Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi, everyone. I have been on the chat room for a few weeks but this is my first forum topic. I am in the pre-op stages. I have done the seminar and my consult is tomorrow! It's funny... as much as I am not crazy about the idea that I will have a foreign object in my abdomen, somehow I feel like I have no choice. I am 29 and will be married in April. I want to have kids in 2-3 years and I feel like if I don't take the opportunity to do this now, I am going to be a mom who can't chase her toddler or doesn't want to walk to the park like other families. I don't want to be that person. I have always fluctuated (I was heavy by about 8 years old). I did Atkins in early 2000's- …

I'm having a hard time explaining to family members why I need this done. I feel like I have to defend myself because I want this so bad. I am in the process of all the prework my Dr requires to have done before they will submit to the insurance for pre-approval. I have been overweight my entrie life and just tired of all the yo-yo diets all the time and want a permant fix to my problem and I feel this is the only tool that's going to help me get there and stay there. I'm 27 and have 3 boys (tubes tied now), been married for the past 10 years, and have given all my time and attention to my family and my weight. I want this for myself and to be happy and healthy finall…

Hi All I was sleeved 5 days ago in Edinburgh, Scotland. So far things have been text book, no leaking etc, been home for 2 days. i still have pain when i drink (gas coming back up) and am eating tiny amounts of Soup. Im feeling a little bit down, as im pretty hungry, yet can only eat liquids, and when i do i then feel sick and sore.. i know its early days and i guess i just have to wait for the swelling to go down. I do have a few worries that have been going round and round in my head and driving me crazy... its hard to believe ill lose weight as ive been big all my life and i cant imagine myself thin.. so im convinced this wont work and ill have wasted soo much…

I'm sleeved!! I feel so much better than I had worried about. Sugery started later than expected and there was a suprise. When the surgeon made is first incision and felt inside he found a fibroid tumor. Appaerntly I have a fibroid in/on my uterus that extends to my chest and is the size of a football. The surgeon called in a gyno to check if he could still do the sleeve and luckily we were still good to go. So it seems a hysterectomy is next for me. A friend of mine who is a doctor suggest holdig off if I can until I lose the weight so I combine it with a tummy tuck and insurance pay for a lot of it. That makes the news a litter easier to take. In any case, …

Hi everyone. I'm glad I found this site. I see my primary doctor on May 11th and I'm worried she won't submit a referral for me. I don't know why I have so much doubt -- I clearly qualify. Wondering how hard it is to get your doctors to agree with sending a referral. Edit: So after being on here for hours, I may not qualify as much as I thought. I'm 5'0" and weigh 214 pounds. I would say I'm small frame b/c if I squeeze REAL tight the tips of my fingers overlap. Now, I would also have to have high-blood pressure for TriWest to approve me.

I'm going to a information seminar at the hospital near me in Jan. and I was wondering if anywhere there is a good list of questions to ask? I never think of what to ask until I'm in the car on the way home and I try to jot down things as I think of them such as "What foods will I have to avoid afterwards? How exactly does the band work - does it make my stomach smaller or just make the food go down slower?" stuff like that. But there's always something I'll forget to ask. So is there a list somewhere here maybe of great questions that everyone has compiled? Sorry, I'm not very good at finding my way around message boards. Thanks!

The reason Im posting this is because I felt totally different when i started this process. So much so that i looked for reasons to postpone surgery dates which I regretfully did once! This is not the hell I thought it was going to be(hell might be too strong). I wanted to do this to lose weight and get healthy even if it meant "depriving" myself of the one comfort I knew I could count on to make me happy, food! I even scheduled my surgery for March(2010) because I wanted to enjoy the holidays. At that time food is what made me most happy and satisfied, dont get me wrong I still love to eat but Enjoyment meant being able to eat 2 full plates of turkey at thanksgiving, Ea…

This is my first post ever. I have been watching every you tube video on lap banding and have gotten so much information from them. I feel that if I am going to take from these sites, I should also be willing to give. The problem is I don't know how to make a you tube video so I found this site. I do know how to type. I was banded on 10/13/10 so I am six weeks post op. I have not had my first fill yet. It is scheduled next week. I have lost 28 pounds so far. I am excited about my journey but also scared. I am most scared of failure or gaining my weight back. I am also scared of having loose skin, no boobs, and all my hair falling out by the time this is over. …

So its been 15days now since i got banded. I have lost 15 the first week and 4lbs since then. I been eating protein drink cottage cheese or egg for BF. Protein Shake and salad with chicken for lunch and dinner. I do treadmill 45mins in the morning and 45mins at night. I do get hungry most of the time and able to eat anything if i want to. My question is if any of you guys have the same problem with the scale stuck and you doin everything right. I HATE IT!!!!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to stop in and introduce myself...My name is Kristy and I started this journey back in early July - I was referred to the Calgary Weight Management Group and started the lifestyle and weight management classes. I received notification on November 9th that I was accepted for the lap band surgery. Unfortunately, the Calgary Health Region only covers 25 surgeries a year - I am so fortunate to have been chosen. I have been very physically active and know that that will help me reach my goal even more. I'm 38 years old, married and have two fur babies. I go to my first Lap Band meeting tonight and am going to be purchasing my Optifast liquid pr…

Well after waiting fifteen years I was finally banded on Nov. 19th. Now I am wondering if I made a mistake. I live in Houston and my doctor is one of only a few that actually "fills" the band during surgery. Since surgery I have not been able to get very much down including water. The gas in my stomach is killing me and the bloating is terrible. When am I going to feel normal again?

Im a single mom of a 7 year old boy living in Florida. Ive been contemplating getting this lap band since last year, after my failed attempts at dieting. I gained about 100lbs when i got pregnant, figuring since i was eating for two i can eat anything i want! Wrong.. Well its been 8 days since my surgery (banded november 10th). The first few days after were really rough and i thought the gas left in my abdomen was going to kill me! After walking a few miles and taking some Gas-X, I was better by day 4. Right now i do not have any liquid in my band since they said everyone is different and didnt want my stomach to swell so tight that i couldnt get anything down. …

Hello everyone! I am so excited I was banded on 11-12 and think I am doing pretty well so far. Can't wait to see what the future holds and starting a new life for me and my family!

Hello everyone! Here is my story as to how I got here and why I am a Sleever! When I was a young girl I was always a little plump or chubby. I knew that I was because anytime I would go shopping with my mom and I was in the change room I would hear her say to the sales lady " she is a little chunky so this one might not fit so could you get a size up please..." or "hunny you cant buy those shoes because they are way to narrow for your wide feet" etc Yes she was right no matter how much i weighed my feet were and are wide however this was a crutch in my awareness of body image. I attended a catholic school for most of my life and I remember being a very impressionable…

Hi all viv here. just checking in, supposed to have sleeved done today, but got cancelled, well actually, not exactly, went into hospital yesterday, got all prepped up, had to have iv put in ready for my insulin drip, to prepare for the op today, Dr comes to see me, starts talking about the op, i realise he's talking about doing a band, i tell him im here for the sleeve, he goes and check the notes, realise that a mistake has been made and that he cant do a sleeve as he doesnt do that op, so he sends me home to wait for new appointment!!! really fed-up about this now, second time now the op not done, begining to feel that its not going to happen now, i just feel that…

Hi everyone~ I finally had the nerve to start posting regularly, and tell my story. I'm 55 years old and having VSG on 12/1/10 at Scripps, and my doctor is Dr. Bhoyrul in La Jolla, CA. He seems very competent, and I'm getting excited to start my new life. The decision to have WLS was made on 10/11/10, and I thought I wanted the Lap Band. My doctor and the psychologist I had to see for insurance reasons both said my personality type would do better with gastric bypass. (Apparently, I am 'unstructured,' whatever that means.) After reading everything I could find on RnY, Fobi Pouch, VSG, etc., I decided the VSG is best for me. My insurance approved the surgery on 11/…

Hi Everyone I have been thinking of getting the sleeve. I am a low BMI for now, but after 45 yo., I've been gaining about 10-20lbs/year and of course like many of you, have tried every product/program around. I would like to try Dr. Aceves in Mexico. I was wondering if anyone else is going to him an dwondered if we could travel this journey together.

Hello everyone. I was in the gym today and it felt so good and hurt so bad at the same time. My point tonite is to say to all of those who get down from time to time.. weather it be a stall or if you arent losing as fast as you can is to get moving and do your part. Like everyone hear is an individual and have had different experiences.. so will you. I say this because I dont always have the greatest support system. I dont always have that person who is going to make me feel better. Today I felt down and a little upset about my progress, but then I thought.. Get Up! Move! Go to the gym! So I did.. I finally was able to do 22 min on the elliptical machine which I have ne…

Oh boy… I have been at this since March 2010. I had to lose 31 lbs to have the surgery; I go to Weight Wise Barratries in Edmond Oklahoma. My Surgeon is Dr. Gregory Walton. I absolutely had the best care ever with all of the staff at WW. It took me almost 8 months to get my 31 lbs off to go to pre op. I finally got there... I was so nervous the day before surgery, I have never had an IV, or been put to sleep, or had surgery since I was 3 years old and well that was too long ago to remember. This was a lot more pain than I expected. So many people say it does not hurt just a little discomfort. Well, I must be a woos, because I have been in horrible pain all ove…

Hello everyone! I have been lurking on on this forum for about a year or so, and it's been invaluable for learning about the procedure so thanks to all you that have been contributing your experiences and ideas. I was sleeved outpatient on Thursday and went back Friday for a quick check-up, and it seems my progress is so far so good. I'm excited to have my sleeve, but at the same I don't think I have fully processed it yet - it's not like getting a boob job or lipo, you can't process it immediately but I'm sure when the lbs fall off I will "get it" I was on clears Thursday, mainly ice chips on Thurs since even swallowing Water was very uncomfortable. Due to the …

I'm do excited Dec 5 is the bigbday! Can someone share there most favourite protien drink?

Hey everyone. I was looking around the internet for some info on the LAP-BAND®, and stumbled across this place. I went to a seminar a couple of months ago and I'm putting much consideration into this surgery. I just wanted to learn more about it and look at some of the differences between the LAP-BAND® and the realize band. My first appointment with my potential surgeon is on December 8. I'm a bit nervous, but I also want to get this process underway. Anyway, I'm glad I found a place to talk about this with people who know what it's like.

Hi guys! Sorry not to post for so long. My surgery was delayed because my husband had a massive stroke and a heart attack on Oct. 16. My surgery was scheduled for the 20th. By God's grace he survived and finally came home on Nov.8. I had surgery on Nov. 10 and I'm walking on air I'm so happy. In 10 days I've lost 10.4 pounds and yesterday I cleaned out my closet and gave away all my "fat" clothes! Everything just hangs! First week was a little hard because I don't care for broth but second week much better. Minimal pain except my left side at night. I am convinced this is the best thing I ever did for myself and therefore for my family. No more pain in my knees and ankle…

I am just starting this journey. This site looks like it could be very helpful. I was looking for some of the not so good things that can happen with banding. The surgeons give you all the good stats about what can be achieve but not what goes wrong and how often real people experience it.I have seen the results of studies from the lap-ban manufacture. But I am looking for regular people experiences not filtered thought a lawer. Can you people help?? I want to make this work. which means avoiding any physical pit falls I can. So being prepare for the problems I think is the best recipe for success.

Hi! I went to visit with the doc yesterday and originally went in for lap band but came out a gastric sleever. I am just starting this journey and my insurance is making me do a 3 month diet class before we can have surgery. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. I almost had myself talked out of having it. How horrible is the pain after wards? As long as I continue with liquids the first two weeks will I be ok? Am I going to regret I did this after wards in the post op period? I have 3 small kids 10, 7 and 5 and I do basically everything for them and teach school. My 7 year old is a down's child but is the most loving child ever placed on this ea…

Hello, I was banded on Nov. 3rd. No problems util day 5 and I hadn't had a bowel movement since before surgery. Don't let this happen to you!! It was very painful. Otherwise just excited and ready to eat some mushy foods on Thurs. I'm sick of protein shakes....I didn't think I would ever say I HATE CHOCOLATE!! Amy

Okay so here's my story! I got to the hospital at 0530 on Monday morning and got checked in. Was put in a gown and got an IV started. From there we went down to the surgery pre-op where I waited and waited! They came in and drew some blood then I had to give a urine sample as well! So finally the doc comes in and we chat for a few mins about everything and I tell her I'm ready to go! When they finally came and gave me some meds through my IV I had been laying in bed in the pre-op area for 2 hours!!! I drifted off and don't remember a thing until I woke up in recovery! When waking up there was some pain but I know now that it wasn't pain from surgery it was gas pai…

Hi all, Well I was sleeved October 29th 2010. I stayed in the hospital for one day. I previously had a hysterectomy due to cancer so I dont have the prettiest scars. I got this monster one that goes the length of my belly from my previous surgery and then the 8 little ones from the sleeve. My dr had a little trouble due to scar tissue and my liver was HUGE!!! He was thinking about not doing it, but he did it and I am so glad he did. Granted sometimes I get really depressed and wish I wouldve never did it, but at my heaviest I was about 425 pounds and that was just earlier this year. I am only 34!!! I knew something had to be done. I am on a progression diet now. …

I am five days out -- was banded last Friday, the day after my 41st birthday, in Baltimore, MD. I have felt super emotional since the surgery. I am excited and I am terrified. I am so scared to fail this time. I got through the 3 days of all clear liquids pretty easily and am now in 2 weeks of liquids/protein shakes and that feels a bit grim. I know I will be reading the discussion here and on various blogs for inspiration... I would love to hear what's going on in the heads of other newly banded folks... I have three daughters and I want this for them as much as for me.

I am actually sitting in the waiting room waiting to meet with my surgeon for the first time. I am really interested in the band, possibly the sleeve, but I am quite intimidated about life after surgery! The more I read about the problems people have had or how sick they feel scares me. Will I ever eat real food? Will I be able to have a sit down dinner with my family? What about going out to dinner? How do you wrap your mind around the emotional part of "not eating"? I mean yes food is enjoyable and yes I want to eat healthy, and eat to live not live to eat......but will I still be able to enjoy food?

and I cannot wait. I have more hope now that I ever have. I have a lot of weight to lose (200-250lbs), but I am confident that this is going to work. I hope to share all the peaks and valleys with you all -SBS

Hi...my name is Becky and I have been banded since 10/7/2010. Looking for some support along this journey.

Good Morning! I am new to the whole idea of WLS as I always thought it was the easy way out. Now that I am into the process, I find that I am having to evaluate more than ever what I am eating and why. This is much more difficult than I expected. So "Hi" to all. I am 40yo, married with 2 kids, ages 2.5 and 4. I have a BMI of 44 at 292 lbs and want to weigh under 200. I have had an all day consultation and met with a dietician, psychologist, and internist. Other than having obstructive sleep apnea (I have had a CPAP machine for 7 months) I am otherwise healthy. Working night shift is not helpful to losing weight because I also take care of our two little ones …

Hello, I guess you could say this journey started 16 months ago when I went to a new doctor after moving to East Texas. I took my previous blood test results with me so he could have something to reference by for my thyroid levels (had thyroidectomy in 2001) and he noticed my iron levels were just slightly elevated so wanted to do some more bloodwork, my previous doctor wasn't concerned, guess it wasn't elevated enough for him. Needless to say thanks to my new doctor we discovered I had hemochromatosis and was caught early enough that it could be controlled easily (if having blood draws once a week is considered easy...hurts like hell, I don't like needles at all!). He…

Hi e1! I just came home from the hospital yesterday evening after being sleeved on Monday. I feel really good except for one thing. I have this horrible pain in my left shoulder and up the left side of my neck. I have been attributing it to the fact that my hospital bed and pillow sucked and I was very uncomfortable. But now I am not so sure. Could it be trapped gas that is causing this pain and what should I do about it? I am not as uncomfortable if I am sitting up but I can't sit up 24 hrs a day. As you can see it is 2:02 am here in Texas and I am up because I cannot get comfortable enough to sleep. Maybe I should try the recliner?

I have been on top of this process of trying to get all my stuff ready to submit to my insurance for pre approval! I really want this done and soon! Well the DR has told me from day 1 I would qualify and would most likely get approved on the first letter. The only co-morbid ryder I have at the moment is high cholestrol per the DR. Ok...so I went ahead and went to my mental eval today and the nutritionist appt and just followed up with the DRs office to see the time line for when they will submit for pre-approval since I have performed all my duties now. I thought I had the ball rolling! Guess not! She just informed me that I also have to do the 6mth pre diet BS---I…

I was banded in Aug '09. At 12 months I had lost 35 lbs and at 15 months I have lost 48 lbs. I have gone from a 24/26 to an 18/20. I am very discouraged because I have not lost more. My band was filled to 7cc's at 2 months post surgery, 8cc's 3 months post surgery, 9cc's 5 months post surgery, 9.5cc's 7 months post surgery and 10cc's 9 months post surgery and that is where I am today. I always feel good restriction in the morning but by evening, I do not feel restriction. I know I am eating less but obviously not enough to lose at a very good rate. Any suggestions??

Hi. I am scheduled for my surgery Nov. 30 2010. So started the liquid _ _ _ _( I can't even say the word or type it). Natural chocolate flavor Protein shakes (NOT). But so far so good. I am scared, excited, hopeful and hungry...Yogurt time. I am from BC Canada and don't know of anyone else around who has had this proceedure. Nice to have a place like this to touch base with others who know what it's like. Daisymay BC

Iam glad I found this site so much to read. Hi my name is Lori and hope to achieve success along with all of you!

My name is Tammy, and I am 2 weeks post-op. I am a mother of six beautiful children and married for 15yrs. I had my surgery done on NOv. 3rd, 2010, by Dr. Johnson, who is here in my town. So far, Since my beginning, I've lost a total of 18 lbs. YAY me.....LOL:thumbup:

I went for my lovely mental health check today. She said I was normal...haha to my friends that thought I would fail this test! haha---and saw the nuitrionist..so know just waiting for everything to go to insurance and hopefully get my call saying surgery can be a go ahead! I'm praying! This is going to be a long wait! Sooo....nervous! This will be the best Christmas present ever if I get this news!!! Just wanted to share!

My surgery date was 05/14/2010 and on 10/14/2010 I stepped on the scale. WOW....171! Yeah! A total of 60 pounds gone! Since I have lost the weight I have been taken off my thyroid and cholesterol medicines. Have never felt better. I have so much more energy again. It's like a second chance at life! I can keep up with my husband and do the things we use to do...bike, hike, walk, play tennis, etc One of the neatest things that have happened is I walked into a place where my daughter was waiting for me. She didn't even recognize me at first. She said she saw me walk in, but didn't realize it was me. I wasn't wearing baggy clothes and she said she thought I was ju…

Hey, I just wanted to introduce myself to the board. I have been reading and know there is lots of support here. This is a place I need to be. I had my vsg on November 1, 2010 and have so many questions. I have about 100 pounds to lose. I had my surgery done in Dallas, TX with Dr. David Kim. I do believe he is the most wonderful doctor I have ever seen. I had my surgery done at Forest Part Medical Center in Dallas. That facility was great. Now I am nearly two weeks post-op and am excited about my journey. Looking forward to learning and sharing with all of you.

Ok, so here it is, I am 29 years old, I am currently 6'2 and 435lbs. I was 575lbs in January but have lost 140lbs on my own and can no longer lose anything no matter what i do. I haven't been able to lose anymore for a couple months and finally decided I am sick of this yoyoing and need to make a change so I started researching wls and the only one I really feel good about is VSG and I don't know if I can have it. I am seeing the NP @ the surgeon's office on Friday and my GI tomorrow, but I am freaking out. I have GERD, Barrett's Esophagus, hiatal hernia, Crohn's Disease and a tumor in my small intestine(undetermined, what this is). I really can't take living like th…

Greeting from Fort Smith, AR! I will be banded December 3. In a week from today I go on my two week pre-op liquid diet and I'm a mixture of emotions right now. My family and I went to Golden Corral tonight. Each time I put something on my plate, I thought, "This is probably the last time I'll get to eat this".... and I don't want to say I was sad about it, but I guess maybe I was just a little bit. I've gained and lost enough weight to embarrass myself by even guessing the amount. I have always been able to lose weight and sometimes lose alot of it. The problem has always been that I ALWAYS felt hungry. I always felt like I was depriving myself. It felt good to lose w…

I just wanted to say Hi and introduce myself..Im a 23 year old female from san diego..I am married and a mother of a two year old very energentic toddler...I have been overweight as long as I can remember and maybe been my ideal weight for about 6 months then gained more and more...anyways I am excited for my surgery which is 6 months away..I have to show my insurance that I can fail a 6 month supervised diet...to me that is just a waste of time..anyone else have that problem?? any suggestions on how to make this experience the most fullfilling?? I need as much encouragment as I can get..my family is not really saying much, and the hubby does not seem to care.

Hi everyone! My name is Ursula...I've been lurking around the site for awhile, and just hadn't posted. I'm 32 y/o, from central Florida, and just got banded today!! After sleeping for most of the day, then walking for awhile, and relaxing...I had to get online! I've been very lucky with my lapband journey. Insurance (BCBSFL) approved on the first try. I do work for a government entity which is self insured though BCBS, and they specifically added lapband as a covered procedure. I have the HMO plan, so my copay was only $50 for the surgery itself! So for now I'm relaxing at home, looking forward to my new life!!

I have read this for several months and joined today! I am scheduled for my LBS 12/6/10. My first appointment was 10/6. Fast enough? and to top it off INSURANCE IS PAYING!!! I have a BMI of 35 but health problems. Also I see this as a God thing! I would not have known about the health problems if I didn't go on a mission trip. I have really liked finding answers to my questions on this site. Looking forward to meeting you all! Sugar Land, Texas:wink:

Welp, it’s been a rough journey for me thus far. Good choices, bad choices, highs, lows, triumphs, set backs…you name it, I experience it. This whole thing is A LOT more emotional though, than I could have ever anticipated. I cry a lot. I beat myself up a lot. I feel unworthy of the “you’re doing a good job – keep it up!” “proud of you!”, and other similar accolades. I’m losing weight by default at this point. Not so much due to me making all the right health/eating choices, but sometimes as a result of my body contiuing to stage a revolt, and not being able to keep anything down. I must again stress: this is the HARDEST $h!t I’ve ever done. Even more so than bringi…

I had my surgery at Palmyra Medical Center on Friday the 12th. My surgeon's name is John Bagnato. The surgery went fine, but the Gas pain was terrible. It felt like someone stabbing me all over my chest and shoulders. Today, I am feeling much better, but still sore. I am also tired of broth. I cant wait until I can have some cheese grits!