Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi there, I have been lurking and reading posts for a couple of weeks, in preparation for making a final decision to have VSG. I am 43, mother of two, working full-time, BMI = 35, pre-diabetic. My current weight is 214, and this has varied up and down about 20 pounds over the past 4 years (since my son was born). My grandmother died from diabetes related complications, my mother is insulin-dependent, and I desperately want to avoid that path. My main reason for considering surgery is for the potential benefit for blood sugar management and insulin control, though I know weight loss will help my health as well. I would be particularly interested in feedback from other…

I'M 8 DAYS OUT OF SURGERY AND HAVE VERY LITTLE ENERGY. ANY SUGESTIONS ?

It has now been six months - I have lost 70lbs and I feel great - minimal issues - eat pretty much whatever I want - just a whole lot less. I look different - I think different - I move a faster - I sleep better - I laugh harder - I am a far better friend (because I am not so self consumed with my appearance) I go out more - I spend more time being happy by myself - I buy prettier clothes - I get manicure and pedicures - I carry my granddaughter around on my hip again - I swim with my grandson - I cook more - I get up each morning with less pain - I go to bed at night with a less pain - I get my picture taken with my friends rather than hide when the cameras come out…

Was wondering what amount of fat grams should your daily intake be?

Well right when I thought I was almost done with this process. I get a call from Dr. Ismeal (Kaiser) saying that there was a shadow growth on my kidney. I now have to have a CT Scan done to make sure that it is not Cancer, am so ughhh right now. More so irritated, after all this that I have been through with just make the decision to go forth with WLS and then to have gone through the entire Options process and all tests and labs to find out there is the damn thing on my Kidney...Sheesh can a fat girl something to just go right , without having to jump through hoops??? I am little scarred, but I know I trust God so that's all I can do is trust at this point.

Well I have done great with exercise and weight loss. I am down 41lbs since the start of my two week liquid diet before surgery starting May 28. I was feeling great then after hitting the gym on June 28th I could not stand without severe pain in my stomach. I was very scared I had over done it in the gym but after being in pain for 4 days and a catscan, I was admitted with an infection and had to have my incision opened. Very painful!!!!! stayed in the hospital for four days and am seeing a wound care specialist and have been packing my incision. I am feeling much better now and am anxious to get back in the gym. I am wondering if I should wait until the incision i…

I am going to be going away on June 1st to a party in LA. I am flying out just for the weekend. Has anyone been on an airplane since being banded? What was the experience? I am scared my band will explode! Lol I also would like to know if anyone has ever had an experience with drinking liquor while banded? I know that there will be alcohol around. By the way I was just banded May 9th!

Hi everyone! My name is Tammy and this is my first posting. Looking for a supportive group that has been/is going through the same thing as myself. I have a wonderful family/friend support system but they haven't been through this so don't fully understand the whole thing. I am 36 years old and a stay-at-home mom of 4. The oldest (my step-son) is 15 and the youngest is 4 1/2 months. I am in Missouri and am under the care of Dr. Simpson. I have been heavy all of my life and have done the diets. Some have worked temporarily but it always comes back. My heighest non-pregnancy weight was last summer at 300lbs. I started my journey last year for the LapBand in January by atten…

My surgery is at 11:30 today... Can't wait...

I received my surgery date for Tuesday the 17 th of July. I know there is a lot I need to be doing but every since I got the day and time I have really slowed down. I think it is shock or my nerves. I need help on what I need to be doing for my big date. What do I need to expect?

Well tomorrow it is time have to be at the hospital at 5 am. Might be a long night.

I Have been wanting salad sooo bad with tomatoes. I had gastric bypass June 13. Anybody have any ideas when I can eat it??

Hey my name is Kayla and I am 21 years old. I am an Army Wife. Moving to Korea in October =] No kiddos for me just yet. Been married since 05/29/2009. Highest weight: 310 RNY at Eisenhower Army Medical Center [Ft Gordon, GA] with Dr. Choi on 20 June 2012. Current Weight: 278 Goal Weight: 150 Not new to this site I just linked it to my facebook now. I haven really followed the dietary reccomendations for rny [dont judge =] ] I went to solid foods about a week out from surgery. Everything so far has gone amazingly well. =] Just cant wait until I drop some more weight!

I am new to this site..but my story is....I had a stomach stapling in 99, got pregnant with my daughter 2 months after which of course is a no no. Well I have decided to have it redone and have chosen the gastric bypass!! Started my pre post diet today...surgery date is July 25th...any ideas on some tasty protein shake?? Thanks in advance everyone!

Hi I'm Michele, I was in classes at Kaiser for WL surgery last August when I found out I had breast cancer. A double mastectomy and 6 rounds of chemo later I've completed the mandatory classes and am seeing a surgeon July 31st. I'm terrified they are going to make me wait longer. I'm cleared by my Oncologist and as healthy as I was prior to surgery. The biggest kick to all this is is I can't get reconstructed because my BMI is too high by Kasier's standards, basically I lost my breasts to cancer but they say I'm too fat to get new ones. So if they say no to the surgery that just means a longer wait to have a normal body and be able to ditch the hot, heavy prosthetics. I …

Hey everyone, I got to the beach on Saturday and have been having a great time. I have been following my eating plan like I should eating my protein while everyone else eats what is fixed. I have been going down to the beach and the waves just kicked my butt, it was awesome though. Well, today, I decided I was going to splurge a little since I have been doing well and it is mine and my husbands 13th wedding anniversary. We went out to a seafood restaurant and I got broiled fish, clam and shrimp. It was good, but I couldn't eat it all. We then ate ice cream about an hour later and it was good. I felt yucky later, but didn't get sick. After a while I decided to have a f…

Hi my name is Shanna, I am 47 yrs old and live in Las Vegas. I was banded on this past Thursday on July 5th, 2012. I went to Mexico and had it done as my insurance didn't cover it. I have had a great experience so far with the Dr. Kuri group. I am back to work today... riding the desk sipping liquids.

So I found out today that my insurance approved me for gastric bypass and that my surgery is scheduled for Friday August 3rd WOOHOO I go for my pre-op diet class this friday which is my dad's birthday then Friday July 20th I start my pre-op diet which isn't all liquid. I'm now down to 257 pounds I weighed 315 pounds back in September/October time. I'm excited and nervous. I do suffer panic attacks so I hope those will get better also with weight loss.

Days out and already lost 5 lbs! Pre op 276 day of 246 6 days after 241!!! Little of discomfort , got my period and got diarrhea (thank goodness) didn't go to bathroom for 5 days! But staying positive!

I have never watched it but my friend is a huge fan and started a facebook group about it. If you are interested friend request me and I'll have you added. Martina Marvel.

I am so happy for all you guys and i wish my girl could think like you and try do something about her weight. I don't know how to make her understand that she need to loose weight without hurting her. All she want is me telling how beautiful she is, how sexy she is and stuff like that . Asking me every time when she wear something if it doesnt make her look fat or if this clothes doesnt show her stomach. All i want is her to take the decision herself. But she doesn't care. She just want me to love her like that or she will find someone to do it. I love her tho but not her body

So this will probably sound dumb but as some of you know (since I've mentioned it a million times) I have a brother who also had the RNY and was rather successful. He's a huge proponent of the surgery and on many support groups (not this one though) and was just wondering if anyone here may know him? He goes by noble or noble1 on the internet and his name is james or JD. just curious

Happy about the new future me! Thanks for letting me be apart of this group to vent. I don't have much support in my life about this life change so that is sad but I'll get over it. I noticed that when your over weight some people don't want you to loss weight in fear that you would look better then them! That's nuts but it's true. But 3 more visits and 2 more visits and ready! I'm done in September so happy! Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I am so happy for all you guys and i wish my girl could think like you and try do something about her weight. I don't know how to make her understand that she need to loose weight without hurting her. All she want is me telling how beautiful she is, how sexy she is and stuff like that . Asking me every time when she wear something if it doesnt make her look fat or if this clothes doesnt show her stomach. All i want is her to take the decision herself. But she doesn't care. She just want me to love her like that or she will find someone to do it. I love her tho but not her body

Hello~ I started my journey in December 2011 with an information seminar at the hospital that i chose. After that It was a quick turn around from my initial meet of staff at hospital to my surgery. My first official appointment was in mid January 2012 and my surgery was May 1, 2012. It was sheduled more then a month- month and half out. I had to do the three week pre-surgery diet and I had no issues with that at all and lost about 15 lbs on it. I have steadly lost weight lose since my first fill and am very excited to start my banded life. I am currently filled at 6cc and will most likely have another one or two. I have had no issues at all with eating any food…

I have been following RNY for several months. Reading the post have made me realize that I am not in this alone, there are people that feel the same way I do. I am 56 years old and I have been overweight most of my life. I have tried every diet at least once. There is no telling how many pounds I have gained and lost in my life. I am married with two children that are grown and six grandchildren. I want to feel better and be able to go places without having to stop and rest or tell them to go ahead and I will wait on the bench for them. In life there is that moment when we know we have to make a change. My moment was last November when I had to have emergency su…

Ive been banded a little over a year now lost 63 pds starting to have acid reflux bad any suggestions

So my surgery was June 29, 2012... I had my post-op visit July 9, 2012.... Im done 24 lbs so far since June 6, 2012.... Now I have questions and need help please..... I don't feel hungry at all but when I do eat I never feel full???? I stop eating because Im not hungry..... even though Im only 11 days out I feel like I could eat about anything without it being pureed or soft/moist??? Im having a hard time drinking all the Water Im suppose to also.... Im full... I just cant drink it... any suggestions????

The day of the surgery, I thought "oh my gosh, what have I done to me?". It's been an adjustment but the benefits are being seen. I've not taken a blood pressure pill in 2 weeks and I've lost 22 pounds in a month. Five days after the surgery, I walked a mile in 30 minutes...7 days later, I'm walking a 15 minute mile. I walk 30-60 minutes a day. I'm excited to step on the scale and watch the numbers go down. My clothes are beggining to loosen up. I'm looking forward to playing harder with my grandsons when they come to stay this next week. My whole spirit is uplifted!

I've researched WLS surgery and the sleeve (and band and every other form of WLS) for a long time (years). I'm finally ready to get sleeved. I've read through this forum. I know 2 people who have been sleeved (my sister a year ago, and an aquaintance last month). I have my date for July 30th. My husbad, while supportive, is worried about the permanence of the surgery. So am I - I mean I have my doubts about the whole surgery thing too. I know that's normal to be scared. Just wondering how you move past that? I've tried all the diets, WW several times, etc. I can loose some, but then hit a wall no matter what I do and can't get past it. I think I want to mov…

But is it silly, stupid or crazy to get a new puppy a week before surgery? My boyfriend and I, who live together, already have a 6 year old dog. Would it be something to keep my active, and focused on something other than myself? Or just too stressful, crazy, silly/stupid? Help!

Can we just chat about this? Prior to surgery my bm's were extremely soft (sometimes with no solidity at all) due to my poor diet and the metformin I was on for PCOS. Post op my poopz are wonderful! I haven't had the joy of taking a gigantic firm poop in over a year and am thrilled. For those of you with little maturity and a similar experience please share :]

Hello everyone!! I am 33 years old, 471 pounds and tired of being overweight. I'm married and have two children,and one furkid. I want to do more with them on a daily basis, not just interacting with them daily, but running, rollerskating, hula hooping,and jump roping!! I miss doing those things. My girls have asked for us to take them to Disney World, but I know a large amusment park like Disney, there is no way I could go there and enjoy myself, I want their experience to be magical, not a nightmare because mommy got stuck in a turnstile or couldn't fit in the tea cups ...I have decided to have the bariatric sleeve surgery because I'm just tired of living my life this …

Hi guys! I have my next consult with doc on 7/25 and expect all of my tests and file to be submitted to insurance then. I have Aetna Open Access. 3-month supervised weigh ins, letter of support from GP, all lab work etc is all done. My concern is I'm 36-37 BMI (have been for 2+ years) and also have high blood pressure. Everyone in docs office thinks I should be ok with insurance approval but I'm nervous about it because I'm so borderline with BMI and the one co-morbidity. Anyone in a similar sitch that has experience with Aetna or advice to share? Anything else I can be doing now to make Aetna say YES YES YES!? Thanks, and congratulations to the many of you who hav…

Hi everybody! I've been stalking the forums to learn more and more about the lapband surgery and just recently decided to join. I first looked into having this surgery over 5 years ago and it was not covered under the insurance. I now have a different insurance and have been in the process of working toward my surgery for the last 7 months. I really enjoy reading the post and I feel like I learn so much. I have to admit I am a lil' addicted to LBT, lol. I find myself logging on anytime I get a chance. I hope to go through this wonderful journey with everyone and continue after being banded. I received my letter for approval today and I'm so excited for a new start!

I feel like I should be doing something more. I am just sitting around waiting for all of my test results to make it to the Dr's office. It's the weekend, so I can't even call and find out what else needs to be done. I'm not even sure if my insurance company has approved me for the procedure yet. I want to keep the ball rolling, but I'm sure there is anything else that can be done right now. I have shopped around for ideas for my liquid diet phase, I even bought a few protein shakes to practice with. I can't wait for this next chapter in my life, and I hate that I have no control over how long this is taking. I want it to hurry up and be surgery time already. Ah…

3 months on July 10th

Hi. I am new to this forum, I hope I can find a way to fit in so-to-speak. I've been lurking for a while now, and can't find anyone with the type of experience that I had/have. Here's my story... I was banded in August of 2007. I have a memory problem, so I don't remember what I weighed then, but I know I weigh at least 30-40# more now. I'm almost at my peak weight. I am an addict. A food addict. No bones about it. I was thin till a few years after I married my husband back in 92. Then I just added the pounds on slowly but surely. I had only tried a few diets, I'm not a yo-yo dieter. At least not until the past few years. I come from a background of emotional abuse,…

Hi i'm Ali. I've struggled with weight issues since I was little, mostly beginning around the age of 8-10 if not younger. I've always been a large girl, but the weight really took off around the age of 13-14 and became one of the biggest roadblocks in my life I have ever had. I am now 22, my highest weight point being at 445. A few months ago my dad came to me and told me that a hospital near us were starting to do lap band surgeries so we looked into it. I am now two weeks away from my surgery, and I have lost 30 pounds on my own thanks to curves & eating right. I was down to 410 when I last went into the hospital, last week, and can't wait for whats ahead. I decid…

I hate when people make fun of others, because there over weight. You know I wound what the world would be like if over weight was excepted and being thin wasn't! That would be crazy rite? Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

After all your weight was off and you where thin as you wanted to be, also finally comfortable too as you could be and more then you've ever been. Date a person you crushed on while you were over weight? And now that your thin and got his or her attention would you date? Lol I'm all over the place I'm sure you guys feel me rite? Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Hey everyone, This is my first time on the forum and I'm excited to be here my name is Mark and I turned 20 years old in May. I start my Graphic Design major at an online university in September after taking 2 years for myself after high school. I would say it has been a long term struggle for me as far as my weight goes. i don't remember being skinny except for pictures of myself when I was four years old. Since then I've always been heavier though never felt like it matched who i was inside. I can see now that in wanting people to get past the heavy image of myself, I tried tuning it out and sometimes over-being myself (if that makes sense) in hopes I would come ac…

I, I have been banded for almost three years. I have fallen "off the wagon" and am trying to jump back on. I have read some of the posts and have found a lot of strength. I hope to continue building the strength to carry on with my goals.

Had my surgery on June 7, 2012, I experienced minor pain during my stay in the hospital. It was went I went home I started having heart burn and gas pain. I've been home for 1 month and a day, I haven't been pain free since before the surgery. I went to the hospital, because I fainted, have no energy nor could I drink fluids without it feeling like I was swallowing knives. The doctor drained some fluid out of my port (I didn't even know they filled it) and put me back on liquids. I have no one to talk to about the constant pain, lack of energy, poor appetite, over sleeping I've been going through. I'm really trying not to regret my decision for having this precedure done.…

Decided I had to do something. I went to meet with Dr. Kuhn in Dallas on May 31, 2012 and pushed them and my insurance to get this done fast. I had work issues and if I did not get it done quickly I would have to put it off for 4-6 months. Since I had made up my mind I was going to do it, I was not going to let the insurance company or anyone else slow it down. I got the doctor's scheduler to put me down for the 14th (although she said we will never get approval in time...). Pushed my insurance hard. United Health Care - only fair to name them because they came through. I had my approval by the 7th (a world record I am told). I started my liquid diet on the 8th, …

I am already 3 weeks post op on gastric sleeve. I've lost 27 pounds (9%of total weight) I have a problem with getting energy. I am on a 300 to 400 calories fluids diet. Unable to get protein thru shakes which i dislike taste. Anybody can give me target weight loss per month Pre-op. 277 pds 3 weeks post-op 250 pds

Hi , anybody have Dr. Braverman in OC?

Hello! After having 2 1/2 weeks off work for surgery and recovery, I returned to work today:) I felt so good when everyone kept telling me I looked great! They complemented me on my appearance. " you look wonderful, your face looks thinner, your upper body frame also looks slimmer" I swear I loved the attention and comments! I am however a little tired mainly due to the early rise this morning. Had a quick question: I am eating mostly Protein, pureed/soft meats, cheese(cottage or string cheese) sometimes soft fruit like peaches, etc... has anyone experienced constipation? IM not sure I am getting the proper protein levels in either. I got the ok to begin taking my Vi…

Hello all! My name is Erin, I had Realize band surgery on June 22nd. I am down about 23-28 lb since then. (It's hard to determine....there is a 5-lb difference between my home scale and the doctor's office scale!) A year and a half ago, I was at 385 and ready to make a change. I started eating right and exercising regularly. My left ankle started to bother me, to the point where I would limp on the treadmill. Several exams, x-rays, and an MRI later, it was determined that the major tendon in my left foot/ankle is weakened due to the stress my weight had put on it. I was put in an aircast (and later a custom brace) and was put on a stairs restriction, and forbidden fro…

Hi Everybody, I'm the Laughing Cat and am new to this forum and forums in general. I was banded 6/12/2012 after 3 1/2 months from my first appointment at the surgeons office. I feel I was well prepared but for sure will have questions down the road. Starting at 252, I am now down to 220. I'm struggling to keep on the diet as I feel no restriction. In two weeks I see the doctor and am hoping a fill will help me control my eating. Maybe I'll be a lucky one and reach the green zone the first time! Thank you for allowing me to join your forum. the Laughing Cat