Search the Community

My name is Carla and I was banded 7/3/10. I have lost 127lbs. I am now in the 150's and it seems to be a struggle everyday. I know where my comfort is and I now know how to play the "food game". I am sooooo glad the the carbs get stuck or I may actually gain back every ounce that I have lost. I tried to sneak a doughnut hole tonight and I have paid for it in the bathroom for the last 2 hours. The thing about Lap Band is that no 2 people are alike. Some may not have a problem eating potatoes while with me.... They get stuck everytime. This is honestly the best decision that I have ever made but it will always be a struggle. Food has controlled my life for so long that I have to train myself to not let it continue to control me.

I take zija smart mix which comes in a packet that I mix with about 20-32 oz of Water Sleeved 10/16/12 http://sleevesister.blogspot.com Sent from my iPhone using VST

How long does the stalls usually last. 10 days ago I started puree food and so far have not lost any since.

I'm just 3 weeks out and not allowed to lift anything over 10 lbs. better to ask your surgeon.

I had my RNY surgery on May 4th, 2004 to be exact. Like everyone on this site, my weight had been an issue for many, many years and this surgery seemed to be the only option I had left. In fact, a close friend of mine had the surgery before me and it was due to her positive experiences that I began looking into it. Ironically, at the time time I began investigating this surgery, my mother was a nurse working in bariatrics, working for the doctor I would later have the surgery from. I will be the first to tell you, that choosing surgery is a very personal choice. I do not think it is for everyone and feel one should look at all options before choosing surgery. I have not always been open in talking about it, as I was fearful of others negative comments and even more so, my own fear of failing. What if the surgery did not produced the results I want? Before deciding on her surgery, I will admit I was just completely lost. I hated what I looked like and felt just completely out of touch with my inner self as compared to my outer appearance. I would lie to my friends and family about my work schedule simply to miss having anyone see me. I would often times avoid phone calls so that I could not be available. As with any family, I had major issues with facing certain people because it was never good...or made me feel worse. I have a number of family members who never suffered with weight issues....my brother for example has always looked great....my mother and aunt always looked great....my grandparents too. There were people in my family who tried to diet with me, or point out every food item I was eating, saying, "that is your third dinner roll" or, "do you know how many calories are in that?". It was just one comment after another. I was ashamed of what I looked liked, and angry/jealous of others who were skinny or seemed to have no weight issues. Being overweight, simply sucks! Being the fat girl, the one with the great hair and funny personality Sucks! I was sick and tired of being the third wheel, the girl who had a lot of male "friends", or the one who was just a great person to talk to. I had enough! I wanted to change. When you are heavy, there are common comments you tend to hear day in and day out. Some are self generated, while others are said directly.....of course, those comments become our daily motto (at least for me they did). Instead of, you are so beautiful....I would be told "I love your hair", "you are just big boned", "you have your dads figure" (by the way not a compliment...love my dad, but really!". The comments people make are really unbelievable. Ok so I finally decide on surgery. I was approximately 220 pounds before surgery. At this point, I was told by some in a support group I was not heavy enough to have the surgery! Such a crazy response to make in a Support Group session. I stayed 5 days in the hospital....and my weight loss process began. The first year after surgery had its moments. I cannot say it was always easy. Yes, the weight came off....incredibly fast. I was so happy with the results. Eating, that was different and often times a big struggle. I had a very hard time keeping food down...and finding food I was able to tolerate. Overtime, this improved. So much so, that I no longer suffer from the same restrictions as I did in the beginning. I think this was something to expect, but am now facing some realities I truly did not think about as the beginning stages of my weight loss were so successful. My lowest weight was 124 pounds, but that only lasted for half of the day. My stable weight stayed between 132-140. After approximately 3 years after surgery I began gaining weight. Each year there after seemed to be more and more difficult. I remember weighing 138 pounds and visiting my grandfather. Spent a long day with him, only to have him tell me at the end of our visit that I was getting fat! Truth be told, I was gaining weight, I just hated hearing that I was fat! After all, I had a surgery to help with my weight. At approximately 5 years after surgery, I weighed 150. Not a horrible weight, but something definitely needed to change. So, I started running. And got into swimming again...and eventually took up triathlons. I completed 5k's, 10k's, sprint triathlons, half marathons, a swim around the florida keys, half iron-man...the list goes on. I just readjusted my life. Well now, 10 years out from my surgery, I am at an overwhelming weight of 172! I am getting back to the basics....And trying to get back on track. I have joined this site for additional support and to find others just like me. I knew I would gain some weight back, I just never expected to get to where I am now. Yes, I have taken the liberty to eat the wrong foods, to eat too much, to snack...and just simply stop doing what I am suppose to do. I have allowed outside stress and daily life stuff get in the way of my past successes. I am now focusing on me, and what I need to do to get healthy! I want to lose this weight and am determined to be successful. **quick advice for anyone in the beginning stages or ones noticing a weight gain..... Weight loss is not magic, the surgery only works as successfully as You follow it! Be mindful of what you eat, and never take it for granted that it will be the solution you are seeking. I am learning this and am taking full accountability for where I am now. Sorry for such a long post....but thanks for letting me share....

Hello Fellow Bandsters.. My name is Marcos, all my friends call me Beezy, and my internet name is thedvsgneeus. I am a rookie bandster, as my surgery was this past Monday 9/28/2009. It was a long wait to get my band as my original date was back in May, however because of a new job, i had to postpone the surgery three months. The first week has been pretty rough, i am still experiencing gas pains but less each day and the worst each night.. I am following my liquid diet and can not wait for the next step. My Post-Op Appt is this Monday 10/5/2009. I am also looking forward to see if i have lost any weight. Everyone is telling me i am looking about 5-10lbs thinner.. Hopefully they are right.. See you around!!

I have Aetna POS and they approved in 11 days. At first my dr office thought it was 10 days. On the 10th day they called to follow up and the case manager said they have 15 days but they ended up approving the very next morning. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Well tomarrow morning I will finally have my surgery. Getting pretty nervous, I hope I can sleep tonight. Have to be at hospital at 9am, surgery at 10:30. Hoping all goes well and I get my band. Will keep you all updated on how it goes. Thanks for all the support and great info.

That is great news to hear! I got mine done from Snyder 10 months ago and have lost 60 lbs and counting! They really are good! I hope it works out for you! If you would like information about them or just need help you can send me a message! I'd be glad to help!

I agree with LosingItForMe, I have never heard of this either. Maybe your doctor could suggest what you need to put into the letter. But I'm pretty sure 10 pages would be way too much LOL!

Good job. You are taking it slow and moving. That is great. Congrats on your 10 lbs so far!

Heading south tomorrow (Sunday)! Packed my super tiny light weight suitcase (10 lbs packed!) so no lifting issues for me and nearly ready to go. I live by myself and am going solo so I've been in a cleaning frenzy today. Yard work and laundry done and everything sparkling clean. Now my distractions are done and it's time for me to just be anxious! Only downside is the border crossing into Mexico is at a high alert and is taking lots of time due to the horrible manhunt we have going on in Southern California. Ex cop killed several people and is on the loose. Uhm, so yeah, it's safer in Mexico. Looking forward to being on the other side!

Hello all, I was just banded on 10/3 and started my soft food diet this weekend. I am having a hard time with it. Everything I swallow it seems I can feel going down and it is not a pleasant feeling. I chew like crazy but I almost want to go back to liquids because this feeling is awful. I have even gotten stuck a few times and the sheer desperation of it is terrible. Do you all experience this? Will it go away?? Any suggestions??

banded on the 16th. also had problems in the same dept! colace doesnt always work but I still take...I have lost 10 lbs since surgery. It has been slow coming off but I am trying to be patient. I had my first fill last wed.

I used the one that dissolves on the tongue. I started right away because that gas was really, really, bad. It woke me during the night. I would get up walk around the house for 5 or 10 min. and go back to bed. 3 nights like that, no other pain or I wouldn't have made it.

Amazing how fast the last few months have gone. I am finishing up grad school this week (last test is Tuesday woot woot!) and soon thereafter I will be embarking on another huge undertaking – getting sleeved. I’ve complained about this on the boards a couple of times but will say it one more time…the pre-op classes are simply ridiculous. I can honestly say I got nothing out of them. The only semi-interesting class was a one-year post-op RNY patient who talked about the challenges and victories he had experienced. The rest were beyond lame. But, it’s over now Once I completed my last class, the surgeon’s nurse navigator got my paperwork submitted to Aetna and exactly 7 days later called to say I was approved! I was really expecting it to be more difficult than that. I met with the Surgeon 6/1 (before this, had only seen him at the seminar in December 2010) and had a good conversation in which he answered all of my questions and made me feel 100% comfortable with my decision to move forward. After we were done he had me talk with his scheduler, who got me on the roster for June 20. Sweet! I probably still won’t believe it until I’m driving to the hospital that morning. Since I don’t have a PCP the surgeon will just do my H&P the morning of surgery. He doesn’t do any type of pre-op testing. Interesting because here on the boards some people need sleep apnea studies, testing for hernias or h-pylori, etc. He does not require any of that. Which is cool because I am pretty sure all of those are negative for me and I hate when unnecessary testing is done. I have to go to one more nutrition class on June 9, which revolves around how to eat pre- and post-op. I actually start the pre-op diet June 10…the first few days will be challenging because I have visitors in town that I rarely get to see, and usually we eat out and drink wine, etc. But I will manage. The good news is that from the literature the surgeon’s office has given me, I think it’s pretty good as pre-op diets go. It’s only 10 days and I get mushy stuff, am not restricted to liquids like others sometimes are. Emotionally, I feel great. I feel ready to kick fat in the ass. I am not nervous at all. This may change as the date approaches, but as of now I feel at peace with my decision. The main issue on my mind right now about two weeks out is, whether or not to tell anyone. I do have a great family but truly just want to keep this private. Maybe I still have a little shame, I don’t know. My mom is a true supporter of me, however she has been through a lot the last few years (cancer, heart failure) and has developed a pretty significant amount of anxiety. I rarely see my siblings due to distance and they are great people however…skinny people. And I don’t think they would understand. Co-workers, I absolutely do NOT want to know because I feel they will forever scrutinize what I eat. That leaves friends. There are a few close ones I have considered telling. Despite the fact that they are thin I think they’d be on board with my decision because they have seen me fluctuate so much over the years. Anyway, still not sure. As surgery approaches I’ll decide what to do.

Do you have to take Vitamins for the rest of your life b/c of the sleeve gastrectomy? If so, how many different pills do you have to take and how frequently do you take them? I am pre-op now, and in looking through what is requried for the post-op diet at least for the first couple of months, it looks really rough and tough. Is it as tough as it seems? How tough would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the hardest thing you've ever done in your life. How have you managed to get through it? Thanks

On a scale of 1-10, I'd say postop life was a 3 for the 1st 4 months.....WAY easier than some of the crazy diets I've been on and with much better results. Really the only hard part was having to eat and drink when I wasn't hungry.... It was such a chore. I also developed a bad C. diff infection causing severe diarrhea for 2 months, but that wasn't related to my surgery.....got it from a dental procedure. But After 4 months everything was back to normal and Life has been easy. As for Vitamins, it's not a one size fits all. You need to do regular bloodwork and adjust accordingly. For example, I was taking a Multivitamin, calcium, Iron, Vitamin D3 and B12 sublingual immediately postop. My 6 month labs showed that my calcium and iron were high so I stopped taking those. 12 month labs were all good. I will recheck again when I am two years out and make any necessary adjustments. Studies on gastrectomy patients revealed that 90% developed deficiencies within 10 years. (iron, D and B12 were the most common, but folate, zinc and calcium show up, too). So yes, bloodwork and supplementation are important to prevent serious health issues. And taking daily vitamins Is really no big deal.

I just got word that my insurance approved my surgery!!! This has been such a long road beginning 6 years ago when I initially wanted gastric bypass. My insurance through my job won't cover WLS, so I finally got creative and added my hubby's insurance as secondary insurance effective 1/1/10. After completing my 6 month supervised diet last week, I am scheduled for my surgery on Monday, May 17. I am so excited, scared, shocked, and giddy all at the same time. I am so ready for this next stage of my life. This board has been an inspiration to me over the past few months. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to post, respond, and encourage others.

The pre and post op diets were hardest for me too. But they are extremely important. The pre-op diet gets your liver under control and to shrink back down to a normal size. If it's too enlarged, they can't get the band in properly. Not trying to scare you. Just want to make sure you know how very important pre/post op diets are. That being said, try not to stress over your 1/4 cupcake too much. In the 10+ years my surgeon has been doing this, he only had 1 he couldn't complete. Take care!

Do you have to load and unload too? Do you drive a big rig? I'd think AT LEAST a week because you have to be clear headed.... no anesthesia, no pain meds beyond tylenol still on board. I know when you are down you aren't earning money...but 10 days and you would probably be good to go. Getting into and out of the cab might be a little painful before then....

I have been reading for a couple months on this site and find it so helpful. I gave myself the past 12 months to make this life changing decision, and I am ready! I have started the paperwork/insurance process (wow! what a process!!....the stress eating from that alone probably added another 10 lbs!!). Just wanted to see if any of you are in the area....so we can do this together!

I'm thankful I am almost 100lbs down from my highest weight back in Aug 2019. From now on, I'm taking all pics like this!!!

Welcome and good luck to you! Just a caveat...don't get the surgery until you go that extra 10%. Take whatever time you need to get your questions answered and decide if it is indeed the right step for you!

AMEN!!! With that sort of attitude, you will be VERY successful with your surgery and everything thereafter! I too have been the FAT girl of my friends. I wasnt always the fat one, but the past 10 years I have been. In 2000 I was the skinnier one getting all the attention from guys. Now, if I walk into a store and patiently wait for a clerk to finish with their current customer and a pretty, skinny girl walks up with a question (even though I had been standing there for 10 mins), I get ignored while that girl gets help. It is annoying!! But, I look forward to the day that I turn heads again, particularly my husbands.....lol. Best of luck with everything!!! You will be just great!:cool: