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Hi Everyone, I have a surgery date scheduled for June 12th. Thought I was so prepared with lots of research, reading, and even getting post surgery cookbooks for bypass surgery patients. Today is the first day I logged onto the site after reading the big book. My pre-op appointment is June 7th - nobody has told me to go on a before surgery liquid diet. Should I? Also what is a surgery buddy? I came to this site hoping for encouragement and now I just feel more confused. Please help.

I’m a type 1 diabetic. I am scheduled to have my surgery done on the 13th of this month. I am having the gastric bypass done with Dr Lytle in Atlanta. My CW is 228 and I’m doing this for the benefit of reducing my insulin intake and losing this unwanted weight. Does anyone have any insight for me? Did this actually reduce your insulin intake? Also I’m on the minimed 670g system. Should help prevent them from needing to check my sugar at weird times of the night. Thanks in advance!!

Welcome!!! Join us at the November Bandsters thread on the general board.

Nice to meet you! I am so excited for my surgery. My parents and roommate have all had gastric bypass, but since my BMI is a little lower and I don't have diabetes, he recommended the sleeve. I am out of the country in July on a cruise, then I come back and have my suregery 6 days later. How long did it take you to feel well enough to work?

I had a slipped lap band that had to come out and my surgeon said it was easier to revise to a RNY than a sleeve. Also I had GERD before my band, and the bypass is supposed to help alleviate GERD, where the sleeve sometimes causes it in some people. Also I had developed a "touch" of diabetes, and the bypass really helps with that. I went off metformin right before the surgery and now, only two months later, my hemoglobin A1C is normal!

So I haven’t had the surgery yet (scheduled for 2/19). But I chose the rny bypass option for several reasons. I am pre-diabetic and this will for the most part reverse that. it is considered the golden standard and my doc says most patients lose more with the option. Another big thing for me was “dumping syndrome”. I know not everyone gets it but I think it would help me in the future to stay on track just in case I got weak and thought I wanted something I shouldn’t be having. I also like the fact that if worse comes to worse, this can be somewhat reversed. Anyways, those are some of my reasons. Hope it helps some.

I had my sleeve done in 2011 but had serious complications and had to have a bypass in 2012. I am constantly nauseated. Eating or even thinking about eating makes me nauseated. I've had a pregnancy test negative. I've lost about112 pounds in these last two years almost. If I do eat my stomach starts hurting horrible Any suggestions? Ideas?

Good evening, Hi everybody, I'm newbie here, currently waiting for revision approval. I'm a Lap Band failure case - Had it in for 11 years (actually loved it - it was a great tool), and got to goal weight after 18 months. I kept it off without much issue, until it eroded into my stomach, and pretty much almost killed me. This was the third issue that I had with the band. Two port infections, lead to port revisions, and one MRSA infection. It was finally removed in 2015, and sadly, now I'm back up to where I was before my banding. I'm currently in my 5th month of 6 monitoring/counseling, for pre-op revision approval for bypass. Unfortunately, I've also since gained 6lbs. since I started that monitoring [during the holidays]. I know that I'm being a bit, "It's my last _______, and I want to enjoy it" . I've followed every class, every appointment, and every health test, but still have not heard back about my "March" surgery date for bypass. I have one more nutrition appointment as required by BCBS, and one more evening 'STRIVE' support counseling meeting that must be done for revision surgeries as per my doctor's office. I'm just panicked that I've been going through all of this, but have not heard anything regarding a yes or no at this point. I'm currently at a BMI of 39.4 with sleep apnea (on CPAP), severe heartburn, failed back fusion surgery, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and am in LOTS of pain - 100% disabled since 1995, so Medicare is my primary with BCBS of GA secondary. Has anybody gone through the six month pre surgery hoops only to get turned down? I'm just so worried that it's going to be a no go decision. I really appreciate that this page/group is here, and look forward to hearing from y'all! Thanks 🙂

I have been eating salad since about 8 weeks post op! I had gastric bypass! Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Me again :/ Curious. I just came back from my work lunch break. I went to Panera bread and ate an entire sandwich, bag of chips and had small cup of Water. I wont be able to manage that after the bypass, correct? I have the sleeve at the moment and I want to make sure I will be able to stop when full.

I had my sleeve done November 30 2012. I have lost 34 pounds since then. kinda slow for my expectations... I was seeing all these stories of people loosing like 30 pounds a month for the first three months so I was very excited of that possibility. but I have only lost 15 pounds a month this has brought me down.... I eat healthy, 15-20 carbs per day, watch my fat intake, and calories. I guess I just need some inspiration to pick me up to get back on the wagon. Ive been lazy when it comes to working out, and I know that if I tried harder it would happen faster. HELP!!! I need some encouragement!!

December 5th, 2008 So a lot went on this week: I now have my appointment for my EKG on the 11th--that's Thursday. I have my group appointment and chect x-ray on the 15th--the following Monday. My dietician appointment is on the 23rd, and my psych eval is n the 29th. All that will be left to do will be my one-on-one consult and then schedule the surgery. Quite honestly, I never expected things to go this quickly. I switched PCP in October, which went in to effect on November 1st. I saw my new PCP on Nov 11. and now I'mthis far along already. I am now beginning to think that my surgery will be scheduled sooner than I can take time off work to get it done. This is not a good time to be taking time of for "elective surgery". I must wait until school is out for spring break. With the current budget crisis, people are losing thier jobs right and left. I want to keep mine and not piss anyone off. ANyway, this has moved bvery quickly. If anyone's interested, my health insurance is with HealthNet HMO. :thumbup:

So, yesterday I drove all the way from my job in Stockton to my surgeon's seminar in Roseville--that was about a 90 minute drive in busy traffic. Dr. Waldrep is very informative and didn't make people feel like they asked stupid questions even when they did. He showed videos of band surgery and also explained bypass. The room was a mix of prospective bypass, band, and undecided patients. A woman there was supporting her husband; she was a former bypass patient of Dr. Waldrep's 'she'd lost 185 pounds. SHe told her story and that she had just run the California International Marathon 2 weeks ago--very inspirational. When we were leaving, I ended up being on the same elevator with her and thanked her for sharing. It was a long walk to the parking lot. She said to me, "Remember how you feel walking right now, and don't ever forget how this feels to you." I said, "I'd like to forget it right now." And she said, "But don't you ever forget. A year from now when you're thin, remember this walk so you'll never go back." Those words will probably stay with me a very long time. Dr. Waldrep's staff are also very efficient. I'm a bit annoyed because I have to redo blood work I just had done last month because they have a lab slip with all the blood tests and urine tests, etc, preprinted. What a waste of time to have a pregnancy test. For crying out loud! I'm 45 years old, the lining of my uterus was burned away in a uterine ablation and my husband's had a vascectomy. If I'm pregnant, that would indeed be a sign from God! This end of things is a bit conveyer belt -ish, but I guess it's their way of making sure everything is done. They have a very extensive website at www.salsa.md/ We began the meeting by getting weighed on a fancy machine--gave all sorts of body fat analysis reports and other inforamtion to make you want to cringe. Then they took the humiliating "before" picture" front and side views--not pleasant. I envisioned myself a year or two from now, with my "after" picture--me all made over, with a new hairdo, cute clothes, make-up, and high heels. My before and afters in a magazine or commercial for Lap Band. More likely, though, in my wallet as a reminder of where I was and how far I'd come. I weighed 2 pounds less than last week when I was at my doctor's. I don't think I necessarily lost weight as much as this is a kinder scale. So to date I have done my EKG--a non-eventful experience at my PCP--healthy heart :biggrin: Psych eval is on the 29th; nutrition eval is on the 23rd; I will get my new lab work and chest x-ray during Winter break, and my mandatory group support meeting, which is on Saturday. After that, I will be ready for my one-on-one with THE DOCTOR:biggrin:. Only a matter of weeks now before I get my surgery.

This is something that has started today my skin feels like it is on fire. It is stinging and burning. If I move certain ways I get this pain in my one breast and in my back. I have talked to my brother in law who has gastric bypass and he said this is from my skin stretching from the weight loss and I will have to live with it for the rest of my life unless I have the skin removal surgery. I am wondering if anyone else if having these problems. At this point with this pain I am losing my mind and wondering what did I do?!? I can't even bend over without my breast feeling like it is going up in flames. I didn't know whether I would have the surgery to remove the skin but at this point I'm ready to do it now. I'm down 122 pounds and I'm 6 months out. How much longer do I have to wait to have the surgery with this pain?

I was on a two week liquid diet when I had my revision to bypass, so I am sure my team thought that was more than enough. when I had my sleeve, I was told to take the magnesium citrate I believe. I have also taken the magnesium citrate for my other abdominal surgeries to make sure my bowels weren’t full so they didn’t get in the way of the surgical procedure

I was banded in November 2008. I lost about 80 pounds and then all of a sudden I got swollen and couldn't eat or drink. I hadn't had a fill for almost a year at this point. Dr. Removed all fluid (8cc) did a swallow test and the band didn't slip and was fine. Gained a bunch of weight back and started the fill process all over again. Got back up to 7cc and was losing slowly. Then it happened again, swollen and couldn't eat or drink. Removed 2cc this time and I am gaining. I would like to get the revision but does this qualify as a complication? I feel like my body does not allow the band to be as tight as I need it to lose weight.

I'm having my surgery in November so I can't say from experience yet but I worry about going back to work after just 1 week because a lot of people talk about being so tired. I would hate to see you leave school so maybe they can work out the eating schedule for you and hopefully you wont be too tired to stay awake in class. Good luck to you and just be very careful after surgery about eating and drinking the way your doctor tells you to. I wish you the best.

Matt, we are in the same boat...I had my surgery November 17th. I have my appointment this afternoon so I will let you know how it goes and what my Doctor says.

Oh no! It sounds like you've been through a tough time already. Maybe the bypass will make things better?

My wife had the bypass and is doing quite well. She lost all of her excess fat but her mouth is a bit excessive at times. (She is sitting in the room, I told her what I said..she laughed but will lower the boom later...ya...I'm a masochist).

I just finished my second month of the 6 month diet requirement with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It seems to be going slowly, but I'm hoping for a November/December surgery date. It took me a year to get to this point.

I had RNY in November 2019. Overall I have lost 40lbs since the surgery, but I have not lost anything in the last month. I had a routine doctor appt with my GP a month ago, and I was 276, and I still am. it has fluctuated a little, ranging between 278 and 273. I'm taking my vitamins, getting my protein, eating about 1000 calories a day and logging my food. I am exercising. I know I could do more exercise, but my schedule is a little crazy right now (I do taxes for a living so real busy time of year plus a couple kids). I just really wish I could figure out what is going on. Does this happen to other people? I have read about stalls but usually what people describe is a week or two, not a whole month. My sex drive is non existent as well, and I don't know if that is a symptom of why I am not losing, or a result of being depressed over not losing. I have a follow up with my surgeon in 2 weeks, and unfortunately I can't really move that up at all, because of my schedule and he is an hour away. I've been slow to lose the whole time since surgery, but the nurtritionist and the surgeon weren't worried last time I saw them. I know that even just the 40lbs is great, better than I could do before the surgery, but it is just really hard to be doing everything and not seeing results now. This is what I always encountered before and why I ended up with surgery, so if this doesn't work, I have no more options.

thanks for answering my ?'s i have found this site soooo helpful thanks to others like you. Initially I thought I'd get bypass but after reading here I opted for "the band"

Gosh, your post touched me. Tracy, I dealt with all of it. I was where you were. BIG TIME. The story is too long to recount but trust me, I have been there. I was "The Worlds Most Remedial Bandster" - I mean really. I knew folks who had the RnY Bypass around the same time, and of course, they seem to lose so quickly. Then I actually had people around me (5 were my CLOSE friends) who gave me so much flack.They meant well but they were like "Errrr.... it's not working, is it?" And those were the nice comments. My body wasn't doing all that it should have do with the band, and no matter what I did I couldn't lose my flabby lower abdomen area. I was so desolate - I also thought of the RnY Bypass. Luckily, I stuck with the band and I'm glad I did. It all worked out and three+ years later I can say I had the last laugh. I got to goal (slowly but in time, I started losing & losing) and a bit past it. I found out I didn't have a flabby lower abdomen - it was fibroids. My Plastic Surgeon found them. Oy vey! That meant a fibroid removal surgery that was the equivalent of a C-section. OUCH Recovery was so slow & long but I now have a smoother mid-section. Of those 5 toughest critics, 4 (yes, 4 of them) are now LapBanded too. I lost as much as some friends who had RnY. It took me longer, but the slower weight loss helped now look (to strangers) as if I've never been heavy. As they say, living well is the best revenge. (There are pics on the Before and After thread that document my progress.) Don't give up yet. You've got a great tool, don't beat yourself up. It can happen.

I have not hit the 200-lb mark yet, but both my surgeon and I feel pretty confident that I am on my way. I initially planned to go the bypass route but, after consulting with two surgeons, both suggested that the sleeve was the best fit for me. In the end, both are tools to help with weight loss. If you follow the plan, both will help you get where you want to be. Best of luck.