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I had the surgery to repair the port or re direct it. Apparently now there is a bump the size of a grapefruit almost directly over where the port was placed. Does anyone know what exactly that is? I hear different stories some say its dilation or a hiatial hernia. I am going to see the doctor on Thursday to see whats happening with it.

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So, here are a few things I wish I had known before I had my surgery (I was sleeved 5/23/16):
The gas...oh my goodness, the gas. It hurts, it stinks, and sometimes you can't trust a fart. Lovely.
Surgery doesn't make it easier to lose weight. It actually makes it more complicated! Protein, carbs, sugar, fat...It's all scientific now. If I don't get my protein, I hold Fluid and don't lose weight. If I eat sugar, I don't lose weight. If I don't get all my Water for the day, I feel hungry, tired, and--you guessed it--I don't lose weight. I even landed in the ER getting 4 bags of fluid and a CT scan to check for complications. And my insurance got a bill for $7,000. After the one they got for $29,000 just a month previous...more on that later...
Mood swings from hell will descend upon you, and you will be powerless over it at first. Now, I am learning that I tend to cry right before a stall breaks. Fat stores hormones that have to go somewhere when the fat goes...extra PMS? Yes, please! NOT. Yes ladies, your period may go completely haywire for a while. FUN...
Speaking of stalls...the weight won't always come off in a predictable pattern. It may not come off as fast as you want it to. If you stick to your plan, you will lose weight, but along the way you will stall. You may not lose anything for a while, even though you're doing everything right. You will get concerned, you may think the surgery isn't working, but if you stick to your plan the weight will come off. On it's own schedule, though, not yours. The human body is incredibly complex and very good at learning how to NOT starve. Some people believe in starvation mode, some don't, but don't test it. You don't want to get sick and malnourished. You may need to exercise more and log your food to make sure you haven't slipped up, but the stall will break. Eventually...
You will become acutely aware that people who know you had the surgery are watching you. Watching what you eat, when you eat it, and how much of it you eat. Watching to see if you lose weight, and if you don't lose weight FAST, everybody has an opinion about whether or not you should have had the surgery and if it will work, and you may hear horror stories about somebody's friend/sister/brother/cousin/coworker who had the surgery and gained all the weight back. Or never lost it at all. Stick to your plan, and remember why you made the decision to have surgery. Be ready to avoid toxic people as necessary. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. So be careful who you tell. If you are married, consider your spouse's feelings. Talk about it. You will need them on your side if at all possible. If they aren't, it could be problematic. Be ready to have hard conversations and make decisions based on those conversations. You may learn things about your relationship that you never knew, which can be good or bad.
You will have regrets. Mostly in the beginning, but be ready to wonder what in the hell you were thinking when you had this surgery. It's hard! There is an overwhelming temptation to believe that this was supposed to be easier. It's not. It's effective, but it's a lot of work and it takes a lot of self-discipline.
People may judge you and say that you took "the easy way out". See the previous paragraph. And then see the second paragraph. You may have to educate a few people. Or tell them to get lost, your choice.
If you didn't already know it, you may find out that you have a serious problem with food. Get that fixed, and do it before you waste a lot of time and heartache. Go to therapy. The surgery will NOT fix your brain. I cannot stress this enough! You will find out that food is the glue that holds our lives together. We Celebrate with it, we mourn with it, we reward ourselves with it, and sometimes our social lives revolve around it. All of that has to change. Food is fuel. Period. You will not enjoy eating out for a while, if ever. The portions are RIDICULOUS, and most of it is nothing you should be eating anyway. "I'll just have a small salad..." No, you won't, not for a while. You won't be able to eat raw vegetables for a long time, and never before your doctor clears it. It's the last step. And it may be never for certain foods. BECAUSE...
Your taste will change. What your stomach can tolerate will (obviously) change for a long time, and maybe forever in some aspects. You may hate what you once loved and love what you once hated. Go with it. And get over your addiction to caffeine, because that has to go, too. Not forever, but your surgeon will have an opinion about when it's okay again.
If you smoke, a reputable surgeon will not do weight loss surgery on you. They will most likely test you for nicotine, so don't cheat, just quit. You won't heal as well and it's just plain bad for you.
You will have no vices for a long time. Because...you can't drink alcohol either! Not for a LONG time. Just look that one up, because I quit drinking a long time ago and I don't even care about this part. Except: you may trade old addictions for new ones. You may need therapy to fix this. If food was a coping mechanism for you, you had better have a plan for new coping skills. BECAUSE...
This is stressful as hell, if you hadn't figured that out. You hair may come out. Be ready. Biotin is rumored to help, but it isn't a sure thing.
You will need to take Vitamins for the rest of your life. Don't be cheap and skimp on this one. You need bariatric vitamins. Deficiencies can set you back in significant ways. It's not worth it. Take your vitamins.
Now. If you're still reading this, you may think I am one hell of a "Negative Nelly". Nope! I am a realist. You should be scared. You should think long and hard before you have weight loss surgery. If you even qualify for surgery, you've cleared a significant obstacle. If your insurance covers it, that's another significant obstacle out of the way. Soooo...If you have a surgeon willing to do it, and you can get insurance to pay for it (or if you can make it happen as self-pay) DO IT. If you still want to have weight loss surgery despite knowing how much it can suck, then you will probably do well. BECAUSE...
IT'S WORTH IT. All of it.

I stalled at week 5 post op, was stalled for about 2.5 weeks, now lost 2.5 lbs, but I could still see I was losing inches. It was hard not to see the scale move at that time but all I could do just stick to the plan.

I have had the band for 9 years and suffered with it as well... I revised to bypass (my personal choice) 2 months ago and even though I had complication, I love it. I ate chicken today and didn't have horrible "stuck" episode! It was amazing! I wish I have done his so many years ago!

Well said @@jenn1
The level of whining and hostility from new members does seem to be elevated.
I am also seeing a lot of comments where it's evident they aren't committed to the effort it's going to take for them to be successful.

-120 pounds and loving life! From a size 26 to a size 12. About 30 pounds to go...

I'm too chicken to do full body pictures but here's my face to face. I'm just about three months post op down 47 pounds.
Feeling good and excited for what I look like three months from now!

Hi @@Debbi1025
I can really relate to you... I had my lap band since 2008 and same thing. My hunger was horrible... I finally revised to bypass on May 13th, and although I have had complication after surgery, I am much happier now. For the first month or so I had no appetite at all, it was very weird.. Now I get hungry when it's time to eat, as long as I eat my high Protein food I am satisfied with about half cup of food. Sometimes I will have a small snack. So far I am down 33 lbs post op, it's not as fast as some other people are losing but it's still going in the right direction and I will take that !
Just remember surgery sleeve or bypass is a tool to help us but you still have to follow plan and change your eating habits.

Hi @@Debbi1025
I can really relate to you... I had my lap band since 2008 and same thing. My hunger was horrible... I finally revised to bypass on May 13th, and although I have had complication after surgery, I am much happier now. For the first month or so I had no appetite at all, it was very weird.. Now I get hungry when it's time to eat, as long as I eat my high Protein food I am satisfied with about half cup of food. Sometimes I will have a small snack. So far I am down 33 lbs post op, it's not as fast as some other people are losing but it's still going in the right direction and I will take that !
Just remember surgery sleeve or bypass is a tool to help us but you still have to follow plan and change your eating habits.

I am having revision in 5 weeks, I have about 130 to lose but I am concerned about it as well because I keep reading that people don't lose much after revision and way slower. I have asked my surgeon and psychiatrist this and they said that their revision patients still lose great amount of weight just like other patients. Guess the key is to follow the rules, put in the work and keep the follow up appointments to be accountable. I believe we both can do this!

I ate sashimi yesterday with soy sauce and wasabi, I am 6.5 weeks out and it was delicious...it was definitely a comforting delicious food.

A room full of people aren't needed, only 3:

Garth Brooks:
If Tomorrow Never comes
"If tomorrow never comes, will she know how much I loved her?
Did I try in every way
to show her every day
that she's my only one.
And if my time on Earth is through
and she must face this world without me
Is the love I gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last--If Tomorrow Never Comes"

You deserve it.
I mean seriously I just over indulged myself all the time.
It didn't help I had a high stress job an expense account and attended a lot of company events at 5 star hotels and very expensive restaurants. Working in the Tech field we had free lunch every day at work, catered happy hour on Fridays with unlimited booze in the office, free vending machines. You name it. I had an endless buffet of free food for years. Also no one cares if you are a fat nerd, it adds to your legend.
I still deserve all the nice and exquisite things in the world but they don't have to be food based. There is a world full of shoes

My cycle is always 28 days and on time... after surgery it was 2 weeks late.... and then 6 weeks late.... surgery can mess with your cycle and so can weight loss.
I would give it a couple of months to level itself out ... if it doesn't then get checked out????

One year ago today I stepped out on faith and made the decision to put my health and well-being first. I deserved and my family deserved the best me I could be. I am healthier and happier than I have ever been and; at 62... this is just the beginning! ????????
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Syntrax Nectars! I liked the Isopure over ice, and really liked the Syntrax Nectars mixed with Water and over ice. I still keep a container of Cappuccino for the random mornings I drink a Protein instead of having some Breakfast.

I am a very covered type girl. Never shorts, long sleeves. 12hrs after I got to the hospital I didnt care if my butt was flashing every horrified onlooker. I hurt, felt dirty from oozing out of my big incision leeking on my hospital robe, being poked, examined, couldnt sit for long and on and on. You wanna see my vajayjay? Hanging boobs? Have at it. ????
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I agree that the surgery is on the stomach and not the brain. I am a month post op and my brain still things the pre op way... I sat down to eat my small measured portion for lunch, I though to myself I will eat this and still going to be so hungry... Needless to say I could barely finish it. It is hard after surgery because I do like carbs like chips and crackers, today at work I saw someone eating crackers I like, I am not going to lie I wanted some, but reminded myself of my new lifestyle and my journey. I feel like you constantly have to be paying attention to what you eating, how fast you are eating, how much you are eating and drinking. When they say it's life changing, it really is. I am still learning this new lifestyle and new stomach, but this is my only hope of being healthy, I couldn't do it on my own. I think this has been the hardest experience in my life (I had complications as well) but seeing clothes getting bigger and number on the scale going in right direction I have hope that I will get there this time around. If you do have the surgery I wish you best of luck and great success!

So I am 5 days post op... You know how they say to keep walking and keep passing gas... Well I went to Lowes with my husband today after finally starting to feel better and figured I could use a walk... Well I passed gas at Lowes after about 20 min of walking and unfortunately it wasn't gas... I apparently had my first BM and I started my period since this body is all confused and shocked after surgery. I mean it was bad.... on the way to the restroom I started to leave black gross trail .... Sooo embarrassing! How come people don't talk about this lol others must know this can happen lol
Good thing we live close so my husband went home while I was in a bathroom cleaning myself up and got me change of clothes... Saved by the hubby!
Still can't believe this lol I was worried that I was constipated... Wow

Thank you everyone for all your prayers, thoughts and support... I can finally say I am doing better! I am back at work, although my energy is not back yet and I get tired fast but I am not crying anymore and I am not nauseous anymore. Still have to take care of my wound everyday and hoping it will heal without getting infected but so far so good. Wouldn't have done it without all of you and your support! There were times I really didn't believe it will get better. I am 4 weeks post op tomorrow and starting to see some of my clothes getting bigger which is really nice!

I agree that the surgery is on the stomach and not the brain. I am a month post op and my brain still things the pre op way... I sat down to eat my small measured portion for lunch, I though to myself I will eat this and still going to be so hungry... Needless to say I could barely finish it. It is hard after surgery because I do like carbs like chips and crackers, today at work I saw someone eating crackers I like, I am not going to lie I wanted some, but reminded myself of my new lifestyle and my journey. I feel like you constantly have to be paying attention to what you eating, how fast you are eating, how much you are eating and drinking. When they say it's life changing, it really is. I am still learning this new lifestyle and new stomach, but this is my only hope of being healthy, I couldn't do it on my own. I think this has been the hardest experience in my life (I had complications as well) but seeing clothes getting bigger and number on the scale going in right direction I have hope that I will get there this time around. If you do have the surgery I wish you best of luck and great success!

I agree that the surgery is on the stomach and not the brain. I am a month post op and my brain still things the pre op way... I sat down to eat my small measured portion for lunch, I though to myself I will eat this and still going to be so hungry... Needless to say I could barely finish it. It is hard after surgery because I do like carbs like chips and crackers, today at work I saw someone eating crackers I like, I am not going to lie I wanted some, but reminded myself of my new lifestyle and my journey. I feel like you constantly have to be paying attention to what you eating, how fast you are eating, how much you are eating and drinking. When they say it's life changing, it really is. I am still learning this new lifestyle and new stomach, but this is my only hope of being healthy, I couldn't do it on my own. I think this has been the hardest experience in my life (I had complications as well) but seeing clothes getting bigger and number on the scale going in right direction I have hope that I will get there this time around. If you do have the surgery I wish you best of luck and great success!

I agree that the surgery is on the stomach and not the brain. I am a month post op and my brain still things the pre op way... I sat down to eat my small measured portion for lunch, I though to myself I will eat this and still going to be so hungry... Needless to say I could barely finish it. It is hard after surgery because I do like carbs like chips and crackers, today at work I saw someone eating crackers I like, I am not going to lie I wanted some, but reminded myself of my new lifestyle and my journey. I feel like you constantly have to be paying attention to what you eating, how fast you are eating, how much you are eating and drinking. When they say it's life changing, it really is. I am still learning this new lifestyle and new stomach, but this is my only hope of being healthy, I couldn't do it on my own. I think this has been the hardest experience in my life (I had complications as well) but seeing clothes getting bigger and number on the scale going in right direction I have hope that I will get there this time around. If you do have the surgery I wish you best of luck and great success!