Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello my name is Jessica, I'm 26 and am due to have my gastric banding procedure August 1st so just a couple of weeks away. A little bit about myself; I live in the outer suburbs of Melbourne and am currently finishing my diploma of nursing (only 3 months left). I have been working as a PCA (personal care assistant) for 3.5 years up until recently. Which is part of why I have chosen to have the surgery I have noticed my weight holding me back in my personal and professional life and want to start my new career healthy. I heard about this website from a friend and thought it would be a good idea to join, it would be great to have the support and knowledge from others who k…

Hi. I'm a newbie. I'm still going through initial tests, evaluations, etc. Have an appt. today with psychologist to confirm I must be crazy for going through with this lol. My first "hurdle" was to quit smoking. So I did. Cold turkey. May 27, 2014 (It's been 49 days...yay, me!) I've lost 17 pounds since my last Dr. visit on June 25, 2014 on my "pre-pre surgery diet." Cut out all caffeine, switched from sugar to Splenda. Drinking lots more Water. Even exercising little at a time each day. Highly motivated. Cut out all fast food, fried food, sweets, etc. Just a little nervous about them taking out 85% of my stomach. Would like to hear from anyone who has completed surgery…

Hi everyone.. I am new here.. I just had first consultation this week for a gastric by pass.. Did go into this wanting the band but after group class I changed my mind as to much risk with dislodged bands.. So I am hoping to have a gastric by pass as I have a chromosome deletion 16p.11.2 which causes extreme hunger so after years of diets where I always regain weight lost and much more, I am now on the path to gastric by pass.. But I am under no illusions this going to solve all my problems but cannot live in this heavy body anymore...now the doctors tell you wants going to happen it sounds quite straight forward and a bit sugar coated.. So I am asking you lovely peeps.…

So I just got my sleeve two days ago. I was home the next day. Today was my first full day home and besides gas pain I feel great. I worked hard for 6 months to prepare and its paying off. So my question is in the first few days how much can you drink? I have been drinking the same shake for two meals now. Things are tight and can only get so much in. I don't want to push it and risk damaging my sleeve but am I getting enough for the first day home? Water seems to be ok since u sip all day. Got about 30 oz of water in so far today.

Yesterday I went to my Doctor office for dehydration. I was given 2 bags. But now I gained 4lbs is this normal?

Hi everyone Id like to start off by saying how great I think these forums are. I was so skeptical when my mom introduced the idea of having 85% of my stomach removed, but this website helped me realize that if this many people can undergo the procedure, then so can I! My name is Sam and I just turned 18 on July 12th. Because of my age we had to wait for me to be at least 18 before I could have a psych evaluation or a nutritionist visit. My preop appointment is July 22nd. The reason I am posting is because I am upset with the outcome of my psych appointment. My doctor was very quick to diagnose me with anxiety... But did nothing about it? No prescriptions, no scheduling f…

I started my pre-op liquids yesterday. This is getting really close and I'm nervous. All my tests were great and I should be really excited but I'm scared. I've failed so many times. Has anyone else felt this way? I've done so much planning and preparing. I've lost 68 lbs in the last 5 months while testing so I feel ready this time.

i am only 2 weeks post-op and I can eat a whole can of soup or refried beans at one time. Why am I not getting that full feeling everyone talks about???

Good evening, all! I thought I would take the advice of @@LuminousLife and journal my story for therapeutic reasons. I have chosen to only tell my husband, mom, and 2 best friends (from different states) and I figured since I've been getting support for months here from all of you, I could maybe assist others! I will first give a little bit of my background. I am 27 years old, married with no children (yet)! I am not on any medications, blood pressure and cholesterol, etc are all great... I just need to lose weight! (About 125 lbs to be exact.) I officially started this journey back in August, however had been researching my options for about a year before that. I w…

So happy to say I'm a few days away from being 6 months out and this week I've reached ONEderland!!!! Almost 90lbs down!

Hello all, I am new to this site and wanted to know if there was anyone who started at 450 + lbs and was able to achieve long term success? I am a 33 yr old female and my VSG is scheduled for July 22, 2014 with Dr. Thomas Lavin (The Surgical Specialist of Louisiana) and the surgery will take place at Crescent City Surgical Center. I am not nervous at all about the procedure. However I am concerned about maintaining weight loss. Whenever I have lost weight in the past, it has been easy for the weight to come off ( was able to lose 100lbs). But months later it comes back double. At 450lbs I don't want to say that I am healthy, but I only take 1 Rx for hypertension. I am hop…

Another step closer to surgery date. Life is good.

K - this is such an odd thing for me. I'm 5 weeks post op and today was busy at work and simply forgot to eat. I realized when I was about to eat dinner. I did drink my protein shake an my chicken unjury and am now having my last protein drink. I just thought I would share because I have never forgotten to eat in my life.

Hello All, I am sharing my story hoping it will help someone. I began researching the success stories of the "sleeve" over two years ago. Both my husband and I began going to a program to prepare ourselves for the "new life", but that particular program/people weren't as pleasant and caring (should say "sympathetic") as we felt they should be as clinicians. Therefore, I/we stopped going. Frustrated of not knowing where to go and who else to turn to...became more frustrating. Trying to make this looooonnngg story short...one day I finally had enough!! I was in so much pain in my body from osteoarthritis that I called an made an immediate appointment with my doctor.…

I am 8 days post op and just couldn't be a happier camper! This was a LOT easier than I could have imagined. Day one was tough, as was the first few days. No problems with nausea and I stuck to the book. I am using shot glasses as my cups/bowls, and I bought some cool baby spoons/forks to use from here on out. Ive been dropping weight like gangbusters. Prob 3-4 pounds a day at least. I am at the lowest weight in prob 15 years as of today. My job keeps me pretty active (working at Microsoft in the labs, so some lifting and kicking servers into submission and I was able to go back after 8 days. As such, one can expect to get a good portion of their strength back in …

Hi all!! Looking for a sleeve buddy who's around my same date 7/24/14!! To share experience & progress=)

Hello! I am new here and very excited to be having gastric bypass on 9-11. I am inspired by all your stories and cant wait to be able lose weight and feel human again. Any info, is appreciated!!

I was 296 pounds and 5'3 I had problems with my back,leg, knees high blood pressure fibromyalgia degenerative arthritis, and swelling in my body all the time. I just had my surgery July 7, 2014 excited about my weight loss journey I am now 280 almost one week in 4 days later I think that I'm doing very well I'm just ready to eat some solid food.

Had my sleeve on May 9th ,2014. My weight started at 279, pre-op 240 and today 217. I am never hungry and have a hard time getting my protein in every day but it's still the best decision I ever made. That said, I have been at 217 for 5 weeks now and can't seem to figure out why I'm stuck here. Anyone have any suggestions? Does eating more get easier in time? Looking for some advice please.

This is my second lap band. The first one worked great and I got down to 130 and stayed there for several years. Then I got it taken out and gained all the weight back. May 15, 2014 at 186.5 and went back into surgery and have the lap band again. Since then by sheer will I have lost 20 pounds!! 20 pounds is a lot of weight and I am so proud because I am not in the green zone and I get hungry a lot. My worst problem that made me gain all the weight was late night eating. I would take my Ambien and be in a altered state and get up and eat and eat and eat. Now I don't eat past 7 and sometimes I don't eat past 5pm. It is hard but I am doing it and the weight is coming off. I …

On a July 15th 2013 I walked into my hospital, shaking and scared and almost changed my mind. I cried and sobbed and 2 nurses held my hand and assured me that this was the right choice for me. That I had come too far to give up now! The date of my surgery I weighed 343 lbs. My highest weight was 350. Today I weigh 199 lbs!! Woooohooooo I am so happy to be able to run and play with my 2 beautiful children and to finally be comfortable in my own skin again!!

I am now, as of today, three weeks post op. I have to say that pre-op and even surgery, other than the wake up after surgery and feeling like a truck hit me, has not been bad. Pain if any was truly minimal and I am happy with that. Adjusting to eating however is a challenge. I was counting down the weeks and days to finally be able to eat something solid and once I was clear nothing solid stays down. I seem to be on a mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, ice cream (not good for you), applesauce, cream of wheat and Soup diet now. Yesterday I filled my plate (haha) with three baby white potatoes that had been baked and three Swedish meatballs. Two bites of the potatoes a…

I just wanted to introduce myself. I decided back in April that I wanted to have VS after two friends of mine had it done last year. I actually heard about this site at my last support group meeting. I don't have a surgery date yet, I'm in the middle of getting the insurance requirements done. I have one more support group meeting and two more nutrition consults to go. I bought my post-op Vitamins (Centrum chewables) and I'm in the process of looking for my Protein powder. Any suggestions for a tasty one? I'm scared to death but I know I can't continue the way I am now. My two friends are just over a year out and are both having problems. One had to have hernia …

Something I just figured out that I thought I would share. Along with a ton of walking I have been doing post op, I have figured out that if you sit on your toilet, and very slowly rotate your torso back and forth just a little bit (causing no pain), this really helps get rid of the gas. If you are having problems with this, give it a try.

My starting weight before surgery was 356 and today I'm 318 .I'm 5 feet 11 inches and I just started on the soft diet .

I went to see my surgeon yesterday an I have went from 230 lbs to 182.6 lbs in 5 months it is kinda a slow process for me an I go up an down between 182 an 175 because last week I was lighter . I started walking about 2 weeks ago an I have gained 5lbs don't really know what's going on . Still happy with my sleeve though.

I didn't get surgery July 7th because my insurance was terminated days before my surgery.. Soooooo sad. But all I have to do is reactivate it and call my surgeon back with an effective date of my insurance and get a new date.. Anyone familiar with this happening

My name is Sarah. I'm 29, and I am a law student. I am married and have 1 child. I am excited to proceed with my surgery. I meet with the surgeon on July 17 and will schedule my surgery at thst time. my insurance approval was very easy, weight management for 6 months, psyc eval, and wellness check up prior to the appointment. I expect to lose 90-115 pounds total. I am excited for this change in my life. The food restrictions will be easy because I really eat healthy alreaxy. I gained a great deal of weight after being diagnosed with Cushing's. I put on 80 pounds as a result, and I had 20 pounds from after pregnancy. My husband was deployed and I made unhealthy foo…

Just got my sleeve last Friday. I have been having killier back pain in my lower back and when I sleep on my right side I get extreme cramps/pains on my left side by my gallbladder right by my rib cage. When I sleep on my back and inhale I feel like my stomach is caving in and I loosed my breath followed with cramping as well. Is this normal? Has anyone else had these problems post op? I know it will probably get better and go away eventually but I am concerned because I got my surgery done in Mexico and I have no health insurance at this moment and not even sure if doctor will see or treat me here in the U.S.

STill going through the insurance process! Hopefully will be banded in September or October. Anybody have advice for me? Anything will be great! Thanks! <3

Has anyone tried sugar free ice cream?

I just had to share because you guys are the ones who know how exciting/scary this day is- just came from my surgeon's office and I'm scheduled for July 28th! I put it off until the end of July for a few reasons, but that date will insure that I can celebrate my special needs daughter's birthday with her(she looks forward to it all year), take a mini vacation to recharge my batteries before the pre op diet and try to set myself up for success. After all the months of testing, whoop, there it is.

I am new to this but would love any advice I can get... I just got my approval today and will be having surgery mid august. I have read as much as I could but would love some first hand advice about what to expect, and also suggestions for before and after surgery. Any advice will be greatly appreciated ????

I love salads! I am about 10 weeks out of surgery. If I just take small bites and chew,chew ,chew. Why cant I eat salad?

Hello I will be banded within 2 months and wanted to find a Lap Band Buddy who has gone through the surgery and is past the 6 month time period and is doing well. I am Hoping that someone out there can give me advise and support, and can take the time to help me through this. Thank You , Bajagal101 .

Hello! I would just like to hear some success story's. I've been struggling lately with my port flipping and all. (Just got it flipped back yesterday) was anyone banded in April and how are you doing?!!

I had my surgery July 10 and not one day has been a good day for me even after taking all my protein and water. I feel lazy, sore, and hungry all the time. When I try to watch tv I see blurry. If I walk to much I get a headache. At night I get bad acid reflux. I have pills that I take for that but it doesn't seem to work as great. So now I bought tums. As far as eating all I have is broth. I'm starting to get stress that I will ALWAYS feel this way. I see different post from ppl out of surgery the same day and they are doing so great. I just keep praying I'll have a normal day where I just feel good the worse part is I wish at times I never got the procedure. Also I tak…

I'm a year and a half out and I have only lost 85lbs. I have not gained any and I don't over eat and I am very active. I'm scared I'm stuck at the weight I'm at. I need to get another 45 lbs off to be what I consider healthy and successful. Staying motivated is extremely hard when I am all alone at this...alone any suggestions?

My surgery is 7/30 I saw the surgeon and nutritionist yesterday. I just started my first week on the liquid diet today. Next week till the surgery I start my protein shakes. So far so good I'm not hungry for food.

I had my surgery July 10 and not one has been a good day for me even after taking all my protein and water. I feel lazy, sore, and hungry all the time. When I try to watch tv I see blurry. If I walk to much I get a headache. At night I get bad acid reflux. I have pills that I take for that but it doesn't seem to work as great. So now I bought tums. As far as eating all I have is broth. I'm starting to get stress that I will ALWAYS feel this way. I see different post from ppl out of surgery the same day and they are doing so great. I just keep prayer I'll have a normal day where I just feel good the worse part is I wish at times I never got the procedure. Also I take b12…

Hello I'm a newbie! Got my sleeve done on July 10th, surgeon found a benign tumor attached to my esophagus and stomach when he went in. Surgery took several hours because of that. I feel like things happen for a reason, and if I hadn't decided to make this journey who knows where I would be in a few years. Six days out I'm adjusting. Not hungry. Having an odd craving for the juice in green olive jar. Having some difficulty with my multivitamin, which resulted in my first real bout of having some come back up. Besides that adjusting and so happy I made this decision after years. I'm down 30 pounds since the first day I stepped on the scale at my first consult. Lov…

I am having a tough time getting in my 800 calories a day and the recommended no more than 300 calories a serving. Any suggestions? Second question is, I have not had a bowel movement in 4 days and I am taking a stool softener. Any suggestions??

Ok, I've read a lot about it but with 5 days out, I've not experienced it, and hopefully never will but just in case, can someone give me their personal experience with it. Not the dictionary version but your own personal experience. I previously had the LapBand and I vomited all the time, a painful vomit where I had to go lay down afterwards. I just want to know if the two compares. I currently have the sleeve BC of too many complications with the Lapband. Also were there certain things that would trigger dumping syndrome and for us "newbies" must stay way from. Thanks for sharing!

I had my surgery on July 9th and came home July 10th.. All day on the 10th every time I drank Water I would throw up and have dry heaves.. It feels like the water weighs a ton.. I'm having a lot of pain in my chest, I suppose that's gas... Has anyone else experienced this?.. How long will it last? Thanks!

I am a little nervous. I had my pre-op appt. today and I have surgery on Wednesday. I pray there are no leaks and all goes well!

STill going through the insurance process! Hopefully will be banded in September or October. Anybody have advice for me? Anything will be great! Thanks! <3

Omeprazole? My doctor gave me this to take after my gastric sleeve. However, it's not liquid and I thought I could only have liquids and it stated on the box not to crush? Has anyone else had to take these and how did they go down?

Had my surgery on july 8, 2014. I was a lapband to sleeve revise. (No issues with the band....simply tired of the inconsistencies) Highest weight before band: 334 Lowest weight with band: 243 Sleeve surgery day: 230 Not trying to focus on all negatives here because i am only 8 days out. Just providing insight to those pre-sleeved and looking to find similar stories like mine so far. --Ask for pain and nausea meds per IV PRIOR to waking up from surgery. I had a horrible experience because they failed to do this. --Take liquid meds if possible. Crushing pills are not tasteful in the least no matter what u mix them in. Don't learn the hard way and get a pill lod…

Hi everyone. I am scheduled to have my gastric sleeve on July 25. Now I know that having the gastric sleeve surgery, will change my life. But there are a couple things that I am really worried about. I suffer from chronic migraines. I worry that the liquid diet will cause my migraines to go haywire. I worry that I will not be able to take the medications that I must take when I have severe migraines. I take Vicodin or Percocet. Can I still take them during the pre-op liquid diet? I have been looking at a product called Zija and I am really torn between doing that and doing the bariatric surgery. Has anyone tried Zija? I would not be interested in doing Zija for ma…