Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Really thinking about have the Sleeve done. Just wondering if there are any other younger sleevers out there?

Hi everyone, As a resident of Ontario, and despite having the majority of our Health Care covered by the federal government, (yaay, Canada!) I paid for my lap-band procedure out of pocket. Now that tax time is rolling around, I'm trying to figure out how to claim my WLS expenses. I didn't pay the full whack up front - I was financed through a 3rd party (CreLogix). So my questions: Should I (or can I?) claim the full amount ($16K) up front on my taxes, even though I have not paid anywhere near that due to paying a down payment and monthly instalments? OR should I claim only what I had paid to date once the 2014 calendar year ended? My surgeon was paid the full fee…

Hi All, Tomorrow at 7am I will get my Gastric Sleeve done! (I'm the first procedure of the day) Getting it done at Florida Hospital Celebration. Still not nervous, just hopeful!. I feel prepared overall, and happy my mom and grandma came down from NY to take care of me. I'll keep you guys updated as soon as I can. -Andrew

Hey guys! New to this site! I got my surgery feb 11 I'm 27 pds down.. Feeling okay finally still having some trouble eating. Anyone suggest anything.. ? How's everyone else

Hello Newbie here! So it has been a long journey for me almost five years I have been a bad yoyo'er I've lost 100 and gained it back at least 2xs. So I finally went thru the long process for the second time. 1st time I had no insurance .. Very difficult this time I have great insurance and have finally been approved! Finished all the requirements pre-op is scheduled for March 30th and I received my paper work from my Dr. Office today advising of pending scheduling for surgery. I'm excited, but looking through the paperwork I noticed the procedure code ( I work for the insurance co) and I knew it was not the surgery that I signed up for. I initially requested the duodenal …

OK this has been what I have wanted for years and I finally did all the steps and had support to get to this step, now that it is real, I am of course panicking. My surgery date is April 7. My liquid pre op diet starts tomorrow as well as my pre op visit to the hospital. I must admit reading this forum is giving me the extra step I need to push on. Any advise on how not to starve for the next 2 weeks and how to mentally prepare for this procedure.

Hi everyone! I was sleeved on March 16. Surgery went well no complications. So far so good. I'm pretty close to getting in my 64oz of water. I did clear liquids on post op day 1 and 2. I'm on my 6th day of full liquids. Thursday I start pureed. I haven't had any nausea yet and am getting about 45 gm of protein so far each day. Moving around better this week. Every once in awhile if I turn or move a certain way the incision near my belly button stings. Stopped pain med last week( basically only used it before bed). I know so far everything has been going smoothly. I feel like I'm waiting for something to go wrong. Looks like I've lost 10 lbs since surgery. My insurance co …

I've officially given up on the sleeve process. I've decided to stick to a healthier lifestyle. The entire process to me is ridiculous and going through insurance it's intended to discourage one and to me personal get money from your insurance company. I didn't get an approval or denial I just stopped. I'm 5'2 203 lbs, I don't think the sleeve is a must for me..yes if I get it it's an added benefit but if I dont life will still be great. I honestly felt like a lab rat the entire process. Millions have lost weight w/out any surgery and I'll be one of them. Good luck to all. Today is the beginning of my new life

14 days post op from having the lap band in Mexico. Sad to say that I've learned more on this site in the past few hours that I did from my doctor.

I'm on day 4 of my pre liquid diet.. i've barely cheated but it does count. What have other people cheated with? It's so hard!

I need some good recipes for low carb ( Lapband friendly) meals?? I'm trying to stay on track but need some good recipes for lunch/dinner?! Even a place to find good Lapband friendly recipes would be great! Thanks!

Was sleeved on March 3rd. Is there anyone on the forum that shares the same date? I would love to hear from you and see how you are doing?

So I have decided to finally have WLS after 10 years dreaming about it. I was hoping for gastric bypass, just because I'm in love with the quick bypass results. Unfortunately, my insurance has a $10k max on WLS. So banding is really my only option. I am warming up to the idea of lap band. I like the fact that banders don't have that typical WLS look to them several months post-op. The weight loss is slower and more natural. I am 5'3" 240lbs. My goal is 155lbs. Any tips or advice about choosing the band?!

Had robotic surgery on 19th home on the 20th so far no problems, was in a private room made it nice too. Getting all my Water and 60gm Protein a day. No pain except a pain in my right buttock when I am sitting down which I find dumb, no pain meds needed so far feeling great, just wanted to let people know how it when.

Hey all I was sleeved on the 20th and just have had kind of a rough recovery so I am just feeling a bit down:(! So many pple around me only have gas pain but I have actual body pain and had a reaction to the anesthesia which made me vomit so I am sore from that and I am in Tijuana and have a 15hr drive home (my husband driving) so I've just hit kind of an emotional low and need a little help staying positive! Anyone else have body pain and didn't just breeze through their recovery? Any words of encouragement? Any jokes? Anything would help! Thank you????

Hello all! Well today I am officially phase 3 diet, and of course i am really excited and scared at the same time. These past 17 days have been a mental and physical struggle for me. I know that in this phase I get to choose from more items on my list, which is exciting. I am scared because obviously this is a new phase for me, and now I get more variety. I am wondering if you could please give me and example menu of your diet, and what you would choose. I bought some cook books to get ideas from them. I have no imagination when it comes to a menu. All these past years, I just ate processed food, restaurants, and of course fast food. So ideas would be great. …

Hello, My name is Sarah and my surgery date is set for April 13th 2015, my pre op appointment is tomorrow..im so nervous.. but am also very excited to start a new healthier chapter in my life, and would love to have some friends to talk to that are going through the same journey I am about to.. Thank you

Don't know when I have 3 appointments tomorrow last of the bundle when will I get my date

I was sleeved about 3 years ago. My starting weight was 255 and quickly dropped to 170. Unfortunately, I apparently developed a false sense of security and thought since I didn't really have to work too hard to get there that it was ok to start eating things I knew I shouldn't. "I can only eat half that cheeseburger so it can't be too bad for me." Or "I am only eating a quarter of that bbq chicken stuffed potato with bacon, cheese and sour cream so it is ok." I knew I was lying to myself but stayed in denial and refused to get on the scale. One day, I realized that things were out of control and decided to get my life back on track. I am here to confess that I have gained…

I came up with this because i noticed allot of people have the same questions and why not put it in an easy to read place right? So here you are, The credit for a lot of this info goes to the users of this forum who every day help to make peoples lives better thru kind words and support. This forum has changed my life already and I hope that everyone realizes what a great resource this is. If you like it great, if you want something added post the add and i will edit it accordingly. I'm not a writer so i'm sorry if the grammer is off. =) What to expect when you’re expecting, weight loss surgery First welcome to the forums. Your taking a huge step in your health. Both …

Hi everyone I am new to this I just had the gastric bypass rny March 17, 2015 I stay in Indianapolis, and so far I am doing good, I am up walking and eating out my 1 ounce containers, just a little sore but not alot, my question is am I moving to fast I am walking around my neighbor hood, and i am eating canned tuna, applesauce, yogurt, drinking my fluids 1 % strawberry milk, drinking chicken broth and eating string cheese, also I suck on popsicle in between and eat jello

How long did you take off work? If so do you feel you have a normal life when you have recovered?

I'm 2 weeks plus from post op and dealing with eating fine but I am getting extremely bad migraine style headaches. Anyone else have or had these issues? Does anyone know what might be causing this? I've been ok'd by the doc to take Tylenol with caffeine but it doesn't help.

Hello everyone, my name is Tara and my surgery date is march 31st. I am currently on day 6 of my pre op diet. I am filled with so many emotions right now, but I am definitely looking forward to my new beginning.

Ok I'm 15 days post op dr says full liquids for next 3 weeks. Any suggestion

After surgery how many weeks did u all have to wait to exercise /go to the gym

Hey everyone I was sleeved 6 January 2015 here are some pictures of my progress im having a problem with constipation bad I've taken all the recommended stuff for it does anyone else have this problem i think its slowing down my weight loss surgery date weight 221 weight as of today 179 march 21 2015

I had my sleeve surgery on Thursday and today I tried to take a bariatric vitamin that I ordered through the hospital and I spit it out immediately for fear of vomiting. It was like putting rat poison in my mouth. Is it normal to have this problem in the beginning or should I buy a different vitamin? Thanks for any help & advice!

I'm scheduled for sleeve surgery next week on March 24th and I think I'm going through the "OMG, What am I thinking stage"! I keep waking up at night thinking of all that can go wrong. I'm a worrier by nature and here in Sweden a big part of the initial meeting is all of the things that can go wrong. They really stress it here. I've been on my prep diet (Protein drinks -800 calories a day) since last Wednesday and lost 2.5kg right off the bat then bounced up .4kg (WT%#€*??) and now the last two days nothing...I have to lose 3 more kg before my op or they won't operate! Now I'm getting worried. Funnily, I am not a soda person but the last two days I've been drinking die…

I did great until the holidays. I'm struggling big time. I'm not eating like I should.. I'm trying to get better. I haven't been to the gym in a long time!! I have had my port flipped and fixed and had a hernia repair. I'm all better from both surgeries but I haven't gotten myself back to eating healthy and gym.. I feel stuck.. I'm really going to push myself to not eat junk and eat healthier foods. So hard this time of year. I had my Lapband put in on April 11, 2014 and my year mark is coming up and I have only lost 65lbs. Ugg..

Im 3 weeks to the day from my surgery and the surgery itself hasn't been hard for me at all Im healing very well and didn't need pain meds. but about a week ago it started to feel like everything I put in just hit right between my breasts and stayed there, now Im suffering GREATLY with reflux it wakes me up at nite cause it feels like im having a heart attack then its just pain all the way down my throat. My family Dr called me in Liquid Zantac and it burnt all the way down and didn't help, now everything I try to eat or drink just hurts. Also I cant burp but feel like I need to, my throat makes a funny gurgly sound all the time and I feel like I cant swallow anything, A…

Hi all. I'd like to share my story as to how I even knew of the sleeve as a Bariatric Choice plus how I got to this point of my surgery scheduled now for March 30. I was at a resort in Honduras for New Years 2013/14 with a group of people. Somehow one of the couples with us mentioned the husband had been quite heavy a couple of years back, had the gastric sleeve done which is why he watches what he eats and runs every morning. I was starving for knowledge so he explained it to me a bit. I filed it away. I have gained 60 pounds in the past 14 years, HATE it, don't even recognize myself plus my back hurts, knees hurt, blood pressure rising, snoring like a lumber jack…

I'm irritated!!!! I have moved on to creamy soups and drinkable yogurts about I can't seem to find drinkable yogurts that are low in carbs and sugar. Nurse said I could do Activia but it's full of carbs and sugar.....help?

Well I started my journey last year in July with an informational seminar, I took about a month to do some soul searching to decide if WLS was for me. I had my first appointments at the end of August. I completed all my pre-op NUT appointments February 9th. There has been a little stall with the paperwork and insurance, I normally don't go to the hospital that will be performing the surgery, so they had to request my medical records from my main Doctor (you would think they could of done that in the previous six months! But whatever!!) paperwork was finally submitted to insurance, and on March 13th my insurance told me I was approved over the phone. I'm just now waiting…

Hey ya'll! So heres the scoop. I had a lap band placed in January 2010. In Sept 2010 I had my First set of 23 blood clots that would follow up until about a year ago. The doctor who put in the lap band refused to fill it because he was scared I would get another blood clot. Well I started having really really sharp pains in my stomach and abdomen area and come to find out the port broke off and has damaged my abdomen wall. So I went to see a surgeon about having it removed and this surgeon was amazing. He agreed to take it out (he does bariatric surgery for a living) so i felt very confident with his abilities. Then he continued to say, well its a shame you had this place…

I got the Lap Band done when i was 14 years old, i weighed 245 pounds standing at 5'1. I wasn't prepared for the mental change I had to make in order to lose weight. The surgery was suggested by my mother and I, being bullied and overweight, excitedly agreed to have it done. Im 20 years old now, and i weigh 165. I am still considered obese. My journey has been a roller coaster ride to say the least. I lost maybe 30 pounds in the first year, i was around 200-190 until i was 18. I ate fairly healthy most of the time and i went to the gym religiously always running on the treadmill and lifting weights. My biggest problem was i would binge, i would binge until i had to throw …

Could not find a clearer pic before surgery.

This is the third time I've started on my WLS journey and I've chickened out twice. God willing and the creek don't rise, I'm going to actually go through with it this time! My name is Bonnie and I'm 46 years old and have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I am in the final stages of my pre-op preparations and should get a surgery date very soon. I'm opting for the gastric sleeve and I'm so ready to make this happen. I'm a single mom with a teenager and a full time job. I've battled weight and depression for most of my life and I had basically given up. I survived a miserable divorce, was rasing my son entirely on my own, and then my father die…

From day one I have had a challenge getting in all my Protein. A lot of it was because I hated the taste of most Protein shakes. For that matter getting in enough Water was no picnic either. I'm not complaining. Handling these challenges is nothing compared to struggling with my weight, so this is a challenge I'm happy to take on. So that being said I have come up with a mega shake that gives me a jump start on my protein intake. 1 100 calorie Chobani yogurt -blueberry or strawberry ( 12gr. pro.) container Premier Protein shake-strawberry ( 30 gr pro) , 1/2scoop Injury Protein powder -in Strawberry Sorbet. (10.5 gr. pro.) And a small handful of frozen berries -you…

I think a surgery day (or week) buddy would be awesome. I was keeping my nerves under control until today. So many worries and even more hopes for a positive process. Would love to have a few people who are in the same wave of this transformation as me to share triumphs and struggles with.

Hi, My name is Paula and I had my surgery on Thursday, March 12, when I woke up, I thought, My Lord, What have I done? As the days went on, and I'm working on my 5th day post op, I'm finding it is getting easier, I've had struggles with dumping, fever, nausea, and cramping, your stomach will let you know what you can tolerate. I finally got a little better, now drinking premier protein shakes, I'm still not getting my 60g on a day, but I do exercise, by walking around for five minutes at a time and I'm still resting alot. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis And it gets hard to exercise like I need too. any thoughts?

I took my pills this morning like I do every morning and I have like a severe burning in my belly and am dry heaving! I tried eating some yogurt to cool my tummy down but it's not helping. Has this happened to any of y'all??

It has been a long road. After 2 1/2 weeks POST OP I started full liquid diet. Then came the Left shoulder pain and fever up to 103. I was back in the hospital with a small encapsulated Leak. 5 days in the hospital and home. Healing slowly. I was NPO for over 2 weeks on home TPN with a PICC line. After one week of a clear diet and one week of full liquids, Now today 7 weeks post op I am on a soft diet. Tried fish. Yuck! Not sure what I want and worried what might be a problem. Anyone Have any favorites that go down well?

I am 16 months post sleeve surgery and my appetite seems to be returning. I don't like this at all...

Hi, my name is Susan and I have had a Lap Band for 8 years and now have been advised by my doctor to convert to Gastric Bypass for may reasons. I am scared to death!! I have gained so much weight even over and above my Lap Band and am so depress and embarassed. I do not go out much except to grocery store and doctor visits or anything truely important. I do not socially go out and my husband is getting upset with me, although he is a very caring and understand man. I am so scared and it is all I can think about...... Any suggestions for this scared lady??

Hi everyone happy Friday . Does anybody know a good app. To keep track of fluids , protein, etc. Thank you

Good morning everyone, My name is Candice, I am 38 married to a wonderful man of 18 years and mother of 4 wonderful daughters. Okay, here is my weight loss story. I had a gastric bypass back in Sept 2003 and lost a total of 150lbs..But started having a lot of heath issues that weren't related to my surgery and was placed on 15 different medicines and 11 were steroids. So after dealing with my weight and trying to loss the weight without much success, I decided to find a doctor to help me out. After many test and all, my doctor found out that my stomach had went from a size of a pecan to the size of a lemon....So we decided that a revision of my first gastric bypass woul…

I know we all get a little busy in our life's- but I got a new shirt today and felt great- share your progress

I'm 2 weeks post up. Every time I eat eat or drink seconds to moments later I can feel and audibly hear the back of my throat make a gurgling sound. Is this normal? If so when will it stop?

Hi everyone! My name is Trish and yesterday I had my sleeve surgery. I'm so excited about my new life. I've stocked my kitchen at home for success and I'm ready to move forward with life. I'm a single Mom, 42 and new to this world!