Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Ok- I'm about 65 days away from surgery- I just scheduled it yesterday, in fact. I'm beyond excited, but there are people in my life that I KNOW will not be. If I say anything now, they will spend 65 days trying to tell me how they can help me avoid this surgery. I'm 42. I weigh 340. I'm done. I'm doing this, because I know it will be the best thing for me and my family. If I tell them after the fact (when they start asking if I'm anorexic or terminally ill because I'm losing weight so fast..), they will be angry that I did not tell them beforehand. What did you do? How did the people around you react? (Keeping in mind, I know I'm doing this for ME not for them...) …

I began looking into Weight Loss surgery in April of 2011. I did a lot of research including some on this very board before signing up for a Seminar in July of 2011. My Husband was dead-set against me having any kind of surgery and was sure that we could both do it on our own. However, I was tired of dealing with one medical condition after another stemming from my being overweight. Where normally I would have backed off when he didn't support me, this time something was different and instead I forged ahead. I attended the WLS seminar in July and based on the research I had done prior and the information about different WLS Surgeries they performed, I opted for the Sle…

Hormones are all out of whack, I need a girls advice.I'm 16 so of corse nothings ever settled in, but since loosing 30 kgs and having a fil, everything has just gone hay wire! Even hair loss any ideas on what I could do or take to help with it all? I'm taking my supplement they gave me it's not doing to much.

So I've started vlogging. I shouldn't say starting as that makes it sound like I just started. I've been doing it for about three weeks now. I really enjoy doing it and have found it to be somewhat therapeutic even. I wanted to share it with you guys and encourage you all to start one if it is your thing. I watched 100s of youtube videos while preparing for surgery and I know we all get encouragement from each other and this is just one more forum to do so. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/madamdanyell

Hello everyone, I am new to the group but I decided to start my journey in September. I am currently in the Pre-op liquid diet phase. I am in my fourth day, my first three days were rough. I was craving so much food, lol. Things seem to have gotten better though. So I get my band surgery on 12/22. I am excited about it and nervous @ the same time. I have been doing a lot of research to prepare myself, also my doctor and his staff are great. I am developing my support group, and yes you guys are apart of it. I plan on asking for advice, giving advice, and being your supporter as I hope that you will be mine. Anyway, enough of my rambling, I look forward to getting to know …

So I posted this on another forum in a thread. It felt so good writing it down that I knew I wanted to continue to tell. (I'm sure my therapist will be thrilled!) I'm a high school music teacher and pretty close with most of my students. I am opting not to tell my students anything, "I'm just going to disappear for a week before Christmas break" The only reason I am not yelling about this amazing tool to my students from the roof top is... At the end of Oct, one of my student's parents passed away unexpectedly from a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) from routine knee surgery. To say this was a hard experience is putting it lightly. Many of the students in all of my choirs went …

Hello, my name is Jessica, I'm a 16 year old Australian girl, with a story to tell. All my life I have been over weight. Growing up big isn't easier not only was I really over weight, I was a head and shoulders taller then everyone else. When I was ten my mum had a doctors appointment, he did the usal poke and prod every other doctor did, only this time he didn't wait til I was out of the room, he said she is gonna die before she is 21 at the way she is going. So hearing that was a shock I didn't know how to deal with it, so we tired all sorts of fancy diets and pills. None worked. Going to school was hard, going to high school was scary and just emotionally and sometim…

So I went bra shopping and to my utter surprise I am a size A cup. Yes training bra material. The only good thing about this is there's always a sale on that size. I know because I have daughter's who are that size. They are so bad off that if I lay down they disappear. Another thing that I have noticed and would like to know if anyone else has experienced this. I often rub on my legs and i feel a lot of lumps throughout my legs they aren't visible but I can feel them. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Hi Everyone. Glad to have found this site! I have my surgery on Nov 11th. I have been on a weight loss journey for about 10 years now. My original weight was 230 pounds. With weight watchers and quick weight loss programs and exercise i lost 95 pounds. My weight steadied between 135 & 145. Then after having my son 3 years ago I am struggling to loose 40 to 50 pounds. I finally made the decision to get banded and i am extrenely excited.

Hi Everyone!! I've been considering lap band for about 2 years. I feared having it because I've heard about some ppl having complications. I've prayed on this & I finally decided to move froward !!! I'm 28 years old and 100 pounds over weight. I'm really excited about my consultation and I can't wait to experience a new me!!! I've read a lot of the topics on the board. Everyone seems so motivating. I look forward to sticking around & contributing to the community. Angel*

I'm so glad I found a group of real ppl to talk to. I have been thinking about lapband for a couple of years. My gut instincts tells me it's the best thing for me BUT I'm scared to death. Went to my 1st appt & now I'm very nervous. I don't want to eat boiled eggs & string cheese for the rest if my life & I'm scared to death I'm gonna throw up at a corp. dinner with exes. Can someone who has had the band for awhile please tell me the truth about eating with the band. I know it sounds silly but I have tons of exec dinners for my job & it's a big part of how I provide for my family. I've heard a variety if things & not sure what to believe. Thank …

I just called my insurance and found out I'm approved for the sleeve! I had to call the surgeon's office and tell them and they scheduled me right away: JANUARY 9, 2012 is my day! Now I'm a little scared but excited too. I have pre-op on Jan 5 and they're mailing me all the info today. I can't wait!

grrr.. im mad... i just wrote out this whole story and then accidently turned of my internet and it deleted the whole thing..... ok take two.. so i am deathly afraid of needles so im getting a little nervous about the surgery.. even tho i should be used to it by now since ive had 4 knee surgeries.. lol but anyways.. im going in tomorrow at 8:15 am and then my surgery is at 10 am.. im excited to get my journey underway... but i have been hearing people talk about having a drainage tube... i was wondering what it is and how long its gonna be there.. cuz im very quezy if i see blood.. any ways.. i have kaiser and no one has mentioned anything like this so im wondering is …

I had lapband surgery October 2010, since then I've only lost 28lbs and have had 9 fills. After each fill I had no restriction at all. I complained to the dr in September and he suggested I have an upper GI done so he could check the band position. I completed that and he said it looked like I could go for one more fill, I did on December 5th and that was my eighth. Still no restriction so he suggested I have another fill that he would perform under fluoroscopy so he could see when the band was full. Well I did that on yesterday making it my ninth fill and still nothing. He told me that I would probably only be able to do liquids after that but I was able to eat two regu…

Hi, everyone. I'm completely brand new to the forum but have been reading the posts for months. Got the courage to see the surgeon after decades of weight loss struggle. My first appointment was in October, went to the seminar, saw the dietician, had the labs, EKG, EGD, sleep study and got all my medical records detailing my multiple attempts at weight loss in the past. This was all submitted to my insurance company on Nov. 22. My surgery was scheduled for Dec. 12th. But then the insurance decided to give me a big, fat, denial (no pun intended!). My husband and I pay for our own family plan. We do not have a workplace insurance. I thought Anthem was supposed to b…

I am less than a week away from being sleeved...OMG!!! I'm so nervous right now!!! I had to tell my students that I won't be here for their finals... they want to know why... I told them I'm going to the hospital and they are a little freaked out!! Nice to know that they care, after complaining about me being hard on them all the time... The first day of the liquid diet was so HARD... I had a headache and I was little grouchy.... but, I do believe it all will be worth it!!! I've made my list for my hospital bag, my groceries for the next month and the books I'm going to read! I'm also going to go buy new sneakers, get my hair, toes and eyebrows done!! (Gotta look cut…

So at first I felt like I am approved but now my Doctor keeps sending me for test. I was a lot frustrated, until....... upon getting results from one test showed my heart is not functioning correctly. Cardiologist absolutely said no surgery til this issue is resolved. So people please be patient and follow through with all your appointments no matter how frustrating it could get. As long as your approved the surgery would get done..... ....

Hi Iam Brian and will have lap band on Feb. 16 and very nervous but also looking forward to being healthy and feel better again. The main reason for doing this is to live longer for my four daughters and grandson well my whole family plus to stick around and bug my wife a little longer!!

I am Joyce Real. I came here looking for answers, I don't seem to be able to find anywhere else. I am 5 days post op and doing ok. I still have quite a bit of pain, and the staples are annoying as can be. I feel my doctor is rushing me onto solid foods, he has already suggested I move from liquids right into trying chicken and baked potatoes. He even mentioned drinking soda, with my burp pain there is no way I want soda. But he is just the surgeon. So I do not expect him to give me all the answers. Everyone is pushing me to walk. I know it is important to get up and move but I can hardly drag myself out of bed. I am not taking the pain meds, because they make me into a zo…

Where do I start? hummm... Well I am 281 pounds and would love to get down to 150. I have just considered going with the lap band I am from Sherwood, AR. So the clinic will be through Dr. John Walker he seems to be the only one that has done the procedure often. What are things I should know? What made you decide this was the option too? What does your significant other think? I mean I think I have a billion questions lol I just finished all the intake on the website so I have to wait for them to call me. I have an appt with the dietician at the insurance department see how that goes. I have qualchoice of Arkansas.

Went to the introduction to lap band filled out papers to go forward and was told the committee decided that my insurance would not cover. I am type II diabetic with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and arthritis. I am 56 with a BMI of 33.Where do I go now can I get insurance to cover.I don't think they even called them

I was told by my GP that the requirement for lap band has changed and I am a great canidate for the procedure. I had my first appointment lat week and the wheels are spinning very fast. I already have appointments setup with the nutritionist and phsyc eval. Do things like this go this fast aand then does everything halt do to insurance?

This is my step by step guide to what you'll probably experience getting sleeved. I'm writing this because I really wanted a step-by-step experience before I went and couldn't find a detailed one. Keep in mind, this is what I experienced but written to help you understand the overall process. Your experience will vary based upon complications, previous surgeries, etc. That said, here we go: After not eating or drinking anything past midnight, you'll arrive at the hospital early in the morning, probably like 6am'ish. Personally although I could eat the day before, I only drank Soups because I imagined the pain of pushing out a BM immediately after surgery would hur…

Hi, I'm Cari and I'm just beginning my journey with Lap-Band. I have been overweight or obese pretty much my whole life, going up and down in weight every few years. I would go on a diet and start exercising regularly, and lose weight, but then I would put it back on. The last time I lost a lot of weight, I ended up getting pregnant and gained it all back plus some. While I was pregnant I had a sit-down fall and while my baby was fine, I was not so lucky. I suspect that the fall is what caused my three herniated discs in my back. Then after I had my son, I ended up developing fibromyalgia. Between the pain from my back and the fibromyalgia and the medications that I h…

I had vgs surgery Sept. 29, 2011. Oct. 11th, I had to go back to the ER due to left shoulder pain and high fever (106). I had an infection and a leak and was taken immediately to surgery, I thought to fix the leak and clean the infection. Little did I know I would lose my spleen, in the process, and end up with a J tube and drain, a picc line and still have the leak. I have had numerous CT swallows with contract and still a leak. Two weeks ago, I had an EGD with Botox injected into my stomach, which is supposed to help the stomach relax so the leak can heal. My doctor allows me to have clear liquids, which after reading all the comments, I'm wondering if that's slow…

I am not going to write a book about my life or anything, but I would love to share a short story on how I ended up with the sleeve. I have been overweight my whole life and battled countless diets along the way that always in the end for the worse. I started working at a bank a year ago and they have excellent benifits and pay for 90% of lap band and sleeve surgury. My husband and I have been trying for years to have a child and I thought what a great way for me to get healthy and possibly help me have a baby. So as of October 10th this year I had the surgury and my weight was 286 at my highest. Currently I am at 250. I was worried I was losing weight too slowly but my D…

tuesday, i met my surgeon and i got a tentative date for dec 20th. today was my final 6th month appointment & im praying they submit my papers by tomorrow. i hope for a speedy approval. my insurance coordinator went home sick today so i wasnt able to sit & talk with her. QUESTION: how long after your papers were submitted to insurance were you approved? ****UPDATE**** i just talked to my nurse practioner & she said all my papers were submitted. yay!

15 seconds ago... I'm APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, everyone. I was banded 12-07-11 and my chest discomfort finally went away today. However, I still experience umbilical and port site pain which is worst with movement. I don't feel hungry at all but I've been trying to follow the post-op diet instructions. I've lost 16 pounds since I started the 2 week pre-op high protein diet. I'm feeling depressed though!

Hey guys!! I"m a newbie! I'm slated for surgery on the 20th of December and so far I've cheated on my pre op diet because the cravings are so intense!!! I know that I have to mentally be strong but it is almost death blowing. I'm a teacher so i'm constantly moving and forever on my feet and I get hungry during the day!!! Help!!!!

Just counting the time down until I will be sleeved. Found this Forum very helpful. Thank you and I will keep my experience posted.

My name is Sarah. I was banded on October 23rd and had my first fill on 30th November. I am still adjusting to living with a band and finding it all a bit strange from time to time. I joined a gym and am being very careful about what I eat. I started having some pain near my port (nothing serious just uncomfortable) and after some googling I found a blog called Chronicles from Band Land written by Catherine. Not only was it was amazing, incredible and heartwrenching but she was banded on the same date as me just a few years earlier. It was fate. I read her entire blog from start to end and then started on some others. From there I have discovered LBT (yes I am still ge…

Hey all I had surgery on Thursday Sep 30th starting weight 254 and I went in on monday to get weighed because I had a minor rash around my naval and I weighed 243 not bad. But today i am really saddened because I for some reason became really hungry and the liquids weren't filling me up so I had some really soft bread and chicken. To my surprise it wasn't even half of what i usually eat but i still had it any help?????

Hello, I'm new to the forums and would like to introduce myself. I've been overweight for a few years now, and have the normal issues: Type 2 Diabetes, HBP, High Cholesterol, damanged knees, problems with my hip, and other weight related issues. I currently weight 375 and gaining weight rapidly due to inactivity. I've had multiple Pulmonary Embolism's over the last 18 months that limit my activity. I'm scheduled for my first Consultation in a couple of weeks for WLS, and to discuss which procedure would be best. I'm thinking "iBand" = Lapband + Gastric Plication and is worded to be pretty successful. Any words of encouragement or support is always accepted. …

Hi, my name is Becky. I had the lap band surgery performed by Dr. Soong on November 22, 2011. My first week was very succesful, I lost 14 lbs. However the second week I ended up in intensive care, completely dehydrates with diabetic ketosis. This is not what I expected. I have been out of the hospital for 3 days now. I am still fighting with dehydration issues again. Has anybody else had this problem or have any suggestions. I am following the diet to the t and drinking plenty of liquids. I am very happ to say I am down 18lbs but don't have any energy to do anything.

hi everyone, my lapband journey started 18 months ago, my starting weight was 136kg, i followed optifast strictly for 7 weeks before my op and went in on the day weighing 118kg . i was feeling so good and pumped and ready for this journey, all went well ans was out of hospital the next day i continued on having fills and got down to 110kg, with my band full i became really sick and was hospitalized and thus had to have 4 ml out ( i have a 9ml band). so i have been carrying on with just 6 mls in my band, some days i have really good restriction and other days i have no restriction at all , i havent been really able to afford to keep going back and having more fills as my m…

Banded on Dec 9th. So far so good. Clear liquids today and tomorrow and so far everything is staying down. Any suggestions to mix it up a little so im not bored with the choices of liquids?? Thanks!

Hello everyone. My name is Holly and I am 34 years old. I lost 10 lbs. on my pre-surgery diet and I am now 232 lbs. My goal weight is 145 lbs. I was banded on December 8th and I am really excited to start my weight loss journey.

I love reading about everone's experience while in the hospital, and feelings immediately after waking up from surgery, is there a specific post for this somewhere? If not, i would love it if any of you out there could re-cap your experiences with the surgery part of this journey...it would really help me to know what to expect! Thanks in advance! Sara

Hello everyone! Im Marcela, or Marcie as everyone calls me. Im 22 years old and im getting banded on the 20th! I started at 248 and since ive started the whole journey im down to 243. Im sooo excited yet nervous about the whole thing. Does anybody have any tips that could help me calm my nerves before this surgery?? Please and thank you!

Hi, my name is Caroline and tomorrow is finally the day were I get my band! I'm so excited and nervous and scared and just soooo emotional! I'm laying in bed tossing and turning...its going to be such a loooong night! Well I'm 20 years old...i know i know I'm a younging, currently weighing in at 287 pounds...yikes. I'm just so ready to take control of my weight and my eating and everything. Sighh..so nervous though...

Hi my name is Kelly and I am 28. I just had lap band 7 weeks ago. A week ago I had my first fill. So far I am not sure how I feel about the lap band. I have lost weight befor but never keeped it off so I think when I get down to were I have been befor I may start feeling more excited. As of right now I am doing okwith the eating. My only problem has been that since my first fill I can only take 4 to 6 bits of food befor I am in pain. I am not sure if this is normal. Other then that I feel good.

Yesterday, I completed my 5th of 6 Medically Supervised Diet weigh-ins. Another 6 lbs lost. That's 27 lbs total. My Doctor wanted me to lose at least 20 lbs. Today I'm going for my chest x-ray and Wednesday I have my appt with the nutritionist. My final weigh-in is Jan 5th and then everything will go to insurance. My surgery is tentatively scheduled for January 27th. The funny thing is, I am more nervous about my insurance company denying me than I am about the surgery itself. I've told everyone I'm close to at work that I'm having surgery and everyone is super supportive. I work on the 2nd floor and we don't have elevators so they are even moving my desk do…

So! I am so excited I found this website. I was just banded on the 5th of December...I started out at a ridiculous 346 pounds, and after the diet and band I am down to 323 today ....I am really thrilled to start this new venture of life...I am 24 and looking forward to all that will come with this change I have opted to make. I am looking for new friends, support, and whatever else that comes my way--Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you soon Deanna

I haven't checked in a lot have been real busy, but wanted to update you. I am down 62 pounds on my 3 month sleaave birthday. I am thriled. =) Putting this sleeve to work!

Hey everyone!!! IT'S FEEL GOOD FRIDAY!!! It's been a long time, but it's time to get back to positivity and seeing the forest for the trees. Tell me, what is that one thing that you are SO PROUD you can do now that you've lost some weight with your VSG, that you were unable to do before? For me, I'd say its all internal. I have found a voice within me I never knew existed. I feel like I constantly have to express how wonderful WLS is - it has given so many their lives back. Giving encouragement and always reminding everyone living the day to day with it that though perhaps your one moment may not be the greatest, don't forget the positives you are living because o…

Yesterday, December 7th was my one year surgiversary. It has been a great year and a rough year. A healthier year and a sicker year. An anxious year and a peaceful year. Contrasts, to say the least. I started at 207 lbs and a 36 BMI. From the beginning I had trouble following the Protein rules because everything made me gag--things like almond butter which I loved before and Protein shakes which I thought were pretty good before. So I did the best I could in finding protein sources, but fell way under the allotted amount. I also struggled with eating too fast--a lifelong habit. I had many occasions, especially in restaurants, when I was involved in conversation…

Not sure really where to start other than I had my lapband surgery on April 6th 2011, it was the best thing I have ever done even though I have had my rough patches at times. I am still learning how to eat I know it sounds funny but if you have had the procedure done you know what I am talking about. I was one who would sit down and eat fast and large bites my whole life and that has been a hard change for me and still trying to make that adjustment.My weight loss has gone pretty well I am 8 months out since surgery and have lost 91 pounds. I guess that is good really have not talked to anyone else who has had the surgery so not sure if that is pretty good or not. I feel …

Hey Everyone I am new to this board in the posting arena but have been following for a while! I am now 5 days from my surgery and decided to start blogging to document every moment of the journey -- hopefully you'll find it interesting and or amusing at least! And we'll be able to share and exchange info first hand as I and all of you go through this process. Please check me out here www.itsjeffsblog.com --- i promise to post often and wont let you down! I would be interested in seeing or reading anything you have journaled as well!~

my surgery date is set for dec 20th. i wanted to know what was some MUST HAVES on your grocery list post op and what do you eat now that youre post op? i know taste changes some what after surgery but i want to be semi prepared.