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I got the results from my EGD and some additional testing they did as a result (Gastric Emptying) and I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis though I'm not 'presenting' with the more severe symptoms... (Yet?) I was originally slated for the sleeve. My doctor said he is still leaning towards the sleeve but it's important that I understand that if the portion of my stomach that is left is not functioning properly I would have to then have the sleeve converted to a bypass, probably within weeks of the initial surgery. Scared. Worried. Feeling like my shot at a real life change just got really complicated if not shut down... Anyone else hit this particular hurdle?

I keep saying I'm going to get serious & set up my nut & psych appts but I still have not. I want to but then feel guilty because dh is still not working (he's not laid off either- it's a weird vortex of manipulation really c/o his co.) Dh has said he doesn't mind me going in for the nut & psych but the conversation always ends up with him asking why we wouldn't tell his family about me getting LB. He's close to his family & as much as I love them too, I have come to the conclusion its better to keep it private, especially since its not happening for sure right now. As I was getting ready for bed, I decided I'm calling to set up the appts for sure tomorrow. Then I started thinking about the actual surgery. If dh's job situation works out, & I get surgery, we're gonna have to tell his family. I have a toddler who I don't want hanging around the hospital (swine flu anyone?) I don't have any of my family close either. I'd be ok on my own a night or two in the hospital but the day of & day leaving we'd need help w/ dd. They will want to know why since we never ask. I don't know if I can give them the hernia excuse. Originally that was my plan but now what if I have a complication & they have to watch dd again? If I claim its hernia surgery I would have to stick to the story or come out a liar. Ughhhh. Its really just two members of dh's family who have big mouths (both men oddly.) I just don't know but I gotta figure it out.:smile2:

Hi! I had me sleeve surgery on the 2nd and am VERY disguraged. I had lost 12lbs during my fasting the week before it. I had a minor complication and was on IV fuilds for 2 days longer than I should have. I came home 20lbs heavier than when I went in. I have lost 98% of the Water weight but thats it. My measurements have not changed much. I have been doing everything I am suppose to be doing. So, when will I actually start losing weight? Christa

All I can say is ... the haters can kiss my (thanks to my band) cute, small(er..) bee-hind!! I find that kind of thing so ridiculous. All of these kinds of surgery seem to work really well when done by good surgeons and on people who work the tool they are given. I don't view one as better than another -- I think it's really a matter of personal situation and preference. That said, I'm hearing good things about the sleeve from a few former bandsters who had to revise to the sleeve due to complications. But, otherwise, I don't know too much about it. The band worked very well for me -- I'll be 4 years out in October, and I've been at or under goal for more than 2 years. Best, Catherine

Surgery was October 25th and I wasn't doing great but I was doing alright until last week when I almost died. I had three abscesses under my one suture that were huge. My surgeon did not notice during my follow up visits! Now I had to endure two emergency surgeries and am hooked up to a wound vac with at home nurse care coming every other day. I am wondering if anyone else has gone thru this complication and can offer some light at the end of the tunnel. Weight loss seems secondary to surviving at this point.

Hi justme55, I had complications from my rny also, including running temperatures of 105 just days after surgery, I had several leaks in my new stomach pouch and small intestine. I ended up with Peritonitis and a 6 week stay in the hospital then 3 months of bedrest with feeding tube, chest tube and abdominal drain. 1 year later it seems like it was a bad dream. Yesterday I just hit 134 lbs when I started at 284. I still have problems with eating certian items (making me throw up) and the list is growing, I know that greasy food like chinese or spicy like bbq are a definate nono. Plus all beef items and most pork are on nono list. Onestradon is a generic for Zofran and is my best friend. 2 tablets in the morning when I feel nausea and it keeps me from hurling. Sending all the gentle hugs your way for your journey. Just let me know if youneed to talk.

Okay, so background first before I get to my question: I was sleeved 10/22/2014 and, as of January, had lost 105 pounds. Which was great! I wasn't quite at my goal weight, but I was getting there steadily. I had absolutely no complications after my surgery; everything healed beautifully and I stuck to the diet. My surgeon always talked about how I crushed the statistics and how impressed he was. Then, just after the first of January, I got sick. Like, really sick. It started with just nausea and some abdominal pain and I wrote it off as a stomach bug, but it just kept getting worse. Basically, I've been unable to eat anything solid for over a month now. Eating or drinking ANYTHING causes extremely sharp pain in my upper left abdomen, which is worse with anything that has a sugar/fat content. I've lost 18 pounds in less than a month because I can't eat anything aside from broth (sometimes) and sugar free jello/pudding. I have to drink the Zero Carb Isopure (clear liquid) for Protein because I can't keep down regular shakes. I have to crush my pills and Vitamins again. I'm constantly nauseous and extremely weak despite the fact that I'm getting my protein and vitamins. I can't even get down my one flight of stairs without having to rest in the middle. After about two weeks and a trip to the ER for IV fluids, I went to my surgeon because I knew it wasn't a stomach bug anymore. He promised he'd figure it out and scolded me for going to the ER because they would have "no idea" how to treat a bariatric patient. Thinking it might be a blockage in my common bile duct from a stone, did a gallbladder ultrasound and a CCK HIDA scan. Both came back normal, even though the HIDA scan was absolutely excruciating. He referred me to a gastroenterologist for an upper endoscopy (which he was present at) and a barium swallow to make sure my esophagus was functioning correctly and that I didn't have ulcers or a stricture or something along those lines. Both came back normal. Basically, since then, his office has been telling me that I need to speak with the gastroenterologist in regards to everything, as it has "nothing to do with" the surgery. The gastroenterologist told me today that I needed to follow up with the surgeon, as he was "out of suggestions". In essence, both my surgeon and gastro have thrown up their hands and told me that they have no idea, so it's not their problem. Neither will give me the paperwork I need for work. I am in danger of losing my job and therefore my health insurance. My question here is how should I tell the office that I will no longer be visiting them for follow ups or for any other reason? Should I write a letter? Call them? I refuse to give them my business and what little money I have if they are willing to just give up on me and say 'it's not my problem'. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Well , I am officially a bandster. I am one of the many lucky people who are going to enjoy waking up every morning. I went through surgery on Wednesday with no complications. I was up and walking around within 1 hour after surgery. I have very little bruising. I have four very little holes in my belly and one slightly bigger one. Everything seems to be going fine. I have already lost the water weight that was added on during my stay at the clinic. All in all , I think I'm doing great. I am on full liquids at this point and will move on to pureed foods in about 2 weeks. I am looking forward to the future with my new band. Thanks to all who were rooting for me.:whoo:

I started coming to this site in January. I am scheduled to be banded next week. I found so much support and positive encouragement. I also saw so many people who have done so well. Now for the past week, every new thread is negative; the band is broken, surgury needed, cant drink/shallow/eat, acid reflux, major complications....on and on. I am not sure if it is all in my head or is there no one out there that is having a positive expirence? Is it that people only start a new thread when there is something wrong? Are there really that many people having MAJOR complications and is there an equal or greater number of those who are very happy with no complications? Just needing to hear that there is some good in the band. I am still moving forward with my plan. I wnat to change my life. Perhaps I should just not read the site for right now.....

Hi there, have you spoken to your surgeon about this? What did they say? #1 - What food stage are you at right now? #2 - What are your protocol goals on Protein, Water and vitamins, and are you able to meet those goals? #3 - Dehydration can be a deadly complication, do not take this lightly, that you are unable to ingest liquid or food. You should consider going to the ER right now. Having chest pains, abdominal pains, these are no good. Above all I think you should immediatly pick up your phone and call your surgeon's office. Many people have come here asking this kind of advise and the next time we hear from them they are in a hospital room on an IV drip. It's no joke.

And I went back to my prenatals, small, only need one a day, a little water in the mouth, toss it in and down she floats! Nice, easy and it's over until tomorrow! Loathed Flintstones taste, hated grinding pills, thought Bari-Melts weren't all that melty, felt like flavored sand in my 👄, a complication I did not need. Only concession I still make is dissolving my big White Carafate into a slurry in a medicine cup and drinking that.

Cathi, welcome to LBT Early congratulations on your upcoming anniversary! It's really great to hear a success story like yours. I was banded in Oct 2005, am approx 25-30 lbs from goal. I have to tell you, I still find it hard. I am not perfect, I don't always make proper food choices. But, with the band I definitely can't eat large quantities. I find holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas) especially tough, it's really hard for me to see others eating such large portions. I want to have a small taste of everything, but that's not always possible. Last Nov I think I had 3 bites of turkey and a bit of veggies and I was done. Those holidays are so focused on food/preparation, and for us it's over in such a short minute. Good news is I'm in a much healthier place and size than I was 18 mo ago. I've lost at a steady rate, and have been fortunate to have few complications which have enabled me to maintain where I'm at. I've made a commitment to be at goal by my 2 year anniversary in October, in a couple of weeks I'm starting a program at a new fitness center opening in my neighborhood. I've signed up for a few personal training sessions, and am excited to begin targeting some of my problem areas. I hope others are not too shy to chime in, it really helps to have many different perspectives. All the best, Karla

I went for my 6 week post-op on Tuesday & found out that I have bacterial (walking) pneumonia. I told my surgeon that I was having intermittent sharp pain in my right side, under the rib cage and I mistakenly believed that I had worked out too hard on Monday. He sent me for a ct-scan then an x-ray. I am shocked since I don't have a cough, cold symptoms, no fever, nothing. Post-op I used my spirometer faithfully & never had any breathing problems. Has anyone heard of this complication so far out from surgery?

There are pros and cons to being first and being up there in the numbers. I was roughly patient numbre 50-60 that Joffe and Yau banded. I know patient numbr 2-3 and they never had problems and that is 2-3 in the country not just with that surgeon. They say you should wait until after patient 50 because by patient 50 most docs have seen all different types of stomachs, and insides etc and they have placed enough bands to eliminate the possibility of most complications. But someone has to be the first 50 patients.. My advice as someone who has had complications is ask questions, like your doctor, seriously like your doctor you are going to have a lifetime relationship with them and make sure you are comfy with their staff. I would ask him if you are a complication who fixes it, who pays, etc. I would also ask what post op support he is offering, it is so important to have a good post op experience because that will help make or break some people. Good luck and argon is right for peace of mind 4 hours is nothing to drive for fills and support. Most of all make sure you are comfy with what you decide.

Well i was meant to get sleeved on the 19 August but ran in to complications n ended up being closed up unsleeved.was told to lose a another 15kg. I was so angry i let 2 hrs after waking up. I was so determined but they sed take couple days then get bk into it. I had been in liquid diet 3/4 weeks prior. Now the problem im having is getting bk into the diet successfully. No please no judgement cause i know i really want the surgery and know what a difference it will make but for some reason im just not able to kick myself in the butt hard enough to do it. I need a push but feel like so much is going on and food has always been my comfort. I was 205 now im 210 going bk on myself already Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi gang! I'm doing pretty well, at least in terms of weight loss. I'm exercising every day, walking on my treadmill and swimming when time allows. I still find myself struggling with denser forms of protein. I am a little more than 8 weeks out. Sometimes I curse this difficulty but I know in reality it's my tool working for me. I can't do eggs of any style (I loved them before). My favorite meal is Zoodles with meat sauce (and protein powder). I have trouble with chicken especially white meat. The other day they served us paella at work and I took a few shrimp out of there and had that and even that made me gag. I can do ground up Wendy's chili and that goes down well (YES I know I should be making it myself but I don't always have the time). I have a half cup of Cream of Wheat (with protein powder) every weekday morning. I feel like I need the carbs to jump start my brain, and this goes down easily without complications. (Yes I know Oatmeal would be better). As I am starting a new job as a full-time teacher and have struggled with nausea during our "planning weeks" I have pretty much decided just to stick with protein shakes for the moment during working hours. I'd like to get off them ASAP but I just can't chance things at work considering only my boss knows about the surgery and I'd like to keep it confidential as long as possible. Because of this and protein powder, I don't ever seem to have an issue hitting my protein requirements. But it's how I am reaching them that concerns me. I have always loved hummus, and lately I find myself going to it as a go to snack especially on the weekends or when I've had a rough day nauseawise. I know that even though it's a "good" carb (relatively- chik peas would be better) and has some protein, it's still a carb, and I also realize I ought to be "challenging" myself to get better at tolerating denser proteins. Still, on the weekends, when I want something to "enjoy" I'll fix a snack of 3 ounces of it with a single stalk of celery. It goes down so well. I'll sometimes do this twice a day. My sleeve feels good when I eat it- but is it just being lazy? Is this a horrible habit? Like I say, I'm losing at a pretty good pace, and I'm meeting my protein goals. But am I building bad habits that will come back to bite me after the honeymoon? Thanks for your input.

I am 5 days post op today from the sleeve. I had a horrible experience and wanted to share to see if anyone else had the same experience. Surgery Day- I woke up after surgery, I was shivering so bad and I was in severe pain at my stomach site. Day 1 post op- there was 1 day I was in the hospital and I slept most of this day as I was in severe pain. Did not drink anything Day 2- i again was not able to eat or drink anything. I got released from the hospital, went home and felt horrible. I could not keep anything down. I was throwing up from the medicine and had a fever. So we went back to the hospital where they readmitted me. Day 3- I was in severe pain again, and dry heaving since I had nothing in my system to throw up. I was only able to drink about 4 or 5 oz of water. I wanted nothing to do with the crystal light or the broth the hospital gave me. Day 4- I thankfully was able to drink some more water today, around 18oz. Finally was released late afternoon. Still feeling sore but a little better Day 5- I am feeling better, not as sore but the gas pains are still a huge factor and painful!!! I was able to manage about 20oz or so of water, I did not have any broth or any other clear liquids. I did have one small spoon of Greek yogurt. I hope this process gets easier!!! Let me know if you guys had any complications and how you overcame them!!

I have had multiple complications since my RYGB on 7/18/16. I have had emergency kidney stone surgery, multiple hospitalizations for what was finally determined to be a marginal ulcer, and dysautonomia which is uncontrolled low blood pressure (60/40 or less). In addition I still have to vomit 2-3 times a month or more after a meal when I hurt for 2 hours & know whatever I ate won't go down. I am not complaining, but also I rarely (once every 3 months or so) have upper abdominal pain that is so intense that I can't breathe, let alone drive, walk, speak. It puts me down for 5-10 minutes and scares the hell out of my family, my patients, and my staff. The intense pain usually subsides after a few minutes of lying on my right side. The chief of the Bariatric Surgery dep't here thinks I'm having temporary small bowel intussusception. I know I don't have an internal hernia as my RYGB surgeon was very careful about that. Usually intussusception advances to bowel death requiring surgery, but mine resolves after a few minutes in the right position. Has anyone else experienced this?

She had it here in Canada with a very reputable surgeon. Just part of the 1% I suppose that has bad luck and complications. Clearly by the forums most have little to no complications, but it scared me lol. I can't be down and out for that long, I am too busy. That being said any wls can have complications but I opted for the less invasive procedure because of what happened. And lb had to much follow up crap that I don't have time For either although I know many that have been successful with that. To each there own, pros and cons to both;) oh and I had mine in Mexico, no issues at all and they have been great with follow up:)

My revision was a bit more... complicated than most. Due to unforseen issues (basically one anastomosis was not done right), the surgery in March had to be aborted after 3hrs. New surgery was scheduled for June to allow for healing. 2nd surgery, the surgeon discovered another surprise. My common channel was only 25cm and the configuration of my intestines was not the rny configuration. He had to back my common channel to 300cm, cut out a portion of my pouch and small intestines due to necrotic tissue. This surgery took 8hrs! So almost 9months post op, I do have better restriction than I did with my surgery 22 years ago, but I'm absorbing more. I'm down 50lbs so it's been slow going, but I'm still losing. Thanks for asking, Hope you are doing well on your journey.

Do the positives out way the negatives? That's what I keep asking myself. Stress can cause corresponding pains / aches. I'm nervous too, but to remain the same unable to run, and keep up with the little ones, in my case my nieces ( I suffer from infertility, from PCOS) and you could potentially get diabetes, suffer a heart art k or worse. The odds of death or complications are minimal. The odds of the other comorbidities are greater. Maybe you can also talk to your surgeon to help you decide. Do you have a date yet? Mine is September 14, next Monday. I'm nervous too. I thinks it's natural.

I'm having surgery with dr. almanza-reyes in Mexico, in august, he has a 300.00 policy which covers ANY complications, including airline flights, motel rooms etc, for 6 months. For 500.00 it covers you for a year. I'm doing the year policy... Just in case...

So are you sure you insurance will not pay for your band? I am self pay and have had complications with 2 different bands. Fortunately my insurance paid for emergenc surgery both times though it would not pay for the placement. It wll now however. Good luck to you. Corlss

One of the things we hear people who don't understand obesity of weight loss surgery say (or we are afraid to hear them say) is that it's "the easy way out." Pre-op I could list a whole bunch of reasons why this isn't the easy way out. Why it's actually really, really hard - just as hard, if not harder, than losing weight the traditional way. But now, admittedly only two months out, I'm not so sure. And that's a good thing! Now, I should preface this by saying that I realize many people have had complications and for many people every day or some days post-op are a struggle - I don't want to try and negate their lived experiences. But I do want to talk for a minute about my experience, which I suspect is more common than we admit. I have been obese or morbidly obese pretty much my whole life. I dieted and exercised, yada, yada, yada, but the weight always came back. We all know the drill or we wouldn't be here. But I am nothing if not pragmatic, so when I started doing research about WLS and about weight loss in general, and read the statistics for long-term success in people who hadn't had surgery (Spoiler Alert! They're low!), getting sleeved just seemed like a no-brainer. Two years of hoop-jumping later, I went into surgery. I was very well read on the subject, knew all the worst case scenarios to expect, knew what the recovery would look like, etc. But my surgery and recovery were super easy. I was on to purees almost right away. Soft solids by week two. Anything but raw veggies at week 4. Anything and everything at week 6. I have yet to be made sick by any food. I get in all my Water, Vitamins and 90g of Protein (on a vegetarian (almost vegan) diet!) every day without trouble. I was lifting heavy in the gym at week 5. My recovery has been stupendous! ...And easy. Now, I know I came into this with some one major advantage: I love, and always have loved, healthy food. Even before surgery, if given the choice between pizza Hut or a black bean and quinoa salad with avocado dressing, I'd say bring on the quinoa (all six servings of it). And now I have become one of those people who doesn't cheat. Ever. Not a single piece of chocolate or a taste of potatoes. But this hasn't been hard for me, because I didn't have to give up every food I love. In fact, I got to keep about 80% of them. My problem pre-sleeve was really volume, which now is no problem at all. But even so, I gotta say, looking back at the last two and half months (if we include the pre-op diet), this has been easy-peasy. Way easier than starving myself and being so effing hungry all the time. Easier than hating myself for not being motivated to get to the gym. Easier than staying fat. But why should that be a bad thing? So what if it's been (relatively) easy? The only reason we think weight loss should be a struggle, is because we look at obesity as a moral failing, instead of a biological one, and thus as weight loss as the penance one must serve before one is rewarded with thinness. Well, I'm calling BS on that. Obesity is a medical problem; WLS is a medical solution. It should be easier than the alternative. That's the point. Maybe it hasn't been as easy for everyone else as it has been for me (like I said, I know I've been very, very lucky in some respects), but it's gotta be easier (barring major complications) than all the alternatives or we wouldn't have chosen it. So, let's stop apologizing and making excuses. Yes, this is the easy (or at least easier) way out. And that's a good thing.

Send an email to Alex and an example of what you would like to say and he will give you the thumbs up or not.. Personally. I think you are a natural! Alex is always looking for new perspectives and I think you the bomb... Thanks for your remembering me...I was thinking Guinness book of records for me on complications via WLS...lol