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My WLS journey has been at a Bariatric Center of Excellence in a major Medical Center. The Weight Loss Center here has done thousands of surgeries in the last ten years. The program is discouraging patients from pursuing the lap band procedure because of the risk of complications. In my classes, I met two lap band revision patients that have had multiple issues. After talking with them, I am very comfortable with my decision to do the sleeve.
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My sleeve surgeon just did a gallbladder removal for me a couple weeks ago. I saw him today for follow-up and he chatted a bit about a bariatric surgeon conference he just attended in Sydney, AU. Just as background, my surgeon does mostly sleeves and the occasional bypass. He used to do a ton of bands but now only does the band if the patient insists. He still maintains a lot of bands. He said that the band is way down in Australia and whole areas of the country have no band surgeons anymore. He also said that the re-operation rate (for all types of re-operation) is as high as 40% with the band. He said that the band has a lot of potential points of failure, including that the port can flip, the needle can puncture the band during a fill and cause a leak, or lots of other ways that are not really direct failures of the band. He seems pretty down on the band now but wants to give his existing band patients the highest standard of care. He also confirmed that Allergan has sold the lap band to another company, Apollo Endosurgery. I googled that and found a story in the Wall Street Journal. http://m.asia.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303471004579165961441181356?mobile=y He said that the sleeve is gaining massive popularity because of the low complication rate, high success rate, and that they are starting to feel really confident about the long term prospects of the sleeve, starting to see some patients with more than 10 years sleeved. He said that the sleeve may stretch 3-5% over time but then it stops. He said it is like taking a t-shirt and cutting off a sleeve. You can stretch the sleeve but it will never be nearly as big as the shirt. The bypass is going to be around a long time and is still very well regarded. It is the #1 choice for people with reflux or bowel diseases and it is the best salvage surgery for people who have reflux problems after the sleeve. The DS is very uncommon these days because the sleeve works so well on its own. This is my surgeon's summary to me about the state of bariatric surgery in Australia today from the point of view of the surgeons.
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Sorry that this has happened. I know when i started my process i went to my PCP to have her start the 6 month documented diet only to realize that she was not the best person to follow me given she hardly recorded anything and I found out the surgeons office would need more info. So, I started over with the bariatric center of excellence that my insurance company recommended. Thankfully i was only one month into the process. I got much better guidance working with the nutritionist, physcologist and bariatric nurses and doctors in that 6 months. It set me up for success.
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Blood test shows low protein and potassium levels
elfnow replied to LBD's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Vitamin supplements are not as bioavailable as getting the vitamins through food.... You're not eating much food lately.... And I haven't been told to take any special vitamins per se, just "one a day" from the drugstore.... So I don't think you NEED to take special Bariatric vitamins. I am with you soooooooo much on hating to take them tho. My surgeon asked me if I'm getting my vitamins every day and I'm like "I um... I average taking them about 4.5 out of seven days. I am trying." He gave me a look and said to take them every day.... I couldn't take prenatals when pregnant (they made me nauseated), I couldn't stomach them when breastfeeding ('til now, and Baby is almost 1.5 yrs)..... I TRY. But they're gross and my stomach turns, especially with Iron supplements (which I KNOW I need)..... YUCK!! So I get a week where I take them every day and then I forget a day and then I take them three days then forget another day..... And overall I'd say 4.5/7 is my average for the last 2 months. I got a bunch of pill keepers and sorted out daily doses of vitamins for a month and I carry those little carriers around with me, and I try to remember to take them with my morning meds... -
MY DOCTOR WAS SO DISCOURAGING
ameteorsink replied to taweedeegirl's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have Kaiser in Southern California and my PCP was VERY unsupportive! All I needed from her was a referral to the Health Ed dept and the Bariatric program takes over from there. Don't let the first DR discourage you! She's obviously closeminded and shouldn't be in a field where she helps people!! -
MEXICO SLEEVERS?
SleevelessinSeattle replied to rollargirl's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I am going to Tijuana and have heard the Marriott there is very nice.But i think going to Puerto Vallarta or Cancun would provide a more interesting experience for your friend. I also learned that a lot of the bariatric doctors practice medicine in more than one place. Tijuana is just convenient and MiHospital is located only 3 blocks from the border. I think that's why you hear so much about surgery in that area. -
I was cleared for ANY pills, capsules, gel caps etc... one month post surgery. I've been off bariatric Vitamins and back on Silver Centrum since 9/1. I couldn't stand taking the baritrak vits (mixed with 8oz of Water downed in 15 minutes), or the chewable ones, they didn't make me sick, they were just disgusting.
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Will you show me yours...?
KittyChick replied to KittyChick's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Thank you all for your responses. I went to the initial 2 hour group seminar with the bariatric surgeon at the hospital and they did give me a huge packet afterward. When they asked for the ins info, I told them I currently have an *** that doesn't cover weight loss surgeries and would have BCBS on January 1st. They wouldn't make an appt. with me until Jan, so my PCP and I have decided to get a 3 month jump on the 6 month requirement so I could seek approval by March. My PCP wanted some specifics on format/documentation but it looks like I'll have to wait to see the surgery center in Jan? -
Consult tomorrow, chi Franciscan
SIPS in Seattle replied to Codedsub's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Ok I think he’s part of Chi Franciscan’s internal bariatric program. Again I have nothing but good things to say about everyone I dealt with from testing to surgery to recovery. [emoji4] -
I had the greatest idea for opening a new chain of fast food restaurants this morning. It would be a post bariatric surgery patients dream come true. The only thing on the menu would be high protein meats and fish, cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, sugar-free Jell-O and putting, some fancy flavored ricotta cheese desserts, veggies and low carb fruits. We would make our own delicious protein smoothies. There would be absolutely no bread, pasta, chips or even liquids of any kind served. The salad bar would offer customers a scale for their use so they could measure their own portions.,Every day would also feature a couple of high-protein low-carb hot meals. I would call it The Pro Shop. That should read *pudding! Damn autocorrect
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Waiting for preapproval
Iris_L replied to Teacher2010's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi I am a teacher too :bored:. I am in S. Florida and our insurance does not require a 6 month supervised diet so I made my pcp and nutritionist appointment in Feb, psych appt in March, and pre op in May, and was approved May 29th just in time for summer..I hope everything goes smoothly for you. I got a good surgery day with summer vacation and all. I know some teachers who came to work right after other bariatric procedures and I do not know how they were able to do it! -
My PCP has been involved and supportive. I worked with a nut pre op to break bad habits and know what to expect. Be careful with that. Make sure to pick one who works with bariatric surgical patients. Lots of misinformed badly educated nutritionists out there. Going to Mex for surgery (and dental, prescriptions, etc) is very common here in AZ. Get all your program/surgeon info so your dr. Has it and tell him you need his support.
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Banded the 25th hoping I'm normal
trish151 replied to shanrich96's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You know, the mind is powerful. I don't know what your religious affiliation is, but I too had some of the same worries cross my mind. I say cross, because I chose to only let them be brief. We are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We may have little control over what come across our minds but we can use them to pray for the opposite if the thought is of something such as a blood clot that could harm us, and then meditate on the fact that we prayed for help on our weight loss journies and we received it. At the end of the day, when you have done all you can do, just thank God that you are on your way and have his protection to see you through. I had several friends and family members who were a little concerned for me to have this surgery but I feel that God moved a lot of things around to make it happen. It was also the help that I have been praying for all of these years. I know the inability to lose on my own was a stronghold in my mind that I couldn't get past. Each day I have been telling my body thank you for it's ability to renew itself and heal. If you really think about it, someone put holes in your stomache just a few days ago and already your body is healing and changing into the new you that you have accepted. Regardless if you have to take an extra day off from work. Help me celebrate today that we did this. Take a nap, turn on the radio and walk a few steps in place and just allow yourself to giggle and be happy that you took such an important step towards your goal. It can all be down hill from now. -
Ok, so I am new to this forum. My name is Tricia and I was banded at St Vincents Trussville AL on Nov 22, 2011. I quickly lost 50lbs and the loss slowed down to a stand still. I was ok with that for a while and went to have them put more Fluid in my band. I went from a 7.5cc to a 9.5 cc over a few months. I got the restriction I needed, but over time developed the horrid complication of nausea and vomiting just about everything including Water. Went back to their office, ( I live 50+ miles away), had a barium swallow and endoscopy which were both inconclusive. Had all fluid removed and basically was told my system needed a break and to reboot. I (and I know this is my fault for non restraint!) quickly gained back those 50 lbs plus a few friends. While all of this was going on, I lost the job with the bariatric coverage and now have only my spouse insurance which has no bariatric. Fast forward to early this year, had fluid put back in again and finally got an appointment where I saw the MD and not the nurse practitioner for the first time since surgery in 2011. He recommended starting over and bumped me up to 7.5cc. I explained to him that I am extremely frustrated with the band and the lack of patient care I have received from him personally since my surgery, and that I would like to explore the option of getting this band out and having the sleeve done. He said that he was sorry and basically since I no longer have bariatric coverage I am out of luck. I have gone to a seminar for a bariatric MD in Huntsville, but he wants $500 up front with no guarantee that he will even take me on as a patient! SO - here I am needing to start all over on my journey - almost 3 years out. I am disgusted and frustrated. Is there anyone here who has had a similar experience and been able to make the band work? I have pain that radiates up into my left shoulder almost every time I eat anything tougher than the consistency of an egg. Because of this I end up either not eating or eating "slider" type foods that I know are no good. Sometimes I wish I had never done this surgery!
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Dr. Goyal from NJ Bariatric. Who did yours?
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Feeling helpless just got a call from my surgeons office saying bariatric surgery is not covered by my insurance! I'm so depressed right now when i first had my consult they called for benefits stating i had 85% coverage now they're saying i have no coverage i just want to cry! [emoji24]
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Nuclear Stress Test Takers?
James Marusek replied to Chelsea Laurent's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Your doctor may recommend a nuclear stress test to diagnose coronary artery disease. Your coronary arteries are the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients. Coronary artery disease develops when these arteries become damaged or diseased — usually due to a buildup of deposits called plaques. If you have symptoms that might indicate coronary artery disease, such as shortness of breath or chest pains, a nuclear stress test can help determine if you have coronary artery disease. Before gastric bypass surgery, I underwent almost a day of pre-op testing. Since I had issues, I was scheduled with 3 follow on tests done by specialist in their respective fields. We had one individual in our support group meetings who was scheduled for bariatric surgery the next week, but he got a call from the surgeon. They told him to report immediately to the hospital for open heart surgery. He had the surgery and then about a couple months later after he recovered from that he underwent bariatric surgery. -
When checking out a local supplement store today I asked the owner if they carried any supplements for bariatric patients and he proceeded to tell me how I would regret the surgery ( I am scheduled for 11-26 ) and that I would be facing serious medical reprocussions in the future as I age and get older due to insufficient nutritional support and other various issues that weight loss surgery patients incur as they age...he stated that he felt compelled to ask me to reconsider the surgery and try again to get help from professionals such as a nutritionist and other scientifically based programs for weight loss. When I told him that I was going to have the surgery and I respected his opinion but my mind was made up, he continued to plead with me as if he was trying to save my life! I even felt raddled enough to reconsider for a brief second..I was just wondering if anyone has read any research on bariatric patients as they age. I am still having the surgery, just thought maybe someone out there might have come across this subject.
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Anyone use Dr. Garber or Dr. Holliver in NY?
TracyNYC posted a topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Just wondering if there are any other NY Bariatric Group patients on here. I feel we had an excellent pre-op education compared to what I have read on here. Also, I am having my first fill this Thursday and wondered how it works with their practice. -
Have any of you gotten your surgery done at NMCSD? If so can you tell me what are the requirements. I'm enrolled in the class, and have an appointment for the introduction class for bariatric surgery and have been seeing a nutrionist at NMCSD for 3 months. I want to make sure I am prepared. Thank you!
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I would encourage you to contact your bariatric team and insist on being seen by the doc. At the very least you could get anti nausea meds. Good luck and I'm sorry you are experiencing this.
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Thank you, I'll need to try to stick to stricter guidelines. I wish there was a bariatric bible all doctors had to follow so everyone was on the same page...lol
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Fill doctors in the Indianapolis area?
laurenica23 replied to 9pdmnm5's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I go to Clarian Bariatrics on the west side of Indy. Not sure how much the fills are, as I'm being banded in 13 days, but you could check out clarian.org and see what you can find out. -
I bought their Calcium supplement and they are pretty large and chalky (and 1 dose is 2 of them). I prefer the Bariatric Advantage chews for calcium. Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App
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Need Help...Confused after initial visit with Dr.
jbgvscamg replied to chrissyd0425's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
((((Hugs)))) I feel for you-- your post was very interesting to me too b/c I am almost 39 years old with 40 right around the corner. I think your surgeon is being super-responsible and maybe you want to follow his/ her advice. Give conservative measures one more try... you are very young and maybe you can lose the weight and keep it off with good medical supervision. Remember: the lap band isn't an easy answer-- it is just a tool. As a counterpoint, my story is this: Like I said, I'm almost 39 and weighed 193.6 in the surgeon's office at 5'4 when I went in to see her (Dr. Ren in NYC.) Though I have to go the self-pay route b/c I have no health conditions, the doc immediately indicated me for the surgery. I believe the reason she did so was primarily b/c of my extensive weight loss attempt history (been trying my whole life and have lost and gained repeatedly) and probably b/c of my no-nonsense attitude and approach. I happen to be a health professional and she didn't mince words with me. I asked: Is there any chance I can do this myself-- and she said, looks very unlikely... IF YOU WERE in your TWENTIES, I'd think differently-- but you've been trying for years without success. See? What I am trying to say is that you may have an opportunity to get medical help to lose weight and not have to have surgery. The upside is that if you DON'T do well with medical intervention, you'll already be under the care of a bariatric surgeon and can take the next step within the next year or so. I hope this helps and makes sense...
