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As of tomorrow 5/21 I will be 3 weeks post op Gastric Bypass. I am already down 25 lbs and doing good.

Andrea, I understand you may have to travel, but I'd consider finding another surgeon. If your surgeon needs proctor, it MIGHT be that he hasn't placed the new AP band and he needs a proctor to go over placement with him (it's a little different), but it most likely is because he isn't certified by Allergan/Inamed yet, period. And that's okay, he's not necessarily incompetent, he's may just be brand new to banding. He may have done tons of various laparascopic procedures and maybe has done hundreds of bypasses, but he likely hasn't done many bands. But that's a consideration. Given the history of his pushing and pushing you to have bypass done, I'm leaning toward him not having done many bands. Do you want to be someone's first or second band ever? I *might* if I was comfortable and confident with the surgeon when I interviewed him. Based on what you've told us of your conversations with him, I would NOT be comfortable with his confidence in his own abilities or his own willingness to learn and try the latest advancements. Seriously, GO FIND ANOTHER SURGEON. I know you have kids, many of us do. I understand you may work, many of us do, I know it must be hard to arrange, but Andrea, this is your body and your new life you are dealing with here. Find a day or two that you can set aside to travel to an appt. Really think about this, please. From what I understand being Allergan/Inamed (Allergan is the newer name) certified to place the band is not state by state. It's one time. You can call Allergan and ask them if your surgeon is certified. The website is lapband.com and you should be able to find a link to look him up. What is his name, BTW? You can look him up on obesityhelp.com and on tha American Society of Bariatric Surgeons (asbs.org) to see if he's a member. Please do these things, or PM me the name or post it here and we'll see what we can find out about him to see how much experience he has.

:ohmy: I'm at the earliest steps of enrolling in a program that encompasses the lap band surgery. (pre/post behavioral, nutrition, exercise programs...all of which are accessible for life) (they even have cooking classes) My surgeon performs lap band and gastric bypass's exclusively and his practice is based right out of the clinic. I am one step away from signing my name on the dotted line. the only reason i have stopped??? My neurologist has concerns about the possibilities of internal complications/injury if i were to have a seizure and fall. I have been falling for many, many years and though I'm not conscious when I go down, I'm pretty sure that my face usually breaks the fall, and I am "well endowed" so I have my own airbag system. (:smile2:) I'm genuinely not as concerned about this type of complication but, I so genuinely respect my neurologist. If there is anyone out there who has had complications due to any types of falls or better yet.... if there's anyone out there with Epilepsy that has had the lap band implanted. :confused: I'll take all of the positive and negative feed back that I can get. (accept for my punctuation:rolleyes:)

My first suggestion would be to google gastric bypass versus lap-band. I just did and there are a ton of articles comparing the two without having to rehash here. Then I would suggest scanning both kinds of forums like this and read about real life stories of people who have both. The down and dirty difference is: Gastric bypass gives faster results but the complication rate is higher and there is more of a chance of nutritional deficiencies. Lap band is slower weight loss but much less in the way of complications and you are able to get your nutrients better. Hope this helps and good luck with whichever method you decide on.

So I had my band unfilled in August because I was getting so sick. They took as much as they could out. I've had very little issues for the last 2 months. This week I started having resistance with eating or drinking again and the last 2 days I've gotten sick after trying to eat. Literally eating 2 small bites and it comes up. And now liquid is getting stuck with an unfilled band. Anyone else have this problem? I'm self pay and already know what revision surgery costs :/

Oh great! I am an avid reader and this will be right up my alley. I hope the books are available on Kinle or Ibooks. I am having RNY revision on 8/22 and have been researching everything I can get my hands on.

Sorry I just got to reply. Was away with my daughter on a Civil Air Patrol mission. I just started walikg, I started small. I walked a mile, then mile and a half the following week. Eventually I was walking 3 miles. Then I started to jog-slowly. I used my music as a guide. Walk a song, jog a song, walk a song, jog a song. Then I started tryign to jog 1/2 mile straight. The next week 3/4. Add a little every week. I have a running body now who had Bypass 5 years ago. She really pushed me to go more, jog further, and encouraged me. Biggest thing I can say is just do it. I know it sounds cliche but our moto has been -"I can do anything for a 10th" which a 10th of a mile. You will feel the urge to go out and run once you start. I hated running when I started I was just going to walk but once I pushed myself out of that comfort zone and just decided I'm doing this for me and noone else I just went for it and got addicted. The couch to 5k is a great app. I use Nike runners app because it tracks my previous runs and I can walk or run. The key is- for me at least- is be your own cheerleader and push yourself outside of that comfort zone. You can do anything you set your mind to. Will you be sore- yes!!! Will you die- no!!! But the sense of pride you get from doing these small races means way more to me than how much weight I have lost. I no longer focus on pounds- they will come. I focus on miles and time. Once I took my mind off the scale I found I was less stressed about my diet and how I am doing post surgery. I focus on the miles and time and gettign those in and the diet kinda fell into place afterwards. If you eat crap or not enough protein your runs suffer and you can feel it. Now that I count miles and improving my time I keep my protein up and my diet looks good. I only weigh every 2 weeks now. I use to weigh 3-4 times a DAY!!!! It stressed me out!! Now I focus on how my pants fit, how much better my time and distance is getting and when I get on the scale it is only to make sure I'm still going in the right direction- which it will be because I'm burning a shitload of calories. I did get advice from my surgeons office and the dietician to make sure I ate properly with the increased activity.

Geez I know how you are feeling. I was the "party girl" drinking and eating, always going out and now since Dec 1 pre-op diet I have been staying home a lot. Most of my friends don't get it and are upset with me, but you know what I don't care because in one year I will be down to my goal weight. As far as your husband goes maybe he will try to start eating healthier with you and be more supportive. I am sure in the back of his mind he is like omg she is going to lose all this weight and take off on me, and it does happen. My friend had gastric bypass two years ago and her husband is constantly spying on her, texting her, questioning her etc. Maybe having a heart to heart with him with help? Is he receptive to talks? Good luck with YOUR WEIGHT LOSS. Happy New Year!!!

SO my journey with lab band started in 2009..I then weighted 255 lbs and am now 125. ANYWAY I had two revisions since and finally yesterday had it taken out also learned this thing cut into my stomach and created a hole that thankfully got fixed. Am I thankful even though it was a sick and very painful journey? its sick but i am. Even though I wasn't able to eat much mostly lived on Ensure had a hard time with holding liquids down also.I now have to learn all over again how to live a normal life. I got used to vomiting pains acid reflux low energy etc. But am super excited to start over with fresh veggies in my hand and gym membership. Not yet but in a few weeks once I recover: -)

No malabsorption - no food restrictions - no dumping - much simpler surgery. I can't think of a good reason to do a bypass.

I too am doing the revision from band to sleeve due to complications with the band and honestly i think it depends on the office and MD ur working with and their schedules also. i have BCBS and i started the whole process on 10/03/13 & I literally had everything i needed on my list done and my last test (EGD) on 11/07/13. I just spoke to the patient navigator today & we made an appt for me for the surgical consult on 11/21 which i will then get my date of surgery & she PROMISED me my surgery would be done by 12/31/13! Im SO excited but also SO nervous...i dont like the fact that they make u go through ALL of the pretesting and everything else and THEN AFTER u get ur date is when they go for the approval...but from what she told me, she thinks i'll get approved very quickly with this insurance! Im keeping my fingers crossed Good luck on ur journey and hope the process is also quick for u

Hi Trish, Gosh, I don't know how to respond. I don't want to call your feelings silly or anything but honestly I weighed even more than you when I got my band and haven't regretted it for anything. I would have NEVER considered the by-pass of any kind. I am 30 and still want to have kids myself. I also get on obesityhelp.com but ussually stick to the Oregon group and nobody has ever said anything negative about the band on that group. I think a pregnancy with the band would be much safer than the bypass anyway. By-pass people have massive Vitamin deficiency's, they have large parts of their hacked off organs stuck inside them, etc. I have a local banded friend who is 7 months pregnant and she is doing wonderfully. Hasn't gained a pound at all. I am sorry you are having regrets. One thing to consider is the by-pass people only have a certain window of opportunity to lose weight. Once that is past, if they haven't lost all their weight they probably never will. I have also know many by-pass people who have gained all their weight back. The band has an infinite window of opportunity and hopefully will always be there to help us. You don't think we all get frustrated sometimes? I had a plateau from thanksgiving to new years... I was totally frustrated and bummed when I went to all the trouble to go weigh in every week and see the same damn numbers. I just tried to not let the plateau overwelm me. We go thru those naturally anyway but I also wanted to eat some of the holiday treats. I felt blessed I had stayed the same in the end. Anyway, I definitely feel for you and hope you can change your mindset. The band does work. Best wishes, Teresa

Hi all! This site was mentioned at my Lap band support meeting...great info! Well, I am currently waiting for final insurance approval! ( Completed the nutrition consult and psych eval ). I am beyond excited but nervous too. I have been fighting my weight all my life and have just had enough. I am finally able to say " I need some help" and the lap band will be that extra tool I need. I have been researching this for 2 years. ( I had looked at Gastric Bypass as 2 freidns had it but don't like the idea of "messing up the plumbing".) I am thankful to have found a site where I can find the support I need to help me thru this journey! I can't wait to be a LOSER!! lol Michelle

((((((((((Oh Babs! )))))))))) I am so sorry you got this news. Yeah, "medically neccessary" is quite the quandry, especially when viagra, et. al, get approved, but birth control is another matter entirely.... It took a long time to get my second skin graph after my motorcycle accident. I cannot tell you the number of Dr.s who said I just needed to baby the original site. Baby it hell! I had to sleep with a wet cloth on my leg just to help control the uncontrolable itching. In warm weather I would have to spend all day with my leg elevated to held reduce the seepage. And they kept telling me that I just needed to baby it an to quit whining about it. The insureance company kept turning the revision down bacause it wasn't "necessary." Fight this Bab! Fight! Fight! Fight! You know that we are all here for you. We all send you such wave of positive energy, we remember you in our prayers, no matter whom we pray to. If you need help with your letters, I know we have some very eloquent writers here who would jump at the chance to help you. You said the skin on your thighs is breaking down, are you bleeding? I should think at the very least you are suseptable to skin infections similar to celulitus. You might think about that angle when you write your letters. (((((((((( Babs! ))))))))))

I fought for just about 12 yrs to keep the weight off only to slowly actually gain (you know 20 lbs down...30lbs up). I find myself at 5'4" and 270. I used to be an active person, until migraines became my new daily struggle. I was one of those people who said "surgery is for cheaters, or its the easy way, its even its gross and not needed..people just needed to try harder". I would honestly say i tried harder then anyone i knew personally to lose weight. I worked out so much and tried so hard and EVERY TIME I FAILED...i got right back up and tried again. I told people "you only fail when you quit trying". Well i can tell you i had finally worked my way through all known diets, exercise programs, and trainers known to man kind. I was still at it but feeling...vexed. concerned, depressed and like a failure. About this same time my mom secretly had gastric bypass. then my step father did too. I insisted it wasnt for me, but though...i guess it might be good for some people. I tried WW and fell off again. Honestly at that point i felt like a person who kept falling off a damn horse, sore, tired, hurt, afraid and drained. I felt dumb and/or lazy because i could not do this. And i had my moment...I cant do this alone, can i. That is the first time i heard those words in my head. I did some research and looked at all the surgeries and surgeons i found one i thought looked good and supportive and had great sucess. I went to his seminar..that is the best thing i have done (as for my weight) to date. I left there KNOWING this was for ME. I am some people and i deserve this and i learned why its so hard to lose weight (your body remembers its highest weight and constantly fights to get back to it). I learned it is not a cure for being fat, but a tool. Its like i was trying to fix a car but missing that one tool. I havent had the surgery yet. My insurance will cover in 10 more months and i am waiting (impatiently). But i will not waiver, i know..i know...i know this is what i need. this site only ever strenthens my feelings and spirit. Isee more sucess and i know even more. There are so many other surgeries out there but a seminar with a surgeon who does each of them, priceless. go to obesity help and view the surgeons postings by patients. When you hear about your surgery, you will know which one is for you. Love and care!

Hi, all.. I've had several inquiries and got lazy about answering them, so I hope you don't mind my making a lengthy Sue-Post. (Okay, not lazy, loaded, Vicodin...just let me say that you NEVER want to hear the phrases "urethral stenosis" and "urethral dilation" coming out of your urologist's mouth.) For the innocent...My band surgery was October 15th, 2002, in Monterrey, Mexico, with Roberto Rumbaut Diaz, a band pioneer surgeon and a band patient and a really nice, down-to-earth guy. Prior to banding, I went from my all time high of a BMI 52+ to about a BMI of 48 on the day of surgery. For the first several months, I did okay. I recall that for my mom's 80th birthday, I finally hit a BMI of under 40...I was not morbidly obese! But shortly thereafter, I started dealing with reflux. I had to sleep sitting up. I took various drugs, but they merely lessened the problem. One day, I was having Breakfast with my cousin (an RN) and her husband (an MD) and was able to eat only about two tablespoons of oatmeal at 10:30 a.m. and realized that THEY were looking at someone with a bizarre eating program...maybe an eating disorder. I hopped on a train (I just happened to get to the station seven minutes before departure) and went to Tijuana and had Dr. Kuri unfill me. My reflux immediately resolved. And my weight loss began to resolve. So I eventually went in for mini-adjustments. I had unfills for my panniculectomy surgery and for my breast reduction surgery. In between, I had small re-fills. In two or so years, I had a dozen adjustments. But then I started to feel like my food was bouncing around in my esophagus. It would happen once in a while, and then more often. Not every time, and not just after I had eaten too much. Sometimes, I'd be having a cup of coffee before dinner and the coffee would bounce around. Other times, it would be Water. One day, I could eat a considerable amount of foods. The next day, one stupid bite of oven baked fish, and that was all I could eat. Well...after you do that for a while, you tend to get a little nuts. Especially when well-meaning people start telling you you just have to "work your tool." And when a doctor who doesn't have a band wants you to go to a support group meeting so that you can hear other successful banded people telling you they ALL go through that, with every meal. (Yeah, right.) I finally got to the point that most of what I was eating was Soup and ice cream. Because it would usually go down. I decided that, since I was within ten pounds of my pre-op weight, I wanted to consider the DS. I had an upper GI done. My esophagus is widened. In doctor talk, it's "esophageal dilatation." I went to Dr. Ara Keshshian in Delano, California and told him my story. He said, "Are you expecting me to look surprised? This is NOT the first time I've heard this story." He told me that I needed to have my band emptied...but that he didn't have the needles because he didn't DO bands. So I went to Tijuana and saw dr. verboonen, as he was available right away. He, his partner, the lab tech and my husband watched as I drank the barium and it just sat there in my esophagus. Didn't move. When stuff that isn't blocked just sits, the additional diagnosis is "esophageal dysmotility," in other words, the esophagus is NOT moving the food toward the stomach. (Ignore doctors who tell you that EVERYONE does this.) So, I'm scheduled for an endoscopy, to make sure that I'm not dealing with erosion as well. If that checks out, I'll be having the band removed and DS surgery within the next month or two. So...wisdom? I learned when checking with European surgeons that band removal is a booming business there. One surgeon said that 20% of his practice is revising bands to Rny or DS. (Remember, bands have been there longer, so more people have had more time to encounter problems.) That doesn't mean I think they are a bad thing. I just think that the band is good for whomever it's good for...but that certainly is not everyone. In fact, my insurance began covering the band after I self-paid, but is no longer covering it for people with BMI's in excess of 49...because they lose the same percentage of excess weight which leaves them still MO. And older people have more problems. I was 55. Esophageal dysmotility or "dysperistalsis" is more frequent in older people. Adding the band may just make the problem appear sooner and with more vigor. Not here, but at another site where it is mostly newer people, the band-enthusiasm is not tempered by experience or reason. Here, there are old timers who have been through problems. For many, the band is the answer. For many others, it is not. I am one of the latter. Thanks for your time, Sue

Wow...what insightful ladies you all are... I have been banded since it seems the beginning of time... not really... I have had no problems until now being pregnant... I never made it to my goal weight ( I stopped short by 20 or so pounds...but my focus changed... I was trying to get pregnant and now I am... I hope that my issue (reflux) is due to pregnancy and nothing more... but I am glad to hear all of the other stories. To be informed is the best that we can do... especially for those of us who have already committed to this journey. I hope that all goes well for everyone in the future and after the twins are born I will probably try to loose the baby weight without a fill... will it be possible...who knows...but my never being tight seems to be the answer to my not having problems (referring to myself only) it seems I needed help to push away... that's why I did not have the bypass... I knew I loved food and just needed a push in the right direction... Just my 2 cents

Hello! I found this site through a friend a few days ago and have been lurking when I find time! I am seriously considering WLS and hoping that I can get the band. I will also be having a hysterectomy at the same time via open laparotomy. I am just starting to get this process started working with my primary provider. My gyn is all for it, saying both at the same time would work great, even may get part of the bypass paid inadvertantly (part of the hospital stay, etc). However, I am not betting on it. I am having a sleep study coming up to determine if I have sleep apnea. My dr thinks my insurance may pay if I do. (Unfortunately, I honestly don't think I do, but we'll see.) But I am prepared to self pay if necessary. In the meantime I am trying hard to lose weight on my own, but it is just not happening! A forever battle I guess. I look forward to reading more of your stories and learning from your experiences! Kell

I am a type 1 diabetic so I am not sure if this can happen type2's or not. Anyway, alot of type 1's that have had gastric bypass surgery(DS & RNY) have experienced this and it could happen w/ lapband as well I would guess. If you are still taking all your meds but are not getting any carbs or very little carbs you could actually be having DKA(diabetic keto acidosis). What happens is the liver thinks you are starving to death and as a way of keeping the body alive it will release stored glucose from the liver. This causes 2 problems. 1. that your blood sugar will skyrocket and 2. that when your liver does this it also produces a byproduct called keatones which can be harmful to your body,kind of like a posion. I would check your carb intake and if it is deed very low that maybe you can get some carbs. in liquid form(if you are still on liquids). Please call your doctor (not to scare you, just to keep you informed) because this can be a very serious condition which can result in hospital time(even ICU if not taken care of). Again I am not sure if this is what is going on. Please call your doctor and make it a issue! God luck and take care. God bless, Donna(Punkin')

I too am having revision from band to sleeve. May 28 is my date. My band was successful for 10 years. I lost 100 pounds. Last year I had a virus and was vomiting. My band slipped. They had to remove all the saline and I have now gained 87 lbs. I am ill with myself for gaining but I guess after being so restricted for so many years I kind of lost it. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hello, I've been on her for a few months but haven't really posted much but have read a whole lot. My surgery date is this Thursday May 20th. I'll be getting the gastric sleeve revision. I got banded October 2012 & had little success. Lost about 25#'s initially & then nothing more. I struggled with the band & never truly was able find the 'green spot'. I ended up getting to tight & had a good portion of the saline taken out. My surgeon's 'bedside manner' was horrible & I did not want to go back but I did. I ended up talking to a new younger surgeon & he told me I HAD to stay with the other asshat surgeon. I refused. I continued to struggle with what I believe is port pain or possibly where I'm banded & decided to pursue the sleeve with another Bariatric center. I'm so dang glad I did!!! My insurance denied me TWICE & the waiting game SUCKS but I know it will be worth it in the end. I just got notified last week that I'm APPROVED... Stoked but a ball of nerves!!! Excited for the journey ahead

@@lexiemia I am near Jacksonville - good luck with the revision. I just had surgery 12 days ago to a sleeve. I contemplated the band for a bit but decided to go with my "gut" - which was the sleeve. No regrets. @@Typhanee wish you the best of luck and hope this time you find your greenspot!

I was banded in December of 2012 and went from 275 to 255. I never got in the "green zone" and constantly suffered from overwhelming pain after I would fly (I travel for work). My surgeon later explained to me that the band tightens after flights due to the cabin pressure. I would be miserable for days... Sometimes longer depending on how much I would fly. I also would vomit and get horrible reflux from my band. In seeing a new surgeon I feel really good about my revision, and am down 12 out of 15 pounds required before surgery. My goal is to be 265 at surgery time.

From the local church sign: Families are like Fudge Mostly Sweet Witha few Nuts We all have members of our family that have no clue what the band is and therefore share their stupid comments, but you just have to ignore them and remember why you did this--For yourself. I have a cousin that just had gastric bypass and the comparisions are driving me crazy. They want me to lose weight as fast as she is losing, there is no comparison, I am losing slower, but I love my kids too much to risk my life that way. I am happy that she came out of it okay, but she is fresh out of it and might develop complications and the amount of medications and Vitamins she has to take on a daily basis is ridiculous. I am so happy that I have the band, and to all those that think I took the easy way out, I tell them they can kiss my big fat wide ass!! I wish this was easy, oh how I wish it was.

Just curious, why is the RNY bypass is best for you?