Search the Community

Hi all, I wanted to say "HI" and tell a little about me. I have to admit I'm a little nervous so please bear with me I had the lap band placed August 2002 by Dr. Phillip Schauer at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (he has since moved on but I still follow with the practice). It did very well for me up until about 2-3 years ago ( I went from pre-op wt 263/ surg wt 240/ lowest wt 173. I felt the best ever at that weight. I started to learn how to eat around the band and slowly began putting the weight back on. Then about a year ago I got pretty sick (vomiting) which required hospitalization. I was afraid that my band had slipped. But the medical team didn't seem too concerned. I had a CT done at that time but somehow it got "lost" and I was lost to follow up. Well, I went back for a fill in Feb 2011 and they did an upper GI (Yuk!). This showed that my band slipped and was no longer functioning properly. I could have told them that when I gained all of the weight back! Anyway, My new surgeon, Dr. George Eid from the same practice, said that I would need to choose which of three surgeries I would need done. Either band revision, bypass, or something relatively new they have been doing called Sleeve gastrectomy. He said that I would be a good candidate for sleeve but that they haven't had much luck with insurance approval with my type of insurance (cash is not an option at this time), but that they would submit and push for the sleeve. So, I went home to think and do much research. I didn't want a lap revision since I've about had it with fills, etc. Bypass seemed too extreme for me. The more I researched, I found I really wanted the sleeve. I wasn't sure what I would choose once I got the call from the Dr wanting my decision fully expecting the sleeve to be denied. To my surprise, THE SLEEVE WAS APPROVED!! So they will do a lap removal to sleeve revision. Wow! I wasn't expecting that and had mixed feelings. I want to have weight loss surgery very much (i'm tired of being fat) but am TERRIFIED of anesthesia. I keep telling myself that I did it once, I can do it again. Also, I don't have much of a support system since I am divorced since my band. I have a wonderful >18 yr old son who is very supportive but hate the thought of him having to care for me even for just a week. The docs called me end of March with the good news stating they could do the surgery April 14th! Everything seemed to be happening so fast. I wasn't ready so soon. My son would not be done with college until first week of May, so I had to schedule for when he was home to take care of me and to make arrangements with work for 4 weeks off. My surgery date is May 12th. I have mixed feelings and don't know why. I am excited to start my life over again with my new weight loss journey but at the same time have a healthy respect for what's to come. I feel I have very experienced surgeon who is ranked among the highest in the nation. So my fears don't rest in that department. I still have to have my pre-op testing (labs, EKG, endoscopy, PCP, xray, Gyne). I hope all goes well so I don't have to postpone. I'm sure I'm not alone with my feelings but would sure appreciate any encouragment and/or advice. Thanks for being patient with me

Hello 5th Buddies. I had my bypass on the 5th and things have been so surprisingly great. Got discharged immediately the next morning. Getting in the Water and Protein. Doing homemade broths and tolerating them. I have my first play op appointment tomorrow. Not even in pain which I am surprised by that. I have more knee pains than surgery pains from walking lol. Stay pumped everyone. The honeymoon is in full effect and let’s make the most out of it. I am sure they’re tougher days ahead but enjoy the ride.

I was too going to get the band in the begining, but soon after I read post after post on the health hazzards I decided to go with the sleeve. So glad I did. I have no issues with my sleeve. I actually saw a picture in my surgeon's office of what band erosion looks like. Oh I'm so so glad I did the sleeve. That looked so awful and painful. He isn't doing as many bands now, but he is doing a lot of revisions. I researched the sleeve for several months ,I realized that it was the better choice of the options available. Research and discuss with your doctor the options available to you. Only you can make this discision for you. Good luck. Deb

I had gastric bypass on November 6. Since then my hormones have been crazy, I've had a rough recovery due to a rough surgery and I've felt like a crazy person. I get nauseous easily, everything I'm allowed to eat tastes terrible or I just end up psyching myself out that it will taste terrible, then I don't want it. When I do find something that works, I get excited, then discouraged because it may only work for one or two meals. I'm getting better day by day and continue to work on it. Last night, my boyfriend (for lack of a better word) made one of those Totino's Party Pizzas (Combination style of course which was my favorite) and I'm sitting at the table, trying to decide what my new pouch will tolerate and I lose it. I start bawling like a baby. So I lock myself I the bathroom (don't want him to see me crying and feel bad about eating) and I call my mom. As I'm feeling sorry for myself and asking her for a time machine, I hear him start to curse. I ask him what's wrong and he says he burnt his finger and dropped the pizza. I start laughing. This crazy maniacal laugh and I have no idea why I'm finding this so funny, but I seriously can't stop! I keep picturing it I'm my head and cracking up! I think I was happy (not about the burning, but about the loss of pizza) lol. Turned out he only dropped one piece. He felt bad when he figured out I had been upset. I told him I needed to get used to it and that it's hard. I don't want anyone handling me with kid gloves. I swear it is aggravating knowing the hold that food had/has over me. I can still picture the taste in my mind. I did much better today but it comes and goes in waves. Just had to share my momentary, pity party meltdown because now, of course it's funny. ????

As some you know, my Lapband slipped. On Friday April 19 was my revision surgery. I go home thinking I'll just better over. Stayed home for a night checking my temp every so often. I had a fever just about every time I checked.I go to my hospital on Sunday morning, they found an infection so I left my hospital via ambulance and when I get to the hospital where I had my surgery, took a cat scan and it showed up on that so I went into surgery ): I had a serious infection and absess? It was so bad one of the best things for him to do was to take my band out. So I have been here since Sunday. My fever is slowly going down, my heart rate is still a little high, took the fully tube out (the one for your bladder, and got the tube that was Hooked up to my stomach.got plugged today. I am getting closer and closer to getting out of here, this just sucks ):

The following bariatric surgical procedures are considered medically necessary for Members who meet the associated criteria: Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y; gastrojejunal anastomosis) Vertical banded gastroplasty (gastric banding; gastric stapling) Biliopancreatic bypass (Scopinaro procedure) Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch Gastric sleeve procedure (also known as laparoscopic vertical gastrectomy or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) when done alone and not a part of the full operation to complete a biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPDDS or DS) Medical Necessity Criteria The Member must meet the criteria of either A or B: Class II obesity (BMI 35-39.9 kg/m2) in a person who has attained an adult level of physical development and maturation, in the presence of one or more of the following comorbidities: Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular disease (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction, stable or unstable angina pectoris or coronary artery bypass) Life-threatening cardiopulmonary problems (e.g., severe sleep apnea, Pickwickian syndrome, obesity-related cardiomyopathy) [*]Class III obesity (BMI equal to or greater than 40 kg/m2) in a person who has attained an adult level of physical development and maturation. New CPT CODE: 43775 - Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; longitudinal gastrectomy (ie, sleeve gastrectomy)

Hello Malcolm!! Welcome to VST!! If you're anything like me, I love my sleeve far greater than I did my band. However, I didn't have close to the success you did with yours either. Big congrats for you did exceptionally well with it! Take a look around here, you will find so many of us who have revised. The sleeve by far is everything it's said to be. PS, we also have a Man's section here, since you asked about it.

I have been following various threads by search engines and have found the site useful, so I thought I would sign up. I received a 14cc band in Nov 2010 by Dr. Strand in Sioux Falls. I have been happy with him so far. I don't know the cc's I have in now, something I'll have to check on next time I go in. I have had no real problems but am not where I would like to be yet. I have had 3 fills but still feel very little restriction and have not trouble eating anything or larger amounts. I've lost 30 lbs so far, but nothing within the last 6 weeks. I followed the restricted diet faithfully for the first few months but became ravenous to the point where my stomach growling was disruptive at work and church. I have since began to eat more, thus the stop in weight loss. I am still exercising and feel better, but hope for improvement. My biggest battle is distinguishing between when I am truly hungry and when I just want the satisfaction of taste and eating, but I suppose that's why I am overweight to begin with. Thanks again to all sharing your stories. I appreciate not feeling alone. While I know someone who has gone through Bypass, I do not know anyone personally who has a band. Trying to be patient and keep the faith.

My doctor told me to cut back on smoking if I wanted the sleeve, he also said that if I was having the bypass I would have to quit smoking all together. When you smoke you end up coughing a lot after surgery that is one of the reasons they want you to quit and there are other problems it causes but don't know what they are. I would ask him about it again let him know how much and how long you have been smoking ask him about cutting back and not quitting, ask him why he wants you to quit, and what the complications are of smoking. Each doctor is different and has their own way of doing things, I was very lucky mine was ok with me cutting back I went from a pack a day to half a pack a day before surgery. After surgery I did have some coughing but the long walks to and from the smoking area helped lol.

several years ago when bypass and the band were my only options, I decided against WLS surgery altogether. The band was a no go for me because I didn't like the idea of having a foreign object in my body. Late last year when I learned about the sleeve, I knew it was right for me. Especially since it addresses the issue of grehlin (the hunger hormone) whereas I don't think the band does. Once I made up my mind, I found VST. There's an entire gang of folks here that are band-to-sleeve revisions. And holy moly some of the complications people have had from the band are enough to convince me I made the right choice!

I think maybe it's comparatively rare everywhere but where your first doctor is! It sounds like you're in kind of a "bubble" of people who have had this type of revision.... I know you said you don't need a support group but "looking for others' experiences" is pretty much what a support group would be about... And it sounds like there's plenty of individuals in your area!

Just curious to hear of other experiences.....but Im good...dont really need a support group...but there quite a few in my area. Wow...didnt know this was so "rare"...well in Dallas it isnt. Have an ex coworker who is about to have hers converted...we had the same surgeon...(bypass) and she us having the same issues.

Sounds like many good reasons to me! As for me, I have a few health problems but nothing serious yet. But my emotional health has been horrible. And I think your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. I've lost 50, 60, 70 lbs. at different times in my life. It would take forever and always be a painful journey watching everyone around me eat and drink whatever they wanted and never exercise but still be thin. The last couple of years I thought I was going through a mid-life crisis....that's if women go through them...I don't know. I wanted to lose the weight but was so depressed about doing it. I didn't want to go through it again. Lose and then gain back what you lost plus an extra 20-40 lbs. on top of that. I WAS DONE!!! My husband has always said, "you know how to lose weight, you've done it before and you felt great." I told him about a month ago, that I wasn't going to try anymore ... that it was a battle that I would never win. That's when he suggested having this surgery or the bypass done. I was in total shock because a little over a year ago, I was approved to do the lap band and he said absolutely not....and I just kind of started going down hill from there. He's very supportive but just didn't feel like the lap band was a safe option (and I'm thankful he felt that way...I think I would have regretted it.) plus a man he worked with had it done and never lost a pound. I thought my husband was completely against any kind of surgery. He's even tried to diet with me....we would both fail at it! So, I'm not really sure what made him decide he was okay with this but I'm so thankful!

after surgery about 900 calories later up to 1,200 for regaining stamina (at least for me heading back to gym as well as slowing weight loss - in month 5 I am near goal) Prior around 800 to 900 to reduce fatty tissue. Get in your Protein 60 to 70 grams as sleeve not as bad as bypass. Try for 64 ounces Water keep skin soft.

I was told for my eating habits and weight that bypass would be the best choice. Unfortunetly, my husband won't go for it. He says I can have lap-band only, and I'm cool with that. Maybe it was due to your weight and eating habits as well.

Thank you both for sharing. It's very helpful to hear other's stories. I am very certain that the sleeve is the better choice of the band vs. sleeve, just debating the sleeve vs. bypass right now. These are both huge commitments and I'm ready for the hard work, I just want to choose my weight loss tool wisely.

I decided against a sleeve revision as the sleeve wasn't addressing the actual problem. After a few years of trial and error I worked it out and solved my life long problem. I will be shortly launching My Simple Steps to Health as I have managed to lose 65 kgs by myself eating loads of food and feeling happy, calm and it's changed my life. Should be launching in April and I am more than happy to help everyone who signs up from Bariatric Pal for a heavily discounted amount. Thanks and look forward to helping you. Emma

Hi! New here and am confused. I have recently had epigastric hernia surgery which let to me seriously considering weight loss surgery. I have been to a seminar where both gastric bypass and lapband was presented without pushing one over the other. I have visited my general physician to get his input and to start my supervised perioid that my insurance requires. I am 5' 7.5" and weigh 283. I meet my insurance BMI requirements without other health problems but I do have asthma, mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure,and dysautonomia. My general physician strongly believes in lapband and does not want me to have lapband. I have been researching and I see other forums that are not specific to bypass or lapband where everyone doesn't like lapband. I have had 1 friend do bypass and do very well. I have had 1 friend do lapband and has not had a good experience. I have a 3rd friend who has had lapband within the past year and so far so good. I go back to the surgeon on the 20th to start whatever I need to with him. I have my husband's complete support. So I am here to learn more and make that decision. Can you help?

Hi there! I was revised from band to sleeve on 9.15.10 - and sounds like you and I had similar experiences. Though I've never needed to be hospitalized with being too tight, I certainly know how it feels to not be able to drink simple Water. If you have any questions, I'm always happy to answer any. The sleeve saved me!! I don't regret my revision even a tiny bit.

I also have tricare prime I just basically said id like to have bariatric surgery for my health and quality of life, I said I was ready to commit to it and understood the decision I was making. I honestly didnt have any issues when I went on base, I just said I want to have bariatric surgery for the reasons I just stated and the doc was like ok lets get things started. Im not saying your doc may be that easy but I couldnt see why they wouldn't put a referral in at your request to better your health. If you have any questions plz ask me ill try and help. I have had lap band surgery already here in Oklahoma on friday I have a revision to also have the plication done... I guess it would be no better of a time for me to write out my journey on here to help others like yourself who have tricare!

Hello! I am currently choosing between the band and the sleeve. My main concern with the band is with the long-term effects of having an implant. I have heard that about 50% of people have their bands either removed or revised after the 5 year mark. Is there anyone who knows any more about this or who has had their band for a long time? I will be asking the surgeon about this of course, but in the meantime I would love to hear from you Thanks!

with the sleeve, NO medication is off limits. You CAN take anyting. It is the bypass that you are not allowed to take things. Kelly

Hey Laura! Small world huh lol. Which surgeon did you use? I plan to use Dr. Leslie Miles in Birmingham. A little bit of a drive but I chose him because of his experience doing more bands that any other that's closer plus they give you all the info and follow up you need to make it work. We did go to Dr. Mailapur's seminar and liked him as well but he seemed to highly recommend the bypass and I don't want to do that! Do y'all go to the local monthly support groups?

I have watched this site for several months now and it has been so so helpful. I had my band to sleeve revision ( after a slip, and then non-functioning port). Had another hernia that they had to repair as well. Today it has been a week and I am down 11 pounds and feel great although I have over done a bit. You all have been very helpful even to those of us who kinda stay in the shadows most of the time-- Thanks!

That was the first question I asked regarding surgery Drains? Fortunately, my Dr only uses them on those patients that are having revisions. I've had 5 drains in the past, and it is the worst pain EVER!!! I'm glad your are OUT and you are on the road to recovery. Best of luck with everything! Oh and BTW, Happy Birthday!