Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I just wanted to tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving!! What are you thankful for? Myself I am thankful for all my wonderful family and friends, including all my new friends I have made on this site. I am thankful for a healthy year for both me and my wife, we have both been blessed. I am definitely thankful that hard work pays off. Yes, I brag abit...and so should you all. Here is what I am most thankful for...

I've heard a good and healthy way to speed up weight loss post banding is to go on the medifast program. Has anyone done this? What were your results? My doctor said he'd be fine with me using this. Just wondering if the weight loss effect is worth the additional cost.

Hello:Dancing_biggrin: Anybody else out there from Santa Fe,NM??? I am 58 years old, retired and thinking of LBS to improve my health(diabetes, cholestral, sleep apnea, GERD, and morbid obesity!). This year I have taken up tennis and play frequently. I am very passionate about it. I have been attempting to lose weight and get physically fit in order to improve my response to surgery. I am considering Dr. Ariel Ortiz in TJ for my banding. Do his nurses speak English? ironbutterfly

Hi, I am scheduled to have to have my surgery 12-11-13 Just looking for some buddies to meet to ask before and after questions with. Great site with tons of info.

Grrr. How do I fix this?

So I started on this journey at the end of July, 2013 and it has been a roller coaster ride ever since. Highs and lows, but mostly highs. I am roughly 100 pounds overweight on a 5'3" frame. Yikes! I have three children ages 25, 23 and 9 and I would like to be around for them for a long time!!! I never used to be overweight, in fact I think I looked pretty good in my younger years and then the unwanted weight, depression, weight, guilt, weight, depression ( you know the drill) kept lurking. A friend of mine had the band surgery 7 years ago and lost 90 pounds, I was amazed! But still scared and thought I don't need surgery, I can do it myself! Yeah right! I would l…

Hi all, I'm scheduled for December 12, I'm really really struggling with the pre op diet!!! I'm supposed to be on it for 3 weeks but just can't stick to it anyone with me??

Hi there, Well I'm new here. I was banded 3 1/2 yrs ago. Did okay at first, lost 60+ , then the last Yr started having horrible reflux. They said I was too tight so I ended up having 3 unfills, needless to say no more weight loss n actually gained a few. The reflux got so bad we ended up taking almost all fluid it of my band...I was afraid to get a fill again n now I've gained all my weight back , I've had enough and tomorrow I go back for a fill n try it again. I'm afraid my surgeon is going to tell at me, I'm ashamed n embarrassed but I need to do it for my health. I know now what I need to do, I have admitted I'm a food addict. My husband doesn't care what I weigh n…

So I started on this journey at the end of July, 2013 and it has been a roller coaster ride ever since. Highs and lows, but mostly highs. I am roughly 100 pounds overweight on a 5'3" frame. Yikes! I have three children ages 25, 23 and 9 and I would like to be around for them for a long time!!! I never used to be overweight, in fact I think I looked pretty good in my younger years and then the unwanted weight, depression, weight, guilt, weight, depression ( you know the drill) kept lurking. A friend of mine had the band surgery 7 years ago and lost 90 pounds, I was amazed! But still scared and thought I don't need surgery, I can do it myself! Yeah right! I would l…

Hi should I be concerned that I can drink like triple that amount with no discomfort or nausea. Please give feedback on this. Thanks.

Miss Mac here.....Yesterday, I finally got my insurance approval after four months of program compliance. Now I understand what others were talking about concerning a combination of relief and sheer panic. My sleeve date is December 23, going home on Christmas day.......so shopping is done and gifts are distributed. Everybody is doing their celebrating at someone else's house this year. That way, I can come home with my sweetie and relax and heal. Thankfully, I did well enough with the pre-op weight loss - 25 pounds - that I only have to do the liver shrinking liquid diet for one week. My supplies are in and this is getting real. See you all on the other side of the loser…

Today was my 2 week post-op visit and it was great news! My blood pressure was perfect (110/78), my blood sugar numbers average 112 (no diabetic meds since I left the hospital), incisions are healing nicely and I can move onto mushy foods! I have lost 33 pounds and several inches! I've been on liquids for two weeks and now I can have real food. Of course, it will need to be either mushy or puréed, but my dinner tonight was fabulous! Tonight I had a half cup of refried Beans thinned out with salsa and sour cream. Oh my stars - it was awesome and I was stuffed! My NUT said tomorrow I can have mashed potatoes, green been casserole, deviled eggs and puréed corn casserole…

If your self paying do you still have to go through the the requirements that people go through when dealing with the insurance?

Do you still exercise at all or will you still lose weight without exercising?

My name is nancy and I just turned 50 and now I am in the process of having the sleeve done. But I was going for the gastro bypass but the surgeon said that the sleeve will be more affective for me. I am taking 37 pills a day and I weigh 264. I been going to meetins for three Mondays and was suppose to lose 11lbs so they can do the surgery and I have not lost them. I start with a shake in the am but then at snack time I have to eat something light (by nutri) but then it open my stomach up and I will eat all day long. I just hate that. I am confused because I have been hearing that the sleeves is dangerous more the the gastro bypass. If you have had it done ca…

So I had turned 30 in September and was sleeved on November 14. I am hoping for a new lease on life. I started at my highest weight 339. Throughout all pre op weigh ins nd liquid pre op diet I went to 331, 321 and I was sleeves weighing 321 that morning. I went today for my first post op visit- 301!!!!!!! I am almost out of the 3's!! I have had no complications. No vomiting. No gerd or reflux. Truthfully I feel awesome! I NEVER feel hungry also. I take my antacid pill in the am and I am still sleeping on my back, which I really don't like, so at night I take 20ml of pain mess to put me to sleep while ok not comfy on my back and that's it!!! Normal day I start with pull…

hey everyone, so I was banded in 2010. I actually tried in 2009, ran into some complications, so i went back in 2010 for my official surgery. At my heaviest, i was 370+ lbs, and i never went into this surgery with the mindset I wanted to be skinny. I actually dont mind being a plus size women, but a healthy one was my goal. By the end of 2010, I had reached my goal of 250 lbs. I felt good, looked good, and was doing well. i maintained that wright loss for about 2 1/2 yrs and then desired to get to 225. i didnt want another fill, I think Im at 7cc's (or whatever you call then) because I didnt want to be completely dependant on the band, but just wanted a little push …

I had my sleeve surgery 8 days ago, and honestly I don't even like to talk about it in here because I feel so guilty that it went so perfectly. Other people struggle with a great number of things-- pain, nausea, trouble sipping, trouble hydrating, trouble tolerating Protein etc. I've had no problems. NONE. My best friend had sleeve surgery a few months ago and had a great number of challenges AND ended up having to have hemorrhoid surgery. She's very happy my surgery went so well, but she's like, "you ate two scrambled eggs last night!?!!" She wasn't able to eat mushies for several weeks! So the reason I decided to share my story was to let those who are pre-op…

Hello my name is Betsy.... today is my first comsulation I am really sike up for this visit.. so wish me luck... and i will post about later when i get back.

How do people get strictures and malabsorption? I notice many.people say with the sleeve it happens a lot.

My dear friend got the sleeve done almost two years ago, and my mom is getting a RNY in the next two weeks. I'm getting a lot of good first hand info from them, but I have so many emotions and craziness. I'm 29, and I started chubbing out as a preteen. Puberty was not kind and being the first girl in sixth grade to get your boobs and your butt in gave me a huge complex. Add that we were dirt poor (but not dirt poor enough for assistance) and had a shaky food situation at home. My free lunch at school was sometimes my only meal of the day and it was nutritionally suspect. Those times when we did have money to spare, we ate pizza or got ice cream because Mom couldn't…

hi everyone I'm having a problem.I got sleeve a month ago and two weeks I stopped losing weight had anyone had this problem or any advice and what am I doing wrong?

Extra, Extra, read all about it! http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/234244-new-guy-here-youve-got-to-read-this/page-18

Has anyone tried it and how was it?

Has anyone had the sleeve over 400lbs? Looking for a mentor in my area which is ct?

A there any one that can shay their pics

So I finally applied for horizon today since my school insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery but horizon does.. Anyone knows if horizon blue cross blue shoes epo plus makes you wait the 3months/6months before approved? Please please please share.... I'm in the process f getting cleared from my cardiologist only 3 more tests to go woohooo .. I found out that I have a little high cholesterol and blood pressure. I am finally a BMI of 35.5... This should be enough right? I'm ready for my sleeve today too but I will have to probably wait grr

After months of fighting with Aetna, Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy won my case against Aetna! I'll be sleeved on Tuesday, December 17th. Last summer I was denied by Aetna FOUR days before my scheduled surgery. I was heartbroken, but Kelley and Walter at Lindstrom saved the day! I'm getting married next year and I can't wait to walk down the aisle, a slimmer and healthier me.

Hi all for some reason, I stopped getting emails from this group. I had my lapband done 2/2/10 and I lost 89 lbs in 15 months and then about 7 more. At this time I gained about 10 back, in the past 7 months I have had quite a few surgeries and procedures on my legs. Which made my exercise difficult. I also want to say that if any of you read the wonderful Lapband Surgery book by Alex. I am the Ilene from Florida and New York. I think my head swelled up when I saw the book. There are 11 pages with me. At this juncture of my like I would like to create more friendships. I need support to remove this 10 lbs. Oh funny thing is that I shrunk 2 inches so that really messed …

Has any one tried it or know much about it? I saw a commercial about it being high on protein???

Today is day 3 post-op. No pain, feeling full all the time and second guessing my decision. I've never been one to turn away from food so this is all new to me. Food has never let me down and has always been my comfort. I have never gone to the kitchen and felt full just by looking at food. This is a foreign feeling to me that is going to take a while to adjust to. I keep reminding myself of all the reasons I considered before I had my surgery. It took me 5 months to finally schedule due to my fears. Trying to let go of my comfort is going to be my hardest challenge but my life, health and my family are more than worth the fight!!!!!

I had my surgery last Monday, November 11th at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC. Dr. Edward Yatco was my surgeon. I was hospitalized until November 13th and have been home recovering. Needed some painkillers for the first 2 days, but other than residual gas from the carbon dioxide during surgery, I can't say I have any discomfort. I have a frig and cupboard full of Protein shakes, Jello, Consomme, cases of Water ... I can feel the fullness after a few sips, or a half-teaspoon of broth, or Jello, but except for some occasional hunger, I am feeling remarkably good and plan to return to my desk at work for a few hours tomorrow. My first post-op exam is If you had surgery last …

Ok good morning!!! I'm getting the lap band ,but not sure if I should get it done while I'm in nursing school. I want to get it done over Christmas break which out for 3 weeks or should I do it another time ?

​Hello, I am 4 days post op and am still in a lot of pain. I am taking the liquid pain meds which helps, but the pain is excruciating especially when trying to get out of bed. I have been walking which helps the healing process, but since I had a thick stomach wall full of fat, it made the surgery challenging for my surgeon. I am having difficulty consuming the 60 grams of Protein, so far the most I have consumed is 23 grams. Any advice on getting the 60 grams of protein needed on this liquid stage?

Ok, I opened up a little this morning...and it got me to thinking I need to fully tell my story. It will be good for retrospect later on. I was adopted at only a few days old to my adoptive parents. At the age if 3 my dad left my mom and I became the product of divorced parents. We split our time with parents 50/50 until the age of 6 when my mom picked up and moved 2 hours away from my dad. At that point we only saw our dad every other weekend/holidays. That was rough as a child. Any club or sport I was in was disrupted because I had to go to my dads for the weekend. I stayed active as a child. I was involved in ballet, soccer, swim team, and lots of active activiti…

Thanksgiving day I will progress to pureed foods. I am very excited about that. I am preparing some dishes that I can freeze in 3 oz quntities. Will make it easier during the week whe I go to work. This coming week I only work Monday and will be off the rest of the week. My brother lives in NY while I live in PA. Tuesday I will pack up and stay with his family for the week. I was trying to work on a menu for myself for the week. Well today my sister in law called to tell me she spent a few hours on the net yesterday looking up blogs from sleevers to get ideas of what I will be able to eat. She told me she went shopping and picked up SF pudding, greek yogurt…

I read something today that hit this journey of ours on the head : No one starts out running a marathon without taking the first step out the door... I stepped out my door on 9/16/13 ...

I am looking to meet people who have gotten the gastric sleeve. I need some questions answered

I have had lapband for 16 months I am 27 pounds from goal!! Here is my problem: I am at the point I have been at so many times as a yoyo dieter. Self sabotage :-( in the past I just would have eaten mega amounts of food. Thanks to my band I can't do that, but the urge is still there. I am well aware of how to get around band with sliders but I don't want to go there I really don't . Just having a really hard time right now.

I don't have any serious health issues other than borderline diabetes and morbid obesity. I'm afraid my insurance company may turn me down being that I have no serious health issues. Anyone ever been through any problems like this!

Love every second of my journey! 57 lbs so far another 35 to go from a size 18 to an 11 ... 2X scrubs to a med love my sleeve!

I had mine Tuesday November 19th 5 days Post Op with two days fasting before down 18 lbs already noticed the thinning face shaving this morning. Energy now coming back and heading to work Dec 1st. I threw Pain Med Prescription away right away. My 5 abdominal Hernia operations were a lot rougher this in comparison was easy. They talked about joining online forums. But I'm not into them too much, got young children, a job and generally don't like Internet except for debating freedom from the tyranny we are becoming, especially in Health and the solution is so simple. Well glad I did this sure its gonna be a nice journey.

Don't be passive in your weight loss. Make sure you exercise. In 2009, I was approved and schedule for RNY. I canceled the day before. Just didn't feel right. That day, I went into my local gym and signed up. I have been consistently working out since then. Cardio, strength training. I invested in a personal trainer because I knew I wouldn't waste that kind of money. I have worked out consistently, even on vacation, except when my back flares up. If I don't exercise, my back flares up even more. Sometimes you have to push through the pain to come out on the other side. The reason why is she sharing this, you ask? Exercise is nature's spanx and girdle. I started thi…

Has anyone had the Lap Band while dealing with PCOS?

I'm pre-op doing all my testing before I can get my surgery date.. I'm excited and nervous But ready!!! I've been hearing ALOT of horror stories.. Please share some that you have heard or experienced.. Thanks!!

Was banded 10/07. First 3 yrs were amazing. Lost 105lbs. Felt great. Confidence was great. Now 3yrs after that with a revision of the band surgery on my belt I've gained 70lbs back. I can eat anything portions are out of control. I know it's a tool but if I could diet /exercise I would've done it without surgery. I don't know what to do. Going in for yet another fill dec 2nd. Any ideas?? I feel defeated.

I was sleeved 11/7/12. Down -102! How's everyone doing?

im just looking around and researching ive been concidering the sleeve myself. ive notice after every one is allowed to eat "normally" the diet requires low carb high protein is this somewhat similar to Atkins ?

Hi everyone. I had my Lapro RNY last Tuesday at about noon. I am back to work today and feeling great. I am struggling a little with the high protein clear liquid diet that my doctor has put me on for two full weeks (and three days). I'm not finding it hard to get the required liquids in...just getting really bored and being mentally challenged with breaking the addiction to food. I'll admit, the surgery DOES NOT end your desire to eat...NO NO, it does not. Last night, my husband made sushi and I cried, for a long time. I just wanted to eat something...anything. But, I made it and I have a feeling that it will get easier. I I hope so at least. At my pre-op appt. I weighe…

Had to vent a few minutes ago. It was not in a negative way, but on the "Sleeve" forum I left the title, "Complications." I don't care what procedure you chose or had, don't tell your negative story then tell people don't get it. I'm sorry things didn't work out, however, everyone body handles things differently. With any surgery complications are sure to happen, not just WLS. Again, "Sorry" for any complications anyone have had, but don't encourage others not to do WLS. Its not fair to people like me who comes on a support site for support. Yes, I want to know the good and bad, but don't tell people "Not" to do it. I'm torn on this whole thing. I literally have people te…