Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

i am a 38 year old female, who weighs 294lbs and i am only 5'3"! i am a divorced single mother of 5 kids. i work approx 12-14 5 days a week. i have the worst eating habits. on october 27 2010 i changed my life with the lap band surgery. i did not do pre op diet. so today is 1 week, and i am starving. im so sick of water and ice. the protein is gross, i stopped drinking the powder mixed with water. im so sick of chicken broth. yesterday i started eating sugarfree jello. my headaches are finally gone, but i am hungry. i am so afraid to feel the "wanna throw up" feeling. so i limit myself of how much i have in a day. yesterday i had, 1 12oz cup of broth, 2 jello cups, and…

I have lost 10 pounds since my surgery. It is surreal.- (sleeved-on dec.6th)

Does anyone else have a port way up between the ribs just below your breast area?

Hi I am day 2 now and not feeling hungry but feeling nervous

My lap band surgery was October 25th and my first injection was Nov. 30th. Im ONLY 7lbs lighter. Why is that? I definitly need more restriction. Started with 5cc's. Next injection is Jan 4th. Could I be the only person in the world this surgery isn't working for? Am I just impatient. Im fustrated and getting sad. Advice please. Is it me? I know its early but theres always stories about people losing lots of weight by now. Anyone else out there in my shoes. Please tell me theres somekind of light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks.

Hi All!! I am new to this site, I was sleeved on 11/30. I had what seems to be a very different experience from most people. I came home from the hospital originally 3 days after surgury. Ended up being admitted 1 1/2 days after being home for 6 days. Started a fever, white blood cells were off the chart but they didn't know anything else. I am having a hard eating and nothing settles in my stomach. It's all I can do to keep food down. I know I am not getting near enough Protein or fluids but I am throwing up. Can't wait to feel "normal"!!

Ok I'm excited I get sleeved tomorrow. But I have a customer that wants to go to Mexico who should she ask for and where would she go?

Hi all... I had my band in January 2010. They found hiatal hernia and repaired in surgery... was taking heart burn meds before. Stopped all meds after surgery and have lost 70 pounds. Was up to 4 1/2 cc's in band. About 2 months ago.. had band emptied as was having problems swallowing, and throwing up. About2 weeks later had endoscopy and barium swallow... showed no slipage, everything normal. Did alittle better... now for last month having really bad reflux... mainly at night... even to the point of aspirating... congested cough then half the day... some throwing up...I am also back on prilosec twice a day. I have a dr apt tomorrow and am gonna ask them to remove the ban…

I had lap band surgery 10 months ago. I start weight was 257, as of today, I weigh 195. My surgeon is Dr. Adeyeri. My concern is that there are no support groups that meet during the day, and I'm starting to get off track. Any suggestions.

I was banded on Dec. 3rd. I had my first weigh in this morning and I have lost 30 pounds. My last weigh was November 17th at my pre-op appointment. I am so excited, I have lost a total of 50 pounds since August when I started my 3 month clinical weight loss required by the insurance company.

Hi all, Well, my insurance policy (which the insurance lady walked me through) says two different things so it appears as though my surgery is stalled for awhile. I thought I was going to get it in Jan and now it looks like anywhere from March to June!!!!!! So very bummed...will this ever happen? Now I have alot more hoops I have to go through (and my husband too)! Boo hoo!!!!! Tracy

Hi everyone, I am new here and just wanted to say hello. I was banded on Sept. 2nd. and It has been a journey. one in which I am still looking forward to even though I have had some bumps. I am glad I found this site. and looking forward to meeting new friends. It is good to know you are not alone. alecia

Hi, to all the banded ppl! Consultation date weighed 224, surgery Dr. Alex Esquivel in Texas and weigh was 211, First Fill weight was 200 getting ready for my second fill tomorrow I weigh 198. Im short and round, really wanna keep the short and less of the round....lol! My big to worries so far is portion control.... I struggle to keep focused and my stinking period dose not help, I have been working on changing that with diffrent BC. Honestly though it has been a struggle, the craving hit me bad straight out of surgery i wanted to eat the world and then a couple days later i got my period. With that I also learned that as i healed i began to feel less restrict…

As of today I have my pre-opt and surgery date on the books! I am so excited I can't even think straight enough to work. I will start my pre-opt diet on Dec. 17th. I felt very lucky that it is The Atkins Diet and not the liquid diet so many seem to be on. I am looking so forward to this journey into a new life. I have great family support and I know that I will be 100% sucessfull along the way. My process started August 27th and at that time it seemed forever till December, but here it is. I am thrilled to start the New Year with a great tool to lose all the weight I have never been able to lose. I am going to San Antonio to the Turning Point Surgery Center for m…

I had my chest X-ray and my EKG yesterday. Its been 2 weeks since they told me it would take 4 weeks to get a date. Im going to be Pro Active (Bug a boo) later on today when I get a break. IM SOOOOOOOOO EXCITED / SCARED TO DEATH!

I will have my surgery tomorrow morning at 9:30. I am so excited and tottally nervous. I've lost about 12 pounds on the pre-surgery diet. I have not had one morsel or crumb of food that was not on my program. I loved the powdered eggs. Go figure. I will be at Lacks Surgical Center is Grand Rapids, MI. My surgeon is Dr. Kemmeter. 2011 is the beginning of my new life, and I am determined to be successful at this. Wow, I can't believe I am actually doing this.

Hi All...my name is Anne. After over a year of waiting I'm going to be banded on December 27th. I'm so excited! I'm on the first day of my preop diet and have to admit I'm scared about the remaining 13 days before surgery. I have a big family party at my house on Christmas Eve and, of course, all kinds of workplace parties, open houses, etc. which all revolve around food. I never noticed just how much my life was focused on food until starting this journey. It's actually pretty interesting. I'm a counselor at a community college and am happily married to a very supportive guy. No children...in fact, that's the reason for all of this. I have PCOS and am unable to proc…

I am just starting to sip liquids a little more than 24 hours from surgery. Would love your prayers! In some pain and having trouble with nausua but great dr and hospital staff. I will post more when my hands are shaking so bad.

My name is Rick. I'm still in the process of getting banded. I have had two visits/meetings and have two on WED. One with the dietitian and one with the surgeon. I guess next will be the psych eval. I am 55 and right now my weight is 300lbs. My BMI is 52 and I have 4 co-morbidity's. I have battled weight all my life and need to do something about it NOW! I'm excited about the prospect of changing my health and feel good again! I'm a minister, its hard to try and help others when you feel like your life is over. I know up front from reading posts from this site and others that the band is only a tool. I still have to do the work. I hope they give me surgery date soon! Look…

I don't know if anyone out there used to/is a big holiday baker but I always made tons of holiday cookies and passed them out (the ones that didn't add 10 lbs to my gut every holiday.) My cooworkers are asking me when I'm bringing in buckeyes but I just take a deep breath and smile, "Sorry, guys. This year I'm not making cookies because I can't get them out of the house quick enough so you're on your own." I've gotten some resistance but who will have the last laugh...me! So far, down 15 lbs in the past month by eating every 2-3 hrs and I have cut out allllll fast food (I don't consider Chipotle fast food but I eat 1/3 of a veg bowl instead of eating all of it at onc…

It took forever to get approval but it finally came in three weeks ago and I'm scheduled for banding this Wednesday. I'm on the two week liquid diet which is going pretty good. I am hungry but I try to overcome it and stick with the program. I'm 56 and live near St. Louis. It is sooooo cold here today.

My mother and I (44 and 65 years old, respectively) were sleeved on 12/3/2010 by Dr. Umbach in Henderson, Nevada- Blossom Bariatrics. Dr. Umbach has created a "one-stop-shop" for bariatric surgery----and our experience was excellent. I found Dr. Umbach, as I was looking for a Center of Excellence designated surgeon, who was not astronomically priced as we were both self-paying. I was jerked around by Kaiser (Woodland Hills) - after being referred by my primary care physican, "invited" to their seminar...I received a letter indicating that I was not qualified. Note, my BMI was 39, and I had significant co-morbidities. Anyhoo.....God blessed us with the ability to se…

Hi everyone, im from hervey bay, queensland australia . Is there any fellow aussies on here?? Im on a semi urgent waiting list for lap banding. I have has liver tumors removed and a liver resection but my specialist has encouraged me to have lap banding to take the extra pressure off my liver, i also have PCOS so the weight loss from the banding will help alleviate that too. I will need to have further liver surgery after the banding once my body is in a better condition to handle a second liver resection to remove the remaining tumors. Is there anyone recently banded or are waiting on theirs too?.. I would be interested to chat to people who have had the surgery a…

I was thinking it would be fun to get together with sleevers (pre/post). If anyone is interested in planning dinner let me know and I'll set it up for us. Sometimes it is nice to meet up and make that personal friendship. Send me a PM or post here.

Well, I have been on here a week now, and I guess it is time to introduce myself. I have recently, and when I say recently I mean real, real recently decided to get band. I considered it two years ago, but took a detour (high Protein, moderate fat, and low carb...pee on a stick several times a day diet). I did well (30 lbs.), gained it and more back, and it has taken me a bit to get back to the idea of a band. I just turned 40, and I just hit the 300 mark on the scale. Not acceptable! I'm a single mom of an amazing 9 year old boy. I plan to be active with him, and I plan to see him and his children grow up. I have a great support system, and also know this si…

HI! I am new to this site so glad I found it though seems to be very rewarding! I am being banded on Thursday the 16th and am excited yet nervous all at the same time! I have been doing my pre-op diet since last monday...seems to get easier everyday! I found a wonderful protein powder that I actually enjoy...at first I really struggled headache for 2days no energy just didn't think I could do it...then started getting the hang of it and adding high protein things and looking at carbs and sugars and filled the void of feeling hungry! Also found that sugar free candies actually taste the same if not better to me!! Thats def a plus! If there is anything anyone would like to …

Hi everyone! My name is Amanda. I'm 29 years old from Toronto, ON and am getting banded on December 22 at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre in Mississauga. I'm on day 5 of my pre-op liquid diet and definitely struggling with it, but trying to stay positive. I'm happy I found such a great resource and will have people to share this experience with. I'm so very excited about how this journey will change my life! Looking forward to learning and sharing with you all

My name is Mandy, I am new at all this! I have my own blog @ Blogger.com (not sure if you put in my email address if it would work). Anyways, I had Lap-Band Surgery on Monday 12/6. It has not even been a week and I lost 8 lbs. I lost 22 before surgery so I m down a total 30lbs since I began this journey. I also have been non-smoker now 8 months, since I decided I was going to have surgery I had to quit smoking in order for them to even consider me a canidate for the surgery. I am 29 yrs old married and Mother of 3, work full time as a case manager with adults with Developmental Disabilites I live in Mass. I am ready to be a happy and healthier me, not just fo…

Good Evening i Have not been here for a while but I finally got the approval I have been waiting for I'm set to get banded on 1/10 great way to start the new year!! I'm a little scared of the pre-op diet but I am hoping this Blog helps me! The approval was a very long process I started all of this in Apr had to do the whole 6months nutrition appointments etc.. For those of you in that part please don't give up hang in there!!

Hi there, Ok, this may seem like a dumb question to you. But it's really puzzling me! I had my 1st fill a month ago, 4cc in a 14cc band......I felt nothing. Just the same as I always did no restriction what so ever! Then 6 days ago I had my 2nd fill, I now have 6cc in my band. I'm pretty sure at this point that I'm not restricted, but to be honest I'm really not sure? I dont no if it's my bad eating habits thats telling me to keep eating once I feel relatively full or whether I'm not at restriction yet? I've never vomitted (yet!) after eating more than I feel I should, but a few times I've felt like something is stuck! This feels really painful like a brick i…

BANDED ABOUT ABOUT ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO LOST OVER 100 LBS. EXPERIENCING PAIN NOW FEELS LIKE SIDE STICHES BUT NEAR PORT ALMOST EVERY DAY

Hi, I am set for surgery on December 21st. I have started the pre-op diet and have been doing the Medifast shakes and stuff. However, I felt sick for 2 days and was really grumpy. I am a teacher and it didn't work having a headache and feeling sick for the 8 hours the kids are at school with me. I called my doctor and they said I can have 2 packets of shakes/juices/soups, 2 6oz chicken and 2 cans of tuna in water. I am a much nicer person. I am very nervous as I have a pacemaker and this is one way to get the weight off. I still have to buy some of the liquid drinks but haven't done so yet. I started working out at the Y about a month or so ago and lost 15 poun…

Hi. My name is Telisa Swan and I am working toward getting sleeved. My daughter had a gastric bypass six years ago and is down from 500 lbs to a healthy 160. The bypass worked very well for her but I think the sleeve is a better choice for me. I am 5'10, weigh 311 with a BMI of 44.7 and am 44 years old. I don't have a lot of co-morbidities, but I did get a heart stint in 2003. I am self-pay with no insurance and started this process in October with a lot of research. In November I attended two seminars by a couple of different area bariatric surgeons. I really like the surgeon I have chosen but he wants me to lose 10% of my total body weight before he will even sch…

Hello. My name is Karen. I was just banded on Friday, Aug 20. My surgeon is Dr. John Brebbia in Dover, DE. I have been overweight most of my life, except for a 2 year stint before I got married. (Phen fen) Anyways, I have been researching this band for a long time and finally went through with it. I was told I had a small hiatal hernia that he repaired while he was placing the band. I am feeling good today. I still have alot of pain in my shoulders and neck but i hear thats from the hernia repair. I can start full liquids today....so i made a protein smoothie this morning. Its amazing that I have no hunger at all. I ate about 1/2 of a sugar free jello yesterday and was f…

Dear Friends, Just got banded yesterday (12/08/10) by Dr. Barry Sanchez at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. I'm in a lot of pain and my lower abdomen hurts the most. I threw up a couple of times during the night but now the nausea has gone away. I am only having diluted apple juice, Water, and sugar-free popsicles. I am 282 lbs and my goal is 175 lbs. Any suggestions, tips, or help in managing pain would be appreciated. I'm taking a liquid pain medication every 4-6 hours and sleep right afterward. The pain is really bothersome. How long does it take for the pain to go away and for the body to feel 'normal'?

Hi! I am a newbie--I just had my first meeting with my doctor today. I am scheduled for a VSG sometime in late January, pending a cardiology okay. I am a 54 y/o female living in Corpus Christi, TX. My surgery will be with Dr. Patel in San Antonio. I'm not well versed in using forums like these, so bear with me! I have been fighting obesity unsuccessfully for nearly 40 years. I feel like I've tried everything out there, with very little success. I'm tired of fighting. I want an end to the war! I have high blood pressure, osteoarthritis in my knees, heel spurs in both feet, sleep apnea, and IBS. The doctor assures me these will all get better when I've lost the w…

I am 29 years old with a BMI of 34. I refuse to tell anyone other than my husband and mother about my decision to get the WLS. I don't want to be judged. I feel I judged myself enough ( ALWAYS IN THE NEGATIVE ) that I don't need to hear it from others. On the other hand this is a big deal and I need to share with someone. So I thank all of you for your posts and experience. It is appreciated.

Well, it was finally done, Tuesday, 7:30 am! I have been home since Wednesday at 7pm. The surgery took an hour longer than planned due to a very large hiatial hernia that needed to be repaired. The doctor also took a liver biopsy since my liver was enlarged. I don't think he expected that because he had only put me on two days of liquids pre-op. I guess I got two operations for the price and discomfort of one. The day of the surgery I have to say I felt like I had been hit by a truck and my throat was so incredibly sore. I somehow managed to feel a lot better the next day. I was surprised to find how easy it was to get up and walk. Fair Oaks hopspital in Fairfax…

Hi there peeps, dont know about any of you guys but i am really struggling with this pre op . I am going to be fitted in birmingham on the 12 dec10 .via the hospital group in dublin. my surgen name is david hewin. has anyone had him before? I am on day 4 of the pre op diet . 7.00 am all milk coffey 9.00 low fat yogurt 12.00 glass of milk (250ml) 3.00 cup of tea and diet yogurt 5.00 oxo drink 7.00 glass of milk 9.00 vanilla milk it driving me crazy i need some food , can i cheat scambelled egg or somthing small , any one any suggestions for me PLEASE?

Hello everyone! I am really thinking about getting banded...I am in Michigan and live in Royal Oak and my insurance will pay since I have been in the Beaumont Wieghtloss program for 6 months. I have only lost 15 pounds:(....So here are the questions...what is the typical timeline to get the procedure and what things need to be done before? Thanks!

Hi all, Thanks first for all the good info I'm reading here!!. Some I can relate to, some not yet, but we are all on the same path! Intro: married, no children, super supportive husband who is MORE excited about my weightloss than I am, if possible, lots of pets. I was banded on 11/30/2010, went thru the usual "what have I done business" and the worse can't breathe feeling. The incisions are closing well, and at yesterdays check up things were going good, per the Doctor. Best news is that I've lost 49 pounds (since the beginning, when because of my hugely excessive weight I was on the pre-op diet for 2 months). So far, so good. I am now adding in a little protie…

I am going through approval for lap band but really wish I could find another way. I have been reading the forum, and it seems consistent that there is a 2-week pre-op liquid diet and a 3-week post-op liquid diet. So five weeks. I thought that all liquid diets were dangerous for that length of time, but clearly not. I will ask my doctor, of course, but am thinking that maybe I could try a 5-week doctor-prescribed liquid diet and see how much I lost. How much weight do people on average lose during these five weeks when the surgery is involved? What do you-all advise? I can stick to such a diet, I have the motivation, especially if it would mean I would avoid the surgery. …

I was banded on 12/2/10. Unfortunately my insurance wouldn't cover the surgery, but since I had a Hiatal Hernia, they covered half of my surgery. First time in my life where I had ever wished for something to be wrong so that I could get another procedure partially paid for! As of yesterday, I have felt pretty good. Just a little tired. I had a gas bubble in my should for a couple of days that I thought was going to kill me!! If I knew getting a long needle and poking it in there to pop it would have worked I would have done that! Luckily now that pain is gone and I only have a little soreness in the incision where they inserted the lap band and port. I was doing real…

Hello, all. Are there any among you with 100+lbs to lose? I have a few questions and I'd like to see how it's going for others like me.

Has anyone used Dr. Marvin or Dr. Turnquest in Houston? If so, what are your experiences?

Hi everyone,,, i wish each person much success on their weight loss journey. I just got banded yesterday.,..and boy o boy am i in pain. My hubby thinks im exaggerating so i told him that i feel like a gutted fish that was hit by bus. Hopefully the pain will only last a few days. How is everyone else doing?

I joined awhile ago when I was just lurking. Now I am scheduled to be banded on 12/20. I am on day 6 of the pre-op diet and I AM HUNGRY! I cannot believe how fast the time is going and I am both excited and scared.

Hi my Name is Vickie. I have been Banded for 3 1/2 mos. I have lost 40lbs so far. I had a rough start..Diarreah caused Dehydration which I had to be Hospitalized for. I have since learned how to manage the Diarreah to prevent Dehydration. At first I was not sure I had made the right decission due to this Complication. But, I now know without a Doubt I DID make the correct decision and would do it again in a Spit Second!! The first two Pictures were taken the Day after my Lapband Surgery. The third Picture was taken at my last Drs. Appt. 40 lbs lighter!! Digging Deep...Gaining Strength!! Vickie

Hello everyone. It's great to find this website. I was banded on July 6, 2009 so I am nearly 1.5 years post surgery. So far, it has been good in that I have lost now 94.5 pounds with about 60 more left to lose so I have absolutely no regrets about this. What I struggle with is looking at what is yet undone/unachieved and wondering if I have the emotional & physical stamina to keep on doing what I need to do to get the rest of the weight off vs to I just give in and accept this current weight as "good enough". Has anyone else found themselves in this place and if so, what did you do?

Hello all! I am a 22 year old female and i have been overweight for all of my life. My issues are not working out and eating the right portions. I do not eat junk or drink soda.I now have knee and ankle pains from the weight gain over the last year that has brought me to 299 pounds. I never wanted to consider the lapband before because i thought it was cheating. I am now left no choice. I am too young to be at this weight. I am aware that i have to improve my eating habits and exercise habits as well. I think my breaking point was going to the doctor and seeing 299 as my weight on the scale. I made an appointment to see the surgeon and it was a waste, my doctor referred…