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I agree..i got a total unfill because i was worried about complications and i didnt want them to keep stickin me with that needle....also what if u get further along and are filled and have to keep gettin emergency unfills thats not good for u or ur baby....i jus hope nothin happens to my band as my belly gets bigger...my port side is really startin to hurt!

Nope no fills yet and I was banded 5/14/10. I'm scheduled for the first one on 6/29 and I think that's 6weeks postop which seems to be standard. My doctor was going to push for 5 weeks but I will be out of town the following weekend and I didn't want to risk complications when I'm in a different state. I've been losing weight post op but that comes with some effort. I don't think I need a lot at my first fill for it to help me along.

I choose the Lap Band because of all the positive information I found on it. I love my band, I have been banded now since 3/31/09 I can not see my port nor can i barely feel it... I really think what the previous poster said refers more per persons body... and im a size 10/12 so thats pretty good. My port also has never hurt a lot of people complain of that... and i have had no complications, no PBing and i can eat what i want in moderation... It really is a personal decision.. i have heard the realize band is a newer band??? In my opinion they all do the same job so pick whatever:D

You'll feel better once you can start on soft foods. I was exhausted for the first 3 weeks also. I couldn't deal with puréed foods, so since I had never had any complications, my nutritionist let me go to soft, soft foods at 3 weeks. Then I started walking more and my energy returned.

So, I’ve read various posts about regretting the journey that sleevary (yes I’ve created a word) brings. However, do some of you fully regret being sleeved or are you impartial to it? For instance, my journey to sleevary was quick fast and in a hurry. I never considered having WLS. In fact, I was one of “those” individuals whom laughed at the very idea of WLS and even said “I’d never do that”. Until June 2011 hit and I was diagnosed with Diabetes. That is when I said I HAVE to take control of my health and weight and must be proactive about it. And proactive I was. I was dieting, exercising and losing weight. Until, my cousin told me about a WLS forum. I attended not thinking anything of it. And the surgeon announced the fact that WLS reversed diabetes. Instantly, I said “sign me up”. I did not hesitate nor did I think about it. My insurance had a short process – 3 months, and since I had a comorbid disease the doctor said I would be approved. I did my research and sure enough it was proven in the research that WLS fully reversed diabetes. So literally, less than three months from my first WLS forum, I was on an operating table getting sleeved. I did minimum research, I knew about the risks, but to me, being diabetes-free far outweighed any leaks or any other complications. July 17, 2012 I’m sleeved. Told no family members, coworkers or anyone and went through the recovery process by myself. Thankful to God, I had no complications (and still do not have any). It’s January 2013 and I’m down 91lbs thanks to my sleeve and exercise (I’ve been a gym rat). 91lbs Horray!! One would be ecstatic right!? I look good (like a new person), I feel good, and best of all I’m diabetes FREE. After all, that was my goal for sleevary… Right!? Absolutely. One would think I’d be living the high life, I’m no longer classified a “big girl” I don’t have to shop at Ashley Stewart or in the plus size section(s). I should be happy. Shouldn’t I!? Well, I’m not. And here’s why… I can barely eat. I throw up sometimes but it’s very minimal. I feel most foods going down my esophagus, and although it doesn’t hurt it is uncomfortable. I can’t enjoy basic foods anymore…! Am I miserable? Am I unhappy? Absolutely not. I was never a food junky. However, do I believe I should have and could have lost this 91lbs without being sleeved? Certainly!! So why did I do this to myself!? Why did I take away 85% of my stomach? And now I can’t even enjoy the simple things in life... I can’t go out to eat with friends or on a date to a restaurant with a cute guy or participate in work functions that involve food because it’s embarrassing to be full off of three bites and have everyone sit and stare and wonder what’s wrong with her!? There’s just so many “normal” things that you just cannot be a part of post sleevary -- like enjoying a full slice of pizza, or popcorn at the movie theater (granted NOW I can eat popcorn but a month ago forget about it, pizza not so much) or how about a bagel with cream cheese or a full sandwich (and I’m not talking about a gigantic 12in sub just a measly homemade sandwich with two slices of bread), or how about indulging in thanksgiving dinner or eating a snickers candy bar without feeling stuffed or eating more than 1 egg or to have to chew EVERYTHING to a paste-like consistency before you swallow. The list goes on… Two of my friends know about my sleeve, and one is overweight. She is so excited to be sleeved and I told her if you do not have any medical problems it is not worth everything that you are giving up. Sure, you are skinny but is it worth the basic joys of life!? To some it is. To others it is not. To me, a person formerly (I love that word) living with a horrid debilitating disease YES it’s worth it! With that being said, I DO NOT regret my sleeve. And I thank God that I have not and prayerfully will not in the future have any complications. I just caution those whom are out there to try to lose weight naturally (unless you have severe health problems) and truly think about whether the sleeve is worth you losing your basic liberties (whatever they maybe)…! But, I can and will say. I love my sleeve. I love my surgeon and I love God for allowing me to become insulin and finger prinking free! However, I do wish that I would have taken control of my health BEFORE I became diagnosed with diabetes. Had I had any inkling that I was even close to that diagnosis of that dreadful disease (and I don’t care what people say, IN MY OPINION, that disease is like being diagnosed with HIV it is just awful – don’t even get me started on how life altering living as a diabetic is and how depressed I was… Ugh!) I would have ran to the nearest gym and stopped all the ice cream and soda (because that’s all I used to eat) cold turkey!! All I am saying is… Think about it! Truly, sit down and think about whether being sleeved is right for YOU! If it is, WELCOME TO THE LOSERS BENCH!!! If it isn’t, WELCOME TO THE LOSERS BENCH ALSO!!! You can do whatever you put your mind too! Persevere and rise to the challenge. God Bless you all~!!!! I love my VST-Family. SmoochieS~! TinaMari – Sleeved & Loving It July 17, 2012 – Washington Hospital Center.

Hello New World!!! After years of yo-yo dieting, seemingly endless "gaining and losing" cycles, feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, and low energy, I have officially decided to step in the direction of a surgery "tool" and becoming a "sleever". During my OMG, am I really doing this thinking chair moments, the following questions and thoughts pop up: Am I taking a short cut? Will my personality change? Will there be any complications? And the all important... Will I be able to handle it and be successful? Now, before anyone gets too excited with their answers, I think a short back story is warranted (in relation to the questions that filter through my mind)... Am I taking a short cut? As a teenager, I was told not to give up. That quitting anything was negative and you have to work to achieve whatever is worth achieving. Once I hit my pre-teen years, I started gaining weight (but not at the age of 14, that's when I had a growth spurt and seemed to thin out, and never learned how to eat properly). So setting goals was like being on the fence about knowing whether the glass was half empty or half full. That part may not make sense to anyone, but it sounded right in my head. Will my personality change? I've always warn the hat of "the quiet observer" . I'm not loud, I don't wear flashy (or in-and-up-to-date fashion) clothing, and I'm a hermit (being home to me is like eating steak and mashed potatoes... comforting). I've watched and wondered, could I ever wear the "fun" hat? Could I entertain and participate in group get-togethers where the attention will be on me for more than 5 seconds? Could I handle people looking at me and not delve into those thoughts of, "Are they looking at how round I am?" If I could get to a point of not giving a sh*t and loving me because, let's face it, I'm friggen' awesome (currently working on that self-esteem after being told years ago that I wasn't good/thin enough, I don't want to wear the "victim" hat anymore ), I would be able to relax and join the party. Will there be any complications? I know that complications are ALWAYS a possibility, but I've been in the hospital multiple times for multiple reasons. Hospitals freak me out. That's normal, right? Will I be able to handle it and be successful? As an adult, I typically start something, but then have a difficult time following through (why I'm like this now, I have no idea). Where I am located, there's a 6 month pre-op process. I also have support from everyone who matters to me. But I am aware that it all boils down to me, and the strength of my will. I suppose this is where the phrase, "One day at a time" kicks in. So that's what I'm doing... talking to myself (literally). So with all that said, I know I can do this. I CAN.

I would recommend taking as much time as you can. I was extremely lucky to be able to take a full six weeks. I was fortunate that I had no complications too, and my recovery was pretty much text book perfect. If pressed, physically, I probably could have gone back after one or two weeks. The hardest part was the exhaustion that stayed for about the first six weeks. It helped too having the extra time to get used to everything. It was very much like having a brand new gadget without the user manual to go with it. I still feel that way sometimes. ???? Unfortunately no one can predict how their recovery will go, but barring a major complication, you should be alright. Good luck!

I've had my band for a little over a year. I know one person who's had their band for over 9 years with no complications.

My two actual surgeries went very well (1) gastric bypass 2) cholycystectomy (gallbladder removal including a 2 inch gallstone. See attached pics). Walked a lot from day 1 and used inspiration spirometer like crazy too 10 times per hour-was very compliant and literally, just soo thrilled to be in the post-op phase. Afterwards on day 4, I had some complications, however. Temp went from 99 (was 99-99.4 post op days 1-3) to 102.6 on day 4. At the ER, all blood work was normal, but the the ct scan with contrast & chest ray showed that I have ATELECTASIS as it turns out. (An area of one of my lungs didn’t reinflate) after I was taken off the ventilator during anesthesia. This can turn into pneumonia, so I’m pushing myself even harder to do every single thing I’m supposed to as perfectly as possible even though I’ve been at home still doing the inspiration spirometer and walking to our neighborhood stopsign 2-4 times/day. I’m postoperative day 6, and now down to 99 degree fever. I’ve also had pain with bending over since the immediate post-op (the pain is deep inside & the surgeon told me it’s due to the way he overlapped the muscle he stitched back together). This seems to be getting a little better now that I’m on day 5 however. Diarrhea is chronic is was always explosive & now just chronic. Also, STRANGELY,I did NOT feel any gas or shoulder pain what so ever while in the hospital. The nurses didn’t even hear any bowel sounds ‘til mere hours before discharge too!? Was quite cool actually! I did however walk the halls at least a 45-50 times in total I’de say. (Now, my dad had a pulmonary embolism after his hernia surgery and was pronounced dead before somehow coming back to us..?) Thus, I walked each hall about every hour to three hours at least 2 times as well as throughout the night at like 1am & 3am like a freakin’ mad woman! And that wasn’t due to gas pains or shoulder pain, just to mitigate chances of a blood clot like my dad had. Anyway, still ended up that I have this lung issue now and also due to the bodies natural stress levels from surgery, I have hundreds of cold sores on my lips going up to my nose. I’m taking a Lysine (amino acid) several times/day which is greatly helping. Otherwise, I’m just sleepier than normal. The good news is that I don’t need pain meds, though I have them on hand. I do not regret having surgery of course and still feel eternally grateful to have a second chance at better health. Oh yeah- I was in 3 blood pressure meds in post op day one went off all! All BP readings actually low! Also not on CPAP for apnea now! The health benefits for me started on day 1 post op.

Hi, My name is Patti. I am 53 years old. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 303 lbs. I am so happy I found this site because I feel I am being led to seriously considering the lap band. First and foremost, it seems to be a safer method, much less invasive. That is important to me. Secondly, I will probably have to pay out-of-pocket, and though I could afford the surgery of the bypass, I'm concerned about possible complications which could devastate our finances. I am learning a lot and I've only logged on to this site a day ago. I need all the advice I can get and would really appreciate some feedback from "old pros" of the band. I know it will be a good journey. Patti:decision:

Hi, My name is Patti. I am 53 years old. I am 5'2" and currently weigh 303 lbs. I am so happy I found this site because I feel I am being led to seriously considering the lap band. First and foremost, it seems to be a safer method, much less invasive. That is important to me. Secondly, I will probably have to pay out-of-pocket, and though I could afford the surgery of the bypass, I'm concerned about possible complications which could devastate our finances. I am learning a lot and I've only logged on to this site a day ago. I need all the advice I can get and would really appreciate some feedback from "old pros" of the band. I know it will be a good journey. Patti:decision:

Seeing the doctor is not an option right now? Well, frankly, if that was going to be the case you should never have been banded. The band relies HEAVILY on good aftercare. You sound too tight and a trip to the doctor to remove some fill may make all this go away. Then again, you may indeed be right, it may be more than restriction levels and you may have some other problem. How in the world are you going to solve it without seeing your doctor? That is just completely nuts, you HAVE to go. These complications are just nowhere near as common here, where our medical system facilitiates compliance with aftercare. It costs nothign to go and see my doctor, and he's only a half hour drive a few suburbs away.

So I had rny at the end of July. I was eating around 700 calories a day and working to get my water in. About 2 weeks ago I began getting nauseous and vomiting after eating and was only getting around 300 a day. My surgeon did another EGD on Friday 9/21, enlarged a stricture a found a large ulcer. I felt much better over the weekend then early Monday morning I began vomitting large blood clots! My surgeon sent me to ER and I was in ICU for a day and a regular room all week long. I guess the ulcer eroded a vessel that needed clipped and I’ve been without food for the last week. I hope to go home tomorrow, I’ll be back on clear liquids and go through the progressive steps all over again. Not eating or drinking ANYTHING is really rough, especially while lying in the hospital and watching TV all day! Dr says ulcers like mine are rare but a potential complication. Lucky me, I’ll be on a gastric acid inhibitor for life. NBD, I just want to go home!

So a banded friend tells me..."I can eat 3 cups of salad before I'm full". Ummmm, yea? My response "doesnt mean you should eat 3 cups". Her response was that we are supposed to eat until your full. No, that is such a false statement. You still need portion control. If I am still hungry after eating, I wait the 30 minutes after eating then I start drinking my liquids. If you are not getting your liquids in every day, your full spot will trick you into wanting more food. I'm sorry, but I just don't think there's a lot of truthfulness about why the band isn't working for some people. I can sit and eat chocolate pudding and candybars and a bunch of other crap, then post my menu and say I'm eating a well balanced diet....that doesn't do me any good. I GAINED 2 POUNDS IN 6 WEEKS BECAUSE I WAS NOT EXCERCISING OR EATING PROPERLY. I was sooo proud of my 31 lb loss that I got cocky and thought I needed to reward myself with foods and treats that didn't comply with my instructions. I screwed up, not the band. Well, since my fill last Friday I am down those 2 lbs plus 1. I contribute that to following instructions. The first and most important process to this journey is being honest with yourself, if you mess up, recognize it accept the consequences (possible weightgain), fix it and move forward. I have only been banded for 6 months, I don't want or expect to lose all my weight in the first year. I don't want to...I want it to come off slow and steady. Does the band work for everyone? No, some have true medical complications, some are just not using it correctly. Some are relying on the band to work for them instead of using the band as the tool it was meant to be. If you follow instructions to the letter, excercise 2-3 times per week, be patient with the weightloss process....the weight will eventually come off. Maybe not as fast as others, or in the first year. It wasn't meant to be a quick fix. Frustration is just an emotion, don't let it consume you or drive you. You have to take the wheel on this journey. So many say if I had the will power I wouldn't have had the surgery...it's not about will power. It's about following instructions. My will power sucked before the band, but I would have never of gotten the band if I wasn't ready to put those feelings aside and just do the work. Got a sweet tooth, then find a recipe for a desert you can have. Be prepared. Have the need for some comfort food, MAKE IT!! But use lower fat and carb options. Its all out there. Yes, some things are a little more expensive, but you won' be eating as much so it will last longer. This is solely my entitled opinon...and I am sure that some will agree, some will disagree and others will feel the need to "set the record straight". That's fine. Just make sure you are honest with yourself before commenting. Anyway...that's my rant. Breakfast: Mocha protein shake Lunch: LC/LF chicken enchilada Dinner: White bean chili Chai tea water with MIO Multivitamin 1 Cor. 15:33 My bible verse for today.

I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO PAY FOR BARIATRIC SURGERY FOR AT LEAST 6 TO 12 MONTHS AS THEY RESEARCH THE COMPLICATION RATE. I WOULD LIKE YOUR FEED BACK ON WHICH OPTION I SHOULD DO. 1. kEEP ON THE MEDICAL SUPERVISED WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM THAT I AM ON (I'M CURRENTLY LOSSING A POUND AWEEK) 2. LOOK AT SELF PAY OPTIONS (MAY NOT BE FINICIALLY FEASIBLE AT THIS TIME) 3. WAIT AND SEE IF INSURANCE WILL COVER IT NEXT YEAR (TURN 65 IN 2020 WITH MEDICARE)

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with a severe gluten intolerance two years after my surgery (but I probably had it 3 months after surgery). I've struggled with it just because my body doesn't like any grains but I'm much healthier now (minus all the other complications I believe the lap band have given me). Has anyone been diagnosed with gluten intolerance/ celiacs disease post surgery? I just ask because I am the only one in my family...and my family believes it's the Lap band (they hate it lol but I don't blame them because of all of issues I've had). Thanks! Coley

Hi everyone, I'm 23 and getting sleeved on 12.22--I'm fuuuuuhhh-reakingggg out with nerves. I had a traumatic spine surgery and complications afterwards so I'm out of my skin terrified about surgery. Help!!

In our case, the fundus is the stretchy part that makes up most of the greater, or outer, curvature of the stomach, and is what is removed when a sleeve gastrectomy is done, or is folded up and tied back in a sleeve plication. It looks like with the endoscopic procedure, they suture it up internally to make the fundus inaccessible, leaving the reduced "sleeve" like path open for restricted food flow. Being a fairly new procedure, one is fighting the learning curve - both for the individual surgeon and for the industry as a whole. The guys that did the first heart transplant were the best in the business, but the patient still only survived a short time; it takes time, practice and experience - both individual and collective - for a procedure to mature into a routine, everyday therapy, so your doc may well be exceptional, but they are all still working out the kinks in a new procedure. Where to go from here? A bypass was suggested, and this is very common, as most bariatric surgeons were raised on them, so to speak, know them well and tend to be very comfortable with them when things get complicated as they can with some revisions. You note that a SADI has been suggested - was this by the same surgeon, or someone else? If the SADI is a possible, then a regular sleeve gastrectomy should also be workable, as the SADI normally uses the sleeve as its basis, and presumably that would be most attractive to you as that is what is most similar to your originally chosen endo sleeve. Whether you need the malabsorptive component of the bypass or SADI is an individual decision. When things get complicated like this, it is usually best if one can get a second (or even third) opinion on the problem and possible solutions. There are often several different alternatives available, but individual doctors will prefer, or have more experience, with one over another, while another doc may have different experiences and preferences as to how to approach this problem. Good luck in working this out...

Hey everyone; So today I am 6 days Post Op and I am seeing my surgeon tomorrow for my first follow up. I'm a little concerned about how I'm healing. I have five incisions - the main one, where the lap band went in, still hurts. Right underneath that incision, I can feel the muscle has swollen and is hard. I don't feel any pain when I am laying down or sitting down in the recliner, but when I stand up straight, shoulders back, I can feel this area pulling and it hurts. Subconsciously, to overcome that feeling, I think my mid-back muscles are trying to hunch and protect this area, and I've got major back pain, which I have never had before. It's not gas, it's the muscles in my back. Also, while eating or right after I eat, I'm sore in the ribs for a little while. Doesn't matter how much I eat or how little, I get sore. I still also feel like I can't take a deep breath when standing upright. Anyone else experience this? I'm definitely going to bring it up tomorrow but it's making me wonder if this pain will every go away, along with the hard lump under my incision.

Hi Eva and welcome. I think we all had some level of anxiety before banding. The recovery time varies from person to person. I went back to work to a fairly physical job in just under a week. Others have been off for only 2 or 3 days. For me, day to day life with my family is not much different. I cook all the same things, I just eat much less of it. The incidence of erosion is quite small. Remember that you will hear more of the complications on this site than you will of the people just doing alright with their bands. The best thing to do is just read everything you can here and ask lots of questions. You won't find a more supportive bunch anywhere.

I'm in puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Hopefully, and if everything goes well, in less that 12 hours I will have the VSG. I'm very nervous. It is a huge change. I'm afraid of dying, not for me, but for those I love. I would never want to make my mom or sister suffer, but I have deprived them of a life with me because I'm always depress in my house, or of feeling ashamed of my weight. I know recovery will be painful, but I hope and pray to God this goes well and I can handle everything with strength and peace. I know once I'm awake from surgery, it won't mean everything is perfect. I already had a few surgeries in the past and complications happened about 2 weeks after. So whomever is reading this and believe in the power of prayer, please send some this way. I will forever thank you. I'm having this surgery because I'm tired of seeing the best years of my life go by, and I don't do nothing about it. I'm tired of all the struggles, I'm afraid of my diabetics getting worse, I'm tired of being tired, feeling hopeless in a room isolating myself. I've suffer several emotional disorders due to my obesity and my fear of being seen like this. But is time to change my life and embrace this new opportunity. I've decided to do this journal to keep track of all the changes. I want this to be about me. I'm doing this for me but also for my family because I want to give them the best of me, and I never want to forget that they were my most important motivation. This is one of the hardes decisions I have made in my life, there is nothing easy about this surgery. I will have to find the strength to say goodbye forever to many foods that were nothing but addictive and unhealthy. I have to to this the right time this time.

I researched the lapband extensively for a long time before deciding on Dr. Ortiz. I have been so happy with my results. I am only about 10 pounds from goal and I feel like a new person. I knew all the possible complications, but I am human, and I still worry when I read about 9 ladies who have recently experienced erosion. I actually still have fears and concerns. I have spoken with Rene and Sandy at OCC. They have on record 7 patients that have experienced erosion. (Per Sandy) I understand that the number of complications will rise as the surgeon performs more and more surgeries. So, for a surgeon like Dr. Ortiz, who has done approximately 2 thousand surgeries, 7 erosions is not that many. I think that comes to less than one half of a percent. The national average reported by Inamed is somewhere like 1-3%. I appreciated their honesty when I called, and their quick response to me. I am returning this week for a follow up visit and I will ask more questions. I may ask for an endoscopy, as I have had the band almost exactly one year. The risk of complications will always be there; would I do it again? Absolutely!

Any problems? Well of course. There have been several studies and I think it is around 5% total complications rate with the band at 5 years. No one can really tell you which surgery is best for you. It really is an individual thing. People can really only tell you how the different surgeries work and what the upside or downside to them might be. In reality the doctor has probably already took these things into consideration, if he has asked you about your eating habits and such. I had lapband because it was the only choice available for me, but if I could have had Gastric Sleeve, I probably would have went that direction. Mainly, because I am self pay regardless, and after the first year I have to pay for aftercare, or god forbid any problems. Since you have Insurance paying for it, you should be able to look at the pros and cons of both and decide which one you like best.

Sorry about your complication ...Hope you feel better soon.

@houaton17 Good question. My brother who is a dr went to MX. He developed a complication. He had to fight with the insurance to get it covered. He has his hosp CEO and a politician go to bat for him. He was flown out of His home state to a top notch med center to get fixed and recover. Please contact your ins cpany to Find out if they will cover. Or determine how to get back to MX to fix. After doing my homework, talking with my brother I am choosing to go forward. Mary