Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

I just received my third fill last week. I feel great and am losing weight so far. I really feel this is probably my "sweet spot." The thing is I am already at 7.5cc in a 10cc band. My surgeon doesn't seem to think this is a problem, but it does worry me. I got surgery April 20th, 2011 and am down 16lbs. I did start off smaller than others I've seen at 214. Has anyone else experienced this or know someone who has? Thank you!

Hi everyone. I'm new here, but have found lots of great Info from everyone. I've been overweight all my life. Yoyo many times and now to the point where i'm done. I have started my process and find everything moving pretty quickly, considering that i've been thinking about doing this for a long time. Very nervous as well as excited! I'm so ready for change:)

30 more days til my surgery date. 30 more days til the start of my new life. As the days get closer to go time, the more excited I am starting to feel ...still nervous about the anesthesia and post op stuff and the unknown of course but nontheless very excited. I am required to do a 5 day liquid diet before surgery so that will begin on July 17th. I believe this is going to be tough but doable. Nothing but positive thoughts. I started this process Nov 2010 having an Aetna *** insurance......in Feb 2011 switched to Anthem Blue Cross ***....there has been some hiccups along the way but overall it was not a difficult process in getting things approved. The most difficu…

Hi everyone! I have just started my journey to lap band land! I am in the process of meeting all the pre-surgery requirements, blood work, psych exam, seminar, etc... I am hoping to get banded this summer before school starts back (I'm a teacher). I have been lurking here and have found a ton of helpful information and encouragement! I even started a blog yesterday after checking out some blogs of those of you that have been banded. I am blown away by the success that everyone has had. I am hopeful that I can find that kind of success! Anyway...I am looking for some friends that are kind of in the same place in the process that I am so that I can feel like I have some…

Hello all!! My name is Lisa, I am from Duluth, MN and am 11 months post op from my Sleeve. When I started the whole process it was just invigorating knowing my whole life was going to change! My surgeon is Dr. Matthew Bettendorf; and he currently works for Essentia Health in Duluth, MN primarily as a weight loss surgeon, specializing in VSG. When I started my liquid diet after about 4 months of Dietician visits, I was at a top weight of 318lbs. as of today's date I currently weigh 192lbs and am looking to lose about 30 more! I have trouble still getting in the proper amount of protein, but can eat most things. I have had some trouble with pork and chicken if it'…

Hello everyone, I'm new here and just wanted to talk with folks who have had the surgery. My VSG is scheduled for July 20. I'm supposed to start my pre-op diet on the 5th of July, but decided to go ahead and start it now. Nothing but Protein shakes and fresh veggies. I gotta admit I'm a little scared, but I hope the end results are going to be worth it. The biggest concern I have is excess skin. Doctors want me to lose 150lbs so I know I'm going to have some. Guess I'll just have to suck it up and deal with it. I know I'm sick of how much I weight now. Any advice would be great. TxRyno Starting Weight: 360lbs Current Weight: 355 Goal Weight: 220

I'm a newbie, having my consult with the surgeon tomorrow, can't wait to start my journey...anyone else from Canada??

Hi everyone, My name is Carmen. I'm 37 yo, 5' 3" and almost 230lbs. I'm a carb and soda-aholic. I eat when I'm happy, sad, lonely, bored etc. I am so looking forward to ending my life long struggle with weight and using the sleeve as a great tool to get hold of my eating habits. I am hoping to schedule my sleeve surgery mid July...already had a band surgery scheduled for Thur, July 21 and changed my mind. I'm hoping insurance passes and all will be the same and I can move my surgery to July 22 when my doc does sleeves on Fridays. I DO NOT PLAN to tell anyone. I have already told the few I'm telling and they include my husband and two very close friends. One who di…

Hi I am new to this forum and really looking forward to getting to know others who will be experiencing similar. Having Gastric Band fitted on 16 July 2011, After 30 years of yo-yoing weight, this is the start of the rest of my life. Although its early days, I am even excitedly counting down the hours to the milk diet which starts on Friday.

after doing much research, ive read from some people that getting their surgery only took 3 months. with others, ive read that its a 6month process. why is that? i believe my insurance is a 6month process. i have 1199SEIU. anyone else have this issue? anyone know why?

Howdy folks, I'm a 38 yr old. female who weighs WAY TOO MUCH (325) - and that's not even my highest weight! I'm all set for surgery in Mexico the beginning of August. Dr. Rumbaut and his team in Monterrey are doing the surgery. I can't wait. I'm a little nervous (never had ANY type of surgery) and now that the excitement of planning everything has settled, my brain has moved into "what if it doesn't work?" mode. I'm a lifetime fattie (started gaining at 5) but I was pretty active until 3 years ago. I've backpacked through New Zealand, climbed fences, ridden roller coasters, kayaked, swam with dolphins in the open ocean, done 2 ropes courses (fell out of a tree), and d…

Hello, I am a 19 year old 270 pound college student, standing at 5'4/5'5. I've been over weight my whole life, and i think now is the time to make changes! I am seriously considering the Lap Band surgery. It would be greatly appreciated if you informed me with everything you know about the surgery: pre-op diets, post-op info, does it hurt? how long is the pre op process? how much weight do you lose monthly? how long does it take to recover after the surgery? I know its alot but I need to know lol Thank you so much!

I am in the beginning stages of WLS. I have done tons of research and reading on the Vertical Sleeve. I am doing all the steps to reach insurance approval. Any suggestions you all have would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping to have surgery October 2011.

My surgery is scheduled for July 14th!!!! I'm overly ecstatic about this. I have worked soooooooo hard with my physician and insurance to get approved, and am amazed that this part of the process is so close to being over and I can start on my journey! I am supposed to start my liquid diet on the 7th, I have flitted through some of the topics, and haven't seen anything about "liquid" diets. I may have overlooked, but was just wondering how you got through it? Are there any pointers any of you can give? I'm down with the sugar free Jello, since I eat it all the time any way. I have a healthy stock of Crystal Light, and I have been making single serving bowls of fresh ch…

Ok I will start with this with... I actually had the lap band done 9 years ago and I started down the sleeve road about a month ago. My surgeon here in Texas actually recommended having the band taken out and switching to either the gastric bypass or sleeve. Well... After about 3 days of thinking and research I decided that the sleeve is suppose to do everything the band didn't so that is what I'm going to do. Which sounds great right? No not really I actually decided to do the surgery that is not covered by my medical insurance so it's going to cost me a arm and a leg. I have to say that I may have fainted a little when my surgeon in TX told me is was going to be just sh…

Hello my name is Mindy, I am 26 and starting nursing school in the fall. I am a self pay patient so my process is going rather quickley. and its kinda scarey lol. I went to my first seminar June 6th then wen to my first consult June 22nd. I left with my surgery date July 19th. I am excited!! the only thing I am a little worried about is blood clots. Anyone out there have blood clots after surgery? I am so worried about this because he has only had 2 peole die and they were both from blood clots. I dont want to be the 3rd! lol I love reading everyones stories on here and I cant wait to start sharing mine

My doctor told be my esophagus was slightly dialated that being said he will not put anymore saline in my band. I have 4.25cc in a 10cc band. I was also told to eat more protien and exercise. I decided to go on liquids and puree for a week or so to shrink my esophagus back to normal to see if I have more restriction and stay fuller longer. I hope to lose more weight. Any suggestions?

Hello All, I am 59 yrs. old and have fought weight problems for all of my adult life. I have done all of the fad diets and am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. I have always lost weight--60-70 lbs. each time, but always end up gaining it back. I'm tired of this, plus I have quite a few health issues (high blood pressure, osteoarthritis in my knees). I'm waiting now for knee replacement surgery, but it cannot be done until I lose weight. I am a little over 100 lbs. overweight. I have now been on this journey for the past year and still don't have my LAP-BAND. I've been pretty patient, but now I can't wait. I don't have a surgery date as yet because my insuran…

I went to a seminar on 6/7, went to see the doctor on 6/20, was told by nurse (who is the greatest) that my insurance does not require supervised diet. I scheduled my nutrition class for next week and psych for the week following. Although I am nervous as heck, I want to get my surgery as soon as possible.

I really can't believe its finally here, not nervous at all! I'm so excited!

I have to start by saying "I am soo happy and grateful for my sleeve". But please lord tell this is not the end! I was sleeved on nov. 4th. I have lost a total of 82lbs. That is great, I would of never done it on my own. Now I have hit a stall and have not lost anything in a month. No loss of lbs or inches. This can't be it... I have plenty more to go. I went from 308 to 226! Don't quit on me now!!!!!

First of all, thank you to anyone who listens to my story I found this wonderful site will researching questions about having the sleeve surgery. I found the most wonderful information and people here. I have read so many stories and have had questions answered about many things. I was reluctent to post anything until I found out my insurance was approved and yesterday I got the approval letter!.. It was very exciting until I called my doctor's office and they said they haven't recieved their copy. I was kind of bummed so I faxed it over still nothing heard from them. I guess I am a little anxious. My goal was going to try to have the surgury while I was on summer …

Hello folks! I finally had my lap band surgery on the 20th, Monday. My hospital experience was fabulous! Every staff member seemed like they really cared about me and they supplied very nice private rooms! My surgery went off without a hitch. I have 5 little incisions on my abdomen. I am in some pain, prescribed lortab which works fine for me. I got several heparin shots while I stayed at the hospital (2 a day) and an Ancef injection as an antibiotic before I left. I had really good weight loss before the surgery which was encouraging in itself. On an 8 day clear liquid diet I lost 15 pounds and in the 4 weeks prior to that I lost approx 10 pounds just doin…

Ok, my sister was just banded last Fri May 6th. As an African American female, I would have NEVER considered surgery, but today I finished my final nutrition consultation. Now, it's a waiting game. After my appt, I went to pick up my CPAP for the new sleep Apnea diagnosis I recvd yesterday...talk about timming! While waiting, I have a discussion with two women about the benefits of Gastric Bypass and now I am confused. Here are my questions: 1) What is the good, bad and ugly of the lapband? 2) Lapband or Bypass?

Hi All - My surgery is scheduled for Monday and I'm really ready for this. I've been pretty good with the 2 week pre-op diet. I did fudge a little bit but in the scheme of things, that cheat was nothing. Guess what? I ate some plain greek yogurt in place of a shake a couple of times and I had some tomato Soup just for a change - These items were not on the sheet. Even so, I've lost 15 pounds in 11 days. Not bad for someone who usually takes 2 months to lose 5 pounds! Anyway, any advice on how to prepare for Monday, what should I take with me to the hospital? what should I have ready at home? Will I need much help and for how long? I live alone and have a little dog. Anyth…

Hello everyone, Are there any banders from Virginia??

I am 4 1/2 months post-op and have a great NSV to share with you all. I was shopping at Wal-mart tonite when I turned the corner looking for something for my granddaughter when I ran into a co-worker from maybe 15 years ago. She looked at me took a double take and said "Diane you look great"!! Well we were standing there having a casual conversation and she kept looking at me, and looking at me and finally she said "I'm sorry that I keep looking at you but you look so great"!! "I just can't get over how good you look and you look 20 years younger"!!! WOW was my reply you don't need to say you are sorry you made my day!! Needless to say this big smile of mine isn't c…

I had surgery May 20, I have these pains that I don't know if it is Hunger Pain or Pain from my surgery (something going wrong)? I need help please! I really don't know what to make to eat or what to cook..... I am not much of a cook, well not a cook at all. I was told I can have chicken, shrimp, fish, fruits, etc since I am at one month mark, but how do I prepair my foods? I get these pains that I just want to stay in bed all day. Its a sharp stomach and side pain. At times I am still vomiting and having diarrhea, and I don't know what to do anymore. Thank you for your time

Well here goes, my story. I have always had a weight problem, for as long as I can remember. I can remember my Dad grilling me about how much I weighed when I was in like third grade. My Dad was slim as a young adult, but put on a few pounds as he aged. My Mom struggled with her weight, but she is a strong minded woman, and has never been "fat". She loves to cook and bake, but she is great about not eating what she cooks. I am a "Mature" adult now, (translate that to read almost ready for Medicare), but feel much younger, and want to continue to feel years younger. I started thinking about bariatric procedures shortly after my cousin, who is a sugeon, had a Roux N…

Let's see if this works

Hiya all, sorry i have not been around lately, been moving home and various other things, just thought i would give you an update, my surgery was 1st of Feb 2011, and i have now lost the grand total of 6 stone, (about 80lbs), as you can imagine i am really pleased, at first i was pretty doubtful that the surgery would work, after all when has anything 'really' worked?? but i can honestly say i am so pleased with the results so far, i have another stone to lose until i reach my first goal, but then another 4-5 stone to go after that to reach my final goal, i have found that i can eat most things, apart from lettuce, never ever eating that again!! Pizza is not good for me e…

Hi all, I am new to this site but I was banded nearly a year ago and have lost only about 30lbs so far. I had several complications along the way including post-op infection of incision site (superficial) appendicitis, had lap appy middle of August 2010 and GallBladder surgery (lap choly) in Sept of 2010. As of about February of this year I finally have about a 9 restriction wise and am not doing so well I guess I'm only losing about 5 lbs every 2 months or so. My BMI is about 39 down from 44 and that's a good thing. I am going to be tested to see if I am a match so I can give my Mom a kidney. My sister talked with the transplant surgeon who said I need to be down to 3…

I am so excited! I am scheduled to have my band installed on June 28th. My husband and I were joking the other day about our anniversary which is on Friday. I told him he needed to get a new model and he said he didn't need one because he was getting an upgrade. I am a bit nervous because this is so life changing but I feel like I am getting a new life. I hope all of you that are waiting to have yours don't have to wait to long!

Nausea – zero. Pain – very minimal and only when I go from sit/lay to stand. Pre-op consisted of changing into the beautiful evening gown with ties in the back, lab work, EKG, chest Xray (the Xray technician said, ‘you don’t look like you even need WLS.’ I know she just trying to be nice but it’s kind of irritating when you’re actually smack dab in the middle of getting it done. I replied, ‘the BMI doesn’t lie! I’m morbidly obese!’ She didn’t say anything else). Still in pre-op, The nurse ran through all of the health history questions. I was visited by the surgeon as well as his PA, then the anesthesiologist. The nurse started my IV and gave me decadron a…

Hi All, I came here to look for some support as I am struggling and scared . I was banded 6/14 my band has remained empty until my 1st fill on 7/11. My incesions have completly healed over, gas pains are gone and I feel great, expect for the CONSTANT HUNGER. I am suppose to be on liquids and Protein shakes until my 1st fill but I have disappointed myself and had solid food..... This evening I had scrmbled egss, cream of wheat, 1 twix candy bar and french fries, and I think I had so much because it all went down without any problems. Now I am worried that I have made a mistake and possibly runied my lapband. I am not looking to be judged because no one is perfect a…

I can't believe I've lost 60lbs- it seems surreal. I have 102lbs to go before I hit my goal and now that it's not 162lbs it just seems more obtainable lol. This wouldn't have been possible without my sleeve and I'm just too thrilled! I hope that you all have a great day I just had to share lol.

This is one topic I don't think I have come across yet. Are you able to tolerate spicy foods as well as you did prior to surgery? I am guesing you would. Do you have to wait awhile before doing so? Just curious.

Hello, everybody!!! Sue from Santa Cruz, California here having my surgery in less than two weeks. Some facts: --it has been over eight months since I started this process when my BMI hit 40 my gp let me know that gastric surgery would be an option for me under my insurance --freaked out a bit by the roux-en-y and the sleeve, staples, etc., but felt most comfortable with the lapband, although it does require all that filling and having a port, not particularly looking forward to that --having just had my 60th birthday, I just felt exasperated that I have still not permanently gotten my weight issue in control and decided my health justified this drastic course …

Hello, everyone...obviously, I am new here. My VSG surgery is scheduled for next Tuesday (6/28/2011). Not sure how it works around here, though I am sure I will figure that out over the next few months. Like everyone, I'm sure, I really want to find a place where I can learn from people who have experienced the same type of thing (at various stages along the life journey)! So, if anyone reads this, please feel free to reach out! I started blogging back in February, thinking I was going to (once again) get on top of this weight situation. Of course, I fizzled. But I decided to pick up the blogging again---I'd like to chronicle this rebirth; the new VSG journey on which I…

Greetings! I just made the big decision last night to schedule my banding for July 18 with Dr. Ortiz in Tijuana, MX. Since my BMI is only 33% and I have no co-morbid conditions, I decided to be proactive and lose the extra 70 pounds, instead of gaining another 30 so my insurance would pay for it in the US. Dr. Ortiz came highly recommended. This morning, I have begun my pre-op diet and am expected to lose 10 pounds in the next 3.5 weeks. That's about 3.5 pounds per week, which seems somewhat unlikely. Can anyone tell me if the surgeons will really cancel your surgery if you only lose 5 or 6 pounds? I'm a tiny bit concerned about flying to CA only to be told I cann…

Does this mean that I won't be intubated during surgery? I'm scheduled this Friday, June 24th. Post Op lap band patients: Were you intubated? Did anyone else have to bring their CPAP machine?

Hi All, I came here to look for some support as I am struggling and scared . I was banded 6/14 my band has remained empty until my 1st fill on 7/11. My incesions have completly healed over, gas pains are gone and I feel great, expect for the CONSTANT HUNGER. I am suppose to be on liquids and Protein shakes until my 1st fill but I have disappointed myself and had solid food..... This evening I had scrmbled egss, cream of wheat, 1 twix candy bar and french fries, and I think I had so much because it all went down without any problems. Now I am worried that I have made a mistake and possibly runied my lapband. I am not looking to be judged because no one is perfect a…

Today I was notifed that insurance has approved my surgery!! YAY! Just waiting on my surgeon required psych consult to be faxed, which was done a month ago...ughh, before I can schedule surgery. I'm very excited and nervous! Does anyone have any ideas for liquid diet options? I am required to do 2 weeks of liquids prior to surgery...eekkk! Haha Thanks for any advice

Just wanted to stop in & say hi! I'm a 34 yr old from Tx, have been married almost 14 yrs and have 2 kids. I'm getting my surgery done on the 29th. I have been trying to lose this weight on my own for over 2 yrs without success, and I am hoping the lap band will be the tool to change my weight around. My alltime max was 279, and I'm 5'2". This Tx heat is killing (hopefully for the last summer). My Cigna plan excludes the lapband, so I am paying for this myself. I'm very nervous and have a huge fear that somehow this will not work and that I will be fat forever,lol. I think I am just crazy! I hope to get to meet you all!

I had a feeling when I called my advocate Monday and she said the doc was on vacation this week that it was gonna mess up them submitting my file to the insurance....which messes up the timing of everything. She assured me that they would pull my letter from his files cause his assistant had his password.. mind you he said he would write the letter as soon as I left last friday morning... well today I find out that he never wrote the letter so now I have to wait for him to come back from vacation.. well I hope he enjoys his cause now I don't get to go on mine

Hello everybody! My name is Stacey, and I'm 19 years old attending FSU. About a week ago I got the all-clear for surgery and it's scheduled for the 6th!! That means today is day one of the liver shrinking diet (1200 calories and 65 grams of protein/day) and I have to say my stomach is not too thrilled thus far. Mentally I'm good to go though, and I'm so ready for this change. Anyway, I just thought I would introduce myself before I go sifting through the infinite posts on the site Hope you all have a lovely day!

Hi All, Let me begin by thanking you all for your stories of your experiences and for your dedicated efforts in providing details of your journeys to help soothe / inform others who are going through the same. Thank You! I'm greatly appreciative for it. I'm Mr. Sharp, a 6'1 325 lb 25 year-old male from New York City. I have been overweight all my life and severely obese in the past few years . However, this is the biggest I've ever been. After countless of years of being unhealthy, unhappy, depressed, and just not okay with myself because of my weight, I came to the realization that I needed help. Thus, I started researching Bariatric Surgery and came to the con…

How do i add link to my doctor profile ? I see some people have it in their forum postings ... THX Got it - THX Alex!!!!

Ok here's my story... I am 35 year sold and the heaviest I have ever been. I can thank southern cooking, genetics, and lack of recent willpower for this. Growing up my moher was severly overweight.. 380 and 4'11". She had gastric bypass in the 90's and it changed her life forever. Because of her struggles, I always worked so hard to stay active and make healthy choices... until i didn't! The weight is soooo easy to creep up and I have been 80-100 lbs overweight for the past 10 years. I have tried everyday and some wok better than others but obviously not THAT well because..here I am. In the first stages of lap band research. I have made my mind up that this is…

Hey Everyone!! Im new here to verticalsleeve.com, but not to the whole WLS world. I am in the process of being sleeved---> being that im hopeful all things will work out, I hope to be sleeved before October lol... I have completed pretty much all my requirements and I am currently working on losing the rest of my required 5%, I meet with Dr. Singh, of Albany Med for my surgery consult August 18th, Im crossing my fingers that I will get a date for surgery at this time... Im looking for new friends who have undergone or are in the process of this life changing event! dont be a stranger, I need all the advice and pointers I can get!!! lol