Weight Loss Surgery Success Stories

Why oh why didn't I decide to do this in jan? Ugh lol! So been going through the long process of jumping hoops and finally the patient advocate for my doctors office "says" the sent in my paper work to Aetna Friday Oct 26th. The wait to find out if I'm approved or denied is making me crazy. To top it off, I can't contact Aetna directly. My company has it were you have to contact a company called accolade for all insurance questions. They can't even tell me whether or not aetna has even received the paperwork and if its in process to be approved/denied. Anyone else go through this? I understand it can take up to 30days to get the verdict, but don't want that day to h…

I am a low BMI Lap Bander- 5'4.5" starting my journey at 185 pounds. I lost 5 pounds during my two week pre-op diet and had surgery on December 23, 2011. While the surgeon was banding me he fixed a hiatal hernia, so the recovery was rough (I haven't had acid reflux since before my pre-op diet). Today I am down 47 pounds with 8 pounds to goal and 13 pounds to my personal goal. I didn't think I would ever wear a size 5 again and here I am wearing a size 5 with a little room in the waist. In seven weeks it will have been one year- one year with my band and in that seven weeks I don't doubt I will lose that 8 pounds. Wow, what can I say? This has been amazing, it has…

I'm pre-op, and I'm just trying to plan and prep for my surgery (tentative date jan. 8) and post surgery life. I use my iPhone all the time...and so I wondered if there were any good apps I should consider downloading that will help me along. I already have Vertical Sleeve Talk (writing this message using that app right now) and Sparkpeople. Any others that are really helpful? Thanks. :-)

I am now 3 months post op and down 51 pounds. It has been such an amazing journey. Reading posts here before and after my surgery have been so helpful. I have enjoyed reading everyone's accomplishments and joys from having this surgery. People that were rolling their eyes and wondering what the hell I was doing to my body are now shaking their heads saying damn girl, this really is working. DUH!!! I told you. I'm off all my diabetes meds and the numbers for my sugars are normal without using anything. My main purpose for doing the surgery. The weight came second, but sure is an incredible plus. This surgery isn't a fixall for everyone's problem. It is a tool. …

It works

At six months out, my weight loss is starting to slow a little, but I'm still losing and doing all the right things. I screamed a little when I got on the scale this morning as I'm now down 80 pounds. The picture below is from this weekend at a birthday party for my son.

I started celebrating last night, but hey! Post your pics when you get them! I was a bunny

Had my sleeve today at 7:30 in morning doing great no pain and doing laps around hallways. Hoping tomorrow goes just at smooth

Hello all! I currently am banded and no success really 3 years out???? I am very frustrated as you can imagine! Can any banded to sleevers give me some advise or did the sleeve work better?! I have an appointment on Thursday to talk to my band doc about doing something different! Thanks!!

Who knew that I would be so excited about size 18 pants? Today, I put on a pair of size 18 dress pants. Happy Dance!!!!! It might as well be a size 8 because it makes me feel like a million bucks! Goodbye forever size 24, 22, and 20! Yahoo!!!!!

I was sleeved on October 22. 2 weeks ago today. As of this morning, I have lost 27 lbs. Just curious if this is average or not. How is everyone else doing? I do have a pain that began last Tuesday to the right of my belly button in my waistline. My surgeon thinks that I have a pulled muscle. Maybe so since I can't sit still. I have not yet returned to work as I cannot sit upright in my office chair all day but I haven't found a food yet that I cannot tolerate just maybe not very much of it. I am working my arms with the shake weight that I purchased last week and I am walking almost everyday. Tell me how you are doing, I want to hear.

I had my surgery in 2011 and doing great with the weight. In the past few months I have had this pain. When I stand up or walk it does not bother me. A few week the pain under my rib cage cut my breath just about off. Has anyone experienced this same pain?

My surgery was on September 6th, weighing in at 245. Almost 9 weeks out, and I'm weighting in at 211.4. So... I'm at about 34 pounds lost in two months. I've had stalls, sickness, again and again... Just wondering how my fellow September sleevers were doing with their weight loss? Am I where I should be, I think?

Since being banded I have discovered that I love cycling. I commute to work twice a week, 60km round trip, and recently bought my first road bike. Two days after my purchase, a work colleague passed away as a result of cancer. His last weeks at home were made possible by the wonderful support of our local palliative care service. So when I heard that there was a bike ride to raise funds for this great service, I was very quick to sign up, along with my husband. We're not sure what possessed us, but for some crazy reason we signed up for the 120km ride (about 75 miles, I believe)! Husband also bought a road bike and with just a few weeks, we really ramped up the traini…

To my sleeve brothers and sisters on the east coast please be safe and best of luck... My kids and I will be riding out the storm on the south shore of Long Island ... My husband will be working keeping the residents of 1 st pct in Suffolk county safe .....

Today I finally bought a pair of jeans. I got tired of pulling mine up all the time lol. Before surgery I was wearing a 24. Today I bought a size 16 average. Yes average not W & to top things off I did not get them in the plus sizes! The weight is coming off! Thank the good Lord.

8 weeks out tomorrow and am now 198.2lbs!! Started at 243 but highest weight was around 250 I think. I can't believe how much healthier I feel already, best I have felt in many years!!

I have my surgery tomorrow Nov 5th can't wait been a long time coming with waiting for insurance and all. But its finley here

I hadn't seen most of my extended family in several months - since July. Others I saw 5 weeks ago at my SIL funeral. I have lost 15-20ish pounds since seeing most of them and have changed shape a little even since the early Oct timeframe. We did a big family excursion yesterday and my sibs were all WOWED. To have several of them tell me "you look absolutely beatiful" really warmed my heart because i don't get compliments from my hubby and I often don't feel confident about how i look. One of my sisters said, you look like a size 10! Well, I am in the size 12-14 range so she wasn't quite right, but it was also a great boost to my ego. Part of it is that I am tucki…

On November 7th I will be at my 4 month mark I am 3 pounds from my self set goal to real 180 pounds Nd I will also reach a 100 pound weight loss I can not begin to tell you how much better I feel I am no long short of breath when I walk I am no longer taking blood pressure meds and my feet ankles and knees feel much better and no pain

Started at 319 lbs on May 1, 2012. Lived through the difficult 2 week liquid pre-op diet (-11 lbs!) And now, in less than 6 months since surgery, I am OFFICIALLY 50% of the way to my goal! I feel AMAZING! For the first time in my adult life (and I'm 43 years old...), I can fit into a size 18; I can shop in "normal" stores, and I KNOW it only gets better from here. I'm off all my asthma meds (even when exercising), after previously taking 3 puffers and 2 oral meds for the last several years. I feel truly blessed to have found the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure; to have had the opportunity to self-pay and go to Mexico and have one of the top docs (Dr. Kel…

I had surgery July 23rd and when I saw my Dr the other day I was at 100 lb lost. Feels good, I still would like tio lose about 75 lbs more.

So a 130 pound loss in a year and 3 Months. That is pretty spectacular. My words of advice... Start working out before the surgery Lose as much weight as possible in the first six months by severe calorie restriction (500). I am hungry now, and I can eat WAY MORE...so weight gain is possible. That window of opportunity is small in comparison to the rest of your life. See...I ate breakfast, and I am hungry again already! It is 11:30am! I ate at 9:00am! So I have to drink something until lunch or else I will eat way to much during the day! Have fun and enjoy the ride!

Remember that small changes really do make a difference. Healthy eating is simply the result of all the positive decisions you make. Michelle May, M.D. www.AmIHungry.com

So for the last week I've been in the process of moving....packing the old place, cleaning, movers, unpacking at new place. Anyway, my family helped me pack and my sister packed my scale over a week ago. at first I was irritated because I weighed at least every other day....and then without it, I started to like it. I felt like I've been losing again (had a stall for over a week) and feeling like with all the packing, lifting, etc., I felt like I was getting in extra exercise. So yesterday I caught myself in a full length mirror and I stopped and did a double take...is that me?!? No, wait a minute where am I? ...am I really seeing what I'm seeing? No, this must be o…

If everyone is having great success in their journey it would be so helpful and motivating to see more Before & After pics.. I have a long way to go.

So I am at Target and its pouring rain...check the iPhone to see when and if its going to stop...no such luck..so I take off running..I am in my car in about 10 seconds and guess what...I am not out of breath...that wouldn't have happened 7 months ago..thank you sleeve and couch to 5 k app!..btw I forgot to mention..I was parked by the cart return..two cart returns down from the store..nice little trot..he heheh.

This afternoon I droves husbands car to go do the shopping. I was getting back in the car at the store and snapped my seat belt and realized I had never moved the seat belt extender from the passenger seat where I normally sit in his car to the drivers seat I had no problem buckling the seat belt and had plenty of extra room. I was thrilled!!! Good bye extender. I never want to see you again. 65 pounds down as of Thursday!!!!

It's a work-in-progress, a journey to a new way of life. I am willing to go to the classes, read the books, talk to people who have had it done. The whole nine yards. I am not expecting things to happen overnight. Took me years to get where I am right now and its going to take a long time to lose all the weight, bad habits and wrong way of thinking. But I look forward to a brighter future, healthier lifestyle and living longer, so its well worth the process!

Whoooooo Hoooooooo!!!!!!! Tomorrow marks 5 months for me. I'm officially in Onderland in under 5 months!!!!

I was 7 months out yesterday and I am officially down 124 lbs. I started at 330lbs and I am down to 206. I feel great. I have had no problems at all and my only regret is that I did not do this sooner.

20 years since I've been under 200... Oh happy day

I was sleeved on Sep 5th, I lost 20 lbs on the pre-op diet and 38 since surgery. I've gone from wearing size 22-24W to 16W. I feel like I can't rejoice with my family because several of them are still where I was and it feels like I would be gloating or something. But I hope that my fellow sleevers will understand. I tried on an XL woman's coat at Costco today and it fit, in fact it was too big. I tried on the Large coat and it FIT. I mean the buttons buttoned and it felt good! Do you know how long it has been since I've worn a size Large???? 29 or 30 years!!!! YEARS!!! I am still in shock. I know I've lost weight but I guess I have no concept of what size I am now. Th…

I am down to 209 from 265! Had my surgery July 9th. Not as fast as others but I am happy!! This is the lowest I've been since my pregnancy w my first son...13 years ago!!! Prior to being pregnant I was 140 lbs. I had a modest goal, to get under 200...and to shop in non-plus sections, anything after that would be a blessing. Happy Friday everyone!!!

[ATTACH]5998[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]5997[/ATTACH]

today was an awesome day. My employer provides uniforms for us. I have had to switch sizes 2x since surgery. Our provider charges extra for more than 2 changes a year, so my work generally won't do it. Today, yet again, I asked for new sizes. I started the year at 56" waist, dropped to 50", dropped again to 46", and today, I asked fo 38". (woohoo btw) at first I was told the only way they would make the change would be if I covered the extra charge. However, my uniform lady told them that I was on a wellness program and that I may still need another by the end of the year and that I shouldn't be punished for getting healthy. My employer ate the charge, and congratulated …

Hi Friends! Just thought I would share, I hit a big NSV this morning when my "goal jeans" fit! Not only fit, but they're comfy!! 15 more lbs to go to my weight goal, but these jeans are FIVE sizes smaller than what I normally wear.

I'm down 45 pounds is that normal I feel like it's not coming off . Sept 11 I went in now nov 11 make two months I'm really depressed.

13 months later I have gone from 319 to 199!!! I never thought I would see a 1 on that scale every again! I want to scream it from the roof tops, but I live in a pretty remote northern community, so really it would just be the ravens and wolves hearing me yell, so I will yell it on here instead! WAAHOOOOO FOR 199!!! And here I am in my Halloween get up- I put on a bearded hat and am a woodsman! ahahhaha

I would just like to say thank you to my sleeve and my sleeve sistas for all the support thus far. I reached 100derland today!!! Can you see me doin the happy dance??

I FINALLY made it to onederland! I weighed myself four times this morning because I couldn't believe my eyes! I giggled like a school girl everytime I saw it. I have been in a slump all of october but today I finally did it I am so excited and I've decided to quit weighing for a while because I don't want to see 200 or higher again I still have to get to 140, but for now my next goal is minus 20 more lbs. Yeah me!!

I am 16 weeks post op and I have dropped 85 pounds to hit my initial goal of 190. I plan to drop another 15 so I have some room to bounce back. I do not plan to live like a saint.

85 down, 85 to go. Time for another set of clothes. That is all.

I am a single mom to 3 kiddos; 13, 10, and 6. My surgery is scheduled for December 17. My kids are my life and one of my biggest concerns is how the surgery will affect them

Is anyone else getting surgery around tax time? We aren't positive it it looks like I'll finally be able to get the surgery around February-April . I'd love to have a little group of "countdown friends. " I'm going to mx, by the way. Not sure which dr yet. I'm thinking Ponce fe Leon or Garcia.

My surgery has been cancelled and rescheduled 3 times in 2 months, so so frustrating! The Dr always wants 1 more test, which is fine, but on 9-17-12 I went in for my pre-op only to have it cancelled again. Now the Dr says im high risk and wants to do my surgery in a hosp that has an ICU. I have cirrhosis due to fatty liver, no alcohol,drugs in my life. I'm curious to see if anyone else out there has liver disease and had this surgery? The main reason I'm having GPS is for my liver, diabetes , my gastro highly recommended surgery to stop the liver damage and possibly reverse damage that is there. I wasn't nervous or scared until the other day when words like high risk and …

Hey everyone i started my weight journey in feb 2013 @ 316 pounds got my surgery on July 16 2012 i was 287 when i went in. Nd as of my 25 of oct i was 225 nd lookin to make it to 170 I'm God timing but hopefully soon....but wanna b 15 times lighter before u go see my doctor on da 28 of nov. So that will make me at 210. Wish me luck plz. [ATTACH]5949[/ATTACH] MaryLynn

I don't know what's wrong wit me ever since my surgery but I have no motivation to actually go to the gym. I have a treadmill at home and have been really good about using it everyday but I think it wud help more if I went and used the other machines like the elliptical and others. But I just have no push to go!

As anyone taken lecithin supplements after surgery? I have done some research and it may help with hair loss. I am pre-op still and wondering if anyone has tried it. My doc says biotin is ok and I will ask him about the lecithin.

I know after my friend had a c-section, they told her she'd get better muscle use and healing if she laid flat to sleep when she got home instead of propped up or in a recliner. I understand it, but wanted to know how you slept the first few days home? Recliner? Propped? Sitting up? I have a concern with sitting up on my own to get up for my drink, bathroom, etc. Thanks! Liz