Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi everyone! I had the lap band "installed" 11/24/10. I did the 5 days of clear liquids- no problem, I was bloated and uncomfortable so eating was the last thing I was thinking about. Three days ago I started with the protein shakes- the first and second day I could only get two down, yesterday I was able to drink three, and today I have had three but I'm hungry! I would love a warm meal! I was back to work after 5 days and I'm trying to keep up with my hectic life style, but I get tired very quickly. As per the doc I'm supposed to be on shakes only for 10 more days! I feel i need a little more nourishment. Help!

Hey everybody! Well, after 5 months I finally got my surgery date the other day, Dec 10th! So I'm 2 days into my liquid diet today. I'd appreciate any kind of advice (i.e. how did your family and friends react, what have your results been, even any good pre-op recipes.) I'm new to the whole game, so any info is greatly appreciated. 8 days and the journey begins!! I'm nervous but super excited

You know - I think one thing that I am most excited about (you know beyond the being healthy parts) - at least a physical part I'm happy about. I'm ready for a full compliment not a half-one. Anyone who has gotten half compliments knows exactly what I'm saying. The "oh you have a beautiful face" or the "dude your sister would be perfect if she'd lose some weight" ... Anyone else sick of them? I am a phenomenal, beautiful person despite their sideways view of me. I'm just happy that my outer body will soon match the spunk from my inner soul.

It will be 5 months on the 14th of December and all is wonderful. I just now am at a stall and actually gained ½ pound last week… but I can eat more and am hungry more often. Something I need to work hard on. It was too hard to get to this point and I do not want failure.. But anyway – I’m asking if anyone else experiences the same thing when they eat a bit too much? When I do, my noise gets stuffed up and I need to blow it and I get cold chills. I also seem to be a bit colder then I was. My wife said it is because I do not have all the extra body fat. Might be. Lou

Hello All, my name is Sarah and I was recently banded on 11/16/10. Thus far I've dropped 14 lbs since surgery date. Wondering how everyone else who was banded around the same time is doing?

Hi All~ I am new to this forum, even though I joined in April (I think), I just got my prerequisites done today, and I now have my surgery date in January. I think it is now time to find others who have been there-done that. I am a mom of three adult children, grandma to one beautiful girl and wife to an awesome husband. I am hoping to get to know some of you who are on the same journey I am on. TeeL in New Mexico

HELLO EVERYONE IM ONE MONTH OUT FROM SURGERY HAVE LOST 26 POUNDS POST OP LOST 20 POUNDS ON PRE OP LIQUID DIET. MY SURGERY RECOVERY WAS VERY EASY FOR ME I WAS THE FIRST ONE IN GROUP OF ABOUT 20 PATIENTS TO BE RELEASED EVERYTHING HAS GONE WELL FOR ME IM DOWN CLOSE TO 47 POUNDS TOTAL VERY EXCITED I CANT BELIEVE WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN MY HEALTH ALREADY MY BLOOD SUGAR IS MUCH BETTER OF MOST OF MY DIABETS MEDICATION MY BLODD PRESSURES DOWN TO NORMAL TAKEING MUCH LESS MEDICATION VERY EXCITED AND IVE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Hello everyone. My name is Roe Anne and I was banded on July 8th at Scott & White hospital in Temple, Texas by Dr. Carpenter. My husband is military, and we recently moved and I now see Dr. Fearing at Malley Surgical in Kansas City. So far I have lost 40 lbs and my band has 7cc in it.

Hi! My name is Ashley. I am just now considering having the lap band surgery done, and with my very small amount of research, I've got different answers to my questions. So I found this site and figured it would be a good starting point to gain a forward point of view. A little backgound info: I am 26 years old, 3 kiddos, married, and I have been overweight and steadily gaining (when not dieting and sometimes when dieting) for about four years. Before then, I remained around 125-135, was very active, ran three miles a day at least, weight training 3x week, rode my horses, and I was able to eat like an elephant without gaining any weight. Well, I got prego with m…

hello, I have just joined this forum on the word of some bandster friends i have met through being banded. I had been looking into lapband since earlier this year, and i was banded October 28 - through the pre-op diet i lost almost 10 lbs and since the surgery i have lost just over 15 lbs. since i have been on solids i have been maintaining, but i am going for a fill next week. During the surgery, they filled me with 7cc's and it was too much and i couldnt not drink anything, so i had 2 cc's removed and now the swelling has gone down and i can use more. the picture on my profile is of my husband and i at our wedding may 2009 and i want to get back to that weigh…

Hi everyone! I am new to this site. I am planning on having lap band surgery. I've been on yo yo diets for years. My wake up call was when my 37 year old brother died of a massive heart attack in his sleep. He was obese most of his life. My mother as well is overweight. She has high blood pressure and at times has to wear a nitroglyerin patch. This scares me. I've tried to find many ways to lose weight, from starving myself to South Beach diet. I would lose weight and gain it all back and then some. I want to live a healthier lifestyle and be able to do more physical activities with my kids. Tonight I go for the seminar and then I go for my consult soon. I…

After tons of stress about pre-existing conditions and being turned down by insurance company was finally approved last Monday for a Dec. 20th Surgery date. I'm a Type II Diabetic and am hopeful to put that disease in remission and start felling good again. Start liquid diet on the 6th and I'm anxious about it-two weeks on liquids alone feels like an eternity to a guy who is always hungrier than a runaway slave-lol. I'm excited and scared all at the same time-I'm thankful for this community. I'm open to any feedback/advice.

Hi everyone!! Okay just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. This site has been a god send for me since I've decided to start down the road for the Lap Band. I've already been to the seminar, and have my first appointment on August 30th. I know I'm going to Self Pay, so no insurance issues to deal with! BCBS of KC is Horrible, BTW. Had to throw that out there. Any other Kansas City folks banded or going to be Banded? I'm hoping to have my surgery the week of Thanksgiving ( for time off purposes). I'm a big guy, always have been heck I was 200 lbs at age 12. I'm so looking forward to being 200lb or lower at age 30. I'm 340-350 now, so I know I've got a…

Hi there :-) I got a message to start with an intro here before posting anything on the forum, so here goes :-) Was banded on Monday Nov. 21st 2010 by Dr. Garber and so far so good! I started feelingmyself again just yesterday and I think it'll just get better from here. 8-) Hope to hear from all of you sometime! Cheers!

I am 30 years old, have always been plus size (5"10, 368 lbs, size 28) and have extremely high self esteme. I was a plus size model in my earlier years and I'm sure that helped with body image. My desire to have the band isn't necessarily to improve my self confidence, rather to improve my way of life. I'm looking forward to working out (surprisingly), to not dreading stairs, booths at restaurants and shopping. Finding boots that will easily fit my calves is going to be amazing. So after a cousin of mine had the surgery I decided to look into it. I've done much research, read A LOT of postings on this website (all incredibly helpful) and spoken with many people. It…

Im new to this site Im from Canada and had the lap band Sept 14, since i started this journey with preop diet etc ve lost 38 pds however its slowed down this past month i think due to me not focusing on the diet looking for some receipies... im refocused with my 2nd fill hoping this site will help i need to talk to other lap banders to help overcome some issues I look forward to the support !

Hi, I just had my first visit with my doctor after my surgery date. He said I am healing correctly and I have lost 25 pd and just had my surgery on Nov. 12th!!!! To be honest, I didn't realize I had lost that much. Yes, I am happy, but I still have a long haul ahead. The doctor gave me permission to start eating soft foods. So this is going to be interesting. So I can shop for real food and not just Protein shakes. I think I am getting allergic to them. So tonight I am going to try eggs and a slice of turkey and see how that works for me. DD

My VS journey began with a seminar led by Dr. Nicholson around April 2010. Over the next 90 days I did the recommended nutrition meetings and sleep study which led me to my surgery on 11/2/10 (which had been rescheduled from 10/26/10 due to irregular EKG). The surgery went well out of the hospital the 2nd day. I was back at work (worked from home) the 2nd week and in the office the 3rd week. I lost 13 lbs on the 2 week preop diet, gained 9 pounds the day of surgery from the gas, and another 17 since surgery, total of 31 pounds. Not shabby at all but now I'm on a stall. I haven't lost weight for more than 2 weeks now even though I take in less than 900 calories a day…

Hi All, This is my first time here, I am a 36 Yr old Female who has been overweight for many years. I have tried many diet and exercise programs including Phen-Phen, JC, WW, NutraSys, Atkins, The Cleanse Etc...I have had gym memberships with 5 different gyms, and I've tried the watch what you eat and walk everyday program. Problem is my body needs intensive exercise 7 days a week along with writing everything I eat down and restricting my calories to unreasonable amounts, just to lose a small amount of weight. I'm tired of fighting with my weight. I had a serious accident 3 years ago that has left me with 2 buldging disc's in my lower back, so now exercise is more painfu…

Hello I'm Monique I'm about to turn 28 pretty soon, and I've decided to make a few changes for myself. I'm a single mom and I'm over weight. I've been struggling for a few years trying to lose this weight and just when things start to look up they always seem to make that turn and I wind up gaining all the weight back or doubling it. I'm 4 foot 8 and I'm just 10 pounds shy of being 200, I can't stand not being able to enjoy certain activies with my child. Or just even bending down to tie my sneaker without having to take a few breaths, that and the constant heart burn is so annoying and painful, which is why on January 10th I'll be seeing Dr. Vemulapalli. I'm so excited…

Hay Everyone, I'm Morgan,I'm 24 I had lap band Since March and since then I have Some Problums with it or more with me. I got a Job to go work at Yellowstone Nat Park in Wy. I had a Great summer up there but Before I went I tried to get my first fill and they used me as a pin pusher, it hurt so much I ran out of there with out a fill, off I went to YNP and had a grand old time. Now I'm back in Wa and have just got'n back from my first fill form my Dr in Mexico. Dr Kuir who I love! Sweetess Dr in the world. I'm having Problums With the fill, you see I'm still having Problums drinking things and if I drink andthing more then a sip i cant keep it down. I love that I'…

hi! i figured, since im always reading posts on here, i might as well register. I was banded on Nov. 23, 2010. by Dr. Quilici in Burbank, CA. my starting weight was 286 pounds. i was put on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before surgery and a week before i saw the Dr. again and weighed in at 269 pounds. a week later was surgery, and i weighed in at the hospital at 261 pounds. This morning i weighed in at 251 pounds. after surgery, i didnt feel any pain at all. just the gas pains. even after coming home i had no pains just bruising on my stomach where my port is. yesterday has been one week since ive been banded, and boy does my back hurt! just when im sitting though. did anyon…

hi i am new here , has anyone had lapband after gastroplasty, i had a vertical banded gastroplasty in 1994 that only lasted 10 years, now i would like to have lapband, has anyone done this? also, any info on having lapband in costarica?

Thought I would add a little more after I perused the site a little and read some posts! I'm Kelli- 39, 6'0, 249 lbs. Just started my pre-op diet today. Can those protien shakes taste any worse???I bought the Pure Protein and it is foul- foul -foul! However, it did keep me full, or maybe just turned my appetite off because of the flavor and smell. Seriously, first day going well. Late night is my go time though... so going to try and sleep early to negate late night snacking. So good to read such positive things overall on this site. I'm working with Dr. Hollis here in Houston and while it is not the personal service, his staff seems very nice and educated on the subject.…

Hi all. My name is Shawnee and I'm what is considered a low BMI candidate for the surgery. I'm 5'4" and 185 pounds. My doctor has agreed to do it and is actually submitting a study on Low BMI banding this month. Because my BMI is 32 my insurance company would not cover the surgery so I'm paying outta pocket and it's not cheap. I know that I probably wont see the dramatic and immediate results that some heavier people experience, but I want to make sure I optimize my loss and do it right. I'm hoping others can give me advice, tips, pitfalls that I should avoid, etc. I'm having the surgery this monday December 6th and noon in Beverly Hills. I'm excited and nervou…

My name is Tammy. I had the LapBand Monday. Don't really know if I'm excited or not. Too sore to know yet!

Surgery Dec 22- Merry Christmas to me..

Good Morning All, Just received my surgery date after about 6 months of jumping through every hoop thrown in front of me. And they say weight loss surgery is the easy way out? At least that is what I have heard from various people. Although the prospect of spending Christmas in the hospital is not something I am looking forward to at least it will be the new beginning I have been looking forward to for so long. I am hoping to be out of the hospital by at least the 24th and if all goes well I will be. I have read so many stories on these forums that sound just like mine. I have laughed at some of the responses. Cried after reading certain posts. My husband asked me la…

Hello Kandi here I'm new the VSG board. I had my surgery on November 23 2010 weighing 335 pre op 350. I live in Grand Rapids MI and Dr. Randall Baker of Grand Health partners performed my surgery. I couldn't ask for a better surgeon or better care at spetrum health Blodgett. I am one week post op and I have went through a series of emotions. I was excited to thinking how easy the recovery is and then back to what in the World have i done to by body. I have been on the liquid diet and I am having a hard time getting the protein down but I am working on it. I also have flu like symptoms needless to say that is where the doubt has came from. GHP provides your supplem…

Hi Everyone, I have had my consult last Friday- it went ok. I am so worried that I will not be excepted though. I am 5'7" 230. I have been up and down constantly with my weight, my father died from weight related issues. I know that I can make this committment and will do everyhting to keep off my weight once and for all. I would like to hear from anyone who can relate. I have knee issues, fatigue, indegestion, incontinence and sleep issues. please help me with any pointers to get approved for this life changing/saving surgery thanks everyone

Hi, My name is Tee39 and I am a 40 year old mother of two teenagers boy and girl. I have decided to get the lap band surgery. This is the second time I started the process. I am 265lbs the heaviest I’ve ever been. I was always a small girl and young woman, but after the birth of my daughter and the help of birth control the weight started. Then I became a too busy to cook eater, (not having enough time to eat the right things and just eating fast foods) and started gaining more and more weight. The older I got the more weight I gained. Well, I have decided to make a change in my life and gain it back by losing the weight. I have tried every weight loss program onl…

Well I have made the decision to see the Surgen about getting Sleeving. The Doctor has refered me. I will ring to make the first appointment next week. Also seen lots of womans stoies if you know a mals story please link. And just to let you know i am 190kg so onwards and dowards i hope. Clive PS from Rockhampton , Australia

well, bummer. I just wrote my life story with all kinds of questions and lost it all before it posted. how frustrating... LOL.. Well, I am now doing a readers digest version. I have not had the proceedure yet and am really struggling with whether to do it or not. I am a morbidly obese woman (almost 300 pounds) and have thought about having this proceedure for many years. I have never done anything about it because I always tell myself if I am going to have to control my eating after a proceedure then dang it, I can control it without a proceedure. Well, I have proven this not to be successful for me so far. In addition to this weight issue, I have been having …

I started on this journey as a child. "Eat, children. The children in Europe are Starving" ; "Eat your dinner if you want dessert"; and the cryptic "You never know when there won't be enough, eat my child." You see, I am a product of parents who grew up between the World Wars, and my mom lived in Western Europe. As a Jewish family, the reality of concentration camps, of a forced ghetto, was real to my family, and it was barely 6 years later my parents met in this country (USA) and married. It was only 10 years past food rationing and hiding bread for the children that I was born. You might not think of kids growing up during the baby boom of the 1950's as being …

Hello all, I am new to this site, but I hope it will be helpful to talk to others going through the same thing. I am one week away from being banded and I am freakin STARVING!!!!! I am having a really hard time with this 2 week liquid diet! How are you all dealing??????

I got news back from my insurance company and found out what hoops I have to jump though. I have to do a 3 month supervised diet and a psyc eval which is not to bad. I really just want to get this done but, i realize this is the waiting game everyone talks about. I think as i start the process i will do pics and weights before the supervised diet though just to have a highest starting point

Hello all! Just joined hoping to learn more about the LapBand procedure and all that it entails. I've finally decided to go for it, after years of waffling. I want this weight off! I hope to hear from anyone who'd like to share their experience and wisdom. Thanks! Cari

Hi I am liz I am a 33 yr old female who is finally have her surgery scheduled. I am a mom to a miracle lil girl I lost 8.. I am in love with my soul mate. there is so much to say and dont know where to start... at my biggest I was 325 and I am now 260 with type 2 diabetes . HBP asthma severe. allergies and so many other things that it took my insurance 1 day to approve me so I am now looking for friends and people who are getting banded around the time that I am,,, I love meeting new people and making new friends that I can have a bigger support group. cant have to many people in ur support group...

Ladies, once completelly healed I would like to start wearing a little something to hold it all in as I hopefully shrink away. I looked at the spanx website but they were very pricey does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi All, In Nov of 2009 I attended a lap band seminar and was able to sign up for an appointment in January of 2010. Due to several issues on both the office and my schedule the appointment got pushed back to March of 2010. After a 3 hour wait in the office I was finally seen by the surgeon, he looked at the forms I filled out and seemed to imply I had not tried enough dieting because I only had one listing in the form. The surgeon then proceeded in a very demeaning way to say that I was not a good candidate for lap band and that I would only loose 50 lbs and be stuck unable to get any further weight loss surgery. Now my BMI is over 65, and mostly has been and prio…

Hi all! I'm excited to join the VSG forum! I've been reading posts on here as a guest for the past couple weeks and am so thankful to have so many people share their experiences with their sleeve. It has reassured me I'm making the right decision and your stories have inspired me! I'm hoping to learn as much as possible before having the sleeve done myself. I'm at the end of jumping through the insurance hoops and my paper work should be sent in next week and then the waiting game will begin. Hope it doesn't take to long to hear back from my insurance. I'm eager to get a date set!

Hi everyone! I'm loving this site, it has been helpful & encouraging to hear others stories. Here's mine... So I started the process in January of this year. I originally wanted breast reduction surgery but was denied by my insurance. They said I need to lose. Weight first. So discouraged one of the doctors suggested I look into lap band. I have researched numerous times, but this the first time I set up an appointment with a surgeon. I had the meeting in February and was nervous but excited. I came home talked to my parents and they were all for it, but when I talked to my boyfriend he was adamant I not do it, and basically talked me out of it. But it has been …

I decided to have weight loss surgery because I just couldn't loose the weight on my own. My highest weight was 291 lbs. and a BMI of 45. In August after lots of research and questions I decided to have my surgery in Mexico with Dr. Kelly. I put my deposit down on August 14, 2010 and started making plans. My surgery was sheduled for November 19, 2010. Started my pre-op diet on November 10th and that included yogurt, sugar free Jello, broth, and Protein shakes. Ten whole days of only liquids! I didn't think I would be able to do it but guess what I did do it! I never cheated once! Everyone was so supportive and really encouraging. There were days when I daydr…

The Volcano was the perfect excuse Living in Indonesia is a wonderful experience and a fantastic lifestyle can be had. The people are so caring, loving and supportive – but mostly cannot understand what it is like to be fat. When I am complaining about my weight they always say kind things like – Your health is more important than how you look. But if you are obese you know differently. Especially when living amongst people who hardly never get over 60 kg (130 lbs). The kids at the supermarket show the truth when they point at the fat white man and giggle behind their hands. Parents tugging them away politely but you know what is going through the…

Hi all, I am scheduled for surgery December 7th. I am only to be on a liquid diet for 1 day before no other restrictions, other than not to eat a lot and gain weight beforehand. Were most people told to be on liquids weeks before surgery date? I had not heard of that until reading posts on this website. But, my main question is this, one of the only 5 people that I have told that I am doing this, has been sending me emails all morning of 'info' that he has found on the internet. He says that I can never again eat any kind of fruit /vegetable seed or skin. I am not seeing this in my doctor's info packet, or what I have seen on the internet, although I do see th…

hello everyone i feel back from the site because i received some disappointing news about two weeks ago. i will not be able to get my sleeve. finally i thought i would have a chance of being a normal size not. I found out that there would be a $7000.00 out of pocket expense that i just simply can't afford and this is with insurance. I don't have the option of a loan no one in my family has this kind of money to loan ( i wouldn't any way no way to pay back) there is just no way i live check to check and $7000.00 is a lot of money. i knew there was a $1650.00 deductable which i was fully aware of and ready to pay but i was forgetting about the 20% that Aetna will not cover…

I am at the airport. Flying to San Diego. Mexico here I come. Blood work today and a new sleeve tomorrow. I was nervous but now I am just really excited. Maybe it is just to early in the morning to be scared. I will keep you posted on my journey.

I have been reading since last Wednesday but haven't posted, I am coming out of hiding. So today I finish all my surgeons requirements for surgery. I had my appt with her last Wednesday, because of the holiday and her only being in the office on Monday and Wednesday's the paperwork should be submitted to my insurance this coming Wednesday. I plan on calling my insurance company on Thursday I am so excited and nervous all at the same time! I am hoping to get my surgery the first week of January, new year = new me! Little about me. I am almost 30 with a husband and 2 young kids. I have been overweight since having my first child 5.5 years ago and no matter what I do I can…

Hello Everyone, I was so glad to see this site. I wanted to stop by and introduce myself and continue to stay in contact with people that have had lap band surgery. I know that this will not be an easy process, but I have made up my mind to have the lap band done. I will be having my Endoscopy next Friday, Dec 3rd. I must say I am not looking forward to it, but I know it is one of the steps I must do. I hope to hear from others that have had the lap band surgery so that you can give me insight on your journey of weight loss and your ups and downs, because I know I am going to need all the support I can get. I have been researching the lap band and it seems that t…