JT2002TJ

I haven't posted in a while. I don't have a lot of before pictures (full body).

I started at 320lbs 1/1/2017, had a pre-liquid diet weight of 297, surgery weight of 280 (surgery date 9/25/2017). Today 8/7/2018, I am 211 lbs, so a total weight loss of 109 lbs.

I have gone from a 4x shirt and 52" waist to a XL and a 38" waist.

My surgical group believes in no caffeinated coffee for life. They are ok with Decaf, but warn us to be careful because there still is caffeine in decaf. We also are told to have green tea (decaf) or herbal tea (decaf).

We were told that caffeine can cause ulcers and that since it is a diuretic it can be counterproductive.

Thank you for sharing your story. I know it was hard. It is important that others see what can happen.

I haven't had any drinks since my surgery 5 months ago, and am not in a rust to start drinking again. I think I might just be done.

Thank you. I wish you all the best in your lifelong recovery.

Sorry, I didn't read the entire thread.

I had problems when I initially got my machine because my sleep therapist was garbage. In fact, their entire company is garbage. My therapist came over basically threw the machine at me while driving by at 60 mph and left.

So, I got the sleephead beta software, and started learning about how these machines work, and monitored my sleep myself. Turns out, I needed to increase my starting pressure. I found I was out of breath just getting into bed, and had a hard time falling asleep. Once I was asleep, I slept fine through the night. Once I increased it, I have not had an issue for 3 years.

This is not to encourage people to go adjust their settings themselves, but sometimes the therapists aren't doing their job. In my case it was, and still is too difficult to switch suppliers (my therapist works for the supplier). My Pulmonologists office doesn't like them either, but there just aren't many options.

I drove the day of discharge. I was off of pain meds since day 2 (discharged on 3rd day). It is because of pain meds, so if you don't need them, and you think you can focus on driving, it is fine to drive.

As others have said, I do Wendy's Chili. I am almost 3 months post op, I can not eat an entire small (it is at least 2 meals to me). Anywhere else I will order a burger/grilled chicken sandwich without the bun (dry) and ask for mustard. If it comes with bacon I will eat the bacon. I do Buffalo Wild Wings (traditional on bone) hot/medium or lemon pepper (now that I eat so little, I have added other flavors that have some sugar in the sauce).

It is too early for me to eat salads (raw fruit or veggies), so will change over time.

I find it easier to ask for it without the bun. They usually put it in a hard plastic container and are used to people asking for it this way (for those who watch carbs or for those who order it this way for their dogs).

17 hours ago, ItsMermaidTime said:

I feel like this has been the biggest mistake of my life. Day 5 in the hospital, Surg was wednesday 13th. In so much pain can’t get anything more than 90cc down and that leaves me in terrible pain. My ivs infiltrated filling my left arm with Potassium i now have a midline in my right arm. Walking as much as i can even as painful as it is. Went for an esophalgram to make sure there isn’t a blockage or leakage. I feel like everything is going wrong. Maybe some ppl i just met to stay fat what’s exactly how i am feel. I can more or drink without tears running down my face.

Sorry for your complications. I'm sure it will get better, and once the memory of the issues are on the back burner and your rapid weight loss is up front, I'm sure you will be happy with your decision. It will get better!

16 hours ago, stacie304 said:

I’m sorry you are going through this. My surgery is scheduled the 27th and I’m 90% sure I’m going to cancel it. I’m terrified of complications. I hope things get better.

I wouldn't jump to any quick decisions about canceling. Complications are typically <3% (from my understanding) and most complications go away (except GERD, which can be managed via medication for most).

If you need more time to think about it, and you will not lose your insurance approval, then maybe it would be a good idea to push it back a bit, and spend some time with your surgical group's support groups.

11 hours ago, Pamela wallace said:

Can I ask how you lost 17 pound in 2 weeks I need to lose 17 pounds to get my surgery I go to doctor january3rd and I'm doing everything they tell me,and still I'm stuck in doing 2 shakes a day replacing 2 meals 64 oz Water if not more and eating dinner which consist of salad or chicken or fish n veggie I'm so stressed,if you can plz help me.

I followed my surgical groups pre-op surgery diet. It was 1,200 calories per day, by doing 7 Premier Protein (Chocolate) per day. I was also allowed about a cup or 2 of beef/chicken broth (I added hot sauce for flavor), and up to 2 sugar free Jello (pre-made jello cups). You can have as much water/crystal light as you want.

There was NO other food, and I did not cheat at all. I lost 17 lbs in those two weeks (297lbs - 280lbs).

Some insurance companies have a requirement where you have to lose a specific amount of weight, some don't care, and some if you lose any at all they deny.

But, I think it is common across the board that when they approve you, you can lose as much as you want from packet weight to surgery day weight. Once the pre-authorize you for the surgery there would be law suits from insureds, surgical groups and hospitals if they reversed their approval. The pre-authorization is all that is needed to schedule and preform the surgery.

They know most surgical groups require a liver shrink diet (I lost 17 lbs in 2 weeks). They also only see that surgical day weight AFTER the surgery, either submitted by a case manager (if they required continued stay reviews) during your stay, or after discharge when billing.

I had no pain (other than surgical site pain) or nausea. I took 2 weeks off, but was board out of my mind after one week. I am a computer programmer, and work 40 miles from home (driving), I EASILY could have gone back to work within one week.

I would say, since you are at home, and can take breaks, I would plan on 2 weeks, and be happy if you can get back earlier. Everyone is different, but not everyone works from home.

I feel much better after my surgery. No more knee pain, no more back pain. I am down a total of 80 lbs since my highest weight (February 2017), Surgery date I was down 40 lbs (9/25/2017). Since surgery 2 months ago I have lost 40 lbs (12/6/2017).

It is a big decision, one that I am 100% happy I did.

I thought about doing WLS surgery about 10 years ago, it would have been the LapBand, I am glad I procrastinated, as now we know more about the LapBand high % of failure. The good thing about the sleeve is, it does not have a single point of blockage, with a full size stomach beyond it. It is a much better design.

On 12/3/2017 at 10:28 AM, Tasg said:

I am for days away from surgery and am having trouble with Constipation. I have used benefiber as well as Colace but haven’t had a bowel movement in 6 Days. I am on a liquid diet of 600-700 calories a day. Yet today I gained 2 lbs. could this be due to constipation?

You will go less, because you are on a liquid diet. But, if you have that feeling of bloating that you think is constipation, you should contact your surgical group, and see what they allow.

I had Vitafusion Fiber Well sugar free gummies (from CVS). This with Miralax mixed in with my Crystal Light.

Both were allowed prior to my surgery by my surgical group. But after, they did not want me having the Fiber Gummies, they want me to only use MiraLAX, because they are worried about dehydration.

49 minutes ago, jaminator said:

rogain is for male pattern baldness, not really a hair loss cure.

Rogain has been known to prevent Hair loss when used as instructed. But, it is also know that when you stop using it, hair loss will progress as before.

Not just for male pattern baldness, women use it to for hair loss.

Now, I have no idea if it will work with hair loss because of rapid weight loss.

About 3 weeks out, in two of my pees (not sure how to say it) I had clotted blood. It looked like little red strings in my yellow urine. The first was the morning before work, the second was a few hours later when I went to LabCorp to get a urinalysis done.

The first thing i did was call my surgeons office to get the script for the urinalysis. I had the results shared with my urologist. I had a appointment 2 weeks later with my urologist, but he had me go in for a CAT scan (with and without contrast). The CAT scan showed no kidney stones (which can cause blood, and is common after a high Protein low fluids diet), and no other issues.

At my urologists office he preformed a cystoscopy (a scope is pushed into your pee hole all the way to your bladder, where they push fluids in and inspect the passageway and the bladder). He found nothing with my bladder but noted 2 slight urethral strictures (narrowing of the passageway). After, your bladder will be full, so taking advantage of this, he had me do a flow test (you pee into a toilet looking device that measures your urine stream), which was within normal range, indicating no obstructions.

I was given a clean bill of health. The important thing is visible blood in urine or stool must be checked out by medical professionals.

1 minute ago, Walter.Sobchak said:

Because I am tough as nails.
Of course I am joking.
Why would I burn my drain site shut? It was an attempt at humor.

I caught it and chuckled.

It isn't required, but if you have used one post abdomen surgery, you will know that it does help. Even with laparoscopic surgery they are opening you up, and moving your anatomy around to gain clear access to your stomach. Until you fully heal, you have cuts in your abdomen muscles (which is why there is a huge risk of a hernia post op).

I only had iv pain meds the two nights in hospital (only at bedtime), was doing office work the next day in my hospital bed, and had 0 nausea. I didn't take any pain meds at home, and was walking a mile per day from day 3.

If I wasn't using the binder, I wouldn't have been able to walk as far, as we know there is some abdomen pain. By holding your stomach in place, you avoid pains associated with movement.

This is a very cheap aid to your recovery, if you can afford it, I would suggest it to everyone. It is something you will use for a week or two, until your abdomen pain just magically disappears. I would buy one, bring it with you to the hospital (i used mine day of surgery while I walked around the nursing stations), if they provide you one, you can simply return yours.

1 hour ago, dreamingsmall said:

Computer and study guidss to do home work lol. I brought my laptop and found webcam videos of me nodding off trying to do a video of.my journey. Good luck staying awake after surgery between the keeping up with fluids. Gas pain trying to walk around. I'd say home work can wait a couple days as the home.work you do won't be worth submitting lol

I had a completely different experience, I'm a freak. I was awake, only on pain meds over night and was doing work for my office/making business calls. My wife stayed the second night overnight, she slept more than I did!

4 hours ago, AshAsh1 said:

I'm not having surgery until January. I've read that some surgeons do these, and some don't. However, my question is.... Do they give them to you at the hospital? Or do I buy one myself?

I ordered mine on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/BraceAbility-Bariatric-Abdominal-Binder-Circumference/dp/B00QLYYWUS/ref=lp_8274310011_1_2_a_it?srs=8274310011&ie=UTF8&qid=1510771578&sr=8-2&th=1

I used mine until I didn’t have pain when walking quickly (about 2 weeks). It really helped with pain caused by stomach giggling. After there is no more pain, I’m not sure there really is a need for it anymore.

It helped me walk further, as if I was in pain, I would have stopped.

Since my surgery date (9/25/17), I have had two stalls, both with my weight going up 2-3 lbs. But a week and a half later I was 5 lbs down. My weight app shows a drastic downward slope, but if you zoom in, you will see these two upward humps.

The same happened to me last weekend. I was out of my "skinny" shirts, and had a shirt on that fit me 2-3 months ago. I looked at a picture, it looked ridiculous, like a little kid wearing his fathers shirt...

17 hours ago, bwlingchik said:

What was your starting weight

She has done an amazing job. She put her stats under her avatar:

• Starting Weight:246 lbs
• Weight Lost:87 lbs
• Current Weight:159 lbs
• Goal Weight:130 lbs

1 hour ago, TheNewMrsR said:

Yeah I thought about that too but I was afraid to take any chances. My steri strips were all I had covering mine. No other outter bandages.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using BariatricPal mobile app

It is never wrong to be safe!!!

I ended up bringing so much I didn’t need. I am glad I brought my computer, I was doing work the next day (one of my systems went down at work).

The true question is, what surgeon did you find that is willing to do a LapBand, and why would you want them to operate on you...

It is pretty much standard that bariatric surgeons do not preform LapBands anymore, they maintain them, or remove them to convert to either a sleeve or bypass.

Any surgeon that still preforms LapBands, would not be a surgeon I would use.

On 8/8/2017 at 8:29 AM, rush2112md said:

Do they cath you for this procedure?

That is a surgeons choice. I was not cath'ed during mine.