Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

One year ago my doctor asked me if I would consider gastric bypass surgery and frankly I was appalled. I knew I was overweight but not enough to require surgery (so I thought). I said "No, I'm Italian and it would never be something I'd do". However the seed was planted and I started to do a little research. Last summer I attended a seminar that was given by Dr.Richard Ing and his staff at Bryn Mawr Hospital (outside of Philadelphia). After that evening everything clicked and I knew where I was going with this. There was so much to be done before surgery that I found myself overwhelmed but the staff made it so easy by always being available and answering even the silliest…

I had my VSG surgery 6 months ago on 11/14/13. This has been an amazing process! I have learned a lot in the past 6 months... * One bite too many will cause unbelievable pain for hours - it's not worth it. * A bagel is a gateway drug. * There is life after losing A LOT of hair. * I was more hung up about my weight than other people. * I like to cross my legs now that I am able. * I actually like to exercise. * I don't mind flying on a plane now that I fit in the seat. * I can eat around my sleeve, but I don't feel good physically or mentally afterwards. * I have a sleeve of steel which is a double edged sword. * There are days I will still feel like…

Hi everyone! Banded in January 2012, at my lowest I'd lost 83 lbs, now gained a bit back from eating around the band (ice cream, my nemesis) and have lost about 70 lbs. I have never felt full, but was restricted enough to not be able to eat as much (11.5 cc's in a 12 cc band). So my doctor closed his practice and I went to see another lap band doc. He does all his fills, etc. under fluro- so he discovered I had a hiatal hernia. He has taken all my Fluid out, I'm on a "band holiday" and will have the hernia repaired July 2. Then after the recovery from that he said we'd refill the band. But to the question- he said that at surgery he can make the band "look" like it s…

Today marks 3 months I decided to make a life changing decision to have gastric bypass. As of today I'm down 88 pounds. I'm over whelmed with joy. I never thought I would be able to exercise or even get on rides with my daughter. This is one decision I do not regret. Any February surgeries Holla at me would love to here how you guys are doing!

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Well I've lost a total of 10 pounds in less than a month and I feel good I haven't had to surgery yet, but I'm scared to have the surgery but excited at the same time.

Hi everyone! My name is Natalie. I will be having gastric bypass on Monday, May 19th. I will post a pre-operative picture to this thread. I can't believe how fast my pre-op time has gone! In December 2013, I attended an informational seminar with my sister to learn more if I would be a candidate for weight loss surgery. My insurance required a total of 4 pre-operative visits. Being a full time nursing, the time has just flown by . Suddenly, it is the month of surgery and I am feeling a mix of emotions. I am beginning to feel nervous due to never having any prior surgeries or hospitalization, however even more excited in thinking of all the opportunities that could …

How are you all doing?

I don't post often but do look daily at the threads! I'm 7 1/2 months post-op and down 110 lbs. For the first time in over 19 years there is a 1 as the first number on the scale! I know only fellow sleevers can understand the pure joy from that accomplishment! I just recently it my first big plateau of 3 weeks! (I know I've been lucky and shouldn't say a word) I've seen were many have this the 3 week plateau a month out. I continued to follow the eating plan and exercise program even though the scale wasn't moving. I was definitely discouraged and was even ready to shoot the scale! Lol. The point is I did't give up (or shoot the scale) because I knew it would pass and …

I am only 18 years old and was just banded on Thursday. The reason I got the band is a little different than most but i am still grateful for the opportunity. When I was 14 I was diagnosed with a some medical problems that no normal 14 year old should have to worry about. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, Hypothyroidism, and very high cholesterol. I grew up in a very active family; my mom is a personal trainer and dietitian so I was definitely a healthy active kid. However, for some weird reason, I was very over weight despite being on my school's swim team, soccer team, and having a personal trainer. I got on medications for the problem…

before lapband After 14mos later

I am 4 months post op, and have yet to feel support from those I love. In fact, many things have been said behind my back, things like "she only did it to lose weight","of course, anyone can do it, its the easy way out" & ohh the mockeries that have been made from it. it really sucks, but when im feeling down I always come on here and read other stories, so I thought maybe its time for me to tell mine. im just afraid, of people judging me. most people do it because of my age (20) I actually had to request a different anesthetist because when I did my visit her first question to me was "why are you doing this? you are still young, you really dont need this. if teen…

Hi all...new here and really nervous. I need to lose 80-100 lbs and on my way. Start my diet next Friday to shrink liver. Then surgery is June 6th. I'm questioning myself ... Is this normal? What's the typical weight loss after 60 days? Help.. I need support and friends lol

Hi there I am Angie and I had my lap band surgery today. If anyone could give me and tips or suggestions I would really appreciate it! I am 203 and my dr seems to think I will lose 80 lbs in a year

So I am 6 weeks post op, and since surgery I have lost 24 lbs since I started my journey I have lost 88lbs, I am half way there !!! So at 6 weeks how do I feel... Well my energy is back to "normal" and I can tolerate most foods ( apart from really processed or deep fried) , I have learnt that thanks to the sleeve I can no longer " pig out" I simply can not get more food down and if I try I throw it up so what's the point ? Lol My clothes are all so baggy but I am not spending a lot of money on new ones ... Yet:-) I have had a few melt downs .. Because I can't eat or there is nothing I want and everyone else is eating cake and fries blah but I have had a couple of c…

Hello, I'm 7 days post op and I can't get over this exhaustion!!! My head also hurts. I'm only able to drink water, pedialyte, and very little broth. I saw that I can also drink carnation instant breakfast but can't find any unsweetened. Any suggestions I can't take this!

Hi everyone. New here. Just thought I would check it out to try to calm my nerves. Reading everyone's posts is very encouraging and glad I found this. My surgery is Tuesday May 20th and I am having a sleeve done. I have a hernia that occupies 80% of my abdomen leaving my bowel exposed. So they aren't sure if they can do it laparoscopic and are concerned with puncturing the bowel. I have had an ileostomy before and NOT FUN! I do not want to wake up with another. So I guess the majority of the fear is not knowing what I'm going to wake up with at this point. It is good to know there is support on here. Almost everyone is in fear of what's to come and it's great to rea…

Problem in Pakistan is we don't have nutritionist here who can deal with post sleeve patient. So manly our surgeons have to deal with it all. As I m plastic surgery resident too I don't feel much of a problem I visit my surgeon from my ward. But it's difficult here. I have been advised by my colleagues and seniors not to undergo the procedure. Etc etc..... I had a psychiatrist friend she eased me thru my decision making bcoz 2 days before surgery I was going to chicken out. I talked with her and cleared my mind. Finally was ready on Monday to get admitted for my surgery on 13th may (Tuesday), 2014. Zero and the 1st post operative day were best I slept most of the time. B…

I believe at my highest weight I was 405. I was really sick and my CEO was very concerned and he paid for me to see a nutritionist in San Francisco.. I was so humbled that a non family member cared so much about my health. Before I saw the nutritionist I got really sick with pneumonia and it had been my experience that i tended to lose 10lbs when I get that sick. So after the sickness I went to see the nutritionist and my weight was 395lbs. I was in shock when i realized that I was probably 405lbs. Now I am 100lbs lighter thanks to the nutritionist i lost 50 but put gained weight back to 383lbs before i started to seriously work on my sleeve surgery. I am so happy for b…

Does anyone know the visiting hours for Winthrop hospital??

I had a 2 week liquid diet before my op. No food allowed. It was difficult but it has helped transition through my post op. I stayed overnight at the hospital and recommend doing so for at least one night. I didn't have a tremendous amount of pain in my stomach but the pain in my shoulder was horrible. It felt like a pinched nerve. I couldn't lay down or sit down for about a day without medication or a heating pad. It was the gas build up. I take my multivitamins everyday and it helps with my energy. Still can't get my full liquids or protein in daily but I am slowly increasing. I have bad acid reflux today but feel good for the most part. I lost 40lbs pre op and can'…

I had my surgery on the 6th of May. Why do I still feel hungry, and why am I depressed? I'm kinda regretting I had this surgery. I miss eating out with my friends already!!!!

I'd anyone else get hiccups after surgery?

It has been 3 days since surgery. The only issue I have is gas pains, which is normal. Trying to get all the fluid in is work. I love sugar free popcycles. Good luck for those getting ready for their surgery.

Bout to head to surgery can't sleep ... It got moved from 7am to 9:30 but I'm ready scared but ready .. Hopefully I get to post sometime tomorrow

“Daddy, why do you have such a big belly?” innocently asked by my precocious five year old Son Connor, that was the spark that lit the fuse to my deciding to change my life. Sometimes we need not be shouted at to be shaken from a slumber. Sometimes a whisper is louder than a shout. A few months back, I was walking through life in a perpetual haze. I believed I was a happy individual, I am surrounded by a loving Wife, amazing children, and a diverse and loving group of friends & family. I was however overlooking the fact that I was physically careening down a slope at breakneck speed. I have always been a large, “big-boned”, individual. For most of my adult life I was …

Hi! I'm newish to the forums-- I've just been approved by UHC for RNY. I am so excited and nervous and I have no idea what it's going to be like to not be fat. I've never not been fat. I'm an identical twin, and my sister had the surgery in October of 2012. She's gone from 365lbs to 145lbs. I'm so incredibly proud of her, but it's been really eye opening to see how people treat her differently now that she's thin. I don't think the surgeon's office knows I've been approved-- I just called to check in and they had just put it in the computer. I have to wait until Monday to get a pre-op apppointment and all of that stuff.

H all. My surgery is May 20 and my children have an awards ceremony on the 27th. I really don't want to miss it so I was just wondering how all of you post op sleepers are feeling days after surgery and how soon did you get back out and start doing things outside of the home?

I was sleeved on 4/25. As of Monday I've started walking a 1.5 miles per day on my treadmill. Trying to keep the weight loss going & build back up my energy . Just wondering if anyone else is working out yet?

I am 5 days post op and I have incredible bad pains in my stomach. I walk , I sip I am taking gas x nothing helps . Any suggestions?

My nerves are in overdrive, I'm approaching 39 in July and I know I want to have made a change by 40. This is the closest I have ever felt to actually being able to achieve my goal. Insurance has approved the procedure so the ball is rolling. I'm at a point where I am over food and just want the basics but as i approach a surgery date I have thoughts of "my last meal". Is this a normal thought? Just wondering

Help. Had sleeve done monday. Starving and hate this liquid crap. Isopure so sweet i can hardly drink it. Ice pops jello ugh gross. Also suffering from bad gas. I have been walking but feel like my insides are falling out. Any advise?

So yesterday I had my first appointment. "Intake Day." I met with a psychologist, nutritionist, physician assistant, insurance specialist and my patient advocate. Everything went really well, and everyone seems to agree that I'm a good candidate for the gastric sleeve. It turns out my insurance only requires a 3 month supervised diet, so assuming everything else goes well, I could be looking at a late summer/early fall surgery date. But we'll see. Next on the list is an EGD. It's a procedure I'm only vaguely familiar with, so naturally I'm nervous about it, but I'm told it's no big deal. I just hope it goes smoothly.

Hi all had my surgery April 17th starting weight was 260. And I'm going back and forth from 227-225 excited about my weight loss ready to start my T25 (a work out Dvd) on Monday I'll be a month out so I think I'll be ready. I have been doing my shake weight for my flabby arms. And is working so far!. Extremely excited and can't wait to see how much weight I will lose! What other work out tapes or DVDs do you guys do? Would love to hear it!

So I understand that constipation is a side effect of wls but I wasn't prepared for this! I went from going 2-3 times a day (bad dieting) to not even remembering the last time I went lol. Well tonight was horrible! My stomach hurt so bad from not going I started to feel nauseous and had cramps in my back.. I took some stool softeners and to no avail. Eventually I broke down and gave myself a suppository and man the relief! lol.. Ok I'm sorry I put all my business out there and had a TMI moment but don't say I didn't warn you. For those who empathize, is there something magical out there I should know about to relieve that situation??? And how long does this last for?

Hello All I am new to this Forum... I had the gastric sleeve ATTEMPT in 2012. It was aborted due to an "enlarge liver". I was beyond upset when this happen...not to mention the 2 weeks it took to recuperate with NO PAIN MEDS!!!! It's something that is a constant reminder ...especially looking at my scars... 2014 and I want to retry to get the Gastric Sleeve... I currently weigh 220 / I'm 5'3 and my liver functions are : ALT- 68 (range 2-40) * slightly high AST-54 (range 2-35) * slightly high ALK- 108 (range 20-125) The same hospital that I had the surgery is looking over my info to see if it's possible. Did anyone have an enlarge liver and slightly elevated live…

I was sleeved on May 6. I knew I had a hiatal hernia that was going to be repaired, but when my doc went in, apparently it was HUGE! I was in surgery an extra hour. When I woke up in my room, the only discomfort I had was like gas trapped under my left shoulder. I thought "oh I can deal with this." Then the vomiting started. There was no nausea or anything. Come to find out my esophagus was swollen shut and NOTHING and I mean nothing was getting through. Ice chips, popsicles, SALIVA, nothing! Can you say miserable. I had to stay in the hospital an additional 5 days including mother's day. Finally the swelling went down and I'm able to keep liquids down and I feel 100% be…

[ATTACH]44395[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]44396[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]44397[/ATTACH] I had Surgery on May 31, 2013. Surgery weight was 267 as of today I am 157. [ATTACH]44398[/ATTACH]

I just experienced my first stuck food. Holy painful! I had half of a slice if deli turkey. I though I chewed it up enough but apparently not... Tips to avoid this in the future?

So ready went to my pre-op class yesterday and then they say I have to give my self blood thinners for 10 day in really scared

So, I have posted small bits of my journey here, this place was a huge help in the pre op phase. So a quick overview: I started my journey to Lapband Sept 2013, weighing 269 at 5'4" By date of Surgery Jan, 30th 2014 I was already doing good, I started dietary changes early and followed the pre op diet religiously. I weighed 236, and the weight was falling off quick. I am now three months, almost four? Months out, I weigh 193lbs. I listen to what my body tells me, I've gone from a 4xl to a L-XL. A size 20 pants to size 12, and those are loose on me. I'm at 4ccs, and so far so good. I still maintain personal choices of a very strict diet, more strict than the average…

Wow, Id like the license number of the truck I think ran over me. I never knew so much pain could be caused from a tiny bite of food... My tummy hates me right now It can only get better I say to myself. My surgeon told me I did so well I could come home the day after my surgery. Not sure if thats a good thing or bad lol.

It's amazing how 11 pounds can make you feel totally different!!! Currently down 113 pounds!! Recently just went from 350 to 339 and I feel and look different!!! This journey has been nothing but amazing for me!!!

I just had surgery on April 25, 2014 along with 2 of my best friends. What a painful 2 weeks it has been! We are finally feeling better though. We get our first fill in 2 more weeks. So anxious to feel restriction & begin losing.

Im 7 days post op and im already down 11 lbs woo hoo! Im enjoying it now cause i know a stall will come a few months down the line.

Soo.... I couldn't wait until the 16th which would be my 1 month post op. I will be officially down 50lbs (including pre op). I can't believe it wow! My family has noticed a difference this pass weekend. I just love the compliments omg keep em coming. This is gonna be such an expensive journey, but worth it, i need a new wordrobe anyway my jeans are sliding off me and shirts fitting lose. In other news, I recently shared with everyone that my Co - worker is a hater. She has not said anything about my 50 lbs down. Not that I aspect her too, but for some reason she continues to give me her "old clothes" that no longer fit her. Now when I first started this job I was a lo…

Ok I'm finally down to an 18 in pants which I plan to continue to shop at old navy, lane Bryant, and target for those but I'm now wearing an xl or even large in some tops. I go to those three stores and that's fine but I want to venture out some for shirts. I don't want to go to a store though that runs small and look silly or feel sad trying and not fitting. So I would love some suggestions for places that have xl that runs regular or even a tad big. Any help from ppl who already have explored

I am so pumped!!! I ate half a chicken wing & it stayed down!!!!!! No sweating, no nausea, no vomiting!!! YESSSS!!!!!

Allow myself... to introduce myself I've been a long time participant in the Sleeve forums. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, 19-May. Today I had my final pre-op appointment, and while the doc was reviewing my chart, he saw something he hadn't caught before. Polyps from my EGD, coupled with GERD, he started thinking bypass. A call to the other doc who did my EGD, and it was set. Just like that. So I've been studying and researching sleeve since I started this, and while I was somewhat familiar with RNY, I never put any time into it. Now I'm in crash-course mode!!! Any tips would be appreciated! Best, John

Hello. I have been looking into sleeve surgery for a long while now. Finally submitted my forms to OSU Medical Center in Columbus OH. My Insurance said they don't have requirements, just whatever OSU deems necessary. Does that sound right for anyone else with this insurance? I have read a couple posts where the Dr submitted everything to BC/BS in other states and it came back requiring proof of failed dieting with PCP. I have had the psych evaluation, medical and nutritional consults. Next week I start a 4 week pre/post nutritional class 1x a week. After that they will schedule a meeting with the surgeon. Does this sound about normal? I don't want any surprise…