Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

q

Hello everyone, My surgery is rearing it's head, coming up on March 24th so I thought I would give you some insight on my journey. Maybe you can relate, maybe not. If my story resonates with one person than I am glad I posted! I decided to look into weight loss surgery 2 1/2 years ago when I hit an all time high of 318lbs. After numerous failed attempts at weight watchers, hcg, medifast... you name it.. I knew something had to be done. I suffer from depression and PTSD. A huge part of my weight gain can be directly related to events in my childhood. I grew up in a well off family, I never starved or had to worry about not having food. It was one year after I was sexual…

Just found out 20 minutes ago that I have been approved for the gastric sleeve and my pre-op date is next Monday!!!! I couldn't be more excited and ready to start this new journey in life. I will be sure to keep everything and everyone posted on this upcoming and life changing event ????

Good morning everyone!!! I just received a phone call today from my doctors office saying that my insurance has approved my sleeve surgery. I’m so relieved. My doctors office submitted my info to my insurance (BCBS Federal Virginia) on Wednesday, February 26th. The insurance received the documents on Thursday, February 27th. I called the insurance on Monday, March 3rd to see if they had reached a decision and they said they were still working on it. They contacted my doctors office on Wednesday, March 4th and it was approved that fast! It took a total of 5 business days which is excellent! Best of luck to anyone out there anxiously waiting on their insurance appr…

I've been thinking what's the big deal if my food weighs 6.5 oz instead of the recommended 5 oz. I figure as long as I take 45 min to eat. What's the big deal.

A little over a year later. Started at 253 now 145. 20 pounds from goal. Thank you gastric sleeve. Changed my self esteem changed my life. I wish i had better preop pictures but I always stayed away from cameras. The first two are a day before surgery the last one was a couple weeks ago. I'd have this surgery again and again. The first few months adjusting was Hell but I wouldn't change a thing. I love my sleeve. [ATTACH]42164[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]42165[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]42166[/ATTACH]

Hi all. Just found this site and am 11 days post op. Feeling ok now ...the only bit I felt pain is we're my port is but that is a lot better today....just can't wait to have something other than "fluids" though. Any advice for a newbie would be gratefully accepted.

Hi everybody, Last monday ive had the bypass. Tuesday i skipped painmedication, and yesterday i was home before lunch. Went to the stores, made diner for my family and had a great diner myself as well containing potatoes, green Beans, a little bit of gravy and milk to liquify it. I feel great!! Right now im eatin my grain Breakfast, and earlier i had a cup of coffee. I cant believe its going so well, kinda scares me tbh. I was a bit hungry from the 1st day on. And the second day i had yoghurt, 4 spoons, and i accidentaly drank my medium coffee quite fast... But thankfully nothing happend. No pain. It feels as if i am 'cheating' because it goes all so easy.... …

I haven't really posted much lately about my weight loss journey, just to give you all a rough summary I did the, *Lab work *Upper GI exam *4hour phycological exam *Nutritional consult *First surgeon consult *Cardiologist exam All in November this past year, preparing for surgery to take place in December, all went well except for, ironically, the very last test which was the cardio exam, I failed the stress test it showed that I had blockage and that I basically needed surgery to clear it up, the surgery took place on 12/16/13 and the cardiologist advised me that he would not clear me for sleeve surgery until after 3/16/14 needless to say I was totally taken back and som…

I will be having the life changing surgery this Friday in Dallas, TX with the great infamous Dr.Dirk Rodriguez. If there are any suggestions, please leave them all. I am looking forward to reading all the comments!

The Dr was stumped when he got inside and said my anatomy was reversed! Took an extra hour and extra incision to find my small intestine. Had my hubby worried cause it took so much longer then expected... But I'm feeling great haven't took any pain med since the day of surgery. It made me nauseated. Just sitting here hoping the Dr makes his rounds soon and hope to get discharged today!

When was your first sip of alcohol after surgery? How was it?

Any advice for calming my nervous pre surgey? I'm scheduled for the 2/10 at noon and I feel like I'm going to jump out of the window.

So So excited to be on this journey! I have alway been a skinny person, when I was little my parents sent me to a Nurtrition Camp to try and fatten me up. Then I moved out of state with my Dh, no friends, no job and messed up my back and had to have surgery, then had to have surgery on my knee. As I just sat around I just got fatter and fatter. Then depression sat in and I just kept eating and got even more fatter! We live in the woods on a mountain about 35 minutes from town, and not a very big town either. Anyway I just happened to be in town one day and saw a billboard, my heart jumped, Lap Band Surgery, oh yes that is what I wanted. Am happy to say it took me almo…

My surgery was yesterday. I woke up in a lot of pain but once they got that under control I've been feeling much better than I expected. My heart was racing last night. It was staying at 130-160 all night so they did a ct and didn't find any issues. I've done my swallow test and it went well so now I'm just waiting for my ounce of jello.

Any others out there reluctant to tell their parents that you are having this procedure done? I know they will not be happy only because of the fear of the unknown and yet I can't see myself keeping it from them and just having the surgery. I think that would really upset them. Any suggestions?

I wish I weren't at work because I want to scream! Finally got my insurance and hospital to get me approved! A nurse should be calling me to set a date. I'm thinking it will be April. Only took three years.

My surgery is tomorrow at 10:00 am eastern time in Chattanooga, TN. So far I've lost 9 pounds before my pre-op diet, and 16 pounds on my 2-week liquid pre-op diet for a total of 25 pounds. I've got about 93 pounds to go to reach my goal of 200. If you don't mind, send up a little prayer for me. I'm not nervous, I just believe in the power of prayer. Thanks in advance! Dana

Ok so I just DL this app today after a pre surgery diet crisis. My first appointment was almost a year ago, so it's been quite the journey. But I'm like 4 days away from surgery (Three days into the diet) and I'm panicking about food. I'm 6'1 350lbs and have been doing well so far just eating better (due to diabetes). But now I'm on a diet that all went all the window. I cheated today, after laying in bed for 4 hours just thinking about food I'll never have again. I know "if you can't handle the pre-op diet then how are you gonna do the post op". But I'm just wondering if anyone is going through the same thing. (I posted something like this in bypass by accident sorry…

Feels like a sharpe pain hits my stomach when I drink water or take my liquid pain meds!???

I'm on day 5 of eating like I don't have a pouch.. I've been getting sick from over eating and I'm up 6 lbs.. What is wrong with me? Why can't I control this head hunger.. I have to control this!! Help!!

Hello soon my doctor is going to send for my approval for my sleeve. I have hypothyroidism and have not lost any weight in the 6 months pre surgery program. I have yoyo'ed up and down and now for my final appointment I'm up 5 pounds! Will they not approve me? I have done the program to the T! So its frustrating. Plus I started my monthly today so I'm bloated and icky. Any advice or help is appreciated!

See my official success story here! I've since gotten to my goal weight and my life is changed forever. It's not easy but it's so worth it. I used to hate when I heard someone say "nothing tastes as good as being thin feels" but it's the absolute truth!

Hey all. I'm Melissa, and I was sleeved on November 13 2013. I started my journey weighing 340 lbs, got down to 290 my 2 week pre op, and today I weigh 227 lbs. I feel absolutely amazing. I never really notice the difference until I see pics but I'm now able to do so many things I felt I was missing out on. I run 3 miles a day, do kick boxing 6 days a week and start every morning off with my Protein shake and an insanity DVD. This is just the beginning of my journey, I am so anxious to see what's next.

I arrived for my banding surgery yesterday, 2/13/14 @ 2:30 p.m. in San Antonio, Texas, and was on the road back to Austin, Texas at 5:30 p.m....I was not nervous going into surgery - more like a kid in a candy store, I was so excited....I lost 7 pounds during 2 week low carb pre-op diet (I was hoping for more, but heck, I'll take it)....the procedure was pretty straight forward - preformed a pregnancy test, took my vitals, and started an IV...the surgeon came in and said are you ready and I said, "More than you know!" - the anesthesiologist came in and gave me something through the IV that made me dizzy, as he said it would. I was wheeled to the surgery room, moved to the…

My right side is burning very bad I think I ate to much . Can anyone tell me what is wrong when U have burning on your right side I had a lobster tail for dinner with some soup!! Do that mean u stretched your pouch???☺️????

Know it's been a while but I'm having a hard time navigating on this system, I feel super clumsy, I hope this is something that just gets better with time.

Hi everyone! I am officially on the other side! Right now I only have incision pain (like little pinches) and a sore throat. I updated my blog with the surgery day's events if you are interested in reading about it. http://banderland.weebly.com/1/post/2014/03/surgery-day.html I wish the best of luck to all who are getting banded soon! - K

Omg I cant believe I will post op by 11 or in the afternoon... surgery is planed for 9 am. Im so freakn scared. My hubby wont be able to make kuz of court n stuff but my mom will b there and stay the night with me. Omg a dream come true. I'm preparing for a lot of pain after hopeing it wont be that much but every1 is different wish me luck I will post after when im feeling a lil better thank you every a head of time for ur support. You guys make this journey so much better to handle

45 min cardio work out this morning!!! Everyone get up and get that blood flowing.

I'M not the same person I was on 1/29/14. I was sleeved 1/30/14. I've lost, gained, lost and gained over 70 pounds 4 times. I knew I needed a life change. I was fortunate enough to have the insurance company and my employer give me the financial stability to proceed with the sleeve. During this past five weeks I have been on this site at least twice daily. Although I've really never posted before the advice and inspiring stories you all share are making this journey easy for me. I'm not an outgoing person and am not real comfortable posting to a bunch of strangers about my feelings. Today I realized you all our not strangers. I look forward to hearing the accomplishments …

I'm sure many of us have had this same thought. Why can't our insurance company offer the surgery as a packaged weight loss/panniculectomy procedure? They obviously know that many of us will have skin that will hang and become bothersome. They could provide it as a step two only if your surgeon feels it necessary after reaching your BMI goal. There must be something that frightens them away from covering this type of surgery...it's not a tummy tuck only a skin removal. Does anyone have the answer to this question?

"Change you way of thinking" well, that is easier said than done. How do you bandsters deal with the brain hunger, the just constantly wanting to eat even though you know you aren't hungry! There are times I feel like im have to eat something or im gonna go crazy, even though I know its going to hurt trying to go down. Sounds crazy right?? HELP!!

I've started my weight loss journey at 267 and I am proud to say that I am 166. I went from a size 22 to a size 12. I need to lose 11 more pounds to hit my goal weight of 155. Every one tells me to stop now but not sure. [ATTACH]42057[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]42058[/ATTACH]

Well my surgery is in just under 12 hours now. I'm really nervous and excited at the same time. I really can't wait to get my new life rolling and get myself healthy! I'll post up as soon as I can with some updates. Fingers crossed!

They said I'd be ok,they told me I could eat anything in moderation. They told me my overall health would improve. What they didnt tell me was the horror stories of what it would be like if things went wrong.. My story started 3yrs ago when i agreed to the bypass.I wanted the band but was told they wouldn't do it because i wouldnt loose weight fast enough. So I agreed to the bypass,hernia repair,and a gallbladder removed.My life changed that day, but not for the better. Oh their was weight loss,over 200lbs, and yes my blood sugar was under control. Sleep Apnea....no effect. Since the surgery its been problem after problem.unable to eat most things,bowel movements are imp…

Thurs. March 6 is my surgery. I'm scared and excited at the same time. If anyone has any advice or helpful hints for me please let me know.

I am a little sad today and really missing my mom. Going through this experience has really made me miss my mom. She past away 9/24/13 from breast cancer. When I first told my mom I wanted to have the gastric sleeve surgery her first words were ok as long as you do what your suppose to do. Meaning to follow dr. directions and not cheat and make myself unhealthy after the surgery. She was so supportive. I know that she would have been at my house everyday the week before surgery helping me get my house cleaned, doing laundry, getting all my food that I was going to need the first two weeks. And she would have been at my house almost everyday helping my husband take care o…

I have heard of other people giving their LapBand a name because, well, they're part of their life now and I love that idea! I want to name mine once I get to know it better, but I'm curious....what did you name your LapBand!? Please share

Well. I'm exactly 1 month post op and I'm craving so much stuff. As if tomorrow I will be able to eat some fruits an veggies!!! Yay.. Can't wait.. Didn't realize how much I would miss things like popcorn. When is it okay to re-introduce these things again, if ever? I just don't know what I can and can't do.. I'm so confused. Do you have to stick to exactly meat veggies and fruit????

I'm finally banded as of yesterday.. I've been very sore And sleepy.. But I'm up trying keep moving.. Cheers to the start of my new journey and my new life! Oxoxox

Today I will officially be banded!!

This is my response to another poster's concern about co-morbidities. I thought it would be helpful to post it here as a separate post. Here is a complete list of co-morbidities that insurance companies use in evaluating your case. I got it from dsfacts.com. DS stands for duodenal switch. Hope this helps. Maybe you will find some you see as familiar. I also provided a heartfelt letter for my packet, which explained why I need the surgery and how my weight and co-morbities were degrading my quality of life. In that letter, I explained when I started gaining weight and listed the diets and exercise programs that have failed me. I told them about family memb…

Good morning! Well today is the day. I will be sleeved at 730 am. I am excited but very nervous! I have such wonderful friends and family who are so supportive and loving and a wonderful husband and kids. I couldn't be happier about that!

Started my liver reduction this morning. I'm dying for a cup of coffee.

I have no problem eating ANYTHING! My bad habits are back, and I eat subconciously. I have not gained any weight, but I haven't lost any either. My surgery was 12/27/13

I came across this site long after my Lapband surgery looking for some support with complications. I belong to a Facebook group for those dealing with regain and revision. I joined that group when my band complications made it pretty clear I would be losing my tool. Other online forums aren't as active as this one, so I joined. I'm a little discouraged, since the banders here seem to be closed minded about hearing about late complications of banding. I get why, since I was a very active proponent of banding, had great success and shot down anyone who dared say that bands = long term trouble. One thing I've noticed in researching my complications is that male ban…

Heya all im kelly, i will be getting my banding done on 15th of november im super excited and pretty nervous. i was diagnosed with PCOS when i was 14 and battled with my weight from then on. 7 years ago i was also diagnosed with insulin resistance making it even more difficult to loose the weight. im 29 and needing to take back control of my life and get my health and welbeing on track. and hopeing in the next 2 years post op i will have the baby ive dreamed of

I everyone. I've decided on the sleeve. I am very excited. And very scared. I have my psych appt next week then EGD then schedule surgery. Does anyone have a good word of advice for my fears. I am of course afraid to take this step and fail. Will I be able to control my cravings. Will I be strong enough. I don't want to be a model I just want to feel comfortable. Thanks in advance for anyone who reads this. :-)

23 and counting until I'm sleeved !!!