Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hello folks. Im doing the pre-op rounds now. Today I got stuck twice, had an EKG and a chest X-ray. Fun! A couple Qs:

I am new to this site, but not to weight loss surgery, this is my second time around after dissapointing results with th lapband that I had placed in January 2009. My highest weight was 302 lbs. at surgery date i was 285 lbs. my absolute lowest achieved was 234 and my band was so tight I have to blend and add Water to Soup. I was able to maintain 247 for about 3 years. In the last year I've gained weight back, I'm up to 268. After much research and sites like this one i was able to make the decision to go with the sleeve as my revision surgery. I've already gone through the whole process of getting insurance approval. I WAS APPROVED!! I haven't spoke to my Dr. yet abou…

OK....I think that I am reading things right but I want to see if I understood my doc right. When hospitalized I was given a lot to drink and eat, I never felt full, my doc told me that the band was just placed and not inflated...so that means I can eat what I want right? I mean I can drink water without having to sip and although I am not hungry with the band not inflated I could eat like lets say.....a piece of pizza? OK...don't get all postal on me...I have lost 18 pounds in 10 days....wow....so I cant wait until a fill will make me full. Anyone else's doctors just place the band and leave it unfilled?

Hello all , My name is Mark and I live in Canton , Ohio . I recently had the surgery at the end of November 2012 . I had my surgery at St. Vincents Charity Hospital in Cleveland , Ohio . My doctors name was Ben Mier . I have had no regrets in choosing to have the surgery whatsoever . A lot of people that who have asked me after the surgery wanted to know why I chose this procedure . I tell them I chose this procedure , because I want to live longer . I want to start doing the things I use to do before the weight got out of hand . I find myself more confident now , energetic and eager to help people more that are in the same situation that I was . If anyone that is co…

I'm a 34yr old mom of two boys of will be 15 on may 15th and the lil one is 3 1/2! I've been a big girl since I can remember, my highest weight was 380 and now I'm around 270. I'm so ready for a life change!!! It sucks when your life has been on hold for so long because of this weight!!! Ugh!!! Gotta stay positive. I love reading all of your posts about your journeys it is so inspiring!! I hope I'll be able to get off the bp meds and cpap machine, and that the symptoms from pcos subside.. Praying for you all much love

Tomorrow is my appointment with my nutritionist because I have finally lost the 60 lbs I had to loose before they would schedule me for surgery! I am praying that everything goes good!! I am a little worried though because when I weigh myself I weigh myself first thing in the morning in my nightgown! I know that clothes add's pounds, as does Water weight you gain through out the day from drinking, hormones etc. I did weigh myself in the outfit I am going to wear (yes I did), and weighed myself between 10 and 10:30 today (my appt. is at 10), and I weighed 3 lbs more than I did earlier that morning. So please pray that they take off for clothes and water weight etc. Or pr…

Hi everyone, so happy I found an app with a forum like this....I am 9 days post op and currently feeling ok. Been a little nauseous these past few days. Wanted to know how long after this surgery did people start excercising? Everytime I wanna get up and walk, I get tired, and feel like I'm possibly pushing myself...would just love some advice♥ thanks guys

My mom is extremely interested in the Vertical Sleeve surgery, and as a concerned daugther i am trying to gather as much information as i can. She is working with the " A lighter me" company and i am wondering who has had experiences with them? how was your surgery ? any complications? any concerns ? how is your post op? Thank you all for your input. I look forward to the responses to hopefully set my mind at east

Isn't anyone worried about that? And how about the second stomach that's tied up and not in use? Is it ok to live like that? I'm just curious and worried and the same time ????

...just waiting for insurance approval now. My surgeon is very confident that I'll get my approval. I hope he's right. He also said based on my evals and med history that the surgery should be pretty much smooth sailing. Thank God for his confidence. :-). Say a prayer that my insurance approves QUICKLY!!!

I know this is supposed to be a positive board. I just need to know if there is anyone else out there with fibro or rheumatoid arthritis. I recently found out I have arthritis in my knees and degenerative joint disease in my back. The weight loss surgery will hopefully postpone knee replacements and take weight off my back but I am only 44 3/4 years old. I take nsaids for pain and steroids for flare ups. 3 more months of weigh in then I can submit for a surgery date. I'm going RNY all the way! Going to a pain doctor to get off of nsaids. Ok pitty party over. Anyone in my boat?

I'm 19 & I'm like 65% done with my pre op recs! On monday i get evaluated :0 I'm nervous!

My husband is starting to get really annoyed about my decision I mean he says it's up to me it's my life and my body but now I've booked a date his attitude is changing. Tonight he barely spoke to me and I actually think he is getting jealous that I'm going to change so much that people will start to notice me more and maye I won't want him. Weightloss can be difficult to navigate with partners I've been here before with him when I lost a lot of weight on weight watchers and he didn't like the attention I used to get from men in some ways it's easier to stay fat than put up with the jealous comments!

One year later and 140 pounds lighter!!

Yesterday was day 1 of my post op surgery and it was a doozy. I am exited for this change as its mostly mental before you see any physical change. In a sense the next few weeks with the post op diet I feel as I am breaking up with food. I can only intake two ounces every hour and I'm in a lot of discomfort it's worse than labor pain and I did that all natural. I also should mention I'm fully sleeved in one arm with tattoos. I thought my pain tolerance was high but after this surgery I surely have questioned that. None the less I look forward to my life style change and I'm fully committed to losing the fat suit. Tomorrow I go in for my first post op appt but no fill until…

Feeling icky today. Had surgery on Thursday. When do you start to feel good?

I have my last Appt on May 10 th and I can't wait. Once I do they will submit my paperwork for approval. I pray that it won't take long and them I can plan my surgery date for June. I can't believe It has happen so fast . I have been reading all my preop diet info. I fantasize abt my first 30 lbs. this is going to improve my marriage . I will feel more confident and sexy! I'm a newlywed of 5 months. Planning a wedding for Dec!! So many great things are going on .. Working on my PhD , new Job, newly married, wedding in dec ! So God is so good! Just staying encouraged by you guys and following ur experiences !

I had gastric bypass on Monday and just came home from the hospital. So far I have had no major issues such as nausea or vomiting.. Still very sore from my six small incisions and i had a low-grade fever when i got home.. My surgery was done lap. So far it going well. It's actually very hard having to be constantly eating albeit very little.. Anyway thought I would join and get some support.

Hello Everyone - Started my research into weightloss surgery about a year and half ago and with much hemming and hawling and a ton of backing and forthing and a little bit of yes then no, I had my surgery on April 3rd of 2013. So, I am currently a week out and quite happy with the decision I made. The first few days where pretty bad but every day scince it has been better and better. As of today I feel pretty much back to normal, not bad for major surgery!! I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all who bravely post their stories on this site. I never said anything on the forums until today and just lurked for quite a while and though I did not actively par…

JUST CAME FROM MY PRIMARY DOC AND SHE HAS FAXED ALL MY PAPER WORK I HAVE BEEN ON A DIET OVER A YEAR SO HOPEFULLY THEY APPROVED NE REAL SOON SURGERY MAY BE EARLIER THAN I THOUGHT

Hello everyone. I was banded Jan 2008 initial weight was 367. About 8 months post surgery mybdr left town and I was on my own. I have been fearly successful but I hv platoed. Im back up to 292 and not happy. I admit I hvnt been doing as I should and Im ready to make a change. I recent moved to the Houston area and I have a Dr to follow me know. My appt is in May and Im a lil nervous auto what he may tell me. Just need a lot of support and encouraging words this point. Also need a buddy in the Houston area. Thanx for stopping by.

You all know that I was banded on 4-1-13 and that I had a slight virus when banded...well.....this is something that can happen to you too. It is very important to walk, walk, walk......since I was sick after surgery, I only walked a few times.....here and there as I was a walking coughing machine....one week to the day (5 days post-op) I was rushed to the hospital from my PCP office with pulmonary embolisms! I know that this is rare, but it does happen, and btw, if it is gonna happen it is gonna happen to me. The good news is that my health is back and I am on the mend. Watch for these signs.....extremely week, trouble breathing, heart racing when walking,

My date has been set for a month and beginning to feel anxious, I'm sure it's normal, but looking for responses on how others felt and how they felt after their gastric sleeve surgery. papab

Hello everyone, my name is Alicia and I had my VGS surgery on March 7 2013 so I just completed my 2nd week. So far I have lost twenty pounds. I am very excited and feel truly blessed with this surgery. I decided to post because I don't know any one that has had the sleeve besides me and I would like to hear from others about their experiences (I would also like to share mines also) My sister and one of my best friends had the gastric bypass but I'm finding that their experiences are different than mine. I'm still on my high liquid protein/puree stage of the diet and will be on that until April 11th. I'm looking forward to getting to know every one better. I do have…

I go to the doctor tomorrow. I have had 2 fills and am at 2.5 cc's. I have not lost weight since my initial weight loss at the surgery. I have successfully kept the weight off, but have not lost any more weight. There are certain foods I am unable to eat without plugging, and am certainly learning about my eating habits. Before, I thought is was just volume. I am now learning that I will graze since I am unable to eat large volumes. I have become a sweet eater and was never a sweet eater before. I am realizing that I miss overeating and I think I am filling it with foods that will go down easily like sweets. I am concerned about what to do tomorrow at the dr's a…

JUST CAME FROM MY PRIMARY DOC AND SHE HAS FAXED ALL MY PAPER WORK I HAVE BEEN ON A DIET OVER A YEAR SO HOPEFULLY THEY APPROVED NE REAL SOON SURGERY MAY BE EARLIER THAN I THOUGHT

I was banded on 4-1-13. A few days before surgery I was getting a scratchy throat and cough. I contacted my surgeon and his partner was on call and told me it was ok, it was probably just a bug. They did surgery on me and I got very sick, coughing with a stomach full of incisions is not fun normally but with the cough, fever and chills.....bad, bad idea. Remember this if it happens to you. I also want those of you out there thinking this is going to change your eating habits because you cant eat is wrong. I was pretty sick the first 5 days, day 6 (today) is better. I am having trouble swallowing pills, I have no cravings, yet don't know how much to eat since my sur…

My date is April 23. I'm really trying to get these 20 pounds off before then. Any suggestions?

OMG! My day is finally here!! Being banded today! Here we go!!!!!

So, I have just experienced the stomach flu after being sleeved....just gotta say "this sucks!" Don't get me wrong, it's not like I have ever enjoyed having the flu but I'm pretty sure I am dehydrated.... Lost 3 pounds overnight!!! Scheduled Dr appt for tomorrow morning to get checked. This is my second day in a row that I can't keep anything down. I keep sipping on Gatorade & not sure what else to do. I pray that I never have to experience this again!

Hello, my name is Diana and I just turned 30 this past December. I've been going back and forth about having surgery for almost 2 years now. I originally was considering lap-band last year, but after attending a seminar with a local surgeon I quickly realized that it was not for me. The thought of having something plastic inside of me just didn't appeal to me, and also having to deal with a port. I have been overweight most of my life, with the weight slowly creeping up on the scale over the years. I'm currently at my highest weight. I have tried numerous diet's over the years, but just have never been successful. I wish I could lose the weight on my own, but I know that'…

Hey everyone. I was sleeved on 3/19 and I am having problems with purees. I am able to get the protein shakes down but it takes a whole however cottage cheese yogurt tuna chicken salad and most approved purees are making me gag n not sitting wth me well. Also I have a really heightened sense of smell and alot makes me gag. I feel ok but I lose energy fast bc of the lack of protein. Also I get shaky sometimes. Is anyone else experiencing this? Will this pass?

Today is my first day back at work. I am 12 days out of surgery and I feel good. Had my vitamins and my protein shake. No one here at work know that I got banded so I have been getting a few looks on what I ate for breakfast and some have told me I look thinner. And of course some are talking behind my back lol! Only thing I am dealing with today is that I am still feeling tired and my stomach is rumbling a lot!

Are any of you guys in Tennessee???

It's been a yr since my surgery. I can have about a half to a cup of food. H How much can y'all hv?

Congrats!!Hi everyone! I'm new here! Excited and scared . I don't have date yet just have one more psychiatrist appt and group in May and everything else is done ! Weeeeeeee!!! it's gorgeous out! Enjoy the day! Thanks for any help you will all give me!

Hi gals and guys, So I just got home from the bariatric surgery seminar and I'm torn. When I initially made the decision to undergo WLS I was 90% certain that lap band was the way I wanted to go. Hard work(which I'm committed to doing) but more importantly, less risk. However, when I talked to the doctors after the seminar and told them the choice I was leaning towards- he left me with these words "I'm taking out more bands than putting them in". So naturally I left more confused as to what I need/want and am now thinking about the sleeve. Any thoughts?? And just a bit o history about me, 29, don't have children (yet) I'm 5'3 and I weigh 231 ish. I need series feed…

Hello! My name is Sondra and I will be having my vertical sleeve surgery in 3 weeks. I am having a revison from the lap band to the sleeve. I had battled with having a revision surgery for about 1 year now. When I finally got the nerve to make the appointment for a consultation I called and canceled. I felt like a failure because I gained the weight back from the first surgery. But after praying and talking it over with my husband I made a second appointment and kept it. What really helped was the support from my husband and a very dear friend who had the surgery as well. We both struggled with our weight all of lives and thought the band was what we needed. Whi…

I just wanted to say hi. Just found out about you here. I had surgery on April 1st.

hello everyone my name is nono and i am new to this site. I am 21 years old and now weighing the highest i have ever weighed which is at 320 pounds and I am 5'9". I have been considering bariatric surgery for a couple of year now and then went to a seminar in november at brigham and women's hospital. I thought to myself i am definitely doing this. Now I have my date schedule and it finally became all too real for me. I will be getting the sleeve done one May 9th, 2013 and I am excited and scared at the same time. I told my self 2013 is the last year for me to be overweight (which i say every year) but this year is different and I just can't wait for my life to change. I …

Hello All, I had my gastric sleeve surgery yesterday and im feeling a little overwhelmed right now. I cant feel when Im full and just made myself completely uncomfortable with 1/4 cup of sugar free Jello. I cant feel my bladder, so i just keep plodding along to the toilet every few hours. I really hope I will embrace this new life I have chosen. Right now I am tired and hungry (at least it feels like I am hungry). I was told i wouldnt feel hungry yet. As I said, im feeling a bit overwhelmed and wondering if I should have had the surgery. Please tell me it gets better. I need to hear it!

So I've just completed class 8 out of 12. I'm glad I found this forum. I'm scared not sure what to look forward to, but the end result I hope will outweigh it all. I'm hoping for some insight and advise. I'm hearing about stalls and plateau at 3 wks out which I thought didn't really happen until a couple months out. Is this common? Anyway I'm 30, married with 2 little boys. Started the program at 272, and I'm 265. Kaiser expects 10% weight loss while in Options Class. I would LOVE to hear from you all Ps I'm terrified about loose skin after weight loss... Can we see pics on here? Thanks guys!

Hello everyone, My name is Sandra and I am considering getting the Gastric Sleeve surgery. I'm waiting on approval from my insurance to start the process. The first step is to enroll in a 6-week course and upon completion, I will be informed if I meet the criteria to have the surgery. I am 5'5", weigh 225lbs, have asthma, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, neuropathy and three herniated disks (lumbar area). I'm in constant pain from the fibro and the herniated disks. Im not sure if I will qualify for the surgery but I am staying positive. I have been yo yo dieting for more than a decade. Im tired of dieting. Im very depressed and feel hopeless at times. I am…

Just trying to find out how it works I need it bad i got hurt six years ago and gained alot of wight if someone can help let me know if the pain is bad and what do you eat. I eat good now I just can't do much do to my back plz help if you can?

I'm going for pre surgical tomorrow morning can anyone tell me what to expect

Hi everyone, my name is Gena and I'm in North Carolina. I'm 40 years old and I'm the proud mom of 7. My oldest is 27 and My baby is 7. I've been looking around this site for a few weeks after I found it doing research on the sleeve gastrectomy. I started my journey in February of this year and I got my approval today. My surgery is scheduled for April 25th. I've been overweight most of my life and I'm at my highest 316. I have a few health issues I hope will get better with losing weight as well as my self esteem improving. I love this site. I see there are some positive helpful people here and I look forward to taking the journey with all of you!

Hi everyone my name is Dani I am 38yrs old and am scheduled for surgery May 30th. I am scared sick and worried. I am going to Mexico alone and can't keep worring.

I had my surgery November 5th and I have reached my revised goal. i would have never thought i could have a normal BMI. I did not think it was physically possible. Love my sleeve!

hi all! my name is Wendilou and I live in Austin,Texas. I'm 38 years old and I've been obese most of my adult life. now is the time to change that! I am currently in my three-month weight loss program with my PCP; just a couple more weeks of that to go. I have already had a chest x-ray, lab work, EKG, barium swallow, and yesterday I went for my psychological clearance. that was a weird appt! I felt like I answered everything wrong! I am 5'4" my current weight is 246 My heaviest weight was 280 my goal weight is 135, although my surgeon says he only expects me to get down to 180 I hope to make a lot of WLS friends here

I am having my surgery on Monday and now am starting to get a little nervous. My doctor really has not offered much advice, which is why I joined this site. Still not quite sure what I will be able to have as far as liquids(clear) for the week after surgery. Any suggestions? Also, am really unsure what to expect as far as pain/symptons after surgery.