Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Save room for me on the losers bench. I'm on my way. May 8th is the day.

Hi! Hope everyone is doing well. I realized I never really took the time to introduce myself to the group. My name is Jaime, and I am 33 years old. I am a pediatric ICU nurse in NYC. I have struggled with my weight for years, and finally came to the decision to be banded back in December. It was a big step for me, as I had always been fiercely opposed to surgical intervention. But, I came to accept that it didn't mean that I was a failure (weight loss being the only thing in life that I have ever truly struggled with, not to mention failed at multiple times), it just meant that I needed extra help. My co-worker took me to lunch one day, and "delicately" steered …

Hey everyone! I have been MIA for a few days. I was busy getting sleeved Ponce de leon and Trish are amazing! I have to admit it was slightly more painful than I imagined -- really just the gas pains. When people mentioned gas pains I thought normal gas, like abdomen, but I was wrong. I woke up with terrible pain in my chest. I thought I was having a heart attack. Other than that, everything has gone well. I am in the hotel now and am relaxing. I still have some gas pains that nothing seems to be helping but oh well. Now time to nap!

I'm 9 months out and feeling great have lost 84 pounds and am so happy I did the surgery but last night I went to sleep early and woke up with my heart racing, sweating like a demon, dizzy with my mind fuzzy and all I wanted to do was eat. I reached into the fridge and started devouring a piece of chicken....I think I had low blood surgar and this has not happened to me ever in the past. I feel absolutely terrible this morning and just want to sleep. My entire body aches!!!! OMG!

I am currently going though the pre-op process. I've been accepted, had my visit with the bariatric advocate and my surgeon, and had my psych visit. Seeing my cardiologist on Thursday and my final nutrition session tomorrow. I am not getting much support from family and friends. I am 66 and am at the top of the age cut off for the sleeve. My family and friends are "unsure" if this is a step I should take. So I do not have an advocate yet to be supportive of my desire to have the surgery. I have had weight problems all my life. My mom dragged me to the pediatrition for weight loss, pushed me into girdles, and we shopped in the chubby shop. The smallest I've b…

Just wanted to introduce myself since I just joined this app and forum. Nice to meet you all ,)

I am new to the site, but looking for support and advice. I recieved the lap band in January of 2011. My initial weight was 289, and I was down to 246 about 2 months ago. Recently started to gain weight, and am feeling lost. My surgeon is now no longer in the area, and I have difficulty communicating with new folks. I have had 6 fills in the last year, and ultimately felt too tight and was unable to even hold down liquids. I have not had an adjustment for 3 months, but I am still having difficulty with eating, and feel like I am making poor food choices. What are my best resources? Should I find a new doctor, and lay out my issues, or is it better to talk to a nutritionis…

I am 7 wks out today and have lost a total of 50#. I have also lost 21 inches this month, for a total of 36 inches. That is a whole 3 feet..YIKES! I have had many setbacks, but still continuing slowly but surly. I still do not feel the best, but all in all I am pleased Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hello everyone, I am Pamela, I have been reading here for a few months but this is my first post. I have been truly inspired by many of your stories and I can't wait to be the one inspiring people with my before and after pictures and tales of success. I am pre-surgery, going for my final appointment to schedule surgery on Thursday, 3/29. I have all of my insurance qualifications submitted, etc., so all that's left is to schedule surgery and get started on the pre-surgery diet. I'm not sure how long after Thursday it will be but I'm hoping for less than 10 days - I'm ready to get rocking on this thing. I've been held up by many obstacles and I finally see the fin…

Wow! I can't believe it has been 2 months since my surgery.. I was sleeved 1/25/12 and have been doing great my surgery lasted an hour I was walking that same night and the next day I was wearing my own clothes having the nurses asking if I was a patient here.. LOL (I did have to stay on the ICU floor due to no room on the other floor).. 0600 showtime, 0800 went in for surgery 0900 came out... ICU Room not sure of the time I was loopy from the anesthesia and MORPHINE rocks! About 8pm that night I did 2 laps around the ICU floor .. Next day 1/26 0800 Barium swallow and was cleared for liquids ... Water and broth never tasted so good.. I hit ONDERLAND in Feb…

Ok, so I was sleeved 11/14/11. I started this journey a long time ago it seems, but in August I was at my heaviest at 431. By the time I started my pre-op liquid diet of three weeks I was 395 and the day of surgery I was 374. I am at 307 now. I try to do a good job of portioning, but I still make bad decisions on food choices now and again. Chips, candy, ect at times. Obviously I can't eat anywhere near what I used to volume wise and I think that's where my weight problems were. Dr said my weight loss was good. I am still hungry though. About 2-3 hrs after eating I feel hungry. I just try to keep my meals to @ 200 calories or less for the most part. Weekends I …

I was sleeved on 3/22 in TJ with Dr. Rodriguez at INT Hospital through Belite Weight. It was... interesting. Not totally amazing, but definitely not a bad experience. Dr. Rodriguez and team - He is amazing, professional and seems to really care. He held my hand and was very comforting. He and the other doctors all had excellent bedside manners and made me feel safe, cared for, and secure. I saw all three doctors every day. EVERY DAY! Dr. Rodriguez sat with us all on the couches on our last day to answer our questions and joke with us alittle. You sure don't see that from a surgeon in the States! I recommend him 110%. I was sent home with a typed surgical report and a D…

Hey. I'm the new kid, and I'm getting my band popped in on July 15th. So many thoughts!

Yayyyyyyyy I'm on my way to hospital! Surgery is scheduled at 7:30 am! Please say a prayer for me ???? still a lil nervous

Bariatric surgery helps control diabetes, Cleveland Clinic researchers find Published: Monday, March 26, 2012, 11:32 AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Clinic researchers have traveled to Chicago to present to a large gathering of cardiologists a ground-breaking study that shows bariatric surgery is more effective in treating people with Type 2 diabetes than medication alone. The study, being published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, is one of two studies in the journal documenting the advantage of bariatric surgery to control diabetes. The results of a separate clinical trial that documents similar advantages, but over a two-year period, come from th…

hello everyone, I have been a bandster for a yr now and I am really greatful to the band!!!I have not lost a lot of weight,,,,but i have reduced my NSAIDS and am on a right path for health improvement.. All say that the band works better in the 2nd yr!!! My problem is that I cant walk much due to muscle pain and arthritis. And because I dont exercise I am not loosing!!!Being a vegetarian my protien content is also low. I am sure that I will find a way out. At least I have stopped putting on weight ,since I cant eat much!!!!Hahaha.. All the best to all of you. The band is a wonderful tool and we should use it well.

http://video.msnbc.m...61846/#46861846

Jumped on the scale last night after a particularlly brutal triathlon yesterday (bike leg was 15 miles, mostly uphill and into a 30 mph wind) and I hit my goal weight, 200 pounds for my 6'4" frame. It took me more than 14 months to lose 227 pounds but it was well worth it and those last few pounds seemed to never move. What a great journey. I took out a pair of my size 56 waist pants I kept as a reminder and put them next to the size 32 waist jeans I wear now. I could fit two of me into the old pants. I'm never going to go back. I finally ilke the new me.

I am almost 5 weeks post-op and have been having trouble with eggs, hummus, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, protein shakes it seems just about anything that I eat. My stomach does this sickening feeling which causes me not to want to eat. I have only been able to take in 100-250 calories on a good day and that's if I eat crackers and peanut butter. That's the only thing that doesn't make me feel sick. I need help!! I want to be able to eat more.

I found out today my surgery is scheduled for 4/4 my insurance approved it quickly which is a good thing. I just discovered this web site today. I am hoping I can get feedback on what to expect. I am looking forward to.the surgery and after reading about the different surgery options I though this was the best for me.

Hello, My name is Ana and I had sleeve done on December 15th. I previously had lap band done in December of 2009 managed to loose 70 lbs, but was stuck for 8 mos and had port complications the whole time. I am glad I did the sleeve so far, my recovery has totally gone way better than my prior 3 surgeries this past couple of years. I hope to finally reach my goal of 130 lbs. I am 5'1 and 34 yrs old. I am happily Married and have a 15 yr old daughter and a 9 yr old son. I hope that we can be a support to each other in this forum!

So I'm new here I'm 6 days post opt, I'm glad I found this app

I am new to this web site so bear with me. I have not had surgery yet, I have been goingto classes for the past 11 weeks. I will find out when I will have surgery week. I am very anxious to get it over with. I have tried many diets unsucesfully so I decided that after much research this is for me. I weigh 295lbs and many health problems so I would say I am kind of desperate. I am confused on post surgery meal prep but I will get it together somehow. I don't know who my surgeon will be yet. I will provide more info next week

Well, here goes. I am a 50 year old female living near Hot Springs, and I started my liquid pre-surgery diet today. My surgery is scheduled for 03/22/12. I had the lapband on 1/7/07, lost about 50 lbs, but have since gained it all back. While my band has not slipped, or eroded, I have daily issues with "sticking", and my eating habits have gone down the drain. I am using Dr. Kaler in Hot Springs, and have faith that this is what I really need to do. My insurance approved the surgery (I am Dr. Kaler's first patient to have approval from insurance), so that's a good thing. Dr. Kaler will be removing my lap-band and doing the sleeve at the same time. He hopes to be able…

What was the cut off time to eat? Please someone answer

Hello everyone, I'm new here and just starting my journey on trying to get banded. Has anyone used their HSA for the surgery? I've got Aetna and the cover all my preventive care, but I'm confused how that would tie in with any surgery. I know Aetna PPO covers it, but I'm still learning how the insurance company works. Any insight for a newbie would be greatly appreciated.

Oh I am so happy. The surgeon's office called on Friday and said Medicare said no problem. The issue was that I have autoimmune disease and there was question regarding that. Anyway they checked to make sure they would pay and they said yes! I had already met with the surgeon. Today I met with the dietition and now I have to get an appointment with a psychologist. There aren't many around where I live and I have to get one that takes Medicare, so hopefully the two I put calls into will call me back soon. One that said they take medicare didn't have any available appts unti the end of April. I'm penciled in just in case I can't find one sooner. The surgeon's offi…

I get banded on Wednesday (March 28th) and am just thinking of all the things that can go wrong! Someone please help me out here!! I worry that even though I'm sticking to this pre-op diet--no cheating at all--that for some reason my liver won't be small enough. And I'm worried something will happen in the operating room. And I worry that I just won't lose the weight. Anyone else have these fears? Or know how to put them at ease?!

yes you read the title correctly I have been approved by aetna for my surgery!!! It's kind of surreal. The case was just opened on march 23rd pending the clinical file. I called this morning around 9 to see If the file had been received from my surgeons office and the rep said its pending and she can't see into the file. I called back to speak to my case worker and the rep stated I was authorized... I froze and said wait does that mean I'm approved?!?!?! She laughed and said yes. After I jumped up and down called my mom texted everyone (lol) I wanted to call back to hear it again. Low and behold my case worker called me and confirmed!!!! Today I am starting my liquid diet…

Well, other than the horrible acid (yes I have a daily rx), and the severe nausea from Vitamins (which dr said I could stop for a few weeks &he gave me a b12 shot to hold me over), and the insomnia which cause severe tiredness around dinner time... After all that... I would not know I've had a sleeve surgery. Sure I'm full faster but eating a few ounces several times a day is way harder than three meals a day. It's hard to go anywhere and manage the right foods. I lost 8lbs the first week, 3 the next Rhein gained 3 the third week. Lost two if those the 4th and one the 5th. So overall I'm back to the -11lb lost I had on my ten day post op. It's a frustrating thin…

Excited and nervous for surgery in a month. Starting optifast in 2 weeks. Looking for any words of encouragement and suggestions.

Anyone have any "MUST HAVE" advice for the few days?

hi all, could you tell me what other VSG spots there are? I love you all but i would like to check out different neighborhoods too thanx kathy

Hi i am considering lapband surgury can someone please tell me some more about it how it works what is the cost ?? How much overweight you have to be to get it.. I wanna know everything!! Thanks

I'm at the airport, on my way to Tjuana to be sleeved with Dr. Rodriguez. I should go into surgery around 5pm pst. I'm so exited, but terrified! This is the biggest leap of faith of my life. Wish me luck everyone! I'll update later.

I made it tonthe losers bench last week 3-13-12. The first couple of days were the worst because of the gas pains but a few GasX strips and I was good. Could not get my protein in at all last week and was forcing myself with my water intake. So today I got to start my mushies stage, so I decided that I would fix grits for breakfast. Made myself 4 tablespoons and 1/4 cup of low fat cheese. I was only able to eat about 1/3 of this. Still struggling with my fluid intake but its getting better. I think the best part of my day was when I weighed this morning. Pre-op I was 245, surgery day I was 237.2 (down 7.8 lbs). This morning I was 225 (down 12.2 lbs week one). I can't beli…

So I have been looking at all kinds of food and was wordering if anyone has used Trive or Shelf Reliance foods as part of thier diets?

Hi!! I had my first lap band surgery in Feb '08.....I loved my band instantly and I call her lola. 12 months later I had lost over 50kg and I was feeling amazing, until I was assaulted at work and my world fell apart......I had broken wrist, extensive bruising all over my body and I felt horrible...I was throwing up alot due to the trauma on my stomach and I realised lola had slipped.....On the 24th of March I had my surgery for the slippage....all went well but I was in hospital a day longer due to extreme pain that I hadn't felt with the first band. 2009 was a hell year for my family.....my son who was 7 at the time was hospitalised due to several suicide attempts (he…

hello, I am scheduled for my surgery on 3/27. I am so pumped, I can't sleep, nor can I sit still I am so ready for this. I have made a few promises to myself. I was wondering if anyone has promises they are trying to keep?? -I promise to put the best food, meaning nutritional and organic, into my body. -I promise to not abuse my body. -I promise to enjoy life and be more active. -I promise to nurture my body and soul. -I promise to embrase those I love.

Yes two days in a row I have weighed in at 198.6 so it's official I made it to ONEDERLAND! I started my preop at 243 and lost 15lbs prior to surgery. I have lost the additional 30lbs since my surgery on 01/20! I am a slow loser but I think I found the trick that's working for me.....sex! On the nights my hubby and I rumble, I drop like 1-2 lbs. My hubby is ecstatic about this as he benefits too!!! Anyway, just wanted to share my results! Day of surgery-weight 228.6 This morning- weight 198.6 Sent from my iPhone using VST

On February 20, 2012 I had my gastric sleeve surgery. I have to say, it was a little more than I had imagined, but I'm so glad I did it. The up side is that I haven't been sick at all since surgery. I did have trouble eating the clear liquids following surgery. I'm currently on a full liquid diet and have to say I'm ready for next week when I can acutally have some solid food (although it will be baby food consistency) My biggest issue has been "hunger pangs" which happen right after a meal. I actually found this site because I was wondering if these hunger pangs were normal. I'm glad to know that they are very normal and are probably just related to stomach acid. …

Hi everyone I've been hanging around here for months and am just now getting around to posting this VERY long intro I wrote back in January. I'm happy to report that I have lost over 50 pounds on my "6 month diet" and am being sleeved April 4th. This site is so fabulous and filled with many brave and wonderful people- all fighting the same battles. You've given so much of yourselves and I am ever so grateful! Writing this was emotionally difficult for me and posting it sure isn't easy, but I want to do my part to help the next person down the line if I can. I didn't mean to write War and Peace II, but here goes nothin'! -Mimi -------------------------------------------…

My surgery is on Tuesday and I'm so scared! All I can do is pray and know that everything will be fine!!!!

State if you exercised or not? Thank you.

I would never in a million years believe that I could lose 40lbs in a month and a half! It has been amazing seeing my body transform and the amount of joy it has brought to my life. I am so grateful to myself and my doctor who recommended this surgery. I can now can start living my life instead of hiding like I did all throughout my 20's. I started my pre op weight loss at 309lbs and now weigh 250lbs!!! The top is my before picture

hey peeps...been forever since i was on here...my journey started at 348 , 307 before surgery and im sittin at 194...let me tell u this journey has completely changed my life! went from a size 52 jeans to a 34. from a 5xl hoody to a large. i eat whatever i want!!! anything at all bread rice pasta i can eat it all.my metabolism has sped up something like the millenium falcon. energy is through the roof. i do 850 pushups a day and it has done nothing for my loose skin, i drink a protein shake in the morning with 2.5 scoops of protein...loves it. since surgery i loves my chocolate dunno what happened in the operating room but before surgery i was never like thatbefore lol. f…

Hello...I'm new to this forum and had my surgery March 12th! And boy do I have some questions!!! Well I lost 12 the first week, and now I am at a standstill. The Dr said wait 6-8 weeks and then I will notice a difference. I am not hungry although I am eating (very little) but the pain when I eat is HORRIBLE! Feels like the food sits in my chest like a rock and it hurts. Also, there's no way I can get my protein in right now...impossible. Do you have any suggestions for me??? The Dr said it will get better, but it makes everything so difficult. Are you experiencing any of these "problems"? ANYONE??? PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!

Hey guys I'm Dee 25 yrs old from long island NY ... I started this journey at 269 the highest I have ever weighed in my life!! Throughout the weeks that past seeing every Dr I could think of for a clearance I finally got my confirmation and official date of surgery March 12th.. which also meant the pre oo liquid diet... I tried but my addiction to food and low self asteem my depression and anxiety made me cheat ... few days before my surgery I had my pre oo testing at the hospital where they told me I was at 257.. 12 pounds wow I was kind of surprised . Day before surgery I did only liquids.. right after.surgery was so very painful I had to walk every 2 hrs .. next day I…

Hey yall! Im 3 1/2 weeks out post op and im up 1.5 pounds! I walk 3 miles a day following the rules of the handbook on how and what to eat. My husband has stalled aswell! Its so hard getting on the scale and seeing that :.-( i just wanna cry! Is my sleeve failing me?

Before my surgery Jan 31 2012 Last night march 25 2012