Search the Community

several people have been revised to bypass (from sleeve) - hopefully someone will chime in...

Are you really getting in all of your Water and Protein at one week post op? For me that was absolutely impossible because of the swelling inside. I ask because dehydration can feel exactly like hunger. You should not have a lot of stomach acid because you had bypass and the hunger hormone itself should not yet be present. So it realistically could be dehydration or head hunger and as James said that need to chew something. I remember that feeling as well and it really can mimic hunger.

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I was banded in April of 2008 & after 14 fills I lost 75 lbs. I got to where I was able to eat more & more & I started gaining weight back. It was like I didn't even have weight loss surgery cause I was following the same pattern I did before the band. Recently I started having stomach pains & gerd.When I finally went to my Dr. he had an endoscopy done & found I had prolasped & my esophigus was inflamed so he did a biopsy. My wife & I met with him on Monday & he said the biopsy came back OK but we needed to select one of the 4 options he had for me. 1. He could empty the band & allow the stomah to go back in place & bigin fills again, 2. Remove the band & return to original stomach, 3.replace the band, 4. remove the band & revise to a sleeve or gastric bypass. We all agreed that the gastric sleeve would be the best option. I need to get another phyc. eval. & apply for approval from my insc. again. I'm feeling good about this because after this surgery I don't have to keep going back for fills & worrying about prolapsing again. This is where I'm at right now.

My surgery is November 3rd and I am also having my gallbladder removed as well as having a hiatal hernia repaired. I started this process almost a year ago and I am so happy to finally be in the home stretch. Best of luck to you in your surgery!

Thanks for the quick response, mountainmomma. I've discussed this with my doctor twice and he thinks that I am a perfect candidate for lap band. As bypass has the side effect on mal-nutrition, he thinks that it would have too serious of impact on my future life. It's just that my coworker keeps telling me that I should switch.

Hi, I'm very glad to find the forum. I'm getting ready to get my band installed, but the surgery date hasn't been scheduled yet. One of my co-worker is also getting the surgery done, except her doctor recommended gastric bypass. She is trying to convince me that lab band surgery does not suppress appetite so it is very hard to lose weight via this type of surgery. She had a friend who did the lab band surgery last August and only lost 8 pounds so far (for about 6 months). She strong recommends me to do the bypass as well. My question is that after the lab band surgery, when you crave for sweets and carbohydrates again, will just 2 or 3 bites of the sweets satisfy you? In another word, even if you sneak on some sweets, you will not be able to eat as much as before, right? Does the band makes it much easier to lose weight than any other non-surgical methods (diet drugs: Xenical, Hoodia, Diet system 6, Jenny Craig etc)? Thanks. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Met with the bariatric psychologist. Found out that since the dosage of one of my depression meds had been changed recently, I have to be stable for 3 months. Frustrating. The second week of November is 3 months. Also my regular psychologist and therapist put in my chart that I needed to return to group theraphy. I went for 8 months. Been there done that. Explained to the Bariatric psychologist the reasons I stopped and that I am continuing my personal therapy sessions. She decided to require that I attend 6 classes that are once a week. Happy. Met with the sugeon. I am having the sleeve. I have to lose 10#'s. Happy. Met with the nutritionist I am on 1200 calorie diet. My two week pre-op diet consists of lean Proteins and Clear liquids. Happy The surgeon told me that from the time I finish all the above requirements that surgery would be scheduled one to two weeks later. Oh My Gosh. This is really going to happen. Freaking out. Lol Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-T337A using the BariatricPal App

Thank you for your feedback! I've been reading up on some things, and there's this thing called the "Mirena Crash" meaning it mimics the symptoms of pregnancy.. and well I seem to be going through them.. I got AF on July 5th through the 10th and as I said, I got my Mirena out on July 26th and I got what seemed like a very heavy AF from the 28th to the morning of the 31st. I had unprotected sex that night, again on the 2nd and 4th. Now, if that wasn't my period I should be getting it any day now, so if I miss should I take a pregnancy test? Since yesterday morning I've been experiencing pregnancy symptoms.. Headache, bloating, stuffy and plugged nose, cough and a sore throat, no smell, no taste, backache, very tired but can't sleep, not hungry, having to pee a lot, weird cravings, and I "just FEEL" pregnant, I know most will say, can't feel it that early.. I've always been very fertile, (I have two boys 10 and 11) and I heard with the Gastric Bypass Surgery you become even more fertile, and I told my OBGYN this and she said with that and getting the Mirena removed that I could get pregnant within the first week.. But that is contradicting everything that I'm reading from other people. So naturally I am very confused, and we really want to have a baby.

Hello everyone, am new to this site. I live in Europe and am thinking about getting the lap band procedure done in the UK by a very experienced surgeon. My question is this: Have any of you bandsters had PCOS and received the lap band? Have you had any unique or unusual problems in losing weight? Is it slower than "normal" bandsters without this problem? I've read alot of debate between those with PCOS who prefer the lap band over gastric bypass, and vice versa. Could the info on PCOS perhaps adversely affect my surgeon's decision to give the lapband? Thanks for any info that you can provide me. This is a great forum for information!

So I am starting to get a little anxious with all of this pre-op evaluations. They seem neverending to me because everytime I do something, I have to go back again for something else. For example, went for Cardio clearance and everything looked great but he can't clear me without an echocardiogram and stress test so I have to go back for that this Thursday. Same with Gastro, went for that, went for Endoscopy and have to go back for results (which really can be done with a phone call, but phone calls don't give them co-pays). Sorry, I'm just venting frustrations. But I am in the home stretch of all of these things - Thursday I have 2 appointments, Friday is final gastro appointment, Saturday Bloodwork and then I'm done. I just called my surgeons office and spoke to the person who handles all of this there (sooo nice & helpful she is!) and she made me feel so much better about all of this. She told me what she had already received and what she still needed and I gave her all the dates of my upcoming appointments. She said that by the last week of August she should have everything and then she gives the complete file to my surgeon who will review it all and sign off his approval. Then she will call me and we will decide on a surgery date, which will be at least 6-7 weeks from that day (because of my insurance company). Then she will submit that to my insurance company (GHI-CBP in New York) and they take about 5-6 weeks to give approval. She said that's how my insurance company does it, they require a surgery date for the approval process. So basically I will have a surgery date before I have actual insurance approval (which will be very nerve wracking to me!). But it is what it is. She also said that GHI has been very good about approving surgery. I also told her that I have a deadline in my head of November 7th, otherwise I am waiting until January. I asked her if she thought I was being unrealistic but she said I am very realistic and so long as she gets everything as expected, realistically I can have it done by the end of October!!!! So that made me very happy. The reason I want it before the 7th is that I don't want to run into the holidays while still on the liquid diet. I realize I won't be eating a hell of a lot at Thanksgiving no matter what, but I really don't want to have to explain to anybody why I'm drinking a Protein shake instead of eating dinner. So that's my update. I started my day very anxious about all of this and now I feel like I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The light is still a small dot, but I can at least see it now.

Went to the Dr last week. Have to lose 36 lbs before surgery. Lost 17 in the last month! I can't get off work in October, so I'm looking toward the end of October or beginning of November. Doc said there should be no problem having surgery on Oct. 30! Just have to lose 19 more pesky pounds...

Just a reminder that the WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) Support Group at Memorial Herrman is meeting THIS Wednesday. This is for BOTH bypass and Lap-Band patients. Last meeting there were more band patients than RNY, so don't feel like you can't come! I am planning to attend! Here are the details: WLS Support Group Memorial Hermann-Woodlands 9250 Pinecroft Drive 1st Floor, Conference Room

Hi Eveyone - I am writing on this forum to share my own story, not to disparage the Lap Band because I know many people are successful supporters. At the weight of 263 I had a Lapband placed in 2008, paying out of pocket. At that time GERD was my bigggest CM but I have a sister who was approaching 400 pounds so I was worried. At that time my weight was such that Bypass wasn't really considered and the band was new enough that there weren't too many horror stories and I had high hopes that it would be my answer. Since that time my lowest weight was 150 (as a result of a huge bleeding fybroid) but has hovered at about 200 pounds - not great, but not terrilbe. I have had spells of success with the band but most of my experience has been unplesant. Pain around the port and on the side of the port (I've been checked for Gallstones multiple times), unable to lose weight then unable to swallow meat, back pain, etc. The port is placed in an area that I can ALWAYS feel when I bend or wear any type of waistband - it's BAD. Recently I have had consistant chest pain which has been ruled out as being cardiac and is likley more GERD. So, after much thought and discussion with my surgeon I am having it removed and a RNY revision done (one surgery, again self pay, ugh). If I had it to do over again I WOULD NOT have a band placed and I would've had RNY in the first place. There is something about the foreign object nature of the band and port that never felt quite right to me, even when it was working. If you're considering a band and have doubt please ask folks questions before you do so, make sure you've thought about everything, I wish I had. Best of luck to everyone in their journeys!

Lori: Welcome Welcome. I second Alex's statement of wishing more young people would come to the band instead of bypass. Makes so much more sense to me anyway. LOL!! Anyway, welcome and visit often. Glad to have you aboard.

Congrats. If only everyone's journey only took 9 weeks that's quick! My surgery wont be until October or November. Congrats again and good luck!

Hi I have had the band now 4/5 weeks and was doing really well lost 12lbs but now I seem to be putting the lbs back on. My first fill is on the 18 November and am very worried I will but all the weight back on before the first fill. I know you are new to the band like me and wondered if you could give me some advice. Can you bring the first fill forward. Many thanks

I'm from CT and yes I got APPROVED today my date is November 26 so excited

Hey Y’all! I am so worried about my husband! He had Rue & Y Gastric Bypass April 6th 2021 so he’s 1 year and 3 months post op and it’s been a NIGHTMARE!!! He has literally lost 200 pounds. He has always been a 220 pound man. He was diagnosed with COPD in 2017 and he was given massive amounts of steroids for all his lung trouble, which caused him to gain weight. At his heaviest he weighed 394lbs. He now weighs about 190lbs. We are both extremely proud of his Weightloss but y’all he literally CANNOT EAT ANYTHING! He THROWS EVERYTHING UP, even liquids. He constantly has abdominal pain. His Surgeon, his GI Doctor, and his GP family doctor are all stumped and none can figure out why. We found out the day of his Gastric Bypass that his stomach had twisted and flopped upwards and they thought that this was the reason for the abdominal pain and vomiting he was having before the surgery, but he’s still having severe pain and problems. Technically he didn’t have the surgery for Weightloss, he had the surgery because he was told by 2 different bariatric doctors that this was the answer to fixing his pain and nausea but they didn’t even know what the problem was and they still don’t. His Surgeon now believes that he could have a nerve problem or nerve damage and believes that is what is causing his pain and nausea. Have any of you had nerve damage that has caused you abdominal Pain, Nausea, and vomiting after your surgeries? If so, What was done for you and has it helped? Also, have any of you tried otc nausea patches from this website or any other and if so, do they work? He takes prescription nausea medicine but they do not work! I am very scared and very worried for him. He is 47 years old, his lung issues are under control but I fear for him nutritionally. He takes his supplements and he is getting IV FLUIDS (Banana Bag) every Friday but all this is really taking a toll on him physically and mentally. He is having another EGD scope to look in his stomach at the end of this month but they have done all this already and they never find anything. He does everything he’s supposed to do from having this surgery but he’s not getting any relief or any answers..

My surgery (bypass) was yesterday the 27th. My surgeon said everything went well. He also repaired my hiatal hernia. Aside from the gas I was inflated with, I haven't had a lot of pain, just discomfort (I'd say 3 on a scale of 10). I took a nice long walk yesterday to help. I've been sipping icy cold water, which I know some have had problems with. Later this morning, I'm being discharged. Then the real fun begins. [emoji4]

According to one surgeon, the term roux en y just means an incision. So any of the surgeries like DS, Loop DS and MGB all use roux en y incisions. But in bariatric circles, the RNY pertains to the regular GB. All I know about the MGB is that it can be revised and is less invasive. As is the case with all of us, my biggest concern was/is weight regain over time. I chose the Loop DS because it seemed to be more effective with weight loss than the GB and MGB and equally as effective as the tradition DS with one less incision and less intestinal bypass, diarrhea, etc. As far as the DS vs the Loop DS (SADI), I am concerned about weight regain because of the significant difference in the amount of longer intestinal tract that is left with the Loop DS. But I also have to take into consideration the side effects of having that much shorter intestinal tract with the malabsorption issue.

My only other advice is to be ready to have significant hunger until you have had some fills. Restriction seems to happen for people at different rates. I have had a lot more hunger then I thought. Looking back, I may have choosen bypass surgery. However after a second fill I am feeling less hungry. You'll just need to be patient.

Had my hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as bypass.

Hi all! First of all, I'd like to say thank you to all who have posted and shared their WL journey. I have been lurking here gleaning as much info as possible. I guess it's time I share! I am 53 years old. With a BMI of 40 and several co-morbidities. I have tended to be a little heavy all of my adult life, but never as extreme as in the last 10 years, in which time I have gained 100 lbs. At this time I have attended 3 seminars.....OK, I am a slow learner. The first one- I thought "oh how extreme!, If I can't control what I eat now, how could I with WLS". And, "My Dr. would never go along with it". And, "I could never afford it!" The second seminar was after much research and a hospitalization over my heart-resulting in my PCP recommending WLS. That is when I discovered that the closest WLSC (one hour away in Southern OR) was not COE rated, which is a requirement of my insurance. The third seminar was a webinar for WLSC 4 hours away, to the south in Chico, CA. I am willing to go the distance for surgery and fills, however they don't have any type of "medically supervised diet, exercise or behaviour modification program" which is a requirement by by insurance plan (GEHA). Six months within the last 12 months I have to have documentation of the "medically supervised" diet and exercise. I saw my PCP at end of November (when he recommended WLS), however hadn't been to see him at all in previous 12 months, so have to start from then. I also saw him in December, so that I could add that to the record, but he really doesn't know what he is supposed to be documenting. He said that if he codes for "obesity" the insurance doesn't pay. I may have to just self-pay for these visits so the insur. will cover surgery. I have seen others refer to the 6 month "medically supervised diet " but never any specifics, like how do I document this. I really am ready for this surgery now, am willing to go through the 6 months of diet, but want to make sure I am doing it right so the Insurance covers! Also, would like to have an actual "program" so that I can feel some progress! Any ideas out there? (Thanks for listening to me babble on!)

Hello... I'm new and was banded on Dec. 26th. The first week was pretty difficult because i experienced major hunger pains that woke me up in the wee hours of the night and early morning with knawing pain. I've been relieving the hunger by drinking Protein Shakes to coat my stomach. It helps...but only for a couple hours, when my hunger pains return. I'm back at work and taking full liquids. However, craving more bulkier foods. I had a followup appt. this weekend with the doc to see if my incisions were healing well. My first adjustment is scheduled for the 24th. There were a couple of ladies who were banded in November in the waiting room. They told me that I could eat pretty much whatever I wanted until my first adjustment because my stomach is not restricted. Does anyone know if this is true? My nutritionist says I'm supposed to be on full liquids for two weeks and then eat soft foods for another 2 or 3 weeks. So why are these ladies telling me I can eat anything until I get adjusted. I'm confused. Aren't we supposed to be on liquids to heal?

I was banded in October or November 2010, and lost about 80 pounds. By 2012 I'd had all the fluid removed due to regurg, pain, etc., even with minimal fills. Even with the band unfilled, foods still got stuck and some things were completely off limits. I just dealt with it for a few years, ignoring the problem. Earlier this year, I finally decided to do something about it and saw a bariatric surgeon here in Minneapolis (my band was placed in Omaha). In June of this year, I had a barium swallow xray done, and I was diagnosed with esophageal dismotility, a complication of the band. So, the band needed to come out. (For anyone reading this curious about the insurance approval process, I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and it was pretty straightforward, I just had to show proof of getting fills done (got my records from my old surgeon's office) and proof of a complication (the barium swallow showing dismotility).) I had the band out in August, and will be sleeved on December 7, in just 2 days. My surgeon does the revision in two different procedures because she feels there are fewer complications this way. Though there are other surgeons in the same group who do the revision in the same procedure. Waiting in between is not exactly easy on the pocket book (though I would have hit my out of pocket max either way), and my sick time at work has really taken a hit, but I understand the reasoning. Looking back on it, I'm really glad I've had the time between getting the band out and getting sleeved. I've had time to unlearn all the unhealthy habits I developed while dealing with my failed band. (And yes, I realize the failure was likely partly my responsibility, too, for anyone looking to jump all over me for that one.) I had to sip with my meals to get food past the band, and I definitely wasn't getting enough protein because that was likely to stick, too. Basically, I've had time to practice the "way of the sleeve" to replace the "way of the failed band". Between the band and the sleeve, I also have been hungry. My stomach hasn't rumbled this hard in years! (Maybe because it couldn't physically do so?) Protein shakes have helped, and paying attention to whether or not I'm actually hungry (or have any right to be based on what I've already eaten) or if it's just mental "hunger" have kept me from gaining weight. I've actually lost about 20 pounds now, and not just from the liquid diet I'm on before surgery. While it's frustrating to have to do two procedures, I hope you find the time in between helpful. Good luck! Wishing you the best.