Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

You know I work really hard at the gym eat all the things that I should. I am at 300 hundred pounds and can't seem to turn the scales to 299. I am ready to get my gun out and shoot the damn thing.. Not really, but you know how I feel. I feel like that the scale don't go down to 299..lol anyway just venting a little..I truely am looking forward to turning the number to the 200's. I ready to scream from the rooftops..It has been probably 15 years since I weighed less than 300.

Hi i have a bmi of 35.7 and have been looking into having a gastric band fitted...i am looking for help in choosing the right place to have mine done..any ideas anyone..?

I had surgery February 18,2011. I am 30yrs. I have lost 38lbs. so far. I had my 2nd adjustment today. I am still very nervous about this new journey. I can't believe I have actually lost weight. Today I weigh 333 lbs. I feel very doubtful about my wight loss but at the same time very, very hopeful.

Hi there! I'm 2 weeks post-op today. So far I'm down only 19 lbs. Started soft foods today so my food selection is getting better (thank goodness). Recovery is going well with one exception. One of my incicions appear to be infected or something. Going back to the dr. tomorrow.

I finally have approval for the band and am scheduled for May 9th - a week from today. I have been scheduled twice before and my insurance company refused both times. This time looks like it will actually go through. I started the process in November of 2009 but have looked into surgery before. Many years ago now I was contemplating it but my husband was against it because he was afraid something would happen to me and our children were younger. I lost a hundred pounds on my own at that time but subsequently slowly gained it all back. I am disappointed with myself and somewhat apprehensive about the process and my main reason is they have a very hard time getting…

Hello everyone! I have been trying to get the band for over a year now and I am soooo closeee! I am suppose to get a decision from insurance in two weeks. I am so excited. I wanted to share my journey with everyone. I make videos on YouTube. Please subscribe and leave me your username if you make videos as well so I can follow your journey. I love giving and receiving support! My YouTube page: SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE!

hi all, I had my surgery April 29th so i am on day 3. I am 32 years old, married, and have 2 kids. Yesterday I had my first breakdown since the surgery, just crying for no reason. I don't feel hungry, but i know I need to eat and I know I am supposed to stop eating when i feel full, but I am not hungry to begin with. Just wondered if anyone else has experienced this and how long it lasts. How long for the Dermabond to go away? How long for the bruising to go away? I want to start walking but by the time I get dressed, I am exhausted. Is any of this normal?

I am only 6 days post op and I am so hungry. I am so jealous of the people that say they arent hungry. On day 3 I had some cream soup and some bites of mashed pototos. I feel tight sometime when I eat or drink, but not full. Maybe this is the full feeling Iam supposed to have, not sure. I feel I could eat a pizza. I am going to stick with full liquids, but cant wait to add more food. Did anybody else feel hungry like this, I am worried. Good luck to everyone.

Hello everyone! I'm Kelly, from Kansas. I found out last week that my surgery has been approved by insurance and have a surgery date in mid-June. I'm really excited now that I know it's really going to happen! My history: I've been overweight my entire life and have never successfully lost weight and kept it off. Since 2008 I've been yo-yo-ing up and down - 37 lbs down, then gained 49, then lost 26, then gained it back...I'm sure many of you know the routine. I decided to look into bariatric surgery and see where that path took me. I didn't get my hopes up because I know insurance can reluctant to approve bariatric surgeries, so it was great when the surgeon's …

Here it is day five and I made it through the first weekend without cheating my liquid diet :D ! Really wasn't sure I would thought I'd cheat super bad . How many trips to the fridge and cupboards looking and craving god only knows but I'm sure I got alot of exercise back and forth lol. But I saw the progress on day two when I'd lost 2 lbs. I was like hell yea :bananajump: . I can do this . We all can ! I almost think If i could just eat like this always except on special occasions but I know its wishful thinking If I break once that will be it . So bottoms up protien shake and soon to be a "Bandita" hahaha . 9 days to go!!!!

I returned today from a short weekend get-a-way to Disney with my skinny husband and 3 yr old son. We spent one day at Magic Kingdom and one day at Typhoon Lagoon waterpark. Magic Kingdom was pure torture for a sleeve patient. Here I am only able to eat fruits, veggies, protein, yogurt, and milk and everywhere you look there are tempting smells. Popcorn was everywhere...I really wanted to attack the popcorn vendor and bury myself in the popcorn but I didn't. Then there were candy stores everywhere and icecream! Oh, and giant soft pretzels! I did not get near any of this stuff just thought about how much I would have eaten without the sleeve and how much money I wou…

I'm so excited....I was approved right away. By united, now I am wondering just how quick things can move along after the approval... Most problems seem to be having to wait forever and jump thru hoops to get the approval..... I thank everyone for taking the time to share their experiences with me......hugs Laura

Good morning all, my name is Shelly. I have just started my journey with WLS, my Doctor sent in the referral last week and now I am waiting to get a call to schedule my orientation with the surgery center (Kaiser Northern Cali). I have been trying for three years to talk my Doctor in to putting in this referral and I finally succeeded! I am Diabetic and suffer from back and hip pain on a daily basis. I can't wait for the day that I can walk around my block without the extreme pain I experience now. I am 5'4" and weigh about 240 lbs (BMI 40), I always tell myself if "I was just a little taller the weight would even out a little". But I can't stretch myself, anym…

Hello all, I am glad I found this support group and wish I would have done so sooner. I am coming the the end of a very long road for me which actually just starts at another long road really. It has taken me 14 months to get my surgery date. With seeing a dietician, psychologist, cardiologist and getting all the lab and tests done (thankfully I work at a hospital so I was able to get a lot of the radiology and cardio work done there). It is finally here. I start my liquid diet on Monday and then a week from that, the surgery. I have already committed myself to living healthier. I get up at 5:00 am and hit the gym before heading work at least 3 days week. I am read…

Goodmorning Friends. On my stationary bike and saying prayers for all of us for a day full of smiles! Amen. I had a icky weekend and I need a great day....so I will make that happen....as much as I can. Join me?

I am new to this forum, but have appreciated ALL that I have read. Decided I would introduce myself. I am 39 yrs old with 3 small children and a business to run. At my highest a few days ago, I was 292 lbs at 5 ft. 11 inches. NOT a great place to be on the scale! I have battled my weight since I was 12 years old...and lost until now. I AM READY TO WIN!!! I have done every diet there is...and lost on it. At last count, I have lost 60 to 90 pounds in 6 months at least 7 times over the past 12 years. Yep, I am great at "dieting." Sticking to it....that is the problem. I have been contemplating a Sleeve for 2 years and finally am ready to do it! SOOOOOO excited …

I am a 49 year old female with a BMI of 35, high blood pressure. For years I have been wanting a lapband but neither my insurance nor my husbands would cover it. Since the kids are now out of school my husband said if you really want this then do it. I talked with a surgeon in my city and then went to Houston to see one that my friend had used. I was all ready to get it scheduled and then when he heard that I wanted to lose 50-60 pounds he said, no I'm not going to do it because you will not lose that much weight and you will be wanting a revision in less than 5 years. He wanted me to do the sleeve and I said no and he still wouldn't do the lapband. Now I am a self pa…

I was sleeved on 3/29, and was scheduled to start solids this week. Well, as luck would have it, that time coincided with some business associates coming in from out of town who wanted to go out to dinner. Being armed with my wealth of knowledge about the pitfalls of overeating, and after doing so well on the soft food phase, I figured "no problem". Damn, was I in for a surprise. Of course the group vote ended up being Maggiano's. Man I always loved italian food... lots of wonderful carbs, sauces and huge portion sizes. I figured "who am I to disagree, I'm barely going to eat and I'll find something healthy on the menu". Well, that was my first mistake. I heard …

I am having such a good day today. After 4 months of slow losing (I think because I was having a hard time getting in all my protein), I have made great headway in the weight loss category. I'm down 69 pounds and I have on a top today that I haven't worn in 5 years. I saved it from 2 garage sales because I loved it and hoped to fit into it again one day. Well today is that day. I lost 6 pounds this week and last week I lost 4-1/2. I had a goal of 70 pounds by the end of June when we are having a family reunion. I guess I am going to meet and surpass that goal. I'm just so dang happy today. I hope you are having a good day too. Lisa

I was sleeved on March 14th. I have noticed my food gets stuck very easily. Does anyone else have this problem? I have had to have it stretched once and feel that is what is going on now, but just wanted other opinions. Thank you.

Okay, so I wanted to update you all. Thank you for your thoughts. I am home and doing extremely well. The doctor said I was easy. I am sore but it isn't that bad. I am doing well. I will write more when I get a minute away from the kids!! Vanessa

Hi to everyone, I'm a little shy so this is my first time ever posting on a forum. I havn't had surgery yet, but I have been scheduled for July 26th. My surgery will be in Juarez Mexico with Dr Rodriguez. I am a little nervous, but so so so excited at the same time. It's exciting to think that very soon I'll be able to start a new life thats full of possibilities and my weight will no longer hold me back. I feel like I'm getting a chance to become the person that I was created to be. I don't have many friends or family that understand how limiting obesity is or why I have chosen to have the surgery. So my hope is to make a few friends here that can relate. Three months s…

Hello everyone, It's "Just Jess" from Maryland... I am here to learn as much as I can about the sleeve. Here is the scoop on me: In 2008, I had the lapband put into place... I lost about 100 lbs. bringing me to my lowest adult weight of 207 lbs.... Unfortunately, I had an esophageal dilatation in the summer of 2008, so they unfilled me completely and I had to wait it out - turns out the band had to be removed ... I went through a little while of "mourning" - and even more unfortunately - GAINING. Currently, I am almost to my highest recorded weight, which makes me sick. For the last year, I've attended therapy through an eating disorders clinic in Baltimore…

I had my sleeve April 26, 2011. I am very excited for this process. My highest weight was 271.8. I was placed on a two week Liquid Protein diet for two weeks before my surgery. I lost 10 pounds in that 2 weeks. Should have been more but after the first few days, I ate a salad once a day. I spent two nights in the hospital. First night was pretty bad. Surgery went great but I was vomiting all night long. Felt better the next day. Up and walking with no problems. Now I just hope that I don't mess up my new stomach. I'm scared. I'm glad I found this website so I can see what others are going through and what to expect. My surgery was at Fort Gordon, Ga. Eisenho…

So I've been on liquids for 13 days and I've lost 10 pounds. However, for days I've been thinking that I haven't cheated, but unfortantly now I'm wondering if I have. I've been drinking 3 shakes a day and have a small I mean small salad with olive oil and vinegar with like 2-3 strips of grilled chicken, I don't do the chicken everyday. I was also told I could have no sugar pudding and yogurt and low fat cottage cheese. Do you guys think I screwed up by having the small salad? My nutritionist said that I could eat as many fresh veggies as I wanted, so isn't salad fresh veggies, I just am worried about the grilled chicken and oil and vinegar. I also went out for girls…

Hello all, I'm glad you are here and I guess I'm supposed to give some back ground info. I was banded in October 2010 by Dr Alan Bradshaw in Asheville NC. I don't know exactly which band I have but it holds 14cc of Fluid. After my surgery I was only given .5cc fills and it took 14 months to get some restriction. Now I am losing 3-4 lb/wk, 41 total lbs lost. Yesterday I noticed kind of a swelling about 2 inches to the right of my navel and about 2 inches lower. When I pushed on it hurt. The pain which is not constant becomes more painful if I bend over at the waste. Also sometime when I bend over I feel a pinch in the crease where my torso joins my thigh. I'm th…

Hi, I was sleeved November 15. I have had many complications. I had a large gastric leak, kidney failure, and rapture sleen. Has anyone had these same problems?

Hi! My name is Lauren. I am having my Lap-Band Surgery on May 3rd at SIX O'CLOCK in the AM!!! Early huh? I am 22 years old, currently weigh 260 lbs with a BMI of 41. I have type II diabetes, hypertension and PCOS (Really hoping to get rid of the diabetes and hypertension. not fun...). Right now I am struggling through my two week liquid diet. Three days left and I feel just absolutely horrible about myself. I wont lie... I've cheated a bit. Easter fell about halfway through my diet and my doc told me I could have a SMALL meal that day. Other than that I was to drink two Optifast shakes, two Bariatric Advantage shakes and Jell-O. Needless to say, my "small meal…

Hi! My name is Lissy, and I am overweight......lol, thought I could start out funny. I am in a waiting pattern right now because I am awaiting my surgery date and am getting antsy. I am scheduled to go in on May 19th and can not wait for the day to get here faster. I have been battling the weight I put on over a 10 year period. I put most of the weight on in a 2 year period and can't get rid of it. I have tried to lose the weight naturally but can't keep it off. i recently married my second husband and he is against the surgery. He thinks that I could lose the weight if I tried. He doesn't understand the weight difficulties, but then again he is 130 lbs and is try…

Banded since July 28,2010. I weighed 318. Now 238. Anniversary is coming up and I would like to be at 200, which is my weight goal. Issues with staying on track with excersise routine. Any suggestions?

Ok so im supposed to be on a 14 day pre op....i did great the first 3 days. then messed up soooo bad for 2 now after today being number 2 day of messing up i have 9 days left. i am sick of food...tired of the nagging want of it...it really did nag my brain the wholeday...a friend of mine says well if you cant do this do you think you can do the WLS? my thoughts on that are that 85 % of my stomach will be gona and im not supposed to really fell the hunger feeling!!!!! what do you guys thnk i have done to my liver...and the progress that i have had?

I'M WAITING ON INSURANCE APPROVAL. Everything seems to be happening quickly. It was just under a month since Ive gone to seminar. My bmi is over 50 w/hypertension and ive had weight counseling for the past year, but to no avail. ive meet with surgeon, pyschologists, and had upper gi. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. My surgeon does not require liquid diet prior to surgery, instead wants me to do atkins diet(no carbs) 1 week before surgery. He only suggest 1 week liquid diet post surgery too. Anybody out there tried this before? help?

Hello, This is my first time to post anything, 4 days ago I had a revision from the lap band to the Vertical Sleeve. I had the band for 8 years and lost 60 lbs BUT....in the past 2 years had gained it all back. The morning of the sleeve surgery I was the exact same weight as when I was originally banded. I was 314 the morning of surgery and hope to get to 160-175.... only 4 days in, so the struggle is to get enough liquids/protein by tiny sips. I spent 2 nights in the hospital and am a self pay, insurance would not cover.

Hello, I have lurked around here for a while, taking sips of information like so many of you with you protein shakes. I feel I know some of you already. So I thought to myself. "hey, introduce yourself to these lovely folks, and join in on the ride." I am like many of you am a life long overweight fella, done the diets, listened to the little people expond the virtues of eating less, moving more, all the while thinking, "yeah, ok toothpick boy with the memory foam office chair molded to your half a cheek butt, come spend one day fabricating and installing granite countertops with me and then talk to me about moving more while I carry you back to the truck after the wo…

Ok....so every morning I get on my stationary bike and read your comments and it is my prozac for the day ( sometimes I even pedal). JK I am still going slow, but starting good habits. My husband is supportive, but he is tired of hearing about all I learn from here. Keep posting everybody......it helps soooooo much! I thank God everyday for your support. My date with my surgeon is this friday.

Hi everyone, I'm so glad to have found you all. I'm lucky to have a good support network at home, but they've not been through it, so they have a very limited understanding of what i'm going through. I'm on day two of my pre-op diet (two-weeks of 800-calories/day). I don't feel that it's a realistic diet for me... not even for two weeks, so when I finished out yesterday at 1,300 calories (I know it's bad, but I was STARVING) I felt like I was failing before I had even started. I'm interested in hearing others' pre-op diet stories. Are you guys also struggling this hard? Are all the pre-op diets this strict? I have a high BMI (52) so I'm sure that has something to …

Hey All, I am from Puyallup, WA and I was banded 9 days ago, on April 18, 2011. I had my surgery done by Dr. Robert Michaelson out of North West Weight Loss Surgery (he operates out of the surgical center there, but my surgery was done at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland.) I had my first follow up yesterday, and between the 7 days pre op liquid diet and 8 days post op, I am down 24.4lbs already. I have 195.6lbs left to go...and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm really looking for support from people who have been banded, because I am having some emotional issues. I have anxiety already, but it has gotten worse since surgery. I want to stay positive, …

I have finally decided to make the changes I need to live healthier, I went to a seminar and have my first Dr. Appt scheduled for Dec. 9th. I am a corporate Pilot and was wanting to see if there were any other pilots on the forum that have had the Lap Band and if it affected there flying in any way? Thanks

Hello i was wondering if anyone else on here is going to be seeing Dr. Rodrigez around the 9th of may, i was just wondering because im gettting so anxious and wondering if anyone else will be there the same time as me...just curious. im doing my pre op diet but honestly have been thinking about having my last awful cheat dinner tonight.. i have been really good so far and went into ketosis after 2 days..i dont know if that means my liver is shrinking but eekkk..im nervous about it all....

And, I thought the hardest part of this whole process was to get my insurance approval. I jumped through all kinds of stupid hoops, various delays here and there, but Aetna only took 3 days to approve me. Then, after 2 weeks of games, I find out the surgeon won't do the surgery until my Esophogitus GRADE C is healed. I was diagnosed a Grade C, which there are 4 levels (A, B, C, D) with D being the worst. I am told it can take months or even a year for the esphogitus to heal. My insurance approval is only good for 6 months. The clock is ticking. I was only put on the meds a few weeks ago to stop the acid from coming back up so the esophogitus can start the healin…

Hello. I'm currently on the 6months PCP diet wait before insurance will approve the lap band. The issue that worries me is I'm healthy other than weighing 282 lbs. I dont have any health concerns. I'm worried that because I dont have any issues like high cholesterol, sleep apnea, or high blood pressure, the insurance company wont approve me because they may not think it's a medical necessity. Have any of you have any problems with getting approved being healthy, just overweight?

I had my surgery done by Dr. Kevin Huguet in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 1, 2010. I am down today 94 lbs and my life has changed. The best decision I have ever made. Thank you, Dr. Huguet

Hi, I have always been hungry and like food and wine. I kept it off with phen, exersize and starving myself. Gold member at all weight loss centers! I was never at my ideal weight, but never obese. However, I am always one more bite to a million pounds. Weight always came back. Always dieted like all california girls. Then, reached 35 and three kids and it is an impossible struggle. My sleeve is next week with Dr. Braverman. I like him and trust him. I am at my highest wt still after a year and can't get it off.(200 and 5'4) My insurance will not pay because I have not been officially obese for two years. My husband and I took out a loan because it is so important to me…

Hi my name is Amanda I live on the Outer Banks and I am seriously considering being lap banded. I have struggled with losing weight and staying healthy my entire life , I was seperated last year from my husband of 8 years and I have a 4 year old . I currently weigh 229 ,I'm 5'7 and about to be 30 ...... Soooo what I want to know is Am I eligible? Will blue cross and blue shield cover it? What are the worse side effects? Mortality rate? How long does it take to be active afterwards? and any other important information you may have! Thanks for taking the time to read this ; )

Banded two days ago with plication. Gas pains are settling down. Walking as soon as I have them helps a lot. I slept in a recliner last night which was good for me. I'm on 3 more days of clear liquid diet, then I start two weeks of full liquids(protein shakes etc). I gave myself my first injection of lovenox,which was not bad. My daughter is making some chicken tacos which smells so good, so I'm sure I'm not hungry anywhere but in my mind. I'm curious to see if I will need a fill or with the plication will I be good. Anyway good luck to all the upcoming banders

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWKT6VxG-Ug I thought you might laugh at this!!

Please tell me about your experience. I am pre op, scheduled for this week, thanks!

Sleeved April 26, came home around 10:30 pm on the 27th. Surgery was suppose to be 11:30 am, but the first surgery ran over a bit so I didn't get in til 2. stayed in recovery til 8:30pm. Pain was excruciating. At that point i didn't know whether it was the gas pains, abdominal pains or a combo of both. Anyhow, I got to my room and slept on and off in increments of 30 minutes. Time was just not on my side. Next morning I had my barium swallow which wasn't as bad as I thought; I was so thirsty I could probably drink urine and be ok with it No leaks, so i started my Water. took me a few hours to drink a cup. by the time my broth/apple juice came I was having severe chest…

Hi all, My name is Sage and I was recently banded on April 15, 2011. So far, I have lost about 14 pounds. I am recovering pretty well, but it still hurts where (I'm guessing) the port is. One thing that is bothering me. Since I started drinking thicker liquids (my doctor had me on Clear Liquids the first week, thicker liquids the second week-which i am almost done with- and purees and so on the following weeks) I haven't been able to lose weight. In fact, I actually GAINED two pounds between yesterday and today! Has this happened to anyone else? Does anyone know of any thicker liquids or something that is still healthy that I will still lose? Or is th…

Hi all! Just wanted to share my great news! I'm so excited to be on this journey!! It has certainly not been easy, but it's going well! I lost 15 pounds on my pre op diet and was so excited!! Today...3 days after surgery I hopped on my wii and weighed myself again and am down another 3.5 pounds!!! So glad to be going in the right direction finally. It's so defeating when you've tried other things and you just don't budge! Plus my insulin regimen has gone way down also....my endocrinologist says that I may be able to go off insulin soon! Just wanted to share my happy day!