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There are some foods on the list I was suprised I would be able to eat, for example, nuts, and I thought junk food wouldn't go down as easy lol (I have a friend who had gastric bypass that can not digest sugary foods and I thought the lap band would be similar, but it isn't-chocolate, cookies, and chips unfortunately go down fine) I have no problems with pasta in fact, with the second adjustment, I found it hard not to PB unless I ate pasta, it was a safe food for me, unfortunately, it is not the best food to lose weight with when you are trying to watch you carbs. I have problems with potatoes now (not on first adjustment but after 2nd-I am now on my 3rd as of today so I don't know) I can't eat them baked, although baked sweet potato goes down fine. Basically if it has sugar it goes down fine if it is healthy lately, I have had a problem. I do miss french fries, but, in some ways I am happy I can't eat them because they were one of the reasons I gained weight in the first place. I hope that helps, I know everyone is different Denise

I had previous surgery scars from years gone by. I had open surgery for my bypass. Seriously it is nothing to be worried about. In some ways it was easier - none of the post-laparoscopic surgery gas pain for example! And my recovery was real quick. I had gallstones last month - oddly enough after saying that too would have to be open - they did it laparoscopically!! In terms of recovery for the two - not much difference. Longer in hospital for the open bypass, a couple of nights sleeping in a recliner before I lay flat, but all up pretty ok...

I think you should post this question on LBT. Having had a revision though I know that due to constant overeating yes your stomach above the band can swell or stretch; when you have the VSG you don't have the band so you will not have this portion to swell.

Hi welcome! I'm pretty new here too but had my sleeve 4 weeks ago and have lost 30 lbs. I have heard its 2-3 lbs per week after the first month, so that would work out to 8-12 lbs per month, which is a nice steady loss. I hope that all goes well with your revision, please keep us posted! __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Actually Dumping isn't a common side effect of the VSG at all, Dumping happens in Bypass more frequently to be considered a typical side effect, but the sleeve... it happens, but it's quite uncommon.

what is recovery time like w/ revisions ? Im getting the impression from my doc that it might be a bit harder than it was w/ just the band ? Anyone have any thoughts on if it was harder, the same , easier etc than your original band surgery ? Mindy

Oh Yea revision done on Monday

I am starting a blog for myself to have a way to look back and keep a log of my feelings, attitudes, struggles and triumphs. I am Canadian living in Manitoba. Our system in Manitoba anyway is very different than many stories I see on this site. I started out putting myself on the surgery wait list it takes approx. 2 to 2 1/2 years to get past that. Then you go to a large group meeting where they go over a in broad terms what the next levels/steps will look like and give you a info package and a in depth questionnaire regarding your current health. It was then 3 months after that I had my first one on one meetings. I do mean meetings you do 1 hour each with a kinesologist, dietician, psychologist, and surgical nurse - they go over your current status and set goals for your next meeting if you are accepted. It was again 3 months since the first set of meetings this past Aug 18th that I had my next set of meetings. I am still waiting to move to the next step - my iron levels are not at the right level for me to move on and this is not negotiable. Your Iron levels must be a minimum of 50 before you will get to move to meeting the anesthetist, surgeon, and start the classes for pre-op and post op diets. My iron levels were 45 close but not close enough. My next blood work is around the 21st or 22nd whenever I wish to go to the lab. I will hear the following week if my blood work passes. I will admit though up till I went to my individual meetings I was extremely naïve about this whole process and what to expect and how intense/involved this all is. I have done a lot of self education in the last 6 to 8 months. I suppose its a good thing I do not frighten easy and really do not shy away from hard work, but I will say I thought it was simple surgery and recovery would be a breeze. I also thought we would be given more of a choice into the type of surgery. Not in Manitoba 99% of have bypass that is what has the best overall long term weight loss results and if in the future medically things need to be undone you are able to. The sleeve may be done depending on your health. There has only been one patient once inside that they just closed back up without doing anything- that was because of health related issues and an exceptional case and that is all they can tell us understandably. I am excited and nervously awaiting moving to the next step. I don't think any of this will be truly real until I meet with the surgeon and anesthetist. Heres hoping for good news when they call at the end of September.

It's hard to have the energy to focus typing..I'm a 37 y/o teacher from Michigan..was banded July 28...a part of me wishes I was still in the hospital....home with a 2y/o and a bing eating husband (who's gettin bypass in Sept)..makes it really rough Supose to be only drinkin Optifast now...and sick of it....the gas is so bad, I have no patience for my daughter...my mind is going thru withdrawl and at times I feel like i just may starve to death...(most of it is in my head)...at times i feel like i'm gettin mini anxiety attacks I can't wait until I can eat atleast pureed stuff.. It will be nice to talk to you all and get to know you better Suffering Stacy :wub: Remember..sort of like those garbage pail kid names

Dr Kurian was my surgeon, I had my lap band revised to gastric bypass.. I love her to bits. Just saw her yesterday for my six week post op appointment. I highly reccomend her!!

Heather-- My nutritionist who is the gastric bypass specialist is also a nephrology specialist. She seems to know what she's talking about, it just doesn't seem to matter to my body! :-) Thanks for the suggestion! I need all the help I can get! Dana

Im allowed 2 shakes and a low carb dinner my first week of pre-op. If you are allowed to have regular food at all just stay away from breads/sweets/starches.....carbs. Im getting revision-sleeved Dec 16th, so my Xmas will REALLY SUCK...lol. but you may have some flexibility depending on the doctors orders. Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App

I had bypass on 11/21/19, and I was diagnosed with SLE, Sjogrens, and PMR in 2017. Thanks God it’s well controlled with Plaquenil. The only issue I’m experiencing is the fatigue, and I’m noticing hair loss starting. That scares me the most, but I’ve added Biotin to my vitamin regimen. The pain and discomfort I’m still experiencing I’m not contributing that to my Lupus at this time. I had hernia repair too and that’s the area the bulk of my pain is, and lower abdominal region. I wish you the best of luck. Just know there’s no more oral prednisone if you have to use that for flare ups it has to be IV, or injection only from what my doctor told me. It cannot be long term.

So I just got back from a small family reunion for my Grandmothers 90th birthday. When I said large family in the title I wasn't referring to the number of people there but the size of the people there. I found out that a couple of them had had either bypass, sleeve, or the band in the past. The problem was they were all telling me how it failed and they just gained all their weight back. This was pretty eye opening for me to say the least. I know surgery is a just a tool in the weight loss tool belt and can be defeated. All the ones I talked to had one thing in common...they never went to a support group or held themselves accountable to stick to eating right post surgery. They mentioned how easy it was to fall back into the old eating habits and some were even pressured by their spouse to cheat on their diets. Now I am scared that this will end up being my fate...I will just have to make sure I attend the support group meetings religiously.

Revision

Anyone Else having an open Gastric Bypass surgery? Or other procedures During their RNY??? https://starvingmom.wordpress.com/blog/

@@BananaSplit Please please please don't gain to have the surgery. Exercise alone will not get you there. With a 30 BMI, you can do this! But 90% of weight loss comes from diet with exercise being a much smaller portion though still really important. If you have that good habit built you can begin to change your diet to get rid of this extra weight. Go speak with a nutritionist, they really really can help you. Moving toward a high Protein, good carb diet is the way to go. Learning about portion management is critical and lastly staying away from sugar, rice, potatoes, Pasta and bread also critical during weight loss. Here is the thing, if you had this surgery, you would have to change your lifestyle to the above in order for it to be successful long term. So, although I am very thankful for having bypass, if I could have done it withou surgery I would have. My BMI was well over 40 and I had almost every comorbitity. Gaining weight to get there will only do more damage to your body. I hope that you find the best solution for you, I am just saying having your insides cut out or rearranged when you are not morbidly obese seems like a risk you don't need to take. This is just my opinion. I wish you all the best!

Hello everyone, My group health insurance did not purchase the writer for the surgery. I can not do self pay.. or take out another loan. Has anyone purchased their own plan to cover it. I read there are advocates out there but have no idea how to find one. The weightloss center I looked at won't even see me for a consult/write a letter on my behalf without either $500 out of pocket or with insurance. This is frustrating as I have battled weight for most of my life. My dad and his sister have both had gastric bypass and medical conditions associated with obesity. I just want to find a way to make this surgery possible. Any info you guys could give me to assist with the insurance end of it will be appriciated. Thanks, Musicsings14

About 2 mths ago, my lapband herniated. They totally unfilled me and told me it needed to come out. I saw my band dr who agreed. however, since I cancelled my Part B Medicare 2 yrs ago (cuz never once in 12 yrs did I ever use it and it was costing $110 mth), I'd have to pay $5400 for the drs charges. My reflux is out of control and I have stomach pain often. Wondered how I was gunna come up with the money to do it. We've been in Ca for 2 weeks now, on vacation from Or. We're staying with my in laws right now. They offered to give it to me! They are the greatest! Now I can get my sleeve revision before my stomach is too damaged to do anything but take out my band. Thats my problem. I could wait for a year for my Medicare Part B to take effect again, but the damage to my stomach in that amount of time may be a hinderance in doing a sleeve. I'm so relieved. We'd have a hard time saving over $5,000 any time soon. A prayer has been answered! When we get home on July 2, I will schedule the surgery. Sleeve, here I come!

I will be having surgery here bc insurance will cover most of it. I will be going to MX for skin removal as it won't be covered. MX can be great option! My surgeon spoke about doing revisions bc the previous surgeon didn't remove enough so I would definately ask that question to whoever you go to. Good luck with your journey!

I figured I would create this blog so as not to hog up space posting in various topic areas. I also wanted a place that I could just write and record my feelings about my WLS journey. Since being sleeved on 12/26, this has been one of the most difficult medical related situations that I have ever encountered. You read all the information, you follow posts on the site, your doctor is constantly talking to you - along with his entire team, you talk to others who have had the surgery, you go to all the required meetings scheduled by the nutritionist and medical practice; or as required by the insurance company and STILL, nothing really prepares you for what your journey will be like post surgery. Pre-surgery I stayed on my doctor's office and insurance company to approve this surgery. I wanted the weight off, I needed the weight off, I was miserable with the weight. I was also very disappointed because I had had a prior weight loss surgery e.g. lapband and it was dismal failure. At most I think I lost 30lbs. When I saw my DIL and how well the sleeve surgery "looked" on her, I knew I had made a mistake with the band, but at the time I thought "oh well" I'm stuck with what I have. Over time I began looking into the options regarding revision. My first physician who placed the band in wasn't budging in considering a revision - so I got another doctor. At first the new doc was a bit resistant, but after 6-7 months of no progress, he finally approved the procedure; and so did my insurance company. Of course I was ready to self-pay if they didn't. A loan, anything, I was desperate. Surgery was scheduled on 12/26 and off I went to my new me... Post-op things seemed to be progressing well during my initial hospital stay, overnight - except for my experience with the overnight nurse assigned to monitor me throughout the night. He just was not helpful and would not give me pain medication in timely manner. I made such a fuss and actually threatened to leave the hospital if someone didn't help me. Finally, some pain meds and off to sleep I went. Needless to say that I was so interested in getting out of there that the minute my doctor asked me the following morning if I was ready to leave the hospital, I said absolutely. I had gotten up early that morning and was actually feeling pretty good, probably all that fluid they were pumping in me via the IV. I was able to wash up on my own and get dressed, so I thought...ok this is good. I couldn't drink water at that point or anything else, but I was even ok with that. I wasn't feeling hunger at this point, I just wanted to go home. Home - this is where the journey really gets interesting... After about two days, I still couldn't tolerate liquids - especially anything cold, so I mainly subsisted on hot tea and popicles. Periodically I would try to drink one of the many varieties of protein drinks I had purchased in advance of surgery, but they were all horrible and I couldn't get them down anyway. I think for the first 2 weeks, I was literally starving myself to death. Finally it got to a point where I couldn't keep anything down. By the time I got to my 1st follow-up appointment with the doc, I felt weak and confused e.g. what the heck is going on confused. What happened, why am I feeling this way confused. I asked my doc and he said... the good news you have lost 17lbs isn't that great! Uh yeah, but I'm starving and puking anything I try to take in and I'm not taking anything in. I wanted to lose weight in the worst way, but I didn't want to starve myself to death. He said, it will get better - and if I was still vomiting after a week or so, call him - an endoscopy procedure may be in order. He sends in the Nutritionist who reviews my meal plan with me. What meal plan?!, but ok - I go over what I'm supposed to eat, what I'm not and some food options to consider. As I was leaving the office, one of the Physician's Assistants who had been helping me push to get the surgery approved, said quietly on the side - don't wait to call the office back if I was still vomiting, no need to suffer he said. Boy was I suffering. In fact the following day, I called the doctor's office and said I can't take it anymore, they have to do something. I could barely get out of bed. The following day I was scheduled for the endoscopic procedure. The doc who performed the procedure said that he saw some blockage from scar tissue, so he inserted a balloon that would help stretch the opening of the stomach so I could get something in. What a relief I thought... Following the procedure I was able to get fluid in, not much but at least broth, soup, more popicles, hot tea. In fact one day I actually ate some shrimp and started buying different foods that I could try e.g. mushy's. I guess that wasn't the best idea, the shrimp stayed down - but some of my other selections e.g. shellfish did not cooperate at all; even though I would chew this stuff until it was water. Finally, I got tired of trying to eat and just stuck with broth, creamy soup, popsicles and hot tea until even the thought of these foods turns my stomach. Don't want to forget all the pill popping e.g. vitamins, calcium, antacid, gas x, additional Vit D... Anyway the next round has been gas and diaherra (which is still the case). A couple of days, I couldn't make up my mind whether to go to the bathroom, vomit or both - sometimes it is both. Oh yes, i forgot this whole time I've been so weak, that I could not work, I live alone with minimal support or encouragement - so depression began to creep in; until it was so full blown that I asked my PCP to put me back on depression meds, that I had been off for the last year. So now, 4 weeks and 3 days into this journey, I'm sitting here wondering exactly how am I feeling. I have been able to add a couple of more foods to my list of what I can tolerate. Yesterday I was finally able to drink water and drank a whole bottle. I am also slowly beginning to tolerate drinking juice from the fridge; although slowly and very cautiously. My sleeve seems to be "teaching" me what it will accept and what it won't - it is very, very particular and any misstep on my part will be dealt with immediately and painfully. In fact, if I get ahead of myself, I'll be right back to clear liquids if not the same day, the following day. I still haven't developed a taste for protein drinks, but there is one that I can tolerate more than others. I'm sure my doc would say it has too much sugar in it, but it's either that one or none. After 2-3 weeks of practically starving, I'm just glad I'm able to tolerate anything close to protein. I definitely don't overdo anything - too scared and too tired of being sick and too weak to move beyond the bed, bathroom and kitchen (just to look around, cause eating is limited). So is it getting better? Well I have my good days and bad days, today seems to be going ok - yesterday too. Today I had a boiled egg. Wow - who would have ever thought that eating a boiled egg would be a major thing in someone's daily life. To be continued.

If my dr was doing gastric sleeve at the time I had my initial wls I would have went that route. I had lap band 3/2006 and revision in 1 surgery 4/2014. I did not have reflux prior to revision but I do now. Gastric Sleeve is still way better choice in my opinion. I have been happy with my procedure. Weight loss has been slower. I just keep telling myself I will get to my goal. It may take time but I will do it.

Congratulations on getting your surgery and back home for Christmas. Why did you choose lapband over bypass? I'm trying to make that decision now.I'm tyring to get points of view.l

I am 14 days out from open surgery. I had to bypass due to complications I only weigh 99lbs so far am keen to start eating as soon as possible. I don't seem to have problems eating. Can anyone advice when it would be good to eat solids.

I was sleeved in 2012, and am currently working on getting revision to gastric bypass [emoji17] I was initially very successful and hit goal after 2 years. However... I had a baby in July 2015 and not only gained back my weight but went into such a deep depression I gained almost 100+pounds. Not typical of most sleevers but just sharing my personal story. I had my tubes tied and this time around I will be doing things BY THE BOOK! Good luck to you!