You are here:
- Home
- Health/Fitness
- Obesity
- Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric Surgery/Questions Answered by Expert John Pilcher, MD
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Molina banding | 2/3/2012 |
| Q: In, I think the band is trying to migrate in. pain the 80's I had gastric banding surgery by ... A: Anita, The Molina type of band is definitely susceptible to erosion. I see that you currently live ... | |
| Lab tests | 2/2/2012 |
| Q: I had Gastric bypass 4 yrs ago. My PCP does not run a complete list of lab work. I would like every ... A: Jen, It is great that you are researching to learn what you need in order to maintain optimal ... | |
| Gastric Bypass Approval With Bi-Polar Disorder | 1/31/2012 |
| Q: 2012 to get approved I'm a little worried I'm 5'2 and i weight 215 pounds some days I'm at 218, i ... A: Samantha, Based on the information that you've provided, it certainly is reasonable to be looking at ... | |
| VSG and RA | 1/27/2012 |
| Q: I am 37 years old and I was just diagnosed with RA. I have been considering having VSG for the last ... A: Shawn, First of all, you are absolutely correct that surgical weight loss will lead to a significant ... | |
| Ulcers | 1/23/2012 |
| Q: I am post op R&Y 5 and a half years. Right after surgery I developed an ulcer not from the surgery ... A: Kris, I regret that I have not previously encountered ulcers at the junction of the esophagus and ... | |
| Which surgery would a surgeon choose? | 1/18/2012 |
| Q: I am 5'6'' and 314 lbs, and I have been unsuccessful in losing weight throughout my life. ... A: Jennifer, I have a lot of respect for the careful research that you are conducting. In my prior ... | |
| Which surgery would a surgeon choose? | 1/17/2012 |
| Q: I am 5'6'' and 314 lbs, and I have been unsuccessful in losing weight throughout my life. ... A: Jennifer, I think it is REALLY important for each patient to have a positive sense of conviction ... | |
| Would I be considered "mentally stable" enough for bariatric surgery? | 1/16/2012 |
| Q: I am 5'6'' and 314 lbs, and I have been unsuccessful in losing weight throughout my life. ... A: Jennifer, I think it is great that you are doing all this research and that you are taking action to ... | |
| long term effects | 12/17/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, i am in the very early stages of pursuing bariatric surgery as I live in Ontario and my ... A: Vee, This is a smart question that you are asking. First, the main reason that we leave the lower ... | |
| GBS AND ACID REFLUX | 12/16/2011 |
| Q: I had Gbs w/r-y, I have had acid reflux severely and when I went back to the doctor who did my ... A: Brenda, You are describing a really challenging situation. You did not specifically write it in your ... | |
| lap band removal | 11/16/2011 |
| Q: I recently had my lap band removed due to nausea constant vomiting and pain. I am still not able to ... A: Kaylee, Most of the time, when a Band is removed because of problems the patient experiences relief ... | |
| RA and Surgery | 11/7/2011 |
| Q: If I have reactive arthritis already, and am taking Humira every other week-- could i still be a ... A: Peggy, From my perspective, neither a history of arthritis nor a need for Humira is a 'show-stopper' ... | |
| Eating with gastric sleeve | 9/29/2011 |
| Q: I was sleeved on Sept 1st. I've had a difficult time getting fluids and protein in. When I drink ... A: Nellie, Online support is not a good channel for medical advice, so my first piece of advice is that ... | |
| debilitating nausea after gastric sleeve surgery | 9/25/2011 |
| Q: CT scan with contrast, scope, all say all is well but since discharge from hospital and IV and IV ... A: Lee, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles after Sleeve surgery. I do have one or two ideas, though ... | |
| Best decision of my life-really more of a comment | 9/21/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, You performed my RNY 11 years ago. I was at about 400 lbs. I now weigh 145 and wear a ... A: Sounds like a great plan. On the Iron, you may want to see a hematologist to consider IV Iron. ... | |
| Best decision of my life-really more of a comment | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, You performed my RNY 11 years ago. I was at about 400 lbs. I now weigh 145 and wear a ... A: Melissa, You are so very welcome, and thank you for writing! I hope you are seeing a bariatric ... | |
| Autoimmune disease and bariatric surgery | 9/2/2011 |
| Q: Is autoimmune disease a contraindication for any of the procedures? I have FM, and possibly SLE ... A: Lisa, First, I confess that I don't know what diagnosis "FM" stands for, but since I understand SLE, ... | |
| Possible ulcer | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass Roux en y 9 years ago. I recently have developed stomach discomfort. It feels ... A: Ellen, I can't advise you about whether this may be a serious condition, since that would fall in ... | |
| post RNY weight regain | 8/26/2011 |
| Q: I am 7 yrs post-op. Lost from 287 lbs to 137 lbs, now slowly climbing up to 172 lbs. I wish to stay ... A: Loreen, Your question about weight regain is a very important one, and you are definitely not alone ... | |
| pain after removal of band | 8/19/2011 |
| Q: I have my band removed 8/4 due to slipping. The first week I did just fine resting in bed. The ... A: Jennifer, It is a bit difficult in a situation where I am not looking at you or talking to you ... | |
| bariatric surgery | 8/17/2011 |
| Q: Dr.Pilcher I started looking into bariatric surgery some years ago and was quickly dterred from ... A: Pollie, I'm certainly sympathetic with your situation, especially since you thought about your ... | |
| Issues with Lapband | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: Pilcher, I have a bit of a lengthy story, so here goes: I have a 10cm (4cc) lapband that was ... A: Amanda, I totally get your set of problems. I have had patients in my practice with similar ... | |
| Gastric Bypass and Hernia Repair | 7/19/2011 |
| Q: Four weeks ago I had roux-n-y along with the repair of a hiatal hernia. My recovery is going well ... A: Sheila, The sound and/or sensation of gurgling in the lower chest or upper abdomen are fairly common ... | |
| What is better -- Lap Band Revision to Bypass or Sleeve? | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: .. I am a 46 y/o woman. I am 5'2" and had lapband surgery in March 2009. My pre-op weight was 233 ... A: Lisa, I am going to give you some general thoughts and I will end up expressing a mild preference ... | |
| Pain medication isn't lasting 4 hour | 6/30/2011 |
| Q: I had a gastric bypass done in 2008, and have noticed that with my pain medications for chronic back ... A: Dee, Pain meds are absorbed in an essentially normal way after gastric bypass. The problem from ... | |
| gastric bypass vs sleeve | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I'm 240lbs getting ready to have the weight loss surgery.I really need help on which surgery is best ... A: chell, I like the results of both the gastric bypass and the sleeve for my patients. With your ... | |
| horrible gas, diarrhea and burping | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: I am post-gastric bypass in 1990, just about to do a revision to RNY due to scarring around the ring ... A: Pam, I can't tell exactly what is causing these new symptoms, and I agree with you it is doubtful ... | |
| RNY bariatric surgery | 6/17/2011 |
| Q: I had RNY on 2/2/09. I was 324 the morning of surgery. I lost 35 pounds within the first week of ... A: Sandra, I can see that you are frustrated and concerned to have lost about 85 pounds after gastric ... | |
| lapband scarring | 6/14/2011 |
| Q: I had lapband surgery 2.5 yrs ago & just recently had to have it taken out due to scarring around ... A: Tambra, This scenario of thick scarring around the Band is not typical, but still I think I can ... | |
| Gall Bladder After LAP-BAND | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: About 7 weeks after my Lap-Band Surgery, and the DAY OF my very first adjustment, I suddenly started ... A: Jessica, Unfortunately, anytime you dramatically reduce your food intake it puts a strain on the ... | |
| HELP | 5/19/2011 |
| Q: Dr. I am a nurse who had a successful DS surgery in 2002. It has been so exciting to have a new ... A: Debra, I know this is a really frightening and disheartening situation. You need to get connected ... | |
| RNY...again. | 5/10/2011 |
| Q: , I wrote to you back in February when I was considering a bariatric revision of a RNY surgery I ... A: Anita, Thanks for the follow up, and I'm glad that things seem to have gone well! The fact that ... | |
| VBG revised to GBS=slow weight loss? | 5/2/2011 |
| Q: I had a revision to an RNY in December of 2010 from a VBG in 1998. I am having very little and slow ... A: Sandi, I understand your concern, since you are going through so much to try to achieve a healthier ... | |
| ru n y sergury | 4/11/2011 |
| Q: i had ru n y oct. 28th 09 was 330 lbs now im 140lbs i feel like this sergury is killing me slowly i ... A: Shawn, I can sympathize with your worry and your disappointment. It sounds like you are in a really ... | |
| Gastric Bypass and Reactive Arthritis | 4/4/2011 |
| Q: I had Roux-En-Y in March 2005. For the past 3 years I have been having chronic pain that began in ... A: Mimi, I am familiar with the concept of intestinal overgrowth and the impact it may have on total ... | |
| H Pylori before bariatric surgery | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: I am 63 years old, battling with excess weight all my life. I have Polysystic Ovary Syndrome. I had ... A: Helen, I understand your concern and your sense of urgency about optimizing your chances for having ... | |
| non healing, recurrent ulcer | 4/3/2011 |
| Q: I had RnY in december 2002. In June 2005, I had a perforation secondary to aspirin and steroids ... A: It sounded like you are receiving excellent care, so I'm not surprised that many of my thoughts have ... | |
| non healing, recurrent ulcer | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: I had RnY in december 2002. In June 2005, I had a perforation secondary to aspirin and steroids ... A: Annamaria, I am really impressed with the difficulty of your problem, and I am also impressed with ... | |
| Gastroparesis after Bariatric Surgery? | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher - I had a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG - ... A: Krystal, It sounds like you are suffering from a complication that is all-too-common after a VBG. ... | |
| RX--Y bypass & TSH levels | 3/14/2011 |
| Q: Prior to my gastric bypass my thyroid panel was within normal limits. Five months after gastric ... A: Kathryn, You are quite reasonable to wonder if your gastric bypass is leading to variations in your ... | |
| Regarding the lapband | 3/13/2011 |
| Q: .. Do I qualify and would I loose alot were I would look sickly instead of healthy... A: Michelle, With the height and weight you have listed, you have a Body Mass Index of 36. That BMI ... | |
| fistula after gastric sleeve surgery | 2/24/2011 |
| Q: I had gastric sleeve surgery in April 2010. Immediately following surgery I developed a leak. The ... A: Donna, The literature reports that a leak after Sleeve surgery can be VERY difficult to get healed. ... | |
| RNY revision | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: I had a RNY 15 years ago and lost 140 pounds. I have gained 70 back. What revisional operation might ... A: Anita, Given that your gastric bypass was done 15 years ago, there is a decent chance that there ... | |
| Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: Dr Pilcher - I had my surgery in Aug/04. Over the course of the past 6-9 months I have become iron ... A: Patricia, I would not rule out a "reversal" of the gastric bypass and that is a technically feasible ... | |
| omeprazole | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass urgery in 2006 and have been taking omeprazole every day since my surgery with ... A: I am pretty sure that the concern about stomach cancer and long term use of omeprazole came only ... | |
| surgery | 1/13/2011 |
| Q: !! A: Sandra, The time from referral to surgery varies tremendously, depending on the patient's medical ... | |
| Do I qualify for Surgery?? | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: I'm a 26 yr old female 5"3" 230lbs. I'm contemplating surgery but I don't know if it would be right ... A: Tiffany, The height and weight you have provided put you at a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40.7. This ... | |
| stomach surgeries | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: I've had a lot of gastric surgeries. Staples, original band that didn't open and close, reversed and ... A: Sue, I respect your persistence and your dedication. You are asking the right type of question, and ... | |
| After Gastric bypass | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: I had full open gastric bypass Dec. 2001, I did lose 175Lbs. For about 7 months now I have been ... A: Caroline, For the most part, folks who have undergone gastric bypass and achieved a lower weight are ... | |
| 2001 Lap. Roux en Y bypass-reversal? | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: I had this surgery in 2001. Around 2008 I developed iron deficiency anemia, which ranges at times ... A: Lisa, I regret your problem with Iron absorption. The hematology doc typically needs to give the ... | |
| trouble with stomach surgeries | 12/12/2010 |
| Q: I had weight loss surgery with staples going across the stomach in 1981 at age 14. Then I had a ... A: You are right about doing testing while you are having pain. Sometimes the problem area can be ... | |
| trouble with stomach surgeries | 12/11/2010 |
| Q: I had weight loss surgery with staples going across the stomach in 1981 at age 14. Then I had a ... A: Stephanie, I regret to say that, with your history of multiple surgical procedures, this is likely ... | |
| RNY surgery | 12/3/2010 |
| Q: I wanted to know with RNY surgery how often the vegas nerve is damaged? I have a friend who had ... A: Carol, I'm pleased to let you know that damage to the vagus nerve is very uncommon during gastric ... | |
| acid reflux /post bariatric surgery | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I had the Roux and Y surgery exactly 3 years ago. Everything has been great until aprox 4 days ago. ... A: Lynn, Sorry about a delay in my reply. Omeprazole is an acid blocker that is available over the ... | |
| Hypothryroidism | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I read a previous answer regarding hypothyroidism effecting the benefits of gastric bypass or ... A: Martha, Thanks for writing! The facts are: 1) Having the diagnosis of hypothyroidism will not ... | |
| kidney donation | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: I am considering donating a kidney to my brother who has Diabetic kidney disease, but I am also ... A: Sonya, We in the medical profession have the greatest respect for those who are willing to donate ... | |
| Vertical Sleeve post Nissen | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: I had open Nissen done about 15 years ago. I spoke to WLS surgeon who has advised me that he could ... A: Mr. Broussard, You are asking a very insightful and important question. There is no consensus in ... | |
| gastric bypass | 9/13/2010 |
| Q: I want to get gastric bypass surgery, what are the risks associated and how do i go about getting ... A: Mell, I will have a hard time giving you a complete answer in written format, but the good news is ... | |
| GB reversal | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I am having a problem with hallucinations, shaking, memory loss. Doctors have advised me that my ... A: Tim, There certainly are situations where gastric bypass should be reversed, and generally speaking ... | |
| dangers of revising a vbg done in late 80's | 9/8/2010 |
| Q: I had a vbg done in late 80's then a yr later had staple disruption and had it repaired, then approx ... A: Cayla, I believe you are correct in your sense that you are facing a challenging and urgent ... | |
| Palpitations | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: After I eat carbs, candy and a handful of chips I get Bad palpitaions. They tell me it is normal, ... A: Julie, Dumping syndrome is supposed to happen after gastric bypass, if you eat carbs. Your symptoms ... | |
| Bariatric Surgery if I've had an ulcer? | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I am a severely overweight 52 year old woman (215 pounds) and I am wondering if gastric bypass ... A: Lisa, I think it would be OK to do a gastric bypass in your case, though we would have a potential ... | |
| calcium supplements | 6/19/2010 |
| Q: i have a band that was placed 02/09. i have lost 75 pounds and feel great. a recent bone density ... A: Anna, I'm glad that you are doing well with your Band, and I'm glad that someone is helping keep ... | |
| hiatal hernia and the affects of weight | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: My dad had a hiatal hernia, his stomach moved up into his chest and it interfiered with his ... A: Paula, I did see your other post, indicating you had symptoms very similar to the person from Feb 8 ... | |
| ulcerated fistula | 6/3/2010 |
| Q: Could you please tell me the symptoms of a fistula?I have HORRIBLE acid reflux.I had gastric bypass ... A: Therese, I suspect the type of fistula they are referring to from the CT scan is a connection ... | |
| Requirements for a revision? | 5/22/2010 |
| Q: I am a former lap band patient who suffered a slip and a leaky band. My insurance company approved ... A: Britt, I am completely sympathetic with your situation, and I agree it is completely illogical for ... | |
| Bariatric Surgery | 5/20/2010 |
| Q: What is the difference between Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve? A: Kaari, Both the gastric bypass and the gastric sleeve use surgical stapling devices to reshape your ... | |
| surgery | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I have RA and am due to have surgery for a gastric sleeve to reduce my weight. I am concerned about ... A: Shirley, I am pleased to be able to provide you with substantial reassurance. During performance of ... | |
| RNY Gastric Bypass | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: I had RNY Gastric Bypass 7 years ols and have had no complications. My question is does the staples ... A: Alex, A high quality chest X-ray should show some subtly visible staples in the area of your gastric ... | |
| Excessive burping after bariatric surgery | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: I had bariatric surgery 3 years ago in December. Have had wonderful experience, except, from the ... A: Wendy, I am sorry to hear about this problem that is obviously bothering you a lot. Our usual ... | |
| referral | 5/2/2010 |
| Q: I am Joyce Hall. I am writing for my husband James. See, he wants to go and see a Dr about the ... A: Usually an insurance plan picks one doctor to be the designated "gatekeeper" for each patient. So ... | |
| referral | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I am Joyce Hall. I am writing for my husband James. See, he wants to go and see a Dr about the ... A: Sorry I was not clear. You should look in your insurance book to find a list of primary doctors on ... | |
| referral | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I am Joyce Hall. I am writing for my husband James. See, he wants to go and see a Dr about the ... A: Mrs. Hall (Joyce), This is potentially a really sensitive subject, but the answer is 'no,' you can't ... | |
| life expectancy of implant for lap band surgery | 4/26/2010 |
| Q: I want very much to get lap band surgery either with the equipment made by the Lap Band company or ... A: For both manufacturers, the Band is designed to last for life. The materials used are completely ... | |
| GAS/Bloating | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: Good Day; I had RNY surgery on April 8th and I am very bloated and gassy. I burp a lot. I just want ... A: Molly, It is a little-known fact that all the gas you burp comes from air that you swallow. I ... | |
| "Normal Blood work" post bariatric surgery | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I just want to thankyou in advance for any information you can help me with. I had RNY on July 5, ... A: Kitty, Most of the time after a Gastric Bypass, the WBC count is in the usual normal range. In ... | |
| lap vs sleeve | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: I have had the lapband since Dec. 2005. Had originally lost 125 lbs. Now I have gained 40 lbs and ... A: Christina, This issue of weight regain following bariatric surgery is a vexing one for patients and ... | |
| lapband to gastric sleeve | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: i am a male 6ft 1ins tall and weigh 380 lbs, with well controlled diabetic and hypertension. I had a ... A: Mr. Manji, I am sorry to hear about your trouble with the Lap-Band. Sometimes the Band may cause ... | |
| VSG vs. RNY | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I'm female, 5ft 8.5ins, weigh 320lbs and my BMI is 48/49.I also have PCOS. For 5 years I have been ... A: Michelle, I have been pleased with the early results of the sleeve for my patients BUT the Roux-en-Y ... | |
| Your Opinion | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: Good Day: I am considering having gastric bypass surgery after almost 3 years of research. I have ... A: Molly, At the current time, if I were forced to choose only one operation to offer as an option for ... | |
| Regular Bowel Movements | 3/13/2010 |
| Q: A year ago February I had a VSG. I've lost a lot of weight but still have not reached my target ... A: Ethel, I think you are describing constipation rather than bowel movements that are too loose. I ... | |
| ru n y reversal | 3/10/2010 |
| Q: I am sure you have hear of transferred addiction and i am dealing with this at this time. i have ... A: I'm very sorry to learn of your troubles with alcohol after gastric bypass. The best option would ... | |
| WLS after RNY medically necessary reversal | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I had to have my 2005 RNY "reversed" after 2008 emergency surgery indicated ischemic and necrotic ... A: Linda, Goodness, you have had a rough time! I believe that some version of a sleeve gastrectomy ... | |
| Stomaphyx | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: Do you perform the stomaphyx procedure? I saw it on the news last night. Also do you perform this if ... A: Malinda, You are correct that the idea with the Stomaphyx is to reduce the size of a stomach pouch ... | |
| recurring slip | 3/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm writing to ask about band slippage. A year ago I had the band revised due to a posterior slip. ... A: Alyson, I certainly regret your trouble. The short answer is that I agree with your surgeon - once ... | |
| Roux en Y Reversal | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: Doctor, I have spoken with Dr. Elliot Goodman who told me he can reverse my roux en y done in 2003. ... A: Naomi, If the gastric bypass is fully reversed, it is reasonable to expect that you will regain ... | |
| Aspiration of band prior to further surgery | 2/9/2010 |
| Q: I had a lap-band fitted in the UK in May 2008, I need to go into hospital to have key-hole surgery ... A: Sarah, I will tell you my usual practice, but I want to emphasize that you really should follow the ... | |
| Sleeve - Pain every time I swallow food or water. If I swallow food, I get two hours of pain that something is stuck in food tube to stomic and spitt up thick mucus? | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I have pain when I swallow food like it is stuck in my throat. I start spitting up a thick mucus. ... A: Jay, You did not write when you had your sleeve operation, but I'm guessing it was within the last ... | |
| revision surgery | 2/8/2010 |
| Q: I had stomach staple surgery in 1985, I was @245lbs at that time...I lost @60lbs, have since gained ... A: Shannon, Since your surgery was done in '85, there is a good chance that a surgical revision can be ... | |
| G Sleeve | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I am considering bariatric surgery. I am concerned that the Gastric Sleeve invoves removal of 85% of ... A: Paul, You are understanding correctly that the gastric sleeve involves removal of some 85+% of the ... | |
| gastric bypass | 1/25/2010 |
| Q: My mother is a 60 year old black female that is 5 feet tall and weighs 265. She has severe ... A: Christine, Thanks for writing and no, the data was not too extensive. :) You are correct that the ... | |
| weight loss surgery | 1/22/2010 |
| Q: I Have Celiac Disease ...What Is the best Gastric Bypass Surgery for people with this disease??? I ... A: J, Celiac disease means that you have an intestinal sensitivity to a certain protein found in wheat ... | |
| Post-VSG protein requirements | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I had the VSG performed almost one year ago, and met my weight-loss goal several months ago. I am ... A: Deanna, This is a great question, and I need to let you know there is a lot of controversy on this ... | |
| Revision Surgery from "Stomach Stapling" | 1/2/2010 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher: I underwent stomach stapling (gastroplasty?) 25 years ago and lost 160 lbs to reach ... A: William, Techniques in bariatric surgery have improved substantially over the last 10-15 years, so ... | |
| Complications after gastric bypass | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I've read recently that gallstones/ gall bladder attacks are common after gastric bypass. What is ... A: Rueben, Anytime there is a dramatic reduction in food intake it creates a stress on the gallbladder. ... | |
| pain | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I had gastric by pass with Roux-en-Y IN 1999 in San Antonio by your group. I lost 175 lbs. I have ... A: Kay, I would love to help you with this issue, but the information you are able to provide in this ... | |
| Post bypass rhabdomyolysis | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: I'm a new nurse on a med-surg floor (graduated last May). A few nights ago I had a female patient, ... A: Rebecca, You are just about right with regards to the reasons that bariatric surgery patients are at ... | |
| Post bypass rhabdomyolysis | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: I'm a new nurse on a med-surg floor (graduated last May). A few nights ago I had a female patient, ... A: Rebecca, I'm really impressed with your level of concern and your follow-through on this patient. ... | |
| revision | 12/10/2009 |
| Q: what are the requirements to be approved for revision surgery? I had a VBG in March, 1998, and have ... A: Stephanie, I can't give you an "ironclad" answer about whether you are a candidate for revision ... | |
| weight loss surgery | 12/4/2009 |
| Q: Will the RNY procedure work as well as the DS for someone who has previously undergone lap-banding? ... A: Julie, Both the gastric bypass and the DS ought to be reasonable surgical options at the time of ... | |
| PCOD n Thyroid n Bariatric surgery | 12/2/2009 |
| Q: i m 28 yrs old female and suffering from PCOD as well as Thyroid since 2004 which has resulted into ... A: Ma'am, It does sound as if a bariatric surgical procedure is reasonable for you. Since the ... | |
| Light Headed over the past year (10 yrs post RNY) | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I am a 45 year old male, about 10 years post RNY. I currently weigh 185 pounds. Starting this past ... A: Gary, You asked the right type of question when you mentioned the endocrinologist or the GI doc, ... | |
| PCOS and weight loss surgery | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, I am 21 years old female with polycystic ovarian syndrome. I have exercised, eaten ... A: Taylor, Your BMI of 34 puts you just a shade below the level of 35 at which it is widely agreed that ... | |
| weight gain | 11/16/2009 |
| Q: I am 3 1/2 years out and I have gained 35 pounds. I am wondering if there is anything that my ... A: Amy, It sounds like you had a gastric bypass procedure. Later weight gain is unfortunately common, ... | |
| Single Kidney bariatric surgery | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: Approximately 2 years ago I had renal cancer. At this time my (L) kidney was totally removed. All ... A: Terry, Once your doctors can be reasonably certain that you are free of kidney cancer and that you ... | |
| Gastric Sleeve after Lap Band | 11/6/2009 |
| Q: I have had my Lap Band for 2 years now and went in to my surgeon to get a fill because I have ... A: Jennifer, You are right that this is a distressing situation. Most people who have a Band are very ... | |
| lap band consideration | 11/2/2009 |
| Q: I'm considering the lap band surgery. I'm 5'4, 233 lbs. My family has a history of diabetes, ... A: Kimberly, It sounds to me like you are a great candidate for a bariatric surgical procedure. What I ... | |
| gastric sleeve post op care | 10/26/2009 |
| Q: I have researched this procedure but cannot find out in great detail but I am having difficulty ... A: Diana, The best person to answer your diet and restriction questions is your surgeon, so I really ... | |
| Lap Band option for the >30 BMI patients | 10/19/2009 |
| Q: I am 5'7" and 170 lbs. I've tried all the diets out there but still can't keep the weight off. I ... A: Diane, The information you've provided puts you at a BMI of 27. I can see where it would be great ... | |
| bariatric surgery after ileostomy | 10/15/2009 |
| Q: My dad has an ileostomy bag and also needs to lost a large amount of weight. He had a stroke after ... A: Katie, I think it is marginally acceptable to place a Band in a patient with an ostomy, but I think ... | |
| Recovery from RNY reversal | 10/14/2009 |
| Q: I am 6 years post RNY and for the past year have been in and out of the hospital and on TPN due to ... A: Tina, Reversal of the gastric bypass is not all that common, so it is hard to talk about a routine ... | |
| Post RNY | 10/13/2009 |
| Q: I had gastroplasty in 1980 and lost 125 lbs. I was never able to eat food that wasn't pureed without ... A: Sonja, It is impossible for me to make a sensible projection about the lump in your stomach without ... | |
| Lap band removed still in pain!!!!! | 10/12/2009 |
| Q: I had lap band surgery in May 2009, in July 2009 they did a revision and hiatal hernia repair as I ... A: Tracey, I am super sorry but I have not run into this type of problem before. It sounds as if you ... | |
| Ulcer | 9/24/2009 |
| Q: I had Lap.Gastric Bypass surgery in 2001. I lost most of the weight I needed too. Recently though,I ... A: Lorena, I don't mean any disrespect for your primary doctor, but you DEFINITELY should be evaluated ... | |
| Sleeve and Crohn's Disease | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: I am a 52 year old woman and weigh approximately 246 lbs. I have yoyo dieted all my adult life and ... A: Snow, I am not able to form an opinion about the distribution of your inflammatory bowel disease and ... | |
| surgeon will not do revision from lapband to gastric bypass | 9/10/2009 |
| Q: in Sept. of 2007 I had a lapband put in, at first I lost about 15 pounds due to throwing up all the ... A: Linda, I am really sorry to hear about your difficulties. The information you have provided does ... | |
| port fills | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: why after a fill is there 2 days of liquids A: Tracy, Our experience is that the process of putting fluid into your Band causes the stomach tissue ... | |
| Lap Banb Post Surgery Recovery Stomach Spasms | 9/5/2009 |
| Q: I am now in my 3rd day of post lap band surgery. I started to experience stomach rolling/spasm the ... A: Yvonne, The best answer is that you should speak to your surgeon or whoever is covering for him/her. ... | |
| IS FISTULA CAUSE OF PAIN | 8/27/2009 |
| Q: I AM A 33 YEAR OLD FEMALE. I HAD AN OPEN RNY PROCUDURE PERFORMED IN JUNE OF 2005. I LOST ABOUT 90 ... A: Jennifer, If I understand correctly, you are asking about a fistula between your stomach pouch and ... | |
| Lap Band Removal | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: Doctor Pilcher, I had Lap Band surgery three years ago. Within a year my band slipped, my ... A: Sue, Given what you have described, I agree it is time to give up on the Band in your case. For ... | |
| RHUEMATOID ARTHRITIS AND BY-PASS SURGERY | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I had the rouen-y procedure May of 2004. I have been in very good health since until 11/08 when I ... A: Sheryl, I can see how this is a really tough situation, and unfortunately I agree with your doctor ... | |
| burping | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I had the roux en y on July 8th. I keep having burping with a foul taste and odor. Is this common? A: Beth, Foul burping is not a terribly common symptom in my experience. If you are able to drink ... | |
| incisional hernia /unable to eat | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I had a vertical banded gastroplasty in 1998. Since then I have lost 100 lbs but gained it all back. ... A: Deborah, Unfortunately this is a fairly characteristic situation with the (outmoded) Vertical Banded ... | |
| Lap Band Surgery / Muscle Spasms | 7/18/2009 |
| Q: In Jan of this year I asked a question about my daughter. After a Lap Band Fill she begin having ... A: Bobbie, I'm sorry your daughter is having problems again. This does not ring a bell for me as a ... | |
| Constipation after RNY surgery | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: I am 5 weeks after RNY surgery. I am drinking 68 ounces of fluid a day(Most days). I am constipated ... A: Ms. Gill, Constipation is fairly common after gastric bypass, though usually not at this early ... | |
| lap band? | 7/16/2009 |
| Q: i am 5'2 and i weigh almost 200 pounds and i am 21 years old i just calculated my BMI an it was ... A: Raquel, Based on the information you have provided, most surgeons would agree that it is very ... | |
| hernia post lap banding | 7/12/2009 |
| Q: Well i was rushed by ambulance back to the hospital 15hrs later for severe abdmoninal pain. Previous ... A: Tiffany, I'm really sorry to hear about your pain and struggles after your recent Band surgery. I ... | |
| pouch size | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass surgery back in 2002. How do I know how big my pouch is today? A: Eileen, There are three ways I know of to check the size of your stomach pouch. 1) Endoscopy (also ... | |
| scar tissue | 6/6/2009 |
| Q: I got the lapband surgery in 2006 and have lost 100 lbs (60 to go). Unfortunately I had to have a ... A: Mary, My best understanding is that the scar tissue has formed around your port. If that's correct, ... | |
| Gastric Sleeve | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: I have researched the band and the Sleeve surgery extensively. Everything tells me that the Sleeve ... A: I can tell you quite honestly that educated and experienced people in our field are unable to form ... | |
| WHAT BARIATRIC SURGERY ? | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: I'm a 48 y/o ER physician who is struggling with Metabolic Syndrome over 5 years. My diabetes is ... A: Arturo, Thanks for writing. Given that you have been fighting this losing battle against weight and ... | |
| BMI 32, Can someone refer me to a bariatric surgeon? | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: I am 5'0" tall and weigh 165 lbs, which puts me at a BMI of 32. Are there any bariatric surgeons in ... A: V, Many experienced bariatric surgeons DO believe it is medically reasonable to perform bariatric ... | |
| ulcer surgery following gastric bypass | 5/13/2009 |
| Q: I have had recurring ulcers following my gastric bypass surgery. Medication has not worked. It was ... A: Tina, The surgery you are describing just might be necessary, but it is a really big deal, with ... | |
| Ventricular Shunt and Lap Band | 4/30/2009 |
| Q: I had a VS placed when I was 13 to relieve pressure associated with head trauma. I am now 26 and ... A: Lindsey, It should be OK, since the ventricular fluid (with the shunt) and the Band are both sterile ... | |
| loose skin | 4/25/2009 |
| Q: i am a 18 year old male whose has lost around 30kilos in the past year....everything is fine BMI is ... A: Visu, Your loose skin does have some ability to shrink, and the fact that you are young would be ... | |
| Duodonal switch vs. RNY | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I have been reading a lot about the different weight loss surgery options available and am wondering ... A: Leanne, My compliments on researching all of your options thoroughly. Please allow me to disclose ... | |
| post bariatric surgery complications | 4/16/2009 |
| Q: Does the bowel repair itself of leaks/nicks? Can there be pockets of fluid in the abdominal cavity ... A: Andrea, What you are describing is technically called a "fistula." The management of this type of ... | |
| post bariatric surgery complications | 4/15/2009 |
| Q: Does the bowel repair itself of leaks/nicks? Can there be pockets of fluid in the abdominal cavity ... A: Andrea, The intestine (including stomach, small bowel, and colon) have very limited ability to ... | |
| Lap band | 4/5/2009 |
| Q: .. I am interested in getting lap band surgery. Is it true that in the US you must be over 40 BMI ... A: Diane, The height and weight you've provided translate to a Body Mass Index (BMI) just above 35. At ... | |
| lap band revision to sleeve | 3/31/2009 |
| Q: banded 2 years ago only lost 32 lbs seem to have vomiting problems everytime they adjust the band ... A: Dianne, Some patients do struggle with the Band, such that it can never be "tuned" to work well with ... | |
| lap band and alcohol | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I have substituted alcohol for food. I don't know what to do. A: Ann, This a potentially serious problem, and it is great that you have begun to realize it is a ... | |
| 4-5 Years out of RNY Surgery, is constipation common | 3/14/2009 |
| Q: I hope you can answer this. Number one I am an RNY failure. Lost some of the wieght but gained it ... A: Mandy, Yes, constipation is fairly common after all of the weight loss operations. The issue seems ... | |
| gastrosleeve vs roux-en-y | 3/12/2009 |
| Q: I am a 31 year old female that is 424 lbs. and 5ft 6 in tall, with no current health issues due to ... A: Tuccia, I am going to answer your question from the perspective of a surgeon who routinely performs ... | |
| Gaining and keeping weight on | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass Apr 8th of 2008. Approx. three weeks after surgery my uncle was dying in ... A: Ron, Sounds like you have been through a really rough time and I'm sorry to hear that. In working ... | |
| How do i go about it? | 3/5/2009 |
| Q: I am a 20, 5'2 and 285 lbs. I have tried dieting seriously for the past 5 years or so with no major ... A: Kristen, Thanks for writing. Your description of yourself indicates that bariatric surgery probably ... | |
| Pregnancy three months after lapband | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I also will require to have my baby via C section. Will this cause more problems? A: Nicole, I strongly recommend for you to coordinate in person with your bariatric surgeon to answer ... | |
| Rou en y gastric bypass | 2/28/2009 |
| Q: I had the bypass done in 2006 and over the past two years have gained back 60lbs. Is it possible to ... A: Becky, Weight regain after any bariatric surgery is an unfortunately common problem. Some surgeons ... | |
| Bypass reversal | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I had a routeny bypass one year ago. In that time I have developed malabsorption syndrome which led ... A: Ms. Ali, You might need reversal of the gastric bypass, or revision of your intestinal anatomy. ... | |
| WLS And Colostomy reversal | 2/27/2009 |
| Q: I am about a month away from an colostomy reversal due to injury.I just realized that my surgeon is ... A: Shelly, It would be surgically reasonable to do a colostomy reversal with a gastric bypass, though ... | |
| Lap Band Surgery | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I am a 32 year old female who is 5'6 and weigh approx 230 . I have a long history of Pseudotumor ... A: Ms. Farist, The success rate for helping (or even resolving) pseudotumor cerebri through weight loss ... | |
| Reflux/coughing associated with RNY Gastric Bypass | 2/16/2009 |
| Q: I am a 58 year old female who had RNY Gastric bypass in 2003. I lost 145 pounds, but regained about ... A: Pat, Seeing the gastro doc and having a scope done both seem like good ideas. In theory, the GI do ... | |
| Reflux/coughing associated with RNY Gastric Bypass | 2/15/2009 |
| Q: I am a 58 year old female who had RNY Gastric bypass in 2003. I lost 145 pounds, but regained about ... A: Wow Pat, this is a really tough problem. First, let me say that it DOES seem quite possible that ... | |
| VSG VS Lap Band | 2/13/2009 |
| Q: I have decided to go to Mexico, Dr. Alvarez, to have VSG surgery. I have sleep apnea, high bp, bad ... A: Susan, There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the VSG, or with surgeons in Mexico. I have not ... | |
| Lap Band to VSG | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: I had a lap band placed in April of 2007. I have had the band slip 3 times due to having the ... A: Donna, Coverage for sleeve surgery is uncommon in our area as well. For my Band patients who are ... | |
| Lap Band to VSG | 2/7/2009 |
| Q: I had a lap band placed in April of 2007. I have had the band slip 3 times due to having the ... A: Donna, I'm sorry to learn about your troubles. I think you may have captured the essence of your ... | |
| ? about weight stabilization vs regaining | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: myhow do you know 3.5 years post op if you are settling into your weight or gaining weight back. ... A: Nikki, I can't tell for sure since you sent only a few weight points, but it sounds like you may ... | |
| Revision Surgery and Insurance Coverage | 1/24/2009 |
| Q: I had a gastric bypass in 2000. Prior to the surgery I weighed 252 lbs. I dropped down to 175 but ... A: Anne, Some insurance companies do have a "one per lifetime" policy for bariatric surgical procedures ... | |
| NSAIDs and bariatric surgery | 1/23/2009 |
| Q: Is there a good substitute for NSAIDs after bariatric surgery? I've got to choose between a ... A: Mark, Most patients find that Celebrex (an anti-inflammatory available by prescription) is very ... | |
| lap band | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: i am 50 years old, my bmi is 38. I am on blood thinner, for recurring dvts in the 1990s. I have ... A: Jane, Your pertinent questions demonstrate that you have researched this well. I will break the ... | |
| gastric bypass | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass 2 weeks ago (BMI of 35). The day after getting out of the hospital, I was ... A: Dennis, In my experience, this is not a typical situation. Most patients find their pouch to be ... | |
| Gastric sleeve after hiatal hernia surgery | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: Five years ago I have a hiatal hernia repaired. I remember the surgeon telling me that my upper ... A: When I do a sleeve after a previous gastric wrap, my plan is to unwrap it as far as possible and ... | |
| Gastric sleeve after hiatal hernia surgery | 1/18/2009 |
| Q: Five years ago I have a hiatal hernia repaired. I remember the surgeon telling me that my upper ... A: Wanda, It is certainly true that preceding surgery can create important changes in the way your ... | |
| VSG | 1/5/2009 |
| Q: I am interested in the VSG as I have researched it for months. I am a R.N. and have made myself ... A: You are asking an intriguing question. The real answer will take many years to develop, since the ... | |
| Lap Band Fill Complication | 1/2/2009 |
| Q: Lap Band Surgery Nov 2007, Lost 52 lbs from Nov 28th to Jan 10, reported it many times to surgeon's ... A: Ms. Bearden, I am really sorry to hear about your troubles. I do have one thought that may help, ... | |
| Hiatal Hernia | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: I have been diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and i suffer from chronic nausea, i have tried all the ... A: Scott, It is possible that the Hiatal hernia is causing your nausea, but more likely a different ... | |
| MGB follow up question | 12/12/2008 |
| Q: Your wrote in November, "Dr. Rutledge has long performed surgery and follow up in a way that is ... A: Mary, I also don't know of any bariatric surgery programs in New Mexico. The programs that I can ... | |
| Blood pressure weight loss | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I am 49,pretty healthy but overweight. I have always had blood pressure in the high normal range ... A: Bud, This is a potentially interesting correlation, but I am not aware of any data that points to ... | |
| Gastric redo | 12/8/2008 |
| Q: I had my stomach stapled 13 years ago and recently did a barium swallow which indicated the ... A: Cathy, I'm guessing that your previous surgery was a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. If that's ... | |
| gastric bypass-addiction transfer-alcohol | 12/2/2008 |
| Q: My 42 year old "NORMAL GIRL" sister had gastric bypass surgery 2 years ago and lost about 110 lbs. ... A: Maryjane, I am really sorry to hear about your sister's situation. Alcohol addition seems to be an ... | |
| VSG and scar tissue from previous lap band | 11/27/2008 |
| Q: Pilcher, First I wanted to say I think it's wonderful that you take the time to respond so ... A: Well Mary, I can see that you are thinking very carefully about your future and how to get the best ... | |
| MGB by clos | 11/24/2008 |
| Q: Do you think the surgeons who perform the MGB with clos, Drs. Rutledge and Peraglie are reputable? ... A: The patient I encountered suffered from thiamine deficiency, leading to a condition called ... | |
| MGB by clos | 11/23/2008 |
| Q: Do you think the surgeons who perform the MGB with clos, Drs. Rutledge and Peraglie are reputable? ... A: Ms. Coon, Dr. Rutledge has long performed surgery and follow up in a way that is outside the ... | |
| gastric sleeve | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: My name is Fran, I had gastric sleeve done four weeks ago. I had the lap band done before that, but ... A: Fran, The fact that you have needed such frequent treatment for dehydration tells me that your ... | |
| Reversal/Revision | 11/18/2008 |
| Q: I had asked two questions about two weeks ago regarding reversing my RNY surgery. They definitely ... A: Alannah, I have the feeling that your GI tract has been through so much that anything done to it has ... | |
| preliminary questions | 11/17/2008 |
| Q: I am eagerly investigating bariatric surgery. I weigh 230 lbs and am 5'3". I am 47 and have a ICD ... A: Ms. French, You are correct that your cardiac issues lead to some increase in risk, and will need to ... | |
| Band the sleeve | 11/11/2008 |
| Q: I have a DR that is telling me he will do a sleeve and put a band around it. Have you ever heard of ... A: Angie, I had heard of it, though to be honest I had not understood that it was a way to work around ... | |
| Gastric Sleeve | 11/10/2008 |
| Q: My Gastric Sleeve is one year old. I notice that eating meat is a problem and I have an easier time ... A: Ieberta, For certain, it is normal that meat will fill you up more than carbs. So usually, when a ... | |
| Rheumotoid Arthritis Medication | 11/7/2008 |
| Q: I am on Remicade Infusion treatments every 8 weeks and Methotraxiate for RA. Will this have any ... A: Cindy, To my knowledge there is not any formal answer to your question in the medical literature. ... | |
| musa | 11/4/2008 |
| Q: I am a 19 year old male and have had abdomenal surgery when i was 6 years old. I recently found out ... A: Musa, It is hard for me to give a solid opinion without examining you. However, I can say that if ... | |
| Revisions to RNY | 11/2/2008 |
| Q: I had an RNY in October 2002. I have had chronic problems for the last year with heart palpatations ... A: Merridy, The part of your question that talks about heart racing and feeling groggy sounds like ... | |
| Gastric Bypass Reversal | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: Okay so I am a complicated case. I have vagal nerve injury which resulted in gastroparesis with ... A: Alannah, Sorry I did not see this extra information when I answered your question earlier. It's a ... | |
| pregency and lapband | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I am going for a pregnancy test today and i am almost 3 yrs. out from being banded. My question is ... A: Catrece, I hope the pregnancy test was positive, and that congratulations are in order! Band ... | |
| Vegal Nerve Injury | 10/30/2008 |
| Q: I was diagnosed with vegal nerve injury after my gastric bypass (RNY) in June 2003 (I went to Mayo ... A: Alannah, My compliments on your clear description of the problem. I have to say this is a really ... | |
| gastric bypass revision | 10/29/2008 |
| Q: How overweight does a person have to be to qualify for a gastric bypass revision? A: Katrena, Whether or not a person is appropriate to undergo revision actually has a lot more to do ... | |
| too much weight loss | 10/12/2008 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass surgery in March 2006. I was 325 pounds before I has the bypass. I am now 143 ... A: Alicia, From your description of things I would agree it is likely you have a problem with your ... | |
| surgery cancelled low hemocrit | 10/6/2008 |
| Q: I was due to have the lap band surgery this morning and my doctor called and said he would have to ... A: Tami, I understand that you must be tremendously disappointed. There are 3 reasons I can think of ... | |
| Options after band erosion | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: Pilcher. I had a lap-band surgery last year. After three months, I was back into surgery because ... A: Sam, I'm sorry to say but in my mind it is pretty clear that one should not have another Band if one ... | |
| drinking alcohol after lap band surgery | 9/30/2008 |
| Q: Im just wondering how long after surgery is the absolut minimum time i can have a drink? i have ... A: Monique, I have a two-part answer for you: 1) If you want to know what your body will tolerate, and ... | |
| Weight loss after surgery | 9/21/2008 |
| Q: What is the average weight loss per week after have Roux-en-y surgery. I had my surgery 6 weeks ... A: Jen, The rate of weight loss depends a lot on where you start. People who begin at greater than 400 ... | |
| LapBand Removal | 9/18/2008 |
| Q: I had a LapBand installed in June 2007 and have lost 50 pounds. I have been miserable since ... A: Nicole, I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation. There is no set pattern for how a surgeon ... | |
| VSG and Fundonissen | 9/16/2008 |
| Q: I am told I cannot have the lap band due to the fundonissen and I cannot have gastric bypass due to ... A: Tracey, Having the previous Nissen fundoplication makes any subsequent surgery more complicated. I ... | |
| Lap Band surgery | 9/13/2008 |
| Q: I have been more then 100 lbs overweight for 17 years. Sometimes I lose a little, but I have never ... A: Kathleen, You are asking a sensible question, and one thing I want to reinforce is that a person ... | |
| Surgery with PCOS, Celiac | 9/11/2008 |
| Q: I'm 5' 5" 285 lbs. and have PCOS, Celiac disease, and my doctor thinks I have a hiatal hernia. Would ... A: Wendy, None of the problems you have written about looks like a "stopper" for potential bariatric ... | |
| lap band after roun-y | 9/6/2008 |
| Q: I had open roun-y done in Sept. 2000, and lost 175 lbs. I have gradually gone back up (was 376 lb) ... A: Karen, There is no single right answer for what to do when you have weight regain after bariatric ... | |
| Kidney Transplant Recipient and Lap Band | 8/28/2008 |
| Q: Pilcher, I received a kidney transplant about 6 years ago and I haven't had any problems whatsoever ... A: Kenya, First, let me endorse the conclusion you've reached that it IS reasonable to consider ... | |
| post operative pancreatitis | 8/27/2008 |
| Q: What would the symptoms of post operative pancreatitis be? I had a gastric diverticulum removed July ... A: Megan, If a person had one episode of pancreatitis in the past, they are a bit more liable to have ... | |
| post operative pancreatitis | 8/26/2008 |
| Q: What would the symptoms of post operative pancreatitis be? I had a gastric diverticulum removed July ... A: Megan, Surgery might cause pancreatitis if the operation causes direct physical trauma to the ... | |
| Do I qualify? | 8/24/2008 |
| Q: I'm a 24 year old female, I stand about 5'9'' and I weight about 445 lbs. Ive been told that I ... A: Sarah, Based on the information you've given me, I think it is very likely that it would be logical ... | |
| Foul smelling gas and runny stools | 8/18/2008 |
| Q: I had the R-Y surgery in Oct 06. It has been successful, as I have lost 127 pounds. However, I ... A: Jo-Ann, Your surgeon needs to be the main one to address this issue, since much of the answer is ... | |
| bariatric surgeon | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: Have you heard of a client that had their stomached stapled and after its failure had the lapband ... A: Sorayal, This procedure of putting a Band on a previously stapled stomach is being practiced by a ... | |
| Staples on VSG | 8/13/2008 |
| Q: I am thinking on having a VSG surgery, but I am concerned about the long term effects that the ... A: Cesar, I understand your concern. The good news is that the staples that are used for all surgery ... | |
| Gastric Surgery | 8/12/2008 |
| Q: Are there any surgeons in Mobile, Alabama that do the revise gastric bypass surgery.I had the ... A: Ms. Jones, I'm not immediately familiar with the surgeons in Alabama. You are most likely to be ... | |
| 1 month post op rny | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: i am following all orders, but i am losing weight very slowly. 2 lbs. a wk. is this 'normal'. i am ... A: Jennifer, In my experience, 2 pounds per week is a really good pace in the long run, but it is a bit ... | |
| 1 month post op rny | 7/21/2008 |
| Q: i am following all orders, but i am losing weight very slowly. 2 lbs. a wk. is this 'normal'. i am ... A: Jennifer, It is not typical in my experience to have a weight loss this small. You will need fairly ... | |
| Life as a surgeon | 7/20/2008 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, Can you please tell me how much free time you have during the week? I am reapplying ... A: Amanda, This is a really interesting line of questions, but it is hard to answer adequately by ... | |
| lapband | 7/16/2008 |
| Q: i have had my lapband for almost 2 years. i have lost 124 lbs. i have had great success. however, ... A: I'm not sure what you meant about the "race against your son," maybe the Band was tightened quickly ... | |
| Rou n Y Reversal | 7/14/2008 |
| Q: I was wondering if you can tell me if there has ever been a reversal to a roux n y procedure? A: Robin, There have been many cases of a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass being "reversed" by connecting the ... | |
| Bariatric Revision Surgery | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Twenty-six years ago, I had a gastroplasty surgery. After losing 110 lbs., I had a complete ... A: Linda, My opinion is that revision surgery would be fairly risky because of the old scar and the ... | |
| blockage in esophagus? | 7/4/2008 |
| Q: I'm 58 yrs. old, had lap band surgery in Mexico in September, 2008. I lost 20 lbs in the month ... A: Patti, You are in urgent need of experienced attention for you and your Band. You should contact ... | |
| Gastric bypas vs sleeve | 7/2/2008 |
| Q: I am scheduled for bypass on July 28th which my insurance "was" going to cover. During my office ... A: LaShon, There are a lot of factors in this decision that can't really be captured in an email, so ... | |
| Gastric band question | 6/19/2008 |
| Q: I have had a band for about a year - about 30 lbs lost and 40 to go. The slow weight loss more from ... A: Leigh, An upper scope (EGD) can show if there's any persistent inflammation from reflux, or if ... | |
| STAPLES MISSFIRE | 6/17/2008 |
| Q: I'M LOOKING FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST TOP IN THE COUNTRY FOR GASTRIC BYPASS REVISION SURGEON... MY ... A: Yazmin, I'm truly sorry to hear of your husband's difficulties. My input is that there IS a valid ... | |
| gastric ulcer post roux-en-y | 6/10/2008 |
| Q: I had a RNYGB 4.5 years ago and have been doing fine until last Nov(07) Now I have intense pain ... A: Norma, The only thing I can think of is to check for some partial bowel obstruction - a CT or ... | |
| Frequent Burping after GB - 4 Years PO | 5/23/2008 |
| Q: I'm nearly 4 years postop from an open RNY. Lately, no matter what I'm eating or drinking, or even ... A: Cathy, This is an interesting question that I've not encountered before. I'm presuming that you've ... | |
| one kidney, GERD, & PCOS | 5/11/2008 |
| Q: I have one kidney, GERD, and was recently diagnosed with PCOS. I am 75 pounds overweight and can ... A: Brenda, It is quite likely the weight is causing medical harm in your case, as you appear to know ... | |
| questions about mgb | 5/5/2008 |
| Q: I amintrested in having the mgb but I have a few questions as I have a husband and a 12 year old son ... A: Mrs. Johnson, You asked about the "mgb" and I think you are referring to the Mini Gastric Bypass. I ... | |
| PAIN | 5/2/2008 |
| Q: I had a lap band placed 10-2007. I am miserable & in constant pain. I found out this week I have a ... A: Lori, It sounds like you are having problems with your esophagus so that it can't work with the ... | |
| Removal of lapband | 4/27/2008 |
| Q: I had lap band surgery in July 2006 but, have not lost anyway even with the fills. After a while I ... A: Dawn, I'm really sorry you have not had success with your Band. I am going to assume that you've ... | |
| thyroid removed contemplating bariatric surgery | 4/26/2008 |
| Q: 3 years ago I had my thyroid removed after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and have been on ... A: Rachel, There should be no problem with bariatric surgery, in the context of your having your ... | |
| VSG | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I am considering bariatric surgery. I have been told I am not a candidate for lap band due to a ... A: Barb, I can see that you've done your homework, so you understand that the impact of Crohn's disease ... | |
| Vagus nerve injury due to gastic bypass | 4/14/2008 |
| Q: I have had many episodes of eating just to vomit about 10 to 20 minutes later and having food come ... A: Charmaine, I will answer your last question first: I would certainly expect that after treatment ... | |
| Which WLS? | 4/11/2008 |
| Q: JP, I am planning to have weight loss surgery, that is not in question--I have fought my waistline ... A: Ms. Kilpatrick, I think it's great that you are researching this thoroughly before jumping in. I ... | |
| Lap Band and Blood disorder | 4/10/2008 |
| Q: I am a 58 year old female. I am in generally good health except being 100 lbs overweight. I have ... A: Angela, It's unfortunate if your hematologist is not "on board." I recommend you go ahead and meet a ... | |
| Lap Band and Blood disorder | 4/9/2008 |
| Q: I am a 58 year old female. I am in generally good health except being 100 lbs overweight. I have ... A: Angela, Personally, I would not exclude you from consideration for gastric banding from what you ... | |
| help | 3/24/2008 |
| Q: I AM 30 WITH 2 KIDS I'M 5'4" I WEIGH 245lbs.I HAVE BEEN ON EVERY DIET I DO TRY TO EXERCISE BUT MY ... A: Rose, At the height and weight you've outlined, you have a Body Mass Index of 42. This does meet ... | |
| Do i qualify for bariatric surgery? | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I am a 21 yr. old female that is 5'4" and weighs 236 lbs. I recently found out that my BMI is 40. ... A: Elizabeth, You do clearly meet the standard criteria, where the risk of surgery is LESS THAN ... | |
| Post-op status | 3/13/2008 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass surgery approx 4yrs ago this August and with having a full management career, 3 ... A: Moni, I'm glad you are working to be re-engaged with long term follow up. We believe that is the ... | |
| One Kidney vs WLS | 2/28/2008 |
| Q: I am 43 years old with BMI of 46. In 06 I lost my left kidney due to Renal cell carsonima I could ... A: Angela, This is a sensible question. It's a fact that when an organ system is weakened (for ... | |
| revision | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I had a lapband removed in January 2007 because it had slipped. I live in North Dakota and my ... A: Kay, My experience is that it is technically easy to go from laparoscopic gastric bypass to ... | |
| Surgery | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: I'm 5'-8" 270lb, Type ll diabetic for ~ 2years now. I take medication for blood pressure, ... A: Gene, The medical data indicates that the rate of full remission of diabetes is about 85% for ... | |
| No health insurance | 1/23/2008 |
| Q: I am in my mid-forties and have struggled with obesity my entire life (I am more than 100 lbs ... A: Carla, Even when folks have health insurance, the insurance company often refuses to cover Band ... | |
| lap band surgery | 1/15/2008 |
| Q: Several questions in one: I am scheduled for prostate removal Feb 20. Urologist is concerned about ... A: John, I think that either a Band or a gastric bypass could make sense for you, though I don't really ... | |
| Finding a Bariatric Surgeon for VG (Sleeve) | 1/13/2008 |
| Q: Belated New Year Greetings Dr. Pilcher: I am having no luck finding a surgeon who performs the ... A: Traci, First thing I ask myself is if I personally know a surgeon in your area who is doing gastric ... | |
| Can anyone have this surgery or do you have to meet criteria? | 1/11/2008 |
| Q: I am 27, 400lbs, 6'6", BMI is 46.2% I have no health issues and want to keep it that way. My Dad ... A: Chris, Yes, there are generally accepted criteria to help decide if the risk vs. benefit is likely ... | |
| Pregnancy after lap-band surgery? | 12/26/2007 |
| Q: I recently had lap-band surgery on November 5th and was wondering how long before it is safe for me ... A: Sue, As you probably understand, the concern about pregnancy in the early time period following ... | |
| Sleeve Gastrectomy | 12/21/2007 |
| Q: I had a sleve gast.do they take out part of your stomuc or just staple it.i am having trouble ... A: Brad, For both of your questions, I strongly encourage you to make an appointment with your surgeon ... | |
| Which surgery is best? | 12/17/2007 |
| Q: I am 42yo 250# and 5'2. I am researching which surgery would be best for me. I don't have any ... A: Karen, I am not familiar with a prohibition against spices after Gastric Band, but it is very ... | |
| Dumping Syndrome | 12/9/2007 |
| Q: , On Nov 7th I had revision surgery and my surgeon bypassed 150 cm of my intestines (only 50 cm ... A: Linda, I'm sorry but I'd have to know the details of your surgical anatomy to give you a reliable ... | |
| Fistula | 12/1/2007 |
| Q: I had bypass surgery in July 2005 and made good weight loss up to january 2006 when i fell through ... A: Terry, I'm sure that fall through the chair was painful in multiple ways. However, I would be ... | |
| Bariatric revision | 11/28/2007 |
| Q: How can I get a bariatric physician to doa revision. I was approved by insurance for a revision and ... A: Sorayal, This is a very difficult situation. It is true that bariatric surgeons prefer not to take ... | |
| GJ stricture & ulcer 3 years p/o roux en y | 11/12/2007 |
| Q: After losing 25 lbs and put back on tpn, I was diagnosed with gastritis of the native stomach and ... A: Dale, Please let me summarize the situation to see if I have it right: -gastric bypass about 3 ... | |
| Surgery | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: I am 30 weight 235 5'5". I am thinking of doing something... I have lots of pain in my legs and ... A: Kelly, I think it is reasonable for you to consider surgery for your weight. As a young woman, you ... | |
| Hypothyroid results with WLS comparable to those with normal thyroid function? | 10/31/2007 |
| Q: I am 35, 5'4 and 240 pounds, with severe sleep apnea and hypertension. I am currently looking at ... A: Tracy, I believe that, as long as your hypothyroid status is properly treated, it should not have ... | |
| lap band proceedure | 10/29/2007 |
| Q: I am a 38 yr old male and about 325 lbs. I have been considering a lap band procedure but I ... A: Chris, I have a two part answer for you: 1) It is medically and statistically logical for you to ... | |
| general question | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: pilcher there's alot of people that have a fast metabolism that can eat anything they want and burn ... A: SK, I don't think anyone knows the whole story on weight vs. arterial blockage. In essence, you are ... | |
| vagotomy post-op gastric bypass surgery | 10/11/2007 |
| Q: I am 4 years post-op Roux-N-Y(85 lb loss) and in the past year I have gained 25 lbs. I've been ... A: Marybeth, Weight regain after bariatric surgery is a major problem, and I'm sorry to hear about your ... | |
| SURGERY | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: HI I'M A 34 YEAR OLD WOMEN WHO WEIGHS 260 POUNDS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME I'M TERRIFIED ABOUT BEING ... A: Anna, I have to tell you up front that I can't give you one single answer about the best operation. ... | |
| gastric bypass | 9/19/2007 |
| Q: Dr. Pilcher, My husband is scheduled to have gastric bypass surgery in early nov. My husband is 54 ... A: Linda, I think it is great that you are working to be involved and educated about your husband's ... | |
| Gastric Sleeve | 9/17/2007 |
| Q: I have the gastric sleeve on August 1st. Since then I still experience nausea and inability to eat. ... A: Cindy, The symptoms you are describing are within the spectrum of what is seen after gastric sleeve, ... | |
| Lap Band <35 bmi | 9/11/2007 |
| Q: Do you know of any (East Coast) studies or bariatric centers that will perform lap band surgery on a ... A: Peri, I am one of the surgeons who believes a Lap-Band can be medically reasonable in a ... | |
| VSG vs RNY???? | 9/2/2007 |
| Q: Happy Labor Day Dr. Pilcher, A question regarding the VSG surgery vs the RNY. I was leaning toward ... A: Cathy, I can tell you are researching this question and thinking about it thoroughly - that fact ... | |
| Mini Gastric Bypass Problems | 8/28/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the long term complications from a mini gastric bypass would be. Thanks. ... A: Kim, It sounds like your brother is experiencing nutritional complications that can occur following ... | |
| fistula ulcer caused from gastric bypass | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: I am a 43 year old that is 6 years post op. I had no problem with the original surgery. I started ... A: Teri, This is a really challenging situation, from both a medical standpoint and from an ... | |
| Mini Gastric Bypass Problems | 8/27/2007 |
| Q: Can you tell me what the long term complications from a mini gastric bypass would be. Thanks. A: Kim, I will give you the best answer I can, but this will have to be provisional information for ... | |
| Type of Gastric Bypass Surgery | 8/16/2007 |
| Q: I am considering Gastric Bypass Surgery and have recently read about something called a mini ... A: Yvonne, For the most part, surgeons who do a true Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure do not cut or ... | |
| Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy | 8/12/2007 |
| Q: Doctor, I'm considering WLS, and trying to decide the procedure that's right for me. Thus far I ... A: Lisa, The possibility of using orlistat with a VSG (or Band, or Gastric Bypass) is sensible. ... | |
| Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy | 8/11/2007 |
| Q: Doctor, I'm considering WLS, and trying to decide the procedure that's right for me. Thus far I ... A: Lisa, First, I must compliment you on your careful consideration and research. My experience is ... | |
| Anastomosis | 8/10/2007 |
| Q: My mom is going in for surgery soon, and I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about it. She ... A: Jes, The operation proposed for your Mom is actually the origin of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass used ... | |
| lapband | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: i had lapband surgery in 12/2005 i have nothing but trouble.i was at 315 and would lose 1-2lbs then ... A: Goldie, In order for the Band to be successful, it is necessary for the esophagus (swallowing tube ... | |
| lapband | 8/1/2007 |
| Q: i had lapband surgery in 12/2005 i have nothing but trouble.i was at 315 and would lose 1-2lbs then ... A: Goldie, This is a really tough situation. I'm not positive, but it sounds like you may be one of ... | |
| minimum weight for surgery | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I am 5'5" and 182 lbs. I have struggled with this all my life. Is there a surgical procedure for ... A: Rose, The height and weight you've given me put your Body Mass Index at 30. This is a really tough ... | |
| coverage | 7/21/2007 |
| Q: I am interested in having surgery to make my body smaller. Either lap band, gastric bypass, or ... A: Dana, Medicare does cover Lap-Band, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch for patients who meet the ... | |
| symptoms months after bariatric surgery | 7/11/2007 |
| Q: I live in U.K, my daughter last year had a gastric by-pass in Belgium. The weight loss so far has ... A: Jean, This situation does not ring a bell for me, though I share your concern. I note your comment ... | |
| Lap band surgery | 7/10/2007 |
| Q: I am 19 years old and have been overweight my whole life. I am currently 237 and 5'2. I have been ... A: Brittany, At the height and weight you described, it usually is medically sensible to proceed with ... | |
| Lap-Brand or Gastric Bypass | 7/6/2007 |
| Q: My husband is considering having either Gastric Bypass or Lap-band procedure done but is unsure ... A: Sara, There are many factors that ought to be considered in the choice between gastric bypass and ... | |
| revision following a lap band removal | 7/5/2007 |
| Q: A couple weeks ago I had to have my lap band removed after 1 & 1/2 years. I lost 50 lbs., but have ... A: Cathy, It is usually helpful to wait several months for scar to soften, if one is considering ... | |
| lap band and drinking | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: My question is what happens if you have a few too many drinks. How does it affect the lap band? I ... A: Christi, I'm going to leave aside concerns about drinking too much, in terms of your general health. ... | |
| banding | 6/13/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering though if you could make any recommendations or give any advice. And generally as ... A: Carole, I still want to tread lightly on this subject, but what I can say is that generally work on ... | |
| Lap band surgery overseas. | 5/31/2007 |
| Q: I am 58, 6’0”, and weigh about 230. I’ve tried eating less and exercise to lose weight for years ... A: Roger, The information you've provided works out to a Body Mass Index (BMI) = 31, so I believe you ... | |
| bariatric surgery..30 years later | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: At age 25, weighing 400+ I had intestional Bypass..with which i dropped the weight..to 180..7 years ... A: Jim, You may not be surprised to know that there is not a simple answer to your question. I can ... | |
| Armour Thyroid | 4/1/2007 |
| Q: I am male,48. I am sick of being overweight. I am sure I am hypothyroid,although the tests my doctor ... A: Barry, Since I am a surgeon, this question is not exactly in my area of expertise. However I do ... | |
| Weight Loss | 3/20/2007 |
| Q: hi I'm about 260 pounds and 5'4 in height and I've considered weight loss surgery I'm 34 years of ... A: Anna, The information you provided about your height and weight puts you at a BMI (Body Mass Index) ... | |
| post op & preg weight | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: I had gastric bypass surgery in Dec 2001 and went from 280 down to 130, I am 5'2. I then had my ... A: Deanna, I think you have a lot to be proud of at 139 or so. For my surgical patients who are 5'2", ... | |
Bariatric Surgery
Answers by Expert:
John Pilcher, MD
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer medically oriented questions about bariatric surgery including: patient selection, preparation for surgery, differences between types of bariatric surgery, aftercare following bariatric surgery. I can answer detailed questions about gastric bypass, Lap-Band, gastric sleeve, and revision bariatric surgery. I am only somewhat familiar with Biliopancreatic diversion. I am not prepared to answer insurance or other financial questions related to bariatric surgery.
Experience
I have been a practicing bariatric surgeon since 1995. About 85% of my current practice consists of bariatric surgery, including all of the above procedures except biliopancreatic diversion. I am the senior surgeon of a 5-surgeon group. I am recognized among surgeons and other medical professionals as the most experienced bariatric surgeon in my region.
Organizations
Fellow of American College of Surgeons
Member, American Society for Bariatric Surgery
Education/Credentials
BA in Biochemistry - University of Virginia
Medical Degree - University of Virginia
Surgical Residency - University of Virginia
Awards and Honors
Alpha Omega Alpha
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.