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Congratulations on your journey. Everything you are feeling, we have all went through it. I almost chickened out a few times before my actual surgery. Now of course that I look back on it, I can't understand why I did becaues this truely is a life changing experience. I think in the begining it's more of an emotional change then a physical change. After all we battle with food for most of our lives and for most of us, food is our savior. Take away that savior and what do we have? I can tell you that the lapband has changed my life. I have lost a total person on the outside, but I have gained a new person on the inside. My self-esteem has returned and for once in my life, I actually feel sexy and good about myself. The only regret that I have is that I didn't get it done sooner. You need to enter this journey with the mind set that this is a lifestyle change. It's not a cure all. You aren't going to lose the weight over night, and you AREN'T going to vanish your bad habits over night either. This is not the easy way out by any means. This is probably the hardest work that I have ever accomplished in my entire life. But the benefits are well worth that work. You will have your good days. And you will have your bad days. Everyday of banded life is a learning process that brings you closer and closer to meeting your goals. And once you meet those goals the band helps you to keep them. My suggestion would be to read as much as you can about the band and the things that others go through. Do not get freaked becaues the bad things don't happen to everyone. The benefits of the band out weigh the complications. As for the endoscopy. Peice of cake. You will be asleep and the most that you might feel is a little sore throat when you awake. Nothing big. Good luck on your journey. Keep us posted.

From what I recently read, it IS...but it's a very complex surgery. All the parts are still there, obviously (unlike a sleeve), but reconnecting them and removing the "Y" is complicated.

I have been creeping around LBT since November of 2011 and have never posted because I didn't think I had anything to add. A little back story on me... I never struggled with my weight until my mid 20's. Even when I gained 50 pounds in college I was able to lose it with no problem. After having 3 kids in 3 years in my late 20's I gained 150 pounds and had tried everything to lose the weight with no success. After several years of trying to lose the weight I gave up and told myself that my weight gain was genetic and there was nothing I could do about it. Then in November of last year I lost a very close uncle at the age of 53 due to complications related to Type II diabetes. I made up my mind then that I would not leave my husband and kids at such an early age because of weight related issues. In November I weighed 325 lbs and I am 5'7". I rejoined Weight Watchers and was able to loose only 8 pounds before I finally considered WLS. I went to a surgery seminar with a friend of mine in December and saw the surgeon for my consultation in January. I was banded on March 16th and have not looked back. Today I weigh 273 lbs. I have lost 52lbs since November and I feel great. I am able to eat healthy and I can honestly say that I don't miss the high fat, high-sugar food that I used to eat. I also used to be a caffeine junkie drinking a pot of coffee and 3-20oz Diet Cokes a day. Now I drink 8-10 glasses of Water a day and I may have 1 tea. For those of you considering surgery or those that are worried about how you will do I am here to say that if you believe in your heart that this is the only way you can lose the weight and you are ready to give up your old habits, then you can do it. It will save your life. I know it has mine.

I’m one week out from surgery and my husband and best friend are making menhavwbsecond thoughts. They have no idea they both agree. My husband says I’ve had enough surgeries during my lifetime from car accidents and complications post car accident. I’ve also have a history of sepsis (infection) every time I get opens up for surgery. He know what I went through with all that.ni think he’s just afraid of what could happen or me not pulling through this time ans my friend said likewise. I really and and nee this surgery but now I feel like I’m second guessing myself. My initial plan was to have the sleev but the doctor takes me into duodenal switch because it’s less likely for weight gain. I agreed but also has second thoughts about that particular lad surgery just because of all the additional nutrients you malabsorption va the other surgeries. In my head I was also think duodenal would allow me to lose weight faster than the sleeve. Then again i don’t want to loose too much I don’t want to be looking too skinny from excessive weight lost from duodenal (CW 232 GW 150-160). Although not reversible the sleeve is less invasive and not switching around parts. Then again I’ve had a gastric ballon (obera ballon) and maybe lost 10 pound at most so that was also my reasoning for wanting duodenal switch more aggressive than sleeve as to me the obera balloonMimics restriction just like sleeve but it’s temporary. As you can see I’m a week out from surgery and all over the place. HELP!!! Has anyone that is slightly obese or obese who has extremely hard time losing weight even with diet or excercise had success from the sleeve? How fast did you lose weight?

I have been banded for 18 months. have reached my goal weightand have had only a few complications. But, a week ago I was out to eat with my daughter and I got a terrible pain in my left side under my rib:omg: . It was so bas that I thought that I would have to stop the car and wait for it to calm down. I went on liquids for 2 days and then It happened again. This time I HAD JUST BEEN EATING WITH MY HUSBAND AND ABOUT 15 MINUTES AFTER WE FINISHED THE PAIN HIT. I WAS DOUBLED OVER. I MADE IT HOME AND PUT A HOT PAD ON MY STOMACH. aFTER ABOUT 45 MIN. MY BACK LOWER BACK WAS HURTING SO I SHIFTED TO MY SIDE AND THE PAIN WENT AWAY. i HAVE A DULL PAIN IN MY SIDE THAT HAS SEEMED TO GET BETTER. i HAVE BEEN ON LIQUIDS AND SOFT FOODS FOR 3 DAYS. I AM REALLY SCARED THAT SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG. hAS ANYONE HAD SUCH A PAIN? i HAVE BEEN STUCK WHERE i HAVE THROWN UP AND SLIMED. BUT I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THIS MUCH PAIN IN MY LIFE OTHERTHATN HAVING MY CHILDREN NATURAL.I HAOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ME FIGURE WHAT IT COULD BE.:help:

Hi all, Well I guess I should introduce myself. This is mylynn and I am 35, 5ft 2in and I weigh a whopping 330 lbs. My doctor, who is the loveliest person, looked at me and said "What do you want to do?, you're not getting any younger and you're staring down the barrel at a whole host of complications pretty soon. So I said, "What about lap band?" and here I am. I remember after having my oldest son, I weighed around 266 and only gained 7 lbs during pregnancy. I had a very healthy 8 lbs baby and due to his colic, I lost a bunch of weight after he was born. I felt good and if I had only known then what was coming I would have worked a lot harder to get more weight off. Before my son's 1st birthday I learned I was pregnant again with my 2nd son. That combined with some emotional problems saw me gain 50 lbs during the pregnancy. I had gallbladder surgery the next year. All these surgeries (2 c-sections and the gallbladder surgery), post partum depression, quitting smoking, and a birth control implant that messed up my system..I gained a lot. Then they found out that my thyroid wasn't working and it's been a struggle since to get it under control. My new doctor that I love, she has been in the trenches with me willing to try anything to get my system level. We finally succeded but now I'm faced with all this excess weight and I can't get it off. I have tried diets, fad diets, going to the gym, not eating. Nothing is working. It is so frustrating to me that just 5 short years ago I could have tweaked my diet a bit and dropped pounds like crazy and now nothing I do works at all. So I am on this journey now. I am getting married in October to a wonderful man who has known me since I wasn't overweight, some 20 years ago. And while I don't have a specific goal yet as far as weight loss for the wedding, I would just like to feel better and get my me back. That girl that never lacked confidence and was fearless, yeah I haven't seen her for a while. I think she's hiding under all this weight! Oh and I have my consultation on Thurday the 24th of May...I'm so excited!

An IVC filter is a pretty straightforward procedure with a low complication rate. It is definitely a patient-by-patient choice to place a filter or not. Most of us rarely use them routinely but if we do, we place a removable filter so we can take it out 4-6 weeks after surgery. Permanent filters used to be all we had but, long-term, there are some of these which can clot completely off which isn't a good thing. Definitely something to talk to your doctor about including the plan of removable vs. permanent, what time period to remove it, etc.

My moms BFF had bypass in 2002. She went from 380ish to 155ish (she is 5'9). 5 years out she actually had a band put in to help with restriction- her pouch stretched and she wound up gaining some, but it has put her in check. I had a BMI of 50 at surgery. I went into this knowing it was the first stage of the DS. Now- 2 1/2 months out and 53lbs down- I couldn't imagine going back. I have had zero problems. I follow the rules 90% of the time. I get my protein and I am thrilled with my decision. My sister's dr is trying to get her to move from the band to the sleeve. She is on band number 2- and is having lots of complications. Good luck with whatever you choose. And FTR- my dr wanted me to consider the rny as well for diabetes (everyone in my family has it), but I went with the sleeve based on all of my research.

only you can decide what works for you no one wls is better than the other..i dont care what anyone says.. and with wls, you get out what you put into it...any surgery does and has complications.. things sometimes happens....sometimes not... if i didnt have surgery, i am sure i would be over 400 pounds by now......instead i am 17 months post op and nearly 150 pounds off.....and there is many many more like me.......will you be one?

Hope this helps: -My pre-op diet was only two weeks long...thank goodness. and my insurance did cover the vsg. -This site has a complications forum that may help you with that question. -I'm having a hard time learning to eat slow...i was a wolfer and a gulper. now i take teeny bites and sip. make sure you follow the rule not to drink a half hour before and after meals. you will be overfull and your tummy and esophagus will ache. -obesity help is a site a lot of people go on, and there's all sorts of video blogs on you tube -my doctor gave be basic instructions for meal plan, i follow those -i was in the hospital two days. i didn't need any pain meds when i got home. this surgery is more discomforting than painful in my opinion...but the discomfort lasts a lot longer; something new comes up with each change in your diet. -i was on liquids for two weeks; pureed for two weeks; and now soft foods for 3-4 weeks, then amy "normal" diet starts in september. -my surgeon is very competent and experienced, but also has lousy bedside manner; but that is fine with me. everything he has told me has been spot on and i have had no complications...knock on wood and thanks be to God. I wish you the best on your journey...I think it will be worth it!

So, I had the lapband years ago (and ended up having it removed...due to complications). I am considering the gastric sleeve now and have been reading the forums on this site. I am seeing some incredible success stories (congrats to you all)! But i'm also seeing some really concerning things and I think I'm more unsure than when I first came to this site. I am seeing complications like, MASSIVE hair loss, Vitamin deficiencies, anemia, seizures, LOUD rumblings of the stomach, body dysmorphia (sp?)...the list goes on and on. So, I have to ask...is it worth it? Are you glad you did it? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? I would really love to have your input. What would you say to someone in my position? What advice would you give? Thanks in advance for any input!

I had no complications from surgery (I did stop breathing and my stats dropped but that was due to me being a unhealthy smoker and how many hours under more than the sleeve) Other than that it really depends on your definition of complications to me things I experience are part and parcel of the op like the pain the gas the hair loss the puking its all spelled out to you (well me at least it was very very clearly) pre op it can and mostly likely will happen. Yes I do have a sleeve in the smaller end of the size spectrum but none of us are told exactly how big it will be before the op they don’t know till the day of and they see the size of your stomach when they go in your given the average between this and this size not a exact size pre op. body dysmorphia is not something you get as a result of having the surgery it’s a mental condition. I have a personal friend who full on has this condition she has inflated her boobs and lips several times via plastic surgery and still sees them as small and wants them bigger it’s a completely different thing to still seeing your self as the fat person you once were and your mind not catching up to the new smaller you yet. In time your mind will catch up and you will be used to you. Would I do this again? Yes every single time yes and I haven’t had it easy but it’s not that hard on the scale of things in all honesty and what I got out of it and benefited me and my health and life far far farrrr outweighs any pain puking hair loss and vitamin deficiencies.

I am having my surgery on Nov 28. Insurance denied it so I'm going it alone. I'm doing it in Juarez through a service. I'm 35 and weigh about 360. Ideally I would be down to 200 when all is said and done. I'm extremely nervous and scared and not prepared for the life change. I currently have very bad knees that the doctors tell me is because of my weight so I'm hoping my knee pain goes away. I'm scared to tell anyone. I'm afraid I'm going to fail and then I've ruined my body. I'm afraid it won't work. Complications. Etc. I know this is last minute jitters. Is this something everyone goes through?

I was afraid. Not sure I would get approved and also afraid of complication. I am 9 days post op. went back to work after 6 days( only 5 hours) I am resting knowing my limit getting all protein vitamins and walking. Go in with confidence and know this shall pass. I had never had any kind o surgery. I'm 47. I was afraid. Never let fear stop you. Do research follow Instructions on recovery to a t. I jut went for a walk with my 11 year old and after 9 days I feel great. Yes it isn't easy ( major gas, insicion pain!) bur think I expected the worse and it is ok. Good luck.

I am so afraid of the unknown and the potential complications. I just really need this to go well.

if you want to go to Mexico, Dr Francisco Sauceda in Monterrey and Dr. Laura Carmina Cardenas in Tijuana are very well-known in bariatric circles. They've worked on A LOT of bariatric patients and specialize in massive weight loss patients. Dr. Joseph Capella in New Jersey has also operated on a lot of us (and specializes in massive weight loss patients, too), and his prices seem reasonable compared to a lot of other US surgeons (haven't seen anything recent on him, though) several people here have gone to Miami for plastic surgery because supposedly it's one of the cheapest areas in the country for that - I don't know any names, but a few people on here have gone there and can probably give you some recommendations. The prices they've gotten don't seem much more than the prices in Mexico oh - Dr. Joseph Michaels in Rockville, MD has also been used by a lot of bariatric patients I personally would look for someone who specializes in body contouring for massive weight loss patients or at least has done a BOATLOAD of them, because it supposedly is a complicated sub-specialty.

I don't have a sleeve but I did have a band which was removed due to complications. I would suggest you chew 2 TUMS and drink hot water or tea until you feel better. I would definetly not eat. Walking around might help, too. Joan

I just finished all my pre-surgery test yesterday. I am schedued to meet with my doctor on 02/01/12 to schedule my surgery date. Her assistant told me that it would more than likely be 2 weeks from the 02/01 date. I am concerned because I am scheduled for a business trip at the end of the month (02/27). Do any of you know if I should postpone my surgery to after my trip?? will it matter or will a flight complicate my recovery? I plan on telling my doctor about the trip and asking her for her advise..... But it seems like I am stressing out over this because #1 I want to schedule the surgery asap and #2 I cant cancel my trip

I was sleeved on 8/16/13 and my hospital stay went well and I've had zero complications (thank god). The pain once I was home though was unbearable at times. Where my larger incisions are hurt even if I moved. I had bad buyers remorse. At 6 weeks out I feel better (most of the time) and I don't regret it at all. I've lost 37lbs and I'm so grateful for this whole process. Good luck with everything

I am Sept 10th. I am on the mushie food. Sick of refried Beans, but only have a few more days before real food. I have had no complications either. Only problem is constipation, taking stool softeners and Miralax. Not working. Only brown Water. TMI, sorry. Otherwise, its all good.

Some strains result in less 'munchie' problems than others. I would agree that you should go to your local dispensary and talk to them about it. Also ask them about some types that provide a good result with minimal munch. It's probably a good idea to lay off for the two weeks prior to surgery so your body is clean. You might want to be open with your surgeon as well so they can properly adjust prescription medication requirements and be prepared in the event of complications. An open-minded surgeon may decide to let you use that as an alternative to some of the other anti-nausea and pain meds. Good luck with your surgery!

Jake- thanks so much for the encouragement. You're exactly right... It's so worth it. My husband was really concerned about me and all the complications I've had already just this early in the journey... But unjust told him you deal with them as they come and it will be worth it in the long run. I've already lost 40 lbs thanks to this band... Plus a little hard work :-) but honestly, this is the easiest I've ever had to work to lose weight. Maybe not easiest? Maybe it's just that I have hope this time. I've lost 40 lbs before on my own but this time I know i will never see those numbers again. I'm glad someone else has gone through what I'm going through... That's comforting. And congrats on your new self! You should be so proud! How long ago was your surgery?

I'm in agreement with the previous poster who suggested seeing another dr. These Doctors will NOT admit that THEY have made a mistake. You need to find someone who will give you an unbiased evaluation, and help provide a solution. If you have continuing pain post-surgery, pain that was NOT there prior to the operation....well, it doesn't take a whole lot of brains to figure out that there's a connection. The dr is B.S.ing you. I had horiffic complications, which required multiple surgeries, and ultimatley, the removal of my band. Please PM me if you like, I HATE it when these Drs are unresponsive to the legitimate complaints of their patients.

I think you have a point here, lap band "problems" are mainly due to not having restriction, bad aftercare, can't afford fills, being unfilled from being too tight etc...MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BAND that is a FACT....for being annoying if things aren't right. However, what I found and by those with the Sleeve, that have ISSUES just deal with it, or have their GI docs to deal with all of their reflux issues and heartburn and nausea...and honestly after someone gets the Sleeve they really don't have to deal with their surgeon any longer...Surgeons are cutters... However, they have to constantly "DEAL" with long term lap banders and their "reflux issues" because when the band is damaged --ONLY the lap band surgeon can treat and manage reflux by either unfilling the band, or surgically fixing the pouch or a revision surgery... There ARE MANY Sleevers that have reflux issues...MANY...in fact surgeons suggest those who have issues with refux from the band are advised to NOT get the Sleeve, the Bypass is recommended if they are considering a revision from the Band. I have a few Sleeve friends that told me that don't have any reflux or dumping syndrome...but some say they get this the further out they get... The biggest complaint that I see with my friends that revise from Band to Sleeve is that you have re-learn the restriction and they have tighter restriction with the band than the Sleeve...however they also say they can eat better with the Sleeve -- but ALMOST ALL say they still get hungry.... I am not too quick to do the Sleeve because my older sister had the stomach stapling surgery 20 years ago. (SIMILAR TO THE SLEEVE) restrictive only..she's never really been hospitalized or had any dangerous life threatening complications, -- HOWEVER, I've seen her suffer from stomach pain EVERY SINGLE DAY for many years, not enough for hosptiization, but enough to be annoying and she vomits often, and she fears those staples will cause some issue eventually, which that had --she had a revision surgery 8 years ago..but still did not lose enough weight... Also she still have a "little" restriction, but not enough for weight loss and she gained all her weight back years ago..and if she wants to lose weight she has to diet and exercise because there is nothing she can do at this point. That's my fear with the Sleeve, after about 2-3 years, the Sleeve stomach WILL STRETCH double it's size in capacity and you really can't do anything after the Sleeve stretch but revise to the Bypass or DS or get reSleeved which I hear is very dangerous since many don't have enough stomach left to do anything, but the stomach will stretch too much for it to help with weight loss. I guess it's a personal decision on which direction someone takes...NO weight loss surgery is perfect...BELIEVE ME...I wanted to revise to the SLeeve...even tho I did not want to get my stomach removed...but I really did not see a benefit and I DO NOT want dumping syndrome the rest of my life...to each his own.

I have no experience with the sleeve and have only been banded a few days so I have no real room to talk. However, I'll speak on my friends behalf. I have four friends that have had sleeve and three that have been banded. The banders did not follow the rules and actually weigh more now than they did before their surgery. They cuss the band anytime they can because its the bands fault. In NO way is it their fault. Two of my sleeve friends were sleeves early this year. They look great, have lost 140lbs between the two of them and love life. They have no complications and regret no getting sleeved sooner. My other two sleeve friends however love their sleeve so much they hate it. They can't stop losing weight and are now so skinny they are unhealthy. They now have the complete opposite issue as they used to. They have to eat and stuff themselves to try and gain weight. They literally work everyday to try and be healthy but the sleeve almost seems to counteract everything they do. The one thing that settled the score for me was the staples in the sleeve. Just couldn't stand the thought of those being in there forever and having half my stomach removed. At this point I'd much rather have scar tissue than half a stomach.