Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Tomorrow will be 3 full months after being sleeved. The first 4 weeks I was worried I made a bad choice and had depression from feeling so weak and not adjusting to the new life. I also was convinced I had an herniated incision from vomiting after surgery. Today I look back and just say wow I have come so far in such a little time frame. I am 5'3" and started out at 232 pounds and size 15. Today I'm still short ( lol) but I'm in a size 10 and getting baggy and weight in at 178 pounds. Now I want to shop shop shop. I make up for eating like that lol. My smile seems brighter and I want to get out more. I don't have an appetite to really speak of. My day today was Protein Sh…

I am 3 days post op!!! No pain at all!!! I was in the operating room at 7:30am and home in my bed by 12:30pm. I walked around in my house for 10 minute intervals the first day. Yesterday I walked to the end of my block and today I plain to do the 30 minute walk around the block. I'm so happy to be on this journey. I feel wonderful doing something so BIG for myself. I will add before and after pictures soon. I welcome all advice and wish all bandsters especially September 2013 bandsters. LET'S ROCK!

So yesterday I had my pre op appointment. And the surgeon told me that for 10 days after surgery I have to give myself blood thinner shots. I've only heard of one other lady in my bariatric program do this, but apparently it's common, or at least for my program it is. So I'm just wondering if anyone else had to do this and where would you give yourself the shot? Stomach,butt, arm etc.. And also about drains. Do we have drains after surgery and for how long? *of course after I leave the surgeons office I have all these questions lol thanks for the help*

I had my surgery on January 7, so far I'm 91lbs down. For some reason I feel behind like I'm not doing well as I could or should be,bur her it is.

how many of y'all use the app My Fitness Pal.. I never really could get the hang of it or I might just not like it but now I'm trying to get back on track and start using it and my dietitian said that it would be good for me so I can know how many calories and protein and getting a day..

I have been waiting for years to finally start this journey and I am so excited! Yesterday I was in alot of pain, today it's mainly discomfort. Before my pre op diet I was 243, yesterday at the hospital I weighed in at 229! So far so good!

Just had my surgery july 30th wow alot to learn

Omg! I'm feeling so much better today! ( it does get better) Still tired but no pain! Think the tiredness is due to my liquid diet! I'm sure that will get better with time. My incisions look great and some of the swelling is gone. No gas and I'm 15 pounds down from my pre op weight which was 304! I'm all :-)'s

In 2000 I was 240 pounds and lost 70 pounds. I was married to a man who wanted me thin but nothing was ever good enough for him. He was verbally abusive and my self esteem was terrible. I got the courage and got a divorce. I kept the weight off for many years but managed to gain back 30 of it. I was still over weight. I got a new job and on that day went to my primary care dr. He said I had not dieted for a year and would not support my decision. What? I was crushed. That same day my dr did a lunch seminar on gastric sleeve. I talked to him that day and made an apt the same day. I bcbs and only had 1 physc eval and 1 nutrition visit, I had to do EGD, stress test, and sl…

Hey everyone!! I got my band today and am out of the hospital!! gelt a little nauseous so I had to stay longer than expected but doing good! The most pain I have is the bigger incision where I assume the port is and a little gas pain around my collar bone and back but nothing terrible so far. I also am trying to get my water in as I have been a little slow due to nausea. Can't believe I have actually started this journey-pretty surreal

Hey everyone Im so close to the end of the wls process and I'm having doubts once again. I was thinking that I've never really given myself a chance to lose weight on my own. Like. I've cut down on eating the wrong foods and exercised here and there but I've really haven't gone on a "real" diet and I'm worried if I'm making a bad decision on having WLS. They always say the you wls is the last resort if you have tried numerous diets before and they haven't worked but I feel like being 5'3 weighing 320 will be very hard to lose on my own. Any advice ?

Hey guys im new to this world. Help a sister out. My journey starts in October. Not sure how to prepare fot huge adjustment.

Hi! I'm new here, so exited to have found you all! I'm 8 days post op. Had my first post op visit today and was down -8 pounds... Supper happy but worrier since I'm not able to fit all the protein shakes during the day and the chewable vitamins still make me barf... I know things will get better but I'm worried about loosing my hair since I can't fit all the protein shakes and I can't hold in the vitamins...... Any suggestions will be awesome..... I can't wait to be able to enjoy a hard boiled egg..

Banded August 15 down 20lbs and is starting to feel much better! (Less pain and gas).

Hi everyone I just under went the procedure this morning at 7:00 am. No pain necessarily. My left hand tingles from the elbow down to my thumb. Drinking water and sugerfree powerade. I am 51 years old, 5' 9" and weigh 275. My goal is 200 or less. I am on Januevia, Levimir and glucophage. Hopefully all those meds will go out the door once I loose some weight. The doc had to use staples to close the holes so I go back to see him in a couple of weeks to remove the staples. I asked hi if I could remove them myself and he didn't laugh too much. Well I hope anyone who want to respond will and who doesn't want to then dont. I hope to learn and discover somethings about myself…

As of today I am 7 months post op and have lost 100lbs.... I am so happy I want to scream it from the roof!!!

Hello. As the title says I am beginning my lap band journey. I made and went to my consultation appointment last week. I am 41yo, married for 19yrs. Mother of 3, (15yo girl and a 10 & 5yo boys). And today I got a call today to start my pre-O P orders.. I have to get the typical blood work, Need an E K G , then have have a cardiologist clear me. Psychological evaluation, and a Upper G I ....(oh yay!!) Current pap and mamo ..(not sure why they need this). So I decided to post a hello instead of being a creeper. I am nervous and excited. January 1st I was at my heaviest weight of 350lbs.and decided to do something about it. Currently I am 333, and trying. …

Hello I am new here – I just found the application and thought I would Participate. I thought it might be helpful to talk to others that are going through this process. I've been considering bariatric surgery for almost 10 years now but, I never wanted to have the gastric bypass or the lap band. I have multiple illnesses and disabilities. To me, the sleeve seems to work the best as far as my needs go. My immune system is shot so, I have to be careful with anything that I do. I'm honestly extremely scared of the surgery. It's not the surgery itself but just having another surgery altogether. I have had close to 20 surgeries and they've all been difficult. So going throug…

Final consult with my surgeon today and I'm being SLEEVED on Sept 4th!! WHOO HOOO.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! This is the BEST birthday present I could ever give myself!!

My journey begins here as I sit here in the waiting area for Pre-admission testing. My surgery date is September 25 & my shrink the liver diet begins on the 9th. I'm extremely nervous & feel like a failure. While everyone else tells me to give dieting a try my biggest supporter is my daughter. I'm grateful for her because without her I would be walking away from this decision. So this is my reset button. Time for me to make the right, healthier choices in life! I want a life that will allow me to enjoy my children, hey maybe even add to my family, shop in stores without embarrassment, & to live with confidence in myself! I look forward to travelling thi…

Well all my paperwork has been turned over to the insurance company! Excited and nervous!

I was sleeved on May 27, 2013. I've been a bit of a slow loser, but I'm down 45 pounds and can really see a difference in these progress pics!

HW 250 SW 245 CW 174 GW 154 Down 76 with 20 to go. Best decision ever.

it has been 6 months since I had surgery and today is the first day I am having pain at the port site, im wondering is this normal ? it is really sore when I move or touch the area....any advice??? im a little scared

Starting to have headaches everyday and night don't know what's going on

Hello I just joined this support group. I have been reading the forums for a couple of months now and have appreciated all the info, so I figured I should join, so I can encourage others too! My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 4. I am super excited and also nervous. More excited than nervous though I start my pre surgery diet in 2 days. I wasn't overweight all my life, but it was a struggle to stay close to my goal weight. As I got older it got worse. I have high cholesterol and blood pressure and was recently diagnosed with Rhematoid Arthritis. I jut graduated as an RN in May and will be starting a new job 3 weeks after surgery, so hopefully all goes well.

Hey everyone, Just wanted to touch base and talk about the awesome experience I had getting my Gastric Sleeve. I a from Newfoundland, Canada, and was sleeved on Feb 26 2013 .The sleeve surgery here is covered by our Gov health care if you don't mind waiting 4-6 years with a wait list for anyone now getting referred. I didn't want to wait that long so I started researching and chatting in different forums. I finally decided on the Mexico Bariatric Centre, made the call, talked to Ron and made the plan. Everything from the time I stepped off the plane in San Diego , Cal was taken care of for me, from the driver to hotel stay, transportation back and forth. Let me tell you a…

I had my surgery on Wednesday Aug 21, 2013 @ Howard University Hospital. Still getting used to to the sip, sip, sipping. Any and all advise is welcomed and appreciated. Thanx :-)

Hi everone, And I hope all Is well with you all. My name is LaShauna I'm a newbie and I'm Just starting my journey I've went to the seminar already and now I'm waiting on the referral to see the surgeon I don't know when my 6 month weight loss visits start yet but I have a question I want to know how much does the nutritionist cost and how many times do you have to see them???? since I have to pay out of pocket because my insurance does not cover that. ~LIVE~LOVE~LAUGH~GOD~IS~LOVE~

Hi All...saw this app and thought it was a good idea to join. I'm hoping for my surgery to be some time in December...the sooner, the better. Going into my 3rd month of 6 months required time before surgery. Starting weight 341, current weight 320. Trying to quit smoking as well...ugh. is there a board here for that ?? I'm having a hard time with it. This looks like a great place with lots of great people and info. I'm in PA, single mom of 2.

I'm in a lot but when to it I'll post Mz Shay

I had my sleeve surgery on Monday and was discharged home yesterday! I have to say I feel pretty good overall. The hardest part is cooking for my kids and husband and watching them eat. I'm not hungry but I crave having food in my mouth as I have not ate anything solid since Saturday. This is going better than some people told me it would. It's all mind over matter. I'm getting my fluids in and can't wait to start protein shakes and purées. I'm curious to see what my weight loss will be at my 1st postoperative appt. looking forward to a lighter, healthier me ????

Well I have been up all night may be 45 min of sleep well let me get ready will kp you all posted Mz Shay

So i think i have a problem... Am i the only one that steps on the scale every day... I dont want to gain weight... But i get upset if i dont loss weight... crazy Also does anyone have problems with mood swings I have a problem with snapping at people since I have my surgery... I heard your hormones change a whole lot...

Hello to all! So blessed to have found this site as I've sifted through various forums during my pre-op week. I was banded this morning and am now at home resting and drinking/sucking my ice chips and walking around well. I cannot wait until my throat heals from that tube, although, I am grateful the gas pains are finally dissipating. Just wanted to say hello to everyone and that I'm super excited.

Today marks 7 months from my operation. This is the best thing that could have happened to me for weight loss. I started with 257lbs back in January 29th. Today I am officially 172lbs. I am extremely happy! I would recommend this surgery to anyone. Before After (today)

I shouldn't complain in the fact I haven't lost that much weight so fast as other people have. cause looking at this picture I have lost lots of inches.my pants & tops are fitting me big .so if you don't see results in pounds you will in inches so keep your head up we can accomplish anything we put our mines to do.

Today was the day that I have been looking forward to for about a month. I have been so diligent about my research and asking questions and seeking understanding to the meaning of things not understood. My first appt with surgical team I meet with the team and quite disappointed with the team. I was told that the sleeve was not my best option today. And that I should lose 5lbs and wait 3months for surgery. They are really cheap and do not provide a pamphlet only a booklet with generic information that I have found on theses WLS boards and online journals. How sad. The PA was okay she really didn't have any information for me that I didn't already know. But we (I…

Big differents

Hi all , I am newly banded and new to this site. I was reading some of the posts and decided to join in and tell my story. I am 50 years old with RA ( diagnosed 7 years ago) . I was having some major back pain recently and when I got it checked out I found out that my l-4 l-5 and I think l-6 discs were pretty much shot and bulging. that was when I decided to check on the lap band. the only way to fix my spine is surgery and I want to avoid that , so the doctor said that every pound of weight I lose is like 4 pounds of pressure off my spine. luckily my insurance covered the surgery with a documented diet for six months. I got the lap band on August 23. I have been ove…

and I figured it was time to check out Bariatric Pal and see if it is a good fit for me..being as I have tried lots of diets and lost lots of weight and gained it back every time plus..well, to put it mildly I go into this very cynically. It's a drastic move for me and I feel as if it is a last ditch effort. Its' exciting to look at before and after pictures and read the stories behind them but I don't want to get my hopes up. This will probably be more of an emotional situation for me then just a dieting thing- I can do diet with the best of them but hate limiting myself forever. I don't sit around eating bags of chips or quarts of ice cream or pkgs of oreos but I could …

Hello everyone here's my story!!! So I went to Mexico, TJ to have my gastric sleeve done on 2-23-2013. Was sleeved on the 23rd!! Yes same day as surgery! I will tell you I went to Dr. Fernando Gracia! The coordinator told me that the doctor said because my bmi isn't so high I can eat light the night before and drink till 8 am the day of surgery! Well well I ate only Grandma Cookies the day before! chocolate fudge ones and I sure enjoyed it。the day prior 2 that I only had Jamba Juice! I would've ate more but my friend that had the sleeve done two months before me suggested me not too! Advised if I wanted a smooth surgery to not eat! So let me tell you about the surgery.…

I was banded the 27th. Feeling pretty good except for the gas. Done gas-x strips, been for walks... What has everyone else tried?

Good Morning Every one, Right now it is 4:20 am. I am getting ready to leave for the hospital. I have to report there by 6am. My surgery starts at 7:30. Woohoo, yahoo, yippee for me. Happy dance, Happy Dance, Happy Dance, My highest weight was 289. My weight as of this morning 251, Total pounds lost during the 2 week pre-op liquid diet, 13lbs. My chance to become a loser has been a long journey but yet has only just begun. See ya'll on the sleeved side. Wish me luck.

I notice after I lost 19 pounds I pause there is that normal.I have lost inches but I want to see results on pounds I feel like I'm doing everything right has this happen to anyone frustrating:(.

I was wondering what works best to start loosing those pounds share with me your secrets what you eat,drink or exercise Please I really will appreciate it!!! since I barely got my surgery July 12,2013 I need tips.

60 lbs just under 4 months pre and post op. Was inching nearer to becoming a blood sugar checker. The largest amount I had ever weighed. My sons playing baseball and I was afraid to go on the field, my grandaughter wanted me to chase her and I could not because of embarassment and mobility issues. Some of my family members had Bariatric surgery and were happy with the results. I was scared of the potential complication and the life change, but the life I had was not a life I wanted, so started asking questions. Talked with my Primary DR. on April 26. Wieghed 348#s. Talked with him about high sugars, herniated disk, and weight. Told me I was a good candidate. May 8 met w…

Im 33 no kids(want them something terrible) my awesome husband has a spunky 6 almost 7 yr old son. I've been throwing the idea of wls around in my head for over 3 yrs and now that i am actually in the process im kinda scared shitless....any who I've been on thyroid meds for over 6 yrs they promised the pills would work then it was oh u have pcos then metabolic syndrome and on top of that u r well over weight for your height not to mention crazy cycles bleeding for 35-60 days an then not at all...for some reason when i went in for my first consultation with the surgeon i thought for sure they would have some reason for why i didn't qualify for sleeve procedure....low an be…

My story is a bit different than many people's as my weight gain was caused by something that typically causes people to lose weight. I have Addison's disease, which went undiagnosed for nearly 10 years. Addison's disease is sort of the opposite of thyroid disorders that many of my fellow sleevers have suffered... Essentially, people with Addison's don't produce enough cortisol, and this causes them to feel tired all the time. I started suffering from the symptoms around 18, but it did not become full-blown until I hit 20. Because I was tired all the time, I needed a way to stay awake, and resorted to eating in order to keep myself going. That's when the weight started co…

Hi, my name is Nomie. I am 3 weeks.post-op tomorrow. My surgery was 8/7/2013. I am now on phase 3; where I am on soft foods. I was told to wait 30 (after drinking ) before eating my meal. I can't! Even when eating my mashed potatoes or my Greek yogurt...I need to take a drink of water. Another thing, I can't seem to drink the 64oz of liquid a day. What am I to do?