Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi everyone, I’m Vanessa and am 20 years old. I started this because i want to read and see different journeys so i am excited to see what i'll find. I will be having my surgery in September and ever since i got my date i have been having these nightmares! I wake up in the middle of the night because i can’t stand the pain after surgery and i even dreamt once that i felt everything during surgery! I’m so excited for this but i can't understand why I’m getting so nervous. I knew this is going to be a great new chapter in my life and i can’t wait.

I just wanted to introduce myself, gee imagine that on the introduction forum! Lol. Anyway, I was banded with a realize 9cc band on may 24th. I have 6ccs in it right now after my first fill. Next Friday I have my second fill, and definitely need it. I love my band, especially when I have that feeling of fullness immediately following a fill and I cannot wait to hit my sweet spot. I have lost 24 pounds since being banded and am feeling better now than I have in a long time. I still have a wasys to go until I can keep up with my 7 year old daughter, but I am more dedicated to this than anything else I have tried. I follow the rules and take 1 meal at a time. I'm looking fo…

Hey y'all! My name's Yetta and I'm from Mt. Olive, NC. Yes, that place on the pickle jars. I am 22 years old and a sophomore at UNC-Pembroke majoring in Biology (Zoology concentration). I'm looking forward to getting banded in the near future, hopefully before the year's out. I'm still in the early stages of planning everything out though, so nothing's set in stone just yet. I'm here to gain knowledge on the procedure and to get advice from you all that have already been through it. I look forward to getting to know everyone very soon! xoxo, Yetta

Hi everyone! I'm new to this form and new to actually participating in this type of forum. I love to read them but have never participated. lol I'm a 53 year old grandmother of 3 who has battled my weight most of my adult life. I have the most wonderful husband who has encouraged me and so my surgery is scheduled for August 1 and is being performed by Dr. David Kim.

Hi, I've made it my goal to start being more active with Lap Band Talk. I took a long break for almost 3 years but logged into the site when it was near my surgery day/anniversary. I was banded on July 20, 2007 in Houston, Texas by Dr. Spivak. It's been a long road these three years with almost becoming anorexic due to my band being two tight. I've slowly returned to a good/reasonable weight and have flourished. I decided to repost in the introduction section to say I'm back and if you would like to add me as a friend please do. I've only got 3 friends so far. Please add me as a friend. Thanks for allowing me to post. Cypanther

Any input from present or former patients of either of these practices would be appreciated. I'm in the South Jersey area and looking for a new surgeon. Thanks! Lisa

I am really excited about my surgery tomorrow. My 2 week pre-op diet allowed me to eat one meal in the evening and last night for my last meal I had a bowl of Soup and salad from Olive Garden. It tasted so good. A few months ago if someone told me my last meal was going to be soup and salad I would have laughed but I enjoyed every bite. Today is all liquids and I am a little bit concerned on my how my blood sugar will hold up without Protein supplements so I am staying home and laying low today. I ordered some unflavorded unjury but haven't gotten it yet and I plan in it being a staple of my diet post op since I can add a little powder to just about anything to beef…

Hello everyone, I just found this site today. I wish I had found it when I was doing my research on WLS. But all is not lost. Well not all of my weight thats for sure. Still have a ways to go. I was sleeved on May 16th, 2011. Its now a little over 8 weeks and I have lost 39 lbs. My doctor was Dr. Nick Nickelson out of Plano, TX. I am so happy with Dr. Nick, and his staff. They are all great. even when you call for a silly question, they dont make you feel silly. My story started last year, when I started to have some health issues. I have always been overweight most of my life and it was never really an issue for me. I was healthy and happy so I told myself.. "Whats the …

So here I sit at a quarter till 5am with not a darn thing to do because I am too excited to sleep... I keep waking up every hour or so... finally I just decided to give up. My surgery is at 10:30am, have to be at the hospital by 8:30am. I'm mostly packed (just a couple odds and ends to toss into the bag yet, and then pack up the CPAP for travel,) and am as prepared as I think I can be. I'm not even feeling nervous... I just can't sleep. How stupid is that? Insomnia the night before surgery. Oy. This is my brain, let me tell you. I guess I'm basically writing for lack of anything better to do. Bad night to get insomnia. I already took some melatonin and don't want to tak…

Hello there. My name is Amanda and I am new to the group. I am here trying to regain my balance. I got a band in late May and did really well at first, but I moved from Philadelphia to New York, started a new job and moved back into my home in June. I was fine when I was not working but work seems to have sent my diet into a tizzy. The good thing is that I love to exercise. But it's the food I find such a huge challenge. I had my first fill in June and it was minimal. Since then, I have been constantly hungry and can't seem to put down my fork. Anyone have good suggestions on how to get back on track? I see my doctor in Philly soon for a fill but I am dreading that visi…

Went shopping today to get some things I think I might need to ease into this new lifestyle. Searching and asking tons of questions to all of my vs friends. Getting good advice. One VS friend even tried to help alleviate my son's fears. She told him her son felt the same way when she decided to get sleeved, but now he is happy she did it. My son still didn't want me to change. Later that day I told him I was doing this so that I could get my cholestrol under control so I won't have a heart attack and die. He said, "Oh!" Well in that case go ahead. I am on the pre op diet and doing well except have had to nibble on a piece of chicken a few times. Stomach is rumbling …

Good Evening Everyone, Well I am going to have another sleever in the house. My husband got his surgery date for August 10. I am so excited for him. He starts his liquids on July 27. Our journeys are coming together. I was sleeved on May 4 and I am down 65 pounds and I am so excited. Today we went to the pool for his first any many workouts. He is sore from head to toe but he will make it. He has been starting to read the blogs in here so he can be more informed. My husband is not a computer person so we do this together. Please keep him in your prayers during this new process for him. He sees me struggle and he is little worried but I think he will make it.…

I cant wait till I get my Band. But after joining this site and reading some stories Im becoming a little worried!

Here I am! I lost about 90 lbs before getting pregnant in March of last year. Had to have all my fluid removed at about 20 weeks into the pregnancy because my kidneys were failing causing excessive vommiting... Anyway, I gained 80 lbs! Shame on me! Now I have a beautiful 7 month old daughter and want to continue losing weight... But at the same time, my husband and I want to continue growing our family (we are not getting any younger). I have much more control now-after seeing what happed when i lost my control- but I seem to be at this horrible plateau that I can not get past! I can not get another fill, because I am too tight as it is. I dont understand how I am NOT los…

I'm a newbie here and thought I'd share my excitement. I just got my surgery date, 7/25/11 and since then, everything seems as if it's going in fast-motion. I've started my pre-op diet yesterday and so far, so good. I'm reading all the posts I can on here and trying to get a feel as to everyone's experience so far. My daughter is getting married in December, so I'm already envisioning a great looking mother-of-the-bride's dress. Did anyone have any unrealistic expectations prior to surgery?

Hey Everyone! Well, here I am! I've been reading around the site for a couple of weeks now, and decided to take the plunge and introduce myself. I am still pretty much in the "read as much as you can about this surgery from everywhere you can" stage. I am signed up to go to one of the seminars tomorrow night (followed nerdily by Part 1 and Part 2 of the last Harry Potter!). Ridiculously nervous! Love any sort of awesome words of advice/info from you guys! Thanks, Nikki

Hello my name is Angie, I am 39 years young from Pennsylvania. I have my first of 4 monthly appointments on July 18, 2011. I currently weigh 288 and 5' and have a BMI of 56. I have type II insulin dependent diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, non alcoholic fatty liver disease, asthma, edema of feet legs and ankles, and am in constant pain upon movement. starting Feb. 16, 2011 until June 3,2011 I have been hospitalized 13 times for my asthma and diabetes and other related issues including paralysis with unknown cause. Total days in hospital 63. I am currently on 12 different meds, and hate taking them. I am excited as well as nervous at same time. I have been…

I was sleeved 5/16/2011. Tomorrow will be 2 months, and I am just getting around to posting this here, even though I've had most of it typed in a notepad on my pc. I wasn't sure if all of it would fit here, so I put it in my "about me" section of my profile. Please feel free to read it, especially if you are considering Dr Kelly and wonder how things are and how things went for me personally. I also posted a few pics of the hospital in my gallery if you'd like to see them. If you have any questions about anything, please send me a msg or post a reply here.

I just got home from the hospital. My surgeon said that it would be just an overnight stay and then they would release me if everything was ok. I had the leak test this morning and it was fine. I've been able to keep down 8 ounces of beef broth and 16 ounces of crystal light with no problems. Once I finally peed on my own (after they took the catheter out), then they released me. I really haven't had much pain - just around the incisions, but that was expected. They also gave me something for nausea which is why I don't think I have had any problems with it. The nurses were impressed with how well I was doing. Apparently there was another patient of Dr. Northup who h…

Hi all, On Sunday, I'm two months out from my surgery. It's been quite a ride so far! Post-surgery, I have lost 30 lbs. I lost 32 lbs. on my three-month pre-op diet for a total of 62 lbs. I have met some mini goals on the way: I'm now merely obese, not morbidly obese. And I'm in onderland! My surgery was uneventful except for a small, undiagnosed hiatal hernia that my surgeon repaired. That added about an hour to surgery. Recovery has been pretty smooth too. I did discover in the first few days that I am now lactose-intolerant. I'm hoping that will go away in a few months. I've read here that many people become lactose-intolerant for a few months after surgery. I a…

It is so good to come back to the forum. I did not realize how much I needed the support. My weight began to creep back on slowly over the course of the year. I am focused again and ready to start the journey over.

I was told yesterday by my nutrionist that I wont be able to swallow anything bigger then the size of an "advil" for 6 weeks after surgery... this seems a little extreme?

So after 8 months and 7 doctors, I finally got clearance for the surgery and my insurance approved it immediately. I am scheduled for August 11. I still have to do a sleep study cause I have low blood oxygen and they want to get me a CPAP before surgery, if necessary, and a blood test found another issue that could compromise the date, so I have to see another doctor and have an MRI next week. While I am excited, I am also apprehensive. I sorta feel like the little yodelee guy on The Price is Right. I climbed up the mountain - but if I go any further I may fall over the cliff and not win the car. I want to win the car.

Having trouble getting a stress test scheduled. Had all the prelims (psych, nut, class) appts handled in May, but since then I've had to wait 2 weeks to see my surgeon because he was on vacation, then another 2 weeks to see my pcp because he was on vacation the entire month of June, and now I'm having to wait at least another week for a stress test. I know this seems like a short time to those of you that have had to be on the 6 month plan, but as a self pay, when I finally made the decision, I honestly expected to be sleeved a month ago. I guess I should have tempered my expectations, but all of my eval people were saying it should be less than 1 month. Anyway, just …

so as some of u remember, in the blood test i came up positive for hpylori (stomach lining virus) and was put on a 2 weeks HELIDAC Therapy........Im 1 week into the treatment and last night I had a gran mal seizure at home...hubby was scared and called the ambulance.....i spent the night in icu and now im on a regular floor being taken care of...had several tests and the docs told me today that the meds i was taking (helidac ) may have caused the seizure.......now im off the meds and my sleeve surgery is prolly being cancelled ...( 26th july) what a bummer.........P.S I have never had seizurs before in my life.......

I just found out that my UHC insurance approved my surgery. I'm soooo excited. I am looking forward to a life change.

I have been lurking here for a while and it's time to jump in and introduce myself. I started the journey in November of 2010 when I attended a meeting on the various WLS. I had been hearing a lot about the lap band and wanted more information. I had seen a friend who had lap band and lost a huge amount of weight. (unfortunately he has since gained most of it back. After doing a lot of research I soon learned the lap band was not for me. I then started researching the vertical sleeve. This forum has been incredible in helping me make the decision. I wanted to hear the good, the bad and the ugly and it is all here on this forum. I am much older than most on this f…

Today is day 15 since I was sleeved. I have not had much pain. I DID, however, have a HORRIBLE case of hives everywhere tape had been - all over my belly, all around my stitches, AND on the back of my hand where the IV was. THANK GOODNESS they only lasted through 1 weekend - I took benadryl every 6 HOURS and kept cream on them. I'm still on liquids, although today I can add "thickquids" lol -- just made that up! hahahaha BUT ... I have been SO TIRED. I had to go back to work on Day 5 (called in sick Day 6), and finally made it all day on Day 7. I have been dragging myself to work, sitting at my desk bundled up in a sweater - don't know if the office building is …

July 14, 2011--Day one. Called today after putting off sleeve surgery for approx. two years. Daughter had sleeve two years ago due to health reasons, so could only do one out of pocket at a time. When she had her surgery this site was wonderful for a mom full of questions. I never posted but learned a great deal from wonderful people. Hopefully you can gently guide me through my process. I am really looking forward to this journey. My daughter has done wonderful. She had lost 105 lbs., but learned the art of grazing, so has put back on about 40 lbs. She is back on track now and loosing slowely but surely. I am to see my GP and surgeon Monday, and scheduled surger…

Hi my name is Darlene and im new to all this and trying to gather as much information as possible,i have y first seminar on july 26th,was wondering does our insurance cover the band fills and i always thought the surgeon who did it fills it,plz respond,thanxs

Life is good! Got sleeved on Thursday by Dr. Kelly and I feel great. I am ready to get home and fast forward to week 5 already. Lol. The smells of incredible cooking here at the Hotel Lucerna make me fantasize but the truth is I'm not hungry. Hahaha I fly home tomorrow and just look forward to getting there. I miss my family, my doggy and my bed. I'll write in more detail for those will go after me but I really want to thank you all for helping me be so well prepared, both with information and with helpful tips! More later ...God bless! Susan

Got the call today that my surgery was approved! I am the first person in their office to be approved for sleeve surgery by BCBS of Wyoming! Surgery on August 15th. I know it will be here before I know it! Thank you to everyone on VST you are awesome!

I am very thankful that today has been better. I still have gas pains and now my muscles are hurting but it is better! Hydration, walking, and rest are what I am aiming for this week. I have weaned myself off the nausea meds and only take the pain meds twice a day. Once a few hours after I wake up and right before bed. I hope to be off them all the way tomorrow!!! To be honest, up until today, I had serious byers remorse. Today it seems like I may just make it through this!

Just got off the phone with the surgeon's office and I am officially scheduled for August 1st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yippee!!! I am on my way! I want to thank everyone who posts about their surgery experience cuz it has helped me tremendously! I know what to expect, what to buy b4 surgery and what to do post op. Your guys are the best! Now, who else is going to be a Hot August Sleever?

Hello everyone, I'm a 44 year old woman who, like so many other is done with the yoyo dieting and weight fluxuation. I am meeting Dr Trace Curry in Cincinnatti Ohio on May 25th for my initial work up. I have seen several of you have seen him and had procedures done by him. He comes highly recommended and i am anxiously awaiting the outcome of 2 insurances to find out if i'll qualify for the sleeve i want. I wanted/needed a support group to help me get through these initial time all the way through the celebrations of success and for advise in every step along the way. I have 3 kids by a previous marriage and will be married in Nov this year to my loving finance. I …

Hi there, I'm Karyn. I am getting my surgery in August and I'm a self-pay patient. My BMI is currently about 33 and I'm 30 years old. I've been as high as 290 pounds and as low as 190 pounds. Right now I'm at 239. I'd like to make it to 160. I'm going to the Swedish Weight Loss Center and started as a "non-surgical" patient to get down from 255. I just don't want to have to fight so hard my entire life to hover at 205 pounds when I'm "being really good" so i decided that a lap-band is a good option. My doctors agreed and I'm getting ready to make this major life change. It'll be $14k when I'm done, but that will be money well spent! I was wondering …

I just started my journeyI would like to hear from people who have had surgery with family health plus insurance . . I have my seminar on 8/4. I am alittle worried that I may not be eligable because my BMI is right on the border . I do have health issues though, I'm being treated for depression, bad knees, high cholesterol, just had my gallbladder out due to stones . I am wondering if there are others like me with their bmi on the lower side of the scale that were apporved for surgery?

I don't have a problem with my surgeon, just with the incompetence of the office. I was trying to be patient, because it wasn't all their fault. I had my last weigh-in of my 3-month supervised weight loss on May 24. The insurance person in the office said she'd file it within a week (which seemed rather long to me, but whatever). Well, before that time, she went on medical leave. When I called two and a half weeks later to check on the status, I found out it hadn't been filed yet. I was told to call back in a week to check on it, because the nurse and nutritionist were going to try to figure out how to file things. (bangs head against wall here) So, they ended …

Has anyone out there used Tricare to pay for VSG?

hello. cant rally decide if this is for me, however, i think im in the right place. im 43 and at 294 at my high point. it always use to be rather easy to lose weight, especially with atkins...but it just dsnt seem to work as it did. i will be self pay and if anyone has any info on that id greatly appreciate it. also, im in Vegas so if anyone can suggest any info that pertains to my area that would be great as well. thanks for your time.

I started my 6 month diet program yesterday. I am so excited but sad that I have to wait that long . I know time flies....but I'm so tired of being overweight and feeling ugly....Its such a big part of my life 24/7, feeling fat, feeling ugly, cant find anything to wear, hope no one sees me.......I want to have a new life....new me....happier me. I am thankful that this opportunity has become available, I just hate the waiting. I hope I meet some friends on here.....I need someone to talk to. Sarah

So im excited for my sleeve but really nervous not sure how the change will impact me yet. Most of my family knows and is excited for me. I haven’t told a couple friend because im sort of worried what they might think. I know my closest friends will except me how ever but I don’t know im still just worried about everything. I just want to be healthier happier and a whole brighter me .. In my 12 week classes I met some new friends that were going to get surgery but ended up not doing it. They tell me im really young and I have my whole life ahead of me and that there is too many restrictions. I want change and tired of always having my weight hold me back from the millions…

Hi I am from Los Angeles. Nice to see everyone.

Well its been long enough and time to tell my story. After so many years of dieting - everything from Atkins to Weight Watchers and evething in between it was time to make a decision. I took money out of my 401K (where I was headed I most likely would not be there at retirement). I had a friend who did the lapband and I was settled on that. I was telling another friend that I was looking and she suggested something she had called a Verticle Sleeve. Not only had she had it done her brother and his wife had it done. She was about 9 months out when we first talked.. She told me some things that sounded good and some that sounded a bit scary. After it all she said she would …

Hello eveyone, I have officially been sleeved as of 3 days ago. I was never in pain except for a latge volume of Gas and nausea. They gave me some phegren and Everythng subsized. I feel the resttiction after drinkiing an ounce of water im full. Im glad I need my sleeve Sheri

I have my first appointment on June 7th and I am going to (hopefully) be getting the surgery before my husband goes overseas at the end of the year. I'm ready to be happy and healthy and make friends!

I'm here at the hospital all checked in. Waiting now to be called back. I'm still doing good. But I'm afraid when I go back that is when I will freak out. LOL Hubby will update here after surgery. Thanks everyone for your support.

Ok so, the nurse at my surgeons office called me today to schedule my CONSULT! YAY! I got the surgeon I wanted too! (Dr. Sydney Hu) DOUBLE YAY! ANYWHOO, so i went and turned in my absence request for my employer and he told me that he wasnt sure that they would be happy to give me all this time off. So I said "well its for surgery, Im going to HAVE to have some time off" to which he replied "well, we dont HAVE to employ you" uuuuummm....??? say what? what am I supposed to do with that??? Just in case... does anyone know anyone hiring an administrative assistant in the Topeka Kansas area!? lol SHEESH! Is there anyway to make everyone happy in this scenario??

So I'm 25 and weighting 292 pounds. At first I looked at the mirror and actually felt comfortable with myself. I'm asthmatic, so exercising is hard and the pounds kept piling. I went to the doctor a month ago and he send me to do every single test there is. When I went to my second appointment 2 days ago I was shocked. I'm just points away from becoming diabetic and all my cholesterol levels are high, I'm starting to have lower back pains and cramps on the thigh/hip area. The doctor did not think twice and asked me if I was willing to take the lap-band challenge to better my health, I said yes. I will not deny I am really nervous to be starting this process, since I have …

So here I am at the end of an 8 month long journey. My surgery is on August 8th in Orlando....I am nervous not because I am scared about the surgery I guess it is more of an anxious nervousness. I went for my last clearance appointment yesterday, I am all clear from cardiologist and pulmonologist even though this is an outpatient surgery I will be staying over night in the hospital because I am the 3rd or 4th case that day so my procedure won't be until afternoon. IDK where I was going with this lol everyone have a GREAT morning =)