Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi. I've completed my Options classes with Kaiser and am going to seminar at UCLA on July 9th. Anyone have surgery at UCLA?

Hi.... I am new to this. I will be getting banded on July 12th, by Dr. Matthew Metsz in Parker, Colorado. I am sooo ready to start this new chapter in my life...I have struggled with my weight for the past 8 years....

I had my surgery just 2 days ago and I was discharged from the hospital yesterday. The gas pain is pretty bad. When does it start getting better? When do I physically start feeling normal? I just need some words of wisdom and comfort.

I still have not got my surgery date yet, but I was wondering if anyone has any adverse side effects? And how much time did you have to take off of work once you had the surgery?

hi my name is robbie.. i have struggled with my weight since i was about 10 years old! so this is a big step for me. currently waiting out our insurance company to see if its going to get coverd (cross your fingers! ) so for now im doing the dietitian appointments and in a few weeks i have the psych eval! eek! right!

Hi! My name is Devin and I'm married and have 5 kids. I'm so glad I found this website. I am having my surgery on July 28th. I am excited, but a little nervous about the liquid diet. I am also a little worried about the "low carbs" diet. I grew up on noodles, potatoes, rice and bread. It's the only way I know how to feed my large family. Does anyone out there have a large family and how do you cook for them? Is it easier to make a separate meal for yourself? Please help.

Ok- So My life is always a little weird, but here goes... BANDED 5 years ago- lost 120lbs.. great.. 2 years ago started haveing complications,... let out fluid and then progessivly kepts getting more fluid let out... and gaining... and heartburn... lost heath insurance so did not have upper gi etc... I had major body and mind trauma 1 year ago in a accident where i was rescued out of the ocean after 3 hours in alaska... i was very thankful for the extra warmth layer of fat!!! anyhow- my physical system for the last year was up and down with adreiline, sugars, shock, -i gained 70 llbs,... had band completely deflated and still had major acid flux... lost health insurance. …

well hello out there Sleevers or potential sleevers thats who and what I am a potential sleever. In a week I see the exercise physiologist, have an ultrasound, a chest xray, and visit the Dietitician. its not till the end of August do i get to see the Surgeon. What i find amazing is that in the beginning of the year I hadnt even contemplated weight shed surgery. I had done the hard yards, the diet and exercise and shed a significant amount and then found i had lost control i guess and the weight did start to come a creeping back on. 1 kilo this week, then 2 the next week and before i knew it i had placed back 25 kilos of the 55 kilos i had shed. frustr…

Hello Everyone, I wanted to share some before and after pictures. I have lost 60 pounds so far on my journey. I am happy and working hard to reach my goals. Today, is the first time I have been out to restaurant to eat. I had some baked fish and it is was great. I bless god every day for the strength he has given me to accomplish this weight loss. Have a great weekend.....

Sometimes I feel I can eat chips and popcorn better than anything, I know it is not good for me, but I try to eat meat and it still upstes my stomach.

The Dietician approved me!!!!! That means that all I have left to do is get a final approval from insurance and then SCHEDULE MY SURGERY!!! Oh my gosh..................... I can't wait!!! Kim-

Hi! I am new to this. I go to the seminar for lap band on July 11th. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and take several medications. My main medication I take every night is predisone. I have heard that I can not take any type of steroid during this process. My rhuematologist dosen't agree with me and WLS. So I didn't even tell him I started the process. I am 29 years old married with twin boys that are 5. I was dx with RA at 19 and have been on long term steroid use for 7 years now. I am ready to have my life back and hoping losing 100 pounds can put my ra in remission. Thanks! Kim

Surgery was Monday June 27th, home now and feeling dehydrated and having a lot of back pain. Had a lot of diarrhea. anyone else with these kind of problems? Any solutions? Had a rough time with the protein drinks kept having N/V from them. Had to go to the other clear liquids and they are all causing diarrhea.

hello im new here . im just getting started on researching for the lap band didnt know much about the coverage and other things that you have to have before even being able to get qualified

I am a 51 year old woman and my starting weight was 200lbs. After the pre-op diet I lost 5 lbs., but I'm sure it was all water weight. I'd love to connect with other newly banded women, in any age group, to 'go through' this together. I also wanted to join the forum to be able to ask questions of other brave banders that went before me! I am currently on full liquids-oatmeal, protein shakes, cream of wheat, etc. I find it difficult at this stage because it's hard for me to tell if I'm 'full' or not due to the pressure and tenderness from surgery. I am however following the food and liquid amounts that were prescribed. My abdomen is very swollen. Aprox. how long …

Well its done. I am doing okay except for some gas pains that is keeping me up. I was sent home with a pain pump. It is going flat so I have to take it out tomorrow. I lost 10lbs in 4 days. I started at 239 and I am 229 already. I have been walking every two hours for about 10 min. It seems water is a little hard to digest which is strange to me. But I have been sipping warm hello all day.did not finish the glass. I am having food dreams every night. My blood sugar have been normal everyday. I am looking forward to being insulin free. I go back to work in 3 weeks. I hope everything will be great by then.

I had my surgery on Monday in Dallas with Dr. Kim. I have been doing the Clear liquids and was finally able to get down some Syntrax nectar (which I went and bought a lot of yesterday), and some NSA carnation instant Breakfast. And now today I am feeling hungry. My stomach is actually growling. I have gotten in 64 oz of Fluid today and 50 gr of Protein. I have been taking my gas x and my prilosec. My calorie count has been low though around 400-500. Is this normal? I feel like it's too soon to feel hungry. I am suppose to be on this phase until Tuesday. I had a hard surgery day and post op day one.....dry heaves and the pain was the worst I had EVER felt. I …

my sugar and protein overspill, some stomach lining disease called hpylory? going to pcm today to get put on meds or my surgery on the 26 will be cancelled.....geez....

Hello! I'm new here and trying to figure all this out. I feel like I've discovered a gold mine here. What an amazing resource. . Looking forward to the future!!!!!

Hello to all. I am new here. I am not yet a lapband patient, but will be soon. I as well as my hubby are at the point of insurance approval. I am excited, nervous, curious, anxious, and hopeful too. I am hoping to find a new me and enjoy being a mom to our son. Any tips, hints, suggestions?

Hello all, I am just starting to explore the possibility of being banded, but my insurance (through my employer) specificall excludes WLS and any complications that may result from WLS, so I am not only going to have to self pay, I will be totally exposed physically and financially. It will take me a year or so to save enough money for the surgery and a cushion, but my car has 150K on the odometer, my 60 year old house always needs something and I support a mother with dementia and a sister with Asperger's. I will figure something out; coping is what I do best, except where food is concerned. I have been fighting a losing battle with my weight since I hit puberty. …

Hello all! My name is Sheri and I am 31 years old, single mother of 2. I have been a member on this site since October, but I have never posted anything. So here goes.... In October I have my first appointment with Dr. mora and started the 6 months weigh in deal. I completed that in April and have been waiting on insurance approval since then until yesterday. I finally got approved yesterday! (I called them weekly to get an answer, not good at waiting). So now all I am waiting for is a surgery date. Hoping it will be done before the end of this month. I will try to get a pic posted soon, I really want a good before & after pic for myself. I also want to use the befo…

Well I was "sleeved" on Tues, June 28, 2011. I am doing okay but the gas (due to the pumping of the stomach) was a bad combination with having your stomach removed. I am not as gassy today. I couldn't really drink anything Wed and Thursday although I did consume some liquids. Today, I am alot better and have had liquids more than yesterday. The only problem is that my stomach is always "growling" like I'm hungry but I'm not. My doctor's office said that not to get confused that I'm hungry but it's simply my new stomach trying to digest what I'm drinking. Sometimes, I won't have a drink at all for an hour and I feel like indigestion, somethings just come up, I don't …

I'm wondering if all of the rumbling, growling, and other sounds coming from my stomach are normal after about a week out. I'm eating three times a day but can't usually eat any snacks because I'm trying hard to get my liquids in and then I feel full. I am still on a full liquid diet and will be for another week but I'm not sure if this is the reason. I even woke up at 3 am this morning with my stomach growling and rumbling. Sound familiar? Is this normal? I don't know.

I was banded on July 12, 2010 by Dr. Snure in Silver City, New Mexico. I have lost 20 lbs. I will have my first fill a week from Tuesday. Most of the time I like trying to be creative with my food but there are days...I really don't want to think or cook and I want my confort food. :wub:

So today I got a call from my advocate from the surgeons office. She didn't leave a message and was gone by time I got off work...I'm thinking it was to schedule a date cause when I got home there was an e-mail from my aetna contact who said all was well with the paperwork and I'm approved for the sleeve and 1 bed day in the hospital...That took the joy and turned it to worry because my surgeon requires a 3 day hospital stay. He likes for the swelling to go down significantly before doing a leak test which is the reason for the long stay. Now I'm afraid if I have to pay for 2 extra days myself I will have to keep saving and by the time I have enough, my approval will h…

I am so excited and psyched and ready and anxious and happy and nervous and, well, you get the picture. Thank you to everyone out here that posts and responds and has given me so much information that I feel very well prepared for all that is to come. I welcome it with open arms. I will keep you posted and will definitely be coming back for ongoing support. Mahalo and aloha, Lulu

Got approved today and having surgery July 29th!!! thankyou GOd and Cinga!!

i decided only to tell very few people. i think ppl are so judgemental & id hate for ppl to look at me funny. i feel like i could lose so much having vsg but i would be the "fat girl who had WLS" instead of being "healthy & smaller". i only told my ex who him & i just broke up after 9yrs. he used to be 500lbs & became a body builder and lost all the weight thru diet & exercise. my mom who is my support system & my bestfriend of 12years. oh & my employer who had the surgery & i looked into it as soon as i saw her weight loss! for those of you who have had vsg already, did you feel like telling more ppl after losing the weight? i start…

I had my vertical sleeve surgery on June 20, 2011. So far everything is good. I am up to Phase 3 diet. Hard to get all of my protein in. I have lose 17lbs to date. I feel like this was the best thing I ever did. Wish the best to all of those getting ready to have the surgery. The first night was rough smooth sailing after.

Hello, everyone! I am new to this and just want to ask: Was it worth it? I turn 35 on Sunday and the last time I weighed myself I was 303 pounds. I have 2 amazing kids who I can't keep up with and I can't live with the thought that I may be missing things in their lives or (even worse) may be passing my bad habits on to them. Like all of you, I have tried numerous weight loss methods and had no lasting effects. So, I've decided to look into surgery and my first appointment for evaluation is 8/22 which leaves me plenty of time to ponder the impact a Lap Band could have on my life. PLEASE share your input and experiences, I have already found so much information on this …

Hello I'm having a gastric sleeve operation on 5th July and needed to talk to others about it - hence finally finding this group and joining. I wondered if there are any others from the UK in the group? Mind you, as I'm quite happy to chat to anyone from anywhere, location isn't that important. Currently on the clear liquids only and if I'm honest, I'm not finding it difficult. Got weighed at my pre-op today and I've lost 17lbs in just over a week! I had an emotional wobble yesterday, I felt unsure if this is the right route or not, but have now decided it was just cold feet and can't wait to get the operation over and done with. I'd love to hear from anyone - es…

I had my psych appointment today and I'm officially not crazy, woo hoo! Thank God my split personality, Sybil, didn't show up at the appointment, lol! I have 1.9 lbs to lose before I can get a case manager appointment so I can get my surgery date. I was really hoping to hit my goal weight today, but I didn't. Now I'm going to be obsessed until I lose those last 2 lbs.! Overall, this has been an extremely quick process, so I can't complain. I think Gods slowing me down a little for a reason...

Hi! I don't really know where to begin, other than to say I decided to get the sleeve done. Through counseling, I have relaized and admitted why I did this to myself in the first place and where the roots of my over-eating lie. Once I realized I over-eat to rebel, and well, I am 38 and not rebelling against anyone anymore, I pretty much stopped immediately. However, I want to Not be hungry ALL THE TIME anymore. I want my knees, ankles, and hip to stop hurting everyday. I want to be 38; not 58.

Hello all, From my title you can see I am experiencing many emotions. I assume this is normal. I have contemplated this surgery for 4 years. I have researched and went to 3different doctors and chickened out 2 times. I always thought I dont weight THAT much I can loose this on my own. Then I would diet and gain more than I lost every time. I am5 ft tall and weight 204 today. I was finally approved and had my endoscopy done this morning. I am still confident that I am doing the right thing for me. My battle is that most people look at me and say, your not that fat, your crazy why would you do something this drastic? I laugh at them and just say that I know this is right f…

Just called to check on my insurance approval status. It is only a week since I've changed my mind from LB to sleeve...but it seems sooooooo very long. I know I'm being silly but just so ready to get this ball rolling. I'll call again next Thursday to see if I got my approval or not.... I'm kicking myself for not making the decision for sleeve in the first place! Just needed to vent some energy. Thanks for listening!!! ARGH!!!

if i were to get lapband and got a stomach virus...would it fall of due to me throwing up or get stuck????

the voice on the other line said...mrs B? this is it......this is the call u been waiting for.......ur surgery is scheduled for july 26th...........HA...i jumped all up and down, my husband just looked at me crazy lol......yeah I got a date with my destiny................now i got to let it sink in ........pre op diet starts on the 19th......lab is tommorrow........

Now I know when I will be getting the sleeve - 10:30am! I have to be at the hospital at 9. Woo Hoo!!!!

I had a lapband in March, 2008. I got pneumonia in May, 2009. Port re-vision in August, 2009. No weight loss and constant vomiting and heart burn for nearly a month, I ended up with a slipped band discovered in October, 2010. My insurance would not cover it and my hospital quoted me $25,000 - $30.000 to take it out/revise. I knew that in January I would obtain new insurance so I waited. As soon as I worked out getting my insurance properly in place, I phoned a different doctor across the state (which happened to be located where I was employed - 1.5 hour commute each way to work, everyday) in February, 2010. He saw me on Friday, and I had surgery on Monday. He took…

Hi everybody. My name is Ashley & I'm 27 years old. I have 2 daughters and have been married to my husband for 5 years. I weigh 275 pounds. My BIGGEST ever. I've tried diet after diet and life style changes and can't seem to shake the weight. In Dec. of 2010 I was went to the doctor for really bad depression. I was put on several differnt medications. It was determined that most of my depression is weight related. Anyway after long talks with my husband I've decided that this is the best choice for me.

Good morning, My name is Shannon and I was banded on June 10th (2011). My starting weight was 251 (which I have been since my son was born over 4 years ago...if not I weighed more). I am currently at 235 and I will have my first fill on July 5th. I had a BMI of 41 without any health issues at all. After knowing friends and family members who have had such great success with their band...I felt it would be the perfect tool to help me break free of the weight battle I could never win. I did my research, found an amazing doctor and his great staff helped me along quickly to make it happen. My surgery went perfect. My recover has been easy and quick. I eat normal foods; only…

I'm scheduled to have surgery on 7/14/11. My insurance is not covering the surgery so I'm self pay. I'm using all my money for the surgery so I'm worried something will go wrong (ie. port flip, band slip) and I will have to have surgery again and pay for it. Should I be having this surgery if I'm self pay with no money? The followup on fills/adjustments I'll be able to handle but if anything goes wrong, I'm probably screwed. Any suggestions or thoughts?

I'm at 3 months out and here is where I'm at: I started this journey at 100kg (aahh!!) 220lbs and now I weigh 77.6kg / 170 lbs (Yay!!!) I have lost 22.4kg / 49lbs... I was busting out of Australian size 18's and now I can get my butt into a size 12!!! I have lost 71 cm in total from my body.. 20cm alone from my waistline!! My BMI is now 31, down from 40.. I once had sleep apnoea, now I don't wake up grasping for air!! I used to feel huge and in the way, now I feel comfortable in my skin... I used to puff crossing to oval to pick up my kids, I now skip up the stairs with ease.. My exercise bike was caked with dust, it's now out of hibernation. What else can I…

Its been one week since I was sleeved on june 21. Im feeling pretty good, everyday is getting better. Im doing pretty good with everything ie: eating, water, vitamins the only thing im having a little trouble with is protien if i take a couple sips i get full, its been tough to get it all in. I eat about 2oz per meal at this point but that protien just fills me up

Hi all - Well, I'm 2 days out from my surgery. I came home from the hospital today and am still moving a little slow around the house. I am moving though. I have to say the hardest part is getting up out of the chair or bed. The pain really is not that bad. Actually, about 3 days before my surgery, I pulled a muscle in my neck and that hurts more than the surgery did. I'm on my way now. Haven't been able to eat much and drinking a Protein shake is taking me forever. I'm having a hard time with 'sipping' but when I do take those larger gulps I remember why I'm not supposed to. I'd like to hear from any of you who've had surgery in the past week and compare notes. Thank…

Hello All - I am new to this site and happy to get a fresh outlook on the sleeve. I am hoping to get sleeved in 3 months. I am nervous and also can't wait to start my new healthy life. I do have a few questions so any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. What is the long term results of seasoned sleevers? Have you reached goal and kept if off? How much hair loss have you experienced/when does it start/when does it end? Any regrets about getting sleeved and wish you decided on another surgery instead? I understand the recovery is much harder than the other WLS surgeries? Do you still get/feel hungry since the hunger hormone is removed during …

I've never visited a forum like this before and have never done anything like this before. I have been obese my whole life and have always wanted to have some sort of bariatric surgery. I began the whole process in October of 2010 and weighed 504 lbs. at my first appointment. I had the vertical sleeve surgery on February 3rd, 2011 and I have lost 152 lbs. since.

AHHHHH! So, In four weeks from today, I will be getting sleeved! After continuously bugging the scheduling department the past few days, I finally got the call that my surgery will be July 20th!! I will be doing all my pre-op testing on Tuesday, July 12 beginning at 7:30 A.M. This includes all the bloodwork, nutrition counseling, EKG, and all that fun stuff. She also said I'd be doing a urine test... what is that for? Is it just to test for pregnancy? Anywhos, I should be getting a call the 14th to get my surgery time. This is all happening so fast! I have been researching this for so long, but this entire process took less than two months to complete. (June 6th con…

I thought I would introduce myself. I have been looking at the lap band for a few years now. I have been overweight my entire life. Im 31 year old male who lives in the Houston area. I truly feel like i am ready for a change. Im tired of going places and wondering if im going to fit in the chair or booth or whatever. Its just so annoying. I weighed 355 when i went to see the doctor for the consultation. I thought i weighed around 330 and for the longest time i was ok with that. I enjoyed eating and really enjoyed eating. Im tired of having to go to the Fat store to buy my clothes.(thats what i call Casual Male) My doc made me go on a 1 week 1200 calorie diet, t…