Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi my name is Rachelle, and I just had my surgery last Tuesday. Im still alittle sore, and the gas pains are not going away fast enough. I sometimes wonder..Why did I do this? But then I remind myself that the pain will go away soon, and I start my new life.

I saw an article this morning about a woman who has had great success with the sleeve. Even though the article is positive, I hate the way they refer to her procedure as "radical" and they don't make a distinction between the sleeve and other forms of bariatric surgery. Then, of course, the comments from all the idiots at the bottom. Everyone commenting as if this lady had gastric bypass - which she didn't. In addition to all this, they say the surgery costs $30k (ouch), and they also don't come close to the subject of people having this as an alternative to previous lapband failures or how lower BMI patients also do incredbly well because this surgery isn't nearly …

I will be having tne lap band on dec 5 little scared I will be having done in mexico any one have any advice for me?

I'm sleeved! I am still in the hospital. I arrived at 6:15am this morning the nurses for me ready spoke with the dr and anesthesiologist. Then got wheeled back at 7:30 for surgery. Woke up about 930 real groggy but no real pain. So far just some discomfort but not too bad. I did have a loratab a few hours ago and I think it's wearing off but will probably wait till visiting hours are over and take another then so I can hopefully sleep tonight. I go home tomorrow around noon so they say. Right now I can get up and walk around, use the restroom etc. and just in case this is kinda all over the place I did mention I was on pain medication right. :-) will update again after I …

What is the best protein pre op and post op I dont know much about buying protein most of you have bought them if I could get some advice. Thank you

Hello. I had sleeve surgery 2 weeks ago in San Diego. It went well and I'm doing fine. Along with the sleeve, my doc had to repair a large hiatal hernia, which I guess is fairly common. I've been getting in my 64 ounces by mixing water with protein, herbal tea, and miso soup. I'm also doing two 30 minute walks most days (only 1 today). Today was my first day to have soft foods and I had a soft-scrambled egg for lunch. My concern is that I didn't feel full afterwards, in fact if I had been allowed to put salt and pepper on it I think I could have eaten two eggs. I thought I was supposed to feel full - what's up?

After so many years of wanting to get Bariatric surgery, I finally am on the road to get it done. I just have so many questions. My nutritionalist has me on a 1400 calorie intake, and atleast 3 times a week of working out. In a month I lost 2 pds!! I was so upset. This month I'm stuck, then I ask myself what if I don't loose will the insurance company deny the surgery? Should I push harder to loose, what if I don't loose, I'm so confused. Can anyone help me in this matter? Has anyone been through this before? Thanks!

I am leaving in a couple of hours for a business trip and I won't return until late Friday. I used to be a "road warrior" and traveled 80% of the time. When I became a road warrior, I was about 15 pounds smaller than I am now and was a real gym rat. Being on the road destroyed my disciplined exercise and eating habits - and over the next two years I became a 125 pound heavier couch potato. So, this is my first long business trip since being sleeved almost 9 months ago. I have made plans on how to get my Protein in, what to eat for Breakfast, etc. I will record everything I eat and drink. But I am a little scared. It is SO EASY to make poor choices when travelling. A…

I had my surgery 4 days ago and am having a real problem keeping liquids down. So far I have not been able to get more than 20 grams of protein in an about the same amount of liquids. Nausea is my ever-present companion. I'd like to hear if this had been the rule with other women. I'm 64 and live in the Dallas area.

I really hope things work out for me to have surgery first thing in 2012 and I hope that surgery goes off without a hitch! My biggest goal for post-surgery is to wear a bathing suit and swim with my son in summer 2012! I think that will mean at least 60 lbs... What else am I looking forward to? Wearing my way back down through my wardrobe to size 14 clothes!! Why is it I've saved all my thinner clothes and can't wait to donate the fat clothes? I swore to myself I'd bought my last fat pants earlier in the fall.

Hi there. I am new here. I have started my lap band journey. I am looking to lose 80-90lbs. I am so nervous! I am hoping that my insurance covers the procedure since I have a lot of health complications. I am looking forward to meeting new friends!

Hello, I am fairly new to this. I had my Sleeve done on Oct.26th, 2011. Starting weight was 250, weight day of surgery 236.Today's weight 225! Hardest thing for me so far has been crushing the pills & mixing them them to get them down, but I'm learning! Hopefully it won't be long and I will be off most meds!!! I'm on a regular liquid diet for 2 weeks, then progressing from there. I have read some of the posts on here & they are quite helpful. I have high blood pressure,diabetes, bad knees & a bad back. I'm praying with the weight loss some of these issues are resolved! :yesnod: I look forward to meeting new people that have gone through the same. This…

I have paid my deposit & paid for my airline tickets... all that is left to do is to wait. Tick tock... tick tock. I am worried about the recovery time. I am feeling guilty about spending that much money on myself. I am worried about the burden I will be on my family as I recover... and learn to eat again. I hate making my family worry about me... ugh. I am the one who is always the caregiver... now its their turn to care for me... I don't like that so much. I have great support from my family. My husband (who loves me the way I am) is supporting my decision. My children support my decision, although they don't think I am "fat".... My mother is crazy worried …

I am less than a month away until surgery(yay!) and have been trying to get everything I need to prepare. One item I wasn't sure about and wanted input on is an abdominal binder or girdle type of a thing. Did any of you use one post op? Is it helpful? My surgeon's office didn't mention anything about needing one. I have an appt next week and will ask. I just wanted to check in and see if there were any thoughts on this. Thank you, Gina

I started my journey toward my VSG over a year ago. One of my best friends, who happens to be an Ob/Gyn, pulled me aside to talk to me about my weight. She cautioned me that I was heading for diabetes, a heart attack or a stroke. She encouraged me to look into bariatric surgery "before it's too late." That was in June of 2010. At 240 pounds, I was at my heaviest ever. My job doesn't help. I run my own law firm,with all the long hours and high stress that entails. I didn't exercise much, and my husband (who thinks bacon is a lean meat) did most of the cooking. I had just turned 43, and I had packed on most of the excess weight since starting law school in 2003. But t…

Hi Everyone, On Surgery date I was 224 lbs and I had surgery on September 23, 2011 and I have lost 19 lbs already, it has been a tough journey but I am making it. I need to exercise more but I just don't have the time, with work and school I have hardly enough time for myself. I walk 18 blocks every morning, and I walk my dog twice a day, but I really need to go to a gym, I just have to find the time. Sandra Aponte

Hi! I haven't been just lurking this site. I have been downright stalking it I went to the Surgeon a couple of days ago and I'm now waiting for United Healthcare to make the decision. So, on my weigh in I was 39.6 BMI. I couldn't believe it! I guess the stress got to me. I've lost 9 pounds in a week and a half. I'm praying that it doesn't kill my chances with UHC. I do have one comorbidity osteoarthritis and had ankle reconstruction surgery a few years ago. But, of course, I'm nervous. Anywho, just wanted to say hi to everyone.

YAY!!!! Today is exactly 3 months post op for me and things are going GREAT! I lost 20 pounds in the month before surgery and now am a totaly of over 80 POUNDS DOWN! It is unbelievable and I seriously catch myself NOT believing it when I look into the mirror. Being newly single again (after breaking it off with my Fiance') it feels AMAZING to have cute guys hold open doors for me, to feel the glances when I walk into a room........... and trust me, I am NOT stuck on myself. It just really does amaze me how differently I have been treated ever since about 60 pounds down. I am no longer afraid of the camera, and when I am out with friends I no longer want to find a t…

I have been on the fence about doing the surgery for years now - the money was a great excuse and the weight kept going higher and higher while we couldnt afford it . Now I have been offered the money from my family and we can afford it - they say my life is more important than paying some bills off. I hate surgery of any kind so I need to make very long lists and make sure all my questions are answered - I am afraid about picking the wrong clinic - the wrong band - not having done enough research. Everyone who I talk to is some how connected to the clinics - I want real answers from real bandsters not the Used car salesman approach I've been getting lately. I wo…

I had my lap band surgery last Wednesday (November 9). I had to spend the night in the hospital because I had a large hiatal hernia that had to be repaired. Two days after surgery, there was redness and pain at the site of my port. Back to clinic for strong antibiotics which are now causing diarrhea. I'm drinking lots of liquids and 3 Protein shakes a day (20g. each). Today is the first day I'm beginning to feel better. I go see my surgeon tomorrow morning to check the port site. If any of you are prayer warriors, I could use some prayer to heal this infection so they don't have to operate again. Although I've had complications, I am still glad I did this. I had…

Hello VST Family, For me, I have gotten lucky! I am now 8 weeks out, and my scale is moving again. (yeahh as of this mornning I am 200.0 flat!) Kool, huh? Anyway, I don't want to sabotage my scale numbers and I have gotten lucky. My family is sick and tired of the traditional "holiday foods". My son came to me and asked me NOT to cook the traditional turkey\ham and fixings. Instead, he wants .........LASAGNA. (Yeahhhh me! Easy food. :smile1: Sooooo, I will be making a Lasagna for him and meatloaf and veggies for me! I will also be cooking a Peach Cobbler for him. Also.....I have to work that day, which means there is no room for me to put on the lbs. Soooo, I …

I keep having the same thoughts and conflicts about this surgery. I keep thinking that "I could give diet and exercise another try, really hard effort this time" or believe what others say that I'm "not that big" (I carry all my weight around my belly) even that this surgery is "quiting" or something. I also worry that I'll get to thin to soon and end up looking sickly or starved, something. I worry about execess skin and not being able to do anything about it since paying for this surgery is really going to tap out my resources. I worry that I'll never be able to get enough protein/nutrience when I go camping/hunting/ just out in the middle of nowhere. I worry about d…

Hey everyone! My sleeve surgery was on October 21st and since then I have lost 20 lbs. I'm really excited about the weight loss and am hoping to get tips from those out there who have been so successful! So glad I found this forum!

So here I am guys and gals ready to begin my journey!!! I am getting sleeved in six hours at University General Hospital in Houston, Texas by Dr. Felix Spiegel. To be honest, right now I am in deep prayer reflecting on my life and knowing that this is only the first step to the rest of my life. I have always been overweight and fought with it constantly and have never had the opportunity to feel comfortable in my own skin. I think that it is time that I create a new life for me in the upcoming 2012 year and look forward to sharing my stories and successes with the rest of you! I have been reading the site for months but to scared to register in the event that I woul…

I was banded Nov 1st and so far so good. I am still sore around the port area but other than that no problems. Down 16lbs and 2 sizes. Still mostly eating the mashed foods but slowly starting to add solids. I feel a ton better now that I am off of liquids and starting to get some food in me. I was really weak and just dead tired. I decided to get banded because of health reasons more so than because I was overweight...diabetes, heart disease, liver disease. I have never struggled with my weight even after my 4 kids until a year or so after my hysterectomy. I tried for years on my own to get rid of the weight and nothing worked. It took me a long time to give u…

Well to introduce myself first off, I'm Anna. I'm 19 years old and ready to be banded. The struggle with my weight started when I was 6 years old and in first grade. 13 years of attempted weight loss and I find myself at a whopping 250 pounds. I'm 5'5 and I feel like a 40 year old woman carrying this weight around. I've always struggled with binge eating so my mother started putting me on diets at a very young age. At the age of 10 I was enrolled at a "shape down" program through St. Lukes hospital and shortly after put on weight watchers. I've attempted weight watchers multiple times and then been placed with various dietitians throughout my middle to high school career.…

I had my old band that I had for three years out do to a leak an had a sleeve. I thought the pain would b the same but OMG I hurt bad where my port was on left side of stomach. I now that they mess with the muscle a lot. It even hurts my rib all the way to my back. I'm doing ok with liquids but 70 of protien is hard. I'm an operating room nurse and do these authors a lot but I don't see patients after so this is all new to me. I'm glad I did it and can't wait to loose more weight. Anyone have a lot of pain?

Ok so i had my gastric sleeve surgery on 11/11/11! something good should come out of that right????? Came home on Monday the 14th and on Tuesday had a melt down! I have now idea why. If some 1 could pleeeeeez explain that to me that would be great! I couldnt sleep last night for ****! (please excuse my language) as im typing this i feel kinda angry. again i dont know why! maybe it's because while in the hospital i started my period! yeah nice huh. on top of the surgery i gotta deal with that issue too! anyways i wish i could just fast forward about 2 weeks! maybe things would be better. my stomach is sore and even though my doctor told me i could not hurt it from the o…

So this is my story. I had cervical cancer and gained alot of weight. THat was 5 years ago. Now I want to loose it.. .I have dieted and dieted and now it is time to lapband. I have found out that I have oestoarthiritis and sleep apnea. mY BMI is 35. I want this bad. Tommorrow I go to the surgeon's office for the first time. I am going to use Dr. Joe Burnette at Albany Surgical. I am really hoping that they can get this approved by my insurance company. Does any one have an recommendations when it comes to working with BSBSI or any experience with them at all??? I am stressed already and I just got started. Just to know that I went for the orientation in April then started…

Gearing up for my third appointment! Gonna do blood work, EKG and a breathing test. Hopefully going to schedule my surgery date!!!!!

Hi my name is chrissy and I have been reading all of your blogs I am having my sleeve Dec 10 I am soo excited but yet scared. How long befoe you started to notice the weight comming off.

I just got approved for surgery. I will be banded on 11/29/2011!!! It's all happening so fast!

Hello everyone I've been sleeve since July 20th by Dr. Juarez from Fresno Ca. and I was weighting 366 lbs. that day. But highest weight was 375lbs. Now it has been 17 weeks post-op and I am now weighting 297 lbs., where I am down 78 lbs from highest weight ad 69 lbs since surgery date. For me it has been a good experince not only because I am loosing weight and getting my self esteem up, but also that day of the surgery Dr. Juarez discovered a tumor on my pancreas that is bening and he will be doing a surgery to remove it pretty soon before it turns into cancer. Thank God I had my sleeve done and this tumor discovered on time.

I've said before that I'm not great with numbers so if I'm a bit off from previous posts, please forgive me. I'm not trying to revise history, just not that observant on numbers. But I'm just now starting my 2nd year in this life and thought I'd share the markers. In mid-October 2010 I started my pre-op diet. I think was was right about 326. Strict program requires loss prior to surgery. In mid-April I started my pre-diet liquid fast. I was at 309. I was 100% faithful and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. 10 day fast and I ever skipped two packets. I think my mind was on the future by that time but I was also going a bit numb. I knew I had to d…

The insurance coordinator/surgery schedualer from my doctor's office just called me. She said my surgery would have to be moved from Dec. 6 to some time after the first of the year because the approval still had not came through. She said every slot from today through the first part of January was already filled with pre-approved clients. I was actually relieved. I have been stressed to tears for the last two days trying to get an answer out of the insurance. I knew I only had 3 weeks left until my date and I still had another Dr. Appt., a class, and my liquid diet; not to mention my fees which are $400 and non-refundable! When I told her it was ok, she was more relieved …

Hello, my name is Josh. I am brand new to the forum and just made my first call to the Dr this morning. I am waiting on a call back as of right now. I just found out that state employees in Arkansas are going to be covered by insurance starting January 1st, 2012. So that is pretty exciting! As soon as I found out I started researching my options and doctors that are in my area. I guess I will see where this path takes me in 2012.

It's been 1yr 8 mos since I was sleeved and I thought it was time I let everyone know how my life has changed since having the sleeve done. I'm at a comfortable weight, I fluctuate between 146 & 148 pounds. I wear a size 8 to 10 (from a 3X). I have loose skin everywhere, but it has tightened up somewhat. The major things that have changed for me.. 1) Self-confidence. My weight is not the 1st thing people see when they look at me now. I am no longer embarrassed by how I look. 2) Strength. I have always been a little bit of a tomboy and I have been doing a lot of physical work and playing that I was NOT able to do in the years before the surgery. My arms are …

Hi--I just started my pre-op liquid diet--I'm scheduled for the Friday after Thanksgiving, and I'm having an embarrassing problem with "the runs". Is this normal? I was using Lean Body shakes, but no more. Please tell me that it goes away....

Hi! Got my band done on 10-28-11 which puts me at about 2½ weeks post-op. Despite having a nasty allergic reaction to antibiotics I was given for a secondary infection, I feel great. A few days of steroids cleared the itchy, burning rash on my legs and arms right up. Drank my Protein drinks for the first week and a half, and the doctor gave me the green light to start on soft foods last Wednesday. Scrambled eggs! Cottage cheese! Yummmy! I'm starting to move on to some more solid foods now and not having any problems, thankfully. I have to say that the focus needed to remember to eat slowly and chew completely is a little exhausting. It's working though, so I …

Hello All I am new to this forum But not new to Lapband I had my surgery on May 27, 2011 I have lost 55lbs so far and have another 40 to go Hope to get some great tips and motivation from all Thanks

I have Aetna through my husband's work. They have a special program that I can do the 6 month in 3 months. It is not the multi-disciplinary...just the regular physician supervised diet. Anyway, I have been working with this Surgeon's office that I respect and trust so much. He is the chief of surgery at his "main" hospital, and he has done a few surgeries on me to fix a botched surgery that someone who calls themselves a surgeon did to me. It has taken 3 years to correct all of her mistakes.....Anyway, I have done the sleep study (have severe sleep apnea), the pysch eval, and I have 3 weeks left of my nutrition program and then we can submit to insurance...yeah, almos…

Hello, My name is Jamie and I live in Spokane, WA. I am just starting out in this process to get the lab band. My husband may also do this too. Either way, I am researching and watching you tube videos. I called my insurance and they said that it is covered but will need to go through a pre-authorization process. I called the surgeon's office and they said to start out by going to the info seminar. That seminar is coming up this tuesday the 8th. I am hoping to leave with a better idea of what things need to be done first and then hopefully will be able to get a consulation with the surgeon soon after the seminar. I have no clue how many people usually attend those semin…

Hello! I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself to everyone on the forum. I had Lap Band surgery June 8, 2011. So far I have lost 46 pounds, and am very happy with my decision. I have a 14cc band, and it is currently filled to 8.5. My surgery itself went pretty well. I did it on an outpatient basis, because I didnt want to stay at the hospital. If I had that to do over, I would have stayed. I also had hernia surgery at the same time for a hernia I was unaware of. I think the biggest adjustment to all of this for me has been mental. I never realized how embedded eating was in my life, and I still find myself feeling emotionally lost at times because I am unable to eat…

I'm new on here and was searching for people with advice. I have heard tons of good and bad stories and my surgery is scheduled only a week away, so I need advice The sooner the better please!

Hello everyone!! First time posting on the forums, just wanted to introduce myself. Tell you guys where I'm at and all that jazz! My name is Dayna, coming to you from Minnesnowta! :smile1: I have always been over weight no matter what I did. I've done the dieting (sometimes extreme) diet pills, crazy infomercial products, exercising, joining a gym, the list goes on and on. 14 years worth. Yet nothing seemed to work for me, if I lost a pound or two I'd gain it back plus more! Then a few years ago I heard about the gastric banding, nbut never looked into it, Figured I should be able to do it myself, stubborn lol. Then a couple months back I was weighed... 250, the most I'v…

I can't believe the last few weeks, after I jump through all the flaming rings of fire, my insurance won't cover VSG and now my surgeon says he won't do the band. What the hell do I do now, G-D, I just want some help losing this weight????????

Well me and my sister both came out of surgery beautifully! It takes some getting used to. Every time u drnk it feels weird or like air comes up while drink goes down, not really pain but almost, hard to explain. But I can't wait till I am home in my bed resting. PIP, I am praying ur surgery goes well and any others that are today.

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Going in now...

I was sleeved 9/26/11 which makes this 1 month and 3 weeks post op! Im not feeling the greatest and have had many troubles up until this point. Last week I had to be scoped and had dialation to the stomach do to a section narrowing. Im still having issues with nausea and vomiting but the doc says everything is flowing just fine and to go back on the liquid diet. My liquid diet consist of just pedialite because everything makes me gag and vomit. its hard to keep the pedialite down but at least im getting something with electrolytes in. I have not had any kind of protein in 4 weeks. So my question to everyone who has been sleeved when will I start to feel normal again and w…