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Help!! I can't seem to find an app that I can log my daily meals and print out monthly for my doctor. I tried myfitnesspal and it's too complicated. Is there anybody who has to keep track and how are you doing it?? Sent from my SM-S902L using BariatricPal mobile app

Ask about: Complications General success rate (from surgery) % of excess fat / weight lost Pre-op requirements NUT and medical support before and after...

Hi and Welcome That's awesome that you don't have to reschedule! I also started with researching the lapband... On lapbandtalk I think I got to page 50 of 75+ pages in the Complications subforum before I just stopped reading... I wanted to read the bad stuff, not just the omgsquee-i-lost-all-the-weight posts. I also didn't like the way people on LBT were quick to jump on others that said their bands gave them problems... they made it seem like it was always "your fault" and couldn't possibly be their beloved bands. :001_wub: I've read way too much to believe that's the case for all the problems. Well grats and goodluck! I look forward to reading more about your journey! Hopefully my own surgery won't be far behind.

Ugh, I'm so sorry you're going through this. In reading all the different studies and reports, it seems like Vitamin noncompliance or an inability to properly absorb is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy. How long have you missed your B vitamin compliance, and have you tried to get B Vitamins through shots or sublingually to avoid malabsorption? I wish I had answers for you. As for the headaches, while they are common after a lumbar puncture, if you are STILL having them days after, you need to get back to the hospital ASAP because you may have a leak that could lead to complications!

That is much bigger than what I think most surgeon's are doing these days. That being said, the differences could be compared to say a pen, marker, sharpie, etc... (just for examples) and many will say it doesn't really matter- there has been MUCH debate on that already, so I'm not going there. Personally for me that was part of my requirements up front was to have the smallest sized stomach possible without having risk of health complications. My surgeon used a size 30 bougie. Now, there are other things to keep in mind that have to do with how your surgeon did your surgery because every surgeon has their own "technique". Some will just use the bougie as a guide and sew just a little outside the bougie, others just inside. It's supposed to be used as a guide for them to know how to size your new stomach. Again, lots of debate about whether having a larger size bougie affects long term success. I guess at the end of the day, if you have a larger stomach, then you can eat a little more than someone w/a smaller stomach- simple physics. I don't know that there is enough solid long term data that proves what size bougie has what types of success rates. I have seen some research, but it's not comprehensive. You have had the surgery, so just focus on staying on track with your Dr.'s eating plan and don't worry about it. You can't change anything at this point. If you are still curious, ask your dr. to explain to you a little more about how he used the bougie as his guide in creating your new stomach.

My surgeon will not operate on smokers because of bleeding. He said he's responsible for outcome and he's knows smokers will have complications. If you can't follow the diet, see if you can move surgery back a week or 2. The best thing they did was ease me onto a liquid diet before surgery. I did 1200 calories a day on a restricted diet for 4 wks, then 1000 cals a day for 2 wks before surgery, nothing but liquid for 30 hrs before. I don't think you're ready and you don't want to start off with complication. I had my gall bladder removed also. I was back to work in 2 weeks and off pain meds by then. Minimal complaints. I mean I can't exercise yet but it went well. Don't set yourself up and certainly be honest with your surgeon if you're smoking.

Hey lessofme and Sharon P--hope you are both doing well with your surgery and your decisions. I'm having Dr. Hansen do my surgery on March 19. Right now I'm feeling a little apprehensive about it all--will it work? can I eat following the rules for the rest of my life? (I'm sure those two questions are related!). What if I have complications? Spending money out of pocket for the surgery is one thing, but thinking of doubling or tripling that amount because of complications is very scary. Lessofme, have you survived the long period of liquids and pureed/strained foods without too much problem? Have you lost weight yet? You'll have your fill the day I have my surgery! I'm so full of emotions: excited, nervous, anxious, hopeful... But, what else is new??? Good luck to you both! Karen (in Provo)

I've been banded a little over a month and can honestly say it was one of the best things I've ever done for my health. I only wish I'd done twenty years ago. It's the safest WLS, fewest complications and about the same weight loss after a year or two. My doctor directed me to a Center of Excellence and I had a great experience, excellent surgeon and a terrific staff. You need to do a little research, find a hospital with a good program and you're sure to have a good experience. After surgery, weight loss isn't automatic, you still have to work at it, but the band makes it much easier. Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Hideey- ho I’m not sure where to actually post this. I’m hoping this was a good place. I’m currently in pre-pre-op. I have my Psych eval today and my Nutrition eval next week. These are required by my insurance. I’ve been doing A LOT of research and maybe too much - LOL. I read a lot on this website and other resources and see a lot about the worst of having barometric surgeries and problems and I’d really like to hear about the best. I mean it's worth it right? We are Urban Homesteaders and are looking to go full out in the country in a 1-2 years. I’m desperate to get this extra weight off not only because it’s starting to really affect my body with painful joints, degenerative disk disease, borderline diabetic and hypertensive, plus more that would just take to much time to list but I need to be able to do our chores and stuff on the homestead. My Children do a lot of it now but they won’t be around forever and I need to get doing these things more. I do what I can, but after standing too long (disk problem) – I have to sit cause leg is numb. Doc said getting weight off will help this tremendously. Hence I’m here on my journey to weight loss surgery. Yay I’ve always been a very positive glass half full person and reading on here has made me nervous. I’ve tried and tried diets and exercise programs and only come out worst than before. (Exercise I did was too intense and did some damage to my shoulders – go figure). So I had a question, and praying for a positive note more than negative - as a homesteader what is the reliance on the world for this? If the SHTF happens and we can’t go to docs every 3 months or what ever is required, are we screwed? This was the main reason I didn’t choose the lap band thingy. No way am I having a crazy contraption inside me and have to live at a doc office for constant adjustments. Seemed freakier to me. I was looking into the Sleeve; the gastric by-pass was a bit too much and seemed to have more post issues with anemia and stuff. I just would like to hear some positives on the surgeries. It’s taking me 5 years to finally say this is what I need to do so I could really use some advice or positive input. I totally get there are possible complications but heck, I’ve had gallbladder, appendix, tonsils, hysterectomy all removed and no problems. Hoping this will be similar. Any-hoo – really appreciate your time and sending prays to everyone to have a positive and successful weight loss journey. sorry for wording - typed this pretty quick on lunch break - - these little faces are so cute. Thanks again, God Bless, Sherry

Sometimes in life we have periods of intense lonelyness. This may be yours. The question is how much do you need their support? Is your mother your primary means of child care? Are you leaving you child when her when you go? If you are doing this on your own and you are planning on not asking them for anything then I would advice you to proceed with extreme caution and get what you need. If they are giving you money, or doing you other big favors though... It's a little more complicated.

Thank you Patti & Charlotte, When I think of my aunts, who were so much fun, and most died of complications of diabetes, it makes me know I am doing the right thing. It is so hot here, I wat to walk , but I will go to the pool instead and exercise. no time like the present. Patti

You can end up failing at any of the weight loss surgeries. You do need to be prepared to change your eating habits, but I think once you have surgery you'll be ok. It helps shift your mind. You're not gonna go through that just to fail. Plus, as a self pay, I would be even more determined. That's a lot of money. As far as complications, every surgery has potential complications and doctors are required by law to tell you about them. We all went through these doubts and fears. Just keep on keepin on. Decide you will be a success and follow the doctors orders and you will be successful! Best wishes!

Complications can happen but generally if you follow your Surgeons instructions you should be fine. I had my surgery in Mexico so all of my follow up care is done by my PCP but honestly other than having Blood work done I haven't needed anything. I think that a Ketogenic Diet would fit Hand in Hand with the Homesteader Lifestyle. All those fresh vegetables and game meats should Help you weed most of the Sugar and Carbs out of your diet and give you the quality fats that your body needs. We will just have to ship you Avocados and Almonds lol.

Failed, well if you failed then I really, really failed...My time at the hospital was 5 months with complications due to the surgery.... You are really being overly critical of yourself..You are on a path that can and will change your life forever if you use the tool properly......... Maybe a setback but not a fail...you are in good company here as I am not the only one to have suffered a setback...however......I can say this because a little over a year later I am in onederland..That's right and you will be too soon....pick up your head, get back on that horse and stop trying to sabotage yourself already... I really believe that something is worth far more when you have to work for it..Well girl that is you...just keep swimming and give yourself a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a bypass on a Wednesday. I was grocery shopping on Saturday and back to work on Monday. I never took pain medication after leaving the hospital. Barring complications, you should be fine. Sent from my SM-G925V using the BariatricPal App

Hi there, I had surgery on 2-6-17. I live in a rural environment in Alaska from April to October and in rural Texas in the winter. My Surgeon cleared me to head north 7 weeks after surgery. I was switched to a normal diet but reminded to chew well. I will be coming back for my 6 month followup in August. Then I'm pretty much clear. I will return each year for a checkup with my surgeon and NUT just so they can pat me on the back for how awesome I'm doing;-) I chose the sleeve for many reasons. Primarily because it doesn't change how my digestive system works. There are fewer complications with the sleeve and it is proving to be an awesome tool for me. I have no complications or contraindications from the surgery. It has been a life saver and like many here say, I wish I would have done it sooner. Depending on your disposition going through the surgery can be pretty emotional because there is such a life change that you must experience. And it is self induced so there is no one to blame:-). As an outdoors woman, it was not at all emotional for me. I have more time because I am not so fixated on that next unhealthy meal. My yard and garden are amazing. My walks are pleasant and pain free. I enjoy nature like I never did before. And I've only lost 33 pounds. Imagine what it will be like when I get it all off!!! I can't wait. There are always risks and it is important to be aware of them. But the risks are circumstantial compared to the guaranteed risks of continued obesity. That is what decided it for me. Heart attack today or heart burn... diabetes forever or a little acid reflux. The risk of surgery is there for everyone not just WLS and statistically your chances are pretty good. Especially if your generally healthy. I was self pay. This was great because I didn't have tons of time to second guess myself. My first appt was 1/19 and I was sleeved 2/6. I had considered surgery for many years but thought it was too drastic. I had lost 40 pounds doing low carb and started to regain AGAIN and that was it. I was tired of fighting my body. Decided to do a little fighting back and threw myself for a loop. Through the confusion my body has decided to get in step with my goals:-) Is it challenging? Sure..but I feel like I've finally been given a break. A chance at the life I always dreamed of. I didn't tell anyone but my husband and son about my surgery because I no longer wanted my weight to be the center of everything or the topic of conversation. I didn't want to talk about WLS with friends and family. I wanted to be normal for the first time in my life. Ultimately, discuss with your doctor your timeframe. They can tell you their timeline and you can make it work. Heck, I was wanting this bad enough to come to Texas in August! That's dedication!!! Take care. Hope I offer some positive words for you.

so yes i have been debating on posting this topic but i need answers i am an weed smoker prolly about 2-3 times a day i am geting the gastric bypass on sept 21 im not sure if i should quit smoking bc of the possibility of complications during surgery from smoking..i have looked it up online and nothing says weed can cause issues during surgery but nothing definite was wondering if there was anyone else who has quit prior to surgery for that reason

wow..insurance against a complication? If that's true it should really be something of value to consider. I, like most everyone else who self-pays, pulled from every imaginable source to make my band a reality and it seemed like such a huge investment at the time...what I didn't know was that I would spend multiple times that dealing with complications that I didn't have any control over. Do you have any more info about that??

Whatever you doctor says, you have to go with the choice you can live with. I was scheduled for a bypass, but freaked out and cancelled it 10 days before surgery. The thought of rerouting my God given plumbing didn't sit well with me. And my next door neighbor had the bypass, and after a few years, ended up having the band put over it. My sister's coworker had the sleeve, and is slowly gaining a lot of weight back. She can't eat much at one time, but grazes on crap all day long. Imagine doing that after have 75% of your stomach removed. Scary stuff! I'm not trying to push you in any one direction. Only to say that compliance is key with any of these surgeries. Many of us are really good at it in the beginning, but as life moves on, old habits rear their ugly face. Banded, bypassed, sleeved.....whichever, we still have to fight the fight. Do as much research as you possibly can, and make an educated choice on the one you can live with. It is true that the aftercare on the other surgeries is nil compared to the band. But then again, the band is reversible, and the choice is available to revise to something later, should unrepairable complications set it. It's a lot to think about, but it's most important that the decision be yours, and not what someone else "thinks" you should do. Good luck!

Sorry you are feeling let down. However I am sure that the surgeon has your best interests at heart. Surgery is dangerous and the higher your BMI the more dangerous it is . A BMI of 68 is extremely high.Far better to lose the weight prior to surgery than to die from complications on the table. It is also normal in the US to have to undergo a 6 month supervised diet prior to undergoing surgery . This proves to the insurance company that you are serious and have tried your best and are not just looking for a quick fix. you are not the first person i have heard of that has to do a 4 week preop diet. The purpose of this part of the process is to help shrink the liver. When you are obese the liver is enlarged and fatty. If it is not reduced in size prior to surgery you run the risk of having to have open as opposed to laparoscopic surgery or of it getting damaged during surgery which is highly dangerous. If your Dr suggested a bypass you need to find out why do not just dismiss his suggestion out of hand.Yes there are some Dr's that push bypass because it is their preferred surgery but your Dr may feel that a band would not suit you. With weight loss surgery there is no one size fits all - different surgeries suit different people depending on their types of eating.Bands are generally recommended for people that eat large quantities but do not have as much of an issue with sweets. bypasses are recommended where it is felt that malabsorption is also required. There is another option - the sleeve.I have even heard of people having a bypass and a band combined. Price should not be your deciding factor when choosing a surgeon. I understand that it is important but it is more important to choose an experienced surgeon that has done lots of the procedure that you choose and that has a good track record. Their are countless horror stories of things going wrong when using a cheap or inexperienced surgeon. That is not to say that all surgeons offering cheap surgery are bad but you do need to be careful. This board is a great place for you to vent, get support and do research.Read some of the threads from people that had revisions from lapband to bypass to help you with your decision as well. Wishing you all the best.

Yeah, that's a bit unexpected. Although I guess it's not really a complication of the surgery. It's an issue that is common with all forms of rapid weight loss.

I was having the same feelings when I got sleeved it July it was the best thing for me I to was considering the band but chose the sleeve because of less complications and no need to continue follow up care the rest of you life to have adjustments I was also told I would lose more weight with the sleeve I am down almost 90 pounds and only 10-13 pounds from goal it will be 3 months tomorrow since surgery you will also have to weight several weeks before the band will even be inflated to help with weight loss then lots of adjustments there after

So I haven't been on here for a while but had to share with others my experiences with the gastric sleeve. I had my surgery on April 12, 2016 the first 6-8 weeks it was going great some vomiting here and there while getting used to the new ways of life. Then the now and then became more and more frequent til I was vomiting daily. I this was not right so I had a long talk with the doctor he told me he was thinking i had a kink in the sleeve and sent me to a gastroenterologist. This doctor was sure it was a kink and scheduled me for a Esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD on August 12, 2016. The EGD went well for about 2 weeks than slowly I started vomiting again more and more, back to the doctor then to get another EGD on October 20, 2016. This time it seemed to do the job by the end of January I was doing good than the beginning of February the vomiting started again back to the doctor and April 25, 2017 EGD #3. I knew it linked again by may but I was sick of it so I decided to stick it out, BAD MOVE on July 27, 2017 I was rushed to the emergency room with Severe dehydration because I couldn't keep anything even ice down. July 29,2017 EGD #4. After that one I could tell it wasn't going to be long be i was back there and i was right November 8, 2017 I went in for EGD #5. After that last one it was a 100% different feeling not for the good but I pushed through and waited it out. I went in for my 2 year post OP appointment on April 10, 2018 (2 days before my 2 year) and doc was not happy to hear I am scheduled for my 6th EGD on May 10, 2018 so after looking at my labs and my upper GI from January I was told that my body is basically like rejecting my sleeve and my new lifestyle I have to live. So now i am waiting for a call from the doctor to start my new journey of having a gastric bypass done on my sleeve (revision) before I could think of what I should say I started crying and repeating "Why on earth did I do this to myself. I regret ever having this damn surgery". She calmed me as much as she could and now I'm waiting for this all to begin. When I was 18 months post OP my OBGYN gave me the go ahead to try for a baby. We decided to wait a little longer because he was working out of state. Now that he's back and we want to start a family I am told that I can't for another couple years. My life is crumbling and I am so disappointed that I can't start the family my boyfriend wants I'm even considering telling him to leave me and find someone that isn't a broken mess.

I was where you are not too long ago. I knew I needed to make a change but wasn't sure that the surgery was for me. However, in my case, I had two success stories within my family to help me make that decision. On one side of the family, a relative had gastric sleeve. On the other, the Roux-NY. Both are still doing great and they are three years and 7 years out, respectively. Part of the issue here is that the surgery IS scary and one wonders if it is necessary to put themselves in a situation where major complications could occur. The other part is we want to think that we are in control of our lives, and our eating habits. For me, I couldn't have lost weight without it. I know I would be struggling for the rest of my life as a morbidly obese person. Just didn't want to go there. I had no complications from my surgery (my hair did fall out and I have a bit more acid reflux than before the surgery) but some people do and it is highly advised that you research that part of it too so that you can be completely educated as to what can happen. I wish you the best of luck!

No issues with insurance. The Dr. did however make me redo some qualifying items such as meeting with the NUT and a Psych Eval. The Dr. also did some additional testing, gastric emptying study, and tried conventional medicines, reglan and erythromycin first to speed the stomach emptying process to try to correct the issue. All failed but was documented and provided to the insurance to support the approval. Bile Reflux is a rare complication of the Sleeve that is not documented, however it may be corrected with medication first prior to taking a drastic route to have a revision surgery. I hope that all works out for you. Reach out if you have questions.