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Hi Nay and Batfink (and everyone else from the UK), I am having the sleeve in turkey in May. Absolutely terrified, but looking forward to a new me. Has anyone here been to Turkey? I am less worried about going abroad than I am of complications post sleeve. I am also worried about getting my protein in after as I love carbs and don't eat a lot of meat. Would love to share experiences, fears, worries as I have no one in RL to talk to about this whole thing.

No regrets at all. It wasn't all easy, but it wasn't all that hard either. I've not had any complications from the surgery and my lifestyle is a lot better.

I did but I am not typical. I knew in my heart that the bypass would have been a better surgery for me from the start. I feared the malabsorption and possible complications from bypass so I opted for the sleeve. never experienced gerd in my life. Until after my sleeve. about 1 year post sleeve I had gerd and a hiatal hernia. Ended up having to revise to bypass. Some of the things that made me think hard about having the bypass in the beginning was that I did not want to have to do surgery twice. having said that, there are many people that do just fine and are successful with the sleeve.

I know people think you are trying to psych yourself out but my surgery is 2/13 and I have a nervous breakdown every night over potential complications. I have 2 little kids (5 and 3) and the idea of leaving them is unimaginable and stressful. Totally an understandable concern. I am not worried as much about complications that can be fix but instead of those that can’t that lead to death and those people aren’t here to report their outcome.

I'm Feb 3rd. I'm getting a revision from mini gastric bypass to full bypass to fix acid reflux. I only have a 3 day liquid diet, first 2 days are full liquids and 3rd day is clear liquids. I'm going back to Mexico because insurance won't pay for the revision. They said the acid reflux is a complication of my prior wls which is so not true! but whatever insurance does whatever it wants.

I have a few follow up questions: 1. Have you done a pouch reset? Like go back to the main diet of protein shakes and soups for a week. I also recommend highly doing a Whole30/90 to really commit to whole, nutrient dense foods and detox your body and make yourself aware of allergies/reactions. 2. It is clear from your post that you struggle with food addiction and sugar. Are you attending counseling? Have you spoken with your surgical team or dietitian? Vitamin and blood work ok? 3. Detox sucks and takes work. The first week without junk and sugar are really hard, but as it clears your system you'll feel better and stronger. Do you have a friend/buddy who could do it with your or be an accountability partner? 4. How's your hydration? You need to make sure you're getting enough plain fluids. Head hunger vs.real hunger vs. Thirst are all signs that are important but difficult to learn without practice. 5. Finally, exercise. Are you moving consistently for 30-40 min. A day to get endorphins up and move your muscles? Close to 10k steps? Just some thoughts, not trying to be preachy or rude. Background: 16 months post op vsg, down 170 pounds. EMT and coach, counseling background, former college athlete. I got the surgery due to complications from Cushing's disease but know a lot about addiction and nutrition. Sent from my SM-J727R4 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi all, I am a 30 year old male. I previously had a gastric sleeve surgery 5 years agobut due to the massive regain of weight, I had a revision gastric bypass in February 2019. Anyways, since my lowest recorded weight and initial weight loss success in June 2019, I have since gained 7kg to date and feel like I gaining 1-2kg a week. Specifically, I have regained 6 kg since early Dec 2019 to date. Over the past 3 weeks, I have regained at least a 1kg a week. I feel like I can eat just as much, if not more, then my first gastric sleeve surgery 5 years ago. I know that the bypass is a tool only, but I am shocked in the amount I can eat and want to eat. I can easily eat a plate of pasta or a whole wrap with chips from KFC (I know I should be eating healthy and not these type of foods, but it is easier said than done!). On a normal day, I drink at least 5 cans of sugar free coke zero and at least a box of paddlepop icecream. I'm super addicted to sweet and sugary food and I know this is the issue. My issue is I pretty much have to eat sweet sugary food. Luckily and thankfully, I am not diabetic (not that I know of anyways!) I've read stories of people who were much bigger than me who initially had the surgery who now eat a few bites and get full and they don't really ever feel like icecream and other sugary food. Yet I am always hungry and even after I eat food, I still crave sugary food. My old workmate who had the gastric sleeve never used to eat! They were never hungry or craved anything, yet I am completely the opposite. Anyways, my question is can anyone on here following their gastric bypass surgery still eat a plate of food or even close to? I just can't comprehend how following 2 surgeries without any complications (thankfully ) I still am able to eat so much food. Look forward to hearing from anyone.

Congrats. I'm home after two nights in ICU. We had a few complications during surgery. All in all though it turns out if I hadn't had surgery I would've most likely been dead within the next few years. My liver was massive and well into fatty liver disease and I was borderline kidney disease. Luckily both are reversible with weight loss. So turned out to be necessary in more than one way. Sent from my moto g(6) (XT1925DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW FAR I'VE COME. I started my diet journey 5 months ago today. at my heaviest in the surgeons office I weighed in at 322lbs. I was admitted to hospital for surgery 256lbs now I'm 3 months post op and feeling great. JUST hit 190lbs this morning and also realised I'm just 7lbs away from the top end of a healthy BMI. I'm doing so well I might even get down to 180lbs yet and that feels amazing. I've been doing a lot of fasting and that has really helped. I've also got my new rowing machine and started using it tonight; it is hard work that's for sure 😀 officially lost 132lbs now 😄 I still say RNY BYPASS was the best choice I've ever made and to anyone else looking at bypass don't stress too much I've not had one issue or complication so far!! THANKS. MIKE.

If it's any consolation, gastric bypass surgery has been around for a long time, with a lot of success. You will always find someone with a complication - to either surgery, actually. If reflux and the possibility of Barretts/cancer is an issue, please don't be afraid to take the GB plunge. There are advantages and disadvantages to both surgeries. The sleeve is not a "minor" surgery, nor is it without risk or complications. If you choose to go ahead with GB, you need to reframe your thinking to a positive mindset, focusing on all the advantages GB will give you, most importantly the decreased risk of esophageal cancer.

I had the RNY bypass and its the best choice I ever made and I've not suffered from any kind of complications at all 3 months post op today 66lbs gone since surgery 132lbs overall I definitely still feel restriction and have very little cravings and healthier than I've been in 20 years 😀

I am three weeks post op, at first it was just little bouts of crying for no apparent reason. This week has been worse the ugly sobbing crying and it is not typical. The doctor explained about the Estrogen flooding the system as fat is lost. But seriously mental health is not something to dismiss. Everyone keeps suggesting having a script written, but that seems like the wrong move. Maybe an herbal supplement but not an antidepressant. I was fine before surgery, have had no complications, and overall things have gone really well. This crying needs to stop, no one said anything about a chemical imbalance.

pretty much nobody can afford it here, either. Fortunately, I was billed that by mistake. But for lots of other people, it's very real (probably not for plastic surgery - but maybe for complicated heart or brain surgeries (??)). That's why people go bankrupt due to medical bills if they don't have insurance. It's awful.

I have contacted a legal firm in Vancouver that already has a class action against the company that makes Lap-Band. Since we already have many people interested in a class action against Slimband, they might just take the case on a contingency basis (i.e. they would get 10% of any money recovered). I will let you know if/when I hear back from them. Since the Slimband clinic is closed, that would not be our target. And unfortunately it wouldn't be Dr. Patrick Yau either. It would be the owner of BOTH Slimband clinic and CreditMedical.com where many of us got our medical loans from, as it is still practicing and making TONS of money charging huge interest rates on medical loans. Where there's big money, you can bet a lawyer is going to be interested - especially since they've probably already done a lot of research into banding for their initial suit. Personally I will probably have the band removed at some point but not until I can find a surgeon that will revise my RNY to make the pouch smaller. I had an RNY in 2002 and the pouch expanded so I got the Slimband in 2013 to increase restriction again. If I take the band off, I will still have the big pouch, and I don't want that. I expect that with missed work due to Slimband complications since January 2013, I will be owed in the tens of thousands of dollars easily.

Sorry you are going through this! Cancer is scary larry! ((hugs)) You won't regret doing the conversion. It is more complicated, but I hope you will feel immediate relief from the reflux and GERD!

there are slightly more potential complications with the bypass, but complications on either surgery aren't common, and most are minor and easily "fixable". Many of us have never had any complications at all. It was the gold standard for a long time, and there's a ton of long-term research on it. Surgical techniques have improved greatly over the years, so problems they used to have years ago rarely occur anymore. As long as you're diligent about your vitamins (even moreso than with the sleeve), you'll likely be fine. A lot of people are afraid of it because they move your small intestine - but cutting out 80% of your stomach and throwing it in the trash is pretty radical, too. Since you have acid reflux, I would definitely go for it. Uncontrolled, severe reflux can be VERY dangerous. You're likely dealing with a more dangerous complication now than you would by getting a bypass.

So sorry to hear that you had complications. It will get better-everyone here can attest to that fact. Don’t let the pain get away from you-every time you’re due medication-ask for it. When you get home you’ll be surprised at how fast you’re able to transition to liquid Tylenol. Wishing you a speedy recovery. It’s uphill from here.

Second day in ICU. They had complications and had to cut off the top half of my larger stomach and I had a leak. I'm not having nausea or vomiting and the invitation sites are door but not unbearable. What's killing me is the drain and my shoulder. I hear shoulder pain and issues before surgery and being in the Jesus pose on the hard table for five hours just killed it. Having to stay at least one more night and keep the drain in for a week ugh. Sent from my moto g(6) (XT1925DL) using BariatricPal mobile app

complications aren't that common, and most are minor and easily "fixable". For example, strictures - those are one of the more common complications, yet they only happen to about 5% of bypass patients, if that tells you anything. Really serious complications - like bowel obstructions - are really rare. A lot of us (probably most) have never had any complications at all. If that's what your surgeon is recommending given your health status, I'd seriously consider that and not worry too much about potential complications, which aren't likely to happen in the first place. It sounds like you're already dealing with a lot of issues from previous surgeries. If this will help with that, it'd be worth considering....

I had a lapband on 30 July 2007 and had it removed in 13 November 2007 due to slippage. In 21 November 2008 I had a gastric sleeve. The sleeve was not a true banana shape due to scar tissue. I started at 133 kgs and plateaued at 102kgs. In 2015 due to constant reflux I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia around my port entry which has given me a permanent gap at the LES. Since then I had put weight on due to menopause, HRT and stress by 4 kgs. Then in June 2018 I had a mild stroke due to BP and now I am 116kgs. So options are to have sleeve revision with hiatus hernia fixed or gastric bypass. But I’m not sure of the complications about a bypass.

Six weeks post op checking in! My LBL incision is progressing nicely. Starting 2 or so weeks ago, I started feeling/hearing some "pops" along my incision line. The internal sutures were giving way (like there were supposed to) and the raised pie crust incision was flat where I could feel he "pop". It was very satisfying to feel/hear/see that. I am now all flattened out except for a few inches the very front, on top of my mons. Weepiness at the crack continues. It is my biggest frustration. It seems to have stalled, and has not closed any amount that I can tell. I am considering pursuing some wound care locally to encourage healing. But anxious if my insurance will cover. I think a bill for a hyperbaric chamber would be sizable! Some good news, it's at least no longer smelly. I think the silver gauze has taken care of that at least. Breasts are progressing, slowly. My left has dropped significantly. It just needs to fall into the bottom fleshy part of my breast (called fluffing), and it will be complete. My right breast is stubbornly stuck high. I've been wearing a band a massaging periodically to encourage it to relax. It presents some unique wardrobe issues. Next week my professional dressing life starts again, which will be interesting. Swelling persists, ugh! Mine is pretty consistent, it never goes away, it just lessens occasionally. It's uncomfortable, and makes me feel like I am stretched and sore. I'm waiting on some super compression gear to arrive. My old faux spanx aren't up to the task. My swollen belly is hard vs, my extra skin belly was squishy. Further complicates dressing professionally. My incisions are still a bit scabby and crusty in spots. I'm holding off on scar tape for now. I have started using bio oil. I know it has a lot of proponent here and elsewhere. But I'm skeptical personally. It means something to me that silicone is the only proven scar treatment. Also, bio oil has a terrible old lady rose scent, gag. I started on my facial treatments I bought during the pre Xmas Goupon sale. First I did the laser resurfacing, as it should be a pretty major deal that take a week to recover from. Well, it was like absolutely nothing happened. So I'm working on getting a refund on that since they've given me the run around when I asked for a redo. I had Botox of my crows feet and filler in my nasolabial folds done yesterday. Botox was super fast and easy. It will take about a week to see the results. The filler was a little longer and more painful. I am surprised by how swollen and bruised I am. It is definitely not a lunch hour type procedure. But I think I'm going to really like those results once it settles in about a week. More vanity treatments planned for this week, hydrodermabrasian & eyelash extensions. I've gone down the rabbit hole I'm afraid!

I'm another lap band failure story - heyo! Mine never worked to begin with, never found my sweet spot so I only ended up losing 40 pounds max (I need to lose 150 to fall in the healthy range for BMI) and ended up gaining it back plus more after having twins. I struggle with the same thoughts as you - being a mom to 3 young kids I'm afraid of having more surgery that could cause complications and put my life at risk. That being said, I'm putting my life at risk by staying morbidly obese 😕 I'm 37 and I already don't feel good. I have a hard time walking long distances and standing for long periods of time. I want to be able to hike, ride bikes, play sports, and keep up with my kids. I love being active but I am unable to do much with the joint pain and I lose my breath so easily. After doing some research I've decided on RNY I think. It's the "gold standard" and it's been done for decades. The sleeve is pretty recent, and I'm scared it will go the way with the band. RNY made me nervous at first because I thought the "bypassed" organs shriveled up and died inside you but they're actually still functioning like normal. They just don't receive the nutrients and the food travels through faster so you don't absorb as many calories. Kind of a win-win with restriction + malabsorption. Another consideration for me is setting an example for my kids. I really want to strive to make food a non-issue. It was a HUGE issue for me growing up. My mom influenced me and she had a very negative attitude towards her body and was yo-yo dieting my entire life. I remember she'd make weird food while the rest of us ate normal dinner, she had a new eating philosophy ever year, had a new exercise regimen she'd swear would make her skinny... she put me on Weight Watchers when I was 10, and let me use diet pills (ephedrine) when I was 16. I will fight tooth and nail to stop my daughter from starting this cycle. And I think that has to start with me. She's going to be watching me and I have to be careful to make sure she sees me eat normal, healthy food and I have to keep negative body talk out of my conversations. I think having bypass may help me with that too. Whatever you decide, good luck!

Mine seems so much more complicated. I do 2 protein shakes per day; One with more protein. 2 snacks, which can be another protein shake, but can be 2 eggs, or 1/4 cup hummus and 1/2 cup non-starch veg; 3/4 c. cottage cheese, etc. They are slightly different from each other. Finally 1 meal consisting of 4 oz protein and up to 2 c. non starch veg (raw) or 1 cup cooked with 1 tbl salad dress or mayo or tbl avocado. Black coffee or tea (can have caffeine until after surgery) plus at least 48 oz of water or sugar free liquid. I'm on day 1 of 14; pretty hungry to tell the truth; I have the "meal" and 1 protein drink left. So far I have taken in 390 calories today; protein shake 120; protein bar (snack 1) 200 cal; 2 hard boiled eggs, 70 calories. No wonder I am hungry!

I don't see how or why a band would ever be offered when the RNY is one of the best surgeries available...? A band is old technology with known complications.. I have heard that the bypass can be revised by overstitch to tighten the pouch up if needed... I don't know what the band will do to help if the bypass didn't do it already...

I felt swollen and had pain for close to 5 weeks. I think it just depends on the person and the surgery. I had a more complicated surgery and came home from the hospital 15 pounds heavier than I came in. Lots of painful gas, but the more you walk, the better it gets! Hope you are feeling better soon!