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Wheetsin, I think I had the same name on LBT. It's been a while. My update: I saw my surgeon again this morning. There was some confusion, as I thought they had rescheduled my surgery for 8/24 (instead of 8/31). But it was really scheduled for SEVEN/24. Um, that's next Tuesday, and for a variety of reasons, I just cannot make it work. The big one is I am out of town for work. The next available option he had was 8/17. which was 3.5 weeks later. Fortunately, my surgeon is awesome. He worked me in on 8/3, so I don't have to move heaven and earth, AND I can get it done sooner. The bad news is my band is EFFFED UP! For real. If you've seen your band on film, you know it should look like a slash, '/'. Mine is a perfectly round, big, open, 'O', Yep, it has not only turned, but it has flipped and twisted. Which means my poor tummy is being drug up and through the O and then back down. Not good. He said he's seen worse though. I am thankful for once that my overachieving ways didn't have me in first place. He can't believe I don't have any restriction based on the band's position, but I really don't. Oh, also, my band has ZERO Fluid in it, even though it should have 9cc. Yep, it is a mess. I wonder if he'll give it to me as a souvenir! Sooooo, it's bad enough that I have to wait at least FOUR MONTHS between surgeries for my poor tummy to heal. BUT because he is seriously the most awesome doctor ever, he reassured me that I am NOT to worry about weight gain. He wants me to focus solely on letting my tummy heal. He said he doesn't care if I lose 10 lbs or gain 50 lbs between now and my sleeve, he just wants to see me healed. He said I will get it all off and then some with the sleeve. In fact, he insisted I will be sitting in his office a year from now asking for plastic surgeon referrals because I'll have lost so much weight. It seems impossible, but I know it is true. Whether I have the surgery now or in a few months, a year from now, it won't really make a difference. A lower risk of complication is worth it in the end. There you have it - the latest and greatest from this battling bandster. I have finally stopped crying. I'm still not happy at the prospect of being restriction-free for an additional five months or so, but it is what it is. I didn't have restriction for about six months with the band, so I just need to get in that same head space and do what I need to do. Thanks for reading if you've made it this far!

Beth, my dr. tried to talk me into gastric bypass because the loss is quicker and thus more encouraging. Despite his recommendation, I chose the band because I feel bypass gives you an unhealthy loss (too quick) with the ensuing complications (malnutrition, etc.). I wanted a steady loss, a less invasive procedure, and I wanted to be able to use my stomach to digest my food and absorb Vitamins, rather than bypassing it. Most band patients don't start steady loss until after a fill (or a few fills) so they can get discouraged -- that's what my dr was trying to get me to avoid (I would imagine he gets a fair number of whining about "when am I going to start losing already!"). But I'd rather wait for the losses to start and do it a bit more healthfully than have a dramatic loss that's not as healthy. So I chose the band. If your dr recomments bypass, you may want to ask if the above reason is why.

Heya everyone! I am about 12 hours away from the actual time of my surgery tomorrow morning, and I am terrified. Even though I am in the program at a Center of Excellence and my doctor has an amazing success rate with an incredibly low rate of complications, my anxiety is still through the roof. I adhered to my pre-op diet and all the testing I had to go through came back A-OK (my PA told me that I am, and I quote, "a healthy fat kid"), but my mind keeps racing with all the "what-ifs". How did you veteran sleevers deal with your pre-op anxiety, if you had any? Also, is there anyone else getting sleeved on or around tomorrow (December 9th)? I'd love to have some surgery buddies! Lots of huggles to everyone! ~ Polara

Welcome to Lapband talk. You are in the right place. This waiting time will give you the opportunity to do some soul searching. This whole process is a mental thing. I had the roller coaster ride. I had my hopes up, was denied by insurance, appealed, and got the denial reversed. Had my surgery on Sept 30th. and ended up having complications and ended up in the hospital for a week. I have no regrets, but this band and my new life mean everything to me. So, while you are waiting, read EVERYTHING you can get your hands on. This site is a great resource. There are also books out there too. Good Luck!!

Yes i understand totally I would definitely pick the sleeve in that case. What I am trying to get is if they basically similar why is the complication rate much more? Maybe he meant its the same weight loss. Congrats on your weight loss. I get cyst crazyy everytime i turn around its another cyst.

I went to the surgeon who originally placed my lap band today to talk about the surgery I need to have to remove it due to erosion and subsequent revision surgery. I had my head completely reconciled with having vertical sleeve revision and then he threw in a new option. For the past year, he has been doing banded plication surgery. In my particular situation, due to the erosion, we would do the surgery to remove my band first, give my stomach time to heal, and then I would have a second surgery to revise to the banded plication. For those of you who are not familiar with this procedure, it involves folding the stomach in on itself and stitching it to achieve a sleeve like effect. This is a similar procedure to the old stomach stapling procedure but much more effective due to technique and the usage of sutures as opposed to staples. Then, he will place another band at the top of the sleeve thereby essential having two weight loss surgeries at one time. My understanding is that the plication is better for achieving immediate weight loss, the band is better for long term weight loss. Combining them is essentially the best of both worlds with a few added benefits. First, because you have restriction from the plication, you don't have to fill the band as fast or as much in order to achieve satisfactory restriction. Second, because of the more slender shape of the stomach, incidences of slippage are greatly reduced. Third, there is no need to dissect 90% of your stomach. Fourth, if you do have a problem with the band, it can be removed and you will still have restriction from the plication. As always, there can be complications. Sutures can come undone. There can be necrosis of the upper part of the stomach right below the band. My understanding is that so far, the complication rate is extremely minimal and weight loss results have been comparable to the sleeve. I have to admit that the thought of not having to cut my stomach is appealing to me. At the same time, the thought of putting in another band after my first one eroded is a little unnerving. My surgeon is not pressuring me to do either one. He wants me to do what I'm comfortable with but he is very excited about the results he has seen with this surgery. I am 52 and this is more than likely my last chance at getting to be where I want to be. This is still considered to be investigational and is not covered by insurance but I believe the majority of the costs will be covered by research study funds. I have complete confidence in my surgeon. He secondary specialties are liver transplants and pediatric surgery and he is always at the cutting edge (pardon the pun) of the latest and greatest bariatric surgeries. I just want to do the right thing for me. My instinct is to let him get in there and take out my band, take a look around and see what kind of damage my band did to my insides. Then, make a more educated decision about which surgery would be right for me. As an aside, he completely refuses to do gastric bypass. What would you do??

YOu showed up at a good time, Monymo! We've had several members experience some problems and complications lately, so it is really great to hear from someone who is 4 years out! Thanks for joining! Cindy

I would look in several places for information...on this forum read throught the posts under lap band to sleeve revisions. Read Sleeve success stories. Also search for post about would you do it again on this forum to get the pros and cons of sleeve. Then go to the Lap Band forum and read the success stories, but also search for posts for the struggles people are having. I would look at success rates, weight loss totals, long term weight loss maintenance and complications. Finally I would ask your surgeon. My two cents. I was planning on getting the lap band. Several reasons I chose sleeve instead: 1. better overall percentage of weight loss with sleeve vs band 2. faster weight loss with sleeve vs band 3. no maintenence (fills, unfills etc.) on sleeve 4. no foreign device in my body that could errode, slip or cause other complications. I am 11 years older than you and had starting weight of 272 at 5'9". I had no health issues other than mild sleep apnea and being overweight. I am glad I made the choice I did.

okay here are my two cents worth. I was banded in 07 i am down 190 pounds.. I started at 424 and was 42 years old. The band "saved my life" i still have 50 or 60 pounds i want / need to loose. I started talking to my RN friend who also turned into a coordinatior for our Doctor, about getting plastics in next year and what the costs would be and what would be able to do. When i had my band, they were doing 20-25 bands a week plus other surgeries. They are now removing 5-7 a week going to sleeve or bypass. so 25% are revising now. there are complications coming out and she says now that it is not if there will be issues but when. the band will fail and if it does it could be and ER surgery. So on October 16th, i will be going in for a revision. Praying that I am ready for those wonderful 30 days of liquids and mushys!!! Good luck with your decision it is a life changer!

I’m a previous lap-band patient gone haywire, thus causing it to be removed several years ago so I’m larger now than when I had it placed. I’m going to have surgery. Researching options and costs right now. How many of you would recommend the mini bypass? If so, why and is there a difference in percentage of weight lost and cost? I know that it has less chance of surgical complications. Thanks in advance.

My ins co paid for what was supposed to be revision and ended up bein a removal and then approved the replacement of either band or sleeve and I was almost at goal weight. The argument is that it took the band to get you to your weight nd you would still need the band for maintenance. Now they may have approved mine because I think we all new surgeon 1st surgeon screwed up. My stomach was adhesed to my spleen which I believe was an inexperienced surgeon touching something w instruments he shouldn't. If they don't approve I would definitely appeal w or without an atty. but because it's a complication of first surf they usually will ok it.

Thank you guys!! I can't even express how much I appreciate the support!! I definitely have that "alone" feeling, even though I've told a bunch of people. There's just no substitute for people who are going through the same thing! My biggest challenge at this point is the anxiety, which is actually great progress. I feel very confident and excited about "working the sleeve" and I'm ready to tackle all that head-on. I just need to keep working on my anxiety around the surgery itself (and post-op healing so I don't have complications). Acupuncture, hypno, mindfulness meditation... I'll get there. I'll get there! :-) Thank you again!

Wow, my surgery is now only one week away on Wednesday Sept. 26th :clap2:. I am excited and scared :omg: at the same time. I went for my pre-op class yesterday where I learned proper eating habits :hungry: and met others that will be getting the lap band. I will have my hietal hyrnia repaired when they put in my band which can cause more swelling and a little longer recovery time, but I'm ready! On another note... I lost my brother in law last week 9/12/07 after he went in for surgery to remove a tumor on his kidney. :think There were complications during surgery and he lost too much blood and suffered a heart attack. He passed the day after he had surgery. This has been very tramatic for me and made me even more nervous. No surgery is minor surgery! I'm just praying :mad: that God will watch over me through this journey and give me the strength to get through each day one day at a time!!!!

Has anyone had complications? I only had my first adjustment on September 11, 2007. I am still getting sick daily when eating food. I am living on Carnation Instant Breakfast, Cream of Chicken Soup and Pudding. Is this normal? HelenB:help:

Erosion is where the band just gradually erodes a hole in your stomach and works its way through. Its pretty serious, the band must be removed and the stomach allowed to heal, sometimes a new band can be placed, but its not uncommon for there to be just too much scar tissue for this to be possible. Slippage is where the band simply slips down on the stomach, which is what I suspect you mean by twisting. A loop of stomach will bulge out the top of the band and it may cause you to either lose restriction or to make you unable to even swallow Water. Sometimes it comes with only very mild symptoms like heartburn and reflux. A slipped band can sometimes be fixed by unfilling, and the stomach will readjust itself, or it can be repositioned and sewn back down or removed and replaced. It doenst usually do so much damage that a new band isnt possible. Twisting of the stomach on the other hand, major, life threateningly serious but not really a band issue, that's something that can happen with techniques like bypass and sleeving, where the new tiny stomach can twist over on itself, cutting off blood supply. Erosion seems to be one of those things, an infection in the port is very serious as it can travel up the tubing and eventually lead to erosion, but it doesnt often have a known cause. Slippage on the other hand - treat your band badly and you're way more likely to have problems. If you pb daily or even weekly, constantly overeat, and have your band really tight, then you're putting yourself at risk. never ever ignore symptoms like reflux etc, it means you're too tight and that's not good, bands are not supposed to restrict you to eating like a sparrow, they're supposed to reduce the amount you can eat from gargantuan to small and YOU have to do the rest of the work that causes you to lose weight. The high incidence of band problems, I firmly believe, is becuase being a weight loss surgery people AND surgeons simply expect it to perform as well as bypass and expect too darn much of it. They tighten it up and up and up and cause these problems. A moderately firm band that provides portion control but not much else is what is safest and healthiest and that means of course, that there's a lot of people who are just too disordered and unwell in their eating to be able to work effectively with a band. Not a moral judgement in the slightest, but a simple observation. If you treat your band well, dont have it too tight and make up a lot of your calorie deficit with good choices and good exercise, you stand a good chance of being absolutely fine for years to come. But bands are a bit of a problematic surgery, there's a lot of complications that come with them and you can just be unlucky too.

Lapband is not as effective as the other two surgeries. Lapbanders generally don't keep the weight off. To that effect, sleeve and bypass keep it off if you use the tool as it's intended. But there is nothing foreign stuck inside my body (as is the case with lapband), there is no open port (as is lapband) and there is not upkeep at a dr's office x amount of time to get a fill (yes we have general health follow ups, but IDK that seems better to me). Lapband you are sticking a foreign object into your body and it can slip, erode, scar the tummy, have issues. Just wasn't for me. I will say for sleeve, it's scary as your tummy is split in half (or less rather) and then shut up and can come undone. But I liked that idea better than having my guts rearranged and I don't have to worry on malabsorption (as RNY, aka bypass). Dumping syndrome scares me to be honest, which is more likely to occur with RNY as you have less area to travel through your body if you eat that sugar filled snack. I understand that you can still encounter it with sleeve, but sleeve just seemed less hard on the body in my opinion. (then there is my experience but..... I did this to accompany my workouts, I did those daily previously so I view the sleeve as a tool to help me overcome my issues with food - it MAKES me eat less and so far, it's working - too well - I'm still going through the food progressions to solids but I'm not eating enough which is stalling my weight loss) I had crappy insurance too btw, so any of the procedures was an out of pocket expense for me. I've had complications, possibly having another one now, but you know what? I'm 50+ lbs down and I don't regret it. I'm excited to go to the gym and now I have to make myself DO LESS in there. Who knew? Now if I can get my head hunger/emotional eating and triggers figured out, this lil mama will be more and more of a loser. Yeah! I love being a loser! Good luck on your decision!

My name is Mckenna am 25years old and live in texas. I currently have the realize band and have been having so many complications and I am going on about 5 years with it now. Since my problems have Been getting worse I finally said enough is enough and I am doing a revision to have the sleeve done the same day my band is taken out. Because of my complications I don't have to go through the waiting period I met with my surgeon today and after my nutrition meeting tomorrow I am all set to go as soon as the team or docs review my case because I use a center of excellence. If anyone could inbox me or comment with your wisdom or experiences with your sleeve that would be great! Thank you!

My Doctor said that a reinforced gastric sleeve is to prevent bleeding and staple-line leak, which are the most common complications. They first staple the sleeve and then sew it.

My surgery is November 20th and I can't wait! I feel like my life is on hold until then. I have a wonderful husband and a great life but I hate the way that I look and I'll let it limit me so much. I want to start letting myself fully enjoy life, and be happy with myself. I of course have my fears......complications.....regain....failure...will it work for me? But I have never doubted this is what I need to do since I made the decision to have surgery. I'm 3 weeks I will be starting my 1 week liquid preop diet! I wouldn't mind skipping that part! Lol..but it will all be worth it.

Had surgery 4/26 no complications down feon 234 to 168

I have Regence Blueshield of Idaho insurance and they specifically exclude any treatment or surgery related to weight loss, including complications that arise from any such treatments. (Despite paying over $3500 in premiums to them every year....F.....ers!) anyways, I've researched several other insurance companies in Idaho and they are all the same (ditto to previous exclamation). Does anyone have individual insurance in Idaho that has had bariatric surgery covered? I'm going to self pay for the surgery itself because I'm not about to kiss their as....es and jump though all their hoops, but I was hoping to have coverage for any post op complications that may arise. Thanks!

I have had significant left side and shoulder pain since I got the Lap-Band placed, August 6, 2013. I know that it is due to the phrenic-vagus nerve being stimulated. This nerve has to do with breathing and eating as well as your eyes and sinuses. I had very significant pain there directly post-op, but I passed it off as gas pains. Since recovery, I have had pain there at almost all times. I have not been able to sleep on my left side for 11 months, making my right hip have joint problems (that's a whole other issue though). I am wanting to know if anyone has had experience with this? My surgeon is recommending a complete unfill, so I will have an inactive band, causing me nerve damage (I have 5cc in my 10cc band, no restriction). I understand that this pain can be common to have sporadically, but is usually not constant as it is with me. I have been in pain that is significant enough to keep me from going to work and school. Has anyone else had an experience with a complication like this? Or does anyone know of the complications that my band rubbing against a nerve could have long term? If so, what was done to treat this issue? I am only 18, so I was planning to have this band in for the long haul, not to have serious complications haha. Thanks!

Stalls happens to nearly everyone. Personally I suspect that the people who do not hit stalls also find valuable antiques at garage sales, win free cruises and never get traffic tickets. I stalled from week 3-7 (but did not know because I did not weigh myself except at the doctor), then I suspect I stalled multiple times after that too. I still made it to where I needed to be. Bariatric teams usually stress the importance of hydration over food at this point post surgery. There is usually more concern from the complications of dehydration vs low calorie intake - we are trying to use the excess stored fat after all. Ask your team if it is okay to only eat the amount you are comfortable with and at the frequency that works for you. The extended eating time frame is usually for when we start solids. Most of the time If we hold up our end of the bargain (mentally), our bodies will do the same. It will all come together eventually and life after WLS will not always feel like a chore. Good Luck!

Hi, I had weight loss surgery when I was 63 and I am now 65 . I have been sleeved of 2 1/2 years. I lost 105 pounds on my journey. So I do know a little about what I am going to say. I have done what you want to do or have already done. So I have been thinking about this. WHY do so many of our friends not say Yay! or I am happy for you? 1. They know NOTHING about weight loss surgery let alone when we say we are have the "sleeve" done? 2. They have not heard of any positive things about WLS. 3. They are scared for us because we are having some kind of surgery they no nothing about. 4. They think we are having gastric bypass (we know it isn't but they don't) and they have heard nothing but bad thing when it comes to this surgery. Dumping, malnutrition, people gaining weight back again, because they have stretched out their pouch. 5. The are sure we are going to die during the surgery.:thumbs_down: 6. They have never had a weight problem in their life.:censored: 7. They view this as the easy way out--it take more courage to have this surgery than to do nothing at all, but they beleive it is the easy way out. 8. How will you stop losing weight. 9. Is this healthy--they are sure it isn't.:hurt: 10. It cost too much money and you will never keep the weight off and WHY if you are over 60 would you want to do this to yourself? So those are the top ten reason I can think of that the people are thinking all these things. I think if we are willing to talk more about it to them "AFTER" we have had the surgery and explain things to them--I say educate the uneducated friends that we have, they may be more willing to listen. There are so many people that just can't image that we would have surgery to lose weight, so they really have to see with their own eyes that you are OK and healthy and this is working for you. I know you want their support, but honestly sometimes it is just not going to happen. This isn't something that we just woke up one morning and said hey I think I will have someone remove 80% of my stomach and then I will solve all my weight issues. We thought about this for a long time, we did some research, we checked with other people and joined web sites to educated ourselves. So, don't let the uneducated people in your life stop you from doing what you know is right for you. If you had a tooth ache you would go see a dentist to get it fixed--and they would think that is the right thing to do. We have an addiction to food and an emotional connection to food. What is wrong with going and getting the help we need to stop our addiction. This is our tool that we are going to use to accomplish the weight loss with. It isn't a magical cure by any means. It takes time, work and effort on our part to become successful. A little support along the way also helps a heap! Finding the right doctor to trust our life with and one who is highly skilled in the field of WLS is the next step. For me that was Dr. Aceves, and I can't say enough kind words about him and his skills and he GREAT staff and wonderful hospital. I knew at 63 if I was going to take this giant step, it had to be with someone that I trusted and that had done a lot of these with no complications and was a skilled surgeon. So when the next person you talk to rolls their eyes around because you are over 60 and going to have weight loss surgery, please just have some patients with them. The are very UNEDUCATED. We will work at educating them and letting them know that this really isn't about them at all. It is ALL about you and you have earned and deserved the right to have this surgery. You will be making a lifestyle change and not be on a diet any more. You are going to put yourself first, for the first time in a long time. I want you to feel good about what you are doing because it is going to be a life changing event that is going to be so fabulous. Someone is going to call your "skinny" for the first time and you are going to smile and say "yes" I did it. I am here every step of the way to assist, you and help you. I will answer your million questions you may have and help you deal with the emotions that you are feeling. I want you to know that you are doing the right thing by wanting to become healthy and add years to your life. Hugs to you and you go for what you want in life. If not now then WHEN???? Suzanne

there have been many posts about this during the months I've been a member here, so I can fairly confidently give you the general response and summary...most people have no complications and have said they could actually go back to work within a week's time if they had an office job for sure...because of low energy levels, I would have had a hard time doing a full day of my desk job after just one week...I had planned to take 2 weeks off, and I think that was a good plan...because I had the opportunity to do so and had the leave time accrued, I went ahead and took a third week off and worked some from home...it wasn't a recovery issue but just some adjustment time I decided to give myself before returning to work