has to come out. I had an appointment Wednesday of this week with him. He confirmed it and we discussed alternatives. I had been reseraching the RNY for a few weeks (once he told me bye bye band)...so now I'm waiting on insurance approval. I'm curious how many of us are out there? and if it is specific to the doctor or type of band? Is there a specific timeline when the failures/complications begins. For the longest time I blamed myself - thought I'd done something wrong. It appears after getting back on LBT (after a two year departure), I'm not the only one. I really hope this RNY site takes off...looking forward to talking to everyone...

Hello all, I joined this weekend and have been reading so many posts. I had the lap band in june 2007 and I still have it. On April 23, I will have the lap band removed, and the sleeve preformed on the same day. I am scared, overwhelmed and nervous. I want to be able to enjoy life without the huffing and puffing. I weight more now than before I put the band in. The band was a horrible mistake and I am so afraid of failing this procedure. I saw the anesthesiologist today and he spoke to me about complications and of my heart not resisting surgery. This freaked me out. I do suffer from high blood pressure but Im on 25 milligrams of metropolol which is not a high dosage. I really need words of encouragement because I think Im getting cold feet and might just not do it. I so want to run with my kids and enjoy life with my family.

aj, i think you are normal. you are half way home! give a call to your physician to see what suggestions they might have or if you can step up to mushies. the one thing that I have learned about this process is ....the rules are all over the place! some have liquids for 1 week some have a few days and then some have it for weeks. I am only speaking about surgeries without any complications here. The one thing I will tell you is that first bite of mushy food will be heaven! to this day my poached egg is and was the best thing in the world! you can do this!

Oct. 6,2016 I weighed in at 179. I'm 5'6". BMI OF 29. I'm diabetic and have high blood pressure. I was having complications due to diabetic neuropathy in my stomach. Before it could get to the point of needing a pacemaker I made the decision to have gastric sleeve surgery. This would illuminate or reduce the severity of my diabetes. I've only lost 20 lbs in 3 months time. I'm disappointed as I still have 20 lbs left to lose and can't seem to lose any more. I'm also losing a ton of hair. Can someone out there tell me what I'm doing wrong. I'm also exercising like never before. Sent from my LG-K550 using the BariatricPal App