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Hi, all. I was fearful of the same thing. That's why only 2 ppl know. My hubby and my best friend. I told no one else. Family, my children no one. I haven't I had surgery on 10 Dec, weighing in at 238. As of this morning I'm 221. I don't go back to work until 5 Jan. My excuse will and has been, is that I had my gallbladder removed and had to change my diet which true with the exception of the bypass part. It's a personal decision and everyone has a right to tell, or not. That's just me.

WOW, to all of you that have posted to this thread, I'm with you 100%. I had my bypass surgery 4 weeks ago. I can honestly say that I feel better today than I have in nearly 2 years. I've only lost 32 lbs so far, which is a drop in the bucket, but I know that without having had the surgery I'd be getting close to the point of giving up yet another time. I can't count the number of times I dieted, lost maybe up to 45 lbs. then got lax about what I was doing because I was bored with it all or something was going on in my life that triggered my usual bad eating patterns. This is different... There's no turning back. If I go back to my old eating habits I'll get sick. I made the commitment to do this because I knew I needed the help to do it to its completion, and I needed to improve my health. Is it easy???? Hell no, but is it worth it??? Absolutely!!! I've told very few people about my decision, just like some of you. I don't think everyone on the planet needs to know this very personal choice I've made or why. If they ask what I'm doing, I'll reply that I'm working on being healthier. That's it...no further explanation. Then as they see me change dramatically they can think whatever they want. At some point I hope they choke on their Big Mac when they see me show up somewhere in a drop dead outfit that really shows off all my hard work. That day I'll feel like the woman I know still exists deep inside, and has been trapped inside the body that has taken me over for too many years. I look forward to better health, a better wardrobe, a better, sex life, and a much better sense of self!!! I deserve it, and so all of you!!!

One major factor is what is causing your GERD. Many obese people have hiatal hernias, which cause GERD. If that is the case, the hernia is typically repaired at the same time as the sleeve surgery and that can cause your GERD to resolve or improve. But if it is not caused by a hernia, some surgeons will refuse to perform a sleeve, or strongly recommend bypass, because bypass is typically much better for GERD. A lot of it depends on how bad your GERD is, as well. You will typically have an upper GI series or endoscopy prior to surgery, and that can help figure out what is causing your GERD, i.e., do you have a hiatal hernia.

I have gone to 2 of the 6 required nutritionist visits required for weightloss surgery. I see the surgeon next month to decide what type of surgery I want to have. I am 26 yrs old, 6'3", and 327 with sleep apnea, high cholesterol, pre diabetic, and minor reflux. Dieting hasn't worked too well bc I always gain it back. I've been on 4 major (and expensive) diets since I was 13. I am just so tired and beat down feeling... My wife is scared for me to have gastric bypass and I am too but I am starting to feel likes its my only option. Any encouraging words?

My wife had lapband and I did the bypass. I am happy I went with my decision! Waaaaaay more inclined to lose weight! Instantly off high blood pressure cholesterol. Once I lost about 30 pounds I didn't use cpap anymore. So much more energy and breathing easier! Wife said she is happy but she works twice as hard to lose and mine comes off pretty easy. Sometimes I think Im dreaming when i reach down and feel the belly! You aren't doing something crazy. You are taking your life back! Your whole relationship with food will change for the better! Oh yeah I was prediabetic as well. Gone! The only pill I take now is a multivitamin.

Anyone having RNY on Nov. 28th, or maybe within 2-3 weeks of that?

Thank you for answering my post about depression. So sorry you have to go through this too. It is horrible. I have my good days and bad days I do take wellbutrim and t does take the edge off. I am lke you without my faith that there is a living God who loves and cares about me that I can talk to everyday I would not get out of bed. I have had my Band 2+ years and the Band helped with the weight but not the depression. The weight is not the cause of the depression but a side affect of the depression. But my husband and I agreed the depression is not something I can cure myself but the depression and the weght were too much for me. I was 251 and am now 169 a tight size 18 to a loose size 10, so that does make me feel better. I am still believeing God will not make me live the rest of my life living like this. I am waiting for healing, I know He can and I want it. So you are thinking about the Band? It Is a good thing. I might would have done the Bypass but I was self pay and could not afford it. But now I am glad I went with the Band. With the Bypass I could have lost even more weight but too many risks. I have really had no problems with the band, too tight twice but no biggie they just take some out and I do throw up but always have and no slip or problem. I have been married for 31 years to a wonderful supportive man and have a great son and a wonderful daughter-in-law and the most beautiful grandbabies Olivia 5 and Isabella 2 both blond hair and blue eye and both left handed like my son. They all are the joy I have in this world. I fear my depression will ruin their lives too. I spend a lot of time faking happiness as to not ruin their time. But it is hard sometimes. But I would never want to cause my grandbabies any unhappiness or set a bad example. The oldest one Olivia does know that grandma does get sad sometimes but that it is okay. She is more concerned about my Band, she tells everyone, people in the store, or when we are out to eat everyone, does not bother me. She thinks she can feel the band because she can feel the port really easy. (it is by bra line). She always ask me if I am going to eat something “Is that healthly grandma”. She is so funny. So you see I have a wonderful family my husband and I made, but really no relationship with my family. They are all into drugs and drinking which I do not do. My daddy died when I was 10 and my brother who also suffered from depression overdose last Christmas on prescription drugs, his and someone elses. It was a terrible death he would have never wanted people to see him like that in a coma on life support for 2 days it was terrible but he was one of the saddest people I have ever known but would not accept help. I have been throught 3 years of counseling and learned a lot of coping skills and that I have probably been depressed my whole life but was too busy being a mom to care about myself and kept it all inside. When my son married I kinda lost my identity and it opened the door for the depression to surface. I am gonna stop writing now as I have written a book, more than you wanted to know I am sure. So sorry it took me a few days to answer you but like I said I have my good days and bad days. Cheri

I can’t testify to the results but I personally chose from Band to RNY , I have Esophagitis, GERD and a port leak , I didn’t want to take a baby step and then have to do another revision ( if that was possible ) in the future .

Hello everyone! I have been checking out this site for a few weeks and figured it was time I introduced myself. My name is Melissa (41, 252 lbs, 5'1") and I've been overweight/obese most of my life. You know, it's kind of weird - I remember my 5th grade class picture and I was little and cute. Everything from there on out through middle school I have vague memories of some crap happening then but now I just remember putting on the pounds. I graduated high school at 160 and well, just never really stopped. My mom passes away out of the blue one day of sudden cardiac death and when then happened it really shook me to my core. After that happened I, in no particular order, divorced my first husband (something that should have been done long before I did), quit my long time job of academic advising, moved to TN, married a new wonderful man who treats me like a queen, started culinary school, graduated, started my own personal chef business and will also be teaching culinary arts at a local culinary school this fall. This has all happened in the last four years! I've tried Weight Watchers more times that I can remember - was only really successful once and even then it was going from 229 to 187. I've done other diets, Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, went to the gym, saw a nutritionist, tried hypnosis, yeah, I am a diet veteran for sure. But they never worked. And it wore on me because I'd always say to myself "What is your problem - you know what to do - just do it!" But I never could. Heard a lot of negative stuff about WLS - thought smugly to myself that I'd never take the "easy way out." Everyone knows people just gain the weight back - and don't even get me started about all the complications people have. And besides, I'm a chef - I can't do something where it's going to automatically cause dumping anytime I take a bite of anything. Another thing keeping me from pursuing surgery was the fact that for most of my life I had relatively few complications. In 2009 I started meds for high cholesterol. This May I started meds for high blood pressure, depression, and was told I was prediabetic. Hmmm....I guess when they say once you hit 40 everything starts going downhill was true But I still wasn't thinking surgery. But then I saw Graham Elliot had VSG - he's a fab chef from Chicago (you may have seen him on Masterchef). Hmm, here's a fellow chef getting this surgery done - surely he won't do it if it's going to cripple his livelihood. So I did some research. Heck, who am I kidding? I did a ton of research. And I realized it's not the easy way out. Any one who says that just doesn't know what all is involved. But I also realized it may very well be a very viable option for me. The bad news is my insurance has an exclusion and won't cover it and at first my husband was a bit reluctant to get on board. Every time I'd mention it he'd change the subject. Fortunately, we have a pretty awesome relationship and I finally said hey, what gives - why do you keep changing the subject when I bring this up? Turns out on of his ex's family members had WLS 15 years ago and had a boatload of complications. Once I explained to him that #1 I wasn't looking at having gastric bypass and #2 a whole lot has changed in the past 15 years in WLS he was onboard. Realizing my health is very much in a perilous spot, I've decided it's time to do something. My husband loves to be active, and well, right now, I don't. He never complains, but I want to do more things with him. And yeah, not going to lie, I would love to be able to shop in a regular size store for the first time in, ohhhh.....probably over 30 years. While there are a number of surgeons nearby who perform the surgery - the going self-pay rate is about 20K. However, with help from folks here I have found a doc in Texas who has a much more reasonable self pay rate. We will still need to finance some of it, but it seems much more reasonable now and financing under 10K sounds so much better than financing 20K. I look forward to learning more from all of you and hopefully contributing a lot too! Melissa This site has been a huge help to me so thank you all

Hello everyone.. I've been a member since March when I decided to go forward with the surgery. I thought it was time to introduce myself and my story. My name is Sandy and i'm 35yrs old. A mother of two 16 and 11, I've been struggle with my weight since my son was 3yrs old. I've tried everything under the sun including weight watchers where in 98_99 I was able to lose 75lbs. That I later gained back as soon as I became pregnant with my second. I was recently diagnosed with Lupus, Sjogrens, Anemia, Fibromyalgia and many more crap.. I'm on many medications that have contribute to my weight staying or going up from 242 _ 255.. I've research the sleeve and I finally made the decision to meet with a surgen. He agreed that the sleeve was the best option because of my Anemia so if you have medicare the sleeve will be covered if you can prove that it is more beneficial than the gastric bypass.. You're surgen should be able to fight for you, I know mines is fighting.. Had my initial consultation on May 18th and that same day started my pre_op testing.. I'm really looking forward to regaining control of my life and health.. Sorry for a long intro.. Sent from my SPH-D710 using VST

I didn't get asked that at all. I didn't want the bypass because I don't want to have to worry so much about all the nutritional deficiencies after surgery. :-)

I am finally seeing the surgeon on Tuesday and I am sure she is going to ask me questions. I don't know what to say if she asks me "Why do I want to have the sleeve over the bypass". Did any of you get asked this and what did you say?

And advice from a sadder and wiser new-vet. Keep your protein count up, you won't heal well without it. Here I sit at OSU-Wexner Medical center where I have been a guest since Wednesday November 28. I have a stomal stricture and ulcerstions in my pouch (I am. RNY) and jejunem, 2nd small intestine segments used in my bypass, I couldn't sustain healing on my liquid P.O .diet, so I have a PICC LINE and am receiving T.P.N. FLUID THROUGH the PICC line in my upper left arm. Don't worry, I am a rather special case, less than 5% bypassers and fewer yet sleeves have this trial. More likely Donal J Trump will pay you a house call to state he's giving up Twitter. Yeah but you could enhance S.F. Jello with unflavored protein powder to up protein count. All those things are a good start but need a little more to them. A very good. resource thread you were given. This battle is not always easy but when YOU DO WIN the war it is so so good!

I was banded 2/1 and have lost 11 lbs this week! I know of course that this pace will REALLY slow down but I have a question for those more experienced. A dear friend who I confided in about my surgery related that several of her friends had "surgery" and were initially very happy with the results. However, over time they all reverted back to their original way of eating and "stretched out their stomachs", returning to pre-surgical weight. I am confused as to how this is even possible? I certainly understand if you exist on high calorie "slider food" and deliberately try to eat around the restriction the band provides, but this just seems so willful and possibly painful that I can't imagine it. Is this as prevalent as my friend portrayed it? I thought this was more of an issue with gastric bypass (Carnie Wilson) but that the adjustability of the band would prevent much of this. Am I wrong?

Be thankful though, in that if your surgeon was not confident in his ability to make it work and had tried anyway, disaster would have followed. Perhaps your new surgeon will have more experience with revisions. Good luck!

grace i am curious if you have lots of excess skin? My starting weight is similar to yours but i only want to get to 175. Does loosing it slowly help with the excess skin? Thanks that was one reason i choose lap band an not gastric bypass

I would say if you are steady in weight that you might not want to do this? I don't know your BMI but in the Netherlands the minimum for a gastric bypass/sleeve is 35 with co-morbidities or 40 without. If your lap band is giving you problems, you can consider it, but I wouldn't expect too much weight loss after? Good luck either way

Also, bypass patients have much trouble with vitamin an mineral absorption! You drop the weight faster... Too fast which can be very dangerous!

Which surgery are you having? Glad you passed the psych eval... I am one of them shrink types and felt like I had fooled them, too! About the doubt... normal for most of us. For me, after decades of failure, it is unreal to even contemplate that I could lose this weight. But, I did. Now that the rapid loss period is over for me, I am facing the reality of having to be very careful. But, the good news is that my pouch is small, I literally can't overeat. The bypass part of the surgery is there always, helping cut nutrient absorbing, and honestly, it is easier to avoid weight gain and with careful eating and good activity, the pounds are still coming off. I still am shocked when I look in the mirror or see myself in a window reflection... but I deserve this new body.

The only reason you would need to have the band removed would be if it was medically necessary. When I had to have mine removed due to infection my insurance covered it 100%. If the doctor reports it as medically necessary, it is covered even if your plan does not cover bariatric surgery, like mine does not. When I got sick I was scared to death that the removal surgery would not be covered, but my new doctor reassured me it would be covered. As far as your choice, if I were young and planning to have children in the future, I would factor that into the equation and discuss it with my doctor. I too chose the band, because the only other alternate at the time was bypass. I had my band done with 8 of my coworkers and none of the others have had any problems. I am the only one who picked up a staph infection and we all saw the same doctor for the surgery and the fills (except for one). Of course, at this point because of my problems, I can only recommend the sleeve. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Howdy all! I was banded 3/08, so this March will be 3 years. I have lost a total of 50 lbs and kept off 35 of that - the gain had more to do with having to stop running - completely unrelated. I have an ultra sensitive band. In 3 years, I have never had more than 2cc in my band. And there has been drama finding that out. No hospitalizations, but one trip to the ER because what was we thought I had some sort of stomach flu and dehydrated, not realizing until I was pumped full of anti-nausea drugs that it was a band problem. Yesterday (after no fills for almost a year now), I went to see my surgeon because I had to have some taken out after two weeks of only being able to eat liquid foods - smoothies, Soups, etc. For the first time, he talked about switching to either bypass or sleeve. Sleeve definitely has my interest to say the least. I think is more frustrated with my band (not me) than I am. So, as I investigate, I may have a question from time to time. Looks like there are already plenty of topics to surf through to find what I am looking for. See you guys around the boards! Texgirly I am Sparkpeople under the same name, and LapBandTalk as well, but not active.

Good Luck Tex, I was banded in 6/08 and my doc approached me about switching to the sleeve also, i lost 104 lbs but then had a prolapse and gained 40 back even after the revision so last month on 11/1 I was converted to sleeve and have no regrets at all. i ve lost 12 lbs and i dont have that stuck feeling anymore, i can eat like a normal person now without all the drama of looking for the nearest bathroom at the restaurant. good luck on whatever you decided, and let us know, there is a wealth of information and support here, take advantage of it.....vicki:)

I don't know about you, but I chose the sleeve over gastric bypass because I don't want to never be able to eat another piece of birthday cake! Forgive yourself. The fact that you feel guilty about it is a good sign. You wouldn't have cared about it a year ago, so consider the progress you've made. The only problem is now you've seen the danger of being able to eat slider foods. Why can't they just fill us up like chicken does! Why do they go down so easy and why did the whole piece of cake fit in my sleeve! (This is how I feel about popcorn). We should all enjoy birthday cake once in awhile, especially our own. They key is "once in awhile" like normal folks do! Congratulations on your weight loss so far.

Thats the day I get my revision from lap-band to sleeve. I am nervous...I am excited...I hope I have the strength to go through it. I have to see the hemotologist first as I may need to get Iron infusions cause I am very anemic...I hope that everything works out...crossing fingers

I am a band to sleeve revision too! April 27 is my date. You've have done awesome! Gilly