Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Ecstatic! Down 71 pounds. However...................I am this week, extremely tired, have had extreme diareah (yes the doctor knows all this) I think since Thanksgiving, I have overdone things. Had all my holiday shopping done, gifts wrapped, tree trimmed, all Christmas cards mailed out, baking, baking baking (not for me ofcourse). Just feel worn out and hope to get my engine running again. Any one have any suggestions for healthy energy boosters? I take Vitamins, eat, drink. Doing well in that department. Maybe just overdid it. Has been 2 days. Not to mention I had an emergency dental appointment this past Saturday where 2 fillings fell out, maybe that is it, who know…

I ended up in er tonight, my drain started coming out, the pain is insane. Docs r leaving it in, said im still draining to much. Did blood work, said my potassium is down, so now i have to take potassium suppliments. Has anyone else been sent home w drain, im sick to my stomache all the time, in mass pain, the er doc said my drain is stitched into me, but dr huacuz said just pull it out, ic i just pull it out itll rip my skin. Not excited for that! Anyone have similuar experiance

Well it was a stressful start, but I'm sleeved. I am really sore (more than my other sleeve buddies I met) and i'm constantly fighting nausea. I'm in able to SIP Water and hold it down so that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying apple juice now, as I wait for my plane ride home... its hard to keep down so I'm alternating between juice & water. I'm terrified to try taking a pain pill.... I really don't want to throw up. Hiccups are also playing hell on me. Any suggestions?

I am 3 days out with the new stomache (VSG) and clear sailing.. Pain and discomfort are way down.. I ma not only able to get the full ammount of Protein in me.. but havent had any of the dreaded, pains, twangs, spasms, and or other discomfort that many people report on. Is this unheard of? I took out the pain pump today.. and I have had no discomfort to speak of.. I am eating liquids..Jello.. Protein shakes .. and today I was able to eat some Microwaved egg whites with no issues.. I am drinking Soup broth etc.. thinking about holding at this level for a few days and if no issue will move onto soft foods.. anyone ever have these sort of results.. input -- feedback?

I am sooooo excited that this is going to actually happen!!!! Whoop whoop!!

Good morning everyone! I'm very happy to have found these forums...as I get closer to surgery, I find I have more and more questions and it helps to have a broader idea of what I can possibly expect. My name is Dianne and I live in Arlington, Texas with my hubby, two dogs, and three cats. I should be finished with all my insurance requirements on January 24th, so I'm thinking surgery in February? I have just over 200 lbs to lose and I'm an emotional eater...so right now my anxiety points are: * can I lose it all with a band? (I've seen lots of statements that lean towards that being miraculous) * what does it feel like when you eat after banding? Does it fee…

Just saying hello. I start my 10 day liquid diet tomorrow, just in time for the holidays. Any suggestion?

i went with my bestfriend shopping today. she has an amazing body!!! we went to a store that I CANT FRIGGIN WAIT TO SHOP IN!!!! as i helped her try on a million and one sexy dresses for her birthday party tomorrow at a club, i couldnt help but be sooooooooo jealous! i kept looking in the mirror at myself & i swear, i saw flaws that ive never noticed before. i mean damn, the things i was saying about myself in my head were so mean & cruel. id knock someones head off their shoulders if they ever said to me what i was saying to myself! im more worst critic. at this point, tuesday isnt coming fast enough! i just want to be sleeved & begin my journey in going…

Well, I am sick of being fat! Ive been big since my tween years. I have attempted to lose weight on my own with minimal or extremely slow success. My job previously had insurance but it didn't pay for the surgery, but the doctor visits and possibly fills. This is neither here nor there now that I have resigned (the job was more stress than worth the pay, and the pay was good.) The job I have now is great pay, but no benefits. I can afford the fills and visits out of pocket but not the surgery. My husband and I are in the beginning stages of filing bankruptcy (as a result of bad decisions from our youth that still hsunt us) My credit score is a source of embarassment. I'm…

Hello, I'm a retired teacher living in rural Ontario. I was first banded in 2002 in Toronto, at Scarborough Grace Hospital by Dr. P. Yau. I received an Inamed lapband. (Inamed was later bought out by Allergan.) Although many had much luck with the Inamed band, some, like me, had disconnection issues -- that it, the connecting tube disconnects from the band itself. I disconnected 4 times in the space of 9 years.....each time my doctor had to re-operate to reconnect me. After my fourth disconnect, my doctor, who now works only for The Slimband Clinic in Toronto, replaced my faulty band with a new Slimband lapband on November 8th, 2011. I have just had my first fill…

Hello everyone! In 2008 and 2009 I underwent Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for a rare form of cancer. I was placed on high doses of steroids to prevent certain complications. Much to my dismay, I gained over 100lbs which they told me would happen with the steroids. What they didn't tell me was that after being taken off of them I would struggle to lose the weight and could possibly maintain the same appetite. After trying everything, my Oncologist felt it was best to seek a weight loss surgical solution. After visiting with a doctor in New Jersey I decided the Lap Band would be the best alternative for me. I had my surgery September 9, 2011. A few days after …

My name is crystal and i am 22 years old. im excited to start this journey at such a young age because i feel it will prevent me from may illnesses that i can get if i continue gaining wait. at first i was very hesitant about getting the surgery i thought that i could just do it on my own and was ashamed that if i got the surgery i was "taking the easy way out" but at 254lbs i am pre dietetic and have high blood pressure and i know i need this surgery in order to live a healthy life. im so young and still feel ashamed of letting people know about my surgery cuz im scared they will ridicule me. the only person that really knows is my sister and although she has informed m…

I just got sleeved on Wednesday, Dec 14th. I'm finally home So far I can swallow with more or less little pain, I'm on a liquids only diet. I don't know what to expect or when the wait will be coming off. There are so many unknowns, I'm a bit anxious.

I was just wondering how all of you chose the lap-band over gastric by-pass, VSG and the other options available? Was it the Dr's recommendation? Research? Own personal decision? Knew a friend? For me (and I havent had mine done yet) I saw how my mother in law looked after she had gastric bypass, and to be honest, what she went thru scared the sh*t out of me! My cousin had VSG in May and has lost a ton of weight but it all seems so permanent. The take a huge part of your stomach away and resection your intestines to conform to this new stomach and that seems so scary! The band seems to have the right idea, and if there is ever a point where I feel like I mig…

Well I have qualchoice here in Arkansas and they require that I work with care wise prior to surgery. My dietician called me today and told me I have to be with them for 6 months to prepare me for surgery and after. It's really not a bad idea she says that a lot of insurance agencies don't have any requirements and the patients go head in and don't get all the support they need. It's mandatory as well I can still go to the surgeons office and stuff get that ready. It wouldn't be till June booooooo but I would have plenty of information by than.

Hello.. Im headed today to get my first consultation and I have a question. My husband and I would like to get pregnant next may, and I have some significant weight loss I would like to make before then (100 lbs). Is the lap band a wise decision?

Calling all Bay Area Lap Bander's or those in the process. We need to support each other.

Everytime I am done eating food feels like its stuck in my throat I have this feeling allll day long!? Anybody else feel this way

I am so excited to get my date and I am ready but I am reading alot of people post about the 10 day liquid diet. What is all that about?

I can't sleep and it doesn't matter if anyone reads this, I just need to talk, even if through my mind and out my fingers onto a keyboard. About myself. I'm the youngest of 8 children. I grew up very poor, food was scarce. I recall my mother making a bowl of bean Soup and skillet cornbread and we'd get our bellies as full as we could for the day. Not much to snack on but a peeled potato dipped in sugar or salad dressing sandwiches. Saturday was a big day, Mom and dad would go to the grocery while we stayed home to get the house **** and span. The groceries would come in,,flour, sugar, tuna, oats, etc. A rare ice cream or candy was a rarety in our home. There were…

Thought I would search for others who have experienced Lap Band. I'm interested in hearing what I might have in store after getting "banded".

I am getting banded on Jan 9, 2012. I will be attending my pre-op appt on 12/27/10 and EGD on 1/4/2012. Has anyone used Dr. Titus Duncan in Atlanta? I am trying to understand why I will not get my first fill until 2/24/2012. Does that seem like a long time for anyone? In researching others lapband experience, it seems that you would get your first fill 4 weeks after surgery and not 6 weeks. Anywho, I am very exciting my next chapter of my life. I have been overweight ALL my life. I am ready to see how the other side lives. I am also motivated by my upcoming marriage June 16, 2012. I wonder how much weight I will have lost by then. Good luck to everyone! This…

Thought I would search for others who have experienced Lap Band. I'm interested in hearing what I might have in store after getting "banded".

good luck to you all. im so excited about being sleeved on dec 20th. my surgery is scheduled for 8am so i have to be there by 615 to get everything rolling! please keep us informed and let us know how you are doing & dont leave any details out! we have all been in the desperate boat reading post-op'ers stories so lets do the same for our pre-op'ers! im praying for all of us. <3

Hello VST community. 150 lbs GONE in 206 days since I started my pe-op diet 118 lbs gone in 179 days since VSG Under 300 lbs for the first time in over 20 years Over 1/3 of ME is gone. I can buy cheap clothes at Wal-Mart and second hand stores instead of expensive Big and Tall shops I can actually fit in places: public bus, port-a-potty etc. Females actually talk to me (ex wife is mad at me for losing weight) I guess you can tell I am pretty dog gone happy Why do stalls alway occur right before a major milestone? Lots of info and support from this board helped make it happen. Thank you. FM (not done yet)

Hello! I'm Nicole and I have been following these posts all week while laying here in bed and they are so inspirational! I had my band put on this past Monday, 12/12/11. I had checked in at 7am, sent into the OR at around 8:15 and out into recovery around 10:30, well at least that's when I came to. When I woke up I had the worst pain ever, for me, worse than childbirth! My chest was on fire, felt like a knife was shoved up under my breastbone and was never coming out. They were giving me drug after drug and nothing was helping. Once my Dr. came to check on me, he said that he had to fix a hernia he found. Well I guess that was part of the pain. I took my first walk,…

Hello everyone! I got approval a week ago and I am so excited! I have to close cousins who've had gastric bypass so I do have their support and knowledge. However, since I'm getting the sleeve, I thought it imperative to join a site that would be tailored to my needs....so here I am! I've been scheduled for January 23 and I've been in research mode. Prior to reading around, I thought I would stock up on all these powders and shakes. I've since learned that that would be a bad idea. So I'm going to get a few samples and see what I like. I know that I will have to consume about 60 grams of Protein a day (yikes!). But I'm up to the challenge. I do have a consistency …

So we're here. Its 2:25 and we were suppose to be picked up at 2. I'm thirsty. I'm hungry. I'm cranky. Surgery is suppose to be today at 6pm. I'm worried there wont be enough time for pre op tests. I really don't want to "rush" through the process that took me years to decide to do. Frustrated.

So, I got a text message from my DH last night (and that doesn't mean Dear anything!). Text message said, basically, "File our divorce papers now!" We've been separated since June. I came home from the hospital June 3 on 3 kinds of oxygen. He got ticked because I didn't know what was for dinner that night @@ and broke every dish in our house. I moved out a few days later. I've been doing everything I know how to a. get healthier mentally and physically and b. have even gone to marriage counseling with him, which was useless because he thinks everything is ALL my fault. He's an alcoholic, which he hid from me till after we got married. Now he's in full bloom again. …

Hi guys!!! I was on a losing streak for a while and made my thanksgiving day goal early! Now I am stalled! I went up 2 lbs and have been losing a few oz.'s at time. I wanted to hit onderland by christmas, but, looks like I may have to move it to new years!!! But, I am so thankful for my sleeve. I am able to eat everything and more than I thought I was gonna be able to. which I am kinda greatful for too, because one of my biggest fears was that I wouldnt be able to eat at all. Anywho! People are starting too notice the weight coming off (74 since I started my pre op diet) and I feel good about myself. I am 4 months out and still have a long way to go, but, I am …

And I am VERY nervous! By now the whole office probably knows why I was out of the office. I tried to keep it under wraps but unfortunately when you work for such a small company and the acting office manager is a gossiping snipe- things have a way of getting out. And even if some at work don't know, when I get there today my 25 pound loss is very obvious in my face. But honestly, I don't care who does and doesn't know. Those who care about me have supported me through this and they are the only people that matter. There will be naysayers everywhere in life why should my WLS be any different? I'm only going in for a half of a day. I want to sort of ease myself back in t…

Hi everyone, I was banded 10/11/11. I just had my 2nd fill yesterday and have lost 35 lbs. I really messed up around Thanksgiving, ate too much of the wrong things. Then going out with co-workers at lunch just to get out of the office, and the first fill didn't last very long, and I was so hungry. I'm hoping this fill will last longer and will help me get back on track. I had bad news 11/2 - I was notified my job was being transferred overseas, but will still work through 12/30. After about a week, I stopped exercising and that mood lasted for about a month. Yesterday when I went in for my 2nd fill, I had only lost 3 lbs since the month before. At least it's in the …

First off i just wanna say thank you to everyone that has wished me good luck.. and to all those that are about to get your sleeves done to for expressing your nervousness.. it really helped to know that i wasnt the only one goin thru this.. Im 2 day post op.. and actually im still in some conciderable pain.. the gas they pumped into me to make sure i wasn't leaking just wont seem to come out.. i can't seem to burp or have it come out the other end.. lol.. you know what i mean.. and im doing everything that i can.. i get up and walk for at least 10 min, im doing my breathing and getting in fluids.. the gas seems to be my only problem. thankfully i didnt have to have …

i was curious if any of you have youtube vlogs.. i think its cool to put a face to our VST names! feel free to subscribe to mine.. www.youtube.com/jasleeve

I was just recently sleeved in Mexicali by Dr. Aceves. Everyone told me how great he was and they were not wrong. I didn't have any pain or vomiting. I felt pretty good after surgery and walked all around to move the gas. I went by myself and glad it was so easy . His driver picked me up and I did all my tests and went to a very nice hotel. Then after my hospital stay, he picked me up and took me back to San Diego. The whole experience was as simple as it could be. I am drinking clear fluids for 10 days before I can move on to thicker shakes and blended Soups. I've already lost 15 lbs and I am so excited!!

Okay Ladies I need a little help. I am having surgery tomorrow and being the control freak that I am I wanted to know the average rate of weight loss in women with PCOS. I've heard that PCOS slows the process down but just for my reference I would like to hear from any lady's who have experience in the matter. I want to make sure I'm on track every step of the way. Any and all info is welcomed!

Today is the last "pre-op" day for the rest of my life. I am excited.... scared to death.... hopeful..... happy.... sad..... anxious. All of my emotions are on overload. I am running into town to get my hair done (since it may be awhile before I feel up to going... and the holidays are here) my nails done... and to buy any last minute items needed for post-op. High protien liquid drinks? Any suggestions? I have found a few that I can tolerate the taste of, but they're not "clear".... they are sort of colored depending on the flavor.... does that matter? I keep hearing "Clear liquids only" after surgery for a week.... can they have color? Just not more than Wa…

Hi everyone. My name is Judy. I just had my lap band October 28, 2011. I am doing great so far.

So, I spent 4 hours at the hospital getting Pul Fcn Test, Chest xray, LOTS of blood work and a venous doppler on my legs... Spoke w/ the nurse intake person about pre-op instructions and some soap that I have to shower w/ for 3 days... The people were great!! Spent most time talking than testing... So... barring some freaky blood work issue, I'm on for MONDAY!!!! I'm so hungry right now.. but I'm smiling knowing that it's almost over!!!! I love my surgeon, hospital and friends right now... They've been super supportive!

I'm Lori, a nurse from Oklahoma City. My lap-band surgery is scheduled for 12/22. I'm nervous & excited! So happy to have found this forum & all the support/information you all give. Looking forward to success & better health!

One week away and then I get banded. This is exciting, and I am ready. Pushing hard to lose 15lbs before surgery. I have lost almost 20lbs, I was hoping to lose 35lbs.

I received the official pre-approval letter!! It's all so real and so close. Last night I dreamed I was at a friend's house waiting to go to the hospital for surgery and was doing all kinds of stuff to kill time when I realized it was almost 10:30 and my surgery was at 10:30 and I was supposed to be at the hospital at 8:30 to prep for surgery! Crazy- and the friend whose house I was at doesn't live where my surgery is- she's 3hrs in the opposite direction! I blame the cold meds...

Hi. I'm really interested in getting the lap band surgery and my first appointment with my surgeon is on January 12th 2012... What should I expect to happen... I know this is the first of many steps on my journey. I just hope I get approved

My first day was horrible after surgery I woke with a fat lip, left side of my face was puffy and I hurt so bad. The nurses said it was because of the tube they put in so I could breath. Dr Atkinson from Las Vegas did my surgery Monday afternoon I am having trouble with the Protein powder, can't get use to the taste.

First let me say that Dr Garcia did exactly as I asked and that was not to be restricted too tightly as I want to lose no more than 50 lbs and so far I have had ZERO problems with my sleeve. He was a joy and very pleasant. And the anesthesiologist was amazing!!! I felt ZERO pain and remembered absloutely nothing lol! YEEESSS!!! Dr. Garcia and his staff deserves recognition because I couldnt find very much on him during my research but his their liason/patient coordinator alma put me in touchh with some of his previous patients who were equally ecstatic about Dr Garcia. Alma is absolutely wonderful as well and always handles your emails and phone calls in a very timely f…

I spent a long day at work wrapping things up before I leave for 2 weeks. Stopped at the pharmacy and filled my Rx's and picked up all the recommended necessities for when I get home. Showered and trying to drink liquids. I'm so scared but I know I can do this. I'm excited to get healthy and be able to move more. This time tomorrow I will hopefully be up and walking! Wish me luck and say a little prayer please!! Be back in a couple days .....

Newbie here, just had my surgery yesterday. Surprisingly no real pain other than slight soreness and a little hungry. I have read that after a couple of days you can have cottage cheese, on a complete liquid now for some time and really feeling the pressure. Any tips?

Yesterday marked 90 days since my gastric Sleeve Surgery. Currently I have lost 33 lbs since the surgery and 38 lbs since I began my journey. So far I have enjoyed seeing the transformation happen in front of my eyes. I have made it a point to try and work out 5 days a week even if it is just doing crunches in bed. I have always been a fast eater so I still struggle with trying to eat too fast, which ultimately ends up sending me to the bathroom. I have learned quickly though when I am full, so over eating is usually not an issue. Taking any pills daily has always been a weakness of mine, however I am getting used to it now since Calcium Citrate and one a day's are …

Hi, newbie here. In fact, this is my first post! I have an appointment for my initial consultation on Jan 4th and im sure I will get this answer at that appointment but I cant wait that long! I need to know how fast you all were able to go back to work. I have a pretty physically demanding job and need to know how long I will be out. I can be on light duty if needed. Im excited about being able to go back to work after some of this weight comes off and hopefully feel a little better at the end of the day!!! Happy to meet you all and hope to make some new friends here

Hello Everyone!!!! I have been following this site for a couple of weeks and decided to join today. I was sleeved on November 2, 2011 in Lexington, SC by Dr. Marc Antonetti. To date, I have lost 35 lbs. as of this morning. I have gained a lot of helpful information from a lot of your posts and will continue to do so. I have a long journey ahead and I appreciate any support that may be thrown my way. Thanks in Advance, Paul