Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I don't know if any of you experience this and if you did or do please comment. My mind has been playing trick on me since last night when I got out of the shower. I took a quick look at me in the mirror, and for some reason I started telling myself you're not that big common look at you, you look fine you don't need no sleeve. To make it worse today I didn't feel hungry at all it was as if I already have the sleeve. I skipped breakfast and lunch I had to remind myself to eat dinner tonight, I was only thirsty that's all. Good thing I didn't give in about changing my mind I got an email from Louise and I'm schedule to be sleeve on the 4th next week. Any of you out there s…

I have read so many posts on this site trying to learn all i could from everyone's experiences and just waiting for my time to come and holy crap - it's almost here! I finished all of my pre op tests today and have my pre op tomorrow with the surgeon... i am shocked at how fast the 6 month MSWL went... lost 20 pounds so i feel like i'm already ahead. I guess i am anxious for Monday to come and excited to know my life is about to change so drastically. WOW! I have waited so long for this to happen and it really is going to happen - Monday August 1st - my new life begins!

Ok, So I'm back.....was supposed to have surgery earlier this year but had to postpone due to my own indecision as well as some serious family issues. BUT.........I'm back and certain that this is what I want to do. Now just waiting for my surgeons office to call me back and confirm what I need to do to get the ball rolling on a surgery date. I am not sure if I will have to re-do my psych eval or anything yet...let's hope not! My out of pocket is going to be around 1000.00, I am wondering if I will have to pay that up front or if they will bill me!

so i get to have my apt tomorrow to talk to the doc about my ref and all but now im like sooooo scared my best friend had gastric in October of last year and died from it in dec two days before Christmas and now all of that is hitting me at once and i have all of this rushing thru my head like what if it slips what if it does not work what if the worst happens and it all goes sooo wrong omg now im kinda panicked someone please anyone have these same fears what about after you had your band put on was it all worth it

Hi Everyone!!! I had my Lap-Band surgery in 2009 and at first I did great. I was loosing weight at a study rate, not too fast or too slow. I was able to do things I hadn't done in some time. I got to shop in regular sizes, I didn't feel wore out when I participated in different activities. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer at the same time I had my surgery, as her cancer became progressively worse, I began to loose weight rapidly. My Grandma died in January 2010, and I had reached my lowest weight at 193 pounds. I was weak, looked guant and to find out I was dehydrated. The doctor began to slowly take Fluid out of my band, and I began to gain weight back. W…

I guess I’m doing this backwards because I should have come to the “Tell your story” section when I first started perusing VST. I can’t even remember how I found this site honestly. I was using Obesity Help and quickly got turned off by that site because there is a lot of unnecessary drama happenin over there. People leaving nasty and negative comments for each other and what not…just wasn’t for me. So I’ve decided to do all my sleevin here on VST. I’ve gotten so much advice, inspiration and insight from the people here. VST rocks. Now, for the “my story” part. What can I tell you about my overweight life that you haven’t already heard from everyone else? …

Hi all, Got to Sentra hospital in Hampton VA. at 6:45 a.m., was taken to surgery around 8:45 a.m. Woke up in pain, but the hospital staff quickly adjusted my meds to control the pain level. I was taken down for a swallowing test around 2:00 p.m. and released to go home around 4:00. Everyone at the hospital was outstanding and very informative. Dr. Clark is great! Pretty sore today - and struggling to learn how to sip, instead of gulp my liquids. I am using a teaspoon to sip from. My stomach definitely lets me know when its had enough. So far I have not had to use my nausea medication - so that is good! Been trying to walk laps around my living room and kitche…

Hi, have looked here before, but really had no reason to chime in. Well now I do. I am having the proceedure on August 8th, 11. Have to pay for it myself, insurance is a ripoff to me. My wife is a school teacher, they get the least coverage at highest cost. I have beed a quitter before, stopped drinking alcohol June of 92, stopped smoking in 2004, now it is time to work on my wietht, hope all goes well. I don't see to many men doing this, they said about 25%, I hope I can relate to everyone. I am on my 2 week pre-op shake diet, not realy hungry, but shure would like to taste some meat already. Thank You all for being here...Greg

I hit 199 a few days ago and am so happy. Ill never leave onederland!!! Its hard when I look in the mirror and mentally I see myself looking the same day of surgery. Then my friends tell me that im "skinny" and look so different. Its really confusing!!!! But still woo onderland

STAY TUNED!!!!

I am having surgery in two days. I am nervous, yet excited. I am very ready to start this new chapter in my life. I know it isn't going to be easy and it's a learning process but hopefully I can learn from everyone else's experiences. I am on the pre liquid diet right now, I only had to do it for a week. By day three, I was starting to get a little agravated with it and on day four I did cheat a little, I just hope that it doesn't keep me from having my surgery. I took some appetitie suppressant pills that I had already and that has really helped me to stay on track today. I am allowed to have low fat creamed soups made with skim milk, sugar free jello,pudding & popsi…

I'm 2 months out from surgery and am down 85 pounds total (45 since surgery). I am extremely happy with my weight loss so far, and when I got on the scale this morning I was down into the next 10!! Here are my NSV's: 1. I got to go shopping and buy pants and a bathing suit TWO sizes smaller!! 2. I pulled out a pair of pants that I have never been able to wear because they were too small and I was too embarrassed to send them back, I put them on and they are HUGE on me. 3. My stomach no longer touches the steering wheel when I sit in the car, even with the seat pulled forward. I'm so happy with my decision and I'm finally starting to feel great for the first t…

I have been overweight my entire life minus the one year I met my husband, at 16, and that year I was blessed to weigh only 125lb. It didn't last long, maybe 8 or 9 months, and I quickly gained the weight back and then some. I got comfortable as time went on and went back into my old eating habits. Fast forward to now. I am 30 years old and married, for 12 years, to a wonderful man. We don't have any children but we do have 2 Chihuahua's - Banjo & Angel and 1 Budgie - Tweet. About my health: I am 5'1 and 265lb, 287lb being the most I've ever weighed. I've been diagnosed as morbid obese. That word is so ugly. I have had PCOS (Polycystic…

Hello, I am 5 days VSG post op from Durham Regional Hospital in NC. My surgery went very well and I was only there for 1 1/2 days. Hope to read some interesting things on here.....

Ok, So I am on day 2 of my liquid diet and I am going crazy!!!!!!!!!!! I have 12 more days of this ****....I have ate so much sugar free jello and popsicles that I don't ever want to see one again!!!!!!!!! My Mom went to the store and got me some Low Sodium chicken and beef broth and crystal light hopefully this will help me keep my sanity tomorrow!!!!

Hi yall just really need to know the jist of how do i apply get approved ? This is the first step for me i finally have insurance ***?.. hope thats good w/ blue cross and shield . I want to get started while i have insurance . Help!

Howdey yall for texas!! I have been banded since may 28 2011 and have went from 238 ti 185 when i started back in nov i weighed in at 239 lbs and now im done to 185 and three sizes lower i now can shop in the jr section for the large sizes and 15 instead of a size 20 wow it was great shopping in the reg size clothes. I have done great with the band and had very lil problems with it the last visit i had a fill and it has kept me on the straight and narrow now i can tell when to stop eating before i felt like i was eating still to much and then after the fill i can tell right away that im done. the only problem i have is that i got a rash a few days after surgury and it wil…

Hi everyone my name is Celeste and m 22yrs old. I've been overweight my whole life and have tried everything to drop the pounds but nothing has seem to work. I have had so many health issues because of my weight,but the 2nd biggest struggle has been getting pregnant. I have been with my fiance for 4yrs and have TTC for 2yrs with no luck. So LAP BAND is my last resort to have a healthier life and become a parent. I am at the beginning stages with the lap band process. I am getting all my clearances done n hope to have my surgery done by December. I AM SO EXCITED AND CANT WAIT. GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE ON THE NEW AND IMPROVED U....AND A SAFE RECOVERY AND…

Hello Everyone, I am new to this site and at the beginning of my VS journey. I am English, living in England and have been overweight all my life. I have a huge amount of weight to lose. I had been seeing a dietician for the past six months (with no real success) (had a lifetime of failing at every diet going) and the dietician mentioned WLS. She suggested I speak to my Dr. about this as I have type 2 diabetes and she thought I would definately fit the requirements for surgery (my BMI is 59). I went to the Dr. who was at great pains to point out that WLS meant you could only eat smaller portions and had I thought about doing that????? Despite this he did say he would …

Hi, I'm new to the forum! Just went shopping for my post-op foods (getting banded August 1). I'm both excited and anxious about my surgery. My biggest fear is that I won't do well losing the weight. I have gone to the support groups and have heard so many horror stories about people who have not lost weight and are going back for plication or getting gastric sleeve/bypass. I'm hoping that interacting on this forum will lead to my being more positive and proactive on the Lap Band journey!

I have been around here for a few weeks and have even posted once or twice without properly introducing myself. I was fearing getting to know all of you and then being denied by my insurance. Now that I have decided to self pay if need be, I am no longer as scared. So here I go. I am in my early 40's and have been overweight or obese most of my life. Now looking back at my weight history, it seems I went to Weight Watchers every time my BMI got near 40. Argh! So I am now hoping my chronic snoring is sleep apnea! On the bright side, my PCP just measured me and I am one inch shorter than I thought I was. (I swear I stood straight.) So yes, I am now happy to be shorter…

I've been reading the posts for a few weeks now and even adding my 2 cents now and then but haven't said much about how I got here. At almost 60 years of age I have tried a lot of different strategies to lose weight. I was a chubby child and was closest to a normal weight for the first time when I was in college. After that it's been a yo-yo. My most recent "success" was about 14 years ago when I lost 100 lbs and have gained all that back plus 25 more. The turning point came when the youngest of my 4 grandkids asked if I was pregnant because my belly stuck out so far over my lap; now that knocked the wind out of my sails. So as I struggled with diabetes, high blood p…

Can someone tell me what kind of file a photo must be to add to your profile? I'm not having any luck. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I 'am having my surgery tomorrow, I'am scared and excited all rolled up in one. I'am ready to work hard and begin living. If you have a a second tomorrow please say a little prayer for me .

Hey fellow gastric sleeve patients! Its good to have found a place where I can write about this long, hard but well worth it in the end experience. I currently go to FSU and start in the fall for my second year and Im excited to be back. but with being a college student will this surgery fail me? I'm scared and I'm not really sure what will happen but i know that im the only one in control of my life and what i do but thats another story.. now from the beginning. I have ALWAYS been overweight. ALWAYS. Ever since I was 11 I have been doing any diet known. weight watchers, jenny craig, south beach, atkins, fat loss pills, green tea, anything and they all have failed me. …

I thought it was about time for me to introduce myself... I'm Rebecca, and I joined this forum back in February I think, when I was considering lapband and went for an initial consultation at a clinic... Since then, DH was VERY against it and I tried a couple of other weight loss options, with no luck... Then I found out out have PCOS so have started on metformin and the pill... And then I found a clinic in my local area that can do the surgery for much cheaper... Anyway, I'm 34yo, a married mum of one, from Australia. And surgery is booked for 15 August! Hi everyone!

Ok so I am officially scheduled for October 17th for my sleeve.......I'm psyched!!! I just got my diet instructions, and luckily I only need to follow a liquid diet for 5 days prior to surgery. Five days on liquids is going to be rough... but anything for a new beginning! I'm so proud of myself for making this happen! My excitement is such that the only 2 people in this world that knew I am having this done are now inquiring about surgery for themselves...and they were initially opposed to mine! Anyway I just wanted to share why I have a big ol' smile on my face... yeah yeah!

Quick introduction: Hi, it's me! Slightly slower introduction: Hi there! I started my LAP-BAND journey officially on June 30, 2010, with the first of 4 required visits with a nutritionist (per my then-insurance company). I don't count the seminar or the initial consultation with the surgeon's office prior to that. At that time I weighed 345 pounds. Between that time and the night before my surgery I (unofficially) lost 48 pounds. Since my surgery I've lost only 12 pounds. I know where my problems were: lack of exercise and not closely watching my caloric intake. Around my 6-month anniversary of having my surgery I decided to take more aggressive control. I'm no…

I had so much trouble taking in foods I had to receive a pik line did this happen to anyone else?

Just wanted to say thank you all for sharing your experenice with us. this sight is very informational. I hope I can be as helpful to others as I start my journey with the lab band. I just completed the heart and lung test all went well. Just waiting on my date should know something within the next day or two. Nerverous......

Hi Everyone! My name is Diana! I am having Lap Band surgery next Wednesday, August 3rd. I am so excited! I have been going through this process for since January and all of a sudden it's here and WOW am I nervous! LOL Looking forward to gaining lots of knowledge from all of you that have been there before me!

Hi all! I'm "Trixie." I'm 44 y.o., female, 5'6" and 250 lbs. I'm a business lawyer in Orlando, FL (no stress there!), on BP and cholesterol meds. I don't yet have a surgery date, but it should be in 1-2 months now that I have completed all my clearances. I am just finishing up the 6-months physician supervised diet whereby I was able to maintain my weight, but I didn't lose a pound. This is mostly due to an out-of-whack thyroid. I'm just hoping for better results from the surgery. Honestly, if I just lose enough to get off the medications I will be happy. Has anyone else out there got hypothyroidism? How did the surgery work for you? Did it help you get your thyroid …

Today is my NEW BIRTHDAY!!! I went walking now getting ready for the drive to the hospital. I'll Chat later!

I can't believe I'm getting sleeved on August 8th. I started researching this topic the last week of April and started this process with my PCP on May 2nd. I originally had considered going to Mexico and paying out of pocket because I didn't think I'd qualify through Kaiser. Well, I did qualify and here I am! I can't wait to start my new life!

I did it ! I'm finally under 200 lbs. This morning I weighed 199.8 ! Woo Hoo for me. I have not been under 200 in over 10 years. I LOVE MY SLEEVE! :cheer2: Now off to work I go, to spread the good news. LOL I'm so lucky to have a group of ladies at work that have supported me. And I had to take a picture of it on the scale and send it to my daughter and husband this morning. LOL I'm lovin this day.

wrong board

ok, as some of u know i had the h.pylori virus 2 1/2 weeks ago and was to take helidac therapy antibiotics for 14 days but on day 7 it caused me to have a seizure..off the meds i came ...surgery was supposed to be tomorrow but obviosly got cancelled......got re checked a few days ago and even though i wasnt on any meds other than the topomax for seizures ----- YES------ it is gone now.........poof......surgery re scheduled for August 2, which happens to also be my birthday.....double YAY....i start my pre- op diet in the morning...thank god its only a week........7 days to go.....im sooo psyched.....so i will join u ladies and gents soon on the looser's bench......

Hi my name is E.K. I have been in the weight loss struggle for most of my adult life. I have come to the conclusion that diets just don't work. I have considered having weight loss surgery for some time now, but the opportunity has only recently become available for me to have the surgery. I had to give up smoking and diet Dr. Peppers for the surgery so I must be serious about starting a healthier life style. In the end that's what its all about being health, living longer and getting to spend a lot of good quality time with your family and friends. There are so many things that I want to be able to do again that I haven't been able to do since I have gained so much …

Hi Folks! I'm new here! I'm Tony. I'm 48 yrs old, weigh 342 pounds, have a BMI of 52, and a bunch of comorbidities including diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, et al. I've decided to get the Vertical Sleeve done, and have undergone most all of the steps my surgeon requires. All I'm waiting on is my cardiac clearance, and away we go! I'm scheduled for August 29th, with Dr. Eckstein in Hollywood, Florida. I'm excited, and I'm also a bit nervous. I know this will prolly swap ends as time goes by *more nervous than excited lol), but I think that's normal. I do physical work, so I'm hoping that I'm not out too long. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks in ad…

Hey my name is Tori I'm 23 and live in Missouri and am currently waiting to get my approval. I don't have much support and so I am turning to all of you and if I can get just a little bit of advice from anyone and maybe some support that would be amazing! Thank You Tori

I had my one week post-op appointment today. I got rid of the drain. It was strange because I have had this sore spot on my left side that has been bothering me at night. Today when the doctor removed my drain (from the right side mind you) I felt it immediately in my sore spot on my left side. I don't know if the drain actually reached over that far or if my nerve endings are misfiring but it sure felt good to get rid of it. My doctor is pretty liberal with food and such. He let me move into soft foods today which was awesome. I made my husband take me to McCormick and Schmicks for some Sockeye Salmon (to die for!). I couldn't eat much but those few bites were d…

The whole process gets me more and more anxious the closer I get to being able to submit for approval. I've combed my insurance (Aetna) clinical policy bulletin backwards and forwards. A little history: BMI is over 50 dating back over 7 years it has gone from 43 up to nearly 54 (53.1) My PCP has for the past 3 years advised me on weight loss methods I have had my psych evaluation and clearance Attended a nutritional counseling and a support group Labs and ECG (EKG) are done Now I'm not sure how, but my surgeon's office said I was eligible to submit under Aetna's "Physician-supervised nutrition and exercise program". I have had monthly visits to my PCP regarding m…

Ok so I have been reading the forums for only a short time now and decided to introduce myself. My name is Natalie and I am 30...almost 31 years (1 week). I have been overweight for at least 20 years. I was recently married almost 1 year ago and we can't wait for children but haven't been able to get pregnant. I have high blood pressure so far. I do have PCOS which means I am at risk for others such as diabetes. I am absolutely miserable. I can't fit into my scrubs and my clothes I keep growing out of. Most importantly I feel like crap daily, I want to be healthy, I want to be off my medication for HTN, I want to exercise but I feel like crap once I do. I worked at a…

I'm Linda from near Kansas City Missouri. I started trying to get banded backed in 2008. I kept getting setbacks with my insurance and kind of gave up. Then earlier this year I got a post card from Malley Surgical Center about the gastric sleeve and that was it! My insurance is finally approved and now I am just waiting to hear a date. It's driving me crazy waiting. I received my approval letter a week ago Friday. The office said it would most likely be in about 4 weeks. My surgeons will be Drs. Malley and Fearing. I'm off to read all the information here. Thank you all for being here!

Hi everyone! I found this site while looking to research dr. jeremy korman in marina del rey . my first appoitnment with him is tomorrow and i was just generally searching for info. I decided to join the site for the support.

I've been on here for a while now and post occasionally. But I thought I'd share what was going on since surgery. I was sleeved on July 11th (go Firecrackers) and have been recovering fairly well with everything relating to my new stomach. But I had a umbilical hernia before surgery and it has been the topic of discussion on several occasions between me and my surgeon. We had decided to not repair it during my VSG, unless I had intestine or something in it, and I was fine with that. Well after surgery my hernia got very irritated and inflamed. As it turns out, it is more painful than any other incision I have. Well, anyway, I went to my 1 week post-op appoint…

Hello, I am in the early stages of going through this process. I have Tricare Prime and just received my refferal letter from them. I also just attended my first dietary counseling session and she actually told me not to loose any weight because I am right at 40% BMI. But I also have severe arthritis in both knees and asthma and am well over 100lbs over weight so I think I am safe. I have a physical Aug 12; Seminar the 16th, and surgeon visit the 19th.... How long will this whole process take before I can get a surgery date?

Well, I will be banded on July 28th. I am so excited and starting to get alittle nervous. I would like any words of wisdom from you to make the most of this week! Thanks

Hi everyone! My name is Hope and I'm from Georgia. I am having the sleeve done on August 16th so my count down has begun! I was expecting my surgery to be in a few months, but circumstances dictate that it be moved to August. I am now scrambling to do all the research I possibly can and prepare my family and myself to the best of my ability. I am looking at my post-op food and now my goal is to find the right and proper way to make sure I am as successful and I can be. I weigh 328 lbs (Lord, help me, I just had a small heart attack writing that number down in a public forum!!) and my goal isn't so much a number but a degree of being as healthy as I can so I can finish rai…

Up and ready to go. Just waiting so I don't leave too early then have to sit in the waiting room. Wish me luck!