Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story

Hi there I am new to this forum and I think it it a great forum with tons on information. I want to have the VSG but the wait is loooonnngggg....I live in Northern BC Canada and I have my first appointment Nov 16th 2009. I hope to be done in three years or less but that is probably how long it will take before my turn comes around. I look forward to life after sleeving and I will wait it out as I cannot afford to go to Mexico and selfpay. Thanks to all you who post here it is a wealth of information for newbies such as myself.:001_smile:

Hi ya'll!My name is Jules, I just signed up with ya'll today. I live in Jax. NC & I am 48.I have a question. While talking with my doctor today she suggested that I get lapband surgery. I am 5'2" & weigh 259. Then my husband brought up my hernia. The hernia is located to the right side of my belly button. My doctor then expressed that they may not do the lapband due to where my hernia is. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm going to have double knee replacement very soon and I would like to get as much of this weight off me as possible. I would appreciate any info anyone has.Thanks,Jules

(I posted this in the wrong area yesterday, so i'm re-posting in the intro area!) Hey everyone! :smile2: I'm just starting out (as you can see in my siggy) but i'm a long time lurker and reader of a bunch of blogs I've found on here. I have a blog in my signature (just started that this weekend) incase anyone wants to follow along with me.. I wish I had read that thread in here(about having/waiting to gain a few pounds to get approved) about a year and a 1/2 ago.. I was just a few pounds shy of being covered by insurance. I'm making sure that my BMI is right where it shoud be this time.. Take care! I'm sure i'll see everyone around here after thursday with lots…

Hi everyone!! I dont know if anyone remembers me or not. I was here 2 years ago, had a lot of doubts and was scared. Backed out of surgery the night before. Here I am now banded one week and so far loving it. Thinking where would I be today if I had just went thru with it the first time. I just Pray that I have no complications because just one week out, still on full liquids and I love my band!!!

I had a gastric sleeve on August 31. A leak was detected a week later. I've been NPO for 7 days and today will start TPN. I feel like I'm going to die. It is the worst pain and naseau I've ever had in my life and I've had numerous kidney stones and 3 back surgeries. The leak is 2mm and as of Friday it has closed 50%. However, I feel worse today than I have since the procedure. When I vomit it's either a dry heave or bright yellow bile. I know the vomitting isn't helping the leak. I've been on dilauded and zofran for 3 weeks. Has anyone had a leak? What was the treatment? I've lost 31 pounds in three weeks. At this point, I feel I've made a huge mistake that can't be taken…

Hey Everyone! I'm Angie and I'm a 25 year old RN. I started my lap-band process in May and I'm getting banded 10-9-09! My surgeon requires a 2 week pre-op diet and its going great--I'm never really full, but I'm not starving either and I've lost 8 pounds in 4 days!!!!!:seeya:

Hi everyone. I will be banded in Melbourne, Aus on 15 Oct 09 and I start a 2 week Optifast preop diet in four days. Any tips? Good luck!:seeya:

Hello, I am soon on my way to being banded hopefully I am in New York City and have chosen to go with Lenox Hill Hosptial. I have attended the seminar and my consultation will be on 7/23 as well as my psych eval. My nutritionsit appt. is tomorrow. I just wanted to know if anyone has been banded by them and how was their experience. I have so many mixed emotions running through me right now help......

Hi everyone :tongue2: I've been waiting to post till I actually got approved and a date set, it didn't even really seem real to me until now. I've been lurking and researching my butt off though lol. I'm 34 years old and have been overweight most of my adult life, though I never had a weight problem growing up. I am a mom now and I have diabetes and sleep apnea, on top of other problems. I just want to be the best mom I can be and feel better again. Anyways my date is October 5, I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm doing a 2 week low carb diet right now. Wish me luck!!! xoxo Val

I had my banding surgery on Sept 21 - 3 days ago. I feel pretty good. The pain/discomfort has subsided and I'm following the liquid intake recommendations pretty strictly. I'm hopeful I'll be able to go back to wotk in 4-5 days. My main challenge is going to be smoking. I gave up pre surgery but finally relented and have had 1 today. I have read that it can interfere/slow down healing, which makes sense. I just don't know if I can give up proper food, alcohol AND smoking without going totally insane this week. Anyhow, good luck to all considering it. So far it has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me, but I am very relieved to have done it & now t…

I just had surgery 2 weeks ago (Sept. 11th). I feel great and I swear I can see the rainbow. I was very disappointed with the fact that my insurance would not cover the procedure so I fast-tracked it and paid cash and went to Mexico. Let me tell you, Mexico was better than having surgery in Beverly Hills. I've had various surgeries (lipo, mini tummy tuck, breast aug.) with some of the best surgeons in BH and they don't compare with the attention and care I received in Mexico. I'm so excited with having the procedure. I am already losing weight and just today will start on soft foods.

I go to my first appointment with the surgeon Wednesday 9/30. I had an upper GI this Friday. They found no signs of a small bleed. :tongue2: This would have been the best solution for my low iron, anemia, they could have fixed it and I would not have to worry about it holding up my surgery. So now after my appointment on the 30th I have to see a blood specialist to see why my iron is so low. I hope it is nothing big. Anyway if all goes well I would like to know what types of liquids you have to do and how long before and after surgery?

Ive been approved by tricare!! WOHO just found out. at first i was denied because i did not meet the criteria?? (What yes i do) i was about to start my appeal when i found out that my surgeons office put my hight and weight in wrong??!!! so had to go in get re-evaluated and that was on Aug.31s after that i was waiting and waiting on word if Ive been approved or not. called the office about a week later and found out the computers where down!!! anyway it got put in Friday sept.11th and 10day is the 14th and Ive been approved!!!! I'm so happy. thanks to everyone Ive talked to and come to be chat Buddy's on here!!! thanks so much. now just have to see what comes next! Karen

Hi everybody.I'm glad I found this site. I've had my band in a few months, and I haven't had much success, so Im looking to make friends and get some support!!Terry

i have a seminar scheduled for oct 6, 2009:blink:

HI Everyone.......I haven't been on the OH site in several months and just found the message about this forum. I am one year post VSG surgery date is 9/22/08 and down 73 pounds. I am 5'4" starting weight 224 now 151. I am happy right now with where I am with the exception of lack of exercise. I have had virtually no problems with this procedure, one exception which is heartburn...have had a rough bout of it the last couple of weeks. Had my 1 year appt with surgeon with blood work and had great results. I can eat virtually anything but do try to avoid overly spicey foods and sweets. Just wanted to say hi to everyone now I need to read all of your previous posts Conni…

:redface1:The surgery took about 2 hours, (I'm told) and it went well. My Doc likes to put his patients in delux accomodations, so I am living the sweet life while I recover. WARNING! TMI SECTION: I am very gassy, and have been encouraged to belch as much as possible.. So I've been walking around burping like a 10 year old boy does for fun VERY unladylike!.. I am still having bouts of nausea and spitting up plegm.. that's the most uncomfortable thing..., that & the dry heaves.. They are going to keep me cathed for a couple more days until my "output" increases... (looking forward to losing that thing, I can tell you) Over all I'm feeling pretty good. T…

I just wanted to introduce myself, I am a 45 y/o male who lives in Pine Valley, CA. Up in the mountains, 4000 feet, east of San Diego. I have struggled with weight all of my life and have my Lap-Band on 06 October 2009, and started my pre-op protein shake diet yesterday. I am feeling very tired and lethargic, but, this is nothing for a chance to turn my life around. Later Dave

I really want to have the lap band surgery but my insurance does not cover it, and I'm having trouble finding a loan. I have been to a seminar and made an appointment to get started with a doctor's office but was turned down for a loan because my husband is laid off. He works temporary jobs for family and has other income and his house is paid off so it doesn't make sense to me. Does anyone have any ideas for me?

I have not had my surgery yet, but it's coming up soon on 10/2. I am so so excited! I've been on liquids now for 6 days, and have lost 12 lbs. :tongue2:

Although I am not supposed to be losing I have made it to Onederland! Can't wait to see what happens when I really try!

Hello, My name is shi and I am new to the site. I had my surgery on 5/14/09 and i have lost 48pds so far. I am in need of help with finding foods that have high Protein and Snacks that are good for me. I was never big on cooking so this has me stuck band has me stuck 90% of the time. could anyone give me some tips on what / how to cook certain things. I don't eat much dairy due to getting sick from it. I really want to know different ways to cook fish and chicken. In need of some help...:mad: shi thank you in advance

Hello, Just thought I would introduce myself here - I am now one week post-op (single incision LAP-BAND® on 17/09/09 in London, UK) through the Healthier Weight clinic. I've got two more weeks of liquids, then a couple of weeks of puréed food until I get to take the pouch for a run on the real stuff. Mercifully, I haven't experienced any complications or difficulties thus far, aside from 'head hunger' and not being a fan of soups/ shakes. I hope this forum will be a source of support and inspiration as I work through this - it's great to find a place with so many other people sharing their own experiences. Kim

Hi everyone, I have my date 1/05/10. Can't wait.:thumbdown:

I'm Gen....I'm from Arkansas and I was just banded on Sept 16. My surgeon was Dr. John Baker. (He is wonderful!) I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do this because my BMI was only 35 when I went in. I've been fighting my weight along with my blood pressure, cholestrol, edema and depression since I had my daughter 13 years ago. My regular physician recomended I look into it so here I am!

Hi Im Tamara from Australia, I have my surgery booked for 2 weeks from today. Started the pre opp diet today and am already feeling miserable and missing all my fav foods. Nervous that I wont be able to do this, I have so much too loose.

went to Dr Garber's seminar last night.. hr seems like an amazing dr. very confident in his work.. he even keeps over 100 pics of people's belly's in his iphone. lol. he specializes in single incision LAP-BAND®. that is a major reason i chose him. I love that he has a whole center just for bariatrics.. it's a little out of the way for me.. but seems to be worth the drive. My consultation is this weds!!! can't wait! my hubby is doing it with me. this is so wonderful.:scared2:

Hey everyone- ! I just found this site today - and I feel like (after months of lurking other places) this might be the right place for me to land. Im 31- My bmi is around 36 - Im 5-11 and around 257lbs. My background is familiar - I was a husky pants kid. In Jr. High I started with periods of starvation/binging. I had am unhappy childhood and my teen years were not too much fun either - I was a gay kid in a small town. For awhile in my early 20's I discovered drugs - I kept my weight under control that way for a few years - then got sober. I gained weight fast after I got sober - Most recently I was a vegan and lost 30 lbs - I was happy with my eating habit…

Didn't know where to post this... sorry Anyway... about two months ago, I started noticing how big my Pomeranian has gotten, got her shaved for the summer and I reallt noticed how big she had gotten. I had my son weigh her........... 19 pounds!!!:thumbup: Her breathing was labored... So I changed her diet up, and I been taking her on "short walks" And I weighed her this morning.......... she lost 4 pounds!!! wooo hooo!!! I want her to be healthy too!

Hi, everyone, I'm new here and I'm looking for help/advice. I've been research WLS for some time now and have been thinking the sleeve is right for me (the complicaitons of lap band and RNY scare me too much), but I didn't think my insurance would cover it, so I'd sort of given up on the idea. But I found out yesterday that they will cover it (with some hoops, of course), so now I am looking for more information. I'm in Southeastern NC, but the closest doc I can find is in Charlotte, 200 miles away. So if anyone know anyone any closer (I'd like to be a little closer for after care), I'd love to know about it. Also, is anyone out there 5 years or more post-op? If so, wha…

Good Morning Everyone, I'm new to this forum (I was on the lapband one, til hubbie dear and I decided on the sleeve! yahoo :thumbup:) So I have like a million and one questions hopefully that can be answered. My surgery won't be until January, but it's better later then never right? Well I hope to acquaint myself with ya'll (I'm from Texas) and if anyone here had their surgery done in San Antonio with NE Baptist, I'd REALLY love to hear from them! Chat soon! Always!:001_tt2:

Hey everyone...:thumbup: It is because of this forum that i had the nerve and motivation to call and sign up for a seminar. yey! so thanks to you all!! I'm excited, nervous, anxious, and determined.. all at once. i have seriously tried every diet. just like everyone else. and i am at the point where i have done what i can. I just want to be healthy. i just want to run... and run.. and keep running without feeling like i am going to die. i want to ride my bike and not have to inflate the tires all the time.. and ride for more than 30 min before my butt is aching and my legs are screaming.. LOL. i have the need and want to do more... i know this will be a life changing…

Can anyone tell me why some of the people at the clinic u see try to talk u into gastric surgery instead. I saw a physicologist and dietician today and they both mentioned gastric to me. I told the physicologist that I dont want anything that invasive or that risky I also stated im not trying to be skinny I want to loose weight and be healthier. I told her even if I can get off 100lbs I would feel great she agreed. When I saw the dietician I didnt care for her cuz she was really pushing it with me on gastric bi pass. I also didnt like her everyone else there is so nice she wasnt mean, but i just didnt like her comments on what I should do and trying to turn me in another …

Hello everyone. My name is Lisa, I am 47 years old, and I live in the metro Richmond, Virginia area. Like most everyone, I have tried most every diet plan and have successfully lost weight - only to gain it back. Right now I'm at about 290. I have all of my approvals (even insurance if you can believe it). I am waiting to be scheduled. The surgeon's office originally scheduled me in August but I couldn't do it then because of some unplanned surgery in July. Then they scheduled me for 9/25 and I couldn't do it then because of work commitments. Honestly, right now I can't see myself having the surgery until mid-November at the earliest. I'm somewhat afraid of having surge…

Hi , i had my surgery on 07/15/09. I have lost 12 lbs. And that was in the first 2 weeks. I have an 11cc band. I had my first fill 6 wks post-op, 4 cc were added. I have "no restriction". I can eat anything and everything. I can eat almost as much as i did before surgery. Is this normal? I do not go for another fill until 10/22/09. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks

Hello everyone :thumbdown: I've had my band for approximately 2 years. The weight lost has been slow. When I started I weighed about 250 and went down to 172 and still losing. I did not have an adjustment for awhile. When I finally went in for an adjustment I was shocked to find out that I had a dilation of the band. Instead of my band being filled my band was deflated and I was told to come back in 6 weeks to see if it repaired itself. In between that visit I gained 13 pounds. My doctor informed me that my band would have to be repaired or possible change to gastric by pass. I see my doctor on 9/25/09 for consultation and he will discuss my options. I'm so distru…

Other than things like Protein shakes and ensure and slimfast what other types of liquids have you all tried and had success with? Then as you move to soft what types of things do you eat? What foods are off limits if any?

I recently had lapband surgery on August 10th, 2009 in Lexington, KY. Dr. Derrick Weiss was my surgeron. He was excellent! Looking forward to meeting people, especially in the London, KY area who have had lapband recently as well.:tongue2:

I'm on my pre-op diet and now that my procedure is getting closer, I'm getting more nervous-excited, but nervous.

As I mentioned in my first post, I had my sleeve gastrectomy in Belgium on April 30th. The trip, hotel stay and surgery cost me about 1/3rd what it would have cost me had I had my surgery here in the United States. Well, Imagine my shock yesterday when I opened a letter from the Belgian hospital. In it, they told me that they were refunding me ?2,400!!! That is about $3,400!!! Apparently, while working and living in the Netherlands as a rebellious 18 year old in the 1990's, I was contributing to the Benelux national insurance scheme. I did not know that. Who cannot use $3,400 in these hard times? I am very happy with my surgery. I have lost 73 lbs since I had it. I am up …

Hi everybody, this is my frist time on this site and im so glad i found it (by mistake) but i found it:)this is my problem i had the lapbad surgery done may 15,2003 by dr. Bessler at ny presbyterian hospital. I went to all my appt. iv'e had like three ajustments and still not losing that much weight i joined the gym in the begining i lost 60lbs. after that nothing it's like the lapband is not working anymore. i told my doctor that im even eating more than i should all they do is give me the ajustment and that's not working. I NEED:help::help::help::help: sometime i think getting the lapband was just a waste of time.:confused::confused: do anyone have any suggestions im o…

Hey all, I was just banded on the 14th of september. So im a newbie. Very excited about the band being that "tool" to help me get healthy! Cant Wait!:bored:

I’m gonna be anonymous, at least to start. I am going by Lola. A little bit about me: I’m almost exactly 32.5 years old. I live in Brooklyn, New York in a little walk-up apartment, with my boyfriend, E. I’m a trained professional (see how I am trying to be all anonymous?) and I’ve recently decided to hang out a shingle and start my own business. My parents are lovely but difficult, they way all parents are, and I have a younger brother. I like long walks on the beach (really!), reading, cooking, traveling, friends, movies, museums, and manatees. OK, I don’t really care about manatees all that much, but I am a sucker for a good alliteration! Oh, and at 5′4″, I weight ap…

I had my surgery on the 18th May and have 4ml in a 10ml band. I am so very happy that I took this step to help me control my weight. There have been quite a few tough times since I first decided to get the band but I know it is worth it. I wish you all the best with your own weight journey, and I try to remember that everyday is a new beginning.:biggrin:

I have my surgery Oct. 7th and I was wondering from all you Bansters what was your average weight loss post op. I know everyone is different but I am curious what each of you have experienced for yourselves. Thanks Crystal

My surgeon requires that I give 3 heparin injectionas a day for 3 weeks after surgery. If anyone else is doing this, could you tell me if it makes your stomach (where the injections are given) itch. It drives me crazy...Thank you!

I know this is not a pleasant subject. I was wondering do you have a normal number of bowel movements as before surgery? Are they more often or less? What about when you are drinking your liquids, do they go straight through? I am a drinker, I constantly have Water with me. I am always drinking water and sipping water. Will I have to slow down on this?

Hi again - i really cant tell everyone how much i love this site :biggrin: i was on another site for wls and it was so negative . well in my wait for my approval i have also changed surgeons. so i get to start the surgical process over again , although the one good thing is that when i do get appoved it will transfer to the new surgeon !!! yaaaaa i am still hoping for a surgical date next month ( October ) mentally i am ready and am truly excited about the next new phase in my life ... :biggrin:

After reading a few things, I'm beginning to wonder if the lapband would be the best WLS for me, or if a different type would be better. Is there a questionnaire or something out there that would help determine which type of WLS would be best for a person based on their eating habits? Thanks!

I have found a few vlogs on youtube of people who have been on this journey with the lap band and I find it so inspiring to see their faces while telling their stories. Sooo... I just started mine! www.youtube.com/user/sumvolsgrl52 :-) Anyone else have one? _Summer_