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So happy to finally be home after being admitted back in the Hosp. for an obstruction/swelling issue. 7 days on IV's was so not fun.... Has anyone had any similar complications after wls surgery? Please share Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

Not lame at all. Sounds like you're in the right place to me! If your band is used correctly and you tune in to your body and modify your eating the band will work for you (now when I say this I do NOT mean "going on a diet" or "giving up all the foods you love".) There are no bads foods, just bad portions. Poor portion control is the single worst offense we commit. The band will take care of that for you. Do ask your doctor how many bands he has done. I hope you are in or near a large city to have a thoroughly experienced surgeon do your procedure (mine has done THOUSANDS). You don't want someone who hasn't done a LOT of surgeries like this. There can be complications with any surgical procedure, but putting yourself in the most capable hands mitigates that risk substantially.

I need some inspiration...I've had this love/hate relationship with food for the past 25 years! I've always been a stress/emotional/bored eater. In 2013 I had the Lapband...day of surgery weight 319. After 2 years, and for the first time in my adult life I saw 199 on scale. That was absolutely the most amazing feeling I'd had (weight related) in my adult life! A couple of months after that, things changed drastically, I began having complications with the band and ended up in the hospital for a week...discharged with all the Fluid removed from the band. Frustration and anger set in and the weight began to pile back on. Today I am 1 week and 1 day post op from band to sleeve revision. The original plan was band to bypass...during surgery, due to extensive scar tissue from the band and complications with my intestines, my surgeon went with the sleeve...which he had discussed with me prior to surgery, saying that could potentially happen. I kept my hopes up for a successful band to bypass...#1 reason being that I felt like I "needed" that restriction! I don't remember feeling hungry after the Lapband! I'm only a week post op and I'm hungry! I don't know what to do! I don't remember feeling this emotional after the Lapband! I read and I read and I read...I know that everything says follow your Drs post op diet to the "T" or you could damage your "new" stomach. Last night I made the mistake of getting on the scale. Morning of revision surgery I was 302...last night my scale read 297...I was devastated! Per dr recommendations, full liquids are to start today...in my hungry, desperation, feelings of failure...you name it...pity party, party of 1 ????...I ate about 4 teaspoons full of low fat cottage cheese. Now I'm beating myself up and I'm terrified that I'm not going to get this right! Can anyone offer me some advise on how to deal with this emotional roller coaster I feel like I'm on and how to deal with wanting to EAT, not drink?! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I agree it seemed less invasive and more straightforward my doctor also said the risk for complications is higher in bypass then with sleeve also my aunt had gastric bypass about 10 years ago and has been really sick also I didn't like the malabsorption Factor the dumping syndrome and the fact that it seemed like I would have to watch what I ate even more closely with gastric bypass like what if I'm at a new restaurant and it has something my new couch wouldn't agree with dumping syndrome byterrified me and the thought of my intestines being rearranged I didn't like that I am higher BMI patient BMI 52 but I love to workout so I don't see this being an issue but that is what led me to my decision.

agbardoe: When I had an upper GI after the endoscopy, my surgeon called me in that day for a slight unfill. I have felt much better. but as of today, I am changing doctors to a more experienced surgeon from a hospital of excellence.I went to see him for a second opinion first - before I decided to change. I don't believe my old doctor had the experience to deal with problems and complications. When you say the band hasn't been working for you - in what way? What kind of pain? From eating? Do you have reflux or heartburn? What does your doctor say about this? Have you had a recent upper GI? What caused you to gain 20 lbs? Anyway, before you make any changes - get answers to all your questions and concerns. If your insurance paid for the band you might need to be persistent to get a bypass if it is found that you have a severe complication from the band. Good luck.

When I had my swallow test the day after surgery (3 wks ago), I overheard the techs discussing me. They said "soon people weighing 125 r gunna be having wls". It actually made me feel uncomfortable. That I didn't deserve it. Pre op weight was 174, but that was down from 250 4 yrs ago pre lapband. I don't think I would've gotten wls at 174 if there hadn't been a complication.

I have finally reached my first mini goal of getting out of the 200s and into the 100s. I am 5'8, 22 years old. Starting weight was 235 and today I weigh 197!!!! I'm very excited to finally be back in the 100s! My bra size has gone down from a 40D to a 38C. Pant size from a 14-16 to a 10! Overall I am loving my sleeve! I have been lucky to not have any complications or pain. I am able to eat normally and nothing really irritates or upsets my stomach. I'm not sure if at 10 weeks and having lost 38lbs is a good pace or not...how is everyone else?

1. Are you satisfied with your lap band? Are you happy you chose the band over vsg? 100% satisfied, but vsg was not an option in 2006 so it wasn't a choice as such. 2. I'm afraid of the unkown. Do you feel normal...like just living and being your normal self and don't know it's there? Totally normal. Don't know it's there. 3. Do you get used to eating little portions? Do you feel deprived? Yes. No. 4. I work on a team, and we eat lunch together and chat daily at work. I don't want to tell anyone at work. I'm afraid I won't be able to do this without them and or me having eating issues in front of them? Do you think I will be able to? What are your experiences? I told very few. But you have to find a reason for being on liquids for the post-op stages. I said it as a medically supervised diet. True! 5. I've heard many people say "oh, the band is only 25% of the help...It's really me." I'm hoping the band is A LOT of help, not a magic wand, a GREAT help...more than 25% else wise, what's the point! What is your opinion/experience? How much help is the band for you? ALL the band does is dim hunger. You can always eat round it by eating soft foods or by grazing. 6. I need appetite suppression... Does the band actually do that? What exactly does the band do you for you? n How would you describe it? As we eat, the narrowing caused by the band makes the oesophageal walls move more - this tells the brain we have eaten maybe three times as much as we have. Our brain thinks we are full. If I am busy, it doesn't occur to me to eat, if I am bored, it does. I haven't felt stomach rumbling hunger for nine years. 7. Looking back, do you think you could have lost your weight without the band? Possibly, but not as much and never have kept it off, 8. I hear a lot about eating slow and small bites...I am very afraid of this! I don't want to be a spectacle in front of others or feel weirded out and miserable having to eat with baby spoons and pea size bites. I want to eat normal. How is this for you? You will learn. No-one I eat with would guess I am banded 9. Any personal testimonies, advice or warnings? There is quite a high complication rate further down the line. Studies vary and figures cover a wide range. But some studies show re-operation rates (slips, leaks, removals) as high as 30% or more. Some doctors no longer implant bands because of this. I am not in the US but am told that the Mayo Clinic is a major centre and no longer does bands. Please share and

Sunday, August 30, 2009 Educating Primary Care Physicians about Lapband As with all surgeries, lapband can result in complications. The band can slip, infection can occur, some people are so good at eating around the band (using slider food) that they gain weight back, or they never go in for their fills. Some Dr.s don't seem to give very good advice to their patients about sticking to higher density proteins and not turning them into slider food by adding things like gravy to them. Some actually recommend that people "prime the pump" with liquid before they eat. Some Dr.s take forever to give their patients a fill that actually acheives restriction. Not all patients make sure they get the kind of support system they need to achieve success nor do their Dr.s The lapband is a tool not a cure. Other issues need to be dealt with simultaneously. If they're not, the band isn't as successful. So some primary care physicians seem to only be aware of the failures and are unwilling to recommend their patients for the lapband. They also don't distinguish between gastric bypass which is much more drastic and has many more severe complications and the lapband. They confuse the statistics for the two. I think a lot of these Dr.s really don't understand the nature of compulsive overeating. They keep thinking that if their patients just listened to them and followed the diets they hand them and had better nutritional education they'd lose the weight. But time and again, nutritional information and closely supervised diets don't help their patients. Over the years some have prescribed drugs that haven't helped and have actually harmed overweight patients. When I think of the money and time I spent on Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Tops, OA, Atkins, and some wierd combination of thyroid and speed one Dr. put me on, it makes me angry. I had a Dr. who didn't believe in the band. She thought I could do it myself. I knew I couldn't. I had to go to a new Dr. anyway because of insurance so I tested the next Dr. to see if he recommended the band. With two co-morbidities he took it seriously. He had Dr. friends who did lapband surgery with great success. So he went ahead and recommended me for the surgery which started the year long process of jumping through hoops to get the band. I'm blessed that I had the persistance to get through that year and that I had a cooperative Dr. My insurance company also sent me to a top-of-the-line specialist. Some insurance companies won't cover the surgery at all. Although I have access to a nutritionist at my surgeon's office, I've found even greater support on lapbandtalk, especially on a thread called I'm here to help...This blog has also proved to be an invaluable ally in my recovery. A lady at my church who is in much worse shape than me has not been able to get her primary care physician to recommend the lapband. Meanwhile, the meds she's on for her co-morbidities have made her gain even more weight. People need to explore the risks, the failures, and the successes of lapband surgery before they make a decision. They need to know that its still hard work to lose the weight and keep it off. Their Dr.s should be helping them explore their options and get set up for success if the option for lapband is chosen. I think the primary physicians need to get more educated, not only about lapband surgery, but about compulsive overeating itself. It is an eating disorder, an addiction, with genetic, biological, emotional, psychological, and spiritual componants that all need to be addressed. The band helps relieve the person of enough of the addiction aspect to let them work on the other aspects. I had worked for years on all the other componants with counseling, 12-step meetings for food addiction, 12-step meetings for codependency issues, not to mention prayer and Bible reading and Bible study groups. I'd come to pretty good terms with my ADHD/ADD and still I could not succeed in losing and keeping off the weight. I had a medical condition that needed a medical solution. I hope the woman in my church gets the help she needs. I hope the lapband, if she gets recommended, proves to be the tool she needs like it has for me. She's a precious soul and very much loved and appreciated in my church community. I want her to be around yet for a long time.

yes....that is why. They said they were aware of the FDA approving the surgery for people between bmi of 30 and 35, however they choose to perform surgery only on people 35+ with one comorbidity or 40+ without. They also said they would need "special" approval to perform surgery if someone did not have insurance. I am wondering if that is because they want to make sure someone has insurance to cover complications? The doctors here are more conservative. Again I was ready yesterday. I just can't find anyone to consider me.

Mine was 2 weeks 3 Protein shakes/day and leafy green veggies. (Kale, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, etc). Lost 22 pounds and had a complication-free, pain free surgery and recovery. I'd say either go to the other diet or find a different Protein shake....there's dozens out there with extreme variations of ingredients, taste and palatability. 5 shakes a day is a lot, but you'll have to find some thing that works for postop anyways. What can't you stomach about them?

This is so exciting reading the updates of the surgery you ladies have just had. Nothing but good vibes! I'm going to be paying for surgery in New Zealand around August but am suddenly considering having it done in Mexico to save myself 10 grand! Especially reading about the lack of complications etc. While it's an investment I don't want to feel ripped off! I live and work in Russia at the moment. There's definitely no english support groups here so I am thrilled to have found this forum.

I think you must remember that the thing is the journey. How well can you follow directions? This is like learning to ride a bike. You fall off and get back on. I don't quite get the 2 weeks of previous behavior? You need to figure out what that was about for you. Why did it take you so long to face it? It is time for a reset. Most of the complications appear to be related to not following the post op diet. Cheating here could be fatal.

I'm happy you found the source of your problems and took care of it...and sad that the band was not installed properly initially. I could have had the surgery for half the price in Tijuana, less than an hour away. I'm feel blessed to have saved enough money to freely choose my surgeon. I live near UCSD Medical Center with a fantastic obesity treatment team. So when I read these frightening and sad removal stories, I feel safe and calm, knowing my surgeon's skill level and that the UCSD hospitals a rea stone's toss should any complications arise. Best to you

yes they can come back - I've had two. But they tend to be an early complication - after the first 3 or 4 months, you'll probably be in the clear.

Protein supplements (when I think shakes, I think of the ones mixed with milk which are considered a full liquid) that are mixed with Water are considered clear on some surgeon's postop list. SF Jello is see-through. I don't know anyone who ate jelly through the post-op diet considering it's high sugar count. Plus, my surgeon was not concerned about my protein intake until the mushy food stage. So, I didn't have to worry about consuming any sort of protein shake/supplement during the first 22-23 days. My surgeon is a big advocate to getting all of my protein from food sources instead of shakes/drinks/supplements. I am supposed to eat 4 meals daily that contain at least 15grams of protein per meal. Right there, you get in the 60grams of protein as recommended by my surgeon. Plus, my body doesn't like any of the protein supplements. I found one that I could tolerate taste and texture, but I puked the times I tried to drink it. So, I give up and will stick to what my surgeon suggested. Of course, I'm almost 5 months, and can eat pretty much anything I want so 3 meals a day of 3oz of lean meat gives me my protein. Some surgeons do not require a clear liquid phase, and I'm not sure why some choose to make patients endure the clear stage, and some move straight to full liquids and mushies. As for juice, I avoided juice because of the sugar and acidity of most juices. Apple juice is see-through, but the one time I tried it, I had horrendous gas. I wanted to protect my stomach as much as possible with little irritation. I would of done the same thing even without having the complication of a leak. There is no way I would of advanced to full liquids earlier than 14 days post-op. My stomach was traumatized, the staple line needed to heal, and I was hell-bent on protecting it as much as possible. The band damaged the top portion of the stomach, and I was not going to push it.

Hi riverrat -- I would mention it to your surgeon...but tell them what you're OB said. Better to have your surgery put off than to them have a surprise once they go in or for your recovery to be more complicated, especially with a little boy to care for. Everyone experiences the nervousness you are feeling...it's perfectly normal. to answer your questions: I had my surgery on a Thursday before Labor Day and was back at work Tuesday. No regrets -- except I wish I'd been better about communicating with my surgeon when I was too tight after fills. The end result was that I did have slippage -- from vomiting, which came from being too tight. I had it repositioned in March and had my first fill since then on Monday. All that aside, still no regret. No hair loss. And, a PB is a "productive burp" which may or may not include the food in your pouch. Good luck to you. I hope everything goes well. Keep reminding yourself of how many of us were in the same place you are right now...and we all came out on the other side! Elizabeth

Myh recovery was so quick- but I didn't have much of a choice. I went sight seeing at the museum and to the center market the day after surgery in Mexico with dh and the three kids (mom was still in hospital though - she had complications- but she wouldn't listen to doctors and didn't drink or walk enough)

<TABLE class=wide cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD> I saw this post on another WL support site and did find it veryinteresting. Some of the things this guy says really DOES make youthink. I know I AM quilty of several of the things he wrote about.Remember, this is NOT me writing the following stuff ... It is justsomething I copied from somewhere else. I hope reading it can helpUS all out.Sherri*****************************************************Enough is enough... the truth about the bandI've been reading a lot of the posts lately, and noticing a fewtrends. </PRE> I thought I might address them. </PRE> Many of you are not going to like it, and I expect to get flamed. Iam not trying to peeve folks off, but I feel it is time for someoneto post a frank discussion on the band. Take my words with a grainof salt. This is not directed at any one person in particular, butat a general trend of threads appearing lately. If you're pissed atme after this… OK, but then again, maybe you'll get something out ofit in between the anger. </PRE> Here it is… </PRE> Quit your whining. </PRE> The band is not a miracle. It does not magically make caloriesdisappear from food. It is a tool you need to work WITH not AGAINST.If you work against it, you'll fail. End of story. </PRE> Let's clear up a few misconceptions about the band. </PRE> The band is not malabsorptive like the gastric bypass. The GB worksby allowing the patient to eat less, and more to the point, toabsorb LESS calories from the food they eat. The band ONLY restrictsthe QUANTITY of food, not the QUALITY. If you continue to eat high-calorie crap, you'll lose nothing… period. What this means is thatyou DO need to change your eating habits. You need to eat healthierfood, and less garbage. Some folks will lose some weight with theband because of the smaller quantities without changing their eatinghabits, but that loss will slow or stall, and WILL NOT BESUSTAINABLEunless they learn new habits. Face it folks, what we eat is what gotus fat in the first place. If you don't wanna change that, then youcan stay fat, and don't complain that you aren't losing. </PRE> Yes, you can have occasional treats. I am not saying that you haveto live a deprived life with no treats ever again, but keep themoccasional, and keep them small. Dessert every day is NOTOCCASIONAL. Once a week, maybe. Start looking at your favorite foodsand look for ways to make them healthier. Maybe use less fat, orhealthier fats, leaner cuts of meat, more veggies etc. Try to treatyourself with healthier foods as well, fruit instead of pie, bakedpretzels instead of fried chips, try those rice cakes you see in thestore. When you do have a treat… have ONE SERVING. Look at thelabel… if it says that 9 rice cakes are 1 serving… count them outand only have 9, not the whole bag! Use the sugar-free versions ofthings, the lower fat versions, and the lower carb versions… eatmore fresh foods, and less from packages. Yes, I know that freshfood is more work… too bad. You wanna get healthy? Then do it right.Kraft in the box might go down fine, but is it the right thing todo? Make the effort to cook healthier. It takes more time, butaren't you worth it? </PRE> RNY and Gastric Bypass patients need to diet too. If you think thatthey lose faster, you are right. In essence from malabsorbtion, theytechnically starve to lose initial weight, and lose a lot… morequickly than we do. SO WHAT?!?!? The human body is an amazing thing.It is smart, and learns to compensate. If the GB/RNY patient doesnot learn new, healthy eating habits, then they WILL GAIN THE WEIGHTBACK. In the long run, we have the advantage, as we do not lose atALL without new habits. We have to learn from the get-go, and in theend… our system willl adjust with us as we lose… not giving oursmart body a chance to get used to the new "arrangement" andcompensating for it. RNY/GB might look like a miracle, but it isn'teither. You still are the one in control, but the complications forit are much worse. I'm not dissing it, it is the right choice forsome, but for those who which to switch, simply because they havenot been doing the band with TRUE lifestyle changes… well… they arefooling themselves. Wisen up, and realize YOU need to change to makeany bariatric surgery a long-term success. </PRE> Head hunger, and stress eating are real. They are some of the thingsthat got us here. If it happens to you… GET HELP. Don't just standthere and say… duh, I don't know how to stop. Get on a program, seea therapist, join a bandster support group. Don't just cry aboutit…, DO SOMETHING. If you know emotional eating is an issue, thenyou have an EMOTIONAL PROBLEM, best dealt withby a therapist. Guesswhat folks, that is part of a whole weight loss program! Some maynot need it, but if these issues plague you, then get the help! Thatleads me to the next one… </PRE> Yes, you DO NEED TO EXERCISE. If you think you don't, then you arebeing foolish. Exercise does not mean a formal program at a gym witha personal trainer (although that is a GREAT IDEA). It means gettingout there and moving… biking, skating, swimming etc. Move… move…move!!! A sedentary life is another of the things that got us here.If you think sustained weight loss will happen without it, then youare again fooling yourself. Don't forget, that other than ahealthier life, the number 2 reason we got this done was to lookbetter. Folks, diet alone will not give you a better bod, exerciseand diet will. </PRE> This is not a liquid diet. Yes you will have periods of being onliquids, before and after surgery, and right after fills, but thisis not meant to be liquids for life. The band works by allowing asmall amount of food to stay in the pouch for a while, keepinghunger away. If all you have are Protein shakes… well frankly, theypass right thru, and give NO sustained satiety. You'll be hungry.Period. If all you can get down are liquids, then you are TOO TIGHT.It will NOT HELP YOUR WEIGHT LOSS TO BE TOO TIGHT! In fact, theopposite is true. If you cannot eat solid foods you will likelygain, because LIQUID CALORIES ARE MORE DENSE. You have GOT TO eatsolid food. </PRE> Low carb does not mean NO carb. Should you restrict carbs… yep. Weeat too many. This does not mean eat only protein. You cannotsurvive on only protein, you need veggies and carbs too… just lessof the carbs than you have been having. For one, try using healthiercarbs… want a potato? Eat a small baked red-skin new potato, withsome butter spray on it… instead of fries. Try Dreamfields low-carbpasta for Sunday spaghetti dinners, try brown rice instead of MinuteRice. Avoid the carbs in packaged foods… Mac and cheese, rice a ronietc. If you want mac and cheese, make it from scratch with lower fatcheese and Dreamfields or whole wheat Pasta. Use wholegrain bread,not Wonderbread. And… eat carbs last. Eat the protein first, thenveggies, then if you have room finish your carbs. Lastly… eliminatethe sugar… get it out period </PRE> Fast food is bad. End of story. Stay away from it… all of it. </PRE> Is a pre-op liquid diet important? You bet your boots it is. No, Iknow not all doctor's ask for it… but that doesn't change the factthat they should be asking for it. First off, it shrinks the liver,making it easier for the surgeon to perform the procedure. Second,it begins the weight loss process. Third, it speeds up recovery byhaving the body have less solid waste in the digestive tract, itwill work less, and not stress the points where the band is attached. </PRE> Is the post-op diet… liquids… mushies then solids important? Seeabove. This is for healing. Yes you can eat solid food sooner, and Iknow that this varies from doctor to doctor, but that doesn't meanit should. The stomach needs time to heal, and even though you CANeat solids earlier doesn't mean you should. Heal properly first. Asmost docs will say, any weight loss during this phase is a bonus.This is not the time for loss but healing. May folks WILL gain whengoing to mushies. Expect it. If you don't, you are one of the luckyfew… not the norm. Most folsk do not see real weight loss forMONTHS. This is how it is, deal with it. </PRE> You WILL NOT LOSE ALL YOUR WEIGHT IN A COUPLE MONTHS. Especiallythose of you with under 75 lbs to lose. Less to lose, the slower itwill be… that's it folks. If you got the band with 60-75 lbs tolose, do NOT expect to lose as much a month as someone who has200lbs to lose. Won't happen. If the doc told you it did, he lied.Most successful band patients lose 75% of their excess weight in theFIRST 2 YEARS… yep… years, not months. Deal with it… you are notgonna lose it by summer for swimsuit season. This is not intended tobe SPEEDY weight loss… if you don't get that, see #3 above. </PRE> It's OK to go to a foreign country to get my band because it is moreaffordable to me… Hmmm this one is debatable, and I will keep myopinion of foreign docs out of it. First off, when it comes tosurgery for my body, I don't want the lowest bidder, even though Iwas also self pay… but let's put that aside. I see too many folksgoing to places like Mexico for this procedure because they say thedoc is a brilliant surgeon… this is only 10% about the actualsurgery folks! It is the pre and aftercare provided that makes itwork. If you do NOT have an aftercare doc set up locally BEFORE yougo to Mexico for the surgery… then you are making a HUGE MISTAKE. Iam getting tired of seeing folks say…" I just got my band lastweekend, anyone know of any docs I can see for fills around here?"Geez?!@?!? What are you thinking? Didn't you have this all set upbeforehand? How could you have such a procedure done to your body… aprocedure that requires constant attention (and it is not just forfills folks!) and not be prepared before you do it? If this is yourplan, then I am confused on what you are doing. Aftercare with theband is not just fills, and you need access to a band doc locallyfor any problems. Sure you can get the procedure done in Mexico, buthave preparations for aftercare BEFORE they cut you open. </PRE> Look at the whole program. This is NOT just a surgical option. I'vesaid it before and I'll say it again, the surgery is only 1 hourlong… the rest of my life will be losing and maintaining myhealthier body. Nutritionists, exercise physiologists,psychologists, dieticians, support groups, a good fill doc… theseare ALL necessary to lose and maintain our health. If you only dealwith some of them… you'll fail. When you scout out docs to do thisprocedure, see how they deal with ALL of these factors…not just arethey a good cutter. Then, after the surgery, follow through with allof these. </PRE> If you don't know… ASK! The doctor, not the web group. Sure, it'sgreat to get support and ideas here, but I am amazed how many peopleare on here soliciting medical advice… ASK YOUR DOC! If he won'tgive you a straight answer… then he's not a good doc, and you needto seek out a better one. I mean COME ON!?!?! Now that we have thatstraightened out… let's say your doc tells you to do something… likestay on liquids for 2 weeks… DO IT. If he is a good doc, then thereis a reason to do what he says. This is NOT about you making yourOWN… UNEDUCATED judgment calls… he's the pro here… do what he says.If you don't understand why… then we go back to… ASK. </PRE> I'm sure I could say more, but I am also sure that I've pissed offhalf the folks who have read this. </PRE> Just had to get it off my chest. It is HARD WORK. Anythingworthwhile is. If you thought it was gonna be easy, then you wereeither lied to, or deluding yourself. </PRE> Work hard… get healthy… have a good life. We are ALL worth the time,effort and yes money, to be better healthier people. </PRE> __________________ Big Paul Banded Nov. 17, 20051st fill 1/3/2006: 3.2cc 2nd fill 2/7/2006: Removed 3.0cc, replaced 4.0cc 3rd fill 3/6/2006: Removed 3.6cc, replaced 4.0cc Unfill 3/14/2006: Removed 4.0cc, replaced 3.2cc 4th fill 4/3/2006: Removed 3.2cc, replaced 3.8cc 371/236/189135 lbs lost! 47 lbs to go! </PRE> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

For myself, experience and trust played huge roles, but since I was self-pay, I also was very concerned about the cost of possible complications. Part of the reason for pursuing this surgery was to be healthier to live a longer life and be able to start a family. We were worried that costs of complications could possibly make both of those things much more difficult. In the end I did find a surgeon 1.5-2 hours (depending on traffic) away from my home who I felt was extremely skilled who also was able to offer complication's insurance through Blis. Good luck with your journey! If I had a different sort of husband, I probably would have pursued Mexico as a possibility due to the experience.

Did you end up having to pay for the port revision? Even though I was a self pay I went to a doc who is on my provider list in case I had any complications I hoped they would be covered but who knows!?

I just dont know what to think anymore...major anxiety over whether I should even do this sleeve surgery. I literally am thinking I will have a complication that will kill me. I know the dark side of bariatric surgery because i am a nurse and a have seen alot of the complications. how can I get this out of my mind and do it... I need it!

Yes, it's difficult, but worth it. My pre-op door consisted of four lowfat, low carb protein shakes a day. I followed it exactly and currently am three weeks post-op. I had no complications, very little pain. I was exercising 30 minutes a day starting day 3. I could drink all my water and get in all my protein since day 2. Some folk's have had nicks to other organ's while the docs wrestle with their oversized liver. Some had to go from laproscopic to open surgery. If you can't handle two weeks, how will you handle life after surgery? Believe me...you CAN do the pre-op without cheating! Take it one day at a time and keep as busy as possible to help pass the time. Do fun (non food) things. Exercise so you are as strong as you can be going into the surgery. I wish you the very best of luck.

My port flipped and i had it fixed on Tues. 7-08-08. I went in as out patient but, stayed over night. I had general anesthesia and was so sick from it. I was banded in April so the surgeon went in the same suture line for the port as when he put it in. It has been 2 and a half months and that incision was just healing so I am very sore. Iv'e lost 1 day from work. I hope this is the 1 and only complication I will have. I need to go back in 2 weeks to see the surgeon. My doctor keeps telling me this is a "work in progress" he believes in small fills about 9 in 1 year. He wants me to have all the benefits without being sick. He said I should be able to eat almost anything with the band just a lot less. I have lost 30 lbs. since April 16th, 08.

Q1: My surgeon checked for leaks while I was still in surgery. My surgical center pioneered VSG as an outpatient procedure. I was supposed to go home the same day, but I had a slight complication (not VSG related) that made them keep me overnight. I was discharged the next morning. Q2: You'll feel full when you start eating purees and soft foods. Q3: Sound like gas pains to me!